A hearty congratulations to ollie1976 (jen), the winner of the Boston Bonus Basket drawing! Jen, email me at allieb@allieboniface.com and we'll work out the details. Thanks so much to everyone who left comments last week to help me celebrate the release of One Night in Boston.
And speaking of which, here's an interesting thing: someone has already reviewed it, at the MBAM website. Unfortunately, that person only gave it 3 stars out of 5. Here's the comment, in full:
"Good plotline and well-written but I think it would have been better if it focused more on the present w/ the 2 leading characters."
OK, well, yeah, it's a 24-hour novel, so to get some info across, there are flashbacks. And hey, my editor liked the technique. Still, at first I was like, what? 3 stars? That's 60%...or a failing grade. Terrific.
Then I had to back up and remember a few things.
1. No author gets 100% 5-star reviews from everyone. Thanks to the amazing human brain and the variety of human opinion out there, some people will like your work, some people won't, and many will probably fall somewhere in between.
2. I'll take the "good plotline" and "well-written" comments anytime. A lot of the stuff that gets published isn't.
3. I really, really enjoy writing. Somewhere in the last few weeks, with all the hype of my release date and promoting my novel, I haven't had a chance to write very much at all. And you know what? I miss it. Yesterday I sat down for a solid few hours and wrote 1000+ words on my current WIP. And it was so joyful. I have to remember that while publishing is nice, and reviews will be up and down, the craft of weaving a story is my first love.
So that's what I'm off to do now, more work on One Night in Memphis (and hey, no flashbacks in this one!). What are you up to today?
Monday, July 30, 2007
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Whew...I'm Back...Finally!
Well, I'm back from my vacation (which had a spotty Internet connection, thus my absence the last couple of days)...
Long day of driving yesterday, like about 10+ hours in the car along with thousands of other travelers. Traffic actually wasn't bad except at the I-95 merge in Delaware/New Jersey. But why, oh why, do so many people drive SUVs and mini-vans? I know the answer logically, I suppose: families with kids need the room. But they're such gas guzzlers. Worse than that, they kill me vision-wise on the road because I'm driving my tiny, conservative Toyota Corolla and I'm surrounded on all sides by these enormous vehicles strapped high with bikes and coolers and luggage and I can't see a thing. Really.
What is it about vacationing that makes one glad to be home? As much as I enjoyed the relaxing time away, there is something about walking into one's own house, sleeping in one's bed, that feels better than the whole vacation week put together. Of course, today there's laundry to do and groceries to buy and a lawn to mow and...
But still.
Last day to enter my "Boston Bonus Basket" contest! If you leave a comment today, your name will be put into the drawing one more time. The winner will be announced tomorrow...good luck, and thanks for stopping by!
Long day of driving yesterday, like about 10+ hours in the car along with thousands of other travelers. Traffic actually wasn't bad except at the I-95 merge in Delaware/New Jersey. But why, oh why, do so many people drive SUVs and mini-vans? I know the answer logically, I suppose: families with kids need the room. But they're such gas guzzlers. Worse than that, they kill me vision-wise on the road because I'm driving my tiny, conservative Toyota Corolla and I'm surrounded on all sides by these enormous vehicles strapped high with bikes and coolers and luggage and I can't see a thing. Really.
What is it about vacationing that makes one glad to be home? As much as I enjoyed the relaxing time away, there is something about walking into one's own house, sleeping in one's bed, that feels better than the whole vacation week put together. Of course, today there's laundry to do and groceries to buy and a lawn to mow and...
But still.
Last day to enter my "Boston Bonus Basket" contest! If you leave a comment today, your name will be put into the drawing one more time. The winner will be announced tomorrow...good luck, and thanks for stopping by!
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Vacationing in the Outer Banks
Well, I've been in Southern Shores, NC, all week and having a lovely time. It's a funny place, if you look at a map: just a slip of island, barely wider than 1/4 mile in places. Tiny towns dotted along the water, and gorgeous homes on both sides of the highway that winds its way north and south. Kitty Hawk, site of the Wright Brothers' famous first flight attempts, is right down the road, and it's a neat place to visit. Unbelievable to think how far technology has come in less than a century!
Hubby and I rented a house for the week with 5 other couples, and it's been a great mid-summer break. The weather is great, the company fun, and every day relaxing. It's one of those vacations where your bathing suit stays damp all day long, you're not sure exactly what time (or day) it is, you eat and drink more than you probably should, and you can smell the ocean air and feel the salt on your skin and in your hair whenever you step outside. I've even finished 3 books on my Summer TBR list...and I'll share those next week when I'm back home!
Have you entered my contest to win a "Boston Bonus Basket" to celebrate the release of One Night in Boston? All you have to do is post a comment on this blog...and everytime you do, your name will be entered into a drawing to win this prize. I'll be taking names until Sunday the 29th, and announcing the winner on Monday the 30th, so stop by often and leave me a comment!
Hubby and I rented a house for the week with 5 other couples, and it's been a great mid-summer break. The weather is great, the company fun, and every day relaxing. It's one of those vacations where your bathing suit stays damp all day long, you're not sure exactly what time (or day) it is, you eat and drink more than you probably should, and you can smell the ocean air and feel the salt on your skin and in your hair whenever you step outside. I've even finished 3 books on my Summer TBR list...and I'll share those next week when I'm back home!
Have you entered my contest to win a "Boston Bonus Basket" to celebrate the release of One Night in Boston? All you have to do is post a comment on this blog...and everytime you do, your name will be entered into a drawing to win this prize. I'll be taking names until Sunday the 29th, and announcing the winner on Monday the 30th, so stop by often and leave me a comment!
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Christine Norris
Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! Today we have another Samhain author with us, Christine Norris. She is the author of 2 YA novels, Talisman of Zandria and Return to Zandria, and she's busy on a virtual book tour this summer. I'm thrilled to have her here today!
Hi, Christine! Can you tell us a little about your background?
I'm from New Jersey, born and raised. South Jersey, so the Philadephia suburbs, not the NYC suburbs. LOL. I went to college....a couple of times. I have a degree in Kinesiology (of all things) from Temple University. I always did well in the writing and English classes, though.
When did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?
I was sort of encouraged to write in High School, I had an English teacher who always said I had talent. .I dabbled here and there over the years; being a writer just never occured to me! Then I read the Harry Potter series, and about JK Rowling - no formal training, a welfare mom. I knew I could do it too, I just had to find a story.
Tell us about Talisman of Zandria.
Talisman is my first book. It's about Ivy, a shy girl, who thinks she's just not very brave. She winds up in Zandria, which is a magical place just outside of our world. One problem piles on top of another, and the only way for Ivy to get home is to recover the Talisman of Zandria. It's all very thrilling, and Ivy has to really dig deep to find that she really is braver than she thinks.
Return to Zandria is the new book, and it takes place three years after Talisman of Zandria ends. Ivy's now fourteen, and has pretty much forgotten about Zandria and magic. She's too 'grown up'. But the people of Zandria need her again, and so she goes off to help them, which requires bringing some of the people of Zandria into OUR world, which comes with its own set of problems. There's lots of intrigue and fighting and fleeing and flying.
How do you go about developing your characters?
Like a good stew, they develop over time. I don't usually outline books, I usually have a general idea and just start writing. Once I've got the basic story down, I go back and add in all the flavors. I discover things about them that I didn't know before when I do my rewrites. I'm working on the third book of a series, and I've just now discovered something about one of the main characters! It doesn't affect the first two books, but it totally took me by surprise.I keep little notebooks I buy from the dollar store and write things down about the characters as I find them out.
Tell us about your promotion strategies. How do you plan on making Christine Norris a household name?
This Virtual Book Tour is a big part of my promotion for this book. Plus I have the website, and the MySpace page, and my blog. I'm putting my name and the titles of my books in as many places as I can. When someone's got a guest blogger spot, I'm there. My hope is that eventually people will say, "oh, I've heard of her!", because I'm all over the place! It takes time, and is a slow process, but it's been fun. I also like to do local book fairs, and speak to schoolchildren and booksignings.
What advice would you give to aspiring, unpublished writers?
Keep writing. Just like learning to play the violin, or soccer or to paint, writing takes practice. Read, read, read. More than just a step-by-step class, reading and writing is the best way to learn. Be willing to write crap, and be willing to hear that your writiing isn't the best. Prepare for rejection, but don't expect it. Do your homework, and don't fall for the scams. Remember that this is a business too, and if you want to be a writer and not just a hobbyist, learn all you can about the business of books.
What kinds of books do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?
All kinds! One of my purchases this summer is going to be a bigger bookcase. Right now they're kind of all piled up and I'm afraid they'll fall over. But mostly I read what I write - middle grade or YA fantasy. I have several favorite authors, like Tamora Pierce and CS Lewis or JM Barrie (Peter Pan is one of my favorite stories of all time!). At the moment I'm liking James A. Owen, whose book, Here, There Be Dragons is my new favorite book. He blends classic literature and mythology, both of which I also love, and does it in a way that takes you on a great ride. He's got a new book coming soon and I'll be right there waiting to get it. I'm such a geek.
What do you find most difficult about writing? What do you find most exciting or rewarding?
The first draft. Sounds strange, but since I don't outline or really plot ahead, (sometimes I do, if I get a great idea) there are times when I just want to tear my hair out because the story just won't come. The best part is the rewriting. Some writers totally hate rewriting, but I love it, because it give me a chance to make the story shine. There's nothing more satisfying than a good rewrite.
How do you balance writing with the rest of your life?
That can be tough. During most of the year I'm also a substitute teacher, so I always have a notebook with me. I get quite a bit done during the downtime. And there are times when I have to actually remember there IS a rest of my life. I can spend days in front of my laptop, while the house gathers dust around me. LOL. If I get too involved, I try to schedule some writing time - usually after my son goes to bed, or afternoons while he's watching cartoons. The library is also good for that too - he can read and I can work.
Can you tell us about your next writing project?
I'm really excited about that too. My next book, THE CROWN OF ZEUS, will be released by Samhain Publishing early in 2008. It's the first of a series, and I'm hoping Samhain will be willing to publish all of them. I've written the second, and I'm about halfway through the third. The series combines mythology and magic,and is developing other undertones as well. It's a great book (but I may be biased in saying that). I'm also working on a full-length book for the Wizard Acdemies series of books (Click here to see more) which are like Harry Potter, but with all kinds of different magickal schools and students. A group of authors worked on the first two books, and the one I'm working on now is just expanding on the first two short stories I wrote for them. That's been challenging, because you don't want people to say you're copying from other people's work, but still remain true to the mythos, which our editor created. I hope people see them as what they are and not as something else. The editor's got an agent interested in those books, and he's trying to get other rights to them sold, like TV or movie rights. We're kind of holding our breath on that one.
Thanks for having me today, Allie, it's been fun hopping around the internet and visiting all these other blogs.Have a great day, everyone!
P.S. Readers, remember that anyone who leaves a comment today is also entered into my contest to win the "Boston Bonus Basket" in celebration of the release of my novel One Night in Boston (see yesterday's post). The more times you comment this week, the more times your name will be entered to win!
Hi, Christine! Can you tell us a little about your background?
I'm from New Jersey, born and raised. South Jersey, so the Philadephia suburbs, not the NYC suburbs. LOL. I went to college....a couple of times. I have a degree in Kinesiology (of all things) from Temple University. I always did well in the writing and English classes, though.
When did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?
I was sort of encouraged to write in High School, I had an English teacher who always said I had talent. .I dabbled here and there over the years; being a writer just never occured to me! Then I read the Harry Potter series, and about JK Rowling - no formal training, a welfare mom. I knew I could do it too, I just had to find a story.
Tell us about Talisman of Zandria.
Talisman is my first book. It's about Ivy, a shy girl, who thinks she's just not very brave. She winds up in Zandria, which is a magical place just outside of our world. One problem piles on top of another, and the only way for Ivy to get home is to recover the Talisman of Zandria. It's all very thrilling, and Ivy has to really dig deep to find that she really is braver than she thinks.
Return to Zandria is the new book, and it takes place three years after Talisman of Zandria ends. Ivy's now fourteen, and has pretty much forgotten about Zandria and magic. She's too 'grown up'. But the people of Zandria need her again, and so she goes off to help them, which requires bringing some of the people of Zandria into OUR world, which comes with its own set of problems. There's lots of intrigue and fighting and fleeing and flying.
How do you go about developing your characters?
Like a good stew, they develop over time. I don't usually outline books, I usually have a general idea and just start writing. Once I've got the basic story down, I go back and add in all the flavors. I discover things about them that I didn't know before when I do my rewrites. I'm working on the third book of a series, and I've just now discovered something about one of the main characters! It doesn't affect the first two books, but it totally took me by surprise.I keep little notebooks I buy from the dollar store and write things down about the characters as I find them out.
Tell us about your promotion strategies. How do you plan on making Christine Norris a household name?
This Virtual Book Tour is a big part of my promotion for this book. Plus I have the website, and the MySpace page, and my blog. I'm putting my name and the titles of my books in as many places as I can. When someone's got a guest blogger spot, I'm there. My hope is that eventually people will say, "oh, I've heard of her!", because I'm all over the place! It takes time, and is a slow process, but it's been fun. I also like to do local book fairs, and speak to schoolchildren and booksignings.
What advice would you give to aspiring, unpublished writers?
Keep writing. Just like learning to play the violin, or soccer or to paint, writing takes practice. Read, read, read. More than just a step-by-step class, reading and writing is the best way to learn. Be willing to write crap, and be willing to hear that your writiing isn't the best. Prepare for rejection, but don't expect it. Do your homework, and don't fall for the scams. Remember that this is a business too, and if you want to be a writer and not just a hobbyist, learn all you can about the business of books.
What kinds of books do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?
All kinds! One of my purchases this summer is going to be a bigger bookcase. Right now they're kind of all piled up and I'm afraid they'll fall over. But mostly I read what I write - middle grade or YA fantasy. I have several favorite authors, like Tamora Pierce and CS Lewis or JM Barrie (Peter Pan is one of my favorite stories of all time!). At the moment I'm liking James A. Owen, whose book, Here, There Be Dragons is my new favorite book. He blends classic literature and mythology, both of which I also love, and does it in a way that takes you on a great ride. He's got a new book coming soon and I'll be right there waiting to get it. I'm such a geek.
What do you find most difficult about writing? What do you find most exciting or rewarding?
The first draft. Sounds strange, but since I don't outline or really plot ahead, (sometimes I do, if I get a great idea) there are times when I just want to tear my hair out because the story just won't come. The best part is the rewriting. Some writers totally hate rewriting, but I love it, because it give me a chance to make the story shine. There's nothing more satisfying than a good rewrite.
How do you balance writing with the rest of your life?
That can be tough. During most of the year I'm also a substitute teacher, so I always have a notebook with me. I get quite a bit done during the downtime. And there are times when I have to actually remember there IS a rest of my life. I can spend days in front of my laptop, while the house gathers dust around me. LOL. If I get too involved, I try to schedule some writing time - usually after my son goes to bed, or afternoons while he's watching cartoons. The library is also good for that too - he can read and I can work.
