I'm Moving my Blog

I've been intending to transfer my blog to my official website for a while now. This will make it easier for me to manage the blog, as well as make my articles and features easier to access for fans. I'll leave this blog up for now so that people can still read the past articles, but all future articles will be appearing at the following location:

My Official Website

A New Home for my Creative Writing Classes

A couple of months ago, I wrote an article announcing that because of significant life changes, I'd have to reevaluate my career as an author and creative writing instructor. in the article, I said that while I would continue to write no matter what, I would also have to change my short-term goals in order to better support my changing situation. Well, I'm very happy to announce that I've had a new opportunity present itself which I feel will help with both aspects of my life.

I was recently made a non-credited instructor for South Puget Sound Community College and will be teaching creative writing for their continuing education program. The classes will take place at their Lacey building, just a few miles north of my home in Olympia. I've been given free reign to create all of my own curriculum for the weekly, evening classes. I've got two four-week courses happening in the summer, and another two courses in the fall.

I'm so very grateful to have this new opportunity to help new writers learn their craft while at the same time do what I need to do to support my family. If you or someone you know has always wanted to learn more about creative writing, please take the time to check out my course offerings for this summer and fall. All classes are open to the public, and are designed to both educate and motivate.

My Creative Writing Courses

Ten Animal Companions You Don't See in Fantasy

From the wizard's familiar to the ranger's best friend, animal companions are a common trope in fantasy games, books, and movies. But while there are a few species that seem to get all of the love (wolves, cats, tiny dragons, etc.) there are plenty more than won't be standing nobly beside our heroes anytime soon. Here's ten of them...

1. Alligator - Could be risky if you forget to feed it, but having this thing curled around your chair at a tavern would definitely add to your intimidation factor, if nothing else.

2. Emu - I hear these things are actually quite fierce, but who could take you seriously with a big chicken following you around?

3. Koala - For some reason, Australian animals never make it into fantasy worlds, which is a shame. These guys are so cute!

4. Kangaroo - See number 3.

5. Porcupine - Can't you just see one of these perched on a wizard's shoulder? Any part of him not covered by beard or robes would have bandages on it.

6. Beta fish - I just like the idea of a ranger carrying around a fishbowl with him everywhere. "Raxis, what do your fishy senses reveal about this area?"

7. Elephant seal - Limited mobility, but trust me, you'd demand respect!

8. Humming bird - Likely to have a hyperactive personality, but all that speed has got to come in handy.

9. Armadillo - It comes with its own armor!

10. Cockroach - Useful for rogues trying to scout out a place. Definitely would add a negative charisma modifier though.


What other animals can you think of that don't show up in fantasy? Comment below!

Looking Back on My First Book Tour

After traveling more than a thousand miles through five different states to promote the latest Keltin Moore novel, my greatest reaction to the trip is a feeling of gratitude. I'm grateful to Aaron Volner for orchestrating the stops along the route. I'm grateful to the friends and family that graciously gave me a place to stay along the way. I'm grateful to the library branch managers, book store owners, and event organizers that were willing to take a chance on a largely unknown author from the Pacific Northwest. And I'm especially grateful for all of the new fans and friends that I gained while on the road.

I wonder if perhaps readers are a little spoiled in the Pacific Northwest, with so many authors and writer communities in the region. This certainly didn't seem to be the case in some of the more rural areas that I visited on the tour. More than once, I'd be chatting with someone at my signing table and they'd have a sudden realization that I was the author of the books laid out in front of us. They would get so excited! I remember one sweet new fan who bought all four of my books and then was delighted to find out that not only was I planning on signing all four, but I was personalizing each one. She was so thrilled, she had to run and tell her husband about it!

There were other folks who seemed equally uncertain about how to take me, if not quite as excited about it. One man in Salt Lake City took ten minutes deciding whether to buy The Beast Hunter. He'd pick it up, read a random page, set it down, ask a question, pick it up, read a page, etc. Eventually, he decided to buy it from me to save himself the extra cost of ordering it online and paying for shipping. 

"Great!" I said, taking one of the books and opening to the front page. "Would you like it autographed?"

