On Watching TV Like a Writer: The Walking Dead

Want to learn about character arcs, plot, themes, and continuity? Watch TV. Or, to be specific, watch The Walking Dead. (You knew that was coming, didn’t you?)

I confess, I LOVE LOVE LOVE The Walking Dead. I don’t think I could possibly love it more. Maybe if all the main characters were teens, or if they suddenly decided to flash back a few months to show how the zombie outbreak was unleashed during prom. I’m just saying. (Also, are you listening, bigwigs of TWD universe?)

But I have to admit that while the writing is often fantastic, there are times when the show disappoints me. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though, from a writer’s perspective. The best shows are the ones that make you dig deep, think critically. The ones that make you consider what the writer(s) is/are trying to accomplish, and what you would do differently if you were the writer. This is exactly what happens in writers’ workshops. This is part of learning to write. This is also how I convince myself that watching weekend-long marathons of seasons 1 and 2 for the fourth sixth time is really “learning about writing.” For the record, it is.

So here’s where I pose a challenge, probably the most difficult, thought-provoking, arduous, sweat-inducing, no-sleep-getting challenge you’ve ever faced: watch TV.

No, really.

Seriously.

Watch TV like a writer. Go back to your favorite shows and look at them critically. Consider what the writers were trying to accomplish. Consider if their methods were effective. Consider what you would change. How would you “revise” your favorite shows? (Hey, this sounds an awful lot like writing fan fiction. But no, writing fan fiction is not part of the challenge.)

The real challenge is this: take what you learned from watching Buffy, or Battlestar Galactica, or Doctor Who, or The Vampire Diaries, or The Walking Dead, and apply that to your own writing. I’m not talking about setting your next book in Sunnydale or having a Tardis transport your main character through space as she walks down the aisle at her wedding (even if the dude she’s about to marry is a backstabbing… never mind that). I’m talking about using what you learned about creating compelling characters, or character transformations, or motivations, or obstacles, or irony, or back story, or dialogue, or… you get what I mean. Use what you learned to revise your own work.

Still not convinced?

Here’s my example:

This weekend’s episode of TWD blew my mind. I know I wasn’t the only one. If you haven’t been watching lately, brace yourselves for a non-spoiler spoiler: Lori gives birth. But you knew that was coming since last season we ended with Lori pregnant. The show was on hiatus for a few months, but when the new season started, it’s been seven months since we last saw the survivors.

SuperFan Jaquira thinks: Wait! I need to know what happened during these last seven months! I need to know. Right. Now.

Writer Jaquira thinks: Why did the writers decide to fast forward these seven months? What were they trying to accomplish?   

And the answer is simple. The writers were trying to get that very reaction. SuperFan Jaquira’s reaction. I need to know what happened! I must watch the show until I get this knowledge. Because SuperFan Jaquira’s reaction was a need to know that kept her watching.

What does this have to do with writing? If your readers need to know, they keep turning pages to find out.

Back to this weekend’s episode. SPOILERS AHEAD.

Lori gives birth and she dies. Lori dies! I cannot stress how much I wanted this. I have wanted this since the moment Lori scolded Andrea about not doing enough laundry and dishes and cooking to pull her weight. As if the only way a woman can make a significant contribution in any society is by doing laundry and cooking for the men so that they will protect her. Let the men wash their own dirty underwear! And you can get munched on if you want to, but I’m gonna shoot some walkers!

Lori’s death aside, I was seriously disappointed with the show’s treatment of T-Dog. In so many ways. For so many reasons. They killed him off! Why?!

And here’s where SuperFan Jaquira and Writer Jaquira find no consolation.

So what are your thoughts? Thinking like a writer, what do you think the writers were trying to accomplish with this episode? Were they successful? How would you revise this episode? What did you learn? Also, what can you learn from watching or re-watching your favorite shows? How would you apply all that to your own writing? 

Agentopia: Jordy Albert

Click here for more info about Agentopia, including past posts.

Bio

Jordy Albert is a junior agent with the Corvisiero Literary Agency. She holds a B.A. in English from the Pennsylvania State University, and a M.A. from Millersville University of Pennsylvania. She is a fan of the Syfy, History and Discovery Channels. She wanted to study Archaeology growing up, but her love of literature won out. She enjoys studying languages (French/Japanese), loves Shakespeare and the theater, classical music, usually has a book in her hand, and is teaching herself how knit. She is also a HUGE fan of Doctor Who.

