The Writing Bug

Touch of Power Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Dylan Book Reader) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:51:00 +0000

Post by Dylan

For the past year and a half I have run my own book review blog, Epic Book Reviews. So, this week I have decided to post one of my very own book reviews here. This one is for one of my personal favorite author's new book, Touch of Power. I have also done and interview with Maria V. Snyder at my blog, so feel free to drop on by.

Touch of Power is Maria V. Snyder’s newest novel, the first in a brand new series. Just knowing that Maria V. Snyder wrote this book means that it is going to be amazing, and I go into these books with a ton of expectations….Fortunately, Touch of Power exceeded those high expectations.

Touch of Power is about Avry of Kazan, a Healer, one of the eleven types of magicians, in The Fifteen Realms. Unfortunately for Avry a plague has run rampant through the land and the common people blame Healers for starting the plague that killed their loved ones. For the last three years, Healers have been hunted and killed. Avry has avoided being killed, until now. She is caught by the people of Jaxton and is due to be executed in the morning. That is until Kerrick, a leader of a band of men with their own agenda, rescues her and take her on a quest to have her heal his plague-stricken friend. Or that was the plan until Avry discovers this friend is a prince who wishes to take control of all of the Fifteen Realms.

This book was amazing, without a doubt. It was fast-paced and had loads of action, while not needing to rely on the romance subplot for strength. The novel’s action was superior to Snyder’s former books and had me turning pages. To have more action then her normal books was astounding, considering they are all very fast-paced. Touch of Power also contained so many plot twists it made my head spin. It was riveting.

On top of having a break-neck pace with a stifling amount of action, the world building in this story was amazing. This is by far Mrs. Snyder’s most original world to date, even better than Ixia/Sitia. While this was, for the most part, a typical medieval setting, the world itself was unique. I have never before seen man-eating flowers, except in Touch of Power.

Another component that blew me away was the characters. Maria V. Snyder has such a gift for characterization and creating compelling characters. Never have I read a book by her that has not had great, witty, 3-dimensional characters. And Touch of Power is no exception here. Avry is charming, witty and compassionate and the antagonist is downright evil, the type that makes you cringe because he thinks he’s doing the right thing. Truly wonderful characters in this series, and I expect great things to come from the Healer series.

There were only two things that bugged me. One, Touch of Power was predictable. I am pretty good at seeing where a story is going and judging what is going to happen. Some may still be completely blindsided by the plot twists. Fortunately, while Touch of Power had a pretty predictable nature to it there were still some surprises. The second thing was that the ending was semi- deus ex machina. I did understand that it had to happen, but I was not completely thrilled.

Besides that, Touch of Power is a promising novel that every fantasy reader should read. This book has action, betrayal, man-eating plants, tons of magic and romance. Touch of Power has it all and I cannot wait to read the sequel, Scent of Magic. Just from this installment I can see that this series has the potential to be the best ever, blowing away the Insider duology, Glass series and maybe even…dare I say it, the Study trilogy.

Check out my interview with Maria V. Snyder here.

Content:
-Language: There are some choice words, no F-bombs, and it is not used in profuse amounts.
-Violence: there is loads of action so yes there is violence and death and the such. None except for one scene which involves healing is particularly graphic.
-Sexuality: There are some implied scenes that start on-screen and innuendo, but besides that, nothing much past kissing.
-I recommend this for ages 14 and up.

My rating: 9.5/10

**Have you read this book? If not, is there anything, based on my review, that intrigues you about the book?**

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Writing Spoils Reading

noreply@blogger.com (Linda Osmundson) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:31:00 +0000

My name is Linda Osmundson. While Kerrie takes a break from posting the Wednesday blog, I'm filling in.

I wear many hats, among them – writer, reader, editor. As a writer and reader, the editor in me often distracts my mind as I read for pleasure.

Take for instance, as a volunteer docent at the Loveland Museum/Gallery, I’m required to read background material which isn’t always research. In the current exhibit, “Portraits of the Prairie,” watercolors depict the Nebraska landscapes which inspired the well-known writer Willa Cather.

I hesitate to admit if I ever read her books, I’ve forgotten. So, I checked out her first, Alexander’s Bridge. Right away the editor side of me took over.

Written in 1912, several things “jumped out”, as we say in our critique group. As a positive, she painted pictures with words. Each description left an indelible image.

However, her use of inactive verbs, “ly” and “ing” words, and her somewhat Victorian language distracted me - words like “jolly” and “gaily.” I reminded myself she wrote in 1912 not 2012. Writing has changed as has language. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the story by the time I finished the rather short book. Now I look forward to the other Cather books on my shelf.

Sometimes story overrides my editor instincts. Most of the time, I read to escape from research. I rely on “no think” or “chick lit” books which propel me out of the moment. Although I find a few “jump outs,” story pace helps me ignore them.

For some reason, editor tendencies disappear with children’s books. Are children’s authors more adept in their use of active language? Perhaps that is true. In children’s books every word must count. Word limits prevent excesses. And people think writing for children is easy!

All that said, do you find as a writer, writing spoils reading for pleasure? Does the editor in you take over?

9 Dragons

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 12:55:00 +0000

Post by Jenny

Today marks the first day of Chinese New Year, so here’s my second annual Gung Hay Fat Choy (best wishes, congratulations, and have a prosperous and good year) post. In case you’re wondering, there’s nothing in my heritage that warrants celebrating Chinese New Year. I do it because it’s fun and involves tasty food.

