I Believe in You

I originally posted this on my other blog, Zero at Heart, but I thought I might want to follow my own advice and pass on the word. :] I think you guys could benefit from it as well.

When was the last time you told yourself that you can do something? Or anyone that you believed in them for that matter? Was it a long time ago? Or just yesterday? Did you mean what you said?

I don't really care for writing blog posts, I figured that out today. It scares me. But you know what I do like? I like helping people. I like playing the hero and some people don't like that about me.

I get scared, I mess up a lot, I break promises, I get hurt, and I hurt others. That's me. That's you. That's all of us. We all try to do things, sometimes a lot of things at once, and you know what? Sometimes we fail.

I realize my writing is choppy and sometimes grammatically incorrect, and every once and a while I'll have a spelling error, but I hope you can tell that I actually care through these words. Because I believe in every single one of you. I believe in you in everything you do. I believe that even if I can only tell you three words today, I believe they can change you. I believe that they won't just change you, but they'll change others too.

Why? Because can you think of a time that you needed support? Or that anyone you know needed support for that matter? Was it a long time ago? Or just yesterday? Did it hurt?

Imagine if someone had simply stopped you as you passed by and told you they believe in you. 100% completely, honestly, truly believed in you. Would that change you? Would that affect how hard you fought? I honestly believe it would.

So pass it on I guess is my point. If you believe in someone, tell them, you never know how much they need it. Some days I feel so alone it physically hurts me. That isn't to make you pity me because pity is the last thing I need from you.

Even if that person who needs you is you, because believe it or not but you need someone too. Write it in a letter, text it, say it in person, think it to yourself, it doesn't matter. Someone out there needs you to believe in them, and guess what? Only you will do.

When was the last time you told someone you supported them? I hope you can soon say today.

Book Review: Nevermore by James Patterson

Nevermore by James Patterson


One last chance...
for Max, Fang, and Dylan...
before it all ends.

Are you ready for the final chapter? Are you ready for the ultimate flight? Because THIS IS IT. One last incredible, explosive adventure with an astonishing ending that no one could have seen coming. 

(Taken from Amazon.com)

I'm writing this part at 11 o'clock at night because I can't get it out of my head.

First off, let me say that this had potential. Great characters, great motives, great setting, great ideas. But  it needed something more.

For starters, by goodness, LET THEM DIE. It got to a point where I didn't take you seriously because EVERY STINKING CHARACTER CAME BACK TO LIFE EVERY STINKING TIME. So much for suspense because I knew NO ONE EVER DIED. Oh yes, you say that he died? Oh wait, never mind because YOU BROUGHT HIM BACK TO LIFE.

I love that James Patterson tried to teach us something. I love love love one of the last chapters and I was just like yes! That was amazing! I love your morals! I love you! I love your family! I love everyone you have ever passed by on the street!

Then I saw your writing. And "yes, yes, yes" quickly turned to "no, no, NO".

It's not some much the actual writing, Patterson has some skill there, it was more the plot. It needed a lot more build-up and more suspense, which could've been fixed by LETTING SOMEONE DIE.

*ahem*

Anyways, I'm off my ranting soapbox. A lot of things in the series seemed just too convenient for my tastes. Like in one of the first books where they all just suddenly developed these random powers such as breathing underwater and power over technology. You're flipping bird-kids! All this power is too much for you!

Let's talk about something good for a moment, because, despite my long-winded rants, I actually liked this series, dare I say it, at some times I loved it. Characters, Mr. James, you choose wonderful characters. I loved them. I loved Max's stubbornness and Angel's maturity. Fang was lovely. Dylan was charming. I loved Nudge's wish to be normal, against all odds, and I love her statement towards the end of Nevermore about the wings. Because even if it wasn't something necessarily good or even happy, it gave her character. And that's why I love them, their character and their flaws and their human-ness.

Ugh. The love triangle. It had me in the previous book, Angel, but in this one it was just ugh. Random changing of views, random interactions, and random kissing had my mind whirling. With all of the other things I was trying to figure out, it just seemed a little too much. I admit, this could've been used in favor of the book but it didn't happen, at least not for me.

Another thing that was good was the dystopian-aspect. No, it was not a true dystopian, but it achieved the purpose that a dystopian novel does. It gives you a scenario that is all too possible to happen to us and that is what scares you and me. Back to the chapter I loved. That is the kind of thing I want to see more of, because what it tells you is very, very true. If you've read this book, take a guess at which chapter it is that I love so much. :]

Probably at three stars for me, because I love the characters too much to give it a two. Please, a lovely cover, so points from me. Overall, I would've liked to see a little more tension, a little more bang from the tension not gradually diffusing as the book goes on. I was waiting for the big ending but I was a little let down. Still, a great book and may I say it one more time? Lovely characters. I would recommend it to others, but not as heavily as some of my other favorite books.

Anyways, any thoughts on this book I haven't shared? What do you rate this book? Wrote a review on it you want to share? (Send me a link, I'd love to see what you have to think. :]) Any books you've read recently and think I should check out? (I'm in need of a few recommendations.)

