Julie Musil

Procrastination Station

2012-01-31T06:30:00.000-08:00

A few months ago I wrote a first draft and set it aside. In the meantime I worked on a big revision. But now the first draft manuscript is next in my queue. And I'm terrified to open it up. I haven't so much as glanced at it since I wrote it, and I have no idea what I'm dealing with.

So, what have I done instead of working on that draft?

Suddenly it's become important to me for my home to be clean.

Suddenly it's become important for me to prune my rose bushes.

Suddenly it's become important for me to go through that stack of papers on my kitchen island.

Suddenly it's become important for me to bring out my label maker and organize stuff.

I know exactly what I'm doing. I'm totally procrastinating! Why? Fear, of course! Fear of not knowing how in the heck to fix it. But I know better than this. I know that the only way to fix it is to just dive in. So that's what I'm doing today. Diving in. And I'm excited to experience the story again, no matter the hurdles.

In preparation (and procrastination), I've re-read these previous posts about revision:

Performing Plot CPR

Is Your Story Worth Saving?

Revision--The Long View

How to Avoid Avoidance

Why a messy first draft is a great thing

Emergency! First Draft Disaster

Three ways to give your characters True Grit

Dialogue--Make it Matter

Cliff, meet my good friend Hanger

Chop Chop

But wait...I need to prepare our tax information! Just kidding :D

Do you procrastinate when you're ready to begin a major revision? Or do you just dive in and go for it?

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What's the Story with iBooks Author?

2012-01-28T06:30:00.000-08:00

On January 19, Apple launched the iBooks Author app, which, according to thenextweb.com, "allows authors to create interactive works for publishing on Apple's new iBooks 2 platform."

I was curious about this new app, and did a little digging. Here are some details and early opinions:

From thenextweb.com:

"Armed with the new app, users will be able to choose from a template to create their books (much like the wizard in Microsoft Word) allowing them to drag and drop elements into the page and position them with ease."

"Similar to Keynote and Pages, authors can embed galleries and elements, but also include JavaScript and HTML5 code, providing them with the ability to deliver truly custom content from their computer or the Web."

GigaOM reported that Diesel Sweeties creator and artist R Stevens created an iBook over the course of one weekend. Roberts noted some positives, but also these negatives:

"...bandwidth required to provide the downloads is a problem, which could be overcome by selling via the iBookstore, but that entails additional costs and operating within the confines of Apple's marketplace."

"The other problem is with how iBooks Author writes to PDF, since Stevens wants to offer the collections to anyone, regardless of platform. Apple adds branding to its iBooks Author PDF output, which Stevens says is understandable since it's a free tool."

GigaOM also said this:

"...while Apple will let you distribute the book independent of the iBookstore, if you want to make any money on the product, you have to go through the iBookstore and the iBookstore only."

Techcrunch.com explained how easy it is to drag and drop:

"The process of creating an iBook is surprisingly straightforward. Creators can type their text directly into iBooks Author, but Rosner (Apple VP of Productivity Applications) noted that some people prefer doing their writing in a different environment like Microsoft Word. iBooks Author plays nice with those Word documents, as it automatically picks out and creates sections and headers from the text itself when the document is dragged into a new iBook chapter. Adding images is just as simple, as users can drag them onto a page while the text reformats itself around whatever you add."

How does iBooks Author stack up to the competition? Click here for a graph on mashable.com. At a glance it seemed to fare well, but all the colors and numbers threatened a head explosion, so I'll have to come back to those.

In this post and this post, the license agreement came under fire. Same with this post on thepassivevoice.com (the comments on these posts are also enlightening):

"As (Ed) Bott explains, 'The nightmare scenario under this agreement? You can create a work of staggering literary genius that you think you can sell for 5 or 10 bucks per copy. You craft it carefully in iBooks Author. You submit it to Apple. They reject it. Under this license agreement, you are out of luck. They won't sell it, and you can't legally sell it elsewhere. You can give it away, but you can't sell it.'"

This discussion is fascinating, and it'll be interesting to see how the whole thing plays out.

Before downloading the software, anyone who's seriously considering using this app should read The Fine Print of iBooks Author over at Writer Beware.

What have you learned about this app? Based on what you know, would you publish through the iBookstore?

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Communication

2012-01-24T06:30:00.000-08:00

com-mu-ni-ca-tion = the imparting or exchanging of information or news

If you're a parent, has this ever happened to you? It's Sunday night and you're told that a special folder or project is due the next day. Or you're told on Friday night that your child was invited to a birthday party the next day and they need a gift, pronto. How long had they kept this information to themselves? Days, I tell you. Days!

Ok, so sometimes kids have a hard time remembering to share information with their parents. These moments are yet another opportunity to teach this valuable lesson--communication makes our lives much easier.

It's been my experience that in real life, and in the writing life, it's so much better to know than to not know. Here are some ways we can improve communication with our writing:

Beta Reads

I'm still opening up on this one. In the beginning, when I read the work of others, I held back because I thought, What do I know? Something would jump out at me but I remained silent, fearing my rookie status hadn't earned me a voice in the process. But I was wrong. Each of us has a voice. Each of us has something to offer. Maybe my comment won't be helpful, but why hold back? That's not being fair to my writing buddies. If they're reading something of mine and something, anything, jumps out at them, I want to know about it. The writer then has a choice--change it or not.

Through Characters

Too often I assume the reader knows what I mean. All the story information that's accumulated in my head doesn't have to be dumped onto the page, but the necessary stuff should. A tweak here or there can clarify the message.

Over Communication Blues

I've also been guilty of beating a point over the reader's head. I don't want them thinking, I get it already. This is another area where beta readers make all the difference in the world. They'll holler when points are repetitive.

Sharing Goals

It helps when we share our goals with friends and family. This way they can cheer us on as we pursue our dreams, and lift us up when we experience setbacks. It also helps them understand why we might need to lock ourselves in a room and flesh out a scene or an idea. And if we're less than attentive at times, they know not to take it personally.

Do you have other ideas for improving our communication? Have you ever experienced a communication breakdown, either with friends and family or through your work? How did you resolve it? And will my sons ever get a handle on this communication thing?

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Character Inconsistencies & The Change-Up

2012-01-21T06:30:00.000-08:00

I recently watched The Change-Up, a wacky body switch story. Here's a brief summary from Wikipedia:

Mitch and Dave were inseparable best friends, but as the years have passed, they slowly drifted apart. Dave is an overworked lawyer, husband, and father of three children and Mitch is a single, quasi-employed man-child who has never met a responsibility he liked. To Mitch, Dave has it all: his beautiful wife and three children who adore him and a high-paying job at a prestigious law firm. To Dave, living Mitch's stress-free life without obligation or consequence would be a dream come true.

They get drunk, pee in a fountain, wish for the other life, and BAM! Switcheroo. Ryan Reynolds is my biggest Hollywood crush, so I can look past the predictable premise and constant F-bombs. I can even chuckle at the gross-out humor (I have three sons). But one thing I couldn't get past were the character inconsistencies.

Here's what I mean. *Spoiler Alert* In the end, as expected, the family man missed his family and wanted his old life back. He even volunteered to quit his job as a lawyer. His wife cried when she said, "I don't want you to quit your job. I just want you home for dinner."

Ok Hollywood, that would've worked if the opening had shown a negligent father who never spent time with his wife and kids. But the opening showed a father at home who bathed his twins while his other daughter read him a book. He was laughing and playing with his kids, and his wife was the one who arrived home late.

In one scene, there's even mention of a dinner song. Dinner song? If he's never home for dinner, how is it that they have a dinner song? Hollywood, if I'm missing something, call me!

The silver lining? 1) Gawking at Ryan Reynolds for two hours, and 2) I was reminded that the character arc needs to make sense. Yes? Yes.

Ryan, I still love you. No worries. But now I need to watch The Proposal again so I can get The Change-Up out of my head.

If you've seen The Change-Up, did this bug you? Have you noticed problems like this in any other movies you've seen? And if you have a Hollywood crush, inquiring minds want to know who it is!

Beware The Dream Destroyers

2012-01-17T06:30:00.000-08:00

"Dreams can come true; without that possibility, nature would not incite us to have them." -- John Updike

I recently heard an inspirational message about chasing our dreams, and I thought I'd share it with you. It was a reminder that not reaching our dream is better than not having a dream at all, and that we should be on the lookout for these dream destroyers:

Temporary Circumstances--Our present circumstances don't necessarily determine our future. Even if we're having a down day or disappointments, these circumstances are temporary. These problems will not be here forever.
Delays--If our dreams don't come true quickly, we're tempted to lose hope and give up. Or we may think it's not in the cards for us.
Doubt--When we're lacking confidence, it's easy to wonder if we can make this happen. It's possible others may even doubt us. For centuries, people have tried to put down the dreamer.

These dream destroyers can leave us feeling dejected. But we're imaginative. We're dreamers. So we'll keep on dreamin'. As Walt Disney once said, "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them."

Who knows what our destiny is, or which of our dreams will come true. Perhaps we'll even achieve a variation of our original dream. But one thing I've learned is that chasing a dream is a heck of a lot of fun, especially when I'm running alongside all of you.

Do these dream destroyers ever creep up on you? How do you put them in their place?

On a related subject, QueryTracker had an interesting post about Making Your Dreams Your Reality.

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Have you written The Worst Thing Ever Written?

2012-01-14T06:30:00.000-08:00

As I revised my manuscript--strengthening character, plucking out repetitive words, and deleting nonsense--I had the feeling I'd written The Worst Thing Ever Written (TWTEW). But it wasn't TWTEW. How do I know?

Readers--my talented agent and beta readers had caught plot holes and character inconsistencies. They'd questioned the time line and reminded me when an issue became repetitive. Sending our manuscripts to other readers is terrifying (or is that just me?), but it's a must.
Lessons learned--with each pass, I recognized things I hadn't known about before. We're constantly improving as writers, and as we read and learn and read and learn, we're able to spot nasty little problems and apply those new lessons.
"Once upon a time" to "The End"--after the revision, I read the story from beginning to end and became excited again. The disjointed parts were in context, and it flowed well. It was no longer TWTEW, it was actually pretty darn...dare I say it...good.

We've all learned that our original drafts are bad, but probably not as bad as we thought. And as we revise and revise and revise, our manuscripts are no longer The Worst Things Ever Written.

Do you ever feel like you've written TWTEW? (you haven't!) How do you remind yourself that it's not?

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4 Ways to Recycle Dusty Manuscripts

2012-01-10T06:30:00.000-08:00

You'd think I would suggest using dusty old manuscripts as doorstops or paperweights, but no. There just may be a happier resting place for an unpublished piece of work. Here are four suggestions:

Unpublished picture books--Consider cleaning them up and sending them to markets like Stories for Children, Knowonder!, or My Light Magazine. These e-zines are free, and you'd get paid little or nothing, but kids could enjoy your stories!
Unpublished nonfiction--If it's short nonfiction for kids, like a nonfiction picture book, consider updating the data and sending it to Imagination Cafe or the educational market, Viatouch. Again, you wouldn't get paid, but this is such a great way to practice writing and earn publishing credits. And you'd be helping kids in the process. If you write for adults, FundsforWriters is a great place to search for markets.
Steal a scene--If you've written a novel that will never see the light of day, but you love a particular character and/or scene, consider vamping it up and creating a short story. Especially if it's an unusual premise. It could then be submitted to an e-zine or anthology.
Create a quilt--If you've left a trail of unpublishable manuscripts, I feel your pain. But maybe there are exceptional characters or plot points from different pieces that can work together. Dig through old material for gems and quilt them together in a new manuscript. A fresh spin might do wonders for those old faves.

I have a few pieces that I'll be tweaking and updating, then sending off to new places. I figure why not? They might as well be read and enjoyed by kids.

Have you ever recycled material from unpublished manuscripts? Did your favorite character find a home in a new story, or did your nonfiction piece satisfy hungry readers? If you can think of other ways to recycle dusty material, please share!

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What Costco can teach us about writing

2012-01-07T07:00:00.000-08:00

The other day I shopped at Costco, pushing my flat bed cart throughout the store. It teetered with, among other things, six gallons of milk, two cases of bottled water, and four boxes of cereal. Three bunches of bananas precariously perched on top. We have three growing sons, and my Costco bill is frightening. I'm the lady you don't want to stand behind in the checkout line (I'm not cruel...I've let plenty of people go before me).

Anyway, as I maneuvered around a tight corner, I passed an elderly couple with--count 'em--three items in their small cart. They smiled when they saw my pile, and I envied their tiny bill. But here's the thing--there's always more than one way to view a cart, or a character, or a journey, and this helps us as writers.

The Cart

One way: Elderly couple thinks Poor dear has to feed those kids.

Another way: Elderly couple thinks Do you remember when our kids were home? I miss those days. The bustle, the activities, the noise. The laughter around the dinner table. I'd give up our small Costco bill in a flash just to have those days back.

The Character

One way: My character is too mean/nice/pretty/flawed. And I'm not sure how they should respond to certain situations.

Another way: Characters should be multi-dimensional. Like real people, they should react to situations based on who they are at the time. We have an entire story for their arc to run its course. And if the characters still aren't quite right? Luckily we can revise until they are.

The Journey

One way: I'm a new writer with no publishing credits. Who am I fooling?

Another way: I have passion, desire, determination. I'll work hard, learn, fail, and try again. I'll play with characterization, genres, and techniques. There are so many opportunities, and it's wide open for me.

One way: I'm published. I've achieved the dream. Now what?

Another way: I'm published! I've achieved the dream! I'm grateful, and looking for the next mountain to climb.

Have you ever analyzed a situation from two completely different viewpoints? What were the results? And is your grocery bill enviable or frightening? And isn't Costco's food court the best?

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Writing lessons learned from THE HELP

2012-01-03T06:30:00.000-08:00

I just finished reading The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, and in a word...wow. What an amazing debut. I'm probably the last person in the world to read this book, and I haven't even seen the movie yet. That's next on my to-do list!

From Goodreads:

Seemingly as different from one another as can be, three women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and the times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.

In pitch-perfect voices, Kathryn Stockett creates three extraordinary women whose determination to start a movement of their own forever changes a town, and the way women - mothers, daughters, caregivers, friends - view one another. A deeply moving novel filled with poignancy, humor, and hope, The Help is a timeless and universal story about the lines we abide by, and the ones we don't.

I learned many writing lessons from this book, and I'll list them all, even though it makes for a lengthy post. Here goes:

Create a disturbance in early pages. The book opens with Aibileen's normal world as a domestic. But on page 10, her world shifts when Miss Skeeter asks, "Do you ever wish you could...change things?" The seed is planted, and the story takes off.
Keep secrets. Stockett did an amazing job of keeping secrets, without annoying the reader. What happened to Skeeter's beloved maid? What was Minny's Terrible. Awful. Thing she did? Why did Minny's boss, Miss Celia, remain locked up in her room all day? Why did she wish to keep Minny a secret from her husband? Bit by bit, these questions are answered, but the author keeps the reader guessing at the perfect pace.
If you're writing a strong dialect, consider giving the reader a break. I don't know about you, but I have trouble reading a strong dialect. In the first chapter, when I read Aibileen saying, "Law, it's hot out there." I thought, Law, help me finish this book. But Minny's and Skeeter's sections gave my muddled brain a much needed respite.
Surprise the reader with a slow burn love story. When we first meet Stuart, we hate him. He's rude, disrespectful, drunk. Mid-way through the story, out of nowhere, he reappears. In one paragraph we change our minds about him. And then in another paragraph, later on, we change our minds again.
Use real life events as story backdrops. The characters bravely took on this book project, even though it would put them in real danger. And that real danger is evident because of the time and place (Jackson, Mississippi during the Civil Rights movement). Assassinations of Civil Rights leaders. Citizens beaten or killed. Knowing these real events took place adds an extra layer of fear.
Use one character to supply information about another. The story begins in Aibileen's pov, but she drops information about Skeeter and Minny. By the time their pov's are introduced, the reader already knows them well.
Each character must have "skin in the game." Aibileen, Skeeter, and Minny each have personal reasons for participating in their dangerous project. And Hilly has strong motivations to block them at every turn. The protagonists and their antagonists have conflicting goals, which adds drama.
Match up unlikely allies. Miss Skeeter, a white woman who lives on a plantation, teams up with Aibileen, a humble, motherly domestic. Minny, a spitfire maid full of attitude, and Celia, the boss lady from the wrong side of the tracks, earn each other's trust and loyalty. These odd couples add emotion to the story.
Use memorable, but easy to pronounce names. Aibileen. Skeeter. Minny. Hilly. Enough said.
Bittersweet endings have staying power. By the end of the book, each character's life is changed. But not all for the better. That's reality, and reality resonates. If the ending had been tied up with a neat little bow, it would have felt less personal. Less real. But the author tied it up with the perfect balance of sadness and hope.

