proof positive

How To Destroy Action and Suspense Scenes

You’re reading an action scene; things are really getting hot. Who will live? Will someone die? Is there a chase that’s moving like lightning?

You’re reading a suspense scene; it’s really intense. Will the protagonist be discovered? Will the escapee be recaptured? Can the girl find a weapon in time before her pursuer breaks through the door?

Scenes like this can be gripping, soaring along and carrying readers on the wind with them. But sometimes writers make a fatal mistake – slowing the action without realizing it by adding one of two little words; the four-letter words of action scenes: “next” and “then”. It can get even worse – by adding a comma after either of them.

Here’s what we mean.

Josie cringed behind the sofa as the door handle jiggled violently. Then she saw the silhouette of a large man through the door’s frosted glass pane. Next she looked for a way out, but there were no windows in the room. Then she heard the door frame crack as the man forced his way in. The next thing she needed to do was to look for a weapon – anything to defend herself. Then she saw a baseball bat standing in the corner, and she knew it was better than nothing. She then moved as quickly but as quietly as possible toward the bat, just as the door gave way.

“Next” and “then” are two of the most often-used, scene-slowing words we’ve edited out. Now, you might be saying, “No one would write like that!” But we can tell you that as editors, we’ve seen plenty of scene-slowing passages just like that.

It’s not that the authors can’t write well, because they can and do – it’s just that sometimes action scenes are written in what seems like thought-process-outline form, as if the writer was thinking it through as s/he wrote it: Let’s see, first Josie cringes, then she sees the silhouette, next she would look for an escape, then she would… You get the idea. That’s fine for outlining, but not for the final copy.

Let’s remove those action-slowing words and see what we get.

Josie cringed behind the sofa as the door handle jiggled violently. The silhouette of a large man came into focus eerily through the door’s frosted glass pane. Frantically she looked for a way out, but there were no windows in the room. Suddenly the door frame cracked; the man was forcing his way in. Josie looked around wildly for a weapon – anything to defend herself. Her eyes landed on a baseball bat standing in the corner; it was better than nothing. Moving quickly but quietly toward the bat, she grabbed it just as the door gave way.

Removing action-slowing words opens up – practically demands – a rewrite or rewording of some sentences, making them less wordy, more intense and faster paced. It’s well worth the effort.

Don’t have the time or inclination for edits and revisions? Proof Positive is happy to help!

