Welcome to the blog of author Tricia Goyer!

Monday, March 31, 2008

Good Girl Exclusive! The Anonymous Gospel Diva is back...and she has SPRING fever!

From the Good Girl Book club website:

Spring is in the air and so is young love, Diva Chicas.

Its' everywhere, including with me. For my birthday God sent me a younger man, and honey, he's divinely favored. You know how young men are. They're ambitious, brash, got a spring in their step, a glow, and a tattoo with angel wings -- and fit for romance. They love to be in love. And so that's what I want talk about -- books and movies and other good things that love to be in love.

Shall we?

One of my favorite songs this year is Dove Award Nominee, Darlene McCoy's Fallen in Love. It's a love ballad to God and Godly men. There's something sweet and fresh about the song that makes me think of what love is supposed to be about.

So when I read Claudia Burney's new interracial romance, Zora & Nicky, I felt resonate connection. This story encourages me to believe how easy love, good love is supposed to be, particularly between people who the world doesn't want to be together.

I would be remiss to say that love can be as Pat Benator's puts it A Battlefield, or the fight to keep a good love is a battle. Girls we know the difficulties we face when we meet someone and then we have to fight to keep that love alive. Tricia Goyer's Whisper of Freedom takes this battle to an another place. The story is set during the Spanish Civil War. Think heat, Latin love, more heat, the fire of God kind of heat of course. Don't want to get you all hot and bothered.:)

But since we're on the subject of heat. Tyler Perry is at it again, producing another move, this time in sweltering New Orleans . The Family that Preys Together cast members set to star: Sanna Lathan, Rockmund Dunbar, Alfre Woodward, Kathy Bates, scrumptious looking Cole Hauser, Robin Givens, Taraji P. Henderson and Tyler Perry. Sorry chicas, movie won't release until 2009.

So what are we going to do until then?

You can check out another other redemption themed film shot in the Louisiana area, Vivica Fox's Cover, a mystery involving a Christian couple and a murder. See what I mean about love is a battlefield?

Or you can see the Anti-Tyler Perry, Terrance Howard perform in Debbie Allen's Broadway revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof as Brick. I won't touch that name or his position to not appear in a TP movie with a ten foot pole -- Like I said I like brash men.

More books to keep you spirits lifted: Michelle McKinney Hammond's Playing God, This Far by Faith, a Kimani New Spirit anthology featuring: Stacy Hawkins Adams, Linda Hudson-Smith, and Kendra Norman Bellamy, and Jacquelin Thomass' Jezebel.

And if you still need a refresher or an invitation to meet fresh faced single men, then hop on Ty Adams' Love Boat Cruise in August. Get your reservation on, girl.

Missing you til summer,
Em

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Friday, March 28, 2008

Connecting...

One of the best decisions I've ever made was to connect with a few writer friends (most of the time we connect at conferences) and build a friendship which includes reading the other person's work. In my opinion every author should have such friends. And the truth is that most of the time you will learn far more editing/commenting on someone else's work that by reading their comments about yours. You can see what works, what doesn't, and why. Oh, yes, and it's also great to include suggestions for improvement, which also build on your skills.

This is a passage from "Bird by Bird" by Anne Lamott, talking about the friends she has read her work:

"I always send my work Federal Express, because I am too impatient to wait for the mail to deliver it. I spend the entire next day waiting to hear, pacing, overeating, feeling paranoid and badly treated if I haven't heard from my friends by noon. Naturally I assume that they think it is tripe but that they don't have the courage to tell me. Then I'll think about all the things I don't like about either of them, how much in fact I hate them both, how it is no wonder that neither of them has many friends.

“And then the phone will ring and they will usually say something along the lines of 'I think it's going to be great, I think it's really good work. But I also think there are a few problems.'

“ . . . My first response if they have a lot of suggestions is never profound relief that I have someone in my life who will be honest with me and help me to do the very best work of which I am capable. No, my first thought is, 'Well, I'm sorry, but I can't be friends with you anymore, because you have too many problems. And you have a bad personality. And a bad character.'

“ . . . But then whatever friend is savaging my work will suggest that we go through it together page by page . . . and if I'll hang in there, they'll have found a number of places where things could be much stronger, or funnier, or more real or more interesting, less tedious. They may even have ideas on how to fix those places, and so, by the end, I am breathing a great sigh of relief and even gratitude."



