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Feeling Down on Your Cluck? [09 Jul 2009|12:39pm]
[ mood | amused ]

Then you MUST check out [info]tamarak's blog today and see this from her publisher of Chicken Dance.
If you don't smile at least once, you have no soul.

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JoHoTo #6: Point of View [06 Jul 2009|09:33am]
[ mood | contemplative ]

I probably should have addressed this earlier, but most of the time, a writer already knows the Point of View (PoV) he or she wishes to use.
This post is for those who might be unsure of what works best for their novel.

Quite simply, PoV is the narrator's involvement in the story, as well as his/her knowledge of the main characters and their innermost thoughts and feelings.
There are two main types of PoV:
1. Third person
(the narrator speaks of the main character as "he" or "she" and tells the story as an observer; rarely do they provide personal opinion on the character's actions)
2. First person (the narrator IS the main character, using "I", and tells the story as an active participant, adding personal opinions and thoughts to color the text)

There is a rarely RARELY used form of PoV known as second person, where the narrator speaks to the audience directly ("You glance around the room...") This is usually reserved for interactive picture books and choose-your-own-adventures.
In other words, don't use it.

I should also mention that third person PoV has subsets.
They are:
-Third person subjective limited (the narrator relates everything that just one character experiences, including thoughts and feelings)
-Third person subjective omniscient (the narrator can be everywhere, relating what multiple characters experience, including thoughts and feelings)
-Third person objective (the narrator relates what they see one or multiple characters doing but cannot relate thoughts and feelings)
As with second person, third person objective is rarely used in fiction, usually reserved for non-fiction and film novelizations.

So...how do you know which PoV is right for your story?
If you're telling a story that follows the journeys (metaphorical or literal) of multiple main characters, your best bet is third person omniscient.
If you're following one person's adventure, packed with action and intrigue, but you don't want the narrator's voice to strongly interfere, you're best off using third person limited (versus first person).
If you're telling a story filled with raw emotion and very personal subject matter (eg, drinking problem), it's better relayed in first person, so we understand how things are affecting the main character through their eyes. UNLESS the material is too traumatic that it's better to be distanced from it.
Finally (and this is my personal opinion), if you're going for funny, make it first person. Mortifying disasters are ALWAYS better when you're not distanced from the main character. You want to be up close and personal for the accidental nudity and other social faux pas.

We're back to our regular weekly JoHoTos until August (when I'm off to SCBWI in LA!).
Next week's JoHoTo will be about foreshadowing and conflict development.

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Still Around [29 Jun 2009|09:08am]
[ mood | working ]

Haven't forgotten you guys!
Been reading your LJs and marveling at your brilliance/hilarity/wonderful situations while wrapping up copy edits and working on a new project.
Love you all and jealous of anyone in a state where the temperature is less than 90 degrees.

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JoHoTo #5: Creating Believable Characters [10 Jun 2009|10:33am]
[ mood | calm ]

I owed you this last week, I know! I'm sorry! But when the real world/work world/writing world calls, I must answer.

So, we're talking now about creating believable characters because, let's be honest, most stories nowadays are character-driven. What this means is that the main character will determine the actions and ultimate outcome of the story based on who he or she is.

I fall back on a familiar example of Harry Potter. At the very end of the first book, Harry obtains the philosopher's stone, and Voldemort tries to take it from him.
If Harry had been an evil child, he could have handed the stone over to Voldemort and made a bargain to be his buddy. If Harry had been a coward who cared more about his own life than protecting his loved ones, he would have done the same thing.
BUT because of who he is, because of his character (which is revealed to us/develops throughout the novel), the outcome is that Harry won't hand it over, even if death is on the line.

And we believe it.
Because we know that's who Harry is.

