WRITING SURVEY

It’s been close to two weeks since I last posted, but at least I’m more or less caught up with Christmas. I still have things to finish up, but I thought I would take some time out and answer these questions about writing. My crit partner sent them about a week ago and I've been thinking about the answers ever since.

Thanks, Brenda, for sending them and stirring up some creative thoughts!

1. What's the last thing you wrote? What's the first thing you wrote that you still have?

Last Thing: Wrote an article for our December church newsletter. Sadly, that was a whole month ago. The next one is due in two days!

First Thing: I started a story when I was in nursing school that I had forgotten about until I ran across the old notebook I wrote it in. That was way back in the day before computers. Guess I didn’t even have a typewriter then because this is written in my almost illegible handwriting.

2. Write poetry?

Actually, I do sometimes. You can find two of them on my “Patti’s Writing Stuff” page. Years ago, I submitted a poem to some contest and was told that it would be published in a book called “A Nightfall of Diamonds”. I bought the book for $50.00 just to see my poem in print. Of course, I realized after the purchase that the only people who probably ever bought that book were those who had poetry printed in it!

3. Angsty poetry?

Not really.

4. Favorite genre of writing?

Historical and contemporary western. I am now editor to a magazine for youth, so I’m thinking of doing some writing for that age group. Don’t think I can get into the fantasy stuff, though. I’ve been reading some (James Patterson’s Max and Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight), but can’t see my creative efforts running along those lines.

5. Most annoying character you've ever created?

John Lexington Andrews, a secondary character in my novel “Magic Moments in Time”, a story about a pack trip in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. He’s affluent, opinionated, and looks down on everyone who crosses his path.

6. Best Plot you've ever created?

“Magic” is still my favorite. Here’s a real short synopsis of that story line.

A young woman from the east coast takes a pack trip into the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. Suffering the heartache of a broken engagement and the tragic death of her parents, she seeks direction in her life in line with God’s will. A Colorado rancher agrees to guide for the trip to help out his brother. He is unexpectedly thrown together with his estranged son and also encounters a man from his past who holds a grudge against him. The young eastern girl and the rancher, while nurturing a growing attraction for each other, become entangled in western drama that puts them both in danger.

7. Coolest Plot twist you've ever created?

Hmmm, can’t think of a good answer for this one

8. How often do you get writer's block?

Too often. I can write a scene right down to the last letter in my head when I’m trying to fall asleep at night, but put me in front of the computer and the words get all jumbled in my brain. Think I need to sneak a tape recorder under my pillow!

9. Write fan fiction?

Definitely. Gunsmoke fan fiction to be exact. I’ve also thought it would be fun to do a Cold Case fan fic. Even did some research for the story I have in mind, but haven’t gotten to the point of getting the actual story on paper yet.

I wish I could write my own stories the way I write fanfic. It comes easy because I already know the characters so well. My internal editor takes a snooze and I don’t worry near as much about “all the rules” because I know only fans of the show will read it. All they care about is the story and they accept it with head-hopping, lousy grammar, and all the other writing “no-nos”!

10. Do you type or write by hand?

Type. My handwriting is terrible, so I have a difficult time reading it. I have deciphered some of my hen scratching from years past, but it takes me forever and I have to get back into the mindset of what I may have been thinking back then.

I don’t know if this modern technology is good or bad, but I find I’ve become terribly dependent on my computer. I usually don’t write unless I have it. Once in a great while, if an idea comes to mind, I’ll jot a note or two on paper, but nothing lengthy.

11. Do you save everything you write?

Unfortunately, yes. That’s why my bookshelves, desk drawers, and heaven knows what all else, are full of old notebooks, print outs of works in progress, and notes about what I intend to write some far off someday.

My computer has way too many files on it. I need to delete some of them, but I always have this fear that I’m going to wipe out some scene that I will desperately need someday. There is never enough time to actually go through and read all that I have saved so I can weed out the unnecessary stuff.

