When Plans Change

As I write this I’m sitting propped up in bed, listening to midnight waves crash on the beach while my wife sleeps soundly beside me (I didn’t use the word snore, but thought it). Even on a family vacation the need to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard is a strong one. When it calls, I listen. By the time this is posted I’ll be back in the land of Oz, ready to start the grind that is editing a novel. For now, however, my mind is on the beach and how plans are nothing more than a sandcastle built during the day that will undoubtedly be washed away at the coming of the tide.

Someone asked me if I was still writing the blog recently. I responded with “not really.” If you’re a follower of the blog and have missed it, I’d like to apologize for its absence (and thanks, by the way). The truth is I haven’t been maintaining the website with even half-hearted attention, let alone writing new blog posts. The reason for that will be explained in the coming paragraphs. It wasn’t a planned absence, but one of necessity.

The previous ten months have taught me a lot about coping with situations that not only didn’t go according to plan but weren’t in the plans in the first place. In June of last year my wife was diagnosed with a tumor at the base of her brain. She survived thanks to emergency surgery performed by the team of doctors and nurses at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Life is a bit different than before—difficulty swallowing has been the biggest struggle for her—but enjoyable, nonetheless.

Then we received unexpected news. She was pregnant with our fourth child. It was hard wrapping our collective brains around having another child at our ages (we’re at that age where only senior citizens think we’re young, but our kids think we’re geriatric). Four kids. All looking at us as the responsible adult-type person who shall be the biggest influence on their lives. Sure, we had talked about an addition a few years ago, but moved onward when nothing materialized.

After the initial shock wore off—which happened around the time of the first ultrasound—we were excited about our new addition and ready to embrace the challenges of a six-person family. Our three daughters are ready to help by changing diapers, feeding bottles, and generally loving the new baby, even if it is a stinky boy.

A two-week hospital stay in an unfamiliar city wasn’t in the plans, neither was the physical therapy that followed. Adding another child might have been a plan (I would prefer to think of it as a vague idea at best) three years ago but had faded from the forefront of our minds. That’s how life works, as I’m sure you’re aware. Sometimes life throws obstacles that you aren’t prepared for, leaving you to adapt or face the consequences. Other times there seems to be a bit of a delay in the realization of certain plans coming into being. It can create a certain hiccup in our giddy-up due to the poor timing. Yet isn’t a delayed result on a plan—or dream if you get where this is going—better than none?

Obstacles. Delays. Changing plans. The past ten months of life have mirrored my writing life as of late. The plans in that writing life could be described as ambitious dreams to those not inside the mind of this writer. A modest career as a writer with a small but loyal fanbase without the added hassle of working a “real job” was the plan (if you read dream here, that’s fine, just keep that four-letter word to yourself). By the way, most dreams are about handouts and charity that people haven’t earned; what I want I have already devoted a lifetime of hard work to achieving.

Those plans of a career in writing were made by a single man many miles down the shoreline of the beach that is life. Now I walk amongst sandcastles and water toys as a married father of three, with a fourth on the way, yet the plan remains. There have been rejected short stories by magazine editors, rejected novels by literary agents, and more self-doubt than one person should be able to produce. Obstacles.

Included in the larger plan (that’s really a goal) was a series of smaller bullet points to achieving said plan—because plans should always have bullet points and goals should always have steps. Bullet point number one was getting my first short story published in a literary magazine, which was achieved with greater ease than I can fathom in hindsight. I wrote and submitted five short stories to literary magazines at the age of nineteen. These were the first stories I had written with the forethought of having another living soul lay their eyes upon them. One of these was selected for publication. Seven long years would separate publication number one from two. Self-doubt can cripple a spirit under those circumstances. Indeed, mine has suffered breaks and sprains, but somehow survived. Eventually, the publications came after I had worked out just what type of writer I was going to be. Delays.

The bullet point regarding building a respectable resume of publications took longer to achieve than I ever dreamed. Yet I consider it done. Next, I turned to the novel, which had always intimidated me as a writer of the artform that is the short story (yes, I believe it’s an artform at its core). I won’t bore you with the details of my failures as a novelist (look at some of my previous posts if you’re interested) but will summarize instead. I wrote three middle grade horror novels and queried two of those—the third was a sequel to one of the other novels. More than a hundred literary agents received a query regarding those novels. One full request and a pass was the result. I have it upon good information that my queries were solid. It’s either the writing or the story.

Earlier I wrote about self-doubt in an earnest and open manner. Years reading other writers—both traditionally published and non—have taught me that I am capable of a traditionally published writing path. Egotistical or self-awareness, I’ll let you be the judge (and I would counter that Stephanie Meyer is proof that a traditionally published author needs only a miniscule amount of writing talent). The ability to write a coherent sentence isn’t an elusive skill. Millions of people around the world possess it. Many of them are fledgling writers as well. If you possess the ability to write a sentence without tripping over your fingers, voice and story are more important.

If writing ability isn’t the problem (and I assure you that it isn’t) then it must lay with either voice or story. In writing middle grade horror, I’ve gone with a straightforward and readable voice (sounds boring, right?). Honestly, it could be the voice, though I’m not sure I’d fix it within the boundaries of that genre. When it comes to the elements of story in those two novels, well, I feel like I brought my two best batters to the plate in a key situation and watched them strikeout. Those were the best stories that have ever spilled out of this head for that genre. If they weren’t good enough, fine. Change of plans.

It’s true that I have always enjoyed writing middle grade horror—still do, in fact—and my weary bones have always felt comfortable in its macabre waters. Yet I have also envisioned a reality that allowed me to publish both middle grade and adult horror (Yes, that is a bit farfetched and dreamy, but, hey, aren’t your dreams?). Even while writing middle grade horror I still maintained a connection to adult horror by writing short stories (by the way, nothing is harder than writing a 140K word novel then turning around and trying to squeeze an entire story in less than ten percent of that). With the failures of my middle grade stories, I decided to switch things up. I would focus on horror.