To be believable, your characters must have:
-Weaknesses
Nobody is perfect, and it's our quirks that make us real and relatable. Weaknesses can be physical, mental, emotional, or all of the above. If your character is terrified of fire, we're more likely to believe that he wouldn't rescue a kitten from a burning building. OR if he rescues the kitten, we appreciate his selfless act even more because we know what he had to overcome to do it.
On top of this, sometimes a weakness makes us understand why a villain does what he does.
-Strengths
Everyone is good at something, and we often use this skill to define a particular character (example: My friend is excellent with numbers; we call her The Human Calculator). Be cautious of letting those strengths make your character a stereotype. If your character is good with numbers, don't make her a lonely nerd with glasses. And of course, you mustn't overlook strengths for your antagonists as well. We need a reason to root for a character or a reason to fear them.
-Opinions
Part of the reason we are drawn to (or repelled by) someone is their personality. We share their views on something or we despise them, and based on the strength of their opinion, we can again know why they would choose to react to a stimulant in a certain way. I'm also going to group likes/dislikes under this category.
-Goals/aspirations
While some people do wander aimlessly in real life, your characters shouldn't because that makes for boring literature. BUT this doesn't mean their goals or aspirations have to be lofty or high-powered or make them insanely rich. It can be something as simple as getting that White Castle burger (I know...movie reference).
We should know within the first two chapters what your main character's goal will be for this book. Granted, that goal can change as the story develops, but as they're facing their first crossroads, they need to have a plan of action.
-Sense of self
Even if your characters are evil, they must be cognizant of themselves and their actions. Nobody operates strictly on instruction of another without a single thought about it (exception: minions, who shouldn't play a weighty role in your story to begin with). Your characters should be aware that they exist. They should know to be embarrassed when they get caught doing something stupid, they should be appalled when something happens that they don't agree with. It's difficult to explain but easy to see when you read a story.
-Change
Finally, your characters must change somehow through the course of the story. Nobody ends an adventure the same way they started out. If nothing else, your character swill be wiser about the obstacles they have had to overcome. And sadly, they won't always change for the better. They may become bitter or disheartened...but that's what makes for a great vengeance sequel!

Addtional Note:
Pam Calvert, author of Princess Peepers (I know, cute, right?), pointed out one additional thing your characters must have...a likeability factor. It'll be tough for your audience to keep reading and care how the story ends if they don't care about your character. Even if your character is a major screw-up that you PROMISE will improve over time, give them at least one redeeming quality that endears them to the audience.
Thanks, Pam!

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JoHoTo #4: The First Chapter [29 May 2009|08:36am]
[ mood | contemplative ]

Sadly, your book isn't finished after the WOW!!! opening. People will want to read on and find out more.
That's why your first chapter shoulders a lot of responsibility.

In that first 10 or 15 pages, you need to establish:
-a sense of place
-a sense of time
-a sense of tone
-a sense of voice
-a sense of the status quo (how things have been up until this point)
-a sense of change
-a sense of the main character

Sounds easy, and if your opening is WOW!!!, you should have taken care of several of those points right off the bat.
I'm jumping out of order here to say that "a sense of the main character" can be subjective. Sometimes the main character either isn't in the first chapter or plays a minor role (as a baby or person of interest).
A good example is Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone. While we DO meet several interesting characters, Harry is just an infant when he's left on his aunt and uncle's doorstep. Therefore, we're not going to know his thoughts and opinions. BUT through other people, we find out a lot about Harry, getting a sense of character that way.

A sense of place:
While your entire story might not occur here, there should be a strong reason for the opening setting. If your MC is going to sit in a cafe in Paris in Chapter 1 and then be back in American school in Chapter 2, she should have been in Paris for study abroad the past summer or visited there because it's always been her dream to be a fashion designer, etc.
An example here is From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. The first chapter takes place in Claudia's home, but it does so to illustrate just how boring and treacherous she sees her life there versus her life at the Met.

A sense of time:
This can be indicated through details such as language or references to the character's surroundings.
For example, your main character could be sitting in front of the radio with her parents listening to one of FDR's fireside chats. Automatically, that places your story during the Great Depression and possibly Word War II. Maybe the MC is listening to the radio while trying to stitch up an old pair of nylons, complaining about the fact that she can't buy new ones since all the nylon is going to the war effort for parachutes.

A sense of tone:
Your opening lines will probably reflect this, but your characters'/narrator's actions and words will be a big factor. From your characters: Is there joking/laughing? Is everyone sitting quiety, staring at their laps? Tone is even noticeable in the narrator's description of the setting. A small living room can either be described as "cozy and close" or "narrow and suffocating". You get the idea.

A sense of voice:
Writers always put themselves in the narrator's shoes (and technically, you ARE the narrator), but
THE READER MUST NOT KNOW YOU'RE THERE.
This means your own personal voice doesn't interfere. You are a 15-year-old pregnant girl. You are a boy who can bend time with his mind. You are NOT a 48-year-old housewife from Hoboken.  
The voice needs to be authentic for the material. The character (or narrator's voice) needs to be something that the audience can get lost in.

