Produce, Publish, Publicize by Sabrina Sumsion (find a book to read .txt) 📖

who enjoy the genre. I had an idea pop into my head for a science fiction story but when I started to explain it to my brother who is a big science-fiction fan, he told me that the story line had already been done on a TV show I don't watch. Yes, it was a let down but I'm glad he told me before a heartless editor did. (They're really not heartless but I'll get to that later.)

After you have done your extensive research and found an original idea that your local "experts" have checked off, you need to think about the characters in your story. Until you become best friends with your characters, you really don't know them and can't write about them effectively. Why does the hero wear a watch? Does your villain have a tic? Why did your damsel in distress become distressed? Maybe you don't need to know the life story of the bartender that serves one drink in Chapter 13 and is never seen again but delve deeply into the inner psyche of the main people you are going to follow around in your story.

Once you have your characters figured out completely, think about the scenes. Think about what they are going to do in your story and when. Visualize the locations. Is there a signed picture of Marilyn Monroe hanging on the wall of the office of the private eye? How many columns are in the front of the castle your prince resides in? Until you have a clear picture, your readers will not have the visualization needed to immerse in a story.
You're probably thinking, "When am I going to write?" This is the point. You know your characters; you know where your characters are. Now write the first few chapters of your masterpiece.

Telling a Story vs. Showing a Story

A concept I have been teaching a friend of mine is the difference between telling someone what happened and showing them what happened.

When you tell someone what happened, it can be as simple as: Jack ran. You have communicated the idea you want your reader to have. Jack moved from one location to another. However, the way you communicate Jack’s movement directly impacts the reader’s enjoyment and metal picture.

To illustrate my point, compare:

Jack saw his mark and ran to catch him.

To:

Jack crouched in the alley behind a rusty green dumpster. He scrunched his nose and breathed through his mouth to avoid the lingering musk of week old garbage. He scanned the area closely looking for his mark. Jack spotted the man in the black trench coat and red checkered scarf. He surveyed the area around his mark closely looking up, left and right for snipers or anyone tailing his mark. No one else showed any interest in the mark so Jack burst from his hiding place in pursuit of his target. His long, athletic strides quickly closed the gap between the two men.

The essence of both excerpts is the same. They both communicate to the reader that Jack saw his target and both say he ran to catch him. However, the second example shows the reader what is happening and where. It gives the reader a picture to visualize.

Look through your writing and find the places that simply tell the reader what is happening. Replace those sections with a narrative that shows the reader.

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Thank you for reading this excerpt from Produce, Publish, Publicize. Is this information valuable to you? I have marketing tips for writers at my website www.sabrinasumsion.com. Stop by and check out my tips as well as buy your signed copy of Produce, Publish, Publicize. I have a free gift for anyone who orders through my website! Imprint

Publication Date: 03-03-2010

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Dedication:
“…with God all things are possible.” –Matthew 19:26 The Lord gave me the opportunities and ability to learn and understand the complex world of publishing. I would be remiss to ignore his obvious hand in helping me develop Produce, Publish, Publicize. This book would also not be possible if several loving people had not supported me and my dreams. Thank you to my husband for his limitless patience. Thank you to my parents who gave me confidence. Thank you to Lea for introducing me to literary publicity. Thank you to Jack for feeding my huge dreams. Thank all of you who reviewed my manuscript and helped me refine my message. Especially, thank you Kristopher Miller for your insightful comments and corrections. Thank you to Victorine Lieske for creating my amazing cover. It is compelling and eye catching. Thank you to my children for the joy they bring me every single day. Thank you to the fellow dreamers who slave with pen, paper, keyboard and audio software. I cannot even begin to describe the amazing places I have visited, the potent emotions and laughter you have brought me through your amazing books.