Publication Expedition

Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold-Review

2010-01-08T06:30:00.001-06:00

Firstly, I’m only posting on Friday’s until the 21st, so I can get settled back into school and not be up worrying about what to post when I’m decidedly NOT writing. Yes, I should be writing. Yes, I want to write. But between the fact that I have a new puppy, school is starting tomorrow morning, and the man-boy that has kept me baking and wedding planning all break. I haven’t found the time. (I know it’s not finding the time, but making the time. Well, until I resume normal life it may just not happen.)

But since I’m resolved to read more this year I have started on my TBR pile.

First book I read this month was Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.

Rating: <3 <3

Susie is a 14 year old on the brink of growing up when she is murdered by a neighbor. Susie goes on to watch her family and friends interact after her death. She watches as her death tears people apart and brings others together. All the while attempting to figure out what her heaven is all about. I was truly excited when I began this book, so I was disappointed. I think if it had not been from Susie’s view point, but that of her sister, Lindsey, it would have been a great book

Pros: Characterization of the father and Lindsey are great.

Cons: By the end not only was I bored, I no longer cared if anything was resolved. Which was good, since the ending is anti-climatic.

2010 Reading Contests

2010-01-01T06:00:00.001-06:00

This past year, I’ve really fallen behind on reading. Like I’ve probably read 6 books all year, when my average is near 100. It wasn’t all my fault mind you, this year has been very drama filled. But I really need to get back into reading. So I’m signing up for two reading contests this year that will overlap. First is J. Kaye’s 100+ book challenge and then the one I’m most excited about The Story Siren’s 12 YA debut author challenge. 100 books in a year averages out to around 9.

Each month I’ll list my nine books and then do booklogs of them. (Stole the booklog idea from Inky.)

So as it is the first of the month here it goes.

January.

The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard
Freaksville by Kitty Kesswick
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Promise of the Wolves by Dorothy Hearst
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Cleopatra’s Daughter by Michelle Moran
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

AWOL

2009-12-23T09:47:00.001-06:00

I’m sorry I didn’t give advance notice that I wouldn’t be blogging, but the trend will continue until Jan. 1st, 2010. Christmas was a bit more time consuming than I thought.

There are some neat things coming though.

Blog posts by 2010 debut authors, book reviews, and more.

Writer’s Block

2009-12-11T01:21:00.001-06:00

If you are looking for advice on this one, you are looking in the wrong place. I’m stuck. I’m so stuck that I couldn’t think of a blog post until I was about to complain how blocked I am to my writer’s group. I’ve done everything I can think of and nothing.

So today, I’m leaving it up to you guys. How do you get past writer’s block?

Literary vs. Genre

2009-12-09T06:31:00.005-06:00

I am writing another blog post for the day, umm..cause I can. Oh and by the way I’m exhausted so if I’m overly sarcastic please don’t get too upset. This is my biased rant.

I read a great post on genre prejudice lately.

Analogy: The boy-o insists on watching this horrible movies. I mean truly horrible. I refuse to join, which gives me more time to write. :P Why does he insist? He’s a movie buff. He thinks directing is a true art form. I think it’s taking good writing and turning it into something that the masses will watch so they don’t have to stimulate their brains with reading, but that’s another post. Today, The Outsiders (great book, read it) was on and *true shock* he hadn’t seen it. I insisted that we do, and he said at the beginning he should have watched it previously cause it’s some director. I block him out when he starts talking about directors.

I think it’s the same in writing we have these people that are artistic with great entertaining ideas and then we have people who are “I’m a creative genius. I don’t need to use punctuation correctly. I can even write it backwards and it will still be genius.” These people give literary a bad rap. My two cents? It’s not art to throw out the basic rules. Rules like comma placement, capitalizing the first word of a sentence, you know the stuff you learned in grade school English. It’s art to follow the rules and still entertain and make the readers feel.

Some are normal. Some I, dare I say it, like. One of my writing buddies is literary. I love her and her writing to pieces. But she doesn’t judge genre.