Another lesson learned? That even a critically acclaimed bestseller has its haters. A quick Google search confirmed that not everyone was happy with this book. Something to remember when our skin is thin.

The Help was a beautiful story with so many lessons about writing--and life. Have you read this book or seen the movie? What was your takeaway?

And if you're interested, here's an interview with the author. These "how many times were you rejected" stories are so inspiring.

Horrible Poetry & Holiday Wishes

2011-12-17T06:30:00.000-08:00

'Twas the week before Christmas

when all through the house

Electronics were humming

especially my mouse

The stockings were hung

by the chimney with care

Revisions were flowing

as I typed with flair

Lights were not hung

and cards were not sent

But my muse had returned

from wherever she went

My children, I heard them

and all of their chatter

I stopped my revisions

to show kids they matter

The work will still be here

when school brings displeasure

But holiday memories

are something we treaure

So I'm closing my laptop

and paying attention

To prayers and laughter

and food, might I mention

I wish you an abundance

of holiday cheer

When the new year arrives

I'll see you back here

Writer friends, this was my lame way of letting you know I'll be taking a short blogging break while my kids are home for Christmas vacation.

But I can't let this year end without telling you how thankful I am that we're in each other's lives. You're an amazing group of people, and it's so fun to share this crazy journey together.

I wish each of you a happy holiday season, and I'll see you in the New Year!

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Enthusiasm--Bring It!

2011-12-13T06:30:00.000-08:00

First, I want to mention that I guest posted about flawed vs. unlikable characters over at Lisa Green's blog. If you haven't checked it out yet, come on over! Warning: Lisa's blog is highly addictive.

And now, on to enthusiasm!

When we're passionate and enthusiastic about our work, our manuscripts can shine. But if we're mired in a swamp full of rejections, revisions, or plotting obstacles, we writers can become discouraged.

So how can we retain or regain enthusiasm for our work? Here are some ideas:

Stay productive. Even when we're in a slump, if we remain productive and write through it, the good stuff will eventually flow.
Need a break? Take one. This sometimes contradicts the previous point, but when our creative brains are fried, we might just need a sweaty workout, a good movie, or an unhealthy dose of reality TV. And chocolate.
Revel in the success of others. Instead of feeling envious (I know, I've felt that way too) we should rejoice in the success of other writers. Heck, if they can do it, so can we!
Run your own race. A companion to the previous point. If we focus on our own road, our own journey, we're less likely to become discouraged. Eye on the prize, writer friends.
Consider no-pay/low-pay markets. These markets are hungry for submissions, and are a great opportunity to earn writing credits. Plus, receiving an acceptance from these markets can give writers a much needed boost of confidence. Funds for Writers is a great place to start, and if you write for kids, check out kidmagwriters.com.
Nurture your talent. When we read craft books, we're planting the seeds for success. Plus, successful authors of these books are quick to offer encouragement. Win/win.
Write with all your heart. If we try to fit ourselves into something that isn't a good match, we may lose our passion. But if we write what we love, something we'd like to read, our enthusiasm has a better chance of hanging on.
Daydream. Go ahead. It's one of our perks.
Remain thankful. Our skills, and the opportunity to improve them, are a gift.

Do you ever lose enthusiasm for your work? If so, how do you get it back? Please share!

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Act Now! Cyber Deals for Writers!

2011-12-10T06:30:00.000-08:00

'Tis the holiday season...time for peace, laughter, and shooting pepper spray into a crowd in order to snatch up an XBox. In the spirit of the season, I wanted to share some amazing cyber deals for writers:

Are your first drafts dreary?

Want to morph from Mediocre to Mama Mia?!

Look no further!

Buy our Better First Drafts software for the low price of $399

For an additional $699 you'll receive an upgrade to

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(Perfect first drafts are not typical, and cannot be guaranteed)

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Need an agent? No problem!

Want a book deal? Whatever!

Spot on the bestseller list? It's yours!

Movie deal? Do we look like amateurs?

All this for the low price of 12 easy payments of $999

Buy Success in a Box today, and your publishing dreams will come true!

(Happiness sold separately)

Anti-Rejection Pixie Dust

Never again cringe when you open an email

Never again hurl your laptop against the wall

Writers, you too could be rejection-free with just one sprinkle of our magic pixie dust

Only $299, plus shipping and handling

But wait, there's more!

Order within the next 15 minutes and receive a free sampling of

Great Grammar Goo

(Pixie dust and Grammar Goo cause damage to keyboards. Use at your own risk)

Feeling Generous?

On the first of each month, your wonderful writing friend can receive an acceptance letter, a call from a literary agent, or a contract from a publishing house!

Don't miss out on this limited offer! Order today!

(All calls are recorded, acceptance letters are fake, and contracts are non-binding)

So what do you say, writers? Are you ready to whip out that credit card and fill it up with these amazing cyber deals? Are there any other writerly wishes on your list? (These deals are not real, although credit card numbers are accepted...just kidding--not really--yes, I am)

photo credit for crazy shoppers

Write With Authenticity

2011-12-06T06:30:00.000-08:00

Au-then-tic: not false or copied; genuine

I heard an interview with Taylor Swift, and the questioner asked how she came up with ideas for her songs. Swift said, "I go to high school and write about it." And then she added, "And I try to write with authenticity."

Sounds so simple! Many of her songs chronicle high school angst, yet they resonate with people of all ages. It seems to me we could follow the breadcrumbs of her songs, and see what she was experiencing at the time it was written.

I don't have all the answers, but when I thought about what it meant to write with authenticity, here's what I came up with:

Be true to your writerly self

I'm amazed by the successes of fantasy and dystopian novels, but I doubt I'd ever write one. I marvel at the creativity involved in building a whole new world, and I'm impressed by those of you who write in those genres. I gravitate toward contemporary dramas, and know that that's where my authentic writerly self belongs. Not that I'd shy away from a different genre if I felt compelled to experiment with something new.

Your unique life experiences add value to your stories

I love the idea that only we can tell our stories. In her book Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott tells how she handed out a writing assignment to each student, and even though the topic was the same, she received a different story from each student. We each view life differently and handle situations in ways that no one else can duplicate. I love how this transfers to our writing. No one else can authentically write exactly what we've written.

Tap in to genuine emotions

We've each felt love, fear, shame, happiness, pride, and embarrassment, and sometimes it's easier to bury the bad stuff and only remember the good. But if we dig deep, remember it all, and write about it, our work will shine with authenticity. At least that's what I'm hoping for.

David Morrell said, "You have to follow your own voice. You have to be yourself when you write. In effect, you have to announce, 'This is me, this is what I stand for, this is what you get when you read me. I'm doing the best I can--buy me or not--but this is who I am as a writer.'"

Tell me, what does writing with authenticity mean to you? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

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3 Tips for Curing "Someday Syndrome"

2011-12-03T06:30:00.000-08:00

Have you ever suffered from Someday Syndrome? It's a pesky condition that can attack writers who haven't built up immunity. We may say to ourselves...

Someday I'll perfect my skills

Someday I'll finish a project

Someday I'll submit my work

When I was younger (ahem), I used to say Some day I'll go on a fancy vacation and Some day I'll take my writing seriously. The fancy vacation part hasn't happened yet, but circumstances changed and I had the opportunity and determination to attack my writing goals with gusto. My Someday had arrived.

Oftentimes "someday" seems more reasonable, as if things will get easier in the future. The kids will be grown, we'll have more time, or we'll strike it rich and be able to write while lounging on a Caribbean beach.

But unless we take action, "Someday Syndrome" will weaken us, and leave behind a trail of regret. Our "someday" is now, and here are three ways to put Someday Syndrome in its place:

Surround yourself with writers who are just as, or more, motivated than you are. My writing buddies *waves to Lisa Green and Leslie Rose* are super motivated, and we challenge each other and help push each other toward our goals. If not for these two lovely ladies, I might be cowering under my kitchen table, afraid to chase the dream.
Embrace mistakes. With each project I start, I keep thinking "this will be the one where I stop making mistakes." (Stop laughing! I seriously think this) Sure, I'm making less mistakes, but I've learned to embrace these errors, knowing they can be fixed. Fear of mistakes cannot hold us back.
Dive in and just do it! Having a "what's the worst that can happen?" attitude helps because really, what's the worst that can happen? If a piece is horrible, and we can't salvage it, we can consider it a learning experience. Not bad for a worst case scenario.

Are you still thinking "someday," or have you kicked Someday Syndrome to the curb? Do you have a cure you'd like to add to the list?

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Writing lessons learned from TENDING TO GRACE

2011-11-29T06:30:00.000-08:00

I recently finished TENDING TO GRACE, by Kimberly Newton Fusco. Here's a brief summary from Amazon:

Lenore is Cornelia's mother--and Cornelia's fix-up project. What does it matter that Cornelia won't talk to anyone and is always stuck in the easiest English class at school, even though she's read more books than anyone else? She feels strong in the fixing. She cooks vegetable soup so Lenore will eat something other than Ring Dings; she lures her out of bed with strong coffee and waffles. She looks after the house when Lenore won't get out of bed at all.

So when Lenore and her boyfriend take off for Vegas leaving Cornelia behind with eccentric Aunt Agatha, all Cornelia can do is wait for her to come back. Aunt Agatha sure doesn't want any fixing.

Here are some writing lessons I learned from this poignant book:

Create a sympathetic narrator. I know, I know. Obvious, right? But it bears repeating. Cornelia has a speech impediment, and right away the reader feels her shame. She's smart, but only the reader knows that, and we root for her from page one.
Create a quirky sidekick. In some scenes Aunt Agatha could be labeled the opposition. Her goals conflict with Cornelia's goals, but she does it with flair and good humor. She wears a giant purple hat and moccasins, no matter what the season. She eats fiddleheads, munches on sugar cubes, and drinks sassafras. You can't help but love her, even when she's not being nice to Cornelia.
Bind the two main characters together. Cornelia's mom has dumped her off with Aunt Agatha, and she has no choice but to live in a dusty old house with no bathroom. She struggles to speak, but is an avid reader. Aunt Agatha is strong-willed, but illiterate. They're bound together by circumstances, yet they find a way to help each other.
Postcards can add backstory. Cornelia's mom sends postcards from Vegas. Even though her messages are short, the reader understands that mom is a flake, she makes terrible choices, and Cornelia pays the cost.
Less = More. With her sparse style, the author created chapters that were sometimes only half a page long. One and a half pages at the most. But each small chapter is packed with voice and character. It made me wonder how much fluff was left on the cutting room floor.

Have you read this book? And what's a writing lesson you recently learned from a great book?

Writers--How to Entertain Your Future Self

2011-11-26T06:30:00.000-08:00

Reading through a first draft can sometimes be painful. I mean, some of it's ok, but some of it ...wow. So I've made a habit of doing something to entertain my future self. Maybe you'd like to give it a try!

I've mentioned before that I'll leave reminders to myself to (research) something later, so I don't slow my momentum. But I'll also leave snarky comments to myself, just for fun. Some examples?

(seriously? that's the best you can do?)

(lame. rephrase)

(boring! Ambien alert!)

(dud)

(too vanilla. add sprinkles)

(cliche)

(show, don't tell. Doh!)

(clunky sentence)

(what were you thinking?)

(redundant)

(weird!)

My goal is to have fun with it, and try not to take myself too seriously. When I go through it the second time, I'll at least have a good laugh while I'm trying to clean up the mess.

Have you ever done anything like this? How do you soften the sting of a read-through?

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4 Reasons for writers to be thankful

2011-11-22T06:30:00.000-08:00

At this time of year, a lot of people reflect on what they're thankful for. As a writer, I'm thankful I have a certain amount of skills. That alone is worth being thankful for. But these days there are other reasons why writers can be thankful.

More opportunities. The publishing world is shifting every day, and it's tough to keep track of what's up and what's down. But all this change is good for us. Writers have more opportunities than ever before. If Plan A doesn't work, try Plan B. If plan B doesn't work, come up with a Plan C. We have choices, and that's something to be thankful for.
Mountains of information. If our hearts are open to learning, there's an abundance of teaching material available to us--most of it for free. Authors' blogs, ebooks and paper books about craft, and links via Twitter. Sure, the amount of information out there can be intimidating, but if we sift through it all and find what works for us, we're connected with unlimited learning potential. Great places to start are The Bookshelf Muse and Writer's Knowledge Base.
Readers. If you're published, you already have them. If you're pre-published, those readers are out there, waiting for your work. Let's give them our best!
Each other. Writers are generous, friendly, and supportive. Being a part of this community is priceless. Feeling down? Need encouragement? Need advice? Throw your (edited) thoughts out there, and fellow writers are sure to offer just what you need. There will be days when you can return the favor.

What else can writers be thankful for? Feel free to add anything that I've missed.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

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String Bridge--A Book Review

2011-11-19T06:30:00.000-08:00

I recently finished "String Bridge," which was written by our fellow blogging buddy, Jessica Bell. The beautiful story, with all it's twists and turns, is still on my mind. Here's a brief description from Amazon:

Greek cuisine, smog, and domestic drudgery was not the life Australian musician, Melody, was expecting when she married a Greek music promoter and settled in Athens, Greece. Keen to play in her new shoes, though, Melody trades her guitar for a 'proper' career and her music for motherhood. That is, until she can bear it no longer and plots a return to the stage--and the person she used to be. However, the obstacles she faces along the way are nothing compared to the tragedy that awaits.

What I loved most about this book was how textured and real these characters were. Melody, Alex, and Tessa became real people to me, and I cared about what happened to them. Tessa, Melody's daughter, was a spirited little girl who added comic relief to the serious story, and provided a compelling reason for Melody to stay in her current life. Alex was the hubby I wanted to smack across the head while at the same time make him a sandwich. Their family life was complex, and there were no easy answers to their problems.

Most women can probably relate to Melody's feelings of love, loss, and regret. She compared the life she thought she'd live vs. reality, and experienced days when she didn't quite measure up. The author captured these emotions beautifully, and without giving anything away, she also did an amazing job of throwing in some wild twists. Like the ending...I didn't see it coming, and I absolutely loved being surprised.

Have you read Jessica's book? If so, what did you think? And if you haven't read it yet, here's where you can get a copy:

Amazon

Amazon UK

The soundtrack is on iTunes and Amazon

Jessica can also be found on Facebook and Twitter

Bio:

Jessica Bell is a literary women's fiction author, poet and singer/songwriter who grew up in Melbourne, Australia, to two gothic rock musicians who had successful independent careers during the 80's and early 90's.

She spent much of her childhood traveling to and from Australia to Europe, experiencing two entirely different worlds, yet feeling equally home in both environments. She currently lives in Athens, Greece and works as a freelance writer/editor for English Language Teaching publishers worldwide, such as HarperCollins, Pearson Education and Macmillan Education.

In addition to String Bridge, Jessica has published a book of poetry called Twisted Velvet Chains. A full list of poems and short stories published in various anthologies and literary magazines can be found under Published Works & Awards on her website.

From September 2012 Jessica will be hosting the Homeric Writers' Retreat & Workshop on the Green island of Ithaca, home of Odysseus.

Writing lessons learned from HATE LIST

2011-11-15T06:20:00.000-08:00

I recently finished "Hate List" by Jennifer Brown, and I have one word for it...wow. Here's a brief description:

Five months ago, Valerie Leftman's boyfriend, Nick, opened fire on their school cafeteria. Shot trying to stop him, Valerie inadvertently saved the life of a classmate, but was implicated in the shootings because of the list she helped create. A list of people and things she and Nick hated. The list he used to pick his targets.

Now, after a summer of seclusion, Val is forced to confront her guilt as she returns to school to complete her senior year. Haunted by the memory of the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, former friends, and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and her role in it, in order to make amends and move on with her life.

I learned several writing lessons from this amazing book, and here's a sampling:

Create a sympathetic villain: this is possibly the best example I've ever read. Nick brought a gun to school and shot other students in cold blood. Students who begged for their lives. He was a monster...we should hate him. But this author did an amazing job of showing Nick's pain, and how bullying transformed his life.
Use newspaper articles to provide plot and character details. Sprinkled between the chapters were newspaper accounts of the shooting. It was a clever way to add details without an info dump, and without taking away from the story. And each of the shooting victims was memorialized in the local paper, familiarizing the reader with the teachers and students that lost their lives on that fateful day.
Use old emails instead of flashbacks. During the police investigation, Valerie was forced to defend the email exchanges she'd shared with her boyfriend. They told the emotional story of frustration, bitterness, and hate without boring the reader with long, detailed flashbacks.
Mixed-up timelines can keep readers guessing. Sometimes I'm frustrated by a mixed-up timeline, but in this book, it kept me interested. It doesn't open with the shooting--it opens on Valerie's first day back to school. But little by little the author deftly went back to the day of the shooting, then back to the present. I was hooked.
Introduce characters, clues, and details slowly. A lot of victims. A lot of survivors. A lot of clues and details. None of this was dumped on me as I read the story. It drip, drip, dripped in, and I was able to absorb it all as the threads came together.

