Jessica Ferguson

Author, Writing Coach, Speaker

Characters I Live With

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Are you a people watcher? While living here in our home away from home, I am, more than ever. I watch people, listen to what they say and try to determine what they might do next.

I watch people when I go to the library to write. The library here has no “Speak Softly” rules. I’ve heard a lot of moms fussing at their kids. I’ve heard a lot of undisciplined kids too. I listened to one young teen ask a guy to take her to the mall, then go into a detailed account of how her grandma left her grandpa and wasn’t going back to him.

I watch people when I shop in Wal-Mart. Most of them look incredibly unhappy, as if they’d rather be anywhere else. Amazing how different yet how alike we all are. What amazes me most, is how a person can walk right past me, within spitting distance, and totally ignore me, never speak a hello.

 I watch (and hear) people outside my apartment window.The guy above us is on a health/exercise kick. We get up at 4:30 every morning. He gets up at 5. I hear him turn on the blender to mix his morning drink. I wonder what he has in it. Is it a powered Slim Fast drink (I’ve noticed he’s lost a little weight) or something with protein. 
I met a lady when she was walking back from the dumpster. I was getting groceries out of the back of the car. Within fifteen minutes, I knew she was someone I didn’t want to know. She warned me right away–several times–that she was unlikeable. By the time we’d finished our visit, she had me convinced. I haven’t seen her since. I think she’s avoiding me as much as I’m avoiding her.

There are two young guys who live across from us. When we first moved in, I’d see them leave the apartment every day around 10:00 a.m. The short, stocky one would go out to the car first, fiddle with locks, toss his backpack inside and wait for his friend. Five minutes later, the tall lean one, who always walked fast, would go to the car, carrying his little dog. This was the routine for the spring semester. At least, that was my thought–that they were college students, taking their little dog to a ‘sitter’ then hurrying on the class. I’ve never seen any visitors coming or going at their place. I guess that should have been a warning considering they’re young and should be having parties and lots of friends over.

Two nights ago, there was a loud pounding on their door. An authoritative voice yelled: Sherriff’s office. Open up.” No response–more pounding. “Search warrant. Open up.”

Two hours later, the tall lanky occupant was taken away in handcuffs. The short stocky one wasn’t around, but he brought friends the next day and moved out. So much for the quiet, unassuming neighbors I’d admired for spending their time studying. You can read about it or watch the video HERE. For the record, I never saw any children going into his apartment. None. Ever.

People-watching, paying attention to what is around us, can help us with our characterization and make our scenes more authentic. I’m sad for my young neighbor, and everyone who knows and loves him. His life is ruined. On a more positive note, I’m excited to know exactly what a law enforcement officer sounds like when he beats on a door yelling, “Search warrant, Open Up.” And very thankful he got the right apartment.

A Contest for Self-Published Books

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I came across this contest yesterday and thought some of you might be interested. Deadline is looming so check it out now and follow the guidelines to perfection. Top winner will get a year’s worth of full page advertising. That sounds like a valuable prize for a self-published book! Good luck!

SHELF UNBOUND WRITING COMPETITION FOR BEST SELF-PUBLISHED BOOK

Go HERE for submission info.

Shelf Unbound book review magazine announces the Shelf Unbound Writing Competition for Best Self-Published Book. Any self-published book in any genre is eligible for entry. Entry fee is $10 per book. The winning entry will be selected by the editors of Shelf Unbound magazine.

To submit an entry, email a PDF of your entire book, including the cover, to Margaret@shelfmediagroup.com , subject line Contest Entry, and send a check for $10 made out to Shelf Media Group to Margaret Brown, Shelf Media Group, 3322 Greenview Drive, Garland, TX 75044. All entries received (and entry fee paid) will be considered.

The top five books, as determined by the editors of Shelf Unbound, will receive editorial coverage in the December/January 2013 issue of Shelf Unbound. The author of the book named as the Best Self-Published book will receive editorial coverage as well as a year’s worth of full-page ads in Shelf Unbound (rate card value $6,000).

