Check
out the new lay-out. You liiiiike? You buuuuuy?
I’ve
been on a major cleaning spree, which meant the blog was majorly overdue for
some tidying up. At some point I would actually like to pitch this thing to a
greater audience and not hang my head in shame (although that will undoubtedly
occur anyways), so enjoy the new view. Among other things, I also organized my
closet, my dresser, my bulletin-board, my make-up, and my Google Drive. *awkward
pause* Okay, so Google isn’t done yet. But all of the old embarrassing stuff is
in its own separate folder, which prevents it from discouraging me in my latest
endeavors.
More
news: The final installment of our family Christmas gift arrived in the mail… Season 3 of Downton Abbey. Now the
question is, is it ethical to skip ahead and watch the whole thing ahead of the
majority of the country? I mean, all the British people already know
everything! Plus, my best friend has seen the whole series, so it seems only
fair… Thoughts?
Even
more news: The 100 for 100 Challenge is fast approaching. I feel so unprepared!
Just like NaNoWriMo, I probably won’t “officially” decide what I’m writing
about until the day of. Anything I say before then should be disregarded as
rubbish. Fortunately, I am not alone in this adventure! My friends over at Charlie
and Me will be joining me! I can’t wait to see what we all come up with. It’s
bound to be a real adventure.
They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery...
... unless you're writing a book. Then they call it "unoriginal".
They say that there are only seven basic plots in the world. Well, I investigated (*coughsputter* "consulted" the Internet) and found out that it's a lot more complicated than that. 1 plot, 2 plot, red plot, blue plot. Very confuzzling, indeed. I tried time and time again to simplify the information, but here's the fact of the matter:
Plots don't fit perfectly into neat categories, yet most - if not all - plots resemble each other in broad categories.
Chances are, you know this already. Middle Earth isn't 5th century England, but both Lord of the Rings and Beowulf deal with heroes setting out to conquer great evils. Jane Eyre and Harry Potter are both about orphans who go from rags to riches. Then there are the even broader trends, which I have absolutely no intention of describing. Point is, all plots come from some form of conflict, and there are only so many options with what "type" of plot you have.
Why is this important? If we consult my last post, we can see that cliches are generally BAD. But if everything's a cliche, why does it matter!? Calm yourself, my dear reader. I have an answer prepared.
Every writer is faced with the seemingly insurmountable challenge of writing something "original". Yet no matter how "innovative" our story is, it will never truly be a brand spankin' new art form (unless you write something bizarre that makes no sense). However, every writer should aim to make their story distinct and unique. Here's another list of tips!
1. Be a go-getting, trend-setting trailblazer. I just told you that you can't write something that's 100% original. But you can write something that feels like it! You'll notice that there are trends in literature. For example, a 5 minute trip to your local bookstore will reveal that the Y.A. section is currently dominated by Paranormal Romance. (Ew, Twilight!) When I was in middle school, those dark shelves were splashed with lime green and hot pink while chick lit stole center stage. Trend!
I'm not suggesting you ditch your current genre for something more obscure, even though the hipsters will love you for it. I'm suggesting you be choosy with your trends. For example, the brooding hero has made a recent comeback, thanks to Edward Cullen. If you have the best brooding hero planned since Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy, then go for it. But be careful that your book isn't also populated with Bella Swans, Katniss Everdeens, Harry Potters, Percy Jacksons, etc. that keep him company. You'll sound like a broken record, repeating the same characters, locations, and quirks.
Hipster Darcy appreciates my love of the under-appreciated genre of historical fiction. I appreciate his face.
* Is Darcy a brooding hero? *shrug* Who cares. He's awesome.
2. Crack open your books and study, study, study. Just as there are general book trends, there are trends within genres. It's probably a good idea to be aware what other people in your field are writing so that you don't become just another title. You want to fit the bill for marketing within your genre, so don't stray too far! Just be careful: No publisher wants to pick up a book and either a) be criticized for selling a "knock-off" version of something else or b) get sued.
3. Consult your fellow bookworms. Speak with friends and family who are well-versed in literature, or better yet, your specific genre. Entrust your precious story to them. If the words "this sounds familiar" come out of their mouths, it's best to take a second look at your manuscript.
