Update on the novel

Today marks the day I finished my first draft of "Shadows of Calassa." It's at 132 pages with 32,804 words total. And I feel great!

Tip for the Day:
Having that feeling of just finished a first draft can be good and often times some writers who are just starting think that the story is told now I can try and focus on something else. Well, I'm here to tell you that you're wrong.

1. Once you've finished a first draft, set it aside for a day or two, most likely a week or so before pulling it out to review it and check for grammar, punctuation, and just tweaking it here and there, but that all comes later.
2. Start another project, even if it's just an essay or blogging. It doesn't matter. The point is to not let those skills atrophy. 
3. Find a critique group of people who get together and write and ask if they're letting members join. This way you can get unbiased feedback from people who may or may not read your genre, but will be helpful in catching the big picture idea and the little details that seem to slip by.
4. Above all else, keep writing.

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."