August 4, 2006: Sharing with Writers:
From the Desks
Of Carolyn Howard-Johnson and Authors' Coalition Friends
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"Sharing with Writers" is the official newsletter of Authors' Coalition,

http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com

an organization of writers who help writers.

To read this newsletter at Authors Den go to:

http://www.AuthorsDen.com/adstorage/1713/Newsletter_Aug_SecondWeek_2006.doc
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Note from Carolyn:

Dear Authors' Coalition Members and Subscribers:

Ahhhh. The joys of writing! Today I received an e-mail from a woman I have come to know. A writer and former publicist, Nancy Mills, took the time last spring to drop by the Authors' Coalition booth at the LA Times Festival of Books.
The founder of the Spirited Woman Circle, she always sends me news for Sharing with Writers. This time she reports "Fannie Flagg - my next Spirited Woman Circle guest -- called me just elated. Her new book Can't Wait to Get to Heaven just made #3 on the New York Times Bestseller List. She is over the moon."

My first thought was, how wonderful it is that authors of Flagg's stature still does a little moon-flying over good news about their books!

Flagg is one of my favorites. When I read her Fried Green Tomatoes I remember wishing I had written it. (I think that is a supreme compliment to an author.) We both write about unique cultures within the US borders (though I don't know what her new book is about--yet). We both write about edgy or salty characters. My Gram Harriet in This Is the Place approximates a couple of the characters in her Green Tomatoes.

Nancy reports, "I think Fanny's teletalk is going to sell-out."

So here is the info in case you'd like to treat yourself to a chat with Flagg (there's a minimal $15 charge) and I will be on the call, too. The exclusive 1-hr. phone conversation is Sept. 5, 10 am PST. She will discuss her Can't Wait to Get to Heaven and the many demons she has battled - from dyslexia to depression, to her long stretch of writer's bloc, the special advice she would give a first time novelist, and why she is a woman's advocate.
http://www.TheSpiritedWoman.com

Nancy also told me that many of our Sharing with Writers subscribers have become supporters of the Spirited Woman's Circle. Way to go, guys...er, gals. And, I suspect, guys would not be turned away. After all, we're all in this business together. Besides, we can all use an occasional dose of enthusiasm.

Best,

Carolyn Howard-Johnson
HoJoNews@aol.com
http://carolynhoward-johnson.com
http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com
And a blog focused on book fairs at http://redenginepress.com/chjohnson

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No part of this newsletter is paid advertising.
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Tip: Sylvia McClain publishes a calendar for writers that is a perfect place to let people know about your doings. She lists some events by region so that news of local events works for her as well the national ones. You will probably want to subscribe as well.
Her e-mail address is: sylmcclain@juno.com
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Letters to the Editor:

In response to last week's editorial on editing:

Carolyn:

I chatted with a woman at the book fair (LA Times Festival of Book where this writer and I shared a book) who said she had written several books and could not find a publisher.

I asked her if she had an editor.

"I don't need an editor," she huffed.

All I could do was to smile and wish her a good life.

The only edits -- and they're rare indeed -- that I've ever rejected were those that were demonstrably incorrect or done by some person who was clearly unqualified to edit.

Show me a great writer and I'll show you a great editor.

Virgil Jose
http://www.fatcatpress.com/

PS: Virgil now offers an editing service. I might add that editors (like Virgil and me--and yes "me" is correct), who know they can keep learning are better than the ones that don't! I know because I learned new stuff researching this next book on editing!
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(I also had another letter from a subscriber who pointed out how I could use an editor for this newsletter. Touché! So here is my apology for the many times you would happily fix my material and a promise to do at least 10% better! Here is also a disclaimer:

If these letters were edit-perfect, you can be sure you wouldn't get them every week or possibly at all. Time is a factor. So, do as I say, not as I do, and give your fellow writers a break now and then. AND let's help each other out as this subscriber did. We should always be happy to get a solid critique. (-:

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Opportunities:

Poetry Contest:

One of the poets I study with, Suzanne Lummis, invites you to enter the no-reader's-fee Anne Silver Award contest? She says, "The guidelines are all on the new Speechless site ( http://www.speechlessthemagazine.org/ ), and the deadline's coming up fast -- Aug. 11. The one important restriction:
we're looking only at formal poems right now. Witty formal poems.
Further, we encourage people who are serious, committed readers and writers
of contemporary poetry, rather than those who go 'well I've never written a
poem before, but how hard can it be?'