If you read YA, and you like contemporary stories, I highly recommend this book. Although it involved a school shooting, it was mostly a character story, and the author handled the violence well.

If you've read this book, what was your opinion? And if you've learned any writing lessons from a great book, please share!

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Patience--A Writer's Elusive Virtue

2011-11-12T07:25:00.000-08:00

Are you out of the closet as a writer? And if so, are there days when you wish you could jump back in the closet and board the door up from the inside?

Some days I feel like that. Why? Because now that people know I'm a writer, they expect certain things. Like, a published book. Well-meaning people often ask me, "So how's it going with the book? Is it published yet? Where can I buy it? And don't real writers have books out already?" (Ok, I made up that last part)

Times like this can be tough for writers, but it's also an opportunity to don our wrinkled, dusty "patience" hats. Here's three things we can remember to do:

Be patient with others

Most people who ask about our writing progress are showing genuine interest and are being kind. People that aren't a part of the publishing world don't usually understand how s-l-o-w it is. Just like I don't know how engineering or manufacturing works, most people outside the bookish loop don't know how publishing works, or the arduous steps we must take to reach our goals.

Be patient with the publishing industry

Agents, editors, and interns are hard-working folks, just like you and me. Reading through queries and manuscripts takes a long time. Heck, we know how long it takes to revise our own manuscripts, and these people do it all day every day. We don't want them to rush past our manuscript as if it doesn't matter. If they're taking their time with other manuscripts, hopefully they'll take their time with ours.

Be patient with ourselves

If we're constantly focused on all that we're not, we're ignoring what we are and what we've accomplished so far. Learning a craft and working hard to improve it takes a lot of time. Like, months and years, not days. So even though the process is maddeningly slow, and being patient is sometimes difficult, it's a good virtue to strive for.

Do you find yourself becoming impatient with non-writers, the writing industry, and yourself? If so, how do you handle it? And if you're already published, did you have your own moments of impatience?

And on a kind of/sort of similar subject, you might want to check out this post at Write It Sideways: Can You Really Call Yourself a Writer?

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A Love Affair...With Index Cards

2011-11-08T06:30:00.000-08:00

Writers love office supplies, right? We geek out at rows of bright highlighters, colorful pens, and blank paper. One of my favorite supplies costs less than $1.

It's another old school tool that I use with each project--index cards. You know, the kind you buy for $.50 at Wal Mart. James Scott Bell talks about them in Plot & Structure. I've become an index card disciple, and here's why:

They point to what's missing in my plot. Bell suggests that we write the following plot points on index cards: opening scene, doorway #1, doorway #2, climax scene. Spread them out on a table in this manner: opening, then a little bit of space, doorway #1, then lots of empty space, doorway #2, a little space, and then the climax scene. Doing this low tech visual trick showed me where I needed to insert scenes.
They're flexible. Want to move doorway #1 closer to the opening? No problem. Want to switch scenes around in the middle so that you're ratcheting up the tension? No problem. Want to add a scene? No problem. Using index cards makes switching up scenes an easy task.
They store valuable information. I not only add a one line description of the scene, but I'll also add the setting, conflict, emotion, and scene purpose. This reminds me what I need to accomplish with each scene.
They help with pacing. When I'd completed my cards and spread them out, I noticed I had too many scenes before doorway #1. This is only one pacing problem I encountered, and I'm sure there's plenty more, but visualizing each card as a scene reminded me that I need to get to the guts of the story quicker.
They travel well. I don't have to worry about WiFi or battery power with my index cards. I store them in a baggie and carry them with me while I'm in the plotting stage.

Those are my geekiest reasons for why I love index cards. If you use OneNote or Scrivener, you're probably laughing right now. I know, I know, it's so old school!

What's your favorite office supply? Have you ever used index cards? If not, what do you use to help you plot? And if you're a pantser, how in the world do you organize all that information in your head? Inquiring minds want to know!

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Not Easy...But Possible

2011-11-05T07:30:00.000-07:00

My family recently watched Soul Surfer. Based on a true story, this inspirational movie is about Bethany Hamilton, a young surfer girl whose arm was bitten off by a shark.

Bethany fought insurmountable odds, but battled her way back into the sport she loved and became a pro surfer.

Bethany spoke a line in the movie that resonated with me:

"I don't need easy. I just need possible."

It reminded me that we writers have chosen a goal that isn't easy. Our goal involves a tough industry that's constantly changing. It's based on the subjective opinions of other people. Are we crazy or something?

We're no more crazy than the people who thought we could walk on the moon. Putting books in the hands of eager readers is a bold and vital goal. It can be exciting, but it's also frustratingly hard.

But writer friends, we don't need easy. We just need possible. After all, if Bethany could surf with only one arm, surely we can handle a mountain of rejection letters.

Have you seen this movie? If so, what was your opinion? And do you ever feel like this business is just too darn difficult? If so, maybe these quotes will help:

"The trouble with doing something right the first time is that nobody appreciates how difficult it was." --Walt West

"Man needs his difficulties because they are necessary to enjoy success." --Abdul Kalam

"Where there is no difficulty, there is no praise." --Samuel Johnson

"Storms make the oak grow deeper roots." --George Herbert

"Difficulties are things that show a person what they are." --Epictetus

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A Writer's Notebook Trap

2011-11-01T06:30:00.000-07:00

I love to peek at the creative process of other writers, and I've even incorporated some techniques this way. I thought I'd give you a glimpse into something that I rely on...my writing notebook.

I put one together with each project. It's old school, unlike Scrivener, but I prefer something I can hold on to. I buy a simple 1" three-ring binder, and dividers. I take notes on a spiral notebook, the kind with the tear out sheets, and then sort those notes within the three-ring binder. It keeps me organized, even when my thoughts are all over the place. No idea can escape the notebook trap.

Here are some samples of divider tabs:

Characters--this is where character worksheets, character quirks, and character notes belong. If I forget what eye color my main character has, this is what I refer to. The name, age, and physical description of each character goes here, and keeps confusion to a minimum.
Plot/Scene Ideas--when these ideas pop into my head, I jot them down. I may never use them, but at least I've recorded them for future use. As I'm plotting, I pluck my favorite ideas out and expand on them.
Plotting Notes--each time I plot a new project, I refer to James Scott Bell's Plot & Structure. Inevitably I end up taking notes, and this is where I keep those scribbles. These are free-form notes, but I want to keep them in a safe place for future reference.
Clues--ah, this is a biggie for me. With each story, as I plant clues, I keep a running list in this section. Same with story threads. As I near the end of the first draft, or as I work through the second draft, I make sure to refer to this list, so that clues and story threads don't get lost in the shuffle.
Research--notes from books, or printouts from web sites, go here. Easy peasy.
Sample Lines--if an opening line comes to me, I'll jot it down here. Same with my sample log lines. It's helpful to see the sample openings or log lines morph from one version to another, tightening up along the way.
Agents--before I signed with my agent, I kept a section in my notebook for a list of agents. As I heard about agents that might be interested in my type of book, I jotted down their name, agency, and web site. When it was time to query my manuscript, this narrowed down my research phase.

So that's my notebook. What do you think? Not organized enough? Way too organized? Too low tech? Can you share a nugget or your process with us? It's fun to compare, or to borrow/steal ideas!

Facing Our Fears

2011-10-29T07:30:00.000-07:00

The view from our airplane

My three sons are working toward earning their aviation merit badges with Boy Scouts. Last weekend we went to a tiny air park and each boy got to ride in a small propeller plane. The pilots let each boy take control of the airplane during their flight--an amazing opportunity.

One of my sons was nervous and wanted to back out. I gave the usual mommy speeches. It'll be fun. You have nothing to be afraid of. If you don't go for it, you'll regret it later.

Imagine my horror when he asked if I'd go with him. *gulp* I'm terrified of heights--I hate flying in big jet planes, and even face the door when I ride in a glass elevator. I couldn't figure out how to say no to my son, because I'd been cheering him on and urging him to conquer his fear.

I reluctantly agreed and sat in that small propeller plane behind my 11-year-old son. Once we were up in the air, I heard the pilot's terrifying words, "Garrett, you have the airplane." My son squealed with excitement as he took control. He did a great job, had the time of his life, and was so glad he went. As for me, I hope to never again fly in a small propeller plane for the rest of my life.

But I faced a fear head on, and that was no easy task (amazing what we'll do for our children, huh?). It reminded me how we writers face fears every day. Fear we're not good enough, fear of rejection, fear of ridicule, fear of stepping outside our comfort zones. But we do it, even though it isn't easy. No regrets, writer friends. No regrets.

If you're like me, and facing fears, here are some quotes that may help:

"You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith" -- Mary Manin Morrissey

"Fear is a darkroom where negatives develop." --Usman B. Asif

"There are very few monsters who warrant the fear we have of them." --Andre Gide

"To fear is one thing. To let fear grab you by the tail and swing you around is another." --Katherine Paterson

"I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear." --Rosa Parks

Whether it's writing related or not, what's your biggest fear? If you've faced your fears, how did you overcome them?

8 Tips for Slicing Through the Research Jungle

2011-10-25T06:30:00.000-07:00

When you begin researching a project, do you ever feel like you're lost in a thick jungle and can't slice your way out? Me too. I actually love doing research, and have a habit of clicking from one subject to another, learning fun new facts. I have to be careful not to spend all my writing time doing research, because otherwise I'd never finish a project.

How can we avoid getting lost in the research jungle? Here are some tips that work for me:

Research as much as we can before writing the first draft. Not only does this arm us with important facts, but this research will likely spark new ideas to deepen our plot and character.
When writing the first draft, unless it's vital to the plot, do not slow down to do research. One trick is to type in (research) and follow up later. This prevents us from getting sidetracked during this phase and slowing down our momentum. Once the first draft is complete, we can find (research) and fill in the missing information.
Check multiple sources. One place to start is Wikipedia, although this cannot be cited as a reputable source. But at the bottom of the Wikipedia page there's a list of links and books that will lead us in the right direction.
Keep track of our sources. We can jot down book publisher information and page numbers on paper, and store them in a notebook. And we can create a new research file on our computer for each project and bookmark relevant websites.
Ask an expert. Most experts are willing to spend time speaking about their specialty. I wrote and sold an article based on the Sentinels who guard the Tomb of the Unknowns. Although I had done extensive research, the article truly came to life once I spoke with an actual guard.
Do a Google search for organizations that specialize in our subject. Often they'll have web sites with FAQ's sections, books on the subject, pertinent links on the sidebar, or discussion boards.
Search for personal blogs. If our research involves a human condition, it's possible there's a personal blog out there on the subject. I once found an online diary which provided all kinds of fascinating insight.
Enjoy! There's so much amazing information out there, and we're the lucky writers who get to gobble it all up.

Have you ever done research for a project? I'd love to hear what worked for you and what didn't.

Congratulations to our blogging buddy, Vicki Tremper, for winning our signed copy of Beauty Queens. Lisa Green, Leslie Rose, and I hope you love it!

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Would you rather...

2011-10-22T07:30:00.000-07:00

Recently I watched Romancing the Stone for the umpteenth time. It's a story about a romance writer who lives alone with cats crawling all over her house.

When she finishes a manuscript she pops open a bottle of champagne and shares it with her feline family. Soon the writer is launched into an adventure of her own, and falls in love with the rugged hero--someone who resembles the hunks of burning love she creates. *sigh*

Same with Nim's Island, where a panicky author is thrust into a crazy adventure to help find and save an 11-year-old fan and her (hunky) scientist father. *sigh again*

If I were dropped into a story, I'd want it to be in The Proposal. You know, the chick flick with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. Not that I'm obsessed with Ryan or anything, because my husband is awesome. OMG RYAN REYNOLDS!!!

I'd love to be the main character in that movie for a few reasons. She wears amazing clothes, carries swoon-worthy bags, and best of all...she's a book editor! Yep, she has the power, people. She reads books and decides what is or isn't published. I'm sure that's a heck of stressful job, but wow, what a feeling. Plus, Ryan Reynolds is her assistant! But remember, I'm not obsessing.

So writers, let's have some fun. Would you rather be dropped in your own story as one of your characters, or into someone else's creation? Which character would you choose, and why?

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Beauty Queens Extravaganza!

2011-10-18T06:30:00.000-07:00

My critique partners and I thoroughly enjoyed Beauty Queens, by Libba Bray, and have joined together to do a Beauty Queens extravaganza! Be sure to stop by Lisa Green's and Leslie Rose's blogs for fun facts about them, and for another chance to win a signed copy of this awesome book.

First, the writing lessons I learned from Beauty Queens (I had total writer envy while reading this book, but that's a subject for another post--or a therapist):

Brilliant covers help sell books. Seriously, look at that cover. A bathing suit criss-crossed with a sash and a lipstick bandolier? Totally awesome.
Crazy, seemingly unrelated storylines intersect to create a unique and clever plot. Beauty queens crash land on a deserted island. Pirates arrive. The girls uncover a conspiracy involving an Elvis-loving dictator. Bray's mind must be a fun, scary, brilliant, intimidating place to visit.
Fun footnotes are a cool diversion. John Green did it in An Abundance of Katherines, and Bray did it with Beauty Queens. For me, the footnotes didn't slow down the story. They added more hilarity, and again I marveled at the author's cleverness.
Campy, fun books can have teeth. Sure, this book might seem like it's only about self-centered beauty queens, but it carried strong messages about self-esteem, tolerance, and inner beauty.

Throughout the book, readers were treated to the contestants' Miss Teen Dream Fun Facts Pages. In an effort to either entertain you or embarrass ourselves, Lisa, Leslie and I are sharing our own fun facts pages. Here we go!

Miss Teen Dream Fun Facts Page

Name: Julie Musil (although if you visited my home, you'd think it's "Mom, do you know where my ___ is?")

State: California, where you're never too rich or too thin, and everyone has an agent or sells real estate.

Age: Are you trying to be funny? Is The Corporation selling anti-aging pills or something? I should totally sue them. *checks wrinkles in mirror*

Height: I haven't grown an inch since middle school. What does that tell ya?

Weight: See answer to "age". *checks rear view in mirror*

Hair: Are we talking roots? Or after I've seen the colorist? Just checking.

Eyes: Fine--like Elizabeth Bennett's (Mr. Darcy, call me!)

Best Feature: It depends on the day--either my positive attitude or my well-shaped feet.

Fun Facts About Me

At a whopping 5' 1", I'm the tallest female in my family. Seriously. One sister is 4' 9", another is 4' 11", and our mom is just under 5' 1". At least we never had to worry about wearing high heels around guys (Sorry, Nicole Kidman. That had to be rough)
I won't eat meat off the bone, and won't touch any seafood. Like, never. I'm actually squirming right now just thinking about it.
I forget serious, important information, and yet I remember useless stuff. Like Seinfeld-isms (yada yada yada, soup nazi, close talker), the Gilligan's Island theme song (Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale...), and commercials (Remember this chant? Big Mac, filet-of-fish, quarter pounder, french fries. Icy Cokes, thick shakes, sundaes, and apple pies).

Ok guys, it's your turn. We're giving away a SIGNED copy of Beauty Queens! Please tell us at least one fun fact about yourself in order to be entered into our book giveaway. U.S. addresses only, and the deadline is Monday, October 24th, at midnight EST. Good luck!

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Writing lessons learned from "The Rifle"

2011-10-15T07:30:00.000-07:00

Our sons are reading The Rifle, by Gary Paulsen, in class. Out of curiosity, my husband and I read it together in about two hours. Here's a quick summary:

A priceless, handcrafted rifle, fired throughout the American Revolution, is passed down through the years until it fires on a fateful Christmas Eve of 1994.

This was a cool, quick read, and here are a few writing lessons I learned from this book:

Multi-published, award-winning authors can get away with what most of us can't. If a newbie writer wrote a manuscript that devoted several opening pages to how a gun was crafted, I wonder if it would make it past the gatekeepers. Just curious. My husband was fascinated by this part of the book, but I was tempted to skip it and get to the conflict.
Consider a unique point of view. This book doesn't follow a specific human character. It follows the rifle from the time it was crafted during the Revolutionary War to 1994, when it's involved in a tragic accident. I thought that was a cool spin on point of view.
Weave historical details into a story. I applaud historical fiction writers. We all know how much research is involved in these types of novels, and now more than ever I appreciate the way an author deftly adds historical nuggets without slowing down the story. It's a good reminder for me to add research details without making my manuscript feel like a textbook.
The power of pacing. Without giving too much away, one of the final scenes involves the rifle being shot. The entire scene took two to three pages to describe in painstaking, anxious detail, but the actual time span of the event took less than 1.5 seconds. I held my breath during this scene, which is usually a good indicator that the author did a nice job of pacing.

