Another Dimension: Randy's Writing Tips

Writers are told and often reminded not to create one dimensional characters. In real life we all have different sides and layers. I’ve always loved music and I use songs and pop bands as helpful tools when I’m trying to give extra depth to my characters. If you’re an aspiring writer and you’re having trouble developing one of your characters then give this a shot: Try to figure out what type of music that particular character likes, which may lead to something interesting and surprisingly deeper about that character. For instance, your readers may discover, as your story unfolds, that the reason this particular character quietly cries every time she hears a gospel song is because the church music reminds her of her childhood before she became a professional escort.
Keep writing and don’t forget to add another dimension to your characters. – Randolph Randy Camp
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Randolph Randy Camp

A Video Presentation of Contemporary Author Randolph Randy Camp

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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Speaking of Metaphors: Randy's Writing Tips

One of my readers recently wrote and asked me why do I seem to use metaphors a lot in my novels. I replied with this simple statement, “Metaphors make the reader think from a different angle.” I further went on to explain how I’ve always loved imagery in songs, poems and stories when I was growing up. Listening to the songs on the radio was my first lesson in creative writing. I just loved the way a certain lyric describing a specific object or an event could instantly plant a picture in my mind. To me, that was a powerful thing and I fell in love with creative writing ever since.
The beauty of metaphors, for me at least, is that it allows you (the writer) to introduce a serious topic while simultaneously softening your story to make it easier to swallow for your readers. This is what I did in my first book ‘Wet Matches’, a story that covers HIV and teen homelessness.
If you are an inspiring author, see if symbolism and metaphors will enhance and make your story more interesting. And please continue writing and don’t ever give up! Believe in your story, and most importantly, believe in yourself! – Randolph Randy Camp
More at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp

A Brief Video Bio Presentation: Author Randolph Randy Camp

A brief BIO VIDEO presentation on Writer Randolph Randy Camp, author of the award-winning 'Wet Matches' and three other novels '29 Dimes', 'False Dandelions', and '...Then The Rain'.

YOU DEFINE YOURSELF!

DON’T LET OTHERS DEFINE YOU…YOU DEFINE YOURSELF!
DON’T GIVE UP! KEEP WRITING! If you’re a writer in your heart of hearts, then write ’til your fingers are numb. There have been times when I’d felt like throwing in the towel and giving up on my writing dreams, but even after stuffing all of my writing materials underneath my bed and deep into my closet, only two days later there I was digging it all back out again. Even after scanning through your pile of rejection letters, you must (and you will) find the inner strength to fight discouragement. Take your rejection letter and turn it over to use the backside as scrap paper and keep writing. If you’re a screenwriter, you must envision the audience watching your movie as you’re currently writing it. If you’re a novelist, you must envision your readers physically holding and reading your book as you are presently writing your first draft. – Randolph Randy Camp
Learn more at http://www.goodreads.com/randolphcamp

Writer Randolph Randy Camp Talks About His US Air Force Experience

Book Talk: One Writer's Dream

During every ‘Meet the Author’ Book Talk I’ve been invited to thusfar, one of the questions that normally pops up is, “What do you like best about being a writer?”  And my usual response is this, “I absolutely love being a writer because I get to ‘go places’ without buying a ticket, meaning that my stories can take me anywhere. Also, I get a kick out of speaking to students about creative writing whenever I’m invited to do a classroom book talk because one of my greatest goals as a writer is to inspire others with one of my stories or with something I said.” – Randy Camp
Learn more at http://www.goodreads.com/randolphcamp

Writing Tip: Take The Metro

If your words and thoughts aren’t flowing, and you feel yourself slipping deeper into writers’ block, take my advice: Park the car and take the metro.
Too often we isolate ourselves from the very world in which we are writing about. For one day at least use public transportation for your daily errands. The many voices and sights you’ll see and hear while riding the bus or metro train might enlighten and possibly ignite a new spark in you. In short, don’t isolate yourself too much.
And if you’re already using public transportation to get around your town, and you still find yourself sometimes in a bit of a writer’s slump, then try taking a long walk in the city park. A good walk is one of the best ways to clear your head from all of the built-up clutter and let new thoughts flow in. – Randy Camp
Learn more at http://www.goodreads.com/randolphcamp

Author Randolph 'Randy' Camp - Air Force Video

PIECES OF ME

Pieces of Me

It’s common knowledge that pieces of every writer goes into the characters in which they create. A part of me is certainly in my character ‘Kalib’ from my novel ’29 Dimes’. Here’s a quote from Kalib in the story, “…I don’t care anymore! I tried so hard! It’s like the more I keep tryin’ to be here the more people keep treating me like I don’t belong here!”
’29 Dimes’ is set in the Los Angeles community of Silver Lake. This provocative coming-of-age novel follows seven eclectic characters during their summer break, with each one having an experience that will shape and change their young lives forever.

