Ink Thoughts and Quotables | Ashlei Ryan Jackson

How to Win the Race of Life [Learning from Zach Sobiech]

2013-05-21T09:55:00.000-07:00

This video is long...twenty-two minutes is long by YouTube standards...but it quickly reminds you how short life can be.

Watch it with tissue.

Watch it with your own life, your own dreams, your own fears in mind and he will teach you how to win the race of life. I believe we are all here for a purpose and it can be an emotional thing to see someone achieve such a profound impact in such a short time.

May we all be as "lucky" in life as Zach Sobiech.

Rest in Peace - May 20, 2013

Coming Up for Air from Holiday Success

2013-01-02T22:01:00.000-08:00

Image from SacredCircleCreativeLife.com

The holidays are my favorite. When I hear Andy Williams belt out "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year," I know the holiday season has begun (as well as the 24/7 Christmas songs on the radio stations). I have been fortunate over the past few years to be able to slow down and enjoy the period of days when crisp autumn leaves fall victim to frosty mornings and the goodness seaps out of random strangers in one way or another. However this year, my slow down never really occurred. I worked right up to and after each holiday like wildfire. I sat back over my New Year's day off and thought about what had happened. How did I miss out on those quiet moments I love - like sitting in the dark and staring at the Christmas tree? And like most reflective moments - it hits you like a ton of bricks when you least expect it.

I'd been given a dose of success.

Yes, I said it and before you quit reading thinking I'm one of those people who prefers to be a starving artist for the principal of it - let me explain.

My day job is as a self-employed website designer and social media manager. It's artistic, innovative and I enjoy it. The week before Thanksgiving, advertising and referrals paid off with 5 new clients coming on board. I was stoked - who wouldn't be? But here's the catch.

I wasn't prepared for that kind of success.

I'm used to 3-4 clients in a month - not 5 in one week. I'm a customer service and results-oriented person so of course - I HAVE to deliver. Can you say pressure? And of course, all of my new clients need everything done YESTERDAY. Needless to say, it has been a month and a half of work, work, work and by the time New Year's arrived, I was at the stressed-out breaking point. It wasn't pretty.

Why did this happen? Because I didn't have any systems in place to handle that amount of success. The more I say it to myself, it seems logical. I was used to my normal level of success - which is the amount I was prepared to handle. Getting 5 clients in one week proved that my systems of delivering my service at the level of quality I want...were faulty. They're flat out weak. So what have I learned?

Plan to be successful. Failing to do so can lead to...well...failure.

Publishing World - Meet Johnny Depp

2012-10-16T10:26:00.000-07:00

That well known face who's brought life to film characters such as Captain Jack Sparrow, Donnie Brasco, Willie Wonka, the Mad Hatter and Sweeney Todd - along with many more - will be helping to bring new characters to the book world with his announcement to launch publishing imprint in conjunction with Harper Collins.

What is a publishing imprint?
Basically it usually refers to a subsidary publishing house. Imprint publishers will often specialize in subjects, styles or genres whereas their parent companies have no limitations.

Depp has played literary characters in over a dozen films including:

"What's Eating Gilbert Grape" (1993). Adapted from the novel by Peter Hedges.

"Donnie Brasco" (1997), based on the memoir "Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia" by Joseph D. Pistone and Richard Woodley.

"Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" (1998), based on the book by Hunter S. Thompson.

"Sleepy Hollow" (1999), based on the story by Washington Irving.

"Secret Window" (2004), a thriller about a novelist, based on a Stephen King story that appears in his collection "Four Past Midnight."

"Finding Neverland" (2004), based on the life of "Peter Pan" author J.M. Barrie.

"Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" (2005), based on the children's book by Roald Dahl.

"Public Enemies" (2009), partially based on Bryan Burrough's history "Public Enemies: America's Greatest Crime Wave and the Birth of the FBI, 1933-34."

"Alice in Wonderland" (2010), based on the books by Lewis Carroll.

Depp's imprint is called Infinitum Nihil (his production company is known by the same name which means "Nothing is Forever.") Already on the list of new releases...

"The Unraveled Tales of Bob Dylan" by Doug Brinkley which promises to shed new light and truth about the musician's life and career.

and

"House of Earth" by folk singer Woody Guthrie.

In a statement, Depp said, “I pledge, on behalf of Infinitum Nihil, that we will do our best to deliver publications worthy of peoples' time, of peoples' concern. Publications that might ordinarily never have breached the parapet. For this dream realized, we would like to salute HarperCollins for their faith in us and look forward to a long and fruitful relationship together.”

Is this good for the publishing world?
Should celebrities lend their fame to the book world in such a hands-on format? I guess only time will tell however I think that anything that gets people - young and old - reading is a good thing. Perhaps Johnny Depp will be a refreshing addition that will bring forth good reads that might not have otherwise been noticed.

In the spirit of my favorite Depp character, "Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate."

Ghostwriting: A Writing World of Illusion

2012-10-03T11:03:00.002-07:00

We read other people's words every day - so why am I bothered by the idea of ghostwriting? Perhaps it has something to do with my newfound understanding of the illusion we prescribe to when it comes to this side of the publishing industry.

I have pictured the cover for the 2012 film The Ghost Writer (based on Robert Harris' novel, The Ghost) directed by Roman Polanski and staring Ewan McGreggor and Pierce Brosnan. It wasn't a major hit but the concept might have opened a few eyes of who really writes some of these 'Best Sellers' by the famed and notorious.

According to Wikipedia...

