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Books with Dave and Angie Smuin
United States
Registrace 30. 05. 2022
We help you create and discover books that have a purpose.
We are a husband/wife writing team. We help people write through teaching, encouragement, and sharing writing insights.
“The Creatives” is our newsletter where we share tips for creatives, an exclusive story, info about our books, videos, and personal news. We would love to have you join and be encouraged. subscribepage.io/aOyk47
Find out more about us by visiting out website smuinmedia.com/
We also do book reviews, share our TBR lists, and discuss publishing.
We have published two fiction books and five non-fiction books. We are currently preparing to publish 4 more books!
We are a husband/wife writing team. We help people write through teaching, encouragement, and sharing writing insights.
“The Creatives” is our newsletter where we share tips for creatives, an exclusive story, info about our books, videos, and personal news. We would love to have you join and be encouraged. subscribepage.io/aOyk47
Find out more about us by visiting out website smuinmedia.com/
We also do book reviews, share our TBR lists, and discuss publishing.
We have published two fiction books and five non-fiction books. We are currently preparing to publish 4 more books!
How to Fix Boring Characters in 10-minutes
In this video, we share our 10-minute character sketch to keep your characters from being boring, flat, or shallow. This is a writing tip you need to know about.
Grap Your Copy - 10 Minute Character Sketch PDF subscribepage.io/sketch
This is a fast and effective way to keep your protagonist, antagonist, and supporting characters from being boring, flat, or shallow.
This 10 Minute Character Sketch will help you transform your characters from mundane to memorable. Tune in to learn how to make your characters truly awesome!
Transform your boring characters into unforgettable legends!
Stay tuned for valuable advice on character development that will take your storytelling to the next level.
Stay tuned for more writing tips and writing advice on our channel! Check out our website for more information about our writer's group and newsletter. While you are there, be sure to sign up for the newsletter, which is packed with writing tips, writing advice, and so much more.
smuinmedia.com/
Self publishing can be hard, don't go it alone. Follow us through the process. We have self published seven books. Some are fiction, and some are non-fiction. We are here to assist in the self publishing and writing process.
00:00 Introduction
00:30 10-Minute Character Interview
03:30 Physical Attributes
04:40 Temperament
06:13 Social
07:32 History/Backstory
08:53 Motivation
09:55 Variety
11:35 Based on This Interview
~~~~~~~
Books and videos mentioned in this video.
Creating instant character connection; Writing Tips - czcams.com/video/Lzg53mcmYwI/video.html
Mastering Character Development: 5 Essential Tips for Your Writing -
czcams.com/video/_rWNhKyVM60/video.html
Some links are affiliate links, which means if you buy something, we receive a small
commission. Your price doesn’t increase. Thanks for supporting the channel.
~~~~~~~
Connect with us
smuinmedia.com/
FollowAngieSmuin
angiesmuin
~~~~~~~
Books by Dave and Angie Smuin
Fiction:
Shimmer - amzn.to/3i57L9Q
Redemptions Price - amzn.to/3VxA1jf
Non-Fiction:
Intentional Motherhood - amzn.to/3jByDPm
Intentional Motherhood Daily Journal - amzn.to/42hnyW4
Intentional Discipleship - amzn.to/3hZvtnW
The Spirit of Truth - amzn.to/4aBhZoZ
~~~~~~~
#Writingvlog #booktube #authortube #writingtips #self publishing
Grap Your Copy - 10 Minute Character Sketch PDF subscribepage.io/sketch
This is a fast and effective way to keep your protagonist, antagonist, and supporting characters from being boring, flat, or shallow.
This 10 Minute Character Sketch will help you transform your characters from mundane to memorable. Tune in to learn how to make your characters truly awesome!
Transform your boring characters into unforgettable legends!
Stay tuned for valuable advice on character development that will take your storytelling to the next level.
Stay tuned for more writing tips and writing advice on our channel! Check out our website for more information about our writer's group and newsletter. While you are there, be sure to sign up for the newsletter, which is packed with writing tips, writing advice, and so much more.
smuinmedia.com/
Self publishing can be hard, don't go it alone. Follow us through the process. We have self published seven books. Some are fiction, and some are non-fiction. We are here to assist in the self publishing and writing process.
00:00 Introduction
00:30 10-Minute Character Interview
03:30 Physical Attributes
04:40 Temperament
06:13 Social
07:32 History/Backstory
08:53 Motivation
09:55 Variety
11:35 Based on This Interview
~~~~~~~
Books and videos mentioned in this video.