This is the Year of the Dragon, a revered and auspicious symbol in Chinese culture. Legend has it that Dragon has nine sons, each with his own strength. I thought it would be fun to apply the nine dragon qualities to writing. (As with all legends, there are different versions):

1st son loves music. Soothing, energizing, inspiring...whatever facilitates melodious prose. I like the sound of that;

2nd son loves fighting. Conflict in a writer’s life can be bad. Conflict in a character’s life is essential. Additionally, I hope I’m not the only one who feels the need to channel martial arts energy when confronting the evil foes Procrastination and Writer’s Block;

3rd son loves adventure and keeping guard. That strikes me as a good balance between risk and safety;

4th son loves howling. I don’t know about you, but some days, I just want to howl—in elation, frustration, or at the moon. Permission granted;

5th son loves quietness, sitting, fire, and smoke. Kids at school, me at my desk, a candle flickering nearby…that has the makings of great writing time;

6th son has strength. A general definition of manual labor is work done with the hands. That’s what writing is. Our work might not strain our backs or buff our biceps, but writers need physical, mental, and emotional strength. How else are we to put 90,000 words together in logical fashion?

7th son loves justice. Let’s hear it for fair treatment for writers everywhere, regardless of political and geographical boundaries;

8th son loves literature. It might be a good year to brush up on the classics; and

9th son loves water. Hydration, a hot bath, quiet time on the river, a fountain, and flow…all very good things for writers.

I’ve read a number of predictions, both wonderful and awful, for this dragon year. But I’ll leave you with this: The dragon is the only one of the 12 Chinese signs that is not a real animal, so in Dragon years, we may be able to achieve that which seems impossible.

What not-so-impossible goal would you like to reach this year?

Dream Journals- Handy or not handy?

noreply@blogger.com (Laney) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:39:00 +0000

Post by Laney

One thing I always like to ask authors is how they find their inspiration? And what advice they would give to new and aspiring writers, like me. On numerous occasions I have heard dreams as a major source for inspiration. It always made sense to me, but rarely had I ever experienced a dream where I wanted to jump out of bed and write a novel. Until early this morning (3:30 A.M. to be exact) when I woke up with a clear idea at the front of my head. The main character seemed almost to be poking my head, urging me to write his story. Of course, I was sleepy and didn't feel like writing a sentence let alone a book. So instead I got out of bed and wrote the idea in one of my numerous journals.

Before last night I had never seen the importance of dream journals. But now I see they make complete sense. Dreams are the being of our subconsciousness. They put thoughts together we would never think of on a daily basis. Journals become handy for that very reason. If you wake up and have an idea and your journal is next to you, you'll be more likely to write the idea down and in the long run, remember it. I'm guessing I've had a million great ideas when I sleep but I am too lazy to get my computer and write them down. Then the next morning I'm snapping my fingers in frustration trying to remember just what that idea was. But if I had a dream journal I would be excited to write the clever ideas my dreams provoke. In the long run, waking up at 3:30 in the morning, even though at the time it seemed horrific, helped me learn something that will hopefully better my writing in the future.

Conclusion: Dreams journals are handy (at least in my opinion).

What do you think?

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My Blackberry is Not Working!

noreply@blogger.com (Kerrie) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:53:00 +0000

We all love technology...when it working. A computer, the Internet, a smartphone, all of these things can make a writer's life easier. But when our favorite electronics go on the fritz, it can cause us major headaches. If this has happened to you recently (or ever), watch this video and hopefully it will cheer you up.

Click Here to see the video if you are reading this as an email.

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Dream On

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:55:00 +0000

Post by Jenny

Today, many of us celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the contributions he made to this world during his too-short life. In addition to the other messages of the day, I’ve found myself thinking about Dr. King’s most famous speech in the more general terms of dreams and how they shape our lives.

Judging by my dog’s behavior, I doubt we’re the only creatures who dream while sleeping, but it’s the nature of our waking dreams that sets us apart. The day dreams often have the element of intention that the more passive night dreams lack. Like most of you, I have dreams of a better world, of peace and prosperity for all. I also have more personal dreams for my family, dreams for my community, dreams that I will someday find the perfect boots that do not make my legs look like mushroom stems. (Okay, so that boot thing may not apply to you.) And, of course, dreams for my writing.

But how does a dream go from the state of feel-good brain fluffiness (I imagine dreams as so much cerebral cotton candy) to a tangible product or effect out there in the real world? It requires action. If Dr. King had written his speech and filed it away in a drawer, this country would be a different place. But as we all know, he took action of a most heroic nature.

All of this makes me wonder what action my dreams need. If I have an idea for a story and then write the story, that’s a great start. But if my dream is to have the story published, then I must continue to take action. Repeated action. Probably why-in-the-world-am-I-still-working-on-this? action. However, with luck, and perseverance, the process spirals, with the ever-tighter turns bringing me closer to my goal.

So, writer friends, in the immortal words of Aerosmith, “dream on.” And then act. It doesn’t have to be a March-on-Selma-caliber act. It could be as simple as committing ideas to paper. Taking a class. Joining a critique group. Attending a conference. Maybe, if some version of Sir Isaac Newton’s Laws of Motion applies to writing, you will be rewarded with an equal and opposite reaction.

(By the way, I’m giving myself extra points for mentioning Dr. King, Aerosmith, Isaac Newton, and cotton candy in the same post.)

What actions are you taking to further your dreams this year?

Revising and Re-reading

noreply@blogger.com (Kerrie) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:58:00 +0000

Post By Dylan

I will admit that I was drawing a blank when it came to blog topics this week. Well, I was until I read an article on author Kate Elliott’s blog. This blog was about the importance of re-reading and narrative. By the time I was done reading I knew what I was going to blog about: the importance of re-reading and its importance to the revising process.

