‘SLIP INSIDE MY MIND’, SAID THE CHARACTER TO THEIR CREATOR by Michelle Somers

There are so many things to love about being a writer.

For me, one in particular stands out. Analyzing people. I love delving into the why’s and wherefore’s. Who are they? Where have they come from? Why do they do what they do? All in the name of research, of course. Legitimate people watching.

There are even times I turn that analysis onto myself. 

Let’s take a look. I’m an introvert. Shy, insecure. Never quite sure what to say when I meet someone for the first time. I’m that person at a party who clings to the shadows, or people I know, fumbling over conversation because whatever I say just sounds plain dumb. Of course, I always think of those witty, intelligent comments after the party’s over. Too late then.

Well, I’m a writer. I don’t have to be witty on demand.

When my characters speak, it may seem as if they have all the answers, but I’ve had time to agonize over the words. Time to work out what they should or shouldn’t say, how they should act and react, what fits well within their nature.

You may ask, why is she telling me this?

Why, indeed?

There is a reason, method behind what must seem to be my March Hare madness.

As writers, it’s easy to write characters we relate to. Characters we understand, those gems whose minds and motivations we see inside. Characters like ourselves. But what if we write characters who aren’t like us? What then?

Speak to ten different writers about their characters and you'll probably get ten different techniques for getting inside their head.

There are so many ways for us to find out more about the leading men and women in our stories, and just as important, give our readers insight into their varied characters.

I thought it might be fun today, to talk about just a couple of the techniques I use. 

1.     WALK A MILE IN THEIR SHOES

Literally. 

Yes, some writers do just this – dress up as their characters, even spend a day doing things that their characters do, whether it be working in their chosen field, engaging in activities and hobbies they love, even adopting certain likes, dislikes, cultural or ethical beliefs.

This could include taking part in particular religious ceremonies or rituals (attending church or synagogue, observing Ramadan or the Sabbath), changing daily routine or diet (getting up at the crack of dawn for an exercise class or eating only vegan or kosher foods), or mirroring their character’s appearance (changing hair color or style, visiting the local op shop to find clothes their character would wear).

I have to admit, I’ve done some but not all of these when creating Jayda Thomasz, the heroine of my debut novel, Lethal in Love.
And here's me doing just that with the women of Melbourne Romance Writers Guild at our annual retreat. Our challenge, to bring our characters to life.

2.     THE POCKET/HANDBAG TEST

If you emptied the contents of your pockets or handbag right now, what would you find? What goodies do you carry that gives insight into who you are?

Let’s do this for Jayda.

She’s a homicide detective, so more often than not, she doesn’t carry a handbag, so let’s empty her pockets and see what we can discover.

Of course, there’s the obvious – a .40 calibre Smith and Wesson M&P semi-automatic, a set of handcuffs and her detective’s badge. On top of that, she always carries tweezers, gloves and a couple of evidence bags. She is, after all, a workaholic. Just because she’s off the clock, doesn’t mean she’s done for the day.

Let’s list the rest.
🔷Mobile phone – with a home screen picture of her family taken the day she graduated from the police academy. What importance does this place on her family? On her career?
🔷Gum – for those long nights working when she forgets to eat.
🔷$5 – never know when you’ll need a coffee, which is pretty much anytime J
🔷Choc covered coffee beans – a caffeine alternative if she can’t get the real thing.
🔷Notebook and pen – she loves lists. Every decision requires a list of pros and cons before she has a hope of making up her mind.
🔷Lip balm and mirror – she may not be a girly girl, but she’s still a woman.
🔷Garter belt – still in her pocket after a short stint undercover at a swinger’s party. 
🔷Binoculars, torch, army knife and paperclips – she was a girl scout, and she’s a stickler for their motto – ‘be prepared’.
🔷Scrunchie – Jayda has shortish hair, so she has no need for this. Yet, she always has one in her pocket. Why? Because her sister consistently forgets to bring one to their weekly interval training workout, so she always has spares just in case. 

On the flipside, let’s look at what she doesn’t carry in her pockets.

