Brains... And The People Who Eat Them

Today Writing In The Night belongs to the zombies.

If you haven't heard of the new e-publisher Definition House, you're missing out on another revolutionary turn in publishing. Definition House is engaging readers in a whole new way by using crowdfunding to publish books. Their inaugural campaign focuses on Ryan Hill's zombie novel, Dead New World. 

Here's the rub: 

Zombies aren’t mindless anymore.

They follow orders. And if Holt and Ambrose want to kill some undead, they’ll do the same. But when a routine mission goes horribly wrong, the best friends’ lives are flayed to the bone.

Now there’s only one light in the darkness of Holt’s life, and when she’s taken, he’ll do anything to get her back. Even if that means defying orders and using his best friend as a weapon. Holt and Ambrose risk all to save her, but what they discover among the hordes threatens to remake humanity. Again.

In the end, will there be anything left to live for in this dead new world?

A glimpse into zombie types in print and on the big screen. In these undead worlds, it’s all about the brains… Whether you’re destroying them or eating them.

Dawn of the Dead

Becoming a zombie: Anyone who dies—no matter how—turns into a zombie. If bitten, the person will die within a few hours.

Intelligence: Instinct and some memories. Although, later zombies are able to reason and learn rudimentarily.

Speed: Rigor mortis slow…

How to kill a zombie: Must. Destroy. Brain.

Shaun of the Dead

Becoming a zombie: A zombie bite kills after a few hours, and then reanimation sets in.

Intelligence: Instinct and memories.

Speed: Rigor mortis slow…

How to kill a zombie: Must. Destroy. Brain.

28 Days Later

Becoming a zombie: Any contact with an infected person’s blood and the victim becomes infected within seconds.

Intelligence: Instinct (aggressive rage) only.

Speed: Human-like with a higher endurance.

How to kill a zombie: Anything that would kill a human.

Autumn

Becoming a zombie: A world-wide plague killed 99% of the population within days. A third of those reanimate after a few hours.

Intelligence: Only animation at first, then instinct, and possibly later some intelligence.

Speed: Rigor mortis slow…

How to kill a zombie: Must. Destroy. Brain.

The Walking Dead

Becoming a zombie: Anyone who dies, no matter the reason, becomes one. A zombie bite makes the victim die after only a few hours.

Intelligence: Instinct only.

Speed: Rigor mortis slow…

How to kill a zombie: Must. Destroy. Brain.

Marvel Zombies

Becoming a zombie: A zombie bite causes death and reanimation within seconds.

Intelligence: Full intelligence, skills, memories, and powers (if applicable) from previous life. Absolute lack of morals. Feeding is the only goal.

Speed: Same as in previous life.

How to kill a zombie: Must. Destroy. Brain.

And because I know you want more information, here are the social media links for both

Definition House and Ryan Hill:

Stalk Ryan on...

...Facebook

...Twitter

...His Website

Stalk Definition House on...

...Facebook

...Twitter

...Their Website

Name, Age and Height, Please!: A Guest Post By Karen M. Hanks

I first met Karen on Twitter- yet another social media success story!  Supportive, funny, and engaging, I was excited and thrilled when she offered to "blog-swap" as part of my blog tour week.  You can find my post on self-editing on her blog here.  I know you'll be as enamored of her as I am...

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Whether I see it written by fellow writers online, hear it from the mouths of bestselling authors during seminars I’ve attended, or read about it in my studies, I keep hearing the same thing again and again: let your characters determine your plot, not the other way around.

If you establish well rounded and detailed characters from the get go, you should find that the pieces of your story will fall together beautifully, all because you will be well tuned with how your character would behave in every way, in every scenario.

So how do you take your characters from basic to dynamic? Here are some easy exercises that will help with their development:

Create a character profile
Think of a character profile like a patient form that you fill out at the doctor’s office; it’s a quick and easy way to write out many of the key and important details. Many writers will keep files on their characters and find these profiles a quick and easy reference throughout their writing. 

Some helpful details to determine could be:

·        Name

·        Detailed physical description

·        Ethnicity

·        Educational background

·        Family history

·        Personality traits

·        Flaws

·        Speech habits

Put your character in hot water
Has your character just been caught cheating on a test? Perhaps they’re receiving a parking ticket as they come out of a shop. Put your character in a situation of high stress and write out how they would react with those around them. This well help you see and hear them, allowing you to better understand and relate to them.

Conduct an interview with your character
Once you’ve gotten a feel for how your character interacts with others, sit down and conduct a full on interview with them.  I know, I know, you’re probably thinking “But,uh, how can I conduct an interview with a fictional character?” It’s actually quite a bit of fun to do. Create a scene where, if you were in your book, you would meet with your character for a chat; it could be a coffee shop, a bar, or wherever you see fit. Make note of the tone of their voice, the way they move their body, and how they show their emotions; anything that can lend to a better overall view of them as a character. 

Try asking questions such as:

·        What do you do for a living?

·        What is your greatest fear?

·        What would you change about yourself if you could?

·        What do you want out of life?

·        What is your favorite food? Why?

Remember to have fun with these and hopefully you will find yourself with characters that are not only dynamic, but that will help guide you along through your story.

Happy writing!

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Karen M. Hanks is currently writing her first romantic suspense novel while working towards a certificate in Creative Writing at her local university. When she's not writing into the wee hours of the night, you can usually find Karen daydreaming about Paris, playing the piano for the small audience of her husband and dog, or curling up with a good book and a glass of wine. You can connect with Karen via Twitter at @KarenMHanks or read more of her ramblings over at www.karenmhanks.com