While Mrs. Elliott’s blog was mostly about human nature and how stories can connect us all, that is not my message. She talked about re-reading stories instead of carrying on with what she calls the “what’s next” feeling (It is common now-a-days, and I am a major offender of this). This is when we do not slow down and re-read those books that gave us so much insight. Instead we carry on to read the next book and get the next thrill.

While I was musing over Mrs. Elliott’s words I realized what a source of inspiration re-reading can be. I reflected on all of the books I’ve read and the different point of view I would bring when I revisited those texts. That inspired me and made me realize that this process could become pivotal to revising, because when you are re-reading your own writing, you approach it with a different point of view because you are a different person than you were when you initially wrote your story. Just like re-reading one of your favorite novels.

I feel like we are constantly evolving throughout our lives, not only as writers, but also as people. So, when we look back on our old manuscripts, the most common reaction is, “what was I thinking when I wrote that?” Re-reading a book could do the same thing for you, putting the tale in a completely new light that can inspire you, allowing you to see intricate new workings in your story. Embracing this new point of view is important while editing because throughout the course of your second, third and fourth drafts you hope that your story is improving and becoming more in depth while your point of view evolves. Each draft sheds more light in a way you never saw before.

Re-reading a book can really grease the pumps for the revising process, because it now opens your eyes to that new point of view that has been developing. It fine tunes it so you can be better prepared to nit-pick the material in your prior draft.

So, next time you are thinking about the revising process try re-reading a book that inspired you.

Dylan is a writer and a high school sophomore at Erie High School.

Book Review: Why Women Need Fat

noreply@blogger.com (Kerrie) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 02:23:00 +0000

Post by Kerrie

Being the perfect weight is an obsession for many Americans, especially women, yet our culture as a whole continues to get larger, not smaller. In their new book, Why Women Need Fat, William D. Lassek, M.D. and Steven J. C. Gaulin, PH.D., examine this phenomenon by researching eating habits of other cultures, looking at our own habits here in the U.S. and by delving into the physiology of our bodies. The authors conclusions, while not shocking, go against many philosophies being touted today.

This book is fascinating and one I think every woman (and man) should read. It is not a typical diet book that says you must eat this on day one, cut out these foods, reduce your caloric intake and all that other advice we have heard; it is more about our eating habits, how those have changed in our culture over the last 40 years and how that has affected our waistlines.

I don’t want to over simplify the message in the book, because I think the authors do a great job in providing solid research to back up their findings and should be read in its entirety, but the biggest takeaway for me was that I should increase the amount of omega-3 fats in my diet, stay away from processed foods and go back to eating the types of foods my grandparents did and preparing them in the same way.

Like I said, the information in this book is not surprising, but for me, it confirms what I have believed for quite some time now; stick to eating whole, natural, unprocessed food whenever possible. I highly recommend the book because if enough of us read it and start changing our eating habits, then maybe our country’s obesity epidemic will become a thing of the past.

Have you read this book?

The Power of Words--And A Good Rewrite

noreply@blogger.com (Kerrie) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:35:00 +0000

Post by Kerrie

As writers we all know the power words can hold. This video not only shows that, but it also shows the impact of a good rewrite. Enjoy!

To view video from email, click this link.

The Color of Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:55:00 +0000

Post by Jenny

There I was on Saturday, sitting at my computer, trying to think of a topic for today’s post, and coming up empty. My holidays were good but unusually exhausting, my boys had careened through the last week of their winter break like jet-fueled macaques, and what I really wanted to do was put my feet up and scarf down a few chocolate chip cookies. But I hate to miss a post—and I didn’t have any cookies—so I sat and stared blankly for a while.

Quite a while.

Then a little voice in my head said, “Paint the wall.” I’d like to claim that it was a profound metaphor, an inspirational exhortation to graffiti my figurative wall of blogger’s block. But, no, I was thinking that I should literally paint the wall to the left of my computer desk. Even though I don’t particularly like to paint and don’t have much of a decorator’s eye—there is only one wall in my house that is not white, and although I like it now, I hated it for at least a month—this idea had immediate appeal because it meant that I could stop thinking about blog topics and instead think about paint colors.

After mulling things over for a day or so, I’m still attracted to the idea of adding some color to my basement work space. Maybe it’s a feng shui thing, maybe it’s a new change for a new year, and maybe it’s the fact that it’s such a small wall that even I can paint it without too much whining. So I think I might actually do it, if I can decide on a color. For 2012, decorators recognize that people are tired of doom and gloom, so the trend is toward vivacious colors—turquoise, persimmon, fuchsia, tangerine. Purple, the color associated with creativity, is also in vogue.

Will this small change in environment color my writing? Probably not. But will it color my mood and attitude? I imagine it will, though that does put pressure on me to choose a color that won’t make me want to throw up. So this week, now that school is back in session, I just might meander over to the home improvement store and see if I can find my color of inspiration for 2012.

What colors inspire creativity in your writing space?

When a Good Book Hangs On

noreply@blogger.com (Kerrie) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:24:00 +0000

Post by Kerrie

After months of coaxing by my daughter Laney (who is the scheduled blogger for today, but is recovering from a snowboarding fall where she banged up her knee pretty good), I finally read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Now, just like Laney, I am looking forward to the movie (You can see the trailer on her post From the Page to the Screen).

I started reading the book on Wednesday, stayed up until midnight last night and then finished reading it this morning. I haven't done that with a book for a long time. It hooked me from the beginning and held me tight until the end. And you could say it still has a hold on me because the world and characters Collins created are still hanging around in my head--and I am ok with that.