RELAUNCH: Horizon by William Lloyd

RELAUNCH: Horizon by William Lloyd

Horizon is a book on our must-read list, especially now that it has been relaunched by author William Lloyd. Not only does his sci-fi book have a new cover, it has an extended ending! This debut novel is very personal for William; he merged his own experiences and darkest times with science fiction to develop a strong first book (according to his ratings!) as well as a thirst to write more. Keep your eyes out for this up-and-coming star.

~~~

Is this your first book? How long did it take you to plan it before you began writing it?

Horizon is the first book that I published back in May 2014. I’m actually looking to relaunch it with an extended ending and new cover design.

I was jotting down ideas for Horizon back in 2008, but I never really started writing it until 2010. Then it took me about four years to actually put together the book and have it ready for publishing. During that time frame, I was actually an Assistant Produce Manager for a grocery chain so I kind of had my hands full at the time.

Is this a commentary on the sentient/intelligent technology being forced into our everyday lives and our military?

The story as a whole goes into enemies within the government. For the most part though, you don’t see this until later on. Right now, it’s more of a story about a man trying to discover what happened to his Navy father. Think of it as military men being claimed dead, but actually are still alive because the government doesn’t want any relatives interacting with them.

The main character, Aaron Lambright, is someone who has some common issues: alcoholism and unemployment. Was part of the point of this novel to speak to people with the same issues and deliver the message that even with their problems, they can be heroes in some respect?

Aaron Lambright was me when I was about 19 or 20 years old. I had a failed relationship that continued to just eat at me every single day. I ended up crawling into one of the darkest realms of my own consciousness and didn’t want to come back out ever again. My life was filled with poor decisions when I was younger and what happens with Aaron is the symbolism of my life during that time period.

My message when writing this novel was exactly that. It’s better to meet your calling halfway and pursue it than to constantly feel dead inside because unfavorable events brought you to that dark place.

What kinds of changes have you made for the relaunch of Horizon? Will people who already read it find anything new in the re-release?

Well, there will be an extended ending for all those that felt the ending didn’t live up to their expectations. I have to admit, the cliffhanger was a bit too out of this world for a first novel, but it was a gamble with good and bad effects. Also, there will be a new cover.

Judging by your Amazon reviews, your readers would love to know when the next book in the series is coming out. Do you have an approximate date for them to look forward to?

Currently, I am still piecing together Eversoul. I’m about halfway done with it, and I’d like to have it out by March 2016

Do you mostly write science fiction or do you dabble in other genres? If so, which ones?Horizon

I am currently playing with an epic fantasy called The Temperament Scepter. It’s a trilogy, but I also have spinoff trilogies that will be released after the final novel Resurrection has been released.

I also have been working on a horror/suspense called Afterlife: What Happens Next.

What do you think makes your work stand apart from other works in your genre?

The one comment I hear a lot from my reader is my description. I guess the way I portray my stories through each chapter is almost like a movie. I do my very best to have all the senses present in each scene. Also, I tend to tell the story of the villains throughout the novel to have some kind of relatability for my readers.

What is the significance of the cover picture?

The cover of Horizon had to do with politics, corruption, and love. The glass of whiskey on the cover was a representation of the clouded judgement of the government, while the red lace panties were a sense of deception in Aaron’s life with his relationship. The letter was more of a metaphor for the lost soldiers that don’t always make it home and how the deception, corruption, and judgement can lead to the loss of good and brave men.

Is there anything in your life that inspired you to write Horizon, or was this purely from your imagination?

The first half of the novel was about my pathetic life when I started the book. Ha-ha! The ending was more of my imagination with all the different worlds and aliens out there in the universe.

Are any of the characters in your book based on people you know or have seen/talked to in real life?

In the beginning, it all had to do with my relationship with a girl. I eventually found myself writing about my perception of what was going on in politics and how it could affect us 100 years later. I tried to write about some experiences I had with people in my own life like the sentimental talks Aaron has with his Uncle Ron because that was the relationship I had with my uncle at the time. And still do.

I think as far as Aaron’s family goes, I wanted to portray the feeling I had with my own family. I’d say sometimes we feel distant from our parents once we leave home and our relationship drifts apart. Although Aaron’s father was a bit of a drunk as well, I never experienced that with my father. I only used the distance I felt with him at that particular time. I wrote a few scenes about Aaron’s mother more about teaching and pain. This served the point that I have a close bond to my mom, but sometimes we do have our arguments.

Aaron’s brother Lance was added later on because there was a separation between my sister and me. I felt like we didn’t know each other well and it was hard to connect to her as a brother. I created Lance as a way to show the adventurous life that my sister may not know she is actually living right now metaphorically.

Now, as far as Abigail, she is the relationship I have with my current fiancé, which is much better than the relationship I had with the girl I was with back then. Now, I use symbolism with the Chanda II to create the effect of the hell I was living through with my ex.

What inspires you to write? Music? Other books? Real life events? Just an incredible imagination?

Just an incredible imagination. Ha-ha! When I wrote music, I did it because it made me feel good. I enjoyed touching the strings on the guitar and feeling the warm tones leave my throat when I sang. Most of the lyrics I wrote were real life events. As far as books, my life is implanted in every page.

Are you part of any writers’ groups? If so, what do you like about them? How do they help you or inspire you? If not, why not?

Currently, I’m with a group of writers called the #Awethors. I really do enjoy this group because they help each other out in this kind of work. There are never any dull moments with these guys especially because all of us are going through the same experience with writing.

I think they’ve inspired me to not think so much about my own writing but to expand my reading to other genres. These guys have really created an environment where we can all listen and act like adults, especially with certain topics.

Do you plan your writing out with outlines, character development exercises, and other pre-writing activities? Or do you just write as it comes to you?

When I write fantasy, I actually draw maps and outline all of my characters. Then I create about a ten page timeline of each event that happens in each book. I actually describe my outlining procedure on my blog. Now, when it comes to horror/suspense, I normally let whatever is on my mind find its way on paper. I don’t outline those because I think raw ideas bring out crazier ideas.

Did you do any research for Horizon?

The only research I did was about Australia and Alaska. I also sat down and watched politics not work for almost four years.

Do you read the kinds of books you like to write? Do you watch movies similar to or the same genre as your writing?

I read different kinds of books to get an idea of how to write those genres. I read a lot of “Walking Dead” comic books because I’m just a huge fan of Robert Kirkman. I also read Stephen King and Steve Alten with their horror stories. I guess as far as horror I read books.

Anything fantasy, I watch The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, and any dystopian movie that’s out right now. Also, video games have been a huge motivator to write because the storylines are amazing in some of the science fiction and fantasy games.

If you could write anywhere in the world – in a fictional or nonfiction place – where would you write?

I would write underneath a glass dome beneath the Pacific Ocean. I have always loved being underwater and going to aquariums. If I could write at the bottom of the ocean, I think it could bring about many ideas that I didn’t even know I had.

