Spice it up

Ever have a hard time coming up with good/believable characters?

Has the bucket run dry on your do-good-er hero and truthfully, even you find your own characters dull and uninteresting?

Do you dream of creating a character that people can really relate to, but most importantly, fall in love with?

Here's the big secret to achieving this seemingly impossible feat...ready for it?....Got your pen and paper handy?...Here it is...give your character a flaw!

That's right, the key to the perfect character is to make them IMPERFECT!

As humans, imperfection is our middle name. Unless your character is superman, he should not have all his shiz together.

(Side note: Superman is actually my least favorite superhero for this very reason)

Anyway

1) What to do if your character is dry...

A fun way to spice things up is to give them a weird obsession or weakness.

For example, say Jim is in a street fight and its playing out like a million other street fights; its boring and it's just not doing it for you.
How about you throw in a little history and weakness.

When Jim pulls his knife, he's reminded of the last man he stabbed; a good friend named Tom who had been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Naturally Jim might be a little more hesitant about the knife, which could get him in some trouble.

Or say we're dealing with a Vampire named Nick.
Nick is hunting a human, but as he's following this person, they walk past a restaurant that cooks with strong garlic and Nick has some sorta allergic fit. The human then realizes it's being followed.

Dun Dun Dun!

Weaknesses are very important, even Achilles had his heel.

2) What to do if your character is too perfect...

So you have a superman when you were actually shooting for a regular Joe-blow who grows into somewhat of a hero.

A good remedy to counter all that Godlike perfection is to add a little of yourself into your character.

(Now before you get all offended, let me explain)

As I said before, humans are naturally imperfect, so we are our best examples.

Give the character some of your own flaws. 

What I like to do is ask myself these questions: "How would I solve this problem?", "How would I react?", "What would I think?".

By adding a piece of yourself, you breathe life into the character.

3) What to do with a textbook Villain...

Find yourself with a Villain who is so evil, it's almost textbook? Boring!

(Yes, you want a villain who can be feared, but why can't they also be loved by the reader?)

My favorite remedy is to throw in a "tell". What I mean by this is adding some sort of mannerism that will clue the reader into what is happening, or about to happen.

Example 1: Victor is an evil king who is overseeing a prisoner brought before the throne to plead his case. All of a sudden, he stands in a rage, having heard enough, and declares in a booming voice, "Off with his head!"

Sure, the picture is there, but the emotion is missing. I don't feel like I know Victor, therefore why should I sympathize with him or care about him at all? 

(Caring about a character is not a bad thing. Make a Villain that you Love to Hate.)

I'm going to write the scene again, and give Victor a "tell", along with more details.

Example 2: Victor sat rigidly in his throne, his dark eyes searing into the scraggly peasant at his feet as he begged for his life. It was all he could do to keep from lashing out at the pathetic wretch. 

However, when the man began to weep, a muscle in Victor's cheek twitched and his nostrils flared with anger. With an eerie grace, the king stood, bringing with him a crackling presence of rage. "I've heard enough...," he growled lowly. "Off with his head."

Ok, so I added two "tells" (twitch and nostril flare). Those moves weren't very big as opposed to the rest of the scene, but if I mention the muscle twitch or nostril flare any other time in the story, the reader will know that Victor is pissed and is probably going to kill someone!

Here's some examples of "tells": 

Nervous character always rubs a hand on the back of his neck. 

Liar who wont make eye contact. 

Worrisome character who bites their lip. 

Angry characters flared nostrils. 

A fidget, a twitch, hard swallow, biting nails, stuttering, 

constantly cracking knuckles or neck, trembling lip...and much more.

(Basically something someone does subconsciously, that the reader can catch.) 

I wouldn't give your character too many tells; maybe two that you can use throughout the story. 

4) Don't cheat on the details...

Sure, writing descriptive scenes may take a bit longer, but the life of a book can be in the details.

Just because you may picture something in your mind, doesn't mean that the reader always can. Therefore, it is your job to paint them a mental picture that will make them feel as though they are in the book, watching the scene play out.

Take the examples 1 & 2 that I used for the previous tip about the King. Example 2 was much more interesting to read; I only really added a few extra sentences.

Same goes for your characters. You can describe them as "just an average old man", or "an old man with jowls that resembled that of a bulldogs".
A few extra words can make all the difference. Don't be afraid to break your character down for your reader. (It doesn't all have to be in one spot in the book).

Now, tread carefully; too much detail is almost just as bad as not enough. You can explain something to death if you have too much info. Too much to take in can practically choke the reader to death.

Sum up items that aren't as important. For example, when describing the room, the reader doesn't need to know the pattern of the drapes or that they were imported from Bali, unless that is going to be brought up later or is important to your character.

