How To Stop Fear Killing Your Dreams

The fear of failure is the main reason that kills most people's dreams. Nobody likes to admit they have failed in anything they have tried in their life. It is a huge knock to your sense of self-worth, and you begin to doubt that you can ever become a success, no matter how hard you try. We often compare our lives and our careers to others around us, imagining their lives to be so perfect and on track. However, this is detrimental to our own life journey, because we are unique, there is nobody like us and so our hopes and dreams are different from those whom we aspire to emulate.  

When we look at successful writers, we only see the success they have achieved. We do not think about the many rejections they had to receive, the unpublished manuscripts, the failed marketing techniques, or the people who doubted their ability. All we focus on is that they are a success and we are a failure because we have not had our breakthrough yet. Stop right there! 

So, now that we have indulged ourselves in self-pity, it is time to remind ourselves how awesome we are. If you believe that you are a great writer and that success is within reach, then you are a great distance to achieving it. Of course, modesty is a great personality trait, but you also have to recognise your talent and your ability to succeed and achieve everything you desire. Remember, your life is a long journey of learning; some life lessons are positive, others not so good, but the point is, you will learn something new with every lesson. I am a great believer in positive thought and there are so many books on the subject or information on the internet regarding focusing the mind on positivity. The brain can only work with the information it is given. If you are concentrating on others' success and not your own, then how can you expect to fulfil your ambition?

The common characteristic of an entrepreneur is how they tackle failure. They do not recognise it as an excuse to stop striving, but a lesson on what tactic doesn't work, so then they simply try another until they find one that does. As a writer, you need to just start writing, even if you have no clear direction on where you want your carear to take you. Maybe start off writing something small like a blog on a subject you are passionate about. Then gradually you can build on your writing techniques and try writing something more challenging.  

If you still feel like a failure and this is preventing you from trying anything new, then read the life story of Abraham Lincoln, which is an absolutely perfect example of a man that refused to give in to failure. Failing just means you are human, so stop being so hard on yourself and punishing yourself constantly with negative internal dialogue. Failing isn't trying something and not achieving it; it is never even trying in the first place. Go away and read books by the likes of Phil Macgraw or Les Brown. Reading their perspective of failure totally changed how I saw myself. It is time to be kind to yourself and take that first brave step.

by Lesley Jones Best Selling Author of the Addictive Laugh Out Loud Comedy The Diary Of Poppy Parker

Read many more articles to help you become a successful writer here https://lesleybookreview.blogspot.com/

Read Like A Writer

Some of the best writers I have ever met are people who have English Literature degrees. I do not know whether this is a coincidence, but maybe it is because they have had to read books as often as I drink coffee. There is actually a method to reading correctly that few people know about. It is called reading actively and I believe this is the key to becoming a better writer than you are at present. 

I realised some time ago that if I wanted to become a better writer then my reading skills had to improve. It was really difficult to train myself to read books in an entirely new way. It involved developing a sharp mind, increasing my attention span, so I am focusing on the book and nothing else, and make reading books a priority over everything else. Reading and writing go hand in hand, like salt and vinegar.  

Here a few of the small changes I have made to the way I read. The results have been really noticeable.  

Try reading just one book at any one time. If you are anything like me, I normally had at least three books on the go. I used to read certain genres depending on what mood I was in at the time. I found that it took me forever to finish a book. This transferred into my writing projects also. I knew how to start a book or a manuscript, but by the time it came to creating a powerful ending, I was stuck for ideas. By focusing your attention on one book, you become absorbed in the lives of the characters and engaged in the storyline. You also become more aware of details like the writer's style and areas that you dislike or like such as elements of dialogue, foreshadowing and conflict. Begin this method by reading books by authors you love and then use this technique for all future reading. 

