This the home page for One Stop for Writers. The image on the right changes. Overview:
One Stop for Writers is a website to help writers create characters and worlds and plot their novels. It’s powered by thesauruses, like the Emotion Thesaurus that I already decided is worth the price. Overall, the website offers fifteen thesauruses—all of the published ones and several others. At One Stop, you can create many different things to help you plan your novel. The Character Builder develops a personality, emotional wound, inner and outer motivations, fear, quirks, life, and physical traits. Character’s Fear is a similar page focused only on one character’s fear and what personality traits stem from that. Character Arc Progression asks for information from the Character Builder, but also has you consider a resolution. Emotional Progression has you lists events that occur and the emotions of the character, and how you plan to show (not tell) the emotions. Setting-at-a-Glance has you describe your setting with the five senses, as well as lighting/time of day. Emotional Value of a Setting adds symbolism and forces you to consider deeper aspects of scene that will theoretically reinforce the emotions of the characters. Scene Map (informal and formal) asks you for information about what is happening in the scene. The formal version asks more questions. The Story Map is a very general plot outline with major elements listed, generates an interactive imaged with acts 1-3 or stages 1-6 indicated. The timeline is great because you can write events as they come to mind, and then drag them around in whatever order you need. Last is the Worldbuilding Survey, which can be used to create planets down to a single household and everything in between. All of those have the thesauruses built in to offer suggestions that go together. For example, you select an emotional wound, and the website suggests fears that may stem from it. There are also worksheets and templates you can download to work offline, however these lack the connection to the thesauruses. The site also offers 47 checklists and tip sheets. Checklists can help you do things like add conflict or create a good flashback. Some of the lists include positive traits or when to show not tell. Many are also tutorials for how to use the various thesauruses, although that’s not very difficult. The website has excellent how-tos, including videos and screenshots. Most of it is very user friendly. There are cost tiers to consider. There’s a 2-week free trial, which you should absolutely use if you’re thinking of paying to play. Of note, with the free trial you cannot download pdfs of what you make and can only make one item in each category. It’s easy enough to get around those issues though, since you can copy/paste from the website into word and can delete info and remake subsequent items. I’m not being sketchy by telling you this, the website creators tell you that in the how-to-use section. Otherwise the pricing is: $9 for one month, $50 for 6 months, and $90 for one year. My Experience: I used my two-week free trial to work on the concept I had for a potential NaNoWriMo project. I’ve never done heavy outlining like this site offered, and thought the structure could be useful. Of the 15 electronic thesauruses, my favorite is symbolism thesaurus, because that’s my weakest skill. A few of them, like the texture thesaurus, were not very full, and I probably could have listed all of those entries myself. I enjoyed the character builder. It worked from the emotional wound outward, so that the character’s personality came together in an organic way. The suggests from the thesauruses were great and helped to easily build a round main character. However, if you have the print thesauruses, I think they’d cover the same information, though would be slower to navigate. Some of what you can make feels redundant, for example the Character’s Fear page is already something you fill out in the Character Builder. Perhaps it’s a short version meant for side characters. I decided to test if using this website helped me write a stronger first draft of a scene. I wrote the opening scene of my NaNoWriMo project after creating two characters, completing one Worldbuilding Survey, one Emotional Value of a Scene sheet, and a Story Map. Then I took this scene to my critique group. My critique group didn’t notice a drastic change in first draft quality from my previous WIP to this scene. They also didn’t pick up on any of the additions I made using the Emotional Value of a Setting sheet. I’ll admit that may be because I was not heavy handed with those suggestions. I did six hours of prep work on One Stop for Writers, but then I wrote 1000 words in a little over 30 minutes. Is It Worth It? If you are new to plotting, want to try plotting, or want to beef up your plotting, it’s a great resource. If you already have a plotting method that you love or if you are a panster for life, this won’t be terribly beneficial for you. I love that the site offers a free trial before getting pricey, because then you know what you’re paying for. If you’re willing to copy/paste and delete/redo then you can probably do all the planning you need during your free trial. It requires a lot of time to make what you need, but if you’ve got the time to use it, it’s fun. Overall, the free trial is for sure worth it. I don’t think the one-year trial is worth the price, unless you are an insanely prolific writer and constantly planning your next novel. The one-month trial may be helpful, but six months I can’t imagine being that useful. At least you can try it for free before beginning your next project. With one week left before NaNoWriMo begins, anyone needing help plotting may want to check this out now! Have you tried One Stop for Writers? Have you used a subscription? Did you think it was worth it? Let's discuss in the comments!