12. Do you ever go back to an idea after you've abandoned it?

Sometimes I come across something I wrote ages ago and have forgotten about. When I read it, it jogs my memory about what I had in mind at the time and I work on developing it.

13. What's your favorite thing you've ever written?

I would say I enjoy my fanfic stories the most.

14. What's everyone else's favorite story that you've written?

My Gunsmoke fanfic “Festus’ Secret”. I got a lot of positive feedback on that one.

15. Ever written romance or angsty teen drama?

All of my stories have a touch of romance. I’d like to try my hand at the teen drama, especially since I work in a psychiatric residential child care facility. In my work setting, I’m surrounded by plenty of teen angst!

16. What's your favorite setting for your characters?

I like to use rural settings. Two of my current novels in progress take place in Southeastern Colorado and one in the San Juan mountains of Colorado. I’d like to write a story set in New York’s Adirondack North country someday.

17. How many writing projects are you working on right now?

Up until the holidays, I was submitting 5-6 pages to my crit group on a weekly basis, but we’ve decided to take a break until the new year. I will be responsible for our church newsletter in 2010 and am now editor of a magazine through Written World Communications called Starsongs. I’ll be doing an editorial piece for the magazine on a regular basis. I’ve also been approached about writing for the quarterly newsletter that my place of employment sends out every quarter. As an editor, I also plan to polish and submit some short pieces to markets in the hope of establishing some writing credits.

Okay, I guess I really didn’t answer the question accurately. As for what I’m working on right now, I’d say there are three I need to accomplish by the end of December. 1) newsletter article 2) a story for Written World Communications 3) I’d like to complete another couple of scenes in my novel before I lose sight of where the story is going.

18. Have you ever won an award for your writing?

I finaled in the Genesis contest for ACFW in 2006 (I think it was ’06), but didn’t win. Received an award for innovation for an article I wrote a few months ago for my place of employment.

19. What are your five favorite words?

I guess I like words that describe beauty or nature. Let’s see if I can think of a few: grandeur, vastness, glisten, meander, glinted

20. What character have you created that is most like yourself?

Probably Anne in “Magic”, who came from New York to take a pack trip in the Colorado Mountains. Her background is fictitious along with the events that make up the story plot, but some of the incidents related in the story are based on my experiences when I took the trip.

21. Where do you get ideas for your characters?

People I observe in my daily life experiences, people I have known in the past, characters in other books or Tv/movies with my own attributes added in.

22. Do you ever write based on your dreams?

I know a person has six dreams a night, even though most of us don’t remember them. I seldom remember mine, so no, I can’t say I have ever written a story based on a dream.

23. Do you favor happy endings?

Yes, but not unrealistically happy. I can’t stand to have everything turn out “right” against impossible odds.

24. Are you concerned with spelling and grammar as you write?

Yes, my internal editor hounds me constantly. I can’t hardly even send out an email without double checking it to be sure spelling, grammar, and sentence structure are correct.

25. Does music help you write?

Not really, but interestingly enough, I often write in front of the TV, usually reruns of episodes of my favorite shows. (For example, Gunsmoke is on right now! I’ve probably seen this particular episode a half dozen times at least.)

26. Quote something you've written. Whatever pops into your head.

Why did her thoughts keep returning to that man? She shut her eyes tight, trying to block out the image of Frank Pride’s smile, but his light brown gaze managed to slip even behind her closed lids.

She fell asleep wondering how he liked his eggs.
- From my work in progress “Desperate Dreams”

Thanks for reading my blog!

Why Do I Do This Every Year?

Here I am on the eve of the day that will mark two weeks left until Christmas, and where am I on the timeline? Still don’t have a single Christmas card mailed. Don’t have my packages that need to go clear across country in the mail yet. Don’t have all the gifts wrapped that need to go in those boxes and haven’t even received one of the gifts I need to send from the catalog store yet. The tree isn’t up yet and the decorations aren’t even in from the garage.

