Scenes propel the story forward and sequels make your character relatable.

I have written many stories that will never see the light of day. They are terrible. The story meander and the characters were flat. I knew I had a good premise but the story didn’t matter. Because if the reader does not care about your character, they will put the book down. I didn’t know how to solve this issue. Then I read an article about scene and sequel which said, ‘Learn the individual components of Scene  & Sequel to structure your story, advance the plot, and increase the stakes with each decision.’ I realized that this was why my characters were one-dimensional, not relatable and story was not engaging.

A scene is writing where the character attempts to achieve a goal or overcome a problem in their lives or environment. Scene is the external action, something that is happening to the character. Opponent, obstacle, or a threat.

A sequel is writing where the character reacts internally to the disaster in the prior scene. Sequel is internal-it is emotion and the character deciding what they will do next. The decision is now the new most immediate goal for the next scene. The character must solve this new goal before continuing on with their primary goal.

Scene

Goal (character needs to achieve) - Conflict (hinders achieving the goal) - Outcome (victory or loss)

Sequel

Reaction (internal reaction to the outcome-the victory or loss) - Reflection (they debate their next move) - Decision (they make a decision-this is the new goal). 

From here you go back to scene and start with the new current goal and the cycles continues until you reach the end of your story.

I would like to say that every scene does not need a sequel because this could be endless. But your pivotal scenes need to be followed by a sequel. Your characters need to react and have emotions otherwise they will be flat and readers will not relate to them. And if the readers cannot relate to your characters they will lose interest in your book.  

Scene & Sequel: The Secret to Plotting an Epic Novel - Aspiring Writer Academy

It became the hide-a-way for famous painters and writers.

I love Paris and have visited it several times. I wanted to visit the South of France. Marseille was on my bucket list. However, I knew there was more to see and explore. But where? Recently, I came across an article about James Baldwin living in a small French medieval village until his death. And in this same village, were original paintings by famous artists displayed on the walls of a hotel. I wondered how this could be possible. Well, I jumped on the internet and found Saint Paul-de-Vence located in the South of France. It is one of the most beautiful villages in France and sits on a hilltop between the Mediterranean Sea and the Southern Alpes. It’s known for its picturesque narrow streets, lined with restaurants, shops, and art galleries. 

Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Joan Miro, James Baldwin, and Jacques Prevert were among the many painters and writers who lived in the village. Also, French and foreign movie stars were drawn to the village during its Golden Age of the 1950’s and 60’s. They could escape the hustle and bustle of city life hidden away in this village.

The Artists

Picasso was a Spanish painter and sculptor and Matisse was a French visual artist. They each lived in Saint Paul-de-Vence for a time. While there the Colombe d’Or hotel owner allowed them to trade paintings for room and board. They could live and paint without worrying about bills. Their works are still displayed on the walls of the hotel.

Chagall was a Russian-French artist, he lived in Saint Paul-de-Vence for many years painting the sea, village buildings and vegetation and is buried in the local cemetery.

Miro was a Spanish painter and sculptor, stayed in Saint Paul-de-Vence often to work in Aime Maeght’s workshop. The Harlequin’s Carnival is one of Miro’s most outstanding works. 

The Writers

Baldwin was American writer of If Beale Street Could Talk, lived the last 17 years of his life in Saint Paul-de-Vence, where he hosted dinners for international celebrities and wrote his famous Open Letter to My Sister Angela Y. Davis in November 1970.

Delbanco is the American writer of Why Writing Matters and In the Name of Mercy, lived and wrote in Saint Paul-de-Vence. He and his wife became friends with James Baldwin while living there.

Prevert was a French poet and screenwriter, wrote the dialogue for the film The Lovers of Verona (Les Amants de Verone) while living in Saint Paul-de-Vence. He and his wife Janine rented La Miette, a small house in the center of the village and then moved into the L’Ormeau property on the edge of 

Visit Saint Paul-de-Vence

This once quiet medieval village has undergone a transformation. It has become a much sought after vacation spot for people from all over the world. During the peak season (May - August) the small town is over-run with tourist, from northern France and cruise ships. If you visit during off-season, you can enjoy it picturesque views and quiet charm unhindered. Many of the paintings and sculptors are still on display in the village at the Maeght Foundation and the Colombe d’Or hotel.

