Imagine: you have an idea for a novel or short story. You have mapped out your plot, and sketched out the world your characters will be living in. You have all of the details, except for one important thing – your characters’ names! If you are stumped trying to think of character names, here are some ways you can go about naming fictional characters. 

Name meaning

You can name your characters by choosing names that align with their character traits. Most first names and last names have a meaning that has carried on throughout time. Use the internet to search for name meanings. You can look up the meanings of names you already know, or search for names that mean a certain thing. Behind the Name is a leading site for first name meaning, as well as Babynames.com. Behind the Name also has a section dedicated to last name (or surname) meanings. 

Personal connections

Honor family members or friends by naming characters after real life loved ones. However, use first names only – it’s unwise to give out personal identifiers for a story the public will read. 

Random generator

You may have no ideas for a character name, or be completely fine with letting a random name generator decide for you. An online random name generator can be a great solution when you want to come up with something totally fresh and new for your characters’ names. Random Name Generator will generate first and last names according to parameters you set. The random name generator from Behind The Name will generate first names, last names, and middle names in a wide variety of categories. 

Ethnicity and Nationality

Similar to searching by name meanings, you can search names by country of origin and ethnic group to find ones that fit your characters. 

Historical Context/Age

If you have a good idea about what time period your characters are living in, you can look through a list of popular baby names for the year they were born. For example, if your character is 50 years old, search for popular names from 1973. 

Maybe your story takes place in a different time period than the present. There are also records of names that were popular in bygone historical eras. You can find an Ancient Roman name, or perhaps a  medieval name for your story set in the Middle Ages (500-1500)! Behind the Name remains the most comprehensive site for these types of searches. 

Bottom line

At the end of the day, character names are important to your fictional novel. They help create meaning and create the character’s identity. They help brand your book as uniquely yours. And who knows – someday they may even become famous!

The post How to Name Characters for Short Stories and Novels appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Susan talked to us about what it was like writing and illustrating the book, as well as some of her other favorite books!

Name:

Susan J. Logan

Hometown:

Vancouver, Washington 

Book Title:

The Christmas Ghost Boy

Describe your book in 10 words or less.

An exciting children’s story with a sweet Christmas message. 

What made you want to write your children’s book?

I had originally made it up orally for my grandchildren and they liked it. I love to write and draw so I proceeded to make it into a book. 

How long did it take you to write your book?

Well, it’s a process. A day to write it out, rewriting over several years on occasion, while working on other stories as well. Then at the urging of my daughter I drew the illustrations and completed it. I had no idea what to do next, so I had it copyrighted. Then I heard from Dorrance!

What do you do when you have writer’s block?

Stop and wait for the muse to return.

What was your favorite part to write and why?

The building of the suspense, and creating the children’s confidence in what they were discovering. Also, getting the wording at the ending just right. Why? Well, I guess when you feel you’ve nailed it it’s exhilarating!

What was it like completing your illustrations?

I was my own illustrator. I love to draw and I had the pictures in my mind. I worked hard on getting the children’s expressions to coordinate and enhance the storyline. I also found it challenging to make the ghost boy and his merging with his ‘toys’ into the sunshine. Also, since the story happens over several days I had to be accurate (e.g. matching the kids clothes to the right day.)

If you were stuck on a desert island and had to take just one person from each category who would they be and why?

–A friend or family member

My husband, Kim, because he would be the best companion. (AND if anyone could figure out how to get us rescued it would be him!)

–One fictional character

Natasha from War and Peace because she is a joyful caring soul and yet fascinating by being from such a different place and time.

–One famous person, alive or deceased

Wallace Stegnor. It would be the perfect opportunity for a writing workshop with the mentor I would be most thrilled to have. 

Besides writing, what are some of your hobbies?

Reading, drawing,  cooking, gardening,  swimming, socializing.

What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance?

They were great! Especially the personal assistants assigned to me along the process, starting with the encouraging, warm and wise Brenda. Thank you!

What are your favorite books of all time?

War and Peace

Angle of Repose

Gone with the Wind

Long Day’s Journey Into Night

The Bible 

As far as children’s books, there are so so many but these definitely are in my top picks:

The Maggie B – by Irene Haas

Pierre – by Maurice Sendak

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble – by William Stieg

Madeline- by Ludwig Bemelmans

When We Were very Young  – by A.A. Milne

If you were to give advice to someone who wanted to write a children’s book, what would it be?

The best advice I’ve ever received came from a concert pianist and composer. She told me “It’s more about the process than the result. Just keep working at it.”