The deadline for entry is midnight on October 1, 2012. The winners will be notified by October 15, 2012. Additional information and rules can be found on our contest rules page at www.shelfmediagroup.com.

For further information, please feel free to contact Margaret Brown, Publisher, via email: Margaret@shelfmediagroup.com.

Shelf Unbound book review magazine, a 2012 Maggie Award finalist for Best Digital-Only Publication, reaches more than 125,000 avid readers in the U.S. and in 42 other countries around the globe. Subscriptions to Shelf Unbound are free at www.shelfmediagroup.com.

Take a moment to check out Every Writer’s Resource — This is a great site. There are many resources and more contests to enter. And remember, always investigate the contests you enter.

IWSG: Get Rid of the Clutter

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If you read my previous post, you know that my AOL email was hacked. The only word that comes to mind is devastating, but only because I’ve had my AOL email address for ten or twelve years. jessy31writer was who I was. It was my identity. When I went to writers’ conferences, attendees may not know my name but all I had to say was, “I’m jessy31writer” and they’d say, “Oh, yeah.”

Devastating! Sort of reminds me of when I learned we were moving to Oklahoma. I could hardly stand the thought of being so far away from our kids, I couldn’t stand the thought of lifting and moving furniture, traveling in two vehicles across a couple of states, searching for a place to live, waiting for the cable guy. If you’ve moved much, you know the drill. Using a new email address felt the same way.

Oklahoma–in spite of the wind, the drought, tornadoes, new TV stations, gangs, drive-by shootings, unfamiliar grocery stores and brands of food–has been great for my writing. I only know one person here, two if you count my husband, so all I have to do is cook, wash clothes and write.

I’m trying to treat the AOL hacking the same way. I’m trying to make it work for me. My new virtual mailbox is pretty bare. (Now that I think about it, our physical mailbox is bare too, but that’s another story.) Those 60 yahoo groups I belong to have been trimmed. So have the e-newsletters. For a few days, I fell into that what’s the point state of mind and unsubbed. I wasn’t reading them anyway… just collecting them.

Now that I’ve crawled out of that what’s the point state of mind, I can see that clutter, whether it’s on your computer, in your email or physically around you, destroys creativity. Clutter weighs you down. Clutter becomes a habit. We (or I) accept it, live with it, without realizing how destructive it can be.

Without the clutter of my Home Sweet Home in Louisiana (we left all furniture behind), I’m writing more. Maybe without the clutter of my AOL email, I’ll submit more.

Take a look at your writing life. If you aren’t writing and submitting, you might need new surroundings. I’m not suggesting you move away, but try leaving home for a few hours each day to write in a new place: the library, a cafe, bookstore or coffee shop. If you think you’ll do too much people watching, then don’t comb your hair or wear make-up. Believe me, you won’t look at anyone for fear they’ll look back at you.

I used to think I couldn’t write anywhere but in my own home. That’s a lie we tell ourselves to hang on to our creature comforts. Take it from me, you can write anywhere.

ANYWHERE!

Are you writing? If not, why not? Frustration? Clutter? Have you fallen into that what’s the point frame of mind? That’s normal but don’t hang out there too long. There’s a reason you’re there; find it. Get rid of it. And write.

Problem: An Unwelcome Situation

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Sorry I haven’t posted lately. I’ve been plagued with email/Internet/FB problems. Seemingly, they have no solutions for me.
I’ve used AOL as my primary email address since 2001 but suddenly, it doesn’t like me anymore so I’m in the process of doing away with it. When you’re as techie-ignorant as I am, that’s not easy. I can’t even speak the Internet lingo so when I have to deal by phone with others who can’t speak the lingo I’m in even more trouble. And remember, I’m a packrat, so I have hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of saved emails stashed in folders. I hate to lose them.