Creating instant character connection; Writing Tips - czcams.com/video/Lzg53mcmYwI/video.html
Mastering Character Development: 5 Essential Tips for Your Writing -
czcams.com/video/_rWNhKyVM60/video.html
Some links are affiliate links, which means if you buy something, we receive a small
commission. Your price doesn’t increase. Thanks for supporting the channel.
~~~~~~~
Connect with us
smuinmedia.com/
FollowAngieSmuin
angiesmuin
~~~~~~~
Books by Dave and Angie Smuin
Fiction:
Shimmer - amzn.to/3i57L9Q
Redemptions Price - amzn.to/3VxA1jf
Non-Fiction:
Intentional Motherhood - amzn.to/3jByDPm
Intentional Motherhood Daily Journal - amzn.to/42hnyW4
Intentional Discipleship - amzn.to/3hZvtnW
The Spirit of Truth - amzn.to/4aBhZoZ
~~~~~~~
#Writingvlog #booktube #authortube #writingtips #self publishing
zhlédnutí: 33
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i tried out the questions on the older brother in my story a lot of the questions i already know but seeing them put down helped me get a better picture of him hardest questions was strengths weaknesses and unique qualities crying is seen as a weakness to some but a strength to others if you use independent was a strength you can get stuff done without having to wait around for others but if can be used as a weakness you don't consider others just do what you want hope you has as much fun reading my comments as i do writing them
I love your comments! I also love that you did it for one of your characters.
as for me i don't know if i am a introvert or extrovert i seem to be both if i talking to talk to someone when i am out its extremely hard to get talking unless i have know them for a long time or really have something i want to say but when i comment i just can't seem to stop this is probably because i have more time to think about it and i have anonymity in case i make a fool of myself
There are many reasons it may be easier to comment here than to talk in person. This is way less threatening for one. I get it. Thank you for sharing.
some of this questions sound more like something a psychiatrist would asked not just someone trying to get to know you but as the writer it's good to know them something else to add is how to they react when upset like flight or fight or freeze and what triggers them for instance if someone was traumatized by getting burned it might be a sound of or smell that is unrelated to getting burned but it was something that was there at the time it happened the sound of a sing or the smell of a kind of dish soap
That's a really good idea about the flight or fight. And yes, this is based off of our experience as counselors. But we applied it to our character development, so we thought we should share.
sounds good one think i add to mine is how do you see yourself vs how others see you in my story Johnny have a scar on his face so he views himself as ugly but the other don't see him that way
That is a really good addition.
When you do your character interview how long does it take you? I'd love to hear from you how it went!
Your content concept is excellent. ❤❤❤ Can I suggest growing your (CZcams channel)?
Sweet, I love writing sprints. They're a fun thing to do. I mean a fun activity.
Yes, they are! I hope you join us.
Allow me to add ALMOST to this It takes the power out of every sentence.
Yes, almost is probably going to be in a follow-up video. It was on the list for sure, but I narrowed it down for this video. Thank you for commenting.
reading the chats i made makes me realize how tired i was i had one of those up in the middle of the night inspirations the night before
I love those up in the night inspiration moments!
My words are not any specific words, but quite huge problem. 1. Words that are more telling than showing "Girl was beautiful" and 2. words like birds, flowers etc. For example "A bird was singing a sad song" when it should be more like " A robin sang an elegy". I think these are more like tightening the prose and make it more vivid.
That is very true.
about structuring i have watched a lot of videos on it so i do have an idea of it i learned i used some of it already i just didn't know what it was things like a plot twist is something i used even in my early works internal conflict is often a big part of my stories they have a roller coaster of emotions. with my middle grate story im working on i did a lot of thinking before i started because my mom was sick and i was helping her out so i know some of the things that would happen but ones i got started it took on a life of its own and dragging me along for the ride i feel like the characters from inkheart when they just came to live and changed the story
I love that!
i wrote 182 words not bad i do love visiting with you guys its good for me to see even if i mess up something I'm trying to say its not a big deal with commenting i read over it a number of time before posting it and sometimes a still miss something once someone complained i forgot to us a capital I there was a number of others giving that person a heard time about being so petty
It is far too easy to type a mistake and not catch it. I do it too. To pick at someone's chatting is petty. You are welcome to chat with us anytime!!
i heard from young writer they say starting isn't the hard part its finishing it that's hard for me i never had a hard time starting a story and finish most of them but they were just for fun now that i am working on one i wanted to get published i am supper aware of word count and the expectations of middle grade it's a good thing but so odd this is still a story i love and would want to read but i worry others wont enjoy it was much self-doubt is a 2 edge sword it can make you strive to be matter or breeze you in place
Self Doubt is a killer of dreams if we let it! I love what Dori says... Just keep swimming... But in the case of writers... Just keep writing!
