A writer friend just nominated me for the One Lovely Blog Award. Isn't that great? And what a nice compliment! Thank you, Allyn Stotz. Please check out her blog at http://www.allynstotz.blogspot.com/ for all kinds of neat stuff.
The award carries with it some rules, which are:
1. Accept the award and post it on your blog with the name of the person who nominated you, and give their link.
2. Pass the award on to 15 others you have discovered recently.
3. Notify the bloggers that they have been selected for this award.
So here are my nominees:
http://www.claudsy.wordpress.com/
http://www.pimpmynovel.blogspot.com/
http://www.wordplay-kmweiland.blogspot.com/
http://www.kellyhashway.com/
http://www.ctnyrene.blogspot.com/
http://www.katrinadelallo.blogspot.com/
http://www.childrenspublishing.blogspot.com/
http://www.cynthialeitishsmith.blogspot.com/
http://www.caseylmccormick.blogspot.com/
http://www.thebookshelfmuse.blogspot.com/
http://www.katielclark.webs.com/
http://www.terriehope.com/
http://www.aleerily.blogspot.com/
Do you know what an aardvark is? Seriously. You probably know that he eats ants and termites. You probably know he lives in South Africa. But did you know that an aardvark is a living fossil, because he is the only living species of the order Tubulidentata, which was a prehistoric animal species? Did you know that he has no known relatives, or that there is no other animal even close to him, other than possibly the very rare elephant shrew?
Hmm, you are saying. So what does an aardvark have to do with writing? Well, think about if for a moment. There are two ways to look at an aardcvark from a writer's point of view. The first is that in many ways, an aardvark is an obscure creature: aren't there times when we, as writers, feel very obscure? We look at some of the "big" names in children't literature...Stephanie Meyer, JK Rowling, Laurie Halse Anderson, Ellen Hopkins...and we wonder if we will ever be on equal footing with them, or will we be forever obscure in our own little corner of the writing world? I don't know about you, but there are many times when I feel very obscure, very much out of the mainstream of writing and publishing, and wonder if I will ever wallk through that portal that separates those who are known in the writing world and those who are not.
The other way to look at the aardvark is that he is an unique animal. Unique in appearance, in method of operation in so far as his hunting and burrowing rites are concerned, and certainly unique in that there is no other animal like him. So...are we not also unique in our writing? In what we write, how we approach writing, the twist we put on our stories, the sometimes strange ideas we come up with, which, when put on the printed page, turn into marvelous works of literary art? Is it not to our advantage to consider ourselves as kin to the unique aardvark, who has no equal in the animal universe?
Hmm...well, as you can see, I'm very...um...nostalgic, melancholy, or maybe...just off the wall in my introspection this morning. Maybe it's the tsunami that is threatening to destroy our beautiful Central Coast.
Until next time,
Thats a wrap.
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Friday, March 11, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Monday Miscellany
Today is Monday, time for miscellany, since my thoughts today are not focused on any one thing. Indeed, they're really not focused at all!
First off is the fact that I've just received my second novel diploma from the Institute of Children's Literature, which means that my historical novel is finished. Along with that accomplishment, however, came the realization that the first five chapters of the novel needed to be condensed into two, so what was chapter six could become chapter three. That whole thing is a long story I'm not going to get into here, but at least I was finally able to do it.
This, of course, means I have to get my posterior in gear and start sending out queries. That brings up a question: no matter if you're querying an agent or a publisher, you know how the submission guidelines always give you a time limit for them to respond to you? ONLY if they're interested, that is. But for example, a lot of the publishers say they will respond in 3 months. How do they know that? How do they know it's going to be 3 months, or 2 months, or 6 months? When a query comes in, and is read by the first reader (editor, assistant editor, or who knows who), and it supposedly goes to the "real" editor, then what...if the editor gets it on the 7th of March ( today), do they put it into a pile that says "7th of June?" On the 7th of June, do they go through the pile and pick out the ones they want to respond to, or do they do it earlier? Later, maybe? How do they know they are responding within the time frame they give in the guidelines? I'd like to know the answer to that, wouldn't you?
There are days when I have so many ideas running around in my head that I can't get them all sorted out and written down. Then there are other days when I try to think of something interesting or unique or at least different to write about, and my brain is as dry as a cotton field in mid-summer. Do you ever have days like that? In case you do, here are a few tidbits that you might make something out of:
1. Ninety percent of the world's ice covers Antartica, but this is the driest continent on the planet, having an annual percipitation of about 2 inches a year and an absolute humidity lower than that of the Gobi Desert.
2. The Great Pyramids of Egypt have shifted 3 miles south due to the shift in the Earth's surface over the last 4,500 years.
