Jodie Leigh Murray

 

Building a scene isn't as easy as it sounds, unless you're a daydreamer like me. I have a knack for submersing myself into a place where I've never been, situations I'll never find myself in, with people I've never met. There is much more that goes into a scene than meets the eye.

 

Dialogue

By the time you get to writing a scene, you should know your character's well enough to know how they speak. It's easy to slip into sounding like a robot. Trying to remember how normal people talk with all their quirks and speech patterns sometimes takes a few rounds of edits, while other times, you nail it right away. By the time you're finished, readers should be able to distinguish the character through dialogue, but I still use dialogue tags periodically or an action following dialogue.

 

Weather

This is easily forgotten, and sometimes something that can be very brief. Weather can be something very important in a scene, creating ambience or friction, maybe even a reaction depending on what you're going for. Equally, it can be something merely mentioned and you move on. It should, at the very least, be mentioned.

 

Ambience

This is the mood you want to set for your scene. Is the scene in a restaurant you want to create a sense of romance? Are your characters on the top of a roller coaster that you are going for a sense of anxiety? Words can create the ambience you are going for.

 

Props

Props are the items in the scene that are vital to it. In my fourth book, The Aristocrat's Wife, there are many scenes (if not most) that have horses. Horses have saddles, bridles, usually a blanket under the saddle . . .  those are props. Food, clothing, those can be props.

 

POV

I've written all four of my books in first person, but there are some authors that use first person but alternate who is the POV by chapter. This is something I'm considering doing this in future books, and I likely will. I'm not sure which ones, though. Point of view can be important for the scene, too.

 

Subplots

Subplots play a part in the scenes. It can be a side romance, another motive, an illegal activity . . . anything. These can be a major or minor part of the scene, but don't let them overshadow moving the plot along. Be careful not to draw the reader too far off the course of the story.

 

When I have the order of my scenes, I fill in the gaps with the other details that I don't already have. Each scene has a page where I detail everything out. Chapter number, scene number, characters, location, date/time, props, weather, description and subplots. I also try to note what I want the scene to be memorable for.

 

Happy Reading!

 

One of my favorite movies, Pride and Prejudice, is based on a book. And that isn't the only Jane Austen book made into a movie. There are several others. There are so many movies based on books, this would be one long blog if I were to delve into them all. So, I'll cover my favorites.

 

I almost always read the book before I watch the movie. This is because I don't want the movie to skew my imagination of how the scene is and what the character looks like. Chances are I don't like the book if I've watched the movie first. These are not in any order.

 

• Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant by Veronica Roth
• Hunger Games, Catching Fire, The Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
• Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling
• The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons by Dan Brown
• Cold Mountain by Wiliam Frazier
• Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
• Princess Bride by William Goldman

 

I have watched movies before reading the book, and it wasn't on purpose. Sometimes, I just couldn't wait. Take, for instance, the Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R. Tolkien. Reading The Hobbit took me so long, I said forget it and watched the movies. I just haven't watched the last one yet. Those movies are quite a time commitment. The Color Purple by Alice Walker . . . never read the book. I didn't read Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, either. I will admit it's been a long time since I've watched these movies, so I might be fine with reading the book now.

 

There are a few that I refuse to watch the movie until I read the book. These are oldies, but goodies. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. Haven't read the book, haven't watched the movie. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. I have these books on my bookshelf. It could be why I'm holding out on watching these movies.

 

Then, there are the movies that I didn't know were books first. Forest Gump by Winston Groom and Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk. There are several more on my list that I didn't know were books, too.

 

What are your thoughts about reading books before seeing the movie, or the opposite? Do you read the book before the movie, or do you watch the movie first? I'm interested to know if I'm in the majority or the minority here.

 

Happy Reading!

 

I have a t-shirt that says: Writers Block: When your imaginary friends won't talk to you. And that is exactly what happens when I get writer's block. They aren't playing, and when that happens, it is frustrating. When I get writer's block, I usually wake up in the middle of the night when it comes back and then I can't sleep. That's no fun, either.

 

But in all actuality, I don't get writer's block all that often. I think the main reason is because I'm a plotter, not a pantser so by the time I get to writing the book, I have everything planned out. I know what's going to happen and I just write.

 

There are times, however, when I'm writing and I get stumped on how I want the scene to play out. It's those times when I get busy with other things. Writing my blogs, start my next monthly newsletter, write ideas for social media posts. Sometimes I consult my handy-dandy internet finds or books on writing to see if I can motivate myself enough to continue.

