[My Guest Post] Dig Deeper to Find a Heroic Heart

Today, over at the Rogue Blades Entertainment website, I’m talking about the nature of a true hero and heroine in Dig Deeper to Find a Heroic Heart. Take a look:

When I’m writing a heroic character, the physical aptitude and appearance of a hero or heroine isn’t as important as what shortcomings that character must overcome. When I’m designing the world and their backstory, I look at limitations within physical, mental, social or emotional spheres. By going about it this way, I am not painting my character into an artistic corner. I’m not saying, “Well, my heroine can’t possibly do X because she isn’t shaped like X” right off the bat. I have more freedom and more flexibility to work with the character than I would if I focused on gender or simple concepts like “super strong” or “invisible.” Sure, a character can be super-strong, but that’s not enough to sustain a story. Why are they strong? How does that power affect their self-worth? Their relationship with other people? Their role in society? — SOURCE: Dig Deeper to Find a Heroic Heart at Home of Heroics

Within that article, you’ll find my thoughts on why I think it’s silly to obsess over the physical aspects of a character, and why I believe we can have more unique heroes and heroines that don’t fit into the traditional mold.

June 1, 2011
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[My Guest Post] Hunting Down the Value of Social Media at SFWA.org

It’s been almost forty-five days since I turned off social media, and this experiment has taken on a life of its own. One thing that’s happened, which was not what I had expected, is that my hiatus has turned into a period of self-discovery and growth.

Today, I talk about the impact this experiment has had on me and my work. Here’s a quote from the article:

So far, my hiatus has had a profound impact on me in ways I’m still discovering. I feel like I’ve left the schools of fishes swimming in and around one another and have sunk to the bottom of the internet ocean. When I was using the tools, I was more in tune with the world around me and knew what trends were popular and what jokes were not. I knew what books were being released, connected with long-distance authors and friends more easily, and had a lot of fun. Now that I’m not, my focus is on me and my work, which has pushed me into several new directions. — SOURCE: Hunting Down the Value of Social Media at SFWA.org

If you’re curious about my 100 days experiment and want to read an in-depth take on this hiatus, I encourage you to read Hunting Down the Value of Social Media at SFWA.org and share your comments.

May 16, 2011
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[My Guest Post] Alien Character vs Characterization

Hi everyone,

I resumed my guest post for Apex Book Company this month with a post about the difference between characters and characterization. I end with a writing prompt that fleshes out this concept. The prompt was to write a classified ad from one alien to another.

Here’s a quote from the article:

To me, developing a character is part of my world-building process. From descriptions to occupation to personality quirks, the characters I design are part of a “world” I use to tell a story. The setting and the characters are tools that can function independently of any plot.

Characterization, on the other hand, is the glue that ties a character back to the plot. Maybe a birth defect isn’t just a character flaw, the hero finds out the villain maimed him as a child. Maybe an aura of confidence isn’t just an attribute, but the result of great upbringing by the character’s mother. — SOURCE: Writing Prompt: Write a Personal Ad from One Alien to Another at Apexbookcompany.com

If you’re curious, pop on over and give Writing Prompt: Write a Personal Ad from One Alien to Another a read. Then, why not challenge yourself and see if you can’t characterize an alien?

May 12, 2011
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A Fun Contest for Zombie Stories

The Zombie Feed Volume 1Hi everyone,

Just wanted to drop by and mention there’s a really fun contest going on right now at The Zombie Feed. To win one of two rare proof copies of The Zombie Feed, Volume 1 delivered straight to your door, all you have to do is comment on The Zombie Feed Bad-Ass Contest.

To enter, just tell Jason about which one of us (e.g. the contributors) you’d want to be in a zombie apocalypse with and why.

Contest just went up today, so be sure to get your entry in as soon as you can.

Happy Zombipocalypse!

May 11, 2011
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[My Guest Post] An Author’s Marketing Mistake

First week of May? Must be time to tell you about this month’s guest post at the How To Write Shop. Today I take a look at a common mantra I hear time and time again from authors and artists. Many people I’ve talked to never want to promote or even mention their previously published work. In this post, entitled “Authors, Don’t Make this Marketing Mistake,” I dive into their objections with my responses.

Here’s a quote from the article:

By promoting your existing titles, you add depth to your marketing efforts because you’re adding new products to the mix. Don’t be afraid to talk about your previously published work in a way that’s new to those readers, either. After all, if you complain or talk down about what you’ve already done, then that will reflect in your sales and the way your readers/fellow authors treat you. If you’re that unhappy with your backlist, then what will that say about how you’ll treat your current releases a year from now? — SOURCE: Authors, Don’t Make this Marketing Mistake at the How To Write Shop

If you’re an author or an artist, I hope you drop by my article and add your thoughts. In a comment, Lori Devoti already pointed out another reason why authors don’t promote their backlist, and why that may need to change.

May 4, 2011
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