To add to that I would say: Formulas are for chemists. Be true to your own voice and ideas. Believe in yourself and have faith in your abilities. 

What do you hope your readers will take from this book?

An exciting story, and an enhanced understanding of the joy of giving.

Thank you, Susan!

You can purchase The Christmas Ghost Boy at the Dorrance Bookstore – use code JINGLE for 25% off!

Have a Christmas children’s tale you’d like to publish? Contact us!

The post Author Spotlight: Susan J. Logan, “The Christmas Ghost Boy” appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

When it comes to writing fiction, interesting characters are essential to a book that will keep readers engaged. Here are some tips for writing interesting characters that apply across all genres and story types.

1.) Direct vs Indirect

There are several approaches to developing interesting characters. One to keep in mind is the concept of direct vs. indirect characterization. If you have heard of “show vs. tell” before, this will be familiar.

Direct characterization is that which is told to the reader in a black-and-white manner.

Example: “The child was well-behaved as he sat in the waiting room with his mother.”

Here, the reader is told that the character of the child is acting well-behaved. It can be inferred that this means he is being quiet, respectful, or non-disruptive. The reader didn’t learn this information by observing the characters’ actions; it was told to them outright. 

Indirect characterization, on the other hand, is conveyed through other means, such as dialogue or small moments over time that the reader will have to think about to pick up on. A helpful acronym for how to achieve indirect characterization is STEAL.

2.) STEAL

The mnemonic device STEAL refers to how to accomplish indirect characterization. 

• Speech
• Thoughts
• Effect on others
• Actions
• Looks

Let’s go through each of these and see what they mean.

Speech refers to how a character talks. You can develop character through dialogue – how they speak to others and what they say.

Thoughts refers to what a character is thinking internally. You may have heard of the idea of a “internal monologue” before – a character talking to themselves. We all have a monologue in our heads and talk to ourselves. You can, as an author, show what a character is thinking through the narration. Conveying your character’s inner thoughts will make the reader feel like they know them, and they will want to know what happens to them. It will establish their character and make them more interesting.

Effect on others is how other characters react to and/or interpret the character. How does Character A, for example, react to what Character B is saying? How do they interpret Character B? This can be accomplished via dialogue – aka the characters speaking to each other. Other ways to show a character’s effect on others is through describing their body language when the character speaks or is around them, or their thoughts about the character.

Actions is what the character does. Actions can tell a lot about the character without it having to be explained. 

Looks is how the character physically appears at any given moment. For example, if they are described as smiling and sitting lazily in a chair, one can assume the character is relaxed or aloof. If they have a put-together, straightedge appearance, the reader can assume they are a Type A kind of person. Looks can also refer to facial expressions, such as reacting to their environment or what another character is saying. 

Overall, using the STEAL method will help you write interesting, well-developed characters. If you are big on taking notes about your writing, you can create a chart with each category and take notes for each character. 

3.)Flat vs round characters

Author EM Forster once said that one can think of characters as being “flat characters” or “round characters.” It is important to have both in a story. Flat characters are one-dimensional without many features. They exist in the background.

Round characters are three-dimensional characters, well-developed, with discernible features. Not all characters can be round, but  not every character should be flat. 

Most likely, your main character will be round, while background characters will be more flat. One can accomplish well-rounded characters through the STEAL method as explained above.

4.)Motivation

In order for characters to be interesting, the reader will have to be invested in their story. One way to accomplish this is to always be thinking about their motivations. Your main characters – and even those in the background – must act with purpose. Why are they doing what they are doing? You do not need to answer that question outright, and should answer it over time through the story. Keep your characters’ motivations in mind as you write your story or fiction novel. 

5.)Build on tropes

There are many character tropes out there – types of characters or molds for characters – that have been seen across time. You do not have to avoid using tropes; instead, you can build on them. Character tropes can be used for inspiration and then fleshed out more, or even subverted. Character tropes such as the Wise Elder, Manic Pixie Dream Girl, and Dumb Jock, for example, can be used as starting points for your characters. 

We hope these tips and methods will be helpful in crafting your characters for your novel!

Have a novel full of interesting characters that you would like to publish? Contact us!

The post How To Write Interesting Characters: 5 Tips to Make Readers Invested! appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Below, McClelland shares her inspirations for writing the paranormal tale, as well as a dream casting for her characters!

Name: Delphine McClelland

Hometown: Statesville, NC, although I currently live in Charlotte, NC.

