Revenge, Challenges, and the Writer: Writing Characters People WANT to Read About by Author Cheris Hodges

Because writing is cheaper than therapy, I've learned to channel my aggression into stories. Yes, writers get angry and get their revenge in print.

But anger and aggression can only take you so far when it comes to telling a story — unless you're writing a Taylor Swift song. To be honest with you, readers don't really care that you and your boyfriend broke up and you created a character in his image to torture.

What's the story about? Why is this character in these situations and how will he or she get out of it? What's the hook to keep the reader invested in your revenge fantasy?

This is where you take off the angry Carrie Underwood hat and put your writer hat on (and yes, I have one).

Just because you want use your words to do things that would get you arrested, it doesn't mean that the story you're telling is meant for publication or to be shared. Not until you actually make the story work — in my Tim Gunn voice.

I just started working on a story about Cynthia Rose. She was kidnapped, raped, killed two people, and just recently got charged with murder. The idea for all of this came to me when I was on a test drive at a dealership and noticed one of the female sales consultants talking to two men and showing them the trunk. I immediately wondered, What if they pushed her in that trunk and took off?

It had been busy that day at the store, and I'm sure no one would've noticed for a while that she and that car were missing.

The easy story to tell would've been about a dead car sales lady and the search for her killers. That was the direction I was going, too. Then, Shonell Bacon sent out a tweet about the toughest situations that you've ever put your characters in. Cynthia's plight was born.

Cynthia is proving to be one of my most challenging characters ever. She's a victim, hero, and criminal all rolled up into one. Sometimes writing about her makes me cringe, cry, and laugh.

But she's developed her voice, and I like where she's taking me. That's character development, and that's what makes a book a page turner.

Cheris Hodges was bitten by the writing bug at an early age and always knew she wanted to be a writer. She is a 1999 graduate of Johnson C. Smith University and a freelance writer in Charlotte, North Carolina. A native of Bennettsville, South Carolina, Cheris loves hearing from her readers. Her novel Forces of Nature is in stores now, and Love after War arrives in November. You can learn more about Cheris and her books at her site and on Twitter and Facebook.

GREAT CHARACTER with Author Tracey M. Lewis-Giggetts

CHARACTER. Every story has them, and their development is vital to any great story. This month at ALL THE BLOG'S A PAGE, we're talking to authors about GREAT CHARACTER. Authors talk to us about what they think makes up a great character, what great character they've found in others' works, and what great character lurks within one of their own works.

Our final author this month in our talk about great characters is a woman with great character herself, Tracey M. Lewis-Giggetts! I was introduced to her writing when I read and reviewed her novel, Interruption: The Gospel According to Crystal Justine, and not only did I enjoy the novel, but I also enjoyed the complex and charismatic storyteller behind the story.









Interruption: The Gospel According to Crystal Justine by Tracey Michae'l Lewis-Giggetts is the long awaited sequel to 2004's The Gospel According to Sasha Renee. It is the second book in the Gospel trilogy. Each book examines the deeply rooted issues that have plagued three generations of women in one family.

The story is a fascinating journey through the life of Crystal Justine (CJ), a young woman who has, for most of her life, been erroneously compared to her mother, Sasha Renee. Even as she struggles to escape the image and legacy of this enigma of a woman, she finds herself unconsciously acting out her mother's (and grandmother's) past mistakes. Her relationships with men, although few and far between, is tainted by the thing she cannot say; and her faith is weakened by the emotional and spiritual blows she endures. This dynamic story of deliverance keeps readers, page by page, on the edge of their proverbial seats, wondering if CJ will simply succumb to the darkness that has chased her soul for as long as she could remember or if she will be the one to finally put an end to the generational curse that has tried to consume her family.


You definitely don't want to miss the fantastic thoughts Tracey has on great characters...or the excerpt she shares with us! Head over to All the Blog's a Page and check it out!


All the Blog's a Page ~ [site]
Permalink ~ [link]

GREAT CHARACTER with Author Samara King

CHARACTER. Every story has them, and their development is vital to any great story. This month at ALL THE BLOG'S A PAGE, we're talking to authors about GREAT CHARACTER. Authors talk to us about what they think makes up a great character, what great character they've found in others' works, and what great character lurks within one of their own works.

Kicking off March's GREAT CHARACTER series is an author I'm proud to call a sister. With every story she writes, she brings sassy, sexy, sensual characters to the forefront--and it doesn't hurt that she's an excellent poet to boot, author Samara King!








A masked lover
A year ago, Club Reign owner, Belinda Gilles threw the first Grown & Sexy Masquerade Ball without a hitch – that was until she encountered a masked man whose touch made her forget about her past. Did she dare to believe that her masked lover would show his face again?

What lies beneath…
When Jordan Harris discovers that Belle is the woman he encountered under the mask a year ago, he sets out to make her his, even if it means opening old wounds she’d vowed to never forgive him for.


Come on by All the Blog's a Page now to read Samara's thoughts on great characters, and delight in the tasty treat she offers in an excerpt of Hot to the Touch! Head to All the Blog's a Page [NOW] to read more!

And here's a [permalink] of the feature!

Are you inCharacter? You SHOULD be!

inCHARACTER is the creation of author Samara King in a quest to quench her hunger of creating characters. (Clause: Her preference for heroes has nothing to do with it!)

Starting in September 21, 2009, characters will have their day at http://www.incharacter101.com! inCHARACTER seeks to provide a creative outlet for like-minded authors who also enjoy the depths of character development, character/scene features of all genres, as well as thought-provoking articles on the subjects of creativity, writing, and character creation.

** inCHARACTER will also be in search of bi-monthly contributors for literary articles and candid prospectives into the literary life.

As inCHARACTER continues to grow, affordable advertising spaces will be available for purchase as well as book spotlights.

If you are interested in an inCHARACTER Character Feature, you may submit the following material:

1. Book Cover
2. Short Author Bio and Author Link
3. 250 – 750 word scene featuring selected character of author’s choice.


The Catch: Once Samara King has read your selected character scene, five questions will be sent to the author, geared toward your character….Interested? Good! Please submit your character feature for consideration to incharacter@incharacter101.com!