Dec 8, 2018 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Zoiks! (Said in my best Scooby-Doo imitation). What a whirlwind. Some might suggest my life has been a bit of a hurricane lately. Hmmm…
I don’t know where I got the idea that being a Bohemian Hurricane went hand-in-hand with perfectionism. ‘Cause you know what? It doesn’t. [Stop nodding, mother. And don’t say anything when we call later.] Anyway, yes. I haven’t blogged because I haven’t written because I’m still unpacking from the beautiful chaos of having moved cross-country six weeks ago and downsized from a three bedroom house to a two bedroom apartment and helping Berry Sunshine cross the Rainbow Bridge and meeting and greeting all the people I moved to be close to and buying winter clothes (for the South? Are you even serious right now?!) and figuring out how to catch my breath and as of this moment, preparing to enjoy my first Southern snowfall. (So, yes. Back to the winter clothes thing. Apparently it is serious down here.) [Note to self: Get Starbucks card for Edie as thank you for finding the perfect coat when I had given up the search.]
Frankly, My Dear . . . That One Time I Didn’t Have to Be Perfect
Now, y’all know part of the main reason I moved was to be needy attach to surround myself with some of the best writers I know: my peeps from Blue Ridge. Yes, that Blue Ridge. The Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference that I go to each year. The same one where Steve Laube and I are now expected to throw Scooby Snacks at each other every year. The same one where I do incredibly stupid things like shout at people at inappropriate moments (although, really. Bless your heart. Is there ever a wrong time to yell, “You go, girl!” or “Aaron Gansky? Ohmagosh, I know him!”?). The same conference that I attend every May, and every June tell all y’all how my life has changed and I’m better for it, and my writing will be better for it . . . yadayadayada. I. Know.
But this time, it’s different. Because this time, I’m surrounded by perfectly imperfect writing people. And I love them completely. And they love me. As imperfect as I am. What an example! What mentors they are without even trying.
And I realize I don’t have to have a perfectly clean house or perfectly quiet area or perfectly planned plot (Okay, say that last one five times fast!) to accept their friendships. Or to be who I am. I just have to keep writing. Keep cleaning. Keep breathing. Keep being me.
You know . . . Keep on Keepin’ On.
And when I make mistakes, it’s not the end of the world. If I leave a dirty dish in the sink for a day, if I don’t check the mail or respond to a message right away, if I have a typo or missing punctuation, the world doesn’t really end. *GASP*. I know. But it’s true! I’m totally living proof!
I have to stop waiting to get everything perfect in my head and heart before sharing it, even with myself. I have to let go of the image of a perfect Facebook-post-worthy me. Cuz let’s be real. That rarely happens. Snow angels have boot prints leading up to them. My life is quite often the epitome of #NailedItFail, okay?
I gotta take what I have and move it forward. Whatever that means. Hey, you get a small ding on your car, do you junk it? No way. You have a story to tell. Your bananas turn brown before you eat them all. Toss ’em? Uh-uh. Make banana-walnut bread! What am I waiting for?
Imperfections are the lessons we teach ourselves. It’s where we learn to be creative and allow ourselves to find alternate solutions. It’s the pieces of our mosaic selves and the music we didn’t intend to sing.
Imperfections are not failures.
I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.
~Thomas A. Edison
My word for 2019 is IMPERFECT.
And I’m going to embrace it perfectly.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Perfectly Imperfect
With a scribbled-in notebook and a snowflake covered sleeve,
Happy imperfecting.
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Jun 13, 2018 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
“So, what do you write?”
It’s the question we all get. At meetings, conferences, gas stations. Any time we are introduced as a writer. And our books are just as individual as we are.
Sure, there’s some common ground: We all breathe some form of air. We’re all (mostly) human. And I think~I mean I’m not willing to put money on it~but I’m pretty sure 90% of us are made up of coffee and ink in the veins. If I’m wrong, don’t tell me.