Book Title: Dark Obsessions

Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance

Describe your book in ten words or less.

A Dark Tortured Love Story looking at love and hate.

How did you get the idea for Dark Obsessions?

The idea to write Dark Obsessions came to me from my co-worker John who is known for his role as the other brother Darryl on Newhart. He enjoyed the way in which I would retell him the stories of the various books that I was reading. Just by hearing my “stories” he saw a writer in me and pushed me everyday to write a book. I fought him and the idea to write this book for as long as I could until one day an idea for a different vampire story came to me through a dream that I had.

How long did it take to write the book?

It took me about three and a half to four years to write Dark Obsessions. Once the idea came to me it was all that I could do every second of the day until I was happy with the overall story and finally felt like it ended in the right place.

How did you name your characters?

All the names for the characters came to me randomly. I wanted something different and that I did not see in other books that I have read. All the characters names had to fit into the idea of who they were or to fit into there family story. For example the main female characters name is Skylar Montgomery. Her first name has a meaning that will play apart in her story and her last name fits into her family being an important and wealthy family in Charlotte.

What do you do when you have writers’ block?

When I have writers block I shut off my computer and watch tv, read one of the many books I have on my kindle or just hang out with my family to allow my mind to rest and recover. For me it helps my creative process when I allow my mind to focus on something else and then before I know it I have so many new ideas for that particular chapter or for the overall story. Chapters that I may have finished may even get changed to better enhance the new direction in which I am taking the story.

What was your favorite chapter to write?

My favorite chapter to write was Chapter 11 Drawn to Each Other. This is the chapter where the main characters Kairo and Skylar finally lay eyes on one another. Throughout the book they feel each others energy even though they do not know what it is or what is happening to them. Chapter 11 is the turning point in the book. It marks the point in which both their lives are changed forever.

If you had to be stuck on an island with one of the following people, who would you choose?

-A character from your book:

If I was stuck on an island the character from my book that would be with me would be Kairo. He was created with the type of guy that I like in mind so if I were to be stuck on an island I would want him because no matter what was thrown at us I know that I would always be safe and taken care of and I am sure the fact that he is a vampire would be a plus.

-Another fictional character:

A fictional character other than Kairo from my own book I would have to chose Daenerys Targaryen from A Song of Ice and Fire. With her and her dragons we would not be stuck for long and I think that she would be an all around interesting person to talk to and get to know.

-A celebrity, living or dead?

My famous person pick would have to be Bruno Mars. I am huge fan and have been since I stumbled onto the song Billionaire by Travie McCoy. I loved the song and Bruno’s verse and was hooked. With Bruno I would never be bored while stuck on the island as it is important to have great company and entertainment.

Besides writing, what are your hobbies?

Besides writing I am an avid reader. I love to read and can and will read an entire book in one day. I also love to hang out with my friends and family. They are very important to me. I love watching sports, I am huge Dallas Cowboys fan as well as a Tennessee Volunteer fan. I also love watching my nephew play baseball on his travel team the Carolina Bulls.

How did you celebrate the publishing of your book?

Still to this day I have not done any big celebrating of publishing my book. I still find it hard to believe that I did it and that people are actually liking my book. When I got my first author copy I did have dinner and drinks and celebrated a little with my best friend Becka who inspired the character of Angelina in the story.

If your book was made into a movie, who would play your characters?

If my book was made into a movie I would want Crystal Renee Hayslett to play Skylar. I love her as Fatima on Sisters and think that she embodies the fight and strength that Skylar has. The character of Kairo was created with Jason Momoa in mind so it I would love for him to take on the role of Kairo.

What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance?

What I enjoyed most about working with Dorrance Publishing was having someone to lean on when things went wrong. My publishing journey was not always an easy journey as I ran into issues and problems from the start. What I loved about Dorrance was that every issue was taken seriously and handled. If all of these problems had of happened and I was the one to have to deal with them and fix them I am not sure if Dark Obsessions would have even happened. Despite the rocky road they produced an amazing product that I am extremely happy with and I would be more than happy to work with them again.

Do you have any book recommendations for your readers?

Deadly Declaration by Landis Wade for the mystery lover, For the paranormal crowd Unchained Desire by R C Alvarez, the Wicked series by Jennifer Armentrout, Everything my Elisa S Amore and the Raven Series by J L Weil.

What advice do you have for someone looking to publish their own book?

Follow your dreams and passion no matter what others stay, think or do, including that small voice of doubt that you may have.

Thank you, Delphine!

