By Elva Cobb Martin ---Check out the above YouTube Clip!
If you're planning a
novel, I assume you've studied a lot about characterization and how best
to plan and detail your characters. But today with the above YouTube
clip I am sharing with you something I've run across with planning my
Spanish heroine in my current wip (work in progress).
In my research I ran
across the Spanish horse or the Andalusian breed which has had a large
influence on the bloodlines of the beautiful Lipizzaner breed of horses
of the Spanish Riding School of Vienna. That's why it's called the
Spanish Riding School, but it's in Vienna, Austria.
I've had horses
myself and love them. I am thinking about making my heroine more special
than ever by setting her on a Spanish horse stud farm where she has
learned the beautiful dancing with the horses like you see in the clip.
Don't you think this will make her a much more special character that
readers will love?
Remember, one of my
first points in planning your novel in Part 1 was Research and More
Research! I've spent some time studying out the Spanish or Andalusian
horse and had a great time doing it. My novel will be much richer as a
result. These horses are still being bred in several nations and very
popular all over the world, not just in Spain or Austria.
In the clip you can see
where the Lipizzaner got it's beautiful dressage genes! And don't you
love the Spanish guitar accompaniment?
Of course, I've got MUCH
research on this subject I may never get to use in my novel, but that's
fine. I'd rather be on the rich end rather than the skimpy one.
Here's a few quick notes from my research for you horse lovers like me!
Spanish horses,
including the Andalusian, originated from Arabian and Berber horses from
North Africa. They were brought to Spain in the 8th Century. (Think
Muslim invasion and takeover of Spain which continued several centuries
and hence the mosques still standing there).
During the 15th and 16th
Centuries (think of the Catholic deliverance of Spain, Queen Isabella's
Empire, and Columbus) these majestic high-stepping Spanish
horses became the status symbol of the royal courts throughout Europe.
Note: my photo may be of Isabella...and it might not be. But you get the picture. ( :
1580: When the
importation of horses from the Spanish Peninsula became more difficult,
the Vienna court under Archduke Karl II decided to develop their own
breeding farm in . . . Lipica. He sent buyers to Spain and they brought
back stallions and mares. They became the foundation of the Lipizzan
breed. And, yes, I have the rest of the exciting story about even these
Lipizzan horses and all they went through during the various European
wars, even their rescue during WWII by our own General Patton. But
that's another story. . . for another day.
Have you planned a
special talent or work for your main character that people will love
to learn about? This is the kind of thing that makes an historical or a
contemporary novel much richer. In my contemporary Summer of Deception novel, I shared the growing and making of tea by my hero. You can find the novel here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071L28PHH
I also have a beautiful Arabian horse in this novel named Haidez.
Do join the fun and tell
us about your character's special talent or work. Please click on the
social buttons below to share if you found this blog helpful.
Blessings,
Elva Cobb Martin
by Elva Cobb Martin
In Part 2 we talked about "Premise" and how it will actually help you write your pitch. Never mind pulling your hair out. You can access Parts 1-2 in my archives.
So what is a pitch (or log line) and how does it differ from a book tag?
A pitch is a one or two sentence nutshell that explains what your book is about.
Imagine
someone asking you, "What is your book about?" (Some one like an editor
or agent that you may run into at a conference and you only have a few
moments to tell them about your book).
Here are some examples of pitches:
1) Jacob
Marshall must avenge his father's honor by implicating Serena Jones'
father, only to realize revenge often hurts the innocent.
2) Rachel
York determines to unearth the truth about her brother's reported death
by taking a position at an historic tea plantation, only to realize the
truth may destroy her new found love and could even cost her life.
(This was my pitch for Summer of Deception which helped snag a contract and can be found at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071L28PHH )
Want to try your hand at a pitch? Here's a simple template that has helped me:
(Your protagonist) _________MUST __________(critical plot goal) BY ______________(action or conflict)
ONLY TO REALIZE __________________(what the character learns about life that helps him change his goal during journey of book
Tags are a briefer hook, like back cover copy first line or byline in a movie. You'll need this for your book cover and tweets.
To boldly go where no man has gone. (Star Wars)
Don't go in the water (Jaws)
Collide with destiny (Titanic)
Power comes with a price (The List by Robert Whitlow)
Can love survive a summer of deception? (for my novel Summer of Deception)
Falling in love with a pirate was never part of her plan. (for my novel, In a Pirate's Debt).
My Premise for my current wip helped me write my Pitch. Of course, it's an inspirational romance.
To recap, my tweaked premise for my wip is: Love,
forgiveness, and determination can overcome the most horrifying
experiences and poor choices when God is invited into the equation.
Here's a rough draft of my pitch:
"Marisol
Valentine flees after murdering the Spanish nobleman who sexually
assaulted her only to find herself caught in a net of kidnappers for the
King's colonization of the New World which threatens to derail her
forever from love, security and decency until she discovers a God who
can work good even from evil."
How's that for a long sentence? But it gets the job done--for now. ( :
Thanks for
stopping by. Please do leave a comment and a sample pitch, if you have
one. And share this blog if it has been helpful.