4. Take notes... just not very detailed notes... Reading your favorite books over and over again can be a great source of inspiration and a real learning experience. Note what you like about the book, the characters, the description. Absorb this information, adopt it, but never rip it off or try and copy the author's style. For example, in Princess Academy and even Palace of Stone, I love how Shannon Hale describes Peder. Miri associates him with smell, not just sight and sound. Sometimes she catches a whiff of freshly baked bread of his mother's soap. Or in Entwined, Bradford smells good too... Pine, I think? Those descriptions were so vivid and real, I am often tempted to flat out steal them! Especially Peder! Instead, I decided to take a tip from my favorite authoresses: In my last NaNo novel, Anthony smelled like incense from living at the church rectory. I learned how to utilize the sense of smell, but took nothing directly and didn't try to imitate the writing style.
Stick your nose in his cravat, Azalea! You know you want to! YOU SAID SO!
5. Trust your instincts, and let your heart be your guide. Go with your gut. If there is an aspect of your story that simply has to be told that has been done before, and you're passionate about it, you should still go for it. Originality depends a lot on the skill of the writer. If you've got some natural talent and you're determined, you can make it work. See #3 if you want to be doubly sure of your success before letting the world poke it with a stick. Otherwise, listen with your heart (see below).
Now, hit up the comments section, hit "follow" if you haven't already, and best of luck in your own writing endeavors. I myself will be busy sweating what I'm going to do about this 100 for 100 Challenge. Updates soon!
Disclaimer: I've never seen Fight Club. But I have seen the trailer for Jane Austen's Fight Club.
Basically, I propose that we (you and every writer out there who is reading this) form our own Fight Club. We hit our readers as hard as we can... right in the feels. Kind of like Episode 4 of Season 3 of Downton Abbey. Right. In. The. Feels.
Since I'm still smarting from last night's episode - and by "smarting" I mean "trying to understand why my family and I just can't pick up and move on after a simple TV show" - I figured I would talk a little bit about emotion. Also, I found a way to tie in the awesome trailer above, which then proceeds to tie into the 200th Anniversary of Pride & Prejudice, which also shamelessly allows me to plug the 83rd episode of The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. I am aware I just wrote a run-on sentence. Please, ignore it.
Making sure your story has plot twists is essential. Making sure those plot twists resonate with your readers is a different story. Here are some examples (SPOILER ALERT):
- Pride and Prejudice: Finding out that Lydia ran away with George Wickham. Readers can't see this plot twist coming, as the two characters never seem to express any explicit interest in each other. Yet the twist isn't entirely improbable, as the reader knows that Lydia is silly and flirtatious, and George is a scumbag who has dabbled in such behavior before. Readers care because Lizzy and her family's reputation are at stake. The actual delivery of this plot twist is dramatic because Mr. Darcy is present when Lizzy gets the news.
- Downton Abbey: Sybil's death. (Yeah, I went there.) Viewers don't see it coming, because the baby is healthy and Sybil appears totally fine after giving birth. Yet when she starts having her seizure, it makes sense: Dr. Clarkson warned about eclampsia, and it can still kill after giving birth. Viewers care because Sybil is sweet and kind, and Tom and the baby need her. The actual plot twist is dramatic because her death could have been prevented, and because no one took Sybil to the hospital, everyone is entirely helpless when she dies.
- The Princess and the Frog: Tiana and Naveen turn human! (I needed to sneak a happy one in.) Viewers, or at least not this one, don't see it coming because they have been led to believe that the "happy ending" lies within Naveen and Tiana getting married. Yet it makes sense, because... Well... "Once you became my wife, that made you..." "... a princess! You just kissed yourself a princess!" And as we know from earlier, kissing a princess breaks the spell! The actual plot twist is dramatic, because OBVIOUSLY they're human and happy and it's a Disney movie.
I picked at least two plot twists because they stick with the themes of my post, but obviously I could post hundreds more. There are twists in the beginning, the middle, and end, of big and small proportions, dealing with characters of every persuasion. The question is, do these twists mean anything? Do they make your reader feel something? Joy? Fear? Sorrow?
Just because I love lists, here are some tips on writing awesome plot twists:
Don't let your readers see it coming! Never underestimate the element of surprise. Sometimes authors make the mistake of eluding too often to a certain twist. A small hint here or there can't hurt... (Downton spoiler: Slipping in a nasty Lord Grantham comment about Catholics makes Branson's desire to have the baby baptized Catholic even more tense.) Just don't overdo it. Get feedback from someone you trust. Make sure you don't leave too many clues.