That brings me to the reason I stopped maintaining the blog/website. Trying to salvage something out of my writing career by switching to adult horror required my full attention. I tried to maintain the blog for a few weeks, but it was in vain. I wasn’t meeting my weekly wordcount goal, thus something had to give. Family time or the blog; that’s what it boiled down to. Yes, that stinks, but it was the right choice.

When I get home from this crazy multi-family vacation, I’m going to settle in and read the first draft. Hopefully, another fulfilled delay can be added to my writing career, with my first published novel. Traditional publishing is my medium of choice, but either way this novel will see readers unlike the middle grade novels that will never see the light of day. It’s time to be read.

The midnight waves have done their duty in lulling me back to sleep. May your dreams be as pleasant as mine are in paradise. And remember to always follow your dreams, even if they terrify you.

Stephen Michael Roth

Staying Focused

At the end of this past summer my middle child moved out of the upstairs bedroom she shared with her younger sister and into what had been my downstairs office. With the room taken over by an eight-year-old, my office moved into a corner of our master bedroom. I did get a new desk out of the deal, so don’t feel too sorry for me. However, being on the main floor of the house hasn’t been an easy transition, especially with three kids and a wife doing remote learning from home (my wife is a teacher). Focus hadn’t been a problem in the dungeon, but of course, I had the house to myself in those days. Now, the struggle is real.

Focusing on your writing without distractions is integral to the health of your story. Writing is about making a connection with a reader when boiled down to the basics. That reader has come to the written page ready to have their imagination tickled by your prose. Checking Twitter every five minutes does them a disservice. The least you can do for that reader is come to the blank page with the respect it deserves.

The following is a list of methods that have helped me focus over the years. This list is by no means complete but is simply a reflection of the methods I have tried. Some of these I still do, while others I don’t. Whether you do or don’t is, of course, your decision.

Close the door

I know there are writers out there that need the hustle and bustle of a café to inspire them to write. However, most writers don’t fall into that category, instead requiring quiet and solitude. If you are lucky enough to have a home office (unlike me) then use it. Whether your writing space is in a home office, the corner of a bedroom, or the laundry room like a young Stephen King, make sure that space has a door. Then close it.

Turn on music

Playing music can eliminate the array of noises that accompany writing in a house with other people. In his book On Writing Stephen King mentions writing to rock-n-roll music, which makes a ton of sense if you have ever read a King novel. I think this suggestion should come with a note of caution. Several years ago, I listened to music while writing to help drown out the distractions of the outside world. However, it became a distraction in itself when I stopped writing to sing along with the music. The problem progressed to the point where I was scrolling through the list of songs in search of my favorites. As you can imagine, I don’t listen to music while writing these days. If you decide to try this out yourself, I suggest lyric free music.

Meditate

Some of you might be scoffing at the notion of meditation. However, a few minutes of quiet contemplation can help relieve the stress of the day thus far, expelling it from the writing experience. In my own personal experience, I have found that my writing sessions go better when I have meditated beforehand.

Eliminate midsession distractions ahead of time

When I sit down to write I have already checked my email and the web has been sufficiently surfed. I already have a big cup of coffee on hand. When I’m introducing a new character, whether major or minor, I try to have a name already chosen and ready for use when I start my writing session. I try to do as much research as possible ahead of time. All of this is an attempt to eliminate distractions during a writing session. Like a beaver damming up a river stops the flow of water, distractions eliminate the flow of words.

The cellphone DOESN’T enter the writing room

I stumbled upon this method on accident. Before a writing session last week, I realized my cellphone’s battery was low. My charger was in the kitchen, so I hooked it up and went to write. During that writing session I realized how often I pause to check something on my cellphone. How many likes does my tweet have? Oh, someone commented on Instagram, I should check it out. To say it had been a distraction is an understatement. If you’re serious about your craft the pocket-sized computer can wait until you’re done.

Any of these five methods are worth a try if you want to improve your focus. I have one last method which I haven’t tried but is still worth passing along. Inform your friends and family that you wish to remain undisturbed while writing. In your house, for instance, you could do this by telling them that if the office door is closed then you’re working. In the case of friends, a text message would suffice. Of course, keeping a daily routine would help to remind everyone that between the hours of 8-12 Stephen is hard at work and not to be bothered.

Best of luck staying focused and keeping that writer to reader connection strong. Remember to follow your dreams, even if they terrify you.

Stephen Michael Roth

The Pros & Cons of Genre Hopping

The act of genre hopping is a hotly debated topic when brought up on social media. Some are strongly for a writer’s creative freedom, while others feel writers should stick to a single genre. First, I would like to differentiate genre hopping from the simple act of switching genres, as the latter is a singular act while the former is a repeated act. Is genre hopping a good idea? I think it falls in a gray area between good and bad that involves the writer making up their own mind. Like most things in life there are pros and cons; let’s explore those.

The Pros of Genre Hopping

Creative freedom

Creativity is the reason why a lot of us get into the act of writing, at least I know it was for me. Yet sticking to one genre can stymie the creative brain when writing about the same subject day after day. Turning to a new genre can help explore ideas and plotlines you might not have considered in the realm of another genre. Having the freedom to write what we want when we want to write it is a big deal for some writers. I know in my own writing life there have been times when the best idea for a story doesn’t fall into the general niche I have come to place myself.

Freshness

Freshness and creative freedom go hand in hand; however, one could argue that the two are separate factors (plus, I really needed another pro point). Writing the same genre every day can be akin to Ground Hog Day for some writers. Hopping to a different genre to freshen up your point of view, especially if the switch isn’t permanent, can do wonders. You may find yourself revisiting the old genre with a revitalized outlook. A daily routine of the same genre writing can grow old and stale to some and a quick change to something else might be just what the creative brain needs to stay on task.

A New Audience

Hopping to a different genre can reach new readers that might otherwise be unfamiliar with the writer’s work. Some of these new readers might consider reading outside the genre if they like the writer’s voice. I must be honest here regarding my opinion on this pro point. Attempting to reach new readers with the hope they will follow you isn’t something I would consider a good reason for genre hopping. There are few writers I would follow no matter the genre they wrote. Stephen King is an example of one such writer, while J.K. Rowling is an example of one that I haven’t followed. If reaching a new audience is a big deal for you and you don’t care about any carryover reading, consider writing under a pseudonym.

