Nicole Murchadha

There are not many authors that I know, who wouldn’t jump at the chance to form or join a good writing group. Of course what makes a writing group good, is more than likely found in the eye of the beholder. However, there are some things you should be aware of, or questions to ask when deciding whether or not to join a writing group. And always remember, you can start one of your own if you can’t find one that suits you.

• When does the group meet? Obviously being able to attend meetings, and having them at a time that is convenient for you, should be a primary concern when finding a writing group.
• How often does the group meet? How often the group meets, might show the level of commitment from the other members. For instance, if the group only meets every couple of months, and there doesn’t seem to be a consistent pattern, the group members may not be in it for the long haul. However, finding a writing group that meets weekly, biweekly or monthly is probably a safer bet.
• Where do they meet? If they are meeting at the library, utilizing a meeting room so that discussion can take place? Or are they meeting at a random table smack dab in the middle of the library? If this is the case, discussion may be at a minimum. Is the group leader a mother of two, always getting up to see what her children are into, or is the noise level too much?
• What genre does the group welcome? Are they genre specific: like romance, sci-fi, fantasy, etc. Or do they welcome all writers?
• What is the purpose of the group? Do they offer critique? Do they offer support and encouragement?
• Who leads the group? Does anyone lead the group? Does everyone take a turn leading the group?
• Are the discussions on topic? Or is there a lot of socialization going on? What is the ratio of the two?
• Does the group have membership requirements? Does the group have membership dues?
• Is the group primarily for critique? Do you ever do any writing within the group? How do you handle passing around the work that needs to be critiqued?
• Does everyone get a chance to speak? Does everyone get a chance to be critiqued? If the group is a large group how many people get their work critiqued per meeting?

Some of these questions might not apply to you. You might have more questions than I offer here. Regardless, it is important when selecting a good writing group, to find out all you can about the group and how they do things.

Can you think of anything else that should be looked at or any questions that could be added?

Lately, I’ve been seeing lots of talk and questions about naming characters. What’s the big deal? Everything… Finding the perfect name for your character, can be just as important as finding a title. You have to love the name, you’re going to be writing it an awful lot, and later if published, your character will be talked about over and over.

Have you ever just heard a name, and loved it from the start. Loved the way it sounded on your lips, loved the way it swirled off your tongue? It just fit. Now imagine, if you have the perfect name for your character, hearing another character say that name for the first time. Whether it’s said with hope, muttered in irritation, whispered in an intimate moment or forced in anger through clenched teeth, it still needs to be impactful.

Here are a few tips, for naming your character:

• Remember to be careful when selecting exotic, unique or foreign names. Too many confusing character names can make it hard to follow which character is speaking. The rule of thumb, in a traditional fictional piece, would be to only have one exotic name, with the rest of the characters names being fairly general.
• Search websites, for the most popular names for boys and girls born in any year or time. This will ensure that your character names are appropriate to their era. This is important for accuracy and consistency throughout the story. Carefully check, to be sure that the name existed during that time period.
• Another great tip, is never have two characters in the same story with names that begin with the same letter. While it is a given, that if the names are different enough, it shouldn’t matter – it has been proven that many readers get confused when the names are too similar.
• It probably goes without saying, you should avoid repetitious names or names that sound alike even if spelled differently. For instance, avoid names like Jack and Zach or Jill and Bill or the traditional Jack and Jill is probably a no-brainer also.
• Alliteration is another common mistake. In a children’s story, cute  names work well, but in any type of Gen. fiction piece whether for young adult or older, names such as Tom Thompson, or Jeremy Jackson or, Mindy Miller – just don’t work.
• Don’t cement your character’s name. What I mean by that, is be open to change the character’s name later in the story if it isn’t working for you. For instance if at the start of the book, your character’s name is John which sounds like a simple name, paired with a good last name could be strong or powerful, or paired with a different type of last name might just be your average businessman let’s say, that you get halfway through the book and suddenly he becomes a rodeo rider, the named John Montgomery might not fit him anymore. Perhaps changing his name to Wayne Montgomery might fit a little better. The main point is to make sure the name fits the character.
• Keep your eyes and ears opened for great character names. I passed a business the other day – Mennemeyer Orthodontics. I kept thinking, what a cool last name. I love it. I tried it out with a few different names, but I really like Jack Mennemeyer. (sounds like an attorney at law lol). I also scour phone books, websites, my kids yearbooks, etc. for unique last names or names that just sound cool.
• Another really big tip – make sure your readers can pronounce the name. I have been reading a lot of books lately, and I see these unique, almost cool names – except I have no idea how you would even say them. This gets me all tripped up every time the name is mentioned in the book. (I think its kinda like my last name – see the FAQ for the correct way to pronounce it!)
• Keep a small notebook with you to store names. I was able to have my daughter pull my notebook out of  my purse and jot down the last name Mennemeyer so I wouldn’t forget it. I didn’t think I would, but I’ve been known to. Don’t assume you will remember.
• Most important rule? Take your time naming them. Don’t just pick the first thing that comes to mind or that “fits”. Let it sit there, use it a bunch and if in a few weeks its still working for you, then perfect. If not, you can change it and try something new on for size. There is no reason to rush it.

