Hello to you all wonderful, beautiful people!
April... The month of the April's Fool. Ah, the pranks one can play, the silliness, the laughter, the utter nonsense of it all. Yet, some can argue there is sense in this madness. Can you prove this right? All I know is that when I was at school, teachers would end up with a very silly paper fish stuck to their backs, or they would have very white butts because they sat down on the chair where we had smeared all the chalk from the blackboard (I know, the good ol' days... sigh).
So, back to the topic at hand: What do we have in store for you this month?
Well, we are trying to make sense.
That doesn't make sense to you? Fear not, it will shortly! For, you see, this month, our topic at the Royal Blush Authors' blog is - drum roll and djembe beats -
Logic!
Yes, we will bring the topic of sense to the whole business of writing a novel and in the same go appeal to your sensibility as writer.
Many fail to realise how logic is at the very base of writing. If the story doesn't make sense, well, you don't have much of a story, do you?
Logic in the setting, in the characterisation, in the plot arc, in the narrative progression; even logic in naming your characters.
All of these are the very foundation of your story and of the craft of writing.
Catch us this month as we bring you more about how to place logic in your work. Every week, T.J. and Aasiyah/Nolwynn will cover an aspect of logic - the first with a technical and theoretical basis for the topic, the second with practical application and explanations of the concept.
Our regular RBA contributors - Sandra Marshall, Angela Guillaume, and Diana Castilleja - will also be piping their input in, and this will surely be funny and worth checking out. Unfortunately, Chiron O'Keefe won't be able to add her quip this month.
This week, Sandra will tell us what she has grasped about logic in the action-reaction realm.
Anyone familar with Pinkie and The Brain? *wink* We'll strive for such a tone throughout the month, so buckle up for a wild ride!
This April, we at RBA are interconnecting all the synapses of our cerebral cortex, hypothalamus and right and left brain hemispheres.
This April, we're on the quest:
Searching for the logic that actually makes sense...
The best of us for the best of you, that's our promise as we deliver the full flush of romance.
From now till later, enjoy!
With love, from Ms. Blush
Showing posts with label Chiron O'Keefe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chiron O'Keefe. Show all posts
Monday, March 30, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Which Desperate Housewife Are You?
What do the movies Bridget Jones' Diary and When Harry Met Sally have in common?
Both feature heroines based on one of the Eight Female Archetypes. In this case, The Spunky Kid.
Carl Jung referred to archetypes as a "preconscious psychic disposition". Basically, this suggests that on an unconscious level we recognize these character types, and this recognition resonates within to a great degree. We are drawn to these characters and feel a kinship with them.
Tami Cowden wrote a book geared to writers, focusing on how these images generating from our collective unconscious continually occur in our myths, legends and stories, transcending time and space.
For readers and writers alike, tuning into these archetypes lends richness to our lives, helps us to get in touch with our own personality inclinations and provides a thoroughly entertaining escape through books, television and movies. For the most part, we rarely realize why it is certain characters stand out or quickly become our favorites. Utilizing archetypes is one canny method for engaging a reader or cultivating an audience of fans.
In an ongoing television show, a single archetype can quickly turn to stereotype. We lose interest because the character no longer seems real. One way to avoid this is to add layers. Think of it as a spice. One may not be enough but too many and you overwhelm your dish! Most 'layered archetypes' stick with blending two or at the most three vibrant personalities. Usually one archetype will dominate with the other providing an inner core. Like a yummy cake with a delicious filling.
Even our two movie heroines blend archetypes.
Sally's Spunky Kid is strongly supported by The Librarian, while Bridget Jones is not just Spunky, she's a classic Free Spirit. Want to know more?
Let's sneak a peek at two popular television shows and their female characters! I'm utilizing T.J.'s descriptions from her own post The Harrowing Heroine.
In Grey's Anatomy, we see some nicely layered archetypes, sure to appeal to our collective unconscious! *grin*
Miranda Bailey is a nice blend of The Boss (the "Take Charge" woman: outspoken and persuasive, confident and competitive) and The Crusader (a woman on a mission: tenacious, headstrong, courageous). She never holds back, refuses to back down, and goes head to head with the Chief of Medicine. Yet her fervent desire to create a clinic reveals her own 'woman on a mission' inner side.