A ghostwriter is a writer who writes books, articles, stories, reports, or other texts that are officially credited to another person. Celebrities, executives, and political leaders often hire ghostwriters to draft or edit autobiographies, magazine articles, or other written material. In music, ghostwriters are often used for writing songs and lyrics for popular music genres.

A fairly straightforward definition but the term that bothered me the most was "officially credited to another person." Is this another form of lying? Because it's "officially okay" with the people producing the book to not be truthful about who wrote it - does this make it okay with us as readers?

Ghostwriting can include everything from editing and revising a rough draft to fully writing a book based on an outline provided by the credited author. That's a large spectrum to consider. Editing and revising sounds reasonable and yet writing an entire manuscript from an outline sounds like...full fledged authorship. Wikipedia goes on to give examples for non-fiction and fiction ghostwriter postitions:

Non-Fiction

For some projects, ghostwriters will do a substantial amount of research, as in the case of a ghostwriter who is hired to write an autobiography for a well-known person.

So when we read a book by a celebrity or political figure - non-fiction books that people often read to gain insight on the supposed famous person and their life - their poetic prose might be something they only 'approved.'

Fiction

Ghostwriters are also hired to write fiction in the style of an existing author, often as a way of increasing the number of books that can be published by a popular author (e.g., Tom Clancy, James Patterson).

Now, this is where I sort of cringe. When I buy a book by a published fiction author, I guess I have this blissful notion that they actually wrote the novel. Am I the only one in this boat? In some cases a credited writer will acknowlege their ghostwriter but it is NOT required. And usually, ghostwriting agreements strictly prohibit publicly sharing the work you have done for others so it's unlikely you'll ever see a ghostwriter standing up to say "Those words are mine."

Obviously, using a pseudonymn or pen name is a long-standing and widely acceptable practice in the world of publishing but this feels different to me. If John C. Author writes his books under the name Nick O. Time - it's still John who is actually doing the writing. But if John C. Author writes a book for, let's say...Stephen King or J.K. Rowling - that seems a little deceptive. (I am not implying that either of these authors use ghostwriters. I was merely using their names and reputations as well known authors as an example). You may think that this rarely happens but everything I've read says that some publishers push their well-known writers to hire ghostwriters so that they can produce more (money-making) books throughout their careers. What if you found out that your favorite author only wrote half of the books you've read?

Beyond Reading for Enjoyment

Apparently, ghostwriting extends into the business world as well. It is a practiced method that professionals use ghostwriters to enhance or establish credibility. The ghostwriter does the research on a topic, writes the book for this person who can now 'claim' their are an 'expert' on this topic because of course - they've been published.

Medical ghostwriting is another side of the industry in which pharmaceutical companies pay both professional writers to produce papers and then pay other scientists or physicians to attach their names to these papers before they are published in medical or scientific journals.

And of course, blog ghostwriting for companies is in huge fashion right now. The same person might write as multiple people for a company blog AND as the people commenting on the blog posts.

An Educational Double Standard

The only area that I could find in which ghostwriting is taboo is as a student. It seems widely recognized that if you are a student who submits a paper to your professor that has been written by someone else (a ghostwriter) - you can be given a failing grade or even expelled. Plagarism is a major offense among universities and colleges across the country. What is humorous is that a professor can legally hire a ghostwriter and produce the textbook requred for the class. That is allowed but as a student - the originality of your work cannot falter.

And by the way - ghostwriting among the student body is in full force. Staggering numbers of students are still avidly having other people do their homework, write their papers and essays and more.

So here I sit, feeling slightly betrayed as I wonder if my favorite quotes from novels and non-fiction masterpieces are from the credited author or some other nameless (albeit possibly brilliant) writer. To those men and women...

"Thank you for your words - I wish I had known they were yours."

According to George Carlin: We're Living Backwards

2012-10-01T17:03:00.003-07:00

It's just one of those days and somehow I found this quote from the cynical and yet insightful and utterly hilarious comedian, George Carlin. Perhaps he's onto something here...

"I mean, life is tough. It takes up a lot of your time. What do you get at the end of it? A Death. What's that, a bonus? I think the life cycle is all backwards. You should die first, get it out of the way. Then you live in an old age home. You get kicked out when you're too young, you get a gold watch and you go to work. You work forty years until you're young enough to enjoy your retirement. You do drugs, alcohol, you party, you get ready for high school. You go to grade school, you become a kid, you play, you have no responsibilities. You become a little baby, you go back into the womb, spend your last nine months floating... and you finish off as an orgasm."

What do you think?

Creating Characters We Want to Know (the Marvel Way)

2012-09-27T21:16:00.003-07:00

I was watching the bonus material that came with the Target Blu-ray set of The Avengers and thought there was a great 'Aha' moment that writers can take and apply to their writing. In the 90 minute video "Assembling the Avengers" - they interview the actors, producers and others about how they came up with the franchise and why it's been so successful. They interviewed Stan Lee (one of the main guys who invented most of the superheroes that Marvel made famous) and he brought up the idea that the reason their heroes are so popular comes down to one concept.

The characters in their comics are people we would want to know who just happen to be superheroes.

So basic and yet so brilliant.
He talks about how the characters have personalities that are infectious. We want to get to know them. We want to peer into their lives as "real" people. Their level of interesting-ness does not hinge on their out-of-this-world abilities - these people are cool. The fact that they are ALSO superheroes only makes them better. So, the more I thought about it, the more I think that Stan Lee is the man and I'll give you three examples of how it's worked in literature - not just comics.

