What Writers Do on a Friday Night

post by Michelle Griep

There's always 1 dork in the bunch: me.
Erica Vetsch at center;
Gabrielle Meyer on the right.

Some girls go out clubbing on the weekend. Others do the movie and popcorn thing. But writerly girls hang out at a historical society lecture event -- and LOVE it.

Erica Vetsch and Gabrielle Meyer joined me on a visit to the Alexander Ramsey House (first governor of Minnesota) for an evening of Crime and Punishment.

The night's lecture focused on the Ann Bilansky murder case. Ann went to the gallows in 1860 for the supposed murder of her husband, Stanislaus. And can I interrupt to say that's a pretty sweet name?

Anyway, the story goes that her neighbor accused her of poisoning Stan with arsenic so that Ann could run away with her "cousin" (nudge, nudge, wink, wink). Ann plead innocent. And our entire evening visit to the Ramsey House presented all the known evidence for and against.

Was she guilty or wasn't she? No one really knows . . . not even me. Makes a person wonder, though.

And that, folks, is why visiting historical sites, partaking of their lectures, experiencing the sights and sounds up close and personal is crucial for a writer. Check out your historical society today even if you're not a fiction author. You just might learn something.

Writerly Lessons from The Revenant

post by Michelle Griep

Have you heard a faint drumbeat lately? Tat-tat-tat-tat-tat. Actually, that was no drum. That was me, tapping my toes while waiting impatiently to go see The Revenant . . . and today was the day.

And indeed, it was worth the wait. If a gritty man-against-nature combined with man-against-man epic story makes your heart pitter-patter, then this is the movie for you. But if you're at all squeamish, don't got see it. It's pretty graphic.

The Revenant tells the true story of Hugh Glass, a fur trapper/frontiersman/explorer in the early 1800's. Yeah, this is a movie, but there are plenty of takeaway values for a writer . . .

5 Writerly Lessons from The Revenant

Up the Stakes
One bad thing after another happens to the hero, Hugh Glass. Winter's coming, all he can do is crawl because of a severe mauling by a grizzly, and oh yeah, there are merciless savages at his back killing anything that moves. Oh, did I mention the rest of his buddies left him to die, with no gun, no water, nothing? His life is seriously on the line, which glues the viewer to the screen. Do that, in writing, of course.

Relate at an Emotional Level
Not many people can relate to being a fur trapper. What makes the hero super relatable, though, is the tragedy he faced in his past. His wife was killed. Who hasn't experienced the loss of a loved one? Using a universal feeling such as grief creates a connection between fictional characters and readers.

Lob a Surprise Hand Grenade
Don't worry. I won't give a spoiler here, but there's one scene that faked out pretty much everyone in the audience. That kind of surprise endears a reader to the author.

Weave in Backstory
As I mentioned, Hugh Glass's wife is dead. She was killed in an attack on their village. But all that information wasn't up front or in one big chunk. It was sprinkled throughout the story, kind of a story within a story, if you will.

Give the Reader Something to Ponder
At the very end of the film, Leonardo DiCaprio looks right smack into the camera lens. This is the first time he does that. What does it mean? Is he finally letting go of his past? Is he dying? What? It's up to the viewer to decide.

Whether or not you go see The Revenant, these five tips are valuable skills to master for any storyteller.

Three P's of Writing Back Cover Copy

post by Michelle Griep

Stand in Barnes & Noble and watch what prospective buyers do. Note: It's probably best not to wear a trench coat and definitely lose the sunglasses. What were you thinking, you big creeper? Now that we've got that straightened out, what do you see?

First, a potential buyer pulls off a book with a jazzy front cover. Yeah, pictures are indeed worth a thousand words. Two seconds later, if the cover grabs him, it's time for the big flip. He turns the book over in his hands, scans the back copy, and:

A.) Zingo! His eyes widen. He's hooked. He reaches for his wallet and races to the nearest cashier.

OR

B.) Yawn. Book goes back on shelf. End of story and any royalties for the author.

What made the difference? The back cover copy. And trust me, writing that copy is not as easy as it looks, folks. But never fear, I have a handy-dandy list-o-rama to help.