Can you tell us about your next writing project?
I'm really excited about that too. My next book, THE CROWN OF ZEUS, will be released by Samhain Publishing early in 2008. It's the first of a series, and I'm hoping Samhain will be willing to publish all of them. I've written the second, and I'm about halfway through the third. The series combines mythology and magic,and is developing other undertones as well. It's a great book (but I may be biased in saying that). I'm also working on a full-length book for the Wizard Acdemies series of books (Click here to see more) which are like Harry Potter, but with all kinds of different magickal schools and students. A group of authors worked on the first two books, and the one I'm working on now is just expanding on the first two short stories I wrote for them. That's been challenging, because you don't want people to say you're copying from other people's work, but still remain true to the mythos, which our editor created. I hope people see them as what they are and not as something else. The editor's got an agent interested in those books, and he's trying to get other rights to them sold, like TV or movie rights. We're kind of holding our breath on that one.
Thanks for having me today, Allie, it's been fun hopping around the internet and visiting all these other blogs.Have a great day, everyone!
P.S. Readers, remember that anyone who leaves a comment today is also entered into my contest to win the "Boston Bonus Basket" in celebration of the release of my novel One Night in Boston (see yesterday's post). The more times you comment this week, the more times your name will be entered to win!
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Happy Release Day!
It's here! My very first novel, One Night in Boston, is available today!
You can read more about it here...
And remember, anytime you post a comment on this blog (or link to my contest on your own blog), you'll be entered into the running to win my "Boston Bonus Basket" full of prizes. Want to know what you could win? It's all right here.
Thanks for stopping by and helping me celebrate!
You can read more about it here...
And remember, anytime you post a comment on this blog (or link to my contest on your own blog), you'll be entered into the running to win my "Boston Bonus Basket" full of prizes. Want to know what you could win? It's all right here.
Thanks for stopping by and helping me celebrate!
Monday, July 23, 2007
Win a Boston Bonus Basket!!!
Happy Monday, and greetings from the Outer Banks, North Carolina, where I'm vacationing this week!
In honor of this being the week of my debut novel's release, I'm hosting a contest to win...
((drum roll))
...a Boston Bonus Basket!
That's right, you could be the next winner of this collection of Boston-themed goodies:
Boston Red Sox hat
1-lb. bag of Boston Baked Beans
30-ct. sampler of Boston Tea
Free download of One Night in Boston
Isn't that worth trying for?
All you have to do is leave a comment any day (or every day!) this week on my blog. The more times you comment, the more times your name will be entered. And if you post a link to this contest on your own blog, I'll enter your name an additional time (make sure to let me know it's there!).
The contest begins today and runs through Sunday, July 29, so make sure to leave your comments this week. I'll announce the winner on Monday, July 30.
And get ready for tomorrow's official release of One Night in Boston - I'm so excited!!
In honor of this being the week of my debut novel's release, I'm hosting a contest to win...
((drum roll))
...a Boston Bonus Basket!
That's right, you could be the next winner of this collection of Boston-themed goodies:
Boston Red Sox hat
1-lb. bag of Boston Baked Beans
30-ct. sampler of Boston Tea
Free download of One Night in Boston
Isn't that worth trying for?
All you have to do is leave a comment any day (or every day!) this week on my blog. The more times you comment, the more times your name will be entered. And if you post a link to this contest on your own blog, I'll enter your name an additional time (make sure to let me know it's there!).
The contest begins today and runs through Sunday, July 29, so make sure to leave your comments this week. I'll announce the winner on Monday, July 30.
And get ready for tomorrow's official release of One Night in Boston - I'm so excited!!
Friday, July 20, 2007
Friday's Feast and a Tease 'Til Monday
Here's my Friday Feast!
Appetizer
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being highest) how much do enjoy watching sports on television?
Hmm...probably about a 3, though it depends on the sport. Olympics are higher. I'd rather watch in person.
Soup
If you could completely memorize any one work of fiction, which one would you pick?
Appetizer
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being highest) how much do enjoy watching sports on television?
Hmm...probably about a 3, though it depends on the sport. Olympics are higher. I'd rather watch in person.
Soup
If you could completely memorize any one work of fiction, which one would you pick?
Wow...there are so many to choose from! Maybe Shakespeare's Othello; it has such beautiful language. Or A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. I always loved that story. Or maybe e.e. cummings' entire collection of poetry. Does that count as fiction?
Salad
What is your favorite breakfast food?
Salad
What is your favorite breakfast food?
If I'm being good, a bowl of Frosted Mini-Wheats with berries on top and vanilla soy milk. If I'm not, a huge chocolate chip muffin with a Starbucks latte.
Main Course
Name something fun you can do for less than $10.00.
Main Course
Name something fun you can do for less than $10.00.
Get a book or a video from the library. (Hey, that's free!). Go to a matinee (there's still a place here that charges $6.00 before 6 pm). Spend an afternoon miniature golfing. Window shop at the mall. Go for a walk in the local park and arboretum.
Dessert
How long does it usually take you to fall asleep?
Dessert
How long does it usually take you to fall asleep?
Luckily, less than 10 minutes most nights.
###
Just a quick update: I'm going on vacation, and I won't be blogging again 'til Monday the 23rd.
But..
Make sure to stop back then, because I'll be introducing a contest to celebrate the release of my debut novel, One Night in Boston. You'll be able to enter all week long, and don't you want to know what you could win??
See you here on Monday to find out!
###
Just a quick update: I'm going on vacation, and I won't be blogging again 'til Monday the 23rd.
But..
Make sure to stop back then, because I'll be introducing a contest to celebrate the release of my debut novel, One Night in Boston. You'll be able to enter all week long, and don't you want to know what you could win??
See you here on Monday to find out!
Thursday, July 19, 2007
The Dangers of Reading Romance
Well, here's an interesting column that's been circulating on some of the groups I belong to: "Harm in Reading Romance?"
Now, I know the growth of erotica in the romance writing genre might be a source of angst for some readers. But you know what? Then don't pick up those books to read. Plenty of books in that genre still feature the development of an emotional connection between two people that doesn't involve any bedroom scenes [like mine :) ]
The other argument, that reading a romance is disillusioning and somehow damaging to one's own relationship, is a little more interesting. Are the heroes in novels better-looking, stronger, better listeners, and more sensitive than the men we marry in real life? Perhaps some of them are. So are some (many?) of the heroes in movies we go to see. Should we stop reading and viewing different forms of entertainment -- especially escapist entertainment -- because we will develop impatience and dislike for our own partners? I say no. Honestly, if one cannot read with a discerning eye, and an understanding that art does not mimic or predict or create life, then maybe there are some larger problems at stake.
I'll continue to fall in love with the heroes in novels and on the big screen, knowing full well that the man I come home to every day is different from them in many ways...and thank God. He's real, he's here, and he loves me. Can't say that about fictional characters, now can I?
Now, I know the growth of erotica in the romance writing genre might be a source of angst for some readers. But you know what? Then don't pick up those books to read. Plenty of books in that genre still feature the development of an emotional connection between two people that doesn't involve any bedroom scenes [like mine :) ]
The other argument, that reading a romance is disillusioning and somehow damaging to one's own relationship, is a little more interesting. Are the heroes in novels better-looking, stronger, better listeners, and more sensitive than the men we marry in real life? Perhaps some of them are. So are some (many?) of the heroes in movies we go to see. Should we stop reading and viewing different forms of entertainment -- especially escapist entertainment -- because we will develop impatience and dislike for our own partners? I say no. Honestly, if one cannot read with a discerning eye, and an understanding that art does not mimic or predict or create life, then maybe there are some larger problems at stake.
I'll continue to fall in love with the heroes in novels and on the big screen, knowing full well that the man I come home to every day is different from them in many ways...and thank God. He's real, he's here, and he loves me. Can't say that about fictional characters, now can I?
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Writers' Wednesday: How to Make the Most of a Writing Conference
Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! Since the RWA National Conference just wrapped up, I thought it might be useful to talk about writers' conferences in general: how to pick them, what to expect, how to make the most of your experience there. I haven't attended a ton of conferences, but I've learned something different at each one. I'm hoping readers today will also leave their personal tips.
Here, then, in no particular order, are my top 5 tips for making the most out of a writing conference:
1. Choose your conference carefully. Match the genre you write with the focus of the conference, if possible. If you're a mystery writer, you'll probably gain more from the "Hardboiled Heroes and Cozy Cats Conference" than the "Put Your Heart in a Book" Conference. Research the agents or editors who will be attending, if you're looking to pitch a story or learn more about a certain publishing house. Register as early as possible to get those agent/editor pitch spots, too - they go fast!
2. Consider the cost-effectiveness of attending. Is it a 1-day conference within an hour's drive? Or is it a 2-3 day conference that will require you to travel a longer distance and pay for hotel accommodations? Consider how much bang you'll get for your buck. I've been to 1-day conferences that were well worth the $80 or so, and larger conferences where I paid $200+ for the conference registration and $100+ for a hotel room and didn't gain as much as I thought I would. If you're traveling to a conference that requires an overnight stay, consider rooming with someone else who's going, or better yet, look for conferences in locations where you have friends or family and can stay for free!
3. Plan your days ahead of time. Usually the list of conference workshops is available before you get to the actual conference. Have a plan for which you really want to see...and have a backup in case those fill up. Get to your top choices early to get a good seat, too!
4. Take advantage of down-time to talk to other attendees. One of the most fun and rewarding parts of attending a writers' conference is meeting all the other people there. Sit with someone new in a workshop or a meal. Introduce yourself while you're standing in line. Writers, speakers, editors, agents...all are pretty friendly people, and all are there because they share the same interest!
5. Step out of your comfort zone. While some (many?) writers are more introverted than extroverted, a writers' conference can be a perfect place to work on those speaking and social interaction skills. Go to the social events. Sign up for an agent/editor pitch. Offer to volunteer, if that's an option. You'll be surprised how fast the time will go once you're involved and meeting all the other attendees.
Bottom line: how fun,gain knowledge, and network. Writing can be a lonely business much of the time, and if nothing else, conferences offer the chance to step out of your living room/office/bedroom/basement and acquaint yourself with the other writers out there!
Here, then, in no particular order, are my top 5 tips for making the most out of a writing conference:
1. Choose your conference carefully. Match the genre you write with the focus of the conference, if possible. If you're a mystery writer, you'll probably gain more from the "Hardboiled Heroes and Cozy Cats Conference" than the "Put Your Heart in a Book" Conference. Research the agents or editors who will be attending, if you're looking to pitch a story or learn more about a certain publishing house. Register as early as possible to get those agent/editor pitch spots, too - they go fast!
2. Consider the cost-effectiveness of attending. Is it a 1-day conference within an hour's drive? Or is it a 2-3 day conference that will require you to travel a longer distance and pay for hotel accommodations? Consider how much bang you'll get for your buck. I've been to 1-day conferences that were well worth the $80 or so, and larger conferences where I paid $200+ for the conference registration and $100+ for a hotel room and didn't gain as much as I thought I would. If you're traveling to a conference that requires an overnight stay, consider rooming with someone else who's going, or better yet, look for conferences in locations where you have friends or family and can stay for free!
3. Plan your days ahead of time. Usually the list of conference workshops is available before you get to the actual conference. Have a plan for which you really want to see...and have a backup in case those fill up. Get to your top choices early to get a good seat, too!
4. Take advantage of down-time to talk to other attendees. One of the most fun and rewarding parts of attending a writers' conference is meeting all the other people there. Sit with someone new in a workshop or a meal. Introduce yourself while you're standing in line. Writers, speakers, editors, agents...all are pretty friendly people, and all are there because they share the same interest!
5. Step out of your comfort zone. While some (many?) writers are more introverted than extroverted, a writers' conference can be a perfect place to work on those speaking and social interaction skills. Go to the social events. Sign up for an agent/editor pitch. Offer to volunteer, if that's an option. You'll be surprised how fast the time will go once you're involved and meeting all the other attendees.
Bottom line: how fun,gain knowledge, and network. Writing can be a lonely business much of the time, and if nothing else, conferences offer the chance to step out of your living room/office/bedroom/basement and acquaint yourself with the other writers out there!
One Week!
Seven days!
One hundred sixty eight hours!
That's how long 'til the electronic release of my very first novel, One Night in Boston. If you haven't read the excerpt yet, click here.
I'll be on vacation next week, but still blogging. Plus I'll be running a contest to celebrate and promote my release, so make sure to stop back!.
Tomorrow's another Writers' Wednesday, and I'll be featuring a "how to" column. I'll also be chatting tonight with other Wild Rose Press authors and readers, so if you're inclined, join us!
Monday, July 16, 2007
Two Books
So I had a chance to read two books from my summer TBR list:
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
My teen students have raved about this one for years, so I thought it was about time I picked it up. It's written in 1st person POV, as a series of letters to an unknown "friend." The writer is 14 year old Charlie, who's a bright but shy "wallflower" with some serious self-esteem problems. Through the course of the story, he finds some good friends who introduce him to dating, partying, and dealing with school bullies; he also deals with some deep-rooted issues in his immediate and extended family. It's a well-written coming-of-age story, and I can understand why teens like it. The narrator exposes the nasty side of high school as well as the exhilaration of finding true friends who'll stick by you no matter what. The only thing I didn't like was the ending...you find out the "secret" that's been messing up this kid since childhood, and it's a particular sticky one that isn't really dealt with before the story ends. I would have liked a more upbeat and complete resolution. Still, the voice is well done and compelling.
Eye Contact by Cammie McGovern
This debut novel by a woman who's also the mother of an autistic child is a thriller/mystery about a 9 year old, Adam, who becomes a witness to a playmate's murder. The only problem? He's autistic, and breaking his silence to find out what happened comsumes most of the novel. I loved this book. I thought it was tremendously interesting and layered believable levels of conflict and suspense all the way to the end. Adam's mother, Cara, is raising him alone, and we see first-hand the challenges--and wonders--of having an autistic child. The author gets across her message of the power of a mother's love along with writing a pretty good mystery...you really do not know until the final pages who the killer is. Thanks again to a student for recommending this one!
(Incidentally, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon is another wonderful book about a main character with autism. The entire story is told from the MC's POV, as he unravels the mystery of a pet's death and, eventually, his own mother's disappearance. It's a terrific look at the way the autistic brain works. Fascinating.)
So that's my Monday report! What good books have you read lately?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
My teen students have raved about this one for years, so I thought it was about time I picked it up. It's written in 1st person POV, as a series of letters to an unknown "friend." The writer is 14 year old Charlie, who's a bright but shy "wallflower" with some serious self-esteem problems. Through the course of the story, he finds some good friends who introduce him to dating, partying, and dealing with school bullies; he also deals with some deep-rooted issues in his immediate and extended family. It's a well-written coming-of-age story, and I can understand why teens like it. The narrator exposes the nasty side of high school as well as the exhilaration of finding true friends who'll stick by you no matter what. The only thing I didn't like was the ending...you find out the "secret" that's been messing up this kid since childhood, and it's a particular sticky one that isn't really dealt with before the story ends. I would have liked a more upbeat and complete resolution. Still, the voice is well done and compelling.