The current issue also features a special section on Early California writers and artists.


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New members will help Authors' Coalition serve all its members better! Ask your writing friends to join at http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com. Paid members get a favorite review posted, their photos and titles listed among members, consideration for an interview or review in Yarnspinners and Wordweavers and with more in the works. Membership is reasonable, too. We're even planning a speakers' bureau.

Tell friends to visit our blog, too. There they'll learn how to spark generally insipid book fairs by using value-added promotions: http://redenginepress.com/chjohnson .


http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com
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Tip: I met Pauline Ensign years ago at a SPAN convention. She specializes in tips booklets used for promo and about any other reason. She has a newsletter that you will want to read if you're serious about promoting. Contact her (and tell her I sent you) at:
E-mail: paulette@tipsbooklets.com
Voice: 858-481-0890
Web: http://www.tipsbooklets.com/
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Tip: Alternative-Read.com is the "Inside Story" as told by Sassy Brit and her Gang!
Lively and Spirited Alternative Reads is a resource for your reviews or for you to be reviewed.

Sassy embraces alternative views of alternative books, spoken-word audio CD's, Instructional DVD's, music, audio learning courses and interactive learning kits.

She also publishes reviews of blogs, competitions, newsletters and author interviews. Fiction or nonfiction; if it has an alternative theme, you'll read about it here.

Join the 'Alternative Read Yahoo group - An_Alternative_Read-subscribe@yahoogroups.com and CHAT now! Connecting readers and authors together! Or try this one: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/An_Alternative_Read/join?check
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Author Successes:

(Note from Editor: If you aren't letting me know about your successes, you're not utilizing this newsletter -- your newsletter -- to its fullest. I can't publish book signings and some other events (there would be too many of them) but if you have a bookstore to share, that might work. At any rate, SEND. I'll see if I can include it the letter in a way your fellow subscribers can glean information that would be useful to them.)

Corey Daniels: Please visit the grand opening of poet Corey Daniels website, http://www.Coreydaniels.net It includes a poets’ corner where authors can post their works, bios, photos, book signings, and lots more. Feel free to browse through the website and also feel free to comment by sending an e-mail to corey@coreydaniels.net.
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Carol White's family is going to be featured in Money Magazine in October! Her success is an example of how authors need to find the angles that will interest specific periodicals or other media. The Money article features the Whites as parents who have defined benefit pensions for children who won't have access to similar funds. It will contrast the retirement preparation differences between the generations.

So what does that have to do with publishing? Carol says, "Well, of course, they wanted to know what we were doing in retirement and became fascinated with our story of
embarking into the publishing world. We won't know for sure until the article is done, but the editor says he is 'predisposed' to including that angle in the story! Of course, I tried to be casual
about it, saying that IF he was going to mention the book, I'd 'like' to know, so that we can be sure the book's distribution channels know, because Money has such a large circulation."

She also says, "Would that be a stroke of luck or what!! All because I monitor a
retirement newsletter and answered their query! You never know
where that next GREAT marketing coup is going to come from." Carol White is the author of Live Your Road Trip Dream, www.roadtripdream.com, 2006 Winner Benjamin Franklin Award for Marketing Excellence and a 2004 Finalist ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year

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Tip: Looking for an agent? This site includes an informative list of agents. www.agentquery.com. Remember, though, it is always up to you to filter out the shams and the first indicator of a sham is if they want money from you for editing, reading or anything else. (Most will eventually charge you for postage and other office expenses, but that's it.) Reputable ones make a percentage of the business they send your way.
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Reciprocal Links:

For expert and up-to-date advice for writers from writers go to http://www.writeradvice.com. You'll find author interviews, reviews, contests and markets and more. The site, edited by B. Lynn Goodwin, is open to submissions.
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Book Exclusives! Find insider news from authors, publishers, agents, editors and others involved in the book biz. Read excerpts, interviews and get in on the latest in promotions, sales and contests. http://pubproauthors.bravehost.com/
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The Shy Writer: An Introvert's Guide to Writing Success - Author C. Hope Clark advises you how to "sell your words, not your soul" when you promote your work. http://www.theshywriter.com/
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The Reading Tub is a charity that promotes family and children's literacy. They read every children's book that is sent to them to be reviewed. The books are then donated to community organizations. Go to www.thereadingtub.com.
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Walter Brasch's America's Unpatriotic Acts: The Federal Government's Violation of Constitutional and Civil Rights. ) is a look at the history and effects of the USA Patriot Act upon the erosion of our civil liberties and violations of at least five of the Bill of Rights. It has been endorsed by liberals and conservatives.
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The Scribal Press News Calendar. The news calendar of writer events around the world, no matter where you live. Find it at: http://www.scribalpress.com/thisnthat.html?
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Star Publish offers near self-publish profits on your paperback; it is an alternative to unapproachable publishers. http://starpublish.com.
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Do you want to hone your skills? Writer to Writer features tips on writing, marketing, submitting, selling and more. Regular no-f e e contests.
www.writer2writer.com
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Authors' Coalition is for writers. Find support for authors--both emotional and material--at
http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com.
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Gather at QueenPower.com where women promote, support and encourage women. Start living your best life now! http://www.queenpower.com/

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Please pass this letter on to others. Unlike many others, I do not mind if you use only portions of it as long as you credit the writers and include this subscribe information. "To subscribe to 'Sharing with Writers' send an e-mail to HoJoNews@aol.com with 'subscribe' in the subject line."
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Tip: Libraries are a lot more author friendly than most people realize. Here is a list of those that sponsor appearances by authors. Some even cover expenses. https://cs.ala.org/publicprograms/authorlibrary/liblist.cfm
This info came from another resource you ma wish to look into. It is www.BookConnectionOnline.com
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Poets & Writers Opinion Poll and an Opinion of My Own:

This magazine (one of my favorites) gleaned opinions on whether "creative writers who seek to publish their work have a responsibility to read and recommend enough books to nourish the marketplace they wish to enter." Sixty-three percent of them did. I'm surprised the number wasn't even higher in the face of studies that say that readership (of books) is diminishing. After all, if we don't support our industry who will? If nobody does, we all may as well go back to journaling for our own pleasure only.
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Reciprocal Links:

For snappy marketing tips and the f~r~e~e report "How to Obtain Book Reviews," subscribe to the PR Postcard at
http://www.authorscompanion.com/
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Cynthia Brian, Media Coach, Writer, Author, Speaker, TV/Radio Personality, Spokesperson. www.star-style.com , www.goddessgals.com , and www.starstyleproductions.com
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Francine Silverman, publisher of Book Promotion Newsletter, serves authors by e-mailing Expert Sheets to the media. Contact Fran at franalive@optonline.net for more information. www.bookpromotionnewsletter.com
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Read author interviews, market information, and more in WriterAdvice, www.writeradvice.com. To subscribe or to submit material for consideration, E-mail LGood67334@comcast.net Put "subscribe" in the subject box.
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The Y&W newsletter sponsored by Red Engine Press brings authors, bookstores, publishers and reviewers together. Subscribers can write a short article of interest for publication. Send an email to nate@redenginepress.com with "Y&W Newsletter" in the subject line.
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Sun Signs for Writers: Learn how astrology can benefit (and entertain!) writers with a new Writers' Digest book: http://www.writersigns.info
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Judith Woolcock Colombo: Author of The Fablesinger and Night Crimes: Learn more at: http://odin.prohosting.com/~night01
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Discover a novel by Cynthianna Appel and receive another e-book at no cost. Go to http://pages.sbcglobal.net/cynthianna/promo.html today!
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Read Joyce Faulkner's Celebrity Cafe.com column to learn about anything from aging feet to her favorite books on writing: http://thecelebritycafe.com/features/Columnists/The_Weekly_Shriek/
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Has writing lost its spontaneity? Find remedies in Milli Thornton's online writing course at: http://www.fearofwriting.com/creative-writing-course.htm
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Discover a true-life philosophy about making marriages last a lifetime in Choose Love For Life, by Joe and Edwina Roady (http://www.chooseloveforlife.com/.)
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Find a f * * *, database which details over 2,000 literary and genre magazines and publishers at Dee Rimbaud's site: http://www.thunderburst.co.uk/
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The Complete Writer offers advice on writing, editing, proofreading, publishing and design. Published by Red Engine Press, a traditional press.
http://www.redenginepress.com/