I’ll be away a few more days but hopefully, after Labor Day, I can start posting again on a regular basis.

Of course, I’m presuming I’m missed.

Please say a prayer for those in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama who are losing their homes because of Hurricane Isaac. It seems odd that we’re not part of hurricane season this year and that we’re watching it play out on TV.

Have a safe Labor Day weekend.

The Writer’s Devotional by Amy Peters

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I like devotional books –any kind–and I have quite a few. I especially like devotional books that pertain to writing.  

A few days ago, I came across such a book in Barnes & Noble called The Writer’s Devotional, 365 inspirational exercises, ideas, tips, & motivations on writing by Amy Peters.

Each day of the week highlights an aspect of the writer’s life:

Monday – Writers on Writing.
Tuesday – Motivation
Wednesday – Writing Class
Thursday – Editing
Friday – Biography
Saturday – Books Writers Should Read
Sunday – Writing Prompts

This book is phenomenal. One could teach a class–each page is a lesson plan–using the tips, prompts and motivations.  If you’re looking for a gift for a writer friend, this is the perfect gift, but you’d better purchase two copies because once you get home and browse through A Writer’s Devotional, you won’t be able to wrap it up and give it away.

Set up in the traditional devotional book format, it’s impossible to read one devo per day. I’ve gobbled page after page after page each time I sit down with it. The great thing is that this book can be read over and over again. Hats off to Amy Peters for a beautiful, useful writing tool that inspires, instructs and motivates. This book is a writer’s treasure.

So What’s the Point?

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My previous post was called Racing the Clock. For those of you wondering, the clock won. No problem. Deadlines are plentiful, aren’t they? We can always find another and another and another. Remember the song, I fought the law but the law won. That song keeps rolling through my mind. Here’s my version of it:

Writing deadline–thought it was fun.
I raced the clock but the clock won.
I raced the clock but the clock won.
I needed motivation ‘cause I had none
I raced the clock but the clock won.
I raced the clock but the clock won.

 I left my story, now it feels so bad
Guess my race is run
 It was the best story I think I ever had
 I raced the clock but the clock won
 I raced the clock but the clock won.

Sometimes I’m just a time-waster. How long do you think it took me to write that little ditty? And what was the point?

I’m over my head in online classes. I’m taking Self-Publishing taught by DebraHolland, Ph.D. Very informative with guest ‘speakers’ sharing their self-publishing journey too. Interesting thing is that no one’s self-publishing journey is the same. I guess there’s no way to truly prepare for self-publishing. We can expect anything and everything, right down to the good and bad reviews. Both will come.

I’m also taking a course called COVERING YOUR BASES: PROMOTIONAL AND PERSONAL USES FOR POD and KINDLE by Beth Daniels who currently writes as Beth Henderson and J.B. Dane. Beth has worked with editors at Berkley, Zebra, Leisure, Harlequin/Silhouette, and Simon and Schuster’s Aladdin Paperbacks. She ventured into self-publishing to keep her out-of-print backlist in print and leaped into the non-fiction book realm with WRITING STEAMPUNK. Visit her HERE.

Another course I’m taking is called In and Out: Putting Characters in Conflict, taught through RWA by Sherry Lewis. I always thought conflict was my weakness. Lately, I’ve been identifying more writing weaknesses. Makes me wonder how anyone ever comes to the conclusion that they’re good enough to self-publish. Any thoughts on that question?

Every time I sign up for online classes, I hear my friend and writing professor say (as he said so long ago), “It’s time to stop taking classes and write.” I guess I’m a perpetual student but I wonder if I’m really learning anything. How can I be if I’m still making the same mistakes over and over again? Not enough description. Too much dialogue. Talking heads. Not enough conflict. Unlikeable heroine. Unlikeable hero. Heroine too passive. Tense problems. POV problems. What’s their goal? What’s your point?

And that’s where I am today — in a What’s the Point frame of mind? Anyone have an answer?

