Someone I know recently questioned whether it was necessary to title chapters of novels. Some fellow writers commented that they never title their chapters; others said they routinely did. I'm all for "to each his own;" however, after writing and publishing four books, ( with a fifth nearing completion ) I find chapter titles incredibly helpful.
Here are a few of my reasons:
1) Chapter titles give your readers a better sense of the tone of your book. Is it scholarly, comedic, dark, etc.?
2) They whet the reader's appetite and make them want to read the book--as does the cover and the backcover blurb.
3) They give you, the author, a means of clarifying and/or summing up the theme of each chapter.
4) They give your book a sense of order and direction; in other words, they let your potential readers know that the author is well aware of where this book is going!
To give you examples of the above, here's a list of the chapter titles from my latest novel, a spaceopera titled Galaxy Rand:
1---Out With the Trash
2---Jammer
3---Close Quarters
4---Five Million Credits
5---The Black Hole
6---Esperance
7---The Asteroid Eater
8---Old Rat Eyes
9---Outta the Frying Pan
10--Lab Rats
11--Course Corrections
12--Jeffries
13--Esperance--Again
14--Mop Up Operations
15--Teamwork
I think that gives you a pretty good idea of the reasons why I title my chapters. But whether or not you choose to do so, the process is entirely up to your creative expression. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the matter.
Anyway, keep on writing, and keep reading!
MRTighe
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Oopsies!
Writers and readers know that a few typos always manage to slip through the editing process. It seems to be inevitable, no matter how hard writers and editors try to avoid them. But lately I ran across a couple mistakes that were so obvious and so laughable that they effected my enjoyment of the rest of the book. I know what you're thinking! But these weren't independents; the books were published by well-known major houses!
In one book ( which shall remain nameless ), I read that a character arrived at a stable and requested that his "house" be given a rubdown and be fed! Now, unless I missed something, I believe the word should've been "horse!" Makes a bit more sense, doesn't it? But the damage was done; I nearly laughed myself sick as I pictured a house getting a rubdown. And unfortunately, I chuckled through the rest of the book.
In another book, the band that was playing was said to be "whaling." Unless said band was Captain Ahab and the Nemos, I think the word should have been "wailing." Again, I had a good laugh, but that mistake took the edge off my enjoyment of the rest of the book.
One little error like those can ruin a perfectly good story. I hate that! So writers, editors, proofreaders be warned: Do not depend on Spellcheck to do your job for you. Catch those little "oopsies" yourselves. Anyone have any beauties they'd like to share? Please feel free; these days we could all use a good laugh.
Keep writing and keep reading!
MRTighe
In one book ( which shall remain nameless ), I read that a character arrived at a stable and requested that his "house" be given a rubdown and be fed! Now, unless I missed something, I believe the word should've been "horse!" Makes a bit more sense, doesn't it? But the damage was done; I nearly laughed myself sick as I pictured a house getting a rubdown. And unfortunately, I chuckled through the rest of the book.
In another book, the band that was playing was said to be "whaling." Unless said band was Captain Ahab and the Nemos, I think the word should have been "wailing." Again, I had a good laugh, but that mistake took the edge off my enjoyment of the rest of the book.
One little error like those can ruin a perfectly good story. I hate that! So writers, editors, proofreaders be warned: Do not depend on Spellcheck to do your job for you. Catch those little "oopsies" yourselves. Anyone have any beauties they'd like to share? Please feel free; these days we could all use a good laugh.
Keep writing and keep reading!
MRTighe
Monday, November 10, 2014
Cooking Up A Tasty Dish ( For Authors )
An author friend and I compare our writing to cooking up a dish. After writing the first draft, she likes to let it "simmer" while I prefer to call the process "marinating." Just as in cooking a recipe, authors must choose the ingredients to use and in what proportion, how long the dish needs to cook, etc.
I dare to take the comparison even further and add that, like a chef, one must choose how spicy to make the dish and which spices are necessary to achieve the desired effect. The ingredients and spices used might include dragons, hunky he-men, glamorous heroines, dastardly villains, cute kids, blood-thirsty vampires, sword fights, dorky geniuses, superheroes, ghosts, wizards, elves, spaceships, and light-sabers. Take your pick.
Mix well whatever ingredients you've chosen, being sure to use proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Pack into clear sentences that aren't overly complicated. Form into neat paragraphs. Divide into chapters. Let the first draft ( or even the second or third! ) marinate until well-seasoned and satisfactory. Edit when done, then serve up to book-hungry readers!