In Bree Van de Kamp we have a classic Boss. Is there anyone more outspoken, confident, persuasive or competitive? When someone needs to take charge, either at a formal brunch or at her good friend's pizza parlor, Bree is a human bulldozer ready to roll over any and all objections. Bree has a touch of The Librarian too—orderly and conscientious. Her cups are numbered and her keys are labeled. Organization is her middle name. Another layer that pops up at times is The Crusader. She is fierce in defense of her family and will fight to the death to keep them safe.
Lynette Scavo has a strong core of The Crusader as well. She's tenacious, headstrong and courageous when she's 'on a mission' which is just about every week! Her arguments were powerful but when her husband begged for her to help him fulfill his dream—opening a pizza parlor—she threw herself into it with a passion. When hard times forced them to sell, persuading her husband to accept the inevitable became her new mission. Lynette also has a strong Nurturer in her nature. She strives to take care of everyone, often putting her own needs in peril. She'll pop ADD drugs to be the perfect mother or go broke paying lawyer fees for her son. Always ready to listen to her friends and provide comfort, this Nurturer is always available.
Susan Mayer is the ultimate "Damsel in Distress" and so represents The Waif. The show's creators even added a nice touch making her an author of children's books. Right from the beginning, in a hilarious episode where a naked Susan falls in a bush while getting locked out of her home, she needed to be rescued. Her inner core though adds some sunshine to the mix, as Susan can be quite the Spunky Kid.
Edie Britt portrays an archetype that fits right into Wisteria Lane: The Seductress (the "I Will Survive" woman: mysterious and manipulative, distrusting and cynical). Not only did she seduce Mike (Susan's boyfriend) she also landed Carlos, Gabby's estranged husband! They keep the shades drawn on her mysterious background but it's clear she's seen enough hard times to be out for herself. Although friendly with the others, the Seductress tends to keep female companions at arm's length. Trust involves a certain amount of vulnerability and Edie is tough as nails and determined to stay that way!
Gabrielle Solis has shades of The Seductress (she did seduce her underage gardener and plant a whopper kiss on Lynette's hubby!) yet she's not quite as hardened as Edie. There's a touch of both The Boss (don't even THINK of competing in the fashion world) and a hint of The Free Spirit (she does what she pleases and is as impulsive as they come). It's not easy to blend these archetypes, which makes Gabby harder to define, yet like Callie in Grey's Anatomy, this character goes through a range of archetypes as her character grows.
Now here's your 'Just For Fun' quiz. Which Desperate Housewife are you? *wink*
Which archetype do you most relate to? Which one do you enjoy in books, movies or television? The Spunky Kid remains one of my favorites and I personally relate to the Free Spirit. How about you? I welcome your comments!
Smiles,
Chiron O'Keefe
www.chironokeefe.blogspot.com
Both feature heroines based on one of the Eight Female Archetypes. In this case, The Spunky Kid.
Carl Jung referred to archetypes as a "preconscious psychic disposition". Basically, this suggests that on an unconscious level we recognize these character types, and this recognition resonates within to a great degree. We are drawn to these characters and feel a kinship with them.
Tami Cowden wrote a book geared to writers, focusing on how these images generating from our collective unconscious continually occur in our myths, legends and stories, transcending time and space.
For readers and writers alike, tuning into these archetypes lends richness to our lives, helps us to get in touch with our own personality inclinations and provides a thoroughly entertaining escape through books, television and movies. For the most part, we rarely realize why it is certain characters stand out or quickly become our favorites. Utilizing archetypes is one canny method for engaging a reader or cultivating an audience of fans.
In an ongoing television show, a single archetype can quickly turn to stereotype. We lose interest because the character no longer seems real. One way to avoid this is to add layers. Think of it as a spice. One may not be enough but too many and you overwhelm your dish! Most 'layered archetypes' stick with blending two or at the most three vibrant personalities. Usually one archetype will dominate with the other providing an inner core. Like a yummy cake with a delicious filling.
Even our two movie heroines blend archetypes.
Sally's Spunky Kid is strongly supported by The Librarian, while Bridget Jones is not just Spunky, she's a classic Free Spirit. Want to know more?
Let's sneak a peek at two popular television shows and their female characters! I'm utilizing T.J.'s descriptions from her own post The Harrowing Heroine.
In Grey's Anatomy, we see some nicely layered archetypes, sure to appeal to our collective unconscious! *grin*
Miranda Bailey is a nice blend of The Boss (the "Take Charge" woman: outspoken and persuasive, confident and competitive) and The Crusader (a woman on a mission: tenacious, headstrong, courageous). She never holds back, refuses to back down, and goes head to head with the Chief of Medicine. Yet her fervent desire to create a clinic reveals her own 'woman on a mission' inner side.