I love it when an author creates a story that is so good that I can't put the book down and it consumes my mind. Over the years there have been other books that I have become lost in and those are the ones that stick me. Growing up, the Little House on the Prairie books, The Chronicles of Narnia, Tuck Everlasting and a Taste of Blackberries made a huge impact on me. As I got older, I remember To Kill a Mockingbird, The Outsiders and the Grapes of Wrath.

Looking back over the past 20 years, I have read a lot of fiction books; some good, some bad, some mediocre and as I sit here thinking back, there are a handful that rise to the top and remain on that permanent bookshelf in my brain:

The Harry Potter Series
Jurassic Park
Snow Falling on the Cedars
Red Glass
The Celestine Prophecy
Secret Life of Bees
Water For Elephants

I know there are few more, but these are the ones that popped up first. These are the books I am grateful to the authors for creating and glad I took the time to enjoy them.

What books have captivated you over the years and earned a spot on your permanent bookshelf?

A Dozen Do-Overs

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:55:00 +0000

Post by Jenny

Happy New Year! Last year at this time, I had the number six on my mind (read that post here). This year, it’s the number twelve. Namely, I love the sense of accord that comes from twelve months wrapped up in the year 2012. And I’m apparently not the only one. In a quick search, I found 12 Must-See Skywatching Events in 2012, 12 Financial Resolutions for 12 Months for 2012, 12 Predictions for the Mobile World in 2012, a list of 12 classics to read in 2012, and writer Julie Hedlund’s 12 x 12 Picture Book Writing Challenge. (On a different note, I am glad that the list of Brands That Will Disappear in 2012 is limited to ten.)

I do realize that twelve months in a year is not a crazy new concept. The Egyptians did it, with 30 days per month and a 5 day party at the end to help square things with the solar year. The Romans did it, though their belief that even numbers were unlucky complicated matters and required the addition of an extra month every two years. Eventually Julius Caesar and his astronomer got things straightened out to the emperor’s satisfaction—and also set January 1st as the beginning of the new year. But by the 1500s, the calendar was again out of synch, and Pope Gregory XIII took drastic measures, skipping directly from Thursday, October 4 to Friday, October 15, 1582, and adding an extra day every four years.

Over the past few years—ever since someone apparently raised the speed-of-life limit—my relationship with the calendar has grown increasingly adversarial. Each flip of a new page is met with my protest of “I can’t believe it’s (fill in month name) already!” But this year, I’m going to try working with the calendar, not against it. Instead of looking back on the first day of every month and fretting over the things I didn’t accomplish, I’m going to look forward at all the potential the new month holds. Hopefully that will help me reevaluate, reenergize, and make a(nother) fresh start, especially where my writing is concerned.

Twelve chances to do things not necessarily right, but better. That—along with a Leap Day, the London Olympics (as a TV spectator only, I’m afraid), a family reunion, and that election business—is what my year has in store.

How about you?

New Year’s Resolutions in Writing

noreply@blogger.com (Kerrie) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:10:00 +0000

Post by Dylan

Seeing that New Year’s Eve is tomorrow, I figured that an article should be written about setting up writing goals in the New Year. As soon as that ball drops most people make resolutions for what they are going to do in the year to come. Some common resolutions are to hit the gym, eat healthier, spend more time with the wife/ husband and kids, etc. Those are great goals, but as writers I think there are some different things we should strive for.

My New Year’s Resolutions for writing is to finish my current novel by the end of January. Also, I wish to write an entire rough draft for a companion novel in seven months, that’s fast for me, as well as compete in NaNoWriMo.

The way I see it, it’s go big or go home with these writing resolutions. Aim for the stars when you’re setting your goals; reality is tough enough already so you don’t need to settle when creating goals. It might sound a bit cliché to say this but, if there’s a will there’s a way. And you have to get that will first by setting high goals. If you can’t reach your goals, so what! You will get more accomplished in not reaching your extreme goals then you ever will by accomplishing your mediocre goals.

So, together let’s make 2012 the most successful year in Northern Colorado Writers history. Let’s all strive for our seemingly unreachable goals and crank out those words, sentences and paragraphs. I know that all of us can reach our goals, no matter how hard they seem. This year, go against the grain and make writing part of your New Year’s resolutions!

What are your writing resolutions?

Dylan is a writer and a sophomore at Erie High School.

It's All in How You Play The Game

noreply@blogger.com (Kerrie) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 14:53:00 +0000

Post by Kerrie

For Christmas I got my family, Rayman Origins, a video game we could play together. After opening presents and enjoying a nice breakfast on Christmas morning, my husband and I and our two teenagers arranged ourselves in front of the t.v. to play our new game. For four hours, we sat there helping Rayman and his friends fight off crazy looking creatures, free trapped fairies, and collect gold coins. Then after dinner we played again for a couple more hours.

Even now, almost a week later, it continues to have a hold on us, as we play at least an hour or two each evening. So what is it about this game that draws us back day after day? As I thought about it, I realized it has to do with unlocking something new after we defeat a level and collect a certain amount of coins. We like the idea of exploring a place we haven't been to before, so there is always a carrot dangling out there in front of us. Because once we explore this new place, then another one opens up, then another and it just keeps going.

Looking back at my 14-year writing career, I would say these are some of the same reasons I have stuck with writing for this long and why I look forward to continuing with it.

When I first started out I had no idea what I was doing or where I was going (just like with our video game). I had come up with an idea for a children's picture book and wanted to get it published. I tried the traditional route and when that became a dead end, I went the self-publishing route. I collected many "gold coins" along the way by meeting lots of people and gaining new knowledge of this area of publishing.

