Where do I get my ideas?

I can get an idea from a sign, from someone else, or from watching television. This most recent one came because of anime. Over the last year, my husband and I have been introduced to anime. Sword Art Online, Ano Hana, RWBY, Angel Beats, and now Your Lie in April have all been played across our TV thanks to our almost nineteen-year-old. As I’ve watched, I’ve realized that all good writing has similar components. I began to wonder what a short story would look like.

The process

An Item

Once I had an idea of a short story with some form of the hero’s round–hero has his world fall apart in some way, tries to put it back together through multiple trials, world comes back together but the hero has grown and changed–then I needed my hero. I began to think of swords. The sword slowly took shape in my mind. A large hand and a half sword. One that would look unwieldy but once it touched your hands it fit.

This came from the many hours I’ve stood at the sword merchant with my son and my husband. After hours upon hours and years of saving, my husband finally purchased an Irish long sword. Sitting on display was the matching dagger. This dagger was huge! It could be a perfect hobbit sword! However, the moment I placed it in my hand, I gasped. It fit perfectly! It wasn’t too big or too clumsy. The pommel seemed made for my hand. The joy of holding it still resonates with me. Therefore, I know what I am saying when I described the sword for my new story.

My sword needed a name as did my character who would wield the weapon. I described my sword to my husband and son. The two of them began to think. Then my husband suggested Kingdom Defender as a name. I loved it. There were so many possibilities now. I could write about a paladin or a father defending his home.

A character

Now that I had a sword, I needed a person who would use it. I began to think through the possibilities. Again, they were endless. At the same time, I found a blog post about anime characters and the sixteen personality traits. I had been introduced to the personalities by my fourteen-year-old son. The website he used gave descriptors to the initials. I didn’t remember I was an INFP, but I could keep “Mediator” in my brain. I looked up the personalities and found “Defender” as a personality type! So, my character will be a Defender in title and in personality.

As I thought of the character, I thought of a man, but yesterday afternoon as I drove home and mulled over my story so far, I wondered why I was limiting myself. I could have a girl defender just as easily as a man. It caused me to ponder.

A reason for defending

Who or what is Defender protecting? If it’s a guy, is he defending his home or his kingdom? Is he fighting for a king or is he protecting his family? If it’s a girl, is she protecting a kingdom or is she fighting for her child? All are good questions, but I don’t have an answer to them yet.

Other characters

After I answer these questions, I also have to think of other players in the story. Who will they be? Since I had pulled up the personalities, I thought it could be fun to just throw some different personalities together and see what they did. I began to think of the many plot lines that did this–Star Wars, The Hobbit, Serenity, and The Lord of the Rings to name a few. So, to go with my defender who is quiet, shy, humble, practical and loyal, but who is reluctant to change, and can take things too personally, I decided an “Entrepreneur” would work. What’s an Entrepeneur? It’s someone who is smart, energetic and very perceptive, but who enjoys living on the edge and doesn’t think about what others feel all the time.

Who is this character going to be? I have no clue. I don’t even know if it is a male or female. I’m open to suggestions.

My mind

Many people think the life of an introvert is quiet and nothing much happens. However, in my daily life, even when I’m on my own, or better still, especially when I’m on my own, my mind is full of activity. I may be writing a blog post in my head or trying to figure out Bennu’s next move in my Ancient Egypt story, or now I might have a Defender banging on the inside of my skull with his sword saying, “Let me out! Tell my story!” If it’s none of these, I’m carrying on conversations on Facebook or Twitter. My life is anything but dull!

As for this Defender, what do you think? Is it a girl or a boy? How old is he or she? What or who are they defending? Why? I’m open to suggestions. You never know, maybe your idea will be used in the story. Leave your comments and share. Add to the Defender’s voice so I can hear the story and tell it.

Why God is kind:

It finally makes some sense. So I have been thinking about God, and his characteristics, and there are people that only want to dwell on a god that is loving, kind, and forgiving. Then they do not think about God’s power, his justice, his wrath, and his holiness. However that part of him was the only part I understood. God’s loving kindness, and his forgiveness did not make sense. Why would he come down from his throne, and give his son to die so that we could be saved? It almost sounded stupid for me, but He was God and did not need to be questioned. But God finally revealed the answer to me in a way that I could understand it.

