Tag: perspective

Five Subgenres of Science Fiction Explained

~ ladyjabberwocky ~ 2 Comments

Hello Writer Bees,

Today, we’re jumping into a spaceship and exploring the subgenres of science fiction. Let’s blast off and discover some sci-fi subgenres.

Space Opera

As the name would suggest, this sci-fi subgenre takes place in outer space, without the opera singing. Plotlines center around high-risk adventure and space travel. And yes, there’s usually a sweeping romance mixed in for good measure. Space exploration is prevalent in this subgenre. Which means your characters may encounter warfare, political rebellions and exotic locations with interesting inhabitants. World building is critical in Space Opera. You not only must create one planet but an entire universe. Try keeping notes for each location close by as you write to act as a guide to your galaxy.

Dystopian & Apocalyptic

In Dystopian and Apocalyptic fiction, every day is doomsday. The world is in turmoil. Every living creature struggles. The apocalyptic story takes place in an alternative reality or timeline, after a catastrophic event or the end of the world. After the decline of the human race or the end of Earth itself, your heroes do whatever they can to survive. As a whole, this sci-fi subgenre can be looked as a metaphor. A chance to explore social and political structures, if you’re into that sort of thing. Examine the different directions humanity can take depending on their choices. What the end result of those decisions? That’s up to you. When writing a dystopian story, keep in mind the message and theme you are trying to convey. That message will act as your compass are you craft the dystopian world.

Cyber Punk 

The cyberpunk subgenre is a futuristic world centered around computer technology. This sci-fi subgenre tends to have an urban, gritty, futuristic vibe. Sometimes, cyberpunk stories have elements of dystopian fiction mixed in, making for a nuanced narrative. With overt surveillance or advanced weaponry, technology has overtaken everyone’s lives on way or another. And characters may not be 100% human. Be prepared to construct characters that aren’t all flesh and blood, that may have some machinery incorporated into their bodies. Think about how the added metal impacts their day-to-day lives.

Steampunk

Get those cogs turning with steampunk fiction. In this sci-fi subgenre, it’s all about a specific aesthetic. It’s retro and futuristic and whimsical all at once. Technological innovations are based on the shiny brass and steam powered marvels of the 19th century industrial era. Not only are the contraptions vintage inspired, so are the character’s clothing. Goggles on top hats is a look. Authors such as H.G. Wells and Mary Shelley are huge inspirations for this sci-fi subgenre. Might be a good idea to brush on that Victorian era history. Some aspects of Victorian era culture and societal norms can still be prevalent in a steampunk world.

Alternate History

Imagine if you could go back in time and change one historical event? In the Alternate History subgenre, you can. Use fiction to twist the past. In this sci-fi subgenre, a momentous event from the past occurs and is resolved differently than what happened in real life. How does the altered resolution effect the rest of the timeline? Not only that, how does this change in the timeline effect characters and society as a whole? It’s up to you as the writer to redesign history. Create what the world looks like when history has derailed from its known course. For this sci-fi subgenre, make sure you do the research beforehand. Once you have a solid understanding of history, then you can distort history with creative liberty.  

Interested in learning about other subgenres? Check out these!

What’s your favorite science fiction book? What sci-fi genre do you gravitate towards? Talk to me in the comments.

Write with heart.

Love,

Lady Jabberwocky

3 Tips on Writing the Love Interest

~ ladyjabberwocky ~ 3 Comments

Happy Valentine’s Day, Writer Bees!

Love is in the air, even in fiction. No matter the genre, a love interest can add complexity to both the overall plotline and to other characters.

If your main character is feeling the love, then check out these helpful tips on creating a character’s sweetheart.

Experiment with Chemistry

Love at first sight doesn’t make for an interesting story. Maybe attraction at first sight, sure. For the most part, feelings must develop gradually, not instantly. No matter what stage in the relationship, take the time to build up and explore the couple’s chemistry. A great lover could become an even greater foil for another character. Also, keep in mind the kind of relationships your characters would pursue. What’s their sexual preference? Are they interested in one night stands and flings, or are they looking for a committed relationship? OR are they even looking for love in the first place? These factors will dictate how their romantic relationship lives and breathes over the course of the story.

Writing Flawed Characters

Look, how many hot billionaires with six packs are there in the world? Don’t create a character that is the ideal partner. Give them flaws. Real flaws. Consider physical and personality quirks. Are they short and stubborn? Are they pessimistic with a crooked nose? Be creative but be careful making a completely unlikeable character. Find that balance. A romantic interest shouldn’t just be a cookie cutter person. They must be able to stand on their own, as a complete character. Their entire world cannot revolve around another person. Whether the love interest is a main character or a side character, at the end of the day, readers want complex and relatable characters.