~~~

1939913_10151920798247477_463323191_nWilliam Lloyd has a home in Atlanta, Georgia, where he enjoys spending his days playing music and watching football. His specialty genres are horror and suspense as well as science fiction/fantasy. He released his first novel Horizon in May 2014 and is currently working on a new novella called Afterlife: What Happens Next. He loves playing golf, video games on PlayStation 3, and reading horror novels in the evenings. He attended college at the Art Institute of Atlanta, where he studied Audio and Video Production.

Links:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/willlloyd15

Blog: www.williamlloydjr.wordpress.com

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Horizon-William-Lloyd-ebook/dp/B00MD4U3YE/

Supernatural Spelling Mistake

This product will haunt your lips forever. As seen in an advertisement for lip butter:

Screen Shot 2014-12-09 at 10.04.29 AM

“Supernatural” is a word, which is why software probably didn’t pick it up. Be careful with your spelling!

‘You should write a book…’ Guest Post by Maurice G. Miller

A few months ago, I had the pleasure of being consulted on a new author’s debut book cover. We exchanged a few messages on Goodreads and ended up talking quite a bit more about writing and publishing. Maurice Miller, author of the recently released The Budapest Experiment, is an active, sociable writer you’ll want to get to know. Why not start here?

~~~

When sharing life experiences that are perhaps out of the norm, interesting, or compelling, how many of us have heard the phrase ‘You should write a book…’? Having always considered taking on this challenge, I finally decided to dedicate myself to this monumental task. It has been a long, interesting journey so far, and I look forward to both the trials and successes to come as I continue on my writing/publishing career.

In the early 1990s one of my entrepreneurial ventures led me to working as a trade consultant in Hungary. At that time, the country was transitioning from a state to market economy and offered many business opportunities. In the 2+ years that I travelled there, I met lots of characters in both the business and political arenas. The Budapest night life could get quite crazy at times, if your ‘meetings’ and social engagements led you to certain places. For me it was always interesting ‘playing games with the faces’, as Simon and Garfunkle would put it. Sometimes my colleagues would identify people in a crowded room, saying ‘I heard he is associated with the Mob’ or ‘she is one of the Organization’s women.’ It was these real life experiences that inspired me to write my debut fictional novel, The Budapest Experiment.

The book follows the journey of the protagonist, Michael Rousson, an adventurous but struggling American entrepreneur. While Michael shares a lot of the same traits as I did budapest experiment cover photoback then, most of his experiences in Budapest are quite different than what mine were. In the course of doing business he eventually becomes involved in the Russian Mob’s business operations that were centered in Budapest. Enticed and seduced by the Organization’s women, money, and power, he accepts what he thinks is a part-time consulting position with the Mob.

Inspired by things I dealt with back then, philosophical dilemmas evolve as Michael gets a remote glimpse into the darker worlds of sex, drugs, and arms trafficking. ‘At what price does one sell their soul?’ and ‘What is the greater evil in the world? Those that profit from the vulnerable in society, or those of us that just stand by and watch, complacent to the plight and suffering of the human condition around the world.’ The experiences and encounters that the protagonist endures in the book are fictional and extreme, but these questions are ones that we face ourselves, to some extent, every day. How much of our resources of time, treasure, and talent do we allocate to those less fortunate vs. what we keep for our own benefit and pleasures?

On what you might call a lighter note, I should mention that there are erotica scenes in the book. As a newbie author, my decision to include these was a bit of a struggle. I considered glazing over these scenes, but in the end I felt it was important to capture the intimacy between Michael, the ‘Mob women’, and a flirty interpreter. My hope was that by including the details of these encounters, readers would better comprehend the internal conflicts of the main character as well as familarize themselves with the behind-the-scenes life stories of the women he encounters.

Special thanks to Christie for inviting me to guest blog.

