Blog Chain: Under the Influence

It's blog chain time again! This round was started by Christine who asked

“Which author or authors have most influenced your writing and how?”

This was such a great question for me and I think the answer surprised me as much as it might you.

Stephanie Meyer.

Okay, for those of you groaning, let me plead my case. I've always loved paranormal romance and kick ass heroines. I eagerly devoured adult titles by Laurell K. Hamilton, Patricia Briggs, Charlaine Harris, and Kim Harrison. I tried to write my own adult romance once. To say it was a disaster is giving myself too much credit. Something was definitely off in my writing.

Enter TWILIGHT. I hadn't read a YA since my days as a YA and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. After finishing it, my first thought was, You can do that!?!

You see, when I was a YA, myself, we basically had two choices in books: stories about babysitters or horror.





(The above books were actual books in my collection.)

Now, don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with babysitters and hitchhikers with a score to settle, but I always longed for something more. This is why I stopped reading the YA genre when I entered high school, opting instead for the adult paranormal romance section at the library.

So you can imagine my surprise when I discovered there was a paranormal romance, published, on the best-seller list, for teens! From there, I devoured YA book after YA book, my excitement growing. The voices were fresh, the romances exciting, the only thing I wished I could see more of were kickass heroines, so I set out to write one.

And the rest is history :)

Check out the awesome Abby Annis who posted before me and the always regal Rebecca Knight who will post tomorrow.

So, what about you? Who influenced your writing? I'd love to hear what you have to say! (Plus, I'm always eaget for reading suggestions.)

Blog Chain Post: Inspiration Vs. Market Trends

First off, I'd like to give a big welcome to the new members on the chain. I know how people always talk about the "solidarity" of the writer's life - but forget that! I'm a very social person. I love Love LOVE people. And when it comes to writers, the more the merrier :)

Okay, now back to the topic at hand. This chain was started by the fabulously talented Michelle who asked:

Do you write for the market or for yourself? Why? Are there times you do both? Or times when you've written something specifically because it was "hot" at the moment? If so, how did it turn out?

Personally, I write for myself. Only because if a story doesn't entertain me enough in the writing stage, then there's little hope for getting it down on paper. I started taking martial arts classes with my husband, and it didn't take me long to wonder what would happen if there were still ninja around lurking in the shadows and waiting to attack. After that, KATANA was born.

Plus, I have an incredibly short attention span. If a book doesn't capture my attention within the first chapter - I put it down. The same goes with my writing. If I'm not enamored with my subject and entertained while writing it, I'm going to stop writing. How do I know? Because I have two projects that will never be finished because I tried to write about a subject I didn't really care about. Some people can pull it off. I can't.

So there you have it. Sorry for the short post but I'm getting down to the wire on the house move and I had some good news (that I'll hopefully be able to share soon) over the weekend that has kept me a little distracted. ;)

So, please continue to keep me distracted! Give me your opinion - do you write for yourself or for the market?

In the meantime, check out my new linkmate, Christine, who posted yesterday and Rebecca who will post tomorrow.

Happy Easter!

Blog Chain Post: Give Them Something to Talk About

It's blog chain time again! I know, I know. I should have posted sooner but I'm still remodeling the new house, finishing revisions on the new book, and piecing together the new quilt. I've fallen a bit behind on the 'ol blog and for that I sincerely apologize. Soon, dear readers, you'll have your blog captain back at the helm on a regular basis. Argh!

Anywho, this chain was started by Kate who asked:

Do you enjoy writing dialogue? Do you use a lot of dialogue in your writing (for our purposes "a lot" will be defined as more than a smidge and yet not so much that the quotes key on your computer is completely worn out.)? Do you have example(s) of dialogue you especially enjoyed from something you've read? Do you have example(s) of dialogue from your own writing? What about these examples makes them special?

Oh, and how!

I just love Love LOVE good dialogue. (This is another reason I'm such a huge fan of Josh Whedon and Kevin Smith - they are the Gods of Kick-Ass Dialogue.) Maybe love isn't the right word, obsessed is probably more like it. (Remember that D&D short story of mine? It was nothing but an excuse to write dialoge that gave me the giggles.)

So what makes good dialogue? Good dialogue goes beyond the simple act of giving information. Good dialogue can move a plot forward. Good dialogue can express emotion. Good dialogue can make you laugh. And my personal favorite, good dialogue can show characterization.

Allow me to demonstrate:

Here's Bella Swan interacting with a vampire:
Bella: "A girl can dream...Mostly I dream about being with you...I love you more than anything else in the world combined. Isn't that enough?"