You must also only read books when you are totally awake or not preoccupied. You need to learn as much as you can from the book, and this is impossible if you are tired or your mind is on something else. Many of us read just before we go to sleep, but this is not reading actively. Keep short stories or magazine articles for bedtime reading. Also, make notes as you go, whether it is a certain personality trait of a character, a piece of dialogue or an area of action; make a note of it. If you cannot bring yourself to write in the margins, just use a notebook. Ask yourself questions as you go through the book. How are the characters developing? What is the inciting incident? Why did I like/dislike that plot point? Your answers may change as you work your way through the book, but that is perfectly acceptable because, as we know, reading is subject to the reader's individual taste. 

Read books that you regard as your favourites. Using the techniques above, ask yourself why you enjoy this book. When you are reading books by your favourite authors, what patterns in their writing do you notice? You should also read books in the same genre you write in. This gives you an idea of what the competition looks like but also what works and what doesn’t. Are there some recognisable patterns in the bestsellers that are non-existent in less popular novels? 

Reading outside your specialised genre is also important. It is challenges like this that teach us about ourselves as writers, and also give us inspiration for our own projects. You are more likely to find a love scene in a romance novel than a fantasy novel. But what if you were a science fiction writer and wanted to include a subplot of a romance between two characters? If you only read science fiction novels, how would you know where to begin to create a believable love story? It is important you set yourself a timescale for reading a book. Try to increase the number of books you read per month. If you usually read a book a month, try increasing it to two. Once you have completed a book, write a short review covering all the aspects of the book you enjoyed, and those not so much. Does this book have the potential for a sequel, and what would happen during that book?


by Lesley Jones Best Selling Author of the Addictive Laugh Out Loud Comedy The Diary Of Poppy Parker

Read many more articles to help you become a successful writer here https://lesleybookreview.blogspot.com/

Character Psychology

When you are creating the backstory for your characters, the most important aspect to consider is the psychology of your characters. How do they process information in their minds, and how does this mindset transpire in the actions they take? Once you have this down on paper, then you will know exactly how your character will respond to most given situations or other characters and therefore your novel will be far easier to write. However, this takes a lot of work in the planning stage. So here are a few steps you can take to help you with this. Everyone is born with a blank slate psychologically, and as a person goes through life, they meet certain people and go through certain experiences. This shapes their views on themselves, the world and others. Their brain becomes programmed by their belief system. The main reference point for a child is their parents, and this is key to how they will judge certain situations in their future. If a person experiences pain, trauma or rejection, then they will refer to their childhood memory, and from this decide how to respond. If a character had a traumatic childhood, there maybe be a yearning to gain acceptance and love. They may be conditioned to believe pain and love are the same. They may also find it impossible to trust or show affection. Our past experiences may also have contributed to a certain phobia. I know this is true for myself, as my mother had a dreadful phobia of birds which I inherited. As a writer, it is your job to use one of these destructive beliefs as an obstacle for your character to overcome and develop into a more grounded character. Most of what pushes a character to behave in a certain way or to have a certain belief system is buried deep in their subconscious. A character may suppress a lot of painful memories as a way to cope, but the belief will remain as a weight of negativity around their neck. This negativity could be manifested in a way a character reacts to people or situations. There will be a constant inner battle between what they want and what they do. It will show itself in impulse behaviour and reactions. For example, bursts of violence on hearing bad news. If you really want to dig deep into your character's personality, then explore whether they are introverts or extroverts. Introverts focus on themselves, their need for self-improvement and discovery of their true calling. Extroverts love being the centre of attention and crave attention and popularity. An interesting concept though would be to create a character that would appear to be an extrovert but actually be the opposite? This would make an excellent character and quite complex, as they could appear to be happy to be single, but actually, crave love but have trust issues. You can break personality types down even further - sensation, thinking, feeling and intuition. Sensation personality types live for the moment, they can be impulsive and creative. Intuitive types are also creative but normally are writers, artists and entrepreneurs. They are huge dreamers and are very focused on their futures. Thinking personalities use logic to solve problems. They use facts, and not gut instinct to make decisions. Detectives are normally this personality type. Feeling types wear their hearts on their sleeves and can be very emotional. They are good at building great personal relationships and make excellent teachers or any career in the caring profession. A person can have any number of these personality types; one will be dominant and the other subconscious. Remember strange behaviour and reactions from your characters make for the most intriguing. Let your imagination go wild and create the most amazing people for your novel.