I’m genre. I started at the bottom of the totem pole. Romance. *jaw drop* Even erotica. Oh, how could I? That’s not writing, that’s sin on paper! Oh my!

I’m slowly working my way up the totem pole. I’m throwing my hand at writing YA. (Not for more respect, but I lost a LOT of my hopeless romanticism when I fell in love.)

As the article I shared above shows which genre’s are her favorites I shall too.
To Read:

Romance
YA
Mainstream
Literary

To Write:

YA
Romance
Mainstream
I’ll never try, but Literary.

Random-ness

2009-12-09T03:32:00.001-06:00

It’s 3 in the morning. I just remembered to write a blog post for Wednesday. This week has been a little busy. I’m a little insane and like to pile things on myself.

First: My goal for the year.

I’m writing Idyllically Human at a MUCH slower pace than planned. Currently I need to write 4808 a week to make my deadline. Which is February 1st.

Why do I have a deadline in the first place? Because my beautifully talented writing partner Beth and me made a deadline to get our current WIP’s done by Christmas 2011. I need to do this for me. I have the time now to do it. That’s going to be changing drastically in the next couple of years. In between law school, a husband, and eventually a child I will have little to no time for my art, my hobby, my current love. If I’m not willing and able to do it now, I won’t be willing to do it until I retire. That’s a good 50 years too far into the future.

I’m going to shock many with this statement, but it’s one of the truest you’ll find me saying. Writing is not what I want my career to be, being a lawyer and in turn helping children is. Many writers have their love of writing foremost. Mine is not. It’s a close second and I’ll always write. Even when I’m working 80 hrs a week, I will be writing. Heck, in classes I’m often writing the story instead of notes.

But now is the time. I want so many things in the next ten years. A wedding ring (engagement ring coming soon!!!), a highly competitive degree(law), a Masters (psych), a baby and right now I’m just beginning, so I can make time for my love of writing.

Second: A schedule for blogging.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but this is the blogging schedule I’d like to keep to.

Monday: Writerly things that are closer to heart. Mainly those things I think my writing group would find of interest.

Wednesday: My writing. So if you want to not pay attention on these days no harm felt.

Friday: Writing things that will appeal to the masses.

So I have a question for all today: What YA is your favorite? I need some reading recommendations.

Gifts for Writers

2009-12-07T06:00:00.002-06:00

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

The holiday season is upon us and if you are like me the family is asking what you want for Christmas. I usually just say, “A good book.” if the person knows books, or “A gift card to a book store.” They get tired of this answer, but the truth is books are something we will never get tired of. These other items should perhaps be on your wish list this year. All of these will be 50 and under.

Something to keep our legs from burning. When I’m in boxers (Yes, I happily stole all the boys boxers.) I get these little red burn marks and I never use my current laptop table because it’s uncomfortable. So I found this laptop table @ amazon that looks to be comfortable and raise it at the height so that I don’t have to be on my tiptoes the entire time I’m sitting up.

This pen is great for those of us who would rather write with pen and paper for long periods of time. It’s ergonomic so it’ll be comfortable, and I REFUSE to pay more than 15 dollars for a pen, so it works perfectly.

Software is another great gift, but I’ve found free alternatives that are sometimes better than the paid version. So for those broke writers I give you my list of essential software.

Evernote-Heard of OneNote? Here’s a better alternative that will back up your work for free. There is free storage amount, but I haven’t gone over yet and I do all my brainstorming on here.
Ywriter-Essential for putting the pieces in order.
PageFour-I love this because I when I’m plotting by chapter it works so well. It automatically saves so I never lose my work by hitting close.

But if you want 2 programs that have no freeware that even comes close?

Write or die-This is my cattle prod when I’m slacking. Which at the moment I am. I’ve been up since 3 a.m. and I have yet to write a word on my WIP.
Word-Yes, there are many alternatives, but NOTHING beats Word. Openoffice annoys me because it’s ugly, abiword is too basic for me. Word is beautifula and has every feature I may want.