Once I reached a certain level of understanding, another door opened and I was introduced to a critique group (which I am still a part of). This multi-genre group of writers opened my eyes to many new aspects of writing, but the one that grabbed a hold was writing for magazines. This new door opened and I ventured in to explore. I felt like I was in a foreign land and everyone spoke a foreign language. But I hung out there, collected more "gold coins" and eventually enjoyed the success of publishing articles in a variety of different magazines.

My success here, led to more doors opening and new levels to the "game" and throughout my 14 years it has worked out this way. I enter into an area I know nothing about, collect the knowledge I need through classes, books and conferences. I meet new people along the way and then find another new area to explore. This is what keeps me in the game; the idea that there is always something new to learn.

These days with digital publishing, social media, the Internet and new developments with technology it feels like more than just a new level I need to master, but it feels like a whole new game. But, as I have done in the past decade with my writing and I am doing now with the Rayman video game, I will stick with it, collect all the gold coins I can and look forward to where it will take me.

What "level" are you exploring now with your writing (essays, mystery writing, marketing...)? How is it going so far?

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Last Monday Book: Off the Page

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 12:55:00 +0000

Post by Jenny

I find myself in a state of disbelief that this is my final Last Monday Book post of the year, but seeing as how next Monday is January 2, it must be true. I’ve enjoyed exploring several new-to-me writing books and hope you have found something useful in these posts. This week’s book—Off the Page: Writers Talk About Beginnings, Endings, and Everything In-Between, by Carole Burns—seemed an appropriate title for this month when we are simultaneously bringing the old year to a close and plotting great things for the new one.

The book compiles many of the interviews author/editor Carole Burns conducted for washingtonpost.com’s “Off the Page,” The Washington Post’s online literary chat show. From the preface: “The combination of the freewheeling nature of the online world and the serious tone of the questions both loosened up authors and gave them the time and inclination to provide thoughtful answers.”

The informal format makes for a very fun read. Every page offers nuggets of wisdom, of inspiration, of decisions that might have been made differently, of celebration…and frustration. Reading the contributors’ thoughts on subjects such as "Haven’t I Seen You Somewhere Before? How Characters Come To Life" and "All That Jazz: Playing with Language and Style to Suit the Story" very much feels like sitting around a table listening to famous writers talk about their art over cappuccinos or greasy pub food.

General inspiration aside, what I found most helpful about the book was seeing that there is no right way to write. Sure, there are rules to follow, but the process can be as personal and unique as everyone who has ever sat down and said, “I want to be a writer.” If it works for you, do it, and don’t let anyone tell you you’re doing it wrong. And keep doing it. In the final chapter, Richard Bausch writes: “…there’s only one question to ask yourself every day: ‘Did you write today?’ if the answer’s yes, it’s the only question you have to ask.” If the answer’s no, then I imagine the next question should be “why not?”

Now it’s time for me to finish up the last few items on my Christmas to-do list. (Yes, I know Christmas was yesterday. It’s a blogging time-warp.) I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season, and I thank you all for spending time with me this year!

Shepherding Your Writing (revisited)

noreply@blogger.com (Kerrie) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 22:30:00 +0000

Repost by Kerrie
In honor of Christmas only 4 days away, here is a rerun from last year.

At church recently, the pastor was talking to us about the shepherds in the Christmas story; how they were going about their usual shepherding tasks when all of a sudden an angel appeared and changed their lives forever:

^{Luke 10}And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

After hearing the message and getting over the initial shock of what just happened, they decided to set out on a journey to Bethlehem to see for themselves what the angel was talking about.The pastor went on to illustrate how we can learn from the shepherds and relate this to our lives today and of course it made me think of writing. Here are the three points he shared:

We must learn to:
1. Face our fears.
For the shepherds this meant dealing with angels popping up out of nowhere. For us as writers our fears are the blank page/screen, rejection of our writing by editors/agents, and harsh judgment of our work. But if we let these fears paralyze us, we will never find what we are looking for.

2. Determine what it is we are looking for
The shepherds knew they were heading to Bethlehem to find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. They had direction and purpose. As writers we too must figure out what we are looking for. Is it publication? Writing a bestseller? Sharing information about a cause regardless of the pay? Making a living as a freelancer? Writing a memoir for family members? Whatever your goal is doesn't matter. But if we don't, figure out a goal, we end up frustrated and lost because we have no direction.

3. Be people of action
The shepherds did not sit around and talk about how great it would be if they went to find the baby. They got up and did it. I come across so many people who talk about wanting to write, but that is as far as they get-talking about it. Being a writer means you have to do one thing and that is write. Whether you set aside 30 minutes a day or few hours a day it doesn't matter, you just have to take action and put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard.

Do you know what you are looking for with your writing?

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Happy Anniversary, A Christmas Carol

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:55:00 +0000

Post by Jenny

In the car last week, after hearing “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” for the umpteenth time, my younger son asked me who would tell “scary ghost stories” at Christmas. The only example that came to my mind was A Christmas Carol. A few nights later, when we watched the recent performance-capture animation version starring Jim Carrey, my point was proven as the ghost of Marley rattled his chains and gave Scrooge the fright of his miserable life. The movie has its share of wonderfully creepy moments, which prompted my sons to proclaim it to be “a little dark.”

Well, it is a ghost story, after all. As Dickens wrote in the preface: “I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it.”

Dickens began writing A Christmas Carol in October of 1843. He took six weeks to finish it, and, after a few production disagreements about endpapers and bindings, the novella was released on December 19 of that year. (I think the guy was definite NaNoWriMo material.) The book was an immediate success, so much so that even the Americans, whom Dickens had alienated with some of his earlier work, fell under its spell. In the many years since, A Christmas Carol has inspired a host of adaptations for film, stage, TV, and print, including opera, graphic novels, more versions starring animals than I care to count, and most likely the story of another, much greener, holiday curmudgeon who sees the error of his ways (The Grinch, of course).