3. Babies are born without kneecaps. ( Did you know that??) Their knee caps are fully formed between the ages of 2 and 4 years.
4. In the 1600, thermometers were filled with brandy rather than mercury. ( People probably weren't too careful about not breaking them, either ! )
5. Emus can't walk backwards. They are the second largest member of the flightless bird family called ratites. They are 5 to 7 feet tall, and can run 40 mph with single strides over 9 feet.
6. A poison arrow frog contains enough poison to kill 2,200 people. They are indigenous to rain forests, are only about 1/2 inch in length, and have bright, distinctive colors. ( I wonder how they figured out that one frog could kill 2,200 people...do you suppose they had a test group ? )
These facts are courtesy of Marni McNiff.
Did anyone watch The Apprentice last night? That's one of the better reality shows on TV, if you can get past The Donald's hair. But seriously, I like both him and the show. Last night was a bummer, however, when it came to who got fired. David Cassidy bit the dust, when it should have been Richard Hatch. Remember him from the first season of Survivor ? Well, he's still the same old arrogant a...well, you know. I guess 4 years of prison didn't teach him anything. I like the show because of the challenges they have to do...it sure brings out the best in some, and the worst in others, but it's always interesting.
Last, but most definitely not least, I've just received the One Lovely Blog Award from a fellow writer. How great! Now I have to come up with a number of newly found blogs that I've read, and can provide links to. Hmm...that's going to take some thought, but I'll do it!
Until next time,
That's a wrap.
First off is the fact that I've just received my second novel diploma from the Institute of Children's Literature, which means that my historical novel is finished. Along with that accomplishment, however, came the realization that the first five chapters of the novel needed to be condensed into two, so what was chapter six could become chapter three. That whole thing is a long story I'm not going to get into here, but at least I was finally able to do it.
This, of course, means I have to get my posterior in gear and start sending out queries. That brings up a question: no matter if you're querying an agent or a publisher, you know how the submission guidelines always give you a time limit for them to respond to you? ONLY if they're interested, that is. But for example, a lot of the publishers say they will respond in 3 months. How do they know that? How do they know it's going to be 3 months, or 2 months, or 6 months? When a query comes in, and is read by the first reader (editor, assistant editor, or who knows who), and it supposedly goes to the "real" editor, then what...if the editor gets it on the 7th of March ( today), do they put it into a pile that says "7th of June?" On the 7th of June, do they go through the pile and pick out the ones they want to respond to, or do they do it earlier? Later, maybe? How do they know they are responding within the time frame they give in the guidelines? I'd like to know the answer to that, wouldn't you?
There are days when I have so many ideas running around in my head that I can't get them all sorted out and written down. Then there are other days when I try to think of something interesting or unique or at least different to write about, and my brain is as dry as a cotton field in mid-summer. Do you ever have days like that? In case you do, here are a few tidbits that you might make something out of:
1. Ninety percent of the world's ice covers Antartica, but this is the driest continent on the planet, having an annual percipitation of about 2 inches a year and an absolute humidity lower than that of the Gobi Desert.
2. The Great Pyramids of Egypt have shifted 3 miles south due to the shift in the Earth's surface over the last 4,500 years.
3. Babies are born without kneecaps. ( Did you know that??) Their knee caps are fully formed between the ages of 2 and 4 years.
4. In the 1600, thermometers were filled with brandy rather than mercury. ( People probably weren't too careful about not breaking them, either ! )
5. Emus can't walk backwards. They are the second largest member of the flightless bird family called ratites. They are 5 to 7 feet tall, and can run 40 mph with single strides over 9 feet.
6. A poison arrow frog contains enough poison to kill 2,200 people. They are indigenous to rain forests, are only about 1/2 inch in length, and have bright, distinctive colors. ( I wonder how they figured out that one frog could kill 2,200 people...do you suppose they had a test group ? )
These facts are courtesy of Marni McNiff.
Did anyone watch The Apprentice last night? That's one of the better reality shows on TV, if you can get past The Donald's hair. But seriously, I like both him and the show. Last night was a bummer, however, when it came to who got fired. David Cassidy bit the dust, when it should have been Richard Hatch. Remember him from the first season of Survivor ? Well, he's still the same old arrogant a...well, you know. I guess 4 years of prison didn't teach him anything. I like the show because of the challenges they have to do...it sure brings out the best in some, and the worst in others, but it's always interesting.
Last, but most definitely not least, I've just received the One Lovely Blog Award from a fellow writer. How great! Now I have to come up with a number of newly found blogs that I've read, and can provide links to. Hmm...that's going to take some thought, but I'll do it!