The one thing I want writerly for Christmas is a printer with an endless supply of ink. You can find many deals this holiday season on printers. This 3-in-one is on sale for $45. If you don’t need a fax machine it’s a great deal. This is the one the boy-o has picked out, but since it’s not under 50, it’s not on the list. Now if I can get him to agree to providing an endless supply of ink.

Anything else to suggest? Anything I recommended now on your Christmas wish list?

2010 Books!

2009-12-06T15:29:00.004-06:00

I'm sorry this was empty for awhile, but now it's being filled with books I want to read from debut authors in 2010. If it's bold it has a link to their websites.

January-The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard, Freaksville by Kitty Kesswick
March-Split by Swait Avasthi
April-Mistwood by Leah Cypess
, Three Rivers Rising by Jame Richards

May-Faithful by Janet Fox, The Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride,Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

June-13 to Life by Shannon Delany

Spring-Change of Heart by Shari Maurer
Fall-Losing Faith by Denise Jaden

Okay I only have 11 so far and I need 12 so if you know of a good YA debuting in 2010 please leave a link in the comments thanks.

Interview with Emma and Zac

2009-12-02T06:30:00.006-06:00

*Enters a beautiful blond with an attitude and a shy guy following behind*

Me: So, you guys insisted on having this interview together, why is that?

Emma: We don’t really like to be split up. And we are one now.

Me: One? How is that? Zac, do you like being one with Emma?

*Emma looks at Zac prompting an answer from him.*

Zac: I don’t think she meant one in the same way you are taking it. We don’t like to be apart for safety. We are currently running away from the Genetic Army. We are one in the way of her thoughts are mine. Mine are hers. We found this bond before we were tricked into this scheme of theirs.

Emma: I’m telepathic, and for some reason Zac can tap into it.

Me: Emma, you seem protective of Zac. Why is that?

Emma: I’ll tell you, since I promised to be candid. I’d rather not though. He’s my only family left.

Me: Thank you for visiting with me today.

Emma: Sure.

This is the last of the Character Interviews. I hope you liked them. Which character do you think you'll like the most? If you missed the last one click on Character Development in the sidebar.

Contest

2009-11-30T06:30:00.002-06:00

1) The first to name a main character from any other WIP than Idyllically Human receives the full critique of their first 3 chapters.

2) The first to name the ONLY main character of Idyllically Human receives the comments on their entire novel.

3) The second to name the ONLY main character of Idyllically Human receives the book of my choosing. If you believe you are this reader leave your favorite genre below.

If 3 more people follow me here by Friday, I'll also give away google wave invites to 2 lucky people that answer the question below.

If you are a follower of me on Twitter not here, leave your @ in the comments!

It should be simple enough.

Tell me: What is your favorite genre!

Oh and those that have seen my many layout changes this week, I’m sorry and thank you for baring with me.

Thanksgiving

2009-11-24T00:34:00.002-06:00

Instead of having a tense family dinner, I'm having a long weekend of writing. But it also means I'm taking a hiatus from blogging along with so many others. I'll be hosting a contest when I get back.

Here are the prizes:

1) A detailed critique of first 3 chapters of any polished novel.

2) Full read of an entire first draft with general comments at end of each chapter.

3)A book of my choosing depending on readers preferences.

Depending on how many people enter determines if all gifts are given away.

I'll post details of the contest on next Monday, but here is the kicker. You must be a follower of mine here or on Twitter by the time I post the contest rules on Monday the 30th to enter.

Angela

2009-11-18T10:00:00.002-06:00

This is an interview done by Beth of Angela at the beginning of the book. Angela will answer these same questions at the end of the book.

Angela, you and your family are… different. If you had a chance to be, shall we say, "like the rest of the human crowd," would you take it? Why or why not?
No, I wouldn’t take it. I’m sure there are a hundred reasons why not, but mainly it’s because this is who I am. I was born this way, I’m not big on change and to lose the things that make me, ME is one thing I would never want to change.

