Lin Weich's Blog

Character Development in Your Novel
How do we really get to know or identify with characters in a story? How you would know if they were: Shifty? (no eye contact, restless, impatient), Motherly? (stroking child’s hair, fussing about), Domineering? (leaning over you, raising voice, belittling), Cavalier? ( flipping hair, dismissive tone). These suggestions are good but do not really involve emotion.
Now go beyond. Use the five plus senses. Sight- her arched brows drew attention to her smoldering eyes. Touch- flinched away from the slippery moist tongue. Hearing- stole forward towards the faint melody reminding her of her childhood friend. Smell/taste- vomited as the sour metallic odour of coagulating blood overwhelmed him. Tension- muscles stiffened in protest. These phrases may invoke some memories and emotions in the reader. They definitely add to the characterization.
Can you let your reader into your character’s psyche by description, senses, dialogue? We all react to other people using our intuitions, past experiences, reading of body language, social cues and senses.
Your readers should react strongly to your main characters…with their gut. Make them understand. Ordinary characters need to be interesting and somewhat memorable. Minor incidental characters need just something of interest to give your readers focus. If all your characters tap your reader’s emotions, your reader will be exhausted and overwhelmed.
There are many tools an author can use to improve their characterization. A few of my favourites are:
1: Sit and people watch whenever you have the opportunity.
2: Read from a wide variety of novels by well-known authors. This can show us what really works on a page.
3: Base a character on people you know. I might react to X this way because he is an egocentric bully and feel this way about Y because she has a simpering milk toast voice. Be careful to truly disguise any real life sources. Changing names, physical characteristics, and even combining several people will often solve this dilemma.
Let your readers meet your characters; form their first impressions and then go on to discover what makes your characters tick.

The Waiting Game
“Life is short.” This phrase is bouncing around in my mind lately. We like most people, are faced with the inevitable aches and pains in life. Few, if anyone, are not affected by their own misfortunes or those of others close to them. Time does have a way of dulling the aches and although sorrowful, we do manage to move on with our own journeys. I might for a time be motivated to exercise better or make some changes but it doesn’t last.
BUT once in a while you are prodded by inspiring people.
On a recent cruise, I saw a ‘grandmother’ try body surfing for the first time on an artificial wave (Flo Rider). Her body was average and her age apparent in several ways. She showed her granddaughter and those of us who were watching, that it’s never too late to body surf. Her smile was a testament to the joy she felt.
Right now, friends of ours are tackling a strenuous and ambitious cycling tour of Nicaragua, Costa Rica and the Panama. I’m following their itinerary with envy. Along with the many kilometres of cycling, they are white water rafting, canyoneering, hiking, kayaking and snorkeling. I’m sure there are and will be moments when they may doubt their abilities. They are, however, doing it. Their photographs show amazing scenery and huge smiles.
It is time to stop waiting for the right time, the right mood, or the right moment. Life is short. Life is now.

Once in a while a really worthwhile website reveals itself in that fog called the internet. I have found several well written blogs on writerswrite.co.za. Topics are varied and seem suitable for both beginning and more experienced writers. Blog examples include: Dialogue Tips, 25 Types of Content That Make Your Blog Irresistible, 209 Words to Describe Taste, and 5 Instances When You Need To Tell (And Not Show).

The blogs are clear, concise and informative. I find myself in a constant state of learning new things and being reminded of points that I may have forgotten as I try to finish writing my fourth novel.

Do yourself a favour and spend a few moments checking out this site.

Do We Want to Save the Changes?
An acquaintance of mine once said, “At the end of the day life should ask us – Do we want to save the changes?”
In other words, have you made a difference, chosen wisely, made forward progress? Have you lived a day worth saving?
Unlike our efforts on the computer, we can’t delete, backspace or edit our lives. You can’t delete unkind words, go back for a do over or edit what has already happened.
Each day starts with a clean screen, hopes, dreams and possibilities. It’s time to start saving those changes.

