You Are a Writer, but Why Do You Write?

So many authors say they couldn't live without writing.  There are others who have so many stories in their head that they have to tell them.  There are multiple other reasons why people write, but those aren't my motivations for telling a story. I write because there are issues I'm concerned about, and I put those problems into fiction format.  It is a way to be heard without browbeating people with the subject matter.

My Odyssey Mysteries series has social issues in each book.  In my first book, The Catalyst, I address the problem of rape, abuse and alcohol.  This story explains why so many rape victims do not make reports against their rapists.  It's, also, about family and secrets.

In my second novel, Addiction, the issue is alcohol addiction with a serial killer thrown into the mix.  It's the villian's story as much as the hero and heroine's. This book gives you an idea of how alcohol can affect family members. It, also, helps you to understand the struggle the alcoholic fights every day. 

The third book, The Deceived, is about gambling addictions and the extremes some groups will go to in order to stop gaming.  It shows that some factions may be as bad as what they are fighting against.  Even good people can come under the influence of cult-like groups.

Even my novella, A Fool's Fool, is about those who have the power to harass and intimidate employees in the work place.

Why do you write?

Sandra K. Marshall, author at Eirelander Publishing

http://www.eirelander-publishing.com
http://www.sandramarshallblog.blogspot.com

Compromise

Compromise is very important in life.  You might think I am talking politics, but I am not, even though it does apply to our Congress.  Smile.  For relationships to survive it is necessary to have some give and take.  No one person can have everything his/her way. 

In our stories, the heroes and heroines will think alike on some things, but will have major differences on others. They will need to discuss their disagreements, or they will not get together, and if they are already a couple they will not remain one.

Life is full of conflicts. To write a book that will hold your readers attention; use disputes you are familiar with because you will feel closer to the character.  I have always used others experiences instead of my own, but I think you can get deeper into your characters if you know how they feel.  I'm going to use this idea in my next new story.  I'll even see if I can implement some of this thought in the present romantic suspense I'm writing. 

People who can't compromise and aren't tolerant of others make great secondary characters, but they can't be the hero or the heroine.  Not unless you can show them changing in their actions and their thought process, so they can have a happy ending. 

Do you agree your characters and the people around you in real life need to find the middle ground in their lives?

Thank you for reading.

Sandra K. Marshall

http://www.eirelander-publishing.com
http://www.sandramarshallblog.blogspot.com