Kristina Yang is a classic Librarian (conscientious, orderly, bright; she leads with her brain, not her looks) yet she's driven by her inner core, The Boss. Not only does she dare to speak her mind to anyone, she's driven to be number one in her field. Intellectual and competitive.
Isobel "Izzie" Stevens blends three archetypes. Most noticeable is The Free Spirit (genuine and fun-loving, impulsive, an "original"). However it's her inner Crusader that drives her to rally her interns to save a deer. She also displays a strong Nurturer (altruistic to a fault; calm, optimistic, a listener, pleasant, takes care of everyone) who cooks cupcakes and makes breakfast. Note that her altruism led to her funding the free clinic, dream project of fellow Crusader, Miranda Bailey.
Meredith Grey started off simply as The Waif ("damsel in distress": child-like innocence, naive and docile, she endures). However, this is not a strong enough archetype to carry a show! Slowly we began to see another side emerge. The Nurturer archetype is revealed in her compassion (even for a serial killer!) and her need to collect 'strays' in the form of roommates.
Lexie Grey, now known as "Little Grey" is our Spunky Kid (spirited and loyal, reliable and supportive, more of a "tomboy"). No matter how the storm clouds rage, this ray of sunshine also sees a bright side. No wonder McSteamy couldn’t resist!
Callie Torres is less defined in that she has reflected different archetypes throughout the show's run! When married to George she definitely 'endured' although it was clear to all that Callie is much too strong to be a Waif. For now the creators are leaning towards a Free Spirit with a strong streak of Spunky Kid.
On the show, Desperate Housewives the characters practically leap off the screen!
On the show, Desperate Housewives the characters practically leap off the screen!
In Bree Van de Kamp we have a classic Boss. Is there anyone more outspoken, confident, persuasive or competitive? When someone needs to take charge, either at a formal brunch or at her good friend's pizza parlor, Bree is a human bulldozer ready to roll over any and all objections. Bree has a touch of The Librarian too—orderly and conscientious. Her cups are numbered and her keys are labeled. Organization is her middle name. Another layer that pops up at times is The Crusader. She is fierce in defense of her family and will fight to the death to keep them safe.
Lynette Scavo has a strong core of The Crusader as well. She's tenacious, headstrong and courageous when she's 'on a mission' which is just about every week! Her arguments were powerful but when her husband begged for her to help him fulfill his dream—opening a pizza parlor—she threw herself into it with a passion. When hard times forced them to sell, persuading her husband to accept the inevitable became her new mission. Lynette also has a strong Nurturer in her nature. She strives to take care of everyone, often putting her own needs in peril. She'll pop ADD drugs to be the perfect mother or go broke paying lawyer fees for her son. Always ready to listen to her friends and provide comfort, this Nurturer is always available.
Susan Mayer is the ultimate "Damsel in Distress" and so represents The Waif. The show's creators even added a nice touch making her an author of children's books. Right from the beginning, in a hilarious episode where a naked Susan falls in a bush while getting locked out of her home, she needed to be rescued. Her inner core though adds some sunshine to the mix, as Susan can be quite the Spunky Kid.
Edie Britt portrays an archetype that fits right into Wisteria Lane: The Seductress (the "I Will Survive" woman: mysterious and manipulative, distrusting and cynical). Not only did she seduce Mike (Susan's boyfriend) she also landed Carlos, Gabby's estranged husband! They keep the shades drawn on her mysterious background but it's clear she's seen enough hard times to be out for herself. Although friendly with the others, the Seductress tends to keep female companions at arm's length. Trust involves a certain amount of vulnerability and Edie is tough as nails and determined to stay that way!
Gabrielle Solis has shades of The Seductress (she did seduce her underage gardener and plant a whopper kiss on Lynette's hubby!) yet she's not quite as hardened as Edie. There's a touch of both The Boss (don't even THINK of competing in the fashion world) and a hint of The Free Spirit (she does what she pleases and is as impulsive as they come). It's not easy to blend these archetypes, which makes Gabby harder to define, yet like Callie in Grey's Anatomy, this character goes through a range of archetypes as her character grows.
