I posted earlier about the pile of books by my bed, and this is an update:
I finished Book 1 of the Hunger Games. It was a very compelling read, even though I'm not usually a fan of books written in the present tense. Still, I will go on and read books 2 and 3.
I'm halfway through Gideon the Cutpurse. I got stalled on this one. The action is constant and I like the characters. However, Gideon himself is a bit TOO likable. I've mentioned ad nauseum that I love a flawed character, and I suppose I have a hard time believing that an 18th century thief would act in such a nice, gentlemanly manner. Still, I'll continue to work away at the book, since there are some nice images and concepts.
The Search for Wond-La has been one of my favorite reads. Diterlizzi created a fascinating world, although he does rip off a certain famous movie at the end. (I won't mention which one, since it would be a huge spoiler.) Still, the illustrations are breath taking, I love the characters, and the action is nonstop. Be warned - there is some disturbing violence.
I couldn't help peeking into Losing Beauty. That peek drew me in and I'd read four chapters before I knew it. Still, I promised myself I'd finish Gideon before I was allowed to read Losing Beauty.
Next up: The Last Guardian by Joan Hazel
The Land of Nod, book 2 by Gary Hoover
11/22/63 by Stephen King
Sykosa by Justin Ordonez
The Veronica Roth novels - Divergent and Insurgent
Friday, June 22, 2012
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Word Bricks and Backstories
Backstory - Part One
One thing editors and reviewers love to pounce on is "back story," that section in a book that explains how things came to be that way, or why a character is where she is. "Backstory!" we shout gleefully, as we wave a manuscript under the poor, bewildered writer's nose. "Must get rid of that backstory!"
However, books do need a certain amount of explanation. Readers like to know the wheres and whys, but they don't like to read a long, text-heavy lecture that explains them.
For example, let's say you (the reader) have just picked up a book about Rose. I (the writer) want to make you understand what Rose is all about. So I include a few paragraphs filled with many, many uses of the past participle. Bored already just reading the words past participle, aren't you, you poor reader you.
Traditional Backstory:
Rose had decided to rebuild her life after her divorce. Her first husband had left her and their children penniless, and he refused to pay child support. Whenever she had made formal requests for payment, he had tracked her down and threatened her. She remembered how he had hit her, and as he left, he had told her that the children were next.
Now, this is pretty interesting action, but it is presented in a really dry, dusty way. Several more paragraphs of this and the reader will skim forward.
More than that, if they are looking at your Kindle or Nook sample online, they might decide to move their business elsewhere.
I am convinced that backstory is necessary, and that there is a creative, vibrant way to express it. In other words, writers can excite and inform at the same time.
Let's try a rewrite of that paragraph, but in a completely different way.
New, Improved Backstory:
Rose sat by the window. She crossed her arms and winced. The bruise was still fresh from David's last visit.
"Mum? Can I have my allowance?" Maeve entered the room. There was a rip on the knee of the girl's jeans.
"I'm sorry, love. I just can't afford it at the present."
It hurt to admit that, but the thought of what David would to do to her and, worse, to Maeve, if he returned was more painful.
Now the writer does several things at once. She makes the reader understand Rose's desperation, and she creates a magic picture of where Rose is, what her child is like, and where they are physically. The rewrite won't win any awards, but it's much more interesting than that first word brick.
Advanced Backstory - The Second Book in a Series
As an author of a series, it's even more imperative to get information about my characters out there. Someone may pick up my second book without having read the first. I could include a long "The Story Thus Far" section, but who ever reads those?
It would be better to bring the reader onboard with a few letters, a conversation, perhaps a cat walking among a pile of photographs. That requires much more dexterity but delivers far more interest.
Don't hate on the backstory. Seize it as a chance to serve up a fascinating chunk of detail about your beloved characters to those who make your writing possible: the readers.
One thing editors and reviewers love to pounce on is "back story," that section in a book that explains how things came to be that way, or why a character is where she is. "Backstory!" we shout gleefully, as we wave a manuscript under the poor, bewildered writer's nose. "Must get rid of that backstory!"
However, books do need a certain amount of explanation. Readers like to know the wheres and whys, but they don't like to read a long, text-heavy lecture that explains them.
For example, let's say you (the reader) have just picked up a book about Rose. I (the writer) want to make you understand what Rose is all about. So I include a few paragraphs filled with many, many uses of the past participle. Bored already just reading the words past participle, aren't you, you poor reader you.
Traditional Backstory:
Rose had decided to rebuild her life after her divorce. Her first husband had left her and their children penniless, and he refused to pay child support. Whenever she had made formal requests for payment, he had tracked her down and threatened her. She remembered how he had hit her, and as he left, he had told her that the children were next.
Now, this is pretty interesting action, but it is presented in a really dry, dusty way. Several more paragraphs of this and the reader will skim forward.
More than that, if they are looking at your Kindle or Nook sample online, they might decide to move their business elsewhere.
I am convinced that backstory is necessary, and that there is a creative, vibrant way to express it. In other words, writers can excite and inform at the same time.
Let's try a rewrite of that paragraph, but in a completely different way.
New, Improved Backstory:
Rose sat by the window. She crossed her arms and winced. The bruise was still fresh from David's last visit.
"Mum? Can I have my allowance?" Maeve entered the room. There was a rip on the knee of the girl's jeans.
"I'm sorry, love. I just can't afford it at the present."