Eye Contact by Cammie McGovern
This debut novel by a woman who's also the mother of an autistic child is a thriller/mystery about a 9 year old, Adam, who becomes a witness to a playmate's murder. The only problem? He's autistic, and breaking his silence to find out what happened comsumes most of the novel. I loved this book. I thought it was tremendously interesting and layered believable levels of conflict and suspense all the way to the end. Adam's mother, Cara, is raising him alone, and we see first-hand the challenges--and wonders--of having an autistic child. The author gets across her message of the power of a mother's love along with writing a pretty good mystery...you really do not know until the final pages who the killer is. Thanks again to a student for recommending this one!
(Incidentally, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon is another wonderful book about a main character with autism. The entire story is told from the MC's POV, as he unravels the mystery of a pet's death and, eventually, his own mother's disappearance. It's a terrific look at the way the autistic brain works. Fascinating.)
So that's my Monday report! What good books have you read lately?
Sunday, July 15, 2007
The Buzz About RWA
Well, the big news this week is that RWA, the national romance writers' organization, has made some significant changes to which publishers they'll name as "RWA-approved."
RWA approval has (or used to have, before this fallout) huge influence in the romance-writing world. Their "approval" of a publisher basically means it's one that legitimate, royalty-paying, and looking out for the best interests of the author. Romance writers target RWA-approved publishers because they know they will get a fair deal. RWA has always marketed itself this way, to both published and unpublished authors, as being the support team for writers who are trying to learn the craft of writing and become successfully published one day.
Until now, apparently.
Their latest changes include this:
"Commencing with RWA’s 2008 National Conference, for official publisher participation, a romance publisher must verify to RWA that it: (1) is not a Subsidy Publisher or Vanity Publisher; (2) has been releasing romance novels via national distribution for no fewer than three years, with no fewer than two full-length romance novels or novel-length romance anthologies published in each of three consecutive years; (3) provides per book advances of at least $1,000 for all books; and (4) pays all authors participating in an anthology an advance of at least $500...
"The Board updated the definition of Subsidy Publisher or Vanity Publisher
to: any publisher that publishes books in which the author participates in
the cost of production or distribution in any manner, including publisher
assessment of a fee or other costs for editing and/or distribution...publishers whose primary means of offering books for sale is through a publisher-generated Web site*; publishers whose list is comprised of 50% or more of its books written by authors who are principals in the publishing company; and publishers whose business model and methods of publishing are primarily directed toward sales to the author, his/her relatives and associates."
What does this mean? Basically, RWA is lumping together vanity publishers (which are publishing companies that people pay to publish their books - not recommended at all and a huge waste of money...authors should always be paid for their work, not the other way around) with small e-publishers (like Samhain and The Wild Rose Press, my 2 publishers), many of which are 100% legitimate, professional and royalty-paying. This is terrible damaging to e-publishers and, in fact, a total misnomer. RWA doesn't care.
What's worse is that as of this decision, RWA is pulling their recognition of all publishers that don't meet their new guidelines. This includes Samhain, which just a few months ago received the RWA-recognition. No grandfathering allowed (forget that Samahin just signed an imprint deal with Kensington, which is RWA-approved and will remain so).
Finally, what's also interesting is that these new guidelines might also throw out major publishers like St. Martin's and Avon, actually everyone except Harlequin. Check out more on this fact here. RWA still apparently doesn't care.
What does this mean for me? Well, I can't say that being a member of RWA has even given me much. They send out a nice monthly magazine, and they provide information on reputable publishers and agents and conferences, but I'm thinking that this latest move, to keep out small publishers from their exclusive circle, means I might spend my $75/year somewhere else.
However, this also means that I won't be able to belong to my local RWA group, since national membership is a requirement. Still, on the purposes of principle, I think I might bow out.
Finally, though, my overall reaction is...so what? The last time I checked, people didn't buy books based on whether or not the publisher was nationally "approved" by some kind of self-governing body. And Borders doesn't have separate shelves for separate publishers, do they? If a book is on the shelf, and it looks interesting, people will pick it up. Period. In fact, I'm sure most of my non-writer friends who read my blog will have no idea what RWA is or why any of this should matter.
In the long run, I'm just going to write.
RWA approval has (or used to have, before this fallout) huge influence in the romance-writing world. Their "approval" of a publisher basically means it's one that legitimate, royalty-paying, and looking out for the best interests of the author. Romance writers target RWA-approved publishers because they know they will get a fair deal. RWA has always marketed itself this way, to both published and unpublished authors, as being the support team for writers who are trying to learn the craft of writing and become successfully published one day.
Until now, apparently.
Their latest changes include this:
"Commencing with RWA’s 2008 National Conference, for official publisher participation, a romance publisher must verify to RWA that it: (1) is not a Subsidy Publisher or Vanity Publisher; (2) has been releasing romance novels via national distribution for no fewer than three years, with no fewer than two full-length romance novels or novel-length romance anthologies published in each of three consecutive years; (3) provides per book advances of at least $1,000 for all books; and (4) pays all authors participating in an anthology an advance of at least $500...
"The Board updated the definition of Subsidy Publisher or Vanity Publisher
to: any publisher that publishes books in which the author participates in
the cost of production or distribution in any manner, including publisher
assessment of a fee or other costs for editing and/or distribution...publishers whose primary means of offering books for sale is through a publisher-generated Web site*; publishers whose list is comprised of 50% or more of its books written by authors who are principals in the publishing company; and publishers whose business model and methods of publishing are primarily directed toward sales to the author, his/her relatives and associates."
What does this mean? Basically, RWA is lumping together vanity publishers (which are publishing companies that people pay to publish their books - not recommended at all and a huge waste of money...authors should always be paid for their work, not the other way around) with small e-publishers (like Samhain and The Wild Rose Press, my 2 publishers), many of which are 100% legitimate, professional and royalty-paying. This is terrible damaging to e-publishers and, in fact, a total misnomer. RWA doesn't care.
What's worse is that as of this decision, RWA is pulling their recognition of all publishers that don't meet their new guidelines. This includes Samhain, which just a few months ago received the RWA-recognition. No grandfathering allowed (forget that Samahin just signed an imprint deal with Kensington, which is RWA-approved and will remain so).
Finally, what's also interesting is that these new guidelines might also throw out major publishers like St. Martin's and Avon, actually everyone except Harlequin. Check out more on this fact here. RWA still apparently doesn't care.
What does this mean for me? Well, I can't say that being a member of RWA has even given me much. They send out a nice monthly magazine, and they provide information on reputable publishers and agents and conferences, but I'm thinking that this latest move, to keep out small publishers from their exclusive circle, means I might spend my $75/year somewhere else.
However, this also means that I won't be able to belong to my local RWA group, since national membership is a requirement. Still, on the purposes of principle, I think I might bow out.
Finally, though, my overall reaction is...so what? The last time I checked, people didn't buy books based on whether or not the publisher was nationally "approved" by some kind of self-governing body. And Borders doesn't have separate shelves for separate publishers, do they? If a book is on the shelf, and it looks interesting, people will pick it up. Period. In fact, I'm sure most of my non-writer friends who read my blog will have no idea what RWA is or why any of this should matter.
In the long run, I'm just going to write.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Hi, My Name is Allie, and I'm a Writer
Hi, everyone ~ I'm back! (This is me waving hello...)
I've been away for a few days, out in the city of Cleveland while my husband was attending a conference. Since I used to live there in the mid-90s, I had 2 days to myself to play and visit old haunts and, best of all, catch up with a couple of friends.
One, in particular, is a woman I met at my very first teaching job. She's teaching a 3-week intensive summer creative writing class to middle schoolers (6th-9th graders)...and since I was in town, she asked me if I would speak to her students. "...you know, since you're a writer and you have two novels under your belt."
Gulp.
She says this to me, by the way, on the phone 12 hours before we're supposed to get together for lunch. Here's the conversation:
Friend That I Love: "I know you were going to come by for lunch, but I was thinking, maybe you could come early and talk to my students?"
Me: "Um. Sure."
Friend That I Love: "We've been talking about the writing process, and I thought you could just tell them about yours, let them see what a real writer looks like."
Me: "Um. Sure."
Friend That I Love: "How long do you think you want to speak? Because we can stop whatever we're doing when you come in."
Me: "Um..."
And thus was the introduction to my very first speaking gig as a writer. Let me tell you, if you think perfecting a pitch for an agent or editor is tough, think about preparing it for a roomful of 12 year olds. Even though I'm a teacher, and used to getting up in front of students and talking, this was really, really different. This was the first time I called myself "a writer" out loud, in public, for the world to hear.
It was terrifying.
It was exhilarating.
It was exhausting.
30 minutes, and I was done. But they were cute, and fun, and interested, and I had a chance to tell them not only what I write but some of the things I've learned along the way.
What an interesting experience, really, to look inside and think about yourself--and then talk about yourself--as someone who creates stories. Someone who will, in a matter of weeks, have a novel published. Someone who is very different from the person I've defined myself as all these years.
Hi, my name is Allie, and I'm a writer.
I've been away for a few days, out in the city of Cleveland while my husband was attending a conference. Since I used to live there in the mid-90s, I had 2 days to myself to play and visit old haunts and, best of all, catch up with a couple of friends.
One, in particular, is a woman I met at my very first teaching job. She's teaching a 3-week intensive summer creative writing class to middle schoolers (6th-9th graders)...and since I was in town, she asked me if I would speak to her students. "...you know, since you're a writer and you have two novels under your belt."
Gulp.
She says this to me, by the way, on the phone 12 hours before we're supposed to get together for lunch. Here's the conversation:
Friend That I Love: "I know you were going to come by for lunch, but I was thinking, maybe you could come early and talk to my students?"
Me: "Um. Sure."
Friend That I Love: "We've been talking about the writing process, and I thought you could just tell them about yours, let them see what a real writer looks like."
Me: "Um. Sure."
Friend That I Love: "How long do you think you want to speak? Because we can stop whatever we're doing when you come in."
Me: "Um..."
And thus was the introduction to my very first speaking gig as a writer. Let me tell you, if you think perfecting a pitch for an agent or editor is tough, think about preparing it for a roomful of 12 year olds. Even though I'm a teacher, and used to getting up in front of students and talking, this was really, really different. This was the first time I called myself "a writer" out loud, in public, for the world to hear.
It was terrifying.
It was exhilarating.
It was exhausting.
30 minutes, and I was done. But they were cute, and fun, and interested, and I had a chance to tell them not only what I write but some of the things I've learned along the way.
What an interesting experience, really, to look inside and think about yourself--and then talk about yourself--as someone who creates stories. Someone who will, in a matter of weeks, have a novel published. Someone who is very different from the person I've defined myself as all these years.
Hi, my name is Allie, and I'm a writer.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Welcome to Writers' Wednesday!
Today we're featuring an interview with Samhain author Diane Craver. Let's see what she has to say about her experiences writing inspirational romance...
1. Can you tell us a little about your background?
I grew up on a farm and went to the same small rural school all twelve years. When I started college at Ohio State, it was a big change going to a big ten university. I met my husband when we were both teachers at a state orphanage. My faith is important to me, especially since I’ve been through some difficult times with raising two children born with special needs. I love celebrating holidays and spending time with our family.
2. When did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?
Ever since I was small, I’ve enjoyed writing. When I was in junior and senior high, I wrote a few stories for fun and also wrote poetry. Since I was high school yearbook editor, I wrote, assembled and edited the yearbook. After I married and started a family, I no longer taught full-time so turned to writing. I wrote nonfiction when our oldest daughter was a toddler. I had several magazine articles published by the time I wrote a special needs book. I also published a “creative nonfiction” book, The Christmas of 1957, which is about how a little girl’s faith helps her father in overcoming a disability. It’s based on a true event from my childhood. Around 1995, I attended a romance writing conference in Cincinnati. I met many published authors and their enthusiasm was contagious. I decided to start writing fiction. I loved it but I got off to a slow start with six children at home.
3. Tell us about your latest novel.
Three books released in 2007. A Fiery Secret and No Greater Loss are available in print now. My mainstream, Never the Same, will be released in print on August 21st. I thought it’d be interesting to write about characters wanting to change their lives after surviving a traumatic event.
Here’s a blurb of Never the Same:
When fashion buyer Kimberly Collins and high school senior Tori Moorhead escape a burning plane, both women make radical decisions that intertwine their lives forever.
Kim’s priorities change, especially in the bedroom. She’s thankful to be taken to another world—one of love and romance, not of smoke and death. When she decides she wants another child, her husband reveals his own shocking plans for their family.
Pregnant teenager Tori is on her way to get a secret abortion when the plane crashes. The baby’s teen father wants to get married. Her dad pushes for adoption. Caught between the two men she loves, Tori struggles to make the right decisions for her baby and the future she dreamed of.
4. How do you go about developing your characters?
I think of interesting and big conflicts for the main characters first. Then their goals in life, problems they have to conquer, and get a feel for their motivations. I list their physical descriptions and try out different names until I feel comfortable with the name selections. In my book, A Fiery Secret, two of the characters are based loosely on two of my daughters. For a few days dialogue, scenes, setting and characters parade across my mind before I write anything down. I have a general idea of big scenes for each main character in the beginning, but the neat thing is that might change when the characters take over the story and become very real to me.
5. Tell us about your promotion strategies. How do you plan on making Diane Craver a household name?
Of course, I’d like to be a household name but I’ll have to admit that it’s mind boggling to me how there are so many talented authors. I definitely don’t want to be the author who doesn’t make it, so I do spend time doing all kinds of promo work. I do online chats, post excerpts, do contests, keep my website updated, book signings, take out ads online, interviews and distribute promo items to as many places as possible. I did place ads in Romantic Times for my books with reviews for two. I also placed an ad for Never the Same in Romance Sells which goes to 7,000 librarians and booksellers. I heard that a reader needs to see the author’s name nine times before they’ll remember it.
I’d like to be able to hire a publicist someday to help me in selling my books. If not a publicist, I am considering using the AuthorBuzz promo services of the marketing genius, M.J. Rose.
But the most important thing I need to do is to keep writing books, and each time I want to write the best book possible.
6. What advice would you give to aspiring, unpublished writers?
Follow your heart and believe in yourself!
You have to be persistent and develop a thick skin when it comes to rejections. Remember this is a subjective business so don’t get discouraged. You can’t give up. I almost did but a published friend of mine, Dianne Castell, told me not to quit and to submit to this new publisher. I took her advice and submitted to Samhain Publishing. Within a month, I received three book contracts. Also write consistently. Writing is a craft and you have to keep at it to grow as an author.