0 Comments
My cat, Clue, displaying his usual emotion: hungry. Photo by Kate Ota 2020 Overview
The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer’s Guide to Character Expression by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi is a resource book which lists entries for one hundred thirty emotions (in the second edition.) You choose an emotion, go to the entry, and read the definition and lists of physical signs and behaviors, internal sensations, mental responses, acute or long-term responses, signs the emotion is being suppressed, which emotions it can escalate or deescalate to, and associated power verbs. There is an introduction section explaining how to use it and some character development items to keep in mind. It’s part of a larger series of thesauruses by these authors, which includes the emotional wound thesaurus, the positive trait thesaurus, and more. My Experience I heard about this book from several sources, and debated buying it, since an emotion thesaurus sounded like a thesaurus with fewer words. I bought a physical copy from my local indie for $17.99 (plus tax and shipping because of COVID.) I was pleasantly surprised that it’s more of an encyclopedia than a traditional thesaurus. I’ve been using it mainly for its intended purpose: to better show, rather than tell, characters' emotions. Especially for characters who do not have a point of view. The list of physical signs and behaviors is my favorite and I’ve used something from it every time I’ve opened the book. I also used it to deepen my point of view characters by thinking about which emotions they have chronically through the plot. That’s when I love the long-term response section. I’ll definitely keep using this as I edit and for the next books I write. Is it Worth It? Yes! I was skeptical at first, but I highly recommend this for anyone who struggles to have their characters emote. If you’re in the planning stages, it’s also great for character development. It’s $17.98 on Bookshop (the multi-indie-bookstore website, check it out.) There’s a digital version too, though perhaps it's harder to navigate since it's not a traditional cover-to-cover read. I’m probably going to check out the other books in their series because I’ve loved this so much. Have you used The Emotion Thesaurus, or the other books in Ackerman and Puglisi’s series? Did you find it worth it? Have you found other similar books? Let’s discuss in the comments! My cat, Wilbur, semi-recreating the cover of Save The Cat! Writes a Novel. Photo by Kate Ota 2020 Overview
Save the Cat! Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody is a plot-focused writing craft book based on the popular screenwriting technique by the same name. The book has two major parts: the description of the Save the Cat! Plot structure, which has fifteen sections; and a description of ten major genres with required genre elements and examples of books in those genres with their own Save the Cat beat sheets. These genres are more specific than things like thriller, fantasy, etc. and in fact, cross those bookstore-shelf-genre lines. I got my paperback copy from a local indie bookstore for $17.99. My Experience I read the book over several days. I took the time to highlight main points and flag pages I knew I’d need later. Rather than write a new story from scratch, I used the book to analyze my current WIP. The beat sheet revealed I was missing a few key scenes, which is why my WIP felt rushed and too easy at the end. I also discovered that I’d subconsciously been doing some of the beat sheet elements, like the B-Story character. Every chapter felt helpful and relevant. Is It Worth It? The beat sheet for Save the Cat! Writes a Novel can be found online, I’ve even read it before. With explanations. But the book was so well written and organized that it made a huge difference in my understanding of the method. Having a physical copy to mark up and come back to during my edits (which I’ve done several times) has also been helpful. I don’t think I’d have gotten as much from the ebook version, and I normally only read ebooks, so that’s not me being snobby. Overall, was the book worth 17.99 (plus shipping because COVID)? YES! I highly recommend it for writers needing help with plotting, whether you’re a plotter who will use it before you start, or a pantser who will use it after your first draft is done. Have you read Save the Cat! Writes a Novel? Did you think it was worth it? Or maybe you have another writing book recommendation! Let’s discuss in the comments! One of my cats, Clouseau, poses with the e-book cover. He likes to consider himself an assassin of bugs. Photo by Kate Ota 2020 When I finished The Perfect Assassin by K.A. Doore, I didn’t want it to end. (Lucky for me, there’s more books in this series!) This was an excellent adult secondary world fantasy. The lead character, Amastan, finishes his assassin lessons in the desert city of Ghadid, only to discover a dead body. He needs to solve the case or risk the assassins being blamed and expelled from the city. Not a typical plot expected from the title, it was what I’d call fantasy noir.