Best way to know if you've written too much detail is to let someone else read your story.

That's all the tips I have for you guys, but don't forget, your characters are among the most important aspects of your story!

Spice them up!

Writing Quirks

I thought that since you put up with all my other rants about writing, you might like to get to know me a little better. 

Here goes (no judging)

One thing I've discovered about myself during all my years of writing, is that I have developed some quirks that I don't think one would consider...normal.

I'm sure we've all got things that we do that we don't realize we even do. I'm sure I have some I still don't know about.

My First Quirk: 

When I'm editing, I liked to read out loud (it helps you catch your mistakes). But that's not the quirk...wait for it...Not only do I read out loud, but I usually end up going into a British accent...I am not British, but that doesn't stop me from fluxing my voice like i'm from London.

Second Quirk:

I read voices...or I should say "in voices".

While reading in a British accent, I lower or raise my pitch as if I were doing all the different character voices. 

Imagine how you would read a picture book to a child and you've got it, only I'm just reading it to myself. Haha

Third Quirk:

When I write longhand, I write sideways. As in, when I place a piece of paper on the desk, it is not facing vertical; instead, it is turned onto its side (horizontally) and I write from bottom to top.

Yet, when you straighten the paper, my writing is straight across and perfectly legible. 

(I've got skills)

Fourth Quirk:

When writing by hand, typing or editing, I end up tilting my head to the right; so much so that I've earned myself an impressive knot in my shoulder that I like to call Javier.

I have to catch myself and consciously think of keeping my head straight. 

Another Quirk:

My characters control the story. I just try my hardest to get it all down before they throw another twist at me. In fact, I wrote an entire blog post about it. Read it here.

Yet Another Quirk: (I know, I know)

While editing, I like to have something noisy in my hands. For example, a clicky pen or something with a snap on it; basically something to keep my hands busy with something that gives me the satisfaction of clicking. 

The sound doesn't register with me, after all, I'm editing, but it is not a lot of fun for anyone who happens to be around me. 

Last Quirk: (I promise)

And finally, I cannot sit in a computer chair like a normal person (with both feet on the ground and back straight). I prefer to type with one leg tucked under my other, until I can no longer feel it. Then I switch, having to bounce my foot up and down to regain blood flow, all the while squirming in my chair as i'm trying to edit.

Every time.

Well there you have it, a little glimpse into the chaos that is my mind.

Like I said, I probably have more quirks that I haven't realized yet. I think they are funny because I catch myself doing them all the time!

And I know I'm not the only one, so let's hear one of your quirks!

"Not what we're looking for..."

How to Deal with Rejections to your Queries for Publishing.

After hours of writing and editing, grooming and beefing up your story (essentially, your baby), naturally the next step is to put it out there.

It's a little nerve-wracking to trust your baby to take its first steps and be criticized and judged by perfect strangers who hold the potential to publish you and help you achieve your goals of becoming a world renowned author!

But what happens when that perfect stranger reads your queries or even your story and casts it against the rocks, turning their nose up at it and walks away?

Well, before you go postal, take a deep breath and realize that every big name author also started out as a nobody and went through countless rejections before their story fell into the perfect hands. 

As an aspiring author myself, there are a lot of things that I've had to come to terms with when my first query response returned as a "NO".

First of all, I had to accept that I might not be "The Shit".

After all the work I had put into my writing, I was positive that it was GOLD! Everyone who had read it agreed with me and my head was approaching astronomical proportions.

There was no doubt in my mind that I would be picked up immediately and by the end of the year, signing my second contract with my agent begging me to write a sequel (I know...).

The simple, heartless line, "Not what we're looking for", brought my Cloud 9 dreams to a screeching halt!

Surely this agent was out of their mind!

And then I received my next rejection...and then the next.

It's sad when your dream has to come down from naivety back to a reality based foundation. The magic of it all sort of dims.

"Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, only this time more wisely."

-Henry Ford-

So, after a few days of wallowing in self pity,

I reevaluated, brushed myself off and realized that just because they said no didn't mean there was anything wrong with my story.

It wasn't that my story and I were "Not what we're looking for"; 

It was now, that publisher was "Not what I'm looking for".

Which brings me to my second point, just because one publisher didn't like my story, doesn't mean they all feel that way.

Agencies are bombarded by queries, so its easy to see why some publishers only want whats "hot". But who's to say you're not holding the next flame?

What may be less than entertaining to one may be gold to another!