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Worth Quoting:

On Motivation and Characterization:

(Found in Christopher Klim's newsletter, one you might enjoy subscribing to. Find it at www.writersnotes.com.)

"…so much dramatic writing is glaringly obvious and predictable. Characters either say what they mean or follow such a single-minded and unified objective arc that they function like emotional clichés: He is in love so he..., She is jealous so she... , It's their child so they... The challenge for dramatic writing is to disguise our overly simplistic lattice of objectives with conflicting or tangentially related motivations. A character can love her mother and wish her dead. A character can want long life and love nicotine. A gospel singer can love privacy, crave stardom, and hate church…" - Ed Shockley, author of Notes from a Practicing Writer
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Thank Yous:

(Note: Each thank you may be set with a jewel of a resource for you to plumb for your book. Watch for them! Adapt them to your own publishing and promotion needs!)

To D. Herrle, editor of an online literary journal, Subtle Tea, for publishing two of my poems from a work in progress called Girl Talk. They are not my usual fare so if you're easily offended, don't click here: http://subtletea.com/carolynhowardjohnson2006.htm
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To Dee Power, author of The Making of a Bestseller: Success Stories From Authors, and the Editors, Agents and Booksellers Behind Them for including The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't on her Amazon plog. If you don't know what an Amazon plog is, go read hers, see how it's done and find a great example of how authors can cross-promote at the same time! Here's the URL:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0793193087/ref=sr_11_1/102-9525000-4645703?ie=UTF8
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To Cheryl Wright, editor of Writer2Writer.com, for printing a review of Peter Bowerman's new book, The Well-Fed Writer Publishes for you to peruse. It may very well be a book that you need. Go to: http://writer2writer.com/selfpublisher.htm and while you're there browse around her very helpful site!

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Authors' Coalition members! For credibility, use the AC logo on your promotional materials. Ask for it by sending an e-mail to HoJoNews@aol.com or download it with a click from the AC site http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com.
Be sure to link it to the AC site, too!
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Tip: Having trouble finding what you want on Google? Spending too much time reading through material that doesn't forward your research? Learn to focus on how you ask the question, before you ask it using a simple mathematical technique called Boolean logic. Led by Joyce Faulkner, Marilyn Peake, Kathe Gogolewski and Carolyn Howard-Johnson, Audio Classes for Writers, Find a Needle in a Haystack, Using Boolean Logic to Support Research for your Writing is the perfect teaching tool. Allyn Evans moderates. Download and listen on your computer or your iPod. You can also get it on CD. Go to: http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com/single.asp?ISBN=DDP000013QP

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Feature a la Ask Amy:

Dear Carolyn:

I have sold my book only to friends and family and a few acquaintances. The only other books I
have sent out are to agents and reviewers and today it showed up for sale on Amazon as new at a deep discount. Is it common for these professionals to do this instead of returning them in the SASE that I enclosed for them to send them back to me? Have you heard of this before? Is there anything I can do about it? If someone orders it from them, I lose a sale because of this book I gave away in good faith? Would it do me any good to send an email to this seller and ask where the book came from? It's just so crummy... I guess it's just the wild
West out there.
A New Author

Dear New Author:

When this happens to new authors it is often a surprise to them. Yes, most authors hate it when this happens. And yes, it is not professional.

The reality is that used books are part of the publishing landscape and have been ever since we humans were exposed to mass produced books (maybe before). My advice: don't fight it and don't waste energy worrying about it. It only takes energy that could be better spent writing and your chances of changing any individual or process is about zero.