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Thursday, March 27, 2008

Advice for Novelists (Part 4)

C.J. Darlington, co-founder of TitleTrakk, is running a great series on her blog: She started a series of blog posts in which industry professionals (editors, agents, publicists, authors, etc.) share their responses to this question:

"If you could say one thing to aspiring novelists, what would you say?"

James Scott Bell's advice is this: Arnold Palmer said golf came down basically to this: hit it, find it,then hit it again. Well, writing is sort of like that, too. Write it, edit it, then write it again. When you write, don't be hung up on making it perfect. Don't be bollixed up on writing techniques.
Read the rest here


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Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Advice for Novelists (Part 3)

C.J. Darlington, co-founder of TitleTrakk, is running a great series on her blog: She started a series of blog posts in which industry professionals (editors, agents, publicists, authors, etc.) share their responses to this question:

"If you could say one thing to aspiring novelists, what would you say?"

Sue Brower, Sr. Acquisitions Editor, Fiction & Inspiration, Zondervan had this to say...

Finish your novel! I often hear from novelists who have a complete marketing plan, list of endorsers, and brand strategy—but only three chapters of their novel completed. It is very difficult for an editor to evaluate your work if it’s not complete. read the rest here


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Tuesday, March 25, 2008

I'm not ignoring you... I promise!

Hello Friends!

I found out last week that the contact page on my website does not work. Has never worked.

Yep. That's right. If you've ever left a comment on my website, it is now floating around cyberspace La La land, unread and unretrievable.

The good news is that it works NOW! So comment away...I'll be waiting. :)

Also, the blog tour for Generation NeXt Marriage began yesterday!

Here are the first few stops:

3/24
Julie at The Surrendered Scribe
http://thesurrenderedscribe.blogspot.com/
http://christianwritersforum.com/Blog/

Martha at Our Family’s Adventures
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Martha

Katrina at Callapidder Days
http://callapidderdays.blogspot.com/

3/25
Rebecca at Ripples and Reflections
http://www.rebeccabarlow.blogspot.com/

Angie at God Uses Broken Vessels
http://godusesbrokenvessels.blogspot.com/

Gina at Portrait of a Writer…Interrupted
http://portraitofawriter.ginaconroy.com/

FUN!


Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends. Last week's winner is Grateful Gramma! She left a comment on the It's Real Life blog! Congrats! Send your book choice and mailing address to my trusty assistant Amy (amy@triciagoyer.com)!

Monday, March 24, 2008

SSPS

Good stuff from I Corinthians 4 this morning--this is from The Message. See if some of this relates to what we all do in this writing ministry:

"It seems to me that God has put us who bear his Message on stage in a theater in which no one wants to buy a ticket. We're something everyone stands around and stares at, like an accident in the street. We're the Messiah's misfits. You might be sure of yourselves, but we live in the midst of frailties and uncertainties. You might be well-thought-of by others, but we're mostly kicked around. Much of the time we don't have enough to eat, we wear patched and threadbare clothes, we get doors slammed in our faces, and we pick up odd jobs anywhere we can to eke out a living ... I'm not writing this as a neighborhood scold just to make you feel rotten. I'm writing as a father to you, my children. I love you and want you to grow up well, not spoiled. There are a lot of people around who can't wait to tell you what you've done wrong, but there aren't many fathers willing to take the time and effort to help you grow up."

So, what do you think of that?

Personally, when I started this writing journey I went through a season of SURRENDER where God closed every writing door until I focused on His face, rather than publishing.

Then I went through a season of SERVICE where God had me giving and serving in life ... and not with words.

Next, I went through a season of PRODUCTIVITY. The words were there as I depended on God to achieve what was impossible by human standards.

Now, I feel I'm going through another season of SURRENDER. I've had some huge writing disappointments, lots of illnesses and life challenges, and even writing struggles. But God is reminding me to again focus on His face, not my to-do list. To focus more on being an influence for Him rather than for my work.

So today these words hit home: "I love you and want you to grow up well, not spoiled. There are a lot of people around who can't wait to tell you what you've done wrong, but there aren't many fathers willing to take the time and effort to help you grow up."


