Brandi's Blog

Aspiring Author Sparking Thoughts

Who do you write like?

 This was a question someone asked and I wondered, who do I write like?  I suppose you would write like the people you like to read.  I love Twilight, so maybe like Stephanie Meyer?  I also like Dan Brown and Nora Roberts.  OK, I know they are all super famous.  Honestly I usually read what people are talking about.  Call me what you will.

 There have been books I picked up and slammed down!  I don’t read books that curse a lot.  It’s distracting to me.  I also don’t care for horror, I have nightmares.  I also can’t stand when the conversation in a book is confusing; I get twisted around and usually give up before I would struggle through it.

 I write simple, straightforward with a lot of detail.  Maybe too much detail?  I’ve been told I write everything I see, think and feel, and I don’t need to.  I should let the reader infer more.  I’m trying to work on that. 

 Who do you write like?

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As I write my novel there are parts that I love, I wouldn’t change a thing.  There are also parts that I could live without, but I like them.  I really have no idea what will make my book wonderful.  I write what I see playing in my head.  I read once that if you cry when you write it’s powerful and will give a great story.  If you giggle when you write then it’s too cheesy.

I giggle when I write, usually it’s because how the characters are reacting.   I have seen the reactions in person or have done then myself and it’s hysterical.  So I don’t believe that it’s too cheesy, it’s life. 

I try very hard to be in my story not just read it but live it.  I think that is why I am writing in first person.  I want the reader to feel like Sarah.  To journey with her through all the drama, silliness and sadness.  I hope that each person that reads True Sightwill feel her and relate to her.  Not just love the story but love the characters.

I love my story and my characters, do you love yours?

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I have a goal to complete my manuscript by August 15, less than a month away.   I know I can complete it.  I have faith that the story will come.   Now I just need to organize my life so I can get it done.   Here are a few of my tricks and tips to getting a goal done.

1.  Morning – Driving to work I think about the next part in the book.  What’s going to happen, who will come and  go.   I try to get the picture in my head, feel the story and get focused. 

2. Week Day – Working is proving to be a distraction from the book, but a necessity.   At lunch I try to get in a few idea, maybe update the outline.   If needed write a little or the next blog topic. 

3. Multitask – I have always been very good at multi-tasking.   I can switch what I am doing on a dime.   I don’t need much time to re-focus.   This is a great skill when trying to write a book, work, get an MBA, raise two children, and keep a happy marriage.

4.  Drive home – Again I will think of the story where’s it going and my goals for that night.  Of course there are times when I don’t write, when I need a break.  Those days I take it and don’t feel guilty.  I do what I can.  I always want it to be fun, never a burden.

5. Late night – After dinner, baths and good night kisses it’s time for my hubby to watch sports center and me to write.  I can get 2-3 hours of writing done before 10pm.

Next day – start all over.  On the weekends I try my best and do what I can.  Sunday is dedicated to church and  family time until the kids go to bed.  I am learning every day what works and what doesn’t.

What works for you?

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This is a question many of my fellow would be authors ask me.  Thinking about it, I have no idea.  Pondering the question, I decided to do some Internet research.  I couldn’t find one site that had all the genres listed with definitions.  So for you, I have put together a short list of the most popular.  I know I missed a bunch, sorry. 

 Romance:  To be considered in the romance genre, a novel should adhere to the following criteria: the story must contain a relationship and romantic love between two people and the story must have an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending

Fantasy:  The genre that uses magic and other supernatural forms as a primary element of plot, theme, and/or setting. Fantasy is generally distinguished from science fiction and horror by the expectation that it steers clear of scientific and macabre themes, respectively, though there is a great deal of overlap between the three (collectively known as speculative fiction).

Science fiction:  Fiction largely based on writing entertainingly and rationally about alternate possibilities in settings that are contrary to known reality.  Examples include future settings, space travel, new technology and time travel.

Horror:  Is a genre of fiction in any medium intended to scare, unsettle, or horrify the audience. Historically, the cause of the “horror” experience has often been the intrusion of a supernatural element into everyday human experience.