He eyed me suspiciously. "Does that cost extra?"

I suppressed a smile. "Of course not."

"Well, ok then."

 "All right," I said. "Would you like it personalized?"

"Does that cost extra?"

Despite a very few exceptions, everyone that I met was friendly and enthusiastic to have me among them. While attendance at most events was modest, those that came were always excited to be there, and that's what counts. One bookstore owner in Rock Springs went so far as to give me one of her handmade window displays "to remember them by". I'll certainly remember all of the wonderful people I met on the road, and I look forward to doing another book tour in the future. 

Hello from the Road!

I'm currently in Wyoming taking part in my first book tour, and thus far it's been an exciting and exhausting experience (nice alliteration, eh?) I've done a couple of events so far, one in Salt Lake City and another in Rawlins, Wyoming. While attendance at my events has been somewhat sparse, book sales are fairly strong, and I've met some great people along the way.

I'm especially grateful to the friends and family that have generously invited me into their homes along the route, which has cut down on expenses and helped to dull the pain of being separated from my family back home. I'm especially grateful to fellow fantasy author Aaron Volner, who not only orchestrated this trip but has also been doing the lion's share of playing host to a wandering book writer.

Later today, I'll do a reading and sign books at the Book Barn in Rock Springs, and tomorrow I'll be doing more of the same at WyoCon, I'll also be giving a new, fun presentation on how to hunt and kill monsters. I'm looking forward to both events, but I have to admit that my most anticipated stop will be the last one. After all, there's no place like home. :)

Pictures from the "Into the North" Launch Party

This way to the party!

Our "Welcome" sign was drawn by Maura Moffat, cover artist for "Into the North"

Books!

The real reason everyone came...

Big thanks to Brenda and the rest of the Tumwater Timberland Library!

"Thank you everyone!"

Story time.

Look at that crowd!

Trying to remember how to spell my name.

Connecting with an adorable fan.

My Interview with Connie J. Jasperson

Earlier this week I was invited to do an interview with fellow fantasy author and good friend Connie J. Jasperson about my latest book. Click the link below to check out the full interview: 

Interview with Connie

You can also meet Connie and hear more about her stories at tomorrow's online launch party, along with four other great guest authors that will be attending. 

Online Launch Party

My Fake Interview with Myself

ME: Today, I’m interviewing fantasy author Lindsay Schopfer about his latest book, Into the North. Lindsay, thanks for joining me today.

LINDSAY: Thanks for having me.

ME: Let’s get started. So, your book is called Into the North. Can we assume that it’s an account of Scott’s Discovery Expedition to the North Pole?

LINDSAY: Actually, it’s a steampunk fantasy novel about a professional monster hunter.

ME: But there aren’t any monsters at the north pole, unless you count polar bears.

LINDSAY: It doesn’t take place on Earth.

ME: You don’t have people hunting polar bears in your book, do you?

LINDSAY: It doesn’t take place on Earth.

ME: It seems to me that you could alienate a lot of readers if you were killing polar bears all the time in your book.

LINDSAY: It doesn’t take place on Earth.

ME: Let’s move on. So, is this book a sequel?

LINDSAY: Yes. It’s the second book in the Keltin Moore series of adventure novels.

ME: And what was the first book?

LINDSAY: The Beast Hunter.

ME: Right. That’s the one with the guy who can talk with animals, right?

LINDSAY: No, that’s The Beastmaster.

ME: I honestly don’t remember anything about that show, except that he always seemed to have a ferret in his pocket.

LINDSAY: I have no idea what you’re talking about.

ME: Let’s move on. So how does your book end?

LINDSAY: Excuse me?

ME: I want to know how your book ends, in case I want to borrow it from someone.

LINDSAY: I don’t really want to give away the ending.

ME: That’s up to you, but I think you’re losing a lot of potential readers that way. Anyway, let’s wrap this up. Is there anything more you’d like to say about your new book?

LINDSAY: Well, I’ve got a book launch party this coming-

ME: Sorry, that’s all we have time for.

LINDSAY: But it’s a written interview.