Keep on cooking until you get the results you desire!
MRTighe
I dare to take the comparison even further and add that, like a chef, one must choose how spicy to make the dish and which spices are necessary to achieve the desired effect. The ingredients and spices used might include dragons, hunky he-men, glamorous heroines, dastardly villains, cute kids, blood-thirsty vampires, sword fights, dorky geniuses, superheroes, ghosts, wizards, elves, spaceships, and light-sabers. Take your pick.
Mix well whatever ingredients you've chosen, being sure to use proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Pack into clear sentences that aren't overly complicated. Form into neat paragraphs. Divide into chapters. Let the first draft ( or even the second or third! ) marinate until well-seasoned and satisfactory. Edit when done, then serve up to book-hungry readers!
Keep on cooking until you get the results you desire!
MRTighe
Saturday, October 4, 2014
How Crazy Do You Have To Be?
The other day I read a great blog that discusses how crazy you have to be to become a writer. I agree heartily with several points.
First, writers don't make much money, if any. Such dreams are sheer fantasy for all but a tiny handful of writers. Most writers are complete unknowns. So much for fame and fortune!
And for all the non-rewards we receive we are forced to suffer the slings and arrows of disgruntled readers, unappreciative editors, and unimpressed reviewers. All writers ( without exception ) will experience some form of rejection: from publishers, from indifferent readers, and from the constant struggle to promote our books.
Why would any sane person subject himself / herself to this abuse?
The answer seems to be that writers write because we must! We have no choice in the matter. It's either write or be driven insane by the voices in our heads. In fact, our characters are sometimes referred to as "the little people in our heads."
Well, my people aren't little, and I don't think they are confined solely to my head. But I understand completely what other writers mean by this. My characters seem to perpetually lurk over my shoulder, frequently telling me in no uncertain terms what they want to say and do next. From time to time I err and seem to hear them saying, "No, no, no! That's not me! I would never say or do that!"
Writers of fiction, especially, must live in a reality that isn't real. We must create worlds that have never been, invent characters who have never lived, yet feel "real." We must envision scenarios that most likely will never happen. Are we truly crazy?
Maybe so, but on the upside, writing can be fun; it's challenging and rewarding in ways other than monetary. I regard writing as my calling, one that cannot be ignored, an inner flame that cannot be quenched. But unless you are absolutely driven to write and to write your best possible work, you should stay safely sane and stick to the next best occupation: reading!
Keep reading, and for some of you, keep on writing.
MRTighe
First, writers don't make much money, if any. Such dreams are sheer fantasy for all but a tiny handful of writers. Most writers are complete unknowns. So much for fame and fortune!
And for all the non-rewards we receive we are forced to suffer the slings and arrows of disgruntled readers, unappreciative editors, and unimpressed reviewers. All writers ( without exception ) will experience some form of rejection: from publishers, from indifferent readers, and from the constant struggle to promote our books.
Why would any sane person subject himself / herself to this abuse?
The answer seems to be that writers write because we must! We have no choice in the matter. It's either write or be driven insane by the voices in our heads. In fact, our characters are sometimes referred to as "the little people in our heads."
Well, my people aren't little, and I don't think they are confined solely to my head. But I understand completely what other writers mean by this. My characters seem to perpetually lurk over my shoulder, frequently telling me in no uncertain terms what they want to say and do next. From time to time I err and seem to hear them saying, "No, no, no! That's not me! I would never say or do that!"
Writers of fiction, especially, must live in a reality that isn't real. We must create worlds that have never been, invent characters who have never lived, yet feel "real." We must envision scenarios that most likely will never happen. Are we truly crazy?
Maybe so, but on the upside, writing can be fun; it's challenging and rewarding in ways other than monetary. I regard writing as my calling, one that cannot be ignored, an inner flame that cannot be quenched. But unless you are absolutely driven to write and to write your best possible work, you should stay safely sane and stick to the next best occupation: reading!
Keep reading, and for some of you, keep on writing.
MRTighe
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Galaxy Rand and Tin Man
Here's a little something for fans of my latest novel and first space opera, Galaxy Rand. This is early on in the book, shortly after Galaxy stumbles across a discarded robot, whom she nicknames Blackie or Tin Man:
On the opposite side of the alleyway, Blackie charged into a tall stack of drums, as if he'd gone berserk. He bent down, lifted a full drum over his head, as easily as if the damn thing'd been empty! He tossed it down the alley. I heard one yelp, which was cut short, then nothing but silence, except for the incinerator's roar.
