Book Review: Forensics and Fiction by D.P.Lyle M.D.

   

   I will start off by saying that this is not a normal book review.

   For awhile, I was looking for an informational book for writers that have very out-of-the-ordinary questions and answers. After searching for a long time with many failures, I found the name of Dr. D.P. Lyle,(Full bio HERE) and saw that he had written many books like what I was looking for. I got out Forensics and Fiction.

   Let's just say I read it through in the first two hours of having it. There are so many questions with easy to understand, thorough answers. 

Here are a few examples of the questions: 

How long might my character survive in a cave with no food or water? 

What are the steps involved in a “Psych Evaluation”?

Is there a drug that paralyzes yet leaves the victim fully awake?

How was diphtheria treated in 1886 in the American Mid-west?

   As you can see, there is a very wide variety of questions that are answered in this book. You can see the full table of contents HERE. 

   I have also gotten out the Forensics for Dummies by the same author. I have not read that through yet, but it is more strictly about forensics (hence the name...). 

   Even though I did not need to know a lot of these questions for my current WIP, it was still incredibly intriguing, and useful information to know (for a writer).  

   I recommend this book to writers of any genre.

-The Bandit

   

Mapping: Why it is a Good Idea

   When you create a world, district, city, or even just a certain building out of nothing, it is a good idea to draw a map. 

   Why? Here, I will present you with five reasons to draw a map when writing fiction.

1. To Get Your Bearings. Even if you never publish the maps along with the book, it is still a very helpful thing so that at least you know what you're talking about when you write the story.                                                           2. Minimizes Contradictions. Contradictions are a big pitfall in fiction. Especially when you make up your own territory. Let me explain: Say that in one part of the book you write that the North side of the mountain is overrun by Trolls. But in another part of it, you forget what you said about that side, so your characters go through, undisturbed. It is an embarrassing error. A map would keep you from making such mistakes.

3. Reference Point for your Readers. Have you ever gotten lost in the many, many kingdoms, territories, districts, or lands that are in a book? The best way to avoid confusion from your reader is including a map. 

Here are a few famous maps from books:

Map of Middle Earth (The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings)

   

Map of Narnia (Chronicles of Narnia Series)

Map of Alagaesia (The Inheritance Cycle Series)

And there you have it!

-The Bandit

The Difference Between a Strong Character and a Cliche Character

   

   With the rise of the feminists, comes the fall of the 'every-girl-needs-her-prince-to-save-her' type of stories.
(Please note: This post is not about my views on feminism, it is about the effects of it on writing).
   
   In centuries past, all the great tales include a brave, dashing prince or knight going off to fight something and then in the end, he saves the swooning princess from the monster and then they get married and live happily ever after.

That is quite different now.

   A lot of writers (especially women) feel that it is their duty to show the world that women can fight for themselves. But you know what happens now? The overly-independent FMC who has a gun on each hip and a snarky attitude has become a cliche! *offended gasp from every YA and NA writer there ever was*. But seriously though, a female character who is like I just described that has a wimpy male sidekick does NOT mean that you have a strong character. It means you have a cliche character. They are getting quite annoying to read about.
   Here are some ways to avert that platitude:

1. Redemption. Maybe the character is like that in the beginning, but as the character goes through certain things, it softens her towards being less cold-hearted.

2. Be Sweet. Seriously though. Believe it or not, there is NOTHING wrong with a female character being sweet! It would be a nice change from the hardness of so many FMCs these days. People like likable.

3. Let the Girl be Saved by the Guy. How odd would this be? The girl actually being saved by the guy! Insane. right? I'm not kidding. It would give the story a nice, vintage feel to it. Especially if the genre is dystopian or post-apocalyptic or something where the mean-girl cliche is strongest. It would give the story an ironic element that would make it interesting.

4. Let there be AWKWARD! So, the cliche is always that the girl is sleek and can throw an amazing punch and owns like, a bajillion guns and has those perfect catsuits. Well, add a twist to the norm by making the sarcastic one have a quirk that feels wrong for her character. Maybe she has a fear of guns, or can't stand any type of clothing except loose jeans and a sweatshirt, or maybe she has a lot of allergies and starts sneezing at the worst possible times.