7. What kinds of books do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?
I have many favorite authors and here are some of them - Debbie Macomber, Jayne Ann Krentz, Sandra Brown, Mary Higgins Clark, Mary Jane Clark, Marion Chesney, John Grisham, Jude Deveraux, and my friends, Dianne Castell and Stacia Wolf.
8. What do you find most difficult about writing?
The most difficult thing about writing is trying to find enough time to write. Also I’m a slow writer so it’s always discouraging to me to hear how many authors write so much more in a day’s time than I do in a week.
What do you find most exciting or rewarding?
The most exciting thing about writing is when I’m happy with the dialogue I’ve created, and I feel confident that readers will enjoy the interaction between the characters. I probably like writing dialogue the best. I love the freedom writing gives me and that I can work at home instead of having to drive to work daily. I also think researching the careers of my characters is rewarding as a writer.
9. How do you balance writing with the rest of your life?
I’ve tried writing so many words a day as a goal but I’m having more success thinking in terms of pages and chapters. I don’t feel like I have very much personal time because I’ve had three books releasing so close together. I feel like I’m in front of the computer all the time with editing, doing online chats, writing entries for my blog, and etc. Then there’s housework, laundry and so many other things to do. While writing my new book, I’m taking breaks to do other things. I like to walk, go for a bike ride with my daughter Amanda, swim with my daughters, husband and son, watch movies, or read.
10. Can you tell us about your next writing project?
I started a new book about three sisters named Shannon, Regan and Whitney. Whitney, the youngest sister, lost her correspondent husband in Iraq 2 years ago. Right after he died, Whitney left her job in New York to take care of her ill mother in Ohio. Her older sisters had families so she wanted to do it. But now that their mother is dead, her sisters are trying to get Whitney involved in life again by signing her up for skydiving. Whitney doesn't want to return to NY as a TV news producer, but she definitely doesn't want to go skydiving. They tell her how many hot guys skydive, but Whitney is scared of heights and hates flying. She proposes that they all three start a business together. They are throwing out crazy and fun ideas for their new business. The middle sister, Regan, is married to a firefighter and she wants him to quit. She’s afraid he might die and also because of another firefighter named Anna. Regan thinks Anna is interested in her husband. Shannon has some issues and has a jealousy problem.
Thanks, Diane!
Stop by Diane's blog to leave her a comment today, or post one here. And thanks for stopping by! If you're an author who'd like to be interviewed on my blog, drop me an email at allieb@allieboniface.com.
Today we're featuring an interview with Samhain author Diane Craver. Let's see what she has to say about her experiences writing inspirational romance...
1. Can you tell us a little about your background?
I grew up on a farm and went to the same small rural school all twelve years. When I started college at Ohio State, it was a big change going to a big ten university. I met my husband when we were both teachers at a state orphanage. My faith is important to me, especially since I’ve been through some difficult times with raising two children born with special needs. I love celebrating holidays and spending time with our family.
2. When did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?
Ever since I was small, I’ve enjoyed writing. When I was in junior and senior high, I wrote a few stories for fun and also wrote poetry. Since I was high school yearbook editor, I wrote, assembled and edited the yearbook. After I married and started a family, I no longer taught full-time so turned to writing. I wrote nonfiction when our oldest daughter was a toddler. I had several magazine articles published by the time I wrote a special needs book. I also published a “creative nonfiction” book, The Christmas of 1957, which is about how a little girl’s faith helps her father in overcoming a disability. It’s based on a true event from my childhood. Around 1995, I attended a romance writing conference in Cincinnati. I met many published authors and their enthusiasm was contagious. I decided to start writing fiction. I loved it but I got off to a slow start with six children at home.
3. Tell us about your latest novel.
Three books released in 2007. A Fiery Secret and No Greater Loss are available in print now. My mainstream, Never the Same, will be released in print on August 21st. I thought it’d be interesting to write about characters wanting to change their lives after surviving a traumatic event.
Here’s a blurb of Never the Same:
When fashion buyer Kimberly Collins and high school senior Tori Moorhead escape a burning plane, both women make radical decisions that intertwine their lives forever.
Kim’s priorities change, especially in the bedroom. She’s thankful to be taken to another world—one of love and romance, not of smoke and death. When she decides she wants another child, her husband reveals his own shocking plans for their family.
Pregnant teenager Tori is on her way to get a secret abortion when the plane crashes. The baby’s teen father wants to get married. Her dad pushes for adoption. Caught between the two men she loves, Tori struggles to make the right decisions for her baby and the future she dreamed of.
4. How do you go about developing your characters?
I think of interesting and big conflicts for the main characters first. Then their goals in life, problems they have to conquer, and get a feel for their motivations. I list their physical descriptions and try out different names until I feel comfortable with the name selections. In my book, A Fiery Secret, two of the characters are based loosely on two of my daughters. For a few days dialogue, scenes, setting and characters parade across my mind before I write anything down. I have a general idea of big scenes for each main character in the beginning, but the neat thing is that might change when the characters take over the story and become very real to me.
5. Tell us about your promotion strategies. How do you plan on making Diane Craver a household name?
Of course, I’d like to be a household name but I’ll have to admit that it’s mind boggling to me how there are so many talented authors. I definitely don’t want to be the author who doesn’t make it, so I do spend time doing all kinds of promo work. I do online chats, post excerpts, do contests, keep my website updated, book signings, take out ads online, interviews and distribute promo items to as many places as possible. I did place ads in Romantic Times for my books with reviews for two. I also placed an ad for Never the Same in Romance Sells which goes to 7,000 librarians and booksellers. I heard that a reader needs to see the author’s name nine times before they’ll remember it.
I’d like to be able to hire a publicist someday to help me in selling my books. If not a publicist, I am considering using the AuthorBuzz promo services of the marketing genius, M.J. Rose.
But the most important thing I need to do is to keep writing books, and each time I want to write the best book possible.
6. What advice would you give to aspiring, unpublished writers?
Follow your heart and believe in yourself!
You have to be persistent and develop a thick skin when it comes to rejections. Remember this is a subjective business so don’t get discouraged. You can’t give up. I almost did but a published friend of mine, Dianne Castell, told me not to quit and to submit to this new publisher. I took her advice and submitted to Samhain Publishing. Within a month, I received three book contracts. Also write consistently. Writing is a craft and you have to keep at it to grow as an author.
7. What kinds of books do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?
I have many favorite authors and here are some of them - Debbie Macomber, Jayne Ann Krentz, Sandra Brown, Mary Higgins Clark, Mary Jane Clark, Marion Chesney, John Grisham, Jude Deveraux, and my friends, Dianne Castell and Stacia Wolf.
8. What do you find most difficult about writing?
The most difficult thing about writing is trying to find enough time to write. Also I’m a slow writer so it’s always discouraging to me to hear how many authors write so much more in a day’s time than I do in a week.
What do you find most exciting or rewarding?
The most exciting thing about writing is when I’m happy with the dialogue I’ve created, and I feel confident that readers will enjoy the interaction between the characters. I probably like writing dialogue the best. I love the freedom writing gives me and that I can work at home instead of having to drive to work daily. I also think researching the careers of my characters is rewarding as a writer.
9. How do you balance writing with the rest of your life?
I’ve tried writing so many words a day as a goal but I’m having more success thinking in terms of pages and chapters. I don’t feel like I have very much personal time because I’ve had three books releasing so close together. I feel like I’m in front of the computer all the time with editing, doing online chats, writing entries for my blog, and etc. Then there’s housework, laundry and so many other things to do. While writing my new book, I’m taking breaks to do other things. I like to walk, go for a bike ride with my daughter Amanda, swim with my daughters, husband and son, watch movies, or read.
10. Can you tell us about your next writing project?
I started a new book about three sisters named Shannon, Regan and Whitney. Whitney, the youngest sister, lost her correspondent husband in Iraq 2 years ago. Right after he died, Whitney left her job in New York to take care of her ill mother in Ohio. Her older sisters had families so she wanted to do it. But now that their mother is dead, her sisters are trying to get Whitney involved in life again by signing her up for skydiving. Whitney doesn't want to return to NY as a TV news producer, but she definitely doesn't want to go skydiving. They tell her how many hot guys skydive, but Whitney is scared of heights and hates flying. She proposes that they all three start a business together. They are throwing out crazy and fun ideas for their new business. The middle sister, Regan, is married to a firefighter and she wants him to quit. She’s afraid he might die and also because of another firefighter named Anna. Regan thinks Anna is interested in her husband. Shannon has some issues and has a jealousy problem.
Thanks, Diane!
Stop by Diane's blog to leave her a comment today, or post one here. And thanks for stopping by! If you're an author who'd like to be interviewed on my blog, drop me an email at allieb@allieboniface.com.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Another Vacation!
I'm off on another vacation today...the beautiful benefit of being a teacher who is also married to a teacher, with no kids, which = summers off.
It's not a *real* vacation, I suppose not for hubby anyway, who's going to be at teacher training all day Wednesday - Friday, but since the training takes place in Cleveland, my former hometown when I was in graduate school, it'll be vacation for me as I tag along and spend those 3 days catching up with old friends and visiting some old haunts. Should be fun!
And just in case you didn't get a chance yet, stop by and visit my brand new website...up and running just in time for the debut of One Night in Boston (publication date 2 weeks and counting!) You can read an excerpt here.
Tomorrow, a fellow Samhain author will be here for an interview...Diane Craver. Make sure to leave her a comment or two, OK?
And yes, since my Internet access will probably be limited while I'm away, and because Blogger doesn't let you future-date your posts, I'm posting Writers' Wednesday and Diane's interview this morning as well.
See you on Saturday!!
I'm off on another vacation today...the beautiful benefit of being a teacher who is also married to a teacher, with no kids, which = summers off.
It's not a *real* vacation, I suppose not for hubby anyway, who's going to be at teacher training all day Wednesday - Friday, but since the training takes place in Cleveland, my former hometown when I was in graduate school, it'll be vacation for me as I tag along and spend those 3 days catching up with old friends and visiting some old haunts. Should be fun!
And just in case you didn't get a chance yet, stop by and visit my brand new website...up and running just in time for the debut of One Night in Boston (publication date 2 weeks and counting!) You can read an excerpt here.
Tomorrow, a fellow Samhain author will be here for an interview...Diane Craver. Make sure to leave her a comment or two, OK?
And yes, since my Internet access will probably be limited while I'm away, and because Blogger doesn't let you future-date your posts, I'm posting Writers' Wednesday and Diane's interview this morning as well.
See you on Saturday!!
Monday, July 09, 2007
Websites Worth Visiting
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
~Mahatma Gandhi
So I have 3 websites I'd like to mention today:
1. The Long and Short of It - This is a new review site for short and long romance fiction that was started by my good writing friends Marianne Arkins and Judy Thomas. They have taken on the mammoth task of reviewing romance, and to date have done a marvelous job of both reviewing and getting a number of guest reviewers to sign on as well. I did do one review, of Marianne's short story "Tickle Fights and Barbecues," which should be appearing sometime soon. Stop by if you're in the mood for a little romance...or if you're interested in revewing, I know they're still looking for volunteers!
2. Glass Slipper WebDesign - I've mentioned this web design company before, as this is the one that's doing my website/blog redesign. I just wanted to say again that the owner, Jo, is a marvelous professional and has been terrific in working with me. If anyone's looking for a web designer with a personal touch, I highly recommend her. My new website is up as of today, so please visit and let me know what you think!
3. Freecycle - Not writing related, but this is a terrific resource that everyone should be aware of. This site, with local groups all over the US, promotes recycling used items instead of throwing them away. In their words, "It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns." I joined up about 6 months ago and have since passed on a bagful of shirts my husband outgrew, 2 juniper plants that we pulled out of our front lawn, and a carton of Capri Sun juice pouches. Wondering what else people put up for grabs? This was the list from my local group last night:
4' x 6' Oriental type rug with fringe
Videos & CD games for kids
2 Old powerwheels
Craftsman 12/5hp tractor (not working)
Twin custom made platform bed
4 Maroon Patio chair cushions
Bag of purses and 2 wall shelves
I'd encourage everyone to check out this site. One of the fringe benefits is meeting the people who are also freecycling, whether picking up or donating. It's a nice way to meet people from your community. Has anyone else tried it?
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
~Mahatma Gandhi
So I have 3 websites I'd like to mention today:
1. The Long and Short of It - This is a new review site for short and long romance fiction that was started by my good writing friends Marianne Arkins and Judy Thomas. They have taken on the mammoth task of reviewing romance, and to date have done a marvelous job of both reviewing and getting a number of guest reviewers to sign on as well. I did do one review, of Marianne's short story "Tickle Fights and Barbecues," which should be appearing sometime soon. Stop by if you're in the mood for a little romance...or if you're interested in revewing, I know they're still looking for volunteers!
2. Glass Slipper WebDesign - I've mentioned this web design company before, as this is the one that's doing my website/blog redesign. I just wanted to say again that the owner, Jo, is a marvelous professional and has been terrific in working with me. If anyone's looking for a web designer with a personal touch, I highly recommend her. My new website is up as of today, so please visit and let me know what you think!
3. Freecycle - Not writing related, but this is a terrific resource that everyone should be aware of. This site, with local groups all over the US, promotes recycling used items instead of throwing them away. In their words, "It's a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns." I joined up about 6 months ago and have since passed on a bagful of shirts my husband outgrew, 2 juniper plants that we pulled out of our front lawn, and a carton of Capri Sun juice pouches. Wondering what else people put up for grabs? This was the list from my local group last night:
4' x 6' Oriental type rug with fringe
Videos & CD games for kids
2 Old powerwheels
Craftsman 12/5hp tractor (not working)
Twin custom made platform bed
4 Maroon Patio chair cushions
Bag of purses and 2 wall shelves
I'd encourage everyone to check out this site. One of the fringe benefits is meeting the people who are also freecycling, whether picking up or donating. It's a nice way to meet people from your community. Has anyone else tried it?
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Vacationing...
"Too much work, and no vacation,
Deserves at least a small libation.
So hail! my friends, and raise your glasses,
Work's the curse of the drinking classes."
~Oscar Wilde
This is a hard one...I'd say someplace warm or someplace that has great historical or cultural significance. There's not one single place I'd go back to time and time again. New is good.
2. Would you rather drive or fly?
Ugh. Both have their downfalls. Driving is nice if we're talking a single day's worth. But there are some *terrible* drivers on the roads. Seriously. Flying is convenient for getting to far-away places quickly, but I sort of have this whole crashing fear, so...
3. Have you ever been on a cruise? Would you want to go on one?
Oh, interesting story...hubby and I went on a 5-day cruise of the Hawaiian islands for our honeymoon, and I was seasick the whole time. So no, I wouldn't want to go on another one.
4. What has been your best/worst vacation?
Best: toss-up between Maui (actually staying on the island, not cruising around it) and Germany/Austria/hiking the Alps.
Worst: no such thing.
5. How long do you think is long enough for a vacation?
1-2 weeks. After that it's nice to come home and sleep in my own bed!