Good luck and keep writing everyone!

(Originally posted on Zero at Heart)

Just wondering....

How many of you out there are on their first draft? How is that coming along?

I don't care if you're reading this post today or tomorrow or a year from now, go ahead and comment how your writing is coming. I'd love to hear form you!

To all of you out there, good luck and keep writing!

Plot Pieces

So welcome back readers. Here summer is drawing to a close, the temperatures are still very high, I'm falling behind on the stuff I have to do, and most likely, there's a few of you out there who are working on their plot like me.

I was searching the internet a while ago for a list of plot pieces for the writer not the reader when I came across this: http://www.how-to-write-a-book-now.com/plot-outline.html It's a plot exercise with all the good stuff you need.

It has eight steps: story goal, consequences, requirements, forewarnings, costs, dividends, prerequisites, and preconditions. All are very important parts of a plot that don't get very much attention.

Just go click the link above and give it a try, it will give you a new perspective on your plot and maybe, if you're like me, help you get over a rough spot in your plot. I would love to hear what you've done with it, so comment away! Good luck and keep writing!

Motivation and the Inner Editor

Because I know we all need a little motivation and again. I understand, I need it, you need it, J.K. Rowling needed it, and probably still does. It's natural to feel little down about your story.

We've all reached that point in our stories where you feel like quitting. You're inner editor is screaming bad things about your plot, that you'll never published, and all the other things your inner editor likes to go about. Give up. Quit. Walk away now. You're not cut out for this kind of work.

My inner editor particularly likes to rant about the plot, or rather the lack of one. Sometimes I listen, tie up a few loose ends, do a little house-keeping, but the thing is it just keeps talking. And if I keep listening, it will eventually drown out my character's voices and then comes a whole new wave of horrible.

You are the writer, the goddess/high spirit/dictator of your story and you make the decisions. Don't ever forget that. Yes, sometimes the inner editor is helpful, sometimes that little bit of niggling doubt in the back of your mind is helpful, but (and it's a big shocker here) sometimes it's not. You have to know when to stop listening and you know what? Go ahead and say it. Shut up, inner editor.

You'd be surprised how well that can work. Some people imagine it being locked away or vacationing to Canada, whatever works, but you have to realize that you are the boss, it's you who decides what happens in the end. Do not quit just because someone tells you to, in your head or in real life, but it doesn't matter what they think. The only opinion that counts is yours.

If it means anything to you, I think you can do it. Actually, I know you can do it. You are a writer, you can do anything.

So the point is, yes, you are going to feel doubtful. Yes, you are going to feel down. Yes, your inner editor is going to rant and rave, but no matter what, never, ever give up.

Character Action

Lately, I picked up a book and knew within a few pages that wasn't going to like it. Usually, it's the storyline or the character has different priorities than I think they should, but this book wasn't the sort. I mean, it had a decent premise and it actually seemed like my kind of book. Action, adventure, a little romance on the side, but I couldn't quite place what I didn't like. And then it hit me.

The character doesn't do anything. 

I mean, yes, tons of these random opportunities fly by them and the characters take them, but they're not deciding for themselves. They aren't going out and searching for these opportunities, fighting to keep them. They're a passive bystander in their own story. 

My problem with this is that you can't just wait around for things to happen, because they won't. How many times do you sit on your couch, waiting for someone to show up and clean your house? I'm not saying your characters are going to be in this situation, but they're going to have to do the things they need to too.

A common problem that writers run into is giving their secondary characters action, but letting their MCs fall short. Maybe because they want their main characters to seem heroic or godly by making them calm. Or maybe they feel more free with the emotions in their minor characters. Whatever it is, secondary characters get more freedom than the story's star, and given its their story after all, it's something we need to change. 

Just remember, your MCs are not perfect. Let them get angry sometimes, or cry, or pull a joke. Go through all of your chapter and make sure they are doing something at least every five paragraphs, and doing something they choose doing, not because it happened and they're just going along. You'll know the difference, if you have to convince yourself its actin, then its not. Measure out the big decsiions. Are they active or passive decisions? You should have a healthy balance of each.

I cannot tell you how far a little character development can go. It should help you with the kinds of decisions that each character would make. For some great stuff on character development, Annie at The Epic, The Awesome, and The Random has some great posts. 

I hope you're stories are better for this post. Have a nice day and keep writing!

Interview: Ruta Sepetys

Today I have a special treat for you: an interview with the author of Between Shades of Gray, Ruta Sepetys! 

This book has earned a honorable place in my heart, not just because of her writing (which is phenomenal) but because she has made the world a better place by telling a story that next to no one actually knows. 

My grandparents were persecuted by Stalin and barely escaped with their lives. I grew up knowing the story of the genocide hidden right before the Holocaust. I couldn't believe the masses that didn't share my knowledge. For giving these shadowed figures a voice, Ruta has earned a great deal of my respect. 

Let's jump right in to the questions! 

--

Can you tell us about yourself?