The Cons of Genre Hopping

Familiarity

I believe that in order to write in a genre a writer should first know that genre. This entails reading other writers in that genre as much as possible. After all, if you don’t read inside a genre then how will you know if the story you’re writing hasn’t already been written by another writer. Let me be blunt for a minute. In my opinion, it takes a rather large ego to think you can wrap your brain around the ends and outs of more than one genre at a time.

Alienating Your Old Audience

For this con we will assume that your move to another genre is out in the open rather than under a pseudonym. Readers can have particular tastes when it comes to their reading preferences. For instance, I read almost exclusively horror, though I do alternate between middle grade and adult often. Any deviation from that genre is carefully selected. As I stated earlier, I have made exceptions for some writers and not for others depending on the writer’s voice and the overall story that they wrote outside the genre. I would never abandon a writer for trying something new and different, choosing instead to wait for the next release in the genre that I enjoy. However, I’m not so sure that every reader would agree with me.

Lack of Focus

Hopping from one genre to another multiple times can create a perceived lack of focus in other people’s eyes. A reader or, say, a perspective literary agent might wonder if the writer knows what they want. If you’re not trying to attract a literary agent or are writing purely for the creative outlet, then this con doesn’t apply to you. If you are trying to attract an agent, well, it could serve you well to show some discipline and stick with one genre.

In the end whether you chose to genre hop is a personal decision that every writer has to make for themselves. Don’t base your decision off the musings of some guy of the internet (including this guy), but rather on what fits you. Personally, I prefer to focus on one genre with laser-like precision at a time when it comes to novels. When I genre hop it’s usually in the realm of the short story. If I have hopped around for several short stories, I’ll make sure the last short story is in the same genre as the novel I’m planning to write. That’s what works for me, you could be different. Thanks for reading.

Stephen Michael Roth

It’s a Story, Not a Procedural!

Hello and welcome back to the blog! There’s nothing new to report that I won’t be covering at some point in the post. In my last post, I had an absurdly long introduction. Today, it’s short and sweet. I’d like to talk about an aspect of the story that I recently realized was missing from my own writing. That will soon be revealed. Onward we go.

For those of you that have been constant readers of this blog (thank you, by the way), you’ll no doubt remember that I have been querying literary agents on a constant basis for over a year (a process I have closed for the time being). Most of those queries are in email form, as you would suspect. However, more and more agents are asking writers to submit their queries through a submission manager. I have no problem with this form of query intake, though often it’s more time consuming (I promise this is going somewhere and is related to the subject of the story). Two weeks ago, I stumbled upon a submission form that asked for my favorite sentence in the novel. As a writer with stories of your own, I’m sure you can imagine my dilemma. A favorite sentence? But there are so many to choose from. How does one go about choosing a favorite sentence from a novel you hold so dear? Another dilemma was the simple fact that I had already been querying this novel for roughly six months and it wasn’t fresh in my mind. What did I do? Yes, I scoured the pages of my novel looking for the best sentence.

If you paid attention to the title of this post, then you can likely guess what I found as I scrolled through two hundred pages, reading and scanning all the live long day. It was procedural. Perhaps a definition is in order to obtain a clear picture of the problem with this finding. Merriam-Webster has several definitions for procedure, but we’ll stick with the best fitting. Procedure: a series of steps followed in a regular definite order. That’s how my novel read, like a series of steps in regular order, without much happening in-between. Step 1. Zac hangs out in town square. Step 2. A stranger shows up and raises hell. Step 3. Zac decides to fight against the stranger. It goes on and on, but you get the idea.

So, what’s the problem with that?

Look, action is a crucial part of the narrative of a story. Without it a story wouldn’t move forward. I don’t know about you, but I enjoy a story that develops quickly as much as the next guy. No one wants to read a story where a man sits in a room, ruminating for three hundred pages without getting out of the chair. I say action is important so I can say this. A story without some form of introspection or inner monologue is missing out on the fundamentals. As a writer who wrote such a book in the recent past, I feel I can speak on the subject. I’ve always prided myself on having more self-awareness than the average person (yes, that includes writers). For instance, dialogue has always been a struggle of mine. I’m quiet by nature, as a result long monologues don’t come easily and seem absurd. On the other hand, as an introvert introspection has always been a strength. Or so I thought.

Introspection. Inner monologue. What are we talking about exactly?

Inner monologue can be defined as that voice inside your head that provides thoughts on situations and events. This can be as the events happen or in retrospect. Introspection can be defined as the examination of one’s own mental and emotion processes. This is when the character is deep in thought. I know what some of you are saying. That sounds like something only suited for the first person POV. However, both have a place in a third person story. Don’t believe me? Pick up a copy of your favorite third person novel and flip through the pages. Chances are you won’t have to flip for long before you run into inner monologue. I’m currently reading The Institute by Stephen King. Here’s an excerpt:

He didn’t know if his secrets could do him any good, but he did know that there were cracks in the walls of what George Iles had so rightly called this hole of hell. If he could use his secrets—and his supposedly superior intelligence—as a crowbar, he might be able to widen one of those cracks.

Above Luke, the main character of the novel, is deep in thought as he tries to brainstorm a way to break out of the institute. Since the novel follows Luke through much of the book and makes a clear distinction when it doesn’t, the reader can assume any thoughts or feelings are attributed to him unless otherwise mentioned. The narrator simply voices these in the third person point of view.

Let’s not get bogged down with point of view and which is better (I have my opinions and you undoubtedly have yours). The point is introspection and inner monologue can take place in both first and third person. Taking a break from the action to dig a little deeper with your character’s brain at the forefront is a crucial part of a good story. Avoid it and your story will suffer the consequences. Hopefully, you’ll catch the problem before sending it to fifty literary agents while wondering why there aren’t any full requests, again as I did. So far in my work in progress I’ve remedied the problem.

