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Robert Stephen, writer, photographer, storyteller
  • Home
  • blog
  • Writing
  • Helpful Hints for Writers of Fiction
  • WHAT OTHER WRITERS HAVE TO SAY
  • AUDIO ESSAYS-STORIES-AND MORE
  • ArtWithMyCamera
  • Rory and El Paso
  • Pierre and the Baker
  • About
  • Connect
Robert Stephen, writer, photographer, storyteller

THE EXCITING JOURNEY OF Writing
​a Fictional Book

"IT'S A LUXURY BEING A WRITER,
​ BECAUSE ALL YOU EVER THINK ABOUT IS LIFE."

​AMY TAN






THE MOUSE THAT BECAME THE CAT-character development sheet-protagonist

6/29/2017
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When writing books that entertain and capture the reader, a writer has to prepare.

To begin, which will save time, start with an outline. As it develops a writer works on  character development which is today's post. This is a behind the scene look at my process, and only my process. Every writer is different. 

This is the sheet about my protagonist George Blurth that I will share in my upcoming book, THE MOUSE THAT BECAME THE CAT


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​

GEORGE BLURTH CHARACTER DEV. SHEET

My sheets break my character down. Who is he or she?
WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE
George is an average size 13 year old boy, dark hair,  blue eyes.

CHARACTER ATTRIBUTES
George is a loner, with a serious personality. He is methodical problem solver. Good at numbers, will not sit around and waste time. Not interest in sports. Deals with people on his own terms.

CHARACTER FAILURES/FLAWS
His giveaway or tell is when he is nervous or angry he shoves his hands in his pockets and balls them up into fists.

EMOTIONS/ATTITUDES-POSITIVE
Sensitive
Confident
Patient
Retaliatory 
Untrusting
Controlling
 EMOTIONS/ATTITUDES-NEGATIVE
Angry
Does not like people
Envious-(other families he does not have one because of his father.) 
No Remorse
Saddness
 
I have other headings for GOALS, MOTIVATIONS, WOUNDS, AND NOTES.
George will right a perceived wrong, especially if it is done against him. He is very much a loner, but can talk to strangers, just doesn't trust.



As the story developed so did George. THE CAT THAT BECAME THE MOUSE takes place in Los Angeles during the 1960's. We follow three years in George's life.  For a normal adolescent it is a turbulent time. George is not a normal teenager, and he'll discover his turbulence is very painful.

Next post will be about the antagonist-Hank Calner

#protagonist, #antagonist,#The Mouse that became the Cat, #Robert Stephen, # write a novel, #writer, #novelist  ​
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MARKETING YOUR EBOOK

6/24/2017
No one ever accused me of being the quickest one out of the gate, but once I do find something beneficial I feel compelled to share it with the world. So, even though many authors may no about this there are still, like myself, numerous authors looking for every tool to help promote and sell books. I found this article on Book Promotion by Derek Haines that I would like to share. He deals with various promotional and marketing tools, but I narrowed it down to this particular one.

If you have a website promoting your books with buttons connecting to them to Amazon, then here is a shortcut presented by our friends at Amazon.
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When someone visits my website and sees books that I have on Amazon they now can go directly to that preview page and also the buy page. How one may ask?

Go to the page your book is listed for sale on Amazon
(Example:Remain Alive-www.amazon.com/dp/B01MZF051P)
In the lower right hand side of the page you will see "embed"

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​Once you press Embed it will open a page allowing you to copy the code. *See More Options" allows you to add "Show Share Button & Show Buy Button." As you can see above, I opted to show only the Preview and Buy 
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My website is hosted by Weebly.com. Editing and adding content is very user friendly. Embedding the Amazon information takes minutes and allows visitors to preview the book and if they choose they may buy the book through Amazon.
My next book is due out August 25th. Like any business introducing a new product you need to promote it. Over the next several weeks I will share the process. Finishing the final editing, the characters, the promoting, and the marketing.  