You can purchase Dark Obsessions at the Dorrance Bookstore.

Delphine has also been nominated for a Queen City Award for Author of the Year! You can vote for her here until September 24th!

Inspired to publish your paranormal romance novel? Contact us!

The post Author Spotlight: Delphine McClelland, “Dark Obsessions” appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Name: Catherine A. Roser Rybak

Hometown: Oil City, Pennsylvania

Book Title: Pooch in a Pound (A Dog’s Point of View)

Genre: Children’s Fiction

Describe your book in 10 words or less.

 Life and times of shelter dogs finding their forever homes.

What made you want to write your book?

 Animals have always been a passion my whole life, especially animals that need our love and support. I have written short stories all my life since childhood. They were mostly about animals.

 How long did it take you to write your book?

 I worked on it off and on for probably around three months.

What do you do when you have writer’s block?   

 You need many times to work on a whim. Many times ideas come to me in the middle of the night, while driving, sometimes even while listening to inspirational music. For me, I can’t plan to write, it appears when you least expect it.

 What was your favorite part to write and why? 

My favorite part of my book is when both dogs have a happy ending. We know this family surely will love them and support them the entire rest of their lives. That is what every pet dreams for their life.

What was it like working with your illustrator? 

 My illustrator went far beyond my expectations. I knew the work would be wonderful, but I was breathless the first time I glimpsed my cover. I appreciate how they went above and beyond for me.

If you were stuck on an island and had to have one person from each category with you, who would they be and why:

a. One friend or family member:

 Well, I know I would surely make it if my husband Greg was with me. He is truly a survivor! I can’t answer this because I would still want each one of my children and grandchildren there, but I would not want any of them stuck on an island!

b. One fictional character:

 I think Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz would know how to survive! Look at all the obstacles she overcame!

c. One famous person (living or dead):

 I think Agatha Christie would be very interesting and enchanting. I love a good mystery.

What are some of your hobbies?

 I love crossword puzzles, I love reading mysteries, I love spending time with family, taking care of pets, and staying up watching late night tv.

How did you celebrate the publishing of your book?

 My family had a Book Launch party for me at a beautiful hometown park. My children gave me flowers on two different occasions for my book.

If your book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?

 It would need to be my furry grandchildren dogs Benny and Scrappy. They are Pooch and Puppy Dog in the book. All the animals in this book are pets from my life and from my family’s lives. Some are from the past and some are in the present time.

What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance Publishing?

Dorrance Publishing helped me every step of the way. They were very supportive! Sometimes I can be very particular.

Five favorite books of all time?

Gone With The Wind, Wuthering Heights, Rascal, Old Yeller, and The Diary of Anne Frank

Any advice for anyone looking to write a children’s book?

I suggest you follow your heart, write about what you are passionate about, sometimes a past experience makes a great story.

Thank you, Catherine!

Catherine has the following BOOK EVENTS:

September 3, 2022

Book Warehouse

Grove City Premium Outlets

1911 Leesburg

Grove City Road

Suite 1020

Grove City, PA

2 to 5 p.m.

September 10, 2022

Precious Paws Pet Fest

Bandstand Park, Franklin, PA

10 to 4 p.m.

September TBD

Carlson Library

840 Wood Street

Clarion, PA

September/October TBD

Erie Barnes and Noble

Meet and Greet, sales and signing

5909 Peach Street

Erie, PA

October 1, 2022

Story Time/Meet and Greet

Riverstone Bookstore

8850 Covenant Ave.

Pittsburgh, PA  15237

9:30 a.m.

The post Author Spotlight: Catherine A. Roser Rybak, “Pooch in a Pound (A Dog’s Point of View)” appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Name:

Hometown: Loveland, Colorado

Book Title: Parachute Minds: Leap of Fate

Genre: Sci-Fi/Adventure

Dorrance Publishing (DP): Describe your book in 10 words or less.

Jeremiah Sanchez (JS): An exploration beyond the unknown through biological light travel.

DP: What made you want to write your book?

JS: I’ve long been fascinated by the explorers of old, who looked across the horizon and braved the unknown by venturing where no one else dared. That was real. That was visceral. And, in our modern world, it’s something that no longer exists. We’ve mapped out the globe. Adventure has been whittled down to tourism. As the adventurers we innately are, we’ve begun exploring into our solar system, which is incredible! But it’s slow.

