How To Write Love in a Novel

"Write what should not be forgotten," -Isabel Allende

Love is something that writers of all kinds write about - but when instant love dominates the media, I get concerned that screenwriters and authors have no idea what actual love is like.

So here are my tips to writing real love between two people, not instant attraction between two archetypes. Since I obviously know everything about everything, I am going to give you three tips for writing better love in your novels, whether it be a subplot or the focus of your story.

Just like in any relationship, time has to be taken to get to know the other person.  While I realize that instant attraction is a real thing, rarely, if ever, does it turn into love, and this is when instant attraction becomes instant love. However, this shows poor writing skills when a love story is forced and the relationship is never developed

1.  Relationship, then romantics.

Just like in any relationship., time has to be taken to get to know the other person.  While I realize that instant attraction is a real thing, rarely, if ever, does it turn into love, and this is when instant attraction becomes instant love. However, this shows poor writing skills when a love story is forced and the relationship is never developed as it naturally would.

The two characters in the relationship must begin their journey with a straight up friendship.  Even if they go into the relationship with romantic intentions, the two characters must start off with amiable interactions.  Flirting is a-okay, and that is a part of developing a relationship.  People do not just fall in love because of a few, steamy encounters.  People fall in love because they spend time with that other person and they get to know them and they care about them, which leads them to think 'wow, I really like this person, and not just as a friend', which leads me into my next point:

2. Sexual Tension

This one is key, however most people go overboard with the physical aspect of love. One thing that makes a romance entertaining to read is the tension we feel when the two characters dance in the rain - but then a honking car interrupts them.  When he leans in, and she smiles, and then one of them sneezes.  The tension that we see in their actions make it all the more satisfying when they finally do kiss, or whatever the romantic (or even sexual) climax comes and we get that relief and then fans all over the world scream.

It's important to not only have your characters mentally attracted to each other (enjoying one another's company, meshing well with the other's personality, finding the other person funny/entertaining/engaging) but they also must be sexually/physically attracted.  These two components make up complete human attraction to another in terms of *ahem* marriage material.

3. Devotion and Why

What makes love - friendship love, family love, and romantic love - so special is because it contains devotion.  Devotion is two people committing themselves to one another, and mentally and physically proclaiming that even when sh*t hits the fan, they will have the other's back. There has to be some level of devotion and vulnerability in any written relationship, or it will seem distant and forced.  This is because the characters have to care about each other. They have to care if something bad is going to happen to said person.  And, delving even deeper, we have to know why they care.  Is it because they feel responsibility for that person? Is it because they are afraid of losing them?  Is it because they don't want that other person to be hurt? The three levels of this step are crucial:  devotion, and then caring, and then the why behind all of this.

If you can master these three steps, I guarantee that you'll have an in depth, realistic romantic relationship between your two characters.

Love on,

~The WordShaker

Dear Future Husband,

"Look at the blank pages before you with courage," -Unknown

So I had this thing written for a while now, and I was planning on posting it today, but it was Friday and I was feeling spontaneous. So I filmed it. This might be a detrimentally bad idea, but I hope my husband likes it when we watch it later in life.

Enjoy! Let me know if you like this kind of stuff - I might do it again.

Dear Future Husband,

Immeasurable amounts of His love,

~The WordShaker

Called To Love

"What people are ashamed of usually makes a good story," -F. Scott Fitzgerald

Sometimes, I get so caught up.  So caught up in needless things, worthless things. And I forget.  I lose sight of the light at the end of this tunnel, because I look away.

But I can't forget.  I can't forget that I am called to love. On this less-taken path, I get distracted by the sharp stones that cut my calloused feet open.  By the aromatic flowers that poison my lungs. By the tree branches that reach up and block out the light.

But I can't let go.  I can't forget.  I have no other purpose of in my life other than love. I am called to love. I need to keep my eyes on the prize, keep my eyes turned up toward Him.  I must act as a mirror, reflecting the love that he shows to me back to the world.  But I get so caught up in everything that doesn't matter.  The world grabs me by the shirt collars and drags me down, and for a few fleeting moments, I want to follow it. But I can't.  I can't let myself.

Because I am made for more. I am called to love, and I can't let that go, or this will all be for nothing.  

~The WordShaker

Apollo 11 Review - Owl City's Adam Young's Debut Composer Album

"Write hard and clear about what hurts," -Ernest Hemingway

In case you are a regular reader but don't care all that much about my study of 'Writing In the Glory'   - which is probably a good percentage of you - here is an additional post for this week covering Apollo 11 - Musical Scores by Adam Young.