Now, here's Buffy interacting with a vampire:
Buffy: "So are you going to kill me or are we just making small talk?...You know, I always say that a day without an autopsy is like a day without sunshine."

See how cool dialogue is? You've got two girls, both of them teenagers, both from single-parent families, both only children (don't get me started on the whole Dawn thing), both new in town, and both interacting with vampires. Without dialogue these two girls would be indistinguishable - but with just a few sentences, we learn how incredibly different these girls are.

Want more?

Sure thing! Here's an example from my YA paranormal, BREATHLESS. Let's see if you can glimpse my characters' personalities with just a few snippits of dialogue.

Edith and Morgan

“Wait a sec.” Morgan’s eyes, sparkling with glitter, bulged from their sockets. “You mean to tell me you’re Edith Small?”

My body trembled, a precursor to the breakdown that was sure to come. “I don’t—I don’t want to talk about it.” She opened her mouth but I cut her off before she had a chance to speak. “I appreciate your help in the bathroom but we’re late for the assembly.” My shoes squeaked in protest as I spun on my heels and sloshed down the hallway in the direction of the auditorium.

“Smalls! Hold up!” Heavy footsteps descended upon me as I was twisted around by my elbow. A flash of silver appeared between her lips as Morgan played with the barbell implanted in her tongue. “You’re going the wrong way. If you don’t want to make a scene, you’d be better off using my private entrance.” She jutted her chin at a door at the opposite end of the hallway.

I frowned. “But that door leads outside.”

She laughed, looping her arm through mine and pulling me in the direction of the door. “You want to go to an assembly? Great. Let’s assemble. Who says we have to do it with the rest of the school?”

My mind reeled even as my feet followed her lead. “But—but that would be skipping.”

Morgan snorted. “Nothing gets by you, does it, Smalls?”

The memory of my visit to the military academy slowed my steps. “But we could get in trouble.”

“Not likely.” Morgan reached out and pushed the metal bar swinging the door wide. The sun’s rays spilled across my chilled skin like warm fingers urging me forward. “I’m pretty sure the teachers are expecting you to be all traumatized and messed up. This boat accident is your get-out-of-jail-free-card.”

I stumbled as the memory of the crash resurfaced in my mind. “People died,” I whispered.

She shrugged and continued to pull me down the sidewalk. “It’s natural selection, Smalls. Dumbasses are going to die. There’s nothing you can do to stop it. It’s the Darwinian way.”

I thought about that. Could it really be that simple? Marty, Russell, and Gabrielle had all been drinking and smoking pot before the boat race. Did their stupidity absolve me from any blame? Or could I have done something more to prevent the accident? My head pounded under the weight of my thoughts and I pressed two fingers into my temple to ease them away. “Aren’t you worried about getting in trouble?”

“Me?” Morgan appeared to hold back a laugh. “In case you haven’t noticed, I make teachers uncomfortable.” She gestured to herself and her short plaid skirt dripping at the side with several chains. “They tend to look the other way when I don’t show up for class.” When I didn't answer, she stopped short in front of the turnoff leading away from our school. “Look, I’m not kidnapping you. I’m trying to do you a favor. For all I care you can turn back and go to the assembly looking like a drowned—” she bit off her words when I inhaled sharply, then waved her hand in hand in dismissal. “Whatever. Or you can come with me. Whatever you think you know about me—you don’t. I’m not going to smoke dope, shoot up, or any other dumb shit. My drug of choice is caffeine. Preferably in the form of a vanilla latte. It’s your choice, Smalls—free country and all that jazz.”

I swallowed as I considered my options. There was no denying that Sir would be watching me closer than before—that I walked a frayed rope on stilts made of scissors. But on the other hand, I was dripping wet and another pair of accusing eyes would be all it would take to send me over the edge. It was true I didn’t quite understand Morgan or her reasons for asking me to tag along, but ever since the moment she’d pulled me up from the bathroom floor the ever building pressure in my chest loosened. And that was enough. “I’m in.”

A smirk tugged at Morgan’s lips. “There’s only one rule if you’re going to hang out with me. You are not, under any pretenses, allowed to tell anyone I’m straight-edge. I’ve got a reputation to maintain. If anyone asks, make something up. Tell them I took you behind a dumpster and snorted lines of coke between shots of tequila. Got it?”

“Got it,” I smiled.

She grinned back. “Be careful, Smalls. It looks like you don’t smile much and I don’t want you to hurt yourself.” She looped her arm back through mine and hummed the Star Spangled Banner as we hurried down the street.