The Big Bad Conflict

No romance is perfect. Every couple has their struggles and challenges. With an internal or external battle, conflict is needed so things aren’t so lovey-dovey. Are there outside forces, such as society, race, war, that are straining their bond? Maybe one is afraid of commitment? Give the couple obstacles that they may or may not overcome together. Set the stakes high to ensure the problem is meaningful enough to the characters. Make this conflict an integral piece of the plot line. That way, the relationship won’t seem forced or out of place.

Bottom line, love isn’t always rainbows and butterflies, and that’s a good thing. Embrace the whirlwind and write a real romance.

What’s your advice on writing love interests? Lemme know in the comments! And Happy Valentine’s day everybody!

Write with Heart,

Lady Jabberwocky

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5 Types of Narrators in Fiction Writing Explained

~ ladyjabberwocky ~ 7 Comments

Hello Writer Bees!

Today, we are going back to basics in story writing. What point of view is best for your WIP? Let’s break down the different types of narrators in a story.

First Person Narrator

Pronouns: I, my, me.

Example: The Narrator from Moby Dick. ” Call me Ishmael.”

First Person is a very personal perspective. A first person narrator tells the story from their point of view. The reader has a front row seat to this character’s thoughts and feelings as they go about their day. This type of narrator can be either a main character or a distant observer. By using the first person narrative, it puts a limit to what the narrator, and the reader, knows and doesn’t know. For example, first person narrators don’t know what is plotted on behind closed doors, hindering their insight.

Second Person Narrator

Pronouns: You, Your.

Example: If I’m remembering correctly, Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern has some chapters using second person that are utterly enchanting.

A Second Person Narrator talks directly to the audience, enveloping the reader into the story itself. Think of it like playing a choose your own adventure game, where the reader is a character. “You do this, you see that.” This one is quite rare in fiction; It’s more for technical writing. It’s difficult to perfect, but not impossible, so don’t be discouraged to experiment with this style. This narrating style makes you feel like you are part of this fictional world.

Third Person Narrator (Limited)

Pronouns: He, she, they.

Third person narration gives the writer more freedom to move around, follow multiple characters and explore multiple rooms of the house, so to speak. Usually, the third person narrator isn’t an actual character at all. It’s a more objective viewpoint. Keep in mind, this may lead to a lack of connection with the reader. The audience is privy to more information about the plot, information the main characters may not even be aware of, but not the characters personal thoughts and feelings.

Omniscient Narrator

Usually third person. Uses ‘he, she, they’ pronouns.

With this one, the narrator knows everything, from feelings to inner thoughts. Imagine an all knowing, all seeing God-like being, looking down at the world. They have no stake in the story, they simply retell the story to the reader. Omniscient narrators know everything, from plot events to character’s motives to unspoken thoughts. Some would argue that it’s the author themselves, telling the story. I’ll let you be the judge.

Unreliable Narrator

Usually first person, usually undependable.

Some narrators just can’t be trusted, can they? The viewpoint of this narrator is very biased, clouded by their own -possibly flawed – judgement. Other characters in the story may not be described accurately because of the narrator’s own perception. Certain events can be skewed. Even the narrator himself could be not what he appears to be

Example: Check out the narrator from The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie. He may know more about the murder than he is letting on. Hint Hint.

Choose Your Narrator Wisely

Really take the time to think about whom the narrator will be and how well they can tell your/their story. It’s important for the reader to really connect and be engaged with the character or viewpoint chosen. Think of it like this, the narrator is the reader’s vehicle as they ride the rollercoaster that is your story.

If you are struggling to decide which narrative you want to use, try multiple styles. No harm in experimenting. It’s like reading an essay for school out loud before handing it in. You’ll know what fits your story best when you read it.

How did you decide the narrator for your story or WIP? What is your favorite kind of narrator to read? Talk to me in the comments.

Write with Heart,

Lady Jabberwocky

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3 Tips on Writing the Love Interest

~ ladyjabberwocky ~ 4 Comments

Happy Valentine’s Day, Writer Bees and Bugs!

Love is in the air, even in fiction. No matter the genre, a love interest can add complexity and conflict to any story. If your MC is feeling the love, then check out these helpful tips on creating a character’s sweetheart.