This world also features a touch of magic, and souls of the dead left un-tended turn into wild spirits that drive people insane. There’s some water magic as well, with healing properties reminiscent of Avatar the Last Airbender. The made-up words were sprinkled throughout with plenty of context, and all added to the flavor of the setting. Positives: Some of the best world building I’ve read in a while. A secondary world can sometimes be an uphill battle against a lot of unfamiliar terms, but this was done extremely well. Plot was interesting and kept me reading, and Amastan was a very sympathetic lead. Negatives: None. Fight me. Overall rating: 5/5 I’d recommend to anyone who loves fantasy, especially if they’re not looking for a major romance subplot. (There’s a romance, but it’s not at the forefront, and it’s sweet instead of hot and heavy.) If you’re writing a secondary world fantasy or another genre with lots of made-up terminology, I recommend this as a book to study. The balance of words, how they’re spread out, the way they are embedded in context, are all on point. Not for people who are looking for typical high fantasy, because while this is another world and has a little magic, it isn’t a sorcerer-and-dragon book. However, these people might come around eventually and enjoy it too. Everyone just give it a chance. Have you read The Perfect Assassin? Let's discuss in the comments! A lovely waterfall in Rocky Mountain National Park. Remember when we could go outside and be with people and nature? Good times. Photo taken by Kate Ota 2011 As the global quarantine continues, I still hear from other writers that they can’t make themselves write. Everyone handles stress differently, and creativity shutting down is a common one. I wrote a post a few weeks ago about writing without inspiration, but if that doesn’t help, I’ve come up with ideas for how to improve your craft without writing. It’s not as good as writing, but it’s better than binging another Netflix show. (Except Nailed It! Love that one.)
1. Read a Craft Book It could be a book about plotting, like Save The Cat Writes a Novel by Jessica Brody. Or maybe you want a general writing guide, like Elements of Style by Strunk and White. Consider what feedback you’ve gotten from critique partners or alpha and beta readers and find a book to focus on your stories’ weakest aspects. Characterization, showing not telling, deep POV, connecting to readers, finding your unique voice, there’s craft books for every occasion. I recommend buying a physical copy (from your local indie bookstore who may be struggling right now!) so that you can mark it up. Highlighter, flags, notes in the margins, the works. Read, absorb, annotate, learn, and improve your craft without forcing yourself to a keyboard. 2. Listen to Writing Podcasts There are dozens of writing podcasts to choose from. There are those that focus on craft, like Writing Excuses, The Manuscript Academy, and Lit Service, to name a few of my favorites. These are often run by authors and feature literary agents or editors. Some are run totally by agents like Shipping and Handling, Print Run Podcast, KT Literary Podcast, and Literaticast. These cover the gambit from queries to writing advice to publishing-world news. Not to mention there are thousands of other podcasts and if your novel focuses on or features something you need to research, I guarantee there’s an episode (maybe a whole show!) about it. If you want to feel more social, there are also book club podcasts, like the one I contribute to: Judging More Than Just the Cover: Book Club. (We took a hiatus but we just recorded a new episode!) Podcasts are great to listen to around your house as you clean, exercise, or stare at the ceiling wondering if you have COVID-19 or just allergies. 3. Create a Style Sheet This is something I heard an editor talk about recently on a podcast. (Don’t ask me which one, I’ve listened to way too many.) She said editors make a style sheet that lists rules for the story with the goal of making sure it’s consistent. How names or made up words are spelled, the timeline of the novel (including times, days, seasons, etc.), the physical space the characters travel (and how long it takes to get from place to place), and character voices. The voices were the most intriguing part to me. There are rules for which character gets to say what and how, so their dialogue/internal narration doesn’t all sound like the same person (which it is because it’s the author, but you don’t want the reader to notice.) Writing Excuses Podcast suggested looking at varying character voice by altering the pacing (punctuation), accent (sentence structure and word choice), and attitude (how they feel/deliver the line and word choice again.) With this sheet in place, it will be easier to edit your story for character consistency, spelling consistency, and