How to Write a Killer Death Scene

     I'm not going to lie; I've waited months to use that pun. And on top of that, I've been waiting months to write this blog post, because to be frank, life is hard and I don't always have the time, emotional endurance, or mental capacities to blog about squat. 

     Seriously. There are days that I couldn't journal the shelf life of canned peas without bursting into tears.

     Okay, so maybe that's a tad dramatic, but bear with me. The actual topic of this blog post is coming.

     Writing a death scene is a balancing act no matter what role your ill-fated character fills. There are so many things to consider!

     It's a haphazard hash of various details that will get your moment of sadness to where it needs to go. Here are some to think about before you write the scene or when you rewrite/edit it:

• Who needs to have an in in this scene? That one relative, friend, significant other? 
• Who needs to lack closure with the deceased character to further their character arc?
• What is the weather like?
• What is the character feeling as they die? Pain? Hunger? Nothing? Confusion?
• Are their thoughts running in orderly streams?
• Is there anyone crying over them? Pretending to care, even?
• What are the other characters feeling? Relief that they're going to a better place? Panic at the thought of losing their anchor? Sentiment over all of the stupid jokes they've shared past curfew?
• Who is your character thinking about? (Because when people are injured, or thinking even that they might die, their minds generally go to one person in particular. Be it their mom, their sibling, their friend, their spouse... something like that.)
• Is it clear to every other character involved that they are dying? Are they even sure that they're dying?

     Anyway. Once you go through those thoughts, get a grasp of what you're dealing with, it should get easier, right?

     Right. It should get significantly easier.

     The key to writing any emotional scene well is to be in tune with feeling. Know what feels good, know what hurts, know what makes you laugh or cry. Just be in the know, and you should totally have it in the bag. Once you get a feel for life, your emotions, the human mind, everything will be a total breeze. (Hm. That ended up being much more complicated and difficult than I intended for it to sound.)

     Here's another thing I like to consider when I write death scenes:

     As with most things, it shouldn't be purely anything. Gray area is the color in your story, and it's the same with death scenes. It can't be all sad and gloomy and dark. Give it a small flicker of light. A white butterfly fluttering through the blood-filled streets. The thought of a loved one's smile as every face they see is covered with pain. A simple, precious, innocently-uttered word of farewell and adoration as their own cries echo in their ears. 

      All it takes is one good thing among the pain to make it even more impacting. It's like adding a bit of salt to a cookie recipe--it makes the sugar taste that much sweeter. That tiny touch of warm happiness makes the end seem that much more sad.

     And that's all I have to impart to the lot of you! I know nothing beyond this: Write what you feel, and people will feel what you write.

     Burn so brightly that all close to you catch fire as well

     Passion is contagious. I pray that it's spreading quickly.

     ~ Alyssa

My Revision Process

     Hello, people! =) I'm here on the topic of revision and editing today!
     So, first things first: Revision and editing are time-consuming. And while that is a bit obvious, it isn't always perfectly clear why. But this is why.

Everyone revises and edits in a different way.

     When editing, you have to find your own groove! You have to find what works for you, and sometimes that takes a long time. (Who am I kidding, it always does.) So don't get overwhelmed by the prospect! =) View the process as one of discovery and not one of wandering into a danger-fraught unknown.
     With that said, I suppose I shall begin telling you what works for me. And who knows? Perhaps some of the things that I do will help you as well, and then you'll be that much closer to being comfortable with your revision and editing style.

1. Let the finished product age. Like expensive cheese, your book needs to sit for a while before it's ready. After you finish the first draft, it's a good idea to let it stay in a corner by itself for a couple of months. (I have found that, with myself, if I don't do this I grow to hate the story, and then my quality of writing goes down the drain faster than a greasy bobby pin.)
2. Set it in your head when you return to your book that you are there to tear the story limb-from-limb. You are not going over it to smooth its feathers. The first stage of revising generally is a hacking, messy business that involves lots of coffee and crying. (True story.)
3. Read the manuscript. Mmm. Yes. As a generally rule, after setting steps 1 and 2 into motion, I pick up the manuscript and read it. I read it slowly, and try to think about every sentence that I come across. If something that I read doesn't make sense, I'll write down a suggestion for rearranging it. Misspelled word? Formatting error? (OCD...) Yep. Write it down, and come back to it. You're in reader/editor mode, no need to stop to rewrite the thing.
4. Read it again. After reading it once and looking for things to fix and such, (and hopefully writing a list of plot changes to consider,) go back and read it again. And maybe ten more times after that. Keep suggesting changes on little things, keep finding misspelled words, inconsistencies, etc. 
5. Get down to business. Now! Dust off your keyboards and go back to fix all of the things that you've written down to change. Move paragraphs, cut chapters, kill characters... (That last one is optional.) And hopefully it will be as freeing an experience for you as it is for me. =)
6. Two words. Line edits. After getting all of the big changes done, go back and check the flow of all of your wording, consistency of detail, and consistency in the characters' personalities. Again, if you find something that you want to change, write it down for the next round.
7. Repeat steps 3-6 as many times as necessary. I usually go through that process about three or four times before I give it over to beta readers, and then they do the same thing. Read. Suggest edits. The only differences are, a) They have different brains and eyes than I do, and b) They're a lot more helpful to developing my story than I am. My thoughts down flow as clearly outside of prose. And those people are superheros with capes and red pens. Their suggestions are always helpful to me. =) So that leads us to the last step:
8. Fix it until it's as close to how you imagine it being as possible. Read your manuscript. Cry over your manuscript. Let other people read your manuscript. Repeat. (?)
9. Go write another story, and change the world. (Whoa. That escalated quickly.)

