Hallmark Movie Plot Generator

It's that time of year already! So for you writers and romantics, here's the shortcut to figuring out every Hallmark Christmas movie plot.

Never stop exploring

 

Making a difference

 

With the release of “The Musketeers: All For One,” I have decided that my book could not only be a great summer read but could help an organization aimed at bringing awareness to ovarian cancer as well with half my royalties going to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.

To purchase an eBook download or paperback copy, go to amazon.com and search the title and author, or go to www.amazon.com/Musketeers-All-James-R-Lawrence-ebook/dp/B095XXT9X2/.

Thanks for your support!

A shout out to all those who purchased my book to help fight ovarian cancer. It is not too late to help make a difference.

To purchase an eBook download or paperback copy, go to amazon.com and search the title and author, or go to www.amazon.com/Musketeers-All-James-R-Lawrence-ebook/dp/B095XXT9X2/.

I am donating 50 percent of all my royalties from my paperback and eBook sales in the month of June to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC). More information about NOCC can be found at www.ovarian.org/.

What's in a name?

 I want you to know that it is okay to have your name in BIG LETTERS. 

Too often, I see the book title in a gigantic size and the author's name is an afterthought, small print at the bottom or top of the page. But it is time you start thinking like a professional writer--no, a celebrity. Because your book is about you as much as it is about anything in the book. 

Look at a James Patterson novel or Stephen King, heck, look at any of your favorite books and you will see the author's name is as big as the title if not BIGGER. The writers are the stars, the celebrities. And sometimes, people are not buying your book because they can't wait to see what happens to your heroine in Act Three, but they are buying it because you wrote it. 

It is not vanity, it is marketing. You want readers to know your name. So, stop hiding it on the cover and proudly display it. 

Summer Read suggestion

 Looking for a fun summer read? My book is now available!

And I am donating 50 percent of all my royalties from my paperback and eBook sales in the month of June to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC).

“The Musketeers: All For One” follows the adventures of D’Artagnan and his friends who band together to stop a plot to kill the Queen in this epic novel about the gray areas between good and evil.

To purchase an eBook download or paperback copy, go to amazon.com and search the title and author, or go to www.amazon.com/Musketeers-All-James-R-Lawrence-ebook/dp/B095XXT9X2/.

All For One against Ovarian Cancer

NEW RELEASE

With the release of “The Musketeers: All For One,” I have decided that my book could not only entertain readers but help an organization aimed at bringing awareness to ovarian cancer.

My reasons are personal as my wife, just four months after our wedding, was diagnosed with Stage Three ovarian cancer. And although she beat the odds, together we wanted to help other women in prevention and support.

I am donating 50 percent of all my royalties from my paperback and eBook sales in the month of June to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC), which began in 1995 to save lives through the prevention and cure of ovarian cancer and to improve quality of life for Survivors and their Caregivers.

More than 22,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year, and over 14,000 women die from the disease. Unfortunately, most cases are diagnosed in later stages when the prognosis is poor. More information about NOCC can be found at www.ovarian.org/.

“The Musketeers: All For One” follows the adventures of D’Artagnan and his friends who band together to stop a plot to kill the Queen in this epic novel about the gray areas between good and evil.

To purchase an eBook download or paperback copy, go to amazon.com and search the title and author, or go to www.amazon.com/Musketeers-All-James-R-Lawrence-ebook/dp/B095XXT9X2/.

 I am 2/3 complete with my latest novel and have already reached 70,000 words and 300 pages! It will be by far the longest and most exciting book I have ever written. I can't wait to complete it.

 

Icebergs

A great mystery is like an iceberg. We find most of the truth below the surface.

The trick of writing a great mystery/suspense is to tell the reader everything they need to know without them realizing you told them everything they need to know.
Provide clues that double as representing something important to the overall plot.

For example, in my current novel, "Mr. REE, Detective," a teenage girl finds a barrette in the elevator, which makes her feel pretty and stops the annoying comments by her dad's girlfriend to brush her hair. It is however a major clue to the identity of the killer and isn't even a barrette at all!

Creating your characters' back stories

There are many questions you should ask yourself as you develop your main and supporting characters to ensure they become well-developed.

Some questions are basic like how old is the person, what do they look like, what are their names.  But more serious questions can give your characters and story far more depth. You might here it referred to as 'back story,' but each of us are the total sum of our life's experience. So, therefore, you need to know things like:

1. Did he/she have a happy childhood? If not, why not?

2. What were some of their past relationships like with friends or partners? What were the dynamics?

3. What things are important to them in their lives that may or may not be important to the plot, such as loves books or hates dogs.

4. What is the biggest fears in their life? Being alone? Death? Insurance salesmen?

5. What are they most obsessed with? Television? Running marathons? Drinking?

6. What was the biggest moment in their life and why?

7. What was the worst moment in their life and why?

8. What is their biggest secret and does anyone else know it?

9. Who do they trust?

10. What one word would describe them?


I always advise a writer to plan out their characters in great detail when possible. It is just my suggestion. I hope these tips help you some way.

Quote of the Week

Creating Arc of Character

One of the best pieces of advice I had ever been given regarding creating a well-rounded character was to offer each character four questions, which all required a different answer. This works in every genre.

1. What do you HAVE?

2. What do you WANT?

3. What do you NEED?

4. What do you GET?

Each character needs to GROW, and discover what really is important to them in the course of the story.  If the character's desires and needs remain the same, what was the point, for the character to be able to say, "See I was right all along!"

ie. JAWS: Chief Brody

HAVE-Fear of water/Abilities doubted by citizens & himself
WANT-To protect the people of Amity & prove himself
NEED-Overcome Fear of water in order to kill shark
GET-Respect of citizens & himself

It could apply to overcoming a challenge or it may be simply directions in their life. For instance, Doc Hollywood, with Michael J. Fox--"A young doctor on his way across the country to a job interview crashes his car in a small town and is sentenced to work for several days at the town hospital." The doctor's goal is to head to Hollywood for success and fun lifestyle but he ends up falling in love with a small town and its inhabitants, which is the polar opposite of his initial want.

Now consider the main character in your favorite book.  Does she or he have a different answer for each of these questions? Then consider your own characters. It is a great way to make your character well-rounded and of course more interesting!

Quote of the Week

I'm Back!

It's been 20 years since I wrote my first novel, Echoes in the Wind. It's still available on Barnes & Noble online, and still an important part of my development as an author. 

But, as you all know, at some point, life happens. I got married, I had two children which I am still raising, got divorced, got remarried. In between then and now, I wrote stage plays, lyrics, screenplays, acted and directed. I needed a creative outlet--even if it was part time. 

Life hasn't really slowed down, but I once again have come to a crossroad in my life when I decided it's now or never to make that dream come true. 

I'm now working on my mystery book series, featuring the questionably brilliant R. Edwin Easley and his precocious 14-year-old daughter Reggie. 

So, I'm returning to the novel. The first in the mystery series is Mr. REE, DETECTIVE. Here I go.