Besides, the way I see it (and yes, I am selfish), I poured my heart, soul, time, blood, sweat and tears into my work. If that wasn't enough, it took every ounce of bravery to put myself out there enough to allow others to read it once it was finished and finally I believed in myself enough to attempt to publish it; therefore, I deserve an agent who will fall head over heels in love with my idea and characters. I deserve a coach who I can trust not to swindle me for a pretty penny, but to be excited about every new adventure.

So, I may not be "The Shit", but I do believe in myself and my passion for writing.

And with every rejection, it's one step closer to finding the right publisher for me.

Third thing that I've realized, I'm not gonna lie, those positive vibes are hard to keep up some days.

Especially on days when I am sick and tired of my 9-5 job and I know that writing has the potential to offer me a sense of freedom if I got good enough.

On those days, when I shake my fist at the Publisher Gods for not dubbing me their golden child yet or when I read a particularly horrible book and the "how did THAT CRAP get published when I cant?" jealousy chokes me, I have to ask myself, why do I write?

(This is actually a really good question to ask yourself when you find yourself at a tough point in your writing process and you're thinking about quitting.)

Why do I write?

If the potential for money was no longer there, would I write?

If I did not receive complements or praise for my work, would I write?

If there was no possibility for popularity or fame?

If there was no one else to read my stories, would I still?

Even if I could somehow tell the future (just go with me here) and I knew that I would never get published, ever, would I still write?

The answer is...yes. Always YES.

I started writing purely because I enjoyed it. Creating worlds, manipulating fates, watching a hero find himself, developing a bad guy, impossible love...it all makes writing worth it to me.

When I first started writing, I would have kept all that magic to myself, only my best friend in middle school encouraged (cough...cough...blackmailed) me into letting her read my first story (that I never finished by the way), and I've been sharing ever since.

So, when the jealousy or bitterness is on the rise, I remind myself that I write for ME, because its FUN and I will continue to do it...probably until my fingers fall off.

The last thing that I've realized about dealing with rejection is to never give up!

Never. Give. Up!

I tried for three years and was just about to give up just before I got my first legit publishing offer for an e-book contract. Of course, I grabbed it with both hands.

When the contract fell through less than a year later due to reasons out of my control, I picked right back up and did it myself.

For now, I am self-published with two amazingly awesome books available on e-book and I have their sequels on the way! I love it!

Does that mean that I've stopped fishing for an agent or publisher?

No.

I continue to query. I continue to write and edit and better myself, 

because writing is what I love to do!

And one day, when the stars align and the Publishing Gods call my name, 

I will be ready!

Now Available on E-book

"There is no Prince Charming"

Jennifer Carmichael, a lowly secretary and cynical romance novel addict, is ripped from her dull life when she wakes up to find that she is no longer in New York City, but held captive in a fictional world found within the pages of the strange book she discovered on the subway; a Medieval world where women do as they are told and all the men look sexy enough to eat. Jen's sharp attitude and fierce independence immediately attracts the attention of the Prince. He is everything any woman could ever want, a real Prince Charming. However, things are not always what they seem. Desperately trying to find her way home, but flung head first into the middle of a brewing war between the King and the Rebellion, Jen must choose what to fight for: the Prince, the People, or her heart.

Nook Link 

Kindle Link

"Arranged"

With an uncle determined to control her life and more importantly, her inheritance by arranging her marriage, Alison Forbush sees no choice but to run from the life she knew. 
Her rebellion would spark a chain reaction that would not only change her life, but effect an entire kingdom.
Discovered, captured and imprisoned by strange creatures that inhabit an underground world where every shadow holds danger, Alison struggles to maintain her independence, especially when their fierce King takes an interest in her. 
She must ask herself if this strange world could hold everything she'd been looking for or, following her uncles example, was all of this Arranged from the beginning?

Nook Link

Kindle Link

Where does the work end and the FUN begin?

I find myself asking this question a lot, these days.

It's hard to make sure that the things we love best don't became like "work".

After all, we loved them because they took us away from work and transported us to a happier realm.

I have a confession to make...writing, sometimes, feels like work. I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about.

There is so much time and tears that go into a good book.

Research, writing the dang thing, editing, editing, editing.

So how can we turn this from work back into fun?

1- Write about something you like!
If you like it, the process becomes that much easier!
If you like Fantasy, go ahead, write about a three headed dragon!
 If you're into mystery, think of an ending you would never see coming and then WRITE ABOUT IT!

2- Look for inspiration everywhere.

I like to do this when I'm having a hard time coming up with Characters.

There are interesting people EVERYWHERE! Sit somewhere and people watch for a minute. Yes, sounds creepy...just tell them you're doing an experiment or something.

If your story needs a little UMPH, watch youtube or read about people doing amazing things or even natural disasters; that's always a fun twist!

