There's a saying out there write what you know! Yeah, it's a simple enough saying, straight forward, and pretty self explanatory. But . . .
What if I want to write about a margarita drinking gladiator named Tyrone? I don't know crap about gladiators, though I do know a thing or two about margaritas! Ay-yi-yi-yi, I am the Frito bandito!! Ooops, flashback to childhood - hate it when that happens.
What if I want to write about Elves, Dragons, Wizards, Hobgoblins or . . . Trolls??? I don't know crap about those things either . . . no matter what Robyn might say on the Troll issue!
What's an aspiring writer to do when he/she is supposed to write about what they know . . . and that know is limited to the mundane (well, sometimes, but after a few margaritas . . . ) world they live in?
Ah, dear followers, we do this neat little weaving thing . . . we take what we know and what we don't know and we toss them in a bowl, add a bit of lime juice, a splash . . . sorry, margarita recipe . . . mix them up and, well, write.
Yes, it's that simple. We write. We take the familiar (what we know) and add the unfamiliar (what we don't know, just in case any one is keeping track, because I know I'm not) and do the absolute best we can.
I mean, what did Stephanie Meyer know about vampires? J.K. Rowlings about boy wizards? Tolkien about Elves and Orcs and Dragons and one ring to rule them all? They knew the basics found in books, movies, mythology, and used their talents to make the unfamiliar familiar! Geesh, try saying that one a few times!
So, why am I writing this post? Well, I went off to the Enchanted Forest the other day . . . okay, that's what I posted on Facebook, but in actuality I was in organization mode in the house, cleaning my desk, closets, drawers, and just getting everything in tip top shape. Anyhow, I was thinking about a new story idea and was trying to figure out how to make it work, since I really didn't know that much about some of the characters that can be found in the Enchanted Forest. Yeah, I know the basics, I know what I've read, but how do I put that brief snippet of knowledge into a workable format?? Well, I take what I know - perhaps some margaritas, modern day - and work in what I don't know and just see what happens.
Yes, it's as simple as that. I can google trolls (hey, Robyn's blog came up, imagine that - ha!!) and find out all sorts of information. I can then add that information to what I already know and suddenly Tyrone (he's the margarita drinking gladiator, just in case you forgot) is having margaritas with a few trolls, and an elf at the local Mexican restaurant. Yes, it's an odd grouping, but they're getting along quite well, and there is the fact that the Troll Queen was kidnapped and if not returned to her throne by Midnight on March 12, 2015, the world as they know it will end . . .
Yes, it sounds like a strange concept, but . . . it's really not. It's all in taking the familiar and unfamiliar and merging them into something . . . brilliant. Yes, it's been done before, time and time again, there are no new ideas, just old ideas reimagined in a brilliant fashion. We can write about vampires that walk during the day in 2010 or an Elf that becomes President of the United States in 2012 or a witch that ascends the throne of Ireland in 1999 because we just take what we don't know (witches, elves, trolls, vampires, whatever) and add it to what we know, and pretty soon, the fingers are flying across the keyboard and the words are filling up the screen.
So, even if you don't know crap about vampires, witches, elves, trolls, dragons, or whatever, it doesn't meant you can't write about them. Put those characters in places you do know - today, here, now - and then, maybe during the revision stage, change up the today, here, now to something different and see what happens.
S
p.s. For those not in the know, Robyn and I had a comment-conversation yesterday about Trolls. She actually had the nerve to accuse me of being a Troll. I mean, seriously . . . Yeah, we had a bit of fun with each other yesterday, and thus she earned a place in Troll History! Ha!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
Reminder and Updates
I'm pretty much unplugged until January 1, 2010! OMG, it's almost 2010! Where in the heck did 2009 go?? I mean, it was just yesterday when I was raising my glass of champagne to 2009! Wasn't it? Wasn't it? How in the heck did the year fly past so quickly? Oh, double crapola, if it's almost 2010, that means another birthday is lurking around the corner before Spring returns to the world. Le Sigh!
I hope everyone had a safe and Merry Christmas, or whatever holiday you celebrate, and may your New Year be safe and happy as well.