Before I end this blog post I’d like to address character thoughts for a moment. Some of you might be thinking about slapping a thought down and sticking Luke thought at the end instead of using inner monologue. I’m not going to jump out of the computer and slap your hand if you do this (Lord knows I’d like to). However, keep in mind that inner monologue is for deep, reflective moments in a story where a character takes pause, while voiced thoughts tend to be more superficial and in the heat of the moment.

Action is only one part of the complete make up of a story. Adding inner monologue to your repertoire won’t finish the job, but you’ll be well on your way. Thanks for reading. Remember to follow your dreams, even if they terrify you.

Stephen Michael Roth

Where Do Ideas Come From?

Hello and welcome back to the blog! Yes, I’m back after taking a break from the blog for a month or so. Why the break? Honestly, I’ve been thinking a lot about making a change in my writing. This blog is approaching its one-year anniversary and hasn’t had the reception I had hoped. Yes, growth takes time, I’m aware. However, the opposite has happened in recent months. That’s not the only reason I’ve been more introspective than normal, which is already a great deal. Last month, I finished the first draft of a novel in hindsight I’m not sure I should have written. It’s the second book in a series for which the first book is unpublished. Self-publishing could be in both books’ future, only time will tell on that. A few minutes before starting this blog post, I sent my fiftieth query via email for From Darkness Comes… No interest has been shown in the novel, which is disheartening. Over the last year and half, I’ve queried nearly a hundred literary agents and received exactly one reading, with a hard pass being the result. It’s as if I’m stuck in the writer’s edition of Groundhog Day, repeating the same mistakes with the same unfortunate results. The break was about finding a way to break that cycle. Well, I’ve had an idea. I’m going to switch my focus to writing an adult horror novel. It will take a few months for the queries I sent out to run their course (if it’s a rejection with an agent that doesn’t respond if not interested). When that happens, I’ll reread each of the manuscripts and decide if they’re worthy of self-publishing.

Yes, that was a three-hundred-word intro. It’s good to be back. Since I’ve spent a lot of time over the past two weeks coming up with the perfect story idea for my first adult novel attempt in five years, I thought I would write about ideas and where they come from. Perhaps an enchanted faraway land where unicorns prance and leprechauns frolic? Or do writers carefully pluck them out of the sky with the eagerness of the snowflake of winter? Well, let’s find out.

I have a notebook in which I keep notes on current works in progress, agents to query, and, yes, story ideas. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that of those story ideas, ninety-eight percent will never be developed further than a quickly jotted down note on a page. That’s okay, it’s part of the process of developing and finding the right idea to suit the occasion. There are times when a story idea stays in my head for months (or years in a few rare cases) before the proper occasion is stumbled upon. But where do those ideas come from?

I believe we can all agree that the idea itself is a mystical and mysterious thing, the origins of which shall forever remain in the realm marked unknown. However, we can delve into the subject of how a writer comes up with an idea. In my experience, a writer comes up with stories in two basic ways. The first of which is brainstorming.

When I’m in need of a new story and have no inkling of an idea, whether it be good or bad, I try to manufacture one. Yes, at its core brainstorming is manufacturing a story idea. My process looks like this. With a clear mind and distraction free, I lay down on the couch with my notebook and close my eyes. My wife calls this napping. To which I reply only by waving my notebook at her in a “See? I’m working” gesture. At first, I’ll admit I get nothing. However, as time passes my mind starts to wonder into the realm of the story idea. Before I know it, my notebook page is filled with ideas. Content with my progress, the brainstorming session turns into the exact thing my wife thinks it is. A nap.

It’s at this point that I would like to point out a simple fact regarding my own history with ideas and turning them into either short stories or novels. Most of the stories I don’t pursue further came to me in the brainstorming fashion. In fact, the ideas which end up as stories on a page usually come to me in the other fashion. By lightning strike.

Every writer who has been doing the job for any length of time has had the following experience. You’re busy doing some task or another (in my recent past this was while people counting at my day job). Your body is focused on this task, perhaps even your mind. Then an idea leaps into your head, hailing from that magical place we’ve already discussed. You weren’t thinking of a story or trying to come up with something. One second it wasn’t there, then, boom, there it is. A lightning strike. You repeat the idea over and over in your head until you can jot it down on a piece of paper or in the notes section of your phone.

Those moments feel like magic, don’t they? In my own experience (yours could be different), these ideas are usually worth following up on, be it a few more jots with the old pen or an entire character analysis. Not all these stories are good enough on their own to warrant a novel. Yet there are times when I’ve combined a lightning strike idea with a brainstorming idea and achieved a brilliant story.

It’s been five years since I last attempted an adult horror novel, which I abandoned after the birth of my youngest daughter (life was hectic with a new baby in the house, as you can imagine). In retrospect, the idea that sprouted the novel wasn’t as good as I had envisioned. During the last two weeks, I’ve been focused on not repeating that mistake. So, which process did I use to come with my ideas? Both. However, a single productive brainstorming session resulted in two ideas worthy of a further look. The story I chose was unique and interesting, something all good ideas should be. When paired with a subplot from another idea I wasn’t pursuing further, and the result is a story I’m proud to be starting in the coming days.

Whether an idea comes through deliberate or unintentional means, be grateful the ideas are coming. Then get busy writing. Thanks for reading. Remember to follow your dreams, even if they terrify you.

Stephen Michael Roth

Following Tropes

Hello and welcome back to the blog! I spent time querying both last week and this week. I have now sent thirty-five query letters to literary agents regarding From Darkness Comes… and have received twenty-nine noes without a single full manuscript request to bolster my outlook. Look, I try to keep positive about my writing—and I’m not giving up, for the record—but the writing seems to be on the wall for that project. I promised myself fifty plus queries if I didn’t procure an agent. That’s still the plan. Tropes and whether to follow the herd is on the docket for today. Remember you have your own opinions. What follows is mine.