And, no, I wouldn't ask any of your contacts where the book came from. That would look like an accusation when it may not be that person who did it. Further, I doubt anyone would admit that they were so unethical as to profiteer on a review copy.

You may want to read an essay I did on this subject for my column "Back to Literature" for MyShelf.com. It is archived here: http://myshelf.com/backtoliterature/column.htm. I think it will help you put all this in perspective!

If you'd like to read more on the subject, there is a chapter in Frugal that suggest that we, as authors, should prefer to have our books read, and not worry so much about how they get the books. I've even heard authors complain about libraries because people borrow the books rather than buy them. Mmmm. LIbraries buy a lot of books and the support of libraries for authors' works can be very valuable indeed. I'm not diminishing your initial shock. It comes to all of us when we're new. But we need to learn not to suffer in silence, I think, but not to suffer at all.

Your Dear Abby Stand-in
Carolyn
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Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching

Avoid Humiliating Errors When You Submit Anything from a Query Letter to a Manuscript: Come by and sign up for my class at UCLA on Saturday (TOMORROW), August 5th (summer quarter). You can sign at the door of the Public Policy Building on campus, Room 2270. You'll learn how to prepare a professional manuscript for submission to agents, publishers or to ready it for alternative presses. Even experienced writers may not know they are marking themselves as a novice with the most innocuous of errors. As the song says, "Little things mean a lot." To enroll or to receive a free copy of UCLA's "Writers' Program Quarterly," contact Marcus Hennessey at writers@uclaextension.edu or (310) 825-9415.
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The Muse Online Writing Conference: Lea Schizas, editor of "The Muse on Writing," and Carolyn Howard-Johnson are sponsoring this first annual virtual writers' conference October 9 - 13. This conference lets writers -- published or not -- mingle with some of the publishing world's personalities. Choose from a huge selection of free online workshops.
Bookmark this site

http://www.freewebs.com/themuseonlinewritersconference/

Go back often to see the newest presenters and workshops. Subscriber Fran Silverman will be one of the presenters. Carolyn will be presenting on both book promotion and the craft of writing, specifically "Writing Sparkling Dialogue in 10 Easy Steps."

To check on the growing faculty and workshop session, go to:

http://www.freewebs.com/themuseonlinewritersconference/agenda.htm -----
I will be presenting at the Sinclair Lewis Writers' Conference on Saturday, October 14 in Minnesota. Registration information is available at http://www.saukherald.com/ftp/lewis/conference.html and if you would like more details about this exceptional one-day event, e-mail me (HoJoNews@aol.com) or Jim Umhoefer, conference director at jim@candidperceptions.com
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Paulette Ensign, board member of Publishers and Writers of San Diego, a SPAN and PMA affiliate has invited Carolyn to speak on Marketing Your Book or Published Product from Unknown to Best-Seller Sat., Jan 27, 2007 in Encinitas, CA. Learn more about the organization and their programs at: http://www.publisherswriters.org/

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Reciprocal Links: Many subscribers are in a position to cross-promote. Let me know if you would like to trade some recommendation or promotion for a permanent spot (or as my list grows, semi-permanent) spot in this newsletter. I use only links that benefit writers
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Opportunity:

Watch for an all-tips newsletter sometime in August. If you would like your favorite writing or promotion tip to be included along with your name, book title and URL, e-mail be NOW at HoJoNews@aol.com!
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Agent Interview:

Fishing for an Agent? Use the Write Bait.