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Friday, March 21, 2008

Out of the experts' mouth

“The difference between fiction and non-fiction is that fiction must make sense.” -- Tom Clancy


“Writing is mind traveling, destination unknown. Make this statement your writing motto, and step into the writing process expecting to surprise yourself with the discoveries you make.” -- Writer’s INC


“There are few experiences quite so satisfactory as getting a good idea … You’re pleased with it and feel good. It may not be right, but at least you can try it out.” -- Lancelot L. White


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Thursday, March 20, 2008

Advice for Novelists (Part 2)

C.J. Darlington, co-founder of TitleTrakk, is running a great series on her blog: She started a series of blog posts in which industry professionals (editors, agents, publicists, authors, etc.) share their responses to this question:

"If you could say one thing to aspiring novelists, what would you say?"

Publisher, Don Pape had this to say: Write for the pure passion and joy of it. Don't write so to give us the "next Left Behind" or to be another Beverly Lewis. Be original and creative - as the Creator is! Be disciplined. Too many writers want to kick out the next bestseller in a weekend. Get up each morning and spend an hour honing your craft. Find other writers that can be mentors and provide the "iron sharpening iron" in your life. Don't write to get published. A contract is the gravy. Write for the delight of putting to paper words.--Don Pape, Publisher - Trade Books, David C. Cook


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Wednesday, March 19, 2008

The underdog


I'm having a fun time reading through 1996. I am awed by what I was doing and how God was speaking. I had three little kids at home and VERY LITTLE writing success, yet I had dreams and I had goals. I listed them and followed them to the best of my ability. I also read God's word and tried to apply it. My journal is filled with thoughts and notes. Here is something I wrote from 12.26.96. At the time I was thinking of Christmas, but this is a message that is true of every day of the year.

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathan, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel." Micah 4:5

God always roots for the underdog. Find the smallest and the weakest, and surely that is what, or who, God will use. For example, Bethlehem was small among the clans of Judah, and this town was chosen to be the birth place of the Savior, but this is not the only "insignificant one" God used . . .

God chose Saul to be the first King of Israel, and even Saul himself could not believe this. "But am I not a Benjamite from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?" (1 Samuel 9:21)

This happened again when God sent Samuel to anoint a man to take Saul's place. When Samuel saw Eliab, the oldest of Jesse's son's, and obviously an outstanding looking man, he said, "Surely the Lord's anointed stands before the Lord." (1 Samuel 16:6) God's answer? "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7) So God again proved he roots for the underdog—He chose David, the youngest, whom his father hadn't even seen fit to call to the sacrifice. Why does God choose to call those who seem the least worth? Like He told Samuel, "The Lord looks at the heart."

In the lives of the simple and the plain, there is humility. They know they are not great thing on their own, therefore God is able to do great things through them. Where we are weak, like Saul, God has a chance to show strength. Where we are simple, like David, God is able to show His wisdom. Where we are humble, like Bethlehem, God is able to lift up. God roots for the underdog, because the underdog knows he can do not great thing, and God has the opportunity to shine.

Of course, the amazing thing was that God must have been speaking to my heart back in 1996, because I was an underdog like no other. I was a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom with three kids, a "scandalous" past, and no education to speak of, yet I had a heart to write for God and serve Him. I'm awed by God. Awed by how He loves underdogs!


Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Advice for Novelists (Part 1)

C.J. Darlington, co-founder of TitleTrakk, is running a great series on her blog: She started a series of blog posts in which industry professionals (editors, agents, publicists, authors, etc.) share their responses to this question:

"If you could say one thing to aspiring novelists, what would you say?"

Charlene Patterson, Fiction Acquisitions Editor at Bethany House Publishers has this to say:

"First of all, write. Don't just talk about or think about or pray about writing. Write. Secondly, if you want to be published, do your homework. Can you imagine an aspiring optometrist showing up at Lens Crafters saying, "Yeah, I've been practicing in my house. Anybody need their eyes checked?" Read the rest here

I'll be sharing this great advice from C.J.'s blog every Tuesday and Thursday!



Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends. Congratulations! Cheri stopped lurking last week on My Writing Mentor!

Monday, March 17, 2008

The art of tale...

