WRITING TIP | Flame or Fire?

Should a character yell or roar? Consider or muse? Ask or plead?

As you read a novel, have you noticed one word can change the entire tone of a sentence?

Word precision has proven one of my most valuable tools as a writer. After all, a story is a collection of words which set the tone for the reader’s experience. The words an author uses hint at where readers should set their expectations. The right word can transform a sentence into an art form.

If you think about it, word selection reflects how we live our lives. How many times have we chosen a word in conversation to avoid offending someone? For that matter, how many conversations have turned ugly because we picked a word we later regretted?

I must credit my brother for introducing me to word selection. I spent years as a songwriter by hobby. As a teenager, I’d written a love song and used the word “fire” in one of its verses. My brother read the lyrics and pointed out, “Actually, if you’re writing a love song, you probably want to use ‘flame’ instead. ‘Fire’ sounds aggressive, but ‘flame’ sounds more romantic.”

My brother thought he’d pointed out a detail. But his observation revolutionized my world as a writer. Never again did I view words—or their effect—in the same light. I’ve incorporated this concept into every project since.

What’s the context of the chapter? Does it highlight the main character’s first kiss? Or does it follow the character as he escapes a crazed murderer?

This can apply to individual letters as well. On a comical note, I put this to the test in college. When writing a term paper for a political science class, I tried using alliteration—a string of words that begin with the same letter—to try to make the reading experience more pleasant for the instructor. If I recall correctly, I struck together several “s” words to make the sentence soft and pleasant, and several “t” words to make the corners of her mouth turn up in a smile. (“Why do I enjoy reading this paper so much?” :-) Did the word selection help? No idea. I did receive an A on the paper!

In all sincerity, though, I gave similar consideration to the words in my novel From The Dead.

In chapter 19 of From The Dead, the scene of Jesse’s suicide attempt, I opted for words that contain harsh consonants or invoke harsh imagery: ink blackness, agony, blade, agitate, writhe, streak.

But in chapter 47, a gentle love scene lent itself to softer words and romantic imagery: aural glow, nuances, embrace, palm, balmy, swathe, gasp for breath.

Try to find some interesting word choices in books you've enjoyed over the years.

Never give up!

John Herrick
www.johnherrick.net
johnherricknet.blogspot.com

WRITING TIP | Chalk It Up to Experience

Saturday morning. The clock read 4:50 a.m. And I couldn’t move.

I manage to pull the same muscle in my back a couple of times a year. Sometimes I’ll just stand there getting ready in the morning and I’ll feel something slip out of place. Usually it just ends up stiff for a week or two. On rare occasion, though, the pain is severe: I’m hunched over like a grandpa and sucking air with each painful step.

So late last week, I turn in my chair to look at a clock—I think that’s how it happened—and I pulled the muscle. For a couple of days, it felt stiff. No big deal.

Then I woke up Saturday morning, no alarm clock necessary. As soon as I budged, severe pain shot through my back. When that happens, you can’t get up like usual. So I figured I’d take my alternate approach: make a slow roll out of bed, ease onto my knees, then rise slowly. But on this particular morning, the slightest movement shot fresh bolts of pain through me. I’m a fairly young guy, so this was scary. I didn’t know if I’d get to my feet at all and, for the first time in my life, wondered if this should qualify as a 911 episode. But of course, I couldn’t reach the phone ten feet away. At least with each doubling over in pain, I fell a few inches forward!

Somehow I ended up on my feet. By that time, I wondered if I was about to pass out. Sweating profusely, my body felt like it was burning up inside. Perhaps the initial fright had caused my blood pressure to soar. I grabbed the phone in case I wouldn’t get another chance. Then, still feeling like I had a body temperature of 107, I stumbled to the refrigerator and stuck my head in the freezer—literally—for a couple of minutes until I cooled down. The last thing I wanted to do was asleep again!

Experiences like these remind us of our mortality. It sounds ridiculous in hindsight, but at the time, you truly wonder if you’re on the verge of death. Those are the times Bible verses take on a special meaning. Believe me, the words out of my mouth that morning were: “I’ll live and not die and declare the works of the Lord.”

Needless to say, I made it through. Looking back, I’m shocked at the details I could remember from the experience. Oftentimes, when I go through an unusual experience, whether severe or not, I write down the details of how I felt or the nuances of what happened.

Experiences like these provide us with reference points for future stories. Then enable us to step into a character’s shoes in a way few others can. In one experience, we’ve captured an array of emotions and physical reactions. Write them down! We might as well make them useful for something!

Hope this helps. Never give up!

johnherricknet.blogspot.com
www.johnherrick.net

WRITING TIP | What’s in a Name?

How important is a name? If it’s any indication, expectant parents pore over possibilities to find the perfect name for their kid. Often the name alludes to something: a family member, a biblical character, or a characteristic. Parents want their kids to remember a specific something or someone when they think of their own name.

If you’re a writer, you might consider your projects as your babies. You birth them. And for some reason, it seems to take me nine months to complete a novel from first draft to final revision.

If you write fiction, how much thought do you give to your character names? It’s not a requirement. But many writers treat it as a tool in their arsenals.

A character’s name can provide a reader with hidden treasure, a revelation about the character. The name can point to a character’s past, its nature, or its self-image.

I found a great example in the novel Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. (Go ahead, yuk it up. I read it to see what the fuss is about. I also discovered, by George, I'm NOT the target audience!) The book follows the journey of Bella Swann, a teenage klutz who prefers her own company and sees herself as rather plain. My best guess: her name reveals who she truly is, the way her love interest sees her. The Italian word bella means beautiful, the opposite of how Bella perceives herself. Unlike Bella—the klutzy loner—a swan (or Swann, in her case) seems both graceful and beautiful. How often do you see a swan swim alone? Perhaps Bella’s last name foreshadows the relationship to come. (Tangent: As I write this, I’m engrossed in a more suitable James Patterson novel!)

I decided to try it out in my novel From The Dead and grew to love the process. For example, the characters Jesse and Eden are preacher’s kids, so it seemed natural for a preacher to give his kids biblical names. Taken one step further, knowing how I wanted to present Eden—the sibling who’s walked the straight and narrow—I named her after the Garden of Eden, a place of perfection.

Also in From The Dead, we discover that Drew’s mother became pregnant at eighteen years old. In the midst of her pressures, a teen mother might think in simple terms and choose a name she always liked: Drew. It allows her to find a glimmer of relief in a tough situation. And Jada—well, it seemed like a solid name for a girl who grew up in front of a TV camera.

Once you find deeper meaning in a character’s name, it tends to stick with you through the course of the story, much like people carry their names through the stories of their lives.

Worth a try?

Hope this helps. Never give up!

johnherricknet.blogspot.com
www.johnherrick.net