No condom. Jayda doesn’t sleep around. And even more, in the beginning of my story she's not interested in a physical relationship with anyone but her soulmate – a man she is yet to find. 

Do you feel as if you're getting to know Jayda? Who she is and what she's about?

Remember, it’s not always about what’s there. Sometimes what’s missing gives us just as much insight into our character. It’s surprising how much easier it is to slip inside our character’s head, once we’ve seen inside their pockets!

3.     PLAY THE ‘WHAT IF?’ GAME

This is a great way for a writer to really understand their characters, what motivates them, and how these motivations feed into everyday actions and reactions.

As part of this game, a writer will put their character into different, sometimes difficult, situations, then analyze their response.

For example, what if we send our heroine out to dinner with friends? What if the toddler at the next table throws a handful of ice cream her way?

What if that sticky dripping mess lands on her favorite silk top or wool sweater? What if we dress our hero in a suit rather than his normal surfie board shorts and t-shirt? What if we drop him into a business meeting? What if he’s trying to convince prospective investors to invest in his business and that same toddler drops chocolate milkshake all over his lap?

What if our character gets caught in the rain? Would they run for cover, pull an umbrella out of their bag, or stop a second and enjoy the moment? Would they notice the sights, sounds and smells around them, or would they be too worried about their favorite suit or newly styled hair?

What if they’re late for an appointment and they witness an accident? Will they dial 911 or 000 and just leave, or will they stop and offer assistance? If they see an animal lying injured on the sidewalk, will they stop and help or will they walk on by?

Think about each of these situations and what a character’s reaction will reveal about them. Think about how much closer we feel to a character we can understand and relate to.

What if? is a lot of fun once you get into the swing of it, and you’ll be surprised how much clearer and complex a character will become once you have deeper understanding on how they approach different situations.

And that’s it. Three ways a writer can slip inside their character’s mind and build a deeper, more relatable personality.

What do you think?

Can you imagine yourself or your favorite author doing any or all of these exercises? How far do you think they should go to really get into their character’s head? How far would you go?

Thanks so much for stopping by!

If you’re a writer, what do you do to get into your characters? And if you’re a reader, what information should the author include to help you get deep into the character’s mind?

I’d love to hear your ‘take’ on creating characters.

As always, have a fabulous month, and I look forward to seeing you all again in December. Wow, where has the year gone!

Michelle Somers is a bookworm from way back. An ex-Kiwi who now calls Australia home, she's a professional killer and matchmaker, a storyteller and a romantic. Words are her power and her passion. Her heroes and heroines always get their happy ever after, but she'll put them through one hell of a journey to get there.

Michelle lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her real life hero and three little heroes in the making. And Emmie, a furry black feline who thinks she’s a dog. Her debut novel, Lethal in Love won the Romance Writers of Australia's 2016 Romantic Book of the Year (RuBY) and the 2013 Valerie Parv Award. The second in her Melbourne Murder series, Murder Most Unusual was released in February 2017.

You can find out all about Michelle, her adventures and her books at www.michelle-somers.com

Please pop by and say 'hi' 😊

DARKNESS AND LIGHT by Michelle Somers

In the Somers household, the month of July has been a month of reflection. Of sadness and joy. Celebration and commiseration.

So much positivity and laughter, so much love, all lurking beneath a dense, dark cloud.

After years of thinking our time would never come, of financial stresses that saw weeks where grocery shopping was a luxury, we bought a house. My husband’s business is booming. My oldest son finally celebrated his Barmitzvah, my youngest gained a black belt in taekwondo. For the first time in many years, after a horrible spout of bullying, my middle son is happy and thriving at school. 

As we celebrated all these wonderful occurrences, clouds closed in. We attended a funeral for one family member whilst being told there’d be another not too far down the track.

How to feel?

Life is such an emotional rollercoaster. Such wonderful highs. But when the lows come, they slash the wind from your sails and roil the deep, dark waters into turmoil. 

I have a tendency to ride those waters, the ones that drag you down. I wouldn’t dare to label these emotions. Depression, some might say. Who knows? I only know the darkness. Yet over the past few years, I’ve taught myself to see the light.