6. Do you spend alot of money while on vacation? Do you buy alot of souvenirs? What's the coolest one you've gotten?
I spend more than I probably should, but on events/adventures/dinners. I don't buy a lot of material things on vacation. The coolest souvenirs are always pictures and memories.
7. If money were no object, where would you go on vacation?
Italy and Greece!
Saturday, July 07, 2007
Putting Down and Picking Up
Hmm...
Well, for the first time in recent memory, I put down a book without finishing it. Now, I occasionally won't read past a first chapter in a novel. If it doesn't grab me, then I'm OK with deciding not to invest any more time in it. But this novel, Jodi Picoult's Perfect Match, I struggled with for almost 2 weeks. I got about 2/3 of the way through, although it lost my interest after the first 1/2, and finally I decided to ditch it. Problem? I didn't care what happened to any of the characters. Nor did I really like or feel any attachment to them.
Have you ever decided not to finish a book, after you were 1/2 way through? Or are you one of those who soldiers on to the very end? This time, I just couldn't do it.
But I have discovered (I think) part of the problem with the WIP I've been struggling with. I let it lie for a few days, and mulled things over, and I have renewed energy and interests and ideas for the middle. So this afternoon I plan on picking up and hopefully working through the tough spots. Wish me luck!
"The best style is the style you don't notice."
~Somerset Maugham
Today, of course, is the very interesting date 07/07/07. Significant? Perhaps, if you read this article.Hmm...
Well, for the first time in recent memory, I put down a book without finishing it. Now, I occasionally won't read past a first chapter in a novel. If it doesn't grab me, then I'm OK with deciding not to invest any more time in it. But this novel, Jodi Picoult's Perfect Match, I struggled with for almost 2 weeks. I got about 2/3 of the way through, although it lost my interest after the first 1/2, and finally I decided to ditch it. Problem? I didn't care what happened to any of the characters. Nor did I really like or feel any attachment to them.
Have you ever decided not to finish a book, after you were 1/2 way through? Or are you one of those who soldiers on to the very end? This time, I just couldn't do it.
But I have discovered (I think) part of the problem with the WIP I've been struggling with. I let it lie for a few days, and mulled things over, and I have renewed energy and interests and ideas for the middle. So this afternoon I plan on picking up and hopefully working through the tough spots. Wish me luck!
Friday, July 06, 2007
Under Constuction
"My whole heart for my whole life."
~French saying used on poesy rings
You might remember that a couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that I was having my website redesigned. That includes the blog, so while the designer plays around with things, it might look a little different around here.
Since today is my 6th wedding anniversary, I'm off to celebrate with an out-of-town rendezvous. Hope everything has a wonderful Friday...I'll see you tomorrow!
~French saying used on poesy rings
You might remember that a couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that I was having my website redesigned. That includes the blog, so while the designer plays around with things, it might look a little different around here.
Since today is my 6th wedding anniversary, I'm off to celebrate with an out-of-town rendezvous. Hope everything has a wonderful Friday...I'll see you tomorrow!
Thursday, July 05, 2007
Sagging Middles
"Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand."
~George Orwell
OK, let's talk about sagging middles today, shall we? And I don't mean the kind that seem to set in sometime after 30 no matter how many sit-ups one does. (That's another post altogether, especially since hubby and I are off on a beach vacation in less than 3 weeks which requires me to wear a bathing suit and lounge by the pool/on the sand for 5 straight days. But I digress...)
I mean the sagging middles that sneak up on you when you're writing. You're zooming along, pretty happy with the start of your story, pleased that your characters are taking on lives of their own, and then all of a sudden, there it is! That terrible screeching halt when the words stop coming and the plot falters and everything, everything, seems stupid and boring.
That's where I am right now in my latest WIP, One Night in Memphis. This is a novel I started 2+ years ago, my first attempt at the "24-hour novel." I abandoned it for One Night in Boston (which has since found a home with Samhain) and now I'm desperately trying to revive it. But it's not working. I revamped the beginning and added some conflict, which seemed to help. Now, about 1/3 of the way in, though, I'm stuck. My H/H are sort of meandering around, not doing anything interesting. The conflict takes off again in about 6 chapters, and from there to the end I think it's pretty solid, but I am frustrated to no end with the section I'm facing right now.
I've been avoiding even dealing with it for the last 3 days, though I know I should just sit down and write through it.
But I'm looking for advice. Fellow writers, what do you do when you're stuck in the middle of your story? How do you pick up the pace, increase the conflict (in a believable way), make the reader want to keep turning pages? I really need some help here...please...
~George Orwell
OK, let's talk about sagging middles today, shall we? And I don't mean the kind that seem to set in sometime after 30 no matter how many sit-ups one does. (That's another post altogether, especially since hubby and I are off on a beach vacation in less than 3 weeks which requires me to wear a bathing suit and lounge by the pool/on the sand for 5 straight days. But I digress...)
I mean the sagging middles that sneak up on you when you're writing. You're zooming along, pretty happy with the start of your story, pleased that your characters are taking on lives of their own, and then all of a sudden, there it is! That terrible screeching halt when the words stop coming and the plot falters and everything, everything, seems stupid and boring.
That's where I am right now in my latest WIP, One Night in Memphis. This is a novel I started 2+ years ago, my first attempt at the "24-hour novel." I abandoned it for One Night in Boston (which has since found a home with Samhain) and now I'm desperately trying to revive it. But it's not working. I revamped the beginning and added some conflict, which seemed to help. Now, about 1/3 of the way in, though, I'm stuck. My H/H are sort of meandering around, not doing anything interesting. The conflict takes off again in about 6 chapters, and from there to the end I think it's pretty solid, but I am frustrated to no end with the section I'm facing right now.
I've been avoiding even dealing with it for the last 3 days, though I know I should just sit down and write through it.
But I'm looking for advice. Fellow writers, what do you do when you're stuck in the middle of your story? How do you pick up the pace, increase the conflict (in a believable way), make the reader want to keep turning pages? I really need some help here...please...
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Ben Solah
Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! Today we're chatting with Australian writer Ben Solah...
1. Hi Ben! Can you tell us a little about your background?
I've grown up basically all my life in a working class suburb in south-west Sydney. My father works in a factory and his family were all wharfies. I went to a number of schools in the area including one in a 'ghetto-like' area, where unemployment, poverty and police harassment is rife. I guess my family has never had a lot of money and writing would have to be a factor in escaping that.
2. When did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?
I was a real reader in Primary school and hung out in the library a lot. I was also a crafty sort of kid who liked to make things, I drew a lot and created a world of cartoon characters. I guess I was writing a bit then, though it wasn't much. When I was like 11, I remember attempting a novel about martians from Mars coming to ancient Egypt. It was about 10 or 20 pages long, and I thought that was pretty epic.But in High School all this kind of stopped until Year 11 when my English teacher suggested we all read more to improve our vocabulary so could write better essays. I started reading King and Koontz and it did build my vocabulary, to the point where I was bursting with renewed enthusiasm to write. I was having petty teen issues at that time too and found my escape in some of my writing (and poetry) for a period.
3. Tell us about the stories you write.
Initially, it was just straight horror, with a focus on gore. I guess a lot of it was trying to do what King and Koontz did but mimicking never did a writer any good. At the same time, I was developing political ideas, reading political books, going to protests and throwing myself into debates with friends, family and online through blogs and forums. These political ideas couldn't just sit separate from my writing and now it's very much apart of my stories. I write Marxist horror. Which is horror stories about living under a capitalist society and fighting against it. This includes war, racism, poverty, labor exploitation. These things are truly horrifying and get my blood boiling. With my roots in horror fiction, I hope to draw out the horrible things about capitalism and make people fear and get angry at the way the world is, and perhaps to the point where they want to change it.
4. How do you go about developing your characters?
My characters come from real life, as most writers would say. And also, most writers would say that there's always a part of themselves in their characters. Certainly that's true for me. It's my own experiences of living under capitalism and reading stories of others that become part of the characters in my stories. I meet people on the street as part of my political organizations weekly stalls and you get to hear their experiences.When a story comes to me, it usually comes with its character, complete with little bits and pieces of myself, people I meet, and lives I read about. But these traits are not static and don't come out of nowhere. My characters have histories and with each trait, must come some reason why they came to this and my characters develop further as we go through the experiences of their story and how that shapes them further.
5. What advice would you give to other writers, or to people who are thinking about taking up writing?
I suppose reading again did me a lot of good, so I'd suggest doing that, but not just fiction but non-fiction as well. Read the news, blogs and on subjects that interest you. That gives you the ammo you need to write your stories. And you must write, try to write regularly, just ignore the inner editor and let it flow.
6. What kinds of books do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?
Of course, I like horror and I like political leaning books. King and Koontz certainly rank among my favourites, as well as John Steinbeck and George Orwell. Though, in terms of left-leaning horror, there isn't a lot about. Though, I think whether they're trying to or not, politics comes out in all forms of writing, just not so overtly. And of course, Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath really can be seen as a horror story. King's The Green Mile is a really excellent book.
7. What do you find most difficult about writing? What do you find most exciting or rewarding?
I go through stages of problems with my writing. Sometimes it's the ideas that aren't coming and at other times, I can't seem to articulate my overflowing ideas and characters. At the moment, I'm having trouble turning my images and ideas into fully-fledged plots and actual stories.I think the point at the end of each stage, the draft, the edit, the submission is so rewarding. It's the thrill of completing something you've put a massive amount of emotional effort into. I really enjoy the feeling when words are pouring out of you, full of action and ideas and you're barely trying.
8. How do you balance writing with the rest of your life?
I don't. I was unemployed for about one and a half years after I left school, which doesn't do a lot of for your inspiration. I started working full-time last August and now I'm struggling with all these images and ideas and not enough time to develop a routine to do stuff with them. I tend to write mostly on weekends and sometimes of a night if I'm just itching to write.
9. Can you tell us about your next writing project?
I'm working on short stories this year. I really have found flash fiction a savior recently with my troubles in developing plot because within those 250 or so words you can have a complete story. You don't have to spell the whole thing out for the reader, but in the background it's there, people know there's more to it and there's a history in the actions and the characters. In those short paragraphs, you can reveal the story for yourself. And on the subject of flash fiction, I used run a horror flash fiction carnival, that has recently lay dormant - Tastes of the Darkness - so maybe so readers here would be interested in getting it going again.
Want to know more about Ben? Stop by his website. And make sure to leave a comment on this blog so we know you were here!
1. Hi Ben! Can you tell us a little about your background?
I've grown up basically all my life in a working class suburb in south-west Sydney. My father works in a factory and his family were all wharfies. I went to a number of schools in the area including one in a 'ghetto-like' area, where unemployment, poverty and police harassment is rife. I guess my family has never had a lot of money and writing would have to be a factor in escaping that.
2. When did you first begin writing? Was there an event or moment in your life that triggered your desire to write?
I was a real reader in Primary school and hung out in the library a lot. I was also a crafty sort of kid who liked to make things, I drew a lot and created a world of cartoon characters. I guess I was writing a bit then, though it wasn't much. When I was like 11, I remember attempting a novel about martians from Mars coming to ancient Egypt. It was about 10 or 20 pages long, and I thought that was pretty epic.But in High School all this kind of stopped until Year 11 when my English teacher suggested we all read more to improve our vocabulary so could write better essays. I started reading King and Koontz and it did build my vocabulary, to the point where I was bursting with renewed enthusiasm to write. I was having petty teen issues at that time too and found my escape in some of my writing (and poetry) for a period.
3. Tell us about the stories you write.
Initially, it was just straight horror, with a focus on gore. I guess a lot of it was trying to do what King and Koontz did but mimicking never did a writer any good. At the same time, I was developing political ideas, reading political books, going to protests and throwing myself into debates with friends, family and online through blogs and forums. These political ideas couldn't just sit separate from my writing and now it's very much apart of my stories. I write Marxist horror. Which is horror stories about living under a capitalist society and fighting against it. This includes war, racism, poverty, labor exploitation. These things are truly horrifying and get my blood boiling. With my roots in horror fiction, I hope to draw out the horrible things about capitalism and make people fear and get angry at the way the world is, and perhaps to the point where they want to change it.
4. How do you go about developing your characters?
My characters come from real life, as most writers would say. And also, most writers would say that there's always a part of themselves in their characters. Certainly that's true for me. It's my own experiences of living under capitalism and reading stories of others that become part of the characters in my stories. I meet people on the street as part of my political organizations weekly stalls and you get to hear their experiences.When a story comes to me, it usually comes with its character, complete with little bits and pieces of myself, people I meet, and lives I read about. But these traits are not static and don't come out of nowhere. My characters have histories and with each trait, must come some reason why they came to this and my characters develop further as we go through the experiences of their story and how that shapes them further.
5. What advice would you give to other writers, or to people who are thinking about taking up writing?
I suppose reading again did me a lot of good, so I'd suggest doing that, but not just fiction but non-fiction as well. Read the news, blogs and on subjects that interest you. That gives you the ammo you need to write your stories. And you must write, try to write regularly, just ignore the inner editor and let it flow.
6. What kinds of books do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?
Of course, I like horror and I like political leaning books. King and Koontz certainly rank among my favourites, as well as John Steinbeck and George Orwell. Though, in terms of left-leaning horror, there isn't a lot about. Though, I think whether they're trying to or not, politics comes out in all forms of writing, just not so overtly. And of course, Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath really can be seen as a horror story. King's The Green Mile is a really excellent book.
7. What do you find most difficult about writing? What do you find most exciting or rewarding?
I go through stages of problems with my writing. Sometimes it's the ideas that aren't coming and at other times, I can't seem to articulate my overflowing ideas and characters. At the moment, I'm having trouble turning my images and ideas into fully-fledged plots and actual stories.I think the point at the end of each stage, the draft, the edit, the submission is so rewarding. It's the thrill of completing something you've put a massive amount of emotional effort into. I really enjoy the feeling when words are pouring out of you, full of action and ideas and you're barely trying.
8. How do you balance writing with the rest of your life?
I don't. I was unemployed for about one and a half years after I left school, which doesn't do a lot of for your inspiration. I started working full-time last August and now I'm struggling with all these images and ideas and not enough time to develop a routine to do stuff with them. I tend to write mostly on weekends and sometimes of a night if I'm just itching to write.
9. Can you tell us about your next writing project?
I'm working on short stories this year. I really have found flash fiction a savior recently with my troubles in developing plot because within those 250 or so words you can have a complete story. You don't have to spell the whole thing out for the reader, but in the background it's there, people know there's more to it and there's a history in the actions and the characters. In those short paragraphs, you can reveal the story for yourself. And on the subject of flash fiction, I used run a horror flash fiction carnival, that has recently lay dormant - Tastes of the Darkness - so maybe so readers here would be interested in getting it going again.
Want to know more about Ben? Stop by his website. And make sure to leave a comment on this blog so we know you were here!
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
Scattered Tuesday Thoughts
"Freedom is nothing else but a chance to be better."