Source: Wikipedia

#1 - James Bond 007 (Ian Fleming)
Ian Fleming has been quoted as saying that he named his infamous character (who incidentally has been the star of a dozen novels and countless movies) after an ornithologist because he wanted him to be dull and uninteresting. Would you ever use those two words to describe THE man of mystery? Not at all! James Bond is confidence married with charisma and doused in cool. AND it just so happens that he's a bad-ass assassin. We'd love to know him in his sleek tailored sport coat, martini in hand before he ever pulls a gun or gadget. Fleming - whether intentionally or not - created a character to drool over (and yes, men do drool over him - it is a well known joke in my home that my husband has a crush on Daniel Craig) and the fact that he's a double-O only makes him (and the franchise) only that much more irresistible.

#2 - Jack Reacher (Lee Child)
Lee Child has written over a dozen novels following the adventures of a former United States Army Military Police Major. Of course, Reacher's military skills come in handy as he faces assassins, kidnappers, conspirators and all around bad guys but there is more to his stolid exterior and this is where we get hooked before the first punch is thrown. Jack Reacher doesn't always respond to questions, in fact, he's a man of few words on many occasions. He's cool headed in deadly scenarios yet empathetic to help those in need even when it doesn't appear to serve him. This is a guy who claims that he got tired of being frightened as a child and trained himself out if it. He knows everything about weapons and somehow he knows the time without looking at a watch or clock. We may not be able to relate to him but we want to. We want to be more like him; to have his even manner in the face of chaos. And this is why people eat up Child's novels (and upcoming film staring Tom Cruise).

#3 - Lisbeth Salander (Stieg Larsson)
As dark as many consider the Millennium Series to be, it would be impossible not to find Lisbeth Salandar intriguing. She is solitary and perhaps lacking in the ability to interact with others but under her bony features clad in tattoos and black leather she is an expert computer hacker with a photographic memory. Few of us can relate to such skills and this paired with her traumatic childhood makes her nearly untouchable. But this doesn't drain our fascination - it feeds it. Even her normal life sounds nothing like what we experience and that's what draws us in. Stieg Larsson didn't create a normal person who helps solve murderous plots and conspiracy. He creates one who has serious psychological problems and whether we find this troubling or refreshing - a true character was born that feels like flesh and blood.

Of course there are more examples and of course, character driven novels know a lot about creating good characters but for the rest of us - let's strive to do as Lee did. Let's create characters we want to know who just happen to have interesting things happen to them.

Word Count: A Numbers Game You Can Win!

2012-09-25T19:40:00.001-07:00

Every writer struggles with it. From young adult sagas to historical trilogies to romance one nighters and erotic phenoms like Fifty Shades of Gray - every author has a love/hate relationship with their word count.

Not enough. Too much. Or worst of all...zero.

The blinking cursor hovers with it's mocking sense of purpose. It keeps us going and terrorizes along the way.

But there are some basic facts about word count that EVERY writer needs to consider:

• Blog Posts are typically 400-1000 words long. This is for ease of reading but depends on the material. There is no set rule.

• The standard board book has a count of 0-50 words and picture books from 50 – 1,000, depending on the type of picture book.

• The typical middle grade novel is between 35,000-45,000 words long.

• The normal young adult novel is between 55,000 – 75,000 words long.

• Most standard adult novels are between 80,000-100,000 words long.

• First time novelists should try to keep their manuscripts shorter than these industry standards. It costs money to publish more pages - a first time writer is already an investment (aka a gamble) so they are less likely to look at lengthy novels.

• Genre fiction, like science fiction and fantasy, will allow for higher word counts but it would still be best to do some research before you elevate your word count.

Word count is important however, you should always think quality over quantity. Don't use four sentences when one will suffice.

Besides, repeating or reiterating yourself will actually make your message less powerful.

Go for powerful!

Good Writing Comes from Good Reading...ALOUD!

2012-09-19T20:06:00.001-07:00

Perhaps you're a writer who's penned a 250 page novel...or a short story...an email...even a tweet encompassing all 140 characters. Odds are we've all done some kind of "writing." You've enjoyed the sounds of your fingers tapping along the keyboard breathing black and white life into your thoughts. But before your hit submit or save or send - take a moment to read your ramblings ALOUD.

Why?

Well, when it comes to short writing moments (like email, letters and social media posts), reading these aloud will help you more easily identify tone and inflection in your choice of words. This can ensure that your writing efficiently communicates what you want to say...and of course prevent you from saying something wrong.

When it comes to writing a novel or short story - reading aloud is just as beneficial and for the exact same reasons. When we write - we are trying to capture action, character development and conversation. Good sentences do this with colorful words and proper punctuation (all elements that we are hounded with perfecting) but GREAT sentences flow seamlessly together to lead our imaginations on a journey. We love our protagonist and despise the antagonist and wait with baited breath until that very last word. Great writing is what we dream of...and reading aloud helps us get closer to that goal.

In summary, reading your writing aloud...

Helps improve the tempo and tone of your writing.
Helps give your dialogue "live" voice so you can catch any stiff exchanges.
Helps catch misspellings and typos that the brain can automatically skip over when reading silently.

Learn more about Ashlei Ryan Jackson

Book Review: Does the Noise in My Head Bother You? by Steven Tyler

2012-09-18T21:13:00.000-07:00

Summary - From GoodReads.com

"I've been mythicized, Mick-icized, eulogized and fooligized, I've been Cole-Portered and farmer's-daughtered, I've been Led Zepped and 12-stepped. I'm a rhyming fool and so cool that me, Fritz the Cat, and Mohair Sam are the baddest cats that am. I have so many outrageous stories, too many, and I'm gonna tell 'em all. All the unexpurgated, brain-jangling tales of debauchery, sex & drugs, transcendence & chemical dependence you will ever want to hear."

