Award winning novelist Johnny Ray describes how to select characters for your next novel

I have studied this many times and taking the advice of so many people more qualified than me. However, I will attempt to tell how I do it and hope some of my writer friends will jump in and add what works for them.
First , with a very rough idea as to what my story is about I make a list of characters types I will need like a hero here and a heroin there, etc. and build the basic building blocks of physical appearances, etc.
Second, I have to have photos of my characters. I use sites such as http://popcorn.oneindia.in/hollywood to search for actors I would love to use. I build a large list and keep it for small characters later, but looking for my main characters. When I find the main characters, I search for additional photos of these actors and add them to the list.
Third, I start building the strengths and weaknesses of each character. I want to know what makes this person different, unique and interesting enough to spend the next 3-6 months with.
Fourth, I start to build what mannerisms the character has. I want each character to be known by the way he acts and talks, etc. I want to know what specific way of talking does he have, favorite expressions, etc.
Fifth is getting under the skin of the character and discovering what really makes him tick. This is when the character starts taking on a life.
An last, my character develops while I write and I have no problem going back every day and adding to his sketch. I do this every morning before I start to add to the story.
For me to be able to tell a story, I have to know my characters and like so many other writers, the magic happens when the characters take over and becomes real enough to tell the story with the writer simply recording the action.

Johnny Ray
http://www.sirjohn.org

Novelist Johnny Ray's bike trip to the end of the Pinellas Trail

Like writing a novel, the greatest feeling in the world is making it to the end; especially when you have so much fun along the way. Yes, I love Tarpon Springs and Greek coffee. I finished rewriting another novel and hope to present it in the next few days to some great editors and agents. I will report back later on how it went.

Johnny Ray

A writer’s use of technology
The world is changing for many as technology expands on a daily bases. And this could not be truer of anyone more than writers. With writing programs the ability to catch errors in grammar and spelling, not to mention word choices are so easy almost anyone can become a writer.
With the enhanced technology come more demands in other aspects. Details, the world is at a writers finger tips, literally. The ability to become an expert in any field is only a matter of time spent on the net. The great writers know how to become such an expert and to be able to impart such knowledge seamlessly to the reader. Readers want to be entertained for sure, but they also want to learn something new and in an interesting way.
The stumbling block is not forgetting there is a world out there beyond the computer where people live and explore life; a life with emotions and feelings that can only be experienced in the world away from the computer. The ability to merge technology and real life is a gift very few writers achieve.
So, where will the future technology take us? We could only dream, but perhaps that is what a great writer needs to do—create a world only the mind can conjure up.
Johnny Ray
http://www.sirjohn.org
http://www.sirjohn.us
http://www.lovepoemsbyjohnnyray.info

THE DREADED SYNOPSIS
by
Johnny Ray

I attended a workshop presented at the local Tampa chapter of The Romance Writers of America monthly meeting by literary agent Nephele Tempest. She discussed two parts and I will make this a two part blog as well. The first part is the synopsis.

The length of the synopsis is often discussed as she made it clear a short one is preferred and you needed one only a paragraph or two and one about one and a half pages. I have seen many agents set their requirement from very short to very long. It depends on the agent. As such it stands to reason to have a long one and the ability to shorten it according to which agent you are pitching.

The main difference in a query letter and a synopsis is the ending. The query is designed to hook the agent, the synopsis is required to show the agent you can fully develop the story and have enough plot to carry it. Kind of like a one two punch.

A short synopsis describes the major points in the novel. A longer synopsis can add complexities and minor plots. In either case the author has to be able to show a satisfying resolution.

Some authors work with an outline that can be converted to a synopsis and others write a synopsis specifically designed for a specific agent. The ability to demonstrate a writer’s style inside the synopsis is a big bonus. Being a business relationship, the agent will want to know they will enjoy working with the author and his style fits the type book he is proposing.

In listening to Ms. Tempest I realized how important it is to custom the synopsis to the individual agent. She offered some very valuable insight into the process of attracting and obtaining an agent.


Johnny Ray
www.sirjohn.org

Johnny Ray's Poems
The newest in blogs run by Johnny Ray is his poetry blog
A new poem will be written almost every day, so please check back there as often as possible. The poems are free to use in an email or post in your own blog with the requirement the poem stay intact as it was written, the poet (Johnny Ray) be given credit and the link back to the site remain in place. Please enjoy them and be sure to bookmark the site and link to it as you wish. You might want to follow the new poems on google friends as well.
If you want to see a particular type poem for a special occasion, please leave a note in the comments section

Johnny Ray

http://www.lovepoemsbyjohnnyray.info

Gasparilla--a day to be remembered for Novelist Johnny Ray, perhaps even insight into a future novel.
The weather did not cooperate but we had a great time anyway. Once a year the pirates come ashore in Tampa to take the city and party. Oh yes, party all day and night. Some of the photos are posted here to show the fun. With the rain photos the parade could not be captured this year.

Fighting the uphill battle as an aspiring author by Johnny Ray

I know when facing a mountain side of reason to reconsider it appears to be overwhelming. You could simply give up and try something different or think of a way around it. But sooner or later the fact remains to see what is at the top you have to make it there first. Looking back later, the climb can be an interesting reminder, a way of showing others how to proceed.

Yes, at times it is important just to be able to hang on to how far you have come. The support groups built along the way can help, but it is important to find the rocks that will give you one more chance to climb one more flight.

There is a saying when climbing--never look down. The same is true in writing. We all have to start somewhere, but it is not where we have to stay. Reaching for one hold after another takes concentration and effort. With each step we gain confidence. We learn what works and what does not.

I know what keeps me going. I never learned how to fail. It may take me longer but the only way I know to become a best selling author is to keep climbing and keep writing everyday.

Today I want to hear what keeps other people going to make it to the top. What are your motivations? How do you continue to climb one day after another?

Johnny Ray enjoying a winter play land during the holiday season
Since it was going to be cold anyway, I thought the best thing was to go somewhere to really enjoy it. These photos are from the back of the cabin in Gatlinburg, Tenn.
I think being trapped inside like this might be a good way to concentrate on writing--you sure can't do much of anything else. Florida has so many distractions. I guess my point in this post is learning how others cope with distractions. For me, I have the opposite problems, I need the distractions to stimulate me to write. I always go to crowded places to work. What helps you to concentrate?
Johnny Ray
http://www.johnnyray.info
http://www.thejohnnyray.info