Since, I'm typing this post . . . I'll do the little update thingy.
My goal for 2010 - begin querying once again. Hey, I made a rhyme. Woo-hoo, double time. Sorry! I'm going to work on the letter in January and then start the process February 1 to give those beleaguered agents time to go through all the queries people submitted during the holiday season, and in the first few weeks of 2010. Yes, there is a method to my madness!
Right now . . . I have three potential next brilliant novels in the idea and (gasp, the horrors) outline stage - well, two of the projects, not the third. I'm just not sure what I want to work on next. I may just have to flip a coin or number the projects, write the numbers on a piece of paper, stick them in a hat, and let my cat Squeaky pick the lucky project.
Also . . . I have another project in revision stage that will, at some point, be the next project I query, so this project gets more importance than starting a new project.
And . . . I think that's it for right now. Have a great day.
I hope everyone had a safe and Merry Christmas, or whatever holiday you celebrate, and may your New Year be safe and happy as well.
Since, I'm typing this post . . . I'll do the little update thingy.
My goal for 2010 - begin querying once again. Hey, I made a rhyme. Woo-hoo, double time. Sorry! I'm going to work on the letter in January and then start the process February 1 to give those beleaguered agents time to go through all the queries people submitted during the holiday season, and in the first few weeks of 2010. Yes, there is a method to my madness!
Right now . . . I have three potential next brilliant novels in the idea and (gasp, the horrors) outline stage - well, two of the projects, not the third. I'm just not sure what I want to work on next. I may just have to flip a coin or number the projects, write the numbers on a piece of paper, stick them in a hat, and let my cat Squeaky pick the lucky project.
Also . . . I have another project in revision stage that will, at some point, be the next project I query, so this project gets more importance than starting a new project.
And . . . I think that's it for right now. Have a great day.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Twas The Night Before Christmas - Scott's Version
First, I'm not a poet! Second, this is the best I could do. Third . . . well, there is no third.
‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house,
The only creatures stirring, were the dratted cat and her toy mouse,
She raced through the house, like a bat out of hell,
Knowing that she should be sleeping, good and well
Did any of that matter?
Hell no, which explained all the clatter
Scott leapt from the bed, madder than Comet
And lo and behold, he stepped in cat vomit
That little Squeaky cat, the one he loved so dear,
Had better be able to fly like Santa’s reindeer!
For when Scott finally catchers her, that sweet little louse,
His tossing her butt, right out of the house!
Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even the dratted toy mouse
Scott was snuggled all snug in his bed,
With visions of sugar plums dancing in his head.
When all of a sudden, there arose such a clatter,
Scott leapt from the bed to see what was the matter!
Lo and behold, that tricky black cat,
Had snuck back in the house, and was wearing a shiny black hat,
She grinned at me evilly, the little louse,
And just for spite, she batted at the toy mouse
No sleeping for you, she seemed to say,
I’m a cat, and nighttime is the time I play,
You can crawl back in bed,
And put a pillow over your head,
But I’ll yowl and howl, and dash through the house,
Making as much noise as I can with this lovely little mouse
Santa might come, down the chimney, with a shout,
But there’s no way in hell you’re putting me back out
I’m here for the night, and I’ll sleep all through the day,
Dash away, dash away, night time is for play!
Scott knew that the dratted little cat was right,
He wasn’t about to get any sleep this night.
With a sigh and a yawn, he knew it would be a dang long time until dawn.
So, with that thought in mind, he picked up the cat’s ball,
He tossed it through the air, and said Merry Christmas to All!!!
‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house,
The only creatures stirring, were the dratted cat and her toy mouse,
She raced through the house, like a bat out of hell,
Knowing that she should be sleeping, good and well
Did any of that matter?
Hell no, which explained all the clatter
Scott leapt from the bed, madder than Comet
And lo and behold, he stepped in cat vomit
That little Squeaky cat, the one he loved so dear,
Had better be able to fly like Santa’s reindeer!
For when Scott finally catchers her, that sweet little louse,
His tossing her butt, right out of the house!
Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, not even the dratted toy mouse
Scott was snuggled all snug in his bed,
With visions of sugar plums dancing in his head.