I posted my first draft chapter by chapter on Belletristica, only two or three chapters behind my writing. Even though there were only a handful of people who read it, this forced me to continue. Otherwise, I would still procrastinate.
I love this. We tend to actually do something if there are people expecting and waiting for us to do it.
What book do you want to write?
i never do much traveling but i love to learn so i looked up about a lot of different places and cultures right now I,m learning about Native Americans mostly Navajo one of my characters is part Navajo i love my story but am scarred of the cancel cultural group throwing a fit so when i get it done i will have to fine a few batas that are Navajo but i still would like to have you read some of it when it's closer to being
I would love to read it!
i really enjoy writing with you I'm still getting used to the way the life chat is done its harder to see what im writing but its fun not to have to want tell letter to hear what you think of something
I'm so glad. We are getting used to the live chat livestreams as well. We are all learning together.
i always look forward to your content at this point in time i don't have a lot of people in my life so it is good to have someone to talk with
I am so glad.
These are all really great things to cut, and I love that you warn people to think about it before going too crazy. Personally, I would not change "Blazed pulled the blanket up to her neck." to "Blaze pulled the blanket to her neck." since there is actually a difference(though it might not matter with more context). "Pulling to her neck" could be read as clinging to the blanket and pulling it closer to her, rather then lifting it up from say her chest level, up to her neck level.
Those are great insights. It all depends on the context. That's why I stressed the importance of reading and considering whether you want to make the changes.
Your channel is so fantastic. I like the way you teach people how to write. It's so easy to understand. Thank you so much. You look so energetic. I can see it in your eyes.
Thank you. I'm glad you like it. I visited your channel. Your English is excellent. Good job learning English. It's my first language, and I think English is crazy hard to learn! Do you want to write a book? You should write one about your journey to learn English!
I write what I want to write. Reader will not want to read if I don't want to write it. You have to want to write what you are writing about. You have to like and be interested in what you are writing about. What I think you are saying is that even if you like what you are writing, you're not trying only to pleasure yourself, but trying to reach your reader. If you are only about flattering yourself, then it doesn't matter if you like what you write, because people won't want to read it. I have to be interested in the topic I am writing about. No way could I write a mystery because I don't read or like mysteries. I prefer a fantasy, dystopian society/time travel/alien invasion/poetry, or a slice of life, small town type story.
By all means, write what you are interested in, but if you do not have an audience, then no one will read it. There is a balance between writing what you like and writing it in such a way that your target audience wants to read it. I would prefer to write what will actually get read. I also like fantasy and dystopian. The trilogy we have in the publication process right now is dystopian fiction. it is what I enjoy, but we also researched and understood the target audience, so the books are written in such a way that the reader will enjoy and want to read.
@@DaveandAngieSmuin I have read several dystopian novels and while I don't want to write one at the moment, I know that expectations in a dystopian novel are :Society is usually governed by a strict regime and usually, the protagonist is either someone on the inside who is beginning to question the society he lives in-that's my preferred type in a dystopian setting, or an outsider, and also, the bad guy usually wins, or he wins the overall war, but the hero can win a small battle if not the overall war. At the end of Farenheit 451, books are still being burned but Guy Montag finds a society that has memorized the books they burned and he commits to memory the books he's read. If the regime is overthrown, it's usually a long process. I think that you can meet the expectations and find a way to put your own twists and turns on the genre, which is what you want. You want to be as original as possible. But then, no matter how hard you try, there will always be similiarties to your writing and someone else's. I don't think that anything I have ever published has been truly original but just my way of saying what has been said before. And best of luck with your dystopian novel series! I love dystopian societies... In fiction, not in real life.
Thank you.
@@DaveandAngieSmuin you're welcome.
thank you this helps i didn't think my story needed the save the cat in the first part but he does go out of his way to help his new fiend so that might count it is so hard to know what others are expecting and i have heard a lot of writers say save the cat is over used and to avoid it because i have never used story structure in my writing for my enjoyment it is new to me my other stories were freestyle they had plots highs and lows and everything else that goes in a book but never structured them just let the story flow naturally
Our first book was very free-flowing. It did not follow the conventions of story structure. It can be done. I think story structure helps, and I have used it in subsequent books. But there really is no hard and fast rule for how it has to be done. Learn and grow in your understanding of all things writing, and then find your own style and rhythm.
