Create the Conflict Before You Write the Novel

Is the world of your next novel rock solid? You've picked the time frame. You've chosen your locations and tailor-made them to set the mood--dark, romantic, challenging, adventurous. You're dying to parachute your characters into the fray. Don't. Not yet.

Now decide what beliefs and past histories drive your characters and hence drive the plot. Ever read novels where the bad guys have no redeeming features and the good guys are Dudley Do-Rights, where the good guys always beat the bad guys and you know who to cheer for. The real world is not this way. The more conflicted people and events are the better your novel will be.

Example: In Room 1515, I don't have a true protagonist. I created an anti-heroine, a flawed woman pursuing the enemies of her country, but dissolution sets in when she questions the tactics of her mentors. I don't have a true antagonist. I abandoned the archetypal villain for one who is sympathetic and even likable while being ruthless. Complex characters hold readers interest.

A question from a recent interview asked, "What makes Room 1515 unique when compared to other novels about power-brokers taking over the world." My answer is that in Room 1515 the motive of the villain is noble. He believes humanity will destroy the earth. Greed is keeping nations from tackling the problem of global warming and pollution, and there isn't time to reason with selfish idiots anymore. He'll do anything necessary to rule the world and save it.

Authors need to establish a twist that is different to make their book unique and interesting. Do it before you drop your characters into a battle they're not ready for. We'll talk about dropping them in next time.

I write thrillers, not mysteries. I've been asked, "What is the difference?" I agree good Mystery, Suspense, Thriller novels have aspects of all three. For me, mysteries lean toward the 'who-done-it?' Thrillers lean toward the 'how are they doing it, and how do we stop them?' Suspense to me is tension throughout the novel. If the problem is bad, it's going to get worse. When it does get worse, prepare for the tornado.

Now for shameless marketing. Watch my Room1515 YouTube video to see if you like it.

http://www.youtube.com/user/bwetterman?ob=0&feature=results_main

To buy the book, go to:

http://www.amazon.com/Room-1515-Bill-Wetterman/dp/1463001177/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330119880&sr=1-2

http://www.amazon.com/Room-1515-ebook/dp/B0077F9RFK/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&qid=1330119880&sr=1-2

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Room-1515?keyword=Room+1515&store=nookstore

http://ebookstore.sony.com/search?keyword=Room+1515

https://order.superlibrary.com/Comergent/en/US/punchin/pearson?cmd=PLAddToCart&promo_code=&ofrurl=http%3A%2F%2Fbookcountry.com%2F%2FBooks%2FBookDetails.aspx%3FBookId%3D126351&use_cmd=PLAddToCart&locale=en-US-BC01&entryPoint=punchin&scart_id=117&auxstorefront=590611&alert_url=&messageType=PLAddToCart

Should Novels be Rated like Movies?

A question popped into my mind while reading The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Should novels be rated like movies are? Mind you, I kept reading and didn't pursue the issue. Recently, a fellow author posed the same question on Facebook. My antennas shot up and the analytical side of my brain researched the issue while the creative side continued writing. I was surprised to find Wall Street Journal articles, author blogs, and publishers not only discussing this issue, but acting on it.

AKW Books, an eBook publisher, has adopted the industry standard for movies as their standard for the novels they release. Check out their guidelines at: http://www.akwbooks.com/Common/ratings.htm. PanHistoria, an outlet for role-play authors has done the same thing. Visit www.panhistoria.com/Guild/information_Desk/ratings.php. In both cases, they rate the type of novel or play following industry standards.

This raises the question for us as authors. Should we consider voluntarily rating our novels based on their content? I had a discussion about The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo with some friends who either read the book, saw the movie, or both. The consensus was that the book was as graphic as the movie. One lady said, "I had to skip about ten pages. I couldn't bear to read the rape scenes."

I thought about Room 1515. If I applied the rating standard guidelines for movies, my novel is PG-13. I have another novel coming out later this year that I would give an R rating. I'm actually thinking about rating that novel R voluntarily. Should these types of ratings be imposed upon us? Should we rate ourselves? Is either of these choices a form of censorship? Weigh in on this subject.

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Self-Publishing-Part 2

Research Permissions and Obtain Them

Not all that says free is free. An author can't see a neat photo online and decide to use it. You have to get permission. There is heavy research involved to find out what you can use free and what you can't. My book cover and my book trailer are excellent examples. A free photo has limited use. So even using a free photo website, be prepared to spend money.

If the photo is going in a YouTube trailer, you have to review the various contracts regarding the photo's use. There are standard contracts, extended use contracts, and multi-user contracts. The globe and gold bars photo I use in the trailer costs more than the others, because I use it on the book cover, my business cards, and bookmarks, as well.

You can't assume music can be used without permission. I use Mahler's 1st Symphony in my trailer. Mahler's been dead for a century, surely he won't mind. Ah, not the case. Production companies have copyrights. Performing artists have copyrights. You have to submit your intent to use their work and receive permission. All totaled, I paid right at one-hundred dollars to clear all of the copyright agreements. And I have peace of mind. I did the right thing.

When you self-publish, you have the responsibility for everything. You can't point the finger and say, "The publisher missed the word 'form.' The word should have been 'from.'" Sorry, not the publisher's fault. The buck starts and stops with you.

To view the YouTube Trailer for Room 1515 click on the following link:
http://youtu.be/yx4wLFD2GTY.

Room 1515 Coming in Three Weeks

Room 1515 is at the printers. Book Country, a Division of Penguin, walked me through the process. I designed the book cover, edited the text, picked the formatting, and set the pricing. Now I need your expert eyes to evaluate my book trailer. I've uploaded it for your review and added a questionnaire for you to rate the trailer. I was able to load the video, but not the audio. It's Mahler.