Do you have any tips you use for naming your characters?

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Take your time naming your creations. Choosing a name that sings on the page for you will go a long way toward growing your characters. Shakespeare may have believed that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but romance writers know better!

Revision is usually every writer’s least favorite part about being writer. It’s time-consuming, stressful and really difficult to decide what must stay and what must go.

Here are some questions that might help make the process a little easier:

1. Is your point of view consistent?
2. Is your point of view the best way to tell the story?
3. Have you used language correctly, or are the words you’ve chosen the most impacting words you can use?
4. Does every word you’ve chosen to use have a reason for being there?
5. Does the character dialogue move the story forward and have a purpose for being there?
6. What is your favorite part of the story? Why is it so interesting?
7. If you are creating fantasy, do you believe in your world you’ve created?
8. Are there any facts you couldn’t substantiate? Do these make your story sound less authoritative?
9. Is spelling, punctuation, word usage or grammar correct? If you have an unusual spelling, does this make your work sound dull, bland or inconsistent?
10. Were you able to fill in all plot holes?
11. Do you feel like your draft is the right length and tells the whole story, while retaining depth?
12. Is all the information provided in the draft, necessary? For instance, is every introduction, hello or goodbye or description necessary?
13. Does the piece contain a rise and fall, or do all the events in the story get equal weight?
14. Is your main character sympathetic? And if he or she isn’t, are the character’s motives and actions at least understandable? Do they make sense?
15. Have you provided enough information about the character and his or her circumstances, or is there more information that can be provided?
16. What are the key moments? Are they given enough time? Enough priority?
17. Does the point of the story make sense? Can you follow the emotional aspect?
18. Does your story have a beginning, middle and end?
19. Do your scenes flow together logically?
20. Does your ending seemed too rushed, too slow, or leave you with too many questions?

Taking the time to ask yourself these questions during the revision process, can strengthen your draft, save you time and move you ahead in the right direction.

I don’t really have a set writing area, since I work primarily on my laptop when I write. The ability to be mobile with my computer is extremely important to me. When I get stuck in my writing, I tend to need to move around a little, new scenery, new location, you get the point. However, I do have an area my house that is set up specifically for my writing, should I choose to write there.

There are a few things you should consider when setting up your writing area. Privacy, inspiration, comfort and distraction free, are just a few of the things you should consider. There are also a few tools that would be helpful to have nearby so you don’t have to get up multiple times during a writing session.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• paper and writing utensils – even if you use a computer to do most of your writing, having a notebook nearby is pretty beneficial for taking notes, jotting down ideas, recording thoughts and outlining.
• A comfortable chair and table – comfort is the number one consideration in selecting a chair and/or table. Typically writers spent long periods of time sitting at a computer screen or notebook, this is the number one reason why comfort should be a priority. Also make sure that the table or desk you are using is the correct height.
• Good lighting – good lighting is essential for many reasons, it can set the mood that it’s writing time, eyestrain is a concern… Face it good lighting is important.
• Dictionary, thesaurus and even encyclopedias – obviously having these things nearby is beneficial when struggling with spelling, details, or looking for another word in place of one you’re using too often.
• a bookshelf – while not necessarily mandatory, a bookshelf can be helpful in keeping your area cleaned up. It can house your dictionary, thesaurus, grammar guides and other writing related books.
• a bulletin board, dry erase board or Post-it notes – the bulletin board can house pictures of inspirational items, the dry erase board or Post-it notes are helpful when outlining or making notes. Don’t forget to post inspirational messages and quotes on your bulletin board.

While there are dozens of other things that you can keep close at hand, these are the things that most writers find helpful to have nearby. Can you think of other things that you might like having close by?