Hello out there,
It's WALSH WEDNESDAY. Happy Wednesday and I am definitely smiling knowing tomorrow is Thursday. We can officially say the "latter" part of the week. I originally pictured these posts as day time uploads. Something to check out on a lunch break, or a fun thing to click on if you saw a tweet about it. Now they are turning into more of an 'evening' post. With nightfall as my backdrop, and a quiet and peaceful night here, it makes the posting at night more fun...sexier even? Maybe. Maybe not. :) Anyhow, here I am posting your Walsh Wednesday for you. And will be posting again next Wednesday evening. Tonight I am talking about two things: the middle or "meat" of a story and why I like writing chick lit. I'm writing about these things together because I see them as related. First off, I have heard many different responses when it comes to the question of finishing a novel. I know some people completely stop reading when they get bored of a story, they can't get back into it, and they decide to abandon it altogether. I have friends who push through no matter what to finish a book because they have to see how it ends even if is is hard to get through. And then I know people who skim. They skim and even skip parts just to finish. I also once knew someone who read the ending of every book first. (That's just an odd side note but I did find it interesting). So, what do you do? Are you a skipper, skimmer, or a soldier-on-er? I tend to skip. I hate to say that especially when someone has worked so hard but if the story loses steam, I can't push through. I will never return a book because I love to support other authors. But I honestly can't find it in me to continue on because once the magic is broken for me it's very hard to try and finish the book. It's picky and an impossible standard, but I want to read every single page and be engaged and excited to see what happens next. Not to say maybe a slow part here or there could exist, but overall the speed has to be spot on. This bring me to point #2: Chick Lit. I love reading chick lit and even more so writing it. These are fun, fast paced stories that are meant to take you out of your world for a little while. They are light and affectionately known as 'beach reads,' 'summer reads,' 'plane reads,' 'lazily hanging out by pool' reads, etc. They need to be fast and not be bogged down in heavy detail or general boringness. By the way boringness is a word. I like it and may need to use it more. Now an important distinction is that although a story can be categorized as 'light and fluffy' it doesn't mean that the writing of it is simple or a light and fluffy process for that matter. Ironically, the easy, fast paced novel is often the hardest to write because you have to keep it moving and keep things interesting yet flesh out characters that are complex and deep enough for the reader to care about. To keep a reader engaged means you need a meaningful plot and likable characters. These characters need to be introduced and then immersed in an engaging plot surrounded by interactions with other characters and snappy dialogue and well detailed scenes all while being fun and interesting for a day in the sun. Not an easy task, but a FUN task or should I say challenge. I love writing chick lit for this reason. I want to be able to have a story that stays with people long after they've read the book and kept them so engaged during the book that they can't wait to get home and finish up to see what happens. Or they're giddily reading it while in between meetings, waiting for an appointment, on a lunch break, etc. Bottom line: If I can have a hand in making a part of your day or life lighter while you're reading a book of mine, then I feel I've done my job. Thanks for reading this post and for joining me on this Walsh Wednesday. Have a good night wherever you are and wishing you a great book that is making you happy right now. Nighty night! Jessica Walsh Wednesday, Post #2
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Happy Wednesday, everyone! Sorry for the late post. I suppose it's Happy Almost Thursday.