(The art of a tale) does not simply consist in the author's telling a story about the adventures of some other person . . . It happens because the storyteller's own experience of men and things, whether for good or ill . . . has moved him to an emotion so passionate that he can no longer keep it shut up in his heart.
--Murasaki Shikibu

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Friday, March 14, 2008

Two authors to check out...


Sweet Caroline By Rachel Hauck

When a Southern waitress inherits the Lowcountry cafe where she works, she suddenly has to balance more than just her next food order.

Caroline Sweeney has always done the right thing--the responsible, dependable thing--unlike her mother who abandoned her family. But when her best friend challenges her to accept an exciting job adventure in Barcelona, Spain, Caroline says "yes" to destiny.
Then, without warning, ownership of the run-down cafe where she's been waitressing falls right into Caroline's lap. While she's trying to determine the cafe's future, handsome Deputy Sherriff J.D. Rand captures Caroline's heart.

But when her first love, Mitch O'Neal, comes back to town, fresh from the heat of his newly-found fame as a country music singer in Nashville, Caroline must make some hard choices about love and the pursuit of the sweet life.

"Hauck's adorable novel contains the multi-layered characters readers have come to expect from her books. The enjoyable story and unpredictable ending entertains and offers much to think about." - 4.5 Stars, Melissa Parcel, Romantic Times Book Club

To read an excerpt go to Chapter-a-Week .

Buy the book here

and

Every Secret Thing by Ann Tatlock

Every Secret Thing is the story of a woman who returns home after many years away. Beth Gunnar hasn't lived in Delaware since high school graduation, but when she's offered a teaching job at Seaton Preparatory School--her alma mater--she accepts. Once there, she's faced with an unresolved loss that she and her friends experienced during their senior year. She realizes that the suicide of a favorite teacher has haunted her all her life, and she wants to find out the truth about what happened that night. There's a little bit of mystery and a little bit of romance, and ultimately it's a story of faith and reconciliation.

"Intelligent, introspective, and beautifully, hauntingly written…."
- Tom Morrisey, author of In High Place

To read an excerpt go to Chapter-a-Week .

Buy the book here

Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends

Thursday, March 13, 2008

On Writing...

"The final test for a novel will be our affection for it, as it is the test of our friends, and of anything else which we can't define."
~~E.M. Forster

"I have tried simply to write the best I can; sometimes I have good luck and write better than I can."
~~Ernest Hemingway

"I shall live badly if I do not write, and I shall write badly if I do not live."
~~Francoise Sagan



Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

The Spirit of Truth...

"But when he, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you in truth." John 16:13a

The call to be a Christian writer is an amazing thing. God has chosen us to take the spiritual things and translate them into stories that will touch people's hearts and encourage them in righteousness. How can we, as mere humans, do such a thing? Only through the Spirit of God!
The Spirit speaks to our hearts, and we are moved. He speaks to our eyes, and we see the way we should go. He speaks to our minds, and instructs us in what we should write. Feel his presence, see his path, and listen to his precise instructions -- the Spirit will guide you to truth!

I initially wrote the above words in 1996, yet I believe them as much (even more?) today then I did then. I can't think of one book that I felt I "hand a handle on" before I started writing. I am always questioning and doubting my own abilities. At the same time I'm believing and trusting God's abilities. I can't tell you how many times (100s!) when the right words, the right Scripture, the right person dropped into my path. these are ways God's Spirit works. Truth comes in mysterious and amazing ways as I seek God and watch for Him to work.

Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends! Last week's winner was Mrs. EL! She left a comment on Tricia's shoutlife page! Whoo-hoo! Congrats!

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Prayer Circle

I'm working on a spiritual memoir, of sorts. It's as close to that than anything, so that's what I'm calling it. I have to admit I've never been so lost when it came to writing a book. I KNOW how God has transformed my life but zooming in on those key moments in history, going DEEP into my soul, and sharing from the hard stuff ... is hard.

One amazing thing is that since August 1996, I've been part of an email prayer circle with fifteen other women. We've sent weekly reports and have lifted each other up in prayer for almost twelve years!