When god created us, it was like the parallel of a master smith forging a sword. He made, and shaped us the way he wanted us to be. When he was done, he stepped back and saw that it was perfect. But each time we sin, that is like the sword fell into the beach, and splashed around in the surf. It is fun when we do it, BUT, the thing we don’t always notice is that there is salt in the air and water. It burns the metal, and corrodes and eats away who the master smith made us to be. Soon we are covered in rust. Then when the master smith saw what his creation was doing, instead of destroying it and creating a better one; he gave us the opportunity to correct us. He will erase the rust that formed, and he will grind out the pits that formed. but it is not easy on the sword. The sword needs to be willing as well. However, when the sword constantly plays in the surf, then the more damage it causes to itself.

God calls us to be perfect, but we are not. However it is best if we stay out of the surf. He will not destroy us because we sin, but he will correct us in his own way.

God uses the people who have sinned to show his glory.

Encouragement for rough times:

If you are going through a rough time, remember: A sword needs to be sharpened so it is useful to the one who wields it. If you are struggling because of something in your childhood, remember: A sword was heated so it could be forged to designated design.

When you are having a hard time, remember: God has forged you perfectly, and he is sharpening you so that you will be perfect in his hands.

God and Satan as warriors:

Going with the sword analogy;
God, and Satan are warriors.
Most times Satan uses the best swords to fight against god, because they are strong, big, and easy to use, (these people are the big people: Hollywood stars, music artists, Atheists, and the other great minds), and they cut deep into the ones who are blind to the truth.

However god uses the small and rusted, and broken knives and daggers, to defeat Satan. (these ones are the small everyday people who live life, struggling just to have enough faith so that they can make it one more day without being discouraged and walk away from the one who made them), On their own they are practically useless. They are not sharp. They are coated with rust, and the pits in the metal are not pleasing to the eye.

But God picks them up and Fights off Satan with them: PROVING THAT IT IS NOT YOUR ABILITY, BUT IT IS YOUR AVAILABILITY, THAT GOD USES FOR HIS GLORY!!!

The Angel and Revenge:

There once was a angel who fell for a trap. “I wish to be like God,” He said, but he was not strong enough to defeat Him. God had to punish the angel for his weakness, so He cast the angel and his followers from his presence. God then, in his patience and kindness, let the angel to walk on the earth that He created, instead of destroying him out right. However he was to be punished for his rebellion as all traitors that lose. God gave the angel a gracious amount of time, then when that time runs out God will cast the fallen angel into the “lake of fire”, or other wise known as hell, which He created specifically for the ones that rose up against him: The fallen angels and their leader. Then the fallen angel, taking advantage of God’s mercy, found God’s most precious creation, the human female and told her a lie. “If you disobey God then you will become like him,” He said knowing that this was the very thing he had wanted. Then the human was taken by her own desire, and it took the final step and shattered the only law its creator had given to it, because the fallen angel had given it a doubt and a reason. The fallen angel smiled. “My job is done” he thought. for he knew what he had done. He had taught his enemy’s most precious creation to disobey. That lesson would never be corrected unless God himself desired to remake the thing he had just created. He had marred his enemy’s most precious creation; the perfect revenge. Thus was his hate toward God. ” As long as I am here, I will take as much of his creation with me into the place He has made for me. It will be his fault when his creation leave him, and He will have no choice but to either change his rules, set me free from my punishment, or watch for an eternity as they burn with me. ” A shiver when through his spine. He feared that punishment, and he hated God all the more for not telling him how long he had before then. God then looked upon the fallen angel. and gave the word. ” You will lose every fight with me and you will be bound by what I say and you will not stray from my plans. If you wish to do anything you will need to come to me and beg for it. Your legs now belong to me.” and thus the fallen angel hated God’s creation, for God gave them a second chance, but yet he received none. “I WILL MAKE GOD DESTROY AS MANY OF HIS CREATION AS I CAN!” the fallen angel hissed, and he left the garden.

About the author:
Robin Wyatt, the 18-year-old son of Kandi J Wyatt, is studying Bible at Ecola Bible School. When he’s not in college, he enjoys anime, fire dancing, and swords. He has a large collection of knives and swords which he makes sure stay in pristine condition by rubbing out rust and using orange oil to protect and shine them. He just finished his first draft of an epic fantasy which filled 508 college ruled pages handwritten with his favorite Ticonderoga pencils.