Why do you think your father is so against using powers?
“Talents” not powers. I know he wants what he thinks is best for this family, but sometimes I don’t think he really knows what’s best for us. We have to explore, be in danger, have adventures for us to grow up. Though, I’m not sure he wants us to grow up.

So, Angela, what's with the stunt at graduation? It seemed a bit… reckless to me.
In retrospect it was, but I was annoyed about leaving everyone I knew, since I was little without them really knowing me.

Who, outside your family, would you consider trusting your secret with?
I’m careful with my secret. I don’t know if I would consider telling anyone about my talents. Also, telling about myself could lead to danger for the rest of my family. I would never do anything to endanger my siblings. Well, maybe Brett, but only Brett. :)

On a less serious note, if you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be and why?
Change one thing about myself? Hair color, eye color. For being different than anyone else I’m startlingly the same. The same dull brown hair as the majority of the population; same brown eyes. I know it’s superficial, but living with the epitome of beauty for your entire life can be a bummer.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?
10 years, who knows? I don’t even know where I see myself in a month.

Re-aligned

2009-11-16T10:00:00.001-06:00

Nano did not go as planned, so I’m cutting my goal back to 30,000.

But that’s just the first piece of news. If you know me than you know that I usually write Romance. That is no more. I may have a few romantic shorts here or there, but I’ve found that my passion is in YA.

The ideas flow. The passion is there. I haven’t had that passion for writing in a long while.

With this new alignment of genres, also comes a new alignment of goals.

November:
1) Write 30,000+
2) Edit first 5 chapters-once! I often get bogged down re-editing. Not this time.
3) Write a short

2010
1) Edit all of IH
2) Write 5 shorts and submit
3) Submit IH
4) Write another YA
5) Network efficiently

If anyone knows any great YA blogs, agent or writer, please link in comment!

FAQ (pt. 1)

2009-11-14T23:56:00.002-06:00

Questions from my first two questioners’. Ask any question you wish in the comments and I’ll answer them!

Glam

(1) How long have you been writing, and why did you start?
Short answer. I started writing because I was lonely; I started writing before I could spell.

My first memory of writing is before I began Kindergarten, so I was 4 or 5. My sister was in school all day, so I was home without my playmate. I would sit out on the balcony and holler for mom to spell whatever I word I wanted. It was in a rustic form of poetry. I considered myself a writer by the time I was in first grade. I remember my teacher telling me that poets could write in any form they wished. Even backwards. I loved this.
I quit writing poetry when my grandfather died, and picked up writing in general two years later in the form of fiction. I can’t for the life of me write poetry anymore. I don’t have the melancholic tone to carry it like I once did.

(2) What are your long term goals with writing?

Long term? Wish upon wish? To be publishing a book a year, while still pursuing my career in law.

My long-short? To finish IH by next October with a publishing contract in hand by January.

Beth

(1)Who is your favorite character (that you've written)?
Annie. She’s a character in my dead and buried novel Day. Although, I’ll probably resurrect her for a story of her own. She’s spunky, rebellious, mouthy. She is brave, smart, and loyal.

(2) What is the last sentence you wrote on your main WIP?

Last sentence on my current WIP is.

“I hope they dissect you,” Angela said coldly as she was led away by guards.

(3) Why do you write what you write?
I don’t really know. I write because if I didn’t I’d be clinically insane by the time I’m 23. It’s what I write that’s an issue. I recently went through a genre change and found my home. I wrote Romance anytime I wrote anything as I was growing up. It’s all I’d read. Then talking with Glam I got this idea for IH. Ever since I've had more and more ideas for YA. As well as the YA community being so inviting. Romance writers are great, but most are twice my age and often look at me as if I haven’t got a clue what romance is. What’s more, I agree. I may be in love, engaged, to the most wonderful guy one could ever meet, but the staying together forever part is new and difficult for me to conceive.

