Thursday, August 18, 2011
Adora Svitak: What adults can learn from kids | Video on TED.com
A friend showed me this awhile ago. I love what she says!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
"Writing Through the Lazy Days of Summer"
Author Carrie Jones is blogging on "Through the Tollbooth" this week and I'm linking to this post because I really like it. :) These are some tips that I've found to be true (though I may not always use them) and they can (and should) be applied not just during summer but all year long for writers.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Trailer for "The Scorpio Races," a New Novel by Maggie Stiefvater
I CANNOT wait for this book to come out!!! As usual, Maggie did an amazing job in making this very creative trailer.
If you're interested, here's a link to pre-order an autographed copy of "The Scorpio Races": http://www.fountainbookstore.com/autograph-maggie
Character Fatigue
Do you ever get tired of your characters? I've been working on one story all summer and, quite frankly, swimming around in the minds of figments of imagination is starting to get old...well, at least with the same two characters I've been working with. There's a quote that comes to mind: "Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia." I'm beginning to think this is true. I mean, what does writing fiction really boil down to?
1. Inventing people inside your head
2. Arguing with these "people" when they won't do what you want
3. Sitting in front of the computer talking to yourself
I once saw an interview with a somewhat famous screenwriter who said he plays out arguments and discussions with his characters while driving and people always look at him funny. So, I know it's not just me (except I don't do that in the car, usually on walks).
But aside from that, I think I just need a break from these two. The guy is a kind of anti-hero; he's perpetually sarcastic, dishonest, and sometimes just downright moody. Of course, his good attributes outweigh the bad (otherwise I wouldn't be writing about him), but his banter and secrets are starting to put me in a foul mood. The girl is nosy, sheltered, and overly theatrical, but it's part of her character... It works for them and I like the chemistry the two have as friends, but I just want a break! However, I know that if I do take a break, I'll probably end up letting this story fall by the wayside, which I definitely don't want. Maybe this will motivate me to write quicker just so I can have a change of pace...
Can you relate to this or am I just crazy?
I just found this picture that perfectly illustrates my point.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Just a Few Favorite Things
The other day I found myself rummaging through old hat boxes full of letters from my dear friends. Several years ago when we were thirteen Everly Pleasant and I made lists of things that are "good, colorful, fun, happy, or childish." The lists read as follows. May it inspire you to do a few silly fun things! I know I want to. :)
Everly:
1. Lollipops 18. Fun in the sprinkler
2. Cupcakes 19. Swings
3. Crayons 20. Fireflies in a jar
4. Polka dots 21. Shadow puppets
5. Rainbows 22. Piggy back rides
6. Sunshine 23. Bubble baths
7. Daisies 24. Puddle splashing
8. Pig tails 25. Popsicles
9. Toe socks 26. Mud pies
10. Finger paints 27. Tree houses
11. Butterflies 28. Balloons
12. Dandelions 29. Bubbles
13. Ice cream cones 30. Pompoms
14. Jump ropes 31. Slinkies
15. Hopscotch 32. Bubble gum
16. Leapfrog 33. Pogo sticks
17. Kites 34. Imaginary friends
I made my own, but I guess I never sent it back to her since I still have it:
1. Poodles
2. Cakes with sprinkles on the icing
3. pulling a wishbone
4. sunshine
5. roses
6. dragonflies
7. going as high as you can on a swing set
8. holding a kitten
9. making a wish when you blow out the birthday candles
10. markers
11. stickers
12. feeding ducks
13. chocolate sundaes
14. fairy tales
15. miniature ponies
16. Ferris wheels
17. riding a bike
18. merry-go-rounds
19. little red wagons
20. feather pens
21. puppies
22. Mary Poppins
23. Barbies
24. gel pens (love those things!)
25. letters from friends
26. puppy kisses
27. blowing bubbles
28. silly inside jokes
29. cat whiskers
30. Tinkerbell
31. catching snowflakes on your tongue
32. walking in the park
33. jungle gyms
Historical Writing Milestone
For the first time EVER in my life I have FINALLY reached the 50,000 word mark while writing a story!!! I know it's a huge no-no to use multiple exclamation points, but I'm so happy! Usually by this time I've convinced myself that my story is pointless, abandoned it, and started from scratch on a completely different one. Sweet, sweet success! Anyway...now that I've said what I wanted, I'm going to continue on my story. I think it'll be about 75,000-100,000 words before I've found a good ending. Happy writing!