Obsessing over these floating details, I remember I was staring at a beam of light breaking through a window, marveling at the intricacies too small for me to see or understand. In a moment of unexpected inspiration, I remember wondering what possible properties of light are yet to be discovered. We’re always learning more of the scientific workings around us. So, the first “what if” of many in my “Parachute Minds” adventure hit me: What if light had elasticity properties? And furthermore, what if we could biologically harness it and leap impossible distances at amplified light speed? From there, the book flew out of me, and I’m currently working on the fourth installment.

DP: How long did it take you to write your book?

JS: The first book took about half a year.

DP: How do you choose the names of your characters?

JS: My main protagonist, Gideon, is a name that has been on my heart since I was in my teens and one of my friends randomly asked me, “Hey, if you ever have a son, what would you name him?” The name “Gideon” hit me out of nowhere. I thought it sounded trustworthy and adventurous. Like, “Hey, mom, can I go over to Gideon’s house?” Who would say no to that? His name was ready before the story even existed.

My second of three protagonists, Traveler, is the representing embodiment of the call to action in the book. While I do have a first name for him, I wanted him shrouded in purpose. He is an observer, a recruiter, and a traveler, and he prefers title over birth name. And lastly, Dumakleiza, my third primary protagonist, was pure universal inspiration. I needed a new and unique female character that inspired fear and respect, admiration and wonder, and I spent days going over forced names until “Dumakleiza” just popped in my head. Her name is by far my favorite invented name of the series.

DP: What do you do when you have writer’s block?   

JS: I have a small group of trusted individuals whom I call “my parachute minds.” I have shared the plotline with them, all the way through my planned five books of the series. I’ve insisted upon honest, critical, and creative feedback. Whenever I’m stuck or unsure, their perspectives and guidance have given me fresh eyes and inspiration moving forward. It’s all too easy for us writers to hide away as hermits and covet our art, but one of the best decisions I’ve made on this journey was asking for help from other creative and critical minds along the way.

DP: What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

JS: In the first book, my favorite chapter is easily the first. While it has nothing to do with the scope of the story’s plot, it wholly exemplifies the story’s heart. The majority of the book is saturated in epic adventure, mystery, and danger, but the first chapter is a simple view into Gideon’s soul. Exploring his unconditional love for strangers has changed who I am as an author and a person.

DP: If you were stuck on an island and had to have one person from each category with you, who would they be and why:

a. One character from your book:

JS: Ha! Easy! Dumakleiza. She’s a medieval pirate, who’s lived on an island for most of her life, so she’s well versed in fishing, cooking, and survival tactics. And, not to toot my own horn, but she is passionately brimming with confidence, faith, and perceptive intelligence.

b. One fictional character:

JS: Jack Sparrow seems like an easy answer since he’s a master of getting off islands but after thorough consideration, I would say Raymond Reddington from “The Blacklist.” His intelligence, survival prowess, and calm demeanor in dangerous situations, make him an ideal survival buddy. And between James Spader’s captivating voice and Raymond’s poetic darkness, he would be spellbinding to join staring up at uninhibited stars from our isolated beach.

c. One famous person (living or dead):

JS: This one came to me instantaneously. Mark Rober, the NASA engineer turned YouTuber. His vibrant charisma would make him a pleasure to be stuck with, and his ingenuity would make life fun and efficient, and he would be a great teacher to learn from. If I ever made it off the island, I’d have gotten the equivalent of a college education!

DP: Besides writing, what are your other interests?

JS: In all aspects of life, I think of myself as a student (foreshadowing for book #2). I enjoy trying my hand at anything that piques my interest at all, even if I end up proving terrible at it. This year, my business partner and I started a card and board game company, “Alien Architects,” which will be launching soon. Since writing remains my favorite passion, whenever I’m not working on my books, poetry is still my first love. Day to day, I live in the gym, training under strongman influences such as Brian Shaw, Eddie Hall, and others. I’m an independent model and actor, amateur filmmaker, and voice actor. Check back with me tomorrow. I’m always up to something new!

DP: Do you keep a journal?

JS: I’ve always wanted to! However, I tend to put them down and resort to keeping my journal mental.

DP: How did you celebrate the publishing of your book?

JS: By getting to work. I am beyond excited to finally be able to hold a physical copy of my book, but it only makes me want the next steps of this dream even more, and now they’re within reach. I have a YouTube channel, also titled “Parachute Minds,” which discusses subjects similar to those in my books, where I’m promoting the release. And in addition to other promotional work, I’m preparing the second book of the series for publication. Expect more very soon!

DP: If your book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?