I don’t want to focus on the doom and gloom here. Life will always throw us curveballs. There’ll always be sadness and loss and a time when we must say goodbye to the ones we love. Yet, there’ll always be time to make every day, every moment count. To gather up the experiences, the memories, the little things that will cast a light on our darkest moments.

I count myself lucky. I have an incredible husband, three incredible boys, and an extended family that for the most part is warm and open and loving. I have friends who know I am there for them, as I know they are there for me.

Every day I build memories, and am grateful that I was able to do so. I hug my kids, sometimes a little tighter than they’d like. I kiss my husband and tell him I appreciate him. I text or call a friend, see how they’re going. Speak to my mum every day. Thank the universe for being alive.

I’m also thankful I have an outlet for these emotions – my writing.

Writing has been my savior and my solace. In times when emotions have threatened to get the better of me, I’ve poured my soul onto the page. When anger or frustration hit, I’ve written the anger and frustration onto paper, ripped it to shreds and tossed it into the trash. And with that action, I mentally toss the darkness that would otherwise follow.

It doesn’t always work, but there are times it does.

It doesn’t stop the darkness from lurking, or people being stripped from my life. I still feel a deep sadness, a helplessness, knowing what is waiting around the corner and knowing there’s not a thing I can do to stop it.

The temptation is to say ‘what a waste’. Yet if we live life to the fullest, make the most of the days we have, are they really a waste? And are we doing ourselves and others an injustice to think this way?

It’s really for the individual to decide. Me? I want to make every day count. For most of us, we don’t know when our last day will be, but it’s so important not to let that last day sneak up and leave us with regrets. I don’t want regrets. Or missed opportunities. I want to make the most of people and opportunities while they are here, and celebrate them and what we shared when they are gone. I want to make a life worth living, and not squander or take for granted what can be snatched so easily from me in the blink of an eye.

So, what’s the message behind this month’s blog?

Life is short. Life is special. Life should never be taken for granted.

Make the most of your time on earth, and make the most of time with the ones you love. Hug those who are dear to you a little bit harder. Don’t let ‘busy’ get in the way of living and making memories.

Don’t let the sun set on your anger. And don’t let life’s opportunities pass you by.

Don’t waste a single day, and live each one as if it was your last.

I hope your July was a good one, and that August brings you nothing but special memories and sunshine. If you’ve had some good, some joys and laughter and triumphs, I’d love to hear them. Please share J

Thanks for stopping by, and once again, thanks for your love and support. I look forward to connecting with you again next month.

I’d like to share one more high from the month of July. My website is finally up and running and beautiful, thanks to my gorgeous web designer, Lana Pecherczyk. If you have time, click here, pop on over and take a look. I’d love to know what you think J

Michelle Somers is a bookworm from way back. An ex-Kiwi who now calls Australia home, she's a professional killer and matchmaker, a storyteller and a romantic. Words are her power and her passion. Her heroes and heroines always get their happy ever after, but she'll put them through one hell of a journey to get there.

Michelle lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her real life hero and three little heroes in the making. And Emmie, her furry black feline who thinks she’s a dog. Her debut novel, Lethal in Love won the Romance Writers of Australia's 2016 Romantic Book of the Year (RuBY) and the 2013 Valerie Parv Award.

Her second novel, Murder Most Unusual is available in ebook and paperback now. And the first in her Simply Writing Series - Simply Synopsis - is out on 8 August 2017.

WRITE FROM WITHIN by Michelle Somers

Just recently, a fellow author asked me to contribute to a book she's writing for beginner writers. She wanted one tip I believe newbie writers should keep in mind when they sit down to write. A small paragraph, no more.

Wow.

Never mind the ‘short paragraph’, I could write an entire book.

So, what would I tell her?

The question got me thinking, and reflecting back to the beginning of my writing journey. And I asked myself what is the one thing I know now that I’d have liked to know back then. One thing to have made my journey more expedient, more fruitful. My writing more meaningful.

O-kay.

Ideas bombarded me from left, right and center.