i have a question about save the cat i watched a video that said every main character needs to have one even if they are a nice person they need to go out of their way to do something nice early in the story i could ad something when he is at the fair but i think it would slow down the facing risk losing the reader before the incident that kick starts the rest of the story do i really need to show something like that or let his actions speak for him
Save the Cat is one way to write a story. It is good to understand, but you have to use judgment on whether or not you want to do that in your story. Every story is different. Do what's best for your story.
his one he started laughing and couldn't stop take way the started and it doesn't have the same impact I'm not sure how you would reword this it come after a heavy hearted moment his friend say something to make him laugh
These are words to look at. Each use is different, and there are times when you may want to keep them. When I search for those words in my writing, I go case by case and decide if I want to get rid of them or keep them.
i am excited about the write with me one of the worlds i use in internal dialogue is just grate now and then whatever they are upset about but if you remove just it kind of changes the meaning for something good to bad is this a good use of just or let the rest of the worlds tell it's not a good thing
I'm excited about Write with Me Live, too. I would refer you to my previous comment. Look at each sentence and decide if the word needs to stay or go.
Which word do you use the most in your writing?
"anyway"
ANd also, a character who present an offer to have the character change his or hes life can be used to set the main character on his or he life changing journey. it doesn't always have to be an external force, but it can be an opposing point of view.
That is true as well. There are many ways of propelling your character into terrible trouble and starting their life-changing journey.
@@DaveandAngieSmuin In one of my novels I have the nurse try to take her obese patient to the park and as she's driving, he grabs the steering wheel and the crash and it damages the car and she is beginning to see that not every patient wants to do better. But, she's still determined to do "make him see the light". But this journey makes her more aware that she can't save anyone if they don't want to be.
That is a universal truth.
@@DaveandAngieSmuin yes it is and yet, people still don't learn it.
The sitcom genre is a master at throwing your character's life into chaos. That is the premise of the sitcom-the characters are doing their usual thing and then, bam, something happens to disrupt that routine.
Very true.
I think you can have an interesting character even if he or she doesn't believe in anything, but here is the key-give them a situation where he or she once had values and then, for whatever reason, they were overwhelmed or they became complacent and they abandoned their values. The fun part is to put them in a situation where they can rediscover those lost values. I mostly like a redemption arc where the protagonist-notice I didn't say "hero" or "heroine"-, has to learn to change, or find what he or she lost sight of at one point in tn time? What did they stand for? How do they get back in touch with those once cherished values? What do they need to do to get those values and traits they once had back? Or, you can have a character that has a twisted set of values and he or she has to go on a journey to learn a better way. My favorite example of this is in the 1988 "Scrooged", starring Bill Murray. He starts out as a cold and greedy workacholic who is the president of a cable tv station and his journey with the three ghosts cause him to see the error of his ways. Of course, this story works for me because throughout the movie, we see Frank Cross, exhibit signs of being a basically decent man. Without clues to Frank's basic decency, the story would not have worked for me. A person cannot change from being greedy to being generous right away. It takes time and growth. And while a movie doesn't have as much thought as a novel, for the time I was given to spend with Frank Cross, it worked. And on the reverse side, a character cannot be evil all at once. Darth Vader's storyarc is a great example of that. Unless your villain is meant to represent pure evil, then you need to have some explanation as to why you villain is the way he is. By the way, this is the first video of yours I have seen and not half bad.
Thank you for your thoughts. I like what you have to say and agree with you. There is so much to this topic that I did not cover. I also like your example of the Scrooged movie. A great example of a character that has a huge change of values from beginning to end. You can also have a character that really doesn't change but, in fact, changes the environment around them, as in a flat character arc. There are so many options! Thank you for watching!
@@DaveandAngieSmuin The main character of my novel series is a mostly flat character. He is a morbidly obese man who does nothing much and yet, his inaction causes his nurse to become obsessed with trying to help him. Well, it' the nurse who is the protagonist in this book, but the obese man is the overall protagonist. Anyway, his nurse is alarmed by his inaction. She has always been able to work with the patient she is trying to help, but for the first time ever-she has a patient that doesn't want to change, or says he doesn't and I am glad that you liked my comment. My favorite flat character is Wilbur from Charolette's Web. He takes little to no action, yet he changes the world around him. Also, I think Forrest Gump qualifies. He's the same as he was at the start of the film, yet he influences so much.
Those are both great examples of a flat character arc. And your story sounds interesting and thought provoking.
@@DaveandAngieSmuin thank you. I don't know why, but morbid obesity has always fascinated me and I find my overall protagonist to be interesting because he doesn't really do much and he's sort of like a child in that he always expects others to babysit him.