Why do I do this every year? That’s the same question my sister just wrote and asked me in an email. Christmas comes on the same day every single year. I know that as soon as we finish celebrating Christmas Day this year, I will have 365 whole days to get ready for its arrival next year. You’d think after 58 years, I would have learned my lesson.

Still, despite the last minute rush and all that I have to do in the next two weeks to get ready for the big day, I am not particularly stressed this year. I believe the reason is this. Despite all I still need to accomplish before the big day, there is so much more to this season than the “busyness”.

I enjoyed preparing a shoe box for the Operation Christmas Child project. I like to buy gifts for my family when I know what I’m looking for! I love to admire all the Christmas decorations and listen to the Christmas music on the radio. Most of all, though, I like to take a little time each day and think about Jesus and the miraculous events that occurred in Bethlehem over two thousand years ago.

If you’re anything like me, struggling to catch up with all the “busyness” in order to be ready for Christmas day, don’t let the hustle and bustle of the season overshadow its sacred meaning!

Thanks for reading my blog!

Tiffany Amber Stockton Blog Tour

Sorry to have been away for such a long time. It’s been over a week since I last posted. I know I promised I’d post more frequently, but I haven’t done very well lately.

Today, I have a special treat. It is my pleasure to introduce Tiffany Amber Stockton, a writer friend I have come to know through my membership in American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW).

Tiffany Amber Stockton is an author, online marketing consultant, and web site designer who lives with her husband and fellow author, Stuart, and their baby daughter in Colorado. They also have a vivacious Border Collie mix named Roxie. Amber has sold eight books to Barbour Publishing with more on the horizon. Other writing credits include five short stories for Romancing the Christian Heart, and contributions to Grit for the Oyster and 101 Ways to Romance Your Marriage. Her goal in writing is to convey the message that God is always present, even during the most difficult circumstances. Read more about her at her web site: www.amberstockton.com


Avoiding Repetitive Tags

Hi! My name is Amber Stockton, and Pat has invited me here to speak on a topic which plagues her quite often. It’s also a common problem for many writers. What is it, you ask?

How to avoid using repetitive tags in your writing.

Now, to start, for those who aren’t familiar with this, a “tag” is associated with both dialogue and action. For either, it precedes, follows or comes in the middle of dialogue. The most common dialogue tag is “said” as in “he said” or “she said.” But there are many others such as exclaimed, shouted, cried, bellowed, hollered, etc.

It’s common for a lot of authors to use these tags to add punch to their dialogue, but it’s also considered an “easy” way out. Many best-selling authors have advised that you shouldn’t rely on tags to tell readers the emotion they should be feeling from the characters in any given scene. Instead, you should let your characters words and actions speak for themselves.

This is where action tags come in play.

An action tag is assigning an action to the character speaking. It can be as simple as describing a character’s facial expression to as complex as detailing everything a character is doing while he/she is speaking. You can even go so far as to delve into the internal thoughts of the character in between the dialogue. Not only does this add depth to the paragraph, but it also identifies the character and lets you skip the dialogue tags.

Now, since a picture is worth 1000 words, here is an example of a dialogue tag changed to an action tag with some added dialogue to show rather than tell the emotions of the characters.

BEFORE

“I suppose,” Raelene said in disgust, “you will now find some way to connect this analogy once more to God.”

“If you take your nose from air,” Gustaf seethed, “you will see your great blessings.”

AFTER

Raelene took the apple and rolled it back and forth in her palm. A lecture again. “I suppose you will now find some way to connect this analogy once more to God and tell me that He employs the world around me to show it’s possible to persevere and prosper despite hardship.”

He clenched his jaw. “If you take your nose from air and look at world where you live, you will see your great blessings.” He turned in a half circle with arms spread wide then stopped and faced her once again, his expression one of sorrow mixed with contempt. “But, you judge all people you meet. You put them on one side of scale. Your life in England is on other side. That is life you cannot have right now.”

As you can see, the second part is full of so much more than just dialogue and a tag. It holds emotions in both the words and the narrative, and you also have the added bonus of seeing what each character is doing as they speak.