Time
Time waits for no one. … Where does time go? ... Its time is passed. … It’s time to begin again. … ticking time bomb…take your time…time is up…time limit…sands of time…time share…time to go…time me…time for me…time for us…time well spent ... bath time… bedtime…sometime…timeless…timeline…one time… Time will tell. …Time heals all wounds. …in our time…time has come…timeless…just in time…on time…
A random list of phrases and sentences containing the word time if taken one at a time, evokes powerful thoughts and images that, if given time could translate into writing. Enjoy.

May signals the end of SNIRT season, snow and dirt, and the beginning of the seemingly too short spring and summer here in the northern part of British Columbia.
Spring brings the eternal promise of renewed life with its fawns, chicks, calves and other newborns.
Just yesterday I was watching three ducklings enjoy exploring a freshly turned garden patch. Usually ducklings are cute but these were some kind of hybrid with very short stubby wings and long skinny necks. They resembled those long necked dinosaurs…encased in yellow fluff.
As we watched their clumsy antics, we laughed and relished the warm spring day with its hint of summer. Maybe they will be ugly ducklings that will turn into beautiful swans. You never know.

On the first year anniversary of publishing my latest novel, Alone, I paused to reflect on the powerful responses we have that five title- ALONE.

Does it evoke a feeling of neglect; a wistful yearning for solitude; an emptiness soothed only by memories or a satisfaction from succeeding on your own?

The sisters in the novel Alone find themselves abandoned and isolated in a harsh wilderness environment. I wonder how many of us would have the courage to truly be alone.

Ups and Downs / Ying and Yang

For most authors reviews are hard to come by and feedback is rare. Friends sometimes tell you what you want to hear and few readers take the time to send a review to Amazon or other sites.
In the space of a week I was lucky and received a phone call (positive), email (very positive and encouraging), a rejection from a website where I had hoped to list my last novel (very disappointing), and an in person comment (very nice).
Sales are like that as well. That same week I reviewed my sales for August. I had limited success in a gallery in Wells, good sales in Quesnel stores, excellent sales in my New Brunswick outlet and reasonable success in the local farmers’ markets. Sales from online sources are not reported until much later.
So it is ying and yang. What to do? What to think? What to feel? I guess the secret is to believe in oneself and start the next novel.

Inspirations and Ideas


One question that is frequently asked of authors is “What inspired you to write this book?”

While there are many types of writers from those that have always felt the need to write to those, like myself, who are accidental writers, all writers are inspired by some –thing, event or memory. As you pose the question watch as the author drifts off slightly to recapture just what was the trigger for this particular novel. Sifting through wisps of memories, they smile as they recall the moment or the seed that started it all.

For Strength of an Eagle, it was a sign on the “Highway of Tears” preaching to vulnerable young girls that it was dangerous to hitchhike because there was a killer on the loose.

Half Truths, Total Lies was inspired by many incidents and stories collected by both myself and my sister as we taught in various rural schools.

Alone had its beginnings in an old sea story told to me while we were kayaking off the west coast of Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada.

Fiction authors capture an idea; add other ideas; embroider snippets of truth; weave two or three threads together and hopefully come up with an entertaining story.
I am curious as to what inspires other authors or potential authors. Please share your thoughts.

Are you intrigued by self-sufficiency and the romantic idea of living off the land?

Are you tired of the rush and bustle of modern society?

Are you fed-up with the noise, pollution and uncaring anonymous people?

Does it seem that bullying is rampant as some seek to elevate themselves over others?

These triggers are some of the reasons that lead the family in my latest suspense novel, Alone, to decide to give up on mainstream society and to forge their own future in the wilderness.

In this story we witness their dreams come up against harsh realities, tragedy and danger from an unwelcome visitor. Their survival depends on the strong bond between sisters.

Alone is receiving good initial reviews. It is available in paperback and e-books. See linweich.com for more details.