Tyler tells what it's like to be a living legend and the frontman of one of the world's most revered and infamous bands—the debauchery, the money, the notoriety, the fights, the motels and hotels, the elevators, limos, buses and jets, the rehab. He reveals the spiritual side that "gets lost behind the stereotype of the Sex Guy, the Drug Guy, the Demon of Screamin', the Terror of the Tropicana." And he talks about his epic romantic life and his relationship with his four children. As dazzling, bold, and out-on-the-edge as the man himself, Does the Noise in My Head Bother You? is an all-access backstage pass into this extraordinary showman's life
.

Ink Thoughts Review
There is something epicly profound yet slightly demystifying when you step inside the mind of an artist. I say demystifying because inevitably, the life altering moment or thought that you created might not have actually been intended to be life-altering at all. Isn't that the beauty of art? I, myself have been on the other end - producing choreographed performance art, sculptures and dances that speak the words of my soul only to be floored when someone comes up to me and tells me a completely different story. It happens and therefore when it comes to Steven Tyler - it is destined to happen in this book. Is it still a fun and enlightening read? Absolutely!

The Point - 9/10
All non-fiction books usually have a point they are trying to get across and Tyler lets you see it right away...you have no idea what the world of rock and roll holds. All of the rumors are usually true. All of the drugs and the accessibility of them is crazy. And great friends do not necessarily make great music...or maybe it's great artists make great music but not necessarily great friends. The point is that everybody wants a chance to be a fly on the wall of a rock star - here ya go!

The Delivery - 8/10
Steven Tyler is a rock star - he writes lyrics and melodies that are timeless. But you can believe that he does not think along a linear fashion so his book most definately will not follow a pretty, straight line. It jumps and dives and meanders around his crazy thing called life but does it well (props to his ghost writer or editor). Do you get a feel for what it's like to BE Steven Tyler? Absolutely, and isn't that the point?

Quotable Moments - 8/10
There are plenty of "aha" moments within the book - some not so quotable because of the content or language but plenty that make you sit back and say - that's what you have to remember when you're trying to be someone unusual.

Conclusion
If you love Aerosmith, Steven Tyler, Rock and Roll or just seeing the "behind the scenes" working of an artist - you'll enjoy it. If you are sensitive to language, sex or drugs - you won't.

Buy the book on GoodReads or Barnes & Nobel here.

Learn more about Ashlei Ryan Jackson

Book Review: The Last Romanov by Dora Levy Mossanen

2012-09-18T20:50:00.000-07:00

Plot Summary - From GoodReads.com

For almost a century, Imperial Russia has captivated the imagination- the ruthless execution of the royal family, the disputed survival of the heir: it's a cinematic chaos that the masterful Dora Levy Mossanen unravels for her readers. Taking readers deep into tarnished grandeur, The Last Romanov follows Darya, a wise old beauty whose time spent with the Imperial family has haunted her entire life. When the murderous events unfold, Darya is plagued by the prophecy made by the Empress's advisor, Rasputin. She must find the missing Tsarevich Alexis Romanov and restore the monarchy or risk losing her own life.

Ink Thoughts Review
I will admit that I did not seek out this book - it found me via a Nook suggested (and featured) read. I've been reading mystery, action, romance and fantasy so I thought a historical fiction could be a refreshing change of pace. A change of pace it was - refreshing? Not so much. Perhaps I am jaded into enjoying novels that move at a pace that moreso resembles a tiger than a sloth. I'm fine with slow, stealthy stalking but monotone does become...well monotanous.

Characters - 6/10
I will admit that reading this book did give me a greater understanding of who the Romanovs were. With all of the mysticism and rumor that surrounds their legend, it's easy to forget that they were real, flesh and blood - and very much slaughtered. I came away feeling sorry for this family and the tragedy that hovered around them. I was, however, less attached to the characters of this novel. The protagonist, Darya, while odd, was not enchanting. Her passions fell flat and her obsessions lacked depth. Everyone in the story felt two dimensional - even if the scenery and architecture was heavy with detail and description. Perhaps, this is because even if the synopsis above makes it sound like Darya's "life" is at stake - I never got that sense of impending doom. A side effect of an historical fiction novel sticking to the real life events perhaps? I'm not sure.

Plot - 8/10
Yes, the plot is tedious but that doesn't mean it is not well crafted. Mossanen does manage to weave a tapestry of real events and imagined ones that come together by the end of her tale. Could the action have quickened? Yes. Was the story completed with a sense of satisfaction? Mostly - I did feel like the final moments were abrupt and unclear.

Writing Style - 5/10
As you can see - I was not a fan. Perhaps, Mossanen was keeping true to the "Russian" style of thinking, writing, whatever - it was dull. She spent paragraphs describing ornamentation of a miniature faberge egg which might have been interesting...the first time but her use of repetition became very dry. I also found the omnicient 3rd person naration to be distracting especially when it changed abruptly within chapters.

Conclusion
I think Mossanen put forth a worthy effort and weaving her own tale around the legendary Romanov family. It's not a read I would recommend to just anyone. If you love historical fiction - getting lost in the details of a different time and place - then go for it. You'll probably love all of the parts I glazed over.

Buy the book on GoodReads or Barnes & Nobel here.