RS – I was born and raised in Michigan in a family of artists, readers, and music lovers. For nearly twenty years I worked in the music industry, managing the careers of recording artists, musicians and songwriters. One day, one of my clients said, “Ruta, you’ve spent years helping musicians tell their stories, but what’s your story?” That question sparked a career transition. I started writing.

What was the first thing you wrote, the one that decided for you that you were going to be a writer?

RS – Well, the first thing I wrote was a middle-grade mystery. Fortunately, a literary agent encouraged me to put that book aside and write “Between Shades of Gray” instead. I’m so grateful for that early advice!

Can you tell us about your book? Without giving it away, of course. 

RS – The book is set in 1941 and deals with a piece of WWII history that’s not often talked about – the crimes of Stalin. The story follows fifteen-year-old artist, Lina Vilkas, who is arrested with her mother and younger brother and deported from Lithuania to Siberia. The story chronicles not only their fight to survive, but their struggle to retain faith in mankind.

If you could go into one scene in your book and stand by your character's side instead of in heir head, which scene would it be? If not in your book, it could be from a story you read. 

RS – Wow, what a fantastic question! I would go into “Between Shades of Gray” and stand by Lina during the scene where she has to draw a portrait of the Soviet commander. It was such an awful scary scene to write.

What inspired Shades of Gray? 

RS – When I was in Lithuania meeting with relatives I learned that some of my grandfather’s extended family had been deported to Siberia. I was shocked and ashamed that I knew so little about Lithuania’s history. I decided to write the book to give voice to the hundreds of thousands of people who will never have a chance to tell their story.

Can you give one piece of advice to the writers out there?

RS – My one piece of advice would be to read. Good writers are good readers!


--


If you want to learn more about Ruta and her book, Between Shades of Gray, you can visit her website or at BetweenShadesofGray.com. 


If you haven't read her book, you should. You never know, you might really like it. I know I did. You can buy it on Amazon, Kindle, or just check it out from your local library!


From her website:

In 1941, fifteen-year-old Lina is preparing for art school, first dates, and all that summer has to offer. But one night, the Soviet secret police barge violently into her home, deporting her along with her mother and younger brother. They are being sent to Siberia. Lina's father has been separated from the family and sentenced to death in a prison camp. All is lost.

Lina fights for her life, fearless, vowing that if she survives she will honor her family, and the thousands like hers, by documenting their experience in her art and writing. She risks everything to use her art as messages, hoping they will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive.

It is a long and harrowing journey, and it is only their incredible strength, love, and hope that pull Lina and her family through each day. But will love be enough to keep them alive?

Between Shades of Gray is a riveting novel that steals your breath, captures your heart, and reveals the miraculous nature of the human spirit.

Thank you all for reading, good luck, and keep writing!

Interview: Annie from The Epic, the Awesome, and the Random

Today I have a special treat for you all. Meet Annie, a fellow blogger, avid reader, and fantastic writer. She's here (metaphorically) from her blog, The Epic, the Awesome, and the Random. Everyone give a warm welcome!


--


Tell me a little about yourself. What's your current project? Favorite book? The name of your blog? 


I'm Annie, a teenage girl, aspiring author, introvert, certified band geek, dreamer, and general lover of books.  I have a blog titled The Epic, the Awesome, and the Random, where I review books, give writing advice, and other assorted things.  It's so hard to name just one book as a favorite, so I'll mention several.  I've always been a huge fan of Christopher Paolini's Inheritence series, as well as D. J. MacHale's Pendragon series, Alison Goodman's Eon: Dragoneye Reborn, Maggie Stiefvater's The Scorpio Races, Markus Zusak's The Book Thief, and Patrick Carman's Thirteen Days to Midnight.  I've loved books and stories from a very young age, so I suppose that naturally led me to writing.  My current project is a young adult high fantasy novel titled Secrets of the Legend Chaser.  It's about a boy who steals dragon eggs while running from his past life, a lonely king, and an orphan whom everyone thinks is the king's missing son.  I'm currently in the revision stages, and as soon as it's polished and revised I plan to begin querying agents and pursuing publication, which has always been a dream of mine.


What was the first thing you ever wrote? If you can't remember a specific thing, what sorts of things did you start out with? (Poems, short story, start right out with a novel, etc.)


I wrote my first story when I was about five.  It was a short "book" about a dinosaur that gets captured and taken to a zoo (yeah, even my five-year-old self knew what a plot was, apparently), complete with marker illustrations and sequels.  All throughout elementary school and I wrote various short stories.  In middle school, I started writing poems (and I tried my hand at song lyrics) as well as stories.  I wrote in just about every genre--historical, fantasy, realistic, sci-fi, dystopian, paranormal, and more.  I've accumulated quite a collection of writing--I love to look back and see how much I've progressed.  During seventh and eighth grade I wrote two novellas (like novels, but not quite as long) featuring a four friends and their horses.  At the beginning of my freshman year of high school, I looked at one of the short stories I'd written, titled Emerald Spark.  I realized that the main character's story went far beyond what was in those four pages.  And so Secrets of the Legend Chaser came to be.  It's my first full-length novel, and the first very large piece of writing I've had to revise.  