The bot turned in place and stood staring at me, for all the Cosmos as if he were waiting for my instructions.
Ignoring him, I scrambled to my feet and went to check out the damage. As usual, my aim had been perfect: The guy I'd smoked was good and dead. He lay face-down in a pool of the sticky green stuff, long past IDing. Farther down the alley, I found a limp blood-covered hand sticking up between two drums full of toxins.
"Dead?" I asked, casting a glance over my shoulder at the bot.
"Most regrettably, he was crushed to death." He made an odd sound, way too close to a human sigh.
Shrugged off both deaths and holstered my blaster. "Out here on Milo's Planet, pal, it's either kill first or get killed," I told the bot. Something else struck me as mighty odd. "But I thought all bots were programmed not to kill humans. Isn't there some kinda law about it? Didn't some guy named Ass-something-or-other invent it one helluva long time ago?"
The bot gave me a blank stare. I couldn't begin to read those crystal lenses of his. "I am certain Doctor Asimov would indeed be grateful that you remembered the fact; however, I assure you, Rand, I had no intention whatsoever of killing this scoundrel. He was about to open fire upon you, thus forcing me to act in order to prevent you from being killed or injured."
I bristled. "Listen up, pal! I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I sure as hell don't need you, or anybody else, to protect me. Understood?" He didn't answer.
copyright@ 2014
That's all for now. Hope you enjoyed. I'm back to working on my first prequel to the Tartarus Trilogy.
Keep on reading and keep on writing!
MRTighe
On the opposite side of the alleyway, Blackie charged into a tall stack of drums, as if he'd gone berserk. He bent down, lifted a full drum over his head, as easily as if the damn thing'd been empty! He tossed it down the alley. I heard one yelp, which was cut short, then nothing but silence, except for the incinerator's roar.
The bot turned in place and stood staring at me, for all the Cosmos as if he were waiting for my instructions.
Ignoring him, I scrambled to my feet and went to check out the damage. As usual, my aim had been perfect: The guy I'd smoked was good and dead. He lay face-down in a pool of the sticky green stuff, long past IDing. Farther down the alley, I found a limp blood-covered hand sticking up between two drums full of toxins.
"Dead?" I asked, casting a glance over my shoulder at the bot.
"Most regrettably, he was crushed to death." He made an odd sound, way too close to a human sigh.
Shrugged off both deaths and holstered my blaster. "Out here on Milo's Planet, pal, it's either kill first or get killed," I told the bot. Something else struck me as mighty odd. "But I thought all bots were programmed not to kill humans. Isn't there some kinda law about it? Didn't some guy named Ass-something-or-other invent it one helluva long time ago?"
The bot gave me a blank stare. I couldn't begin to read those crystal lenses of his. "I am certain Doctor Asimov would indeed be grateful that you remembered the fact; however, I assure you, Rand, I had no intention whatsoever of killing this scoundrel. He was about to open fire upon you, thus forcing me to act in order to prevent you from being killed or injured."
I bristled. "Listen up, pal! I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself. I sure as hell don't need you, or anybody else, to protect me. Understood?" He didn't answer.
copyright@ 2014
That's all for now. Hope you enjoyed. I'm back to working on my first prequel to the Tartarus Trilogy.
Keep on reading and keep on writing!
MRTighe
Saturday, August 16, 2014
Annoying Things You Should Never Say to an Author
Though authors love to meet readers, sign their books, and have a nice chat, there are a few subjects we wish never to hear again:
#1---"I've always wanted to write a book!" ( What the author hears: If you can write a book, anybody can. It must be easy! )
#2---Worse yet, #1 is often followed by a long, detailed description of the plot of the book he or she wishes to write!
#3---"What is your book about?" ( In other words, this person is too damn lazy to pick up your book, read the back cover, and thumb through it. ) It's impossible for any author to explain the entire plot of their book in a minute or two!
#4---"You write science fiction? Oh, you mean like Star Wars?" ( Arrgh! There's a whole universe to SF besides Star Wars, which is actually space opera. ) This tells the author you know next to nothing about the genre.
#5---"Hasn't that idea already been done?" ( Again, Arrgh! My book may sound somewhat familiar to you, but I assure you it is unique. )
#6---"Is this one of those never-ending series?" ( No, but series exist only because they have fans who never tire of reading them. Obviously, you are not one of those fans. )
#7--"Who would you cast to play your characters in a movie?" ( Cart-before-the-horse much? ) I wrote a book, not a movie script!