Until next time,
That's a wrap.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Writing Prompts
Today it is raining...again...so it's supposed to be a good kind of day for writing, right? Wrong! I love the rain, love the cold, damp air, the streets that shine in the cars' headlights as though they had been spread with olive oil, love the bare limbs of the trees as they sway back and forth, brushing thin naked branches against window panes. I love our tiny house finches who gather around the bird feeder, shaking drops from brown or golden or red or black wing feathers. I love watching the dogwalkers, dressed in rain gear and carrying umbrellas, hurrying down the street with a variety of dogs, each dressed in his or her own rain outfit, usually matching that of the owner.
And so I sit at my desk, in front of my big bay window, and watch. Watch, not write! It makes me wonder how many of you do the same thing, according to the weather...do the seasons of the year, and their accompanying weather phases, make you stare out of a window or off into space, submersing yourself in what is happening on the outside, instead of concentrating on what should be happening on the inside, i.e, your mind and thoughts?
If that's so, how about having a little fun...just for the heck of it! How about taking some of the following prompts, and writng a couple of paragraphs...just for fun, nothing serious...but who knows? With a little luck ( and a little less window-watching), you might have the gleam of a real story idea ! Here goes:
1) Remember when you were a kid, and you mother was always around? How she could be sweet and loving and understanding one minute, and the next be bossy and demanding and irritating? Okay...take one or more of these names, and build a short scenario about this person when he or she was a kid, and how his or her mother was acting at that particular moment.
a. Florence Nightingale
b. James Dean
c. Theodore Roosevelt
d. Cleopatra
e. Calamity Jane
f. Wyatt Earp
g. Sinclare Lewis
h.Joan of Arc
i. Shakespeare
j. The Wicked Witch of the West
k. Agatha Christie
Oh, but that's not all! With so many reality shows on TV today, pretend you are going to be on one. Select one of the shows below, and write a scenario showing how you would act in this one, and why. (You don't have to have watched them, to be able to place yourself in one.)
a. Survivor
b. The Great Race
c. The Real Housewives of Atlanta ( or wherever.)
d. The Apprentice
e. Dancing With the Stars
f. American Idol
And finally... let's let real life meet reel life, but in another way. Select one of the shows below ( even if you've never watched it or it was "before your time"), and write a scenario with you as a family member.
a. The Flintstones
b Criminal Minds
c. Happy Days
d. Hawaii 5-0 ( the new show)
e. Smallville
d. Blue Bloods
e. Gilmore Girls
f. The Waltons
g. House
h. The Twilight Zone
i. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
j. The Good Wife
If these prompts don't give you a warm, fuzzy feeling for that rainy or snowy or sunshiny day, nothing will !!
Until next time,
That's a wrap.
And so I sit at my desk, in front of my big bay window, and watch. Watch, not write! It makes me wonder how many of you do the same thing, according to the weather...do the seasons of the year, and their accompanying weather phases, make you stare out of a window or off into space, submersing yourself in what is happening on the outside, instead of concentrating on what should be happening on the inside, i.e, your mind and thoughts?
If that's so, how about having a little fun...just for the heck of it! How about taking some of the following prompts, and writng a couple of paragraphs...just for fun, nothing serious...but who knows? With a little luck ( and a little less window-watching), you might have the gleam of a real story idea ! Here goes:
1) Remember when you were a kid, and you mother was always around? How she could be sweet and loving and understanding one minute, and the next be bossy and demanding and irritating? Okay...take one or more of these names, and build a short scenario about this person when he or she was a kid, and how his or her mother was acting at that particular moment.
a. Florence Nightingale
b. James Dean
c. Theodore Roosevelt
d. Cleopatra
e. Calamity Jane
f. Wyatt Earp
g. Sinclare Lewis
h.Joan of Arc
i. Shakespeare
j. The Wicked Witch of the West
k. Agatha Christie
Oh, but that's not all! With so many reality shows on TV today, pretend you are going to be on one. Select one of the shows below, and write a scenario showing how you would act in this one, and why. (You don't have to have watched them, to be able to place yourself in one.)
a. Survivor
b. The Great Race
c. The Real Housewives of Atlanta ( or wherever.)
d. The Apprentice
e. Dancing With the Stars
f. American Idol
And finally... let's let real life meet reel life, but in another way. Select one of the shows below ( even if you've never watched it or it was "before your time"), and write a scenario with you as a family member.
a. The Flintstones
b Criminal Minds
c. Happy Days
d. Hawaii 5-0 ( the new show)
e. Smallville
d. Blue Bloods
e. Gilmore Girls
f. The Waltons
g. House
h. The Twilight Zone
i. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
j. The Good Wife
If these prompts don't give you a warm, fuzzy feeling for that rainy or snowy or sunshiny day, nothing will !!