Saturday, August 6, 2011
The Dangers of Writing: Part One
"Writers are not just people who sit down and write. They hazard themselves. Every time you compose a book your composition of yourself is at stake." ~E.L. Doctorow
As far back as my earliest memories of writing when I was six and seven years old I do not remember the gripping, sweat-on-the-palms fear of failure that has inhibited me for the past decade. When I was a child, I wrote stories about whatever took my fancy, be it faeries, goofy little mice, detectives. Back then I recognized writing as part of me, a vital part, that was natural and wonderful. Everyone has their "thing" and writing was my gift, my talent, so why shouldn't I share it? Once when my sister was sick (I don't recall with what) I spent the day writing and illustrating a collection of short stories I'd had floating in my head and taking up valuable space. Whenever I wrote a story I had no qualms reading it to Mom and hearing her opinion.
I think the first time I was shy and unsure about my writing was a regional Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators contest. I didn't want to even enter the contest but Mom persuaded me to do it and, as usual, I was later grateful that she'd given me the helpful shove in the right direction. I made the top three or five (I don't remember exactly which), but even when I was interviewed for the local tv network I was ashamed and blushing as I read an excerpt of my story.
Having people, even my mom, review my work and critique it gradually made me incredibly embarrassed and ashamed of anything I wrote. I don't know, I'm probably just too thin skinned, but whatever the reason, I became increasingly secretive with my stories. A few times I renounced all hope of ever becoming an author (one time lasted for two years) which nearly killed me. Obviously that phase passed, but I still struggle with telling people my ideas or letting them read my stories. Like the quote from Doctorow says, it feels that if your story isn't quite good enough it means you aren't adequate. Every criticism of something you've created feels as if the whole world is telling you that your idea is stupid or just plain weird. Usually I start off writing fully confident in my story and the characters fueling it, but around 50 pages in this nauseating self-doubt kicks in. What if everyone reads my story and thinks it weird? What if everyone reads my story and thinks I'm weird? What if my story is stupid? No one will read it and it will accomplish nothing. So, I let yet another story fall by the wayside and I start over and then I repeat the vicious cycle yet again.
While writing my current story I ran into the same problem around the same time, but I miraculously forced myself through it and continued writing. Then at about 100 pages it came again, I pushed through it again. Now I'm only a few thousand words short of 50, 000 and still not close to an end, but I'm still moving forward. If you are ever going to grow as a writer, you have to stop caring about what people think. Ironically, being a successful writer depends a lot on others' opinion but if you cater only to what the masses demand there would be a plethora of horribly written vampire romances and zombie-fied Jane Austen novels...oh wait...that's already happened. :/
If you stay true to your convictions and creativity, you'll fail a few times and people may or may not be interested in your work. To write is to expose your true heart and soul to anyone who cares to take a look, to be scrutinized in the hopes that it informs, entertains, or enlightens. Vampire and zombies might be selling now, but they're predictable and commercial and will never become classics (except Twilight because it's the monster that started all this madness). Don't try to be something you're not and don't write something that isn't inspired. Go to any secondhand bookstore and three-fourths of each shelf tells the story of a failed book and the "havenot" author. But some of those books are unexpected gems, originals in a sea of lookalikes. Some of those authors might think they failed, but they don't know what that one book might mean to a small group of fans. You could be published and on the bestseller list, but that doesn't necessarily mean you're a good author.
"Everywhere I go I'm asked if I think the university stifles writers. My opinion is that they don't stifle enough of them. There's many a bestseller that could have been prevented by a good teacher." ~Flannery O'Connor
Sunday, May 15, 2011
O, the Many Paths of Life
Do you ever feel like your life is one of those choose-your-own-ending books? I do.
It seems like there are so many options and so many different turns your life can take, each one affecting the outcome. Should I go here? Should I go to this school? Should I take this job? What should I write about? What should I eat for lunch?! Okay, so maybe what you eat for lunch isn't as major, but it really is if you think about it in the long run (but that's an entirely different post).
Even little, seemingly insignificant decisions can lead to running into a person you wouldn't have otherwise seen, or hearing something you needed to. All events in our lives build upon each other, making us who we are. So what if you make a decision differently than how you should? How will it alter your life?
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Tribute of the Mother's Day Variety
None of us would be here without our moms. I mean that literally...it's physically impossible for us to have been born without a mother.
