Blogs from the month of January 2012.

2 Jan 2012

Writing Tip

Writing Groups

I know that some people are very particular about their writing groups. I didn't think I was but I have come to understand that there is an advantage to picking your own group. I love my current group but there isn't as much time, and we don't all have the same interests. While it isn't necessary for your writing group to be writing the exact same type of book you should make sure that those in the group at least like what you are writing and understand the audience. I don't necessarily want someone writing a cook book who only reads motivational novels reading my hard science fiction novel. They probably don't understand all of the little nuances that you are trying to accomplish.

I had a writing group where I previously lived that was awesome. They didn't necessarily help me with my grammar, I had another group for that, but they helped me reach my weekly goals and keep my story going in the right direction. Every week we would meet somewhere around town and explain what we had accomplished. I really needed that because it was the nudge I needed to work on my novel and not just my blog or short stories.

Writing groups are for a variety of uses so you should find people who want to get the same thing out of it that you do. I recommend finding people who won't sugar coat their opinions but those who are also positive. Having people that write similar genres or at least read a lot of what you are writing. Though those who don't write may not understand what it is like to receive critiques. If you are satisfied with a group, you can always find a new one. There are plenty of writing groups online if you live in a remote area or don't mind more screen time.

4 Jan 2012

Summer Employment Part 4

My senior year of high school I got my first real job. It was working at a wholesale nursery and I was one of the only girls and one of the oldest. In the spring months that gave me the advantage. My boss figured I was responsible and when the semis came in with the bundled saplings ready for planting. I had all the paper work and kept track of the trees as they were planted in the pots by the other employees.

In the summer my job changed. When we weren't loading the trucks with orders, we weeded pots. This nursery had hundreds of trees and bushes all planted in their own individual pots. I used to think weeded in the flowerbed was bad until this job. We couldn't really kneel down because there wasn't enough room in the aisle between the rows of plants. We kind of moved along in a hulking crouch. It took about four days to work through all of the pots and then we started over at the beginning all summer long for eight hours a day. I still hate weeding and I keep telling myself that it isn't as bad as the job, but it is still weeding. At this time I didn't like getting up early and if I remember correctly I had to be at work by 6, maybe it was 6:30. There wasn't any point in showering beforehand because I would come back filthy from the dirt and mud. I would roll out of bed at 5:50 and drive to work. That seems like a luxury now.

This is where I really learned to appreciate audio books. This is also where I learned the hazards of reading a book before going to see the movie version. I also listened to a variety of books that I wouldn't have otherwise because they were the only ones I had on hand at the time. The job overall wasn't bad but I don't want to do it again. I just don't do well in the sun or heat. I make my husband weed and I normally clean the kitchen.

6 Jan 2012

Book Review

The Enchanted Forest Chronicles

Patricia C. Wrede

I remember listening to my mom read these books to me when I was young, probably on a car ride. This is one of the books that really influenced what I chose to read on my own. From the titles of the books alone you see that THE ENCHANTED FOREST CHRONICLES revolves around dragons. I have probably reread this series the most over the years and it is one that I want to read to my children to give them a sense of wonder and make them think outside of the stereotypical high-fantasy box.

Dealing with Dragons

Searching for Dragons

Calling on Dragons

Talking to Dragons

9 Jan 2012

Writing Tip

Audibly and Visibly

These are two words that don't add much to your prose. Think about it, what do they really add. When you say: Chester sighed audibly. It means the exact same thing as: Chester sighed. It is not like you would ever say: Chester sighed inaudibly. The same goes for visibly. If the character never performs the action invisibly, then there is no point in having them perform the action visibly. The reader will assume it is visible unless told otherwise.

11 Jan 2012

Isolation

I have recently started taking a kickboxing class at the local gym. I really enjoy the class but the downside is that I have to get ready for work at the gym. I have never felt very comfortable in any locker room. I think the majority of the population agrees with me. Luckily, since I am at the gym so early in the morning there aren't many people who are there. Thank goodness.