Until next time,
That's a wrap.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Gnocchi, The Age of Cattle, and Colorful Insults
In today's world, no matter what you read...or write...people want to know the facts, the real truth, the unknowns, and the absurd. And they're not too particular about which is which. But as writers, we should be...particular, that is. No matter what we are writing in terms of fiction...contemporary, science fiction, steampunk, whatever...we should be concerned with realism. Even in Science Fiction, isn't what makes it fascinating to readers is that what is on the printed page could actually happen? If it is an idea, isn't it true that the only thing stopping that idea from becoming reality is the technology to put it into action?
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is where research comes in. So here are some more interesting, and perhaps unusual, websites to spark your interest in doing research!
Food Reference:
http://www.foodreference.com/
Did you know that "gnocchi" is also called "strangolapreti" in Italy, because supposedly an Italian priest loved the dumplings so much he ate them too fast and choked to death? An old wives' tale? Hmm...well, maybe. Did you know that the Visigoths demanded 3,000 pounds of pepper ( pepper ?? ) as a ransom for Rome, or that the first Olympic champion was a cook in 776 B.C. ? Here you will find all kinds of fun facts ( the start of a NF article, perhaps? ), as well as recipes, food trivia, culinary quotes, and a timeline that dates back to 10,000 B.C.
The Household Cyclopedia:
www.publicbookshelf.com/public_html/The_Household_Cyclopedia_of_General_Information
A 19th Century treasure trove of miscellania ! How did people in this age run their homes? If they had had this information, they could know how to tell the age of their cattle ( always nice to know so you won't breed an old cow to a young bull ! ), or how to avoid drowning...in the event they lived near water they could swim in, of course; or even how to make ink...in case they had a quill handy but nothing to write with. Who knows? Some trivia like this could make a mediocre story the next best seller!
The Costume Gallery Research Library:
www.costumegallery.com/research.htm
Everything you ever wanted to know about shoes, hats, fashion, textiles, needlework, paperdolls, film costumes, designers, and even etiquette is right here. It covers a time span from the Byzantine,Medieval, and Renaissance up to later centuries, and even has information about the Titanic and German fashion.
Surfing for Slang:
http://www.slanglinks.cjb.net/
A comprehensive slang database which covers common colloquialisms from the US, UK, Australia, Scandinavia, South Africa, the Caribbean, and many other countries. There are colorful insults, and specialized jargon relating to the military, journalism, sports, chess, technology, and even truckers. What more could you want?
The Phobia List:
http://phobialist.com/
Sometimes our MCs have phobias that they have to overcome in order to gain what they want. So how about some of these: alliumphobia ( fear of garlic); consecotaleophobia ( fear of chopsticks); lutraphobia ( fear of otters); or even...a fear of big words ( hippopotomonstrosequippedaliophobia). I think if a character had to tell a psychiatrist the name of her phobia, she'd get over it pretty darn quick !
Finally, for the time travelers among us:
Andy's Anachronisms:
http://www.timetravelerreviews.com/
This extensive website covers just about everything on time travel you would want to know about alternative universes, time travel, and temporal anomalies found in novels, movies, short stories, TV, and plays. It also includes links to scientific theories so you can check out your methodology from getting from here to there, and compare it to other theories.
And one more:
The TV Crime Libary:
http://www.crimelibrary.com/
Maybe not for you if you write for younger readers. But this site covers everything you ever wanted to know about horrific murders, gangsters, spies, conspiracy theories, and the workings of the criminal mind.
These websites, and the ones in the last post, were put together by Christina Hamlett, and are found in the Children's Writer Guide, 2009 edition. Thanks, Christina!
Until later,
That's a wrap.
And this, ladies and gentlemen, is where research comes in. So here are some more interesting, and perhaps unusual, websites to spark your interest in doing research!
Food Reference:
http://www.foodreference.com/
Did you know that "gnocchi" is also called "strangolapreti" in Italy, because supposedly an Italian priest loved the dumplings so much he ate them too fast and choked to death? An old wives' tale? Hmm...well, maybe. Did you know that the Visigoths demanded 3,000 pounds of pepper ( pepper ?? ) as a ransom for Rome, or that the first Olympic champion was a cook in 776 B.C. ? Here you will find all kinds of fun facts ( the start of a NF article, perhaps? ), as well as recipes, food trivia, culinary quotes, and a timeline that dates back to 10,000 B.C.