Learn more about Ashlei Ryan Jackson

Remembering Nora Ephron, Screenwriter

2012-06-26T21:50:00.000-07:00

Nora Ephron, Screenwriter

Nora Ephron is well regarded for her sharp witted romantic comedy screenplays - notably Silkwood, When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle for which she was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay. From New York to Hollywood, from interning for President Kennedy to delivering mail at Newsweek - Ephron's background and life experiences have played a profound role in her success.

She was no stranger to heartbreak, fear or happily every afters but as we all know, she was a wonderous storyteller who could create compelling plotlines and charismatic characters. Her work has left a mark on so many lives. I could spout a collection of 'movie' lines made famous by her work that I will never forget but I think the part of her legacy I will always cherish was her ability to turn life experience upside down. She could take a moment that should have you in tears and make it funny. That is talent!

According to Wikipedia...

On June 26, 2012, at the age of 71, Ephron died from pneumonia, a complication resulting from acute myeloid leukemia,[14] a condition with which she was diagnosed in 2006.

Thank you Ms. Ephron - we are appreciative for your contribution.

Book Review: The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

2012-03-22T20:38:00.003-07:00

I thought the eve of the long awaited movie release of Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games was as perfect time as any to write my review of the young adult trilogy. My husband and I read the entire series together (out loud) over the course of two weeks. Would I recommend this? Yes and No. Go ahead and read it quickly - it's fast paced and easy to get caught up in. However, Collins' writing style and dialogue can be awkward especially when readling aloud.

Plot Summary - From Wikipedia

The story is written in the voice of sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives in a post-apocalyptic world in the country of Panem where the countries of North America once existed. The Capitol, a highly advanced metropolis, holds absolute power over the rest of the nation. The Hunger Games are an annual event in which one boy and one girl aged 12 to 18 from each of the 12 districts surrounding the Capitol are selected by lottery to compete in a televised battle in which only one person can survive. The series covers the events that spiral from Katniss' choices and her struggle to face fear, love and opression.

Ink Thoughts Review
I knew going in that this was a young adult dystopian series so I tried to maintain the perspective that Collins' may have intended her reader to possess. However, my husband and I were probably less than halfway through the first novel when we decided that although the main characters are teenagers - this is not a 'childs' story. On the contrary it is the story of being the generation that must suffer the curses of their heritage. Collins' themes are universal although you must fully commit to the idea that what has been happening to this faction of people has been happening for 75 years with no rebellion because the last was so brutal.

Characters - 7/10
My husband and I came away from the book differing slightly on the quality of the characters. As a woman, I became more and more frustrated with Katniss even questioning her motives on several occasions. My husband was more empathetic though we both agreed that Peeta and Gale could have had more depth . If we had glimpsed the nuances of their struggle (beside the obvious love triangle with Katniss) I believe we might have championed them more.

Plot - 10/10
Collins has a fabulous albeit morbid imagination that is displayed vibrantly in this trilogy. She truly painted another world even if we are faced with the daunting task of believing that our 'pretty little society' could have crashed to such a disturbing level. Her plot is engaging, entertaining and just when you believe you understand where it's headed, she laughingly pulls the rug out from under your expectations. As I said earlier - this is an easy series to read quickly. I did agree with some critics who said the endings of The Hunger Games and Catching Fire were too abrupt. I am certainly glad that the entire series was already published when I decided to tackle the novels because I would have been impatient to wait.

Writing Style - 5/10
Here is where the book fell short for me. The voice of the story is Katniss but the first person narrative becomes annoying. I grew tired of the "I say" and "he says" after each exchange of dialogue. Plus her sentnce structure was awkward in many areas - we noticed this expecially when reading aloud.

Conclusion
I think The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay are worthy of read though I would warn parents of younger children that the violence is too vivid and intense. I am a very visual person and I still wish I could remove some of Collins' images. For that very reason it is unlikely that I will ever read the series again expecially since I felt the ending was too abrupt to be fully satisfying.

But will I be going to the opening night of the movie tomorrow - of course!

Learn more about Ashlei Ryan Jackson

Creating a Fiction Query Letter

2012-03-14T11:29:00.000-07:00

Rome Wasn't Built in a Day - Your Fiction Query Letter Can Take Just as Long

I will go on record now and say I despise writing a query letter.

"Can you see my query? It's the little fish with the blue eye."

I have spent countless hours of my life creating, writing and perfecting thousands of words. My novel has been read and revised a half a dozen times just to be sure it's everything I want it to be. Now I sit staring at a single page of text - a SINGLE page - and I am experiencing pure frustration. I understand how people can get book deals for books they haven't even written because the act of writing a good novel versus a compelling query requires different skills entirely.

Now, of course I understand that a writer needs to be able to concisely present their book but a query is not just you "telling" an agent or publisher what your novel is about. No - a query is the sales pitch and since it will be entering an agent or publisher's life with a school of hundreds to thousands of others that look, on the outside, all alike - it will need to be the sales pitch of the century to get noticed. I'm not kidding.

Do I sound stressed? hopeful?

Actually, I am both. Why? Because I really do believe in my manuscript and genuinely want a career as a full time writer. I'm among friends I know which is why I feel the need to spread what I have gathered from my hours of research and transpose it here in one location. I may despise the query letter but I finally think I understand the heart of the beast.

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Is there a formula or layout for the perfect Query?
No, and this is probably a good thing. Agents and publishers would have more wrinkles and love their jobs less if they got 'cookie-cutter' queries day in and day out. You're query letter should and will be different in many ways but there are some do's and don'ts that I have unearthed on my journey to conquer submission woes.

