Very exciting! Can't believe how fast that year went by.
If you'd like to find a daily pocket of peace in this chaotic world, and wish to buy my book for yourself or as a gift (Christmas is coming rapidly!), then it's available from Amazon Paperback, Kindle, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, iTunes.
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This month's optional IWSG question: Have you ever slipped any of your personal information into your characters, either by accident or on purpose?
Maybe not my bank account information, but there's certainly aspects of me in every character. Thankfully I am, along with everyone else, a creature of complexity, so I can draw from many aspects. In my opinion, it's unavoidable. We see the world through our own eyes, even when we try to see it through someone else's. We are the sum of our experiences. To write, we tap into what we know based on what we have observed and experienced and from what we've heard others experience. We then mash all that input together and process it in a way only we uniquely know how. This knowledge becomes a part of who we are. We influence and are influenced. Consequently our interpretation of the world has to come out in our writing. Pieces of ourselves and others get mixed into our characters. What I haven't done is create a character wholly based on my perception of "me" or the "me" of a specific someone. All my characters are based on a mix.
Every first Wednesday of the month the members of the IWSG post on their blogs about their writing insecurities or offer some encouragement to others. If you are new to the IWSG, then please go HERE to find out more and join up.
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From writing to publishing to marketing, the Insecure Writer's Support Group members provide tips on making money as a writer. This free guide represents the spirit of the IWSG - to encourage and support writers everywhere! It is our hope that this book will benefit you as a writer, no matter where you are in the journey.
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Good point that characters are based on our interpretation of the world. Someone else mentioned not writing a main character with vastly different views and morals from our own. And I know I never would.
ReplyDeleteHappy one year to Cling to God! I have my copy.
I've written main characters with vastly different morals than my own, but only in short stories. I don't think I could spend that kind of time with that kind of character for a novel, though.
DeleteI agree it's not possible to avoid putting something of ourselves into our writing. I think that's a good thing - it gives each writer a unique voice.
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly right. There aren't any new stories, but plenty of unique voices.
DeleteA whole year! You'll be delighted to know the weekend of the book festival, Dancing Lemur Press sold out of your book FIRST. Since we are also reading it every night, it was my husband who made each sale, as he's really enjoying the little dose of God right before we go to sleep.
ReplyDeleteI'll respond to everyone's comments a bit later, but I had to leave a response now before I have to head off... I'm so thrilled to hear my book was the first to sell out. And I'm super chuffed your husband is loving my book also. Thank you again for making another one of my days :)
DeleteHappy Birthday to your book Cling to God! I have it and can say it is a devotional that radiates peace and hope.
ReplyDeleteAll the best.
Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange
Thank you so much, Pat. That means a lot to me.
DeleteSo agree with what you said about how parts of us are in our writing. Happy Book Birthday! And awesome that Diane sold out on your book first.
ReplyDeleteJust got the Anthology on writing for profit. Hope it'll help with my insecurities.
I'm so thrilled my book did so well at the festival.
DeleteThat is very true. Can't help but get some of us in there. A year is a grand thing to celebrate too!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pat. I'm still in shock it has been a year already.
DeleteThis raises an interesting point, and possibly more fodder for my characters: I can create them based on other's perceptions of me, not just my own. Great post and congrats on your release!
ReplyDeleteFodder comes from anywhere and everywhere ;)
DeleteThanks, Raimey.
Happy book birthday! I love the idea of celebrating for a whole month. Hmm, might have to implement that plan.... :)
ReplyDeleteCelebration should always be a long-term enjoyment.
DeleteHappy Book Birthday, Lynda. I love the idea of celebrating for the whole month. I'm going to do that now. I agree that there are aspects of us in all our characters :)
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear! I love spreading the joy.
DeleteHi Lynda - yes we must celebrate moments in our lives - and your book is special to many - so congratulations ... and here's to many more - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Hilary
DeleteHappy book birthday! :) And yes, I think we all slip in a bit of ourselves into our characters whether we realize it or not.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Christine
DeleteI like it when writers include parts of their personal lives/selves in their stories and characters. For example, the writer Jhumpa Lahiri has written several stories about professors and grad students; I think it's because she earned more than one master's degree and understands how they think.
ReplyDeleteUnderstanding how another thinks is key to authenticity.
DeleteHappy first birthday to your book!
ReplyDeleteThere's some of me in all my characters, too. The dark side shines brighter in a few.
You made me chuckle that your dark side shines brighter in a few.
DeleteYaaaaay, congrats on your book's birthday #1!! (wow, time flies!) And yep, I'm hidden in my characters in one form or another too. Some of it is accidental and some is on purpose. :) Take care!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carol. We can't help putting parts of ourselves in our characters.
DeleteCalling it a mix is accurate for me as well. Happy book and personal birthday to you. Enjoy your month. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnna from elements of emaginette
Thanks, Anna. I plan to make it a wonderful month.
DeleteCongrats on you book birthday! You're right that time goes fast - I thought you just released it...
ReplyDeleteYou answered the question excellently. We can't help aspects of our experience coming out in what we write, it's a subconscious thing.
Yeah, it feels like I just released it...
DeleteCongratulations on your book birthday, Lynda. The time went so fast. Love your answer. I agree 100%. Happy IWSG.
ReplyDeleteHappy IWSG to you too. Thanks, Joylene.
DeleteMy experience is similar - lots of bits of me but no ME in my story :)
ReplyDeleteexactly!! Big hugs :)
DeleteCongrats on the birthday of your book! I do agree - we are creatures of complexity. I'm not sure everyone appreciates how rich and nuanced we are as individuals, and how mining those layers of experience can create depth in our characters.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Only a few understand the true richness of the species.
DeleteHappy Birthday to your book! My daughter and I will be needing a new devo for January 1 so I’m going to check it out.
ReplyDeleteWonderful! I hope it lifts your world a little.
DeleteWhat a wonderful tradition to celebrate a birthday for an entire month. Happy book release birthday :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's a good tradition.
DeleteHappy Book Birthday! I can't believe it's been a year already.
ReplyDeleteI, too, believe there are bits of me in all my characters.
Yeah, I can't believe it's been a year already too. It went crazy fast.
DeleteThe human animal is indeed complex and so too should our characters be. It's so wonderful your book has been out a year already. More power to you, Lynda! Enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Victoria.
DeleteHappy Birthday Devotion Book. Wahoo! Great post. I like what Alex said. I guess really characters if the MC normal share core values in some form with me. Had not thought about it like that before.
ReplyDeleteJuneta @ Writer's Gambit
Thanks, Juneta. Often our characters surprise us in one way or another.
DeleteCongratulations on the book anniversary. Will there be any cake?
ReplyDeleteThere is always cake. Homemade yummy cake. The best kind.
DeleteHappy birthday to your book! How exciting.
ReplyDeleteYes, there are pieces of the writer in everything she writes.
Happy Book Birthday, Lynda!
ReplyDeleteA year? Already?
Enjoy your month-long celebration.
I don't have a character that's wholly me, either. That would be too much like non-fiction, or a fictional memoir!
ReplyDeleteCling to God is a good book. Happy Birthday to a lovely book of devotion.
ReplyDeleteI too agree that even when we try to see things the way others do, we see the world in our own special way.
Happy Book Birthday! I bought it a couple month's ago.
ReplyDeleteI know that using real life touches makes my contemporary stories more realistic. Congrats on your books and Happy Birthday!
ReplyDelete