A sense of the status quo:
To truly appreciate where your MC is going, we need to understand where they started. We need to know what their life is like now with a focus on whatever is expected to change by the end of the story. We need to know their current shortcomings, friends, home life, etc.
Think Mia Thermopolis from The Princess Diaries.

A sense of change:
Nobody wants to read a story about a character going through the motions, living their normal life. We need action! Conflict! Your first chapter needs to hint at something that will turn your main character's life upside down for our amusement...and to help them grow as a person, of course.

Next week is JoHoTo #5: Creating Believable Characters
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What's The Name of the Game? [26 May 2009|02:13pm]
[ mood | curious ]

I'm trying to think of a name for a lame reality show that doesn't give away what the show is about until I'm ready for the big reveal. So, of the following, which do you prefer?

Poll #1406064 Reality Show
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All

What's the name?

View Answers

Tough Enough
2 (10.5%)

Danger, Unlimited
2 (10.5%)

Blood, Sweat, and Fear
8 (42.1%)

Are You Game?
7 (36.8%)

All or Nothing
0 (0.0%)

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JoHoTo #3, Part 2: The WOW!!! Opening [19 May 2009|06:59pm]
[ mood | busy ]

Last Thursday, I gave you a list of WOW!!! openings from several great books.
Need a refresher? Here they are with title and author:

1. "I have been accused of being anal retentive, an overachiever, and a compulsive perfectionist, like those are bad things." -Millicent Min, Girl Genius by Lisa Yee

2. "Micah's breath scraped in and out of his lungs; his feet were clodded with road-mud." -Skin Hunger by Kathleen Duey

3. "When my brother Fish turned thirteen, we moved to the deepest part of inland because of the hurricane and, of course, the fact that he'd caused it." -Savvy by Ingrid Law

4. "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains."
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith

5. "There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife." -The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

6. "Piper decided to jump off the roof." -The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester

7. "She was born Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of Kildenree, and she did not open her eyes for three days." -The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale

8. "I'm a senior at Cesar Chavez High in San Francisco's sunny Mission district, and that makes me one of the most surveilled people in the world." -Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

9. "I had a sister once. She was a beautiful baby, eyes silver as moonlight off the river at night."
Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner

10. "When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold." -Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Fellow author Kim Brunner hit the nail on the head when she explained why these were all WOW!!! openings:
"There's something more to follow that you need to know."

A WOW!!! opening does one or more of the following:
-leaves the reader curious for an explanation or reason
-catches the reader's attention
-sets the tone for the story
-reveals something about the main character
-is out of the ordinary (either for the reader or the main character)

When you're writing your opening, see how many, if any, of these things you accomplish.

What's so great about these opening lines? )




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JoHoTo #3, Part 1: The WOW!!! Opening [14 May 2009|09:39am]
[ mood | creative ]

As I said on Tuesday, this part of the JoHoTo will be analytical. Your mission? Check out the WOW!!! opening lines below. I'm not listing title or author of the work YET (although you probably know all of these) because I don't want your judgment to be clouded by what you've heard about the book/author.

See if you can:
-Determine genre (you can't always, but try)
-Determine tone
-Understand what makes it WOW!!!

1. "I have been accused of being anal retentive, an overachiever, and a compulsive perfectionist, like those are bad things."
2. "Micah's breath scraped in and out of his lungs; his feet were clodded with road-mud."
3. "When my brother Fish turned thirteen, we moved to the deepest part of inland because of the hurricane and, of course, the fact that he'd caused it."
4. "It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains."
5. "There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife."
6. "Piper decided to jump off the roof."
7. "She was born Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of Kildenree, and she did not open her eyes for three days."
8. "I'm a senior at Cesar Chavez High in San Francisco's sunny Mission district, and that makes me one of the most surveilled people in the world."
9. "I had a sister once. She was a beautiful baby, eyes silver as moonlight off the river at night."
10. "When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold."

WARNING: Potential spoilers in comments

Next week: JoHoTo #3, Part 2: The WOW!!! Opening

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JoHoTo #2: Getting It Down On Paper [12 May 2009|08:35am]
[ mood | busy ]

This week, we'll actually be doing two JoHoTos because JoHoTo #3 is a two-parter on creating WOW!! story openings.
BUT
Today, we talk about getting your great idea on paper...or PC.
 