There you have it! I hope I got you thinking about how to use dialogue to portray characterization. But don't stop there! There are hundreds of ways to use dialogue to your advantage. What's your favorite?

Please check out the His-Release-Day-Is-Fast-Approaching-SQUEE! Shaun for his take dialogue and I-Don't-Want-To-Be-A-Toys-R-Us-Kid Rebecca who will post tomorrow.

Cheers :)

Blog Chain: The Chosen One

First off, let me apologize about the obscene rate to which I have been posting. I'm scrambling to polish off my 2nd book, refinish a foreclosure that I just bought, and piece together a new king-sized quilt.

Because I'm crazy?

We already covered that.

But in addition, my agent has launched my book out into scary submission land so I overdid it a bit when he suggested I find things to keep myself busy. Hee.

So back to the blog chain!

This chain was started by the talented Eric, who asked:

Do you create characters that are larger-than-life or are your characters more like the average Joe?

Can I be honest for a moment? I am so OVER "The Chosen One" already.

I know! I know! I can hear you gasping from here. "Aren't you a Buffy fan?" you ask.

The biggest there is. Just downloaded my Buffy theme song ring tone for my new phone last weekend. But that's my point. I think the whole "Chosen One" thing has been done. And it's been done to DEATH.

Think about it. We've had:
1. Buffy Summers
2. Harry Potter
3. Luke Skywalker
4. Bella Swan (only listing her because Edward couldn't read her mind, making her unique)
5. Anita Blake
6. Sookie Stackhouse
7. etc. etc. etc.

Everyone of these characters had a special/unique ability, without which, the worlds in which they lived in would have been in deep $&#@.

And I'm not absolved from the trend. In my first book, my MC is a 17 year-old girl who harbors the spirit of a 15th century samurai. Obviously, that doesn't happen to everyone - because if it did then our world would look like a scene out of Kung Fu Hustle which would be:
A. Awesome
and
B. Awful because I would be too busy kicking ass and taking names to write.

(Hey, a girl can dream) ;)

Anyway, it just seems to me that every book I've picked up lately has another "Chosen One" MC. And there's nothing wrong with that as long as the spin is:
A. Fresh
B. Appealing to the reader

Because how awful would the Hunger Games have been if Katniss Everdeen was just an average girl. She would have been killed in the first 20 pages, and there you go, end of story.

But I wanted to do something different.

So, in my current book, there is nothing unique about my MC except for the fact that she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. And let me just tell you - Wow! Has it been a challenge to write. But that's okay. I wanted a character that young girls could relate too. One that they could read and think, "Hey, that could be me" and "I'd totally do that". And again, I know I've touched on this before, but my MCs don't drink or do drugs. Only because, as a mother, setting a good example is important to me. That's not to say that my characters aren't around such things because, get real, it's high school.

And let me just say that I'd never condemn a book that did, because geez, have you read Courtney Summer's SOME GIRLS ARE? AMAZING!!! I don't think you could get a more real glimpse into the real life world of teens unless you went all 21 Jump Street.

...mmmm...Johny Depp...

But I digress. In short, to answer Eric's question:

Do you create characters that are larger-than-life or are your characters more like the average Joe?

My answer is, both!

So how about you? Do have the next great spin on, "The Chosen One"? Or do you prefer to keep it real?

Check out the stellar Shaun, who answered this question yesterday (and is already planning his book release - squee!) and the lovely Rebecca, who will answer tomorrow.

Blog Chain: Coming Clean Regarding my Stalker-O-Shame Wall

This blog chain is brought to you by:

ME!

Please hold your applause until the end :)

Anywho, my question for myself and the other writers is this:

How do you get inside your character's world?

I'm almost afraid to tell you guys how I do this because it's a little OCD and a little strange, to say the least. Basically, I stalk my characters. How, you ask? It's quite simple, really.

My latest book, BREATHLESS, takes place in an actual town called Niceville located in Florida. I was there, once, but it was like eighteen years ago, so I don't remember a whole lot. Because I'm the type of person who really likes to get inside my characters' lives/heads I hurried on over the the Remax website and started looking up houses in Niceville. When I found one that fit the location/price range I imagined for my family, I printed out all the pictures (various rooms, street views, yard, etc.) and pinned them up around my work station.

Next, since I write YA, it was time to explore the high school. Again, I googled the local high school and printed out various pictures posted from their website including the athletic fields, front entrance, hallways, etc. But that was not enough. My teen's going to want to grab a coffee before class. So I headed over to google maps and typed in the high school's addy and from there searched for neighboring coffee shops. Not only did I make a note of this on my wall-o-stalker-shame, but I "street viewed" my path the whole way there to get a feel for the area.

