I’m back! After a great holiday season, I’m ready to jump back in!

During the holidays, I updated the blogging software for my website. If you notice anything amiss, please let me know.

2009 Goals

Have you set up goals for 2009? Done New Year’s Resolutions? My goals are pretty similar to last years: write better, write more, sell more. I’m taking some solid steps toward that.

• Friday Ideas enters a new year.
• I’m attending the Fearless Writing class this month.

What solid steps are you taking toward your writing goals?

Goals for Revision Notes blog

Again, I’m hoping to write posts that actually help you write better novels and picture books.

I’m planning to do a new series in February: Examples of _________.

I’m always asked for examples of various aspects of a novel or a picture book, such as examples of good plot, foreshadowing, characterization, description. What would you like to see an example of?

What other topics would you like to see this year? Talk to me!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Wisdom, the Midway Albatross

by Darcy Pattison

Giveaway ends March 11, 2012.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

When you write something as long as a novel, how do you make sure the character stays in character? When you revise, there are several ways to check.

Creating Consistent Characters

• Create a Bible for your character. It doesn’t have to be complicated, but have one file, or a couple note cards that list characteristics. Left handed, blue eyes, lopsided smile to the right, hates licorice, loves flannel sheets, wears a cross necklace, right ear is pierced, etc. It’s surprising how such little details can escape your notice. In one of my picture books, a character suddenly changed from left-handed to right-handed and the illustrator had to redo that bit of art.
• Create separate dialogue files for each character. More than anything else, a character’s dialogue needs to sound consistent (unless, of course, you’re using it to indicate character changes). By creating separate files, I can read straight through just what a character says and edit, then put it back into the novel.
• If there are long spaces between writing and editing sessions, then be sure to re-read the previous sections. It sounds obvious, but it’s easy to neglect.
• Immerse yourself with a character for a day. For an entire day, walk around and think about what your character would say, do, feel about the world around you. Immerse yourself in your character’s outlook on life. Then, go back and re-read and tweak. (It makes for great conversation: Why are you so weird today? You don’t usually like gingerbread. Today, I’m being Gretel/Hansel!
• Write an obituary of your character. It’s another way to focus on the main character traits, dreams, hopes, goals. What DID your character accomplish during their lifetime? Then go back and make sure your character more or less consistently works toward that goal

Read more of 15 Days to a Stronger Character.

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Wisdom, the Midway Albatross

by Darcy Pattison

Giveaway ends March 11, 2012.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win