The Household Cyclopedia:
www.publicbookshelf.com/public_html/The_Household_Cyclopedia_of_General_Information
A 19th Century treasure trove of miscellania ! How did people in this age run their homes? If they had had this information, they could know how to tell the age of their cattle ( always nice to know so you won't breed an old cow to a young bull ! ), or how to avoid drowning...in the event they lived near water they could swim in, of course; or even how to make ink...in case they had a quill handy but nothing to write with. Who knows? Some trivia like this could make a mediocre story the next best seller!
The Costume Gallery Research Library:
www.costumegallery.com/research.htm
Everything you ever wanted to know about shoes, hats, fashion, textiles, needlework, paperdolls, film costumes, designers, and even etiquette is right here. It covers a time span from the Byzantine,Medieval, and Renaissance up to later centuries, and even has information about the Titanic and German fashion.
Surfing for Slang:
http://www.slanglinks.cjb.net/
A comprehensive slang database which covers common colloquialisms from the US, UK, Australia, Scandinavia, South Africa, the Caribbean, and many other countries. There are colorful insults, and specialized jargon relating to the military, journalism, sports, chess, technology, and even truckers. What more could you want?
The Phobia List:
http://phobialist.com/
Sometimes our MCs have phobias that they have to overcome in order to gain what they want. So how about some of these: alliumphobia ( fear of garlic); consecotaleophobia ( fear of chopsticks); lutraphobia ( fear of otters); or even...a fear of big words ( hippopotomonstrosequippedaliophobia). I think if a character had to tell a psychiatrist the name of her phobia, she'd get over it pretty darn quick !
Finally, for the time travelers among us:
Andy's Anachronisms:
http://www.timetravelerreviews.com/
This extensive website covers just about everything on time travel you would want to know about alternative universes, time travel, and temporal anomalies found in novels, movies, short stories, TV, and plays. It also includes links to scientific theories so you can check out your methodology from getting from here to there, and compare it to other theories.
And one more:
The TV Crime Libary:
http://www.crimelibrary.com/
Maybe not for you if you write for younger readers. But this site covers everything you ever wanted to know about horrific murders, gangsters, spies, conspiracy theories, and the workings of the criminal mind.
These websites, and the ones in the last post, were put together by Christina Hamlett, and are found in the Children's Writer Guide, 2009 edition. Thanks, Christina!
Until later,
That's a wrap.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Madam Curie, Beethovan, and Riders of the Purple Sage
Did I catch your eye? Spark your curiousity? I hope so, because that's what research is all about. Oh, I know...you HATE research! Hmm...really? Did you know that Madam Curie valued her privacy so much that she once pretended to be her own maid, so she could rant at an overly-aggressive (to her mind) reporter about respecting people's privacy? Did you know that Beethovan was out to dinner one night, and promptly threw his dinner of roast beef at the waiter because it wasn't what he ordered? Did you know that the Riders of the Purple Sage, Zane Grey's best known novel, is NOT primarily a Western, even though it set the stage for future Westerns, but is mostly about a young Mormon woman who is persecuted by her own people because she refuses to marry a polygamous Mormon elder, and instead befriends a young Western Gentile outrider?
You see? Research can give you all kinds of valuable, interesting, mysterious, and often quirky facts to write about, or to incorporate into another kind of story. In keeping with the above statement, for the next couple of posts, I'm going to give you some research sites, which I hope will add to the originality and creativity of your writing.
Medieval and Ancient Names: www.lowchensaustralia.com/names/medievalnames.htm
Writing a medieval fantasy? You're not likely to find a Kevin or a Melissa, but you can look up Arabic, Babylonian, Jewish, Chinese, Aztec, or even Mongolian names ( just to name a few!). This is in addition to hundreds of medieval names, too.
ePodunk City Profiles:
http://www.epodunk.com/
Want to know something about a particular city in the US to make your story more realistic? This site offers comprehensive county and community profiles, maps, calendars, weather, history, demographics, and just about anything else you might want to know to make your story settings more interesting and accurate.
World Time Server:
http://www.worldtimeserver.com/
If your young MC in San Franciso decides at noon on Friday to check up on her boyfriend who's supposedly with his parents in Sri Lanka, unless he's out two-timing her, he's most likely asleep...it's 12:30am the following day in that part of the world. This site not only calculates time zones anywhere on the plante, but also gives you the local news and weather.
dMarie Time Capsule:
www.dmarie.com/timecap
If you put in any date back to the 1800s, this site will usher in a list of newspaper headlines, top songs, movies, books, toys and the prices people paid for milk, bread, houses and transportation. A great place to go if your character lives in a different era, and you want to know what movies they went to, or what books they read, or how much their parents paid for their home.