Other than that, though, it's also impossible for us to be where we are today without a maternal figure in our lives. I've been blessed with a fantastic mom. Of course we have our differences at times, but we enjoy a much deeper relationship than most daughters can claim.
My life right now is a direct result of my mom's influence. She was the first person on either side of my family to become a Christian and without that occurrence, I wouldn't have gone to church when I was little. I wouldn't have heard that sermon when I was five, the day I decided to accept Christ into my heart. I wouldn't have grown up in an environment powered by Mom that encouraged me to make decisions based on what God wanted for my life.
When I was five years old, my mom almost died from an extremely serious illness. Those times were intense, but she's still kicking and at a greatly force than ever before...and completely healed too!
She's silly, she's weird, she's beautiful, she's funny, and I love her more than anyone can even know.
Long story short, it's a good thing Mom's in my life. And I'll never stop praising the Lord for putting (and keeping) her here with us.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Long Time, No See/Book Snobs
I love books...obviously. Otherwise, I wouldn't be an author. For some reason, I just took it for granted that everyone enjoys reading. You've probably already figured this out, but I had to travel to a different time zone to notice this. When some fellow college students from my church and I went to China I was uber excited to build incredible friendships that I assumed would be based on a shared love of books (because I'm a nerd :P). When striking up initial conversations one usually starts with asking questions depending on your own interests. Naturally I asked "do you like books" when I meet my first Chinese friends and the first few really loved to read so I remained in my delusional bibliophile world. Ironically, my dearest friend met in China (whose English name is Alana) didn't like reading at all. I was shocked. I don't know why. Reading is a hobby so it only makes sense that some people wouldn't prefer it, but I was still taken aback.
Usually in the States I looked down on people who didn't like to read, but when I met Alana it all came together. Not everyone likes the same things...what a concept, right? Despite having basically nothing in common, Alana and I stuck together like glue and really enjoyed each other's company. Thus I realized another truth: not all people that don't like reading for fun are stupid. Of course, I had never said this out loud, but subconsciously I believed it. I was a book snob.
Then, when I came back to the States, I discovered that one of my Korean students/friends also dislikes reading for fun. Gasp! It too was a surprise. We think that reading is a way of learning to analyze and explore things, which is true; however, this student is the deepest, most astute person I know. She understands concepts of humanity that most avid readers I know are completely blind to. I have a very good friend who "loves books" but isn't nearly as observant or considerate of the world around her. I chalk this up to personality, but also to the type of books my "good friend" indulges in. A bonus truth: most dedicated readers only read escapist fiction, which almost always has deeper, hidden meanings, but usually they aren't looking for meaning, only to runaway from the world.
So, in case you are a book snob still in denial, let me tell you that people who don't share the same opinion as you are not ignorant illiterates.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Cures for Writer's Block
I've heard different methods, read author's advice on "how to deal" with this affliction. I still haven't found a sure-fire way to get past it, but I thought I would spend a brief post imparting my aquired knowledge. Who knows! It might help you.
1. I learned that a good writing friend of mine likes to write "fan fiction" in other to get over a writing rut. Sometimes it helps just writing about characters already established. And you don't have to work on a specific part like plot or scenery to progress the story. You can compose a dramatic monologue from a certain person's perspective or add a much-desired twist or create an alternate ending. In my friend's experience, it helps revive the creative mind. www.fanfiction.net
2. Every book I've read written by writers for writers says that when encountering a bump in the twisted, unsure road that is authorhood, the surest way to conquer is by just writing...something....anything. As long as you consistently put something on that blank page, an idea is sure to come. Some even say mindlessly typing "blank blank blank" or "word word word" or something of that effect will help. I think they mean that by going through the physical motion of writing, you're mind will soon follow. Whether this is true or not I can't certainly say, but on rare occasions it has helped.
In short, everyone has their own little trick when it comes to writing, whether it's dealing with creative difficulties or the order in which you compile your story. What techniques do you use? Any interesting theories or methods?
1. I learned that a good writing friend of mine likes to write "fan fiction" in other to get over a writing rut. Sometimes it helps just writing about characters already established. And you don't have to work on a specific part like plot or scenery to progress the story. You can compose a dramatic monologue from a certain person's perspective or add a much-desired twist or create an alternate ending. In my friend's experience, it helps revive the creative mind. www.fanfiction.net
2. Every book I've read written by writers for writers says that when encountering a bump in the twisted, unsure road that is authorhood, the surest way to conquer is by just writing...something....anything. As long as you consistently put something on that blank page, an idea is sure to come. Some even say mindlessly typing "blank blank blank" or "word word word" or something of that effect will help. I think they mean that by going through the physical motion of writing, you're mind will soon follow. Whether this is true or not I can't certainly say, but on rare occasions it has helped.