~Albert Camus
First, a Happy Birthday shout-out to my MIL, who for the last month hasn't even been home but down in FL helping my husband's great-aunt ready to move north. She deserves a big, shiny gold medal for this...
Second, an early Happy Birthday shout-out to the USA, who's been a little battered these last few years but still deserves a rousing celebration tomorrow for Independence Day.
Finally, a reminder that tomorrow is Writers' Wednesday, and I'll be featuring an interview with author Ben Solah. Make sure to stop back and check it out!
~Albert Camus
First, a Happy Birthday shout-out to my MIL, who for the last month hasn't even been home but down in FL helping my husband's great-aunt ready to move north. She deserves a big, shiny gold medal for this...
Second, an early Happy Birthday shout-out to the USA, who's been a little battered these last few years but still deserves a rousing celebration tomorrow for Independence Day.
Finally, a reminder that tomorrow is Writers' Wednesday, and I'll be featuring an interview with author Ben Solah. Make sure to stop back and check it out!
Monday, July 02, 2007
It's Time for Summer Television
I think my new favorite TV show is "The Office"(the American spin-off of the BBC original). I never really tuned in before, but I caught a couple of reruns this summer, and I have to say, it's pretty funny. Characters are clever and well-acted, and a little simmering office romance never hurts any plotline, in my opinion. As a matter of fact, I rented the first 2 seasons on DVD just so I could watch it in full. Anyone else a fan?
I'm also thrilled that "Rescue Me" is back for another season. I can't really explain my fascination with this show, as it's *so* male-oriented, but it's really hilarious. I guess Denis Leary has been doing comedy for so long, he knows what works and what doesn't. It's probably not for everyone, but I'm addicted.
This "Rescue Me" Link is R-rated but Also Worth a Look - Very Funny
Anyone watch "Jericho" this past year? I didn't, but hubby did, and apparently it's back for a 2nd season in the fall thanks to the fans, who rescued it from cancellation. Great story about the power of the people.
What about you? What are your favorite TV shows? Have you discovered anything through reruns or a friend's recommndation?
I'm also thrilled that "Rescue Me" is back for another season. I can't really explain my fascination with this show, as it's *so* male-oriented, but it's really hilarious. I guess Denis Leary has been doing comedy for so long, he knows what works and what doesn't. It's probably not for everyone, but I'm addicted.
This "Rescue Me" Link is R-rated but Also Worth a Look - Very Funny
Anyone watch "Jericho" this past year? I didn't, but hubby did, and apparently it's back for a 2nd season in the fall thanks to the fans, who rescued it from cancellation. Great story about the power of the people.
What about you? What are your favorite TV shows? Have you discovered anything through reruns or a friend's recommndation?
Sunday, July 01, 2007
It's a Meme, Meme, Meme, Meme Weekend (Part 2)
And today's meme is borrowed from Marianne:
Fifteen Things for which I am Truly Grateful
(Appearing in no particular order)
1. My family - my parents, my sister, my husband. My niece and nephew. Everyone who shows me what unconditional love is.
2. My health - physical, mental, and emotional. I love that my legs and lungs are strong enough to run 6 miles without stopping, and I love that my brain can lie to my body and tell me I can keep going when I'm tired.
3. My job - I teach, and it's the best career in the world. Really.
4. My house - it's beautiful and safe and I'm grateful everyday I turn into my driveway that it belongs to me.
5. My financial stability - and that I earned it through sheer hard work.
6. My intelligence - just lucked out on this one.
7. My creativity - same as above.
8. My pets - let's really talk about unconditional love, shall we?
9. My friends - for being supportive and loving and crazy and forever there for me.
10. My appreciation for music - it keeps me sane and stills me.
11. My history - all the mistakes I've made that have turned into learning experiences that made me who I am.
12. My ability to balance a hectic life with inner peace.
13. My freedom and independence. There are very few other countries in which I'd want to live, as a woman today.
14. My contracts with Samhain and TWRP.
15. My online community - a whole other world of friends and colleagues I've discovered!
Fifteen Things for which I am Truly Grateful
(Appearing in no particular order)
1. My family - my parents, my sister, my husband. My niece and nephew. Everyone who shows me what unconditional love is.
2. My health - physical, mental, and emotional. I love that my legs and lungs are strong enough to run 6 miles without stopping, and I love that my brain can lie to my body and tell me I can keep going when I'm tired.
3. My job - I teach, and it's the best career in the world. Really.
4. My house - it's beautiful and safe and I'm grateful everyday I turn into my driveway that it belongs to me.
5. My financial stability - and that I earned it through sheer hard work.
6. My intelligence - just lucked out on this one.
7. My creativity - same as above.
8. My pets - let's really talk about unconditional love, shall we?
9. My friends - for being supportive and loving and crazy and forever there for me.
10. My appreciation for music - it keeps me sane and stills me.
11. My history - all the mistakes I've made that have turned into learning experiences that made me who I am.
12. My ability to balance a hectic life with inner peace.
13. My freedom and independence. There are very few other countries in which I'd want to live, as a woman today.
14. My contracts with Samhain and TWRP.
15. My online community - a whole other world of friends and colleagues I've discovered!
Saturday, June 30, 2007
It's a Meme, Meme, Meme, Meme Weekend
Since it's a busy weekend for me, I'm cheating a little and doing two memes stolen (borrowed?) from two of my best blogging buddies. Today's is from Judy:
First
First job: Entering accent marks for the dictionaries on Smith Corona typewriters, the summer I was 16. Really. It was a trip.
First screen name: I'm technologically illiterate. Enough said.
First funeral: At age 12, for a classmate who committed suicide at age 13. Nothing more to say.
First pet: As a child? I was born into a family with one wonderfully protective collie named Heidi (my first word) and 2 very patient cats I adored. As an adult? A smart, sleek black cat I still have. He was part of the package deal my hubby married into. :)
First piercing: I had my ears pierced when I was in 6th grade (my parents made me wait that long).
First tattoo: Won't ever get one (too permanent) though I occasionally do the temporary thing when my beloved Cleveland Indians are in the playoffs.
First credit card: Don't remember. A Visa in college, I think, with a $500 limit.
First kiss: Oh, with a boy I had a huge crush on, the summer I was 16 (I know, I was a really late bloomer). He took me home from a party and I missed my curfew. :)
First enemy: In a friendly sense, probably the girl I competed against for high school valedictorian (I won).
Last
Last car ride: Last night...hubby and I went shopping and out to dinner.
Last kiss: Last night, before we went to bed.
Last movie watched: Knocked Up.
Last beverage drank: Propel Fitness Water, getting ready for a 10K race this AM
Last food consumed: Banana (see above)
Last phone call: To my parents, last night
Last time showered: Last night
Last CD played: Hmm...probably Gavin Degraw, in the car.
Last website visited:Marianne's (I always visit hers first thing in the morning...cause she posts at like 4:30 am)
Now
Single or taken: Taken
Gender: Female
Birthday: December
Sign: Sagittarius
Siblings: One younger sister
Hair color: Brown
Eye color: Hazel/brown/green/depends on the day
Shoe size: 9 for regular shoes, 9 1/2 for running shoes (I know, enormous)
Height: 5'7"
Wearing: Right now? Um...
Drinking: Water
Thinking about: Running the race this AM and then eating whatever I want to the rest of the day!
Listening to: My cats demanding to know where their breakfast is
First
First job: Entering accent marks for the dictionaries on Smith Corona typewriters, the summer I was 16. Really. It was a trip.
First screen name: I'm technologically illiterate. Enough said.
First funeral: At age 12, for a classmate who committed suicide at age 13. Nothing more to say.
First pet: As a child? I was born into a family with one wonderfully protective collie named Heidi (my first word) and 2 very patient cats I adored. As an adult? A smart, sleek black cat I still have. He was part of the package deal my hubby married into. :)
First piercing: I had my ears pierced when I was in 6th grade (my parents made me wait that long).
First tattoo: Won't ever get one (too permanent) though I occasionally do the temporary thing when my beloved Cleveland Indians are in the playoffs.
First credit card: Don't remember. A Visa in college, I think, with a $500 limit.
First kiss: Oh, with a boy I had a huge crush on, the summer I was 16 (I know, I was a really late bloomer). He took me home from a party and I missed my curfew. :)
First enemy: In a friendly sense, probably the girl I competed against for high school valedictorian (I won).
Last
Last car ride: Last night...hubby and I went shopping and out to dinner.
Last kiss: Last night, before we went to bed.
Last movie watched: Knocked Up.
Last beverage drank: Propel Fitness Water, getting ready for a 10K race this AM
Last food consumed: Banana (see above)
Last phone call: To my parents, last night
Last time showered: Last night
Last CD played: Hmm...probably Gavin Degraw, in the car.
Last website visited:Marianne's (I always visit hers first thing in the morning...cause she posts at like 4:30 am)
Now
Single or taken: Taken
Gender: Female
Birthday: December
Sign: Sagittarius
Siblings: One younger sister
Hair color: Brown
Eye color: Hazel/brown/green/depends on the day
Shoe size: 9 for regular shoes, 9 1/2 for running shoes (I know, enormous)
Height: 5'7"
Wearing: Right now? Um...
Drinking: Water
Thinking about: Running the race this AM and then eating whatever I want to the rest of the day!
Listening to: My cats demanding to know where their breakfast is
Friday, June 29, 2007
It's Friday Already? Alright!!
Appetizer: How many pieces of jewelry do you wear most days?
Well, my engagement and wedding rings, of course, and then usually earrings and a necklace or a bracelet. When I'm not going to work, though, nothing but the first two. And 2 toe rings in the summer, instead!
Soup: What is your favorite instrumental song?
That's a hard call. I'll say Handel's Hallelujah Chorus, possibly one of the most joyful pieces ever composed.
Salad: Who has a last name that you like?
This is funny...a guy my husband knows named Mel Pierrepoint. Just has a cool ring to it, I think. I'm definitely going to use that in a novel someday!
Main Course: Name a popular movie you’ve never seen.
Um..."Caddyshack." Yes, really.
Dessert: Fill in the blank: Nothing makes me ___________ like ____________.
Nothing makes me angry like narrow-minded people who argue their POV without considering anyone else's.
Happy Weekend!
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Lots of Good News to Share
"If a June night could talk, it would probably boast it invented romance."
~Bern Williams
I'm back from vacation, I'm enjoying summer vacation, and everything is going smashingly on the writing front as well.
Good News #1: I'm just about finished with my final line edits for One Night in Boston. Even better, the final line editor asked my regular editor if there were plans for a sequel, 'cause she wanted to see my two secondary characters get together. I'm taking that as a vote of confidence that my writing is decent and that my characters are compelling and likable, even the minor ones.
Good News #2: I'm working with a website designer to update my website, hopefully in time for my July 24 e-release of ONIB. She's a terrific woman who owns Glass Slipper Web Design, and she's doing discounted designs for Samhain authors, so I lucked out. I'll keep you posted on the unveiling of the new site!
Good News #3: I had a great time *finally* meeting one of my long-time writing mentors, Cynthis Borris, when she was in Philadelphia (i.e., my side of the country) last weekend for a conference. Here we are downtown, I think in front of City Hall, though I can't be positive.
~Bern Williams
I'm back from vacation, I'm enjoying summer vacation, and everything is going smashingly on the writing front as well.
Good News #1: I'm just about finished with my final line edits for One Night in Boston. Even better, the final line editor asked my regular editor if there were plans for a sequel, 'cause she wanted to see my two secondary characters get together. I'm taking that as a vote of confidence that my writing is decent and that my characters are compelling and likable, even the minor ones.
Good News #2: I'm working with a website designer to update my website, hopefully in time for my July 24 e-release of ONIB. She's a terrific woman who owns Glass Slipper Web Design, and she's doing discounted designs for Samhain authors, so I lucked out. I'll keep you posted on the unveiling of the new site!
Good News #3: I had a great time *finally* meeting one of my long-time writing mentors, Cynthis Borris, when she was in Philadelphia (i.e., my side of the country) last weekend for a conference. Here we are downtown, I think in front of City Hall, though I can't be positive.
Good News #4: This last one isn't necessarily good news as far as my husband is concerned, but he'll deal with it. We've apparently become host to a bevy of wildlife birthing activity this spring, as we have a family of 6 - yes, 6 - groundhog babies living under our back porch. They're a hoot to watch: they frolic in the backyard under their mother's watchful eye and generally get a thrill out of eating grass. Then yesterday saw the debut of a brand new pair of fawns. We have deer on a regular basis, and though they do a number on my plants, I'm still a sucker for those spotted babies!
So yeah, life is good. What about with you?
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Writers' Wednesday: How To Wrap It All Up
"If I see an ending, I can work backward."
~Arthur Miller
Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! Yes, I've been away for a few days, and yes I had a terrific vacation that I'll tell you all about in the next day or so, but first, back to some writing tips for today.
###
Writing the opening line/paragraph/page to a story is often the hardest for authors (I know it is for me!). You need to keep in mind that you're tempting the reader and promising them a great premise all at the same time. You need to decide whether you'll use a powerful line of narrative, or an intriguing snippet of dialogue. You need to consider through whose eyes you'll present that opening scene.
But what about ending your novel or short story? Is that any easier? You still need to come up with one satisfying scene and one great final line, right? You still need to give the reader the pay-off he/she's been waiting, and reading for, all this time. So how do you get it right?
I do find it easier to write endings, maybe because I've spent the entire novel getting myself there. Or maybe because I often picture the ending to a novel before I begin the whole story. Some writers I know actually write the final line first. Recently, Writers Digest had a helpful piece on writing endings, so drawing on their advice, as well as my own experience, here are some exercises/thoughts to keep in mind as you wind your way toward those satisfying words, "The End."
1. Make sure your ending shows the way in which the protagonist has changed. This may take more than a final line or two, but you need to be sure that your hero/heroine has come through the conflicts of the story and changed/learned something/achieved a goal/become a different or better person. Go back to your character charts, if you use them, and examine that character at the start of the story. Go back to the first chapters. Compare to the ending. Are your protagonist's emotions/words/actions different? They should be.
2. Go fo the gut. Write the most emotional scene you can come up with. Free-write; don't worry too much about grammar or formatting or even whether the words make sense coming out of the characters' mouths. Just let those emotions rip. As a first-time exercise, this scene might be over the top. But go with it. Make your characters totally vulnerable to each other. See what they say or do. You might find some lines that truly work in communicating the powerful punch for a wrap-up.
3. But avoid cliches and emotional manipulation. Remember, anything your characters do or say at the end of a story needs to come directly from the elements of the storyline up to that point. A reader will feel cheated if someone speaks or acts completely out of character in the final pages.
4. Also avoid Deus ex Machina. This plot device is a throwback to Greek Drama when a character playing a god would actually be lowered onto the stage by a crane (the "machine") to fix all the characters' problems at the play's end. However, this "out of the blue" solution will generally not work in a well-written novel. Your story should resolve itself through the characters' own interactions. It shouldn't need another character to come from nowhere and put the final puzzle piece into place.