4. Where is your first story/novel/poem?
Where is or what is?
Where? No clue. I probably threw it away when I was in 3rd grade. I had kept everything in a ratty old notebook until then.
What? My first poem I remember is a poem about children playing, church bells ringing, and happiness.

5. When was the last time you ate chocolate?
I ate chocolate tonight, and will probably have some more as soon as I finish writing the blog post.

6. How was the chocolate?
It was great! It was Nutella out of the jar. The boy led me to this and I can’t quit eating it. He can go through a whole jar, but I can only have a couple of spoon fulls, but I made homemade Oreo ice cream tonight. So I’m off to enjoy the first bite of that.

Remember anything you want to know I’ll answer just ask. I’d like to have 2 more people ask by the end of this next week.

Writers Guilt

2009-11-13T01:18:00.000-06:00

I believed when I started my Nano, that life would get better for her. I'm sure in the end it will, but it will be a rough road getting there. The last thing I want to do is hurt my main character.

She means something to me. Hurting her father doesn't bother me much, hurting her brothers bothers me more, but hurting Angela makes me want to cry.

Why do writers become so attached to a character? Is it that we put part of ourselves in them or that we become friends with them as we write their story?

A little bit of both I'd say.

I'm proud of how the story is shaping up. I like the way it's going and others seem to really be getting behind this story. More so than other stories I've worked on. But I'm slacking, why? Because in the next couple of chapters I have to truly hurt my main character. I have to betray her, I have to make her feel completely isolated.

Have you ever felt this toward a character? Any tips on ignoring it? Merc recommended chocolate. And if anyone sees me slacking tomorrow, the one day I can truly write please yell.

FAQ

2009-11-08T05:12:00.003-06:00

Once you guys ask me questions this spot will be filled with all kinds of tidbits about me, my writing process, heck whatever you might want to know about me or about my writing ask and I'll answer it.

Nano blues turned

2009-11-05T00:22:00.001-06:00

Glam showed me to this video.

The chills as she spoke, because me. Mere mortal, unpublished me, has had those rare moments when everything is aligned and the story flows through me not out of me.

Now I may go on to write on my Nano, and know no matter how badly written, I write because I must, because my muse REFUSES to stay quiet for long periods of time.

Only write if can't not do so.

Wordle

2009-11-02T14:17:00.004-06:00

This is my Nano attempt to figure out what I'm writing about today.

http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/1290129/Nano

Novel Banners

2009-10-31T21:11:00.001-06:00

I've been creating novel banners for my signature on a couple of sites as well as just to be used.

What I want from you all is to pick the one that draws your attention the most, just tell me which number in the comment section. Create one of your own on bannerfans.com

Number 1:

Number 2:

Number 3:

Nano

2009-10-29T15:49:00.002-06:00

Every day this next month, I'll be checking in with my word count and tell you how it's going.

My nano is: WARNING: Horrible blurb!

Angela graduates from high school being able to keep her secret from her entire class by remaining on the fringe. When she makes a brash decision at her graduation she threatens that secrecy, she never expects to have a e-mail show up from a college recruiting her to attend a genetically advanced college. Will she continue to hide among her peers or will she finally be able to be inside instead of being outside looking in?

I'm going to be writing for 2 hours each day to get my 1,666 words. Hopefully, I'll get more than that each day.

Nano pre-planning

2009-10-03T23:46:00.003-05:00

I’m pretty sure you’ve all heard of Idyllically Human. Meaning it’s not exactly a new project, but I got 1/4 of it done and then found that it the story line is weak, the characters are flat, and the imagery is not close to being there. As it’s Nano only one thing I truly want to get right is the plot right, so for the next month I’m going to work on the plot. I have The Plot Workshop* by Holly Lisle that I’ve gone over and adapted into something that would work for me.

Some software I’ll be using to plan is:

Evernote. Basically free OneNote. I love free.
Writers Cafe: Not free, but I don’t need more than what is in the trial version.