In short, everyone has their own little trick when it comes to writing, whether it's dealing with creative difficulties or the order in which you compile your story. What techniques do you use? Any interesting theories or methods?
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Ramblings About "The News"
I’m a big news-junkie.
Anderson Cooper, Lisa Ling, National Geographic, “60 Minutes”—actually pretty much anything CBS and I’m there. Maybe it’s the story-telling aspect of it, I’m not sure. Regardless, I find it all fascinating. (Also, as I mentioned in my first post, it provides ample inspiration for writing.) We can learn a lot about ourselves and the world around us through watching or reading the news. True stories of triumph, friendship, and love encourage us; stories of real pain and tragedy break our hearts and move some of us to action.
That being said, there are numerous people that become paranoid because of the news. In fact, my grandmother is one of them. She’s the type that compulsively watches the horrible things on the news and then makes a round of phone calls warning everyone of the inherent danger of-well, just about anything. She has good intentions, and I know this but we can’t live in fear. Bad things will happen eventually. This is obviously an abuse of information.
I think people who use the excuse “but the news is so depressing” are missing the big picture. There are so many touching stories that make the news, meant to inspire and show us that incredible things really do happen. And what about the heart-wrenching stories that we hear about all the time? What about them? If it’s so horrible, just think about the people living through those nightmares. The least we can do is pray for them, keep them in our thoughts. Most of us are blessed enough to have relatively peaceful lives, which has spoiled us. Is it so bad to be moved out of our comfort zone, especially when it brings us closer to sympathizing with complete strangers in distress?
Despite the numerous benefits of news, I find it intolerable when news stations are so obviously biased and enjoy mean-spirited “debating” (which actually means yelling and senselessly arguing their own opinions). This is why I don’t like Fox News or CNN.
Anderson Cooper, Lisa Ling, National Geographic, “60 Minutes”—actually pretty much anything CBS and I’m there. Maybe it’s the story-telling aspect of it, I’m not sure. Regardless, I find it all fascinating. (Also, as I mentioned in my first post, it provides ample inspiration for writing.) We can learn a lot about ourselves and the world around us through watching or reading the news. True stories of triumph, friendship, and love encourage us; stories of real pain and tragedy break our hearts and move some of us to action.
That being said, there are numerous people that become paranoid because of the news. In fact, my grandmother is one of them. She’s the type that compulsively watches the horrible things on the news and then makes a round of phone calls warning everyone of the inherent danger of-well, just about anything. She has good intentions, and I know this but we can’t live in fear. Bad things will happen eventually. This is obviously an abuse of information.
I think people who use the excuse “but the news is so depressing” are missing the big picture. There are so many touching stories that make the news, meant to inspire and show us that incredible things really do happen. And what about the heart-wrenching stories that we hear about all the time? What about them? If it’s so horrible, just think about the people living through those nightmares. The least we can do is pray for them, keep them in our thoughts. Most of us are blessed enough to have relatively peaceful lives, which has spoiled us. Is it so bad to be moved out of our comfort zone, especially when it brings us closer to sympathizing with complete strangers in distress?
Despite the numerous benefits of news, I find it intolerable when news stations are so obviously biased and enjoy mean-spirited “debating” (which actually means yelling and senselessly arguing their own opinions). This is why I don’t like Fox News or CNN.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Musings about Japan
Warning: this post will probably be a little rambling and may seem aimless, but bear with me!
This weekend, as I mentioned before, I went to my friend's new family lake house. It was a beautiful location, with tall trees that stretched farther toward the sky than the squat live oaks we have here. As the name would entail, we were right beside a massive lake, although I was mildly depressed when I discovered it was manmade. The calming beauty was dampened, however, by the catastrophe in Japan that I heard of from my mom when we were beginning the 4 hour drive to the retreat. I can't imagine an earthquake, what it must feel like when the ground beneath you (the one thing we think of as solid) is actually quavering. I can't imagine what it would be like to see a rolling tower of waves rushing toward you, literally swallowing every thing you own. But the thought makes me sick. It would make any of us horrified if we actually took the time to think of the implications were we in their shoes. So many of us (I would venture to guess 80%, at least) suffer from what I call "The Bubble Syndrome." We constantly separate ourselves from any train of thought that doesn't seem comfortable or applicable to our own lives. We don't even attempt to truly imagine what someone else is thinking or feeling. Right now you're probably thinking that you're not "one of those people"...you actually sympathize with people around the world dealing with tragedy. If you are, think again. Do you honestly even take the time to see a situation from your brother's viewpoint or try to understand an argument from your best friend's mind? Probably not.