I have no idea why, but I've saved these prayer and praise reports since 1996. Now I know why because I'm using them to look back to me as a young mom when my kids were 7, 4, and 2. I'm amazed by how God was working then. I'm amazed by how much I longed for Him. It's very cool. Here is something I wrote to my friends:

From August 19, 1996

"Sing to the Lord, you saints of his;

praise his holy name.

For his anger lasts only a moment,

but his favor lasts a lifetime;

weeping may remain for a night,

by rejoicing comes in the morning." -- Psalm 30:1-5

What do you have to rejoice about this morning? Was your weekend difficult? Do there seem to be more storm clouds than sunshine in your life today? At times like this it may be hard to rejoice, but our true devotion to Christ is seen best when situations are the worst. It is easy to rejoice when all is going well, but do you have a difficult time when all is not well?

What do you have to rejoice about this morning? Though the challenges in your path may seem overwhelming, though your projects seem greater than your time, sing this song with me, "This is the day, this is the day. That the Lord has made, that the Lord has made. I will rejoice, I will rejoice. And be glad in it, and be glad in it. This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. This is the day, this is the day, that the Lord has made!"

>

This note from 1996 really touched my heart because I've really felt stretched lately with the writing projects and the family issues. There are many needs all around me. As I type this my husband is laying in bed recovering from surgery he had this morning. My son is also scheduled for surgery on Friday. One sister-in-law is on bed rest, another sister-in-law is struggling with her husbands' addictions, my mom moved in with me last week, also my best friends' father-in-law died last week and they are traveling in snow storms today, my other friend's son was married and I helped with that all weekend, my other friend just moved into a new home. Did I mention the writing stuff?


Yet, these words spoke to me ... THIS is the day the Lord has made. God knew about this day too. This day didn't surprise Him. And I have a lot to rejoice about! THIS IS the day that the Lord has made. I WILL rejoice and be glad in it.


So as I look back, it's good to remember what God has already brought me through. The purpose of this new book may be to share how God worked in my life ... but it's a reminder to me that He's still working.


Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends

Monday, March 10, 2008

Encouragement for the Writing Road:

" 'Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.' Then why ask? The idea of prayer is not in order to get answers from God; prayer is perfect and complete oneness with God." --Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest, August 6

O soul, He only who created thee can satisfy thee. If thou ask for anything else, it is thy misfortune, for He alone who made thee in His image can satisfy thee. -- Augustine

THOUGHT FOR TODAY: (Written by Tricia Goyer in August 1997...I found this while researching MYSELF for the new book I'm writing)

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15: 4&5

As writers we work with something called motivation. As Christian writers we all hope that our motivation is God-inspired. Too thin is the line between self-motivation and Godly motivation. How do we know if we are on the right track? We may write, we may write well, but only with God will produce fruit--fruit that will nourish the body of believers. "If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit." Fellow writers I pray that you may seek God's face and be fruitful today!


Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Conveying emotion...

Angela Hunt posted this on one of the writer's loops I am a part of...

One of Sol Stein's chief admonitions to novelists is that a novel should provide an EMOTIONAL experience. We read nonfiction to learn; we read novels for that vicarious emotional experience.This is a challenge for novelists who love to teach. We have to overcome our natural reluctance to give the facts and concentrate HARD on providing the emotions.

One of the things the Don taught me was to separate out my scenes (or cards, an Excel chart, or whatever), and then pinpoint the emotional import of each scene. If I'm drawing a blank, so is the reader, so I have to find some way to up the emotional ante.

Angie

This is GREAT advice!


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Thursday, March 6, 2008

Hmmm....



Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

What makes you smile by Barbara Warren

This bit of advice was in Barbara's January newsletter.

Do you like what you write? Would you spend hard earned cash to read it? Not just because it's yours and you wrote it, but because it entertains you? Is it the kind of book you'd enjoy sharing a quiet, fireplace warmed, winter evening with, or is it something you've written because you think it will sell?

Are you patterning your writing after someone else's work? Do you write based on the latest trend? Or do you relax, forget all about those published authors, and write what makes you smile? I don't mean you have to write funny, but if that's your inclination, by all means
stir a handful of humor into the pot. But a dramatic heart-wrenching woman's fiction, or a spine-tingling suspense can bring a smile to the writer if it's what you enjoy writing. Knowing what you want to write and writing it your way brings a great sense of satisfaction.

