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| Deborah Lynee |
Here on Seriously Write, we’ve been so fortunate to host a
multitude of authors who have been willing to share their knowledge and
experiences with those on their own journeys to publication. Earlier this
month, author Deborah Lynne’s
husband passed away. Yet, even while grieving her loss, Deborah still wanted to
offer encouragement to other writers. We’re so blessed!
~ Dawn
Never
Give Up
by
Deborah Lynne
How do you see yourself? Do you think one day I want to be a
writer? I used to say that. Mind you, I had written several novels from start
to finish. Nothing had been published so apparently I didn’t see myself as a
writer, but thank God for brothers. Mine said, “Debbie, you are a writer.
You’re an author…just not a published author yet.”
I’m telling you, God gives us a purpose and a passion for
something that we can use to praise Him. Writing is one of them. So if He’s
given that to you, know that you will succeed. You have to persevere. A published author is one who never quits!
Remind yourself of that.
While diligently pursuing your writing, you must also grow as
a writer. Don’t think you’re perfect no matter how well you pen a story. As you
put yourself out there trying to find an agent or a publisher, you query them.
If you receive a rejection turn that letter into a growth spurt in your
writing. Understand why they rejected you and then learn all you can to turn
that part of your writing around.
My first rejection told me I head hopped and that I needed
to work on POV. I studied up on point-of-view and learned how to block my
story; staying in one head for a period of time and learning whose head I
needed to be in for each scene. My next rejection said, “You are a great
storyteller but your characters are paper-dolls.” I thought what in the heck
does that mean? So I started analyzing what other authors said about developing
your characters. After I read and studied what others said, I went back and
read my own stuff and realized how weak my characters were. Reviews sometimes
say, “I love your characters. They come to life.”
Rewrite, rewrite, rewrite is the key as you learn more about
writing. My first book that went under contract was the second book I had
written…twenty years later. See! Perseverance pays off. Don’t quit!
Today I’d like to give you a few tips on making your
characters come to life…just in case that is one of your problems.
Things to remember when writing, if your reader doesn’t care
about your heroine or hero, they won’t care about reading your book either.
Here are 3 tips I think will help you.
Make your characters believable/real – remember
heroes/heroines have good and bad traits—no one is perfect.
Know everything about your characters before you start
writing. Each of your characters have their own background, things that
happened to them while growing up that makes them who they are, why they react
the way they do.
Your characters have a physical description, a past, a worst
fear, a goal, an inner conflict, and an outer conflict. Thread these things
throughout your story.
Keep on writing! Remember you have a passion for it. Use it!
Tweetables:
A published
author is one who never quits. Click to tweet.
Know everything
about your characters before you start writing. Click to tweet.
Author Deborah
Lynne shares tips on making your characters come to life. Click to tweet.
Ten years ago he stole her heart…then crushed
it.
Now she’s gazing into his blue eyes again. Dare she hope that things could turn out differently this time?
The day
Melilla Vasquez, curator of The San Francisco Institution of Art, has dreamed
of has finally arrived. She’s worked hard to see the new Native American art
exhibit, which showcases her own Navajo lineage, come to fruition. To add to
her joy, she’ll be allowed to display a couple of her own paintings…the big
break she’s waited for as an artist ever since college.
Then
Lila receives a phone call that will change her world forever. Victoria, her
old college roommate and a very wealthy woman, is dying. She trusts no one but
Lila to raise Kaitlin, her baby, after she’s gone. But can Lila, a single
woman, raise a child on her own? What about all the big plans she has for her
career? Even more, choosing to help her friend means facing the only man she’s
ever loved—Joseph Neal Rodman III, Vicky’s brother. Can her heart survive
seeing him again? And can she live with herself if she doesn’t at least try?
Deborah Lynne,
author of inspiration romance, mystery and romantic suspense, has penned eight
novels. Her latest is After You’re Gone. She’s an active
member of ACFW & RWA. Deborah Lynne says her books are fiction, but God is
real.
Although she is a recent widow, she enjoyed 42 years of
marriage to her wonderful husband Scott. They have three grown children and
three grandsons.
Deborah is now writing her next Samantha Cain Mystery—Against
Her Will, Book 4 in the series.
You can visit Deborah Lynne at her website: http://www.author-deborahlynne.com
or email her at deblynne8@gmail.com. She loves hearing from her readers!