Twitter -- Blog
Wishlist

Romance. I am particularly interested in historical, especially Regency; contemporary (or women's fiction). Young Adult and Middle Grade fantasy, sci-fi, or dystopian with strong, well-developed characters. I'd also like to see YA contemporary or historical with elements of romance. I am drawn to intelligent, quirky characters, and would love to see plots featuring time travel, mythology, competitions, or travel.

How to Query

Please send your query, 1-2 page synopsis, and the first five pages to query@corvisieroagency.com. Remember to copy/paste everything into the body of the email. No attachments. Please visit our website for our submission guidelines.  

I Am a Storyteller, Hear Me Roar

Hi, all. I hope November is treating you all well so far. Are any of you participating in NaNoWriMo? If so, I hope that's going well, too. I thought about participating this year, but alas, I know I won't have much time to do any meaningful writing.

Now, today I want to discuss what being a writer means to me and to you. I meet a lot of aspiring authors and many of them say they don't consider themselves writers. Not yet, at least. So I ask them when they'll finally slap the label of writer on their foreheads and they say, "When I'm published". This idea also ties into the belief that "I'll never be a writer because I'll never be published". I always want to hug these people and shout, "You're a writer! You're a writer!" because I firmly believe if you love writing and are actively writing, then you are indeed a writer. There's no need to put so much emphasis on getting published, especially if it's diminishing your passion for crafting stories.

To me, being a writer means I'm a storyteller. I create characters, build worlds, write kissing scenes, and try to get my readers invested in the overall story, make them care. I am a writer because I write and I love what I write.

So here are my questions for you: What does being a writer mean to you? What do you hope to accomplish through your stories?

Re-Launch Giveaway Winners!

First we all want to say thank you SO much for all of your enthusiasm and support during our re-launch! We had almost 1,000 entries!!

With November, we're resuming regular programming so make sure you come back for all the great posts and features we have planned for you!

Now, for what you're all waiting for... the winners of our HUGE giveaway!

The US book packs go to:

Hannah Elisabeth 

(Book Pack 1: Under the Never Sky and Shatter Me)

Donnas 

(Book Pack 2: Divergent, Obsidian, Hunted)

Alisha B 

(Book Pack 3: So Shelly and The Downside of Being Charlie)

Theresa Cole 

(Book Pack 4: Jumping Off Swings and Pretty Amy)

The International book packs go to:

A. K. Fotinos-Hoyer

Laura Ann Dunks

The writer's prizes go to:

Debra Elliott

Query, Synopsis, or First Page critique by Suzanne van Rooyen

Cynthia V

Query critique by Sarah Nicolas

Laurie Treacy

Query critique by Sarah Nicolas

Tina C.

Query and first page critique by Jennifer Malone

Kate Larkindale

Ten page critique by Lisa Burstein

Meredith Johnson

Fifty page critique by Sharon Jonston

Chihuahua Zero

First-five-page critique by Jaquira Diaz

Vicki Tremper

First-five-page critique by Jaquira Diaz

Again, thanks so much for all your support during our re-launch! We know you'll love what we have in store for you! The winners will be contacted shortly.

Interview with Ampersand's first signed author Melissa Keil

The Ampersand Project is a Hardie Grant Egmont program dedicated to finding amazing debut authors. They're about to reopen to submissions so I'm talking to Melissa Keil, the first writer signed up through the Ampersand Project. Her debut novel, Life in Outer Space, will be published in February 2013. Keep in touch with Melissa on Facebook, Twitter and her website. I'll also being talking to Ampersand editor, Marisa Pintado about what she's looking for this year on my personal blog

Sharon: Geeky seems to be the new sexy – what do you think about that as a self professed lover of all things geek?

Melissa: Ha, I’m not sure if ‘the new sexy’ is quite right, but it is great to see people openly embracing whatever weirdness it is that they’re passionate about, and finding little (and not so little) communities of people who share that weirdness. There’s something very liberating about accepting the fact that it’s okay to not be one of the cool kids; that staying home on a Friday night and watching back-to-back episodes of Doctor Who (or whatever) is awesome. I love that John Green quote that nerds are allowed to be un-ironically, jump-up-and-down enthusiastic about stuff (I know it’s contentious, but I draw no distinction between a geek and a nerd).