I believe it was the British poet, Matthew Arnold who conveyed similar sentiments in one of his poems, lamenting the unavoidable isolation we all face in life. You may feel extremely close to someone, but then you realize that you can never truly be of one mind. Individuality is a wonderful thing, but it can also be an excuse for narcissism. It can be used as a tool to further separate "us" from "them." We seem to view others through a pane of glass, their pain isn't real to us. Why? Because they're aren't me, and I'm not them. That's how our minds work...I guess.
This past winter, my worldview widened considerably. While in Minnesota, I met two college students who were on the same delayed flight to Tokyo Narita airport (the very airport that was flooded with water from Friday's tsunami). They were from Japan. One was an American who had grown up at the U.S. military base in Okinawa, heading back to spend Christmas with her family, the other was a Japanese girl born and raised in Tokyo, returning from studying. When the incident occured on Friday, I was thinking of them. And also all the other people from Japan that we spent hours with when our flight was delayed for two days. The idea that someone I had seen or spoken with or smiled at is dead from this natural disaster was shocking to me for some reason. Not only that. How many (if any) have family members or friend unaccounted for? Were any of the people I saw headed to Tokyo from Sendai or one of the towns washed away? It wasn't just the people I met in Minnesota that made me feel so deeply about this, though. For going on two years I've been thinking and wanting to teach English or live in Asia when I graduate. Japan was one of the places I've been considering, so when I heard that an American girl who had been teaching there for 3 years was missing after the tsunami the thought occured that her and I are not so dissimilar. (Thankfully, she contacted her parents after 4 days of being unable to communicate--she's okay :) Also, when I was watching the news coverage in the aftermath, an American correspondent was being interviewed over the phone from Tokyo. It shook me to my core when I heard his voice quivering as he related the earthquake. Realizing how deeply it affected him (someone I don't even know!) was...strange. He and his friends were in the newsroom going about their day when the world fell apart. He said that Tokyo was the more fortunate of the cities hit and that people were mostly dealing with the psychological blow. How could they not be reeling from the shock?
There are thousands of people still unaccounted for in Japan. Thousands. And now they're also facing a nuclear disaster. Even though it's impossible to imagine the gravity of the situation, I dare you to try. Burst the "bubble" that separates you from the rest of the world. What really makes us so different?
This weekend, as I mentioned before, I went to my friend's new family lake house. It was a beautiful location, with tall trees that stretched farther toward the sky than the squat live oaks we have here. As the name would entail, we were right beside a massive lake, although I was mildly depressed when I discovered it was manmade. The calming beauty was dampened, however, by the catastrophe in Japan that I heard of from my mom when we were beginning the 4 hour drive to the retreat. I can't imagine an earthquake, what it must feel like when the ground beneath you (the one thing we think of as solid) is actually quavering. I can't imagine what it would be like to see a rolling tower of waves rushing toward you, literally swallowing every thing you own. But the thought makes me sick. It would make any of us horrified if we actually took the time to think of the implications were we in their shoes. So many of us (I would venture to guess 80%, at least) suffer from what I call "The Bubble Syndrome." We constantly separate ourselves from any train of thought that doesn't seem comfortable or applicable to our own lives. We don't even attempt to truly imagine what someone else is thinking or feeling. Right now you're probably thinking that you're not "one of those people"...you actually sympathize with people around the world dealing with tragedy. If you are, think again. Do you honestly even take the time to see a situation from your brother's viewpoint or try to understand an argument from your best friend's mind? Probably not.
I believe it was the British poet, Matthew Arnold who conveyed similar sentiments in one of his poems, lamenting the unavoidable isolation we all face in life. You may feel extremely close to someone, but then you realize that you can never truly be of one mind. Individuality is a wonderful thing, but it can also be an excuse for narcissism. It can be used as a tool to further separate "us" from "them." We seem to view others through a pane of glass, their pain isn't real to us. Why? Because they're aren't me, and I'm not them. That's how our minds work...I guess.