JS: At this point, I would want Gideon played by Dylan O’brien, Dumakleiza played by Zendaya, and Traveler remains a mystery as to who I envision portraying him best. I’m open to suggestions.

DP: What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance Publishing?

JS: The freedom. The professionalism, promptness, and guidance, were all ever-present, but at the end of the day, Dorrance ensured that this was my project and that every step met my standards and vision. This resulted in me getting a product I’m truly happy with and proud of.

DP: Five favorite books of all time?

JS: Frank E. Peretti’s “The Oath” inspired me as a young reader. Growing up, I loved the imagination and creativity of Michael Crichton’s “Jurassic Park” and Douglas Adams’ “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” The book that most inspired me while doing research for my own books: “The Future of Humanity” by Michio Kaku still blows my mind! And lastly, while it seems like a lazy answer, my book. When I decided to write “Parachute Minds,” I decided not to tailor it to any audience or demographic beyond myself. I wanted to write the ultimate story I would want to read.

DP: One sentence of advice for other writers:

JS: Create your characters and then let them do whatever they’re going to do.

Are you ready to publish your book? Contact us today!

The post Author Spotlight: Jeremiah Sanchez appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Name:

Hometown: Boca Raton, FL

Book Title: Freddie The Fruit Fly

Genre: Children’s

Dorrance Publishing (DP): Describe your book in 10 words or less.

Zane Stuart (ZS): Optimistic, adventurous fruit fly finds his way in the world.

DP: What made you want to write your book?

ZS: I saw fruit flies in the market, which caused me to recall seeing them occasionally in my kitchen. I started thinking about how a fruit fly might get from the market to someone’s kitchen, and the story took off from there.

DP: How long did it take you to write your book?

ZS: All in all, it took many years. I wrote the first part of the book pretty quickly. Not knowing how to pursue publishing, the manuscript sat for a long time. Inspiration hit again, and I came up with more ideas about how Freddie’s journey would continue, and I added to the story. I pitched it to literary agents and got good feedback, but none of them decided to go with the book. Years later, I saw an ad for Dorrance on my computer. I sent them the manuscript and they accepted it! I found a great illustrator, and with Dorrance’s help, we finished the book to my great satisfaction.

DP: How do you choose the names of your characters?

ZS: In this case, I went with sound keeping with F for fruit fly. Freddie was an easy choice. And his girlfriend’s name is Francine. Also, my father’s name was Fred.

DP: What do you do when you have writer’s block?   

ZS: Step away, get some fresh air, and come back to it. Be kind to yourself. The inspiration will return.

DP: What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

ZS: I love the transitions—Freddie really travels. I have great fun coming up with creative ways to get him from one place to another.

DP: If you were stuck on an island and had to have one person from each category with you, who would they be and why:

a. One character from your book:

ZS: The lady, because she’s the only human who is relevant to the story.

b. One fictional character:

ZS: Freddie! Because he’s so positive.

c. One famous person (living or dead):

ZS: I would choose George Carlin.

DP: Besides writing, what are your other interests?

ZS: Music, jamming with others, playing and teaching blues harmonica, practicing Qi Gong.

DP: Do you keep a journal?

ZS: Not currently, but that’s a great reminder! I used to write Morning Pages, inspired by Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way.

DP: How did you celebrate the publishing of your book?

ZS: Dinner with girlfriend and friends, but I’m always celebrating this achievement.

DP: If your book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?

ZS: The main characters would be played by Tom Hanks and Drew Barrymore.

DP: What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance Publishing?

ZS: I enjoyed their kind, knowledgeable, and expert assistance.

DP: Five favorite books of all time?

ZS: Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda; The Tracker by Tom Brown Jr.; Mousekin’s Golden House by Edna Miller; Black Elk Speaks by John Gneisenau Neihardt; The Horse’s Mouth by Joyce Cary

DP: One sentence of advice for other writers:

ZS: If you are entertained by your ideas, others will be too!

Are you ready to publish your book? Contact us today!

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One way to improve your action writing is by writing a scene with a simple premise: two characters get into a fight. This may sound overly simplistic, but that’s why it works as a perfect tool to practice action scene writing. An engaging action scene in manuscript format can’t be solely about the action taking place because simply reading about punching and kicking doesn’t translate the same way in a book that it does on screen. Instead, the focus should be on what is at stake on a character level.