Let’s be real. Mommas don’t love all their children the same. We may love them the same amount, but we love them each individually, uniquely. The same for our projects, yes? Each one is special for its own special reasons. And when our stories have their own quirks, well, it can be hard to describe to someone who’s not a part of the family. But then imagine that your child is so extraordinary that no common description will do. “She is tall, lovely, blonde with brown eyes.” Uhm. Yeah. So are a billion other people in the world. Let’s narrow it down some. Okay. “She doesn’t like coffee.” Wait. Did I really give birth to her? “She’s a cat lover.” “Likes to travel.” “Generous spirit.” “Was born in California.” See? Once you start giving more detail, the drill-down shows you the uniqueness. Or I could just cut to the chase. “She’s a go-getter with wanderlust.” Interested? Yup. So’s her husband.
So imagine how hard it is to tell someone the uniqueness of your novel in a way that captures their attention, and respects the elevator-pitch rule.
The “elevator pitch” is a very short synopsis of your story. You have approximately twenty seconds to tell someone (usually an agent or publisher) your idea and get them interested before the elevator doors slide open and they exit.
NOLA is a location mystery set in New Orleans, about a disenchanted woman who runs away from her terrible life in California and falls in love with a man who may or may not have killed his first wife.
Bam. There it is.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : That One Time I Created a Location Mystery Sub-Genre
The two questions I usually get are, “What’s a location mystery?” and “How do you research?”
I’m so glad y’all asked.
Sit on back and I’ll tell you.
A location mystery is a story where the setting is so integral to the plot, it’s a character in itself. You simply cannot tell the story in any other location. It will not work.
NOLA is full of culture, climate, music, food, mythology, weather, local customs, and dialect. Now, y’all know I won’t be writing “y’all” when I work on CENTRAL. No, ma’am. That one will be full of fuggedaboutits and youztalkingtome kind of lingo. NOLA has beignets and chicory coffee. CENTRAL will have Brooklyn-style pizza.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : That One Time I Created a Location Mystery Sub-Genre
Researching NOLA has been incredible fun. Making sure to keep it as a location mystery is even funner. [NOTE TO SELF: Dig out your T-shirt that reads, “FUNNER: gooder than just fun.”] [SECOND NOTE TO SELF: do the laundry.]
Locations are what ground your story. It’s where the action is. If you don’t know where your story takes place, neither will your reader.
There are five things I recommend for researching any location you’re writing about:
- Google Earth. This great app allows you to see real images both from a bird’s-eye perspective and eye- (or street-) level. You can “pin” distances, plot out routes and maps, and get a true visual of what the setting of any real place looks like. I was able to take Josie on a street car ride, a city bus, and a walk all through Google Earth.
- Tourism boards. Contact your location’s tourism department through Twitter. Visit New Orleans has been instrumentally helpful with their quick responses to my questions. Where could Toni take Josie for lunch? How far away are the bayous? Is Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop Bar really 200 years old? I asked, they answered. Often with links to more detailed information.
- Television and movies. I did a Roku search for “New Orleans” and found a plethora of programs to watch. Some gave me insight into character behaviors. Others showed the Crescent City documentary-style. Still others focused on food, fashion, crime, environment, weather.
- Music. Google or YouTube music and videos. Create a Pandora or other streaming station. Find out which bands came out of your location, and listen to them. Listen to a variety. I’ve always enjoyed Harry Connick, Jr. and Otis Redding. But my taste for Jazz has grown exponentially since starting NOLA. Zydeco music is a unique sound. And let’s not forget Honeyvibe from Baton Rouge. Now there’s some uplifting soul music, there.
- Other books and media. Read books in your genre, in your location. Read biographies. Documentaries. Novels. Travel magazines. Search the internet for articles. Get as much information as you can.
As you collect research, take notes. Take lots and lots of notes. Make notes on your notes. Maybe you don’t want to use this information now, but you can reference or change it later.
If you’re world-building for a fantasy novel, well, that’s a whole ‘nother post. Come find me next week and we’ll see what we can dream up.
In the meantime, grab yourself a sweet tea and an atlas and have at it.
