JP McLean Archives - Page 16 of 20

Using Camera Shots for Scene Development

February 7, 2013 By JPMcLean Leave a Comment

Every once in a while I come across another writer’s tip that resonates with me. I know I’m not the only one out there who is building a list of blogging and other on-line resources for writing, marketing and promotion, so whenever I find a good tip, I’ll post a link. This one is about using camera shots for scene development.

I found this link to C.S. Lakin through LinkedIn. C.S. Lakin talks about using a camera shot idea for scene development. It’s intuitive.

Pan Out

Most of us are consumers of video. We understand what it means to pan out. If you’re taking a video of a group of friends, for example, you may have to pan out to get everyone in the shot. When you’re writing a scene, panning out might mean describing more of the surrounding detail. Better still, describe how your characters interact with the expanded view.

Roving Camera

When the camera is roving, think of it resting on your shoulder taking in the view as you walk around. Inside a house, you might walk from the living room to the kitchen. What sights, sounds and scents might you experience on the walk? If your characters are moving from inside to outside, are they blinded by the sun? Does the temperature or humidity change?

Where to Set Up

Where will you set up your camera (scene setting)? If your characters are coming into town, do you follow behind them with the camera? Your protagonist might overhear snippets of conversation from the rear. Is the camera on the shoulder of your protagonist? Your protagonist could spot a sniper from that vantage point. Perhaps it’s more effective to have the camera already in the town watching the characters as they arrive. You could describe the tension in the town as they approach, or the indifference if that suits.

Using camera shots for scene development is a great way to think about how to most effectively set your scene.

The Pacific West Coast is the setting for The Gift Legacy books. You can read about the books here.

Photo by pawel szvmanski on Unsplash

How Did You Get Your Start?

February 4, 2013 By JPMcLean 5 Comments

When I’m asked how I got my start as a writer, I think back to the winter I began writing. All west coast winters are long and wet, but that winter was the first I’d experienced after being away for four warm sunny winters in Tucson and the Baja. Cooped up inside on endless dark dreary days left me restless.

I filled my evenings reading. A lot. It was an escape. My favourite escapes were book series binge reads. Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series. Lee Child’s Jack Reacher books.

I became curious.

What was it I liked about those particular books? The answer for me was that those books engaged me so thoroughly that I lost track of my surroundings and all sense of time. It also occurred to me the books I enjoyed most were written from just one person’s point of view.

Curious to know more, I read about the writers whose work I enjoyed and the writing process itself. One author’s process caught my attention. Stephenie Meyer, author of the successful Twilight books, explained that the series sprung from a single scene that she dreamed about.

It got me thinking.

Could a dream, a kernel of an idea, an edge of a thought, be the seed of a captivating story?

I immediately thought of a recurring dream I’ve had since my childhood. It’s not an unusual or unique dream. (Many of the people who’ve read my first book tell me they’ve had similar dreams.) But was it enough for an interesting story?

All that winter I plunked away on my laptop. I fleshed out my tiny idea using the first person perspective. Writing from just one character’s point of view seemed the safest route for a novice writer. I dusted off my university Handbook for Writers, a five-pound Oxford dictionary, and bookmarked a good on-line thesaurus.

As chapter after chapter came together, I convinced myself that not only could I do it, but that it was a captivating story. I studied Strunk and White’s, The Elements of Style, Stephen Wilbers’ Keys to Great Writing, and Donald Maass’ Writing the Breakout Novel. But don’t let that fool you into thinking I’ve managed to incorporate all that collective wisdom. It is, however, a lofty goal.

I’m three books in now and still loving the process. There’s always something new to discover and no end of great books to read and learn from. I feel very lucky to have found something so uplifting and interesting to do on dreary winter days.

Of course, nowadays, every day I’m not writing is a dreary day.

The Next Big Thing

January 18, 2013 By JPMcLean Leave a Comment

Mike Grant, author of White Wolf Moon graciously nominated me for The Next Big Thing Writer and Blogger Award. It’s an opportunity for fellow writers to give a shout-out to those who inspire, educate and entertain. Thanks, Mike, I’m flattered and happy to participate.

I’ll direct my answers to the second book in The Gift Legacy, Revelation which will be published in late spring, 2013. Here goes…

What is the working title of your book?

Revelation. (Now titled Hidden Enemy)

What genre does your book fall under?

Urban fantasy. The genre discussion is an interesting one. Urban fantasy describes stories set in an urban environment. But fantasy covers a wide range from low-fantasy (Charmaine Harris’ Blue Bloods) to high-fantasy (JRR Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings). The Gift Legacy fits into the low-end of the fantasy scale.

What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

It’s best summarized by a Tennyson quote from The Ancient Sage, 1885, “The shell must break before the bird can fly.”

Revelation continues the story of Emelynn Taylor, whose life is inexorably shaped by an unbidden gift. In Revelation, Emelynn is pursued by dark forces that lurk in the underbelly of a world she never wanted a part of. Her only escape is one which will scar her for life.

Where did you get the idea for your book?

This second book is a natural extension of the story arc from the first book. There are many facets of Emelynn Taylor’s life and her gift that had potential for exploration and development.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

The who was Stephenie Meyer who wrote the Twilight books. When I came across her bio and learned that her books sprung from a single scene, it inspired me to start small and build out. It worked.

