My Best Writing Tool

By C.L. Roth

As the mother and caregiver for a disabled adult son, I have some unique difficulties in maintaining a writing schedule. No matter what my goals are, I always have to consider his goals too.

My son has cerebral palsy, he’s in a wheelchair, non-verbal, and needs help in all areas of his life. He’s also a talented artist. He requires time for his art with the same drive and enthusiasm I have for my writing.

In order to meet my writing goals, I have chosen to get up early. I’m usually up and at the computer by 5:30 in the morning. I am able to work until 9am. The rest of the morning I use for his needs, running errands, whatever household chores need done.

In the afternoon, my son paints. Using this schedule, I’m able to get in about twenty hours a week for my writing and my son will manage about ten hours for his painting. This works fine until I have a deadline. Deadline’s change everything.

When a deadline looms the first item I look for is the timer. I use one that I bought at the cooking section of the grocery store. The cheapest one they sell. When I need to work during the day, I set the timer for one hour. I work hard during that hour editing, revising, or whatever job is needed at that particular moment.

The bell rings and I set it for another hour only this time the hour belongs to my son. And he paints, or does whatever he chooses to do. My time and attention is his until the timer rings. Using a timer keeps us fair. It allows me to get my time in without forgetting his time.

So my how-to tools are the alarm clock that wakes me up in the morning allowing me to maintain regular working hours. Consistency gets me farther than any other tool. And the kitchen timer that allows me to divide my time and make sure I share my energy with the ones around me who need it.

There isn’t any magic when it comes to writing. You just get up, and you do it.

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C.L. Roth is a wife, mother, grandmother, artist, and author. She lives in Illinois with her husband, son, two dogs, and a cat. She writes Middle Grade fantasy, Young Adult paranormal mysteries and SF, and adult cozy mysteries. Website: www.clroth.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/CL-Roth/174724449371585?ref=hl

Wattpad: http://www.wattpad.com/user/CLRoth

What-Why-When-Who-Where-How?

By Susan Reichert, Editor-in-Chief for Southern Writers Magazine

Do you know your characters in your story? Do you really know your characters–everything about them? If you don’t here is a way to learn more about them. Interview them! Yes, interview your characters. Step out of the role of creator/writer and step into the role of your reader. What would your reader want to know about your main character?

You want your readers to bond with your main character. You want them to feel all the emotions he/she does. You want them to be on the side of your character, pulling for them. It is important for you to know everything about your main character in order to let your readers in on what they need to know about your character as the story progresses. It keeps them turning the pages. They become fans. They will buy other books you write. Why? Because they will know your characters are worth knowing–they can relate to them.

The best way for you to know your character is to interview them. If you were going to interview someone you would have a short bio that consist of their name, a few things they had accomplished, whether they work or stay at home. Maybe where they’re from or where they live now. But this information would be short like on a 3x5 card. Your job as the interviewer is to find out everything you can about them.

Remember the “Who, What, Why, When, Where and How” questions? Bring these back into play. Now sit down, make a list of questions, the more the better, and ask your character. Examples: Where were you born? Where do you live now? How did you get from where you were born to where you live now? What do you like? What do you not like? What color is your hair and eyes? What do you do? Where do you work? You get the gest. Just ask regular questions.  By choosing this process, you get to know your character. It will open up more facets for your reader to get to know your character.

Here are a few more words that are good to use when interviewing your character… “Are, If, Would”. I am sure you could think of some more. Do this with your characters, get to know everything you can and you will deepen your characters role in the story, you will also find your story is deeper, more meaningful.