Enjoy yourself in the moment and plug that into your writing.

3- Give yourself some slack.
I used to write with goals of 10-30 pages per day, no excuses....yeah, that didn't work out too well.
Life tends to throw curve balls at you.
If you miss a few pages (or days) don't beat yourself up about it, just pick up where you left off and try it again.
Deadlines are great things, but if it's too tight, your writing will become WORK (and we don't want that).
If you've got writers block, try writing about something else for a while. There are a lot of fun writing prompts out there to get your mind off of things.
Taking a break does wonders to an overworked mind.
Most of the time when you come back to your work, the inspiration is waiting.

4- Book Talk

This step is a pillar in my writing life!

Find someone who also has a passion for writing and just chit chat about your story ideas.

Two minds are better than one; that person may just be the answer to your prayers.

I can't tell you how many times I have been so stuck on a plot point with no idea how to get from point A to point B then I chatted it up with one of my writing friends and BOOM floods of ideas!

Besides, it's fun.

Generally, people don't understand the natural high that comes when you're "in the zone" or when you've completed something you can be proud of. That's why having other writer friends in imperative!

Get with people who are on your level.

5- Sleep on it.
Still stuck on an idea, have lack of motivation or are super frustrated? Try this.
When you're ready to go to bed, lay there and think "I will have an awesome dream with the answer and my problems will be done."
I bet you really think I'm loony now. Don't dog it until you try it!
I have a friend who does this and when he wakes up, he has fresh inspiration.
Your subconscious will work it out for you.

6- Love that you do what you do!

I used to be afraid to tell people that I was a writer. I felt like I wasn't really qualified for that title...

I mean, I didn't have a degree in English or anything, but then I realize that all the work and passion that goes into my work DOES make me a writer!

When I started to tell people that I loved to write, it amazed me how impressed they were. 

Writing was just something I did...but when they wanted to read my writings and actually LIKED it, well, I was on cloud 9.

Begin to introduce yourself as a writer. Don't let everything you've strived for, sit on the sidelines; it doesn't matter if you've been published or if you have notebook after notebook with stories written in them.

Love that you write and let others in on your passion for it.

There are many more tips and tricks, I'm sure; however, I think I've ranted long enough.
Let me know if these help you like it helps me.

The Joys Of Editing...NOT!

If you are a writer, you know what it is to edit.

Yes, I am talking about that dreadful phase of your story where it's nearly impossible to see the light at the end of the tunnel (especially during your first draft).

Unfortunately, that's where I'm at now, first run through and everything. 

I can see the long, treacherous road stretched out before me and just thinking about it makes me tired.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

You may say, "Crystyl, why not have someone else edit for you?"

I know there are countless sites where you can pay someone to edit for you or if you have an agent, they can find an editor for you.

That's all good; however, I prefer to do a much as I can myself.

If you're like me, your first draft is hardly comparable to your final edit.

Though painful, I feel like the editing process is as much for me as it is for the story. 

It helps me refine my characters to be more believable and relatable. It gives me opportunity to beef up the drama where I may have skimmed over it at first because I was just trying to get everything out.

Editing "my way", allows me to catch the small things I may have forgotten 100 pages in (I do that a lot with injuries).

If I paid someone else to edit for me, it wouldn't grow in character and I wouldn't be proud of it. The paid editor is not in my head and therefore cannot know what I actually meant for that character to do or say.

Now, that being said, having someone else edit and read through it essential...but only after you've done four or five drafts...or even the tenth!

I can't tell you how many times I've been helping out a friend and have made suggestions and by the time I give them back their story, they've already made a bunch of changes. 

I feel like editing early drafts is a waste of time. (Everyone is not like me, but no one likes to edit anyway...well maybe if you were paid to do it!)

How I edit is when I feel like I've done as much as I can do, I hand my manuscript over to a few trusted friends: I choose some that are good at grammar and spelling and others that are good at catching story flaws. Both are very helpful.

After I've collected all of their opinions (good or bad), I do yet another run through until I fall in love with it!

I would loose all of that if I just simply handed my story over after a few drafts.

So, you can see, I have a very long road ahead of me. Caffeine and music will help me through!

I think I can. I think I can. I think I can!

What does your Penmanship say about you?

The other day I ran across a penmanship personality quiz. 

If you're like me, I love learning about myself. 

It blows my mind that someone can peg you down because of how you write. (Apparently, it's a whole study.)

I take no credit for writing the information below. In fact, I found it on this website. I thought that you would like to test it out.

I started out by writing a paragraph or so of anything that comes to mind and then I went through the traits below and was shocked to find this was 95% on! Who knew!

Give it a try!