When all of a sudden, there arose such a clatter,
Scott leapt from the bed to see what was the matter!
Lo and behold, that tricky black cat,
Had snuck back in the house, and was wearing a shiny black hat,
She grinned at me evilly, the little louse,
And just for spite, she batted at the toy mouse
No sleeping for you, she seemed to say,
I’m a cat, and nighttime is the time I play,
You can crawl back in bed,
And put a pillow over your head,
But I’ll yowl and howl, and dash through the house,
Making as much noise as I can with this lovely little mouse
Santa might come, down the chimney, with a shout,
But there’s no way in hell you’re putting me back out
I’m here for the night, and I’ll sleep all through the day,
Dash away, dash away, night time is for play!
Scott knew that the dratted little cat was right,
He wasn’t about to get any sleep this night.
With a sigh and a yawn, he knew it would be a dang long time until dawn.
So, with that thought in mind, he picked up the cat’s ball,
He tossed it through the air, and said Merry Christmas to All!!!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Books Go Digital
In an interesting article on cnn.com . . .
Sick of lugging hefty books with you on vacation? Portable, electronic readers -- with their easy-on-the-eyes displays and ability to carry hundreds of titles without gaining weight -- started to make inroads on their hardback cousins in 2009.
E-book sales brought in $13.9 million in revenue in the third quarter of last year, according to International Digital Publishing Forum, a trade organization. The same time period this year saw $46.5 million in e-book revenue -- a 235 percent spike.
The Amazon Kindle, originally released in November 2007, found some competition this year with the release of the Sony Reader and Barnes & Noble's Nook. Meanwhile, libraries, authors, publishers and Google continued to haggle out the details of a settlement that could give the Internet giant permission to create the world's largest library -- online only.
So, obviously, EBooks are kicking butt and yet, some publishers are choosing to delay EBook releases, rather than simultaneously release the hardback and eback (sorry, couldn't resist that one!). Hmmmm, have they checked out the above article?? Perhaps they should. I'm just saying . . .
S
Sick of lugging hefty books with you on vacation? Portable, electronic readers -- with their easy-on-the-eyes displays and ability to carry hundreds of titles without gaining weight -- started to make inroads on their hardback cousins in 2009.
E-book sales brought in $13.9 million in revenue in the third quarter of last year, according to International Digital Publishing Forum, a trade organization. The same time period this year saw $46.5 million in e-book revenue -- a 235 percent spike.
The Amazon Kindle, originally released in November 2007, found some competition this year with the release of the Sony Reader and Barnes & Noble's Nook. Meanwhile, libraries, authors, publishers and Google continued to haggle out the details of a settlement that could give the Internet giant permission to create the world's largest library -- online only.
So, obviously, EBooks are kicking butt and yet, some publishers are choosing to delay EBook releases, rather than simultaneously release the hardback and eback (sorry, couldn't resist that one!). Hmmmm, have they checked out the above article?? Perhaps they should. I'm just saying . . .
S
Monday, December 21, 2009
Unplugged
Greetings from the North Pole!! Yes, I decided that this year I would explore the North Pole in search of Santa's Workshop, and cell phone coverage isn't the best!
Seriously, I'm unplugging, pretty much for the rest of the year. Oh, don't worry, I'm still lurking around, reading blogs here, there, and everywhere, and maybe leaving a comment or two or twelve, but just not as frequently as normal.
Today is December 21, Winter Solstice, and the shortest day of the year. Perhaps this pivotal seasonal moment is a good time to unplug, and reflect on the past year.
This year has been one of loss for me. Both Jordy and Tasmyn journeyed across the Rainbow Bridge in the span of less than a year. Tasmyn just didn't listen to me when, after Jordy passed, I told her she had to wait a few years. Stubborn to the very end. As I write this, the emotions of that loss still overwhelm me. Jordy and Tasmyn were my first pets, just me, nobody else to share them with. Jordy was a pound cat, and Tasmyn was from a stray cats litter. They both represented my independence - I had moved away, well only 2 hours, but still, from pretty much everyone I knew, quit my job, and didn't have a job in sight. Luckily, things worked out for the best. Still, when Tasmyn made that final journey, it was as if a piece of my past died with her, the lest vestige of that time in my life when I set out on my own . . . without a clue what I was doing.