                                                                   #marketing your book, #self promoting, #promoting your next book, #promoting your book,
​                                                                      #book promoting, #learn to market yourself, #amazon book links,#sales and marketing

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NEW NOVEL COMING AUGUST 25TH

6/18/2017

MY NEXT BOOK, A CRIME THRILLER WHICH TAKES PLACE IN LOS ANGELES DURING THE 1960'S
​

"THE MOUSE THAT BECAME THE CAT"

from innocence to evil
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George Blurth is a thirteen-year-old loner. In one brief moment, a confrontation with the school bully changes everything in his life. When he is unable to forgive and forget, George retaliates, which results in an incident that gains national attention. He and his alcoholic father run away.

But life has other plans for George. Months afterward, he is confronted with a far deadlier incident. George barely survives an attack by Hank Calner, a serial killer. Believing he himself a fugitive, George is reluctant to go to the police.

In Hank’s mind, the monster’s deranged hidden secrets won’t allow him to spare the boy. He sets out to stalk and torment George. Hank plays with the boy like a large cat playing with a mouse before killing its prey. However, George is not prey. He has hidden dangerous secrets of his own.
 
It is Los Angeles in the 1960’s, a turbulent decade of assassinations, riots, and war. 




                                                       #The Mouse That Became The Cat, #crime thriller,#write a novel, #Los Angeles 1960,#Robert Stephen
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SIMPLIFY THE WAY YOU WRITE-PLOT STRUCTURE

6/5/2017
In any conversation if you want to drive someone crazy just say one word and be convincing, “Why.” It is an open-ended word with no end. Go ahead, have a conversation with someone and let them do all the talking. At the end just say, “why.”

By this time, you are saying to yourself, “What the hell does this have to do with writing?” Well, you’d be surprised. When writing a fictional story as a writer you want to create situations that beg the question why? Why did she do that? Why did he kill him? Why are they mad at the world?

A writer can build a book around why’s and misdirection. This comes back to your outline when creating your story. If you want to step it down even further here is a portion of an article written by Christine Fonseca in 2010 regarding Writing a Synopsis and Plot Structure.

This is about Plot Structure


Here’s a quick list of each of the stages and plot turns in a typical story:
  • Opening set up – The MC is introduced in the “normal world”.
  • Initial challenge – The problem the MC needs to solve.
  • Reaction or new scenario – A new scenario occurs for the MC as a direct result of the choice the MC makes regarding that opportunity
  • Mini Crisis – An event occurs that changes everything and a new goal is made
  • Edge of Adventure – The MC works towards his new goal
  • Point of no return – The MC fully commits to achieving the goal – to his journey
  • Complications – The MC is tested and the stakes are raised as new complications arise
  • Despair – The MC in despair as he hits a major setback in his plans
  • Transformation – The MC pulls himself together to face the final obstacles to his goal
  • Climax – The MC faces the final obstacle standing between him and his goal
  • Resolution – The outcome of the final confrontation.
Now that the stages are clear, go through your story and write a sentence or two for each of these sections of your story.

As you can see, before you jump into writing your novel or story simplify it first. If you do this you will be very happy with the results.
  • Buying seeds for your garden is the idea for a book.
  • Planting is the Plot Structure, watering is your outline.
  • In your outline, you can never over water.
  • Watching the story grow is when you begin to write and you keep writing until you finish.

                                                                        #write a book,#story writer,#plot,#plot structure,#outline you novel,#outline a book,#writer,#christinefonseca
https://christinefonseca.wordpress.com/2010/07/21/the-anatomy-of-a-short-synopsis-pt-1/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheMusingsOfChristineFonseca+
​%28Christine+Fonseca%2C+Author%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

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    Author

    Robert Stephen.
    What makes a writer? What do you envision when you think about that question?

    Someone sitting by an open window looking out over the ocean, desert, mountains? Rainy day, foggy, sunny? 

    My definition of a writer of fiction. A person who drives himself or herself to the edge of insanity when writing a story to the best of their ability that you the reader find entertaining.

    I can honestly say my life has been interesting, far from boring.  Land baron, restaurateur, photographer, artisan, author. A life full of ups and downs. A life full of stories.

    Along the way I've met hundreds of people, some interesting, some not. Some dangerous, some beautiful, some kind, and some cruel. During my lifetime I've even had my heart run over a couple of times, but when all of it is said and done I wouldn't trade it in. 


    Writing has always been inside of me, but the siren never called to me. I wasn't ready until one day in October of 2015 when life said, "Start writing."

    Writing is a long journey, full of many perils, but don't be afraid it is an exciting adventure! 

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