This past winter, my worldview widened considerably. While in Minnesota, I met two college students who were on the same delayed flight to Tokyo Narita airport (the very airport that was flooded with water from Friday's tsunami). They were from Japan. One was an American who had grown up at the U.S. military base in Okinawa, heading back to spend Christmas with her family, the other was a Japanese girl born and raised in Tokyo, returning from studying. When the incident occured on Friday, I was thinking of them. And also all the other people from Japan that we spent hours with when our flight was delayed for two days. The idea that someone I had seen or spoken with or smiled at is dead from this natural disaster was shocking to me for some reason. Not only that. How many (if any) have family members or friend unaccounted for? Were any of the people I saw headed to Tokyo from Sendai or one of the towns washed away? It wasn't just the people I met in Minnesota that made me feel so deeply about this, though. For going on two years I've been thinking and wanting to teach English or live in Asia when I graduate. Japan was one of the places I've been considering, so when I heard that an American girl who had been teaching there for 3 years was missing after the tsunami the thought occured that her and I are not so dissimilar. (Thankfully, she contacted her parents after 4 days of being unable to communicate--she's okay :) Also, when I was watching the news coverage in the aftermath, an American correspondent was being interviewed over the phone from Tokyo. It shook me to my core when I heard his voice quivering as he related the earthquake. Realizing how deeply it affected him (someone I don't even know!) was...strange. He and his friends were in the newsroom going about their day when the world fell apart. He said that Tokyo was the more fortunate of the cities hit and that people were mostly dealing with the psychological blow. How could they not be reeling from the shock?
There are thousands of people still unaccounted for in Japan. Thousands. And now they're also facing a nuclear disaster. Even though it's impossible to imagine the gravity of the situation, I dare you to try. Burst the "bubble" that separates you from the rest of the world. What really makes us so different?
Thursday, March 10, 2011
On Spring Break
Just a real quick note on what's going on. I know I haven't been posting the past few days; things got crazy busy crazy fast.
As a result, I'm completely ready for Spring Break! I just finished a British History exam and turned in a paper about "The Man Who Would Be King" (which I'm not entirely confident about) and now I'm waiting for my Lit. class.
Tomorrow morning I'm leaving with my friend Juju to go to her family's lake house until Sunday. Enjoy your break!
As a result, I'm completely ready for Spring Break! I just finished a British History exam and turned in a paper about "The Man Who Would Be King" (which I'm not entirely confident about) and now I'm waiting for my Lit. class.
Tomorrow morning I'm leaving with my friend Juju to go to her family's lake house until Sunday. Enjoy your break!
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Of Vampires and Such Nonsense
Am I the only one who’s getting tired of the vampire-romance phenomenon?
As a writer hoping to break into the Young Adult Fiction market, I find it very discouraging every time I go to Barnes & Noble and almost everything I pick up is rubbish. Don’t get me wrong, there are many (MANY) wonderful books and authors, but you can’t swing a stick without hitting something that involves vampires or other mythical creatures that fall under the category of “undead.”
I’ve read Twilight. Originally it was only to see what all the hoopla was about and later mock it (I’m not a person who catches on easily to trends or likes to jump on band wagons). But I actually liked it, unlike almost all or virtually any of my peers (although I do have one friend who is a rabid fan). I applaud Stephanie Meyer on the accomplishment of the first Twilight book, as for the others in the saga…well, that’s an entirely different rant. And let’s face it, even if you don’t like Meyer or her books, she has sparked a phenomenon. I’m not using that word lightly. A Phenomenon. Were vampire stories around before? Of course. Were they popular? Yeah... But who has spiked the resurgence of vampires, causing millions (if not billions) of teenage girls to be bitten by the book-bug? Stephanie Meyer.
Regardless, I’m sick of it. I’m sick of all the shameless rip-offs. Sick of second-rate authors taking over the classics. Just the other day I encountered a rather disturbing rendition of “Jane Eyre.” The title? “Jane Slayre.” Is that the best they can come up with? I can guarantee you that Charlotte Bronte is rolling in her grave (but not as a vampire!).