Chasing the Clock

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I went to bed last night with that WHY word bouncing around in my head. As you know, I do that often–ask why after every sentence I write. Sometimes it helps; often it frustrates.

I’ve been holed up with an old unfinished manuscript, trying to breathe new life into it for a specific market. Easier said than done. Sometimes I think writing something new is easier than taking a piece apart and reconstructing it. In this case I’m cutting what was originally an incomplete Christmas novel to 15,000 words–yes, a Christmas story. I don’t think I had enough plot for a novel anyway. The deadline is Saturday. Yes, gulp with me: the deadline is Aug. 18th, tomorrow, and I’m not finished!

Here’s what I’ve done:

Taken a look at how I’ve introduced the characters. I’ve introduced two characters and the problem on the first page. Unfortunately, the hero is not one of those two.

I’ve tried to break it into a 3-act structure to get a better handle on it. This seemed hard; should have been easier since I had the book outlined.

I’ve pinpointed the setting and trying, TRYING to make it apparent throughout the story. I’m terrible at creating setting.

I’ve cut all the subplots, and made the plot more linear. No flashbacks either.

I’ve taken a look at my characters and, where I can do it, combined two into one. Double duty.

Layering that counts.

I’m trying to make every word count. (That should be a given, right?)

I have 14,188 words and still haven’t written the ending. I visualize at least four more scenes. Aaack! I see more cutting ahead.
Goal today: Cut. Write tighter. Finish.

Will I make the deadline? Doubtful, but at least I’m writing. Advice and writing tips welcome!

To The Next Level with Pamela Redmond Satran

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If you don’t subscribe to The Writer magazine, hurry out to your nearest bookstore to purchase the September issue. There’s a super-fantastic article you need to read if you write fiction. How To Take Your Fiction to the Next Level by Pamela Redmond Satran is great enough to replace the majority of our how-to books.

According to her bio, Satran is the author or editor of 18 books, including three this year: the novel The Possibility of You, the bestseller 30 Things Every Woman Should Have & Should Know by the Time She’s 30, and the forthcoming humor book Rabid: Are You Crazy About Your Dog or just Crazy?

Satran also co-produced Nameberry, the go-to site for expert opinion, savvy advice and information on baby names. Believe me, this is a character-naming heaven! Check it out.

You may have heard the sad news: The Writer, that wonderful 125 year old magazine, will be taking a “break” after their October issue. Read it and weep, HERE.  I’m so sorry to hear this. I’ve always loved the clean, crisp look of The Writer and enjoyed their informative, uncluttered pages. I hope KalmbachPublishing finds a buyer.

In the mean time, grab your September issue  before it disappears, and learn from it. While there are many wonderful articles inside this issue, including interviews with Margaret Atwood and Sandra Brown, Satran’s article is well worth the $$$. Believe me, as I read, I felt an adrenalin rush. I grabbed my laptop and took notes. Her tips and suggestions will make our fiction extraordinary–and show us how to take our writing to the next level. And like Satran says, “Whether you’re a beginner or a master, there’s always a next level.”

Let’s Dance!

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Let’s take a look at our dreams and goals and act on them, tweak them, do what’s necessary to get us to the next level… or at least, closer to where we’d like to be. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in one’s own sunshine.” Isn’t that true? Open the blinds in your office and get out of your own way. Use those dust particles that we only see in the sunlight for inspiration.

Ray Bradbury said, “You can’t try to do things; you simply must do them.”

Must. Do. Them.

Open that desk drawer, pull out your list of goals. Choose one. Do whatever it takes to get started.  Shove that ball downhill and watch it roll. My own way of saying, get that first word, sentence, paragraph on paper then allow your characters to take you places. 

I love the quote by H. Jackson Brown Jr. “Opportunity dances with those who are already on the dance floor.” You don’t need a partner. Get out on that dance floor. Every day is a new beginning. Every morning is a new opportunity. Let’s dance.