Sharon: You’ve been a high school teacher, a Middle Eastern tour guide, waitress and a community theatre dogs-body, which job of those did you enjoy the most?

Melissa: All of them for different reasons; travelling through the Middle East was brilliant, and eye-opening and inspiring, and my short time as a high school teacher gave me plenty of material for characters. I waitressed through uni and despised it at the time, but in hindsight I had a lot of fun, I made some great friends and got to eat lots of free food; I really do think that everything is useful (gosh, it’s probably really pretentious to quote one of your own characters…)  

Sharon: You’ve got a picture book under your belt with Rabbit’s Year, how was it to write YA instead?

Melissa: Your words in a picture book are only part of the narrative, because you’re sharing the telling of the story with the illustrator, but one of my favourite things about writing longer fiction is having the scope and space to become completely immersed in a world; creating a landscape for the characters to play in and filling in the detail. I became a little obsessed with creating mood boards for my characters; the décor of their rooms, the clothes they would wear, the locations they would hang out, the stuff they would own – like writing back story and character profiles, it’s hard to quantify how much of this made it into the final pages, but it really helped me get to know them and their universe. I spent a lot of time wandering the streets of Melbourne and taking photos of the carpet and walls in odd places while imagining the sorts of conversations my characters would be having there (I freely admit that this may not be normal behaviour!)  

Sharon: You were plucked out of 250 submissions to be the first Ampersand Project author, and are going to be published next year. Walk us through what you went through to get to this point.

Melissa: I’d been editing the novel and workshopping the manuscript with my writing group for about eight months, and was at the point where I was pretty much just tweaking single words and commas. One of my writing group members suggested I submit it to the Ampersand Project, but it took some convincing to send it off. Like 98 per cent of writers I’m pretty anxious about putting my work out there, and I think I would have sat on it and tweaked for many months more if I wasn’t given a shove. So I sent it off with a synopsis and pitch, not really expecting anything other than a thanks-but-no-thanks letter. A couple of months later I received a very lovely ‘we’d like to meet you’ email. I went in for a chat with Marisa Pintado (commissioning editor extraordinaire), convinced her I wasn’t a crazy person, had an initial brief discussion about possible editorial suggestions, and then went home to wait it out. I found out I was shortlisted a few weeks later, and received a formal offer a little while after that. It was a bit of a whirlwind! And then there was editorial, which began maybe a month or so later…

Sharon: Your day job is an editor Five Mile Press and previously for Black Dog Books, how does it feel to be on the other side of the publishing table as the writer?

Melissa: It’s been an incredibly interesting experience to wear the other hat; at times I’ve felt like I’ve developed something of a split-personality disorder. For instance, I understand certain things as an editor that the author half of me really wants to ignore (the pace in this chapter needs to speed up? But I really like this chunk of dialogue and I don’t want to cut it!) It was also far more emotionally taxing than I was expecting, due in no part at all to my editors (who have been fabulous). I think that my editorial brain has the ability to be analytical and objective, even with work that I’m really passionate about, but I found seeing my own writing through the same eyes much more difficult than I anticipated (which is precisely the point of needing an editor!)

Sharon: On your blog you talk about the emotional rollercoaster the journey has been so far, what advice do you have for any debut writers in coping with the journey to publication?

Melissa: Take a deep breath, and try and step back from your work as much as possible. I think it’s only natural to feel a little precious about something that your really close to, and the editorial process can be somewhat daunting, but try and look at the intent behind the feedback you’re receiving – the solution your editor suggests for solving a problem may not be the right solution for your story or your characters, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t a problem that needs to be solved. And I think it’s really important to have some writerly friends that you can bounce ideas around with; people who understand the particular madness that’s required to shed tears over the made-up people in your head.

Sharon: So far for your story we know that it’s YA ‘romantic comedy about a horror-film geek and the indie-dream girl he refused to fall in love with’ and is going to be out next year, your protagonist as a stuffed Freddy Krueger doll, combines your many loves (movies, music, karate, the Astor Theatre, Star Wars and all things geeky) and has been described as ‘everything we love about 80s rom-coms and The Big Bang Theory.’ Is there anything else about it you can share?