Yet another book I could write.

So many things I’ve learned through trial and error, through more experienced writers sharing their expertise and knowledge; words of wisdom around finding like-minded writers, joining writing groups, forming critique circles; learning and practicing craft, and in those spare moments in between, reading to continually fill the well of creativity.

Then there’s the actual sitting down and writing part.

I wish I’d realized the importance of voice. From those first few moments when I began to write, I thought my story – and the tone of my story – should sound like other successful authors. After all, the way they wrote was what made them successful, right?

So, instead of writing in a way that was natural and reflective of me, I tempered my tone and tried to write like someone else. Tried to sound like someone else.

Big mistake.

HUGE.

Not only did my stories sound stilted and unnatural, but they lacked the edge and special something that would make them unique – the voice that would make them stand out and scream ‘Michelle Somers wrote this’ to anyone who read them.

Through a gradual progression, and five complete novels, I slowly found my voice, and I’m happy to say, I love it! Imagine how different those five – unpublished, unpublishable – stories would have been had I written and, dare I say, embraced my voice back when I first started writing?

Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

There are other lessons I wish I’d known – the ‘show don’t tell’ doctrine, how to thread in backstory, how to layer characters and give them depth, how to construct GMC (goal, motivation, conflict) and make those very same characters 3-dimensional and believable.

But above all these tips that I would have found exceptionally useful back in the beginning, there is one that stands out in my mind, one that I’ve found a lot of authors tend to overlook or forget to do…

Write from within your characters.

Okay, I can see you squinting and shooting me a wary ‘what is she on about?’ sideways stare.  What do you mean ‘write from within your characters’? you ask.

It’s simply this: when you write a scene, put yourself in the place of your characters. Don their skin, their mind, their thoughts, their experiences.

Walk the journey that is their story in their shoes.

If your character is trekking through blistering heat, their body dusty and sweat-slicked, their brand new, unbroken-in hiking boots rubbing their heels raw, step right inside and write from within their experience. And write from within yours.

In a situation just like theirs, what would you think? Feel? Say? Do?

Write as if their experience is your experience. If they hate trekking, fear it even, ask why? Maybe it’s because the last time they slipped into their hiking boots their best friend died after falling into a crevice. Feel what they would feel. Find a parallel in your life.

Then ask more questions. Why are they out there now? Why would they put themselves through that trauma? That pain? Maybe it’s because their child is lost and they must find them before they meet the same fate as their friend?

Now feel those emotions.

Find more parallels. When did you last feel scared? Stressed? Panicked even?

What thoughts battered through your mind at the time? What visceral reactions racked your body?

Write from a place of experience and understanding. Write from your character’s point of view but draw from your own life to give the writing depth.

If your character laughs, think of the last time you laughed.

If they cry, think about the last time you cried.

For my debut, Lethal in Love, my central character lost someone they loved. Someone who meant the world to them. Those moments when they felt that loss were some of the most challenging I’ve had to write. There was one scene in particular, just moments after the death. I have to admit, I struggled over this scene. I wrote draft after draft, until finally one made me cry.

And how?

I drew from experience. I remembered the day my father died. Remembered the shock, the pain, the utter and unbearable loss, and then I wrote.

Writing can be a painful business. It can dredge up memories and emotions that we’d rather leave buried deep beneath the surface of normalcy. But those memories, those emotions, are what makes a great writer. They allow us to write from a place of understanding, a place of empathy, a place so deep inside our characters, the line between us and them blurs.

They become real. Three-dimensional. They take us to a place where fact and fiction collide. And they make us feel with every fiber of our being.

So, what advice would I give to a budding writer above all other advice?

Write from within your characters.

Make your characters feel. Make them hurt, laugh and love.

Make them grab the attention and heart of the reader and never let go.

What about you?

For the writers out there, I’d love to know the one tip you know now that you wish you’d known when you first started writing.

And for readers, what is it about characters and an author’s style that drags you into their story so you don’t want to stop until the very last page. I’d love to know!

