Good Morning Folks,
For those of you who have seen (or remember) the He-Man and She-Ra cartoons of the 1980's those words in the title of this post should be familiar to you (it's what they said after they changed into their powerful alter-egos).
So, what's an author's "power"?
Generally it's the author's greatest strength. Something that gives the author that extra oomph. Oftentimes, it's the ability to create great descriptions, or fabulous dialogue. Or just simply the uncanny ability to draw a reader in (I'm going to cite Stephenie Meyer here as someone who can definitely draw a reader in).
As to dialogue, Kerrelyn Sparks has some humorous dialogue. Kim Lenox creates some really good description. Character--Laura Childs--I still want to know what happens next with Theodosia Browning.
Someone like Nicholas Sparks created a story of tender love and care in A Walk To Remember. For me, John Grisham ups the suspense in his novels.
Weaving sci-fi with romance, Ciara Gold (she had a balance of both. Although, generally sci-fi spaceship inner workings gets me lost since I'm no engineer--although, I do know how to pump my own gas into my vehicle (a talent, to be sure LOL)...but I always can understand sacrifice for one's loved ones--which was one of the themes in her novel, Celestial Dragon). When it comes to spaceships, seeing them on the big screen or TV is easier for me than reading about them. (She has several e-books out, but Celestial Dragon is also in print).
So, that brings me to myself. My greatest strength? I think it's my imagination. I'm able to come up with ideas and way to put them into print by imagining the scene--by imagining what the characters do, say, look like and act. What motivates them. What they're afraid of and what gives them courage.
Like with Surreal--oftentimes I could picture in vague images what the characters would do--but I could definitely "hear" what they'd say. Then I'd take that idea and adjust it for the story. That's generally how that one moved along when I was writing it.
With Conjure A Man--similar thing, except most of the time I come up with my ideas as I write, rather than when I'm laying in bed (which was my problem with Surreal. I'd be trying to go to sleep and ideas would pop in--and I'd have to dream up the whole scene before I could go to sleep!)
When I came up with Conjure A Man my imagination took flight in my dreams. That usually doesn't happen to me. So the next morning I grabbed a piece of paper and pen and scribbled down the general synopsis and then got breakfast and off I went. Now that I'm reconstructing it's starting to take a more precise shape than it did in the beginning.
But it all starts with my imagination.
So what's your "power"? What's your greatest strength--the thing that drives your stories forward? Is it dialogue? Or description? Imagination? Dreams? Is it inspiration that hits as you're thinking/reading/doing something else?
Have A Tremendous Tuesday!
For those of you who have seen (or remember) the He-Man and She-Ra cartoons of the 1980's those words in the title of this post should be familiar to you (it's what they said after they changed into their powerful alter-egos).
So, what's an author's "power"?
Generally it's the author's greatest strength. Something that gives the author that extra oomph. Oftentimes, it's the ability to create great descriptions, or fabulous dialogue. Or just simply the uncanny ability to draw a reader in (I'm going to cite Stephenie Meyer here as someone who can definitely draw a reader in).
As to dialogue, Kerrelyn Sparks has some humorous dialogue. Kim Lenox creates some really good description. Character--Laura Childs--I still want to know what happens next with Theodosia Browning.
Someone like Nicholas Sparks created a story of tender love and care in A Walk To Remember. For me, John Grisham ups the suspense in his novels.
Weaving sci-fi with romance, Ciara Gold (she had a balance of both. Although, generally sci-fi spaceship inner workings gets me lost since I'm no engineer--although, I do know how to pump my own gas into my vehicle (a talent, to be sure LOL)...but I always can understand sacrifice for one's loved ones--which was one of the themes in her novel, Celestial Dragon). When it comes to spaceships, seeing them on the big screen or TV is easier for me than reading about them. (She has several e-books out, but Celestial Dragon is also in print).
So, that brings me to myself. My greatest strength? I think it's my imagination. I'm able to come up with ideas and way to put them into print by imagining the scene--by imagining what the characters do, say, look like and act. What motivates them. What they're afraid of and what gives them courage.
Like with Surreal--oftentimes I could picture in vague images what the characters would do--but I could definitely "hear" what they'd say. Then I'd take that idea and adjust it for the story. That's generally how that one moved along when I was writing it.
With Conjure A Man--similar thing, except most of the time I come up with my ideas as I write, rather than when I'm laying in bed (which was my problem with Surreal. I'd be trying to go to sleep and ideas would pop in--and I'd have to dream up the whole scene before I could go to sleep!)
When I came up with Conjure A Man my imagination took flight in my dreams. That usually doesn't happen to me. So the next morning I grabbed a piece of paper and pen and scribbled down the general synopsis and then got breakfast and off I went. Now that I'm reconstructing it's starting to take a more precise shape than it did in the beginning.
But it all starts with my imagination.
So what's your "power"? What's your greatest strength--the thing that drives your stories forward? Is it dialogue? Or description? Imagination? Dreams? Is it inspiration that hits as you're thinking/reading/doing something else?
Have A Tremendous Tuesday!
Comments
Isn't it funny how sometimes we writers can be on the same wavelength? LOL. It would seem you and I have the same weakness LOL I come up with some nifty dialogue sometimes, but I definitely know my ultimate strength is imagination--coming up with the story, the characters, situation. It's so cool how each author has different strengths and weaknesses. We all have our talents even in the writing world!