C. Lee McKenzie

Young Adult and Middle Grade Author

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Monday Miscellany

By

I write like

Jane Austen

I Write Like by Mémoires, journal software. Analyze your writing!

Yep that’s what the analyzer had to offer up from my writing sample. I used the first paragraph from a piece of fiction I’m working on right now. How they came up with Jane, I’ll never know. Give the analyzer a shot and tell us who you write like.

More Miscellany: This is December 19 and we only have five days until Christmas. So I’ll send my holiday best wishes to all my friends and fellow bloggers and hope that during this holiday season you all share beautiful moments with the ones who mean the most to you.

Don’t forget to ask for a present from me. Here’s the POST in case you missed it. I have books and ARCs to send off as well as an eBook with short stories, so let me know if you want one.

My favorite quote for today is: “Talent hits a target no one else can hit; genius hits a target no one else can see.” Schopenhauer

Here’s three things to keep in mind while you’re creating those stories. I love them because they’re simple, easy to understand and effective.

1. Take your characters to a dark place. ASAP
2. Have your characters make the wrong decision. BAD is GOOD-HORRIBLE is BETTER
3. Give your characters a secret. What do they have under the bed? What don’t they want anyone in the world to know? YUMMM. Love those secrets.

Comments

  2. Happy winter season to you, as well, Lee! Jane Austen … I like that! May 2012 greet you with open arms and creative flair. Love and Light, Daisy @ SunnyRoomStudio (afternoon sun beaming in over my shoulders as I type 🙂

  5. Great post! And you write like Jane Austen, that'll work! My first ms came up as Ian Fleming and my second as Raymond Chandler but, I'm ashamed to say, I haven't read any of either - are they remotely similar?? Interesting that I'm male both times - particularly when I think I write general fiction more geared to women!! Thanks for the lovely Christmas prezzie 🙂 Have a wonderful festive period and all the best for 2012.

  7. Those are three excellent writing tips, especially No. 3. Thanks so much. I'll have to pass these on. Merry Christmas to you and your family, Lee. Oh my goodness, I can't believe Christmas rolled around again, so fast. And it will be over in a jiff, so we need to enjoy each moment! Take care!

  12. @Judith That's perfect. Manly writing. Do you think perhaps the analyzer needs tweaking?

    @Lisa Great to visit with you in two places. Always a treat.

    @Alex Of course, they must be rescued, but not until the end!

  15. Did you hear my guffaw? One sample generated Cory Doctorow. The other generated James Joyce. Hence the guffaw. All I can conclude from this is that I write like a man.

  17. Very helpful post, Lee! Mike tried the writing analyzer using the first page of his WIP. It said he writes like Cory Doctorow. (I think he was hoping for Mark Twain.) Then I put in my blog post from October 22nd and learned that I write like David Foster Wallace. I guess that's okay, even though his life ended tragically, according to Wikipedia. Maybe I'll try using a different post and see what pops up.

    Have a great Christmas and a safe and happy 2012.