 

One thing I dislike doing that some authors do is skipping around in writing. I know my characters pretty well before I write, but sometimes I learn things about them while writing, so I write in order of how the book will go even if I know what happens in future scenes. Doing it this way, I find things within my characters that may alter future scenes and how they play out.

 

Many people sputter they can never write a book, and some people commend me and other authors for the work we put into our stories. True, there is a lot more than a person thinks that go into a book and you have to make sure everything plays out well. Writer's block, in a way, helps me with that because it gives me a pause and I can focus on something else. Even if it's just for a short time. 

 

Today's blog is a feature on my local bookstore. I'm writing this blog about Hearthside Books because of several reasons. Not only is Hearthside Books a cozy little bookstore in a quaint small town, but this bookstore is one of very few that gives local authors a chance. Besides this, this bookstore supports local artisans with several Minnesota-made items featured in this charming old building. True, it's not an enormous store like others I've been to but owner Charlotte Klimek has it organized in such a way that it's clean, not cluttered and you can still find a lot going on here.

 

The bookstore is celebrating its one-year anniversary of being open on Saturday! One goal owner Charlotte Klimek wanted for the store was a gathering place for the community. There is a large meeting room to rent in the back of the store. If you look at the website, not only will you find events, but you'll also find new releases, favorites, picks of the week, and what's on the New York Times Best Sellers list.

 

Hearthside Books has a lot happening for the community, and surrounding communities, including crafting events, book club (starts back up in the fall), and they do story time on Wednesdays!

 

I have to say that out of all the bookstores I've contacted, which are a lot, Hearthside Books was the only one to respond and eagerly partner with me. I can't even say that of the bookstore in my own small town.

 

https://hearthsidebooksmn.com/

 

These are only a few that I can't wait to read . . .

 

I would think I'm like more readers and have an enormous stack of books to read. In fact, most people that I talk to at craft shows have a stack. Usually, this is the reason they can't buy my book. But, like my good buddy indie author E.H. Drake says . . . books don't expire. So add another to your stack! That's what I do. I'll read it. Eventually. My only dilemma is finding the room. But that is more of an issue with not getting rid of books, not having too many to read.

 

I'm a genre neutral reader. I'll read just about everything from fantasy to young adult to steamy romance. What do you like to read? Here's a few that I'm looking forward to reading. Some are on my shelf, and some are not yet there, but will be.

 

The Crowns of Nyaxia Series by Carissa Broadbent

The Serpent & the Wings of Night, The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King, and The Songbird & the Heart of Stone (releases in November 2024)

This is a dark, 'romantsy' series with vampires, war, mystery and magic. I have the first two books, but the third won't release until November and I've been on the fence about starting it until the third one comes out. I'm not sure how many more will be in this series. If you've been following my blog's and social media, you might have heard me shout from the rooftop about how frustrated I'd been after finishing Rebecca Yarro's Fourth Wing and Iron Flame, only to find out the next one isn't even written yet. It won't release until January 2025, but I at least have it pre-ordered through Barnes & Noble. Still, to have to wait that long!! Is that what everyone goes through waiting for me to release a book? If so, I am so sorry.

 

Born of Blood and Ash (Flesh and Fire Series #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Book number 4 in her Flesh and Fire Series, another romantsy with love and obsession, gods and fates and prophecies. This won't release until August so I have some time to read other things, but I can't wait to resume this series. If I didn't have such a large stack to be read, I'd re-read the series. This series has been jam-packed with action, steamy love and twists that you never see coming. If you like romantsy (romance and fantasy) and you don't mind reading really, I mean really, steamy and explicit scenes, I would recommend her Flesh and Fire series and From Blood and Ash series. She is a wonderful writer of this genre, by far.

 

Fool's Gold by Brenda Lyne

Book number 3 in the Regan O'Rourke series, this is Indie-author Brenda Lyne's fifth novel release of paranormal suspense. This series is based in Minnesota, as is Sister Lost. Her books don't disappoint, I can assure you. It's available on Amazon for pre-order or you can go to her website www.brendalyne.com and find her at an event. There may be one or two that we'll be at together, as that sometimes happens. The release is in September, and it will be available on her website. Check it out! I know I can't wait to read it!

 

The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

This has been on my bookshelf for a while now, and I haven't quite gotten to it. If this book is anything like The Night Circus, I've been missing out! A very colorful writer, these are the stories that stick with you. It's hard to describe, you've just got to read for yourself.

 

That's all I have for now. There are a ton more books on my shelf to be read, and growing, but I have limited time if I want to get any writing done. And right now, I'm focused on getting my fourth book done and the next gangster book pre-writing done. Before I go to sleep and while camping are about the only times I have to read.

 

Happy reading!