Counting down to ETCHED.... #2

In ETCHED IN LIES, 16-year-old Dylan Lord has just discovered she can physically feel the lies told to or around her... she struggles to come to terms with a world and an existence in which she must seek for the truth at all costs.

As I prepared and wrote this story, I had to do some research about lies.

To celebrate ETCHED's release on December 11, 2015, I am counting down to one with some of the fun fact and interesting ideas I stumbled upon in the name of writing... as well as a tidbit or two about how I came up with the idea....

Happy Reading!

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2. The Quote that inspired ETCHED

Several of the stories I have written have been inspired by a quote. The first was a line from TS Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"... ETCHED proved no different. It was harmless enough - I was just skimming through Facebook - I wasn't even looking for it (probably why I found it), when a quote caught my eye and the rest, as they say, was history... so thanks for posting it!

"The truth is, everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for."  Bob Marley

I hope as you read ETCHED, you can see the inspiration in the final version of the story... Have you used a quote to guide your story?

Tomorrow - we'll wrap up this top 10 with the most common lie told.... check back then!

3. Children....

4. Lies we tell ourselves (See 12/7/15)

5. And now for the lies Girls tell Guys (See 12/6/15)

6. Lies Guys Tell... (See 12/5/15)

7. Well known Quotes about Lying (See 12/4/15)

8. Lies Girls tell Girls (See 12/3/15 Post)

9. Employee/Employer Lies (See 12/2/15 Post)

10. Greatest Lies In History (See 12/1/15 Post)

Counting down to ETCHED.... #7

In ETCHED IN LIES, 16-year-old Dylan Lord has just discovered she can physically feel the lies told to or around her... she struggles to come to terms with a world and an existence in which she must seek for the truth at all costs.

As I prepared and wrote this story, I had to do some research about lies.

To celebrate ETCHED's release on December 11, 2015, I am counting down to one with some of the fun fact and interesting ideas I stumbled upon in the name of writing... as well as a tidbit or two about how I came up with the idea....

Happy Reading!

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7. Well known Quotes about Lying

It was a quote that drove the original concept for ETCHED... so today I'll share a few of the other quotes I found along the way. Want to know what quote drove ETCHED? Check back in later...

“If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.”
― Mark Twain

“Above all, don't lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love.”
― Fyodor Dostoyevsky, The Brothers Karamazov

“I lie to myself all the time. But I never believe me.”
― S.E. Hinton, The Outsiders

“If you do not tell the truth about yourself you cannot tell it about other people.”
― Virginia Woolf

“Isn't it funny how we live inside the lies we believe?”
― A.S. King, Please Ignore Vera Dietz

8. Lies Girls tell Girls (See 12/3/15 Post)

9. Employee/Employer Lies (See 12/2/15 Post)

10. Greatest Lies In History (See 12/1/15 Post)

Counting down to ETCHED - #9

In ETCHED IN LIES, 16-year-old Dylan Lord has just discovered she can physically feel the lies told to or around her... she struggles to come to terms with a world and an existence in which she must seek for the truth at all costs.

As I prepared and wrote this story, I had to do some research about lies.

To celebrate ETCHED's release on December 11, 2015, I am counting down to one with some of the fun fact and interesting ideas I stumbled upon in the name of writing... as well as a tidbit or two about how I came up with the idea....

Happy Reading!

1.
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9. Employer/Employee Lies

Some people have gotten creative in their lies as they call off work, or show up late. On The Hiring Site, one of the most ridiculous reasons was recorded as being: "I got sick from reading too much..." IS that even possible?

However this person, with a creative lie, should be given...credit? "I got lost and drove to another state."

Sadly, we all know someone who may not be lying when they say that....

And let us know forget that horrible "doctor's appointment" which I feel is still the most tried and true employee lie.

And recorded as being the most common Employer lie: "There are always advancement opportunities..."

10. Greatest Lies In History (See 12/1/15 Post)

Truth:

Words are a lens to focus one’s mind. - Ayn Rand

Simplicity

“If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”
― Stephen King

I first read this quote several years ago when I only had the dream of writing a novel. I had started several stories - but never finished them. Real life or substandard concepts or mediocre characters got in my way. Those ideas still sit in a filing cabinet - waiting for a day when maybe the muse will strike. Then again, maybe it won't.

 

But as I revisited this quote, I think I finally get it. It is as simple as that...however it took me a while to get it. How can I expect to become a better writer if I exist only within my limits. By reading others, I can experience their craft on multiple levels.

 

First, I read as a reader. I read as a person who loves to read. I get immersed in the story. I laugh and cry with the characters and, in some cases, I'm not afraid to admit it, weep when I hit the end knowing there isn't another page to turn.

 

Then I read as a writer. I look at the way they create plot, build characters, raise conflict and draw the reader in. I look at those crucial opening pages. I look at where they break chapters and if I'm reading a series, I look at how they try to hook me into reading the next, or how they fail.

 

Finally, I read as a critic. I wonder what would I do to change this story? How could I have written the character differently? Did I like the setting? Did I even get the setting? Did I get a full picture of the characters or just a marble outline...

 

I never try to make it "better" because I know how it feels when someone is messing with my babies - my novels - but the critic in me needs to see what I could do to change the story - and in so doing, I get to see how I can change my own story.

 

So it all starts with reading. And speaking of which, I have a book calling my name.

Until next time