 "I’m going to write a book!" As a librarian, I hear that a lot. Hey, I was once that patron who said it! And a very knowledgeable librarian helped me. I checked out books on writing, and after a few months, I thought I had a really good story and gave it to a few trusted readers and waited for feedback. My new friends told me the story was dry and needed work. Talk about a reality check! After picking up my ego, I realized they were right and was determined to learn how to make it better. One of the things I learned was it takes more than likeable characters to tell a story. In order to grab a reader’s attention, your story has to reach their emotions in ways that make the story memorable. Part of that is done with a great setting. What is a setting? Dictonary.com defines setting as: the local or period in which the action of a novel, play, film, etc. takes place. In my opinion, the setting is another character in your story. It’s the location of your novel, the background of a scene. It is the catalyst for what motivates your characters. You need to know as much about your setting as you know about your characters’ backstories. After all, most small towns, cities, states, and countries have histories—good and bad. So, how do you use setting in a story? If you’re reading, does the setting stand out? In the Butterfly Memoirs, the setting for the first three novels is Los Angeles, California. Books 4 and 5 are set in Atlanta, Georgia, and book 6 is set in Miami, Florida. Writing the setting for four of those books was a challenge! Why? Because I am from Atlanta and have never been to Los Angeles! I did visit Miami once, though. For settings where I’ve never been, I trust Google a lot! I had a vision, of course, but then Google made it possible for me to research the locations. Searching for images helped me accurately describe a location such as the Santa Monica Pier and the Los Angeles Zoo in A Heart Not Easily Broken. Using places I was more familiar with in Nobody’s Business and Alone were easier because I live in Atlanta. That didn’t stop me from using Google to keep the details accurate even in Atlanta. The last thing you want is to write something that you see in your mind without fact-checking, and then have readers call you out on it. Beta readers help, too! Especially if you know someone from the area you set your story. Happy Reading and Writing! MJ Multicultural Romance with Heart and Soul!
 Connect with MJ via her Newsletter or Author Pages!
0 Comments
Binge Your Heart Out! With Boxed Sets! Paranormal, Romance, Mystery, and Thrillers! Heck Yeah!11/4/2021 Paranormal Romance, Supernatural Suspense, Myths & Legends
Romantic Women's Fiction, Multicultural Romance
Romantic Suspense, SEAL Team
Crime Fiction, International Crime, Romantic Suspense
For More Books by Our Authors, visit their Author Pages!     
It’s a crazy statement, I know. But all authors have an element of crazy in them somewhere — at least I don’t think I’m the only one. How can we not? We have to balance our lives, family, and day-to-day responsibilities with the art of storytelling. We create lives, personalities, likes, and dislikes. It’s like giving birth without the added weight gain and late-night bottle feedings.
Or is it? If we’re not careful, we drink too much coffee, eat too many snacks — instead of real food — and position ourselves in front of our computer screens for hours on end. Thus, weight gain. Late-night bottle feedings come in the form of waking up in the wee hours of the night, jotting down notes or a scene that’s been plaguing us all day. How do we stay sane? Where do these fictional people come from? Why are we not wearing straitjackets? My best guess is because we’ve learned to blend in with the rest of society. Thankfully, readers are intrigued by our stories, which helps me to keep the purple straitjacket tucked away. All jokes aside, it is my opinion that writing is the truest form of self-expression, healing, and finding a way to cope with whatever ails you. Whether you journal, blog, write a memoir, or take your life experiences or pull from those around you and write a book. No matter what avenue you take, writing is therapeutic. I love to create the characters in my stories. As an only child, I spent a lot of time alone, playing with my baby dolls, stuffed animals, and Barbies. Each had a name and a voice of their own. I spent hour after hour making up stories and creating adventures to entertain myself. Each story had a Happily Ever After. From time to time, I would get the tape recorder (remember that old-fashioned form of electronics?) and make cassette tapes of my little adventures to share with my parents. They, of course, thought my tales were funny. Little did I know that form of storytelling would eventually lead to a writing career. I still use a recorder — digital now — to record my ideas for my books. No dolls allowed; I leave that to my daughter. The tales are no longer about a princess riding horses and marrying a prince. Now the stories deal with real-life experiences. Not all are my own, but they are real, they do happen, and there is heartbreak and pain. But through it all, there is happiness and love. After creating the heroines in my books, I realized something. In each character — as different as they are — there is an element of me. The woman I once was, the woman I am, the woman I secretly wish I could be, and the woman I aspire to become. Multiple Personality Disorder at its best. By telling their stories, I’ve found a way to work through the pain I've experienced to find happiness in my family and the ones I hold dear. Along the way, I’ve made friends I never would have known and gained knowledge I never would have attained. In short, I’ve not only learned how to become a better writer, but I’ve also learned more about myself. Writing has allowed me to make a mark of my own outside of being a wife and a mother. I have discovered something I love, something I’m good at, and something that unless I actually lose my mind, no one can ever take away from me. There’s not a morning I don’t get up with an idea that I’m anxious to put on paper. Seeing the Butterfly Memoirs go through several different stages of evolution over several years taught me so much. Adding to the story, taking away, fine tuning, and finessing … it’s all the part of telling a story — with heart, care, and attention to detail. If you’re thinking about writing a book, watch out for those doctors with those special white coats! By the way, my straight jacket also has butterflies! LOL! Great news! If you’d like to learn more about my characters, my first book, a romantic women’s fiction with heart and soul, is absolutely FREE for a limited time! Hope you enjoyed this insight into my writing world! M.J.
Kindle ● Series ● Play ● iBooks ● Nook ● Kobo ● Audible
To be notified of M.J.'s Deals & New Releases, subscribe to her Newsletter or BookBub!
If you haven't started the series, grab book one, a stand-alone, no-cliffhanger beautiful women's fiction with heart and soul absolutely FREE!
If you're caught up with the series, great news... You can pre-order the new release for only $0.99!
Butterflies symbolize change, evolution, the shedding of the old and bringing out the new. A memoir is a story, a narration told first hand, of someone’s personal experiences.
Like butterflies in the spring that disappear into cocoons and emerge, completely changed, M.J.'s characters are no longer the same when their story ends. The Butterfly Memoirs are told by the characters themselves. It is Women’s Fiction, Contemporary and Interracial Romance. Each story address the realistic trials every woman and man face in a relationship. M.J.'s goal is to inspire hope, comfort, and encourage anyone who may be able to relate to these stories. All books are stand-alone stories, no cliffhangers. However, each book revisits each of the characters' lives, so you'll enjoy following along with old friends as you meet new ones. 
Connect with MJ via her Newsletter or Author Pages to be the first to know!
Newsletter - BookBub - Amazon
 |
Categories
All
Archives
August 2024
|
RSS Feed