So, if you stop by for a pleasant chat with an author, particularly if you aren't familiar with his/her work, be careful what you say.
That's it for now; keep on reading and never stop writing!
M.R. Tighe
#1---"I've always wanted to write a book!" ( What the author hears: If you can write a book, anybody can. It must be easy! )
#2---Worse yet, #1 is often followed by a long, detailed description of the plot of the book he or she wishes to write!
#3---"What is your book about?" ( In other words, this person is too damn lazy to pick up your book, read the back cover, and thumb through it. ) It's impossible for any author to explain the entire plot of their book in a minute or two!
#4---"You write science fiction? Oh, you mean like Star Wars?" ( Arrgh! There's a whole universe to SF besides Star Wars, which is actually space opera. ) This tells the author you know next to nothing about the genre.
#5---"Hasn't that idea already been done?" ( Again, Arrgh! My book may sound somewhat familiar to you, but I assure you it is unique. )
#6---"Is this one of those never-ending series?" ( No, but series exist only because they have fans who never tire of reading them. Obviously, you are not one of those fans. )
#7--"Who would you cast to play your characters in a movie?" ( Cart-before-the-horse much? ) I wrote a book, not a movie script!
So, if you stop by for a pleasant chat with an author, particularly if you aren't familiar with his/her work, be careful what you say.
That's it for now; keep on reading and never stop writing!
M.R. Tighe
Sunday, August 3, 2014
What A Night It Was!
The 2014 New England Authors Expo was held July 30th. Hubby and I arrived at the Danversport Yacht Club around 1 pm. We picked out the best spot we could find in the ballroom and set up our table. It's getting trickier, since I now have had four books published: The Tartarus Trilogy ( Judgment on Tartarus, True Son of Tartarus, and Ransom of Tartarus ) and my latest novel Galaxy Rand.
Many of the authors, publishers, and illustrators were there for the first time. We tried to help them learn the ropes and hope we gave some good advice.When the expo opened to the public at 4 pm, things got off to a rather slow start, giving me the chance to step out onto the balcony and admire the beautiful view of the port. The weather was just about perfect. The sun was shining, all the little boats were docked nearby, flags were flying in the breeze, and the landscaping was lovely.
Around 6 pm things picked up rapidly. The authors who had got to know each other began networking like crazy. Visitors were streaming in. I sold, signed, and swapped a good number of my books. Luckily, we had brought with us the framed original watercolor that my daughter had painted to grace the cover of Galaxy Rand. It drew a lot of attention and was a great hit.
I was asked to pose for several photos, including a group photo to be published in an upcoming issue of Best of Boston Magazine! The last hour or so of the expo was a whirlwind of activity. I did a surprise video interview ( my second now! ), but by that time I was too tired to even be nervous. We found out about a local Comic Con to be held in Dec. at the Shriners Auditorium, and of course we agreed to sign up for a booth there. We spent what was left of the evening catching up with some old friends and promising to keep in touch with new ones.
After packing up what was left of our books, we headed for home, exhausted but elated. What an adventure! It was such fun that I can hardly wait to do it again.
In the meantime, keep on reading and keep writing, my friends!
MRTighe
Many of the authors, publishers, and illustrators were there for the first time. We tried to help them learn the ropes and hope we gave some good advice.When the expo opened to the public at 4 pm, things got off to a rather slow start, giving me the chance to step out onto the balcony and admire the beautiful view of the port. The weather was just about perfect. The sun was shining, all the little boats were docked nearby, flags were flying in the breeze, and the landscaping was lovely.
Around 6 pm things picked up rapidly. The authors who had got to know each other began networking like crazy. Visitors were streaming in. I sold, signed, and swapped a good number of my books. Luckily, we had brought with us the framed original watercolor that my daughter had painted to grace the cover of Galaxy Rand. It drew a lot of attention and was a great hit.
I was asked to pose for several photos, including a group photo to be published in an upcoming issue of Best of Boston Magazine! The last hour or so of the expo was a whirlwind of activity. I did a surprise video interview ( my second now! ), but by that time I was too tired to even be nervous. We found out about a local Comic Con to be held in Dec. at the Shriners Auditorium, and of course we agreed to sign up for a booth there. We spent what was left of the evening catching up with some old friends and promising to keep in touch with new ones.
After packing up what was left of our books, we headed for home, exhausted but elated. What an adventure! It was such fun that I can hardly wait to do it again.
In the meantime, keep on reading and keep writing, my friends!
MRTighe
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