ME: Thanks for joining me, Lindsay. I’m sure that all of your fans are looking forward to another book from you sometime next month.

List of Stops for my April Book Tour

Here is a complete list of all the stops I'll be making to celebrate the release of "Into the North".

Location: Tumwater, Washington
Venue: Tumwater Timberland Library
Date: April 11
Time: 6:00-7:30 pm PDT
Details: This is the novel's official launch party. There will be a reading, prize drawings, book signings, and yummy goodies.
Click here for the event page

Location: Online, Facebook
Venue: Facebook event page
Date: April 15
Time: 4:00-7:00 pm PDT
Details: This is the online launch party and will feature five guest authors of fantasy and science fiction. Each author will have half an hour for giveaways, games, and a chance to talk about their stories.
Click here for the event page

Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Venue: Weller Book Works
Date: April 24
Time: 6:30-8:00 pm MDT
Details: Reading and book signing.
Click here for the event page

Location: Rawlins, Wyoming 
Venue: Carbon County Library System
Date: April 27
Time: 4:00-7:30 pm MDT
Details: I'll be teaching two workshops at the library as well as signing copies of my books. From 4-5 I'll be giving my "Making the Most of Your Writing Time" presentation, and then from 5:30-7 I'll teach a workshop on "Creating Original Worlds".
Click here for the event page

Location: Rock Springs, Wyoming
Venue: Book Barn
Date: April 28
Time: TBA
Details: Book signing event.
No event page

Location: Rock Springs, Wyoming
Venue: WyoCon at the White Mountain Library
Date: April 29
Time: 12:00-5:00 pm MDT
Details: In addition to selling books and socializing, I'll be giving a brand new presentation called "Hunting Monsters with Steampunk Tech". It'll be a fun combination of real hunting techniques combined with fanciful creatures and is designed purely for entertainment purposes. :)
Click here for the event page


I want to thank Aaron Volner for putting this tour together for me. To learn more about him and his own upcoming fantasy titles, you can check out his blog at the link below:

Aaron's Author Blog

The Official "Into the North" Blurb

Here's the summary for my latest book as it will appear on the back cover:

Professional beast hunter Keltin Moore is returning home a changed man. With a new apprentice and a lifetime of experience gained in faraway Krendaria, he prepares to settle into his old life of being a small town hero. But when gold is discovered in the far north, Keltin must again leave his home in order to protect the prospectors from the beasts ravaging the gold fields. Arriving in the boom town of Lost Trap, Keltin soon discovers that there are dangers beyond beasts in the frozen north.  A local gang has established themselves as the resident Hunters Guild and will not tolerate any competition. Meanwhile, a specter haunts the gold fields. A legendary creature known as the Ghost of Lost Trap stalks the snowy countryside, testing Keltin and his friends to their very limits as they try to hunt their most dangerous beast yet.

If you'd like to help celebrate the launch of this book with me, check out the two event pages below. 

For those who are in the South Puget Sound area:

Launch Party at the Tumwater Timberland Library

For everyone else:

Online Facebook Launch Party

Updates on “Into the North” for March 16

The Beta Read is Over

This was by far my most exciting beta read yet. With a record-number of readers and the most feedback I’ve ever received on a novel, I feel more confident than ever that fans of Keltin Moore will be happy with this new installment in the series.

New Cover

Cover artist Maura Moffat has returned to do the cover for my latest novel and I couldn’t be happier with the end result. Just this last week, her new artwork went live for both the print and e-book version of “The Beast Hunter” so be sure to check that out as well.

Two Launch Parties

There are two options for fans who want to help celebrate the launch of “Into the North”. First, for those who live in the South Puget Sound region, the Tumwater Timberland Library has agreed to host a special book signing and reading event on April 11. For those who are not local, there will be an online Facebook party on April 15. I’m very excited to announce that we’ll have some terrific sci-fi and fantasy guest authors at this event, so be sure to check back often to see who will be making an appearance. Click the links below to check out the event pages for each party.

Launch Party at the Tumwater Timberland Library

Online Facebook Launch Party

The Book Tour

We have a confirmed stop in Salt Lake City several more in Wyoming. While we had hoped for more stops, at this point, we’re not giving up hope, with several more potential venues along the way. Fingers crossed!