It hurt to admit that, but the thought of what David would to do to her and, worse, to Maeve, if he returned was more painful.
Now the writer does several things at once. She makes the reader understand Rose's desperation, and she creates a magic picture of where Rose is, what her child is like, and where they are physically. The rewrite won't win any awards, but it's much more interesting than that first word brick.
Advanced Backstory - The Second Book in a Series
As an author of a series, it's even more imperative to get information about my characters out there. Someone may pick up my second book without having read the first. I could include a long "The Story Thus Far" section, but who ever reads those?
It would be better to bring the reader onboard with a few letters, a conversation, perhaps a cat walking among a pile of photographs. That requires much more dexterity but delivers far more interest.
Don't hate on the backstory. Seize it as a chance to serve up a fascinating chunk of detail about your beloved characters to those who make your writing possible: the readers.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
My Cure for Picky Eaters
Yesterday my post was all, Oh the magic of having a child, yadda yadda. Of course, parenthood and being a mom means putting up with some pain in the butt stuff too.
One of my biggest challenges was getting my kid to eat. I think I might have one of the pickiest eaters on the planet. When she was three, she started to reject all fruits and all vegetables. She wouldn't eat cantaloupe, apples, carrots, or watermelon.
But that wasn't all. She also wouldn't eat mac 'n' cheese, hot dogs, or pizza. All the kid foods, in fact, were a No.
I used to make her two things: bacon, and buttered pasta. That was all she'd eat.
Here's the thing. Since I had worked so hard to get pregnant, I approached motherhood with great zeal. I made all my own babyfood. While I was pregnant, I ate every green leafy thing known to man.
So to have my daughter reject good stuff after all that was shattering, to say the least.
I blame myself: at the time, there was a dearth of baby food recipe books. The one I found suggested giving the kid "cubes of tofu" as snacks.
That didn't go well. Let's just leave it at that.
There were several things that cured my child, and here they are:
1. The wonderful playdate moms. They would invite Bub over for dinner, and she was so excited to be on a playdate that she would eat chicken with broccoli. Thank you, wonderful playdate moms!
2. Costco *sound of celestial choir singing* When we went, it was lunchtime and I didn't have bacon or buttered pasta handy. We rolled around the store, and as the nice ladies in hairnets handed out samples, Bub stuck out her skinny arm and grabbed those Dixie cups filled with new food items. And ate them. She ate Japanese noodles, clam chowder, vegetable stew that day. And she still asks for them. Thank you Costco!
3. OK, here is the risky one, and please try not to faint with horror - I still wanted her to try fresh veggies. So I offered, once I knew she was responsible enough, to teach her how to use a sharp knife to cut up peppers and cucumbers.
Best believe I hovered over her like a second skin, but as she chopped she started to sample. And she actually ate - STRIPS OF RAW RED PEPPER.
This is like a Second Coming, you do see.
Not only that, but ever since the playdate mom / Costco / knife combo, Bub has started to request different things to eat: omelettes, sushi, and pasta with stuff on it that isn't butter. That is huge in Bub World.
No watermelon yet, but who knows? Maybe by the time she's nine.
One of my biggest challenges was getting my kid to eat. I think I might have one of the pickiest eaters on the planet. When she was three, she started to reject all fruits and all vegetables. She wouldn't eat cantaloupe, apples, carrots, or watermelon.
What kid doesn't like watermelon?????
But that wasn't all. She also wouldn't eat mac 'n' cheese, hot dogs, or pizza. All the kid foods, in fact, were a No.
I used to make her two things: bacon, and buttered pasta. That was all she'd eat.
 |
| Bub's perfect meal |
Here's the thing. Since I had worked so hard to get pregnant, I approached motherhood with great zeal. I made all my own babyfood. While I was pregnant, I ate every green leafy thing known to man.
So to have my daughter reject good stuff after all that was shattering, to say the least.
I blame myself: at the time, there was a dearth of baby food recipe books. The one I found suggested giving the kid "cubes of tofu" as snacks.
That didn't go well. Let's just leave it at that.
 |
| "Throw that in the trash where it belongs and bring me bacon" |
There were several things that cured my child, and here they are:
1. The wonderful playdate moms. They would invite Bub over for dinner, and she was so excited to be on a playdate that she would eat chicken with broccoli. Thank you, wonderful playdate moms!
2. Costco *sound of celestial choir singing* When we went, it was lunchtime and I didn't have bacon or buttered pasta handy. We rolled around the store, and as the nice ladies in hairnets handed out samples, Bub stuck out her skinny arm and grabbed those Dixie cups filled with new food items. And ate them. She ate Japanese noodles, clam chowder, vegetable stew that day. And she still asks for them. Thank you Costco!
3. OK, here is the risky one, and please try not to faint with horror - I still wanted her to try fresh veggies. So I offered, once I knew she was responsible enough, to teach her how to use a sharp knife to cut up peppers and cucumbers.
Best believe I hovered over her like a second skin, but as she chopped she started to sample. And she actually ate - STRIPS OF RAW RED PEPPER.
This is like a Second Coming, you do see.
 |
| Yeah, the knife episode didn't look like this at all. Somehow pepper seeds managed to splatter every inch of kitchen. |
Not only that, but ever since the playdate mom / Costco / knife combo, Bub has started to request different things to eat: omelettes, sushi, and pasta with stuff on it that isn't butter. That is huge in Bub World.
No watermelon yet, but who knows? Maybe by the time she's nine.
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