Today's post: Previews If last week we discussed endings, I figured this week could be a discussion of beginnings. Not "beginning" beginnings, but previews. The "Look Inside" feature on Amazon, for example. Or really any place that allows you to preview a book on your e-reader. Even the blurb of a book I suppose is applicable. I always marvel at what draws me into a book. Is it the subject matter? The dialogue? The characters? What grabbed me and didn't let me go and made me tempted to "click and buy." What exactly was IT? There are so many reasons to read a book. Some may even just read one because a good friend or family member mentioned to do so. Perhaps a recommendation from another trusted reader or a mention on media of some form led you to a book...but what caused you to purchase it? I notice when I am poking around on Amazon specifically (though this can happen on any book selling site), I do a lot of "Looking Inside." Those first few chapters or chapter or whatever is posted is fascinating. Some of the previews draw me in completely and I am hanging on every word. Others start to seem interesting and then lose steam for me. Not because it is a bad book (I don't believe in 'bad' books...authors work way too hard), but because the book didn't go where I wanted it to or where I thought it was going. Reading is so subjective and I think different things make people more or less interested. There are so many cases of one person loving a book and another hating it. So in answer to the question of :"What causes you to buy a book?" My answer is DIALOGUE. Yes, I'm using caps. It's obnoxious. I CAN'T help it. :) I love reading dialogue and for me it has to be fast-paced. I don't like long paragraphs between speakers. I want to read (and hear in my head), short, snappy dialogue. When the novel begins with dialogue and it's good dialogue I am instantly attracted. It's like you're jumping into the action, you're a fly on the wall in an instant scene and in someone else's life. People talking. That's it, I love eavesdropping. This is cheesy to admit, let alone publish for people to read, but these Walsh Wednesday posts are for you, so here it is. I love eavesdropping. If I'm out and something sounds juicy, I may be trying to listen a little closer or coming up with a story as to what is going with those people, their backstory, where they are from, where they are headed...and then I get back to work, (on the Walsh family, promise!). Conversations are so fun to create between characters, a character's personality really shines through in the way he speaks. When you have a charismatic charmer (insert loud cough...MARK), it is really fun to write and then read back. Sometimes aloud. Yes, I talk to myself when I'm writing. And I guess blogging. I am reading this aloud as I type. :) Alright, I better go before this conversation leads astray. But pay attention to Previews and see why you picked up your next book to read, it's a fun exercise. If you're curious about the Becoming Mrs. Walsh preview, check it out here. Have a great night and see you next week! Jessica Walsh Wednesday, Post #1 Happy Wednesday, everyone! If Thursday is considered "Friday eve" then it is almost Friday. I love Friday, don't you? See post here as to especially why I love Fridays. Hope everyone is having a good week. Thanks for joining me on this Walsh Wednesday.
Today I am talking about endings. That's right as in "the end." Writing a book is a process, a long and arduous process that is extremely challenging but also well worth the reward. That reward is watching characters that have ruminated in my head live on paper or in the case of Becoming Mrs. Walsh the screen of your e-reader. What's even better is sharing these characters with you. I love hearing what you have to say about the book, it never gets old. I love talking about the Walsh family every chance I get. Reader feedback, thoughts, and comments have inspired this first Walsh Wednesday post. Endings. The ending of this book. So much to say without saying much because I don't want to ruin it for anyone currently reading or thinking of reading the book. However, I think endings are an important part of any fiction work if not more important than the rest of the book. How many times do you finish a book and wish that there was more? Or felt the ending was abrupt? Or maybe that the ending wasn't fitting of the story? To me an ending is one that needs to make sense for the characters. I can't look at a novel in terms of beginning, middle, and end. For me it is a look into the lives of the Walsh family. From page one you enter Walsh world through the eyes of Shoshana. Once immersed in that world, you are reading about other people and their lives and their choices. Rather than tie up a story, I look at it as the progression that each character has made and the steps that the individual character has to take next. Doing it that way pretty much ensures the ending is messy but life is messy. We can't just wrap everything up in a pretty package, though it would be nice! I want my characters to feel real and embrace the notion that no one is perfect and stuff happens. The ending of a story reminds me of a sweet dessert. Sometimes you crave that little bit of sweet after a meal and you are satisfied once you have it. Sometimes too much of it and it is no longer appealing. And sometimes in an effort not to overindulge you have too little and crave more. Endings can be tricky but as the saying goes "All good things must come to an end," and somewhere at some point the story has to end, the series has to end and the chapter is officially closed. The characters will live on but where they go next is up to the reader. Thanks for reading this edition of "WW" and hope to see you again next week. Have a great night! Jessica WELCOME TO WALSH WEDNESDAYS!
So today is Monday, but I wanted to preview "Walsh Wednesdays." Every Wednesday from now until October 28 I am going to write something book related. Whether a general thought on reading fiction, the Walsh family, the book, characters, etc. A little way for me to keep up with the Walshes and my readers. Hope you enjoy "WW" and look out for Wednesday's first post. Have a good Monday, everyone! |
JeSSICA GORDONBecoming Mrs. Walsh I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Xo. Archives
February 2016
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