I'm glad I read this book, knowing it's another opportunity to discuss this subject with our sons. Plus I thought it ended up being an interesting read.

Have you or your kids read this book? If so, what was your opinion? And if you're a teacher, do you assign this book to your students?

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The Doctor's Lady--Interview with Author, Jody Hedlund, and a Book Giveaway!

2011-10-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

Today it's my honor to host Jody Hedlund on her blog tour for her fabulous new release, The Doctor's Lady. The Doctor's Lady is a beautiful tale about love, tenacity, and selflessness. The main characters, Eli and Priscilla, are people I wish I'd known, and their journey west captivated me.

Here's a brief summary of the book:

Priscilla White bears the painful knowledge that she'll never be able to be a mother. Having felt God's call to missionary work, she determines to remain single, put her pain behind her, and answer God's call.

Dr. Eli Ernest wants to start a medical clinic and mission in unsettled Oregon Country. He's not interested in taking a wife because of the dangers of life in the west and the fact that no white woman has ever attempted the overland crossing.

But then Priscilla and Eli both receive news from the mission board: No longer will they send unmarried men and women into the field. Left scrambling for options, the two realize the other might be the answer to their needs.

Priscilla and Eli agree to a partnership, a marriage in name only that will allow them to follow God's leading into the mission field. But as they journey west, this decision will be tested by the hardships of the trip and by the unexpected turnings of their hearts.

I always like to share what I learned from each book I read, and in this case, I learned a great deal about scenes. Jody didn't give us unnecessary details about the main characters' adventures along the Oregon Trail. She jumped ahead to the scenes that mattered, and quickly summarized what had taken place before that time. She did this with such style and made it look easy, but we all know it's not.

Before we dive in to Jody's interview, I'd like point out what many of you already know--that her blog is the go-to place for writing advice that's humble, personal, and practical.

And now some Q&A with award-winning author, Jody Hedlund:

Jody, what was the inspiration behind The Doctor's Lady?

This book is inspired by the true life story of Narcissa Whitman, the first white woman to brave the dangers of overland trail and travel west. In 1836, she married Dr. Whitman, and then the next day left her childhood home and would never return for the purpose of starting a mission among the Nez Perce natives.

It was my hope in this story to bring Narcissa Whitman to life. This heroic woman has often been ignored and at times even disparaged. In reality, she exuded incredible courage to attempt a trip many proclaimed foolishly dangerous. It was called an "unheard-of-journey for females." Because of her willingness to brave the unknown, she led the way for the many women who would follow in her footsteps in what would later become known as the Oregon Trail.

What do you like most about writing and being a published author?

As a writer, I love telling stories. I especially like the feeling that comes as I near the end of the book when everything looks hopeless, the characters are in big trouble, and somehow I'm able to wrap up the book in a satisfying way. I call it the first-draft love affair! I fall absolutely and madly in love with the story and think it's the best thing I've ever written.

As a published author, I love hearing from readers. I'm always thrilled to get emails or hand-written notes from readers telling me how much my story touched them.

What do you like least?

I struggle the most during the editing phase of each of my books. The love affair that started during the first draft comes to an end. I fall out of love with my books. By the last edit--called the Galley Review--I finally reach a point where I loathe the book, think it's the worst thing I've ever written, and wish I could just throw it away. During the Galley stage, I'm fraught with insecurity and fear. My agent did a great job of talking me off the cliff during my fears with The Doctor's Lady. She encouraged and inspired me to keep going no matter what happens.

As a homeschooling mom of five children, how do you manage to find time to write?

It's definitely not easy. I feel like I have two very full time jobs! But like any other writer trying to balance dual careers or multiple responsibilities, I've had to look for ways to make it work. I've scaled-back on outside commitments and simplified home life as much as possible. I also stick to a very strict writing schedule when I'm in first draft mode. I block out writing time and don't let myself go to bed at night unless I get in my daily word count.

What advice do you have for anyone interested in writing and pursuing publication?

Write a couple of books first and unleash your creativity. Then start reading books that explain how to write. Study techniques, practice them, and keep writing. When you begin reaching a level in your writing where you think you're ready to start querying, get a critique partner to read your work, vamp up your online presence, and immerse yourself in the writing industry.

Jody, thanks so much for stopping by my blog and giving us a peek into your creative process!

Friends, one lucky commenter will receive a copy of The Doctor's Lady (US residents only). Please comment by midnight EST on Friday, October 14 for your chance to win this inspirational book.

Update: I've heard that Blogger isn't allowing some people to leave a comment. If this happens to you, and you'd like to be entered in the book giveaway, please email me at julie (at) juliemusil (dot) com and I'll enter you. So sorry!

Do you love historical fiction? What's your favorite historical novel, or your favorite historical figure? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Jody Hedlund is an award-winning historical romance novelist and author of the best-selling book, The Preacher's Bride. She received a bachelor's degree from Taylor University and a master's from the University of Wisconsin, both in Social Work. Currently she makes her home in Michigan with her husband and five busy children. Her second book, The Doctor's Lady released in September 2011.

Writers, what will be your legacy?

2011-10-08T07:30:00.000-07:00

We're Apple junkies in my home and, like the rest of the world, we mourn the loss of Steve Jobs. I wish I had even a small portion of his fearlessness. He was a visionary and a titan of business, and his legacy, to me, is immeasurable.

Here's a sampling of his inspirational quotes:

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma--which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

"We don't get a chance to do that many things, and every one should be really excellent. Because this is our life. Life is brief, and then you die, you know? And we've all chosen to do this with our lives. So it better be damn good. It better be worth it."

"Almost everything--all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure--these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."

These quotes remind me not to fritter away time, and to worry less about pride, embarrassment, or fear of failure. We're writers who are following our hearts, and that's something we can be proud of.

My amazing children are my legacy, but so is my writing. Whether we're published or not, our written words will remain long after we're gone. Articles, poetry, short stories, or novels will make some sort of dent in the world, even if it's small. That's a pretty cool legacy, don't you think?

If you own any Apple products, how have they changed your life? And what do you hope your legacy will be?

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Creating Heroes We Care About

2011-10-04T06:30:00.001-07:00

Today I welcome Veronika Walker to my blog! Veronika is a writing consultant and freelance editor, and can be found at her website, Inkwork Literary Services, on Twitter, and on Facebook.

Veronika's here to share some tips on how to create heroes we care about. Take it away, Veronika!

Some people call it the "pet-the-dog" scene. Whatever you call it, your story has to have it or your MC will be pretty shallow and forgettable.

It's the scene that makes your MC a hero, a pure, unadulterated hero that your readers will fall in love with in that instant. This is the scene that makes an assassin a man with a heart, a scarred man not a monster, a convict a guy you actually want to escape from Alcatraz.

It's the moment that shows the "nice-guy" side of your character.

How, exactly, do you succeed in doing this with your main character? I have one simple bullet point:

It's in the little things.

Honestly, it's that simple.

Why do we really like Rocky? It's not just because he's a down-and-out boxer with an unattainable goal; it's because he protects Adrienne and cares for her more than anything. Why do we root for Robert Stroud in "Birdman of Alcatraz" even though he's a two-time murderer? It's because he holds that little wet sparrow in his brusk and deadly hands so, so gently.

The reason we like them is simple: they show their nice-guy side. Readers want to see your main character's softer, caring side - even if only for a moment - because it makes them more human, more realistic.

Here are some ideas for "nice-guy" moments you can apply to your draft now. Have your MC:

Not just help a homeless person, but bond with them by giving them his/her own bed, taking them to the hospital if they're hurt, or sharing a quiet, personal moment about a traumatic experience.
Tell the antagonist or obstacle character that they forgive them.
Cry when they think about having to kill the bad guy and/or when they actually do.
Remember a special moment where their abusive parent took them out for ice cream and a movie, or held them during a frightening thunder storm.
Share a personal story with their lover or close friend/work partner/teammate that they've never told anyone before.
"Stop and smell the roses," perhaps literally. Find something in nature or some work of art that takes his breath away and makes him feel alive and full of purpose.
In taking care of a sick member of the family, feel the angst of not being able to take away their pain.

And there are plenty of other options, but the point is to make your MC fully human by not just showing off what makes him big and bad and extraordinary...but what makes him a feeling person, what makes tears come to his eyes, what makes him stop and stare and say, "That's beautiful."

Now, there's a trick to this. If you overlook it, these small, comfy scenes won't work at all. In fact, they'll make you look like you're trying too hard to make readers like the MC, and you don't want them to figure that out for sure.

The major trick is to take this small scene or scenes and make them drive the character. Let me show you how I did it in one of my short stories recently.

Cal's little sister is sick. He can't do anything to stop her disease from spreading or make her feel any better. His big brother protective beast is coming out...and it's the main trait that develops throughout the story. When Cal gets into a fight with the bully that's been tormenting him all year, he's not fighting because he hates the bully; he's fighting because he's angry about feeling powerless to help his little sister, and the bully just happened to get in the way and must now suffer all the anger built up in Cal's big brother heart. Later Cal gets infuriated at his parents for not doing something more to help his sister, even though he knows it's not really their fault; still, he has too much anger over his sister's pain to think rationally.

This one little scene, where Cal tucks his little sister in bed and does his best to be brave for her, is a window into Cal's soul, into what is actually making him tick as a human being.

And that is what makes him a hero that we care about.

Thanks, Veronika! Writers, have you created a hero? Can you share your tips with the rest of us?

And please feel free to visit Veronika's blog today, where I guest posted about Applying Writing Lessons Learned. Stop by and share how you put into practice what you've learned from craft books.

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STOP! Don't Make These Writing Mistakes

2011-10-01T07:30:00.000-07:00

We've all done it. We've made a mistake that's horribly embarrassing. Maybe nobody else saw it, or maybe only our critique partners saw it. Or maybe we sent that mistake out into the big, wide publishing world.

Let's have a therapy session, shall we?

Last February we helped each other by adding tips to the post Writers: take a tip, leave a tip (if you haven't visited that post yet, read the comments for some brilliant tips from fellow writers). What do you say we list some of our biggest blunders, hoping other writers will avoid the same mistakes?

I'll start with two of my biggest boo-boos:

I wrote a middle grade novel that included an adult's point of view. Yeah, don't do that. That book had many faults, but that was the biggest. Really, when you were a middle grader, did you care about the adult's point of view? Me neither. *hangs head in shame*
That same middle grade book started out okay in the first chapter, but the second and third chapters were exposition and backstory. Yep, as each character was introduced, I went on and on and on about who they were and what their home life was like. *snore*

Hey, that's what practice books are for, right? At least that's what I tell myself! Needless to say, that book will collect virtual dust on my hard drive forever. But I learned from those blunders, so that book was not a waste of time and effort.

Ok, your turn. What's the biggest writing mistake you've made, and how can the rest of us learn from your faux pas? Don't be afraid...we've all made some doozies!

Writers, are you running in circles?

2011-09-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

Do you ever feel like you're running in circles? Like you're stopping at the same Gatorade stations and passing the same landmarks without gaining any traction? Well, me too.

Maybe it's because we're so focused on what's in front of us--the current rewrite, the plotting snag, or runaway characters. Or maybe it's because something happens that makes us feel as if we're back at the starting line. Whatever the reason, here's what I try to do when I feel like I'm running in circles:

Stop

When we slow down or stop, we're able to see that these landmarks aren't the same after all. Our battle with exposition or telling aren't what they used to be. Our character development is no longer flat and uninspiring. Our skills are improved. Not perfect, but better. With each rotation we're widening our circle and gaining knowledge.

Reflect

We need to remember where we were last week, or last month, or last year. What's happened since then? How have we improved in that short time frame? We may not think it's a lot, but it is. Even if we're still frustrated by lack of polish, representation, or a contract, it's important that we pat ourselves on the back for all that we've accomplished.

Start running again

Once we appreciate our growth, hopefully it'll give us the extra boost we need to keep racing toward that finish line. We can't win if we don't play, so we must guzzle the Gatorade, shake the sweat off our limbs, and run another lap.

Encourage fellow runners

How many times did you feel like quitting until someone shouted at you from the sidelines? That's what we can do for each other. Each runner shares the same worthy goal, and it's fun to cheer each other on as we race forward.

It's easy (and I think normal) for us to get caught up with frustration and worry. But in my opinion, we need to remember that life is short, and to be thankful we're in the race.

Do you ever feel like you're running in circles? And if so, how do you handle it? We could all use some tips!

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Writer Rewind--Remembering Friday Night Lights

2011-09-24T07:30:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of hearing Libba Bray speak at a local conference. One of the many wise things she said still stands out in my mind--when writng for teens, it's important to remember. Remember how we felt as we navigated those tricky social waters. The fears, the angst, and the drama. And remember the good times, too.

Some of my favorite memories of high school are the Friday night football games. Now that my son plays on the high school JV team, I get to take a walk down memory lane each Friday night.

Kenny Chesney's song "Boys of Fall" opens with these words: "When I feel that chill and smell that fresh cut grass, I'm back in my helmet, cleats, and shoulder pads." For me, that sums up autumns during my high school years. Not because I played football, but because um, I was a cheerleader (no hating, please).

Here are some of my vivid Friday night memories:

Doing an offense cheer when we didn't have the ball. #fail. Sorry to say, I still don't understand the game completely. You could explain it until you're blue in the face and my eyes would still glaze over. But the atmosphere is fun!
My boyfriend (now husband) argued with players from the opposing team and got kicked out of the game. Hey, those players ran through our players' banner at half time, and that is a hangable offense in high school.
Fellow students talking trash about our team, no matter how well our guys played.
The marching band and drill team performing at half time.
Students hanging out beneath the bleachers doing who-knows-what (well, I know, but I don't really want to know).
Piling into the local pizza place after a home game.
The rides home from an away game were rowdy when our team won, and somber when they lost.

One of my characters is on the football team, and I hope I successfully infused some of my fond memories of Friday night lights. But no matter what, it sure is fun to remember those days, and to watch my son experience it for himself.

What's one of your best high school memories? And if you're still in high school, do you enjoy going to the football games?

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How to Avoid Avoidance

2011-09-20T06:30:00.000-07:00

My home isn't spotless...I think I've made that clear on this blog. But each room is tidy except for two--our kids' rooms. When I walk by their rooms I'm struck with conflicting desires...one, to step inside and tidy it, and the other, to close the door and pretend it doesn't exist.

Guess which one wins? Yep, I close the door. After all, if I can't see the mess, it's not really there, right? *head in sand*

Sometimes I experience these same feelings with messy parts in my manuscript. It could be a scene that needs tweaking, or an entire section might need reconstruction. When it's the latter, I tend to shut the door for a little while.

I'm no expert on this stuff, but when I catch myself avoiding a difficult writing task, here's what's worked for me:

Acknowledge the problem. It's a huge step in the right direction if critique partners, beta readers, or editors noticed a troublesome section or a tricky character issue. At least you have the benefit of focus. If you know something's not quite right, but can't pinpoint the problem, try running your manuscript through a scene grinder. I talked about how I accomplished this in my post about Performing Plot CPR.
Stew over multiple solutions. James Scott Bell talks about this a lot in his craft books. We need to give ourselves down time in order to work solutions out in our heads. Closing the door on my mess wasn't necessarily a bad thing as long as I kept my mind working on solutions. When ideas popped into my head, I added them to a growing list and chose my favorites.
Formulate a plan. How will you tackle the problem? Big issues first, then the smaller problems? Smaller problems first, just to get you warmed up? One pass each for characters, transitions, or weak verbs? Knowing the plan ahead of time can help keep us focused when we ... SQUIRREL! (you know what I'm talking about!)
Dive in. This part is where I've struggled. I get myself psyched up about needing to make it right this time around. My husband gave me some great advice, even though he's not a writer. He suggested I not worry so much about making it right, but focus on making it better with each pass. That freed me up to dig in and make changes, knowing this revision wasn't the revision.

So there you have it--my tips for avoiding avoidance. What works for you when you want to close the door on your messy manuscript?

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Teens, dialogue, and TMI

2011-09-17T07:30:00.000-07:00

I participate in two carpools with two families involving six kids from the ages of 11-14. It's all I can do to remember whose turn it is to pick up whom at what time. You should see my calendar...it's crazy.