So, what is a trope and why should you care? I would define a trope as a popular trend in fiction, where a particular plot device is used in excess by a mass of writers. These writers see that the reading public is enjoying a certain type of story or novel and open their Word document to tell their tale. Idiocy, that’s what it is. Pure idiocy. (That’s my opinion creeping in again.) Why should you care? Honestly, I’m not sure you should, except for one reason. To avoid falling into a trope by pure happenstance.

Hard as you try, chances are you’ve written a trope or two during the course of your writing journey, though you were likely unaware of it. I’m afraid it’s unavoidable, inevitable you might say. The ever-dynamic battle between good and evil has been a popular subject for as long as stories have been told. Well, dear reader, that’s a trope. Have you ever written about an anti-hero? Yeah, so have I. That means we’ve both written another popular trope. The love triangle is another trope that seems unwilling to fade into obscurity. Stories where the main character returns to their childhood home to either fight an evil force or find that it has changed beyond recognition is one I have noticed in recent years. In my somewhat humble opinion, entire subgenres can fall into the trope category when written about at a high frequency by a mass of writers who keep their fingers pressed to the pulse of the bestseller’s list. You want an example? Well, you’re getting one.

Constant readers of this blog are likely aware of this story. Yet, I think it deserves rehashing while discussing the topic of tropes in fiction. Fifteen years ago next month, a popular young adult horror* novel was released to the adulation of women of all ages. As you might have guessed that book was Twilight. As I sit at my desk, writing about tropes, I am realizing how many tropes are in that novel. A dark and brooding teen? Check. A MC who inexplicably runs towards danger? Check. The aforementioned love triangle? Check. However, the trope I wish to focus on now is that of the vampire. Yes, I believe Twilight turned an entire subgenre of horror into a trope. Here’s why.

*I can neither confirm nor deny whether Twilight is an honest to goodness horror novel, having only read half the book (I got to the sparkly vampire part and walked away forever). It does have horror elements in it, true. However, I have always thought of it as horror-light.

After Twilight’s massive success with readers, writers set out to pen their own vampire story. I was a young writer still searching for his voice at the time. Literary fiction and an occasional ill-advised middle grade novel attempt were my focus in those days. A year or two after the release of Twilight, I set my sights on the horror genre. While reading magazine’s submission guidelines online, I noticed something interesting. Several horror mags wouldn’t take vampire stories, with one reference the common trope directly. With time—we’re talking several years—the vampire trope calmed, as trends tend to do. It was only recently that I tackled my first vampire story.

I entered the writing process for The Vampire Story (yes, that was my tentative title. Original, huh?), I did so with two goals in mind. One, write an original take on the vampire subgenre, which might still be considered a trope even today. Two, respect the history of the subgenre while achieving goal #1. I created a story where a writer is tormented by a new type of vampire that he created, which fed on emotions during dreams. The nocturnal feeding aspect of the creature was respected, while attempting to pave new ground in the way the vampire fed. I believe it to be a uniquely interesting idea, and one that I haven’t seen before.

If you’re going to tackle a common trope in fiction, please think about it first. Can the story survive without the trope? There are times when the answer is a resounding no and that’s fine. If writers never tackled a trope or two, our bookshelves wouldn’t hold the multitudes they do. However, don’t jump on a bandwagon because someone else had a good idea. Get your own good idea. Whether you choose to trope or not, be original.

To receive free updates on the blog, click the follow button in the lower right-hand corner and enter a valid email address. You can follow me on Twitter and Instagram. @StephenRoth316 for both. Thanks for reading. Remember to follow your dreams, even if they terrify you.

Stephen Michael Roth

First vs. third Person Point of View

Hello and Welcome back to the blog! This is the first blog post written from my new home office, which is actually a corner of our master bedroom. My old office, located in the basement, is in the process of being transformed into a bedroom so our eight-year-old can have her own room, escaping her five-year-old sister. They bicker like, well, sisters. The wife and I hope a little time apart will help their relationship. Have you ever had a story’s length get away from you? I finished a short story recently that is 6,500 words. I didn’t have a set goal for the length upon starting out but intended to send it to some mags for possible publication. Having spent years writing short stories, I know there are magazine editors who will squirm at the thought of publishing a story of that length (No, it’s not really that long, but editors are limited by the total word count of each issue and the attention span of their audience). I’ve spent nearly two years focusing on novel writing and I guess I’ve gotten long winded during that span. Today’s topic is first and third person point of views.

(A note: Those that have read this blog are likely aware of my personal biases. I’ll try as hard as I can to remain impartial. In the off case it doesn’t happen, remember, we all have our opinions. This is mine.)

The way you tell a story has as big of an impact on the story as any plot twist. Nothing impacts the way you tell a story more than the point of view (POV) you choose to tell the story. Are you looking for an intimate look at a character’s life? Try first person on for size. Perhaps your story has a wide range of characters that play a crucial role. Third person would be a cozy fit. Which should you choose? Pros? Cons? Well, I have a list to help with that.

First Person POV

Definition: in the first-person point of view one of the characters tells the story from their perspective. This can be the main character in the story or a secondary character if you so choose.

Pronouns used: I, me, my, mine (singular) we, us, our, ours (plural)

Pros: it has the intimate feel of one person telling another a story. The character’s thoughts and emotions are expressed more freely, giving the reader a look inside his/her head. The writer can control the scope of the story that is shown to the reader.

Cons: The use of the pronoun I can be repetitive when handled by a novice writer. It can be limiting in terms of other characters thoughts and feelings. The subjective view can lead to the reader being deceived. Characters (and some of the writers) can come across as self-indulgent. Also, is just me or do some of these books skimp on the details?

Recommended Reading: The Floating Staircase by Ronald Malfi, Lockwood & Co. Series by Jonathan Stroud, The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

A short aside: Alright, it’s time to remove the impartiality for a moment. My twelve-year-old daughter prefers first person POV for two reasons. One, she can pretend she’s the main character because she’s twelve (i.e. selfish, but what kid isn’t?). Two, she likes the intimacy that’s created with the character. I’m using her as an example because it aligns well with the opinions I’ve read of other readers and writers on Twitter. I’ve got two brief statements to counter these points. I know I’m not the main character of a story (how boring would that book be?) and that’s fine with me. I have a high functioning imagination and come to the page ready to use it. While first person can create an intimacy with the reader, the same thing can be achieved with third person. It takes effort, but, yes, it can and has happened before. (I feel like that was snarky. Was it snarky? If so, mission accomplished.)