Melissa: I’ve always had a soft spot for nerdy boys, and I really wanted to see more of them in YA. I’m as partial as anyone to the too-beautiful-to-be-real alpha guys, but there is something inherently sweet about the shy, socially awkward boys, and, um – there are a few of them in my book. 

Sharon: What future projects are you currently working on?

Melissa: It seems like bad juju to talk about a project that’s still being written, but I am working on a YA novel in a similar genre. I’m doing a lot of research on card magic. That’s about all I can say.

Sharon: What advice have you got for writers planning on submitting to the Ampersand Project when it reopens in November?

Melissa: Write the story that you want to read; the Ampersand editors are genuinely excited about finding manuscripts they can fall in love with, and I think that if you’re passionate about your story, it’s evident on the page (and is much more appealing than trying to bend your writing to fit a market trend or genre). Submit the most polished version that you can, but recognise where the weaknesses lie and be open to editorial feedback. Have a pitch; try and capture something essential about your story in a sentence or two (I pitched Life in Outer Space as Pretty in Pink meets The Big Bang Theory – not a perfect comparison by any means, but I think it conveyed something about the tone of the book). Don’t panic – the Ampersand editors really are lovely people who are looking to support new writers, and they understand just how daunting it is, especially as a first-time writer, to send your work out into the world.

YAtopia Relaunch: Ryan

Last but certainly not least, on this day where we celebrate the winner of the YAtopia relaunch giveaway is a little look into the mind of Ryan Greenspan.

   

See that card there? Yeah, it's official. Like it or not-- I'm a citizen!  But it didn't come without some strangeness. The citizenship interview was like nothing I experienced before. But I guess weirdness follows the weird. Before the immigration agent--Jonathon was his name-- handed me my card, he had the most interesting series of questions.

AGENT JONATHON: You're from Canada, right? 

RYAN: Yes, it says so right there on my card.

AGENT JONATHON: Never mind the card! Let’s say a giant moose race took over Canada!

RYAN: What? How is that relevant?

AGENT JONTAHON: Their evil Moose Overlord (Lord Monty) passed a law granting each citizen the work of only one author to read for the rest of their lives! Which author would you choose?!

RYAN: Err, um, I'd have to say Roald Dahl. His writing has really influenced me. He speaks directly to the child in all of us. That's what I hope to do with my writing too.

AGENT JONATHON: Touching. But, Ryan! Think fast! The peanut butter & jelly uprising has begun! 

RYAN: Can I speak to another agent, please?

AGENT JONATHON: No time! Sandwiches across the nation are attacking their makers! No one is safe! What is your plan to combat this lunchtime epidemic!? Will you save us?!

RYAN: Is this for real?

AGENT JONATHON: Yes! They're right outside this door!

RYAN: In that case, I tell you to quickly barricade the door. We take off our clothes and stuff them underneath (bread can slip under doors, you know). I ask you, "What's a piece of bread's worst enemy?" You stare blankly, being just an agent and not a creative dynamo such as myself. A light bulb goes off (in my head)-- a toaster oven! But we'd need one big enough. "Arm yourself!" I say  and toss you a butter knife, which I conveniently keep in my pocket. We fight our way through the throngs of rabid, jelly-salivating menaces, and make it outside. There we lure them into the world's largest makeshift toaster oven, which you radioed ahead to be constructed using a Wal-Mart and super-heated lighting fixtures. We lock them inside and watch them get nice and toasty. Their screams are a relief to us. The evil lunch snacks beg and plead, but we don't listen. After the last agonizing murmur is snuffed, we celebrate with cheers and a hearty meal of, you guessed it, PB&J. We then ship the remaining sandwiches across the globe, ending the world's hunger problem.

AGENT JONATHON: You've saved us! A clever one, aren't you? Perhaps even worthy of having your life story published. 

RYAN: I try, I guess. My life isn't that special. Not yet anyway. I write middle-grade, play hockey, cook vegetarian, and am obsessed with superheroes. Not much of a life story yet.