by Lesley Jones Best Selling Author of the Addictive Laugh Out Loud Comedy The Diary Of Poppy Parker

Read many more articles to help you become a successful writer here https://lesleybookreview.blogspot.com/

Body Language Guide

Body Language Guide

As a writer, I am always aware of the importance of using body language to enhance the depth of the character. Using body language is a great way to show the state of mind of the character, but how and when to use it can be quite confusing. Here are my tips to make the process easier. Remember that a character can exhibit more than one of these behaviours at the same time. They can be happy and shocked or angry and shocked.   

Body language has many benefits. You can use it to reveal how your characters' emotions affect what action they take, thus delving into their psychology and belief system. It is useful to add realism to your dialogue and a perfect way to help you show not tell your reader what is happening. Remember half of all communication is non-verbal in reality and characters in novels are no different. But beware of overusing it, as it can really slow the progression of your storyline down.  

Anticipation – Unable to remain still, nervous grin, dry mouth, licking lips, or playing with hands. 

Amusement – throwing head back, clapping hands together, or shaking with laughter. 

Anger - Slam fist onto a surface, point with one finger, throbbing veins in the neck, narrow/squint eyes, clench fists/jaw, flushed face, roll eyes, bare teeth, exasperated sighs, tight lips, or lower eyebrows. 

Anxiety – Fidget, darting eyes, clammy palms, high-pitched laughter, swallow repeatedly, quickened breathing/speech, pacing, play with hair/hand, or hunched posture. 

Boredom – Avoid eye contact, fidgets, taps hands on a surface/themselves, tap feet, slouched posture, play with a pen, or doodles. 

Confidence - Push chest out, steeple fingers, hands clasped behind back, definite and firm movements.  

Contempt – Sneer, dismissive handwaving away, or pursed lips. 

Deception- Avoid eye contact, shrug shoulders, nod head yes while saying no, hesitation in speech, change in demeanour, unwarranted laughter/smile, or continuous blinking, cross arms/legs, or place something in front of themselves as a barrier.  

Disgust – Gagging, flinch, cover the nose, turn away, squint eyes, or protect the body with hands. 

Fear – Rock from side to side, hunch shoulders, shrunken body posture, wrap arms around themselves, tremble, or widened eyes. 

Honesty – Maintain eye contact, smile with eyes, open body posture. 

Overwhelmed – Hands grip onto an object/person, palms placed on the forehead, fingers cover one eye or staring into space. 

Passion/Eager - Raised eyebrows, hand on heart, double-handed handshake. Wide eyes with a steady eye contact or body posture, lean towards the other person.  

Dominance – Steepled fingers, hands behind head, feet up, fixed stare, tight-lipped smile, chest out, or hard, aggressive handshake.  

Jealousy - Sour expression, crossed arms, or narrowed eyes. 

Possessiveness – Place hands on the person's neck, hands or shoulders, or on a wall nearby, step into their personal space, turn body towards the person, or stare angrily toward anyone that comes close to that person. 

Suspicion – Narrow eyes, sideways glance, hands in pockets, rub eyes, heavy sigh, blow out cheeks, avoid eye contact, or tight lips. 

There are many more body language expressions, I am sure, but this is a good guide to get you started.



by Lesley Jones Best Selling Author of the Addictive Laugh Out Loud Comedy The Diary Of Poppy Parker

Redemption Of A Villian

There is nothing better for a reader than a novel that is full of plot twists and turns. One way we can achieve this is for your villain to change their evil ways. A character that is sinister is still a person, and every person has a heart or cares somewhere deep inside. A character arc is a process a character travels through during the novel. A protagonist usually starts with a character flaw or problem that needs to be resolved (lower character arc). As the storyline moves forward, we see the hero overcoming obstacles and achieving their goal and defeating the antagonist. Normally, villains spend the entire story throwing curveballs in the path of the hero, each obstacle gets more evil and more sinister, until the hero is triumphant. However, a bad person in a novel is not the same as a villain and therefore will not follow the same character arc path.  