Now I want to hear from you: What tips do you have for researching your novel locations?
For a more in-depth discussion, watch the Firsts in Fiction podcast episode Gross Anatomy of a Novel: Setting and Detail.
With a digital globe and wanderlust imaginings,
Happy (writing) travels.
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
May 4, 2018 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Frankly, My Dear . . . : That One Time a Fox Joined the Team and Tied Everything Together
It’s not that I haven’t been doing anything. I just haven’t been doing anything on the blog. At least, not as much as I used to. You see, I’ve been working behind the scenes lately, editing NOLA, working some freelance projects, crafting my upcoming newsletter. (Now, everyone, nod your heads in sympathetic busyness understanding. Thank you.)
Lemmetellya, it’s a bit of a challenge. I wanna get it just.right for y’all, and well, for me. People say “write for yourself” and while that’s a good way to remain happy, it ain’t always gonna bring in the readers. So I am happily crafting my message for you, my beloved Swarm.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : An Object in Motion . . .
And as promised, since it’s a new month, there’s a new Media Menagerie over at New Inklings Press. Did you miss the big reveal on Instagram? It was a live video, my Nippers’s first actually. And of course he (okay, I) forgot to save it for posterity. So while I introduced you to the current members of our #MediaMenagerie, Nippers also asked what our May member should be. And the next day he whispered his answer in my ear.
Ladies, gentlemen, Southern Belles and Yankee Gents, I give you May’s Media Menagerie Member, Gypsy Skylark Walton.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Say Hello to Gypsy Skylark Walton
Gypsy is a fox. Foxes are crafty. They’re quick. They’re stealth-like (hmm, maybe like a ninja?). They’re beautiful. Foxes are smart, too. Problem solvers. What, think I’m wrong? Read Aesop’s Fables. People call them sly and crazy. (the foxes, not the fables).
Now, how did Gypsy get his name? Well, first, from the beautiful Johnny Mercer song, Skylark. Y’all know This Girl’s favorite inspirational movie is Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. And my favorite song from the soundtrack is Skylark. There’s a line in the chorus, “sad as a gypsy,” and it just gets me every time. It’s such a beautiful visual.
“Gypsy” can mean so many things. Romanian descent. Fortune tellers. But for me, it’s the wanderer, the free spirit, that my Bohemian self relates to. It’s like that old toy, Spirograph. You set your pen in a stencil and draw as it bumps you along the edges. A few ink color and shape changes, and in the end, your wandering pen has created something uniquely beautiful. You can’t have that without the wandering. As a creative soul, there’s nothing more effusing than to be able to just be who I am. Gypsies get that. It could also be that I’m currently addicted to Hallmark Channel’s The Good Witch series. Who doesn’t love a little good magic now and then?
And Walton? Well, that’s two-fold. John-Boy Walton was a writer. Sure, he was a fictional TV character in the 70’s and early 80’s. But still. What self-respecting aspiring writer girl back then didn’t have a crush on him? It wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized my fancy for the man was due in great part to his wordsmithing. Let’s not forget that greatest of all goodbyes, “Good night, John-Boy!” I say it often, mostly when signing off social media for the night. Which has led to others calling me Mary-Ellen. (Yah, I’m talking about you, Del and Caleb!). Which now brings me to Caleb. Affectionately known to me and my peeps as JB. Because his last name is Walton. And he’s from the South. And he grew up watching The Waltons and we still talk about our favorite episodes. Oh, and of course, JB (my “little big brother”, not the TV guy) is a writer. So there’s that.
Oh, but wait! There’s more. In chatting with JB recently (again, my JB, not the TV guy) [but if you’re out there, Richard Thomas, and feel like saying “hi,” I wouldn’t mind having you over for coffee!] and sharing Gypsy’s adoption, I realize his initial’s are GSW. Which, in NCIS world, stands for gun shot wound. Okay, not the Southern romantic history y’all were hoping for. But it’s NCIS. Which is another commonality I have with JB (and, well, about 13 billion other humans). And NCIS had the arc about Le Granouille (“The Frog”) which inspired my daughter and I to adopt the shaggy little frog now known as Nippers. And NCIS has a spin-off I may have mentioned once or twice. NCIS: New Orleans. Which is the location for my first City Series novel. Yup. We’ve come full circle.