The what, was a cool, rainy, west coast winter. The dreary hockey-season weather approached on the heels of three sunny winters spent in Tucson, AZ. Daydreaming chased the chill away.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Six months, but many additional hours were spent contemplating the project before I started writing in earnest. Another important qualifier is that I’m fortunate to not have to divide my time with a day-job, children or ailing parents.

What other books would you compare this story with in your genre?

Answering this question makes me feel like a poser because the comparisons juxtapose my writing with other more highly-sought-after work. Keeping that in mind, here are the comparisons I’ve heard. First was J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan. It’s not the one I would have picked, but I understand the comparison. Next was Stephen King’s Carrie.

When I wrote the books, I aimed for realism: a story that made the reader believe that they could be living next door to the characters. From that perspective The Gift Legacy books compare to Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse books or Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight books, but without the vampires and werewolves.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

I haven’t a clue, but I’d be very interested in readers’ opinions. When I was writing the characters, I’d often flip through magazines to look for a face I thought fit my imaginary character. The clipped image would help me visualize the characters as I wrote. I still have those clippings, including images I selected for Emelynn, Jackson and Sandra, but unfortunately, I don’t know the names of the models.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I will once again indie publish with the help of FriesenPress. Guy Kawasaki, co-author of A.P.E. (Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur) in his book How to Publish a Book defined self-publishing as Artisanal Publishing. He explained that, like micro breweries, the artisanal author prefers to maintain tight controls over all aspects of their work, thereby producing a superior product.

Absent deep pockets, this artisanal author doesn’t really have much of a choice in the matter, but I like the definition.

What else about your book might pique your reader’s interest?

As one of The Gift Legacy’s reviewers commented, the book has a wide appeal. “It’s got something for everyone – a little romance, humour, drama, sex, suspense. A completely satisfactory read.” It’s a story that will sweep you up and make you ponder the impossible, maybe even make you believe that the unbelievable is happening right now, all around you. It’s a great escape.

The final step to this Next Big Thing nomination is to pay it forward. I have selected five writers and bloggers who inspire, motivate, entertain and educate. Not everyone I nominated is working on a book, but who knows what the future holds! It’s my pleasure to nominate the following writers for The Next Big Thing Writer and Blogger Award:

Linda Poitevin, author of the Grigori Legacy Series

Nina Munteanu, writing coach and author of The Last Summoner and many others

James J. Murray, author of Prescription for Murder

Cristian Mihai, author and creative force behind Irevuo Magazine

Lisa Voisin, author of The Watcher saga

Thanks for hanging in right to the end. And thanks, Mike for the Writer and Blogger Award. The Next Best Thing nomination is an innovative idea and I’m happy to support it and pass it along.

Amarone Celebration

January 8, 2013 By JPMcLean 9 Comments

JP McLean finishes third book of trilogy!

Just before Christmas I made a trip to the liquor store to pick up a few special gifts. While I stood in the fine wines section contemplating the choices, my attention drifted down to a bottle of Amarone.

I quickly averted my gaze.

This was the season of giving, I reminded myself, and I was pretty sure that didn’t mean giving to myself. I made my selections then moved to the single malts. Again, my gaze wandered to fine wines. Not today, I reminded myself, and continued my gift shopping.

When I arrived at the check out, I joined a long line. The entire time I waited, that damn bottle of Amarone called my name.

“You’re going to need me,” it taunted. I ignored it.

“Soon. You’ll see,” it chanted. I looked away.

“You’ll regret not having me on hand,” it said, humming Adele’s, Don’t you Remember.

I responded in kind, singing P!nk’s, Sober.

The Hairy Eyeball

The gentleman in front of me gave me the hairy eyeball (I really shouldn’t sing in public). His order filled a shopping cart. No one had that many friends, I thought, uncharitably. His bulk order gave me plenty of time to re-think my virtuous nature. Who was I trying to fool, I rationalized? And while he yanked out his credit card, I skeedattled back to fine wines, grabbed that bottle of Amarone and dragged it back to my cart.

It’s now a month since that fateful trip to the liquor store. The days have been filled with bouts of guilt knowing I’d hidden the Amarone in a closet just around the corner from the kitchen. Late in the evening when I’m plucking away at my computer, it taunts me from its cradle. Every morning for a month I’ve said, “not yet, Il mio amore. I’m not done,” and then another night of passionate typing ensues. I persevere at the computer, day after day, night after night, moving inexorably forward. It’s become a pilgrimage. JP McLean finishes third book of trilogy

But tonight is different.

Tonight something monumental happened. The clock struck six p.m. (nine p.m. Eastern Central Time) and I finally fessed up to my better half about the Amarone. He didn’t blink (he knows my nefarious nature well). He lassoed that plucky bottle of Amarone and uncorked it. “What’s the occasion?” he sang out, pulling two glasses from the cupboard.

“Soon,” I said.

He went back to the news. An hour later he returned, peering over my shoulder. “Ready?” he asked patiently. (I added patiently because he’s listening).

Another long fifteen minutes passed before I gave him the go ahead. “Pour,” I said, and he did.

And now, here we sit, enjoying a very fine glass of Amarone; a glass fine enough for a celebration. One the Amarone itself foretold before Christmas. “Congratulations,” it said, and we raised a glass in toast. Congratulations, indeed, I agreed, savouring the rich, thick notes of a perfect bottle of wine.

And that’s what it tastes like to type “the end,” at the bottom of the last page of the third book of a trilogy. What a ride!

Update: The Gift Legacy is now complete at seven books. You can read about all the book here.

Photo by chuttersnap on Unsplash