But I wouldn't trade those moments in the car for any amount of money. My sons are growing way too fast, and I gobble up those concentrated moments between here and there.

The most tender moments are those between me and my 14-year-old son, just the two of us, discussing life, girls, classes, dreams. The craziest moments? When I've had six JV football players stuffed in my car, gear bags and all (pre-practice, so my nose was lucky).

Real conversation, I kid you not:

"Dude, are you wearing your cup?"

"Yeah, you?"

"Yeah."

"In your strap?"

"Nah, in my girdle."

"Dude, it'll move around in there."

*invisible mommy driver blushes*

As a YA writer, this type of dialogue is the treasure Indiana Jones would wrestle snakes for. And it's interesting to hear how different the boys talk when girls are in the car--and how much Axe body spray is used in the process.

Carpooling reminds me that today's kids have many of the same concerns we did:

Capturing the attention of the person they're crushing on
Peer pressure/trying to fit in
Worries about homework
Balancing the precarious social life at school

It's also interesting to note the things modern teens worry about that we didn't:

Will that embarrassing text be forward to everyone?
How could she post that on Facebook? Doesn't she realize it's now public?
I'm only 14, do I really need to know what I want to do with the rest of my life?

As a writer, my ears are perked up and listening. As a mom, I'm enjoying every mile.

Can you add something that today's teens are concerned about? Or have you overheard some funny/interesting/crazy teen dialogue? Please share!

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Studying Mr. Darcy--the likable unlikable character

2011-09-13T07:30:00.000-07:00

My husband and sons were gone on a scouting trip this past weekend. In their absence, I got lots of writing done, but can you guess what else I did?

a. Frolicked at clubs late into the night

b. Threw a wild party at home until the cops broke it up

c. Watched Pride and Prejudice, in my jammies, for the 112th time

No contest--Mr. Darcy will always win. My favorite is the Colin Firth version...tall black boots, breeches, the damp white shirt clinging to his skin after he swims in the lake...

Now where was I?

Ok, this time my indulgence was work-related. Seriously. I'm studying unlikable characters, and although Mr. Darcy is one of my favorite characters of all time, he starts out as a real jerk. This time I paid close attention to how the lovely Ms. Austen turned a real cad into the dreamboat we know and love.

When we first meet Darcy, here is how I'd describe him:

Cold
Moody
Snobbish
Contemptuous
Vain
Cynical
Proud

We don't feel this way for long, though. Austen provides little nuggets early on, which helps the reader/viewer question this original impression. We learn from others that Darcy is a loyal friend to Bingley, and that he's devoted to his little sister, Georgiana. He can't be all that bad, right?

And then Elizabeth Bennet throws him off his game. She doesn't cling to him, trying to catch his attention. Instead she's independent, opinionated, and she laughs at him. She doesn't like Darcy at all, and this tilts his privileged world off balance.

Darcy falls in love with Elizabeth, but when he pronounces this love, he botches it. Big time. We feel sympathy for him, especially when Elizabeth rejects him. And as the story unfolds, we learn the following about Darcy:

He is honorable (respected his dying father's wishes)
He's been betrayed (darn you Mr. Wickham!)
He is silently generous (rescues the Bennet name, despite Lydia's ruinous actions)
He loves deeply (wants to marry Elizabeth, despite her embarrassing family)

So there you have it--my thoughts on how Darcy goes from bad to rad at lightning speed. Do you have a favorite unlikable character? And if you're a fan of the Pride and Prejudice movies, which version is your favorite?

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Talent vs. Hard Work

2011-09-10T07:30:00.000-07:00

Terri Guiliano Long wrote a wonderful post that really resonated with me. If you haven't read it yet, I strongly urge you to jump over and read Why Work Matters More Than Talent.

*elevator music plays*

In summary, she asks these questions:

What is talent, anyway?
If we can't define talent, how can we possibly know if we have it?

She makes an excellent point that with writing, we control how hard we work. We each have varying levels of talent, and yet it's the hard work that makes the biggest difference. An incredibly talented writer won't get very far if she fails to produce pages or improve her skills. Likewise, a s0-so writer can work hard, learn new things every day, and spring ahead. I find that comforting.

It's fair to say that most of us probably have days when we feel like talentless hacks. (Or is that just me?) Feeling that way on one day doesn't mean we don't have talent. It just means we're having an off day. We have the choice to either quit or keep working, and I know most of us choose to keep working.

Long quotes Stephen King's yardstick for talent--"you wrote something for which someone sent you a check...you cashed the check and it didn't bounce." Even if you've never received money for your writing, have you improved with each piece you've written? Has an online magazine published your work? Has an agent requested a partial or full? Doesn't this prove you have talent?

We can't control what other people think of our words, but thankfully we're blessed with the opportunity to nurture our talent through hard work.

If you read Long's post, were you inspired? And what's your opinion on talent vs. hard work? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

And if you need additional inspiration, be sure to read Tahereh Mafi's post Don't Be Afraid to Write a Bad Book. It's amazing.

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One Teen Reader's Thoughts About YA Literature

2011-09-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

Friends, I have a special treat for you today. My beautiful niece, Amanda, has agreed to answer some questions about books on my blog. She's 17 and a senior in high school. I thought it would be fun to get an honest snapshot of one teen reader's opinion of YA literature. Whether you write young adult fiction or not, it's fun to see what's on a teen's mind. Here goes:

Amanda, what genre of books do you like to read?

"I like romance novels, and dystopian. I read Two Way Street, which was really good. I loved Hunger Games, and I'm now reading Catching Fire. I'm so nervous for Katniss!"

What types of books do your friends like to read?

"They also like romance books, like guy meets girl stories. And they also love a good mystery."

Can you tell us what draws you and your friends to these types of books?

"We get to live vicariously through the characters. It's fun to see ourselves in the character's lives, instead of going back to our own, less exciting lives."

What do you like and dislike in romance novels?

"It's exciting to read about romance, and experience it along with the characters. Graphic sex can ruin it, though. We want to use our imaginations. I like it when the writer outlines what's happening, without going into too much detail."

What's something you don't like in YA novels?

"A bad ending. Like, when an important character that you love dies. If the book doesn't end well, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth."

What might surprise writers to learn about teen readers?

"Maybe it's that teens do love to read, but it takes a special spark to get us hooked. All through school we have books forced onto us that really don't interest us at all. A book needs that certain catch. For instance, a book the school makes us read catches the attention of an adult but not necessarily a teen. Our minds work differently, but if you hit it just right it'll spark our interest. Don't think so much like an adult."

What would you like writers to know about teens?

"We're deep thinkers. We pick up on details and connect them to other parts of the story. We get it."

Amanda, thank you so much!

Writers, did Amanda's answers surprise you? How did they compare with what you already knew about teen readers?

If you'd like to ask Amanda more questions, feel free to do so in the comments. We could do a follow-up post on another date!

Writing lessons learned from A BAD BOY CAN BE GOOD FOR A GIRL

2011-09-03T07:30:00.000-07:00

BAD BOY, by Tanya Lee Stone, was a quick, powerful read. I blew through it in one afternoon. This is the first novel in verse that I've read, and although it took me a few pages to get used to the style, I soon became comfortable with it and enjoyed the story.

From Goodreads: Josie, Nicolette, and Aviva all get mixed up with a senior boy--a cool, slick, sexy boy who can talk them into doing almost anything he wants. In a blur of high school hormones and person doubt, each girl struggles with how much to give up and what to ultimately keep for herself. A bad boy may always be a bad boy, but this bad boy is about to meet three girls who won't back down.

Here's what I learned from this book:

Economy of words = major impact. The book begins, "I'm not stuck up. I'm confident. There's a big difference." So much voice and character in those three lines. The author didn't waste words on unnecessary scenery or backstory.
Choose a title that asks a question that begs to be answered. Throughout the entire book I kept wondering how in the heck a bad boy, this guy who is awful to these girls, could possibly be good for them. That alone kept me glued to the pages, and the ending didn't disappoint.
Tie a current book into the plot. In this case it was Forever by Judy Blume. One of the scorned girls uses the pages of this book to warn other girls about the bad boy, which I think is something teens can relate to. And besides, I've never read Forever and now I must!
If done right, sex in YA can be a powerful tool. (Insert sex joke here). But seriously, in this book, sex serves a unique purpose. I'd imagine many teen readers related to what these characters went through.

Libba Bray wrote the following: "Meet Josie, Nicolette, and Aviva--three girls who've got something to tell you that you definitely want to hear. Tanya Lee Stone has written a book that's crawl-under-the-skin true, filled with humor, hope, and a little heartbreak, and the kind of tell-it-like-it-is wisdom that comes from your best girlfriends. It's irresistible."

What do you think of the above points? And if you've read this book, what was your opinion?

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10 things NOT to do when building characters

2011-08-30T07:30:00.000-07:00

I'm obsessing over characters these days. Like, what can I do to make mine more likable? What can I do to make them leap off the page? What can I do to make them memorable? So I dug up some answers. This time, the tips are from Noah Lukeman, author of THE FIRST FIVE PAGES. Don't have it yet? It's amazing. Here are ten things Lukeman says we should avoid when building characters:

"Switching between first and last names." If we're going to call our main character Ryan, we should stick with that. Not Ryan in paragraph one, Mr. Reynolds in another, and Hunky Beefcake in another.
"The use of stock, cliche, or overly exotic names." John and Mary might be boring names (my husband John objects!), but we also want to avoid names that are so original that they're hard to read and distract from the story.
"Launching into the story without stopping to establish any of the characters." Readers want to meet our main character and care about him before Hunky Beefcake rescues the aging author from the train tracks (ahem).
"The presence of stock or cliche characters and/or character traits." The dumb bodybuilder, the smart nerd, etc. We can do better than that, can't we?
"The introduction of too many characters at once." If there are too many hunky beefcakes thrown in at the beginning, how will the reader know which one to follow? Add those beefcakes in slowly.
"Confusion over who the protagonist is." Whose story is it? Readers should know up front who they're investing their time in. (Hint: the hunky beefcake rescuing the writer)
"The presence of extraneous characters." Does the guy cleaning the bathrooms at the train station matter to the story? If not, don't add him and definitely don't give him a name.
"Generic character description." We want our characters to stand out, right? So let's give that aging writer who's tied to the train tracks a unique description. Maybe she wears 20's clothing, has a mole above her lip--Cindy Crawford style, and golden curls--Taylor Swift style (yes? yes.)
"Characters we don't care about." Why should we care about the hunky beefcake who tries to save the aging writer? Maybe his dad said he was a loser and wasn't worth anything. Now we hope he saves the writer because hey, we want him to prove his dad wrong.
"The unsympathetic protagonist." Even if he's a bad guy, he should be likable. Hunky Beefcake might be cocky, but he's willing to rumple his pristine clothes to save the writer. He can't be all bad, right?

Have I made these mistakes? Um, yes, which is why I'm reading up on the subject. How about you?

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The Catastrophe of Success

2011-08-27T07:30:00.000-07:00

I recently read the essay The Catastrophe of Success by Tennessee Williams, which is located before the opening pages of his play, The Glass Menagerie (you can read the full essay here). He wrote about how success had changed him for the worse, making him cynical, distrustful, and lazy. He pointed out that a struggling writer, one who is hungry for wisdom and artistic release, is better off than a successful writer who no longer cared about the world around him.

He wrote, "Security is a kind of death, I think, and it can come to you in a storm of royalty checks beside a kidney-shaped pool in Beverly Hills or anywhere at all that is removed from the conditions that made you an artist, if that's what you are or were or intended to be."

It got me thinking about the outside factors that influence our writing. If a writer has faced extreme hardships, they can bleed those experiences onto the page. If a writer has only experienced a cushy, happy life, does their writing lack the same depth? I don't know.

Williams ends with, "Then what is good? The obsessive interest in human affairs, plus a certain amount of compassion and moral conviction, that first made the experience of living something that must be translated into pigment or music or bodily movement or poetry or prose or anything that's dynamic and expressive--that's what's good for you if you're at all serious in your aims."

From where I sit right now, success and royalty checks sound pretty darn good. I know I'll never have to worry about growing bored with five star hotels or kidney-shaped pools in Beverly Hills, but still. It reminded me that sometimes we strive for success without considering the flip side. Maybe it's a case of "be careful what you wish for."

Have you read this essay? And what's your impression of the above quotes?

And in case you missed it, I was a guest blogger over at the amazing Adventures in Children's Publishing, where I wrote about the power of going for it. I hope you'll stop by for a visit!

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Three ways to give your characters True Grit

2011-08-23T07:30:00.000-07:00

So I've been thinking a lot about characters lately, and studying ways to strengthen them. I dove back in to Revision and Self-Editing by James Scott Bell, and was reminded of his summary of three characteristics that make great characters, the first one being grit.

He says the first unbreakable rule for major characters in fiction is No Wimps! Characters can start out as wimps, but early on they must develop grit and do something. Grit must be shown in action.

If our story is dragging, Bell suggests looking at the heart of our main character. Is she acting like a wimp? Is she "taking it" without doing anything about it? Courage bonds us with lead characters, so here are some ways Bell suggests we put some fight into the people we've created:

"Think up a scene early in your novel where your characters must show inner courage." One example is she could come to someone else's defense by confronting a bully at school. Stiffening her spine early on will foreshadow a greater display of courage later in the book.
"Or the above character can back down, setting up the necessity for growth." Maybe she sees a victim being bullied and wants to come to the rescue but backs down out of fear. Or perhaps she's pushed toward bullying herself, in order to fit in. She knows it's wrong but does it anyway.
"Play up your character's inner battle at the time of challenge." When our main characters struggle with inner fears it adds depth to our work. As Bell says, "No one except James Bond goes into battle without fear."

If you need help getting to know your characters better, Jody Hedlund's character worksheet is a great place to start.

Do your main characters have grit? Or do they start out wimpy and grow from there? I'd love to hear about them.

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The Generous Writing Community

2011-08-20T07:30:00.000-07:00

Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. -- Mark Twain

As many of you know, WriteOnCon, the free writing conference, took place this past week. I'm still trying to absorb the vast amount of information that was handed to us on a silver platter. My head may explode, or I might become mushy with gratitude, so keep some tissues nearby.

First of all, I'm amazed at the brilliant concept. Writers, agents, and editors spent their time sharing valuable information with kid lit writers around the globe who sat in jammies and bunny slippers, gobbling it all up.

We learned about queries, synopses, revision, marketing, online etiquette, and so much more. I've only absorbed half of the information, and will spend time in the next few days reviewing the transcripts. Which is another clever idea...keeping the information up, blog style, for all time.

For writers who don't have the cash or opportunity to attend national conferences, this is such a fun way to collect advice and inspiration. And what amazes me is that each of these industry pros donated their time and expertise. Wow.

From the moment I set off on my writing journey, I've noticed how generous people in this community are. Whether their genre is kid lit, sci fi, romance, or nonfiction, each person shares what they know and helps others.

And talk about supportive--this community is like a comforting hug when writers need it, and a crazy mosh pit of excitement when someone shares good news.

So I'll use this blog post to plant a squishy wet kiss on your cheek, send a HUGE thank you to the creators of and contributors to WriteOnCon, and a big fat drunken "I love you man" to all you writers out there.

Were you able to attend WriteOnCon? What was your biggest takeaway from it? And what's your opinion of the generous writing community? Feel free to share your love in the comments.

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Writing lessons learned from HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET

2011-08-16T07:30:00.000-07:00

This book wasn't just an amazing read--it was an experience. The main characters and their tangled lives are still simmering in my mind. What a beautiful, enduring love story. *Sigh*

HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET by Jamie Ford spins a tale of a 12-year-old Chinese boy, Henry, who becomes best friends and falls in love with an American-born Japanese girl during WWII, when persons of Japanese ancestry were sent to internment camps.

Of course I learned so many great writing lesson from this book, and here are a few:

Choose a captivating title. From the moment I saw this title, I knew this was a book I must read. To me, the title emotes melancholy, conflict, and promise. And it didn't disappoint. For help with titles, agent Rachelle Gardner wrote a great post about how to title your book.
Choose a unique point of view from a familiar time period. I'm fascinated by stories from the WWII era, and I've read many. But never had I read about the existing conflict between Chinese and Japanese Americans during that time. And this POV switched between Henry at 12-years-old, and Henry as an older man in 1986. Fascinating.
Include a tangible representation of something special. In this case, the symbol was an original recording of a 1942 jazz song. This elusive record appears throughout the book, and represents a special time in the main character's lives.
Readers don't have to be banged over the head with conflict. Instead of a hammer of conflict, the troubles Henry faced were woven into a beautiful tapestry of honor and loyalty.
Tap in to common feelings. Affection, longing, regret. Perhaps most people have wondered about the road not taken, and this author tapped into those feelings with soothing words about characters you can't help but love.