Third Person POV

Definition: the story is told by a narrator who is not part of the story. In third person limited the narrator’s knowledge is focused on one character and is told from their perspective. In third person omniscient an all-knowing narrator tells the story.

Pronouns used: He, she, him, her (singular) they, them, their (plural)

Pros: third person POV gives the writer the freedom to move between characters at their choosing. Secondary characters have more of a chance to develop without the biases of the main character having an impact. It provides an objective view of the story, allowing the reader to make decisions on their own. Honest. I’m the writer (more on this below).

Cons: Can be less intimate than first person, which can lead to the reader not identifying with the character. Switching the focus from one character to another on a repeated basis can occur, leading to a busy storyline with too many characters that are underdeveloped. “Head hopping” can occur if a writer is using third person omniscient. This happens when an all-knowing narrator describes the thoughts and feelings of multiple characters within the same scene (I’ve read bestselling writers who had this problem).

Recommended Reading: Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy, Monstrous Devices by Damien Love, The Dark Half by Stephen King

I’m the writer, explained. In first person the story is told by a character who lived through the plotline. If taken literally, and I am a literal person, that would mean the character’s vocabulary, grammar, tone, and other aspects that make up a writer’s voice would have to be sufficient to tell a story. I don’t know about you, but the average person in my life doesn’t have the skill or aptitude. Having spent most of my life writing, I have experience with voice and how to tell a story. Therefore, I consider myself the best person to tell the story.

Look, I’m not here to convince you to choose third person over first. That wouldn’t be right. Third person happens to be the best way I have to tell a story. I do have experience with first person, though I’ll admit it has always come within the confines of the short story. Yet third person is my go-to point of view, my default if you will. Try them both while writing a few short stories if you’re unsure what best suits you and your writing style. Remember, it’s about connecting with the reader through the story, and the story is king.

You can follow me on Twitter or Instagram, @StephenRoth316 for both. Click on the follow button at the bottom of this page and enter a valid email address for free updates on the blog. Until next time, remember to follow your dreams, even if they terrify you.

Stephen Michael Roth

The Ramblings of a Writer Part 4

Hello and welcome back to the blog! There isn’t much news on my front this week. I’m still writing a short story involving vampires, thanks to some interruptions over the past week. Querying continues as well. I had a few varying thoughts on my mind, so this week we’ll skip the topical blog post in favor of a rambling edition. If you’re new to the blog, the ramblings are simply a post where I ramble off my thoughts on a variety of writing related topics. Let’s get to it.

  • They say that writing is hard. However, I think writing with kids around is harder yet. As you know, the world we live in today is vastly different than it was a year ago. With the ongoing pandemic we’re spending more time together than ever before. Last week, my wife went back to work (she’s a teacher), which was a big step in her recovery from a noncancerous brain tumor. (A note: this is the health scare I mentioned a while back. She’s doing great, by the way.) That leaves me home with the children when I’m not working my own part-time job. I’ve always been a writer that needs complete silence when working, though I can work with some noise if I focus hard enough. A feuding eight and five-year-old, coupled with a slothful and dramatic twelve-year-old have made for a less than ideal writing environment. That being said, writing has happened. Getting the kids outside, playing some games on the Wii (yes, we still have one of those), and not bothering Daddy unless bodily injury or damage to the house occurs is to thank. My goal while watching them has been modest, a few hundred words each day, but my current story is making progress.
  • I’m a big believer in editing. In fact, in my opinion, half of writing, good writing anyway, is a proper edit, which is why I don’t share my unfinished work. I don’t have anything against writers who feel the need to share their work as they go along. However, I’ve been writing for sixteen plus years and editing goes hand in hand with that. I know I’m a decent writer, yet I also know my work will be made better from a proper editing session. I liken sharing your work as you go along to sharing a first draft. My first drafts are quick and sloppy, but if yours aren’t, well, more power to you.
  • While reading this week I realized how much I enjoy a story with section breaks. The story I was reading was a short story with around a thousand words per section. I’m not sure if it’s pacing or the quick change of scenery that typically happens, but I prefer it over longer sections with little to no break. I’ve utilized section breaks in many of my short stories but have generally avoided them in novels (these are typically middle grade). My current short story has several short sections thus far, which I’ve liked. Of course, an edit will be the final verdict. Also, I’m thinking of incorporating more section breaks in my novels.
  • I’m not sure if there’s anything worse when reading than a good story ruined by a writer who lacks the skills to write said story. Last week, I finished reading a novel that had an intriguing plotline but was ruined by bad writing and even worse decision making on the writer’s behalf.
  • As a writer I know our job is to be descriptive. After all, we are entrusted with the task of being the stories spokesperson and advocate. Creating a unique world is a wonderful thing that a writer gets to do. Putting images into a reader’s mind using words alone. The connection is powerful. I say that so I can say this, overcomplicating that world doesn’t do your reader any favors. In the novel I mentioned above (Railhead by Philip Reeve, if you’re interested. Sorry, but I can’t recommend), the worst decision the writer made was including footnotes in the story. The novel takes place beyond our world and does require some added explanation at times. Yet, each footnote was multiple paragraphs long. There were chapters with five or six footnotes of unnecessary information. There were times when I had to remind myself of what had happened because I had read four footnotes in the same paragraph and read multiple pages of information. Look, I get that you’re creating a world of your own, but such actions kill the flow of the story and the reader’s interest along with it. At least it did with this reader.
  • In the last year I’ve become quite active on social media, with Twitter and Instagram being my favorites. Interacting with such writers has been an interesting experience to say the least. The varying approaches taken to the same craft has been an eye-opening experience. There are opinions and takes I don’t agree with, but half the fun is seeing what odd ways people have found to do something so simple.
  • Speaking of social media, I had a… unique response from a tweet last week. My tweet: “Does any other writer have to do a mental reset when switching from a novel to a short story? Vastly different skills are required to make each successful.” To which another writer responded, “No. I also write my short stories to feel like a complete chapter or something that can be followed up on if I please.” I didn’t bother responding, as I’ve had enough Twitter battles over unimportant topics to last a lifetime. While I can appreciate his approach, I don’t think it’s a good one to take. A chapter is a small part of a bigger story, while a short story is a complete story in its own right. To be a proper story, it must contain a beginning, middle, and end, which might or might not happen in the context of a chapter in a novel. (Snark and harsh opinion alert) I think it’s approaches such as this one that make short story writing so difficult for most writers; they don’t have the proper mindset.