So, the next time you’re tempted to simply put a tag at the end of dialogue, take a moment to re-read the paragraph or the line and see where you can replace the dialogue tag with an action tag, or where you can insert internal thoughts mixed with the dialogue.

Thank you for sharing your writing experience, Tiff.


BOOK INFO

Promises, Promises
Barbour Publishing/Heartsong Presents
Book 1 of Liberty's Promise (HP #784)
At Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1597899399/eagledesigns-20
At Barnes & Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/ISBNInquiry.asp?EAN=9781597899390
Release date: February 2008
ISBN-10: 1597899399
ISBN-13: 9781597899390

-- Raelene Strattford believes God has forsaken her, but her neighbor proves just the opposite while giving her a voice in a world where women have none. --

Has God forsaken Raelene? What kind of God would take a girl's family and leave her alone in a wild land where women have no voice? When Gustaf Hanssen promises Raelene's dying father that he will take care of her, he finds himself bound to her happiness, her success, and her well-being in ways he never imagined. To keep his word, must Gustaf really oversee all of Raelene's affairs, find her a husband, and maintain her farm, while she does nothing but scorn him? Can God reach through Raelene's pain and self-centeredness and give her the love that awaits, if only she will accept His will?

Read the first chapter here: http://www.amberstockton.com/excerpts/ppexcerpt.html



Quills & Promises
Barbour Publishing/Heartsong Presents
Book 2 of Liberty's Promise (HP #803)
At Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/160260049X/eagledesigns-20
At Barnes & Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/ISBNInquiry.asp?EAN=9781602600492
Release date: July 2008
ISBN-10: 160260049X
ISBN-13: 9781602600492

-- Separated from Madison when he leaves to fight the French and Indians, Elanna Hanssen must choose between her heart and her head, especially when Madison's integrity is questioned. --

Innocence paired with wisdom beyond her years--With these traits, Elanna Hanssen unwittingly captures the attentions of Major Madison Scott. Her honest desire to understand the war fascinates him, and he resolves to get to know this perspicacious young lady better. When he is called away to fight the French and the Indians, they begin a correspondence, cautiously baring their hearts to one another. Elanna has never known emotions like these before, but she is drawn to the integrity she sees in her major. When a writer for the first newspaper in the colony questions the major's credentials and activities, however, will she allow her heart or her head to rule? Can true love grow over such distance and around such obstacles?

Read the first chapter here: http://www.amberstockton.com/excerpts/qpexcerpt.html



Deceptive Promises
Barbour Publishing/Heartsong Presents
Book 3 of Liberty's Promise (HP #823)
At Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1602601895/eagledesigns-20
At Barnes & Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?EAN=9781602601895
Release date: November 2008
ISBN-10: 1602601895
ISBN-13: 9781602601895

-- Living during the American Revolution and the formation of a new nation, Margret Scott gets involved with a spy and a life of deception that could endanger herself, her family and the man she loves. --

Is deception fair in wartime? Margret Scott finds she must deal with this question as she becomes attracted to the enigmatic Samuel Lowe. As the tensions grow between the colonists and the British soldiers and loyalists, Margret struggles to determine where Samuel's loyalties lie, despite his reassurances that they lie with the colonists. Samuel's duties have him working for both sides of this war, and he is often torn between what is right and what is wrong. He promises Margret she can trust him, and Margret promises him she does. But can promises born in deception be trusted? Can relationships built in uncertainty survive?

Read the first chapter here: http://www.amberstockton.com/excerpts/dpexcerpt.html



Liberty's Promise
Amber's first 3 books repackaged into 1 volume
Romancing America collection
Barbour Publishing
Available for Pre-Order!
Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1602607990/eagledesigns-20
Christianbook.com: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1152452&item_no=607996
Release date: March 2010
ISBN-10: 1602607990
ISBN-13: 9781602607996

Publisher's description: Relive the birth of a new country as three women battle for determining to whom they can entrust their hearts. Raelene is all alone, but is there peace in following the wishes of her deceased father? Elanna is intelligent for her young age, but will her love for an older man turn into a passing fancy when his integrity is questioned? Margret's loyalties are torn when the colonists rebel, for how can a relationship with a British soldier built on deceptions survive? Will each woman find her place of freedom to embrace her faith and trust her heart to love?