@@mitchbray6637 I like exploring things like that in stories.
I came across your video and it was quite helpful. I have been a writer for over a decade and yet some tips were completely new to me. Please keep uploading similar content 👍🏼
Thank you. I am so glad you enjoyed the video.
thank you it is nice to have a place i can ask questions about writing i do know some families with kids that age but I'm not really close with them but i will give it a try when i get it done
I'm so glad you can ask your questions here. And I'd love to read it as well and give you feedback.
yes, big picture is so important!
Yes. It can be so easy to get lost in the details and forget to look at the big picture. Thank you for commenting.
right now in my story they are dealing with a lot of sadness Johnny has to go face his mom and he just learned is new friend had a traumatic thing happen to her a few months earlier i don't want to rush the emotional impact but I'm not sure how to tell if it's to long of a time
Remember that the attention span of middle schoolers is pretty short. Stay in the emotional depths long enough but find a way to bounce out of it before you lose the reader. Think highs and lows. But if you are in doubt, I would recommend finding some beta readers who are middle schoolers and getting some feedback.
Thanks, good video.
Glad you liked it!
What pacing issues have you struggled with?
Yes, I wanted to like it but the Captain Marvel movie had an overwhelming problem in its basic premise and structure: the main character is all-but a brainwashed badguy for most of the movie, made to think she is a loyal Kree soldier. That might be a good plot for an antagonist or former friend side character -- but not for the main character. For almost the entire runtime, we never see the "real" Carol Danvers Captain Marvel - we see the brainwashed simulation. The only character we empathize with is Fury, the normal guy reacting to the alien solder. What a dumb movie set up for a film that was supposed to make everyone love Marvel's new main character. (Making it worse was that as soon as "Vers" realizes the problem, she overpowers the device controlling her, gets her full powers back, and easily beats everybody.)
I totally agree!
Isn't there the risk of being predictable by using a structure readers or movie watchers are aware of? If I know who the protagonists are and that they will step out of their comfort zone early and come to the resolution late, it takes away some opportunities, in my opinion. That's why I prefer chaotic stuff like "Sharknado" over well structured mainstream movies like "Jurrassic Park". Maybe someone completely different than thought at the beginning will handle the resolution. (This could be intentionally or just because an actor had a falling out with the producer.) Maybe the resolution comes after 60% and nothing significant happens after, because they had a huge surprise in mind and ran out of time or money before filming it. So, anything can happen at any given time. Of course in written fiction there can't be incidents like a character walking away from the book because he's angry at the author. Then again, characters may develop more potential than originally thought or turn out to be not as exciting as they looked when we introduced them. We can fix this in editing, but how about leaving it the way it was? It might be more authentic.
All very valid points. However, the power of a story structure is that, as predictable as it is, they are formulas that work and that resonate with the reader or audience. But as with all things in the writing world... You are welcome to throw out the mold and do something chaotic. Have at it!
I just wrote a book like this but didn't realize it was the hero's journey. I am enjoying your videos. Thank you.
I am so glad! What is the title of your book? Have you published it yet?
The funny thing is that I never planned to use it, but it happened anyway. The true main character of my story is a typical side character, a henchwoman hired by a villain. So we see this small fry criminal, working in a filthy tavern whem the villain shows up to hire some thugs. She shows her mechanical skills and is a bit later hired as a driver. (Maybe, hopefully, some readers somehow like her.) What this villain, his opponents (the "good guys"), the various factions of the story are up to, is not her concern. And what she is up to, besides staying alive and out of prison, shouldn't be the readers' concern. A villain hires some riffraff, and she is just one of them. Maybe she survives, probably because she's a girl, maybe not. None of them looks like they would be a great loss to humanity. Nonetheless, she is on a journey to get her life back on track. It's hinted in the first chapter that there is more, that there is something she wants to or must do. Taken out of her every day live of working in a filthy place and trying not the be discovered and sent back to prison, she doesn't really know where she's going. Once that villain, her mentor somehow, gets killed, she has to look out for herself. She must find out what's really going on and eventually comes into a position where she can succeed where the supposed "good guys" failed.
This sounds great. I'm waiting to read it!!
the story i hear them talk about how silly it was to want for training was Happy Potter i never seen or read them but what they says the old guy is an extremely powerful wizard this is a lot different then in star wars where they had to go in hiding because they lost
I have never read or watched any Harry Potter but it is used as an example for many things and often. No regrets here on not reading them! There are so many other great books and movies to use as examples. I am, however, a Star Wars fan. probably because grew up watching them.