We've all read books we wished we'd written, and this was one of those books for me. Sara Guen, author of Water for Elephants, called it "Mesmerizing and evocative, a tale of conflicted loyalties and timeless devotion."

I couldn't have said it better myself. Have you read this book? What did you think of it? Or is this type of book not your style?

And WriteOnCon starts today! Will I see you there?

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Why a messy first draft is a great thing

2011-08-13T07:30:00.000-07:00

My home is a hive of activity. A revolving door of kids and friends. Non-stop action in the kitchen (three boys...'nuff said). A mountain of laundry that might dwindle, but never disappears. A pile of "to do" stuff stacked on my kitchen island.

Grumble. Grumble. Grumble.

One day, while grumbling, I had an epiphany. Be thankful for this hive of activity, because that means your home is active, bustling, and full. Our kids are already growing up too fast, and soon all this activity will move on. A messy, crazy home means it's lived in.

I likened it to writing. When pounding out that first draft, our minds are buzzing with activity. Our thoughts might be scattered, and our mountain of ideas demands attention. And the end product? If your first drafts are anything like mine, they're a mess. But here's the good thing:

A messy first draft means you've finished a book.

You didn't just dream about it, or talk about it. You did it. You accomplished something that many people wish they could do. No matter where our writing journeys take us, this alone is worth celebrating. The mess, whether it's minor or major, can be cleaned up. Remember the great advice we've all heard--"First get it written, then get it right," and "You can't revise a blank page."

Would I like to have a perfectly clean and calm home? No, because that would mean our kids are grown and gone.

Would I like a perfect first draft? It would be nice, but it's not possible. In my opinion, the only perfect books are the ones in our heads, not yet written. It's the sitting down and writing, the finishing, and the revision, that separates the wishers from the doers.

Hopefully we can all appreciate our messy houses, and messy manuscripts. Activity, whether in our homes or in our minds, is a great thing.

Do you think it's ok to have a messy first draft, because that means you've finished a book? And if you haven't finished a manuscript, what's holding you back? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Final question--is your laundry mountain always present, or is that just mine?

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Do you ever wish for greener grass?

2011-08-09T07:30:00.000-07:00

This older post held special meaning for me, and I hope it helps you too!

The grass is always greener on the other side, even in the writing world. We look at other writers and think, I wish I was there already.

Those working on their first drafts wish their wips were polished

Those with polished manuscripts wish their queries were perfect

The unagented wish they had agents

The agented wish they had a book deal

The published wish they had higher sales

Best-selling authors wish they had a movie deal

Round and round it goes

With the right attitude, this can work in our favor. It gives us something to strive for while we're pecking away on the keyboard. Without the proper perspective, this could bring us down, making us feel as if we don't measure up.

I read somewhere that goals are dreams with deadlines. I think it's okay to look past where we are and work our tails off to get to the other side. As long as we understand there are weeds in that greener grass, because there are. In case you missed it, Nathan Bransford wrote an interesting post about When Dreams Become Expectations.

Am I where I want to be with my writing career? I'm getting there. And even though the grass I'm standing on has a few weeds here and there, it feels pretty good under my feet. How about you?

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Writers, YOU are courageous!

2011-08-06T07:30:00.000-07:00

This was originally posted last summer, but I thought we could all use a reminder!

Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow.~Mary Anne Radmacher

I've learned that writers are courageous people.

If you've taken an idea, fleshed it out, then put it on paper, you're courageous
If you've poured your heart and soul into a story, you're courageous
If you've finished a manuscript, you're courageous
If you've offered up your work for review and critique, you're courageous
If you've typed a query letter and clicked send, you're courageous
If you've dropped a manuscript in the mail, you're courageous
If you've received rejections, yet continued to have faith in and submit your work, you're courageous

Is there anything you'd like to add to the list?

In the words of John Wayne, "Courage is being scared to death...and saddling up anyway."

You, my writer friends, are very brave indeed!

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5 ways to keep our writing brains active

2011-08-02T07:30:00.000-07:00

My family is preparing for a camping & water skiing trip, and even though I'll be gone, my writer hat will still be firmly planted on my head. Writers have a difficult time shutting off their writer brains, and here are some ways we can remain engaged in writing, even though we're on a trip:

Add words to a current w.i.p.--if writers have a laptop, they can continue plugging away on their manuscript. And if they don't have a laptop, they can continue writing by longhand and transcribe those words when they return home.
Plotting--writers can bring spiral notebooks or index cards and plot during down times. I plan on bringing a notebook, along with my favorite craft book, and will continue with plot ideas.
Character study--as I wrote in this post, when we're out and about we can collect character details from unsuspecting vacationers. Perhaps the hunky lifeguard with the "mom" tattoo or the hairy guy wearing the yellow Speedo deserves a spot in a book.
Audio books--if the vacation includes lots of driving, audio books are a great way to pass the time. My son has to read FEED this summer, and his teacher gave us the green light to use the audio version. I've never read this book, and look forward to joining my son as he listens to it on the long drive to our destination.
Read a print book--there's nothing quite like opening a print book and turning the dampened, worn pages. Even though reading great books is relaxing entertainment, it still keeps our writing brains engaged.

When all else fails, writers can just let it all go and enjoy the trip. Sometimes our over-active minds deserve a break!

Is there anything you'd like to add to the list? And do you use vacation time to accomplish writerly tasks, or do you stop the presses and push writing to the back of your mind?

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Therapeutic Writing

2011-07-30T07:30:00.000-07:00

Each of us feels strong emotions from time to time, and thankfully we have an outlet. Writing.

There's something therapeutic about opening up a weathered journal, or a blank document, and pouring our hearts out. The words can be added to a manuscript, or they can be for our eyes only. Either way, writing through our strong emotions can act like warm stones on sore muscles.

When we're feeling happy

When we're feeling hopeful

When we're feeling nervous

When we're feeling confused

When we're feeling angry

When we're feeling sorrow

When we're feeling regret

When we're feeling thankful

Sometimes my mind resembles a kaleidoscope of jumbled thoughts and emotions. But when I sit down with a pen, or with my fingers hovered above the keyboard, my feelings become organized. Conflicting thoughts sort themselves out, and life becomes a wee bit clearer. Just the simple act of writing through a happy, confusing, or difficult time makes me feel lighter and more relaxed. Until the next time.

How about you? Has writing helped you through an emotional time? Did anyone else see your words, or did you keep them to yourself?

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Speech Mannerisms & Body Language

2011-07-26T07:30:00.000-07:00

I'm reading WRITING MAGIC by Gail Carson Levine, and I was reminded of two ways of communicating--speech mannerisms and body language. I think, I hope, I use body language in my writing, but I know for sure I don't use speech mannerisms as much as I could.

Speech Mannerisms

If the writer's done their job well with speech mannerisms, they sometimes don't need to identify the speaker. Levine tells of a judgmental character in her book, The Wish, who adds or takes away points. When the speaker said, "It's pretty weird, Wilma. Five points off for strange behavior," the reader automatically knew who was speaking. Pretty cool.

Levine's advice is to pay attention to what people say, and take note of how they say it. Here are some speech mannerisms I've noticed in others:

A man I know clears his throat each time he speaks
Young people often say "like" a lot when they're speaking (like, you know, the valley girls of the past. Like, not that I would know anything about that)
Some people start sentences with "you know" or "listen"
Parents might use the full name of a child when upset, and a nickname when they're pleased

Personally, I need to put much more thought into fun details like this. Can you think of any speech mannerisms you've noticed? Or any you've used in your characters?

Body Language

I'm much more comfortable adding this type of communication to my manuscripts. Characters, like real people, send strong messages without speaking. I wrote an article for kids about the subject here, and learned fun details through research.

Did you know that 93% of our communication is non-verbal? We don't have to tell the reader our character is embarrassed. We can write that his face is flushed, his feet are shuffling, or he's fiddling with his shirt sleeves. Showing, not telling.

If you're unsure which body language matches which emotions, The Bookshelf Muse is the best place to start. The thesaurus entries on the sidebar are valuable tools for writers.

Have you used speech mannerisms and body language in your writing? What other forms of communication can writers use?

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Antidotes for Excuses

2011-07-23T06:20:00.000-07:00

There are a couple of writing tasks I haven't completed yet. There's no excuse, but I'll offer some anyway:

It's summer and the kids are home from school
I can't write at a water park--my laptop will get wet
I can't write at the beach--the sand will damage my laptop, or the wind will rustle my paper
How can I concentrate on revisions with ten 14-year-olds in our pool?
How can I concentrate on plotting when I have two 11-year-olds playing Wii Sports?
Have I mentioned it's summer and the kids are home from school?

I realize that the work will not get done unless I sit down and do it. No one else can take the blame. And there's no reason I can't put my butt-in-chair and write for 15-30 minutes at the beginning or end of each day.

If you're like me, and writing has taken a back seat, here are some great quotes about making excuses. I'll call them antidotes for excuses:

"Excuses are the nails used to build a house of failure." -- Don Wilder

"Ninety-nine percent of failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses." -- George W. Carver

"Don't make excuses, make something incredible happen in your life right now." -- Greg Hickman

"There aren't nearly enough crutches in the world for all the lame excuses." -- Marcus Stroup

"No one ever excused his way to success." -- Dave Del Dotto

"Success is a tale of obstacles overcome, and for every obstacle overcome, an excuse not used." -- Robert Brault

"I never knew a man who was good at making excuses who was good at anything else." -- Benjamin Franklin

Ouch! I think I'd better get to work.

Have you been diligent about writing this summer? And do you have a favorite excuse to use when you haven't been writing? Or am I the only one using lame excuses?

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Find your writing treasure

2011-07-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

We each have certain gifts we can share with others. And if we're not sure what those treasures are, we can enjoy hunting for them. Maybe it's a career path, maybe it's a hobby, or maybe it's a favorite sport.

We're writers. We recognize that our skills are constantly improving, but still, many people wish they could do what we do. How can we share this treasure? Here are some suggestions:

Write for no pay/low pay markets. Whether or not you have publishing credits, writing for these markets is a great way to hone our skills while helping others. Children who can't afford a subscription to Highlights magazine could enjoy your stories or articles for free. Some children's markets which are seeking manuscripts are Imagination Cafe, Stories for Children, and Viatouch.
Volunteer. Maybe a church needs someone to write their bulletins, or a local community group has trouble putting together legible newsletters. Busy teachers are always looking for classroom volunteers to read to children or help strengthen writing methods. These tasks take time, yet it's a win/win situation. We can practice our skills while lending a hand.
Consider fictionalizing an issue that's close to your heart. Domestic violence, alcoholism, drug addiction, coping with an illness or death. These issues make powerful stories, and authors have a unique opportunity to shed light and inform readers. Many times we've read stories and thought, wow, I'm not alone after all. Someone else out there understands.

Our writing skills could be clutched to our chest and used only for our own good, or we could share those skills, practicing and improving our techniques along the way. Who knows where our treasure hunt could lead?

What's your opinion on this subject? Can you think of other ways to share our writing treasure?

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When readers trust an author

2011-07-16T07:15:00.000-07:00

I'm halfway through reading HOUSE RULES by Jodi Picoult. She's one of my favorite authors--one I can trust. Here's why I have faith in her work, and what writers can learn from her books:

Open with a scene that instantly connects readers to the main character

Open with a scene that is active and shows a quick, sympathetic glimpse into the MC's regular life "before."

Breadcrumbs should be dropped in small bits at a time

The author drops in subtle hints that will come to fruition later. We don't know where the story will lead, but we're confident the author will tell us what we need to know when we need to know it.

Distinctive character voices

The book I'm reading has many points of view...five so far. But each one has a clear voice and their own, sometimes conflicting, objectives. The story's taking shape, and I'm confident the author will bring these characters together when the time is right.

Each character, scene, and bit of backstory should matter

I don't know exactly how and why all these details are important, but I know they are. This author does not waste the reader's time.

Be fair to both sides of a controversial subject

Picoult is fearless with subject matter, but is always fair to both sides. After each of her stories, I'm reminded to search deep within issues, understanding why both sides are passionate about their positions.

Each of Picoult's books not only entertains, but holds a special place in my heart. Great authors give their readers precious gifts: a unique reading experience, and something to strive for.

Do you have a favorite author whom you trust? Who is it, and what keeps you coming back for more?

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Performing Plot CPR

2011-07-12T07:25:00.000-07:00

I recently finished another round of revisions. I had loosely plotted this story, but knew it was bloated and needed plenty of medical intervention. The thought of evaluating every scene overwhelmed me to the point of procrastination.

How can we revive a plot? Each writer has their own unique solutions, but for the sake of this post, imagine yourself wearing scrubs, holding electric paddles, and shouting, "Clear!"

Using combined advice from many sources, including my critique partner, Leslie Rose, and tips from Revision & Self Editing, I created a plot spreadsheet. I know, I know, I usually read spreadsheet and flee. But stay with me. These were my column headers:

Chapter number
Scene summary--just a couple of quick lines about the scene
Setting
Characters--which main players were involved in the scene?
Conflict--I've learned each scene should have conflict. If there wasn't any, that gave me the green light to add friction or delete the scene.
Goal of scene--what was my MC's goal? Again, if there wasn't any, that was a red flag.
Antagonist/Opposition--in each scene, who or what stood in my MC's way of reaching her goal?
Outcome--after each conflict, what were the consequences? If there were none, more red flags.
Day/Time--this helped me make sure I wasn't goofing up on time sequence (unless that's your objective!)
First line of the chapter
Last line of the chapter--these two columns helped me judge the quality of my beginning and ending lines.
Notes/Ideas--eventually this column moved next to my scene summary for easy reference. As I evaluated each scene, this is where I wrote my overall thoughts of the scene, how it could improve, or whether or not it could be deleted.

Does this mean I'm finished with revisions? No way. The book is now with trusted beta readers, and I know there will be heavy editing in the future. But spending time evaluating each scene provided me with clarity and focus.

Have you ever done anything like this, or does a spreadsheet make you run for the hills? What's your secret for administering plot CPR?

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Aaaaand, Action! How to write it well

2011-07-09T06:24:00.000-07:00

Lisa Green, my talented writing buddy and critique partner, recently had her awesome short story, IDENTITY CRISIS, published in the cool anthology GODS OF JUSTICE. Woo hoo, Lisa!

One of Lisa's many writing talents is squeezing lots of heart-pumping action into her stories, even if they're small. She's kind enough to share her secrets with us.

Take it away, Lisa!

How do you pack a lot of action into a small word count? You’ll have to pardon the pun, but you have to make every word count. Short stories are an art unto themselves. Not only do you need a clear-cut goal, motivation, and character arc, you also need to entertain, which in some cases means action.

Fight scenes are physical. It can be difficult to put down on paper the details you see in your mind. My

recommendation is to use the highlights. Look at The Date by Ty Wilson:

See how the artist lets you fill in the blanks? That’s what we have to do only with words. Did you know that in

Hitchcock’s Psycho, you never actually see the victim get stabbed in the shower scene?

But what DO you put in? Here are the steps to a good action sequence:

Set the stage: We have to have a good idea what the space is we’re working with. In IDENTITY CRISIS I use the Ferris wheel at the Santa Monica Pier. I mention the sights and sounds, the smells even, but I don’t have to say too much because we all have a general idea what a Ferris wheel is like. The description I do use reflects my character’s feelings and the tension of the moment.
Make ‘em wring their hands with anticipation: Good horror movies withhold the monster until the last minute. Tension is the key. If you’re writing a western, and the whole thing culminates in a shootout, you better build up to it properly. I want to feel the nerves of the MC as the clock in the town square chimes twelve.
Show the audience the big moves: Does the MC get a punch in the gut when he fails to move out of the way? What does the force feel like? How does his body react? If it’s a big moment, slow it down. Show us a bit of internal dialogue. The MC’s reaction if it’s more than “Ow.”
Keep your sentences clear and concise: If it’s action, too many words can slow it down. Watch your sentence structure. Use strong verbs and clear actions so we know what’s happening.

Awesome advice. Thanks, Lisa!

Writers, what do you think? Have you ever written an action story with a limited word count, or created action-packed scenes in your books? Please share your secrets!

And if you're a fan of super hero stories, be sure to let me know you'd like to win a copy of GODS OF JUSTICE. To celebrate the book release, I'm giving away one copy!