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A Sad Goodbye to My Daisywheels

This morning was a pretty sad morning because I’d finally said goodbye to two friends who’ve been with me for a lot of years. In this techno age of fancy computers, micro-chips, and fast-paced gadgetry, I’d typed my most recent screenplays and manuscripts with my daisywheel typewriters, a Smith Corona SL 480 and a Brother 310 AX Series. If you’re not familiar with these old electric typewriters and daisywheels just picture a bicycle rim with its numerous spokes, only smaller. Similar to a bike rim, a three-inch daisywheel has numerous spokes, with each spoke having a protruding letter, number, or symbol at its end. (A lot of vintage IBM typewriters had a rotating ball instead of the multi-stemmed daisywheel.) These daisywheels, correctable ribbons, and other parts for these aging typewriters are hard to find in office supply stores nowadays and some stores have completely stop selling electric typewriters and their accessories all together.
My Smith Corona was so cool and reliable. She had stylish curves around her edges and she never gave me any lip or back talk over the years. I had typewriters before that would grumble and make funny noises about this or that but my Smith Corona never complained about anything. She just came to work, clocked in and let me tap her keys for hours at a time and would never fuss about a thing.
Well, things were okay up until about a week ago. That’s when the daisywheels on the Brother 310 and the Smith Corona 480 started to rattle a bit and lose their proper fitting next to the ribbon cartridge, which means that a loose-seated daisywheel could potentially cause a writer to get an ‘A’ on the paper instead of the intended ‘J’, and so on.
I’m going to miss seeing the fonts of these electric typewriters. They are very distinctive and unlike any fonts found on today’s computers. I’m going to miss that monotone pitch every time I would tap those old keys. Yes, I’m an old dinosaur but I guess there comes a time when an old dinosaur must make some changes and adapt to its new surroundings in order to survive. – Randy Camp
Learn more at http://www.goodreads.com/randolphcamp

MY BLESSINGS: A VERY GOOD DAY

It would be an absolute lie if I said that I'd never dreamed of seeing one of my books on the New York Times Best Sellers List. I think that it's every writer's dream to have their stories reach as many people as possible. But, what is equally satisfying (at least to me) is receiving a letter from someone who was moved or touched by the words you'd written. And that's exactly what happened to me yesterday, Friday (May 2, 2014). I woke up to an email message from a high school student in Japan that instantly put a big ol' smile on my face, as her email letter went on to explain how her class had read one of my novels as an assignment and that she had identified with and really liked one of the characters in the story. Yes, it's true that I would love to see exceptionally high book sale numbers, but these personal letters from readers are a real blessing and  just as golden to me as the big numbers on a sales chart.

And later during the day, I was honored with two scholarships (The David R. Conley Memorial Perseverance Scholarship and The Hank Pirowski Scholarship) at the Annual ECC Scholarship Luncheon in Williamsville, NY, and what made that event so special was that I was blessed to share it with one of my most dearest friends, Karen (the one with the dark hair). So, yes indeed, my Friday was a very Good Day...full of Blessings. - Randolph Randy Camp


SYMBOLISM IN STORIES... During a recent classroom book talk discussion, several students had surprised me when they had told me what the 'false dandelions', '29 dimes', and 'wet matches' meant to them when they'd read each of my novels. I must say, I was truly blown away with some of the students' interpretations of my use of symbols in my stories. As a writer, I love using symbols because sometimes they make the reader think beyond my own thoughts and initial intentions.


RANDY'S TV SCRIPTS - CHILDREN'S SERIES
1. Harry's Field (May 2014, Registered with Writers Guild of America, East, Reg#R30871)
2. Time Out Time In (May 2014, Registered with WGA, East)

More at http://www.goodreads.com/randolphcamp 

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!