You're farther along than most of us in our current novels, do you have any advice for those finishing up their stories and starting to revise?


The first step is actually finishing the project.  I cannot stress enough how utterly important this is.  It may sound completely obvious, but this is a huge step that many writers can't get past.  It's so easy to not finish a project, to get distracted by a shinier idea and abandon your current work in progress.  If you ever want to be a sucessful published author, people are going to expect you to finish books.  Once a writer gets to the point where they can finish a full-length book, they have taken a very important leap.  Once they get there, though, they also need to learn to revise.  Revision is the key to producing publishable novels.  It makes the jumbled plot a smooth ride, it makes the awkward prose into a work of art, and it makes the cardboard-cutout character into a living, breathing person.  Before revising, though, you have to let the work sit for a few weeks.  It's hard to revise something that's still so fresh in your mind.  By distancing yourself from the novel, you enable yourself to look at it with fresh eyes.  And before you start revising, you need a plan.  Don't just dive in--figure out what needs to be changed, and how you'll change it.  A plan of action will go a long way towards making your revision sucessful.


What got you started on a blog? 


 I used to scan the writing help forum on Inkpop quite frequently, and I noticed that I was able to answer many of the writing-related questions that people had.  I also realized that I enjoyed this.  At that time I was getting more and more into following writing and book review blogs, so I thought I had nothing to lose by starting one myself.  And so The Epic, the Awesome, and the Random was born.  I figured that instead of just helping a few people at a time, I could type up an article on writing and let all my followers, and anyone else who stumbled across the blog, see it.  My blog also has another aspect to it--I also write book reviews.  This came about because I was already noting things I liked or disliked as I read books, and it really wasn't much more work to type these thoughts up after I finished the book.  In all honesty, the blog has been far more sucessful than I thought it would be.  It can be very rewarding at times, like when a reader leaves a comment saying how much an article of mine helped them out.  That makes me smile every time.   

Do you have any quick advice to share with the bloggers out there? 

Don't expect huge amounts of followers right away.  You don't gain followers without effort.  The way you get people to read your blog is to write posts that have content worthy of reading.  This seems obvious, but it really is the truth.  If you regularly churn out articles that are informative/entertaining/whatever the purpose of your blog is, there's a good chance you'll eventually gain a following.  Also, if you want lots of readers, get your name out there.  Guest blogging on someone else's blog, commenting on other blogs, and generally interacting with other bloggers are all ways to make people aware of your presence.  Don't worry so much about your blog's design--it doesn't have to be fancy as long as you have good content.  Also, use spellcheck, and read through your posts at least once before you hit "publish".  Please, please, please.  It doesn't take much effort, and it'll save you from embarrassing and unprofessional errors.  Write about things that have meaning for you, things you care about.  Just like with all forms of writing, if you don't care about what you're writing about, then your readers won't, either.

Why do you write? Or why do you keep writing? 

I write because that's who I am.  Writing, for me, is not a hobby, nor a pastime.  I need to put words on paper, just like a musician needs to have sound coming out of their instrument, or a painter needs to put paint on a canvas.  It's a part of who I am.  I love creating stories, and writing is the way I get them out of my head and into the world.  There are definitely things I don't like about writing, but for every aspect I don't enjoy, there are ten that I love.  I write for the exhilaration of typing those first few words, and the bittersweet satisfaction of "the end".  I write to walk that thin line between reality and imagination.  I write for the moments when my characters feel such emotion that I'm crying, too.  I write to create something out of nothing.  I write for that moment when someone reads what I wrote, looks up at me, and says "Wow."  I keep writing because of my passion for stories and imagination, and my tendency to daydream, and night-dream, and any dream in between.  I keep writing because my stories keep bouncing around in my head, and my characters keep nudging me to get their stories into the world.  Any writer can relate to the utter magic of writing, and in the end, I think we all write for the same reason--because if we didn't write, we couldn't go on. 


--


Thank you Annie for visiting and we wish you luck with your blog and writing! You can talk to Annie at her blog, The Epic, the Awesome, and the Random. 


Have a happy Friday and keep writing, because if we didn't write, we couldn't go on. I couldn't have said it better myself, Annie!

6 Questions to Befuddle the Writing Mind #3

Yeah, there is no hope of ever fitting this into the blogging schedule, but rest assured I'll (most likely) write more. Anyways, back to World Building.

World Building Part Two

Yes, yes we know you're characters are ever so important, but have you ever given thought to the world they live in? Hopefully, because without a world to live on, most characters would not exist. Welcome back to 6 Questions on World Building. 

Since I know we'll all be writing in different types of places (reality or fantasy) just adapt the question to fit your story's needs. Have fun and happy writing!

1. Where does your character live? What planet, land, nation, country, city, address, room, house, etc.? Be as specific as you can. 

2. Let's talk about politics. (Our favorite subject, I know.) Who is in control in your world? And don't just say that everyone does as they please. No, it doesn't work that way. What governing power is in charge? How does the government work? 