     Seriously, though, guys! =) Write stories. Be painfully honest with your writing. The raw thoughts of human beings are what change the way the rest of the world views existence.
     I hope that you've found this article helpful! =) And thank you so much, Katie, for suggesting the topic! =)

     Sometime else and somewhere else,
     ~Alyssa

NaNo Plan-O

Hey, all! ^-^ So, NaNoWriMo starts in less than a month, and I am SO excited. Like, dancing in circles kind of excited. (Just in case you don’t know what NaNoWriMo is, it’s a writing thing where you have to write 50,000 words, or an entire novel, in a single month. The name itself is short for ‘National Novel Writing Month,’ and it starts November 1st. Details, HERE.)

My plan this NaNo is simple:

1. Have fun.
2. Eat lots of snacks.
3. Have more fun.

If this list doesn’t sound like an absolute dream to you, I don’t know what to say. XD

Wait, I forgot a step.

5. Write and successfully slay 50K. ;D

…I did it last year, and I plan to do it again. Hopefully with more moxie this time, but I will reign victorious.

It is going to be so much fun, and I can’t wait to socialize with the other writers! There is nothing more fun than being involved in an online community of like-minded people. ;) Except for maybe being part of a real-life community of like-minded people… you know, the friends I’ve made on that website are like family. We’re always talking about all of us getting to meet up. ^-^ #jealousyet #sorry #hashtagsarefortheweak #thenwhyareyouhashtagging #idunnoman #iamsoweird

Anyway, I’d love it if you’d join me in the journey to write an entire novel in a month. It’s the most fun ever, and you won’t regret joining the site. NaNoWriMo has multiplied my writing skills and healthy writing habits by the tens.

See you on the other side.

(Just kidding, you can’t get rid of me that easily. Haha. Nice try, though. A+ for effort.)

~Alyssa

Beta Readers: Thoughts from the Other Side

Over the weekend, I got a few of my beta friends together and interviewed them. And I think that it went splendidly! (At least I hope it did. I think so.)
So, before I give much ado about nothing, here's what was said. 


How would you describe the way it makes you feel to beta read?

Cana:

I feel like beta reading is really, really fun. It’s a chance to 1) read a book, 2) help someone out, 3) get experience with editing and improve my own writing, 4) build a friendship with the author, and 5) possibly make the story turn out more to my liking. (Just kidding about number five. I can advise the author if there is an actual problem, but I never try to change their story!)

Mandy:

To be honest, it depends on the book. There are some books I have absolutely loved to beta read. I love the story, get deeply involved in the characters, and I get very, very excited for the next part. Breathless even, if it is a good enough book. And then there are some that are just… eh; when the story is uninteresting or the characters don’t interest me. It all really depends on the project. :)

Katie:

Beta reading is a special experience, because the author is trusting me with his or her story and expecting helpful feedback on how to make it better. Being one of the first people to read that story makes me feel like I’m being let in on a secret, and as an aspiring editor, I also appreciate the chance to hone my editing skills.


Do you ever get tired of it?

Cana:

I don’t get tired of beta reading in itself. I need breaks, of course, so I don’t fry my brain. Sometimes the story itself is boring, but part of my job as a beta reader is to help the author fix that kind of thing. That is rewarding rather than tiring.

Mandy:

Aye, sometimes. Being dyslexic and all, it is very difficult for me to read books, especially if the grammar is poor to where I have to decipher the meaning of things. Because of this, I often pick and choose what books I choose to beta read.

Katie:

I’m relatively new to beta reading, but I haven’t gotten tired of it yet!


How does it make you feel when you get asked to beta read a book that isn't in your interests?

