Monkey See, Monkey Do

photo courtesy of IMDb

I saw the movie Thor last night. Besides the fact that it stars Chris Hemsworth (whew, is it hot in here?), this is one fantastic two-thumbs-up movie. Drop what you're doing and go see it. What? You're still here? No, really. Go ahead. I'll wait.

You may be a bit skeptical as to why I'm shilling for Hollywood on my blog. No, I don't have an uncle in the biz. The thing is that this movie, as in any memorable book, employs the perfect balance of tension, action, and humor. Just when you think you can't take another horrific plot twist that ups the danger, bam! A one-line zinger makes you laugh, or a ridiculous scene sideswipes you and you can't help but smile.

Good reads are like that as well. Intense scenes are magnified via the light of a quirky character or some snarky banter. Dark isn't really dark unless it's compared to light. Tension isn't felt as acutely unless it's contrasted with moments of tranquility. The trick is to keep the reader breathing. You can't keep them holding their breath with danger or they'll pass out...but neither should you lull them into a coma with no action.

A motion picture is worth a thousand of my words. So, if you want to write a stunning story, set your writing down and go watch Thor like a good little monkey. Then mimic what you learn.

A Shopping We Will Go

I've got 2 book signings coming up next week. Seems like as good a reason as any to go shopping...right?

Tidbit: Villain

What does a bad guy look like? Sometimes it's hard to tell. How many people who've lived next door to a serial killer say, "He was the nicest fella! I can't believe it! Why, just the other day he brought me over a plate of chocolate chip cookies." Just goes to show that not every thug has an evil leer and shifty eyes.

But the bad boy in my latest work sure does.

Rudolpho Vasquez is a hardened criminal, high up in the Mexican drug cartel. He's the kind of dude who kills puppies just for fun. So, which ugly mug gets your vote to play the part of Vasquez? Leave your vote in the comment section.

Creepy Guy #1

Creepy Guy #2

Creepy Guy #3

A Dollah Makes Me Hollah...How Bout You?

There's a chill in the air. Time to heat some apple cider, grab a blankie, and curl up with a good book...

And have I got one for you!

Spread the word. 

TODAY ONLY you can get 

A HEART DECEIVED for only $0.99! 

Run on over to Vyrso Christian Ebooks and scoop up your copy right now. What's that? You already own an ebook version? No worries. Just pass this info on to one of your buddies. If they buy a copy, email me with your snail mail addresses and and I'll send you both some tea. Then you really can get all snuggly and enjoy autumn with a great gothic read. Here's a blurb:

Miri Brayden teeters on a razor's edge between placating and enraging her brother, whom she depends upon for support. Yet if his anger is unleashed, so is his madness. Miri must keep his descent into lunacy a secret, or he'll be committed to an asylum-and she'll be sent to the poorhouse. 

Ethan Goodwin has been on the run all of his life-from family, from the law ... from God. After a heart-changing encounter with the gritty Reverend John Newton, Ethan would like nothing more than to become a man of integrity-an impossible feat for an opium addict charged with murder. 

When Ethan shows up on Miri's doorstep, her balancing act falls to pieces. Both Ethan and Miri are caught in a web of lies and deceit-fallacies that land Ethan in prison and Miri in the asylum with her brother. Only the truth will set them free.

Suck It Up and Move On

Like other moms with little kids, I used to haul my ducklings to the park. It didn't take long to notice my parenting skills were a little, umm, different. When Susie ran to her mommy wailing about how it wasn't fair Johnny got to swing first, Susie's mommy wiped her tears and stomped over to Johnny's mommy. Negotiations flew hot and heavy until princess Susie landed her royal heinie in the swing.

When my kid came to me whining about unjust swinging arrangements, I told him, "Life's full of disappointments, kid. Suck it up. Move on."

Was I a bad mom? Yeah, probably. I've got to trust that God gave me my specific little mammals for a reason. However, should my offspring decide to enter an illustrious writing career, they'll be leagues ahead of little Susie, because the writing game is saturated with disappointment.

Writers are disappointed about a gazillion things. A plot that's stuck. Characters they can't revive no matter how hard they puff air into their lungs. The lack of a contract. Book sales. The frozen pizza they'll be having for dinner tonight.

You don't have to like disappointment, but you do have to experience it. There is a flip side to this depressing coin, however...

"Our best successes often come

after our greatest disappointments."

~ Henry Ward Beecher

Perseverance is key. Don't let discouragement stop you from moving forward, word by word. The only way out is through. Yeah, I know. That's sooo cliche, but completely true. Hang in there, little buddies, and keep writing!

And if someone gets to the swing ahead of you, get over it. Swings are overrated anyway. Go break a bone or two on the monkey bars and you'll have some war stories to swap around the fire when you're old and gray.

Rah! Rah! Write!

So. November 1st came and went. The Nanowrimo train pulled out of the station, and here I stand, suitcase in hand, looking down the tracks...with zero words under my belt. Kind of makes a girl want to run home and drown in a quart of Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey.

If you're one of those who are a day late and dollar short to the Nano party, you're not alone. Just because you haven't written 10k words by now does NOT mean you shouldn't start. Huddle up, team. This here is your pep talk.

Don't panic if your story isn't all mapped out. 
You should know your beginning, the end, and 3 major events that lead to the climax. Any more than that is nice, but don't let it stop you from starting your story. Getting bogged down in all the details can suck the life out of your creativity.

You get ideas when you write;

you don't just write down ideas.

Michael C. Munger

There's nothing magic about 50k.
Don't get me wrong...I'm not dissing the Nanowrimo goal. It's a noble effort. But (and I've always got a big but) pumping out words for the sake of pumping out words sometimes makes for major editing nightmares later on. Stretch yourself as far as you can by reaching for a high word count, but don't slit your wrists if you don't make it. What's realistic for you? I'm a happy camper if I do 600 a day.

This isn't a measure of your talent or ability.
Think about it. You could simply type the words "I wanna be a unicorn" 10,000 times and ding-ding-ding-ding we have a winner! Really? I think not. Nano isn't the master of your writerly gifts. God is. Don't confuse the two.

Writers write.
Do you really want to be a writer? Then write. It's that simple. 'Nuff said.

Get out on the field, team. It's never too late to begin a new story or even finish up one that you've started (which is what I'm doing). Adjust your goals if need be, but today make sure you write something.

Meet Author Shannon McNear