AGENT JONATHON: Nonsense. As writers and readers, we all follow trails of consonants and vowels that lead us to sentences. With each sentence comes a paragraph; with each paragraph comes a page; thus, our stories are born. What would your life story be called and who would write it?

RYAN: Hmm, let's see. Without a doubt, Lewis Carroll would write my life story. It would be a nonsensical adventure story about a strange boy's indecisive wanderings through the murky waters of young adulthood. It would be called: "The Adventures of a Boy Who Can't Relax".

AGENT JONATHON: A best-seller no doubt. You're doing really well. We're almost done! But here's a curve-ball for you. Say you’re walking along; it’s a cool and sunny day. Suddenly, you trip! With a little knock on the head your imagination escapes from your ear. Where would you likely find the little rascal hiding?

RYAN:  It would probably flee to my favourite place in Canada, the place that inspired me so greatly when I spent time there a couple years ago: in the Rocky Mountains of Banff, Alberta. It's an oasis of beauty, serenity, creativity. There's scope for imagination there for sure. An imagination could go absolutely wild in that place.

AGENT JONATHON: A truly remarkable image. But to keep you on your toes--look out! They’re back! Long forgotten stories have come back to torment their authors! What are some harsh words your first works may have for you?

RYAN: They'd probably ask, "What took you so long?" They'd wonder why I wasn't working on them instead of browsing the Internet or watching TV. You see, like many writers, I have a procrastination problem.

AGENT JONATHON: I see, well we can't all be perfect, can we? 

RYAN: No one is perfect. So, are we done here?

AGENT JONATHON: I had question about your first novel getting into a fight with Twilight and its weapon of choice, but I think you've done more than enough to prove you'll fit in splendidly in YAtopia. Welcome to your new home!

RYAN: Thanks! As for your question though--my first novel would have an arsenal on Twilight. To name a few: imagination, well-developed characters, engaging prose, a well-crafted plot... I could go on and on and on. Twilight wouldn't stand a chance.

 ***

To read more of Ryan's YAtopia contributions, drop by the blog every 22nd of the month or click on his name on the right. You can also check out his other blog at http://theamazingwriterman.blogspot.com or follow him on Twitter @TheHeraldRyanG.

Getting Lost In Your Manuscript

Last weekend, I got terribly lost in a corn maze.  On purpose.

Rainy weekends and soccer schedules made us miss out on apple picking, and we were determined to get one fall staple checked off.  While my husband and I referenced weather reports, sliced oranges, and programmed the GPS, my kids popped on boots and ran circles around the yard in happy anticipation. 

As the sun rode high, there we stood at the entrance to the maze, listening to the wind click-clack through the dried-out corn stalks, and wondering what the next few hours had in store for us and how many children we’d be carrying on our backs by the time we exited. Then we stepped into the unknown. 

My eldest son (though he doesn’t know it, because we tell my twins we “forgot” who came out first; no one needs that kind of one-up over a measly minute) had a plan in mind: a left, right, left pattern he determined to use at every juncture. Incredibly and without actual reason, it worked!  Ten minutes later we were standing in the same spot, having just exited the maze.  We were giddy with accomplishment and breathless at the staff’s shock.  And then we were… disappointed.  That had been far, far too easy.  And now it was over.  No fun!

We looked sideways at one another and my youngest (and yes, she knows it and uses it to every advantage) proposed, “Let’s go again!” So we turned around and plunged back in, this time with no intent but to get good and lost. 

About 45 minutes later, with nothing but towering stalks on all four sides of us and out of hearing range of the hayride circling the perimeter, we held our flag high above our heads to signal for help.  A staff member located us within minutes and gave us a choice.  He could escort us directly to the exit or we could follow him onto a wooden bridge in the center of the maze that would allow us an overview of the entire labyrinth. No one needed carrying yet, so we opted for the bridge. 

“Hey,” exclaimed my other son, “The maze is shaped like a rocket ship!” From far above we could see shapes and patterns. We could see the outer space theme and we could see the way we needed to proceed to reach the end. We took deep collecting breaths and descended back into the corn with purpose.  We got a little lost again, but this time we course-corrected more easily.  With the sun riding low and the corn casting shadows, we again stood (or in the case of my daughter, rode piggyback) at the exit, more tired, but far more accomplished for having done the real work of solving the maze.  Of course, there was no real time for reflecting: hot cider donuts awaited.

