Internet Links for Characterization

When I begin working on characterization, I use catalogues for photographs (various poses of the same model in different clothing and sometimes settings) plus I begin to dig into their past. Through the years I've found links that can be very helpful in creating characters and giving them names.

Below is a worsheet, I often distribute to conferees at conferences or workshops when I teach. I thought I would share it with you.

Internet Links for Characterization

Creating realistic character’s is a key to writing a good novel. Developing these individuals as fully as you can to make the three-dimensional takes work, but when they are "real" and you know their personality, values, beliefs, and characteristics. Then you can incorporate true to life actions and responses in your novels.
As I create my characters through the years, I have found a number of website links that have proven invaluable in learning more about my character—his personality, his career, his likes and dislikes and even his appearance. I have learned that a character’s name truly reflects who they are.
Below you will find a variety of links that will help you name and create intriguing characters for you upcoming novels. Use your character’s POV to answer the test questions.

http://www.kabalarians.com/index.cfm
This link gives 80,000 male and female baby names with personality traits, health issues, personal relations and business attributed to that name
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www.parenthoodweb.com/babynames.html
This site allows you to put in baby names or meanings. Research on baby names and names and personality.
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www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames/
This lists the most 10 popular names between 1880 and the present.
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http://chatterbean.com/
Provides character and personality tests
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http://www.careerexplorer.net/
This site helps you determine a career personality.
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http://similarminds.com/personality_tests.html
This site explorers aspects of characterization or personality, including romantic qualities.
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http://www.testcafe.com/
This site offers a variety of free tests on emotion, personality, motivation, relationships, IQ, and more
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http://www.dmoz.org/Science/Social_Sciences/Psychology/
This site provides many links to tests on careers, psychological and personality tests.
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http://web.tickle.com/
This site provides quizzes, fashion, hairstyles, and information for younger characters.
I find these links helpful in creating characters, and whatever you can do to make your character’s come alive the better. Save these links and use them when you’re creating new characters.

Links To Check Out Scams for Writers

Publishing is a difficult industry. Authors have a multitude of choices that are confusing and can help or hinder a full-time career in writing, if that's your goal. I've been trying to provide information on traditional, self-publishing and the smaller publishers of POD (print on demand) publishers. Many POD publishers are legitimate but for all three options, authors need to know the ups and downs of the business. None of them are perfect.

The sad part is that scammers have taken advantage of the situation. They know the eagerness of writers to be published0--some of them whose work isn't ready to see the light of day--and some who are close, and few who could sell to a traditional publisher with a good agent. But how do you know the difference.

Study, networking, asking question, and know what to ask is the answer to that question. When I was looking for an agent, I talked to fellow writers and learned the good, the bad, and the ugly. I hard names of well-qualified agents, and I began submitting. Yes, I was rejected by a number of them, but the one I really wanted I continued to pursue and she continues to be my agent today.

When you don't have a solid network, who do you turn to? That's the difficult question - but you can ask them on blogs and if you attend conferences, you often have the opportunity to hear agent panels and publishers panels which will help you make good decisions.

One method for sorting out scammers that I use and suggest others use are the two links below. They are good sources for information. Yes, I have seen an error or two on the site, but in most cases, they will warn you and tell you the truth about agents and publishers of which you need to be wary.

One that I've used for a long time is: Editors and Preditors (notice the spelling at Click here:
Click here: P&E: Literary Agents http://anotherealm.com/prededitors/pubagent.htm They take a look at agents, publishing houses, magazines, and more.

Another is: Writers Beware at http://www.sfwa.org/Beware/agents.html

This site defines agents duties, suggests questions to ask an agent and defines things to beware of. It also describes pros and cons of various kinds of publishing and things to watch out for that signals a scam publisher

Both sites are worth checking.

Connecting with Readers To Promote Your Novels

No matter what type of books you write an author's greatest need is to connect with readers. They're out there, but helping them get to know you and your books is another story. When people walk into bookstores, they usually have a goal. They're looking for "Famous Author" 's last novel or a book on how to build a shed. Readers search for books and authors they connect with. Although most authors are familiar with the many social networks available to them on the Internet, you will benefit from knowing how to network with readers.

A variety of reader communitites are available on the Internet that can introduce your books to new readers. It takes a short time to set up your profile page and then to update it occasionally. Don't try to connect with every reader's community, but find the ones that fight your genre and chose two or three.

Dana Lynn Smith, book marketing coach and author of The Savvy Book Marketers Guide to Successful Social Marketing http://www.savvybookmarketer.com/ provides a list of some of the most popular reader sites. Below is a list that you can view to see where you and your genre fit best.

I have been connected with two of these venues and have heard from readers who are connected with others. They do work to connect you to those who read your books.
Why not give it a try and start making connections.

Goodreads one of the largest social network for readers with 1.8 million members who have added more than 41 million books to their bookshelves. You can promote your books in a variety of ways. See http://www.goodreads.com/author/program for details.

LibraryThing connects you with 600,000 book lovers who have cataloged 35 million books. Registered on this stie you can promote book readings and events, participate in author chat, offer review copies, and add photos and information to your author page. See http://www.librarything.com/librarything_author for details.

AuthorsDen is one of the oldest reader connects. You can build profile pages and interact with readers.

Nothing Binding is mainly for independent publishers.

Shelfari is owned by Amazon and it’s popular with Facebook users.

Red Room at is another popular site for authors with the ability to tie in multi-media.

JacketFlap focuses on children’s and young adult books

Big Universe is devoted to children’s picture books.

Try one first and see how it works, then add another, but beware of connecting with too many network groups. You'll find your time being eaten away with connecting and no time to write.

One more article on Self-Publishing and Scams

Since I've been offering information on forms of publishing, I wanted to share this article with you. It has some very important information and will give you something to think about.

Disagreements often stem from disucssions about the way in which a book is published, and yes, traditionally published authors can get rather snobby about books that aren't "approved" by a marketing team. They feel that way for valid reason, but the attitude needs to go. Many self-published books are poorly written by writers who have no idea how to write a book. But some of the books are well written and didn't make the cut with a traditional publisher because the story didn't have a broad appeal to sell books. Niche books are more difficult to sell. Remember publishing is a business. They want to make money.

But so do self-publishers and as this article points out so well, authors who choose self-publishing need to beware. The article you'll find on the link below was written by James Watkins, an editor with a tradtional publisher but also the author of fourteen royalty-published books and three self-published books. This article makes some excellent points well worth reading.

http://jameswatkins.com/selfpublishing.htm

Just beware and do your homework. You can locate many sites that lists scam publishers, agents and publishing related businesses. Some will provide you with good service and some are out to do anything to make money.