Don't be too cliche. Some cliches are unavoidable, or can have a fresh twist put on them. Yet others are so overused or classic that readers can't help but see them coming (see #1). If you're writing a Disney movie, you can get away with a few. But try and avoid heroes saving the day during a villain monlogue, the death that everyone saw coming, etc. Most cliches lie elsewhere, but beware cliched plot twists anyway!
Make it personal. Fear nothing. Kill off an unlikely major character. Permanently injure an unsuspecting victim. Give a happy ending when all the odds go against it. This third tip really boils down to how well written and constructed your story is, so this is another area where feedback can help. Ask your beloved critique partners if the twist made them feel anything, anything at all. If they complain that it's falling flat, do everything in your power to fix the twist... or ditch it if necessary.
Chances are, I've taught you nothing. However, it can't hurt to keep all this in mind as we, the new members of the Writer's Fight Club, go out to pick a fight with readers everywhere... and lose. *
* Note: I honestly don't know what Fight Club is about, so why do you want to lose? I mean, all I know is that Rule One of Fight Club is don't talk about Fight Club. Why even fight? I don't get it.
Anyways, I think I'm gonna go get punched in the feels by Pride & Prejudice to celebrate the book's 200th. Read a few chapters. Watch a few clips. Ardently admire and love Darcy. The usual.
As much as I love adventure, I am not the most adventurous person. I play it safe in practically every field. Don't do anything with a risk factor above 0.00001. Don't eat anything too abnormal. Don't say anything that will attract attention (okay, that one's a bit of a lie). But seriously. My sister has told me to not play the rules so much. Yes, ladies and gentlemen: I have been told to "let my hair down", "break some rules once in awhile", and "live a little". Her words, not mine.
Yet today, I decided to do something daring.
I signed up for the 100 for 100 Challenge! *cue the fanfare*
Go Teen Writers, a blog for young writers that y'all should really check out, is hosting their second 100 for 100 Challenge. Basically, for 100 days, you write 100 words per day. All the same manuscript. Like a less frenzied version of NaNo.
On a side note, I'm watching You've Got Mail for the first time as I type this. I missed the beginning, and I'm on a schedule, so I'll probably miss the end, but the Pride & Prejudice references? Much appreciated. Especially since I've been obsessed with The Lizzie Bennet Diaries to the point of insanity for the past few weeks, and I had to explain the whole "Colin Firth lake scene" to my sister last night. Did I mention I reread part of the book two days ago? Maybe these coincidences are really a SIGN. The Doctor says, never ignore a coincidence, unless you're busy.
Anyways, you all are probably thinking how while this 100 for 100 is indeed a challenge, it's not much of an adventure. Well, brace yourselves: I have made the split-second decision to go through with writing that Downton Abbey-esque novel I've been hinting at. The idea is strong enough that I think I could slap together 10k. It will be a good indicator of whether or not the story has any real steam.
What do you think? Am I crazy? Will you all punish me if I fail? Do you think Darcy is trying to contact me through near constant P&P references?
DARCY. Between the suspenders, the occasional newsboy caps/bow ties, and his astounding vocabulary, I've decided that the LBD version of The Great Love Interest of Literature is my soul mate. Move over, Lizzie.
I have always wanted a typewriter. Ever since I read the Kit Kittredge books as a kid, I have wanted one. I used to type up newspapers just like Kit, but it wasn't the same without the click-clacking of a typewriter.
My sister owned the doll, but I read all the books. :)
Well, guess what? I am now the proud owner of a typewriter! Sort of! I mean, it doesn't have an ink ribbon... and it's not entirely "mine"... and it's an electronic one from the 80's... but STILL!
It all happened at Goodwill. I was having a glorious day: I bought two skirts, one for $2, the cutest/most unique pair of flats, and a great quality white shirt. Then, my sister and I saw it: the $15, still working, electronic typewriter. Needless to say, we bought it, and the rest was history.
I can't really do anything with it except make clacky noises and play pretend. I want to find an ink ribbon for it, assuming it doesn't lead to any killers...
Don't y'all watch NCIS? That episode where this killer starts killing people (obvs), but it's related to McGee's unpublished manuscript, and it's this crazy fan who steals the ink ribbons from his typewriter and thinks that the book is real!? Somebody? Anybody? *sigh*
Just read this bit of the episode, wouldya?