Of course you can't ignore the rules, unless you're just writing for yourself. If you hope to sell your work then you must learn the rules, study the craft of writing, polish your skills, and learn
about the market, the business side of writing. I have a shelf filled with writing books and I study them constantly. When I say write what makes you smile, I mean that sense of contentment that happens when you know you've done a good job; that you have accomplished what you wanted to do.

Where's your passion? Romances are the quickest path to publication, but it's not my path, because it's not my passion. What makes me smile? A woman in jeopardy suspense: with likeable characters talking like real people, real life interaction among my characters, and
realistic dangerous situations that keeps the reader turning those pages. Add a little humor, a little romance, and that's the kind of book that I want to write. The kind that after I finish my final rewrite, I smile. That's the reaction I want from my reader. So, know the audience you want to reach, whether it's a starry-eyed romantic, a lover of hard-edged suspense, or that woman reader who wants a more relaxed, gentler suspense. Match your passion to your audience and you've taken one giant step down that road to publication.

Sign up for Barbara's newsletter and get great tips on writing, book reviews and find out What's Happening with all the authors you love here
Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Creating Nonverbal Communication in Fiction

This is from Randy Ingermanson's ("the Snowflake guy") latest newsletter

Last month, I mentioned that I was studying Margie Lawson's course "Empowering Character Emotions." I've now worked through the course twice, and all I can say is, wow! This is great stuff. Margie is a psychologist with a TON of insights into characters. You can order her course on her web site at this location: http://www.margielawson.com/

One thing I learned from Margie is that 93% of interpersonal communication is nonverbal. Only 7% is verbal.

The 93% that is nonverbal takes two main forms, visible and audible. Let's look at an example:

If I tell you, "Have a nice day" with a sarcastic tone of voice while handing you a dead weasel, I have sent you three communications:

* "Have a nice day." -- verbal
* Sarcastic tone -- audible nonverbal
* The weasel -- visible nonverbal

Note that the the verbal communication sends you one message, while the two nonverbal communications send you the opposite message. If you have any common sense at all, you'll ignore the verbal and believe the nonverbal communication.

Understanding and using nonverbal communication can enrich your fiction. Let's look at an example of nonverbal communication in THE PROMISE, by Chaim Potok. In this passage, the protagonist Reuven is at a carnival with his girlfriend Rachel and Rachel's young cousin Michael. The three are being cheated in one of those wretched carnival games that looks easy and is actually impossible.

They're hoping to win an expensive radio, but they still need a couple of points.

When Reuven, Rachel, and Michael begin getting suspicious, the carnival pitchman's father comes in to reassure them. Like them, he's Jewish and he talks to them about coming to America from Russia. This resonates with Reuven, whose father also came from Russia. After some serious sweet-talking, the old carnie allays their fears and urges them to continue the game:


The old man shrugged apologetically. "I live and travel with the carnival. I know only the carnival. I do not know what goes on outside. Here and there I hear a little and read a little. But I was not so fortunate as you." He lapsed into silence. Behind him the pitchman stood very still, staring down at the gleaming radio. The old man was quiet a long time, his eyes moist and sad. He shook his head slowly. "Nu," he said.

"Back to business. You are in good hands here now." He had reverted to English. "Schmeiss," he said, smiling.

"See how much you will win from me."

I felt calm and protected. The tension and fear were gone now from the game.

I put seven dollars on the counter next to the one-dollar bill.

"Go ahead and play," I said to Michael. "I'll pay and you'll play. All right?"

Michael grinned eagerly and picked up the cup. Rachel nodded, her eyes very bright.

Randy sez: What's going on here is that the old con man has allayed the fears of Reuven and his friends by a carefully orchestrated set of nonverbal communications that precisely match his verbal communications: "You are in good hands here now."

Let's take this passage apart in slow motion and analyze everything the old man (and his son, the
pitchman) do. I'll insert my own running commentary between segments. My comments are based on the entire context of the chapter, including those parts I'm not showing here.


* The old man shrugged apologetically.

Randy sez: Nonverbal visible communication that transmits the message, "I'm just a humble man who knows nothing."


* "I live and travel with the carnival. I know only the carnival. I do not know what goes on outside. Here and there I hear a little and read a little. But I was not so fortunate as you."