Now here's your 'Just For Fun' quiz. Which Desperate Housewife are you? *wink*
Which archetype do you most relate to? Which one do you enjoy in books, movies or television? The Spunky Kid remains one of my favorites and I personally relate to the Free Spirit. How about you? I welcome your comments!
Smiles,
Chiron O'Keefe
www.chironokeefe.blogspot.com
Monday, March 23, 2009
With Love, From Ms. Blush
Hello to you all wonderful, beautiful people!
Our trip on Venus is coming to a close this week. But, not to mean that the intriguing topic of heroines is closed. Far from it!
Catch us this week as the 2 regular contributors - T.J. and Aasiyah/Nolwynn - round up their takes on the quest for the perfect heroine. What do these women have on their mind?
And, on Wednesday, we welcome another Royal Blush Author who's making her debut with us at the blog - Chiron O'Keefe. Don't miss this post - Chiron is asking you Which Desperate Housewife you happen to be? If you're tickled, tune in on Wednesday!
Friday will see another episode of the life and love of Prudence Tempest. In the arms of Malcolm, Prudence sees her fantasy shattering when her flatmate Stacey catches them in the act. What will she do? And more inportantly, how will Malcolm handle it all?
This March, we at RBA have been delving deep into our hearts and soul.
This March, we have taken you on the inner quest:
Searching for the perfect heroine...
The best of us for the best of you, that's our promise as we deliver the full flush of romance.
From now till later, enjoy!
With love, from Ms. Blush
Our trip on Venus is coming to a close this week. But, not to mean that the intriguing topic of heroines is closed. Far from it!
Catch us this week as the 2 regular contributors - T.J. and Aasiyah/Nolwynn - round up their takes on the quest for the perfect heroine. What do these women have on their mind?
And, on Wednesday, we welcome another Royal Blush Author who's making her debut with us at the blog - Chiron O'Keefe. Don't miss this post - Chiron is asking you Which Desperate Housewife you happen to be? If you're tickled, tune in on Wednesday!
Friday will see another episode of the life and love of Prudence Tempest. In the arms of Malcolm, Prudence sees her fantasy shattering when her flatmate Stacey catches them in the act. What will she do? And more inportantly, how will Malcolm handle it all?
This March, we at RBA have been delving deep into our hearts and soul.
This March, we have taken you on the inner quest:
Searching for the perfect heroine...
The best of us for the best of you, that's our promise as we deliver the full flush of romance.
From now till later, enjoy!
With love, from Ms. Blush
Monday, March 2, 2009
With Love, From Ms. Blush
Hello to you all wonderful, beautiful people!
They say men are from Mars (no wonder they're such a mystery!) and women are from Venus.
I don't know about you, but Venus brings to my mind thoughts of warmth, love, caring, and beauty. That pretty much sums up women, wouldn't you say? And all this makes women heroines.
Heroines... What would our dear heroes be without the special woman to make their hearts beat faster and who arouses their protective instinct as well as the fire in the blood?
But, is this all a heroine is about?
This will be our topic for the third month of this year. Throughout the following weeks, we'll all bring you our views and takes on this very delicate matter - Who is the modern-day heroine and what is she made of?
As usual, we'll have our regular contributors - T.J. Killian, Aasiyah/Nolwynn, Sandra Marshall, Angela Guillaume, Diana Castilleja - and this month, we bring you someone else from the Royal Blush Authors posse - Chiron O'Keefe! Chiron will be posting on the last week of March.
In the days to come, here's what we'll be treating you to:
Catch T.J. on Tuesday as she tells you what the archetypes for heroines are. Yes, there are archetypes for heroines too, just like for shaping your ultimate hero.
On Wednesday, Sandy will once again bring us her offbeat take on the topic of heroines. Believe me, this is one humorous romp you don't want to miss!
Thursday, Aasiyah/Nolwynn will take you on a trip down memory lane as she recounts a bit about heroines through time - how they evolved, and yet how they remained the same at the core.
Women writing about women...
This March, we at are RBA are delving deep into our hearts and soul.
This March, we're taking you on the inner quest:
Searching for the perfect heroine...
The best of us for the best of you, that's our promise as we deliver the full flush of romance.
From now till later, enjoy!
With love, from Ms. Blush
They say men are from Mars (no wonder they're such a mystery!) and women are from Venus.
I don't know about you, but Venus brings to my mind thoughts of warmth, love, caring, and beauty. That pretty much sums up women, wouldn't you say? And all this makes women heroines.