Cana:

So far, I haven’t actually had that happen for a full book. I’ve beta read excerpts of books that aren’t in my interests, though. In that case, it’s not like I have to deal with the story for very long, so I don’t mind.

Mandy:

A bit wary. Especially with having difficulty reading, it’s very hard to get through books that I don’t enjoy or don’t interest me.

Katie:

So far, I’ve never been asked to beta read a book that isn’t in my interests‒but then, I enjoy reading books from every genre and for every age group. I have read a book that wasn’t very good, due to a cliche storyline and rather poor writing. Since it was my first experience beta reading, I didn’t feel confident telling the author any of this, and I ended up just pointing out such grammatical errors as the comma splices which permeated the manuscript. If I could go back, I’d draw the author’s attention to aspects of the story and the writing that could be improved. I’ve since become more comfortable with doing this, and I’ve also been so fortunate as to get better stories to read. ;)


What is the most common flaw you come across in the things you read?

Cana:

I don’t know which flaw actually shows up the most, but the area of flaws that is most common is basic English grammar. This makes me sad, because it’s the kind of stuff anyone should know and can easily learn, such as its vs. it’s, or the correct placement of commas, or how to avoid run-on sentences. People could take their writing to the next level if they took a little time to review basic grammar rules.

Mandy:

Errors with commas. Almost no one that I’ve beta read for knew how to properly use a comma. For instance, they would not have stuck the comma after “for instance” in the beginning of this sentence. It seems people, almost universally, are uncertain of the rules surrounding the comma.

Katie:

Grammatical errors and sentences that don’t flow properly are probably the most common flaws I’ve come across when beta reading. This isn’t surprising, since the author is bound to be more focused on the story itself than the nitty-gritty details of grammar and sentence structure. I’ve also found that it’s common to run into aspects of the story world that aren’t explained well. This too is understandable‒the author is immersed in the world he or she has built, and it can be easy to forget that no one else has such a complete knowledge of how that world works.


What is your favorite phrase to use when correcting something?

Cana:

“Perhaps you could change this to something like ____ ?”

Mandy:

“I really like this part. It shows a lot of promise. The only thing you might like to consider changing would be ________________”

Katie:

I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite phrase, especially since it’s a cliche, but I’ve said more than once that my advice on a certain matter should “be taken with a grain of salt.” I never want to be presumptuous enough to believe that my way of thinking is always the right one.


What is your advice to other beta readers or people who are considering it?

Cana:

Study, study, study. Read articles and blog posts about writing, especially niche details, such as how to make likable characters or the correct usage of the word lay. Read as many different views on whatever you’re studying as you can, since writing is so subjective. When you are beta-reading, you should know what you’re doing. But remember that the author is the boss, not you.

Mandy:

Remember that these aren’t published books. They aren’t going to have the perfect phrasing, wonderful grammar, and no plot holes. Don’t expect to be reading a shelf-ready book. If you get so caught up in the problems with the book, you’ll never enjoy the story. Try to forget the little things and look at the big picture: the plot, the characters, the feel of the book.

Katie:

Be kind in your corrections, but don’t be afraid to make them. You aren’t doing the author any favors by not pointing out the flaws you discover. Realize too that some things are subjective, and that the author probably will not‒and probably should not‒take your advice on every single thing. There are points which come down to matters of personal style. That style may not always be to your taste, but that doesn’t make it wrong.


What is your advice to writers?

Cana:

Writers should also study, study, study. You want to get it right the first time, not have a beta reader or editor tell you you need to completely rewrite your book. Again, read everything you can that has to do with writing. You should have some good starting points based on what is in your story. For instance, if you have a lot of fight scenes, read about how to write them. If your character loses a loved one, read about grief.
Also, since you’re a person whose tool is grammar and materials are words, you should know how to wield both. Learn the rules of punctuation. Study good sentence structure. Know correct word usage. Your writing will go from okay to awesome.

Mandy:

Be picky who you let beta read your book. There are helpful beta readers and there are those that will simply pick your story apart until you feel it has no hope of ever succeeding. Remember that your book is not published, and it isn’t perfect yet. Don’t let negative comments dissuade you. There is almost always gonna be that one person who is dead-set on pointing out every flaw. Don’t take it as law. Enjoy the good comments, consider the bad, but don’t let it dictate you, either. It’s your story, after all.

Katie:

First, realize that good writing involves lots and lots of re-writing. Your first draft probably isn’t going to be that great, and that’s okay. Second, don’t be afraid to get feedback on your work. You can’t fix mistakes and weaknesses if you don’t know what they are. Lastly, while getting published is a wonderful goal, ultimately a writer should write for the sake of writing. If you love it, keep doing it‒no matter what.