Crime:  Is the genre of fiction that deals with crimes, their detection, criminals and their motives. It is usually distinguished from mainstream fiction and other genres such as science fiction or historical fiction, but boundaries can be, and indeed are, blurred. It has several sub-genres, including detective fiction, legal thriller, courtroom drama and hard-boiled fiction.

Thriller:  Thrillers are characterized by fast pacing, frequent action, and resourceful heroes who must thwart the plans of more-powerful and better-equipped villains. A thriller is villain driven plot, whereby he presents obstacles the hero must overcome.

Mystery:  Fiction is a loosely-defined term that is often used as a synonym for detective fiction — in other words a novel or short story in which a detective (either professional or amateur) investigates and solves a crime.

Paranormal:  I couldn’t find a good definition, so this is my attempt.  Genres that focus on events that can not be explain by science.  Vampires and werewolves fall into this category.  In addition, ghosts, UFO’s and “supernatural” events.

Well this helps me a little.  I have a new subject, something I have never heard of before.  If I had to pick, it would be Paranormal Thriller with romance and a religious element I can’t choose just one.  It’s a little bit of all of them.  Maybe one day when you read my book you can tell me what you think.

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Writing a book is much like giving birth.  You nurture it  inside you for months maybe years, developing its essence, naming it, loving it, getting the world ready for it.  At some point when you are ready you deliver it.  All you want is for everyone to love it and think it’s perfect.  Then an editor takes a look at your book, your baby, and marks it up, cuts off pieces, and utterly destroys what you grew, does it hurt? 

 Yeah it hurts.  It can hurt like hell.  Would you like it if someone told you your baby’s ugly?  Although like a doctor, a good editor can keep your baby yours and make just the delivery smoother.  What I need to realize is that an editor is not destroying my creation, but merely molding it into something better.  The cover may look different but the substance will still be me. 

 Like most of you, I want people to read and love my story.  I want to tell the characters life to others.  There is a message in my story that needs to be heard.  So I don’t write for me, I write for you. 

 As the bible says, “go forth and multiple”, this is my progeny I give to the world. 

 You’re welcome world! 

The Proud Mama,

Brandi Schmidt

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I am sure I am not the only person to pose this question.  I think I might of figured it out, at least for me.  I believe we all have our path to walk and I can only speak of my own.  Recently (May) I found a great church, Faith St. Louis (.com).  It is a wonderful place where everyone is welcome.  I have been raised a Catholic, married a Catholic, had my children christened etc…  Attending a non-Catholic church is a stretch for me.  I have attended each week receiving strength and renewing my faith each time.  In this short time my entire life has changed.  Priorities changed, dreams changed, I’ve changed.  Was it the church?  Was it just my time?  I believe it was a little of both. 

I will get to where I want to go by being willing to take any path my higher power lays out for me.  Knowing and truly believing you are powerless is freeing.  It releases you from the worry and stress of all the things out of your control.  Some of you may recognize these words, others may not, regardless they work for me.  Take what you like and leave the rest.  

Relax today and let go,

Brandi

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This is what really happened.  One day I took my son, eleven at the time, to see Twilight, the new teen flick about vampires.  Leaving the theater I wanted to read the books immediately.  I have never been drawn to a story like this before.  Whether it be the movie or the love sick girl that lives inside me, I’m not sure.  All I know what that I was hooked.  That night I started reading and reading and reading.  For a week straight, every spare second was spent reading the Twilight saga.  I didn’t do much of anything.  Some night would pass without even eating.  My poor husband said I was a zombie!  I suppose that is the ultimate complement to Stephanie Meyer.  When I finished I was different.  I was changed then and forever.  At that moment I fell in love with the written word. 

Whether you like the book Twilight or not, it doesn’t really matter either way.  What matters is finding something you have passion for.  Two weeks later I said to my self “I could do that, I could write a book.”  From that day forward I thought of something I wanted to write.  On March 26^th three days before my 31^st birthday, it came to me, my book subject, perfect in every way.  I got home wrote the outline and what ends up being chapter 2.  The next week I finished chapters 1 & 3.  I am working on completing my first manuscript and outlining the next two books in the series. 

 I could not have done any of this without the support of my family and friends, thank you to my husband, Thommy, and my mother, Bonnie, for their unending love and support.

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This is my first post on my first website and blog.  Yeah Me!

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