Though Dickens went on to write four more Christmas novellas, none achieved the popular and critical success of his first. I’m no Dickensian scholar, so I won’t delve into the particulars of the author’s life or the zeitgeist of Victorian England and its parallels in today’s society. I just appreciate the story for its most basic messages: Be generous. Be kind. Be grateful for friends and family. Celebrate. And if your front door knocker gives you a piece of its mind, prepare for a very restless night.

Do you have a favorite adaptation of A Christmas Carol?

The Haunting

noreply@blogger.com (Kerrie) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 16:00:00 +0000

Guest Post by Dean K. Miller

It was 1972. My family was visiting my grandparents who lived in the tiny lumber town of Coos Bay, OR. We were sitting in the second most forward pew of St. Monica’s Catholic Church. Inside the small stone building, the seating was half full, mostly young families like ours. We’d come to the “Folk Mass”, or as my Dad called it, “Hippie Mass.” Though similar in function of the typical Catholic Mass format, these services often had live performers who sang during the service.

Energized from the evening sun, the stained glass windows glinted in multitudes of color. The one nearest us radiated deep purples and blues into the sanctuary. Into this surreal setting stepped a young man, an acoustic guitar slung across his chest. Taking his place just right of the altar, he waited until the priest at the lectern nodded his approval. Anticipating something religious in nature, my ears perked up when he began to play. A revered silence filled the air, a knowing that this moment was special. His crystalline voice rendered The Moody Blues song, Nights in White Satin, as unique as it was beautiful. With only his voice and the guitar, he captivated the entire congregation.

I’ve been haunted by that beautiful tune ever since. Those four minutes created a lasting scene of texture and passion that transcended time and place. I wasn’t “at church” during his performance, but rather somewhere inside of myself, which then took me beyond my immediate surroundings. Its periodic play on my IPOD triggers memories of not only sight and sound, but also of the collective mystic energy the performer created. It’s the longing for that surreal feeling which haunted my childhood.

Recently I’ve been called back to a manuscript I’d set aside five months ago. Characters passionate for resolution of action and scene reached across the void, slipping into my creative conscious. No longer intent on remaining silent, they beckon me to continue their unsettled lives, vowing not to quit until their story is complete. The voices from those pages speak of a mother and daughter taken from the physical world too soon. Their non-physical forms have transcended to a place I know, a place I visited as a young boy sitting in that small church on the Oregon Coast. They are there, waiting. I know their story, but don’t know how it ends. Only they do, and their unspoken words haunt my unfinished manuscript. I sit… and listen, ready to hear what they have to say.

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Novel Writing vs. Short Story Writing

noreply@blogger.com (Kerrie) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:00:00 +0000

Post By Dylan
A Sophomore at Erie High School

As the end of the year is coming to a close and those of you who did NaNoWriMo are probably nearing the end of your books, I decided to tackle the subject of novel writing versus short story writing. Those of us who have written both know that these two mediums are completely different beasts.

I am personally more of a novel writer; that’s what I enjoy. I have more of a knack for it. Novels are longer-paced and require a lot of patience when writing. Versus short stories which are well…shorter, and they need a very gifted hand writing them in order to have a quality product at the end.

Short stories are jam-packed with ideas, and contain a ton of pay-offs for those ideas in a very short amount of time. With novels, the first third or so is used to bring all the problems to the forefront, then you have time for back story and after that you have the rest of the novel to find a resolution. Not so in short stories, where you have to bring everything to the front; have a climax where the problems are solved (or not) and tie everything up within a couple of pages.

Where short stories are harder to write in the sense of pacing and delivery, I feel plot is equally hard for a novel. Most writers can engage an audience and create a story for ten, thirty and even fifty pages, but can they keep that up for three hundred? This can be especially hard when writers not have a clear picture of the story in their head. My only suggestion is to keep on writing, and if you do, you are most likely to write yourself out of any corners.

While both types of writing are hard in their own way I think it is great to experience both types of writing. So novel writers, if you have an idea for a short story, go write it. Short story writers, if you have an idea that can be fleshed out into an entire novel, challenge yourself. I think all of us could really learn from stretching our imagination into a different type of medium.

Now, which do you like more: short stories or novels? Which do you think is harder to write?
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Your Writing Bucket List

noreply@blogger.com (Kerrie) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:15:00 +0000

Post by Kerrie

In the September 2011 issue of Writers Digest, there is an article by Elizabeth Sims on "10 Things For Every Writer's Bucket List." I enjoyed this short piece because it pushed me to think of my own writing life; both past and future.

Here is the basic list:
1. Publish a short story
2. Go to a writing conference
3. Freelance for money
4. Visit City Lights Bookstore In San Francisco
5. Write + publish an essay
6. Take a writing retreat
7. Write a Novel
8. Go to BEA (Book Expo of America)
9. Read Shakespeare
10. **Your choice

I like this list because I agree with many of the items on it and it made me consider some new ones. If a writer did everything on this list, I believe he/she would be a very well-rounded and versatile writer.

I have done 5 out of the 9 (since #10 is a fill-in-the-blank) on the list:

#2-I have gone to quite a few writers conferences and now even host my own. They are something I believe every writer should attend at least every couple of years. They help to keep current on what is happening in the industry if nothing else.
#3-Freelancing for money is something I have done for over a decade and really enjoy it. Learning how to craft a good article is a valuable skill for all writers and getting paid for it makes it even better.
#5-I love writing essays and am grateful that about a dozen of mine have been published.
#6-A writing retreat is a great way to recharge your creative energy and get a lot of writing done. I host one every year, so I get to participate each year as well.
#8-BEA, Book Expo Of America is an incredible annual event that I had the privilege to attend back in 2010 and wrote a post about it. It you ever get a chance to attend, I would highly recommend it.

