I Write Children Books Too!!

A peek at my Christian children books, in this little video.  But also these books will be likable by children of all races, creeds and colors.  All books are available on Amazon.com under my name Pastor Janet M. fears D.D

What Is Theme In a Story?

Have you ever read a book that moved you so much that you want to do something to make the world a better place.  Maybe it moved you to help the poor, go off and travel the world as a missionary, or fight for equality for all.  Then you know what theme is. A message, or moral of the story that makes one want to take action, or portrays a message that makes you want to be a better person.  Look at this little poster.  It explains theme very well.

So before you write, you must think about what the theme of your story will be.  Are you trying to teach something to people, or persuade them to take some sort of action for a particular cause?   Think about the last book you have read.  What message were they trying to get across to you?  What did you feel after reading it?  I remember reading the book  Gone With The Wind.  After I read that book I felt a deep passion for those who served in the civil war between the North and the South.  I realized both sides had love ones that fought in those wars.  Both had struggles., both had to bury their dead.  It made me realize that war hurts everyone, and that we often only see from one point of view.  it taught me a life lesson about understanding universal  feeling all people have no matter where they live.  That people are people and all hurt.  So before you start to write, think about what you are trying to say.  What life lesson you want to get across to you readers   Theme is very important.  If you develop it well, your readers will close your book and remember how you made them feel, and come back for more!

Coming next.  Choosing your characters!

A Peek At My New Novel Coming In Late Summer!

I am also a book cover designer.  I design all my own covers!

This is the sequel to my already published book "ESTHER" available now on Amazon & in Kindle too!

Writing The Setting For Your Story!

Well, you're really on a role now with your story.  But where is it going to happen, or take place?  The place your story happens is called the setting.  read the description below about what setting actually is.

Setting is very important.  Even a child can tell you where  "Little Red Riding Hood's" story takes place.  It was in the woods on her way to Grandmothers house.  The setting of a story tells you the time and the place.   Stop and think about the television series "Star Trek", where did it take place?  Your answer should be in the future, in outer space, traveling throughout the galaxies.  Think about movies like "Gone With The Wind"  it took place somewhere in the south during the civil war, and  what about "Gunsmoke" television series.  We all know that this was during a time of development of the early west, during the eighteen hundreds. So when you think about your stories setting, you must decide where it will happen.  In the city, country, forest, a foreign country.  Setting is crucial for any story in order to be believable.  Your reader must be able to identify with the setting of where the story happens, unless it happens in outer space, if you are writing a fantasy, then readers know anything unbelievable could, and most definitely will, happen.  So, your setting must be centered either in the present, past, or future . Once you have picked your setting, then you must research where it will happen, and describe it so well that your readers can picture it vividly in their minds, as if they were really there with your characters.  Then you will be writing like a real writer!


Coming next What do you expect from your story...why are you writing this story.  What is it's Theme?

Who's Telling Your Story?

   
 So, now you've got your story idea.  Good.  But who is going to tell it?  You must decide that before you start.  This is called Point of view.  You have choices here.  1st, 2nd, or 3rd person. You can also write as the Narrator, where you are telling the story to the reader, so you really get to tell as much, or as little as you want  about each character.  Their feeling's, and emotions, as you see them.  Or you can write in the first person, where one of the characters is telling the story from their view point.  Or you can write in the third person, where an outsider is telling the story from what he sees is happening.  First person point of view, is often used in Auto- Biography's where a person is telling their life story,written by them, in their own words. View points are very important.  Think about the book "Gone With The Wind"  We see the story through a narrators eyes, who sees all, that is going on with all the characters.  we get to know them up close & personal.  The narrator centers his attention mostly on Tara.  It's her story, as he see it.  Although we meet the other characters in her life and get to know something about them,  we never truly get to know them as we do Tara because it's mostly centered on her, and how she feels about her life.. We experience her thoughts, emotions, and feelings.  This is how the narrator reveals her to us, and how he sees her through his eyes..  Pick up your favorite novel, read until you know for sure what viewpoint they are using  Can you tell?  This is good practice to get you acquainted with the different view points  a writer uses..  Checkout many different novels, read, until you can plainly know what viewpoint they are using for their story. before you start to write. 
Helpful tips for pronouns used in each point of view

1st Person- I, me ( we are talking about ourselves, our thoughts, our opinions)
Example- I like Pizza

2nd- Person-you ( When you are referring to someone else- you, your, yours,, yourself, or yourselves)
Example- You like Pizza.

