One Book, So Many Opinions

I just got home from a program at my library where about 30 people, from ages 15-60, gathered to discuss a book. It was the first of four meetings and I have to say, it was extremely interesting.

Why? Because every single person in that room had a different opinion about the book. Me, I hated it so much I couldn't finish it. Both librarians and the two high school teachers that were there disliked it as well, though for different reasons. About half of the room either liked or LOVED it but they all liked different things about it. Some people were just meh about it. An hour and a half was dedicated to discussing this ONE book.

ONE book, with thirty DIFFERENT opinions, ranging from hatred to love. It's kind of hard to believe but it's one of the things that's so interesting about literature.

Every person takes something different away from every book.

It's why we, as writers, cannot let the fact that one beta reader doesn't like our story or that one agent rejected it or five editors rejected it or that someone else doesn't like the idea.

It's impossible to please everyone.

It's something that I've always known but tonight really proved that for me and showed me how different the opinions really can be.

Who knew so much could be learned at the library.

Harmony

Saturday Gets Back to Basics

Or: It's 5am when I'm writing this and I can't sleep. Also: This flashlight sucks

I think, if I'm not mistaken, one of the most commonly asked questions from newer writers to more experienced writers is, "How do you write a book?" The simple answer is, "You just do," but that kinda sucks as an answer, doesn't it? So. I was thinking that maybe if I broke down the process of how I wrtie, it might help some of you out there in Frustrated Writer Land.

With me step one is an idea. Usually it's inspired by a dream I've had (but not one my stress nightmares, because in those everyone dies bloody, violent deaths, and that isn't quite what I want to be writing about.) For the sake of this post, let's say I had a dream about the dish that ran away with the spoon.

For those not familiar with this nursery rhyme, it goes:

Hey, diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon.
The little dog laughed to see such sport,
And the dish ran away with the spoon.

In this case, the dish and spoon running away would probably be the scene I dreamt about. I'd write it down as soon as I woke up, because I do with a lot of my dreams, but it'd get stuck in my head and I wouldn't be able to stop thinking about it. So, I'd wonder. How did they get to that point? Who are they?

(Now, usually, the dish is potrayed as female and the spoon male, but a.) I like to do things differently from other people sometimes and b.) when I think of forks and spoons, forks just seem like boys, so let's just say that in my dream, the spoon was a girl and the dish was a boy.)

Now. We have a main character - the spoon. (Just roll with me here.)

This is step two. There are any number of character profiles and questionaires you can fill out, and while those can be helpful at certain stages, I don't use them at all at this stage. I find that, for me, the best way to develop a character is to dive in and write a few scenes from their POV. (Main characers. Not side characers, because I have trouble head-hopping, so I stick to writing from one MC's point-of view.)

For me, this is also a good way to tell how well I can write in their heads. If an idea isn't ready to be written, the words don't feel right.

This is getting long, so how about we continue it next week? What does the beginning of your writing process look like?

Peace and cookies,
Laina

But What if They Read It?

I've been thinking about this a lot lately and I thought I would share my thoughts with you all. I'm 14 now and I would like to try and get an agent by the time I'm a senior in high school. It probably won't happen but a girl can dream, right?
There is this lingering fear that if I actually do get published when I'm a teenager- people will actually read it. I'm not scared of people reading what I write, I'm scared of family reading what I write.
I curse in my novels.
Some of my characters curse like sailors.
But that is just how they are.

People who are non-writers don't really understand that if I have a character who drops the f-bomb every other word, I can't censor them. Speaking of experience, when I censor a character so they don't curse or say a certain thing, it messes them up.

You guys, my grandparents might read what I publish.
They probably will read my books if they get published.
The thing is- I don't say "bad words" much in real life. I don't want my parents/grandparents/parents friends/cousins to read what I write and then be shocked that I know a curse-word!

Teenagers curse.
They make a lot of sexual innuendo's.
They are annoying, self centered, and confused.

I don't want my family members to think of me differently because of what I write. This is a fear that has haunted me for years. I seriously don't know how to get over it. Do you ever get over it?
Let's discuss this in the comments, dear readers.
Am I the only one who has a fear of my elders reading what I write and thinking I'm crazy?

The Hook

Some might say that the hook is the most important part of the story. It's definitely at the top of the list. There are three things that I always like to make sure of when I'm thinking up a beginning. Usually if I stick to these, my hook is good.