Blessings,
Elva Cobb Martin
by Elva Cobb Martin
Planning
your novel can get that dream you have (like an illusive bubble in your
head and heart), down on plain white paper or on your computer screen.
In Part 1 of planning a novel, we talked about:
a) Reading/immersing yourself in your genre and time period
b) Jotting down your initial storyline
c) Researching and more researching
You can find Part 1 in my archives.
Today, I want to talk about the first of three important "p's" in planning your novel: Premise, Pitch, and Pictures.
Stavros Halvatzis has several good blogs about Premise that helped me. Click http://stavroshalvatzis.com/story-design/how-to-create-a-strong-dramatic-Premise
To recap, he says:
The story or moral premise is
a short description of the entire story in its essential form. It's the
essential core or meaning of the story and the chief theme of your
story.
A unique premise contains a strong set-up and pay-off, it generates dramatic questions, and gives the writer a blueprint for writing a successful story.
It can be
thought of as the two-part genetic code of a story: one part identifies
the virtue which leads to victory, while the other identifies the
opposite, which leads to defeat.
Here are some movie examples he sites:
1) The Ten Commandments, Braveheart, The Firm, Gladiator
"The
hero must do the right thing to eventually achieve the goal (carry the
day, save the world), even if it sometimes means he has to sacrifice
himself."
2) In There Will be Blood
"The pursuit of wealth and power, at the expense of love and family, leads to loneliness and defeat."
After studying premise this is what I came up with for my work-in-progress, an inspirational historical romance.
"Love, forgiveness and determination can overcome the most horrifying experiences and poor choices."
Can you see
the two main parts of my story? (Terrible experience & Happy
Resolution) Can you see that it will be an encouraging story for those
who have suffered from bad experiences or poor choices? Does it bring to
mind dramatic questions like: What horrible experience did the heroine
endure? How will she find love and forgiveness to overcome the effects?
Does she have enough determination to move forward to a HEA? My heroine,
Marisol Valentin, will find what she needs to overcome! She will
illustrate my idea of a strong, determined woman who will not let
circumstances destroy her or keep her down. And, of course, she will
have to discover the great power of Christian faith to do this.
Do you see that from my premise, I actually have my beginning, middle and end of my story?
The Horrifying Experience (and all it entailed)
Working to Overcome (risk, hindrances, conflict, people)
Accessing love, forgiveness and determination to a HEA
Sound like the 3 acts? Maybe so.
Can you come up with a premise for your novel? It will help you write your story, and keep you on track to your planned ending.
Please share it in the comments. I'd love to read it.
Premise is different from the Pitch which I will discuss in my next blog. Premise will help you write your pitch!
Thanks for stopping by. Please leave a comment and share this blog on your social media if it was helpful.
Blessings,
Elva Cobb Martin
by Elva Cobb Martin
Are you
planning your first novel or trying to get started with your next one? I
give God the glory for two novels recently released by Lighthouse
Publishers of the Carolinas, Summer of Deception and In a Pirate's Debt. You can check them out on Amazon at this link: http://amzn.to/2pOgVHI.
This summer
I am researching and planning my next novel which will become a series,
I hope. Here are the steps that have helped me in the past and, I
believe, will assist me again.
1) Read, Read in Your Genre --and Time Period if Historical.
I find it
very important to immerse myself in the genre I'm hoping to write. In
your genre, find the best, most successful authors you can and read and
study what makes their novel interesting to read. I often take notes and
write in the margins!
If writing an historical, find books in your time period. Since I'm planning
an historical series set in the 1700's like my pirate novel above, I am
reading novels of established authors set in this century. It's amazing
how many great ideas come to me as I soak up stories set in my chosen
time period and place. Reading a contemporary novel,or one set in the
Regency Period, or during World War II won't help keep me on target, so I
save those novels for another time. I also look for movies set in my
time period and save them in my TV groups. I take notes on setting,
dialog, dress, conflict, historical tidbits, etc.
4) Jot Down Your Initial Storyline
My basic
story idea is of a heroine, an indentured servant, who has a bad past
she's carrying like baggage, even after she becomes a Christian. (See
the "lie" she believes and the spiritual plot possibility of her
overcoming?) After a terrible incident in Spain she fled for her life to
the New World as an indentured servant. She falls in love with her
master after he becomes widowed, but she feels like soiled goods he will
never be interested in. She desires to find respect, security and love
and will go to some lengths to find them. (See the motivation and goals
unfolding?) And, of course, I will give the widowed hero problems,
conflicts, and goals to complicate the romance possibility we will
pursue from Charles Town to the Spanish Main. Of course, some of these
details will likely change as I write the story! (More on
characterization, lies, motivation, and goals in Part 2.)
3) Research and Research Some More
Having the
Internet has made research so much easier. Seldom do I have to make a
trip to the library for research. This novel will have a heroine who is
an indentured servant. Yesterday I googled "Indentured Servants in
America" and came up with great information. I printed some articles and
saved some to my computer. I already know this story will be set mainly on the Spanish Main in Cartagena so I googled that and came up with some great articles and maps.
How do you plan a new novel? I would love to hear your comments. Next time I will share Part 2 that works for me.
Blessings,
Elva Martin