How do you write a character redemption arc? If your bad character is going to alter their perspective, then there has to be a good reason to do so. For the reason to be believable, you need to make the reader aware of two things. What experience made the bad person evil, and what are they going to gain by changing their point of view and becoming good? Their reasons have to be authentic, and this is where asking the ‘why’question will help. Does your bad character change to save another character they care about? Were they evil because they were taking orders from a powerful character and now have seen the light? Do they believe they will gain their objective quicker if they do a good deed? Whatever their reason, if you can create an emotional link to their past then this will add huge depth to your story.  

The most well-known types of redemption are life and death. Either the bad character will sacrifice their own life to prove they have changed, or the hero allows the bad character to live because they have seen the error of their ways. Sometimes the bad character has an epiphany. Something occurs that shows the bad character the effects their evil actions have on others. The character then realises how his behaviour has damaged the other character and decides to change. There is no better example of this type of redemption arc than Dickens' novel, A Christmas Carol.  

Remember, that for a character to change it takes time, so develop the character behaviour change gradually. Sow seeds of information to the reader little by little, to inform the reader subconsciously that the bad character is on the road to goodness. Leave clues for the reader that the bad character may change, such as a kind gesture or the odd smile. Another tip is to ensure you do not make the character transition into a good person too easily; there will be an internal battle as they struggle to accept that kindness is a better path. Finally, when your bad character does change their evil ways, do not make them entirely whiter than white. Always retain some of their qualities, such as a wicked sense of humour, sarcasm or confidence.

by Lesley Jones Best Selling Author of the Addictive Laugh Out Loud Comedy The Diary Of Poppy Parker

Developing Smooth Transitions In Your Novel

Writing a novel is not just moving a character mundanely from chapter to chapter, but revealing information and ideas that flow smoothly, and keep the storyline moving in an engaging manner. The transitions need to be effortless, otherwise there is a high risk the character seems to be jumping from one timeframe to the next, and some major plot points could be omitted. So, how can we ensure the reader's experience is a pleasurable one? The characters and storyline should always be moving forward towards the conclusion. Every piece of dialogue, action or emotion should draw the reader deeper into the novel and the lives of the characters. As you are writing, always ask yourself if it is revealing something about the character's personality and what they are about to face? Does each paragraph have a significant meaning? Always keep in mind where your scene is going to end. This should include a new action for the character to take or where an obstacle places them in a worse situation than before (conflict).  

At the beginning of each new scene, ensure you make it clear to the reader what the setting is and who is speaking.  Remember the little details in your scene. If your scene is set on a cold winter's day, remember the characters are not going to be hanging around for long. If the character reveals that a cloud has blocked out the sun, or it has started to rain, you have to carry the consequences of the weather forward. If your character has noticed something, you can bet your reader has too, so keep a note of what time of day the scene is set, what the weather is like and how this will affect the mood and appearance of the character.

One technique that I use personally is the thought process of a character. This is a very effective way to skip into the meat and bones of a scene. For example, the character can drift into imagining a date or an event, and then it will allow you to jump straight into that event in the next scene smoothly. As a lover of novels with plenty of conflict, a great way to transition into a new scene is showing the character dealing with the consequences of a bad choice they made in the previous scene. You can, of course, begin a scene with the character carrying out a normal day to day task, such as waking up, shopping, brushing their teeth, but try to mix it up so the daily routines do not become tiresome. You could always inject some excitement into that scene by the character discovering a piece of information about their situation or another character. 

