Monday, August 30, 2010

Who should follow the rules?

Yah, Yah... I know... RULES. Who makes the rules, and why should they be followed? Well, that's a huge discussion, and today, I'm only going to tackle part of it.

This weekend, I read the "Hunger Games" trilogy (check out my reviews on Goodreads by clicking on the box in the lower left of this blog).  While I found the stories absolutely captivating, I was distracted and pulled out of the moment many times by the "rules" that were broken. Now, I understand that if you are a best-selling author, the rules may no longer apply, but it was still distracting!  And, frankly, frustrating. I've been told and read many times that debut authors must follow the rules as much as possible in order to get that first book published. However, there are conflicting opinions that argue we should simply read the best-sellers and follow their examples in how to write a great book. Ack. Which is it?


According to Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, "Very nearly the only time you need [thinker attritubtions] is when you're writing from an extremely distant point of view..." (page 124).

And yet, in Catching Fire, which is written in a very close first-person point-of-view, Collins constantly uses thinker attributions and italics. "I can't do it, I think. I'm not that good" (page 30).

Another broken rule that constantly distracted me in the trilogy was the use of dialogue tags.  Again, according to Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, "Name before the noun ("Renni said") rather than the other way around ("said Renni")" (page 95).

And yet... throughout the trilogy this "rule" was broken. "...says Octavia...says Venia..." (page 48, Catching Fire).

So, while I loved the trilogy (read it in three days) I was frustrated by the grammar.

What do you think? Are "rules" meant to be followed? Only by debut authors? Or not at all?

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Check it out - - I'm a Guest Host!

Today, I am "Guest Host" on Christi Corbett's blog!

Check it out:
Christi Corbett's Blog

Techniques that look effortless

So... I took my daughter to the hairdresser for her fourteenth birthday. She got her hair cut and colored. Then the hairdresser styled her long locks in a super cool way. I watched carefully as she wrapped my daughter's hair around the outside of the curling iron. I asked why she was doing that instead of the usual way of using a curling iron.
"Because this is how Taylor Swift does it," the hairdresser replied. My eyes must've widened in obvious surprise, because she asked, "What? Are you not a Taylor Swift fan?"

"Taylor Swift is great," I quickly answered, as the hairdresser held my daughter's hair hostage with a burning iron (jk). "I'm just impressed (surprised) that you know how Taylor does her hair." I tried to smile politely.

She smiled back and continued curling my daughter's hair. It looked AMAZING when she was finished. And, it looked so easy to duplicate. Ha.

So, fast forward to last night. My daughter and I discussed her many hair options for picture day (today). She smiled and asked if I'd help her do the Taylor Swift hair-do.

"Sure, piece of cake!" I said. "Wake me up at 6:00a.m. and that will give us forty-five minutes. More than enough time to make your hair gorgeous!" Agreed on our strategy, my daughter headed off to bed.

Morning came extra early today as I heard my daughter bustling around at 5:30a.m. getting showered and ready for the day. At 6:10, she knocked on my door.  I blew out her hair, just like the hairdresser did. I wrapped her hair around the outside of the iron, just like the hairdresser did. And... well... the results were not the same. I could not figure out what I was doing differently. But, it certainly did not look like Taylor Swift's hair.

So, we decided to straighten it. Which took longer. Which caused her to miss the bus. Which caused me to happily drive her to school.

For some reason, I'm not sure she appreciated me singing happily along to the radio in the car. Of course, I changed the words to one of Phil Collins songs. Ha. I sang, "I'm happy to go to Columbia... to get my picture taken... I'm gonna smile big and show my pretty expensive teeth... I'm happy to go to Columbia..."

Yah. Well. I'm not Taylor Swift's hairdresser either.

But, it made me think. Often times I read a book and think about how awesome the writing is and how the author makes it look so easy. Surely, just by observing it I should be able to duplicate the process... right? Not. Professionals know tricks, techniques, and methods for creating something amazing that looks effortless.  Only through hard work and practice will we be able to achieve the same level of talent.

I need to call my hairdresser and ask her for lessons.

Monday, August 23, 2010

Writer's Conference

Since starting this adventure called writing, I've considered attending a conference. But... there are so many to choose from. And... are they really worth the massive amounts of cash involved?

Well, my pal, Melissa, did all the research for me (thanks) and picked a great one that features a lot of agent one-on-one-face-time. So... I took the plunge and registered! YAY!

Here's the link for the South Carolina Writers Workshop: http://myscww.org/conference/index.php

Seems crazy to travel from Idaho to South Carolina for my first conference, but Melissa will be there (YAY!) and I was able to get my airline ticket for only $60 (WOW!).

So, let me know if you plan to attend the conference as well... and we'll say "hey" to each other! :)

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Thanks Holly and Shannon!

So... as you know, I have a block when it comes to writing query letters. I've done a ton of research, and understand the concept and construction, but knowing and doing are two different things.

Here's what paid off for me:
1. I had a critique partner read the ms and then read my query attempt. Having read the entire ms, she was able to give great feedback and advice for improving the letter. THANKS SHANNON!

2. Holly made a comment on a previous post suggesting that I should pretend to give the pitch verbally in person, and then transfer those words to paper. THANKS HOLLY!

3. Then, my "research" has taught me that you need to introduce the mc, problem, solution, complication, complication, complication, etc. to structure the query.

4. I put these three things together, and received a request for a full manuscript! YAY!

Here's my query letter:

Dear [Agent's Name],

Thirteen-year-old Cynthia Reid (Thia) falls in love with an internet predator. Of course she doesn’t know Mike is a predator. She just wants a boyfriend, and her over-protective parents won’t let her date until sixteen. So, hooking up with a boy during an online game seems like the perfect solution… until Thia’s mom catches her emailing innocent pictures. Then she loses her computer for weeks. When Thia finally gets it back, she learns that Mike attempted suicide in her absence.