The Do's - or more poetically...the things that will keep you from being tossed right away

• Make sure the agent or publisher represents your genre of fiction - As logical as it sounds, it bears repeating. Besides, you don't want an agent who doesn't know how to sell your style of book do you?
• Personalize every query letter - even if submitting to a generic agency email, tell them which agent you are interested in. Be formal - using Mr. or Ms. (not Mrs. or Miss).
• Include the title of your novel, word count and genre
• Briefly answer "Why them?" - do some research and know how your manuscript will fit with this agent or publisher's current array of work. Do you fit? Why? Again, 1-2 sentences which could also include why you believe your novel will be successful in the marketplace.
• One Sentence Hook (or pitch) - yes you have to be able to use one sentence to describe the character and plot of your novel. (Examples to come!)
• One paragraph that describes the main plot (4-5 sentences) - do this in a similar style of writing that you implement in your novel. If you use victorian language in your historical romance - keep it up here BUT still cover your setting, character, turning point, rising action, climax, falling action and resoltuion into this paragraph. I know what you're thinking - I hate it too!
• 1-2 Sentences about you - Do not spill your life story - just what we need to know like education or career and if/how they tie into your novel. (ie: I'm writing about the exciting romance of bee keepers and low an behold, I've been a bee keeper for 20 years.)
• Say Thank You - it's called good manners.
• Offer the option for them to contact you for your COMPLETED novel - Yes, they do like the word 'completed.'
• Your Contact Info - whether at the bottom or the top of the page, make sure there are multiple ways to contact you (ie: phone, email, address)
• KEEP IT SHORT - after sifting through dozens of articles that talk about query letters, this is one of the plaguing issues that should be forefront in your mind. Everyone says, one page but I will take it a step further and say 250 to 350 words. That is much shorter than one page but almost every agent interview I read mentions that they want an author who understands 'brevity' - get to the point with precision and quickness.

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The Don'ts - which covers other tidbits to avoid.
• Overly kiss up - stay professional in how you present yourself. Even if this is the agent you would love to have, don't gush on why you think you guys are a match made in heaven. It might get you noticed but for all the wrong reasons.
• Use weak language - Using statements like "I think you might like..." or "I know I'm a first time writer but I wish..." will not help you. Be confident in your presentation. Remember this is a sales pitch. Believe in your product. If you don't - go back and revise again until you do.
• Hide the story - you might think that by keeping the story a mystery that you will intrigue the agent or publisher to want to know more - but this will backfire on you. An agent or a publisher wants to know the premise of the ENTIRE book so they can judge whether you are worth their time. Again be confident that your plot is interesting and lay it out there.
• Step outside the box when it comes to format - if an agent wants you to send an email query, don't physically mail one in. Follow their guidelines (found on their company website) as well as keep the font and formatting of the letter professional and clean. Again, you don't want to stand out for the wrong reasons.

Conclusion
Writing a query can be painful but by the end you will have a greater understanding of how to approach your novel from a sales perspective. Keep at it. This isn't something set in stone so if something doesn't appear to be working, try a new tactic. It's possible that someone could ignore everything I've said and still get published. That's the nature of the publishing world and the more you understand the business of it - the better equipped you are as a writer. Good Luck!

Learn more about Ashlei Ryan Jackson

Writing Tools: Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents

2012-03-13T09:54:00.002-07:00

The manuscript is finished...edited...polished to a brilliant shine - now what? If you're an aspiring writer, I'm sure somewhere around page 50 you consider that someone at some point might want to read the labor of love coming forth out of your fingertips. Someone who doesn't love and support you.

If you're like me, there might have even been a point when you acknowledge that you really do want others to read your story but you are also battling with the rising amount of dread at the realization that getting an agent and achieving publication will be ten times more difficult than writing the novel. One of my first steps was a dash down to the bookstore to buy Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents.

First Impression...this book is HUGE!
Weighing is at close to two pounds and nearly 1100 pages - it is not something to be taken lightly...literally. The guide is divided into five sections covering differernt types of pulishers and editors as well as an in-depth look at literary agents. I will confess - I have not read it cover to cover. I'm not sure that it's intended to be that type of book. It's a guide which means I have poked around the variety of sections including a large portion on Advice for Writers to the extent that I believe my several spoonfuls have offered a well rounded taste of the entire soup.

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Why it's worth $29.99 USD
Jeff Herman has put his best effort forward to make this book more than just a monotonous journey of going from aspiring writer to published author. He interjects humor and asks many of the questions that we want to know. I have studied many of the profiles of the literary agents and I admit that after reading some of the answers to his questions, I have been able to discern what agents are not for me - even if they represent my genre. Perhaps when I'm desperate, I will send queries to these agents as well but in the meantime, I feel like my quest for an agent has been more productive.

As extensive as his questions and facts are, I still recommned firing up the search engine and letting your fingers do the work to verify that everything the agent or publisher claimed is still in play. Even though, Herman continues to publish new editions of the guide, there is nothing better than checking the 'real time' submission guidelines from an agency website. Think of Herman's guide as a compass that points you in the right direction but you still have to use your eyes and do the walking. The compass might say 'Go North' but if a mudslide has taken out the road last weekend, you might need to consider alternative routes.

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Why you might be disappointed
My main complaint is the formatting. The layout of paragraphs with bolded titles is not user friendly. When there are multiple agents listed under and agency - you might miss them because it's difficult to identify where one bio ends and another begins. The publishing section is a little easier to differentiate as he has added key symbols and dividing lines.

I also secretly wish he would give more meat to his query letter and synopsis examples. Even multiple examples would be beneficial. Herman interjects positive advice throughout the guide and offering examples of differing styles of queries would give you more of an idea of where you should be creative and where you stick to the rules.

