Creating Characters: Defining Moments

This month’s Creating Characters is not only wildly off schedule (still getting used to parent time), but it’s also not necessarily just about creating a character. It’s about the defining moments that make a story what it is. The little details that suck you into the world and set the stage, the time period, the person.

For example, I was struck with inspiration (Thanks, in part, to Britt Skrabanek’s post “Thursday Night,” which you should absolutely check out) for the introduction to a short story. The only information I had were the details of the first sentence as it flew through my brain:

Toes curled over the edge of the cliff, little else matters.

This doesn’t tell us much, aside from it’s a person standing at the edge of the cliff who is struggling with something. I had no idea whether this character was male or female, or when this story was taking place. But the curiosity of the defining moment didn’t hit me until a few sentences later. At this point it was just me enjoying the flow of the words as I scribbled them on my legal pad. But as more of it emerged, the questions began to beg in my mind about who, what, and when.

Toes curled over the edge of the cliff, little else matters. The white-capped waves below crest to their peak before slamming into the jagged rocks. How very like life. I close my eyes as the wind whips across my face, my body, whipping my

Right there. The first defining moment. Whipping my what? Dress, perhaps, for a woman. Pants, maybe jeans? It could be trousers? The language, the right word needs to be used to fully define the time period here. The language defines the era, maybe even the precise year, but it’s necessary to suck the reader in.

I close my eyes as the wind whips across my face, my body, whipping my crimson dress about. Soft and smooth, it reminds me of the blood smearing between my toes, on the bottoms of my feet, and dripping from my fingertips.

More is defined here. The blood could define multiple things. It’s been established that this character is a woman, but the blood could be from many things. Maybe she’s wounded, or perhaps she partook in some kind of bloody tragedy. Maybe she’s a doctor or surgeon of some sort now standing at the cliff’s edge. It may not define the character or the location or the time period, but it creates that defining mystery that keeps the reader enticed.

…dripping from my fingertips. Between the blood up to my elbows and the cloth around my body I feel like I’ve turned inside out.

What does the act of the character feeling turned inside out define for you?

Rejected

My first attempt at some sort of traditional publication has ended in rejection, sadly. I wrote a post-apocalyptic short story entitled When The Last Soul is Claimed about the Grim Reaper’s fate after she claims the final soul on earth and submitted it to Tor, the short fiction imprint. After about three months of waiting I received a reply yesterday:

“Dear Mx. Stocking,

  Thanks so much for submitting to Tor.com, and for your patience while we evaluated your story. Unfortunately, “When The Last Soul is Claimed” is not quite right for us. I wish you the best of luck placing it elsewhere.

Best,
Tor.com Submissions Staff
(AM)”

I’m fairly certain the “Mx” was a typo.

Admittedly, I was somewhat confident that my short story was good enough, and due to the volume of submissions they get I’m quite sure they really aren’t able to provide any feedback. That being said, I still kept the idea of rejections as a prevalent outcome of this endeavor, and I’m certain that’s one of the reasons why receiving the email wasn’t soul crushing, nor was it painful. In fact, it provided me with a surprising amount of inspiration to get back to it, to move on, and shop my story around elsewhere. I made significant work on Wasteland Gods yesterday, and even surprised myself when one of my favorite characters met an untimely demise.

I’m ultimately surprised at my reaction to my first rejection, and I’m somewhat excited to hang the letter above my desk where I have no doubt others will join it. Rejection is an inevitable part of this business, and while self-publishing has reduced both the amount and severity of rejection I’ve received–so far, anyway–I’m confident that I’ll be able to land something somewhere as I work on transitioning to more traditional publication attempts.

Classics Kick

Since my declaration of decreased social media, I’ve decided that I need to read some more classics. The only real exposure I’ve had to them is what we were required to read in high school, and most of the time I didn’t do the required reading. I think there comes a certain level of reading maturity that we have to hit before we can appreciate certain books, and I just hadn’t hit it then. But now I’m more eager than ever to read them.

I have mixed feelings about the classics from a writing standpoint, one of which being that in order for us to keep up as much as possible with current writing trends, reading something as old as the classics won’t really keep our writing current. However, there is so much to be learned from reading the classics.

