Where Genres Collide Traci Dowe YA Author

Diving into the Depths of Genres

Traci Kenworth

Diving into the depths of genres brings more treasure than we could hope. How can we know what our characters will do till we bring them to that breaking point? That path that they can’t return from. They can start off as the mildest person but by the end of the story be full of a fiery passion to complete their purpose for the story. And they do have a purpose for the story. Every character does or they shouldn’t be there.

Now, of course, there are background “noise” characters as I call them that are just there to take up the sounds around them and bring the scene to life. They aren’t developed beyond that. Other characters, however, even side ones, need a purpose, a goal within a story. Even if it’s just to steal the gardener’s keys while his back is turned.

Going deep into anything in stories involves the characters. They are the heart and soul of the piece. Without them, there wouldn’t be a story. Think of some of your favorites. Alec from The Black Stallion series. Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. Laura Ingalls Wilder. The Walking Dude. Ticktock. Joanna and Windhawk. The Dark Horseman. The list can go on and on. I know some of my likes might not be yours. And I know there are controversies with some of the authors of these characters.

But rather than throw away that individual, I’d educate their readers as well as them if they were still living. I don’t like to waste. During the time periods we live, certain viewpoints are often held. That’s not to say that those viewpoints are right but we should work on correcting them rather than brushing them aside to history. People rant about history being lost. Well, it will be. If we don’t learn to meet each other in the middle and find compromises.

We can’t pretend America’s history didn’t happen anymore than any other country in the world can pretend theirs doesn’t exist. What we can do is pick up the pieces, teach each other how to respect and care for each other. Building a bridge doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time. A lot of listening. Working together to get it right. But we can do it.

Diving into the depths of genres is easy, if you know what’s gone before. That’s why we need to both pay attention to history and bring a sprinkling of what we’ve learned in these ages into them. We can’t suddenly have a person from the 1800s spouting modern views but we can have them unsettled by slavery, the treatment of American Indians of the time, and more. Women didn’t gain their rights at the snap of their fingers and we won’t change someone’s opinion if their bound and determined against it but we can sneak a little education in there that might light a spark.

I know there are those out there who use the brainwashing word but it’s not. Brainwashing is something much different. Talking about circumstances openly should be invited by all not shuttered behind religion or politics. I think it’s just wrong for our children to only be educated to one side of history’s view. We’re all going to walk the same streets in Heaven. Jesus didn’t discriminate. Neither should we.

Happenings: Well, turns out I was allergic to that first water pill they gave me. So my heart doctor prescribed another that is working well as a double dose. He also prescribed a med for my heart failure that is working wonderfully as well. I have to go in for an Echo II next Mon. and then follow with a stress test the following Mon. I had to work around our schedules for the tests. I don’t have to prep for the Echo II but the Stress Test restricts me from any caffeine 24 hours before as well as I have to fast from midnight the night before. I am feeling much better except for my lungs. That is still causing me to sleep and cough and congest badly right now. Inhalers are outs, and asthma meds are ready.

Some links around the web that you may like:

1. Legends of Windemere https://legendsofwindemere.com/2023/02/11/goal-post-not-bad-but-still-came-up-short-a-bit/?blogsub=confirming#subscribe-blog I need to reevaluate my writing ability and speed.  My goal was to write chapters 6 and 7 of Darwin & the Demon Game.  I missed the mark by one section, which is rather frustrating.  To be fair, I lost most of Saturday to a plumbing emergency in the morning and then a doctor’s appointment that went into the early afternoon.  By the time I finished lunch, it was nearly 3 PM.  So, I could only get one section of chapter 6 done.  Managed to get 3 done on Sunday and was home sick on Tuesday to get another under my belt.  Pushed me too far and that was it for me.  Maybe I’ll finish chapter 7 on Monday night and then I’ll be ready for next weekend . . . Won’t hold my breath. The problem I keep running into is that I wear down mentally and physically fairly quickly.  I thought it was because of the sleeping issues, but I’m starting to wonder if something else is going on.  I mean, doing a full day of writing never used to phase me, but now it leaves me dragging the next day.  The weather might be a factor too.  Yet, none of this was going on prior to me catching Covid in the summer.  It’s possible that my brain is still foggy, which is combined with anxiety-induced insomnia.  I mean, I can’t recall ideas as well as I used to.  Really need my notes these days.  It scares me that I simply can’t be an author anymore.  Not like I’ve felt like one in years since nothing sells and nobody seems genuinely interested in my books. Charles has built a series of books, I believe, based on Dungeon and Dragons characters he and his friends played years ago that he has continued to develop. Give them a try!
2. Life in the Realm of Fantasy https://conniejjasperson.com/2023/02/15/characterization-part-4-doling-out-the-backstory-amwriting/ Every story has a past, a present, and hopefully, a future. The past shapes what we know as the here and now. The past also gives history to our characters, so when they first step onto the page, they are formed in the author’s mind and ready to begin their journey. Every writer knows the backstory is what tells us who the characters are as people and why they’re the way they are. At the beginning of our career, it seems logical to inform the reader of that history upfront. “Before you can understand that, you need to know this.” As we progress, we learn not to drop the history of the intended conflict in the first five pages of a novel or to waste the first three paragraphs of a short story on it. We understand that those are the pages and paragraphs editors look at first. From those pages, acquisitions editors will decide whether or not to continue reading the submission. For those of us planning to go the indie route, those first five pages are what the prospective buyer sees in the “look inside” option when buying an eBook. For us, the prospective reader is the acquisition editor. They will buy the book if they like what they see on those pages. Walls of fictional history muck up the transitions and negate our hooks. We know that infodumps block the doors from one scene to the next. It is hard to learn at first how much backstory to put in and how much to leave out and when and where throughout the story. Her guidelines here help.
3. Story Empire https://storyempire.com/2023/02/15/there-are-more-book-to-movie-scams-out-there-be-careful/ It’s shameful the way some folks go after other’s dreams.
4. Writers in the Storm https://writersinthestormblog.com/2023/02/five-ways-helping-other-writers-helps-you/ One thing I’ve always liked about writers is that most of us tend to see other authors as our comrades, rather than our competition. We like to share ideas and lessons we’ve learned along our journeys through the literary landscape. Instead of putting others down, writers lift each other up. We’re a community. That’s what Writers in the Storm Blog and other resources like it are all about. They’re about writers helping other writers to elevate their skills and achieve their goals. But what’s in it for us? How does helping others help us reach our own goals? Let’s look at some of the benefits we reap by helping others. How We Can Help Each Other Read and Review One of the best ways to help writers, especially independent authors, is to read their books and then take the time to post an honest review. The more reviews a book gets, the more likely it is it will be pushed and promoted by the algorithms. Identify yourself as a fellow writer in the review. Give the author some encouragement and then give some real feedback. Be honest but tactful. Most writers would rather have honest reviews than a bunch of empty ratings, even if they are five stars. The benefit to you comes in a couple of ways. A well-written review will often catch the eye of the author and in some cases, they will feel compelled to reciprocate. They may even reach out to you and ask for permission to use your words in their promotions. This can lead to wider exposure for you. Readers also look at reviews when deciding whether to buy a book or not. A well-written review may lead them to put your name in a search engine and check your offerings out as well. This is one of the things I believe is most important about writing: helping other writers out. All writers who’ve come before we have.
5. Syl’s 65 blog https://syl65.wordpress.com/2023/02/17/friday-inspiration-%f0%9f%8c%9e-newsboys-gods-not-dead/ One of my favorite songs!