Complimentary Online Seminar: Literary Agents Answer Questions

One of the greatest challenges writers face is writing the dreaded query letter. How much is enough? How much is too much? What should be included? How can a query letter hook the literary agent’s attention and get the manuscript requested? Should sample chapters be sent with the query, a synopsis or an outline? What can a writer do to make their query letter rise to the top of the pile? What are the mistakes that should be avoided?
Miss Snark (yes that Miss Snark), Peter Rubie, Katharine Sands, and Jean Naggar answer questions from writers on the topic of query letters. http://www.brianhillanddeepower.com/agentseminar.html
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Reciprocal Links:

New!Wordpix Solutions offers design, production and book shepherding services for self published authors. www.wordpix.com/authors

PENCILS™ - A Proofreading & Copyediting Company
"Improving the written word one letter at a time." Let Laura Kerley help you present your work in the best light possible!
E-mail: pencilsproofreading@yahoo.com Web: http://www.pencilsproofreading.com
Phone: 310.357.9140:
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"Publishing and Promoting" is one of my favorite groups for meeting peers. It is moderated by award-winning suspense novelist Diane J. Newton, http://dianejnewton.bravehost.com/
To subscribe go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/publishingandpromoting/ .
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Dr. Bob Rich, freelance editor, finds the good things in your book and makes suggestions for improving it. Find him at http://bobswriting.com/editing.html
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Success Literary Services offers complete book manuscript services. They were honored with twelve awards. References. http://www.successliterary.com / suc-srv@pacbell.net
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HUGS, HOPE, and Peanut Butter: Finding Light Behind Life's Storm Clouds is a book of humorous, inspirational essays illustrated by critically ill children. www.hugsandhope.org/pb.htm
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The Compulsive Reader reviews books!. Find interviews, literary news, criticism, a no - c^st e-zine, and more. http://www.compulsivereader.com/html.
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Do bookstores owe you money? Michelle Dunn's books help you get your checks in full and on time. http://www.michelledunn.com/
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Erica Miner, queenpower.com's Queen of Journaling, edits a newsletter with an emphasis on journaling. Subscribe at: http://www.ericaminer.com/newsletter.php
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Need help with your writing career? From coaching and ghostwriting to publishing and marketing,contact your Author's Advocate, Patrika Vaughn, at http://www.acappela.com/.
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Dreams of Grandeur, a book of poetry by Amber A. Whitman is available at http://homebody2001-ivil.tripod.com/. A reader says "I'm impressed…a great deal of talent."
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"Quark Soup" by Magdalena Ball breaks linguistic convention, using the strange anti-matter world of astrophysics and quantum physics to capture the bonds that tie human beings together."
http://www.compulsivereader.com/html/images/quarkindex.htm

========================================================If you enjoy "Sharing with Writers" please nominate it for Writer's Digest's 101 Best Newsletters for Writers. We aren't big, we aren't old. So it would take a huge outpouring from subscribers to make a dent. Send an e-mail to writersdig@fwpubs.com with subject line, "101 Best Newsletters for Authors" and let them know what this newsletter does for you!
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Feature:

(Editor's Note: Kathe Goglewski's submission on point of view garnered the most mail I've had from subscribers. As one of the lead instructors on the craft of writing for the audios published by Double Dragon Publishing we produce together, I knew I could con her into doing more on the subject for you. Here's the third and last in a series.)

Part III Third Person POV

In this issue of Sharing With Writers, I’m going to describe third person point of view.

The third person point of view is the "he said, she said," and "he did this" and "she did that." It is the most popular point of view in contemporary writing because it avoids so many of the difficulties that you encounter with omniscient and first person that were described in the two previous issues of Sharing with Writers.

Third person is far more intimate than the omniscient point of view because we get to hear what the characters are thinking directly; we're not being told what they are doing by a narrator. And it allows the writer to pop into another character's head when it's necessary to give the reader information that the protagonist isn't supposed to know, although some techniques must be employed to do this effectively.

Also, using third person can give the impression that the action is happening right then. This works very well with adventure stories. With first person, the action has already happened. The narrator "I" is telling the story by remembering what has already happened to them.

Third person point of view is my favorite POV as a reader, and the one I use to write. There are so many choices available using third person, though the selection of who's head you're in should be made very carefully. And you can't switch heads too much or you'll confuse the reader and you might even cross that line into omniscient point of view, introducing authorial intrusion. I usually don't switch point of view until I reach a new chapter, but many authors will switch when the scene changes. Some even change after a paragraph, but again, this is approaching the danger zone. I think it's wise, at least when a writer is learning about POV, to keep one point of view for an entire chapter or scene.