As for the other 4 on the list that I have not done, the reading Shakespeare is probably at the bottom for me. I took a class on it in high school and it did not go well, so I have never been inspired to read his books again. But maybe it is time give William another try.

I have never heard of City Lights bookstore, but I am now intrigued and wonder what makes it so amazing. As for writing AND publishing a short story, that has been on my list for a few years. I have stories written, but nothing published yet, but that won't stop me from trying.

And the last one: write a novel. This is something I would like to do before I die. When will that happen? Not sure. Ideas are percolating, but that is as far as they have gotten.

My #10? I would say, publish a nonfiction book. I have many ideas in this arena and plan to make something happen soon.

Have you done any of the things on this bucket list? What is your #10?

Prioritization

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:55:00 +0000

Post by Jenny

Recently, my older son came downstairs wearing the long face of a middle-schooler with Saturday homework. “I have stuff to do for school,” he said, “but I don’t know where to start.” I wished I could tell him to forget about it, to kick back and enjoy being a kid because (in my eyes) his childhood is passing at a rate that would alarm even Stephen Hawking. Instead, I suggested that he eat a small piece of chocolate (because chocolate makes everything better, even homework) and prioritize his workload.

Upon further reflection, I realized that I should heed my own advice, for I am sorely in need of my own prioritization. I often feel that I am looking through a kaleidoscope at the jumbled-up collection of all the things I want and/or need to be doing. I know that some of those bright little bits are really worth pursuing, especially where my writing is concerned, but it can be hard to separate them from the rest of the sparkly mess. So I turned to Google, searched “tools for prioritization,” and ended up at this article at MindTools.

From the article: “Prioritization…is a skill that you need to create calmness and space in your life so that you can focus your energy and attention on the things that really matter. It is particularly important when time is limited and demands are seemingly unlimited.” If this does not apply to you, please toast your good fortune with a Mai Tai as you relax on your private beach.

The article goes on to offer a collection of Prioritization Tools, including Paired Comparison Analysis, Grid Analysis, The Action Priority Matrix, The Urgent/Important Matrix, The Ansoff Matrix and the Boston Matrices, Pareto Analysis, and Nominal Group Technique. I’m sure all these methods are great, but even trying to figure out which matrix would best suit me gave me an ache in my very non-analytical head. Just give me the one with Keanu Reeves, and we’ll call it good.

Instead, my chosen tool for prioritization in the coming year is the 2012 Writing Planner, created by Kerrie Flanagan and illustrated by April J. Moore. More than a calendar, the book is a “tool that provides you an opportunity to set goals, organize your schedule and your writing, and keep writing a main focus in your life.” I need help with all of those things, and I’m looking forward to using the planner to keep me on track. And thank goodness it isn’t called the Flanagan-Moore Matrix.

Do you have a helpful tool for prioritization?

Breathe

noreply@blogger.com (Kerrie) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 17:00:00 +0000

Guest Post by Dean K. Miller

I’ve carried my writing dreams as long as I can remember. They took a serious dent when I received some much needed, and brutally honest, criticism of a sample of my work. Prior to sending it out, I was thinking chapbook, gift book, or simply just paperback best seller. The return pages told a different story; so much red ink lined the pages it looked like the blood spattered walls of a desolate cabin in a slasher movie.

Fate smiled a short time later when, on a cold December morning, I stumbled upon the Northern Colorado Writer’s studio. That chance encounter changed the scope and direction of my writing path more than anything since the early 1980’s and my last community college level creative writing course.

Before long, I was attending NCW classes, learning how to blog, rounding up a new critique group and blazing my fingers across whatever keyboard I could find. With only one published article to my credit, it seemed piece number two was mere moments away. I could feel it.

Without much thought, three blogs, one book, two articles and 18 other fabulous ideas squeezed every nanosecond from my dwindling free time. I was never happier. Meeting 11 monthly deadlines engulfed my days and drove me to write. New ideas replaced half-finished first drafts and multiple flash drives did little to organize my collection of ill conceived storylines.

Then it happened; I began to suffocate under my self-imposed burden to produce more (which I mistakenly interpreted as a path to success.) Soon, a missed deadline or two didn’t matter. Shouldering my writer’s bag to and from the car was a close as I got to writing. I was acting like a writer, instead of focusing on becoming a writer. Something had to change.

Thankfully, with encouragement from a mentor and friend, I found the courage to let go. The book was shelved, the blogs came to an immediate halt, and I rediscovered my writing breath, simply because I chose to live outside my writing.

Is your writing allowing you to breathe freely, or is it time to un-cinch the noose you’ve hung around your neck?

.

New Wave in Writing-Fan Fiction

noreply@blogger.com (Kerrie) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:00:00 +0000

Post By Laney

Instead of writing letters or emailing the author, my generation has a new way of showing how much they enjoyed a book. This new wave is called Fan-Fiction. Simply put, Fan-Fiction is a new story, using the world or characters from a published book. Some Fan-Fictions pick up the story from the ending and continue writing it. Others may include snippets of a characters life we didn't get to see in the book, or may even introduce new characters into that book's world.

Fan-Fiction has become a major phenomenon in the past few years.There are now various websites where Fan-Fiction may be posted and read by other lovers of this new genre. One of the most popular websites is http://www.fanfiction.net/. This website is filled with thousands of Fan-Fictions.