3rd Person-He, she, it, they (The person you are talking about-he, him. his, himself, she, her, herself, it, its, etc!)
Example- She likes pizza


Now that you've  got the hang of viewpoints, lets choose the setting where your story will take place.  Coming tomorrow..  Choosing The Setting for your story? "

Choosing What Type Of Story To Write!

Okay, we're on a roll.  So you have decided to be a writer.  So what type of stories, or novels do you want to write?  You must decide this very early.  Often as a reader you read many types of novels or other books.  Which speak to you?  Most often that will be what you are interested in.  But is it a field you really want to spend your time investigating.  Yes, you must investigate to see if you really want to write these types of books.  Often our likes fall in different fields.  You may love reading mysteries, but do you love it enough to spend hours learning how to write it.  If your answer is NO, then enjoy others who write it, but know its not something you feel passionate about.  So keep reading what you enjoy, but look for where your passion lies, where your heart beats.  Think of the books that have left an imprint on your heart and life.  Books that made you want to write like that author, books that still today made you weep, and want to change the world . You can read many genres, but what one do you read over, and over again.?  This is a sign to what you most likely will do good at, because its from your heart.  Check out the many genres, and see what ones you read fall into them.  What your favorite author writes in.  Study their lives to discover what fueled their passion to write the way they write.  Then study your life and see what makes you want to write in a particular genre.  Study your feelings for that genre, why do you have a desire to write in that genre, what in your own emotions makes you feel passionate about it.  Getting in touch with your own feelings will help you choose what genre to write in, and why.  Take time to know your self, and it will make you a better writer!




Next step, Who will tell your story/1st person, 2nd person, 3rd person, or narrative!

Your Writing Journey Begins!

Because of a slight illness I was unable to write on my blog as I wanted to.  But I'm back, and my aim is the foster other writer's dreams.  Foster those who have a dream to write, but don't know where to start.  My blog is geared to this.  Here you will find answers to your questions about how to write, and do it well.  First, How to even get started on writing that book, and get it out of your head & down on paper.   So, lets begin!
#1  Simply start.  Do some writing exercises to get your juices flowing.  Is there a story, or idea in your head?  Well. Start writing it down.  In the beginning don't worry about how it looks or sounds, just write, all the spelling and grammar will come later.  First, you must write to see how it feels to write.  Enjoy it.  Just write.  If you don't have ideas in your head, look on the web for writing exercises.  Short prompts  that will trigger stories in your head.  If you are looking for writing prompts, check out  Writers Digest.com   You can also write about your own feeling, thoughts, or even your future characters that you want in your story.  Set a timer, and write for that amount of time.  This will get you accustomed to sitting down and writing on a regular schedule.   Don't pressure yourself thinking that, your writing must be perfect like the novel you read.  Let me tell you that these writers have been doing it a long time, and at the beginning they were unsure just like YOU!  Practice, practice, practice.  Like the saying goes.  Practice makes perfect, or almost perfect.  No one is perfect, not even the best writers.  That's why they are editors, and people who proof read their works.  Your writing journey will never end.  You will always have questions, and doubts about your writing abilities.  But keep the faith in yourself.  It's a journey, never a destination.  You will always be learning on this journey, and develop better writing skills as you go.  So sit down, and get started.  Your journey has just begun!

In my next blog we will discuss what type of writer you want to be.  What genre fuels your passion.
Fiction, Non-Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, or Mysteries.  There are so many to choose from.  But what's your choice.  You must make an early choice to begin!