A good portion of the guide is directed towards non-fiction which is great if you're writing that genre but if you're only interested in fiction - it will feel like you are sifting through a lot of information to get to the stuff you want/need.

Conclusion
Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, & Literary Agents is a great tool to add to your tool box. Use it to help you along your path towards publishing but realize that you might need more than one tool to get the job done. Would I spend the money again? Yes. It has helped me sift through agents in less time and with stronger confidence in my research.

Learn more about Ashlei Ryan Jackson

Book Review: Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann

2012-03-12T10:39:00.000-07:00

Ebook Cover from Wikipedia

Valley of the Dolls was written in 1966 by Jacqueline Susann and discussed everything that no one was supposed to talk about. From affairs to abortion to additction and sexism - there's little this book is afraid to say.

Plot Summary - from Wikipedia
In 1945, Anne Welles moves to New York City from Lawrenceville, Massachusetts, and finds employment with a talent agency representing the Broadway musical Hit the Sky. She meets Neely O'Hara (who changed her name from Ethel Agnes O'Neill), a vaudeville star living in her building, and recommends her for a role in the show’s chorus. Jennifer North, a showgirl with limited talent regarded for her beauty, appears in the play as well. The three women become fast friends. Over the next twenty years, the women embark on careers that bring them to the heights of fame, addiction and eventual self-destruction.

While the book is told from the perspectives of all three women (Anne, Neely and Jennifer), the novel begins and ends with Anne tieing up the idea that this is really her story.

Ink Thoughts Review
I found the premise of the story very applicable to current times. We have seen the effects of fame and prescription drug addiction even as recently as the death of singer, Whitney Houston and the struggling comeback of child actress, Lindsey Lohan. I found Susann's account of the whirl-wind lives of 'show business women' to be stunningly tangeable even as they became increasingly juxtaposed with pain and self-destruction.

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Characters - 8/10
I'm not sure I would classify the characters of Anne, Neely and Jennifer as 'likable' - indeed there was plenty to envy or even despise of each woman by the end of the novel - but... they were real. Among the pages of Susann's meandering plot, these women were living and breathing because she did keep us at a distance as many women in 1966 would have actually felt about three vibrantly attractive and successful ladies who conquered Broadway, Hollywood, Television and international fame. In fact, that added to my feelings of helplessness as a friend would feel watching someone they know and love spiral out of control. No matter how you might shout or beg or try to make someone understand - a person will do what they want. So no matter how I might have pleaded with these women to stop letting themselves be defined by the men in their lives or wish that they could see that taking 60 sleeping pills in one day is not normal - they continued on their path anyway as I'm sure Susann intended. Thankfully, liking the characters does not inhibit them from being compelling because as I finished the last page, even the last line of what was a draining experience to read Valley of the Dolls, I did not like them....but I knew these women and understood them beyond a shadow of doubt.

Plot - 7/10
I love reading the background of books or movies because I love knowing all of the behind the scenes that went into creating the story. Susann based many of the events and people within this book on actual personal experience as well as people she encountered. Somehow that knowlege makes the plot all the more tragic. Overall, I found the story to move along at a steady pace. She masterfully kept our attention wondering and delivered the creshendos with purposeful intent. She was not apologetic about the failures and successes these women experienced - indeed we admittedly understood that everything that happened to them occured because of the choices made by each.

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Writing Style - 6/10
I know many people have issues with the idea of multiple main characters or struggle with differing perspectives - I am not one of them. In fact, I enjoy and write from multiple points of view so I after reading several books from the first person perspective, I found this refreshing. That being said there were a handful of moments when the perspective appeared to change within paragraphs which was awkward and confusing especially if you weren't reading carefully. As well, there were several spelling errors that were distracting but again, I reminded myself that spellcheck was not around in 1966 when this was done solely on a typewriter.

Conclusion
Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann is as applicable today as it was in 1966. I am 30 years old but I found the discussion with my mother who read it when she was my age left us with similar impressions and social commentary leading me to wonder how far have we really come? It is easy to read although perhaps not as 'fun' as other romance novels claim to be. Read it with an open mind and I'm sure you will walk away considering how your own choices have reaped the life you have - good, bad and beyond.

Learn more about Ashlei Ryan Jackson

Plot Diagram - More Complicated than Most Triangles

2011-11-14T21:01:00.000-08:00

So it's one thing for somebody to diagram a sweet little short story like Cinderella or an overly well known plot like Romeo and Juliet but when it comes to your own fiction novel...the fog easily rolls in.

Why is that?

I think I've decided it has to do with details. When you write your own story, whether its a mystery or romantic fiction, you are suddenly staring at 300 pages of details that speak out with equal noise. You might know that the fact that your devilishly handsome protagonist dropped that note in chapter two just so the beautiful and sublimely naive love interest could find it in chapter forty-two but that oh-so-important detail stands out equally to the fact that she trips in chapter eight, he joins the glee club in chapter nineteen and for one hundred pages he has that one song stuck in his head.

My point is, the critical and important plot turning details that would stick out to a first time reader can drown among the everyday action that is necessary to make a story real. All of a sudden when you sit down to make that plot diagram, voices from all of the subplots seem to speak up for attention and your main plot is eerily quiet.

Am I the only one who notices this phenomenon? It takes me a few moments to silence the details and truly identify the spine of my story - which is there, holding it all together just like a good plot should. *sigh* Well enough of my rambling. Here is a good little plot diagram that I happen to like.

