by Karla  Locke

I asked Jared McVay the following:
How does an author stay with a character when: 1. Writing over a long period of time? 2. Writing multiple stories? 3. Writing a story (or stories) with multiple characters?

From Jared McVay
Simple: Know your characters as well as you know yourself. Allow them to have their own personalities. Just because you would or would not do something doesn't mean the character would or wouldn't - if it was in their nature.

It's kinda like being in a play or a movie and you're playing a character role. With each character, you get out of yourself and into the character and stay there whenever you're on stage or in front of the camera. When writing, and you come to a character, just get out of yourself and into the character. Piece of cake.... I can still go in and out of characters I played 30 years ago. Know each of your characters and no matter how long it takes to write your story - you'll always know how each character will act or react...

Have fun...

HOW TO END A STORY

1.  I know the story is ended when I write, the end because instinct tells me this is were to sign off. I don't plan an ending. I let the story dictate that. And I don't care for endings that I can predict.  I think each writer has to figure out for themselves when it's time to sign off, which again, should be their choice. I like my endings to sum up the story, or... lead to another book.

2.  Last line from one of my books:  In the far distance the sound of ambulances could be heard as their sirens filled the air.



3.  From, The Voyages of Joshua Slocum:  The days passed happily with me wherever my ship sailed. 

Joshua Slocum was the first American to sail around the world alone and even though he faced many crisis, he was never unhappy about what he was doing. I can relate to this story because of my sailing ventures.

From: Follow the Dream, by Heidi M. Thomas: Their applause filled the air, singing to her soul, ringing in her ears. A true story about a young woman in the 1920's who followed her dream, despite a great deal of opposition. Reminds me of my life.

In summary, I like a good story, whether told by a man or a woman, which holds my interest right up to that last line, which allows me to close the book satisfied, or, look forward to reading the sequel. 



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After two and a half years of searching and tracking down Curly Beeler and his gang, for shooting him and leaving him for dead, then raping and killing his wife and unborn child, along with stealing his stock and burning his ranch to the ground; Clay is checking out a small town before going in. Through a pair of binoculars, Clay Brentwood spots the man he's been searching for, standing in front of a cantina in a small town in southern New Mexico. Clay takes over the scene..





Pushing away from the boulder he'd been leaning against, Clay walked over and patted his horse on the neck. 

"Should I ride in and try to enlist the sheriffs help, or inquire about some men to hire to help me round up Curly and his gang, or should I go in alone.?" 

The horse gave him a knowing look.

"You're right. I should go it alone. After all it's not their fight, it's mine and mine alone. How many men did he have with him, was it nine or was it ten?"

The black stallion shook his head.

"You're right again. It was nine - nine, hardened gunslingers against just one man, me, with only surprise on my side. Think I should ride in with guns blazin', or just ride in and play it by ear?"

The big horse shook his head and pawed the ground. Clay scratched him behind the ears.

"First thing in the mornin', we'll just ride into town and see what happens."

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