So how and when do you make the decision to switch into another character's head? And do you ever switch into the head of a minor character?

I base my decision on whichever head will create the most powerful emotion or feeling for the story. It has to lend to the development of the plot or a character, or it doesn't work. And yes, believe it or not, sometimes it's a minor character! I love using minor characters! It gives the reader a break from the hero and heroine by introducing a fresh point of view. It’s kind of like watching a movie when the camera focuses on the expression or conversation of some minor characters to highlight something the hero or heroine said or did. You know the movie isn't going to take off with the minor characters; they are there for a different purpose.

In my suspense novel, A Promise to Keep, I wanted to showcase the traits of one particular horrible character, the villainess, but I wanted to do it in a way that it would dawn on the reader slowly, because I thought it would mean more if the reader made up his or her own mind about her character. So I wrote a scene where her lover considers buying her an engagement ring. Of course, he's totally in love with her. She is, to him, the perfect creature, so he doesn't see her bad qualities. Instead, he makes excuses for her. But the reader sees through it and doesn’t believe him when he says she has good reason to clean out his wallet. She wants a real man, he rationalizes, someone who isn’t afraid to fork it out. The reader sees that he is being used, and learns to dislike the villainess even though she is not present in this scene. Because the technique is more subtle than an overt disclosure of her bad behavior, the reader must make up his or her own mind. This can be a powerful technique. Sometimes less is more.

There are other ways of using point of view besides outlining a character’s traits. You can use it to further the action, describe another character, or even describe the ambience or setting of a scene. In A Promise to Keep, I wanted the reader to get a feel for the culture of the Tarahumara Indians in the Copper Canyons of Mexico, so I played out a few scenes through the eyes of a Tarahumara Indian man, which helped to establish the heroine in a place very different from her home. It's more intimate than describing the dress and habits of the Indians from her eyes.

I've also used a secondary character's point of view to increase tension. In another of my books, Flight of the Gryphon, a science fiction due from Double Dragon in December of 2006, I use the hardened and mean spirited servant of a dark lord to increase the sense of danger in the story. The character, Morchison, is charged with handling an enormous beast that the dark lord uses to incite fear and obedience in his subjects. Morchison is petrified to work with the animal, called a rocsadon, but he has no choice. The scene allows the reader to feel his fear as he works with this animal, and because he is generally fearless, it establishes the rocasadon as an extremely terrifying creature. When the animal rages through a village in the next chapter, the reader has reason to fear for the heroine.

It's important to remember however, that every character should be used to buoy the plot or character development. You don't want to meander off into tangents that leave the reader wondering what the story was all about! Every character’s point of view should feed into the larger story.
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Kathe Gogolewski
http://www.tri-studio.com/
Read my blog: http://www.anndurand.blogsforauthors.com/summary.php

A PROMISE TO KEEP/romantic suspense
writing as Ann Durand
Available now from Amazon.com at
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/104-5147852-4133539

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Metaphors and Similes to Make You Smile:

(Every year English teachers from across the country submit their collections of analogies and metaphors actually found in high school essays. I can't acknowledge the resource but I thought they might not mind if I published them one at a time. I also thought some of you might have some favorites you could contribute.)

Here is one of the teachers' favorites:

"Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever."


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Essential Book and Record Keeping:

This letter is an entity of Authors' Coalition

http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com.

Edited and distributed by Carolyn Howard-Johnson,

http://carolynhoward-johnson.com .

author of This is the Place, Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered, Tracings, and The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't, this newsletter lets authors share with each other.

Sharing with Writers does not guarantee entities or information in this newsletter. Subscribers should research resources though I do attempt to verify information used within its pages.

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Order the Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't
at stores like UCLA, Dayton University and San Diego State University's bookstores. Order it as an e-book or paperback at Amazon where it is discounted:

.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/193299310X/qid=1149015406/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-4692447-2218401?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

Tracings, a chapbook of poetry, may be ordered at

http://finishinglinepress.com

and at,

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599240173/qid=1139084827/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-7824821-4156653?s=books&v=glance&n=283155