By writing a scene based on this simple, you’re able to focus on the why behind the fight, rather than making the action exciting as we’re often feeling pressured to do. For example, let’s say we have two characters: Matt and David. Matt and David get into a fight, why? Are they two friends who had a falling out based on some dishonest behavior, only to wind up running into each other at a bar one night and having it out? If that’s the case, what was the lie and what did it cost each of them?

Or are they two strangers out at a club who bump into each other, a few harsh words are exchanged, and suddenly punches are being thrown? If that’s the case, what put them each in a bad mood? Maybe one of them just has anger issues, what has his anger cost him in his life? What could this moment cost him, should it get too out of hand? There is so much going on behind a fight and, in a manuscript format, focusing on these aspects is how you’ll be able to keep readers engaged and excited about the action.

Writing Prompt: Write a scene where two characters get into a fight. You can choose two already-made characters or create two new ones for the purposes of the scene. What is the relationship between the two characters? What caused the fight vs. why are they fighting (sometimes these are two different answers)? What are the stakes of their fight, both internally and externally? Put your dukes up, writers.

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Personality

When including an animal character in your story, it’s important to make sure they have a bit of a personality. Any animal owner in real life knows, each of their pets has a very different personality. This can even range based on the animal, cats are typically more aloof while dogs are more fun and friendly.

While animal characters obviously don’t need to have their personalities fleshed out the way your other characters will, you should at least have a few defining traits to play around with. For example, your character could have a German Shephard that is extremely protective and territorial, going off on anyone who so much as goes near their owner. Additionally, depending on the genre of your story, you could invent an animal with its own unique personality and biological traits. Think of at least three words that you could use to describe the personality of your animal character and base their actions throughout the story around those traits.

Quirks

An animal’s quirks will show rather than tell the reader about their personality traits. This can highlight a certain aspect of their personality while also allowing them to become a more unique character. For example, take the character Hedwig, the lovable owl from the Harry Potter series. There are many instances throughout the series where Hedwig refuses to deliver packages for Harry for various reasons. Perhaps he forgot to give her a treat after one of her deliveries or used another owl for a delivery because she wasn’t around. These actions result in Hedwig pouting at Harry, ruffling her feathers, and even pecking him if she’s feeling particularly upset. That is, until he threatens to use another owl for a delivery, and then she quickly drops her attitude.

These exchanges show off Hedwig’s sassy personality and intelligence while also allowing both the reader and Harry to connect with her on a more human level. You should strive to achieve these same goals within your own writing.

Emotional Intelligence

Showing the reader that the animal character has a level of emotional intelligence, which many animals do and all literary animals should, will allow the reader to connect with them on a human level. There’s nothing worse than reading a book with a seemingly useless animal character to which the reader has no real emotional connection. Even when it comes to an animal, a character that doesn’t establish any type of emotional connection with the reader is a waste of page space.

So how do you allow your animal character to connect with the reader in this way? This will happen primarily utilizing action considering that, unless you’re writing in the fantasy genre, your animal character won’t be using dialogue. For example, perhaps your protagonist had a particularly bad day and is laying in bed crying, only to look up and see their pet dog offering them their own favorite toy. Or maybe this comes in the form of your protagonist’s pet lizard refusing to leave their shoulder as they’re having an altercation with a friend. Think about what would fit your animal’s personality and find actions that you can use to show both their emotional intelligence and their relationship with different characters throughout the story.

Story Role

As stated previously, the last thing you want is to write in a useless animal character with absolutely no purpose or role within the story (other than to be cute). Your editor is going to cut them from your book so fast it will make your head spin. Instead, as you’re planning to write your animal character, make sure you ask yourself: what is their role or purpose in this story?

For example, let’s say you’re writing about a very pessimistic character with a tough exterior who had befriended an alley cat near his apartment complex. With everyone else in his life, he is blunt and harsh but when he’s around this cat he is suddenly a sweet ball of mush. The role of the cat in this story is to show the reader another side of this character that we wouldn’t normally see and allow them to draw conclusions as to why the character behaves this way. You must therefore ask yourself, what does this animal show the readers about my protagonist? How does this animal character push along the plot of the story? Does this animal character raise the stakes of my story in some way?

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Name:

Hometown: Delavan, Wisconsin

Book Title:

1. Books Can Take You Anywhere
   
2. Too Cool Dazzle
   
3. My Toy Box
   

Genre: Children’s

Dorrance Publishing (DP): Describe your book in 10 words or less.

Vicky M. Van Dan-Pletsch (VDP):

1. Books Can Take You Anywhere: Let your imagination go!
2. Too Cool Dazzle: To be kind is to be cool!
3. My Toy Box: Open up a toy box, and let the fun begin!