(A note: I’ve had five short stories published in a variety of magazines over my sixteen years of writing. I say that not to brag, because that is nothing to brag about, believe me, but to say that I’ve had experience with the art that is the short story. In fact, I’ve had more experience with short stories than with novels. I could be wrong on my take, you’ll never convince me of it, but I could be.)

  • My oldest daughter is quickly becoming a teenager and a rather disturbing change has taken place, at least in the eyes of this writer. Once upon a time she read as much as I did and completed books faster as well. Her appetite for books has withered in the last few months, reading only when prompted by my wife or myself. I’m an accepting parent, believing in letting your children be who they truly are. Yet a part of me is sad at this development. It appears not only am I losing my first reader, but my reading buddy as well.

That’ll do it for this week. You can follow me on Twitter or Instagram, @StephenRoth316 for both. Click on the follow button at the bottom of this page and enter a valid email address for free updates on the blog. Until next time, remember to follow your dreams, even if they terrify you.

Stephen Michael Roth

Plotter vs. Pantser

Hello and welcome back to the blog! Envie Magazine has named this blog the Blog of the Month for August. Check out the latest issue for an interview with yours truly at envie magazine dot com. The first draft of Breaking Character: A Grave Awakening is marinating for the next month or so, before I read and prepare for a second draft. Querying continues with From Darkness Comes… with no news to report on that front. I’m currently writing a short story in the adult horror genre, involving a new take on vampires. Before we get to the post, I’ve got some cleanup to take care of. For those of you that have read last week’s blog post, I realized I made an error involving my own writing history. I stated that I hadn’t written a story about vampires because of the popularity of Twilight and magazine editors’ refusal to accept the commonly used trope. While that was true for a long time, I did write a middle grade short story around two years ago revolving around vampires. It was published for a brief time with Kindle Direct Publishing as a tester for a novel I ultimately decided against self-publishing. Plotter vs pantser is on the docket today. Let’s get started.

Those of you that are familiar with the blog have read this next statement before, but I’m going to reiterate a point for those that might be new. The story is king. In other words, the story is the boss and you should go wherever it takes you. However, how you go about doing that is completely up to you. Every writer has their own method to writing. Some of us prefer to have a detailed outline, a roadmap if you wish to call it that, of all the places the story should go from beginning to end. Such writers are commonly called plotters. Other writers prefer to feel out the story as they go along, flying by the seat of their pants. Those writers are called pantsers. If you’ve been around the writing community for long, chances are you’ve heard of these terms. But which are you? Below is a list of pros and cons for each, incase you haven’t made up your mind.

Pros

Plotter:

  • A concrete idea of where the story is going
  • No surprises
  • Helps eliminate writer’s block
  • Control over where the story is going

Pantser

  • Creativity
  • Feel for the story
  • Closer to the origins of storytelling
  • Makes you think and feel the characters in the moment

Cons

Plotter:

  • Dampens creativity
  • Can result in an overly plot driven story
  • These books can read like someone going through the motions

Pantser:

  • Writer’s block can result
  • Uncertainty and anxiety
  • Plot holes can happen here (and they have for me)

Which one to choose? Well, there are a lot of things to like about both options. Avoiding writer’s block and having a sense of control make the plotter method appealing to me. Unfortunately, I’m against dampening my creative outlet and prefer more of a character driven book to a plot heavy one. (A note: For those yelling at me, yes, I realize a plotter can write a novel that isn’t plot heavy and instead character driven. However, the risk is still there and that’s why it’s listed as a con.) On the other side of things, I appreciate the creative outlet that comes with the pantser method. I also think the phrase the story is king is more in tune with this method. It’s a conundrum, right? Wrong.

If you’re having trouble choosing between the plotter or pantser method, might I suggest going with a hybrid of the two. I’ll use my own writing method as an example, but you can do whatever combination works for you. When I start a novel (short stories are different), I write a paragraph or two describing the idea. Sometimes it’s longer, but usually two is enough to get the general idea laid out. Then I turn to character descriptions for all characters that play a significant role in the novel. A list of “things to happen” is next, usually involving key events and turning points. Before I start writing I make a couple of notes on what I would like to happen for each of the first three chapters. I don’t do the entire novel. However, I always plan two or three chapters ahead. This gives me the creative freedom to make changes as I go along without ruining an entire outline, which I usually take advantage of. I’ve tried being a full-on plotter and scrapped an entire outline as a result. Yet, I’ve also had problems with the full-on pantser method, as I have failed to finish all those novels. A hybrid method is best for my writing style.

So, how is my method for writing a short story different? Well, it looks similar, yet with less steps. I start out with an idea, usually a couple sentences jotted down and a few character descriptions. Then I get to writing. As the writing process goes along, I tend to make a few notes as a visual reminder of where the story is progressing to. It’s not as complex as my methodology for writing a novel, but it doesn’t need to be. I just need some basics to get through the three to five thousand words that make up a short story.

Whether you choose plotter, pantser, or a hybrid of the two, make sure of one thing. The story is king, choose one that helps you crown the story. Feel free to let me know which you are in the comments or if you have other pros and cons for either. You can follow me on Twitter and Instagram, @StephenRoth316 for both. Click the follow button in the bottom, right-hand corner of the screen and enter a valid email address for free updates on the blog. Until next time, remember to follow your dreams, even if they terrify you.