~~~

maurice miller headshotThe Budapest Experiment is now available in Print and Kindle eBook. You can check it out here: http://amzn.to/1z1g09v. There are 3+ chapters in the ‘Look Inside’ feature on the Kindle page to help you get acquainted.

You can gets lots more info including my author profile, blog, entry to win one of 15 free eBook copies on June 1, social media contacts, and much more by visiting my website www.mauricegmiller.com.

For those of you on Goodreads, be sure to watch for my second giveaway of 3 authographed author copies starting on Friday May 29. You can check my Goodreads author profile http://bit.ly/1DO6y6k and while you are there please send a friend request.

Thanks.

– Maurice

Do your words serve your story – or do they serve you?

by Anita Stratos, Proof Positive editor

Picture this: you’re craving apple pie – one of those “just gotta have it” days – so you go to your favorite café and order up a slice.

Your mouth waters when the server puts your pie in front of you, but when you look closer, you see cranberries, blueberries and pecans mixed with a few apples inside a coconut crust.

“What’s this?” you ask your server with disappointment. “I just wanted a simple apple apple piepie.”

“That’s our pastry chef’s version of apple pie,” she answers. “He likes to stretch his creative culinary muscle.”

Do you think you got what you ordered? Or did you get a more complex dessert, a berry-apple-nut pie with a unique crust? The chef promised apple pie on the menu, but he loaded it up with lots of other things and topped it off in a nontraditional way.

While that gourmet pie might be delicious and welcome on any other night, this time you wanted apple pie and trusted what was written on the menu. So even though the recipe might win a James Beard award, it’s most unwelcome and unappreciated by you at this moment.

Two things went wrong here, and the same things can go wrong with your writing, too.

First, don’t promise something in your title, cover image, or book blurb that you don’t deliver in your story. A book blurb that describes a fantasy novel but delivers a romance is bound to get bad reviews. Your writing may be superb, but you attracted the wrong audience.

The first takeaway: Don’t write “apple pie” on the menu when you’re crafting a multi-berry-apple-nut coconut-crusted pie.

Second, write your prose in a way that best serves your story, not in a complex way that doesn’t match the story or reflect something within the book or character(s). Unnecessarily complex writing gets very tiresome very quickly, slows readers down, and could sound pretentious.

The second takeaway: Serve apple pie to people who love apple pie, and save the gourmet blends for a different audience.

Dear Authors: My Editing Education and Experience

Dearest authors,

I’ve heard the question time and time again: what qualifies me to be an editor and own an editing company? I’ve gotten many questions about my education and my experience, so here’s a video in which I talk about all of it, from my alma mater (Lebanon Valley College) and college jobs to my real-world experience. While I was at it, I filmed some footage of my college campus and the buildings I spent most of my time in, going to classes, studying, and working.

I hope you enjoy learning a little more about me, and please feel free to ask any other questions you may have about Proof Positive!

– Owner of Proof Positive, Christie Stratos

(If you cannot see the video on this page, please click here: https://youtu.be/K3JrSv6zL5I)

Awethors Event: Why I Love Supporting Indie Authors

Get Down With The Awethors co-creator D.M. Cain graciously suggested that I should do an interview too. As I haven’t published a full book yet, I thought I’d take her up on it in a different way: by telling you why I love all of you.

Indie authors have something really special about them: a sense of community. Why is this so special? Because even though we’re all technically competing with each other, we put that behind us as something that doesn’t need to be acknowledged, as something that is really not the point, and instead we focus on supporting each other. Where else can you find a sense of community that strong?

