Poetry

~Poetry~ 

A poem?

It's simple

A trifle, 

But complex

And a mess!

Jokingly, 

Playfully;

Depressing,

Arresting.

It's lovely, 

Yet lonely.

Tickles ears,

Dispels fears.

Beautiful,

Meaningful.

Makes you cry,

Makes you sigh.

A poem. 

    -by Avriel Lowry

Characterization

When the idea for a story comes, I sometimes get in a hurry and jump right in with plot, setting, point of view, names, etc., but it isn't until about the third chapter that I realize I don't know my characters.

"Psh, that's silly, Avriel. How can you not know your characters? You created them!"

Well, I did, but it takes more than just giving a character a name... you really have to KNOW them to know how they will act, talk, respond, and react. This is important. You wouldn't have an old hermit or miser shopping at the mall, or a teen girl sitting in a gym playing tiddlywinks with her friends (well, you could, but it wouldn't be normal). Likewise, a brave, daring hero probably wouldn't shake with fright if a villain arrived in town and a unloving, callused father probably wouldn't cry if his daughter ran away. 

So how do you get to know your characters? You build their characterization. Open a Word document or grab a piece of paper and start making a list. Imagine you suddenly pluck that person up from your setting and place him or her in a chair across from you. Now get to know that character. Interview them, if you will, as though you had them on the Ellen Degeneres or Oprah show. 

Where were they born? 

What kind of home did they grow up in?

How did their parents treat them?

What was their favorite toy?
What is a hidden talent?
What do they enjoy doing?

(You get the idea)

Now create in your mind how your character would respond. By asking them several personal questions, you should be able to figure out a lot about their personality. Do this for each of your characters. 

Later, when you start the editing process, consider the character and see if what they are doing matches their characterization. The character may have some deep seeded fear or may have bitterness from an earlier occurrence, but make sure that you explain it.

Trust me, it will make your story a lot more believable and save you a headache later on if you get to know your characters first thing!
Happy Writing!
Avriel

Writers Block

What is writer's block?
Have you ever sat down looking at a blank screen thinking 'What to write? What to write? Think, think, think!' and nothing comes? There may even be chapters earlier in your story that you can work from, but you would much rather read those, or read something, or do something... anything other than write. It's a common occurrence with writers, so don't give up. In fact, it is probable that I will write several subsequent blogs about writers block, because frankly, it is something that I have to work through often!
So here's what I do when I get stuck when writing:
1. Watch my favorite movie
(Don't ask me why, but movies like Lord of the Rings, Narnia, Pride and Prejudice, or the Phantom of the Opera NEVER cease to inspire me.)
2. Busy myself with other things, always keeping my mind in writing mode
(It's amazing how the world around us can be such great inspiration! If I am going out and about, I'll watch people, and see, smell, and listen to the things around me, all with my writing lens on. If I consider how even the simplest things could be imparted into a story, an idea will come in no time)
3. Talk to someone I trust about my predicament
(I personally have three people that I can go to for different needs. My mom, my sister, and my best friend. It seems all I have to do is sit down and start telling them what is happening in my book and they will suggest something that I can add or someway that I can twist the plot. It's always exciting)
5. Stop procrastinating
(This is really quite important in anything I am doing, and it's one of the hardest things on my list. However, I know that if I'm ever going to write another page in the story I'm blocked in, I just need to stop putting it aside and make myself work on it.)
I hope these ideas help. Again, writer's block is something that you have to get through in your mind. No one else can do it for you. It's a personal, mental decision. So do what you must, then get back to that story!
Happy Writing!
Avriel

#1 Turn It Off

#1 Turn off the radio when you write - C.S. Lewis
I've heard several writers say that listening to music makes them creative, but personally, I work better when I turn off the noise. Obviously, C.S. Lewis did too! He loved quiet rooms to write, and he often took long walks in secluded forests to think. That doesn't mean he never listened to the radio, and in my life, I usually have the music blaring when I'm not writing or doing school. Music is one of my sources of inspiration, but not creativity. So next time you sit down to write (or to do homework), instead of reaching for the headphones or turning on your favorite show or movie, try working in peace for a while and see how it works for you!
I know a lot of us work in noisy environments, but we can beat the noise by going on a walk, or finding a quiet room to write. If you aren't able to get away, turn your radio to a blank station and just listen to white noise. Don't confuse lack of creativity with lack of inspiration when the words won't come. Listen to your music to get inspiration while you do chores or while your working on your hobby, but when you sit down to write, turn everything off!
Happy Writing <3
Avriel