This year hasn't been all about loss, because it was about finding things as well.
This year has increased the followers of this blog from a few to 91! Yes, 91!
This year brought about cyber friendships through blogging, and even Facebook. I treasure those friendships, the comments on the blog, the free advertising some people think it's okay to do on this blog (ha), the comments on Facebook, and the emails (regular and Facebook) I've exchanged with some of the bloggers I've met over this past year.
This year was about finding people struggling right alongside me in this crazy writing adventure we've embarked on.
This year was about following more and more blogs and learning as much as I can about writing, while still doing things in my crazy fashion.
This year was about tightening up Margarita Nights so that, after the craziness of the Christmas season, I can brave the shark infested waters of the Query Sea.
This year was about realizing what project is next for the revision stage and, ultimately, the query stage as well.
These past few weeks have been about ideas popping in my mind and me braving the perils of outlining, at least on one or two of those ideas, and seeing what happens. I have brightly colored folders filled with notes about these projects, and sometime next year I hope to sit down and begin typing away at something new.
This year has been about my growth as a writer as I take all that I have learned from my fellow bloggers and make it my own. It's all about that perfect blend of ornaments - past, present, and future - on the Christmas tree. Everything I read on the blogs doesn't always apply to me, but there's always a tidbit or two that does, and I take those tidbits and incorporate (blend) them into my life.
So, as I - somewhat - unplug, I hope whatever holiday people celebrate at this time of year is great, and safe, and provides endless memories, or inspiration, for many writing projects yet to come.
S
Seriously, I'm unplugging, pretty much for the rest of the year. Oh, don't worry, I'm still lurking around, reading blogs here, there, and everywhere, and maybe leaving a comment or two or twelve, but just not as frequently as normal.
Today is December 21, Winter Solstice, and the shortest day of the year. Perhaps this pivotal seasonal moment is a good time to unplug, and reflect on the past year.
This year has been one of loss for me. Both Jordy and Tasmyn journeyed across the Rainbow Bridge in the span of less than a year. Tasmyn just didn't listen to me when, after Jordy passed, I told her she had to wait a few years. Stubborn to the very end. As I write this, the emotions of that loss still overwhelm me. Jordy and Tasmyn were my first pets, just me, nobody else to share them with. Jordy was a pound cat, and Tasmyn was from a stray cats litter. They both represented my independence - I had moved away, well only 2 hours, but still, from pretty much everyone I knew, quit my job, and didn't have a job in sight. Luckily, things worked out for the best. Still, when Tasmyn made that final journey, it was as if a piece of my past died with her, the lest vestige of that time in my life when I set out on my own . . . without a clue what I was doing.
This year hasn't been all about loss, because it was about finding things as well.
This year has increased the followers of this blog from a few to 91! Yes, 91!
This year brought about cyber friendships through blogging, and even Facebook. I treasure those friendships, the comments on the blog, the free advertising some people think it's okay to do on this blog (ha), the comments on Facebook, and the emails (regular and Facebook) I've exchanged with some of the bloggers I've met over this past year.
This year was about finding people struggling right alongside me in this crazy writing adventure we've embarked on.
This year was about following more and more blogs and learning as much as I can about writing, while still doing things in my crazy fashion.
This year was about tightening up Margarita Nights so that, after the craziness of the Christmas season, I can brave the shark infested waters of the Query Sea.
This year was about realizing what project is next for the revision stage and, ultimately, the query stage as well.
These past few weeks have been about ideas popping in my mind and me braving the perils of outlining, at least on one or two of those ideas, and seeing what happens. I have brightly colored folders filled with notes about these projects, and sometime next year I hope to sit down and begin typing away at something new.
This year has been about my growth as a writer as I take all that I have learned from my fellow bloggers and make it my own. It's all about that perfect blend of ornaments - past, present, and future - on the Christmas tree. Everything I read on the blogs doesn't always apply to me, but there's always a tidbit or two that does, and I take those tidbits and incorporate (blend) them into my life.
