Pronunciation

Pronunciation is key when one reads your work or you read theirs. Sure, you can always pronounce it your own way, and the author may always pronounce it their way. Which is correct? Both.

The reason I'm bringing this up is because a friend asked me how I pronounce my characters names.

Rhys: I pronounce it REEss
Tamara Lamnar: Tuh-mar-uh Lam-narr
Jori: Jh-OAR-EE
Bylee: BUY-LEE
Mira: MEE-RAH
Rou'tre: ROW-TRuh
Tesqui-Wiit: TES-Kwee-White
Sarline'batra: SAR-LEAN-BAW-TRAW
Oph'la: OH-Fell-Ah
Malton Alhai: MALL-TON ALL-HIGH
Walrot: WALL-ROT
Jeksonn Alhai: JECK-SON ALL-HIGH
Griff Wahl: GRIFF WALL
Tixe: TIE-SHEE
Khariss: K-ARR-iss
Latchton: LATCH-TON
Y'canthra: EE-can-thr-uh
T'ol: Tuh-OLL
Vhoz Lamnar: V-OSH Lam-nawr
Ascon Tirs: ASK-ON Tuhrz
Lexz: LEK-Ss
Y: why
Q: cue
Z'jara: Zshuh-JAR-uh
Riine Valonto: REEn Vuh-LOHN-toe
Av'ryl: Aahv-uh-rILL
Bartok: Barr-TOCK
Ivarrson: EE-vARE-suhn
Qeru: KARE-OO
Cinor: SIN-OAR
A'liin Mobar: Aah-LEEN MOE-barr
Henrik Reapre: HEN-rick RIPE-err

Getting in touch with your characters

I've been hard pressed to describe my characters accurately to my current critique group. So yesterday I decided to take one of my characters and do a short 1st person exploration with them. The result was unexpected. This character is really more hardened and resentful of the events in her world. For her, nothing ever goes right; in other words, it's a dystopia.

Some suggestions for getting in touch with your characters:

• Try writing them in the 1st person or the 3rd person limited. This allows you to connect with your character, giving you insights into the character's mindset. 
• Try writing a character exposition using only that character and no one else. Sometimes, it's what the internal dialogue says that tells all.
• Do a Question and Answer type thing with you character where you ask them a question and in turn allow them to provide the answer. 

The Key to all of this is to let the character speak to you.  Remember, writing is both serious and fun. Don't be so serious about how your character should act. As the 11th Doctor (Matt Smith) says "Never knowingly be serious."

Writing Sci-Fi

It's not as easy as it looks, writers. Few people I come across always or nearly always say that science fiction has no plot or story arch, that it's just about weapons and technology, military vs aliens, spaceships and battles. Well I'm here to tell you and them that this is not the case.

Writing sci-fi has as much work as any other writing genre. Here are some tips below to help you plot it out. Even if you aren't writing sci-fi, this will still help; yes, that includes nonfiction novels too.

• Know you world: You are the author. It's your world and your story. Plot out the history of the world/universe. What nations/empires/republics/colonies are there? Who are the people? What's their history? Detailed outlines (though not too detailed [this leaves some room for creativity]) help you keep the history of your world/universe in check. Not only is this a benefit to you, the author, but it help to ensure that you never (almost never) contradict yourself. Some world building is nice, but don't spend the whole novel on it.
• Plot it out: Plot out the events of your story using what I call the skewed pyramid*. This helps to ensure that you stay on track and don't wander off to explain every little detail about your world/universe. You're not David Weber or John Ringo. If the scene works by adding in some detail of your world, such as an important battle, reference it, don't spell the whole thing out.
• Are weapons and technology necessary?: Of course they're necessary. It hints at the universe/world around your book. If it has contemporary technology, then the reader knows it's set around the current era of humanity. If it has unheard of technology, it's the future.