Experiment with Chemistry

Love at first sight doesn’t make for an interesting story. Maybe attraction at first sight, sure. For the most part, feelings must develop gradually, not instantly. No matter what stage in the relationship, take the time to build up and explore that chemistry. A great lover could become an even greater foil for another character.

See the source image

Also, keep in mind the kind of relationships your characters would pursue. What’s their sexual preference? Are they interested in one night stands and flings? Or are they looking for a serious relationship? OR are they even looking for love in the first place? These factors will dictate how their romantic relationship lives and breathes over the course of the story.

Flaws, Glorious Flaws

Look, how many hot billionaires with six packs are there in the world? Seriously? Don’t create a character that is the ideal partner. Give them flaws. Real flaws. Consider physical and/or personality quirks. Are they short and stubborn? Are they pessimistic with a crooked nose? Be creative but be careful making a completely unlikeable character. Find that balance.

See the source image

A romantic interest shouldn’t just be a cookie cutter person. They must be able to stand on their own, as a complete character. Their entire world cannot revolve around another person. Whether the love interest is a main character or a side character, at the end of the day, readers want complex, relatable characters.

The Big Bad Conflict

No romance is perfect. Every couple has their struggles. With an internal or external battle, conflict is needed so things aren’t so lovey-dovey. Maybe one is afraid of commitment? Or are outside forces (society, race, war etc.) are straining their bond? Give the couple obstacles that they can (or cannot) overcome together.

Try tying the their conflict to the overall plot line, that way, the relationship won’t seem forced or out of place. Set the stakes high to ensure the problem is meaningful enough to the characters. Like a problem bigger than leaving the toilet seat up.

Bottom line, love isn’t always rainbows and butterflies, and that’s a good thing. Embrace those imperfections and write a real romance.

How do you guys write love interests? Any tips? Talk to me in the comments. And Happy Valentine’s day everybody!

Write with Heart,

Lady Jabberwocky

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Prompt of the Week: Alone Time

~ ladyjabberwocky ~ Leave a comment

How does your main character pass the time when they are alone?

It’s one thing to see how a character interacts with others, in public. It’s another to see what a character does when they are bythemselves, when no one else is around.

Write your response in the comments below, best entry gets a shout out next week!

Write with Heart,

Lady Jabberwocky

3 Tips on Creating Likeable Antagonists

~ ladyjabberwocky ~ 5 Comments

Mayday! Mayday!

You’re writing a story, minding your own business, when suddenly, a character you’re creating is taking a nose dive right into unlikable jerk territory. Let’s try to save your character from being total terror.

Whether they be hot tempered, or rude, or just have a nasty attitude,  you have created a character who is nothing but bad qualities. An unpleasant fellow in every regard. Yes, there are antagonists and villains and personified rain clouds, however, is that all they are? Just… the bad guy?

Here are some tips for creating a character we love to hate (and not hate to hate).

Changing Point of View

If your story involves multiple narratives, consider having your jerk character try on the narrator hat for a bit. How do they see the world? Are they really as nasty as they seem? What are their home lives like? Is there a reason for their misbehavior? Take a walk in their shoes. By doing this, it can give the reader insight to that character’s backstory and perspective.

Create Obstacles

Let there a be a struggle that shows another side of their character. The reader will gain a level of empathy for this character if they see them face some kind of hardship. Maybe the character learns from their past mistakes? Or feels guilt about something? Or has to face a real, serious conflict, either internal or external. Give the character a hill to climb over.

Give Them a Redeemable Trait

Anything. There has to be something good. No matter how horrible and cruel someone is, there must be some redeemable quality. Are they charming? Quick witted? Hard working? Show some level of respect or affection towards another? Like animals? (Who doesn’t like puppies?) You catch my drift. Any sort of positive trait to balance out the not so positive traits.

Don’t just have a character who is only recognized by the reader as being a terrible person. Real characters, like real people, need a balance in order to be complex.

Hope this helps some writer out there. In the comments, let me know who your favorite bad guy character you love to hate.

Write with Heart,

Lady Jabberwocky.

When Your Fictional Character Gives You Life Advice

~ ladyjabberwocky ~ Leave a comment

You know,

NaNoWriMo didn’t go too well for me,

I mean, I didn’t reach the 50k, but it’s fine, really.

And working on a novel can be difficult.

Why can’t writing be like a literary waterfall of brilliance?

Maybe I’m just being impatient.

Not like I can just wiggle my nose and boom! There’s my book.

“The pieces will fall into place when they are meant to.” Actual quote from my fictional detective, Private Detective H.B Cooper.

I invented you, you’re not supposed to give me life advice.