Randy sez: Verbal communication that says precisely the same thing his shrug said earlier.


* He lapsed into silence.

Randy sez: Nonverbal visible communication that reinforces the idea that this is a humble, honest man.


* Behind him the pitchman stood very still, staring down at the gleaming radio.

Randy sez: Nonverbal visible communication that shows his fear that Reuven and Rachel and Michael will win the radio, and that the old man has gone over to their side and will practically give them that radio. They're playing good-carnie/bad-carnie.


* The old man was quiet a long time, his eyes moist and sad.

Randy sez: Two distinctly different visible nonverbal communications. The first is being quiet. The second is having moist, sad eyes. Both tell the same story -- that the old man is resigned to losing the radio to Reuven and Rachel and Michael if they play one more time. The clear message is that they can't lose.


* He shook his head slowly.

Randy sez: Another visible nonverbal communication that gives the same message -- he will inevitably lose that radio to them.


* "Nu," he said. "Back to business. You are in good hands here now." He had reverted to English.

Randy sez: The old man has been speaking to them in Yiddish, gaining their trust by an appeal to their shared heritage. Now he switches to English, which is an audible nonverbal message, that it is time to get back to the business of the game. This is identical to the verbal message he gives, "Back to business." Then he reinforces the message of trust he has been building for several pages with another verbal communication, "You are in good hands here now."


* "Schmeiss," he said, smiling. "See how much you will win from me."

Randy sez: Another set of mixed verbal and nonverbal messages that all say the same thing.

There are three primary messages:

"Schmeiss" is Yiddish, so it conveys once again using an audible nonverbal signal that they are safe, because he is their fellow Jew and will treat them honestly.

He smiles, a visible nonverbal communication that reinforces the message that he is their friend.

"See how much you will win from me." is a verbal communication that tells them they can't lose.


* I felt calm and protected. The tension and fear were gone now from the game. I put seven dollars on the counter next to the one-dollar bill.

Randy sez: The above elaborate set of communications has put Reuven completely at ease. He is now quite certain that he's about to win. He communicates this certainty with an action, putting his money down, which is a visible nonverbal communication that he's ready to play.


* "Go ahead and play," I said to Michael. "I'll pay and you'll play. All right?"

Randy sez: Verbal communication that reinforces the message Reuven just sent nonverbally.


* Michael grinned eagerly and picked up the cup.

Randy sez: Visible nonverbal communication that shows, in two actions, that Michael is also ready to play. He too has been completely conned by the old man. We see this by his actions, even though we're not inside his head.


* Rachel nodded, her eyes very bright.

Randy sez: Two more visible nonverbal communications.
Rachel nods, showing that she agrees with Reuven. Her bright eyes show us that she, too, is taken in. She believes that they are moments away from winning.


In the pages that follow, the old man cheats Reuven, Rachel, and Michael out of every dollar they have and then verbally abuses them when they accuse him of cheating. Reuven, Rachel, and Michael are furious when they realize they've been had.

But why were they had? People lie all the time, at least verbally. Why didn't Reuven and friends realize the old man was lying?

When we're lied to, we usually know it or suspect it.

The reason is that we pick up on the many nonverbal communications that tell us something isn't right.

Shifting eyes, nervous tics, faltering voice, and many similar nonverbal cues tip us off.

The reason Reuven and his friends were conned is that the old carnie gave them a very long string of nonverbal cues that completely lined up with his words. In order to show this, I'd have to copy off several pages on either side of this passage.

There are hundreds of forms of nonverbal communication, both visible and audible. As novelists, we often settle for a few easy ways. So our characters are constantly shifting their eyes, nervously ticking, or faltering in voice. Or whatever cue we decide to overuse.

But we have many more options, if only we'd use them. Watch some of the great actors. What tricks do they play in order to show you nonverbally far more than they're saying? Watch Bruce Willis in action, or Meryl Streep, or Nicolas Cage, or Judy Dench, and see what they can show you with their eyes, face, hands, voice tone.