Classics teach us the tricks of the trade. They show us such exemplary fundamentals of writing, themes, and characters, and they often touch on such important topics that I think are often overlooked in today’s fiction of vampire romances. (On a side note, it’s interesting that, for me at least, comparing something to vampire romance books seems to be becoming a cliche.)

So, to start off my classics kick, I read Of Mice and Men, which was one of the books I think I read most of in high school, in its entirety Monday. One of the things I especially enjoy about classic books is that many of them have interesting introductions by professors and people of literature who briefly analyze and provide some insights into the book, which are fun to look for while reading.

Along the Erie Canal.

That leaves me with yesterday’s read. It was unusually warm, and the wind had been especially strong, but I couldn’t just sit in my apartment. Across the street, over a narrow trail line by two rows of trees, is the Erie Canal. Since my wife and I moved here in February, I’ve taken many walks alongside the Canal, weather permitting. There are paths on either side of it with benches and picnic tables and grills, so it’s really a nice spot that doesn’t get a ridiculous amount of traffic. I enjoy sitting and watching the boats, and oftentimes there are ducks passing by, so it’s really a peaceful spot to sit and, most recently, read.

So, yesterday, I went out and began my next classic read, The Scarlet Letter, which I’m enjoying. I’m told, mostly from the back cover, that it reveals a lot about the influence of New England’s past on American attitudes, which is something I recently got into. It’s interesting to see how the past influences the present, and can sometimes show the origins of present behaviors. Also, from what I read in the preface, this book was fueled by the death of Hawthorne’s mother, which apparently gave him a new sort of look at writing, and it launched him into an inspirational sprint unlike any he’d had before, since he’d somewhat unsuccessfully relied on writing short fiction.

Now comes the part where you can help! I’ve got my stack of classics, and I’d like for you guys to either recommend which book I read next and/or tell me which ones I need to get–as I know I’m really lacking good, classic books.

The book on the very bottom is a biography of Emma Goldman that I had to read for an old college history class but would like to re-read. I just happened to grab it with the rest of the classics collection.

The list includes:

• Of Mice and Men
• Pride and Prejudice
• Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
• Wuthering Heights
• A Tale of Two Cities
• The Wizard of Oz
• A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court
• To Kill a Mockingbird

Which classics are your favorite? Do you think classic books are still relevant in today’s constantly changing book marketplace?

Monday Recap: Rejection, Sales, Expansion

It’s interesting how sometimes, after receiving bad news, a whole lot of good news comes through.

I interviewed for a staff writer job at the newspaper I freelance for, and I found out yesterday that I didn’t get it. It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, seeing as how I’ve been writing for them for close to a year now, but I guess the powers-that-be at that newspaper have decided I wasn’t a good fit, but I’ll continue working as a freelance correspondent. So, not terrible news, but not good news, seeing as how I still have this degree and I’m not using it to its full potential.

However, yesterday some pretty cool things happened that seemed to outweigh that bad news, at least for now, anyway.

First, I sold some books, which  always makes my day better. Knowing that someone was interested enough in what I had to say, and knowing that I potentially have the chance to get a new fan, make someone else’s day better, and, who knows, maybe even change a life, is fantastic.

Second, selling books bumped up one of my Amazon sales ranks!

Not long after that, I discovered that both The Rotten Apple and Black Powder Brigade are available on the Barnes and Noble Website!

And, finally, this morning I discovered that I sold more books, bumping up my sales rank for The Crimson Apple even further.

Overall, what started off as a day that promised to be less-than-hopeful turned out to be not so bad after all. So, thank you to all my readers, to everyone who has bought, checked out, glanced at, and given my writing a chance. It’s because of you that I continue to do what I do, and that I will keep at it until I no longer can.

NOW AVAILABLE: THE CRIMSON APPLE

It’s here! It’s here! The prequel to The Rotten Apple (out March 22) is now available for the Kindle!

Get a little pre-Rotten-Apple action before the release here!

Why should you? Well, maybe I can entice you with a little description.

The city is seething with scumbags and slime balls. Darkness is not only a characteristic of night, but something the druggies and prostitutes and gangsters embody as they scour the city, selling drugs and sex and guns, keeping The Big Apple’s police force awake and churning at all hours. The filth of the city linger in dark alleys and hide in the shadows, lurking and plotting and scheming, trying to make their way in the dark city the best way they know how.