Are you an outgoing, sceptical people pleaser? Or an arrogant, practical person who has a tendency to lie? 

According to research from the National Pen Company in the U.S., your handwriting can give away clues about 5,000 different personality traits based on the way you space your letters, how you sign your name, and even how you connect the letter 'o' and 's' to other letters in a word.

It can even be used to identify potential health problems including schizophrenia, high blood pressure as well as how much energy you have. 

According to the National Pen Company in the U.S., the size of someone's handwriting can determine the type of personality they have. People with small handwriting tend to be shy, studious and meticulous, whereas outgoing people who love attention will have larger handwriting

People who leave large gaps between words enjoy their freedom and don't like to be crowded, while people who write words close together can't stand to be alone and might be intrusive

The process of analysing handwriting is called graphology. 

It is classed as a pseudoscientific because there are debates about how accurate it can be at determining psychological and even physical attributes. 

Some companies use graphology during recruitment processes and the methods have also been used in court cases.

The research carried out by the National Pen Company brought together a range of graphology studies to create its infographic. 

According to the graphic, the size of someone's handwriting can determine the type of personality they have. 

People with small handwriting tend to be shy, studious and meticulous, whereas outgoing people who love attention will have larger handwriting. 

The type of looping created by the letters 'l' and 'e' can suggest a person's nature, for example, wide loops means someone is relaxed and spontaneous as well as open minded. People who write narrow loops tend to be skeptical of others and may restrict themselves from certain activities, which causes feelings of tension

+2

If the dot of a letter is situated high above the base it suggests the writer has a great imagination. If the dot is close to the base, they are organised and empathetic. Procrastinators tend to dot their 'i's and 'j's to the left of the base letter, while child-like personality types will draw their dots as circles

+2

Long crosses on 't's suggests someone who is determined and enthusiastic, but also stubborn. Short crosses tend to be written by someone who is lazy

If handwriting is an average size - in that the top of the letters sit just below the centre of line - the writer is well-adjusted and adaptable. 

Moving onto the spacing of words, people who leave large gaps between words enjoy their freedom and don't like to be crowded, while people who write words close together can't stand to be alone and might be intrusive. 

If handwriting slants to the right the person is open to new experiences and enjoy meeting new people. If handwriting slants to the left, that person tends to keep themselves to themselves. 

People whose handwriting doesn't slant in either direction are logical and practical. 

Personality traits are also identifiable by the way individual letters are written. 

People who write rounded letters are more creative and artistic while pointed letters are a sign of aggression or intelligence. Connected letters mean the writer is logical. People who specifically write rounded lowercase 's' letters are people pleasers, although if the bottom is too wide, they're not following their heart in something

According to the graphic, the type of looping created by the letters 'l' and 'e' can suggest a person's nature, for example, wide loops means someone is relaxed and spontaneous as well as open minded. 

Alternatively, people who write narrow loops tend to be skeptical of others and may restrict themselves from certain activities, which causes feelings of tension. 

The way people dot their 'i's and cross their 't's can also be a personality indicator. 

If the dot of the letter is situated high above the base it suggests the writer has a great imagination. 

If the dot is close to the base, they are organised and empathetic. 

Procrastinators tend to dot their 'i's and 'j's to the left of the base letter, while child-like personality types will draw their dots as circles.

People who place heavy pressure on the pen when they write, which causes darker, thicker handwriting are good with commitment and taking things seriously. Light-handed writers tend to be empathetic and sensitive but lack vitality. If someone writes quickly they are impatient while and slower writers are more methodical 

Slashes used in the place of dots mean the writer doesn't have patience for inadequacy or are overly self-critical and are annoyed by people who don't learn from their mistakes. 

Long crosses on 't's suggests someone who is determined and enthusiastic, but also stubborn. Short crosses tend to be written by someone who is lazy. 

People who write rounded letters are more creative and artistic while pointed letters are a sign of aggression or intelligence. Connected letters mean the writer is logical.

When people write the letter 'o' with a loop or hole at the top of the letter, it means they are talkative and sociable, while closed 'o's indicate someone who is private.

Similarly, a rounded lowercase 's' means the writer is a people pleaser, but if the rounded bottom is too wide it suggests they may not be following their heart either in their career or other pursuits. 

People who place heavy pressure on the pen when they write, which can cause darker, thicker handwriting, are good with commitment and taking things seriously but don't respond well to criticism. 

Light-handed writers tend to be empathetic and sensitive but lack vitality. 

Illegible signatures, left, are a sign that the writer is private and hard to read. More legible signatures, right, are a sign of confidence

If handwriting slants to the right, the writer is open to new experiences. If handwriting slants to the left, that person tends to keep themselves to themselves

If someone writes quickly they are impatient and dislike delays or time wasters, and slower writers are more methodical and self reliant. 