5. Write at least 3 different endings. Really. Consider where else you might finish the story. And who knows; those other endings might turn out to be scenes you can use leading up to/after the original final scene. Give yourself some possibilities.
Finally, remember The Promise you made to your reader at the beginning of the story. Every novel or short story makes a contract with its reader from the start; it promises a happy ending, or a thrilling mystery, or a tear-jerker, or comic laugh. Go back to the beginning of the story, and to your outline or any notes you made along the way. Has your story fulfilled its promise to the reader? Ask your critique partners to be brutally honest in this area. If your final scene doesn't pack the punch the reader has been waiting for, you'll need to revise and revise until it does.
Well, there you have it! Hope you found some inspiration in the tips above. And if you have any of your own, let me know! We can all use a little help in getting to that ultimately satisfying moment of writing the final line...and breaking open the champagne to celebrate!
~Arthur Miller
Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! Yes, I've been away for a few days, and yes I had a terrific vacation that I'll tell you all about in the next day or so, but first, back to some writing tips for today.
###
Writing the opening line/paragraph/page to a story is often the hardest for authors (I know it is for me!). You need to keep in mind that you're tempting the reader and promising them a great premise all at the same time. You need to decide whether you'll use a powerful line of narrative, or an intriguing snippet of dialogue. You need to consider through whose eyes you'll present that opening scene.
But what about ending your novel or short story? Is that any easier? You still need to come up with one satisfying scene and one great final line, right? You still need to give the reader the pay-off he/she's been waiting, and reading for, all this time. So how do you get it right?
I do find it easier to write endings, maybe because I've spent the entire novel getting myself there. Or maybe because I often picture the ending to a novel before I begin the whole story. Some writers I know actually write the final line first. Recently, Writers Digest had a helpful piece on writing endings, so drawing on their advice, as well as my own experience, here are some exercises/thoughts to keep in mind as you wind your way toward those satisfying words, "The End."
1. Make sure your ending shows the way in which the protagonist has changed. This may take more than a final line or two, but you need to be sure that your hero/heroine has come through the conflicts of the story and changed/learned something/achieved a goal/become a different or better person. Go back to your character charts, if you use them, and examine that character at the start of the story. Go back to the first chapters. Compare to the ending. Are your protagonist's emotions/words/actions different? They should be.
2. Go fo the gut. Write the most emotional scene you can come up with. Free-write; don't worry too much about grammar or formatting or even whether the words make sense coming out of the characters' mouths. Just let those emotions rip. As a first-time exercise, this scene might be over the top. But go with it. Make your characters totally vulnerable to each other. See what they say or do. You might find some lines that truly work in communicating the powerful punch for a wrap-up.
3. But avoid cliches and emotional manipulation. Remember, anything your characters do or say at the end of a story needs to come directly from the elements of the storyline up to that point. A reader will feel cheated if someone speaks or acts completely out of character in the final pages.
4. Also avoid Deus ex Machina. This plot device is a throwback to Greek Drama when a character playing a god would actually be lowered onto the stage by a crane (the "machine") to fix all the characters' problems at the play's end. However, this "out of the blue" solution will generally not work in a well-written novel. Your story should resolve itself through the characters' own interactions. It shouldn't need another character to come from nowhere and put the final puzzle piece into place.
5. Write at least 3 different endings. Really. Consider where else you might finish the story. And who knows; those other endings might turn out to be scenes you can use leading up to/after the original final scene. Give yourself some possibilities.
Finally, remember The Promise you made to your reader at the beginning of the story. Every novel or short story makes a contract with its reader from the start; it promises a happy ending, or a thrilling mystery, or a tear-jerker, or comic laugh. Go back to the beginning of the story, and to your outline or any notes you made along the way. Has your story fulfilled its promise to the reader? Ask your critique partners to be brutally honest in this area. If your final scene doesn't pack the punch the reader has been waiting for, you'll need to revise and revise until it does.
Well, there you have it! Hope you found some inspiration in the tips above. And if you have any of your own, let me know! We can all use a little help in getting to that ultimately satisfying moment of writing the final line...and breaking open the champagne to celebrate!
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Gone on Vacation 'Til Wednesday
"A good holiday is one spent among people whose notions of time are vaguer than yours."
~John B. Priestly
It's here! Summer vacation!! And to celebrate, I'm off on a little road trip for the next few days. First it's the city of Philadelphia, where I'm thrilled to be meeting, face to face, Cynthia Borris.
Cindi is my oldest and first cyber-writing friend, the moderator of the first writers' group I joined, and responsible for much of my writing success. She's read and critiqued umpteen manuscripts of mine and shared some awfully wise advice about the biz side of writing, too.
But she lives on the other side of the country.
She came all the way to the East Coast for a journalists' conference, though, so I'm off to see her, book in hand, for a proper autograph. Can't wait!
###
Then my sister and I are meeting up for our annual girls-only trip. We try to take one each year. Last year we climbed Mount Marcy in a day (her choice). This year we're taking in the small towns of coastal NJ, shopping, etc. for a few days (my choice).
So...I won't be blogging again until Wednesday.
But make sure you stop back for that Writers' Wednesday, which is going to be a discussion of writing endings. There seem to be an awful lot of articles and advice on writing the beginning of your novel, perhaps because it's more difficult to start than to wrap up. But I've found there are some tricks to writing a saisfying closing scene as well.
So check back in a few days, and have a great weekend in the meantime!
~John B. Priestly
It's here! Summer vacation!! And to celebrate, I'm off on a little road trip for the next few days. First it's the city of Philadelphia, where I'm thrilled to be meeting, face to face, Cynthia Borris.
Cindi is my oldest and first cyber-writing friend, the moderator of the first writers' group I joined, and responsible for much of my writing success. She's read and critiqued umpteen manuscripts of mine and shared some awfully wise advice about the biz side of writing, too.
But she lives on the other side of the country.
She came all the way to the East Coast for a journalists' conference, though, so I'm off to see her, book in hand, for a proper autograph. Can't wait!
###
Then my sister and I are meeting up for our annual girls-only trip. We try to take one each year. Last year we climbed Mount Marcy in a day (her choice). This year we're taking in the small towns of coastal NJ, shopping, etc. for a few days (my choice).
So...I won't be blogging again until Wednesday.
But make sure you stop back for that Writers' Wednesday, which is going to be a discussion of writing endings. There seem to be an awful lot of articles and advice on writing the beginning of your novel, perhaps because it's more difficult to start than to wrap up. But I've found there are some tricks to writing a saisfying closing scene as well.
So check back in a few days, and have a great weekend in the meantime!
Friday, June 22, 2007
So What's a Classic Movie?
"Education would be much more effective if its purpose was to ensure that by the time they leave school every boy and girl should know how much they do not know, and be imbued with a lifelong desire to know it."
~William Haley
Yesterday I asked for suggestions for great movies I could introduce to my high school students. Of course, we could debate the "definition" of classic all morning, but I'm really just looking for quality films that were made before they were born that are funny/thought-provoking/interesting/controversial. Got some great suggestions, and so my list is slowly but surely taking form. Here, in no particular order, are a handful from the 100 that I'm considering, right now:
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
To Kill a Mockingbird
Rain Man
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
The Breakfast Club
American Graffitti
West Side Story
My Fair Lady
North by Northwest
Psycho
From Here to Eternity
Dances with Wolves
The Sting
The Godfather
Gandhi
E.T.
On the Waterfront
The Shawshank Redemption
Interesting collection, right? Well, we'll see. I have enough time to think about it.
Speaking of which, here's me doing the TGIF happy dance, not only because it's the end of the week, but because it's the end of the school year and I have no students and no papers and no lessons for almost 2 months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hmm...wait a minute...is that my pile of unfinished promotional work calling me? And my 2 novels needing revision piping up in the background? Well, crap. Guess no school just means more time for other things.
That's OK. I'm still not complaining.
~William Haley
Yesterday I asked for suggestions for great movies I could introduce to my high school students. Of course, we could debate the "definition" of classic all morning, but I'm really just looking for quality films that were made before they were born that are funny/thought-provoking/interesting/controversial. Got some great suggestions, and so my list is slowly but surely taking form. Here, in no particular order, are a handful from the 100 that I'm considering, right now:
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
To Kill a Mockingbird
Rain Man
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
The Breakfast Club
American Graffitti
West Side Story
My Fair Lady
North by Northwest
Psycho
From Here to Eternity
Dances with Wolves
The Sting
The Godfather
Gandhi
E.T.
On the Waterfront
The Shawshank Redemption
Interesting collection, right? Well, we'll see. I have enough time to think about it.
Speaking of which, here's me doing the TGIF happy dance, not only because it's the end of the week, but because it's the end of the school year and I have no students and no papers and no lessons for almost 2 months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hmm...wait a minute...is that my pile of unfinished promotional work calling me? And my 2 novels needing revision piping up in the background? Well, crap. Guess no school just means more time for other things.
That's OK. I'm still not complaining.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Another Happy Graduation...and a Question
"Graduation is only a concept. In real life every day you graduate. Graduation is a process that goes on until the last day of your life. If you can grasp that, you'll make a difference."
~Arie Pencovici
Well, it was another lovely graduation last night, and even though there were record numbers of students (near 700), the entire ceremony took less than 90 minutes. (We're a selective, specialized school that pulls in kids from all over the county; they'll also go to their own HS graduations this weekend). The weather even cooperated...check out the sunshine!
###
Here's my question of the day for all you readers: next year I want to introduce my students to classic films - classic being any great movie that was released before they were born (for next year's group, that will be...gulp...1990). I'd like them to be able to watch older films that were either really well made, or award-winning, or thought-provoking, or ground-breaking, and be able to think and speak about those films intelligently and apply them to life and situations today.
I already have an informal list growing in my head, but I'd like your opinion. What movies made before 1990 would you recommend? Remember, they'll be 16/17/18 years old, so while R-rated might not be totally out of the picture, I'll have to use some discretion.
So what do you think? Which movies stand out for you as being excellent ones that everyone should see in their lifetime??
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Writers' Wednesday: An Interview with Jeff Draper
Welcome to Writers' Wednesday! Today we have another interview with a talented up-and-coming author, Jeff Draper, whose short story "Protector" recently appeared in The Sword Review, a SF&F e-zine.
Let's hear what Jeff has to say about the world of writing and publishing...
1. Hi, Jeff! Can you tell us a little about your background?
I was raised on a farm near Olympia, Washington. I did the normal stuff growing up; went to college, got married, became a Marine Corps officer. After my time on active duty (all of which was spent in Orange County, California) I took a job in NoCal for a year or so before moving back up to Washington. Along the way I watched my wife give birth to four kids. She tells me it hurt a bit.
2. When did you first begin writing? Was there an event that triggered it?
I don’t recall a specific event that struck like lightning and made me declare ‘I am going to write’. However, it can be said that the movie Star Wars inspired my general creative desires. I was, like many other 9 year old boys, completely blown away by that movie. It had everything a story needed; young hero, beautiful princess, loveable rogue, old mentor/father figure, and villains most foul. That event, coupled with my mom’s tendency towards stories and other creative outlets, drove me to tell lies to strangers.
3. Why do you call it ‘telling lies to strangers’?
I don’t think the phrase originated with me but it’s because fiction, for the most part, is a series of things that did not happen, yet people line up at ticket counters and bookstore cash registers to voluntarily take in someone else’s fantasies. It’s a giant game of make believe. And then by definition, when you actually publish one of your lies it is read by people who don’t know you.
4. Tell us about your first publication.
The story behind ‘Protector’ is a little interesting in that it did not start out the way most of my other writings have. I did not sit down, crack my knuckles over the keyboard, and state that I was going to write a story for publication. It began as a series of posts at theonering.com. TORC, as it’s called, is a site and forum that I frequent. Now that I think about it, TORC was my first big dive into the world of internet forums way back in 2001. There’s a thread in the Scriptorium of Imladris called The Writer’s Café and it’s been around for a few years now. Several of the active participants decided to write stories featuring each other as main characters. My princess character was originally designed to be a fellow poster there who goes by Ms_Gamgee89 or alternately by the pen name of Quentiel, which is supposed to be derived from Tolkien’s elven languages and means Story Daughter. Anyhow, that’s how the story was born.
5. How do you go about creating your characters?
I cheat. Most characters, like plots, have already been created. I just try to come up with an interesting way to flesh out an existing trope. An excellent book on writing which I recommend enthusiastically is The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler. He details the plot structure of the mythic journey as well as describes the standard story functions, or perhaps ‘energies’ would be a better word, that need to be in any story to make it resonate with a reader’s heart. Most characters fall into an archetype that lends itself to moving a story along. I don’t recall them all off the top of my head but the big ones are Hero, Mentor, Trickster, Shadow, Shapeshifter, etc. It may seem unoriginal but always remember, if something’s been done a thousand times before, there’s probably a very good reason. That’s why we see a never ending stream of dragon and vampire stories.
6. What advice do you have to give to those considering writing?
Writing is one of the many Get Poor Quick schemes floating around our society today. You clearly have to do this because you like to do it. There are few rewards other than the satisfaction that you get from pulling an idea out of your head and recording it onto a page in a fashion that communicates the original feeling to others. As for the craft itself, you cannot go wrong by finding a trusted first reader who will tell you when you have gold and when you have iron pyrite. I have stated many times before that I have the best first reader in the free or oppressed worlds. She can find a way to reveal what remains hidden to me, to connect what remains apart. When it comes to writing we are like brain and heart. One cannot function without the other.
7. What are your favorite books and authors?
Right now I read fantasy. I’ve read several books by Clive Cussler, John Grisham and Tom Clancy as well as a lot of science fiction but what I really enjoy is epic fantasy. The trick is, there’s a lot of stuff out there that I think is absolute garbage. I’ve never been able to get into Robert Jordan or George R. R. Martin and I think there is an entire circle of Hell where you do nothing but read Terry Goodkind. I don’t like humorous or campy stuff so Terry Pratchett is out. I also don’t like thoughtful fantasy that’s slanted toward the female reader so Marion Zimmer Bradley is out, as well as half of what’s on the shelf. But that doesn’t really answer your question. My two favorite fantasy series are the Fortress books by C.J. Cherryh and The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone by Greg Keyes. Also, just about anything from the late David Gemmell is outstanding.
8. What do you find most difficult about writing?
I get long stretches of writer’s block just like everyone else. It is frustrating because you have some ideas that are wandering around in your head but you can’t seem to sit down and force them out. It’s an elusive thing. What finally happens to me is that I remember that the difference between a writer and a daydreamer is directly proportional to the amount of time spent with Fingers Hitting Keyboard. And really, who wants to be a daydreamer?
9. How do you balance writing with the rest of your life?
Those long stretches of writer’s block are seductively convenient excuses to have a Real Life.