Naomi Blake, police officer for the NYPD, patrols the city with her partner, Rex, searching for the scum lingering in the shadows. Doing their duty to keep their city safe.

But, when a gruesome murder in a movie theater occurs, the city gets even darker. The Big Apple turns crimson.

Officer Blake must bring an end to the monster terrorizing the city, leaving only blood, pain, and death in his wake.

But at what cost?

I know, I know, exciting, right? Pick up a copy for just $0.99 and let me know what you think!

Brigantine Press – Publishing the Finest Written Art

I have taken on a new and exciting endeavor, which has given me another title to add to my constantly growing resume. A couple months ago I accepted the position of director of web development and marketing at Brigantine Press. The press is still new and we’re still developing everything and gathering content, but things are looking great. We’re working toward publishing our flagship publication, Steam Patriots, which I encourage all of you to check out. It promises to be amazing.

Brigantine Press is currently accepting submissions as well. We’re looking for anything and everything adventure, especially in the steampunk and fantasy genres. However, we’re open to just about any genre as long as it takes the reader on an amazing journey.

I’m greatly looking forward to working with Brigantine Press, and I hope to continue to increase my set of skills and develop them the best I can. I encourage everyone to check out Brigantine Press, as I know great things are going to come of it. We’re working with an exceptional artist who is coming up with some fantastic sketches for Steam Patriots that will really make the book truly amazing.

Climb aboard, friends. Adventure awaits.

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Websites:
Brigantine Press
Steam Patriots

Facebook:
Brigantine Press
Steam Patriots

Twitter:
Brigantine Press
Steam Patriots

Assassin’s Creed IV – I Can Stop Whenever I Want

Ima via Wikipedia.com

No, I really can’t.

I barely was able to pull myself away to write this post, because apparently it’s Tuesday.

Two out of four of my classes were cancelled yesterday, which means I went to none. It’s Assassin’s Creed’s fault.

This game is good. Really, really good. Every time you finish something, there’s something new to do right away. The sea combat is exceptional, the ships, the cannons, boarding enemy ships, saving sailors stuck at sea, all of it.

I haven’t written a word since I got the game on Valentine’s Day (a present from my lovely wife). And I’m wondering if I’ll go through semi-withdrawal when I’m at class tomorrow. I don’t think it’ll get to be that extreme, but it’s safe to say the game will be lingering in the back of my mind for most of the day.

However, now that I have pulled myself away and tapped out a few words on this here blog post, I imagine I should be able to get some fiction on the page, seeing as how I’m releasing a short story in a couple of weeks–Something you all should be looking forward to, because I’m really looking forward to you reading it–It’s going to be great.

In other news, I finished edits on The Rotten Apple. All that’s left is to format it, order the proof copy, and give it another read through.

Yes. Be excited. I sure am.

Receiving The Cover Before Writing The Story

I had been considering writing a short story taking place in the world of The Rotten Apple for some time now, but I had always figured I would write it after The Rotten Apple was published. Just to keep things fresh and new while I work on the book’s sequel, which is still currently untitled.

However, about two days ago I got hit with some inspiration, and I decided I was going to write a prequel short story called The Crimson Apple, taking place before the events in The Rotten Apple. And, alas, it was born. I had no idea what I was going to do about artwork for the cover. I set a release date for March 8 to prep and polish a 10,000 word short story, so I had better get something figured out quick.

And that’s exactly what I did. I had no trouble finding an image to use, and a short while later I had developed a cover:

And I have to say, I’m pretty proud of how this turned out. It’s close enough in resemblance to The Rotten Apple‘s cover to see they’re related, but I think their pretty easy to distinguish from each other.

This is also the first time I’ve ever had the cover of a story before actually writing it. Neil Gaiman mentions how the same thing happened to him with American Gods. He had a title and a cover, but no story.

So, now I just have to finish the story. I’m just shy of 2,000 words into it, and I like where it’s going. Here’s the description of it:

The city is seething with scumbags and slime balls. Darkness is not only a characteristic of night, but something the druggies and prostitutes and gangsters embodied as they searched the city, selling drugs and sex and guns, keeping The Big Apple’s police force awake and churning at all hours. The filth of the city lingered in dark alleys and hid in the shadows, lurking and plotting and scheming, trying to make their way in that dark city the best way they knew how.