“As If I care for such trivial commentary.” – Another quote from my fictional detective.

So sorry for no post this week. I was super busy and super sick. Life just wants to hit me in the face with a baseball bat. With the holidays right around the corner, my posts may become a bit sparse. But do not fret, we will be back to our regularly scheduled program soon, I promise!

Side note: What advice would your fictional characters give you? Write it in the comments. I’d love to hear from you guys.

Write with Heart,

Lady Jabberwocky

Starting Prep for NaNoWriMo: Learning from Past Mistakes

~ ladyjabberwocky ~ 6 Comments

So, I’m starting my NaNoWriMo prep a bit differently than most.

Last year, I participated in National Novel Writing Month, the challenge for writers to write 50,000 words in one month. And last year, I failed that challenge. Don’t cry for me, Argentina. Despite not reaching my goal, I still learned a lot about myself as a writer. That experience lit a fire under me, and I’m happy I tried NaNoWriMo. With November right around the corner, I’m ready to try again.

I’m incredibly critical of myself. And an incurable perfectionist. In previous blog posts, I made notes for improvement on my writing during November. Today, I’m tackling the mistakes I made during my last NaNoWriMo run head on. Here are, what I consider to be, my weak points, and my plans for improvement. (Cue the demise of my self-esteem)

Stop Trying to be Perfect

Remember when I said I am an incurable perfectionist? I wasn’t kidding. Last NaNoWriMo, I feel like I did not let myself free write because one bad sentence was nagging at me. Or the ideal phrasing wasn’t immediately coming to mind. And then there’s that self-doubt that all writers have. “Everything you’re writing is trash. Everything you’re even thinking about writing is trash. You should just stop, stop forever and eat potato chips all day.” I mean, that’s what my voice of doubt sounds like. I just want my story to be perfect. But I know that no story is perfect, and I should get over that idea.

Solution: Accept that writing garbage is okay. That not every word out of my brain will be amazing. That at least half of those 50,000 words will probably be changed. Just to write without stopping myself because something doesn’t sound right. In the words of Hemingway “The first draft of anything is garbage”. Next month, I’ll fight the urge to edit and perfect until December.

Focus On One Scene At A Time

If you can’t tell already, my brain is easily distracted. I have a bad habit of jumping around from scene to scene, writing small bits here and there. Then, I find myself losing focus and becoming frazzled. When I try to write a bunch of bits for a bunch of different parts, I become overwhelmed and nothing gets done.

Plan of Attack: This one’s hard. I need to work on my focus. I need to push myself to concentrate on one scene at a time. I can’t write the whole novel all at once. My best bet is to tackle certain sections or scenes during November.

Write More Descriptions

Well, writing descriptions wasn’t, and maybe still isn’t, my strongest suit as a writer.  Actually, I recently wrote a post centered around tips for writing setting descriptions. I talked about how I struggle with writing about the setting. Usually, dialogue comes first to me when I’m writing. But a forest is just a forest right? Wrong.

Plan of Attack: Let’s just say, I’m working on it. I’m more mindful of how the people and the places in my stories look. My goal is to paint a vivid, realistic picture for the reader. Trying my best to tap into sensory details of settings and also the unique physical features of my characters.

Lost Connection

I’ll be honest, there were moments I didn’t feel connected to my characters nor to the time period. To quote myself from the previous year “It was like we were once roommates, living together and then, they became the neighbors down the street. An unexplained distance came between me and this story idea.” Think about it, I’m a modern-day lady writing in the perspective of a young man living in the roaring 20’s. How can I possible fit into those shoes?

Solution: Well, for starters, this year, the big bang happened. By completely changing the plot, I feel much more confident in my story idea. As for the characters, I’m gonna try a couple of things this October. Really flush some characters out and get to know them inside and out. I want to make sure that they’re 3-dimensional characters. As for the setting, research is important. I’ve already collected some resources to help me understand that time period. The goal is to be as accurate as possible.

What would you say was your weak point from last NaNoWriMo? And what are you doing to overcome it and improve for this year? Let me know in the comments, lovelies.

Write with Heart,

Lady Jabberwocky

 

The Writer’s Life Tag

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Found this awesome tag at mylifewithbooks

Thought I’d give it a shot.

1. What do you eat or drink while writing?

This may sound weird, but dry cereal with no milk (Dairy allergy). or greasy potato chips. Yum. Roasted chickpeas are delicious too. I’m also getting into those KIND granola bars. Drink wise, I usually stick with water. Maybe a Snapple. Maybe some mango juice, to lift my spirits. Sometimes you need to eat your stress/feelings when writing.