Heroines... What would our dear heroes be without the special woman to make their hearts beat faster and who arouses their protective instinct as well as the fire in the blood?
But, is this all a heroine is about?
This will be our topic for the third month of this year. Throughout the following weeks, we'll all bring you our views and takes on this very delicate matter - Who is the modern-day heroine and what is she made of?
As usual, we'll have our regular contributors - T.J. Killian, Aasiyah/Nolwynn, Sandra Marshall, Angela Guillaume, Diana Castilleja - and this month, we bring you someone else from the Royal Blush Authors posse - Chiron O'Keefe! Chiron will be posting on the last week of March.
In the days to come, here's what we'll be treating you to:
Catch T.J. on Tuesday as she tells you what the archetypes for heroines are. Yes, there are archetypes for heroines too, just like for shaping your ultimate hero.
On Wednesday, Sandy will once again bring us her offbeat take on the topic of heroines. Believe me, this is one humorous romp you don't want to miss!
Thursday, Aasiyah/Nolwynn will take you on a trip down memory lane as she recounts a bit about heroines through time - how they evolved, and yet how they remained the same at the core.
Women writing about women...
This March, we at are RBA are delving deep into our hearts and soul.
This March, we're taking you on the inner quest:
Searching for the perfect heroine...
The best of us for the best of you, that's our promise as we deliver the full flush of romance.
From now till later, enjoy!
With love, from Ms. Blush
Monday, January 19, 2009
With love from Ms. Blush
Hello to you all wonderful, beautiful people!
Here we are in another weeks at the Royal Blush Authors' blog. I hope you have enjoyed the content we have provided for you in the past days. We gave you a little glimpse of who and what we are.
T.J introduced us to the impact moment in backstory.
Sandra told us about her identity as a writer.
Aasiyah/Nolwynn started her topic about who you are and how to represent your unique identity in the writing world.
Friday saw the first instalment of our ongoing free read. You met Prudence Tempest and were introduced to her crazy, wacky world and the hunk who peoples all her fantasies. Not to mention her strange boss and her sticky-like-glue male colleague. What do we have in store for Prue? That'll be coming very soon.
So, this week, one of us, cheeky git that she is (Chiron, yes, that's you!!), tagged us in the ongoing Tag, You're It game running about blogs in the blogosphere. We need to tell you 6 things that makes us happy, and then we need to tag 6 more people (who will we tag???)
So, here goes - 6 things that make us happy.
Here we are in another weeks at the Royal Blush Authors' blog. I hope you have enjoyed the content we have provided for you in the past days. We gave you a little glimpse of who and what we are.
T.J introduced us to the impact moment in backstory.
Sandra told us about her identity as a writer.
Aasiyah/Nolwynn started her topic about who you are and how to represent your unique identity in the writing world.
Friday saw the first instalment of our ongoing free read. You met Prudence Tempest and were introduced to her crazy, wacky world and the hunk who peoples all her fantasies. Not to mention her strange boss and her sticky-like-glue male colleague. What do we have in store for Prue? That'll be coming very soon.
So, this week, one of us, cheeky git that she is (Chiron, yes, that's you!!), tagged us in the ongoing Tag, You're It game running about blogs in the blogosphere. We need to tell you 6 things that makes us happy, and then we need to tag 6 more people (who will we tag???)
So, here goes - 6 things that make us happy.
- Strong plots that tread off the beaten track.
- A story we can lose ourselves in.
- A delicious Alpha hero.
- Getting the call.
- Completing mss.
- Johnny Wilkinson (in case you need a reason why he makes us happy, look a few lines down. There, you get it?)
6 people we're tagging:
JMorgan, Buffi Becraft-Woodall, Bonnie Clarke, Sandra Marshall, Diana Castilleja, Kristin Lawrence
So, what do we have in store for you this week?
T.J will take you tomorrow on a small trip to find out more about the basics of writing, the ones you need to consider before even putting pen to paper.
Angela Guillaume makes her debut post for us on Wednesday. She'll be telling us more about how a writer's identity influences her characters, and how a writer's identity changes with everything she writes.
Aasiyah/Nolwynn will be back on Thursday to expand upon her first post, introducing you to the inner workings of branding in the publishing/writing world.
Join us as we continue
Searching for an identity...
The best of us for the best of you, that's our promise as we deliver the full flush of romance.
From now till later, enjoy!
With love, from Ms. Blush
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