This last couple of times there has been a woman who talk to me while I'm in there. At first I felt rather awkward. However, the other day she starting telling me quite a bit of information about what was going on in her life. I was taken aback at first but after as the day went on I realized how cool it was. I don't even know her name. It didn't matter in the long run, she just needed someone to talk to and I happened to be there.

I think that technology has caused us to live more isolated lives. We just stuff our headphones in our ears and live in our own world. I remember a time when my older sister and I rode the bus into the city to visit our dad. As we rode the bus home there was a lady who was hilarious. She talked to everyone, and even convinced the bus driver to take a different route to save time. When I rode the bus to work I made a point of having my headphones because I didn't want to listen to what the kids were saying but on the ride home I made several friends. There are times I enjoy the isolation but other times I try to make more of an effort to interact with the world around me.

13 Jan 2012

Book Review

The Last Unicorn

Peter S. Beagle

Some of you may remember the 1980s cartoon of THE LAST UNICORN. The movie is actually fairly close to the book, but the book just gives more details to the characters. The novel and the screenplay were both written by Peter S. Beagle, which explains why the movie is as good as it is. Interestingly enough, Beagle wrote the screenplay for the animated 1978 LORD OF THE RINGS film based on someone else's draft. The book was originally published in 1968.

The story follows the Unicorn. At the beginning of the book she comes to the realization that she hasn't seen any other unicorns in years. She thinks that it is just because unicorns are solitary creatures. After talking to a butterfly, she realizes that there is actually something wrong. Fearing for the lives of the other unicorns the Unicorn (she doesn't have a name) heads out looking for the land with the Red Bull. While she is traveling she comes across a traveling carnival and meets the magician Schmendrick. While he speaks as if he has seen many years, he looks like a young man and has little control over his power. He helps the Unicorn escape and tags along to try and find out where the other unicorns are. They run into a band of bandits and this time the Unicorn saves Schmendrick and in the process Molly Grue joins their party. Their journey continues and Schmendrick's faulty magic leads them into even more trouble.

I actually saw the movie of THE LAST UNICORN first and it captured my attention. When we listened to the audio book on a car trip, which is actually narrated by Peter S. Beagle, I was struck by the imagery. I always tell people I am a sucker for happy endings. But there is a passage in this story that has always stayed with me since that first time.

“The true secret in being a hero lies in knowing the order of things. The swineherd cannot already be wed to the princess when he embarks on his adventures, nor can the boy knock on the witch's door when she is already away on vacation. The wicked uncle cannot be found out and foiled before he does something wicked. Things must happen when it is time for them to happen. Quests may not simply be abandoned; prophecies may not be left to rot like unpicked fruit; unicorns may go unrescued for a very long time, but not forever. The happy ending cannot come in the middle of the story.” -- THE LAST UNICORN, Peter S. Beagle

This is the image for the graphic novel. I just learned about this version and I really want it now.

16 Jan 2012

Writing Tip

Paragraphing

Remember back in school when your English teacher taught you how to form a paragraph? You have a topic sentence, two to three supporting sentences, and then a segue sentence into the next paragraph. Maybe you have noticed that it doesn't exactly work the same way when writing a story. There are a few easy tips to separating blocks of text into paragraphs.

First is dialog. When a new person speaks it is a new paragraph. This one is fairly straightforward and most people catch on to it really quickly.

When working with large chunks of prose imagine yourself as a camera man. Every time you change camera angles you need a new paragraph. If you action from two characters and then talk about another character who isn't with the other two then you need a new paragraph. This isn't a catch all rule, and authors have creative license when it comes to deciding how you want the prose to look.