(Please comment by midnight on July 16th. US residents only for print copy, international for Kindle version)

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Writing lessons learned from THE PULL OF GRAVITY

2011-07-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

I just finished THE PULL OF GRAVITY by Gae Polisner, and absolutely loved it. Here's a quick blurb:

When their friend Scooter dies of a rare disease, teenagers Nick Gardner and Jaycee Amato set out on a secret journey to find the father who abandoned "The Scoot" when he was an infant, and give him a signed first edition of "Of Mice and Men."

As with all books I read, I learned a great deal about writing from this one. Here goes:

Add interest by threading in old favorites.

Bits of Steinbeck's OF MICE AND MEN were woven through the narrative. If teens haven't read the classic yet, hopefully they'll grab a copy after reading GRAVITY. And the Scoot was a huge Star Wars fan and quoted Yoda, which was a fun story element.

Send your characters on a worthy quest.

Nick and Jaycee weren't on their journey for selfish reasons. They were fulfilling a dying wish of their best friend. Who can resist that?

Create likable characters.

I know, I know, we hear this all the time. But still. When I read great characters it reminds me to give my own characters memorable quirks, identifiable faults, and admirable qualities.

Don't forget to add interesting, supporting characters.

Nick's dad was obese and set out on his own journey of self discovery, walking hundreds of miles--Forrest Gump style. The Scoot suffered from a terminal disease, and his dying wishes lingered on every page. The supporting cast stayed with me after I finished the book.

Between-chapter goodies can add depth.

I love it when extras are slipped between chapters, like the poetry added to THE SKY IS EVERYWHERE. In GRAVITY it was emails from Nick's dad, chronicling his trek to New York. It added dimension to the story.

Clean YA stories are great.

*puts on mommy hat*

This is a clean, well-told story that I'd be comfortable with my 14-year-old son reading.

What's your opinion of these lessons learned? And have you experienced something similar in the books you've read?

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What can Lady Gaga teach us about writing?

2011-07-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

It's a stretch, I know, but stick with me. Although I've heard Gaga does write some of her own music, for the sake of this post we'll stick with what she can teach us about book writing. Strap on your shiny black leather seatbelt--here goes:

Talent matters. Say what you will about her, but Lady Gaga sings great whether it's live or recorded. For writers these days, there seems to be more publishing opportunities than ever. But quality writing matters. Word of mouth matters. And talent matters.
People want to be entertained. I've never been to a Gaga concert, but I know it wouldn't be boring. When readers open a book, they want to be transported to another time and place. Gaining readers and keeping them entertained should be a top priority.
Outrageous actions gain attention. The dress made of steaks, wobbly skyscraper heels, and scanty outfits ensure Gaga is noticed. Plenty of writers have written "out there" books. Perhaps the authors were ridiculed, but their stories gained attention.
Outrageous actions can work against us. Gaga does grab attention, but too often it's the negative kind. If writers want to be taken seriously we must ditch the glittery queries, stalker behavior at conferences, and questionable online behavior. We're a walking, talking, writing business.
Stay current. Like Madonna has over the past 20 years, I wonder if Gaga will evolve with time. We writers are in a business where news and trends change faster than we can tweet a blog post. Thankfully we all work together to stay current.

Care to add something to the list? Are you a fan of Lady Gaga, and if so, what's your favorite song?

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Writing when we're not writing

2011-06-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

Last week all three of my sons graduated. Between parties, ceremonies, and more parties, we've been on the run for days (in a non-criminal way). Almost zero writing got done, and at first I felt guilty about it. But I soon realized how much writing I actually accomplished, even though my butt was not in a chair.

Here are some ways to work when we're not writing:

Solving problems. Worrisome plot issues, tricky scenes, and questionable threads can be examined and resolved when we're not staring at the computer screen.
Choreographing future scenes. What will be the beginning, middle, and ending of the scene? What will be the goal and conflict of the characters? These details can be worked out away from the writer's chair.
Collecting character quirks. When we're out and about among living, breathing people, we have access to limitless character traits worth stealing.
Gathering setting details. Parties, ceremonies, restaurants, malls, theme parks. These events and places are ripe with setting information. If we keep paper and pen with us at all times, we can scratch down sensory details for later use.
Ideas for the next project. Ideas swirl through our heads when we're performing menial tasks away from our manuscripts. All we need to do is reach out and grab them, saving them for when we're ready to plot the next book.

The "boys in the basement," as Stephen King calls them, never stop working. Solutions and ideas come to us when we least expect them. Besides, when we're away from the page, we're refilling our creative wells.

While I was wearing my busy mommy hat, I was able to untangle at least two of my problematic story issues. What writing tasks do you accomplish when you're not writing?

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Inspiration for Writers--5th Grader Style

2011-06-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

My 11-year-old twins graduated from elementary school a few days ago, and their principal sent each student home with a bag of goodies. The simple items within represented a strong and inspirational message, and I thought we writers could use a 5th grader-style boost. Your virtual goodie bag includes the following:

The cotton ball is to remind you to use soft words with each other.
The chocolate Kiss is to comfort you when you are feeling sad.
The sticker is to remind you that you should stick together and help each other.
The penny is to remind you that you are valuable and very special.
The rubber band will remind you to stretch the possibilities and try new things.
The star is to remind you to shine and always do your best.
The tissue is to remind you to help dry someone's tears.
The toothpick is to remind you to pick out quality friends along the way.
The eraser is to remind you that we all make mistakes--it's ok to start over.

I don't know who created this idea, or who wrote the sweet words, but I thought it was adorable.

Now let's get out there and conquer the middle school, I mean publishing, world!

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Is your story worth saving?

2011-06-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

I'm deep in revisions on a story, and I'm having a love/hate relationship with it. I've even ventured into "is it worth saving?" territory. I scoured the blogosphere for a magic answer, but soon realized I must make this decision on my own. Here are some questions I asked myself:

Do you love this story?

Is the story structure solid?

Does it have a unique hook?

Does it pack an emotional punch?

Despite parts that make you want to pull your hair out,

are there really good parts too?

Fortunately I was able to answer yes to these questions. While not every story can be saved, I realized this wasn't a question of whether or not my story was worth saving, but whether or not I was willing to put in the hard word to rescue it.

What to do? In WRITING MAGIC, Gail Carson Levine tells how she writes several versions of some scenes, then chooses the one that works best. And in this great post by Susan Sipal we're reminded to follow J.K. Rowling's example and "...rewrite until we get it right."

And there are still two life preservers I haven't thrown yet:

Beta readers. We're too close to our own work, and it becomes impossible to separate the "what were you thinking?" moments from the "wow, this is good" moments. Plotting & pacing issues, inconsistencies, and unnatural dialog might become white noise to the writer, but beta readers will point this out. A life saver indeed.
Patience. This is the tough part. I want my story to be perfect right now. Levine reminds us that no book is perfect, even those currently sitting on shelves (although some are darn close). And there's no rule that says the 5th, 7th, or 18th draft must be the draft. If we're patient, the true story, the one that was meant to be told, will come to fruition.

Is your story worth saving, or should you allow it to sink quietly to the bottom of the sea? In my opinion, that's a personal choice each writer must make. If you've found a resource that helps with this decision, please share it in the comments.

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CRACK the CODE Winner!

2011-06-19T04:30:00.000-07:00

A loud click sounds within the door. Heart drumming, you pull on the handle and the monstrous round door swings open.

Winning Code: 84-12-88

Congrats goes to Sarah Templeton who successfully CRACKED the CODE at The Bookshelf Muse, winning a copy of PLOT & STRUCTURE (Bell)! Please contact me as soon as possible so I can get your prize to you! Thanks everyone for playing along & helping to celebrate a great writing community. :)

Tag...I'm it!

2011-06-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged by the lovely Leslie Rose! Here's the scoop:

Do you think you’re hot?

Is short, plain, and forty-something hot? Just checking.

Upload a picture or wallpaper that you’re using at the moment.

The family visiting the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco

When was the last time you ate chicken meat?

Last night when we met my in-laws for dinner. Chili's chicken quesadilla salad. Yum.

The song(s) you listened to recently.

"Need You Now" by Lady Antebellum. My twin 11 year olds love that song, and we sing it over and over again on the way to school (they're still in school until next Tuesday).

What were you thinking as you were doing this?

What happened to my California sun? It's cold outside!

Tag you’re it…

Thanks for the fun, Leslie!

Be sure to check back tomorrow when the winners of the Crack the Code contest over at The Bookshelf Muse will be announced.

And happy birthday to my wonderful, devoted, supportive husband. You know the song "Always and forever, each moment with you. It's just like a dream to me, that somehow came true." Yep, he's that awesome.

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Must writers be natural storytellers?

2011-06-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

While I've always loved escaping deep into the pages of a great story, and I've enjoyed writing since I was a child, I've never fancied myself a natural storyteller. I envy the writers whose stories gush from their minds faster than they can type. For me, each plot point, character, and scene must be pried from my brain.

Thankfully, I don't believe The Big Lie--that writers are born, and if you don't have what it takes, you'll never get it. Storytelling can be learned. Here are some ways we can become storytellers, and improve our skills:

Craft books: some of my favorites are Plot & Structure, Revision & Self-Editing, Hooked, Writing Magic, and The First Five Pages.

Critique partners: my writing buddies are so talented, and I learn something new from them each time I read their work. Yes, we help our partners when we critique, but we also gain knowledge.

Writer's days or conferences: I've only been to one-day conferences, but each time I've left the event feeling energized and ready to roll. If you're on a tight budget, like me, mark your calendars for the awesome WriteOnCon, taking place August 16-18. It's free!

Writer's and agent's blogs: the amount of information floating around the blogosphere blows my mind. Elizabeth S. Craig created the Writer's Knowledge Base (also linked on my sidebar). Type in the subject you need help with, and a long list of related blog posts appears. The Bookshelf Muse is an amazing tool for writers who need help with descriptions for characters, emotions, weather, and so much more.

Read great books: thanks to D. U. Okonkwo's smart comment, I'm adding this to the list. Thanks!

Lisa Green (one of my talented critique partners) wrote a great post about The Secret Formula to writing great books. And Justine Dell wrote this interesting post--I'm a storyteller, not a writer. Check 'em out!

Are you a natural storyteller? #jealous

What has helped you improve your storytelling skills?

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Cool Critique Prizes!

2011-06-12T10:44:00.000-07:00

*****BREAKING NEWS*****

Guys, you've got to check this out--they have amazing critique prizes!

The Bookshelf Muse is celebrating over 2000 Followers and almost 1/2 million hits and they want to know...CAN YOU CRACK THE CODE?

Let me break it down for you:

12 generous writers.

A formidable steel vault packed with prizes.

A time locked sensor.

And you...with a code.

Will The Bookshelf Muse's Prize Vault open for you? Stop by and find out!

Here's a HINT to help you win it: What color is Curacao Liqueur?

Writers--appreciate your growth

2011-06-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

I recently added my sons' school pictures to wall frames. Older pictures were stacked behind the new ones, and as mommies do from time to time, I waded through those older photos.

My sons had transformed little by little. From gapped-toothed to braces. From chubby cheeks to lean faces. From slender arms to muscles. I didn't notice the small changes taking place each day until, BAM, my 14 year old was taller than me.

It reminded me how we writers sometimes ignore our own transformations. Maybe we don't notice our improvement because we're focused on all we need to learn/fix/change. Sometimes it's nice to not only focus on where we're going, but to appreciate where we've been.

I'd love to know the ways in which you've grown as a writer. Here's a small sampling of my lessons learned:

Adverbs--replace or delete
Avoid info dumps
Don't begin each sentence or paragraph with the same word
Restructure clunky sentences
Avoid beginning the story or scene too soon
Each scene must have a purpose
Find and replace addictive words
When reading other books, pay attention to story structure

Each writer is a work in progress, and we should appreciate our growth. If you were to read an early manuscript, what changes would you notice most? How have you grown as a writer?

Revision--The Long View

2011-06-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

Writing is an easy, quick way to get rich, right? I know, I know, stop laughing.

We've all learned that writing can be a long, arduous process that's not for the faint of heart. It's a profession where dogged determination rises above speed. It involves hard work, constant learning, failure, and the desire to take the long view of our writing careers.

I'm preparing to tackle the daunting task of a big revision. I opened REVISION AND SELF EDITING** by James Scott Bell and instantly felt at ease. He reminds us that most successful people take "the long view." For example, doctors train for years before they're able to practice medicine. It's a long road for them, but in the end, it's worth it. Same with writing. When it comes to revision, Bell advises, "Don't look at the mountaintop. Look at the path in front of you." Here are some of Bell's wise words about revision:

Take the long view and learn to see revision as a friend. Being a smart, disciplined reviser delivers a number of benefits:

It makes you a better writer. With each revision session you learn more about your craft, and the next time you write you'll write stronger.
It marks you as a professional. Editors and agents who see your work ethic will be more certain of your ability to produce good books.
It builds confidence and encourages you to stretch your horizons.
It is its own reward. When you've put in good, solid revision time, you rest easier at the end of the day.

This is why I heart James Scott Bell. Our favorite books were revised like crazy, and we should expect to do the same. Yes, a major revision takes a lot of time, patience, and hard work, but future readers deserve nothing less from us.

Is revision your favorite or least favorite part of the process? And have you ever tackled a major revision?

**Yes, I'm obsessed with Bell's books. I refer to them over and over again because his writing books have helped me that much. I'm sharing what I'm learning along the way.

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What to look for in an agent--guest post by Raquel Byrnes

2011-06-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

A killer strikes. A love rekindled. A life-altering choice.

PURPLE KNOT by Raquel Byrnes

Welcome, writers. Today I'm honored to feature a guest post by author Raquel Byrnes, whose book PURPLE KNOT just released June 3rd. Woo hoo!

Raquel tackles the subject, "What to look for in an agent." Take it away, Raquel!

What to Look for In an Agent

Agents are people and as such, they vary from micro-managers to the other end of the spectrum. One thing to help you decide what you to look for in an agent is to look at yourself and how you work.

Do you need hand holding?

Do you hope for a movie-esque relationship where they call you up at night with a great idea?

Do you see an agent as a sort of mentor or teacher?

Do you want them to help you with your manuscript because it needs an overhaul?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you don’t need an agent. You need more time. You see, agents take you on spec. That is, they don’t make any money unless they sell your book. So when looking for an agent, make sure that YOU’RE what THEY’RE looking for in a client.

Once you feel you’re ready to query, there are a few things to keep in mind that will help you separate the honest, reputable agents from the scoundrels.

Agents do not charge you money. Period. Not for a reading fee or a submission fee or anything else.

They do not say they will take you if you use their editorial services. Reputable agents with connections to an editing service let you know about that relationship up front. And whether or not you use their service should not affect your submission with them.

You can check their track record on Publisher’s Marketplace or similar sites. If they are successful and have been in the business a while, then it will show.

If their commission is outrageous, more than 10-15% domestic, or they penalize you for being new by charging a higher commission, then walk away.

Where do you find a great agent?

One of the best places is to meet them face to face at a conference. My own agent has said that he finds 80% of his clients during sessions at conferences. This is a wonderful way to dialogue with an agent about what to expect, how they handle client questions, and what level of interaction you are looking for.

Websites like Query Tracker, a free database of literary agents and publishers, is a fantastic place to start when you’re ready to submit your query. Finding an agent is a long process, but worth it when you connect with the right one. As a wise person once pointed out…publication isn’t a selection process, it’s a survival process.

Thanks, Raquel!
Writers, please feel free to stop by and visit Raquel during her blog tour, happening now through July 4th. Click here for more information about PURPLE KNOT, including the book trailer and an excerpt.

Raquel, I think I speak for everyone when I say, "Congratulations!"

Raquel Byrnes lives in Southern, California with her husband of sixteen years and their six children. She considers inspirational fiction a wonderful way to minister to others. She writes romantic suspense with an edge-your-seat pace. Her first book the Shades of Hope Series, Purple Knot, releases on June 3rd from White Rose Publishing. You can visit her at her website: www.raquelbyrnes.com and her writing blog, Edge of Your Seat Romance.

Writing Lessons Learned from WATER FOR ELEPHANTS

2011-05-31T07:10:00.000-07:00

I recently finished reading WATER FOR ELEPHANTS by Sara Gruen, and loved it. As with any book, I learned a great deal from this one. Here goes:

Character development through interaction with animals. We instantly love two of the main characters because of their affection for animals. They sneak food to them. They risk danger in order to protect animals from the bad guys. On the flip side, the bad guys jump off the page with their viciousness. At one point a lit cigarette is flicked into the elephant's open mouth. In another scene, we suffer through the elephant's cries as she's beaten mercilessly.
First person present tense is not just for YA literature. Obvious, I know. But before reading The Hunger Games, I don't remember having read a book with this POV. YA literature is riddled with first person/present tense, and now I'm used to it. I thought it worked in this book, even though it's not YA.
Alternating points of view with the same character adds depth. In ELEPHANTS, the author deftly switches between two eras of the main character's life. One is in the 1930's, when the MC was a young man traveling with the circus. The other is when he's an old man, wasting away in a nursing home. It made me think of each person sitting in a nursing home now, and all the stories they must have bottled up inside them.
Brilliant words that add sound. Clatter, howl, nicker, screech, clackety-clack, clip-clop, snort. These sound words, and many more, added dimension to the story. I felt like I was there, listening to the raucous life of a circus.
Circus life sounds exciting, but it was a gritty business. I read the author's note at the end of the book, where she explained the depth of her research. Many of the circus scenes and ideas in the book sound outrageous, but they're based on fact. Wow.