3. What sorts of religions or faiths are in your world? Do they believe in spirits, gods, goddesses, etc.? 

4. Name three superstitions that people in the area of your MC have. How did each come about? Are these superstitions reasonable? If not, what can be done to stop people from believing in them? 

5. How are the young treated? How are the old? How are the teenagers? Is different work assigned to each? Are the young raised by only their parents or the entire community? Are the elders thrown out at some point?

6. Are the people living in your MC's area happy about where an how they live? Name three things they generally want changed. (I know there will be one or two people who are exceptions, but we're just going with the general views at the moment.) Please do not tell me they are completely happy with it, nothing is perfect, even in fantasy. They will want something changed.

Thank you again for reading and keep writing!

6 Questions to Befuddle the Writing Mind #2

Hey, did you guys know there is a little button reading "Publish" that you have to press in order for a post to be published? Well, I apparently don't. I had this post typed up for Monday and I quit out before posting. Whoops. Well, I hope you can forgive me....

Anyways.

Here are the next six questions to help you develop your story and characters and whatever else we are targeting on that day. Answer them, blog them, comment your answers, save them in a word doc, whatever you deem worthy to do!

World Building Part 1

I know last week was some character building but this week we'll start at the beginning. World-building. We've had posts on why this is important before, but the bottom line is that you have to know where your story is happening. A story in Antarctica is not going to turn out the same way as a story in the Sahara. 

Since I know we'll all be writing in different types of places (reality or fantasy) just adapt the question to fit your story's needs. Have fun and happy writing!

1. Opening Scene. Where is these place? What does it look like? In the very first paragraph of your story, what is the setting? Describe it. Names of places, of plants surrounding them, what sorts of things do they see? 

2. Quick, make a list of all of the different places that are visited in your book. And I mean all of them. You can be as vague (New York City) or as specific (the bed in Camille's bedroom) as you want, but make sure you get all of them.

3. Using the list from the previous question, attach a word or phrase to each setting that best describes it. It can be something about the way it looks, the way it feels, what happened there, or whatever else you want. It just needs to be what you feel is the most important thing to remember about that place. 

4. What is the most meaningful setting in your story? Why is it the most meaningful? What happens there that makes it so? Write a quick description of it. 

5. Explain four ways that your setting has affected your story. Notice I started with "explain". 

6. Why is your story happening where it is? Why not the Alps or Dreamland? What makes this place so important that you are basing your story there? 

6 Questions to Befuddle the Writing Mind #1

Here are six questions to help you develop your story and characters and whatever else we are targeting on that day. I don't care what you do with them: just answer them, blog them, comment your answers, etc. They're here to help you with your writing and your story.

1. What is the name of your main character? I mean the full name and the various nicknames. All of the names that characters has, is and will go by.

2. What is the age of your main character? The physical age, the mental age, if age has been affected in any way. 

3. If your MC could change one aspect of the way they looked, what would it be and why? And I don't mean "her hair because its ugly". What led her/him to dislike it so much? 

4. If your MC could change one thing about the way they thought, what would it be and why? What led them to dislike it so much? (New hobby, less of an emotion, etc.)

5. What are three words that state exactly what your MC is? Think about this. Don't just write the first three words that come to mind. 

6. What is special about your MC? These aren't just magical powers and wealth. What sets them apart from others? What made them so unique that you wrote their story instead of a billion different others?

I'd love to see what you have to say. If you want to post your questions or a link to the blogpost, that'd be great! Check back Monday for the next six questions!

Good luck and keep writing!

Definition: Mary Sue-ism

I would like to say that yes, a very good example of this is Twilight. In case you were wondering.

Mary Sue-ism is when your main character, or any other character, is portrayed as "perfect" or that, against all odds, everyone is completely in love with that character. No matter how horribly flawed, idiotic, unintelligent, clumsy, unaware, oblivious, and downright ridiculous that character may seem. *coughBellacough* 

(You know what, I think I might have to have a post that is dedicated to all the things wrong with Bella that Meyer did not intend. I really should.)

The short and sweet definition from Wikipedia goes as following...

A fictional character, usually female and especially in fanfic, whose implausible talents and likeableness weaken the story.

I know when you hear the words "Mary Sue" you immediately think of the main love interest of our very own Spiderman, right? Or at least that's what I think of. The term "Mary Sue" actually originated not from the popular Spiderman comics and movies, but of a Star Trek fan-fic.

The Urban Dictionary describes a Mary Sue as the following....

A female character who is so perfect that she is annoying. The name originated in a very short Star Trek story that mocked the sort of female characters who showed up in fanfiction. It usually refers to original female characters put into fanfiction, but can refer to any character. Mary-Sues are characters who are usually extraordinarily gorgeous, amazingly talented, unusually powerful, and exceedingly attractive to whoever the author has a crush on. They often possess ridiculously fancy and pretentious first names -- Angel, Raven, Jewel, Lorelei Bianca Julia Marizza Snape -- and are very, very annoying.

 I love the urban dictionary sometimes, I really do. Especially times like now when I can't think of a better way to put it.