Now you’re all smarty-pants writers, so I know you’re picking up on my analogy here, but let’s be corny (get it?) and talk about how this could relate to your writing.

You may approach your novel as a plotster, analyzing the publishing market for your genre the way we checked the forecast, preparing outlines the way we programmed our GPS and envisioning possible disaster scenarios the way we packed food and water for the inevitable mid-maze hunger meltdown. Or perhaps you’re a panster, whipping out your laptop in the same manner my kids slid on boots and bubbling over with happy anticipation at the murky mess that awaited.  Either way you find yourself at the beginning, staring into the unknown. 

Perhaps you have a formula to follow- a left, right, left of plot turns and characterizations.  It may even bring you to a smooth and quick finish.  The excitement! The envy of all around you!  The… let down.  That was too easy, not nearly satisfying enough.  And if you felt that way writing it, chances are your readers will feel that way reading it.  It may be time to get lost on purpose. 

Dive back into your manuscript, take all lefts until you’re good and stuck in the middle.  You know what to do now.  You have your flag.  Send it up to summon a critique partner or two or ten.  Bring them to join you in the mess and then let them show you to a bridge.  Stand above at a good distance from your story and see if you can spot the overriding themes.  See if you can spot the places you made wrong turns and the path you need to take to reach the finish line.  Let them point you in the right direction. Dive back in. Get a little more lost, but with assurance, knowing you’re close. Very close. Reach the end, exhausted but happy, accomplished, having put in the work to solve the full puzzle. You may be on your own two feet or you may be getting carried out by an agent or an editor, but you’ve done it nonetheless. Bask in the glory! Go forth and seek out hot cider donuts.

And whether your autumn plans include an actual corn maze or whether they include 50k worth of NaNowriMo, have fun getting lost and found.

STRUCK ARC Winner

Now that the buzz with the re-launch is starting to die down, I'd like to announce the winner of the signed ARC of STRUCK.

*Drumroll*

ANGELA! 

Entrants had to tell me what book they associate with the fall season and here is Angela's answer:

Dragons of Autumn Twilight by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. The reason is in the name of the story. Plus, it was one of the first series I read that made me associate any season to a book.

Fear not, lovely YATopians, because if you didn't win, there'll be more giveaways in the future. :-)

*Winner was selected by random through random.org* 

Sweet Peril cover reveal and Giveaway

My wonderful friend and critique parter, Wendy Higgins, has a new book coming out, Sweet Peril, and we've got the cover reveal going on! Isn't it gorgeous!

To celebrate I'm holding a giveaway - yah! A preorder copy of Sweet Peril, a copy of Sweet Evil - for those of you who haven't read this awesome book yet-, a Sweet Evil bookmark and, for the aspiring authors out there, a ten page critique.

Book Blurb:

Anna Whitt, daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a claim. She’d been naive about a lot of things. Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

Book 3 of The Sweet Trilogy, Sweet Reckoning, is slated for spring/summer 2014.

You can find Wendy on her website, on Facebook and on Twitter. You can also stalk the lush love interest Kaidan Rowe on Twitter (character account). You can fan the Sweet Evil trilogy on Facebook too.

Sweet Peril bookish locations:

Goodreads

Preorder on Amazon

Preorder on Barnes & Noble

Preorder on The Book Depository

Author Bio:

Wendy Higgins was born in Alaska, grew up an Army brat, and lived all over the United States before settling in the Washington, DC area. She attended George Mason University for her undergrad degree in creative writing, and Radford University for her masters in curriculum and instruction. Wendy taught 9th and 12th grade English in a rural school before becoming a mother and author. She now lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, daughter, and son. Sweet Peril is her second novel.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Possessing Freedom Blog Tour: Belinda interview

Today I'm talking with Belinda Dorio, contributor to the integrated ghost story Possessing Freedom.

Sharon: So what attracted the team to a ghost story?

Belinda: The team was drawn to a ghost story because we felt that we wanted to do something ‘paranormal’ but outside of the realm of vampires and werewolves. We knew we wanted to create panic in and around Melbourne through some sort of event or on-going issue. I believe that first we came up with the symptoms, the ‘seizure’ like episodes that plague Melbournians in Possessing Freedom. I remember we were sitting at the cafe, stroking our chins, when I imagined a ghost trying to jump into the body of a woman who was walking by. Surely such a thing wouldn’t be pleasant? Surely attempted possession would have adverse side effects on the living? – And so the ghost idea was born.