6. Books and Such https://teripolen.com/2023/02/16/the-things-we-do-to-our-friends-by-heather-darwent-bookreview-psychologicalthriller-suspense/ She’s an outsider desperate to belong, but the cost of entry might be her darkest secret in this intoxicating debut of literary suspense following a clique of dangerously ambitious students at the University of Edinburgh. Edinburgh, Scotland: a moody city of labyrinthine alleyways, oppressive fog, and buried history; the ultimate destination for someone with something to hide. Perfect for Clare, then, who arrives utterly alone and yearning to reinvent herself. And what better place to conceal the dark secrets in her past than at the university in the heart of the fabled, cobblestoned Old Town? When Clare meets Tabitha, a charismatic, beautiful, and intimidatingly rich girl from her art history class, she knows she’s destined to be friends with her and her exclusive circle: raffish Samuel; shrewd Ava; and pragmatic Imogen. Clare is immediately drawn into their libertine world of sophisticated dinner parties and summers in France. The new life she always envisioned for herself has seemingly begun. And then Tabitha reveals a little project she’s been working on, one that she needs Clare’s help with. Even though it goes against everything Clare has tried to repent for. Even though their intimacy begins to darken into codependence. But as Clare starts to realize just what her friends are capable of, it’s already too late. Because they’ve taken the plunge. They’re so close to attaining the things they want. And there’s no going back. What is the cost of an extraordinary life if others have to pay? Reimagining the classic themes of obsession and striving with an original and sinister edge, The Things We Do to Our Friends is a seductive thriller about the toxic battle between those who have, and those who covet–between the desire to truly belong, and the danger of being truly known.
7. Angel Messages https://annetterochelleaben.wordpress.com/2023/02/17/angel-messages-feb-17-2023/
8. Rosie Amber https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/2023/02/17/%f0%9f%93%9athe-perfect-husband-georgiarosebook-reviews-thriller-bethulia-by-thornemoore-for-rosies-bookreview-team-rbrt-booktwitter/ Bethulia has at its heart the story of three women, Alison, Jude and Danny, and one man, Simon. The women are lifelong friends and until Simon came along and married Alison, inseparable. Alison dies, apparently by taking her own life, and Jude arrives at the airport to be greeted by a distraught Danny who confirms the news. This bond between the women quickly breaks down when it is revealed that Danny had a brief fling with Simon while he was married to Alison. Jude is then quick to console the widower, getting close to him before Danny has any chance to rekindle their relationship. Among all of these characters, and others is DC Rosanna Quillan who, from experience and her own trauma, doesn’t believe that Alison killed herself. But how can she prove it? This story is deceptive because it appears to be straightforward. Until it isn’t. I don’t want to go into all the whys and wherefores as to what happens as that will spoil it for any future reader and you really do want to come into this book with fresh eyes. Suffice to say the writing is excellent, the characters totally believable, and the planning and plotting terrific. The pages keep turning because you want to find out the truth and it will keep you guessing as to what the characters are up to. Highly recommended for everyone who enjoys exciting, pacey storytelling.
9. Fiction Favorites https://johnwhowell.com/2023/02/16/thursday-a-little-personal-twiggy-and-lucy-on-the-couch/ Wonderfully sweet!
10. Chris the Story Reading Ape https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2023/02/17/confusion-in-writing-and-how-you-can-solve-the-problems-by-derek-haines/ All writers know that confusion in writing can cause a lot of annoyance or frustration for readers. When parts of a text are unclear or difficult to understand, it weakens your message or story. However, most of the leading causes of confusion are usually relatively easy to fix. The key to solving most problems, and keeping your readers engaged, is knowing where to look. In This Article Causes of confusion in writing Some things I’ve had to learn the hard way.
11. Charles French Words Reading and Writing https://charlesfrenchonwordsreadingandwriting.wordpress.com/2023/02/18/harried-heron/ Please enjoy these wonderful photographs from Cindy Knoke! Doesn’t appreciate the prickly bird guard. But herons, are not deterred, by thorns. They dance on them! Other critters, will shy away, but herons are here to stay! Cheers to you from the thorn-dancing egrets~ Note: Snowy Egrets are members of the Heron family.
12. Entertaining Stories https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2023/02/17/blech/ I’ve spent the last two days sick. Seems like some kind of head cold. At this point, whatever I might have accomplished over the weekend could be on hold. I feel bad because I have plenty of tasks at the office but just couldn’t get there. I have a new book to read and might have to limit my activities to that. Hopefully, I’ll be fine when it’s time to return to work on Tuesday. No telling how I’ll feel tomorrow, so I have no plan at all. In other news, I’ve always liked cars. I typically use them to define characters for those who populate my books. Long-term readers will remember Clovis’s GTO, or Ray’s bagger Harley, among others. It’s always nice to have a source to pull from. This is my car’s Pinterest Board https://pin.it/4TpJxxR Maybe it will inspire something you’re writing. Something’s going around for sure!
13. Writers in the Storm https://writersinthestormblog.com/2023/02/writing-how-to-create-characters-your-readers-love-and-hate/ You can create charming good guys and vicious villains, the hookiest of hooks, brilliant worlds, and twisty plots with the most intense cliffhangers, but if readers don’t care about your characters, they won’t recommend your book to their friends. Or worse, they’ll put the book down and never buy your books ever again. Why would they do that? Because they didn’t connect with your protagonist, antagonist, or viewpoint characters. Your reader wants to connect with at least one of those characters. They open the book wanting to love or hate your characters. But creating characters your readers connect with takes work. What makes readers not care? It could be one of several problems. We just had this discussion kind of on Books and Such above with Teri’s review of a book she read. Dig in and learn these powerful lessons!
14. From the Pen of Mae Clair https://maeclair.net/2023/02/13/book-reviews-by-mae-clair-if-cats-disappeared-from-the-world-by-genki-kawamura-the-villa-by-rachel-hawkins/ Happy Monday! I’m kicking off the week with two book reviews. Both of these stories are exquisite reads. I was drawn to the first by the title and the second by the blurb, which promised a story “inspired by Fleetwood Mac, the Manson murders, and the infamous summer Percy and Mary Shelley spent with Lord Byron at a Lake Geneva castle––the birthplace of Frankenstein.” I found them both engrossing, but will let you be the judge . . . Ergh, I can’t even imagine a world without cats. Hopefully, we’ll never have to find out. Check these book reviews out!