He is a musical genius.  The quality of music that he produces is always stellar - and this has got to be a step up from Mobile Orchestra. On that note, I find it interesting the connection between Mobile Orchestra and this first installment of this project. However, I was completely enthralled by this album and am ecstatic about the months to come.

check out my Instagram - @olivia.j.the.wordshaker

In case you were not already aware, on January first, Adam announced that he would be taking a break from Owl City to work on something he described as 'conceptual film scores', and to be released monthly.

I was thrilled - I have always fallen in love with his ambient/instrumental music, and I love that he's 'going back to his roots'.  And I don't say this because he's changing or that he's shifting styles but that he's telling stories through music, which is what it's all about: telling stories.

"This project is about telling stories with music according to the imagination of one mind,"  -Adam

Other than to rave about how gorgeously amazing this album is, I am also going to give a track-by-track review.

Listen to Apollo 11 here.

Check out more about this project and sign up here.

Artwork by James R. Eads

1. Launch

Epic and enthralling, the music truly reflects the title of the anticipation and wonder, kicking off the album to an intense and glorious start.

2. The Lonely Three

This track brings it down with a haunting bass guitar that reflects the essence of staring out a small window back at the glowing Earth.

3. CSM-LM Docking

With a more upbeat melody and rhythm, this track goes in hard with the anticipation of finally reaching the Moon, but being just out of reach, and then the relief of completing the long journey.

4. Trajectory Burn

An intense piece that reflects the anticipation of flying down to the Moon's surface, this track makes you feel the wonder that must have surrounded those brave men.

5. 400 Degrees Between Sunlight and Shadow

Heavy handed on the guitar, this projects the gritty reality and extraterrestrial nature of the moon in epic proportions, and almost shows you the hair-splitting line of the sun on the lunar rock.

6. Lunar Landing

A score of epic proportions, this track shows a high point with a vibrant orchestra portraying the epic descent and the excitement and victory beneath.

7. Mare Tranquillitatis

Latin for 'the Sea of Tranquility', this hollow, horn-based song lets the listener feel the deep vastness of space and the barren, beautiful wasteland that is our moon.

8. First Step On The Surface

"One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

Ethereal and bursting at the seams of the wonder the galaxies, this piece is childlike and magical, expressing the peace of God's creation.

9. Lunar Liftoff

With the victory under their belts, the sailors of the stars buckle down for the hard journey home, but encouraged for the time of their lives.

10. Return to Earth

A breath of fresh air on the album, this track shows the monotony of traveling through space and the raw emotion of watching Home draw nearer and nearer.

11. Re-Entry

Bringing it up a notch with another rich and epic orchestral piece, this number ensnares the listener in the flames of re-entry.

12. Splashdown

A relieving track of glorious victory, this track can make anyone's heart swell with the relief of breathing fresh air once again, and feeling the earth beneath your feet.

~

Truly, the only critique that I have is that I wish the transitions between songs were smoother and more developed. This truly is meant to be listened to as a cohesive piece and experience, and one could be more pulled in if you could just put it on play and listen to the tracks seamlessly.

Overall, I love this album. It bursts with emotions perfect for writing, and the orchestral sound is nothing but beautiful. Every moment of the brave journey can be seen in your mind's eye with this CD, and the listener is transported to a peaceful, more wondrous time.

10/10 would recommend.

~The WordShaker

Part 1.2: Journey Into the Heart - Blog Journal of "Writing In the Glory"

"The worst thing you write is better than the best thing you did not write," -Unknown

Woo hoo! Week 2 of my journey through "Writing In the Glory" is here!  Enjoy. 

1. What is the book idea that you have that you want to release?

My book idea is about, believe it or not, a school shooting.  More specifically, a story of healing and growth told through 3 points of view, occasionally switching to the POV of the shooter. This is the story of how Blair, Jason, and Shay find themselves in creating an artistic documentary of the shooting.

2. Why do you want to write a book on this topic?

It's funny, but I'm not sure why.  I love the themes of redemption, healing and personal growth, so this is mostly what all of my stories are about. Mostly because this is going to be a representation of life, and of normal people doing extraordinary things.  Also, because school shootings and gun violence is a hot topic of today, and I want to add my five cents to the pool, and I believe that God is calling me to tell this poignant story.

3. What are you most excited about in relation to the journey of releasing your book?

Actually writing it is always my favorite part. Because then, even if I know how the story is going to unfold (because I plot everything out before), I am still walking through the story with my characters, experiencing it with them.  Since publication is much less tangible than conception or execution, I enjoy the part of writing that I know is closer.  However, I will never let go of the hope of getting my stories out there.

Dream on, fellow writers.