Stephen Michael Roth

Writer Pitfalls

Hello and welcome back to the blog! I finished the final draft of my work in progress earlier this week, which is the second book in the unpublished Breaking Character Series. Query number thirty for From Darkness Comes… hit the electronic mailbox moments before I started writing this post. When I started querying the goal was an agent or fifty plus queries. I’m well on my way to the latter. Writer pitfalls is on the docket for today. Originally, I had planned this being for beginning writers, however, my interactions on Twitter this week have caused me to rethink that. Even veteran writers make an occasional mistake. Thanks to the members of the writing community on Twitter for participating. We’ll start off with their pitfalls.

  • Writers should write the story THEY want to tell. Don’t be influenced by what others think should be written. Jeff Botzenhart @JBotzenhart
  • Thinking your novel has to follow in the stead of what is perceived to be popular or marketable. The story must come first, write what needs to be written. Robyn Hunt @RobynHuntWriter

I think we can all agree that Jeff and Robyn are saying close to the same here. Following popular trends can be a slippery slope to say the least. I remember years ago when Twilight sent everyone into a frenzy. Writers who wouldn’t ordinarily have done so started writing vampire stories. Soon there were so many people writing vampire stories that most horror magazines wouldn’t touch a vampire story (Come to think of it, I don’t think I have written a vampire story because of this early roadblock). The point is, don’t follow trends or try to tell stories others want you to tell.

  • Thinking the first draft should be perfect. The first draft is the story you tell yourself. Editing and revisions are when you make it marketable. Tammy Deschamps @MmeDeschamps

Tammy said it perfectly, though I do have a few things to add about editing later. The rest of these are original to me.

  • Writing without a plan. Planner or Pantser? I’m sure if you’ve been around the writing community long enough then you’ve heard this question. I feel a story is a living, breathing thing that should be listened to, but that doesn’t mean I write without a plan. Even a rudimentary plan will help make sense of the complicated turns that navigating a novel can come with.
  • Not listening to the story. Did I confuse you by putting this after “writing without a plan”? Yes, I plan some and I feel the story out some as well. My planning is the minimal amount I feel I can get away with and still be flexible to change things on a whim. THE STORY IS KING! Sorry for yelling, but if you get anything out of this blog, let it be that simple sentence.
  • Editing as you go. Look, I understand that everyone has their own way of working their way through a short story or novel. In most cases I would say to each his/her own, but I cannot budge on this. Editing a story before you’ve finished the damn thing is the most ludicrous thing I have ever heard of (For those offended by this, I’m reciting the Reese’s motto from the last year or so. #NotSorry). Yes, editing is about cleaning up what is inevitably dirty and making the story readable, which, theoretically, could be done as you go. However, that’s not all that goes into editing. Theme, continuity, character development are just a few of the things that can’t be done editing as you go. It’s a big picture process that should only be handled while looking at the big picture. I’m aware that some writers do this because they’re a contrarian or because once the draft is done, the book is done. I wont bother addressing the former—I’d be wasting my time—but to the latter I’d ask a brutally honest question. It may be done, but are you sure it’s good?

I’ve dogged other writers enough for a while. Let’s talk about one that I have been guilty of in the past.

  • Slipping tenses. Not all the pitfalls or mistakes on this list are complicated or debatable issues. It’s simple, slipping from past tense to present tense during a story is bad. It’s a simple problem that can be hard to see at first and even harder to fix. The fix involves reprogramming your brain to catch tense slippages while editing. This was an ongoing problem that I wasn’t aware of for years before I finally saw it. Once I saw it, I couldn’t unsee it. I did so much editing involving tense slippages that I started to catch myself in the process of committing the error. As a result, I can’t read a novel written in present tense without my brain trying to correct the problem. It takes me about twice as long to read a book written in present tense, so I tend to avoid them.
  • Underdeveloped Characters. I’m sure we’ve all read a book where the characters had the same dimension as a box of delivery pizza. I try to negate this by writing character bios for every major character that appears in the book. While I’m writing I often look back to this for reference. Dialogue is important for ensuring characters differentiate from each other, after all, we don’t all speak the same and neither should your characters. Also, this is where a good reading and editing session—yes, done after the entire story is finished—comes in handy. I’ve added entire scenes while editing to fluff up a character that I wasn’t happy with.
  • Not reading or writing as much as they should. Daily. Enough said.
  • Sharing your work as you’re writing it. In his book On Writing Stephen King said, “Write with the door closed, rewrite with the door open. Your stuff starts out being for just you, in other words, but then it goes out. Once you know what the story is and get it right—as right as you can, anyway—it belongs to anyone who wants to read it. Or criticize it.” There’s a time for getting someone’s opinion about that half-baked story and that time is not while you’re writing it.
  • Caring too much about vocabulary. I’m sure every modern-day writer has searched for a word to make themselves sound smarter or better fit what they were trying to say. Guess what? The word that comes to mind first is often times the word closest to what you mean. For those that are worried about sounding smart, keep this in mind. Last year, I had a short story published and praised for the imagery displayed utilizing simple language. I wasn’t trying to be profound or anything. It’s simply how I write as a middle grade writer, even if I’m writing an adult story.
  • Using too many adverbs. I’ve had Twitter battles—and been blocked—because of my opinion on this subject. Stephen King thinks they’re evil, though uses an adverb on occasion. While I can’t say I feel as strong about adverb usage as Mr. King, I can say they should be used sparingly (yes, I did that on purpose), and never after dialogue tags.

I had more in mind and the list of possibilities is endless, but, alas, we’re out of words and I’m out of time. If you would like to see your response to a question on the blog, all you have to do is follow me on Twitter and keep an eye out (I will specify if it is for the blog). @StephenRoth316 for both Twitter and Instagram. For free email updates on the blog, click the follow button in the lower right-hand corner, then enter a valid email address. Until next time, remember to follow your dreams, even if they terrify you.

Stephen Michael Roth