History in Song:
www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/parton/2/atoz.html
If your characters live in a different era, and you want them to know certain song lyrics, this is the place for you. It will bring up an alphabetical listing of songs with dates, as well as catagorize them by topics and artists.
This is all for today. Don't forget to drop by again on Monday (Valentine's Day), when I'll have more great sites for you to look at.
Until then,
That's a wrap.
You see? Research can give you all kinds of valuable, interesting, mysterious, and often quirky facts to write about, or to incorporate into another kind of story. In keeping with the above statement, for the next couple of posts, I'm going to give you some research sites, which I hope will add to the originality and creativity of your writing.
Medieval and Ancient Names: www.lowchensaustralia.com/names/medievalnames.htm
Writing a medieval fantasy? You're not likely to find a Kevin or a Melissa, but you can look up Arabic, Babylonian, Jewish, Chinese, Aztec, or even Mongolian names ( just to name a few!). This is in addition to hundreds of medieval names, too.
ePodunk City Profiles:
http://www.epodunk.com/
Want to know something about a particular city in the US to make your story more realistic? This site offers comprehensive county and community profiles, maps, calendars, weather, history, demographics, and just about anything else you might want to know to make your story settings more interesting and accurate.
World Time Server:
http://www.worldtimeserver.com/
If your young MC in San Franciso decides at noon on Friday to check up on her boyfriend who's supposedly with his parents in Sri Lanka, unless he's out two-timing her, he's most likely asleep...it's 12:30am the following day in that part of the world. This site not only calculates time zones anywhere on the plante, but also gives you the local news and weather.
dMarie Time Capsule:
www.dmarie.com/timecap
If you put in any date back to the 1800s, this site will usher in a list of newspaper headlines, top songs, movies, books, toys and the prices people paid for milk, bread, houses and transportation. A great place to go if your character lives in a different era, and you want to know what movies they went to, or what books they read, or how much their parents paid for their home.
History in Song:
www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/parton/2/atoz.html
If your characters live in a different era, and you want them to know certain song lyrics, this is the place for you. It will bring up an alphabetical listing of songs with dates, as well as catagorize them by topics and artists.
This is all for today. Don't forget to drop by again on Monday (Valentine's Day), when I'll have more great sites for you to look at.
Until then,
That's a wrap.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Partly Cloudy With a Chance of Rain: Weather and Fiction
Have you ever thought about what weather adds to your story, or if it adds anything? Do you ever ask yourself it using weather is an effective way to influence a scene or a character's actions or reactions? The answer is, you should.
Think about how many times in a movie or on TV, you've seen a character get some really bad news, while outside the sky is filled with thunder and lightning, and rain is slamming the windows. A scene filled with drama and tension on the inside, and outside, the dark and stormy night ( or day) creates the proper mood in order to strengthen the emotional impact. Isn't that what you want to do with your story? Strengthen the emotional impact upon the reader?
Think about the other ways you can use weather to add excitement to your story. How about irony? Janie has just found out that her boyfriend has ditched her for her best friend. She has been crying for hours. Her face is red and patchy, her eyes are swollen, her throat is hoarse. She feels alone and deserted by two of the most important people in her life. But outside, the sun is shining, the birds are singing, her younger brother and sister are screaming and laughing with their friends. Even the weather is against her. In a scene like this, a bright, beautiful day can add more to the feeling of isolation and despair for your MC than any rainstorm could possibly do.
Weather can create a life-threatening situation for your characters, also. Suppose the MC and her boyfriend have gone sailing. It's a cool, crisp, sunny day, not a cloud in the sky, just a mild enough breeze to make sailing great. But before they realize what is happening, a terrible squall comes up. The waves are huge, the wind is high, the kids don't know how to get the boat back into the bay, and even if they did, the weather wouldn't allow it. What will happen? Will the sailboat capsize? Will they drown?
Weather can raise the stakes for your characters, and increase the tension for your readers. Your MC has had a bad fight with her boyfriend, and she walks out of the high school dance alone. She's crying, so she doesn't realize that what is known as "tulle fog" ( a real phenomenon in California) has come up. She can't see two feet in front of her face. She can't see the street lights or the cars as they come past her. But she CAN hear the footsteps behind her, footsteps that slow down when she slows, speed up when she speeds up. And she know there is a rapist/killer loose in town, who stalks and kidnaps girls her age. Is this her boyfriend coming after her, or the killer, ready to pounce at any moment? How can she tell, when the fog is so thick she not only can't see behind her, but her voice is silenced as though a heavy veil has been thrown over her face?