Reference:

James Baldwin - Saint-Paul de Vence

Moments in time - Saint-Paul de Vence

Saint-Paul de Vence Tourism France • CityXee Travel Guide

Countries around the world are offering one-euros houses and some will pay you to relocate and live there.

I dreamed of buying a home, where I live in Los Angeles, California but I can’t afford the prices here. In Los Angeles, a small two-bedroom house starts at $500k and goes up to $800k, which means I will be stuck paying a 30-year mortgage. If I live that long. So, purchasing a home in another country has become my new dream. 

With the success of one-euro houses sold in Italy. Other countries are doing the same. Japan, Spain, Greece, Ireland, and Italy are also offering programs that pay expats to relocate and live in their countries. They are all facing the same problem. Population decline. The young people are leaving small towns and villages for better job opportunities. Now countries are looking for remote workers who can work from anywhere in the world to repopulate these areas. 

Countries Offering Payment Programs

Greece is giving free homes and paying 500 euros a month for three years to families willing to move and live on the small island of Antikythera.

Spain has about 3,000, abandoned villages across Spain. In the Ponga region they will pay 2,971 euros to each person who will relocate and live there. An entire abandoned village was sold for 260,000 euros. It had 44 homes, a hotel, a school, a church, a municapl swimming pool and a barracks that once housed the civil guard. 

Japan has a program offering worldwide expats 4,800,000 YEN ($31,725 USD) to move to the countryside, buy a house and live. There are also one-euro Akiya houses (abandoned houses, starting at 10,000 euros) which expats can buy and live. 

Ireland has a program that pays around 80,000 euros to those willing to buy an abandoned house on one of their remote islands, renovate it and live there.

Italy is continuing their one-euro house program. Also, two towns have grants that will pay expats to relocate, buy a house and live there. Calabria is offering a grant of up to 28,000 euros. Presicce-Acquarica is offering a grant for 30,000 euros and 1,000 euros for every baby born in the region. 

Research Is Important

Whichever country you choose, please do your due diligence. Research the requirements for purchasing a house in that country. Each country and each town may have different rules. Do you need a visa or is residency needed before you can purchase the property. Most importantly, visit the town and the surrounding areas to be sure it is the place you want to live. 

Italy is the country I have decided on. I’m doing my research and hope to visit the towns that offer what I’m looking for by the end of this year. I will write another article as things progress.

References

DispatchesEurope.com  1 euro deals on abandoned homes pulling people back to Europe's villages (dispatcheseurope.com) 

EuroNerd.com  4 Countries in Europe That Will Pay You To Move There (2024) (euronerd.com)

I live in Los Angeles, California, I can walk anywhere in this city and I will see the unique and interesting. I remember as a teen shopping with a friend on Hollywood Boulevard. There was a man standing on the sidewalk wrapped in aluminum foil from head to toe. It was interesting. But that’s not why Los Angeles is a city for writers. It is a city of beaches, deserts, mountains, old buildings, and old Hollywood. It is alive with activity. There are many events and places for writers to explore and be inspired. Listed below are some places and events. 

Book Festivals & Events in Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books  (April 20-21, 2024)

Los Angeles Printer Fairs  (June 25, 2024)

Writer’s Block Book Expo  (March 9, 2024, cost $65 - $500)

LA Art Book Fair  (LAABF, April 25-28, 2024)

Rare Books L.A. Antiquarian Book Fair  (February 9-11, 2024)

Dollar Book Sale  (Beverly Hills Library Bookstore)

Writing Day Workshops  (May 4, 2024)

Unique Bookstores in the Los Angeles Area

The Last Bookstore (453 S. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA)

Malik Books (6000 Sepulveda Blvd, Suite 2470, Culver City, CA)

Vroman’s (695 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA)

Booksoup (8818 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA)

Diesel (225 26th Street, Suite 33, Santa Monica, CA)

Iliad Bookshop (5400 Cahuenga Blvd., North Hollywood, CA)

Chevalier’s Books (133 N. Larchmont Blvd., Los Angeles, CA)

Skylight Books (1818 N. Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles, CA)

Beautiful Places to Write in Los Angeles 

Blue Ribbon Garden (Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., Los Angeles, CA)

The Original Farmer’s Market (6333 W. 3rd Street, Los Angeles, CA)

RH West Hollywood The Gallery- Rooftop (8564 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood, CA)

Griffith Park (4730 Crystal Spring Drive, Los Angeles, CA)

Los Angeles Central Library (630 W. 5th Street, Los Angeles, CA)

In my teens I dreamed of visiting France and Italy. In my thirties I made it to France but not Italy. I’m in my fifties now and upon hearing the news that Sicily is selling houses transformed my dream. It is no longer to visit Italy but to buy a house and live there.