I define a hobby as something that is done in my spare time that I enjoy doing. It may be reading, drawing, sewing, quilting, crocheting, or any number of activities. For me, I have time for one hobby. If it is reading, then in any spare bit of time I have, I read the book I am currently engrossed in. If it is drawing, I pick up my pencils when I get home, while I’m on hall duty at school, or any other opportunity I have. The same is true of any of the other hobbies I have.

When you view writing as a hobby, it means picking up the pencil, the tablet, or the keyboard at any opportunity that you have–on break at work, out on a photo shoot, while the kids are down for a nap, etc. During that specific time, you write. You don’t let life ruin your opportunity. You write. The story that is bottled up inside of you pours forth onto the page. When you are done, the tale lies complete before you. It doesn’t matter if you plan your way through the story or let the story tell itself. When you have writing as a hobby, the novel comes out.

There is a danger though in viewing writing as a hobby. It is the idea that it doesn’t take work to write. It’s like in the photography realm. Just because everyone has a camera on their phone and can snap a photo doesn’t mean that every person with a camera is going to have the eye to see, the know-how to do it, or the guts to snap the perfect picture and then put it on canvas, metal, or in a frame. Writing is the same way. Even though it is my hobby, it is also my craft. I have learned how to make the words flow together to sound the best. I have practiced dialogue; I have studied my editor’s and proofreader’s corrections and am learning from them to become more professional. I still believe that anyone can write–just as anyone can snap a photo. The difference will be those who decide to write and make a difference. Write to tell a story. Write to show a new world to a new audience. When you write like that, your hobby has become your passion.

So, this November, as NaNoWriMo comes closer, write as a hobby. Tell the story that is brimming inside of you. Do a little bit of research and let those characters come to life. Write to be read. Who knows, maybe you will have a story that is ready to be told.

Back in March when I signed up with Booktrope and began the process of publishing my books, I was encouraged to have a website with a blog. That means that at least once a week I am suppose to write about something book related or at least my life related. Sometimes that gets a bit overwhelming. Coming up with ideas isn’t quiet so hard as finding the time to sit down and write! The next hurdle that I tackled was creating a Facebook author page. That was a little easier because I know how Facebook works. However, it can be time consuming because I get caught up in the lives of my friends and acquaintances and forget I am suppose to be writing blogs and other things. My book manager really had to twist my arm to get me to set up a twitter account. I had been resistant to the efforts for years. I didn’t see a need, but when Pam said I needed one, I decided to try it out. I was quite glad that I did. I have found some really amazing people on there and some wonderful authors. It is a fun way to get a good laugh and to cheer up my day. The last social media step was to create an Instagram account. I am not quite as enamored with it as I am with Twitter, but I am learning the ropes thanks to other Booktrope authors who are helping me out. Why do I need all of these social media outlets? Because people want to know what an author is up to. They want to interact with the writer and know he or she is a real person. So, every day, I am on at least one of these social media outlets trying to connect with readers and writers.

Social media isn’t the only thing an author does. Once the novel is written, then it must be edited. The editing process is different for each editor. Since I have two genres of books, I have two editors. The one takes my book, reads it and writes down all of her first impressions in a word document, then re-reads it and edits for grammar, clarity, word choice, and plot consistency. Then she sends it all back to me. I then read through the novel and accept or reject her changes and add notes to explain why I didn’t or to help clarify things. Then I send it back to her. She goes over it again and sends it back to me. This final round may take one to three passes depending on how much we differ in our opinions. My other editor sent me my manuscript in chunks with the grammar edits first. Then after reading through it that way, I then received a full manuscript with the word choice and plot consistency issues. I read back through the novel to accept or reject those changes. When it is to the editor and author’s standards, it will go to a proofreader.

However, while it is in the process of editing, the author not gets to consider cover design and blurb. What will portray the genre and the book in a single image to make the book stand out so that people want to pick it up and check it out? What words should go on the back cover to intrigue a reader to gather it to himself or herself and read it? We don’t want too many details given away and yet at the same time we want to say what the book is about. So, while editing goes on, the outside is decided on as well. Then begins the proofreading.