The obvious example is Bella from Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series. Just another reason I would not recommend that book to anyone. No matter what this girl does, everyone loves her. She has guys drooling (sometimes quite literally) after her every step. No one gets mad at her. She's literally "perfect"!

Before I go off on that soapbox, let's rein in the topic. Bella's only flaw *ahem* make that the only flaw given to her on purpose would be clumsiness. I know we did a big circle here, but my point is that Bella Swan is a Mary Sue. Points against her: everyone loves her, she's some sort of freak of nature (in more ways than one, of course, but I mean with the vampire-y powers), everyone loves her, she gets good grades, makes friends easy (?), and even smells good!?


Mary Sues sever any really connections that could offer between themselves and the readers. The only thing they can give is an idea of "perfection" that the readers will never achieve, and that bond is fragile. It's like having friends just to get a hold of their money. First off, it's not nice. Secondly, it's not real friendship and it won't last.

The point is don't write these "perfect" people into your story. They drag the story down. Here's a great resource on Mary Sue's http://www.fictionpress.com/s/1440163/1/The_Official_Mary_Sue_Manual. It is mainly related to Mary Sues in fan-fiction, but it can relate to novel writing too. There's some great advice there on how to avoid writing them.

Hope I cleared some things up. Have a nice spring and keep writing!

Changes and Rewriting

Although this is not today's scheduled topic, I thought I'd bring it up since I haven't posted something for a while.

Rewriting is, in my opinion, one of the hardest things to get over as a writer. After the seventieth time you are rewriting your story, things look pretty bleak. How could you, cruel world? It's just a story!

But let me tell you, if you truly love your story, you're going to suffer for it. That's how you find the good stories. The bad ones you'll find you're not willing to go through that kind of mental turmoil for and drop the subject. It's better that you use your time to find that one story that makes your heart a-flutter.

And yes, I do mean you have to fall in love with your story.

Another Quick Point: If you aren't absolutely in love, 100% in excited about the topic, or obsessed with the outcome, you are not going to last very long in that story. Follow your heart.

“Books aren't written, they’re rewritten. Including your own. It is one of the hardest things to accept, especially after the seventh rewrite hasn’t quite done it.”--Michael Crichton

That quote illustrates my point exactly. It is one of the greatest obstacles to overcome; to accept the point that you will be doing more rewriting than writing. 


Don't be afraid to cut words. They are only the stating point, waypoint on your way to the end. You can always write more. They have nothing against being cut, it means they have done their job. 


I wish you all a happy February, a wonderful Saturday, and keep writing!

Writer's Will

Writer's Will is a lot like Writer's Block and I won't bore you with a very long explanation of the two.

Basically, all you need to know is that Writer's Will is usually the base cause of Writer's Block. It's not that we can't think up of ideas (although this does happen too) but it's that we are not ready to write. SO, to cover up our deficiencies, we blame it on Writer's Block.

I believe 'writer's block' is the normal state of writing; that is, you rarely have anything just flow easily from your brain to the keyboard. And if it does, it's usually pretty bad. Good writing is almost always hard, and what I think sometimes happens is that writers forget how hard it is, or don't want to do the work any more, and they call this 'writer's block'. 

- Dave Barry

When, in reality, we have a million different ideas running through our heads, we just can't find it in ourselves to sit down and put them to paper.

The hardest thing about writing is not coming up with ideas - although it can be your opinion - but to me it is setting way to time to just simply write.

Cures


Just write. Write whenever you can, whatever your mood. You write and your brain will eventually catch up with you. (There was a great quote about this, but I can't seem to find it.) Write at night, when you are emotional, when your friend asks you to a party you don't want to go to. Write write write. This is a test of willpower and as a writer, you had better have some willpower otherwise you will not last through the twists and turns. And this isn't something that someone can help you with, this rests on your shoulders and your shoulders alone. All we can do is wish you the best of luck and you keep writing! Have a good February, a great Thursday, and good luck!

In the end, you have to just sit down, shut up, and write. 

- Natalie Goldberg

EditMinion

Today is just a short post about a ƒantastic site called EditMinion.

Basically you just copy and paste your text into the box. Then the site works it's magic and bam! Finds all your repeated words, possible grammar mistakes, spelling errors and a few other things. Simple right?

I don't think there's most else to tell except here's the link if you want to try it out for yourself...

http://editminion.com/

Good luck and keep writing!

Description

Has anyone ever read Silverwing by Kenneth Oppel? Oh my gosh, my teacher used to say that Oppel was the master of description. And believe me, the beginning left me breathless.

You guys lucked out, I was able to find an excerpt of the book online. Here's the first paragraph....

Silverwing
Chapter One
© Kenneth Oppel
Read the Excerpt

Skimming over the banks of the stream, Shade heard the beetle warming up its wings. He flapped harder, picking up speed as he homed in on the musical whine. He was almost invisible against the night sky, the streaks of silver in his thick black fur flashing in the moon's glow.

I mean, yes, this is written in Children's-fiction-language, it's not what you would expect from a YA novel or an adult novel, but it's children's fiction! It doesn't have to be.