So, as I - somewhat - unplug, I hope whatever holiday people celebrate at this time of year is great, and safe, and provides endless memories, or inspiration, for many writing projects yet to come.
S
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Gifts
Since it's that time of year . . . I'm going to write about gifts today. No, not the Kindle or the Wii or the DSi or the latest Harry Potter movie or a visit from Nathan Fillion or any such material thing. I'm talking about the gifts our characters give (or should give) our readers!
No, I haven't lost my mind and I haven't dosed my coffee with Bailey's, though that is a thought. Okay, I've only had 1/2 a cup of coffee so far, so that might explain things.
Every writer knows (or should know) that characters require action and must learn something, or what's the point of the novel??? If a character begins/ends the same way, what was the point of years of toiling over the laptop? A character must grow, must learn, must accomplish something, or there truly isn't a point to the brilliance of the 1,456,798 page book a writer just wrote.
We all know this, but I think the reader should be given (i.e., learn) something from the characters we create.
For example . . .
Jared - I'd like to think he gives the gift of knowing that, sometimes, love just isn't enough to make a relationship work, and that, sometimes, the greatest thing a person can do is walk away from the comfortable to the unknown.
Sorcha - I'd like to think she gives the gift of knowing that forgiveness won't truly happen, but that acceptance of her regret will happen. She can move forward, as can the others hurt by her actions, and they will survive, perhaps a bit changed, perhaps a bit more jaded and cynical then when they first started out in life.
Alexander - I'd like to think he gives the gift of fully understanding the consequences of the choices people make in life, and knowing it is never too late to change one's mind and do what a person really wants to do.
The Man with a Gun (sorry, never have named this character) - I'd like to think he gives the gift of hope. When everything a person loves is taken from them, when all their dreams are destroyed, when their family is gone and there is truly nothing, nothing to live for, and only vengeance exists, sometimes, hope is found in the unlikeliest of places. This is the gift the man with a gun provides.
Okay, I could keep listing characters and gifts, but then I'd never accomplish anything else today. I could also list characters we all know - Bilbo Baggins, Frodo, Harry Potter, Anne of Green Gables. Each of these characters taught me something about life. Each of these characters provided a nice gift, not always neatly wrapped, that I treasure every time I open up one of the Harry Potter books, The Hobbit, and of The Lord of the Rings, Anne of Green Gables or any other book I've ever read, or ever will read. Every single book, to me at least, is a treasure chest of gifts, perhaps a journey of self discovery as well.
What will readers discover when they read your books? What gifts will your characters give? Are your characters giftless? Has the Grinch on top of Mt. Crumpet stolen all the gifts during that time when his shoes were too small, and his heart was three sizes too small? Have the Whos down in Whoville not started singing their Christmas song, bereft of gifts and decorations, but not of love? If so, perhaps a close reexamination of your characters might be in order!
S
No, I haven't lost my mind and I haven't dosed my coffee with Bailey's, though that is a thought. Okay, I've only had 1/2 a cup of coffee so far, so that might explain things.
Every writer knows (or should know) that characters require action and must learn something, or what's the point of the novel??? If a character begins/ends the same way, what was the point of years of toiling over the laptop? A character must grow, must learn, must accomplish something, or there truly isn't a point to the brilliance of the 1,456,798 page book a writer just wrote.
We all know this, but I think the reader should be given (i.e., learn) something from the characters we create.
For example . . .
Jared - I'd like to think he gives the gift of knowing that, sometimes, love just isn't enough to make a relationship work, and that, sometimes, the greatest thing a person can do is walk away from the comfortable to the unknown.
Sorcha - I'd like to think she gives the gift of knowing that forgiveness won't truly happen, but that acceptance of her regret will happen. She can move forward, as can the others hurt by her actions, and they will survive, perhaps a bit changed, perhaps a bit more jaded and cynical then when they first started out in life.
Alexander - I'd like to think he gives the gift of fully understanding the consequences of the choices people make in life, and knowing it is never too late to change one's mind and do what a person really wants to do.