The proofreading process is less stressful than the editing process. In editing the author’s very words and ideas are brought into question. With a good editor, though, the author knows her best interests are at the heart of the changes. Proofreading is for format and those little things–spelling, grammar, punctuation, and word usage. Word usage is easy. It isn’t did you use the right words, but rather did you use the same word repeatedly in one section. The proofreader offers suggestions of how to change that. She or he will also work on typos. Throughout the whole proofreading process though I read through my novel at least one more time!

After proofreading, the novel is ready to be submitted for layout. To do this, the author must make sure that everything is exactly as she wants it in print. So, back to reading meticulously the novel. (Note this is at least the fourth reading after submission to the publishing company.) Once satisfied that all looks good, it is submitted to layout. Layout then puts it into a pdf file and sends it back to the author for a final proof. Again I read through my book to make sure there are no errors. I was fortunate with Dragon’s Future to not find many. I could adjust and change them without a cost to me.

Now that the book is in layout, we are down to the last month or so before it is released. That means that my job is done, right? Wrong! I am now very busy on-line making friends and letting people know about my book. I am doing Facebook parties, Twitter posts, and blogs. What is a Facebook party? That was my question back in April when I first heard about them. They are a way of getting people from all over together to learn and celebrate the release of a book or other event. A Facebook event page is created, and on the day and at the time set, the party begins. Usually there are different authors set up to take over a half-hour to an hour slot. During this time, they engage the audience who has logged onto the event page. There are giveaways, fun memes, photos to comment on, and ideas shared. The theme usually relates to the author’s book or books. There can even be question and answer time for the author. It is fun when there are lots of people involved and commenting on the different photos or threads. It was at one such event that I sold my first book!

I am also busy creating advertisements for my book. I didn’t know it three months ago, but books have trailers just like movies do. So, I am learning Photoshop CS6 and other multimedia applications to create trailers, and still images with reviews and endorsements for my book. I am also looking at what is called ‘swag’. My teenage children laugh every time they hear the word. It is a teenage word to mean something is cool, radical, awesome (choose your era of word). In the book realm it means promotional giveaways such as bookmarks, coffee mugs, pens, notebooks, t-shirts, magnets, stickers, lip balm, etc. The list is as big as your imagination! These are used on those Facebook parties and at signings as ways of bringing people in to purchase your book.

One final touch happens during all of this. The cover artist receives the information on how long the book is, the final blurb, any endorsements to add to the book, and then finalizes the cover. This is the last step layout needs to be able to print the book, whether that is a Kindle or a print version.

While all of that is happening, I am also counting down the days to the release! For me, my first release will be Monday, August 10, only three weeks away! That will be when I will have a Facebook release party and celebrate the birth of my novel! Then in September, I will have my first signing.

Are you exhausted yet? There is the energy of excitement and suspense of wondering what will it be like when it is finished, and the ups and downs of technology communications, or real life happenings that cause your team to change mid-way through. These keep you on your toes and everything fresh. So, yes, being and author is more than writing. It is being a person who is active in the birthing of a book.

First off, don’t use a hashtag for everything! It makes the message unclear. Second, don’t try to write a complete novel. It won’t work. And third, don’t just talk about yourself. What do I mean? Well, many authors are on twitter and all I see is “Here’s my book, buy it.” That doesn’t work. Now, I understand the book managers that are trying to promote other people’s books. That makes sense. It’s the shameless promotion of your own book constantly. What should we do instead? Well, one author has stood out to me over the course of my time on twitter. Brian Rathbone (not to be confused with the Rathbones in the Adventure in Odyssey series by Focus on the Family) doesn’t usually promote his books. In fact, I would recognize the trilogy name, but I wouldn’t recognize the titles. So, what does he write about?

Well, I’ve learned to look for his little icon over any others that I am following because I know I will get a good laugh or at least a smile for the day. Sometimes, I’ll get several of both! Little short sayings are what he’s famous for.

Never fist pump the Hulk!
How to immediately find all errors in your tweets. Step 1: click the Tweet button.
The magic of a dragon is not always spell or fire, sometimes its friendship.
It’s not who you know, it’s how many dragons you have standing behind you.
If you fall off the horse, get right back on. If you fall off the dragon, better luck next life.
My poetic license has been revoked. Twice. <sigh>
Sometimes I tweet things in invisible ink
I never should have introduced MC Hammer and Thor. Let’s just say some gods should not wear parachute pants.
Dragons do not respond well to goading…goating on the other hand
WARNING: The dragons went out for a light lunch. Authorities are suggesting people wear dark clothing.
Never look both ways before crossing a dragon.