First off, you have to know the difference between children's fiction, YA fiction, and Adult fiction. You have to find out which one your story fits into before we deal with the type of description. If you're not sure, read the articles below.

Writing YA Versus Adult Fiction: What’s the difference?
The Difference Between Middle Grade & Young Adult

I'm not going to go too far into novel length, word count, and all that other stuff that makes the difference between the three. As the title points out, we're talking about description. Let's start with determining thought processes. Emotion is just as much a part of description as sight or taste.

Thought Process

Children's Fiction - They are generally more accepting. They aren't as questioning as YA fiction, and if they do question, it won't be to the depths as YA or adult. They don't have as many of the experiences or knowledge to. Most children might want to be older or think that they are bigger.

YA Fiction - YA is usually the emotion-oriented of the three. Their actions are based the most off of emotions. The MC tend to be less sure of themselves because they don't have the protection shell of a younger child and lack the confidence of adults who have found there place.

Adult Fiction - The MC has found their place and has been there a while, gotten confidence and found a job. Maybe settled down. They tend to be more sure of themselves and cling to old beliefs. Things have been the way they are for quite some time, so they are very comfortable in their regime.

I want to remind you that I am just pointing out generalizations, not all MCs/stories are like the ones I am categorizing, there are exceptions.

Now that we have thought process, we can determine how they react to change.

React to Change

Children's Fiction - As children go, or at least young children, they tend to accept things. They don't know the boundaries of our world like older people do. Who is to tell them that mermaids don't exist? Or that everyone has a happy ending? 

YA Fiction - Change? There's so much of it going on, usually the only thing that they can do is grab onto a piece of floating wood and wait out the storm. Change is the way of life. 

Adult Fiction - Things have been the way they are for as long as they could remember. They grew up knowing these things, living this way, they don't usually expect change. If change happens, they might hang on to the old ways as hard they possibly can. 

Common Points of the Stories

Children's Fiction - Growing up, watching change as an outsider or having it affect their older sibling or parent

YA Fiction - BIG ONE: Finding their place in the world, being thrown into the sea of change

Adult Fiction - Sudden change in society, fixing/stopping change, learning to overcome and accept change

See how important it is to determine their reaction to change? It can seriously affect your story. Let's say that a meteor crosses the sky. A child would think immediately about a shooting star and maybe make a wish. A teenager might think about it as an omen, there's so much going on they can't focus on it but the thought stays in the back of their head for a long time. An adult might immediately worry about their families or scoff at the idea immediately and shove it out of their head. Things couldn't possibly change now. 

One change but three totally different reactions. You have to keep this in mind when writing detail and description in your story. It may not seem important to know which type of fiction you are writing in, but I can't emphasize enough to find out/decide which one you write in. 

Now is as good as any time to talk about the main points in description. You may be familiar with the five senses, but they aren't the only ones. 

Sight - eyes, seeing

Hear - ears, hearing

Taste - mouth, tasting, eating

Touch - hands, skin, feel

Smell - nose, smelling

Emotions - mind, feelings

React - mind, instincts, reacting

Others- not only emotions and such from your MC, but from others too

It's important to have a balance of these. You might think that sight should be the most used, but keep in mind about emotions. It is also a big one. You can't just see everything, you have to formulate your own opinions and emotions about things, this is especially important in YA fiction. 

Also keep in mind the details about your MC, as they will also greatly affect the senses that you put in. If your character is blind, it won't "see" per se. If your character is deaf, the same goes for hearing. Description changes with the main character. 

Age, characteristics, personalities, etc. they all change the way that description should be added. I'm not going to tell you a certain way to describe something because of all the different varieties of description. As with anything, the most important thing is balance.

You can't describe the whole story long, then it becomes nonfiction. You can't lack any sort of description otherwise the story looses it's meaning. You have to find a healthy balance of description. Let's look at a few examples...

A - She told Max about her necklace and he frowned. She started to sing. 


B- She whispered to Max about the broken necklace and he frowned, obviously thinking back to the time that he had given it to her in remembrance of their mother. Trying to show him that she held no grudges, she started to sing the lullaby he used to whisper when they were little. 

Does A seem to be lacking something? Do the sequence of events not make complete sense? Read B, make sense now? If you add the girl's emotion, the description about the necklace being broken, and the conclusion to sing to make him better, the story makes a lot more sense. Now read C (below).

C - She whispered about the broken, silver necklace to her older brother, Max who stood over her trying to eat his little bowl of pink ice cream in peace. He slammed the little, rusted spoon against the white ceramic of the bowl and scooped up another small bite of the tasty treat. His mouth moved into a tight frown that hid all of his teeth, obviously remembering the time so long ago that 


Description can make or break your story. C, if you hadn't noticed, is a little over-described. The bit about the ice cream, although allowing us to picture the scene better, completely diverts the reader's attention from the point of the story; the broken necklace. Be careful with description.