Sharon: What were some of the steps the team took to ensure consistency in characters?

Belinda: The team met fortnightly to plan/and or touch base with each other. In the meantime, we stayed in contact via a facebook group, so it was very communicative. That being said, it was very nerve wracking to create a character that you knew was going to occur in a story not written by you. Beau and I use each other’s characters a lot, so we wrote up character profiles that we could refer to. Other than that, we’d ask each other lots of questions; ‘Beau, would Jared do this?’ etc. We also read each other’s work, so that if I read one of the stories where Alice appears as a character but not as a narrator, and I felt that she was a little ‘off’ we could work on it together.

Sharon: Who was your favourite character to write and why?

Belinda: It’s very hard to decide who was my favourite character to write! My narrators were Alice and Faye, which turn out to be the ‘heroine’and ‘villain’ respectably. I enjoyed writing through Faye because I could add layers to her personal story, she isn’t just an evil ghost that likes to hurt others – she’s scared and alone like a lot of the other characters. However, Faye was originally created by Beau and I chose to narrate her. Alice was the first character that came to my mind when we began talking about ghosts, and I could see her immediately. A girl that could see ghosts but no one believed her, and then the possibility of weaving a love story appeared - I just couldn’t resist using her as a narrator.

Sharon: If you were a paranormal being, what would you want to be?

Belinda: If I were a paranormal being I’d definitely have more than one power. Perhaps the ability to fly coupled with control over an element, like fire – very cool!

Sharon: During this process did you ever break out into the Ghostbusters song?

Belinda: Hahahaha! No, I never broke out into the Ghostbusters song though that was probably because I was narrating our villain Faye, and a maternal part of me didn’t want to see her get hurt –despite her evil antics.

Sharon: Did you have an imaginary friend growing up (if so tell us about him/her):

Belinda: I grew up with two older brothers, so I didn’t really have the need for an imaginary friend. I was either with my brothers or playing in cherished silence alone. The idea of an imaginary friend intrigues me though, and is the basis behind Alice and Will’s (her ghost crush) relationship. What if you had an imaginary friend who made your stomach flip, but turns out to not be imaginary at all?

Sharon: I believe Maria V Snyder workshopped the opening story, what was that like?

Belinda: Yes, Maria V Snyder helped workshop my opening story ‘Reflection’ narrated by Alice.

When I heard Maria was coming to Melbourne, I was thrilled and had planned to go to one of her book signings to meet her – I’m a big fan! So you can imagine my elation when Steve tells me that I’ll get to workshop my story with her over breakfast. Of course, my happiness quickly turned to nerves and I worked furiously on the story to make it as good as it could be before it got to Maria.

I first contacted Maria when I was eighteen or so, asking for some piece of writing advice, and was touched by her quick and helpful response. She’s a lovely person, and I’m grateful she had the time to meet us. I found the ‘writing advice’ section on her webpage very helpful, especially if you’re just starting out.

Needless to say, having someone so highly experienced read and offer advice on my own work was awesome – I learnt a lot, and I hope my work reflects that.

Sharon: What is the biggest learnings you've taken away from the process?

Belinda: Being a part of the Melbourne writing team was an invaluable experience for me, it really helped me to get my head around planning and plot issues, and I find that I can outline and plot a lot better now. It’s really instilled in me what a great thing collaboration is, and I’d love to do something like this again.

Rapid fire questions:
Latte or cappuccino? Does chai latte count?
Note pad and pen or computer? I still can’t decide! I cycle between my iPad and a notebook.
Magic or fists? Fists!
Blue or green? Blue.
Sixth Sense or Ghostbusters? I’m a bit of a scaredy cat, so –Ghostbusters!

As part of the Possessing Freedom launch, Australian Literary Review editor, STEVE ROSSITER. is holding a Fan Fiction Competition where you could win$2,000! To enter you need to have read the book, so we're giving away three copies over three interviews. There's this interview, an interview with Rhiannon Hart on Down Under Wonderings and an interview with Steve here on October 20.

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