&*$#@#!! 

Swearing. That’s exacting what I’m doing now as I read a movie review for One for the Money.  Steam is pouring out of my ears. While I think the movie is awesome, a reviewer for The Hollywood Reporter writes, “Katherine Heigl steps into the shoes of Janet Evanovich’s best-selling bounty hunter, and the results are hardly page-turning.”

For those of you who are not familiar with the series, the plot centers around Stephanie Plum. She’s working her first bail bondsman assignment and has to bring in a murderous cop. The officer (Jason O’Mara) also happens to be the man she lost her virginity to years earlier. The movie showcases a hodgepodge of other wonderful characters. Ranger (oh-la-la), a seasoned bounty hunter played by actor Daniel Sunjata, mentors Stephanie. Debbie Reynolds plays a feisty grandma. And who can forget Sherri Shepherd. She plays a fashioned challenged hooker named Lula and will answer any question for a snack.

My rantings may sound petty considering the state of the world. Financial crises, wars, and high unemployment rates stretch across the globe, but I look forward to a good movie to balance all the gloom and doom. One for the Money exceeded all my expectations. I went to see the movie with two friends and they love it also, so what are these reviewers expecting to find when they go to see a comedic thriller? World peace?

And one more rant before I close. It has been almost ten years, but I’m still angry Brad Pitt didn't receive an Oscar nod for Best Actor for his 2004 portrayal of Achilles. The reviews for Troy were so varied, they made my head spin.

What do you think?  Has your favorite movie or book been given a bad review?

Pamela Varnado is a member of the Pink Fuzzies but I'm posting for her.

Making Your Characters Real from the Inside Out

We’ve all read a story with a larger-than-life hero or an unforgettable heroine. But what really makes these characters connect with the audience while others fall flat? What makes EVE DALLAS, STEPHANIE PLUM, JESSE STONE, and RICHARD RAHL memorable? (see footnotes)

In my opinion, internal conflict is the key to making your characters sparkle on the page. This is how readers understand motivations and actions. This is what makes each character tick.

What happened during Eve Dallas’s childhood to make her such a staunch defender of the underdog? Why is achieving justice so important to her? Finding answers to these questions is only the first step.

Then the hard work begins.
How do we, as writers, transfer those characters to the written page? I assure you it’s easier said than done. For it requires a journey through the writer’s inner conflicts. It requires a self examination of our own insecurities, those nagging uncertainties that keep us from believing in ourselves.

Let’s dissect three such hindrances to making characters memorable.
Fear of exposing ourselves to the world: When I first started writing, I struggled with this every time I sat down at my computer. Being a Christian, I was afraid of what my pastor and friends would think about me writing romance. I second guessed every word on the page. No swearing allowed, no vivid sex scenes. Only after I could separate myself from my writing and step outside my comfort zone was I able to release my creative energy and write protagonists readers could relate to and fall in love with.

Fear of facing inner demons: Life is not always pretty. We’ve all seen or personally experienced life-changing events. Learning to tap into my past heartaches, pains, and failures helped me to breathe life into my characters. I used all those raw emotions to show how my heroes/heroines handle the conflict in their lives. Along the way I discovered that just as my characters had to endure an emotional journey to grow, I did also.

Fear of rejection: There’s always a small part of ourselves in every character we create. Either the person reflects who we are now or who we desire to be deep down inside. In essence, we’re putting ourselves out there to be judged, never an easy thing to do, but something that must be overcome. Unforgettable characters find the courage to take chances. They evolve over time and learn to trust in themselves.

In closing, I once overheard the quote: Pain and fear are temporary. Glory is forever. I remind myself of this every time doubt creeps into my writing. I use it as my motivational mantra. Holding it close to my heart helps me to purge my internal struggles and write my own larger-than-life characters.

Are you up to the challenge?
Pamela will welcome comments and questions.


Pamela Varnado writes sensual romantic suspense and paranormal. In 2007 she sold a short story to True Romance magazine and is currently a 2008 Daphne du Maurier contest finalist. In addition, she is a coordinator for the 2008 Unpublished Moonlight and Magnolia Awards.

Footnotes:
Eve Dallas, heroine in J.D. Robb’s novels
Stephanie Plum, heroine in Janet Evanovich’s novels
Jesse Stone, hero in Robert B. Parker’s novels
Richard Rahl, hero in Terry Goodkind’s novels