Thanks so much for reading and commenting and general awesomeness! I look forward to seeing you all back here again the first Thursday of next month 😄

Until then, have a fabulous month, and MAY THE FORTH BE WITH YOU 😊

Michelle Somers is a bookworm from way back. An ex-Kiwi who now calls Australia home, she’s a professional killer and matchmaker, a storyteller and a romantic. Words are her power and her passion. Her heroes and heroines always get their happy ever after, but she’ll put them through one hell of a journey to get there.

Michelle lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her real life hero and three little heroes in the making. And a cheeky, furry feline called Emerald. Her debut novel, Lethal in Love won the Romance Writers of Australia’s 2016 Romantic Book of the Year (RuBY) and the 2013 Valerie Parv Award. Her second book, Murder Most Unusual was released February this year.

I love hearing from readers, and I’d love you to visit my website www.michelle-somers.com, but it’s currently under construction, soon to be filled with awesomeness 😊 So, if you’d like to stay in touch, find and follow me on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, or email me at michelle-somers@bigpond.com to sign up for my newsletter and a FREE copy of my novelette, Cold Case, Warm Heart.

Three deaths, one clue, and twenty-four hours before it's too late...

Homicide detective Calamity Dresden has twenty-four hours to catch a killer before he kills and disappears underground. Estranged lover Sebastian Rourke wants justice for his father and every other victim of Melbourne’s sadistic Trifecta Terror.

But can the pair overcome past hurts and catch the killer before he catches them?

FEEL THE FEAR AND DO IT ANYWAY by Michelle Somers

Patrick Van Eybergen
The Royal National Park, NSW

What a fabulous way to start 2017 – as a new, fully-fledged Genre-ista!

Thank you everyone – Genre-istas and readers – for making me feel so welcome. I look forward to interacting and getting to know you all over the coming months.

Well, we’re already five days into 2017 and from what I’ve seen so far, the coming year holds a wealth of promise – opportunities galore just waiting to be snapped up.

So many possibilities...

So, saying that, where should I start with my debut appearance in Romancing the Genres?

When I sat down to compose this, my first blog as a very new, very green, Genre-ista, I stared at the blank flickering screen wondering what I could possibly write that would be of interest. Christmas is over, the New Year has just begun…

Then it hit.

Would there ever be a better time to talk of new beginnings, of fresh starts? Of setting goals and aspiring dreams?

Great, but that it’s been done to death. And what could I say that you haven’t heard before?

So, I scratched that and moved on. Considered telling you more about myself, about my writing, about why I write the stories I write. Then I scratched that, too.

I do want to share all of this with you, and more. But this moment, this first week of January 2017 – at the head of a year when my career is about to take all kinds of turns I only dreamed but never imagined it would take – I want to touch on something very close to my heart.

In the words of Susan Jeffers…

Feel the fear and do it anyway.

This is the lynchpin of my entire journey to authordom  – from the moment I decided to write a book, to the moment I put myself out there and agreed to become a part of this wonderful group of blogging authors. So what better idea for my first Romancing the Genres blog, than to share my story in the hopes of inspiring others out there to do the same. To ‘feel the fear and do it anyway’.

I’m an inveterate introvert.

One of those people who attends parties only to lurk in the shadows, hoping someone else will make the first move, that they’ll approach and say ‘hi’ and start conversation, rather than me having to step outside my comfort zone and into the Formula 1 lane of extrovertism.

Of course, after they do, I spend the rest of the evening trying not to say something embarrassing or silly. Then do it anyway.

It’s that old idiom of what we focus on coming to fruition, whether the good, the bad or the ugly. And isn’t it so much easier to focus on the negative?

So, writing stories, stepping out of the shadows into the public domain, was a big step for me. Huge, even. And, of course, being an author these days isn’t just about writing books. It’s about being a personality that readers can connect with. That means connecting back. Posting on facebook. Tweeting on Twitter. Snapping on Instagram. Skipping through the tulips of social media, leaving your mark of footprints along the way.

Well, you get my drift. All actions that are unnatural to an introvert like me.