18 Jan 2012

Cinnamon Rolls

I love to cook, that doesn't necessarily mean that I am any good at it. I have a wonderful husband who does most of the cooking. He is better at planning meals out so when we go shopping we pick up all of the ingredients in one go. Most of the time when I did the cooking I would look in the cupboards and just throw stuff together. I didn't often plan out five meals from different cook books. I gave my husband two different cookbooks for Christmas and I was really worried because I didn't want him to take it the wrong way. He was really excited about them. In addition to Oriental and Amish cooking we now have Indian and Italian.

I have mentioned before that I like to make cakes. I have learned since moving that I can't just make cakes directly from the recipe. I now live at 6,500 feet and I have to learn how to work with high altitude cooking. So far none of my cakes have really turned out, which makes me sad. Because none of my cakes turn out, and because my husband prefers cookies, I haven't made pastries lately.

We didn't have time to go to the grocery store on Saturday and we don't shop on Sundays. I was trying to decide what I could make Sunday that we could also eat for breakfast on Monday. I made cinnamon rolls. Dessert and breakfast, the perfect solution. Years ago my little brother gave me a cookbook that has a lot of basic recipes in it is a recipe for sweet rolls. I used to make them when I was in college but my yeast never worked. I looked at the recipe and decided to give it a go.

I looked at the list of ingredients and put in what I wanted and how much I wanted. I used brown sugar instead of white when rolling it up and mimicked the caramel that my mom's recipe uses, which I don't actually have. My first success was when the dough actually rose. I placed the rolls in the pan and stuck it in the oven until the tops were light brown. I pulled it out and though they looked good, I knew from experience that the looks don't matter. They tasted better then I hoped they could. I think I have a keeper recipe, if I can only remember what I did. Hmmm. . .

20 Jan 2012

Book Review

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

A lot of my reviews revolve around YA and speculative fiction. So to show that I read other books I am going to review THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. When I first heard the title of this book I chuckled. I never thought I would actually be drawn into this world. The first thing to note about this story is that it is written in epistolary format. It took me a little while to get into it but once I did I couldn't stop.

THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY is about Juliet Ashton, a popular author, during 1946 shortly after WWII. She received a letter from a fellow named Dawsey who lives on the island of Guernsey. During WWII the island, located in the English Channel, was a jumping point for Germany. They were occupied by Germany for many years. During this time the people of the village would get together in the evenings. One time they broke curfew and one of the soldiers asked them what they were doing and the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was created. Juliet exchanges letters with all of them and learns about what happened on the island.

All of the stories are touching and they really pulled at my emotions, more so than usual. I really cared about the characters and was invested in what happened to them. I related to Juliet as a person. I mean she breaks off her engagement because her fiancé moves her books so he can put up his own stuff. That is my kind of lady. Granted there was a lot more behind the broken engagement than just the books, but that was the last straw.

23 Jan 2012

Writing Tip

Chronological Order

Don't lose your reader. If your reader is confused it is likely that they won't continue reading. One of the most common ways authors confuse their readers is by jumping through time. They may not even realize they are doing it. I'm not talking about flashbacks to scenes that happen before the story happens. There are times when we don't show a conversation in real time but refer back to it later. Normally only a few pages, or even paragraphs, after where it would have fallen in the real timeline. Having these small jumps in time may not seem like a big deal but every time you do it there is a chance that your reader would get lost.

You may think this is a good way from keeping your reader in suspense. In all actuality most of the readers will be irritated that you are withholding information.

Betsy-Lou looked at the paper in her hand with only one name. She would know who the killer was.
Cuts to another scene. A page later she confronts the killer in a darkened alley.
A man steps out of the shadows.
"I know you are the killer."
"How do you know that?" he asked.
"Because of this." Betsy-Lou held out the paper with the name scrawled in red. "The victim wrote down the name of his killer with his own blood. Why did you do it . . . Jeffery?"

Cheesy example but hopefully it gets the point across. Instead try to build suspense another way.If you want to keep information from your readers it is better to do it in a more subtle manner.