As I looked through the website, I discovered that the more popular the book is the more Fan-Fictions it will have. Books like Twilight and the Hunger Games each have thousands of fan-made stories. But even smaller stories have a collection written by their most loyal fans. Sometimes you may have to dig through the thousands of stories before you find one that is a beautiful piece of writing, but it is usually worth it.

Most stories are not written by authors, or even those who like to write. But I think Fan-Fiction is a great way to show your love and understanding of a book and a way to show authors you cared about the hard work they put into their books.

Fan-Fiction isn't just a way to show your appreciation for a book, but it can also be a great writing exercise. If you already have the characters and world created for you, all you have to do is come up with a fabulous plot. It's a way to get your brain working with story line, instead of focusing on character development and setting.

So if you hit a huge wall of writers block, maybe try picking up your favorite book and taking an hour to write a Fan-Fiction. You could even post it online if your proud of it.

Have you ever written or read any Fan Fiction?

When Bad Writing Gets Published

noreply@blogger.com (Kerrie) — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 23:29:00 +0000

Post by Kerrie

We have all had the experience where we read a book, an article, a short story… and we say to ourselves, “I can write better than that.” And we wonder why that got published when all we have is a stack of rejection letters.

Why does bad writing get published? Because what makes writing good or bad is completely subjective. It all someone’s opinion and that is where the challenge lies in getting published. Stephanie Meyer is not the best writer in the world, and many critiques were quick to point that out. But, whether or not her writing was good or bad is pointless to argue. The Twilight series clearly resonated with teenage girls across the country and they loved the story.

But, not all is lost if we find ourselves reading something we feel a 5th grader could have done a better job writing. We can use these “bad” writing examples as tools to help us grow as writers. Instead of just throwing the piece aside, study it. Why did you think it was bad? What would you have done differently? Then you can even take it a step further and rewrite parts of it.

One of my favorite “bad” books is the bestselling novel, “The Bridges of Madison County.” How it got to be a bestseller is beyond me, but that is just my opinion. Many others obviously felt different about it.

Here is an excerpt from the book:
Kincaid wore faded Levi’s, well-used Red Wing field boots, a khaki shirt, and orange suspenders. On his wide leather belt was fastened a Swiss Army knife in its own case. He looked at his watch: eight-seventeen. The truck started on the second try, and he backed out, shifted gears, and moved slowly down the alley under hazy sun. Through the streets of Bellingham he went, heading south on Washington 11, running along the coast of Puget Sound for a few miles, then following the highway as it swung east a little before meeting U.S. Route 20.

Turning into the sun, he began the long, winding drive through the Cascades. He liked this country and felt unpressed, stopping now and then to make notes about interesting possibilities for future expeditions or to shoot what he called “memory snapshots.” …

This description and telling goes on for pages and pages. In fact, it goes on throughout the whole book, which is the main reason I don’t like it. I am not one for drawn out descriptions. I don’t really care that his Swiss Army knife had its own case and I really don’t care that he went south on Washington 11 or any of the other roads.

If I was to rewrite it, I would cut a bunch out. Here is what I would say:
Kincaid tossed his knapsack on the seat next to him of his Chevy pickup. A quick scan of the cab reassured him he had everything he needed for his trip from Bellingham to Duluth. The truck started on the second try and he headed down the alley under the hazy morning sun.

Bam! Right to the point and we get him on the road in a few sentences. (Some of the details I included were from some previous paragraphs in the book) My rewritten version isn’t amazing, but at least it isn’t laden with description. But by looking at what I didn’t like, I was able to discern what I felt was the important information, disregard the rest and really think about what goes into good writing.

So how about you, have you ever studied bad writing?

.

Monday Rerun: Turtle Power

noreply@blogger.com (Jenny) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 12:55:00 +0000

Post by Jenny

Wow, is it December already? I hoped the holiday blog fairy would bring me a new post for today, but no such luck. So, here’s a rerun from last year. (And yes, my son still gives me turtles.)

My younger son recently decided that I should collect turtles, and he should be the one to give them to me. The third I received from him is a stone pendant he found at one of our favorite local nature shops. The other day when I put it on, I realized that turtles and writers share some important traits:

We’re patient with a less-than-speedy pace. Writing can be slow. Revising can be slow. Editing can be slow. When the polishing is finally done, the submission process can be the slowest part of all. Thanks to email, some industry folks are quite quick these days—I once received a “no thank you” to an electronic query in the time it took for me to grab a ‘congratulations-I-sent-it’ cookie (which then became a consolation cookie). But many others still take weeks, if not months, to reply, which can test the most steadfast resolve.

We’re persistent. I’ve read that the jaws of snapping turtles sometimes don’t unlock even after death. Although this does evoke the unsettling image of me sitting at my desk in full rigor mortis with a copy of The Writer’s Market clamped in my hands, writers are well-served by that kind of persistence. Grab onto your dream, and don’t let go for anything.

We have thick shells. Even the personal, encouraging rejections sting a little. And the others…well, if you’ve been there, you know what I mean. A hard carapace is very useful for ego protection.

Turtles have been on this planet for 230 million years—ages longer than Euripides, Shakespeare, and Ray Bradbury combined. As one might expect from such ancient residents, turtles and tortoises figure prominently in myth and folklore from all over the world. They are generally seen as creatures of endurance, strength, longevity, fertility, wisdom, and perseverance. These are all qualities I gladly embrace as a writer.

I do have days when I wish my career would leap, hare-like, from the starting line. But for now, I’ll just keep moving steadily forward. And if I take some chances by sticking my neck out from time to time, I may find I was closer to my goal than I thought.

As a writer, are you a turtle or a bunny?