Another thing I’m concerned (but mostly irritated) about is the fact that these tactless and just downright stupid books are getting published. Was there a sudden lapse in judgment at the publishing firms? Were the editors themselves turned into brainless zombies? I’m beginning to wonder. There was a book (the name of which I will refrain from mentioning) I read about a year ago (“Fallen” by Lauren Kate!) which scarred me beyond repair. The plot was fairly predictable, but I was intrigued enough to be led about ¾ of the way through the story when something horrible happened. As soon as the two clueless and rather clichéd main characters professed their love for one another they’re personalities entirely changed. I was angry. Downright vengeful. I read two more pages of the spineless, mushy dialogue between the two before I closed the book, wanting nothing more than to vomit (perhaps I exaggerate). How could this happen? How is it that the publishing companies are letting us down? How is it that authors can forget their own characters’ character?!
That being said, let me clarify for the record that I am not entirely prejudice against the genre of “Teen Paranormal.” In fact, I’m a fan of “Need” by Carrie Jones and Maggie Stiefvater’s novels (expressly “Lament” and “Ballad,” despite the occasional bad language). Recently (last week actually) I even gave Claudia Gray’s “Evernight” books a chance. It seemed like the usual…new girl goes to a new school meets mysterious boy and he’s a vampire (some people even switch it up and make the guy a fallen angel—note the sarcasm). However, there was a plot twist (SPOILER ALERT) and the leading girl is actually the vampire. What a curveball, right? I appreciated it. But it still wasn’t enough for me to enjoy the rest of the book. It soon became really weird. Instead of the overly protective vampire boyfriend, the girl becomes an overly protective vampire girlfriend, which to be honest just freaked me out.
I feel like it’s unfair to end this post on such a negative note. So I’ll add that I recently began a book published by Harper Collins Teen (the very same company that publishes “Evernight” and such rubbish) that I’ve actually fallen in love with. It’s called “The Last Knight” by Hilari Bell. It’s quirky, funny, original, and skillfully written. Try it on for size and see if it’s not refreshing to read something you won’t be ashamed of.
As a writer hoping to break into the Young Adult Fiction market, I find it very discouraging every time I go to Barnes & Noble and almost everything I pick up is rubbish. Don’t get me wrong, there are many (MANY) wonderful books and authors, but you can’t swing a stick without hitting something that involves vampires or other mythical creatures that fall under the category of “undead.”
I’ve read Twilight. Originally it was only to see what all the hoopla was about and later mock it (I’m not a person who catches on easily to trends or likes to jump on band wagons). But I actually liked it, unlike almost all or virtually any of my peers (although I do have one friend who is a rabid fan). I applaud Stephanie Meyer on the accomplishment of the first Twilight book, as for the others in the saga…well, that’s an entirely different rant. And let’s face it, even if you don’t like Meyer or her books, she has sparked a phenomenon. I’m not using that word lightly. A Phenomenon. Were vampire stories around before? Of course. Were they popular? Yeah... But who has spiked the resurgence of vampires, causing millions (if not billions) of teenage girls to be bitten by the book-bug? Stephanie Meyer.
Regardless, I’m sick of it. I’m sick of all the shameless rip-offs. Sick of second-rate authors taking over the classics. Just the other day I encountered a rather disturbing rendition of “Jane Eyre.” The title? “Jane Slayre.” Is that the best they can come up with? I can guarantee you that Charlotte Bronte is rolling in her grave (but not as a vampire!).
Another thing I’m concerned (but mostly irritated) about is the fact that these tactless and just downright stupid books are getting published. Was there a sudden lapse in judgment at the publishing firms? Were the editors themselves turned into brainless zombies? I’m beginning to wonder. There was a book (the name of which I will refrain from mentioning) I read about a year ago (“Fallen” by Lauren Kate!) which scarred me beyond repair. The plot was fairly predictable, but I was intrigued enough to be led about ¾ of the way through the story when something horrible happened. As soon as the two clueless and rather clichéd main characters professed their love for one another they’re personalities entirely changed. I was angry. Downright vengeful. I read two more pages of the spineless, mushy dialogue between the two before I closed the book, wanting nothing more than to vomit (perhaps I exaggerate). How could this happen? How is it that the publishing companies are letting us down? How is it that authors can forget their own characters’ character?!
