I'm Whistling, Dixie!

Thanks to Alex Cavanaugh and this month's co-hosts. Nancy Gideon, Bob R Milne, Doreen McGettigan, Chrys Fey, Bish Denham, and Pat Garcia for giving us a place to share the fear and find the support writers need to stay in the writing game. 

Join the IWSG Here! Check out the website Here!

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Many years ago, my mother came home from a beach trip. She brought me a book. A category romance from Silhouette. 

The gift from my mom

Well now, I wasn't one to read that stuff. I liked to think of myself as a bit of an advanced reader. A lover of the finer volumes. The classic tales- Dickens, Bronte, Steinbeck...even the verbose Hemingway- those were my books. 

My mother said, "Look ya book brat, just read the damned thing. I stood in line to get this for you."

Long story short? 

I loved it. 

Wonderful characters that were as quirky and real as any breathing human. Settings that made feel like I was on a stage created by a master of set design. And a touch of humor that made me grin as I happily turned one page after the other. 

I had a new favorite writer. 

Another long story shortened...I emailed the writer and found a lady as wonderful as her words. And this year, while vacationing on the Outer Banks, I finally (after years of online stalking!) got to meet her. 

Dixie Browning and me
(No, I didn't vomit and most of my sentences were coherent- I hope.) 

Now, I'll introduce you to her. 

Meet Dixie Browning. Dixie has written over 100 books under the name Dixie Browning, Zoe Dozier, and under the collaborative pen-name, Bronwyn Williams, with her sister, Mary Williams. 

Dixie doesn't understand the meaning of the word quit. She's an artist (for real- she can draw and paint as well as she writes) who knows- if you need to make a piece work and you think a bit of ketchup or mustard will do the trick- then off to the kitchen you go. 

She runs on instinct, not insecurity. 

And seriously, couldn't we all use a dose of that?

So, I asked Dixie to stop by today and share some wisdom with us. 

Here's the advice she had to share:

-- This worked for me.  It might work for you.  Visualize a linear plot--she's headed in a certain direction, what sidelines her?  Lost tickets?  Flat tire?  some emergency?  Where does the sideline take her?  Who's there? How does it complicate her mission?   You can block out a series of events, each one steering her, physically or emotionally, in a different direction.  

-- But first you have to lead the reader into your book.  My method was to give the reader something they could identify with.  Your heroine is waiting in a long line and gets the hiccups.  She just got fired or had her purse snatched or runs into an old flame with his new bride...whatever you choose, do NOT throw a complete cast of characters at your reader in the first few pages and expect her to keep up with them.  

-- If you have a favorite author, try analyzing their story line, chapter by chapter.  Get a feel for pacing, then transfer it to your own story..  

Good luck...I'll be watching the bestseller lists for your names.  

 

Dixie, exhibiting her art

Check out Dixie's books: 

Amazon link for Dixie and as Bronwyn Williams

Got a question for Dixie? She's always happy to help!