~

Isn't that an awesome interview? I was blown away with how awesome the answers were--even though my questions were less than fabulously deep.
Thank you so much, Cana, Mandy, and Katie, for agreeing to be interviewed! You all are the best. =)
Well, I hope you have enjoyed this post! Next week, I plan to do a post on character development... the story-building kind. And it's going to be AWESOME.

Stay tuned and stay writing,
~Alyssa

Beta Readers: What I've Learned

Hey peoples! After a week of battling with a lack of inspiration, a serious editing hangover, and lack of sleep from going to way too many family parties, I have figured out what to write about.

Fantastic, isn’t it? I think so. And I’m excited. I’m excited because these things that I’m about to share with you are things that I had never even considered-- or heard of, since no one seems to write about them-- until after I took the plunge into the world of beta readers.

To start us off, I will give the don’ts of betadom.

1.  Don’t have beta readers go over it before you edit.

Yes, it’s true! After you edit, people. It’s not only easier on you that way-- since you don’t have to send it out to the readers more than once, it’s also easier on them. They don’t have to read the same story OVER and OVER again. That’s your editor’s job- not your beta readers’!

And you may be sitting wherever you’re at thinking, “Well. She should have known that. How stupid can a person be?”, but I entered this business with innocence. I was clueless, as well as naive, and while that hasn’t yet worn off entirely… *angelic glowing* … I’m a lot more in-tune with the business now.

2. Don’t choose betas without considering whether or not they like your genre.

You don’t want someone who doesn’t like your genre, repeat, you do not want someone who does not like your genre. It doesn’t matter how much you like the person. If you are writing a Science Fiction, don’t have someone read it who only likes Historical Romances. At least not to give you advice on the plot. Do you read me?

I made this mistake once. Just once. And ended up with a rather bored best friend to show for it, but no review. (That’s what happens when you give a reader who likes Western Romances an Urban-Fantasy book to read.)

3. Don’t choose betas who don’t fall into, or at least appreciate your audience.

This means you probably don’t want teenage boys beta reading your Chic Lit.

Enough said.

4. Don’t always be negative on what your beta readers have to say.

Even if you don’t like the way they feel your story coming across, you should still take into account what they think. Chances are, they aren’t trying to pick your story-- or you-- apart! They’re there to help you make your story all it can be, not rip it to shreds! And if more than two have the same thing to say about something, you should probably take a closer look at it. There might be something up.

(I didn’t ever struggle with this one, though keeping my mouth in check when I got advice that I didn’t care for was a bit of a problem.)

5. Don’t take beta advice without seriously considering it.

It can go both ways! Don’t always just do as they suggest without checking your gut feelings. It’s the sixth sense in writerdom, the knowing that something is askew. And if it’s their advice that you’re getting that vibe about, don’t take it! If it’s what they’re telling you about that you feel something wrong with, then fix it! You are the only one who can change your story, so change it well.

(I did, however, have some issues with this one. I find myself surrounded by advice, and sometimes I take it without thinking. Ring any bells with you?)

Don’t the don’ts make you feel cheery? Didn’t think so. So, here are some dos!

1. Do make at least three rounds of editing before you collect your beta readers together.

2. Do choose betas that fit your story.

Remember: You did not write the story for ‘people who read’. You wrote it for YOUR audience. You write for yourself, for select people who like books like yours, and no one else. You are not here to please everyone, you are here to change the worlds of a select few.

3. Do be kind to your betas.

They aren’t fish like the affectionate nickname suggests, they are real people. With feelings, and lives, and minds that can be touched by beautiful stories, just like yours.

So be nice to them! Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Make friends with them. Chat with them. Discuss book ideas with them. A beta reader is one of the best friends you can have, because not only do they know your books, writing style, and author personality, they know you! And that’s a really cool thing.

4. Do be careful who you give your story to.

You can’t just have your draft-- and the link to it-- all over the internet! There should be sirens and flashing lights beside every ‘share link’ button. MAKE GOOD CHOICES!

5. Do be personable.

This isn’t exactly a beta reader tip- it’s more of an over-all. Treasure emails from readers and fan mail- angry or not. Respond to your readers or followers. Reply to comments, take questions, let yourself be overwhelmed by the fact that people are talking to you. Unless you’re a magical unicorn, you were an unknown once. There were no people in faraway places who knew that you existed, let alone what your writing sounded like. So if there are people who know you exist, you should be excited! Wow! There are people who care what you have to say!

So get out there, recruit your betas, treat them right, and never stop writing!

~Alyssa

(P.S. I have never been angelic. That was a joke, no need to be jealous. =P )

(P.P.S. Next week, I’m going to have a couple interviews from beta readers, so stay tuned!)