THE 3 P's OF WRITING BACK COVER COPY

1. PACK A PUNCH WITH POWER WORDS

If you've only got a limited amount of words to use, then use those that are powerful. Emotional. Shocking. Controversial or evocative. Those are the kinds of words that make a reader curious and leave them drooling for more. Examples: daunting, courage, beguile

2. PAINT A PICTURE

Use your sweet writing skills to create a vivid image in the reader's mind. Give them a taste of what's in store for them if they purchase the book. Leave them with a teaser, a big question as to what will happen.

3. PITHY IS PERFECT

Nowadays everyone's got ADD, especially on the internet. Chances are your book will be sold on Amazon, so that means you've got to be short and sweet, baby. Make your description as easy to understand and as pared down as possible.

It also helps if you read examples of back cover copy from books that are out there on today's shelves. That's not stealing. That's smart detective work.

Bookish Crafts

In my spare time, I like to craft. Okay, so really that amounts to about fifteen minutes once every blue moon, but hey, that still counts. More often than not, my crafting involves words. Go figure. Here's a few . . .

Did that inspire you? If not, then maybe this will. It's a how-to video on making a tiny book pendant that's super cute.

Why Do You Read?

Successful people read. Bill Gates says:

“Reading is one of the chief ways that I learn, and has been since I was a kid. These days, I also get to visit interesting places, meet with scientists and watch a lot of lectures online. But reading is still the main way that I both learn new things and test my understanding.”

~ Bill Gates on Books and Blogging

So I'm starting off the new year with a new read. Here's what I've got going . . .

And here's a blurb . . .

In an act of brave defiance, Tamsen Littlejohn escapes the life her harsh stepfather has forced upon her. Forsaking security and an arranged marriage, she enlists frontiersman Jesse Bird to guide her to the Watauga settlement in western North Carolina. But shedding her old life doesn’t come without cost. As the two cross a vast mountain wilderness, Tamsen faces hardships that test the limits of her faith and endurance.

Convinced that Tamsen has been kidnapped, wealthy suitor Ambrose Kincaid follows after her, in company with her equally determined stepfather. With trouble in pursuit, Tamsen and Jesse find themselves thrust into the conflict of a divided community of Overmountain settlers. The State of Franklin has been declared, but many remain loyal to North Carolina. With one life left behind and chaos on the horizon, Tamsen struggles to adapt to a life for which she was never prepared. But could this challenging frontier life be what her soul has longed for, what God has been leading her toward? As pursuit draws ever nearer, will her faith see her through the greatest danger of all—loving a man who has risked everything for her?

Now then, what's on the top of your reading docket for 2016? Share in the comment section.

How Many Facts Are Too Many?

post by Michelle Griep

There are two trains of thought on the writing of historical fiction . . .

One is the tight-lipped, whack-your-knuckles-with-a-ruler, accurate-to-a-fault stance. Characters speak, act, and think in an era-appropriate sense. And doggone it they better wear period-correct underpants or your writerly goose is cooked. For the reader this kind of storytelling can be a tad cumbersome and – dare I say – boring.

The other style formulates motivations and dialogue using a more contemporary twist. No thee’s and thou’s. Women think and behave as if they’ve burned their bras. Men are pretty tame and kind of wussy. This can yank the reader right out of the historicity of the drama, making it nothing but a soap opera in petticoats.

So . . . which one is better? Yeah, right. That’s like a woman asking her husband if her dress makes her look fat because there is no easy answer.

But I’ll give it a whirl.

Historically accurate tales and those that take contemporary license are both valid in their own ways. The trick is to not veer too far one way or the other, to blend them seamlessly together.

The goal of a historical writer is to make the reader believe they’ve entered a new reality and keep them there, staying as true to the era as possible without beating the reader over the head with too many facts. This, my friends, is no task for the timid. In fact, it’s dang hard.

So next time you read a historical fiction book that you really love, drop the author a short note and pat them on the back. Trust me. They need it.

Happy 2016

It's a new year. Be awesome. Wear a helmet. And don't forget to call your mom. Or your therapist. Whatever.