Pros and Cons of Description

Pro - Helps the reader picture the scene
Con - Can be overused
Pro - Brings depth to a scene
Con - Makes it easy to tell instead of show
Pro - A sign of a good/growing writer
Con - Can distract from the story
Pro - Tells a lot about a character or place

Obviously, the pros outweigh the cons and description is a very important part of a story. This section was just meant to remind you that description can be a double-edged sword. Be careful when you attempt to use it.

Tips


Use it or lose it. You've heard the saying before. The most important place to use description in is the beginning. There's no other time that you'll be able to use it in that amount so make it count.

Description can either be used to show or tell, make sure you have a healthy balance. You've sure heard a lot about that.

Don't let description distract you or the reader from the story.

Practice! As with anything, if you use it enough, you will get better.

My advice is to focus on who your characters are. If you can figure that out, description will be easy.

Wow, that was pretty long. I hope that I could help you better understand the art of describing! :] Have a nice day, a happy January and good writing to you all!

Interview: Shelly Li

Our first interview of 2012! Oh yeah! Welcome, readers, back to the start of the new year and new writing advice. We have an amazing author here whose book is coming out in 2013. Sit back and read a little bit about Shelly Li!

--

Can you share a little bit about yourself?

1. I am currently a freshman at Duke, studying economics and philosophy. I graduated last spring from a large high school in Omaha, where I was captain of the varsity golf team and vice president of my class, as well as an IB Diploma candidate (now a recipient.) I'm a writer of science fiction and fantasy, and I've published over 30 short stories in places such as Nature, Cosmos, Daily Science Fiction, and Science Fiction World. Lastly, my first novel, THE ROYAL HUNTER: THRONE UNDER SIEGE, is forthcoming in Summer 2013 from Philomel (Penguin Group).

How were you inspired to be a writer?

2. I was inspired to be a writer early on, you could say. My fourth grade teacher was very adamant about curse words, and forbade even the "soft" curse words in the class. As is my character, I set out to push the boundaries, and I did so under the banner of "Creative License." I wrote a horrifying, fantastical tale about a dragon trapped in a castle, and about the girl who came and saved him--a girl who swore every other sentence. As you can imagine, my teacher was shocked. But I had just gotten a taste of the writing life, and I wasn't going back.

Can you tell us about your book? Without giving it away, of course. 

3. The book is about a thirteen-year-old boy, Adrian Hall, who is recruited into the army to hunt creatures called dastyxes, creatures that possess magical abilities that transfer to humans upon the animals' death. Along the way, he finds himself deep in a community crippled by hidden agendas, and as he grows up and learns new secrets about the powerful people who surround him, he must face his own dilemmas and fight for his own notion of right and wrong.

If you were in a story, what would the genre be? If your up for it, give us a short summary of what the story line would be. 

4. I would most definitely be in a science fiction story--preferably a Ted Chiang one. I don't want to give a summary, because I think a mind-blowing story goes way deeper than plot. In terms of what the story would be made of... probably a lot of serious growing up business, a splash of humor, and maybe one or two things going awry/blowing up.

When you wrote your book, did you prewrite or just go with the flow? 

5. I made a brief outline about where I wanted to go with the book, and some ideas about the main character and his background. After that, I wrote by the seat of my pants, and a lot of twists resulted from that. Now, when I write short stories, that's another matter. Because there are only so many words you can use in a short story, you have to tighten everything as tightly as you can--if something can be said in one sentence, don't ever make it a paragraph in a short story. Therefore, when I write short fiction, I plan meticulously.

Can you give one piece of advice for new writers?

6. The best thing you can ever do for your writing career is to put pen to paper. And the best thing you can ever do for your life is to live wildly, recklessly, and use the best moments of your life to color your stories.

-- 

Give a round of applause for the amazing Shelly Li! When 2013 comes around, be sure to check out her book, I know I can't wait to read it!

Story Twists

Welcome back from our little winter break, hope everyone had happy holidays and a merry December. We have TONS of stuff planned for the new year and today we're starting with, yeah that's right, story twists....

When everything is going right, something goes wrong......

That's our theme for today. Now, I know we all love a good happy ending right? But not every story can have one, and our main characters are going to have to suffer before they can earn theirs. 

Let's talk about the different kinds of story twists. 

The Foreshadowed-at-the-beginning Kind of Story Twist

These kind of story twists are seen coming far in advance. Whether it be the prologue or an excerpt in the story, something foreshadow the events. Like in horror movies when you're yelling, DON'T GO IN THE HOUSE!!! That's a good example of this kind of story twist. 

The Bam-Never-Saw-That-Coming Kind of Twist

The scene where the villain comes back from the dead and stabs our hero in the back. Bam! Never saw that coming!

The I-Messed-Up-Big Kind of Twist

This is where the MC makes a huge mistake and it costs everyone dearly. 

The What-is-Right-is-Actually-Wrong Kind of Twist

Your character might have to punch that guy in the face to defend himself, but that guy is actually diagnosed with cancer. So your character is shunned by the rest of the human race for his innocent mistake. 

Any other kinds of twists you guys can think of? How were your holidays? Have a nice day and keep writing!