It should be unique.

There are thousands of stories, thousands of books. So many plots, characters, settings. This is one of the few things that we as writers can make completely different. Use a sentence you've never seen before at the start of that first chapter.

It should jump out at the reader.

Obviously, it needs to be gripping. A hook that – excuse the gory image – digs into the reader and permanently scars. Something that's startling, something that will keep that person thinking. Drag them into your world suddenly. Create intrigue. You have that, and of course that person is going to keep reading.

It should set the tone.

One of my favorite quotes is that there are no original ideas, just original voices. When we write, I think that a little part of ourselves goes into the words, no matter who the character is. And each human being is special. We all speak our own ways, have our own gestures, our own vocabularies and thoughts. Those are transferred to the page. So whoever the character is that you're creating – headstrong, timid, sad, angry – leak it into those sentences.

A hook is hard, like all the rest of it. But I think that no matter what stage a writer is at – just beginning, years of experience, published – we can all make a fabulous beginning just by trying. Happy writing, everyone.

Dialogue Tags

Ever want to write your dialogue in list format? By that I mean, have a conversation be written as:
Person 1: Yadayada
Person 2: Yahblooh
Person 1: Blosh!
Person 2: Bloshblosh.

vs.
"Yadayada," P1 said.
"Yablooh," P2 agreed.
"Blosh!"
"Bloshblosh," P2 added.

I think there are advantages and disadvantages to both. However, do the disadvantages to list-dialogue carry more weight than the advantages? Dialogue tags often add action and description that create the setting or introduce character traits about the two in the conversation. But if the setting and characters are already well established, or if the descriptions could be worked into the dialogue itself, would the list be more effective?

I found a short conversation in one of my old stories. Here it is in both formats.

Tags:

“What is so urgent?” Henry asks, falling into step beside me. We enter the store, and cool AC washes over me.

“Ah…look at that bottle. Zombie repellant. Only one dollar,” I say unconvincingly.

“The only effective Zombie repellant is a large shotgun and quick feet,” Henry corrects, successfully distracted.

“The stuff here is weird,” I observe for probably the millionth time.

“And useless.” Henry bends over to examine the zombie repellant, and next to it, a crystal ball. “This isn’t even real crystal, or glass.”

“I think it’s supposed to be a snow globe.”

“No, it says crystal ball. Besides what use is a snow globe?”

“I’ll let you ponder that.” I move away and try to find Grandma. She finds me instead.

And without tags:

Henry: Oh no, this AC is freezing. I can feel my epidermis growing numb. Kristyn, what is so urgent?

Me: Ah…look at that bottle. Zombie repellant. Only one dollar.

Henry: The only effective Zombie repellant is a large shotgun and quick feet.

Me: Right. So apart from that, nothing urgent at all. The stuff here is weird.

Henry: And useless. This 'Crystal Ball' isn’t even real crystal, or glass.

Me: I think it’s supposed to be a snow globe.

Henry: No, it says crystal ball. Besides what use is a snow globe?

Me: I’ll let you ponder that.

So what do you think? Which works better for this conversation?

Kieryn
www.kierynnicolas.com

Journaling

One of the things we're supposed to be doing for the Guatemala trip is keeping a journal, both about the things we're doing and feeling leading up to the trip and while we're on the trip. That got me thinking about the importance of journals to writers.

I've heard more than one writer say that the journals they kept as a teenager has been a life-saver when it comes to writing for YA because it helps them remember the small things and the emotions of being a teenager. Often, keeping a journal is the one piece of writing advice they offer up to every teenager.

So do you keep a journal?

Me, I keep one on and off. I'll write in it all the time for months straight then forget about it for a while. Right now, I'm probably about 30 pages from finally filling up my first-ever diary - one that I started way back in '07. I think as I get older, I've started to write more faithfully in it and I'm actually really excited to be able to go out and buy another one.

I write about all kinds of things in it - what I did that day, how I'm feeling, anything that's going on with my family or friends...sometimes I use it as a de-stresser to make a list of everything I plan to accomplish the next day. That may not help me in the future when it comes using my journals to improve my writing but it definitely helps me sleep better at night.

If you have a journal, how faithfully do you write in it? What do you write about?

Harmony