Naomi Blake, police officer for the NYPD, patrols the city with her partner, Rex, searching for the scum lingering in the shadows. Doing their duty to keep their city safe.

But, when a killer starts leaving mutilated bodies as a calling card, the city gets even darker. The Big Apple turns crimson.

Officer Blake must bring an end to the monster terrorizing the city, leaving only blood, pain, and death in his wake.

But at what cost?

What do you think? I’m really excited to get it finished and out to the world! And I’m hoping it’ll get people even more excited for The Rotten Apple!

Novella? Short Novel? Does It Matter?

There are books of all sizes. Does its length and what you call it affect how marketable it is? (Image credit: Lynn Kelley Author via WANACommons.)

When I was writing my first novel, the now-retired ESTRA Corp., I had no idea about, well, anything writing related, really. I was just putting words on the page. I didn’t know about character or story arcs, the three-act structure (Which I sometimes believe to be a frivolous rule, depending on the story,) or word counts. I was just writing. Sometimes, I wish I could go back to that time. Everything seemed simpler. However, I know I’m a much better writer now than I was then, so I’ll take increased proficiency over ignorance any day.

Now, when I write, before I begin planning I consider what length of book I want to write. I use it as more of a guideline than anything else. I’ll set a goal to write a 50,000 word novel, and I may or may not reach that goal. I don’t put in extra fluff to reach my goals. I just tell the story. Or, well, tell and show the story, I suppose. Which brings me to my main point: You’ve written this manuscript, and it’s “x” number of words. Okay, so, what is it? Sure, it’s a book. It may be garbage or a masterpiece, but is it a novel? A novella? A novelette? I know the rules are pretty loose, and there is a basic guideline, and some of it depends on the genre in which you’re writing. But, I’m also curious from a marketing standpoint.

A few weeks ago I was perusing Facebook instead of writing, and someone mentioned they had written a novella and were wondering how to go about marketing it, or if it was even worth publishing a novella. Someone then responded by saying that they would sell more books by calling it a short novel instead of a novella.

I don’t know if I fully grasp that. So, because people see “short novel” instead of “novella”–two things that are essentially synonymous–people are more likely to click the “buy” button? I don’t know if I “buy” that (HA!). Does it really matter what we call our story, as long as it’s good? As long as we’ve done our job as writers and told a good story, does it matter if it’s a short story or novella or novel or epic novel? It’s a book with characters and plot and setting and conflict, what does it matter what we call it based on length? As long as it’s a good story, I don’t see how giving it a length-based identifier has any impact on how marketable the book is.

What about you? Do you buy books based on length? Does the “title” of its length impact what you perceive of it? Is a longer book better than a shorter book?

SUBMISSION CALL: Writers, Poets, Essayists, and Artists!

As some of you may know, I’m the publishing editor/book editor/and I format Kindle and print books for Eat Your Serial Press. Yeah, I wear a lot of hats. I like to stay busy.

Well, I’m announcing a new endeavor called “The Toast,” a literary magazine affiliated with Eat Your Serial Press. We’re looking for short stories (5,000 words or less), poems, essays, and art pieces along with features and interviews. We’ll also be looking to sell some ad space, but there will be more on that later.

We’re accepting fiction and non-fiction in all genres.

Submission Guidelines 

In the body of the email, please put:

Type of work (poem, short story, essay).
Title and genre of the work.
Word Count (Limit: 5,000 words).
Paste the story in the body of the email (No attachments, please).
You should receive a reply in no longer than two weeks. (Likely sooner).
Art pieces can be attached.

If you’re interested in submitting to “The Toast,” send an email to submissions.@maglomaniac.com with the subject “Toast Submission.” (It should already be filled in for you).

As far as compensation, we can’t afford to pay you just yet. However, your work will be published and available to the masses, and with your help we can turn “The Toast” into something truly awesome.

The magazine will be a high-quality .pdf download, fully interactive with links, making it easier for the readers to access more of your work.

You work hard to put out quality work, and we work hard to make sure people see it.

The first issue is due out in April, so we will be accepting submissions until March 15th.

If you have any questions, feel free to drop a comment below, or shoot me an email.

Thanks! And I look forward to seeing some excellent submissions.