We exchange books, we give honest reviews, we spread the word on social media for each other, we comment on each other’s work before it’s published. There’s no end to indie authors’ generosity, and it always makes my day to see indie authors working together. Events like the Awethors Facebook event help us not only connect with readers but network with each other. And those relationships last forever.

Just a few of the amazing authors Proof Positive has interviewed and some of the books we’ve worked on!

One of the reasons I started my editing business is to help indie authors succeed, not only through editing but through exposure. I have read some of the most incredible books by indie authors, and I’ve found that I end up reading bestselling traditionally published books mostly to keep up with publishing trends – not because they’re better. This was a big eye opener for me when I first discovered it, and I hope to help open other readers’ eyes  to the fantastic talent right in front of them.

Congratulations to all of you who have had the ambition and courage to publish your own books or even get your start by publishing your own books. I hope to join the ranks of such an awesome group soon.

~~~

Christie Stratos headshotChristie Stratos is an editor and award-winning writer who holds a degree in English Literature. An avid reader of all genres and world literature, Christie reads everything from bestsellers to classics to indies, and is an audiobook reviewer at AudioBookReviewer.com. She is also a writer of short stories, poetry – some of which have already been published – and upcoming novels. She dabbles in all genres.

Connect with Christie

Author website and blog
Twitter
Google+
Pinterest
Goodreads
YouTube
LinkedIn
AudioBookReviewer profile (scroll down!)

Connect with Proof Positive

Facebook
Twitter (same as my personal one!)
Google+
LinkedIn
AUTHORSdb

Confessions of a Binge Word Writer

by Anita Stratos, Proof Positive Editor

I have a confession to make. I’m a binge word writer. I tend to binge on certain words or phrases when writing a first draft like they were my favorite flavor of ice cream. In fact, if the first draft of my writing was ice cream, I’d weigh 500 pounds by now.

That’s because I tend to use a particular word or phrase (or both) repeatedly, as if it’s the only way to describe a certain attitude, action, feeling, whatever. In one first draft, “raised eyebrows” were flying all over the fictitious town; in another, “sideways glances” stole the scenes. Yikes.

The binge words that attach themselves to my brain are different with every manuscript I write. For some reason, different stories bring out different binges. So it’s not like I can just watch out for a particular word or phrase with each manuscript. It’s always a surprise binge – the ice cream attacks me rather than me attacking it.

sad-laptop

Your laptop doesn’t want to read the same words over and over again either.

Train-of-thought writing is like that for me. And while anything goes in a first draft, those repetitions have to be replaced by more creative terms during the revision process.

Repetitions aren’t always obvious during the writing process because I’m so focused on the overall work or so engrossed in writing a scene. And that’s what’s most important with a first draft – getting those thoughts on paper without stopping to edit (something particularly difficult for me; the editor in me always tries to strong-arm the writer in me). But when rereading during that first revision, those binges pop off the page like hot pink Mexican jumping beans.

And that’s when the real work begins. Because sometimes a binge word just seems so perfectly suited in each and every place it appears that it’s hard to imagine any other word doing as good of a job.

At that point I have to step back from the writing and sometimes even act the dialogue or situation out, which can really help open the door for a better descriptive. In fact, sometimes the entire scene can benefit from my little impromptu plays because another dimension to the story or scene may reveal itself, or a character may surprise me with a new attitude or perspective.

You’re probably thinking, “Why doesn’t she just use a thesaurus?” Well, I do use an expanded thesaurus, but it still doesn’t always give me what I need, especially when it comes to phrases. But as a last resort, I’ll check the words it offers just in case it jumpstarts my brain.

And if that doesn’t work, I send my revised, best-as-I-can-get-it draft complete with binge words to my editor and let her work it out. 😉 (Thanks, Christie!)

Meet Author Susan Mills Wilson

Here at Proof Positive, we’re huge fans of books that have something for everyone. Susan Mills Wilson’s latest book, Her Lying Eyes, has it all: suspense, romance, mystery, murder, politics, and lies – lots of them. If you’re looking for a book you can convince all your friends to read before you get together for lunch, you’ve found “the one”. Something tells me a lot of book clubs will be starting up once you discover this book. Be sure to check it out, but first read on to find out more about Wilson herself and how she develops characters and storylines that will have you reading far past your bedtime.