But is a 1 euro house the right option? If you too are dreaming of buying a house in Italy for 1 euro and asking the same question. Consider the information below.

Before Buying A One Euro House

The majority of the 1 euro houses are in southern Italy and Sicily. A 1 euro house may cost more than 1 euro. There are taxes and fees which are paid by the buyer. And you must use local builders and contractors for the renovation project. And renovations must be finished within two or three years depending on the town. Keep in mind that the 1 euro houses have been unoccupied for many years.These houses usually need a lot of work and that means a lot of money.

Alternative To Buying A 1 Euro House  

Sicily has Primo houses. These houses cost more than a 1 euro house because they are move-in ready. Primo houses cost around 45,000 euros to 100,000 euros. But some primo houses go for 7,000 euros with renovation around 50,000 euros depending on the siza of the house. I live in Los Angeles, California and house prices here start at 500,000 USD and goes up to 1,000,000 USD. Crazy, right?

Conclusion

I want to say, that buying a house and living in Italy is more than a desire to live in a beautiful place. It’s a need for a better quality of life. To buy a house that can be paid off in five to ten years. Rather than thirty years as it is in the United States.

I follow Karl Pierre and Rossini & Co on YouTube and Instagram. They are expats living in Italy & Sicily who show properties for sale. And they know agents and realtors in Italy that you can hire.

Sources I looked at on buying 1 euros houses in Italy and other countries click the links below.

The Pros And Cons Of Buying Property In Sicily (expatra.com)

Besides Italy, All The Places Where You Can Buy Homes For Just 1 Euro (travelandleisureasia.com)

“Finish the book already.” I heard this statement many times in one form or another. I have even said it to myself. I wish it were as simple as that, but it's not. Writing requires a commitment to be alone for many hours a day, staying in the chair until the words flow, and lots of coffee. I finally got to those two famous words, 'The End.' After ten years and continuous starting and stopping I finally finished my novel. And discovered that I could have done much soon. You must keep writing no matter how your day went. Do not get caught up in the trap of trying to make the first draft perfect. Be consistent and intentional with dedicating time to sit down and write. These nuggets helped me finish a manuscript that I had been working on for over ten years. I am now wrapping up my edits and will be sending the manuscript to a professional editor.

Keep Writing

To quote Paul Levine, “Put butt in the chair and keep it there. Do not dream about writing. Write." To do this, we must remove as many distractions as we can. In the age of information and technology, it is easy to get distracted and go off on scrolling tangents. Here are three things you can implement to help you focus and finish your novel. 1) Block the internet while writing, this will stop the temptation to watch baby goat videos. research before the writing session begins. 2) To avoid picking up your phone when you get a call, put it in another room and silence it. 3) Resist editing and keep writing. This will help get more words on the page. During the editing phase the book can be shaped into the story you saw in your head.

Consistency

Be consistent. I had a friend tell me once that this was key to achieving any goal. Decide what days and times are best for you to write. Mornings or evenings. Whatever you decide, stick to it. Put it on your calendar. Then let family and friends know that on those days and at those times you are unavailable. If an emergency comes up-hey life happens-there is nothing you can do about that. But when the emergency has passed, go back to your established days and times. When I was consistent with my days and times, I wrote 800 to 1000 words a day. But when I didn't stick to my established days I wrote maybe 250 words a week or none at all. If we do not protect our time, it will slip away, and we will find ourselves wondering where it went.

Intentionality

Be intentional. When we are intentional in making time to work on our goals, we will see progress. But waking up and going with the flow of the day will result in busyness but not progress. Such as work, running errands, having lunch, or shopping with friends. So, choose to take deliberate action toward your goal of writing a book this year. Do the research but do not get stuck. In many ways, research can be like daydreaming. There are endless possibilities, but no actual work being done. Do not let it be a rabbit hole. Focus. Sit in the chair and let the words flow, write whatever comes to your mind. Remember, words can be cut or added during the editing phase. Do not let the desire for perfection slow you down. Be determined, to move forward. Keep writing.

There will always be opportunities to say, “I’ll do it later or I’ll do it tomorrow” but don’t say it. Instead, encourage yourself with a reward every time you get words on the page. And a big celebration when you type, “The End.”