I now own a stuffed fox named Gypsy because I wanted to be a writer with a frog. I know . . . It’s hard to be in my head sometimes. That’s okay. I know my thoughts. You just have to enjoy the outcome.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Say Hello to Gypsy Skylark Walton
Now I want to hear from you: How do you express your creative soul?
With a compass and a spirograph,
Happy wanderings.
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Oh, PS: If you haven’t yet taken my survey, and/or want to be added to my email lists for this blog, and/or Firsts in Fiction Newsletter, and/or Molly Jo Realy: Author, Etc. . . . just click on this photo to sign up. BONUS: You’ll get to tell me how you like your coffee. Thanks! (And super-shout out to my über professional graphic artist brother who worked with me to create this awesome visual.)
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Author, Etc . . .
Mar 15, 2018 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Funerals and planes.
Yeaaahhhhh. We’re back to this again. But hold on! It’s a good thing. Honest! You know how sometimes the planets align or the flaming arrow flies through the rings or [okay, insert your own #itsasign metaphor here]? Well, that’s been happening.
First, it was about what was inside of me bubbling up, or as Caleb (affectionately known as John-Boy) and I like to toast with our sparkling ciders, “Effervesce, baby!”
But this week, it’s been about the arrows pointing at me. Not like painful arrows, although yeah. There’s been a few of those and I really wouldn’t mind if they shifted direction any second now. No, I mean the “Here’s Your Sign!” arrows. The “OMG! Would you puh-leease wake up and pay attention!” arrows. Yeah. Those arrows.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : That One Time I Remembered I’m a Writer
This week, I’ve been bombarded with an abundance of encouragement from those who mean most to me. Okay, yes, I kind of begged for it from a few of you. I’m sorry I whined and acted a little, uhm, young. [Don’t ask. You know who you are. Just move on.]
But there was a great portion of my peeps who just stepped up on their own. And these words came out of their mouths. Things like, “When are you gonna publish?” “How’s the writing going?” “What’s happening with NOLA?” So, like a reed when the wind stops, I snapped to attention. Yup. That’s right. This Girl has decided to write no matter what.
And ~ wait for it ~ the winds are pushing me to self publish.
I know. I know. That’s not really a surprise. I mean, I talk about it often enough. I created New Inklings Press for such a purpose. But still. There was this pull to get a traditional book deal. And a few days ago, the winds shifted [Again with the winds? Hey, I am the Bohemian Hurricane, so, yes.] and it became very apparent to my Swarm that self publishing is where I’m headed.
Imagine, in just a few months NOLA could be a real thing.
#nopressure, right? Riiiight.
So. I’m sitting here listening to Bread sing “Make It With You”, reworking NOLA, and believing that through the heartache of feeling, shall we say in our most dramatic Southern writer charm, abandoned, there really is a purpose behind everything. Even the painful moments. Ah, now the playlist has shifted to Hunter Hayes’ “Storm Warning.” [Y’all gotta watch his video here: Hunter Hayes’ Storm Warning.] [Thanks, Lindsay!]
Oh, but wait! There’s more!
So, today my friend Jim Rubart and his partner Thomas Umstattd of Novel Marketing had a Facebook Live Event to promote their new Patreon subscription service. Hullo! For what Jim says is the price of a coffee, y’all can join and get ah-mazing perks like freebies and discounts and access and such. What do they teach? Oh, just a little bit of marketing skills for indie writers. Huh. Imagine that. [Jim says give up one coffee a month. I told him that’s sacrilege. I’ll give up a fast food meal instead.]
Yeah. Totally. #itsasign.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Be Your Own Hero
So, This Girl pulled on her Big Girl Boots that were made for walking, and walked all the way to her laptop and finished rewriting Chapter One. Which is now Chapters 1-4.