The graph also claims that a person's health can be identified from their handwriting, for example, people with high blood pressure tend to have writing that is sometimes heavy and dark, and at other times light. 

Schizophrenics tend to have writing that switches direction in the way that it slants, between left and right, and this is supposedly a sign of a person 'not having continual contact with reality'. 

One of the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease is very small cramped handwriting, known as micrographia. 

Handwriting with heavy pressure is also a sign of high energy levels, whereas light pressure is a sign of tiredness. 

In other tests, writing the capital letter 'I' much larger than other capitals is usually written by someone who is arrogant and have a high opinion of themselves. 

Writing that changes dramatically over the course of a text is symbolic of lying.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2380858/What-does-handwriting-say-Study-finds-5-000-personality-traits-linked-write.html#ixzz33ApVJgdp

So now that you've read through the basics, was the information spot on? I'd like to hear what you guys thought.

Preview: Escape

This is the preview to the second book in the Vidarian Chronicles called Escape. 

The first book is called Arranged, the overview for that one is here.

CHAPTER ONE

            Adrenaline coursed through Kiara’s veins with such intensity her hands trembled on their own accord. She stifled her labored breathing and prayed that she would not be found. This idea had been foolish…and dangerous; she could see that now, now that it was too late, now that she had been spotted.

            By breaking a simple rule, she had placed herself and those she loved dearly in very real danger.

With that thought, Kiara smashed herself into the dirty brick wall, trying to make herself smaller, willing herself to become one with the shadows. She could feel the harsh brick biting into her back, but pressed even harder. Her eyes flit to the dark night sky and she thanked the heavens for the cloud cover that allowed her to disappear into the darkness; if not for that, the moon would be showing like a spotlight.

Footsteps.

Her heart leapt with fear, someone was coming. Is it him? she wondered. How could he have found me so quickly? She was a fast runner, very fast; however, he had one thing on his side, she didn’t know the city. She was completely out of her element surrounded by buildings and brick.

The footsteps drew closer then she distinguished another set of much lighter, quicker footsteps joining the first. Kiara eyed the gaping mouth of the alley with dread, wishing the wall of the building she was pressed against would open up and swallow her whole.

The muscles in her legs quivered, urging her to run, but she knew that movement would only draw attention. Her safest play was to remain still.

She pulled in a deep breath to calm herself and immediately regretted it. The alleyway was filthy and smelt strongly of rotting garbage and human waste. Ignoring the taste of it in her mouth, she tried desperately to concentrate over the pounding of her heart in her ears to listen.

There was no way that man would be able to find her in the shadows; her dark skin was designed for camouflage, her mind continued to try to reassure her. Then she saw a muzzle come into view. She stopped breathing, hoping they would move on by.

Attached to the muzzle was a furry face. Kiara remembered being told a story about the creature from her mother when she was much younger. It was called a…dog?

The dog continued walking into view, being controlled by a tether; a man held the tether and Kiara eyed the pair wearily. This was not the man that spotted her the first time; so despite her circumstances, she relaxed a little.

Then the dog lifted its nose into the air and sniffed. Tension made Kiara stiff. Will he smell me over the filth of the alley? In her mind, she urged him onward, biting her lip to keep calm.

The animal paused, its master grunting with annoyance as he tugged at the leash.

At that moment, the dog turned its face toward the dark alleyway and began growling.

Kiara’s throat went dry as she watched its hackles stand on end. Perhaps if she remained still she would not be discovered.

The dog lowered itself slightly, growling louder and pulling back its lips to reveal sharp, white teeth. It took a few quick steps forward, straining against its tether and barking loudly. The sound echoed through the alley, resounding to sound a hundred times louder than it was.

“Who’s down there?” the owner called out. Kiara could hear the nervous quiver under the loud show of bravado; the man was nervous.

Nevertheless, he was human and Kiara couldn’t chance being seen by another. Finally, she gave into the tension coiled in her muscles and turned to run the opposite direction. The dog barked angrily, obviously not understanding what she was.

Kiara clung to the shadows and ran as fast as she dared. The human began to tug at the tether. “C-come on boy,” he said.

She kept one eye on them and the other searched the dead end for a door or anything she could use to defend herself.

Her eyes skimmed across the filth-coated ground. There was a large container with bags of smelly garbage overflowing out of it; a few bags were split open, garbage littering the ground and filling the air with another layer of stench. The trash bin was hardly tall enough to help her scale the wall, even with her superior bound. A pile of cloth lay beside the dumpster.