I hope this blog encouraged you to keep writing and finish your book.

Purpose meets preparation 

What is your God-given purpose, calling, gift, and how do you find it? I believe that God called me to a creative career and lifestyle. He gave me a love of words and the ability to draw. It is now up to me to take what He has given me and develop it and then put it out into the world.

So many people are unhappy, wandering aimlessly through life questioning, ‘ Is this all there is to life?’ 

The answer is 'no.' God created mankind to be like Him and He is the Creator. He spoke the heavens and the earth into existence. He loves mankind and wants us to have joy, peace, and success in our lives.

He put within us everything we would need to fulfill our purpose and destiny. However, it is up to us to discover, protect, and hone the talents, skills, and abilities given to us. And to use them to help others. 

It’s time to prepare, start now so that when the opportunity arrives we have seed in the ground waiting for the rain.

In the book, The Dream Giver - by Bruce Wilkinson, he provides questions that can help you discover your gifts, talents, and abilities. 

As a child what was your dream career?

What brings you joy?

What do people tell you that you are good at?

What abilities and skills are you naturally good at?

What bothers you?

Once you have an idea of your talents and abilities, look at how you can use them to help someone. Our purpose in life is not just to make money, it is to help others. Either through providing a product that will meet their needs, teaching them a skill, or bringing encouragement.

First, put in the time to develop your talents. With online classes and tutorials, this will be easy. There's a lot of free information and teachings online (YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook). 

Second, look at the industries where your gift, talent, or ability will work and then learn everything you can about that industry. You can go to libraries to look for books on the industry or Google companies in that industry, the possibilities are endless.

Third, research how to start in that industry. You can go to workshops and networking groups- as a writer I plan on taking writing courses, attending conferences, and joining writing groups. It is good to be around like-minded people and those who can hold you accountable to do the work.

God loves you and He has a great plan for your life. His Word says, “I know the thoughts that I think towards you. Thoughts of peace, to prosper you, not to harm you. To give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

Writing a novel starts with an idea. 

Then you add meat and bones by asking questions. This will help to flesh out the idea and turn it into a story. Here are some questions to ask about your story idea. I also included some genre-specific questions.

Who is the protagonist?

Who are they in their everyday life?

What does the protagonist need/want? 

What goal does this need/want produce?

What are the consequences if they do not achieve their goal?

What is the POV of your story?

What genre are you writing in?

Who is telling the story?

Where does the POV stand in time relative to the events of the story?

What is the fundamental question or problem of your story?

How is the question answered or the problem solved on the last page?

Is this a stand-alone book or part of a series? 

Genre Specific Questions:

FANTASY

Who is the protagonist?

What does the protagonist need or want?

Does the protagonist have a gift/ability?

Where does the protagonist live?

What is the environment/atmosphere like?

Has a recent or centuries-old war or disaster affected the people or land?

Is this world ruled by diplomacy or tyranny?

What people, animals, plants, and other life exist in this world?

Is there a hidden secret?

If the protagonist achieves their goal whose life will be changed for better or worse?

Who is the antagonist? 

Why does the antagonist want to stop the protagonist from achieving their goal? 

How does the antagonist go about stopping the protagonist?

Is this a stand-alone book or part of a series?

ROMANCE

Who is the protagonist?

Are they ready for love?

If not, why?

What is their occupation?

Where do they live?

Do they have family/friends?

What are their likes/dislikes?

Who is the love interest?

What is their occupation?

How do they meet?

What conflicts do they encounter to their romance?

Is this a stand-alone book or part of a series?

MYSTERY

Who is the protagonist?

What does the protagonist need or want?

Does the protagonist have a secret?

Who are their family & friends?

Do they have a love interest?

What crime has been committed?

Who is the victim?

How does this crime affect/change the protagonist’s life?

Who is the antagonist?

How did they commit the crime?

Why did they commit the crime?

How does the protagonist go about finding clues and solving the crime?

Is this a stand-alone book or part of a series?

Include a subplot to your story.

You can combine genres, to come up with a subplot. For instance, fantasy-mystery, fantasy-western, romantic-drama, (such as romantic-drama-romance overshadowed by sibling sickness or parents divorcing; fantasy-western-only certain people from the saloon are pulled into a portal; fantasy-mystery-a secret or danger from the future wrecks their current day lives).