DP: What made you want to write your book?

VDP: I taught our two boys to read at the age of three. When they entered school and ordered books through various companies, I was not pleased with the poor quality of books. I informed my husband that I could write better books. His response was, “Then why don’t you?” Challenge accepted!

DP: How long did it take you to write your book?

VDP: Each book took about three days to complete, from start to finish. I have written 14 other books, with the hopes to have them published.

DP: How do you choose the names of your characters?

VDP: Books 1 & 2 have many cultures and ethnicities represented as the book’s characters. With so much racism and hatred in the world, I wanted many cultures represented: White, Hispanic, African American, Asian, Eastern, as well as both boys & girls.

DP: What do you do when you have writer’s block?   

VDP: I am a music teacher who taught in public school for 37 years, retiring in 2017. I still teach privately from my home music studio, on various instruments. I am also involved with the local community band, clarinet choir, Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics, Relay for Life, The American Legion, and church organist/pianist which all keep me busy with the community. I keep busy with our landscaping, baking, cooking, writing more children’s books, craft projects, & working on my second degree blackbelt in taekwondo.

DP: What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

VDP: Book 1 (pages 29 & 47), as those involved the musical instruments in a band and the symphony/ballet/concert. Book 2 (page 39) that shows Too Cool Dazzle when he finally understands that kindness comes from within, not from what you wear, and when his heart grows in size. On page 45, the boy who had asked for his silky blue tie in the very beginning gives Too Cool Dazzle a huge hug, after Too Cool Dazzle gives him his silky blue tie. Book 3, the last page which includes all the toys throughout the book. Children can find each of the toys and name them.

DP: If you were stuck on an island and had to have one person from each category with you, who would they be and why:

a. One character from your book:

VDP: Book 1 (page 27) would be our oldest son, who is a meteorologist. He could predict what we would do in weather situations. Also page 47, as our other son plays the saxophone, so there would be music. Book 2 (page 23), the friend giving Too Cool Dazzle some advice would be my husband, as we are always conversing about various topics. Book 3 (pages 66 & 67) would be either of our two granddaughters, as this is what their rooms look like after we are finished playing.

b. One fictional character:

VDP: I would choose Santa Claus from “Books Can Take You Anywhere” (page 9) because I absolutely love Christmas and everything to do with Christmas!

c. One famous person (living or dead):

VDP: Deceased, it would either be Chopin or Beethoven as I admire their music. Living, it would be the Pope!

DP: Besides writing, what are your other interests?

VDP: I enjoy being with my family (especially with our two granddaughters), listening to and playing all types of music, baking, cooking, working outside in our landscaping, eating chocolate (especially dark… yum), making crafts, playing the piano & my clarinet, reading, writing books, and working on my second degree blackbelt in taekwondo.

DP: Do you keep a journal?

VDP: No, but I do have a special book of various book signings/presentations/workshops, and a scrapbook of those signings/presentations/workshops. The special book contains signatures and  dates of guests who have visited my booths or tables at past signings/presentations/workshops. The scrapbook has newspaper clippings, articles, and brochures of events.

DP: How did you celebrate the publishing of your book?

VDP: With all three books, I made many phone calls to family & friends and posted it on Facebook. Then we celebrated outside, with our favorite beverages, around the blazing fire pit, listening to tunes, and watching the stars.

DP: If your book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?

VDP: Book 1 would have many stars and characters of different cultures & ethnicities and I’d have to think on that one. Book 2, Too Cool Dazzle would be played by either Michael B. Jordan or Denzel Washington. His friend would be either Tom Hanks or Matt Damon. Of course, there would be others to ask as there are many cultures and ethnicities represented in this book too. Book 3, the child would need to be a young actor or actress, possibly Timothee Chalamet or Giselle Eisenberg.

DP: What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance Publishing?

VDP: I was very impressed with my first overall phone conversation/interview with Mrs. Barbara Ennis, along with my two assigned project coordinators, Melissa Weisberg and Raquel Ponce. All of these ladies have been helpful with any questions or concerns throughout the process in publishing all three of my books.

DP: Five favorite books of all time?

VDP: How about six? “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein, “The Grapes of Wrath” by John Steinbeck, “Flowers for Algernon” by Daniel Keyes, “The Little House” by Virginia Lee Burton, any Berenstain Bears books, and any Dr. Seuss books.

DP: One sentence of advice for other writers:

VDP: Never give up on your dream or passion to write!

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