As she drew closer, the pile suddenly shifted and she bit back a scream as a withered hand came into view. She quickly backed into the shadows, trying to ignore the smell of putrid waste that threatened to suffocate her.

The man in the pile of cloth shifted again and she heard a haggard cough. Desperately, her eyes skimmed the wall again; there was no way out but the way she’d come. She was trapped by humans at both ends.

“Who’s there?” the coughing sounded again. “I don’ want no trouble.”

She watched the hand disappear into the pile, only to be replaced by the whole arm and shoulder. He was coming out!

Kiara dashed around the corner, praying that the dog was gone. To her relief, the alley was clear. She sighed shakily, knowing she wasn’t out of danger yet. The man from the park had spotted her and given chase and he was still out there.

If there was one thing she knew for sure, it was that she couldn’t stay in this alley; she’d be trapping herself with no exit and making herself easy prey.

Creeping to the mouth of the alleyway, her violet eyes cautiously peered around. The cobble streets were dark; only a few street lanterns glowed, breaking up the shadows at planned intervals. She saw no one around, not even the man and his dog. The buildings surrounding her remained quiet and loomed above her like sleeping giants.

She peered fearfully. Would someone spot her from above if she ran? That was a chance she’d have to take. She needed to get out of the city and back into the forest.

Quieter than a whisper, she slid out of the alleyway. Now, she was grateful for all of the dance training she’d had that taught her to be light on her feet. Back at home, she had grumbled at the thought of endless hours practicing the same moves over and over.

She dipped carefully into the shadows, gulping in a huge lung-full of clean air.

At that moment, a trio of men with lanterns stepped around the block corner. Kiara froze. She recognized the man in the lead. Even in the dark, his broad shoulders and long bushy beard gave him away, the man from the park!

As silently as she could, Kiara moved to slip behind a bush for cover. However, as if he were watching the shadows, the broad shouldered man zeroed in on her.

“There!” he said quickly, pointing directly at her and without pause, the trio began to run.

All thoughts of secrecy forgotten, Kiara darted down the street. People could explain away seeing a “creature” in the night, but if she were caught, her entire race would be in danger of being hunted down until they were all killed.

Humans had a way of destroying what they didn’t understand; it happened out of fear mostly. Kiara thought back to the gruesome history of her people and knew just how violent humans could be.

She padded quickly down the sidewalk, thankful for the dimly lit streets because some coverage was better than none. The sound of the three men charging after her resounded through the air. Their breathing was becoming labored as they tried to keep up with her.

Kiara not only had a head start, but she was used to moving around quickly as she flowed with the movement of the street, instead of pounding against it.

She tore around a corner and nearly slammed into an elderly couple. The woman gasped as she was nearly trampled. The man adjusted his glasses, but by then, Kiara was already ducking around the next corner. Her chest heaved as she looked desperately for a place to hide. The street was bare, therefore providing her with no cover.

As a last resort, she climbed up a thin tree and pulled herself into the branches, trying to camouflage herself in the leaves.

The tree was hardly any help to hide her; she had to do something. Forcing herself to concentrate around her frazzled nerves, she willed the tree to listen to her and bend. Normally, she was much kinder to nature when she wanted something done, but time was of the essence. She flexed her jaw as the tree began to groan and bend its branches around her to help shield her from the street below.

When Kiara opened her eyes, she was more out of breath than before; nevertheless, she was better hidden. She hoped that the men would be so busy running that they would simply pass her by.

She could hear their footsteps pounding the sidewalk. The sound echoed off the surrounding buildings. It was a miracle that no one had come out of their houses, with all this noise.

They appeared below her and she held her breath, her hands gripping the branches tightly, ready to spring if necessary.

To her relief, they continued past, their hard eyes scanning the shadows as they ran. Kiara didn’t let out a breath until they were well down the block.

Coming to the city was a horrible idea. If she survived this, her father would punish her severely. In fact, the entire council would punish her.

She pushed her thoughts away. Now was not the time to wallow in the consequences, now was the time to escape.

The trio had almost reached the corner. How long until they discovered she wasn’t there? Wasting no time waiting to find out, she slid from her perch quietly. Her feet touched down and she crept the opposite way of them. The elderly couple had gone, probably deciding there was too much excitement tonight for them.

Kiara darted back the way she had come. She hated backtracking, but the men hunting her were headed the other way. As she rushed past the alley she had hidden in, she shuddered at the thought of the dirt and grime. Humans are disgusting.

Hurrying past the alley, careful to stick to the shadows, she peered around the block corner.

No one in sight.

Hope began to bloom. Maybe she could get herself out of this mess.