Finally, whatever transitioning technique you are going to use, ensure that something noteworthy happens every 5-10 pages so the reader remains engaged. They use this principle called ‘pulse plotting’ in screenplays, but the same can be applied to fiction. Pulse plotting gives your novel a rhythm, whether it be an action point, an emotional point or a character making a dramatic appearance or revealing an interesting piece of information. Using this technique will ensure your novel has energy, emotion and prevents the storyline becoming tedious.

by Lesley Jones Best Selling Author of the Addictive Laugh Out Loud Comedy The Diary Of Poppy Parker

How To Write A Character Wound

If you have studied the craft of writing fiction, then you would have heard of the term character arc or a character emotional wound. They are the basis in creating a character that is memorable and three dimensional. Every human being carries around with them a set of emotional beliefs rooted in their personal history, so why do fictional characters have to be any different? There are, of course, novels that include characters with no character arcs and who remain unchanged when the story ends. But isn't the journey of a character who grows and alters to overcome his emotional wounds much more of an engaging story? 

A character wound is a negative experience that moulded the person’s view of themselves and the world around them. The person has replayed that emotion continually in their minds until it becomes more real than reality itself. This will impact on the life choices they make, and every aspect of their lives. When a person has low expectations then they subconsciously seek out negative results. When they gain those bad results, that reinforces the negative belief and the vicious circle of pain and rejection becomes embedded in their belief system. Many writers cover characters wounds when creating their backstory, but here we are going to delve deeper into the many factors surrounding the root of these beliefs and, hopefully, your characters will become more memorable and realistic.  

A character's biology: When a child is born they enter the world with a mental and emotional blank canvas. However, what they do possess is their parents' DNA. This DNA will have a substantial effect on a child's temperament, intelligence and physical appearance. What if the child’s mother has a history of mental illness? Would they not see the world differently to others who experience the same event? To create an authentic character, you must use these biological factors as building blocks because they do have an important role to play. 

A character's psychology: This is how a character will behave and think. This belief system is not only affected by their biology or genes, but also their social surroundings. A character's wound is a result of the feelings, emotions, perceptions and behaviour surrounding a particular event, and subsequently the change in their personality, behaviour and motivations because of that event. Of course, there are novels that concern themselves with characters miraculously falling on their feet and being rescued, but in the real world, would a damaged personality be a natural optimist? Would they rationalise their behaviour voluntarily, or would they just make a snap decision based on their personal experience and trigger fight or flight behaviour?

It is these character traits that are going to create a very unique and memorable character, and that is where your writing skill comes in. You can decide how they would react based on their beliefs. One last factor to take into consideration, is the social factor. Our parents, siblings, extended family, religious/cultural beliefs and community will all have an effect on a person's view of the world. These are the most subconscious influencers, and therefore the hardest beliefs to alter. How would you help the character challenge and alter these detrimental beliefs? 

It is not an easy task to create a character with these many layers. But if you can succeed, then you have just created an awesome character that readers will relish.

by Lesley Jones Best Selling Author of the Addictive Laugh Out Loud Comedy The Diary Of Poppy Parker

When Is Your Book Ready?

When you are deciding whether or not your book is ready, you need to decide who you are sending your book to. Are you preparing your book for an editor or a publisher, because the preparations for each are very different. Sometimes the book is more than ready for a publisher, but you are not. This comes down to your self-belief system and this can be overcome by support from loved ones or some tough talking to yourself. No one is going to submit your work for you, and the longer you procrastinate, the more intense the anxiety and self-doubt will become. This may result in your brain talking yourself out of even becoming a writer, so you have to be a little brave and hit that send button sometimes. You will be surprised by the sense of relief you get. So, what would be the checklist to refer to when deciding if your book is ready? 

First, what do you need to do to prepare to send your book to an editor. So, you have completed the first draft of your novel and over a period of time have completed the necessary re-writes, leaving a resting period between each re-write. Your novel, in your opinion, is the best piece of fiction you could have possibly have written. That is the time to send it to an editor for their feedback. They will always pick up on areas that you were subconsciously blind to. So, you must always allow someone else to read your work before you send it off to an agent or publisher. If you are new to writing and you can afford it, then it is always a good idea to pay for in-depth feedback on areas of improvement.  

When is your book ready for self-publication? There are, without doubt, far fewer obstacles to publishing your book by the self-publication route than a traditional publisher. However, that doesn’t mean your end product should be less professional and polished. It is vital that you create an eye-catching cover for your novel. If you are a creative person then you can certainly complete this process yourself, especially if you are publishing your work on a website such as Amazon, as they make it very simple for you to design and format your cover. You can also outsource the design to places such as Upwork or Fiverr for very little cost. You should also ensure you have written a high quality and engaging copy for your blurb.  

