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The Steve Laube Agency

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Home » Writing Craft » Page 19

Writing Craft

Fancy Schmancy!

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon April 25, 2013
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Isolated crown

I just saw a funny short video about how to go from boring to fancy. Examples included labeling the same bread as “bread” and then “artisan bread” and the identical “cheddar” as “aged cheddar.” I would have gone with “artisan” cheddar, myself. The last time our family dined in a restaurant with my in-laws in Connecticut, “Cheese made by Vermont artisans,” was offered as an appetizer.

How about adding letters to an ordinary word? An example: Ye Olde Shoppe. Would you rather shoppe there than shop at Nordstrom?

Does drinking water out of a crystal goblet make the water seem fancier than drinking the same water out of an everyday glass?

How about paying money for water that comes bottled instead of from the tap? I have read articles that claim some bottled water is, in reality, tap water. I don’t know if that’s true.

Since I’m a literary agent, I’m always about two steps from putting just about anything into the context of books. As I watched the video, I couldn’t help but think about character markers. How “fancy” are your characters? Is your current WIP populated with suburbanites paying plenty to dine on artisan cheese or cowgirls sprinkling store-brand shredded cheddar on tuna casserole they made themselves? I suppose this example comes to mind since though I’m not a cowgirl, I’ll be sprinkling lots of Harris Teeter shredded cheddar on my homemade tuna casserole tonight.

Better yet, how do you keep your character markers fresh? The “beat-up Chevy” is an easy marker for a character of limited means, but I don’t find it especially original. Neither is a rich person driving a Ferrari. Give me character markers — yes. Those are great shortcuts to show us your character’s values. But don’t just give a rich character a Rolex, Dolce and Gabbanna perfume, Bulgari sunglasses, Christian Louboutin shoes, a Prada purse, a Bentley, and a Tiffany ring. Likewise, don’t just give your poor characters clunker cars. You can, but perhaps also let us know that Dad gave them the car as a graduation present. And away from the car issue, you might show us how creative they are with thrift store and yard sale finds. Or perhaps show the character spending where she needs to spend and being thrifty when she can. Perhaps she splurged on a string of cultured pearls or gold hoop earrings on sale at the local family jeweler, and wears them every day as a signature.

Beautiful-fox-stole-ready-for-web1Even more interesting is why those markers mean something to the character. For instance, when I was a little girl, Grandma Hancock liked to wear a fox stole. The kind where the foxes bite each others’ tails. 

My mother thinks it’s creepy. But my grandmother left it to me in her will because I was always so fascinated with the stole when I was a little girl. I don’t wear the stole, despite my husband’s jokes I should wear it to the ACFW banquet, but it means a lot to me.

vintage-1960-s-wool-tweed-coat-with-fox-fur-collarMy other grandmother, “Precious,” gave me two coats with fox fur collars. I don’t wear them because the cut and colors are out of style, but they mean a lot to me. Why? Not only are they from my grandmothers, but the items represent luxury enjoyed by rural women who were richer in love than money.

If you give a character a possession marker, say, a Rolex watch, why does he own it? Is because the name is famous and he has recently become wealthy? Or did his father own a Rolex? Or three?

Or does your hero wear a Timex and wouldn’t buy a Rolex if he had the money? Or he has the money but chooses to not to buy traditional markers of the wealthy?

Let me give a word of caution on characters with designer knockoffs. The fashion industry considers knockoffs a form of stealing. By “knockoff” I do not mean a Chanel-inspired bag your character bought at Macys. I refer to an item that’s a direct imitation, meant to deceive.

Of course, you never want to get too bogged down with your characters’ possessions. But having her share a story about a key item can be fun and enlightening. Just like learning about a real-life friend you want to know.

Your turn:

Do you wear a signature piece of jewelry or perfume? Have you thought of giving a character this type of marker?

What is the most memorable character marker you have seen?

In the context of a great story, do you prefer to read about characters who are extremely rich or extremely poor?

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Category: Craft, Creativity, Tamela, Writing CraftTag: Characters, Craft, Writing Craft

I DID Finish Your Book…and I Plan to Read it Again!

By Karen Ballon April 24, 2013
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After reading Steve’s and Tamela’s thought-provoking blogs on why they don’t finish books, I decided to talk about the flip-side. I totally agree with all that Steve and Tamela said. I’m not among the camp that has to finish a book once I've started it. But what a delight it is to find a book that I not only want to finish, but that I wish would never end. Those are rare treasures that live on my …

Read moreI DID Finish Your Book…and I Plan to Read it Again!
Category: Craft, Creativity, Karen, Writing CraftTag: Books, Craft, Writing Craft

I Didn’t Finish Reading Your Book, Either

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon April 18, 2013
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Followers of this blog know that on Monday, Steve Laube wrote a superb post on why he doesn't finish reading certain books.  I have stopped reading certain books for those same reasons. And for different reasons.