And since y’all have been so patient with me (and because, let’s be honest, I need to amp up my marketing game), I’m gifting you the rewrite of NOLA, Chapter One. Just click on the link to get your PDF and start reading.
Your reader self will thank you for it.
With some keys to tap and shoes to fill,
Happy NOLA-ing.
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . : That’s all she wrote!
Mar 6, 2018 |
by Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
Well, I thought I was sort of done with NOLA but the truth is (as so many of my writing peeps warned me), it’s only just begun. [Cue Carpenters’ music here.]
As y’all will recall (I hope) from a recent post, for a while there I forgot I was a writer. I mean, I was listening to so many others, and I was acting like a new student instead of a seasoned wordsmith. It took a little self-diagnosing to figure out the main problem was, well, me. *GASP* So not cool, right? Now here’s Part A of this awesome post. Y’all have heard me mention Caleb now and then. He’s this guy I adopted/befriended/took under my wings at the last Blue Ridge conference, and we’re planning to meet up again this year. I call him my kid, my little brother, JB. He wears all kinds of hats. One of the things I love most about him is his willingness to be a better writer.
We talk quite often about our characters’ backstories, what makes them tick, all that Jazz. And since I’m in the midst of a NOLA rewrite (that’s a good thing), I figured it’s time to finally make my story bible. I’ve had it in mind for years, I just never put one together. I know, shame on me. [Mom. Seriously. Stop agreeing and talking to the computer screen. No one can hear you when you do that.]
Frankly, My Dear . . . : That One Time I Created a Character Bio Template
And since y’all know my penchant habit compulsion for multi-purposing items and activities, of course I immediately decide to use one of my Happy Planners for the project.
Oh, but wait. There’s more.
I’ve also recently fallen in love with bullet journaling. See, Happy Planning is the planning and organizing side of things. Bullet Journaling is the tracking and history and recording side of things. And when the two met and fell in love, they married and had a creative baby called the NOLA story bible.
And since this baby is mine and mine alone, there’s no wrong way to dress up the information. Seriously. Like, you can do it too and no one can tell you you’re baby’s ugly because it’s your baby and you don’t have to show it to anyone. [Getting weird? Okay. We’ll stop.]
For starters, I’m having fun learning my characters’ backgrounds. Their likes, dislikes, nasty habits and saving graces. I curated a bunch of character bio sheet information, polled my writer peeps, and put it all together in one handy form.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Character Bio Template by Molly Jo Realy
Yup. That’s right. I created a Character Bio Template. It’s a handy-dandy resource to help you learn more about your character, even if some of that information doesn’t make it into your manuscript. Look at it this way: When you go into a restaurant, your waiter doesn’t need to know why you want cream and sugar for your coffee, or why you like sourdough instead of wheat. They just want to take your order and fill it. But you have your reasons, am I right?
A character bio gives you insights into why your character behaves/thinks/emotes the way he/she does. Your reader doesn’t need to know everything, but if you understand your character better, you’ll write a better story.
It’s a template because y’all can use as much or as little info as you want. It’s broken up into sections so you can compartmentalize your character’s info: The Basics, The Background, The Family Highlights, The Body, The Soul and Mind, The Back Story/Psychology, and The Favorites. I color-coded my sections and numbered the individual items. Now I have a full sheet of information for each protagonist, antagonist, and secondary characters. [That’s main good guys, main bad guys, and sidekicks, for all you non-writer folk.] I kind of wanna show you Josie’s bio, but you know, government secrets and all. Okay, not really. But when you’re a writer, it feels that intense. Gotta protect the story at all costs. So, sorry, no share. But here’s a pretty photo of the template in my Happy Planner/Story bible:
Frankly, My Dear . . . : That One Time I Created a Character Bio Template
I’d love to share the template with you. Just click here: Character Bio Template.
And now it’s your turn: How do you keep track of your character information?
With characters to organize and a story to tell,
Happy writing.
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . : That’s all she wrote!