My Life is Going to Change

I don't usually divulge personal information in my blog, as I prefer to keep my life outside of writing private. But in the last few weeks, there have been developments that will affect all aspects of my life, including my writing, so I thought I'd talk a little about them here.

My wife and I have been trying to have children for years now, and were recently blessed with the news that not only is she pregnant, but we're having twins. It's hard to describe all of my feelings right now. Excited. Humbled. Terrified. I'm still struggling to process the emotions fighting for dominance within me as I consider what the future will be.

One thing is clear. I will need to increase my efforts to provide for my growing family. At this point, I'm still not sure what that change will specifically look like. Most likely, I'll have to get an additional job that may or may not be related to the world of writing.

Regardless, my wife and I have agreed that I will continue to write, though the time dedicated to my craft may be limited. My hope is that book sales, speaker fees, and my online courses will one day allow me to focus exclusively on my passions while working, but I accept that -in the short-term at least- I will need to act responsibly for the welfare of those that I care about the most.

As a final note, I want to assure my fans that the book tour will still happen, and the release of Into the North will continue as planned.


My Books on Amazon

My Creative Writing Courses

My Patreon Account

Updates on "Into the North" for March 3

As last week's 'blog article' suggested, I've been working hard to get Into the North ready for its April release. I'm glad to say that I've managed to stick to my revised schedule, and it looks like everything will ultimately fall into place. Here are some of the coolest developments for the upcoming release...

The beta Read has Begun

Last Monday, I finished the third draft of the manuscript and sent it to my team of test readers for review. While they're working on a pretty tight schedule, the initial feedback I've received has been positive, and I look forward to getting their in-depth responses soon.

The Cover is Coming Along

I've been working with a new artist to create a cover that is evocative and visually exciting. We've already created a new cover for The Beast Hunter to create a unique brand for the series, so keep your eyes open for that. If you'd like to get a sneak peak of the new cover for Beast Hunter, you can see it at the Lindsay Schopfer Art Page.

Launch Party Planning

I'll be returning to the Tumwater Timberland library for the launch party of Into the North. The party is set for Tuesday, April 11, at 6pm. There will also be an online launch party held on Facebook, but we're still working out the details for that.

The Book Tour

We're still working out the stops for the trip. While finding book stores and libraries willing to take a chance on an unknown author has been tough, we do have stops in three states planned already, with high hopes for additional stops that are still in the works. I'll be sure to post my travel schedule as soon as I know what it is.


I want to thank all of my fans for their support and patience as I prepare for this milestone in my writing career. I can't wait to share this new story with you all!

[Insert Blog Article Here]

Note to self: Write clever, witty, and deeply insightful blog article while also trying to make the deadline for my upcoming fourth novel.

Video Games with Great Writing

I'll often talk about the stories in video games, but sometimes a great story can be marred by long, boring exposition dumps or awkwardly translated dialogue. On the other hand, there are games that have cliched plots but are saved by excellent writing. With that in mind, here's a list of some of my favorite games with great writing. Just to be clear, we're only dealing with actual words that were written for the game, including dialogue, cut-scenes, journal entries, item descriptions, and flavor text.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

I've already written a review of the storyline in the first Uncharted game, but the second installment is by far my favorite (having not played the 4th one yet) and one of the biggest reasons is the superb writing. The character dialogue is alternately snarky, sweet, or menacing in both the cut-scenes and during gameplay, and I always play with a smile on my face as I enjoy this robust adventure. I should also mention that this game has the best ending of any game I've played, mainly because of the terrific banter after the climax.

Skies of Arcadia

This is another game that I'll play over and over again. Despite it being an older Japanese RPG, the translation of this steampunk sky-pirate adventure is top-notch. Even without voice acting, every character is distinct and interesting. One of my favorite things to do is to recruit my crew and then regularly go to each crew member and get their reactions to what is happening in the main plot. The villains are also varied and interesting, and are lovably despicable in their own way. This is a great game!