I know the premise. Angela, a genetically engineered girl, graduates high school with every intention of heading off to Baylor. When she receives an email offering her a full ride to an institution for talented students she readily accepts it. How will she adjust to college, especially while being trained to use something she’d always had to suppress.

Okay, so now you know what I’m doing for Nano, what are you doing for it? Are you going to plan? Are you going to write by the seat of your pants? Are you going to use any helpful software or lessons? I’m always on the lookout for something that will help me work more efficiently.

*If ordering any Holly Lisle products please use Inkblot’s passage and receive a 20% rebate.

About Me

2009-10-02T02:53:00.001-05:00

The professional view of me is already in my profile.

I write in two vastly different genres: YA and Romance(including erotica). During the day I am a pre-law student double majoring in Psych and Hist. My passion is helping children, which will undoubtedly lead me to specialize in family law with a side of biomedical since I'm in love with the science of genetics.

But who am I really?
I’m the girl who starts to laugh in a stone quiet room about something that happened a week ago. The girl that doesn’t mind dishes sitting in the sink overnight, but can’t stand for the dishwasher not to be ran as soon as I load it. I’m weird, I’m quirky, but thing I love the most is to write.

Sitting down in front of a computer and escaping into another world, any world you can dream up. It’s reading with an added bonus of it being your own world. A place that can seem to the writer as real as the world outside your head. And if you are talking to another writer they even don’t think you are clinically insane.

The only minus is: It’s your own world. You have to make sure it stands out on it’s own.

The Tool Called Research

2009-07-29T08:00:00.001-05:00

by Danyelle

Research is one of the most basic tools a writer can use to create a believable world and tell a compelling story. When the reader picks up a book, they trust that the writer has created something that they can submerse themselves in. Not getting the facts straight is one of the surest ways to bump the reader out of the story and back into the real world.

Research has many different faucets. Remember the old adage: write what you know? This perplexed me for a long time. I have never been transmogrified, I can’t fly, and frogs can’t talk. These are just a few things that find their way in books, and yet one could ever truly know what they mean. Or can they? I believe they can, through research.

To be believable enough so as not to jar the reader out of the story, it’s necessary for the writer to know as much as possible. For the rest of the post, I’ll be using a boy turned frog as the example. The first thing I would need to do is research frogs. When I began, I knew next to nothing about them, save that I really never want to encounter one in real life. Now I know a little more. Before I had researched frogs, I called their hands flippers. It made perfect sense to me, but a dear beta reader pointed out that fish have flippers, frogs don’t. A small detail, but something that could separate the reader from the story if they happen to be better informed on frogs than I was. As writers, we want to strive to make the transition from the real world to our story world as seamless as possible. Fantastic elements can co-exist with things that are real. In fact, correctly using facts can lend strength to the story.

Another faucet of research that can add dimensions to the story is the human element. How do people, in general, react to things? How do they talk, act, think, and move? People watching can be a fun way of researching the answers to these and other questions. It can also lead to inspiration as certain quirks are observed. How would a person feel that had just been placed in a situation entirely alien to them? Going from boy to frog would be very traumatic. Or would it? Would the character look at this as a grand adventure, rather than a setback? How the writer answers these questions for the characters can really bring the tale to life.

The final bit of research I want to touch on, is how important it is for a writer to research the genre they mean to write in. This means reading. A lot. Learn what the tropes are, what’s cliché, and what common elements and themes are seen over and over. This gives the writer basic guidelines with which to work. It can also lead to creative surges as the writer turns those familiar tropes and clichés on their collective heads.

At first research can seem to be daunting, but there are so many benefits that make it worth doing. And not only that, but it can be fun too!