When is your book ready for an agent? When you have reached the stage where you and your editor have ironed out all the areas of improvement is the time to send your manuscript to an agent. If you are really lucky, you will find a literary agent that will suggest certain edits and not just reject your novel completely, but I have to stress, these types of agents are very rare. There is a good chance that once you have rectified the errors, the agent will be happy to take you on. The same principle could be said of a publisher. Remember, a publisher's main focus is making money, so if they feel the novel should take a different route to appeal to a wider audience, then they may only accept you if those changes are made. If you want more control over your novel, then maybe self-publishing is the better option for you.  

To really figure out if your book is ready then you must try to remove yourself from it on an emotional and personal level. When you can read your book objectively, then you will be better informed to make a decision about when your book is ready for a publisher, agent or editor. 

by Lesley Jones Best Selling Author of the Addictive Laugh Out Loud Comedy The Diary Of Poppy Parker

  

Marketing Techniques that Work

The process of self-publishing your book is pretty straightforward, and more importantly, free on websites such as Amazon and the KDP program. But once your book has been published on their website, it can quickly disappear amongst the competition. If you do not learn how to market your book effectively, then there is a high chance no-one is ever going to see your book, which means no sales. So how can you market your book without spending a fortune? What are the marketing techniques that work? Here are some of the ways I have used that have given me proven and positive results.  

Facebook: Having your own Facebook fan page is always a great idea to promote your new book, and keep your followers up to date with up and coming projects. Many writers would suggest joining writer’s groups and placing a link to your book there. In my experience, I have found these groups are jammed packed with other writers all placing links to their books, and take no notice of other content on the page. However, placing an advert on Facebook is highly effective and can cost as little as $20. You can target specific people who have an interest in the genre of your book. Ensure your targeting is as specific and targeted as possible. For example, if you have written a science fiction novel then you can target people who follow famous science fiction authors. There is a wealth of information on the internet on how to do this to achieve maximum exposure and interest.  

Twitter: A great place for authors to promote their work to their followers, and to interact with other authors or industry professionals. The short word limit does not have to inhibit you either; use this platform to show off your great personality. One person that does this really well is Brian Rathbone.  

Instagram: The key to using this platform effectively is to remember quality not quantity will get you great results. This platform also encourages using hashtags, unlike Facebook and Twitter. Make your pictures top quality and interesting to ensure you stand out.  

Local Media: Your local newspaper or radio station will love a famous writer in their neighbourhood. You may not think so, but writing and publishing a book is a fantastic achievement. You have to learn to promote yourself because your local community would love to read about your success.  

Reviews: Get your book reviewed. Contact well-known reviewers, bloggers in your niche or reviewing websites for them to review your book. Many will not respond, but you only need one or two reviewers to reply and the momentum will start to build. They will leave a review on websites such as Amazon and Goodreads and from there more readers are likely to see your book and leave reviews and so on. For a small cost, you can get your book professionally and honestly reviewed on websites such as Readers Favourite in as little as two weeks. Many people read reviews before deciding whether or not to purchase your book.   

Medium: Finally this is a new platform I only discovered yesterday. All you need is to join medium.com, set up your profile including tags that are relevant to the genre of your book, and begin to place short articles of around 300 words. You will also need a blog page to send people where they will have the opportunity to see your book and make a purchase. For example, if you have written a fantasy novel, you could write an interesting short story set in a fantasy world. At the end of your article, there always has to be a call to action, such as read part two on my blog. Ensure that you also engage with other people on the site such as placing comments on other articles as this will gain more visitors to your blog. Make your articles controversial and intriguing for maximum engagement and interesting enough for your readers to want to visit your blog and discover your novel.

by Lesley Jones Best Selling Author of the Addictive Laugh Out Loud Comedy The Diary Of Poppy Parker