FILLING THE BLANK PAGE

When I began writing my first story, I faced the blank page and sat, staring at it for some time. I was hesitant, thinking, am I confident enough to tell the story? Do I really know how to create characters that face the difficulties of life, in a time and place designed by me? I needed advice from other authors, past and present, and began by searching the internet for guidance.  I found an article on quotes they wrote, and read all of them. They inspired me to type MY FIRST WORDS on that blank page.

Below are a few inspirational quotes, I want to share with you and hope they help you as they did me, to fill that first blank page:

 “YOU CAN FIX ANYTHING BUT A BLANK PAGE”…Nora Roberts

 “I START WITH A QUESTION. THEN TRY TO ANSWER IT.”    Mary Lee Settle

“FILL YOUR PAPER WITH THE BREATHING OF YOUR HEART”…William Wadsworth

“IT’S NONE OF THEIR BUSINESS THAT YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO WRITE. LET THEM THINK YOU WERE BORN THAT WAY”…Ernest Hemingway

“I KEPT ALWAYS TWO BOOKS IN MY POCKET, ONE TO READ, ONE TO WRITE IN”…Robert Louis Stevenson

“THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN LIFE IS TO STOP SAYING I WISH, AND START SAYING I WILL.” …Charles Dickens

“START WRITING NO MATTER WHAT!  THE WATER DOES NOT FLOW UNTIL THE FAUCET IS TURNED ON.”…Louis L’Amour

My thanks to author CHELLE STEIN, for providing these Quotes.   

 Paula

THE MOST IMPORTANT WORD IN THE STATE OF THE UNION IS…UNION

TIME TO VOTE

Tomorrow, November 3, 2020, Americans Vote.

We are one people—one nation,

voting  for our  choice, together, Unified, to select the President of our United States, as well as local candidates .

It is a privilege we, as Americans enjoy and should be proud to participate in.  We live in a great county, with many opportunities, and benefits.

Remember those who fought and died for this privilege and honor them by voting.

And regardless of who wins, be proud you voted and support those who did. 

YOUR VOTE MATTERS.

Paula

HALLOWEEN EVE

Halloween is almost here
When haunted houses reappear
The children all scream with fear
When goblins and witches disappear

The vampires flee into the night
To hunt for prey and take a bite
The skeletons dance with delight
While those who watch quiver in fright

The bats and spiders share the thrill
To fly and crawl and cause a chill
After the fun and scare, and all is still
Youngsters still have a bag to fill

The children walk door to door
Neighbor to neighbor, floor to floor
As they have done the year before
Filling bags with treats and more

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, Paula
 

Do you believe that most people do not have a passion? They go day to day doing what they think is necessary.

Passion is a mixture of a strong need, a hunger to learn, the spirit of I can do it, and the fortitude to, never give up.

Writers are passionate people. You can find them sitting at a computer keyboard pounding out their soul and forming images created by their imagination. Writers are endowed with inspiration and committed to explore the events occurring in a human’s lifetime; constantly working towards understanding phenomena; opening new doors by creating visions in our minds, that give us purpose..

Passionate writings deal with life’s fears and goals, sharing inspiration, and can motivate readers to improve their lives. Passionate writers dig deep into their own souls, to use words, descriptions, and information, that will connect to readers.

To become a passionate writer, one must learn to accept the events of all humanity, whether evil or good, as a learning tool, allowing you, the writer, to change what is wrong, and express your admiration for achievements that promote good, using only words.

It is not easy being a writer.  Your work needs, editing, sometimes re-writing, correcting punctuation errors, and other changes. But, that comes later.  First, sit at that keyboard, and START WRITING!

TELL ME:  ARE YOU A PASSIONATE WRITER?

PAULA

Today is a sad day for me; I know my sadness will last until I say something.  I have, for so long, held in all my sadness but sitting outside in a warm late September day, I am finally going to talk to many someones*(everyone)

Why I am sad?  Because so much sadness is going on in this world today, and I can no longer pretend to be happy when I am not.

I am sad and will always be, for those lost in another useless war and the veterans who come home, maimed, and missing their family, children they never saw, and all they held dear, to defend a country, who like all the others in this world, faces continuous disagreements resulting in a continuous war. I once thought World War II was the last war, but I was wrong. 

I am sad for those who live in a never- ending poverty…children starving…facing one epidemic after another, with little or no relief in sight.

I am sad that all people are not born equal, and that religion, race, and nation, have a bearing on how they are treated.

I am sad for all of us who have lost loved ones, through sickness, war, pandemic, or tragedy, never to see or speak to their loved one again.

I am sad when I read of Americans, young and old,  hurting other Americans, without just cause.

My tears flow for all of them, myself included.

. I have kept my faith through the years while Americans damage the very towns they live in; where politicians are more interested in winning, than helping their country grow; where rules are broken, and veterans mistreated during a pandemic and the elderly considered useless.

Yes, we donate; we help as best we can thru wonderful companies who take responsibility for us humans in need, but more must be done. WE ARE AMERICANS!  WE LOVE OUR COUNTRY, ALL OF IT, AND IT’S PEOPLE WHO FOUGHT AND STILL FIGHT TO PROTECT ITS BELIEFS.

IT’S TIME TO STAND UP AMERICA—STOP THE PROTESTS-—WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE A SOLUTION,

THERE IS NO YOU, OR ME— THERE IS US!  WE THE PEOPLE!

PAULA

HOW TO WRITE A GOOD HOOK

All books have a beginning…middle…and an end.  The first line of your Novel should be an amazing and astonishing sentence, resulting in hooking the reader into reading what happens next. The first Chapter should set the mood and end with a cliffhanger..

The following, are a few great books with popular first lines, we all remember.

Let us start with the opening paragraph of Charles Dickens “TALE OF TWO CITIES…”It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…” The hook tells the reader it is a time of political unrest which led to the French revolution.

From “NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN” “I sent one boy to the gas chamber at Huntsville” The hook here is, he is a good man, working covertly around bad men, and this torments him.

“It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen” from  1984, by George Orwell’s dystopian novel.  Clocks turning thirteen tell the reader this is an out of the ordinary novel.

-Keep in mind when writing your first line that today’s readers have busy lives, want instant gratification, and have dozens of other books to choose from, so your novel needs to grab the reader immediately.

Begin at an important event in the life of your protagonist. With my novel, I began with my main character, who is a college student, involved in a serious automobile accident resulting in her hospitalization, where she is fighting for her life.

1. Set the mood and place of your protagonist.  In my novel, she is placed in a Medically induced coma, due to possible brain damage, and there is the possibility she will not finish her last year of college and have a career

  2.    Have a compelling voice when using first person in a character driven story. She is driven to complete college, go on for a Masters and be independent.

     3.    Hint at the beginning that trouble surrounds her, a domineering parent; a stalker (her former boyfriend), and injuries that may prevent her from a career she wants.

    4.     Your main character should be relatable, similar to people you know, with everyday lives, dreams, and ambitions. She should be conflicted in some way, and having difficulty overcoming obstacles. However, refrain from telling all.

   5.      End the first chapter with a cliffhanger.  The reader will ask “What happens, and will want to read more.

                        Here’s to an amazing first line hook, Paula