There are many ways to use weather to enrich your story. It makes a scene become three-dimensional, rather than two. It gives your characters the ability to feel the impact of what they are dealing with...and it surely gives you, the author, a fantastic chance to show what's happening, rather than tell what's happening. Weather is important to any story, important in creating imagery for the reader, and important in exacting the thoughts and emotions of your characters. Try it, you'll like it !
Until next time,
That's a wrap.
Think about how many times in a movie or on TV, you've seen a character get some really bad news, while outside the sky is filled with thunder and lightning, and rain is slamming the windows. A scene filled with drama and tension on the inside, and outside, the dark and stormy night ( or day) creates the proper mood in order to strengthen the emotional impact. Isn't that what you want to do with your story? Strengthen the emotional impact upon the reader?
Think about the other ways you can use weather to add excitement to your story. How about irony? Janie has just found out that her boyfriend has ditched her for her best friend. She has been crying for hours. Her face is red and patchy, her eyes are swollen, her throat is hoarse. She feels alone and deserted by two of the most important people in her life. But outside, the sun is shining, the birds are singing, her younger brother and sister are screaming and laughing with their friends. Even the weather is against her. In a scene like this, a bright, beautiful day can add more to the feeling of isolation and despair for your MC than any rainstorm could possibly do.
Weather can create a life-threatening situation for your characters, also. Suppose the MC and her boyfriend have gone sailing. It's a cool, crisp, sunny day, not a cloud in the sky, just a mild enough breeze to make sailing great. But before they realize what is happening, a terrible squall comes up. The waves are huge, the wind is high, the kids don't know how to get the boat back into the bay, and even if they did, the weather wouldn't allow it. What will happen? Will the sailboat capsize? Will they drown?
Weather can raise the stakes for your characters, and increase the tension for your readers. Your MC has had a bad fight with her boyfriend, and she walks out of the high school dance alone. She's crying, so she doesn't realize that what is known as "tulle fog" ( a real phenomenon in California) has come up. She can't see two feet in front of her face. She can't see the street lights or the cars as they come past her. But she CAN hear the footsteps behind her, footsteps that slow down when she slows, speed up when she speeds up. And she know there is a rapist/killer loose in town, who stalks and kidnaps girls her age. Is this her boyfriend coming after her, or the killer, ready to pounce at any moment? How can she tell, when the fog is so thick she not only can't see behind her, but her voice is silenced as though a heavy veil has been thrown over her face?
There are many ways to use weather to enrich your story. It makes a scene become three-dimensional, rather than two. It gives your characters the ability to feel the impact of what they are dealing with...and it surely gives you, the author, a fantastic chance to show what's happening, rather than tell what's happening. Weather is important to any story, important in creating imagery for the reader, and important in exacting the thoughts and emotions of your characters. Try it, you'll like it !
Until next time,
That's a wrap.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Sports, Awards, and Self-Image
I heard something on TV this morning that got me to thinking. It was all about the awards that are given out in the sports arena, especially for kids up to about high school age.
The discussion was about giving awards out to all the members of a winning team vs giving one for Best Player or Most Valuable Player, etc., as well as giving awards to every kid who participates in a sporting event of any kind, even if it is a one-on-one event. The whole idea is involved with the self-image of the kid.
When my kids were young, they were never involved in anything but Boy and Girl Scouts...no Little League or Softball, etc. But some of their respective friends were, and we often went as a family to watch the boys' Little League games or the Girls Softball League. We saw pats on the head and great praises given to all members of the winning team, with the Captain usually given a trophy, and certain players, both boys and girls, being given trophies or ribbons for Most Valuable Player and so on.
Those kids on the winning teams who didn't get trophies never cried or complained. They crowded around their captains and ohed and ahed about his trophy, which would soon have ALL of their names on it; they admired the MVP awards, and stoutly maintained that next season it would go to them. They they all whooped and hollered, and went gleefully off to the local pizza parlor to celebrate. Ego? What was that? Self-image? Wasn't that what you saw in the mirror?
Today, it seems that things are different. In order to ensure a good self-image, EVERYONE on the winning team must have a trophy...each exactly the same. Who determined that? The kids? No, I don't think so. From what I've been hearing and reading lately, the whimpy kids who didn't get a trophy decided to throw a bunch of tantrums, so the parents got together, stormed the fortress of the coaches, and demanded a change. Instead of sitting the kids down, and explaining why some get trophies and others don't, instead of teaching the kids good sportsmanship, and what it takes to make a winning team, the parents give in to bad manners and spoiled actions, and take issue with time-honored traditions.
What does it teach a child about doing his best when his best is never treated any differently from someone who just "gets along?" Doesn't it teach that mediocrity is all you need to get "the spoils of war?" Doesn't it teach that there is really no point in working hard and putting more effort into "being the best", because you are going to get the exact same kind of recognition that every other child gets, no matter what?
