I found some old notes I took while attending a writer’s seminar several years ago at the Spanish Fork Memorial building. These are notes of counsel from Lee Nelson.
Sometimes low self-esteem can stop you from reaching a goal. She’ll read extensively and often take time concentrating on a certain section to immerse yourself in the period or world.
Instead of seeking new landscapes, you can accomplish the same task by looking at the same landscape with new eyes. Wash away the mundane of a situation. Whens writing about an event of a town she went there and drove around. She chose a spot by a river for her imaginary fiction. Two readers from the town called the author and had guessed where the homestead was.
Talk to people who have had similar experiences as your character i.e.: same job. That way you can have all the details of real experiences. This gives you a sense of authenticity.
In ‘Anna’ she used actual experience of Islanders. She also talks to as many people familiar with the subject as possible. I.e.; man told her about a mother being approached by a stranger and volunteered to hold her baby. When she turned back to him, he was gone with the baby.
You can’t put people of your time and attitudes into a historical setting. They will have the attitude equal to others of that time period. If you can get the color of an area into your book is will make it be better. Someone from Europe or Bosin may say Ten of Four instead of the Western US who say Ten to four. Cultural humor or slang terms can help flavor a story. Such references can add integrity to a book. See out old travel books, journals, and old newspapers. Even poets can provide descriptions or old photographs or video tapes of the areas. If you can add legitimate details of clothes, furniture to add authentically. It can bring a reader into your world.
Remember that if it doesn’t progress the plot, take it out. Old books were longer and more details because the readers at that time did not have other distractions like TV, radio etc. Keep in mind on modes of travel for the time period you cover.
Take real care with real people. Remember to represent the people as they really are. Like when you write about someone’s thoughts of someone then as you write the story, you would want to illustrate those same attitudes as the person who you’re writing about. (Fictional characters can be altered but real people cant.)
When you see a full bookstore remember that creativity from you and as yourself and your view of life and insights makes your feelings on matter that is worth giving. This is where youth does not have an advantage but age and experience is an advantage to make your writing appealing.
Become a reality to the editor or publisher. Maybe talk to them briefly so that they can associate a face to the name.
Please feel free to give additional suggestions on this topic. Share your comments on the comment section of the blog/site. Thanks