For a LARGE number of examples that cover many more aspects of showing character emotions, I'll point you once again to the terrific course on Margie Lawson's web site:
http://www.MargieLawson.com



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Monday, March 3, 2008

Happy New Writerly Year from Mary DeMuth

You can find more great resources like this at Mary's website! Make sure to check out her writing blog: http://wannabepublished.blogspot.com/!

If you're aspiring to be a writer, here's a fun acrostic to ready you to get published in 2008:

Have a writer party. Seriously. I am a better writer after I've spent good time with funny, amazing, articulate, crazy writers. After I rub shoulders with y'all, I'm ready to write that staggering work of genius. Party on, writers!

Apply to teach somewhere. You'll learn more when you master something enough to teach it. Still new? Offer to teach elementary kids. Can't travel? Apply to teach at a regional writers conference. Just do it!

Pray. Ask God to give you specific direction about your year. Does He want you to slow down? Hone one message? Write for a variety of magazines? Finish that book. Be still enough to hear His voice.

Prayer team. Ask several friends who love to pray to become part of your prayer team. Send weekly reminders; give pieces of your writing to them; offer to pray for them. If you'd like to have God shape your career this year, develop a prayer team.

Yell for joy when something great happens. We're such a busy lot. Life speeds by. We forget to stop and holler when we get an acceptance letter. Celebrate. Rejoice. Do a dance. Tell your other writer friends.

Never take rejection personally. That's a hard one. This year, try to see rejection as a clinical thing. Your piece simply doesn't work for that market. OK. Now take it and send it somewhere else. Use rejection as a springboard to try, try again.

Exegete your life. Pull out things that God is saying. Write them down. Look at your life. Journal. A lot of my nonfiction results from me culling through my journals.

Write every day.

Wait before you hit "send." If you're sending a "helpful" email to a colleague, wait, wait, wait. This is a small industry.

Rein in your flowery prose. Slay those adverbs. Cut away double adjectives (She's a beautiful, smiling girl. Keep one. Not both.) When you become too enamored with your own poetic genius, cut away the superfluous.

Ignore rules on your first draft. Just write the puppy. Silence that inner editor. If you can't do that, give your pesky editor a little spiral notebook. Jot down your notes about your story or nonfiction piece there, but keep writing.

Tackle something new. Ever write haikus? Try your hand. Afraid of short stories? Write one and enter a contest. Write a tribute to a friend or family member. Exercise your writer muscles.

Expect disappointment. It will come in all sorts of frustrating forms in 2008. But if you expect it as normative in a writing career, you can more easily dust your feet off and keep at it. Great writers are not necessarily those with great talent. They're good writers who keep going, who persevere through disappointment.

Read widely. You'll never improve your writing if you don't read widely. Read outside your genre. Read books friends recommend to you. Pick up an old, dusty book. All sorts of books are out there, begging to be read. Read and learn from each, even if it means learning what not to do.
Lovethose in the industry. Seek to bless industry folks this year in tangible ways. Meet your deadlines. Pray for editors. Send encouraging notes of thanks.

Yammer about someone else. We can so easily get caught up in our own publicity and marketing machines that we forget the simple joy and beauty of promoting others. Seek to find the pearls in others' writing and then talk about that.

Yield to your editors. You'll be edited all year-by your critique group, your editors, your friends, your agent. Instead of arguing, listen. Think it through. Believe that someone outside your writing has the blessing of a fresh perspective.

Excavate something new. There are tons of books out there regurgitating the same things over and over and over again. Dig deep inside yourself. Mine the depths of Jesus. Hear afresh. Share fresh insights. Though truth does not change, the way we package it may. Dare to say something new instead of relegating your writing to mimicry.

Always make goals. What would you like to see happen to you this year? Write it down. Some examples: Write a book. Write a proposal. Send out five query letters a week. Go to a writer conference. Start a writers group. Submit poetry to a contest. Send out proposal to ten agents.

Rest in God's sovereignty. Yes, work hard. Put others first. Do your homework. Write. Learn. But realize it all rests in the capable hands of a sovereign God. He holds your career in His strong hands. He knows the past, the present, the future. Rest it all in Him. Trust that He knows the right thing for you.

Thanks for letting me share this Mary...such great advice! You Rock!

Stop Lurking! Every week I will draw names for a free Tricia Goyer book from those who comment on my blogs. Winner's choice! Tell your friends