So, today, as I got my smile and replied back, I was surprised to find a treasure. Brian had an additional two tweets today–Two of his books are on amazon for free Kindle downloads! Well, after having gained a relationship with him and looking forward to his daily tweets, of course, I had to go check it out. So, why don’t you, too. Take a look at them at least. I just went to amazon and typed in his name and found he’s has a lot of books on there. If you love fantasy, you’ll love his writing. I, for one, am glad that he didn’t take the advice of a former colleague and quit writing fantasy.

Click here to go to the book

Click here to go find his books.

Our words have much potency. Therefore, we need to be careful with how they are used. With the end of the school year, I have been having to remind my junior high students to use their words nicely. I had my sixth graders take a piece of paper and write their name on it. Then I told them to punch holes in it. When we were done, after many questions of ‘what in the world are we doing’, I told them to fix the paper. Their solution was to get a new paper or tape it. So, I taped mine and asked if it was the same. They got the point that you can’t fix it exactly. I shared with them that is what our words do to our friends. We may hide the scars inside, but the damage is done.

However, it isn’t just our words. Teenagers are notorious for saying the right things just in the wrong ways. We were constantly getting on our oldest child for that. She was wonderful at seeing things–inconsistencies in us as parents, wrong doing in her siblings, and injustices in the school system. She just had a horrible presentation. We need to be careful of how we say things. Last week, a student greeted me in the hallway. “Hi, Senora Wyatt!” I said hi and continued walking. I then heard the same words, “Hi, Mr. Taylor” expressed to another teacher. Her meaning in her words were two separate identities. With me her words were skipping and bouncing out of her mouth. When she said hi to the other teacher, her words came to an abrupt halt and her feet were dragging in saying it. She said two different things with the same words.

With this in mind, the opposite is true as well. When we are on social media, the internet, writing e-mails, or even regular old-fashioned correspondence, our tone cannot be heard. Our words then become even more important. We need to choose them wisely as we wield them. Words said in jest can be misconstrued when there is no intonation to go with them. To help with this whole issue of social media and communication, a colleague has written a book that has taken her on a whirlwind journey from the concept to the release to the reception. Kindness Wins helps us teach our kids how to use the internet wisely and kindly. Check out Galit Breen’s book. (Well, the picture wouldn’t load, so click here to find it in amazon.)

The last several weeks at school, my Spanish 2 students have been working on a fantasy story. The majority of them thought the story up in English and then are translating it over into Spanish with varying success. The real success though is watching them work. The process was noisy to begin with as they looked at the fantasy motifs and hero’s round that I handed out. They talked and talked and talked. “Hey, what about…” “I know, I’ll…” “What if the dragons become dinosaurs!” Then as the stories were shared with their classmates and put into English, the noise level dropped. They studiously began working on translation. They learned a lot about how to transfer ideas into another language. Finally, they began talking again as they illustrated their books. “Would you draw a dinosaur for the army?” “Here’s my story” “My illustrations will never compare to yours!”

These stories though have great potential for children’s books. We have the dinosaurs versus elephants with a mighty glowing peanut and a spatula made from lightning from the gods. We have an angel who falls in love with a “man” who turns out to be the god of Hades; they have a little girl who is watched over by a special person. We have a twist on Hansel and Gretel. All of them deserve recognition.

Every once in a blue moon, one of these types of stories makes it into the publishing world–Tom Bombadilo from Lord of the Rings, Narnia, Peter Pan, Dragon’s Future. Wait! What was that last one? Yep, a story that I wrote and read to my son will be published by Booktrope. It is scheduled to come out this summer. Because my story managed to make it into publishing, I have encouraged my students to try. Why not dream big? Why not put forth the effort to put your story into someone’s hands? In the meantime, the Spanish stories will be turned in and then cherished by some of them. I wish I could mass produce a few of them. But I will encourage them to grow, learn, keep trying, and above all–Dream Big!

Kandi

A Song for the Ages