Out of fear and guilt, Thia gives Mike her cell phone number, because she doesn’t want to be responsible for his death. The burden becomes too heavy to bear, but she doesn’t know who to trust. She knows Mike would never lie to her, because he loves her, and she chooses to believe him over her friends and her parents. As her online relationship with Mike intensifies, Thia’s real world begins to crumble. Her friendships shatter, her lies come more easily, and her relationship with her parents teeters on the brink.

Thia’s life spins out of control when her mom calls the police after discovering text messages from Mike on Thia’s phone. But even after Thia is shown evidence of who Mike really is, she stills chooses to believe Mike… until he shows up on her doorstep as a forty-five-year-old man.

Inspired by actual events, The Education of Thia is a 62,000 word young adult novel.

This is a multiple submission, and four agents are currently reviewing the full manuscript. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Margo Kelly

Monday, August 16, 2010

Are people born mean?

Nah. I don't think so! But, I often wonder what happened to a person to make them so MEAN!?

Saturday, at Quilt Crossing in Boise (I sell Bernina sewing machines), I thought I would be nice (ha - sometimes requires effort on my part). I told a couple of the ladies working they could go take their lunch breaks, and I'd cover the registers. So, multi-tasking (my first mistake), I cut fabric, answered questions, rang up sales, and tried to smile and be nice to everyone...

I had cut a piece of fabric for one lady and started her sale in the computer. She walked off to look at more fabric, so I thought I could quickly ring up a sale for a customer who patiently waited. As I'm doing that, the other lady stomps toward the front door. I asked her if she still wanted the fabric I'd already cut for her. She turned and told me how I was to slow for her and she didn't have all day to wait for me. She huffed and stormed out the door.

For some reason that really flustered me. Usually, I don't allow people to upset me so much. But, when I am working for someone else, I feel like I can't necessarily say the things I would normally if it was just me on my own time. This lady was MEAN! And I wanted to tell her to not bother coming back. Stinker. But, I bit my tongue and let her stomp away.

Afterward, the other employees looked at her name (it was in the computer for the sale I'd started for her) and they said, "Oh, no!" They went on to tell me that this lady would be calling the owner of the store to tell her how awful I was... because she's done it before to them. She's a repeat offender.

Whatever.

People like that need to be hit upside the head. Or be given free counseling. Something.

So, I wonder, what happened to her to make her so mean?

Why are mean people mean?

Do they just need a hug? Or a serious whack?

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Performance Anxiety

Truth. I currently suffer from performance anxiety.

I can stand up and speak in front of thousands of people, on the spot, with no preparation, and love every minute.

But, for some reason I lack the polished ability to write a stinkin' query letter. ACK.

Yes, I've studied the topic. Yes, I've written a gazillion versions for BOTH of my manuscripts. But, I just can't seem to hit the nail on the head.

Today, in the attempt to study the topic even MORE, I came across an uplifting post:
http://www.sarahjanefreymann.com/perfect_pitch.html

I like the idea.

What I liked most was her suggestion:
"It’s authenticity. By authenticity I mean the assurance and dignity that comes from being genuinely knowledgeable and truly intimate with the subject you are writing about; that you’ve immersed yourself in it; that you’ve walked the walk so you can talk the talk (or write the write). This authenticity makes me feel as if a book had to be written. Not just because the author would love to be published, but also because the author has something of importance to say, something to add to the world."

So, back to the drawing board. I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.

Are query letters easy for you to write? If so, wanna write mine?

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Thought for the day (I have them sometimes)

When you are employed by someone else, you are limited by their expectations of you. When you are employed by yourself, you are only limited by the expectations you can imagine.

This profound thought is brought to you by MARGO KELLY.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Value of a bear...

We were going to sell a bear skin in a garage sale this weekend for $65, but then I thought maybe I should google the going price for bears. HA. I found a website that is selling a smaller bear skin for $1600. Yup. So, we've decided we'd be happy with $800. Wanna buy our bear skin? We even brushed his fur tonight before taking the photo. hahaha. Kinda creepy, really.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Cough, Cough

I went to Education Week last week at BYU-Idaho in Rexburg (I'm 41 years-old and I've never been to Rexburg before, ha), and I came home with a bad chest cold. Maybe it's pneumonia. Hack. Cough. Gag.

I went with my fifteen-year-old son, his sixteen-year-old friend, and the friend's mother. So, two moms and two boys. We stayed in the dorms together. I haven't slept on the top bunk in ... well EVER! Maybe once I slept on a top bunk at girls' camp... but I think even then it was a lower bunk. Holy Hannah. Climbing up and coming down that sucker, I think my life flashed before my eyes.


The classes were great and the company was fun. There were youth classes the boys could have attended, but no... they went to classes about Hebrew words and how to study Isaiah. A couple of brainiac scriptorians.

Me? I went to classes on how to raise teenagers. Ha. (Yah, I went to other classes as well.) 

I took my book club book with me to read in my free time. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It was a white and black experience going from classes about Jesus Christ to reading a book with so much sadistic behavior in it. I had to skip many passages in the book, because it was too awful, too cruel.


I would not recommend that book to anyone. The violence against women was horrifying. A friend told me the book was originally called, Men who Hate Women. Well, if that had been the title, I would never have even picked up the book in the first place. Bummer.

Anyhow, enough soapbox. I'm going to go cough and write today. I may need to disinfect my keyboard afterward.

Have a great day!