Month: February 2012

Meet the Author: Boyd Lemon

Author Boyd Lemon

Author Boyd lemon is a retired lawyer, living in Ventura, California near his four children and four (soon to be five) grandchildren. His passion is writing, and he loves to travel and sample food and wine of the world.

Boyd says the discipline to write every day is his greatest strength. “As a result, I write a lot of garbage, but enough of it is decent enough to make something out of it. I sometimes go back to old notebooks, read what I have written and find a few gems that relate to a story or book I am writing.” As far as areas in which he wishes to strengthen his writing, Boyd says he is working on improving scene building and descriptions, as well as the building of tension in a story. Continue reading “Meet the Author: Boyd Lemon”

The Influence of Personality on Authorial Style

Part of the allure of being a writer is the ability to create another whole (albeit fictional) world. We might have very little control over events in the real world, but we can play God in the ones we invent. We choose what happens to whom, who lives and dies, every twist and turn, and we alone decide how it all shall end.

I wondered to what extent those decisions we make as the supreme beings of our story-worlds are influenced by our own personality type.  There are many formal ways to categorize personality types but, as with most things, I have my own way. I classify personalities as: Optimist, Pessimist, Skeptic, and Cynic. Continue reading “The Influence of Personality on Authorial Style”

Basics of Viewpoint by Arline Chase

Out of Control by Arline ChaseThe best way to choose viewpoint is to ask yourself whose story or scene it is. Once you know who the story is about it’s safe to assume that most of the story will be told from that character’s viewpoint, either in first person “I” narrator, or third person “she or he” narrator.

There are several kinds of viewpoint. “First Person” is written with an “I” narrator, as if the story happened to you. “Third Person” limited is written in third person, but limited to a single point of view. This is the viewpoint chosen for most short stories. Most girl-in-danger stories are written in first person limited, while Harlequin and most genre romances are written in third person limited. In either case “limited” means limited only to the main character’s viewpoint. The reader cannot know anything the main character doesn’t see, think, or feel. Continue reading “Basics of Viewpoint by Arline Chase”

Anthems for Authors – Every Day I Write the Book

Being an author can make for a lonely life. Other than each other, many times we have no one to encourage or praise us – or even validate our existence. So when I hear a song that makes me feel good about being a writer, I turn it all the way up and revel in the fact that someone wrote a song “for us.” Now I know many times the song writer was being metaphoric with the use of “writing,” but I choose to replace their reality with mine. That’s just how I roll.

While this video is outdated and corny, the words still ring true. My favorite lines are “Even in a perfect world where everyone was equal, I’d still own the film rights and be working on the sequel.” And now, Every Day I Write the Book by Elvis Costello.

[subscribe2]