Writing Advice: Different Voices

The thing that I enjoy most when I’m invited for a  meet-the-author/ book talk event is when an aspiring writer asks for any writing tips. My number one advice for any writer is to make sure that your characters have different voices. No two people in real life sounds the same. As a writer, you must reflect this in your characters and in your stories.


For practice, try writing the same character dialogue (in a sentence or a question) three or four different ways, using the same basic words. Remember that your creative writing style will take shape as you develop your own unique use of commas, the apostrophe, and contraction words. And simultaneously, while practicing this particular exercise, you will become better at ensuring that your characters aren’t sounding the same. Hint: It’s important to note that the apostrophe takes place of a missing letter (or letters), especially when writing dialogue. Good luck with your current or next writing project. – Randolph Randy Camp


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True Heart

For the most part I actually do get to see the brighter side of humans, but every now and then, unfortunately, my eyes will witness the darker side of some of those around me. When I was writing the first draft of ’29 Dimes’ a few years ago I was simultaneously going through a rough emotional period in my private life whereby I had to make a major decision of whether to keep a so-called friend in my life or not. (She gave me reasons to question her true heart.) So, as I was writing ‘Vehicles’, an original song for the character ‘Teki’ in ’29 Dimes’, the lyrics just poured out of me. ‘Vehicles’ is a song about people who pretends to love and care about you only to get what they want.
Yep, we must be mindful of those we have and keep in our circle. My life changed for the better once I’d cut the ties with this so-called friend. I hope that your life is filled with goodhearted people who show you daily that they want nothing but betterment and happiness for you. It’s a wonderful feeling when you’re surrounded by people who enjoys it when you rise. And you also get a kick out of seeing them rise up as well.
Here’s the lyrics to ‘Vehicles’…
‘VEHICLES’
You pick me up…take me around
You use me up when you’re feelin’ down
Just like vehicles goin’ around and around
Just like vehicles in my town
You only need me when you’re down
Next time when you’re passin’ by
I’ll remember you…and the smile and the lie
‘Cause you’re just another vehicle goin’ by and by
Yeah, just another vehicle goin’ by and by
You hold me… You kiss me
You give me a ride
Maybe some day…maybe some way
We may collide.
– Randolph Randy Camp (from the novel ’29 Dimes: A Love Story’)
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Randolph Randy Camp

A Video Presentation of Contemporary Author Randolph Randy Camp

Coping With Rejection

If you’re an aspiring writer you must believe in yourself. If you receive a rejection letter simply turn it over and use the backside as scrap paper and continue writing. – Randolph Randy Camp


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My First Love

Writers usually live somewhat boring lives so I'm always puzzled when readers are interested in my private life. Recently, I'd received a few letters asking me if there was anyone special in my life. I've never been one to kiss n' tell but I will spill the beans about my very first love. Ready? Here we go...Well, I was 12 years old and I was watching 'Butterfield 8' at a cousin's house. When I first saw 'Gloria Wandrous' (played by Elizabeth Taylor) something strange happened to me. At that time I didn't know what hormones were but now I know that I certainly had some because my body was doing things it never done before. Yep, it's true, that day (at age 12) I fell in love...and get this, still today (at age 55) I still get all gooey inside whenever I see Liz on screen. - Randolph Randy Camp


PS: Just in case if anyone is interested, my all-time favorite movies are 'Imitation of Life', 'To Kill A Mockingbird', 'A Patch of Blue', 'Billy Jack', and 'Butterfield 8'


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Seeds and Harvest

When we're young and innocent we truly don't know how our lives will turn out, but I can attest to the fact that you can enrich your life by doing good deeds and by the positive seeds you sow.
Yesterday I'd received an email query from one of my readers from Hachinohe, Japan. She had read my novel 'False Dandelions' and was curious to find out if I actually had a green thumb or not. Ayane's question instantly set my mind adrift to my early years growing up in rural Spotsylvania County, Virginia, where I would sit under shade trees, scribble out short poems and jot down my thoughts and dreams. Little did I know then that those simple words were seeds...seeds that would one day grow and form a life of their own.
In 1977, when I was 16 years old, I remember sitting in my backyard writing this little ditty about a girl named Shelly who'd run away from home. At that time I didn't even have a title for those lyrics, but through the years, those few words about Shelly, in which I'd initially written 39 years ago, have taken shape and have been transformed into my award-winning story 'Wet Matches', which today is my best-selling book (of my four novels). After high school, I'd joined the U.S. Air Force, and during my off-duty and down time when I was stationed overseas in Korea and Germany, I expanded my short, untitled ditty about this young runaway girl into a short story. As time went on and I was discharged from the military, I would always find time to write and expand this short story even further into a novel manuscript entitled 'Wet Matches', as it is known today.
No, we can't predict our future and we may not always know the roads and paths ahead of us, but there's something special and inspiring to having blind faith in doing good deeds and sowing our positive seeds. And certainly I'm not monetarily wealthy from my book sales, but I do live a blessed and enriched life due to the daily feedback I get from you all. Not a day goes by without me showing gratitude to all of my readers, followers and fans from around the world. Although my books or I aren't on any national or international bestsellers' list, it's definitely gratifying to reap the true rewards of the seeds I've sown so many years ago. And I hope that you too will have a great harvest as well, as you continue to sow your own seeds.
By the way, to answer Ayane's question, no, I don't believe that I have a green thumb because I would get yelled at when I was a boy working for this neighbor lady who would pay me fifty cents an hour to weed out her flowerbeds, and many times I'd mistakenly yank up one of her precious flowers, which I naively thought was a common weed.....Stay positive Everybody! - Randolph Randy Camp
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Keep Your Light Burning

We often encounter people who laugh at our flaws, others who can’t wait to punish us for our mistakes, and those who constantly judge and ridicule us for our decisions and actions of the past. Sadly, there are people around us who gets a rise from their attempt to dampen our spirit and drive. I’ve experienced this quite a bit in my 55 years, and I’ll be the first to admit that it’s certainly not an easy task to stay positive in the midst of negativity. But please, whatever you do, don’t ever let anyone blow out your candle. – Randolph Randy Camp
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