Yet, step by baby step, six years ago I slipped out of my shell. I put myself out there, and in the process I made contacts, colleagues, friends. And slowly, those baby steps grew, until I found myself attending conferences, approaching people before they approached me, and even – yikes! – pitching my book to editors and agents.

Every one of those steps made my pulse race and my palm sweat. I took deep breaths, told myself that I could do it. I can’t honestly say I believed it, but I said the words, felt the fear and did it anyway. And after each of those steps, guess what. My pulse still raced, my palms still sweated, but something inside me lifted. As if whatever bindings had tied me to old habits were suddenly loosened. I felt light. Free.

A-mazing.  

And after a while, not only did I say the words, but I began to believe them.

I can do it…

Since those moments, I’ve pitched and published a book. Written and self-published a short story. Started a newsletter. Given television, radio and newspaper interviews. And each of those times, when my heart pounded and the sweat ran riot, I felt the fear and did it anyway. Because each of those steps brought me one step closer to my goal and a dream I’ve had for as long as I’ve been able to read and write – the dream of becoming a published author and connecting with and inspiring readers.

So, what if any message would I like you to take away from this meander down memory lane?

Don’t let your fears become the sum of your actions.

Consider what you’d like to do with your life. Dig deep, to the person beneath the armor. Rediscover those childhood dreams you nurtured before your adult self took them to task and buried them deep beneath a wall of insecurities and uncertainties.

If there’s something you desire, some deep-seated want or need that you’ve long ignored – because you never thought you could do it if it ever came about – don’t let those fears stop you from reaching out now and grasping them in the palm of your hand.

Picture that dream in your head, tell yourself you can do it, that you are amazing and able and deserving, and that anything is possible if you believe. Then feel the fear and do it anyway.

Live your dream.

Your life can be amazing. A wonder filled with so many incredible possibilities, if only you take the steps and make all that wonderfulness happen. 

Don’t doubt yourself, or tell yourself you’re not ready, that the time’s not right.

It will never be right, until you make it so.

Feel the fear and do it anyway.

And see the fruits of your endeavors prosper.

So, what steps will you take to make 2017 a stand-out year? What will you do that you’ve never done? What will you try that you’ve always wanted to try? Where will you go that you’ve always wanted to go?

Do something different. Brave. Spectacular.

Step out of your comfort zone, feel the fear and do it anyway.

Who knows what heights you’ll achieve?

Why not start right now? Comment below and tell me what you’ve always wanted to do or be or attain. I’d love to be part of your journey. To see your beginning then hear about how went.

Or to hear about your accomplishments – those times you’ve ‘felt the fear and done it anyway’. Why not share your stories to inspire others to do the same?

Start 2017 in the way you mean to continue. Step outside the boundaries of your fears and do something fabulous.

Feel the fear and do it anyway…

If you’d like to find out more about the introvert behind the writer, follow me on facebook, twitter or instagram, or sign up to my newsletter.

Michelle Somers is a bookworm from way back. An ex-Kiwi who now calls Australia home, she's a professional killer and matchmaker, a storyteller and a romantic. Words are her power and her passion. Her heroes and heroines always get their happy ever after, but she'll put them through one hell of a journey to get there.

Michelle lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her real life hero and three little heroes in the making.

Her debut novel, Lethal in Love won the Romance Writers of Australia's 2016 Romantic Book of the Year (RuBY) and the 2013 Valerie Parv Award.

If you’ve not yet read Lethal in Love, here’s what you’ve been missing:

Homicide detective Jayda Thomasz never lets her emotions get in the way of a case. So when a serial killer re-emerges after 25 years, the last thing she expects is to catch herself fantasising over the hot, smooth-talking stranger who crosses the path of her investigation.

Reporter Seth Friedin is chasing the story that’ll make his career. When he enters the world of swinging for research, he never imagines he’ll be distracted by a hard-talking female detective whose kiss plagues his mind long after she’s gone.

Past experience has shown Jayda that reporters are ruthless and unscrupulous. But when the murders get personal and danger closes in, will she make a deal with the devil to catch the killer? How far will she and Seth have to go? And do you ever really know who you can trust?

Want a teaser? Take a look...

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