I think I enjoy the colors - I'm a visual person so I guess my brain responds well to this version.

Exposition - Everyone always defines this as the area where we are introduced to the characters, the location, the initial interaction between characters etc....which is accurate. But I also think it's important to note that you've got to hook your reader here. Even the coolest Inciting Moment (as mentioned next) will not resonate with the reader if we aren't hooked on the basis of the story. So basically, in my opinion, an Exposition needs to be informative...but not boring.

Inciting Moment - I sometimes refer to this as the first turning point. This is the reason this story is important and starts the action you will focus on throughout the plot. This is the moment that changed your protagonist's world from going along smoothly to the path that will be covered in this book. Some writers start their novel with an inciting moment and then flow into the Exposition - for others the Inciting Moment directly leads into the Rising Action.

Rising Action - If you'll notice by the yellow dots, the Rising Action is the culminating layers upon which your story is built. You may have small peaks and valleys in your Rising Action which is normal but you will continually raise the stakes for your protagonist to move your plot along.

Climax/Turning Point - I despise this part of the plot diagram because so many times it gets confused with the idea that there is the 'most' action at the climax. This definition is partially correct and yet not that simple. This is the moment the protagonist makes the critical decision that will lead to the end of your story and YET, the outcome for your reader may not be clear at that moment. BECAUSE when your protagonist makes that pivotal commitment to their decision, it is possible they made the wrong choice. Yes, the hero can fail and the reader will get to experience this agonizing tension in the falling action of the story. Can you see why this moment might be a little tricky to pinpoint and yet extremely important? *sigh* yeah me too.

Falling Action - Like I just mentioned, the falling action will be the area of the most tension and the directly resulting events that occur because of the protagonist's decision. Plus, there will be a good chance that the Antagonist will be working just as hard in this portion of the plot to win.

Resolution - This might be the part we all truly understand more than most. When you reach the end of your novel, you feel like throwing a party. It's over! And yet if all of the loose ends are not neatly tied up and the ending doesn't fit the anticipation you've built...you will be guilty of the worst single word adjective that no one wants used when describing their novel....Unsatisfying. Whether it ends the way they want or the complete opposite, a description like 'unsatisfying' or 'humdrum' means you didn't compel the reader. The ending should hit every note with conviction. There is no room for gray area unless its a small note to set up for a sequel. Even a first in a 'Series' should be satisfying to a level that makes the reader salivate to read the next one. Unsatisfying does not an avid fan make.

Well there you have it from my point of view. Happy Diagramming!

Watching the Story of a Fellow Blogger

2011-11-07T19:52:00.000-08:00

So I am watching the movie Julie & Julia which seems sort of funny since the main character is an aspiring writer. (I know, I know - I should be working on my word count. Book #2 isn't going to write itself) But anyway the main character played by Amy Adams says this line

"You aren't a writer if no one publishes your book."

I think I should go on the record that I politely disagree. Although, I have my own moments of doubt - I have received two "no's" from Agents already - I truly believe that I am a writer. lol Now perhaps, if no one wants to publish me...ever. I could concieve that I am not a very good writer but I am a writer nevertheless. My mother, the eternal optimist who could quite possibly make Pollyana look like a glass half-empty type of person - she would tell you that I have been a storyteller since I could talk. She would also say that it is their loss! You might think that is what mother's are supposed to say but my mother believes it - to her core! But it brings me to another line from this movie...

"I realized that this getting published isn't going to be so simple."

Well, I guess I already knew that...but here's to the road ~~less traveled~~ most traveled by those who do it anyway!

Plot Curveballs: Fish, Rain and the Release of Two Very Bad Men

2011-11-06T13:41:00.000-08:00

Today has been a great writing day. I was able to get up early and write in the peace and quiet accompanied by some odd glances from the fish and the drops of rain pattering on the skylights. Talk about the perfect melting pot for creativity eh?

So back to the writing...it is early yet in my second novel but by the end of chapter 2 - two very bad characters - Twin Giants - have been released from their prison. Perfect for tossing my 'good guys' plenty to consider and battle with. I find the more I write - the more I love action. Since my stuff falls within the 'Suspense' genre, I suppose it would be only natural that I would enjoy the Plot Curveball. I saw a perfect example in a TV show this week. The good guy did everything like he was supposed to and then at the very end, the bad guy changed the terms - throwing him a curveball so to speak - you think the ball is going to go one way and then at the last minute - the direction changes. My recent exposure to playing softball for the first time this past fall feels all the more apropos.

NanoWriMo's week one pep talk discussed adding ninjas - when in doubt - well I can't say that I am adding ninjas - my twin giants are actually very good looking albeit very angry but I think they will add energy to the story even this early on.

Here's to good action! Whether achieved by ninjas or angry giants or a very normal but inconveinant circumstance for your protagonist...it makes things oh-so-much more fun!

Day 2 of NanoWriMo

2011-11-02T18:22:00.000-07:00

So it's Day 2 of NanoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and I'm proud to report that my word count is exactly....drumroll.....ZERO! I suppose I should feel like a total failure already but to be honest this week has been a crazy mess already. It looks like it will get much much quieter which means that my big fat '0' will soon be a fleeting memory. The good news is that if we were to consider the number of ideas in my head regarding this month's novel....there wouldn't be a zero in sight! In fact it would scroll like the ticker tape on Wall Street. Perhaps this flood of plot action scenarios and potential catastrophies will drown my protagonist in some very interesting writing. We can hope right? Well, I suppose this was as fit a way as any to begin this blog...cheers to writing!