All of a sudden, a dog barked in the apartment above her. She nearly jumped out of her skin then clung tightly to the wall. It barked louder, followed by a light turning on in the window.

Without a second thought, Kiara rushed across the cobblestone street, just as the three men came into view. It seemed they had circled the block. She heard a cry of triumph as they spotted her.

Kiara picked up her speed, disappearing behind another house. Her eyes darted around wildly for a place to hide. There! A block down was the park she had originally hidden in to watch the humans.

Her heart raced with adrenaline. If she made it to the trees, she would have a greater chance of disappearing. Giving it everything she had, she pumped her arms as she breezed through the short alleyway.

Footfalls sounded behind her. Two sets. A frown stretched over her mouth, wasn’t there three men?

She ignored the thought and kept going. She was only a few yards from the mouth of the alley. She launched herself over a fallen trash bin and smiled; the humans wouldn’t stand a chance once she was in the trees.

She chanced a glance behind her shoulder. The man with broad shoulders and one of his cronies weren’t far behind, but Kiara could tell they were tiring fast.

When she turned back around, she gasped in surprise. There, at the mouth of the alley, was the third man, breathing heavily, but blocking her way and trapping her between the three. By the time she realized what was happening, it was too late to stop, too late to dodge.

Her world seemed to slow down as she slammed into him. Immediately, his arms wrapped around her, securing her. However, her momentum made him lose his footing and they fell, hard.

Kiara squeezed her eyes shut; her hands flew out to brace herself. The man twisted, trying to catch himself while keeping a hold of her. As they landed, Kiara slammed harder into him, her palms skidding painfully into the ground. A grunt sounded from him as he slammed his elbow into the street. As their bodies collided, her head knocked hard into his. Pain flashed through her and at that moment, her heart froze.

They caught me, she thought and then her world went dark. 

There's a little teaser for you. The rest of the book is in the works. Let me know what you guys think!

Add a "Soundtrack" to your Story

Ever been listening to a song that hits you so deep that you look out the window and pretend that you're in a movie? 

Come on, we all do it!

Or have you ever watched a dramatic movie and afterwards the scenes keep playing in your head and the soundtrack sticks with you for days?

Maybe you even think about how you would have ended it differently?

These times are best used for your writing!

It amazes me how much music can affect your mood day to day. 

The same can be said about writing.

If I have an adventurous song on with a very energetic beat, I feel like my writing comes out more pumped up and full of juicy descriptions.

On the flip-side, if I am writing a heart wrenching scene, I like to listen to haunting slow songs. 

I like to think of this as putting a "soundtrack" to my story.

I used to write to silence, but now that I've tried music, I find that I can write for longer periods of time without burning out.

I'M NEVER GOING BACK TO SILENCE!

Sometimes, I will find the perfect song to what I am writing and will end up playing it on a loop.

I've even...made myself cry doing this. Don't judge! haha

If you're not already convinced, here's another plus to listening to music while you write, it cancels out other noise around you.

Like the lawn mower next-door, the annoying little brother, or the sports channel on in the front room.

Use music to pull you out of every day life and take you to another place, one where YOU control what happens.

If you have a problem concentrating on writing due to lyrical music, try classical, or my favorites, soundtrack music.

You tube, Pandora, iTunes, etc...are full of awesome music of all genres that will help inspire your work.

If you've never tried it before, give it a shot!

What are you waiting for?

Try adding a "soundtrack" to your story, it just might give you the awesome boost you need to make your story GREAT!

Here are a few of my favorite songs to write to:

Adventure/Action

Drumming Song- Florence and the Machine

When I'm Small- Phantogram

Midnight City- M83

Do I Wanna Know- Arctic Monkeys

Elastic Heart- Sia

Breath of Life- Florence and the Machine  

Intro- The Xx

Gladiator Soundtrack

Pirates of the Caribbean Soundtrack

Haunting/Love

My Love- Sia

Words- Skylar Grey

Hymns to the Sea- James Horner (Instrumental)

Young and Beautiful- Lana Del Rey

Stay- Rihanna

Breathe Again- Sarah Barellis

Origami Crane- Trevor Hale

Waterfall- Enya (Instrumental)

The Approaching Night- Phillip Wesley (Instrumental)

Mystery/Dark

Seven Devils- Florence and the Machine

Loretta Young Silks- Sneaker Pimps

Hello- Evanescence 

Jack and Sally Montague- Danny Elfman (Instrumental)

Walk the Rain- Sneaker Pimps

Sentimentos- Andres Linetzkey (Instrumental)

There's a little bit to get you going. 

If you have songs that you love to listen to while writing, I'd love to hear about them.

Please comment the name of the song and I'll check it out. 

I love finding new music!