   Writers, there are so many ways to evade this kind of MC. Let's do it.

-The Bandit

Why We Need To Be More Like Anne

    My goal for this blog is to give writers like myself advice about how to better your writing abilities. This may seem like an odd, unfitting post, but bear with me, as it will make sense in the end.
   Any civilized person knows who Anne of Green Gables is. If you don't, then get your nose out of your post-apocalyptic books and read some of the beautiful classics. I mean no offense to anyone who enjoys YA (I enjoy YA for gosh sakes)!

   Anyway. What words do you think of when you think of Anne? I know that the words I think of are Imaginative, awesome (The true meaning of the word: full of awe), stubborn, passionate, and intelligent. 

   My posts are mainly aimed at young writers, so what do you think of when I say teenager or young adult?
I don't know about you, but this is what I think of:

 

See any patterns? The average teenager checks their phone around 150 times a day. 

That is a lot.

   As a writer, I look for experience in everything I do. Whether it is a walk around the block, a trip to the store, or even just sitting on your front porch. I live off of experience. Anything or anyone I might see that I could use in a story, I drink it up. But you can't do that if you're always looking at your phone (or iPod, iPad, Tablet, or any other device)
   My point is nothing other than urging teenagers these days to get off their devices, and look at the beautiful sky, make eye contact when you talk. As superior as it may seem, it is the little details (like subtle facial expressions or eye movement) that make the conversations in your stories come to life.
   The sense of wonder is almost lost in this generation. We can't let that happen. This is my plea to all writers.
 
Yes, this is a lecture, but it is also a post about how to further your writing abilities.

Open up your eyes and soak up the sights of life. Let's be more like Anne.




-The Bandit

Writing Prompt #2

 

(Here's to short posts)!
Again, this is original:

"What do I have to do to get you to stop singing?"
"Give me the gun."
"But you'll shoot me!"

   I imagined this to be between two people. Where one is pointing the gun at the other, and as a last resource, the one being held up starts singing (badly).
   This isn't my best one, but I thought I should put in a humorous one!



-The Bandit

Retaining Originality

(Picture not mine)

"Who are we?!"
"WRITERS!"
"What do we want?!"
"ORIGINALITY!"

   Seriously though. I can truthfully say that one of many, many things that is equivalent in every writer is that we all want originality. (When you think of it, that sentence is kind of ironic)

I've been thinking a lot about how to retain individuality in a world that is chock-full of other people's ideas. I have made a list that I hope might be helpful to you.

1. AVOID STEREOTYPES. 

This is a very well-known rule for all writers, but I had to include it. Stereotypes can be used for one's advantage, but if it is not in the right way, it can end up being a miserable fail. So if you do attempt cleverly using cliches, do it carefully, and always have a second opinion.  

2. SWITCH UP THE POV.

As we move on with literature, this is beginning to get more common: having more than one perspective in a story. You know, when in one chapter, it is from the FMC's point of view, and the next it is the MMC's. It keeps the story from getting dull and repetitive.

3. THE MAIN CHARACTER DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THE HERO.

(This one ties in with #2) This is something that I feel very strongly about. Most every book I have ever read, the main character is about the "Hero", the "Different One", the "Chosen One", or the "Person Who Changes Everything". Don't get me wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But if you want your story to be a real Fruit Loop in a world of Cheerios, then make the MC a person who is being effected by something that the "Chosen One" is doing, or write it from the villain's POV, or let it be from the perspective of the worried parent of the teenager who is doing all sorts of dangerous things to save the world. There are tons of possibilities, people. Come on, be different!

4. CHECK FOR ACCIDENTAL PLAGIARIZATION. 

There is only one thing that is worse than having a wonderful, awesome idea, and then realizing that it was just your brain recycling something that wasn't actually your idea, (I've done this many times with things like The Hunger games, or Maze Runner. Trust me, it stinks). and that one thing is when you take time and sacrifice and then have someone read it and be like "Hey, this is just like that movie we watched last week!" UGH! The worst. Anyway, this is just a very simple, practical thing that everyone should do. Google the titles of your novels/stories, ask someone to listen to your idea and give their honest opinion if it sounds familiar, and brainstorm yourself for if your "idea" is really not that original.  

That is all for now.

-The Bandit.