Paper or PC? )
Plot or Plunge? )

Later this week, we start JoHoTo #3, Part 1: The WOW!!! opening.
The first part will be analytical, the second instructional.


 

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Contest at The Spectacle [11 May 2009|08:56am]
[ mood | nerdy ]

Two, two, two books in one! (Contest, that is).
For any of you out there who are librarians or educators (in the US or Canada), check out my alterna-home The Spectacle for our monthly contest. We're giving away two "reluctant reader" books to one lucky winner.

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JoHoTo #1: Fleshing Out The Great Idea [07 May 2009|04:09pm]
[ mood | thoughtful ]

I've gotten a lot of questions about process recently, so I've decided to write a weekly entry giving How-Tos about the writing biz. (I'm calling them JoHoTos because JoHowTo doesn't sound as cool.)

So, let's start at the very beginning (which Fräulein Maria assures us is a very good place to start).
First, we have the great idea!!!
Sometimes, it's not even a whole idea...just an inkling.
Where do you take it?
You need to expand on the idea, and that's where the questions begin.
Think of it as meeting a person for the first time. You have an inkling of who they are, but to find out more about them, you have to ask questions. If necessary, start with Who, What, When, Where, and Why.
Take notes on anything that sparks an interest as a result of your questioning.

Sample Idea: Two identical girls live in the same town but have completely different upbringings.
Sample Q&A:
Q1: What's the funniest thing that could happen?
A1: They accidentally get mistaken for one another and are forced to function as the other person. Wackiness ensues.

Q2: What's the worst thing that could happen?
A2: One of the girls is a hardened criminal and her identical self gets wrongfully accused of a crime she committed. Police chase ensues.

Q3: What's the strangest thing that could happen?
A3: The girls are the SAME person but have come together as a result of two parallel worlds crossing. Quantum mechanics ensue.

Q4: What's the creepiest thing that could happen?
A4: The girls are clones from the same brain matter, set into the world by an eeeevil corporation to find out how the same person would survive in different situations.

NOTE: Every single one of these answers focuses on both the fact that the girls are identical AND that their lives are completely different. This does NOT always happen, and that's okay. Sometimes, your questioning will lead you to a slightly different idea than the original (or a TOTALLY different idea than the original). If it intrigues you, don't be afraid to go down that path. Your first great idea will always be waiting for you.

Next weeks JoHoTo: Getting It Down On Paper

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It's Up!!! SCBWI Summer Conference Info!!!! [26 Apr 2009|11:52am]
[ mood | Awww yeah! ]

Please excuse me as I jump up and down and squeee with delight!
SCBWI has finally posted the information for the Summer Conference in L.A., and I'm soooo stoked.
The Pro Track and schedule look AWESOME, and the conference faculty are to die for:
Sherman Alexie (eep!), Holly Back (yay!), Frank Portman (oooh!), Michael Reisman (you go, boy!), and the incomparably hilarious Lisa Yee (yeee!). Not to mention several agents from Andrea Brown (my agency) and Simon and Schuster peeps (my next book is coming out from one of their imprints).
Oh, and let us not forget the theme of this year's gala...The Blue Moon Ball. A fabulous excuse to add a dress to my incredibly limited girly collection!
May 5th, peoples! That's the day you can start registering.
I expect you to be there!

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SCBWI, Tell Me!!! [22 Apr 2009|09:32am]
[ mood | curious ]

So is anyone else antsy to find out info on the SCBWI LA National Conference? I'm jonesing to see all my gorgeous girls and guys (this means you!)

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Solo Retreat (Deep writing thoughts at the end) [27 Mar 2009|09:45am]
[ mood | accomplished ]

So, this past weekend (Friday through Monday), I traveled to Boston for a solo writer's retreat.
If you ever get the opportunity to do something like this, I highly recommend it.
It's a chance to get away from work, family and daily life to practice introspection and think about projects.
Also, you get to see the sites!
But bring a map. A good one. With very large arrows pointing to the things you want to see.
I stayed at Club Quarters Boston, a cute little hotel tucked into the financial district and situated next to the Elephant & Castle pub.

Note the writing desk to the left.
Friday was a travel day, which meant much time for deep thoughts and relaxation at...

Surprisingly enough, nobody knew my name.

Saturday morning, I got a chance to hang out with

[info]giogas !!
I met her in Cambridge, where we had breakfast and wandered around Harvard Square and down to the river.