~~~

How long did it take you to plan Her Lying Eyes before you began writing it?

I worked out the plot in my head about two months before I began writing a single word. I knew which direction I wanted to take it and who would be the main characters to carry the plot. Crazy as it sounds, I feel it’s important for me to develop a relationship with my imaginary characters so I will know how they will interact with each other and how they will react to situations, good or bad.

Do you mostly write in this particular genre or do you dabble in other genres? If so, which ones?

I also like to write romantic short stories. They’re always feel-good reads where the boy gets the girl or vice versa. Also, every Christmas, I write a holiday short story that I send to family and friends just for the fun of it. I write a weekly blog on my website that satisfies the nonfiction writer in me.

What do you think makes your work stand apart from other works in your genre?

Many romantic suspense books are cozy, but I like to write gritty. However, some topics are off limits for me. I don’t write about torture, child abuse, diabolical killers or erotica. What really makes my work stand apart is the complex relationships of characters where they are torn between decisions that could have dire consequences. Everyone, including my main characters, have flaws that sometimes take them over the edge. For example, Kirkus Review said this about my debut novel, GOOD GONE BAD: Like the best noir, this story puts its characters through an emotional wringer and makes the reader feel their desperation, too.

Are any of the characters in your book based on people you know or have seen/talked to in real life?

None of the characters are based on real people; however, they are a composite of certain traits I have seen in others. A minor character, newspaper editor Stu Blackmon, talks nonstop, and I feel we all know someone like that. In this novel, the head of the Reynolds empire is a rich, powerful person who abuses his wealth and influence, similar to real people we all read about in the news. Main character Jamison Jackson is an investigative reporter, a career I always wanted to have. I guess I’m living out that dream through her.

What inspires you to write? Music? Other books? Real life events? Just an incredible imagination?

My first novel (not yet published) was inspired by a Toby Keith song, “That’s My House.” Most of my inspiration comes from real life events that readers can identify with. My next novel, MELTDOWN, was inspired because I was at a concert in a park and saw a church tower across the street. I thought, “Wouldn’t that be a great place for a sniper to take shots at a crowd?” What can I say? Suspense writers are twisted.

Are you part of any writers’ groups? If so, what do you like about them? How do they help you or inspire you? If not, why not?

One of the most important things I have done, which I recommend to other writers, is to get involved in a critique group. I am coordinator of The Mystery Critique Group in my town. Their advice has been invaluable to me. I listened to what they said and accordingly made changes in writing HER LYING EYES.

Do you plan your writing out with outlines, character development exercises, and other pre-writing activities? Or do you just write as it comes to you?

The outline for my story is in my head. Sometimes I will mark up a calendar to get a timeline of when the action is to be played out. I write mock interviews with characters so I can get inside their heads and write from their point of view. I also write a personal profile of all main characters that includes their weaknesses, strength, goals, habits, how they dress, and even what their favorite drink is.

Did you do any research for this book?

The subplot of this book involves a toxic spill of chemicals, either accidental or intentional. I had to read a lot of articles and documentation to get it right. Also, I have attended three police citizens academies so that I have a clear understanding of police procedures and investigations. If there are mistakes with that part of the story, it’s on me and not the officers I consulted with.

Do you read the kinds of books you like to write? Do you watch movies similar to or the same genre as your writing?

Yes, I read mostly suspenseful books, but not necessarily romantic suspense. I like a book that is a good page-turner. I enjoy movies that keep you on the edge of your seat. I sometimes visualize certain actors in the roles of my characters.

If you could write anywhere in the world – in a fictional or nonfictional place – where would you write?

If I could write anywhere, it would be somewhere on the coast. I love the Carolina coast because it’s close to home and I know it well. Of course, laying low in a bungalow on a Caribbean island doesn’t sound like a bad gig either.

~~~

Connect with Susan Mills Wilson:
Twitter
Amazon
Goodreads
Facebook

Check out Her Lying Eyes:
Amazon

Her Lying Eyes Cover

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