2. What do you listen to while writing?

I’ll dance in my chair to soundtracks of Broadway shows, Newsies soundtrack specifically. Love Newsies, that music gets my energy up. I enjoy acoustic guitar and ukulele, easy breezy kind of music. I have played Jack Johnson’s “Banana Pancakes” on repeat many, many times.

3. What is your biggest writing distraction?

Somehow, I always end up with like 10-15 tabs open when I write. And I’ve definitely fallen down those YouTube rabbit holes. But yeah, too many opens tabs. Also, having a bunch of writing assignments that take me away from my personal writing.

4. What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you while writing?

Haven’t we all had that moment when a word doc doesn’t save? Or the battery on your laptop runs out? Or you forgot your flash drive? Yeah, I’ve had those moments. I’ve bawled and had panic attacks during those moments. Not fun.

5. What’s the best thing that ever happened to you while writing?

That wonderful burst of inspiration, when my fingers are typing fast and loud on the keyboard. Words come out in a flood. Like I caught lightning in a bottle. And for those of you that have been following this blog for awhile, you’ll know that I recently made a huge change to my plot idea that I’ve been working on. That experience of starting over has been amazing and one of the best things I have done as a writer.

6. Who do you communicate with or not communicate with while writing?

I mean, I don’t talk to anyone while I write. In the dark of the night, It’s just me at my desk. But, if I need to brainstorm, or just work out an idea out loud, I’ll talk to my boyfriend. He’s not a writer, and that can be a benefit sometimes. He sees things through a reader’s lens, not a writer’s lens and he really does help untangle my thoughts.

7. What is your secret to success and your biggest writing flaw?

I don’t know if I’d call it a secret to success. Whatever I write, I try to challenge stereotypes and cliches. I’m always pushing myself to do things differently. I just try to be honest and create 3 dimensional characters and stories that feel real.

My biggest flaw? Well, I am struggling to be consistent. I want to write fiction everyday, but sometimes it’s difficult. Missing a day of fiction writing, turns into a week of no writing very quickly. And then my motivation is low and I don’t know where to start or how to get the ball rolling. Does that make sense? Finding the time and getting motivated are my biggest flaws, and I’m working on that.

8. What inspires you? Or what makes you productive?

Whenever I read, I feel inspired. I try and learn from other writers. I consider what captures my attention and try to apply that into my own writing, so I can become a better writer. I have a tough time being productive with my writing. Being a freelance writer, I’m writing for everyone else but not for myself. I work on my story as best I can. I just know I want to write a novel one day. My dream, for the longest time, has been to have a book on a shelf with my name on it. To write the story that hooks a reader. That’s what keeps me going.

9. What is one thing you do or other writers do that’s annoying?

When writers say dumb stuff like “omg no one understands my art!” or “my story is amazing, you don’t know anything!” Seriously? I know about being protective of your work, but really, take it easy, pal.

10. Are you willing to share something you’ve written?

I have shared some of my old, junk drawer, stories on this blog before. Just some snippets of stories and scenes. I had a four part flash fiction series called The Wizard and His Lady   I’m just making use of rejected pieces and drafts from fiction class. There are a couple other short stories on my blog. One scene I posted actually has the characters from my current fiction project. They’re probably not that great, but a writer has to start somewhere, which is why I share some of my work.

((And be on the look out for a new flash fiction series on Lady Jabberwocky, coming soon!))

Hope you guys liked this tag. If there is another tag you think I should do, let me know! Have an awesome day, lovelies.

Write with Heart,

Lady Jabberwocky

Words for Writers Wednesday #2: Write What You Don’t Know

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Write what you know,

So they say.

What happens when you have to write what you don’t know?

You research, and you learn, and you grow and you overcome the challenge.

So that the things you don’t know become the things you do know.

You know?

Sometimes, when you have to write about something you aren’t familiar with, there is a bit of trepidation that comes with that. Whether you are writing fiction or an essay, don’t be scared about writing a topic you are unfamiliar with. Don’t steer away from it, challenge yourself. Just remember, you are smarter than you think you are.

For me, I don’t know what it’s like to be a person from the 1920s, but I research and I try to be as accurate as possible when I’m writing fiction, even if I run into subjects that aren’t up my alley. I didn’t know much about writing about comics, but look at my job now, writing weekly comic book reviews. Never be intimidated to write about the things you are not an expert in.

Also, shout out to everyone who caught my Newsies reference.

Write with Heart,

Lady Jabberwocky