space/time logic. Your future self, whenever that self gets back to writing, will thank you! 4. Read Your Genre Ever struggled to come up with comp titles while querying? Now is the time to read books you suspect could be similar to yours, but you haven’t had time to read. If you’re struggling with ideas, ask your writing group, alpha or beta readers, or family what book your writing brings to mind. It could be based on plot elements, style, humor, or a similar audience. Really stuck? People ask for book recommendations on Twitter and get tons of responses, but make sure to be specific (e.g. rather than asking for sci-fi, ask for sci-fi set in a near future dystopia with a female MC.) You can always Google it, but be aware it may result in a lot of inaccurate matches. In normal times I would recommend asking your librarian or book seller. To adapt, maybe use email (if they offer it) or ask by tagging them on social media. Even if you don’t get a proper comp title out of the books you read, you’ll still become even more familiar with your genre, maybe discover a new author you like, or read a great new twist on a trope. It’s a win-win activity. Have you discovered a way of improving your writing without writing? Or maybe you’ve discovered another way to pass time during the shut-down? Let’s discuss in the comments! Cover of Deadly Feasts as seen on Goodreads. In my ebook it was a plain white background! I recently finished Deadly Feasts by Richard Rhodes, a non-fiction book focused on the discovery and study of prion diseases. It was an interesting look at how diseases are studied in general, and how these diseases seem to break rules and make studying them into decades-long endeavors. It starts with kuru, a disease of the South Forte people of Papua New Guinea linked to a tradition of eating deceased relatives. (The tradition ended when the disease origin was explained to them.) Other famous prion diseases include mad cow disease (aka bovine spongiform encephalopathy), scrapie (in sheep), and Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease (aka CJD or vCJD, which got a shout-out on the season 16 finale of Grey’s Anatomy.) All of these are diseases in which the victim could be incubating the problem for years—even decades—before symptoms show. All of them attack the brain, causing coordination or balance issues, mental decline, and then death. We have no cure for any prion disease at this time.
Positives: This book fascinated me. The mystery of what caused the diseases was compelling, even though I’d already heard of prions. When it was published (in 1997) prions were still controversial. An author’s note in my version even stated that Richard Rhodes suspected prions weren’t just protein, however now it’s more widely accepted. The book was very well written and organized with a huge amount of information crafted into an easy to understand story. Negatives: Reading this in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic was probably not a great choice. The book predicted a second wave of CJD epidemic in the UK (due to food tainted with mad cow disease eaten in the 80’s and 90’s, the first wave occurred in the late 90’s) and that epidemic would be in 2015. Aren’t we glad that didn’t happen? Although it probably means it’s still coming. Luckily, it’s far less contagious than a respiratory virus (thank goodness!), but it’s sadly more deadly. And those in medicine still need to remain vigilant, as a cornea transplant, dura mater transplants, blood transfusions, and possibly contaminated dental/surgical tools have transmitted CJD or vCJD. Terrifying! Overall rating: 4/5 A great read for anyone interested in medicine, epidemiology, medical mysteries, scientific mysteries, or pandemics. It’s written at a level understood by anyone with an 8th grade or higher science background, so no one should feel intimidated to read it. The author won a Pulitzer Prize for a previous book, and the quality of the writing shows. I don’t recommend for anyone with hypochondria or severe health-anxiety, especially in the current pandemic. Have you read Deadly Feasts? What did you think? The classic inspiration, a sunset. A beach in Massachusetts. Photo by Kate Ota 2019 This pandemic is getting people down. Sure, some are working hard on their #CampNaNoWriMo projects (and more power to you!) but others are struggling to write a single word. While many have more time at home than usual, some are trying to juggle working from home and teaching kids with writing, or are essential and working outside the home more than before. I’ve seen many on twitter claiming the muse isn’t appearing or they just can’t force themselves to a keyboard. I found myself in the latter group, but have done a few writing exercises that helped me get back into my #WIP. Here are my ideas to help you ease in to writing even when you’re not inspired.