The Pandora Directive

The best in the Tex Murphy series of digital capture adventure games, this noir/sci-fi game has amazing writing. All of the item and setting descriptions are narrated by Murphy, a kind of vulnerable Humphrey Bogart character with a wry sense of humor. Depending on how you play the game, the writing will either lean towards a dark, despondent tone or a bright, optimistic one. Whatever your preference, you can be sure that the writing will reflect it in a deliciously immersive way.

Final Fantasy 12

This is my favorite Final Fantasy game, and one of the major factors for that is the writing. While I'll admit that I'll often end up skipping the one-sentence comments from random townspeople after a few hours, that's mainly because I'll get overwhelmed trying to hear what every citizen in every town has to say about the advancing plot. What sets the writing in this game apart is its slightly exotic voice. Every creature you encounter has a lengthy description you can unlock as you slay more of them, all written with an in-universe tone that is equal parts compelling and fascinating.

Wizardry 8

I went back and forth about including this game on the list, as I was worried I would be biased towards this game as I just started playing it again. What convinced me to mention it was last night's gaming session after I realized that I had spent several hours in conversation with a variety of characters and hadn't skipped a single line of dialogue. My favorite writing in this game are the playable character reactions. Despite this being a "build-your-party" game, the voice-sets you can choose for your characters are more than just "My weapon doesn't work!" exclamations. Depending on the personality and voice you choose, you hear all kinds of colorful comments from your team as they talk together throughout the epic storyline.


Thanks to Randall from my Guild of Adventurers for suggesting this week's subject.

Fantasy Authors That Go Their Own Way

I'll often advise writers to avoid reading stories that are too close to their own work. While this may conflict with the advice of many industry professionals, I firmly believe that if a writer wants to have a unique voice, then they need to draw upon a variety of influences when crafting their stories. With that in mind, here are a few fantasy authors that I feel have something unique to the way they tell a story, with some ideas of where they might have gotten these influences.

Brian Jacques

Who would have thought that a story of mice and rats wielding swords would result in a beloved franchise with over twenty-two novels? While Jacques' Redwall series is definitely formulaic, they have a distinct flavor all their own, and I happily return to Redwall Abbey on a regular basis. Besides being an author, some of Jacques' other careers included merchant seaman, railway fireman, longshoreman, police officer, boxer, bus driver, and stand-up comic. Do you think he might have had some unique life experiences to add to his work?

Jane Yolen

The best book I ever found at the library  was Dragon's Blood, a tale of a young man training a dragon to fight in gladiatorial games. While the sci-fi setting with an emphasis on dragons may resemble Anne McCaffrey's Pern series, Yolan's Pit Dragon series focused on the dusty, dirty world of caring for such large animals, rather than the glamorous image of dragons in flight, etc. Perhaps this was what drew me to her stories. When I was in the Boy Scouts I spent part of one summer getting my horsemanship merit badge, which, unlike the riding merit badge, consisted mainly of caring for my assigned horse rather than riding him. Each day I had to feed him, clean his hooves, brush him down, and most importantly, muck out his stall. I think anyone who has had a similar experience and then reads the Pit Dragon series will recognize that Yolen clearly drew on some life experience as she imagined what caring for a dragon would really be like.

Shirley Rousseau Murphy

For years, I had a vague recollection of another dragon novel I found in the library. It was you typical rags-to-"a boy and his dragon" tale, but what set apart Nightpool was the world that the main character inhabited. With a displaced prince taken in by a colony of talking otters, the CS Lewis fan will likely see the many comparisons to Prince Caspian to be made here. But Murphy doesn't just touch on the otter colony as two-thirds of the novel focus on the politics, morals, and mystery of their society. In many ways, the first novel of the Dragonbards Trilogy feels more like Island of the Blue Dolphins than a fantasy novel, which gives it a unique, ocean-flavored mystical quality.