MCGEE: Okay, sometimes when I’m in trouble, I take a few minutes to free-write. TONY: Free-write? MCGEE: Stream of consciousness. About my characters, my story arcs, my possible plot lines, everything. No filter. TONY: No filter. MCGEE: Whatever pops in my head goes right to the page. TONY: Ah. Write. Be free! Just do it. Free write! Be free. I get it.
See? I didn't just want to tell you about my typewriter! I wanted to segue into a section about free writing! (And gush about how much I love McGee and we're both writers and stuff.)
I had such a great free writing session today. It was very much Downton inspired. I just finished The World of Downton Abbey, which is such a great intro to the Edwardian era. Plus, it really enhances the show. I find myself explaining the historical significance of certain lines/events to my family. Makes me feel awesome. I feel particularly awesome when I understand all of Branson's political references. Like a sir.
Anyways, my newfound (albeit shallow) understanding of the early 1900's made for an awesome pair of passages. I don't know if these musings will ever transform into a full novel, but I would definitely consider expanding the story. I've got a beginning and an end, but no middle. Someday, right? I'm sure the stuff is ridden with historical inaccuracies, but you know what? It's free writing. Like Dinozzo says, be free! Just do it.
Read my review of The World of Downton Abbeyhere! Do any of you free write? Tell me about it in the comments, if it strikes your fancy.
I was going to just put a picture of the book, but this bit of awesomesauce cropped up. *smirk*
You've probably forgotten all about me. I mean, I haven't posted since break. In that time, I had a lovely Christmas, came down with a bout of "something" (unidentified potentially flu-like thing), and made myself a pair of nerd shoes. Yes, nerd shoes. Old white sneaks from South Pacific converted to quote-o-rific, bona fide nerd shoes. Gonna be a real hit this summer.
Since that last post, I attended a local writer's support group. It was my second time going. There were only four of us, and that's counting my sister and I. The one other person our age was busy getting ready for his black belt test, otherwise we would have been five. I should also add that I was coming down with the flu-like thing over the course of the meeting. Now, I would like to talk a little bit about writer's groups and all that rot.
I always mean my compliments. Rest assured, fellow writers!
I don't know about you all, but my writing is pretty goshdarn personal. No one ever gets to see it. Not my parents, not my siblings, not my best friends, not anyone. That's because there's this half of me that knows some of the stuff in there is pretty terrible, and there's this other half that thinks some of the stuff is the best stuff since Shakespeare. Knowing that someone might see the bad, or even worse, not like the good, terrifies me. So it takes a lot of courage for me to share a paragraph, much less a chapter, of a WIP.
Sharing my work a week or two ago with three more people than usual was scary. Do I have some regrets? Definitely. But it also taught me a thing or two.
* Note: I brought a WIP short story with me to the group. That's what I'm talking about below.
The good news. I noticed a lot of stuff I hadn't when the document was sitting on my desk. For example, my character greeted someone in a way that probably wasn't historically accurate. I needed an adult to point that out. Also, my character was starting to sound kind of whiny for no reason. I needed my sister to point that out. Talking with my sister after the meeting helped me to work out a) why I had made the character so whiny (she is really unhappy with her situation and she is lashing out on her loved ones) and b) where I need to change my manuscript (her mindset doesn't come across very well, just her behavior).
The bad. I'm someone who needs some praise to help me wash down the medicine that is criticism. A few compliments on a character here, a couple "nice sentence" remarks there, and voila! I will gladly listen to what you have to say! However, most of my follow-up consisted of questions, comments, and concerns. My immediate reaction was to diss my own writing, criticize myself, and give up. I'm still hesitant to pick the project back up. Entrusting my work to adults was somewhat intimidating. I think I'll save my true "babies" for my eyes and maybe those of my parents, best friend, or sister.
If you like to have a lot of feedback, I would encourage you to join a writer's group and put yourself out there. I got a lot of helpful comments. My story was historically based, so sometimes I need help finding flaws in the historical component. See, helpful! But if you're like me and prefer to keep your stuff close to the chest, don't feel pressured to share to soon. I myself will probably wait until the 2nd or 3rd draft to get criticism from now on. By then I will hopefully have a better idea of what needs help. And I'll probably keep my writer's group limited, too.
How about you all? Ever shared your work with a writer's group? Feel free to comment and share your experience.