~The WordShaker

Why I Write: Blogging with CWC

"You might not write well every day, but you can always edit a bad page. You can't edit a blank page," -Jodi Picoult

Prerequisite: If you weren't already aware, I am the president of WCHS's Creative Writing Club, and we have been working on blogs for the month of January, and we have banded together to create a website. And last week's writing prompt was 'Why I Write', and now, these are going to be posted on the website. Check out all of their responses!

This is mine:

I write because I have to. I write because words paint my lips and run through my veins. They chip off with my fingernails and grow out of my scalp with my hair.

Words have always come ever so naturally to me, but only recently have I realized that I want to write because I have a story to tell.  Words have been poured into this vessel from the hands of the Creator, and they overflow and spill onto the counter. A message from a seed placed by God blossoms within me, and writing is the place where I find myself.

I don't write because I want to, or because I enjoy it.  I write because if I didn't write, I would go mad.  My thoughts would build up like plaque, and my experiences would clutter my mind.  Like a dam after a flood, I would spill over and lose any grasp on reality I still cling to.

I write because it's the only things that I'm truly good at. I can weave an image out of the golden threads of my tongue. There's a story inside of me that has to come out, or it will eat me alive like a parasite I invited in.

I write to tell, not to sell.

~The WordShaker

2016 TBR List

"If you wish to be a writer, write!" -Epictetus 

This is my 2016 To Be Read List, which will be ever-increasing.  I will keep this as my featured post so you guys can see the updates. 

1. The Last Star by Rick Yancey (YA Science Fiction)

In the month of January, I have been super-obsessed with The Fifth Wave series.  While it's not perfect, I very much enjoyed reading it, and the writing and execution was stellar. I know this book doesn't come out until May 2016, believe me that I will go to Barnes and Noble and buy it on May 24th. So excited for how this series is going to wrap up!

2. Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (Memior/True Story)

Saw the movie and I loved it, however, I have never gotten the chance to read the book, so that's what I'm going to do this year! Hopefully.  This is the true story of Louis Zamperini. 

3. The Distance from Me to You by Marina Gessner (YA Realistic Fiction)

So this book is in my genre, and I love finding those rare gems that are in that niche that I call 'my genre' - more on this later. So I plan to haul myself to Barnes and Noble to get this book because it looks freaking awesome. It's about this girl who goes on a trek in the Appalachian mountains to find herself before heading off to college. 

4. Darlah (172 Hours On the Moon) by Johan Harstad (YA Horror/Science Fiction)

This book is originally in Norwegian by a Norwegian author, so it is extremely hard to find. It's obviously about 172 hours on the moon, but more specifically, a testing program sending teenagers to space.  I'm not sure when I'll ever get to read this, but it's horror science fiction and it sounds so amazingly intense I can't wait. 

5. Alive by Scott Sigler (YA Science Fiction)

I don't know a whole lot about this book, but usually, I've heard that this makes a book better. So the rough synopsis is that a bunch of teenagers find themselves locked in a coffin.  The only form of identifications are the markings on their bodies and names on coffins.  They then have to figure all of this out and survive.  Sounds contrived, but I find myself drawn nonetheless. 

6. Looking For Alaska by John Green (YA Realistic Fiction)

Dear general population:  STOP telling me that this book is so amazing.  I don't want to know. I'm so glad that you love it but please stop ranting and raving about how amazing it is - you're kind of spoiling it for me. 

Anyways, most people are well-versed in what people say is the YA god of our time.  It's about this skinny kid who goes to boarding school and meets this wonderful girl, Alaska. Cliche, I know, but hey.  Why not?

7. If I Stay by Gayle Forman (YA Realistic Fiction)

This is another one of those popular books that I've yet to read - but I want to so bad. It's about Mia, who's got a perfect life, but all of it is shattered when her family dies in a car crash and she is in a coma.  Then, the story is her making the choice of life or death.  

Sounds epic.  Sounds deep.  I must read. 

8. Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion (YA Romance)

Think zombie apocalypse meets Romeo and Juliet. I was interested in the movie when it came out, but never had the chance to see it. However, I've always been interested in the concept and heard great things, so let's see if I like this one. 

9. Nil by Lynne Matson  Supernatural YA

Recommended by Amy, she described it as 'Lost meets The Maze Runner.  And knowing me, this is all that I really need to know.  Wish me luck in finding this sucker. 

10. Salt To The Sea by Ruta Sepetys Historical YA

A story about 4 teens whose lives cross in a historical tragedy akin to the Titanic. I have heard raving reviews of it, and have been interested in the history surrounding it. So hey, let's give it a shot. 

Of course I will read other books over the 2016 period; however, these are the ones that I vow to finish. And by posting this on my blog, I am holding myself accountable.  Then, I can look back at the end of the year and see how unproductive I was.  

Check out my Instagram to check out 2015's Top Reading Hits - @olivia.j.the.wordshaker

~The WordShaker