The 5 senses

2009-07-24T03:18:00.011-05:00

Sorry about Wednesday’s post it was supposed to be a feature, but I got lost in the weekend. Yes, Monday and Tuesday’s are my weekends.
K, now that we have that out of the way let’s discuss the five senses.
What do your characters see? What do your readers see? What do you see as the writer? Do you think that all of these differ? Do you think perception changes from person to person even within the same page?
Your characters sense what you allow them to sense, which is often the exact same thing you allow the readers to sense ESPECIALLY if writing in close third or first POV. What you sense as a writer should differ from what everyone else senses. We should be able to sense much more than what any of the others do.
Image by ~Dezz~ via Flickr
Sight- Probably the most used. Imagery is everything. There’s a good reason why it’s said that “A picture tells a thousand words.” I don’t think most writers forget to include this sense and sometimes I think they can include too much information for this one sense.
Hearing-Dialogue is the most common aspect of hearing, but should it be? What about when your MC is alone? What about when the characters are being silent? Is there noise in the background?
Right now, I’m alone. No one to talk to (except myself hehe), but does that mean I don’t hear anything? No, I hear the whooshing of the ceiling fan, the whirring of the computer fan, and of course the snoring of my dear boyfriend.
Taste- He tasted the bitterness of pennies in his mouth as he fell to the ground with his chest in hand.

Image by ronsho © via Flickrground chest in hand.

I bet every single one of you can tell me what is wrong with this man. If I’d only said he fell to the ground with his chest in hand it could be anything. A gunshot wound, a panic attack, or even the world’s worst case of indigestion. We put in that he can taste pennies as he falls and we know it’s (what)? Would love to see if you can all get this one.

Smell-Smell is important to taste. This is probably my worst weakness when it comes to the senses. I always seem to forget my characters have noses. Any advice on adding smell to my characters lives?
Touch-Textural differences telling us what things are is one of my favorite memories of an animal history museum my family went to when I was a child. We touch things every single day and don’t really think about it, but the things we touch do affect our lives and the way we perceive things.
Image by b atega via Flickr
Smoothness of running my fingers through my hair, the sharpness of my boyfriends facial hair right before he needs to shave again, the softness of my fleece blanket that brings me comfort. I believe touch to be highly related to emotions.
I would like to suggest a blog that has suggestions for all 5 of these senses. Please visit Angela and Becca at http://thebookshelfmuse.blogspot.com/.

Settings and Ambiance

2009-07-18T08:00:00.001-05:00

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Where we set our stories is one of the 3 most vital aspects of plotting.
When I began writing, I’d set my book in places I’d never been, probably will never go, and attempted to do the research. Research has it’s limits.
So Day, my first WIP, was originally set in Regency England. Now of course I can’t go back in time. I wish. But I also knew very little about England.
Now it’s set in the late 1800’s Kansas. A place I know well. In fact, the town they live in is where my family first migrated to during the same time period.
Now, I’ve been told by wonderful critique buddies, that the setting is like it’s own character, full with it’s own personality.
Ambiance is an important part of setting. Think about Twilight. The place where it is set is grey and rainy. Very depressing weather for a somewhat melodramatic main character. If you transposed everything, but the location would Twilight be the same book? Probably not.
Question: When you are beginning to formulate the idea for a WIP, do you think about setting?

Genealogy and characters

2009-07-17T01:35:00.001-05:00

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If you would understand anything, observe its beginning and its development- Aristotle

Regardless about how you feel about history, it plays a major part in your life. From what you eat to what you wear. Probably the most important history is your own. The people who raised you regardless of genetics shaped who you are today.

If we know nothing of our ancestors, than how can we claim to know everything about ourselves? Why do I love the cold? Why do I detest the smell of sauerkraut, but love all other German foods? Of course that includes the beer of the home country.

So in this vein of thought, how can we possibly make our characters stand on their own with no knowledge of their ancestry. Are they first generation American? If so, how has this affected them throughout their lives? Or did their ancestors come over on the Mayflower? If this is the case than who is that one relative that is so proud of this fact that during family reunions they rant on and on about it as if it were them that had sailed over.

Do you think history plays a part in our lives? What about your characters lives?

Btw: The best free software I've found for family trees is Legacy.