"They" say that giving the same award to all the kids, in any kind of competition today, not just solely for sports, is "improving" their self-image, but that giving recognition to ONLY those who win, or get the best grade in an essay contest, or whatever kind of competition is going on, is going to deflate the ego and damage the self-image of the child.
Yet...we are a society of people who strive daily to do their best...to succeed, to achieve goals. Our nation is built upon the premise that we are the strongest because we are the best...we are composed of people who have always put forth their best. Mediocrity has never had its place in the building and prosperity of America.
So if we are now teaching our children that everyone wins, that there is no "best effort" needed to win the prize, whatever it may be, what does that bode for this country and this society? Will we become, in future generations, a society of mediocrity, a nation no longer the strongest and the best? If we teach our children that everyone wins, that there is no clearly defined "winner," that "their best" is just not necessary, what does that mean?
Self-image should not be based upon a group mentality, whether it is one of superiority or of medocrity. It should be an independent collection of one's unique talents, abilities, and feelings of worth to others in his/her family, friends and community. But if kids grow up to believe that everything they do, learn, know, and show to others is the same, that no one does better or worse, knows more or less, learns more easily or with more difficulty, and so on, doesn't that mean that individuality is lost, and that "self-image" becomes a mere reflection of a group mentality?
What do you think?
Until next time,
That's a wrap.
The discussion was about giving awards out to all the members of a winning team vs giving one for Best Player or Most Valuable Player, etc., as well as giving awards to every kid who participates in a sporting event of any kind, even if it is a one-on-one event. The whole idea is involved with the self-image of the kid.
When my kids were young, they were never involved in anything but Boy and Girl Scouts...no Little League or Softball, etc. But some of their respective friends were, and we often went as a family to watch the boys' Little League games or the Girls Softball League. We saw pats on the head and great praises given to all members of the winning team, with the Captain usually given a trophy, and certain players, both boys and girls, being given trophies or ribbons for Most Valuable Player and so on.
Those kids on the winning teams who didn't get trophies never cried or complained. They crowded around their captains and ohed and ahed about his trophy, which would soon have ALL of their names on it; they admired the MVP awards, and stoutly maintained that next season it would go to them. They they all whooped and hollered, and went gleefully off to the local pizza parlor to celebrate. Ego? What was that? Self-image? Wasn't that what you saw in the mirror?
Today, it seems that things are different. In order to ensure a good self-image, EVERYONE on the winning team must have a trophy...each exactly the same. Who determined that? The kids? No, I don't think so. From what I've been hearing and reading lately, the whimpy kids who didn't get a trophy decided to throw a bunch of tantrums, so the parents got together, stormed the fortress of the coaches, and demanded a change. Instead of sitting the kids down, and explaining why some get trophies and others don't, instead of teaching the kids good sportsmanship, and what it takes to make a winning team, the parents give in to bad manners and spoiled actions, and take issue with time-honored traditions.
What does it teach a child about doing his best when his best is never treated any differently from someone who just "gets along?" Doesn't it teach that mediocrity is all you need to get "the spoils of war?" Doesn't it teach that there is really no point in working hard and putting more effort into "being the best", because you are going to get the exact same kind of recognition that every other child gets, no matter what?
"They" say that giving the same award to all the kids, in any kind of competition today, not just solely for sports, is "improving" their self-image, but that giving recognition to ONLY those who win, or get the best grade in an essay contest, or whatever kind of competition is going on, is going to deflate the ego and damage the self-image of the child.
Yet...we are a society of people who strive daily to do their best...to succeed, to achieve goals. Our nation is built upon the premise that we are the strongest because we are the best...we are composed of people who have always put forth their best. Mediocrity has never had its place in the building and prosperity of America.
So if we are now teaching our children that everyone wins, that there is no "best effort" needed to win the prize, whatever it may be, what does that bode for this country and this society? Will we become, in future generations, a society of mediocrity, a nation no longer the strongest and the best? If we teach our children that everyone wins, that there is no clearly defined "winner," that "their best" is just not necessary, what does that mean?
Self-image should not be based upon a group mentality, whether it is one of superiority or of medocrity. It should be an independent collection of one's unique talents, abilities, and feelings of worth to others in his/her family, friends and community. But if kids grow up to believe that everything they do, learn, know, and show to others is the same, that no one does better or worse, knows more or less, learns more easily or with more difficulty, and so on, doesn't that mean that individuality is lost, and that "self-image" becomes a mere reflection of a group mentality?
What do you think?
Until next time,
That's a wrap.
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