Beginnings

When I was in grade school, one of my mentors said always give a book at least one chapter, preferably three, before giving up. I have followed that rule on any book I …

Read moreI Didn’t Finish Reading Your Book, Either
Category: Craft, Tamela, Writing CraftTag: Books, Craft, Writing Craft

Refine Your Focus

By Karen Ballon March 20, 2013
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Let’s talk about Focus.

I like Webster’s definitions:

Focus (noun)
a : adjustment (as of the eye or an eyepiece) for distinct vision
b : the position in which something must be placed (as in relation to a camera lens) for clearness of image or clarity of mental perception
: a central point: as
a : a center of activity or attraction or one drawing the greatest attention and …

Read moreRefine Your Focus
Category: Book Business, Career, Craft, Creativity, Karen, Writing CraftTag: Career, Focus, Writing Craft

Why Your Agent May Slow You Down

By Tamela Hancock Murrayon March 14, 2013
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Your agent may slow you down.

And this is good!

And, why is that?

I've been a writer myself, so I understand the frustration you must be feeling as you read my words. Who wants to slow down? Believe me, when I was waiting for my first book to be published, I only half-joked that it would be released posthumously. So I understand that writers don't want to wait another ten minutes to see …

Read moreWhy Your Agent May Slow You Down
Category: Agents, Book Proposals, Career, Get Published, TamelaTag: Agents, Get Published, Writing Craft

Get Focused

By Karen Ballon March 13, 2013
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Listen.

Do you hear it?

Voices… all around you…thoughts and opinions on the state of publishing, on what sells and what doesn’t, on good ideas and bad…words zipping back and forth in the ether. Write this. Write that. This is how you market. This is the key to platform. Buzz words. Marketing. Blogging. Craft. Deep POV. Are you Pinning? Tweeting? Linked-in? Google plussed? Skilled in …

Read moreGet Focused
Category: Craft, Karen, Writing CraftTag: Focus, Writing Craft

Editing 101 – My Turn

By Karen Ballon January 23, 2013
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Thanks for all the great comments and conversation on what needed to be edited in the text I posted in my last blog (Editing 101 - Y0ur Turn). You all made some great observations!

Below you’ll find the edited text. I tried doing it in Track Changes, which is what I usually use to edit a manuscript, but the blog server didn’t like that much. So I’ve made the edits red (think the dreaded red …

Read moreEditing 101 – My Turn
Category: Craft, Editing, Karen, Writing CraftTag: Editing, Writing Craft

Editing 101 – Your Turn

By Karen Ballon January 9, 2013
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I’ve had a number of writers ask me if I can show an edited page from a manuscript, so they can learn from it. So that seems a fun way to start out the New Year. But what I want to do is let YOU take a turn as an editor first. So here, for your editing pleasure, is something I wrote just for this occasion. Print this out, put on your editing hat, and go for it. I’ll post the edited text next week, …

Read moreEditing 101 – Your Turn
Category: Craft, Editing, Grammar, Karen, Writing CraftTag: Editing, Writing Craft

What’s on Your Desk? (Part Three)

By Karen Ballon November 7, 2012
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Welcome back to my desk! (No, the picture above is not my desk...it is a cool piece of art designed by Dutch artist Job Koelewijn.) In the first two installments of this blog we covered writing books and grammar books. Now it’s time for some of my true favs: WORD books. Yes, books on words. Those wonderful collections of the odd and the antiquated, the eloquent and the literate, the hilarious and …

Read moreWhat’s on Your Desk? (Part Three)
Category: Craft, Karen, Writing CraftTag: Craft, Resources, Writing Craft

What’s On Your Desk? (Part Two)

By Karen Ballon October 17, 2012
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Last week I told you about my writing books, those valued, printed friends who’ve gone through this writing/editing/agenting journey with me. This week, I want to introduce you to some buddies that are too often ignored. Or avoided. Or cursed.

Yes, my friends, I’m talking about grammar books.

I, too, am less than delighted with grammar. However, I’m delighted by the following books that are …

Read moreWhat’s On Your Desk? (Part Two)
Category: Craft, Grammar, Karen, Writing CraftTag: Grammar, Writing Craft
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