Freda Warrington

I found Freda Warrington's first fantasy novel, A Blackbird in Silver, in a little used-book shop near Long Beach, WA. How an obscure fantasy novel published in the UK ever found its way all the way around the world has always fascinated me. The story itself is an epic fantasy with a quest to slay a serpent that's destroying the world. Fairly common fair. But Warrington wrote with an intensity of character and a depth of emotion that was uncommon in fantasy writing. Her long list of influences (including CS Lewis, Tolkien, Tanith Lee, Michael Moorcock, Joy Chant, Ursula LeGuin, Anne McCaffrey, and JS Lefanu) meant that she wouldn't be too heavily influenced by a single source as she explored the emotional impact of a heroic quest and a world facing its end.


As a final note, I wanted to mention an interesting coincidence that I noticed while creating this short list. With the exception of the works of Brian Jacques, each book I mentioned by the above authors were followed at some point by drastically inferior sequels. I would hypothesize that this is a sign of those authors failing to maintain their unique voice, something that Jacques managed to do for his entire writing career.

Thanks to Aaron from my Guild of Adventurers for suggesting this week's subject.

Quick Update on the Book Tour

We're just a few months away from my first five-state book tour, and while I may not have as many stops planned as I might have hoped, we're moving forward and making progress. The most exciting development is a bookstore in Salt Lake City that is currently working with my tour organizer to not only schedule a book signing at their store but to also begin stocking my books on its shelves! This is very exciting for me, and I'll be sure to announce a time and place once everything is finalized so that all my Utah fans can mark their calendars.

The other update I wanted to share is that I've created a goal on my Patreon page that will help pay for the many costs that will come with this trip, including promotional materials, travel expenses, and the cost of printing and shipping all the books that I’ll need for the trip. After the trip, any future funds will go towards the expenses listed on my main Patreon page, as well as saving up for the next book tour.

My Patreon Page

Where do Story Ideas Come From?

I’ve been a storyteller for as long as I can remember. My mom tells me that I told my first story at age three, and I’ve found a story that I wrote in first grade about a horse that saves a cowboy from an angry bull. I’ve been writing fairly consistently since then, whether it was novels, short stories, plays, or even screenplays. The point is that I can’t really remember a time when I wasn’t writing, and sometimes I forget some of the things I might take for granted that non-writers may not understand.

Ideas for stories is definitely one of those things. Usually, when I’m asked where I get my ideas for stories, I list what I consider to be some of my influences. I’ll mention particular authors, movies, and video games that I feel have helped shape the way I craft a story. I may even mention some life experiences that I’ve had that show up in various forms in my work. But everybody has some form of entertainment that they enjoy, and everyone (yes everyone!) has had life experiences that would entertain, fascinate, and inspire others. So what sets writers apart? Just where do all of those story ideas come from? I can only really answer this for myself, but I suspect that my experience is not unique.

I’m a daydreamer, which is a kind way of saying that I have trouble focusing. I’m easily bored with reality and regularly imagine myself taking part in situations and adventures far more interesting than my mundane surroundings. As a child and youth, this meant that I spent a lot of time by myself playing make-believe, and I never grew out of that. I still regularly retreat to my imagination to play, and that’s where most of my story ideas come from. I start by taking something that I like. A book, movie, or game that was fun but wasn’t exactly what I would have wanted it to be. Then I start taking elements of other things to add to it to make it better, and finally insert myself into the middle as the coolest, smartest, strongest hero possible.

Many of these daydreams remain just that, daydreams. They entertain me for the moment and then fade away. But some of them remain, and I build on them. As I find more things that I like, I add them to the daydream and it continues to grow. Eventually, I may have a daydream that has developed into something that sounds like it could work as a possible story. At that point, I start looking at the original idea with a critical eye and make adjustments so that it’s more accessible to other people. I change the hero slightly so that he isn’t blatantly me, giving the character his own strengths, flaws, hopes, and fears. I also give him a specific, primary conflict to solve, so that the plot can revolve around him getting from point A to the distant point B. Luckily, my daydreams are usually such a blended collage of random influences I rarely need to adjust the setting to set it apart from those sources that originally inspired it.

So that’s my best attempt at explaining where my ideas come from. For me, they’re all fantasies in my head that have slowly grown and developed to the point that I feel like I could develop them into something to share with my friends and fans. Perhaps this is why all of my stories are such personal works for me, and why I am always so happy when someone seems to genuinely connect with one of my pieces. In that moment, it’s like that lonely child playing by himself among the trees behind his house has a friend, and they’re both playing make-believe in perfect harmony. That’s why I write.