1. Fill the gaps in your world-building For off-world adventures, have you thought about the animals, birds, and insects of your world? For our-world stories, have you fleshed out the side characters? Maybe there’s something you let drop off to the side earlier in the draft and you said, “I’ll figure that out later.” Now’s the time to think about your novel’s world and make sure it’s full. Even if most of what you create here never makes it to the page, you need to know how things run. This can get your mind focused on your project again, and thinking of filling holes may lead you to go in and fill them. 2. Write a commercial for a product in your WIP This was fun for me, since my current WIP’s plot is all about a business. But every writing project, even one without a business explicitly part of the plot, could have a commercial. Radio, print ads, or even the town crier apply, for historical settings. It gives you a sense of what people in your world value, or explain something the character has in their home. A particular weird flavor of toothpaste the MC loves, the bistro where a grisly murder took place, a hotel where the two lovers meet for their hook up. It’s a goofy thing that can get you thinking about your characters and their world. 3. Research a relevant topic Maybe it’s as complicated as how a toxin works, or how a space station would function. Maybe it’s as simple as watching your MC’s favorite movie. Whatever it is, there’s something you know you need to research a little more to ground the setting, round out a character, or carry a plot point. Once you do your research, you’ll write it down so as to not forget it, and maybe even figure out where to use it in your WIP. 4. Write a scene you don’t plan to use Maybe it’s a technical explanation of how the murder victim died. Or it’s a fight between the MC’s parents. Write anything taking place in your world, regardless of relevance to your MC or the main plot. Maybe it’ll spark something in you, maybe it won’t. But it’ll get you started writing, and that’s the hardest part. Sitting down and getting the juices flowing is essential to writing. Always challenge, but more so with the anxiety of our current world. Hopefully these ideas helped you get started again. Do you have any other tips for getting back to your writing? Let’s discuss in the comments! To expand on my last post, I wrote a fictional autopsy for a famously murdered character in the public domain, Mercutio of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. I took a lot of creative liberties here because we don't get a ton of Mercutio description. I learned that writing a character's autopsy is a great way to get to know them, maybe try it as a character building exercise! The annotations on the side are meant to be helpful and clarify anything I felt wasn't common knowledge. The following autopsy is completely fictional and any commonalities with real people is pure coincidence. There you have it, folks! Was this example helpful? Want more examples? Want to make fun of my goofy body diagram? Let's discuss in the comments!
Photo is of my parents' Japanese Maple tree. It's red and kind of like blood vessels if you squint. Photo by Kate Ota 2019 From murder mysteries to space operas, an autopsy can appear in all sorts of genres. Either a scene or a paper copy of the report can help clarify the cause of death for the characters invested in the outcome. Most people have never read or performed an autopsy and because of their legal and highly personal information, it’s hard to find reliable examples online. I’ve read dozens of autopsy reports as part of my day job. Here’s what you need to know about what an autopsy report contains.
Types of Examiners Between different districts, the formatting of the autopsy report will vary, so don’t get stuck there. It’s the content that matters. Who performs an autopsy will also be different, there are Medical Examiners (ME) and there are coroners. You’ll need to research where your story is set (if it’s the real world) to learn who runs things. These offices may also have other employees who help the Chief ME or Lead Coroner, these employees may have titles such as Investigator. Autopsies may also be performed by pathologists at the hospital, but this is generally outside of the legal realm. This occurs when either the hospital wants to see what they did wrong, prove they didn’t do something wrong when someone dies in surgery, or if the family pays for an autopsy after the ME/coroner declines. (Side note: private autopsies requested by the family can be crazy expensive!) Types of Exams In my experience, an ME/coroner also has two different types of post-mortem examinations. A view is done usually when cause of death is fairly clear, like a hanging or car accident trauma. An autopsy is more in-depth in detail and includes internal and external exam information. Usually this is for cases that may become court cases, like a potential homicide. Content An autopsy report will always include: who performed/was present for the exam, the decedent’s name, age/DOB, physical description, overview, cause of death. This is all written in the clearest phrasing possible, and with scientific terms only (example: clavicle instead of collar bone.) The physical description includes hair and eye