Copper and Candles
Barbour Publishing/Heartsong Presents
Book 1 of Michigan historical series (HP #843)
At Christianbook.com: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1152452&item_no=603405
At Amazon.com: http://http//www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1602603405/eagledesigns-20
Release date: April 2009
ISBN-10: 1602603405
ISBN-13: 9781602603400

—A young lady of means discovers that keeping secrets, no matter how noble the intent, demands a price that she and a refinery worker, with all their resources, might not be able to pay.—

Society teas and garden parties, shopping, gossip—Life as a young lady of means may be fun, but Felicity wants to do more. Unfortunately, she finds that her position and wealth can sometimes hinder her efforts to help those around her in need. Thus, when a charity case falls ill and cannot work, Felicity determines to go to work as a commoner in Detroit's dangerous factory district. Relationships become complicated, however, and she soon finds herself falling in love with a worker from the copper refinery next door. She knows her family would never accept him as a suitor, but what's a girl to do? What she doesn't know is that Brandt has his own secrets and hides his identity just as carefully as she. Brandt and Felicity soon discover that deception—no matter how noble its intent—demands a price that even they, with all their resources, may not be able to pay. Can they survive the storm when truth is revealed?

Read the first chapter here: http://www.amberstockton.com/excerpts/ccexcerpt.html



Hearts and Harvest
Barbour Publishing/Heartsong Presents
Book 2 of Michigan historical series (HP #867)
At Christianbook.com: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1152452&item_no=605760
Release date: September 2009
ISBN-10: 1602605769
ISBN-13: 9781602605763

—A destitute young man fights society's mores to win the hand of his privileged sweetheart.—

William's is a true riches to rags story...Once members of Detroit's elite society, the Berringer family lost everything they had in the financial crash of 1893. From a life of influence and privilege, they now find themselves working a potato patch alongside immigrants and other destitute folk on borrowed land. William's resentment toward his current situation—and mostly toward God for allowing it—simmers barely beneath the surface. All it takes is one charitable visit to the fields from a lovely society darling to burst his façade of acceptance. Annabelle Lawson, convicted by her pastor's admonishing words, begins delivering food and water to the workers on her father's donated land. But as she learns the stories of the people who work there, she becomes increasingly drawn to their plight. Especially that of the inscrutable William Berringer. Can Annabelle and William overcome the stigma placed upon his family by a society that once embraced them? Will her parents remember their own meeting or forbid this budding romance altogether?

Read the first chapter here: http://www.amberstockton.com/excerpts/hhexcerpt.html



Patterns and Progress
Barbour Publishing/Heartsong Presents
Book 3 of Michigan historical series (HP# )
At Christianbook.com: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?event=AFF&p=1152452&item_no=606876
Release date: December 2009
ISBN-10: 1602606870
ISBN-13: 9781602606876

—A farmer's daughter would rather turn back the hands of time than accept the fact that advancement in technology could be in God's plan.—

Shannon Delaney was right. Every time she might consider changing her stance on what other people called progress, something bad would happen and she would be proven right again. Take the day Jacob Berringer almost ran her over in that new Model-T, for instance. And he had the nerve to suggest she'd been daydreaming? Or the Titanic. A marvel of modern invention. Look where that got them. Or how about the new tractor her brother insisted they try out. What did he get from that? A broken arm. Why can't things just stay the way they are—the way they should be? Jacob's got his work cut out for him, proving to the stubborn but beautiful Shannon that just because he works for the Henry Ford Company, he isn't evil incarnate. But something about her tells him she's worth the effort, and when Jacob puts his mind to something, he doesn't turn back. But will either of them look to God for direction?

Read the first chapter here: http://www.amberstockton.com/excerpts/pnpexcerpt.html