Thanks to Nicole from my Guild of Adventurers for suggesting this week’s subject.

Two New Online Homes For My Fans

Thanks to the amazing efforts of my Guild of Adventurers, there are two new places for fans of my work to interact and have fun. First, we have the Fans of Lindsay Schopfer Goodreads group page. Visitors to the group can find multiple conversation topics about my books and stories. Some of the topics you can check out include:

The Characters of The Beast Hunter

Would You Survive?

Questions for Lindsay

…and several others. You can also add your own conversation topics, as well as create polls, participate in challenges, and find similar book recommendations. All you need to participate is a free Goodreads account.

The second new online home for fans is the Lindsay Art Tumblr page. While there isn’t a lot of artwork up right now, the goal of this page is to provide a place for fan art, official artwork (covers, promotional art, etc.) and other related visuals. You can also ask questions specifically about the artwork of my stories here and even chat with some of the artists who have worked with me in the past. You do not need a Tumblr account to upload pictures or ask questions.

There’s also my Fans of Lindsay Schopfer Facebook page for those who are interested in less structured interactions. Whatever your tastes, I hope you take a moment to check out the hard work of my Guild of Adventurers and maybe even make some new friends. Have fun!

How do I Handle Character Dialogue?

Whenever I’m considering whether I’m going to buy a new novel, I’ll open to a few random pages and look for some dialogue. Generally, if I can’t find any dialogue at all, I put the book back down, as I’m not really interested in books that don’t show any social interactions. If I do find some conversations, I’ll look for warning signs of bad writing. Info-dumps, stilted dialogue, copious use of swearing… if I find any of these in abundance, I can be pretty sure that the story would not be one that I’d enjoy.

Dialogue between characters is one of the most engaging forms of storytelling we have. It’s highly effective at breaking down complex conflicts and ideas into digestible bites and gives life to an otherwise faceless cast of characters. But many writers struggle when giving voice to the people in their stories, and I’ve certainly had my share of difficulty in that regard. Still, I feel like I’ve gained a fair bit of insight as I’ve developed my dialogue-writing skills, and I’d like to share some of the more important lessons that I’ve learned.

Don’t get hung up on dialogue tags.

I’ve known many writers who obsess over finding synonyms for the word “said”. They seem convinced that the reader will toss their book away in derision if “said” is said once too often (joke intended). Perhaps it’s because I got my start by writing for the theater, but I don’t worry about dialogue tags. In a script, each line is designated by a character name and a colon afterwards. This quickly conveys the only essential information we need, namely, who is speaking. If you’re really concerned about overusing dialogue tags, you can use tricks like skipping several tags in a conversation between two people or using descriptions of body language to identify who is speaking. Just remember that the reader will likely be focusing on what a character is saying rather than the mechanics of how you identify the speaker.

People are going to sound similar.

Much like dialogue tags, some writers fixate on trying to make all their characters sound like distinct, different people. While this is a commendable goal, at some point an author needs to accept that many of his characters will sound similar, and that’s ok. Trying to make everyone feel totally different is like trying to write a plot that no-one has ever heard before, it’s amazing if you can do it, but it isn’t necessary to telling a great story. Better to focus on a few key characters and give them distinct voices and phrases to set them apart from what the average person in your story sounds like.

Not every line has to serve the main plot.

While you should definitely consider cutting or changing an entire scene that doesn’t contribute to the storyline, not every statement made by a character has to be directly tied to the hero’s journey. Sometimes the reader needs a break. Sometimes a few lines of dialogue is the ‘flavor text’ of a story, not essential, but colorful and entertaining. Funny interludes, character studies, and brief heart-to-hearts all have their place within the overarching narrative.

Avoid writing business meetings.