That being said, let me clarify for the record that I am not entirely prejudice against the genre of “Teen Paranormal.” In fact, I’m a fan of “Need” by Carrie Jones and Maggie Stiefvater’s novels (expressly “Lament” and “Ballad,” despite the occasional bad language). Recently (last week actually) I even gave Claudia Gray’s “Evernight” books a chance. It seemed like the usual…new girl goes to a new school meets mysterious boy and he’s a vampire (some people even switch it up and make the guy a fallen angel—note the sarcasm). However, there was a plot twist (SPOILER ALERT) and the leading girl is actually the vampire. What a curveball, right? I appreciated it. But it still wasn’t enough for me to enjoy the rest of the book. It soon became really weird. Instead of the overly protective vampire boyfriend, the girl becomes an overly protective vampire girlfriend, which to be honest just freaked me out.
I feel like it’s unfair to end this post on such a negative note. So I’ll add that I recently began a book published by Harper Collins Teen (the very same company that publishes “Evernight” and such rubbish) that I’ve actually fallen in love with. It’s called “The Last Knight” by Hilari Bell. It’s quirky, funny, original, and skillfully written. Try it on for size and see if it’s not refreshing to read something you won’t be ashamed of.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
A Word from Writers to Writers
I completed my first Creative Writing a few semesters ago! While studying for the final, I was reviewing the Characterization section of my only favorite textbook (which I will now shamelessly plug-in: "Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft" by Janet Burroway with Elizabeth Stuckey-French) and found some great quotes that I would like to randomly share with anyone who cares.
"You are going to love some of your characters, because they are you or some facet of you, and you are going to hate some of your characters for the same reason. But no matter what, you are probably going to have to let bad things happen to some of the characters you love or you won't have much of a story. Bad things happen to good characters, because our actions have consequences and we do not all behave perfectly all the time."--Anne Lamott
"What's vital for the fiction writer to remember is that the wicked, violent, and the stupid do also love, in their way. Just as humble and loving and thoughtful people hate. Hate humbly, hate lovingly, hate thoughtfully, and so on."--Doug Bauer
"If you take two sticks and hold them parallel, you can capture that image in a photograph because it doesn't change. But if you rub those two sticks together, harder and harder, faster and faster, they will burst into flame--that's the kind of change you can capture in a story or on film. Friction is necessary for change to occur. But without the friction of conflict, there is no change. And without change, there is not story. A body at rest remains at rest unless it enters into conflict."--Stephen Fischer
I take whatever I learn through my writing and art very personally (which everyone should), including the principle Doug Bauer mentions above. The characters of fiction are modeled (or at least are supposed to be) after the characters of real life. I've noticed that I often feel more sympathy for the villains of literature than I do for the antagonists in my own life. Why is this? Because while reading a good book, sooner or later, you see the two sides of a "bad" person, but many times in the real world we only see a person as a certain way. Whichever facet we glimpse of any human, they are still that...a human. Alright, so with that I will leave my soapbox for the day
Friday, March 4, 2011
Inspiration
It seems only appropriate to make my first post about one of the most important ingredients in constructing a story, poem, or any media of art.
If there's anything I've learned, it's that inspiration can come in any form and from anywhere. My most recent story idea came from a mystery artist from England named Banksy who appeared in an independent film and was sending his fans on a scavenger hunt all over L.A. in the days leading up to the Oscar award show. Stranger than fiction right?
Another source of inspiration can come from history. That's right, our very own history. I'm constantly getting whispers from a muse in the middle of my college history classes. The unexplained colony on Roanoke Island. Gladiatorial games in Ancient Rome. People are people no matter what era they're from and as always, react with powerful emotions and interesting drama.
I like to collect my ideas into a journal or clip out newspaper articles that I think are interesting and could provide a good plot or solid characters later on.
Sorry for such a short blog entry, more to come! I promise! :) Until then, keep writing!
If there's anything I've learned, it's that inspiration can come in any form and from anywhere. My most recent story idea came from a mystery artist from England named Banksy who appeared in an independent film and was sending his fans on a scavenger hunt all over L.A. in the days leading up to the Oscar award show. Stranger than fiction right?
Another source of inspiration can come from history. That's right, our very own history. I'm constantly getting whispers from a muse in the middle of my college history classes. The unexplained colony on Roanoke Island. Gladiatorial games in Ancient Rome. People are people no matter what era they're from and as always, react with powerful emotions and interesting drama.
I like to collect my ideas into a journal or clip out newspaper articles that I think are interesting and could provide a good plot or solid characters later on.
Sorry for such a short blog entry, more to come! I promise! :) Until then, keep writing!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)