10. What can you tell us about your future writing projects?
I’ve done a lot of work, and had a lot of help, toward making ‘Protector’ the first chapter of a novel. Some scenes have been written and a plot sketched out but since my last attempt at a novel ran for three hundred pages before falling apart due to several inherent structural problems I want to take my time with this one. I also keep coming up with ideas for stories to write so I’m doing that now. My current work in progress is called The Battle of Raven Kill. This is a situation where three things came together at once. I thought up the title first and really liked it. Then I envisioned a fight between one man on a narrow bridge and a horde of savage raiders that are after the last of his clan. The last piece came to me when I thought up a hero that, through some plot device to be named later, gets to choose the moment of his death. In that way, he is a different type of immortal than your average vampire or Highlander character. What intrigued me most was the question, “Under what circumstances would a man choose to die?” The notion of sacrifice runs deep through most of my writing. I have the Marine Corps to thank for that. Once a Marine, always a Marine.
Thanks for your time with us. Any final thoughts?
Thank you for your interest. I suppose I would stress again that you should do what you like to do, in writing and in life. There are plenty of opportunities for us to do what we have to do. Make time to set that all aside and follow your (legal) passions. Your sanity will thank you for it later.
Want to know more? Visit Jeff at his blog. And make sure to leave a comment and let us know you were here!
Let's hear what Jeff has to say about the world of writing and publishing...
1. Hi, Jeff! Can you tell us a little about your background?
I was raised on a farm near Olympia, Washington. I did the normal stuff growing up; went to college, got married, became a Marine Corps officer. After my time on active duty (all of which was spent in Orange County, California) I took a job in NoCal for a year or so before moving back up to Washington. Along the way I watched my wife give birth to four kids. She tells me it hurt a bit.
2. When did you first begin writing? Was there an event that triggered it?
I don’t recall a specific event that struck like lightning and made me declare ‘I am going to write’. However, it can be said that the movie Star Wars inspired my general creative desires. I was, like many other 9 year old boys, completely blown away by that movie. It had everything a story needed; young hero, beautiful princess, loveable rogue, old mentor/father figure, and villains most foul. That event, coupled with my mom’s tendency towards stories and other creative outlets, drove me to tell lies to strangers.
3. Why do you call it ‘telling lies to strangers’?
I don’t think the phrase originated with me but it’s because fiction, for the most part, is a series of things that did not happen, yet people line up at ticket counters and bookstore cash registers to voluntarily take in someone else’s fantasies. It’s a giant game of make believe. And then by definition, when you actually publish one of your lies it is read by people who don’t know you.
4. Tell us about your first publication.
The story behind ‘Protector’ is a little interesting in that it did not start out the way most of my other writings have. I did not sit down, crack my knuckles over the keyboard, and state that I was going to write a story for publication. It began as a series of posts at theonering.com. TORC, as it’s called, is a site and forum that I frequent. Now that I think about it, TORC was my first big dive into the world of internet forums way back in 2001. There’s a thread in the Scriptorium of Imladris called The Writer’s Café and it’s been around for a few years now. Several of the active participants decided to write stories featuring each other as main characters. My princess character was originally designed to be a fellow poster there who goes by Ms_Gamgee89 or alternately by the pen name of Quentiel, which is supposed to be derived from Tolkien’s elven languages and means Story Daughter. Anyhow, that’s how the story was born.
5. How do you go about creating your characters?
I cheat. Most characters, like plots, have already been created. I just try to come up with an interesting way to flesh out an existing trope. An excellent book on writing which I recommend enthusiastically is The Writer’s Journey by Christopher Vogler. He details the plot structure of the mythic journey as well as describes the standard story functions, or perhaps ‘energies’ would be a better word, that need to be in any story to make it resonate with a reader’s heart. Most characters fall into an archetype that lends itself to moving a story along. I don’t recall them all off the top of my head but the big ones are Hero, Mentor, Trickster, Shadow, Shapeshifter, etc. It may seem unoriginal but always remember, if something’s been done a thousand times before, there’s probably a very good reason. That’s why we see a never ending stream of dragon and vampire stories.
6. What advice do you have to give to those considering writing?
Writing is one of the many Get Poor Quick schemes floating around our society today. You clearly have to do this because you like to do it. There are few rewards other than the satisfaction that you get from pulling an idea out of your head and recording it onto a page in a fashion that communicates the original feeling to others. As for the craft itself, you cannot go wrong by finding a trusted first reader who will tell you when you have gold and when you have iron pyrite. I have stated many times before that I have the best first reader in the free or oppressed worlds. She can find a way to reveal what remains hidden to me, to connect what remains apart. When it comes to writing we are like brain and heart. One cannot function without the other.
7. What are your favorite books and authors?
Right now I read fantasy. I’ve read several books by Clive Cussler, John Grisham and Tom Clancy as well as a lot of science fiction but what I really enjoy is epic fantasy. The trick is, there’s a lot of stuff out there that I think is absolute garbage. I’ve never been able to get into Robert Jordan or George R. R. Martin and I think there is an entire circle of Hell where you do nothing but read Terry Goodkind. I don’t like humorous or campy stuff so Terry Pratchett is out. I also don’t like thoughtful fantasy that’s slanted toward the female reader so Marion Zimmer Bradley is out, as well as half of what’s on the shelf. But that doesn’t really answer your question. My two favorite fantasy series are the Fortress books by C.J. Cherryh and The Kingdoms of Thorn and Bone by Greg Keyes. Also, just about anything from the late David Gemmell is outstanding.
8. What do you find most difficult about writing?
I get long stretches of writer’s block just like everyone else. It is frustrating because you have some ideas that are wandering around in your head but you can’t seem to sit down and force them out. It’s an elusive thing. What finally happens to me is that I remember that the difference between a writer and a daydreamer is directly proportional to the amount of time spent with Fingers Hitting Keyboard. And really, who wants to be a daydreamer?
9. How do you balance writing with the rest of your life?
Those long stretches of writer’s block are seductively convenient excuses to have a Real Life.
10. What can you tell us about your future writing projects?
I’ve done a lot of work, and had a lot of help, toward making ‘Protector’ the first chapter of a novel. Some scenes have been written and a plot sketched out but since my last attempt at a novel ran for three hundred pages before falling apart due to several inherent structural problems I want to take my time with this one. I also keep coming up with ideas for stories to write so I’m doing that now. My current work in progress is called The Battle of Raven Kill. This is a situation where three things came together at once. I thought up the title first and really liked it. Then I envisioned a fight between one man on a narrow bridge and a horde of savage raiders that are after the last of his clan. The last piece came to me when I thought up a hero that, through some plot device to be named later, gets to choose the moment of his death. In that way, he is a different type of immortal than your average vampire or Highlander character. What intrigued me most was the question, “Under what circumstances would a man choose to die?” The notion of sacrifice runs deep through most of my writing. I have the Marine Corps to thank for that. Once a Marine, always a Marine.
Thanks for your time with us. Any final thoughts?
Thank you for your interest. I suppose I would stress again that you should do what you like to do, in writing and in life. There are plenty of opportunities for us to do what we have to do. Make time to set that all aside and follow your (legal) passions. Your sanity will thank you for it later.
Want to know more? Visit Jeff at his blog. And make sure to leave a comment and let us know you were here!
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Pick Up Picoult
Jodi Picoult has a great article in the July issue of Writer's Digest titled "Try, Try, Try Again."
(She's one of my favorite authors, by the way, and if you haven't read any of her novels, you're missing out. I suppose she's termed "general fiction" or perhaps "women's fiction," but she targets controversial topics like teen suicide and organ donation and sexual abuse and school shootings in page-turning stories with rich characters.
While her stories don't always have storybook, happy endings, they always have satisfying ones. ***The exception to this is the ending of My Sister's Keeper.*** Hated it so much I threw the book across the room when I got to the final page. I wouldn't recommend that one. My favorite Picoult novel is The Pact, because it portrays teens of the 21st century in such a realistic light. Every parent and teacher should read it. I also liked Salem Falls and have Nineteen Minutes on my summer reading list. Anyway...)
In this WD article, Picoult talks about long journey to becoming a best-selling author.
"For some reason, reporters often call me an overnight success. But if that's true, it's been a 15-year-long night..."
She retells her experience of writing her creative thesis as a Princeton undergrad, selling it as a novel, but being turned down by an agent and even her own publishing house at one point. She recalls watching her sales dwindle to nothing and wondering how she'd pay the mortgage, only to plug away and eventually find an agent she clicked with. After she made it onto the NYT bestselling list for the first time, she tells this story:
"...my publicist got a call from a very influential agent in NYC. She wanted to fly me to New York for lunch and talk about representation. Well, sure, I'd thought at the time. Who doesn't want to back the winning horse? I declined politely...I'm quite sure that this NYC bigwig doesn't remember that she was the very first agent to reject me, but I never forgot."
Every interview I've read with this author is practical and down-to-earth. She does amazing amounts of research and almost always writes her novels in 9 months after she's finished researching. In this article, especially, she discusses at length how difficult, and disheartening, the publishing business can be.
"One of the saddest truths in publishing is that good books aren't always the ones that sell. You can do everything right and still not get a contract. More often, the writers who succeed are the ones who refuse to buckle under the failures that are heaped upon them..."
Ultimately, though, she stresses the importance of keeping on, of believing in yourself and your talents even in the face of hardship. It's a lesson we could all stand to remember.
Check out this article from last month's issue of WD, also by Picoult. It's a great one about the intricacies, and the payoffs, of researching before you write. And put her on your TBR list for the summer!
(She's one of my favorite authors, by the way, and if you haven't read any of her novels, you're missing out. I suppose she's termed "general fiction" or perhaps "women's fiction," but she targets controversial topics like teen suicide and organ donation and sexual abuse and school shootings in page-turning stories with rich characters.
While her stories don't always have storybook, happy endings, they always have satisfying ones. ***The exception to this is the ending of My Sister's Keeper.*** Hated it so much I threw the book across the room when I got to the final page. I wouldn't recommend that one. My favorite Picoult novel is The Pact, because it portrays teens of the 21st century in such a realistic light. Every parent and teacher should read it. I also liked Salem Falls and have Nineteen Minutes on my summer reading list. Anyway...)
In this WD article, Picoult talks about long journey to becoming a best-selling author.
"For some reason, reporters often call me an overnight success. But if that's true, it's been a 15-year-long night..."
She retells her experience of writing her creative thesis as a Princeton undergrad, selling it as a novel, but being turned down by an agent and even her own publishing house at one point. She recalls watching her sales dwindle to nothing and wondering how she'd pay the mortgage, only to plug away and eventually find an agent she clicked with. After she made it onto the NYT bestselling list for the first time, she tells this story:
"...my publicist got a call from a very influential agent in NYC. She wanted to fly me to New York for lunch and talk about representation. Well, sure, I'd thought at the time. Who doesn't want to back the winning horse? I declined politely...I'm quite sure that this NYC bigwig doesn't remember that she was the very first agent to reject me, but I never forgot."
Every interview I've read with this author is practical and down-to-earth. She does amazing amounts of research and almost always writes her novels in 9 months after she's finished researching. In this article, especially, she discusses at length how difficult, and disheartening, the publishing business can be.
"One of the saddest truths in publishing is that good books aren't always the ones that sell. You can do everything right and still not get a contract. More often, the writers who succeed are the ones who refuse to buckle under the failures that are heaped upon them..."
Ultimately, though, she stresses the importance of keeping on, of believing in yourself and your talents even in the face of hardship. It's a lesson we could all stand to remember.
Check out this article from last month's issue of WD, also by Picoult. It's a great one about the intricacies, and the payoffs, of researching before you write. And put her on your TBR list for the summer!
Monday, June 18, 2007
Getting a Late Start
I know, I know, I'm late posting today. Suffice to say it's a story that involves me not being at my home computer, and remembering how slow dial-up Internet connections are...
Anyway, since it's Monday again, you should check out the Samhain Best First Line Blog Contest. This week the editors have chosen 50 of last week's 90 entries to move on to round 3. Here's an interesting quote from the blog:
We have just over 50 entries moving on to round three. Some interesting stats from round 2: The line from round one that was chosen by the most editors (5 of 7) was chosen by only one editor to move on to round three. No line in round two got chosen by more than 4 of the 7 editors. 60% of the lines were voted forward by one editor.
Wow! That really does emphasize, I think, how subjective the publishing world is. What one person loves, another person passes by. I used to be depressed by this, but I've since learned to see the glass as half-full...really, it only takes *one* editor or agent to say YES to your work. It's just a matter of finding that one editor or agent.
Anyway, swing by the contest and take a look. I have a couple favorites that are developing...what about you??
Anyway, since it's Monday again, you should check out the Samhain Best First Line Blog Contest. This week the editors have chosen 50 of last week's 90 entries to move on to round 3. Here's an interesting quote from the blog:
We have just over 50 entries moving on to round three. Some interesting stats from round 2: The line from round one that was chosen by the most editors (5 of 7) was chosen by only one editor to move on to round three. No line in round two got chosen by more than 4 of the 7 editors. 60% of the lines were voted forward by one editor.
Wow! That really does emphasize, I think, how subjective the publishing world is. What one person loves, another person passes by. I used to be depressed by this, but I've since learned to see the glass as half-full...really, it only takes *one* editor or agent to say YES to your work. It's just a matter of finding that one editor or agent.
Anyway, swing by the contest and take a look. I have a couple favorites that are developing...what about you??
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Happy Father's Day
"He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it."
~Clarence Budington Kelland
Random Childhood Memories of my Father:
He could fix, or build, anything. He'd spend hours down in his workshop in the basement and then come upstairs with the coolest creation for my mom's kitchen, or the living room, or the yard outside. I always thought that was amazing.
He would talk to anyone. We'd be driving somewhere on vacation and stop for lunch, and the next thing you know, he'd be chatting up the couple at the next picnic table. Or the truck driver climbing out of his cab on the other side of the parking lot. Or the teenagers playing Frisbee. Countless times my sister and mom and I would be ready to leave and look around, knowing he was deep in conversation with a stranger somewhere.
~Clarence Budington Kelland
Random Childhood Memories of my Father:
He could fix, or build, anything. He'd spend hours down in his workshop in the basement and then come upstairs with the coolest creation for my mom's kitchen, or the living room, or the yard outside. I always thought that was amazing.
He loved music. He would always sing harmony in his deep bass voice when we were in church, or caroling, or in the car driving someplace. He knew all the words to just about every musical there is. And he'd always clap for me when I finished practicing the piano in the evenings.
He would talk to anyone. We'd be driving somewhere on vacation and stop for lunch, and the next thing you know, he'd be chatting up the couple at the next picnic table. Or the truck driver climbing out of his cab on the other side of the parking lot. Or the teenagers playing Frisbee. Countless times my sister and mom and I would be ready to leave and look around, knowing he was deep in conversation with a stranger somewhere.
He had limitless patience for me and my sister. He'd push us on the swing under our apple tree out back for hours. He'd give up a whole afternoon to put together some random toy with 100 parts. He'd do 500-piece puzzles with us. And he taught me to drive. Need I say more?
Happy Father's Day, Dad!
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