While dialogue is a great way to consolidate plot information and facilitate action, anyone who has been in a long business meeting knows that sometimes lots of talking can result in nothing but numb rear ends. The same is true for fictional business meetings. Any time you have a large group of characters sitting around talking about their situation for pages (I’ve even seen meetings that lasted multiple chapters!) without doing anything, you run the risk of losing your reader. Keep focused, and keep the number of conversationalists to a manageable level.

Major thanks to Derek from my Guild of Adventurers for suggesting this week's subject!

Updates to my Guild of Adventurers

Recently, I sent a survey to the members of my street team (aka my Guild of Adventurers) in an effort to improve how we do things. What follows are the newly updated details I sent to all current adventurers.

Note: If you’re not in my Guild of Adventurers but would like to join, all you need to do is sign up for my monthly newsletter and provide a link to an honest Amazon review you’ve written for one of my stories.

The Goals of the Guild

The way I see it, the Guild of Adventurers has three main purposes:

1. Increase my fan base.
2. Develop a growing community among my fans. 
3. Spread the social and promotional workload so that I can dedicate more time to writing.

I am humbled and so very grateful to know that I have fans that care enough about these goals to dedicate their time and talents to make them happen. Thank you again for your support!

What a Guild Member Does

Several adventurers said in the recent survey that they weren’t sure what they should be doing as a member of the guild. Here’s a list of some of the things that a typical guild member does:

• Like and/or +1 posts from Lindsay's author accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Google+.
• Share/re-tweet posts from Lindsay's author accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Google+.
• Comment on posts from Lindsay's author accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Google+.
• Comment on Lindsay's blog posts.
• Participate in discussions on Lindsay's fan pages on Facebook and/or Goodreads.
• Recommend one of Lindsay’s books to a friend or group.
• Request one or more of Lindsay's books at a local bookstore, library, or school.
• Recommend one of Lindsay's online writing courses to a friend or group.

A typical guild member does one or more of these types of activities at least a couple of times a month.

"I Want to Do More!"

In addition to the typical types of activities listed above, there are plenty of ways for guild members to take their volunteering one step further. Here are some ideas:

• Approach a bookstore/library/school/writing group about an author appearance from Lindsay.
• Be an admin and/or moderator for a Lindsay Schopfer fan page on a social media platform. (examples include Facebook, Goodreads, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.)
• Coordinate/GM an online role-play for Guild members.
• Make/craft something for Lindsay's swag bag.

The Benefits of Being in the Guild

While participating in the guild is a voluntary activity, there are some benefits to being one of my adventurers. Guild members get first look at new artwork, story updates, and “behind-the-scenes” details on my work. They’re also the first to be invited to participate in beta reads and fan surveys. Guild members will receive a monthly newsletter featuring Guild-specific news and updates. All adventurers will also be invited to a monthly, online video hangout where we can all chat together and build friendships and community. For those who are interested, there will also be a monthly online game hosted by a guild member.

In addition to these universal benefits, there will be a special “goody bag” for those guild members that go above and beyond on a given month. Examples of these sort of adventurers include group moderators, blog writers that feature a guest blog from me, crafters and artists that donate their work, and those special folks who set up author appearances for me. These adventurers will receive special mention in the monthly Guild newsletter and will be invited to pick something from the goody bag.

For Those Who Feel Overwhelmed

Several people answered in the survey that they felt like they didn’t have time to participate in the guild. First off, it doesn’t take much to be helpful. Every time you like/comment/share on a post or blog article, online algorithms show those items to more of my fans. This is true of both social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) and search engines (Google, Bing, etc.) So, a minute or two to read the post or blog and two seconds to respond to it. Like I said, it doesn’t take much to be helpful.

If this still seems like too much work, then the Guild probably isn’t for you. I’d recommend joining one of my online fan groups instead. You’ll still get regular updates on what’s going on with me from those guild members serving as moderators and admins, and you can participate when it’s convenient for you. I don’t plan on policing the activity of guild members, but if you feel like you’re not able to be a participating guild member, then I invite you to let me know that you’d like out of the guild. I promise that I won’t take offense and that we’ll still be friends!



Again, if you’d like to join the Guild, all you have to do is sign up for my newsletter and link to an honest Amazon review that you’ve written for one of my books. We’d love to have you onboard!