Betsy-Lou looked at the paper. The blood had dried into a blob. The name of the killer was still unknown, but the killer didn't know that. She folded the paper back up and put it in her pocket. It was time to bring all the suspects together. She only hoped her acting skills were up to it.

If it can be in chronological order, do it. Don't use a screwy timeline to keep information from your readers. They will see through it.

25 Jan 2012

Younker vs. Yonkers

I have a fairly unusual last name. It isn't one of a kind, but not a lot of people have heard of it where I live. My husband's family pronounces it "yonker" though traditionally it is suppose to be "yunker" and it at one point in history was probably spelled with a "j" instead of a "y." Because of how it is pronounced, most people don't know how to spell it when we just say it. Most people assume that it is "Yonkers" as in the city in New York. I don't know if I want to admit it but I had no idea that Yonkers, New York existed until I got married. Part of this can be traced back to how my husband tend to introduce us "Hi, we're the Younkers." I try and make an effort to say "Hi I'm E Younker and this is my husband Moose Younker." This seems to help until the next time we are introduced and when they try to remember who we are the only thing that comes to mind is Yonkers.

The other day I went to writing group. A new fellow was there and was introduced to everyone. I introduced myself as "E Younker." The man looked at me for a moment. "How do you spell that?" I spelled it out for him. He nodded. "I see. Like the city." I am sure I stared at him dumbfounded for a moment before saying. "No. Not like the city." This is the first time that I have spelled it out and the person still says it is like the city.

26 Jan 2012

Book Review

A World Without Heroes (Beyonders #1)

Brandon Mull

Where do I start? I loved the FABLEHAVEN series and have been looking forward to A WORLD WITHOUT HEROES for months. This is the first book in Brandon Mull's new BEYONDERS series. I got my audio copy from the library the day it came out (last year) and started listening to it on my drive to and from work. I would even sneak a few minutes in here and there to listen to it. This book really made my day. The basic story is about Jason and Rachel who are transported from our Earth to another dimension. There they learn of the evil infesting the land and choose to go up against the evil overlord when few will.

One of my few complaints of the FABLEHAVEN series was in the beginning Seth was too rebellious and seemed to be disobeying orders because he could and that Kendra has no backbone. In BEYONDERS, however, I really liked the main character, Jason. I saw his reasoning what he did and agreed with him even when he made his decisions against the advice of others. The other main character in this story is Rachel. I wasn't sure how I felt about her at first, since she had this strong feminist attitude about life, but as the story went on, I really grew to appreciate her cleverness and understanding of the situation.

A WORLD WITHOUT HEROES kept my attention through the whole thing. I also really enjoyed the voice actor in the audio version. I liked the various voices he used and thought he brought the characters and setting to live. I highly recommend this book to anyone, but I will also add that it is a little more violent than what I expected but nothing too descriptive to be off putting. Once again Brandon Mull has drawn me into another great world and situation and I can't wait for the next one. I am counting down the weeks until March 13th. I posted this review in preparation to reading the next one in a month and a half. I'll post the review to SEEDS OF REBELLION when I finish it.

30 Jan 2012

Writing Tip

You

When writing you need to be careful of the word you. In a non-fiction piece this can be a call to action for the reader. If you are writing a fiction piece too many yous can make it seem like a Choose Your Own Adventure novel. When the narrator, first or third person, uses you it can pull the reader out of the story. You may think it is a clever and funny, but in all actually it is breaking the fourth wall. For example:

Jessica bought a green Christmas sweater. You know the kind. They often show up in family holiday pictures and you later mock them relentlessly on the internet.

While this statement is funny the you draws the reader out of the story. Instead try writing it another way.

Jessica bought a green Christmas sweater. She knew the risk. It looked like one from a family holiday picture that is later mocked relentlessly on the internet.

As I mentioned earlier when writing non-fiction articles or essays using the word you can be a way to engage the reader in a call to action.

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