The Man with a Gun (sorry, never have named this character) - I'd like to think he gives the gift of hope. When everything a person loves is taken from them, when all their dreams are destroyed, when their family is gone and there is truly nothing, nothing to live for, and only vengeance exists, sometimes, hope is found in the unlikeliest of places. This is the gift the man with a gun provides.
Okay, I could keep listing characters and gifts, but then I'd never accomplish anything else today. I could also list characters we all know - Bilbo Baggins, Frodo, Harry Potter, Anne of Green Gables. Each of these characters taught me something about life. Each of these characters provided a nice gift, not always neatly wrapped, that I treasure every time I open up one of the Harry Potter books, The Hobbit, and of The Lord of the Rings, Anne of Green Gables or any other book I've ever read, or ever will read. Every single book, to me at least, is a treasure chest of gifts, perhaps a journey of self discovery as well.
What will readers discover when they read your books? What gifts will your characters give? Are your characters giftless? Has the Grinch on top of Mt. Crumpet stolen all the gifts during that time when his shoes were too small, and his heart was three sizes too small? Have the Whos down in Whoville not started singing their Christmas song, bereft of gifts and decorations, but not of love? If so, perhaps a close reexamination of your characters might be in order!
S
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
The Perfect Blend
No, I'm not talking about the perfect cup of coffee, though I do love Starbuck's Christmas Blend. Yummy! What I'm talking about is . . . well, wait, let me go back to the inspiration for this post . . .
Sunday morning, early, early, and I'm wide awake. So, get out of bed, flip the Christmas tree lights on, get some coffee, turn on some Christmas music, and sit with Jesse and James. As I'm sitting there, I'm looking at the Christmas tree and noticing the various ornaments on the tree. Some of them were Frank's before he met me, some of them mine before I met him, a few are from my childhood, some were gifts from friends, and many were purchased throughout our years together. They're all on the tree . . . the perfect blend of both our pasts and our present.
So, Christmas music in the background, lights glimmering on the tree, and my mind gets stuck on the concept of the perfect blend and I realize that our writing should also be a perfect blend.
Our writing should contain . . .
Sunday morning, early, early, and I'm wide awake. So, get out of bed, flip the Christmas tree lights on, get some coffee, turn on some Christmas music, and sit with Jesse and James. As I'm sitting there, I'm looking at the Christmas tree and noticing the various ornaments on the tree. Some of them were Frank's before he met me, some of them mine before I met him, a few are from my childhood, some were gifts from friends, and many were purchased throughout our years together. They're all on the tree . . . the perfect blend of both our pasts and our present.
So, Christmas music in the background, lights glimmering on the tree, and my mind gets stuck on the concept of the perfect blend and I realize that our writing should also be a perfect blend.
Our writing should contain . . .
- Narrative
- Showing versus Telling
- Dialogue - snappy, snarky, realistic
- A few margaritas for our characters, and perhaps the author, to drink along the way.
- Action
- Very little passive voice
- Voice - however you define it
- Believable characters (flaws must exist)
- And so much other stuff
Writing is just not putting the words onto a piece of paper. Heck, if it was that easy, everybody would be a writer. Writing is about blending everything we ever learned in High School English, tossing a bit of it away (just for good measure), everything we've learned in the blogsphere (again, toss some of it away, rules were made to be broken after all), and pouring our passion and energy into the writing. We need to mix it well, but not too much, because sometimes, overmixing can create a very stiff, practically inedible, dough! Yuck.
Blend everything just write (yes, did that on purpose) so that our readers can enjoy the perfect blend of our knowledge, talent, and a few things we've gleaned along the way.
So, when you edit your book - objectively, after much distance - do you have the perfect blend? Is there a bit of your past in there? Are your characters realistic? Is there more telling than showing? Ooops, was that a passive voice passage?? Is there a distinct voice? A mild voice? No voice at all? Is your dialogue realistic? Stilted? Would someone that age say that??? Are your characters too perfect? Does everything go right for them? Does there cat not hack up a hairball at 2 AM? If not, I want that cat. I'm just saying . . .
So, do you have the perfect blend in your writing that will compel readers to keep turning the page and demand you write another, and another, and another, and another, and another . . . book???
S
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