STAY IN THE RACE!
Believe in YOURSELF! Let your PASSION guide you!...and never give up!

If you have a passion for anything you must go for it. If that passion is writing don’t let anyone or anything discourage you. Rejection letters go straight to the trash or turn it over and use the backside as scrap paper and continue writing! The rough draft (handwritten) for my second novel was partially written on the flipside of rejection letters I’d received from my first novel’s manuscript.

RCstories' Children's TV Series

HARRY'S FIELD is an animated, children's fantasy TV series. The series centers around a magical flying school bus named Eagle Wing, which transports kids from urban areas to an enchanted, colorful place called Harry's Field, where they learn about nature and our environment from a variety of jovial, talking animals and plants. TIME OUT TIME IN is another very lively and engaging animated, children's fantasy TV series created by Randolph Randy Camp. In a very entertaining and colorful manner (without being preachy), the series encourages young kids to use their imagination while simultaneously teaching them about life's virtues, such as the importance of being polite and kind to others. All works registered with the Writers Guild of America, East. Learn more at http://www.goodreads.com/randolphcamp

For Aspiring Writers

One of my goals as an author is to hopefully inspire others, especially young people. Whenever I give a Book Talk at a high school I always try to end the session with a few helpful writing tips, and one of my main pointers I make is telling the students to practice DESCRIBING mundane things and objects as they go through their daily routine. For example, as you walk pass the street poles and lamp posts in your neighborhood think about the different words or phrases in which you could use to describe one of them, especially the wooden ones. It’s somewhat easy to write a description of a car (red, dents, ect.), but I like to get the students to practice on more mundane things because you can surprise yourself sometimes by coming up with an unusual or unique word or phrase that’s rarely heard or seen in print. The use of these interesting-but-different adjectives will make your story stand out and give you your unique voice as a writer. To give you a hint in describing the mundane street pole, just take a closer look and see if there are any rusty nails or staples still protruding along the side or if there are any weathered pieces left from an old yard sale sign. And remember, to become an author you must write, write, and write! – R. Camp

RCstories' Children's TV Series

HARRY'S FIELD is an animated, children's fantasy TV series. The series centers around a magical flying school bus named Eagle Wing, which transports kids from urban areas to an enchanted, colorful place called Harry's Field, where they learn about nature and our environment from a variety of jovial, talking animals and plants. TIME OUT TIME IN is another very lively and engaging animated, children's fantasy TV series created by Randolph Randy Camp. In a very entertaining and colorful manner (without being preachy), the series encourages young kids to use their imagination while simultaneously teaching them about life's virtues, such as the importance of being polite and kind to others. All works registered with the Writers Guild of America, East. Learn more at http://www.goodreads.com/randolphcamp

MY TWO FAV QUOTES

My two favorite quotes: “Don’t let others define you – You define yourself!” and “Don’t be afraid to dream BIG!”

Randy's TV SCRIPTS - CHILDREN'S SERIES

1. Harry's Field (May 2014)

2. Time Out Time In (May 2014)

More at http://www.goodreads.com/randolphcamp

RIDING BIKES

RIDING BIKES
Some of my fondest memories of my childhood was the long bike rides along dirt roads and single-lane blacktops with my brothers, cousins and other neighborhood kids. Of course, our family couldn’t afford to buy brand new bicycles for us so most often we would go to the local landfill and look for assorted bicycle parts and then we would try our best to piece together a whole bike. On these bike rides I’d always enjoyed seeing a part of Spotsylvania County that I’d never visited before…sometimes it might’ve been just a particular road in which I’d never traveled before that made these bike trips so memorable. The idea of exploring and briefly escaping was absolutely fascinating to me, especially as a child. Looking back, it seems as though I was always, in some type of manner, trying to escape my immediate surroundings. As a kid and even as a teenager, I certainly remember sitting on the bank of the Rappahannock River and just watching the water flow away. I would sometimes sit there for hours just gazing at the flowing water, and I would wonder and think about where the water was actually going to…and as I got older, I also began to wonder about my own life…wondering where my life would take me. When I began to jot down notes, write out poems or short stories as a young boy, it seems as though I really became obsessed with the Rappahannock River….for this was the period of my life when I would often think about where my words and stories might eventually take me…just like the flowing water of the Rappahannock…where is it going?…where will it end up? — Randolph Randy Camp
More at http://www.goodreads.com/randolphcamp