Yes, the picture is off-center, but the woman who took it fancied herself a professional photographer and thought we'd look good with Boston scenery (note the large expanse of Boston grass beside us!).
Back at my hotel (thanks for the lift, Val!) I worked on story ideas for a few hours before heading out to take a quick photo of Fenway Park.
It was not a quick photo. It was a photo four hours in the making.
As we all know, I'm terrible with directions, so it wasn't a huge surprise when I walked five miles in the wrong direction and ended up on the wrong side of the river. Luckily, my keen wit realized this mistake upon seeing that Fenway had been renamed "Briggs Field".
A gal can do a lot of reflection as she's freezing her butt off shlepping back across the city, and even though it it was a pain, looking back, I'm glad I did it.


WARNING: IMPENDING WRITING METAPHOR

Because that journey was a lot like writing. 
Think about it.
How many times have you struggled through a story only to realize you were taking it the wrong direction?

So, what do you do next?
You figure out where you went wrong. You look at the map (in this case, your manuscript) and possibly curse your parents for not giving you stronger instincts.
Then you set about making things right.
This could mean going back to the beginning and taking a different route. It could mean going back halfway and changing your path. But it ALWAYS means a revision to your current process.
You can't keep pressing on in the wrong direction, hoping to reach your goal.
When you finally acknowledge this fact, you can make things better. You can SEE your goal, and when you finally reach it, you smile and feel like a champion.
Then you go eat a hotdog.

 


 

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Road to Boston [15 Mar 2009|11:10am]
[ mood | curious ]

I'll be in Boston next weekend for a solo writer's retreat (yes, I'm that weird) and...HOCKEY!
Anybody in/around the area available to meet up for lunch or have signings they want me to attend and cheer at?

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Mail Call! [11 Mar 2009|09:21am]
[ mood | chipper ]

Yesterday, I came home from work to find two packages waiting for me:

The bottom one is my t-shirt for a 5K (my first!) I'm doing in April for the Susan G.Komen Foundation.
The top package is...my edit letter and copyedits for Ink Slingers! And all the change suggestions are totally do-able! Also, as noted by the copyedits, apparently I'm a big fan of the word "so".
So...I'm going to mull things over for a day or two and then dive in. Woohoo!

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The Korean Contract Pen [20 Feb 2009|08:25am]
[ mood | thankful ]

In December 2006 when I traveled to Korea to see my Mom's side of the family, one of their parting gifts to me was a very pretty, very sparkly pen. They advised that it was for signing future contracts, which made me adore them even more.
2007 was spent working on ASDH.
2008 was spent working on Ink Slingers, which sold that December.
I received the contract in the mail this week and finally got to use that very pretty, very sparkly pen:

 
Kamsamnida, Korean family!!

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CONGRATS, ELIZABETH!!! [26 Jan 2009|09:11am]
[ mood | jubilant ]


Congratulations to Elizabeth C. Bunce for winning the William C. Morris YA Debut award (for debut novels) for A Curse Dark as Gold!!!!!You go, girl!

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Things I Have Googled in the Name of Revision [11 Jan 2009|04:08pm]
[ mood | weird ]

Just this weekend:

Police motto
Tiny expensive dog
Saint Paul
Popularity of names
Arrest card
Arrest processing
Bee aerodynamics
Bees die when they sting
Bees shouldn't be able to fly
Junior high chemistry labs
Orthopedic shoes
Someone who's bad at sports

Sounds like an interesting read, yes? :o)

What have YOU Googled for your book?
(Hint: Click the History button on your toolbar and from the list that pops up, click the folder besides "Google")

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If You Want a Good Story, You've Gotta Scrape the Sides [09 Jan 2009|08:41am]
[ mood | productive ]

If I'm in love with a particular product, I have a tendency to get every ounce I can from the container.
I squeeze the toothpaste tube until it screams for mercy just to get that last bit of gel. I stick a Q-tip in an almost-empty bottle of lotion so I can get the stuff on the side. I've even been known to cut the tops off bottles so I can get the dollops I can't reach by other means.
This is not so much different than my writing life.
Right now, I'm working on revisions for ASDH and being super-careful to focus on the elements that were brought to my attention by Everwise Agent.
With every new page, I consider what it's contributing to the story and if there's more to be pulled from a scene than I'm currently providing. Can I reveal more about a character? Can I insert a little more foreshadowing?
I am being uber-diligent in getting every ounce of story that I can from a scene.

Are YOU getting everything you can?

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