Now that I've read the book, I want to see the movie. Have you read this book or seen the movie? What was your opinion?

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Fear of Letting Go

2011-05-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

I've been rewriting my manuscript for my agent. I've read and revised it countless times. It's ready. I think. I'm not sure. Fear is preventing me from clicking Send. Below is a list of my fears, and the pep talks I'm giving myself. Can you relate to any of these?

Fear the writing isn't good enough

My pep talk: the story is sound, and you've followed your agent's sage advice. The words in your manuscript are not carved in stone.

Fear of making a bad first impression on editors

My pep talk: you're submitting your best work. The rest is out of your control.

Fear of rejection

My pep talk: you're a writer, get over it. Harsh, but true. We all experience rejection, even pros like Jane Yolen. If you haven't read it yet, here's a great post about famous author rejections.

Fear I've overlooked mistakes

My pep talk: you've worked hard to catch each mistake. You've read published books with errors, even though they're written by famous authors and edited by pros at the big houses. It proves writers and editors are human, not robots.

Fear of failure

My pep talk: the only sure way you'll fail is if you don't try. Here's a great post about failing your way to success.

Fear of ridicule from friends, family, and peers

My pep talk: your friends, family, and fellow writers are not monsters. They are supportive, encouraging people. They'll have your back during the good and bad times ahead.

Do you experience these same fears, or are there any you'd like to add to the list? Do they prevent you from clicking Send or mailing your manuscript? And what pep talk works for you?

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Creating Endings that Resonate

2011-05-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

Resonate -- produce or be filled with deep, full, reverberating sound. (figurative -- evoke or suggest images, memories, and emotions)

We've all read them--stories that resonate with us long after we've closed the book. The main character lingers in our mind, and once we finish the book, we feel like we've lost a friend. Oh, how I wish I could write a book like that.

How do we create memorable stories that linger in the reader's mind? Not only in the middle, during twists and turns and emotional turmoil, but in the end, through those final pages that seal the deal. As usual, I turned to James Scott Bell's PLOT & STRUCTURE for answers. He suggests we consider the following:

Language

Each word is crucial in our ending, and we should choose them carefully. We must determine the mood we're aiming for. Is it clipped and hurried? Slow and sensual? Unresolved and frustrating? Hopeful and poetic? Or happy and satisfied? Word choice is important throughout our books, but the words we choose in the ending determines how the readers feel once they've finished the final chapter.

Dialogue

Is there a unique piece of dialogue between two of your main characters? If they've survived the story, consider using these distinctive words again in the end. Or dialogue could set up what's to come once the players are off the page, or even the screen, such as these famous movie lines: "Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship," from Casablanca, or from Gone with the Wind, "...Tara! Home. I'll go home, and I'll think of some way to get him back. After all, tomorrow is another day."

Description

Bell suggests, "If there is a particular description of setting or character that is just right, this can make for a perfect ending." An important setting that has gone through its own character arc could work, such as a barren field sprouting fresh greenery, or cloudy skies clearing as a sign of hope. Perhaps an embattled hero finds his way home, or the next generation picks up where the previous victors left off.

A Summing Up

"There is a way to sum up the feelings of a character without making it seem like author intrusion," Bells says. A simple paragraph could work, such as this given example from Dean Koontz's MIDNIGHT:

Looking over Scott's shoulder, he saw that Tessa and Chrissie had stepped into the room. They were crying too. In their eyes he saw an awareness that matched his, a recognition that the battle for Scott had only begun. But it had begun. That was the wonderful thing. It had begun.

Do you strive for resonance in your final pages? And what book lingered with you long after you'd read The End, and why?

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Tips for Word Thieves

2011-05-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

I have a new habit I'd like to share with you. Maybe it's lame, and maybe it's short-lived, but I'm loving it. It started with the nonfiction book FIRE LOVER, and now I'm doing it with WATER FOR ELEPHANTS. I've become a bona fide word thief. Here's my looting strategy:

When reading a book, I keep a slip of blank paper tucked between the pages, and a pencil close by.
When I come across an amazing word, one I would've ignored in a thesaurus, I jot it down on the slip of paper.
I struggle with adding sound, so when I come across a great "sound" word, I add it to the list.
If the word is used in an unusual context, I write down the entire phrase.
When my slip of paper is full, or when I've finished my reading session, I transfer the words to a computer document. I've given them easy peasy file names, such as NOTES FOR FIRE LOVER.
I type the words in alphabetical order, avoiding duplicates.

The pro of doing this is that I've unearthed amazing words that I'd normally ignore, and I've sprinkled them in my manuscript. As we all know, certain words evoke a specific mood, and if you're writing a scene with the same mood, you've got a supply of relevant words to work with. The con of doing this is slower reading time.

So tell me, are you a partner in crime? Do you steal words from amazing books, and if you do, what's your system?

(Funny side note...when I was searching for a photo for this post, I discovered there was a game called Word Thief. I had no idea! It sounds like fun, though.)

This is Doubt calling. Can you hear me now?

2011-05-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

"The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today." -- FDR

Does Doubt constantly beg for your attention? Sometimes I allow it to clutter my mind, like the pesky Verizon guy asking, "Can you hear me now?"

In my experience, doubt can fester, rotting our limited confidence. We allow doubt to win when we:

dream but don't try

write but don't finish

finish but don't submit

receive rejections and give up

compare ourselves to others and find we're lacking

achieve milestones but don't celebrate their worth

place unnecessary pressure on ourselves

lose the joy of writing

Writers from all stages of the profession admit to doubting themselves, so we're in good company. And the lovely Tahereh wrote an inspirational post On Feeling Inadequate.

Doubt is normal, and hopefully temporary. When Doubt comes calling, I think we should drop his call in a hurry. What about you?

In writing this post, I found great quotes about about the subject. If you're struggling with doubt, I hope this sampling helps.

"If doubt is challenging you and you do not act, doubts will grow. Challenge the doubts with action and you will grow. Doubt and action are incompatible." -- John Kanary

"Persevere and don't let any self-doubt distract you." -- Catherine Pulsifer

"Nobody becomes great without self-doubt. But you can't let it consume you." -- John McKay

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Over Editing

2011-05-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Is there such a thing as over editing? We're supposed to prune unnecessary words and crop useless scenes, but sometimes I wonder if I'm going too far.

During the polishing stage, I've likened my manuscript to a rose bush (it's a stretch, I know). I've chopped off the dead, ugly branches, but I've also come dangerously close to snipping off lush flowers. When our brains are on editing overload, how can we decipher the unsightly from the beautiful? Here's what I'm learning:

Listen to our readers. If our critique partners starred a line, or complimented a word choice, why mess with it?
Read each sentence in context. If we pluck a sentence out of the blue, it's possible it won't sound quite right. But within the context of a scene, it might work.
Read nonfiction books on our subject. In this post I outlined how this step helped open a treasure box of useful words.
Refer to a list of no-no or addictive words. Adverbs should be used sparingly, but a well-placed adverb sometimes makes sense. (Keli Gwyn wrote a great post about 12 Weak Words)
Step away. When every word, sentence, and paragraph looks like a tumbleweed, it's time to take a break. A walk, a movie, or a few chapters of a good book does wonders for a writer's soul.

We don't want a stark, brittle manuscript that we've whittled down to a colorless stump. We're striving for a bouquet of words, and should be careful not to clip too much.

Are you ever in danger of over editing? Or is there no such thing? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

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Fueling Fiction with Nonfiction

2011-05-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

My novel involves arson, and my agent suggested I read the nonfiction book, FIRE LOVER, by Joseph Waumbaugh. I'm not an avid nonfiction reader, and I approached this assignment with trepidation. After finishing the book, I realized how effectively nonfiction can strengthen our fiction. Here's how:

It goes well beyond the cursory internet search. Yes, we can gather information from Google, but a biography or real-crime thriller delves deeper into motive, personality, and childhood issues.
Word choice bonanza. Holy cow. This book was a treasure trove of unique words regarding my book's subject. I plucked out great words, and now I'm sprinkling them in my manuscript. I found slang, synonyms, and words with more zing. Clever words changed the whole tenor of the book.
World building. My husband is a firefighter, so I thought I knew all there was to know about arson and the firefighting world. I was wrong. After finishing this book, I realized I only knew surface information.
Nonfiction deepens character. What motivates someone to start a fire? Or rob a bank? Or abuse a child? Or commit suicide? Nonfiction explores the why, and helps a writer create complex & believable characters.
It teaches how to distribute important information. Nonfiction is full of valuable details, but if the writer did their job, it's layered, built upon, and interesting. FIRE LOVER read like a novel, avoiding information dumps. Even though I knew the outcome of the true story, I was fascinated by the behind-the-scenes scoop.

Reading this book took precious time, something writers have little of, but for me it was time well spent. My hope is that it'll enrich my story.

Have you ever read nonfiction to support your fiction? Did it help?

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Interview with Nicole Zoltack

2011-05-07T05:00:00.000-07:00

Today our blogging buddy, Nicole Zoltack, has stopped by for an interview. The third book in her Kingdom of Arnhem series, CHAMPION OF VALOR, released May 1st.

Me: Welcome, Nicole! Can you give us a summary of your book series?

Nicole: The Kingdom of Arnhem series (fantasy romance for young adults and adults) is about the final war between two kingdoms - Arnhem and Speica.

Book I - Woman of Honor is about a young girl who wants to become a knight. Aislinn is willing to give up everything for the kingdom of Arnhem - her childhood, her life, even her heart. No matter the pain it brings.

Book II - Knight of Glory. Geoffrey leaves Arnhem to find her allies for the war against Speica and finds secrets, lies, and rumors that could tip the war in Speica's favor. He also finds himself torn between two very different and mysterious ladies.

Book III - Champion of Valor. Selliki loves the mage Gabrael but she is a selkie and love has never treated her race kindly when they love someone from the land. The final war between Speica and Arnhem is threatening the entire world. Lucifer has aligned himself with Speica and wants nothing less than to bring about the Apocalypse before its time. Only one kingdom will prevail; that is, if the world doesn't end.

Me: You're a busy mom with two small children. How did you manage to squeeze in enough time to not only write one novel, but an entire series?

Nicole: It isn't easy being a writer when you have kids. Son #1 is 2 1/2 , son #2 is 9 months (he'll be taking his first step soon!) I write when everyone else is sleeping, either late at night or early in the morning. What's wonderful is that both boys nap at the same time, so I can get dishes and other things done during the day and I try to squeeze in some writing then too, although if I'm honest, I usually try to catch up on emails and blogs then.

Me: Yes, reading blogs is a familiar addiction! What is your favorite part about writing fantasy novels?

Nicole: I love that anything goes. I can have people throw fireballs at each other. I can introduce races like selkies and dwarves. I can show dwarven women (why are they hardly ever portrayed?). I can change trolls so they aren't so monstrous and have magic themselves - the ability to dance on the wind. The freedom is what I love most.

Me: What a cool job--creating unique characters and intriguing worlds. Can you give us a small glimpse into your writing journey?

Nicole: Sure! I first learned about Desert Breeze through a publisher chat on a yahoo group. As the chat was winding down, Gail Delaney (the EIC) mentioned that she loved series, especially for fantasy and a few other genres. I mentioned to her that I had an unfinished manuscript that would be part of a series and briefly described it to her. She said to send it to her when it was finished.

The story I had mentioned was a Nano story (National Novel Writing Month when authors around the world try to write a 50K in November). I abandoned all other side projects and focused on the novel until I completed it. After finishing it, I submitted to Gail and waited. Shortly thereafter, she emailed me an acceptance for Woman of Honor.

Desert Breeze is a non-erotic romance publisher, which is perfect for me. My novels tend to have crossover appeal. Woman of Honor is a coming-of-age fantasy romance, so it's definitely for YA and adults.

Anyhow, I had mentioned to Gail about the series during the yahoo chat, and we worked together to figure out the direction that the series could take so that the entire series was fantasy romance, each book centering on a different couple. And that was that. I had sold a short story or two before this, but this was my journey to novel publication.

Me: That was quite an adventure. What quick tip can you offer fellow writers?

Nicole: Even if you can't write every day, work on your story every day. Even if that just means thinking about the characters and what kind of ice cream they like. The more you know and understand your characters, the more they'll leap off the page.

Me: Thanks for the visit, Nicole. We all wish you success with your trilogy!

Happy Mother’s Day to Nicole and all the other Mommy Writers out there. Readers, be sure to leave a comment to be entered to win some signed post cards and magnets. Each comment during the Champion of Valor Blog Tour gives you an entry for the grand prize: a copy of the entire Kingdom of Arnhem trilogy - Woman of Honor, Knight of Glory, and Champion of Valor.

You can find Nicole here: Website, Blog, Facebook, Twitter

Her books can be purchased on Amazon here.

Keep 'Em Guessing

2011-05-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

My son convinced me to watch "The Other Guys," and I had to admit it was a lot of fun. Here's the logline: Two desk cops get their chance to step up to the big leagues, but do they have what it takes to go toe-to-toe with the city's top criminals?

"The Other Guys" reinforced a valuable storytelling lesson: keep 'em guessing. This movie was like one long opposite day. Here's what I mean:

The tough, hunky NYPD cop (Mark Wahlberg) is drowning in insecurities. He plays the harp and dances ballet. Oh, and he's hated by all of New York because he accidentally shot Derek Jeter in the leg.
The goofy, awkward police accountant (Will Ferrell) is married to jaw-dropping, out-of-his-league Eva Mendes. And he's the one with an exciting, dark past.
A Toyota Prius, which is mocked early in the movie, becomes the kick-butt car that muscles through a chase scene with killers (while saving gas at the same time).
The mellow "Monday, Monday," by The Mamas & the Papas, is background music throughout the fast-paced chase scene. A fun contrast.
The nerdy captain quotes TLC lyrics without realizing it (or does he?)
It wasn't high-powered rifles that brought down the bad guy's helicopter. Nope. It was golf balls.
I expected another "the top brass is in on it" ending, but the writers didn't resort to that tired gag. Another surprise.

This story was packed with hilarious dialogue and fun twists that kept me guessing. Although I don't write comedy, I still learned important lessons about ditching stereotypes and surprising the viewer/reader by weaving in the unexpected.

Have you learned storytelling lessons from a movie? Please share!

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Dangerous Typos

2011-04-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

I was revising my book, when what do you know...I found a typo. Seriously, I've read this manuscript how many times? And I still had a typo?

Misplaced or missing letters can dangerously alter the mood of the story. Here are some examples:

awww vs. ewww

taunt vs. taut

trainer vs. trailer

spout vs. sprout

nose vs. hose

kink vs. kinky

dad vs. dead

give 'em hell vs. give 'em help

Yeah, a couple of these were buried in my manuscript. And they're spelled right, so spellcheck was of no use. Please tell me I'm not the only writer with these Doh! moments.

Can you add any other dangerous typos to the list? And it's time to spill the beans. What goofy mistakes have you found in your manuscript? And was it already out to agents or editors? Let's share the shame.

To all you A-Z bloggers out there, congratulations on a job well done! Your posts were so much fun to read.

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Writers and the In Between

2011-04-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

"We crucify ourselves between two thieves: regret for yesterday and fear of tomorrow." - Fulton Oursler

It occurred to me that writers are perpetually in a state of In Between. Where are you on this list?

Between the brilliant idea and the first draft
Between the first draft and the 20th draft
Between the polish and the query
Between the query and agent representation
Between representation and an editor's "yes"
Between the "yes" and the boxful of books shipped to your doorstep
Between the boxful of books and the sale of book #2 (or 3 or...)

With this writing life we've chosen, there are many In Betweens. Sometimes it's terrifying to close our eyes, build up the necessary faith & confidence, and leap from one side to the other. Landing on the opposite curb requires the courage to exit the In Between.

Remember this: "You are never given a dream without also being given the power to make it true. You may have to work for it, however." - Richard Bach

Is there an In Between you'd like to add to the list? What In Between stage are you in, and was it difficult to arrive at this phase of your writing journey?

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