Blogging Break

I'll be taking some time off for Christmas, as I know many of you are. I wish you a very blessed week, and a wonderful time with your family during this special holiday. Merry Christmas!

Creative Christmas Trees

Hi friends! Merry Christmas! Last week I showed you some of the more unusual Christmas trees I could find. This week, I wanted to share a handful of those I thought were creative and fun. So here you are!

I like the simplicity AND the fact that you can add more decorations, take away some or whatever you want and it's still pretty.

Here are a few for all the writers and readers who love books.
This first one is my favorite.

This is just...strange. But I thought it still looked nice, and I love sushi, so I put it in anyway :)

And for those Dr. Seuss fans (who isn't?), here are two Dr. Seuss inspired trees.


So there you have it! Have you ever seen any creative or fun trees like this? Which one is your favorite?

***My last post on the What is Your Novel Missing? series is up at The Writer's Alley today. It's all about grounding your reader in their setting, if you're interested.

Character Development: Life Before the Story

On Monday we talked about Christmas traditions, those we participated in as children and those we participate in today. Just like in real life, our characters are formed from their experiences as children and young adults. Or basically all that went in on their life before the story.

One thing we all know as writers is that we need to make our characters relatable. We need to make them believable. We need to take our readers on a journey that makes them fall in love with a character and feel like this person is real - or at least a very important part of their life for the length of the story (and hopefully for some time afterward).

We do this by giving our characters depth. By giving them a history. By giving them something to overcome.

For each story I write, I try to brainstorm just a little more or find a new technique that will help me get to know my character better. But the top three questions I ask myself about my characters are:

1. Where did they come from?
A happy home, a broken home, a religious, home, etc. This also includes their young adult or early adult years. Basically, what job and lifestyle define who they are.

2. What are a few big events that happened during these years?
I try to name at least one or two events that have made a lasting impression on my characters, as this will help shape who they are.

3. What beliefs, lies, or defining principals has my character developed because of where they came from and those big events?
This is where I establish what "lie" my character is believing as the truth. For example, my character might believe all men will leave her because her father left her mother. This is where I start my character so he/she will have room to grow.

What questions do you ask yourself about your character? Do you have any fun or unique ways to develop your character or make them more relatable to readers?

And for you readers, what makes characters most relatable to you?

Christmas Traditions

It hasn't been unusual in the past for my family to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas driving from one place to the next to celebrate Christmas with family, friends, the church, etc. Pack up the kids, pack up the gifts and/or food, and make the rounds. Sometimes not too bad, other times pretty hectic and stressful. Especially the bigger our family gets.

With all that busyness, my husband and I didn't spend as much time on developing traditions for our own family. Sure, we'd try new things here and there, but then next year we'd be too busy. Too committed to having to visit a handful of places. Too involved in making sure we made it everywhere we were supposed to go for the allotted time.

I love visiting with sisters and brothers and parents for Christmas, but with a family of five in my home now, I realize it's time for Christmas and traditions to start right here. I want my kids to remember those evenings we go out, driving around to see Christmas lights. I want them to run to us early on Christmas morning for hugs and family time instead of rushing to get dressed so we can head off to wherever we need to be. I want them to look back on Christmas and say, spiritually, emotionally, and all other ways, those were times they remember fondly.

And I'm starting this year. (Oh, and that's a pic of my kiddos by the way. Aren't they precious?)

So, friends, I'm curious, what kind of traditions does your family have? What kinds of things did you do as a child that you remember fondly? I'd love to hear it! And maybe you'll give me some ideas :)

Most Unusual Christmas Trees

Our fun for Friday includes a look at some of the most unusual Christmas trees out there.

The Upside-Down Christmas Tree

Definitely gives you more room for gifts at the bottom, but how does that thing stay balanced?

The Plastic Bottle Christmas Tree

Clever, I think - a tree made entirely of plastic bottles. They could definitely recycle it and use it again next year!


The Clothes Tree


Maybe not quite my style, but definitely cost effective. You could get all the pieces at Goodwill.


The Wine Bottle Tree


Oh my gosh! Can you imagine having this in your house with kids or pets around? Disaster! But probably pretty with the right lighting.


The Tire Tree


Looks like something my husband would make. The more unusual the better!

Do you have a favorite, or have you ever seen an unusual Christmas tree?

If these aren't quite your style, stay tuned...next Friday we'll be taking a look at Christmas trees that are even more creative and fun, including a Dr. Seuss tree. Have a great weekend!

Your Character in Three Words

On Monday we talked about what Christmas theme suits us, and that got me to thinking that sometimes our personal choices say more about us than we might think. In three words, I believe my decorating says I'm organized, modern, and fun. Or at least, I like to think that much could be said about me by taking a look at my Christmas tree.

So, of course, that got me to thinking about my characters and how I'd characterize them if I had to do it in three words like I did with myself.

I wanted to get a quick and simple picture of how others would see them.

1. How I would see my character.
I see my heroine from my current WIP as fun. I wanted her to be unique.

2. How my readers see my character.
I hope my readers see her as caring. I wanted her to display a side she didn't know she had.

3. How my other characters, particularly my hero would see my MC.
I wanted my hero to see her as strong/independent. Capable, in a word.

If you had to compartmentalize your MC like this, how would you see her or him? How would readers and other characters see her or him?

And for those of you who aren't writers, what are some characteristics you want to see in heroes and heroines when you read a book?

Christmas Decor - My Martha Stewart Dream

When I was a little girl, even a teenager and young parent, I entertained all sorts of ideas about the perfect Christmas. Setting up house with a gigantic Christmas tree, matching ornaments that hung just right on that tree, as well as the garland that hung expertly along the handrail at the stairs. Glittering centerpieces that made company smile and stockings dangling at the fireplace to compliment a roaring fire.

Kind of like Martha Stewart meets...Superwoman, I guess.

Because as I got older and our Christmas tree didn't quite stand as extravagantly as I'd pictured, and it exposed many bare spots because we didn't have quite enough ornaments, I'd sometimes think I wasn't doing this perfect Christmas thing quite right. Somehow my Better Homes and Gardens (love that magazine by the way) presentation was...lacking.

I can't say I've completely grown out of this temperament. I like order, and presentation, and making faces light up when they come through my front door. But I did realize that kind of perfection didn't matter so much as long we we were still bringing the holidays to our home and reminding ourselves of the true spirit of Christmas.

So what brings Christmas to your home by way of decorating? Which category do you fit into?

Themed

All santas or snowmen, a specific theme that spreads through your home and dangles from your Christmas tree.

Eclectic

A little bit of this and that and whatever you've collected over the years that makes you happy.

Color Coordinated

This is where I fit. Decorating with specific colors. Here's my collection in this photo. Bold color and sparkles, the best way to go - at least for me :)

Sentimental

A mix of your favorites from the past, particularly gifts or kids ornaments, things that have been made or passed down.

I'd love to hear more about your Christmas and how you bring the holidays to your home.



***centerpiece photo by amanda schutz