color, beard, mustache, circumcised (these last three are yes, no, or N/A), scars (surgical and non-surgical), tattoos, condition of skin/teeth/nails, weight, and if the person appears their age. The overview will include things like signs of trauma, signs of medical intervention, and any medical information the autopsy uncovered, even if it’s not the cause of death. These incidental findings can include mild heart disease, nodules or cysts on organs, lung disease like asthma, etc. Cause of death is very specific and technical, since this is a legal document. Be sure to research medical terminology to ensure the report states what your plot requires. If your autopsy report needs to say, essentially, “we don’t know why this person randomly died,” call it acute coronary insufficiency. This means the heart gave up all of a sudden. An autopsy (rather than a view) will also include detailed descriptions of each major organ (including their weights) and descriptions of any microscopic slides made for the investigation. Slides are only taken from areas relevant to the suspected cause of death. Often this is done to determine if a medical condition contributed to death, such as cardiomyopathy or a pulmonary embolism. Finally, in either homicides, suicides, or anything involving a motor vehicle, the odds are high the investigator will perform a toxicology screen. Generally, this will screen for alcohol, major illegal drugs, cannabinoids (legal or illegal), and forms of these drugs left after the body breaks them down. Other drugs or substances may be screened for if signs of their presence were at the scene of death, like an empty bottle of antidepressants or rat poison. Tox reports screen blood, urine, vitreous fluid (from the eye), and sometimes other fluids, like bile. They’re also stored for later screening if necessary. Common Medical Terms
Examples of Cause of Death Phrasing
I hope you found this autopsy overview helpful for your writing. Have any questions? Need help rephrasing your project’s cause of death to sound more scientific? Let’s discuss in the comments! Photo of Wilbur (back) and Clouseau (front), my cats. Photo by Kate Ota 2019 Readers often love pets included in books, like Harry Potter’s Hedwig or Magnus Bane’s Chairman Meow. But when a pet isn’t written well, it can distract readers—or worse, distress them! Here are my top tips for writing pets into your stories.
1. Don’t forget you included a pet Famously, Hedwig isn’t in the seventh Harry Potter book beyond the first few chapters. In the final draft, it’s because Hedwig is killed during Harry’s escape from Privet Drive. But Rowling admitted that when drafting, she simply forgot to include Hedwig. Now it’s an anecdote, and a world famous writer like Rowling doesn’t really need to worry about that kind of mistake. But you, dear reader, are less likely to have a team of editors behind you at the moment. So, if you give your MC a pet, make sure it’s established early on and continues through the story. 2. Keep a pet’s schedule in mind If your main character gets kidnapped and doesn’t go home for several days, your readers will worry about the pet. Lots of people are dog and/or cat lovers, and thinking about a cat not fed or a dog not let out for days will depress the reader. So before inserting a pet into the story, make sure the fictional creature will not be neglected. Not familiar with pet schedules? Research the breed of cat/dog or the species of other small animal to understand their needs including feeding, toilet, grooming, sleeping/hibernating, and exercise needs. 3. Use the pet to show character The choice of pet says a lot about a person. Runners may choose an athletic dog. Introverts may adopt an elderly cat. Maybe someone in a dangerous land would have a large, protective dog, while someone in a tiny apartment may select a hamster. You should consider what this pet brings to the story and what it can demonstrate about your character’s life. This also applies to the pet’s name, which often stays with a reader more than breed. A goofy pun, a pop culture reference, a quirky word, or a serious human name—they all say different things about the character who chose the name. 4. Use the pet as a sounding board Some characters spend a lot of time alone. Maybe they’re shy, new to town, or maybe it’s a function of their job. But you want scenes that aren’t all internal narration, for the sake of the reader. One method is to have the character think aloud and speak to their pet. It makes more sense that just speaking aloud alone. And it can be revealing, as the pet not responding can draw more out of the character. 5. If it’s a service animal, do your research Some characters will have service animals, whether a traditional guide dog for the blind or a more specialized animal, like a dog that can sense seizures approaching. If you include one of these very awesome animals, be sure to research the rules. Does it need a special harness to let others know what it’s doing? What is it trained to do exactly? What are the rules of caring for a service animal? It’s going to vary by its training, so take the time to research it. Those are my top tips for writing a pet into your story. Do you have any more ideas? Did you find these helpful? Let’s discuss in the comments! |
Archives
April 2024
Categories
All
|