And I don't stop there.

My MC makes an anklet from a stone she found at the beach. So what do I do? Search the shelves at Micael's Crafts until I find a bead that closest resembles what I have in mind so I can make an anklet of my own.

Because I'm crazy?

Probably.

But it's also because I'm a very visual person and surrounding myself with pictures and things that belong to my MC makes her and her world more alive to me. And when you bring the world to life, for me at least, the story practically writes itself.

So how about you? How do you bring your fictional world to life?

Stay tuned until tomorrow when our own feelin'-the-love Rebecca answers this question.

Blog Chain: The Rejection that Changed my Life

This blog chain was brought to you by the lovely Rebecca who asked:

What is the best mistake you've made so far in your journey as a writer? How has that mistake helped you grow :)?

My answer to that is simple: I didn't do my homework.

I started writing seriously about four years ago. My first novel, a paranormal romance, was a real stinker. I'd made every mistake that you could:

1. Opening with a dream sequence
2. Taking too long to build up back story and not getting to the action fast enough
3. The overuse of every cliche in the book
4. Not having a critique group to look over my edits
5. Querying almost as soon as I wrote the words, "The End".

I can't really pick a best from that list because they are all equally horrendous. And they all had a hand in landing me the rejection that changed my life.

Dear Ms. Gibsen: Please note that I’ve changed your font to one that is more readable and formatted these first pages into the accepted parameters for presenting a manuscript for publication. I’ve taken the time to critique the pages, as I do for all authors who submit to XXXX Press, because I believe the standard rejection most novice authors receive from New York leaves much to be desired. Bear in mind, this type of in depth critique would cost $2-4 dollars per page if done by a ‘book doctor’, and no editor would take the time to describe the failings in your submission.
1) The story takes too long to get to get to the action.
2) There are many errors in punctuation
3) There is an overabundance of repetitive words and flowery phrases (purple prose)
4) There is a lack of direction in your story that I’m not sure can be fixed.

XXXX Press is looking for professionally written novels that are ready to print, with little editing or revision required. Your manuscript is still in the amateur stages and needs much work. I suggest you join a writers’ group (possibly Romance Writers of America, check them out on Google as they are the largest teaching organization for writers in the US).
I wish you success in your career and the placement of your novel.
Sincerely,
XXXX
Editor
XXXX Press

Yowch!!

I admit, when I first read this letter I burst into tears and devoured a pint of cookie dough ice cream. I considered giving it up. I'm one of those annoying people who doesn't like to do anything I'm not instantly good at (which is why I played bass guitar and not rhythm or lead, why I don't ever go ball room dancing, and I don't have a tea pot crafted from clay). The only difference here, was, I couldn't give up writing because unlike those other things, I LOVED writing too much to quit. BTW - I hate you, knitting! Hate Hate HATE!!!

So I resolved to do whatever it took to get better. I joined a critique group (several actually), I joined the fabulous community over at Query Tracker, I switched to a genre I felt more comfortable with and closer to, I gobbled up every book I could in the YA genre, I read every book I could get my hands on on writing, I went to conferences - the list goes on and on.

The moral is: I had to really work, learn, and work and learn some more and it totally paid off in the end. Now, I have an agent and we're gearing up to take my YA paranormal, KATANA, out on submission. None of which would have ever happened without that in-your-face rejection and the resolve it inspired in me to do better.

Please check out Shaun's blog - who nailed it the first time and just goes to show you how everyone's path is different - to see his answer.

How about you? What was your best mistake?

Blog Chain Post: The Voices in my Head

Today's topic was chosen by Sarah who asked:

How did you discover your particular voice as a writer?

As many of you know, I write young adult fiction. When people ask me why, my answer is simple. My growing up was pretty rough. When I was unable to get away physically I could always count on a book to do the job for me mentally. I don't think I'd be who I am today if it weren't for the likes of Dean Koontz. The trouble was, while I enjoyed adult thrillers, I found that the YA section of the library/book stores held little more than R.L. Stine, Christopher Pike, and The Babysitters Club.

Now don't get me wrong, I enjoyed those books. But I often wished for the type of selection that is available today. So I set out to write the kind of book I would have loved. (If that makes sense.)

My first hurdle, when I began my first novel at age 26 (I'll be *cough* 30 *cough* next month), was how to tap into my inner teenager. How would I find the voice that knew nothing about house payments, taxes, and toddlers?

The solution was easier than I'd imagined. My first job, at age 16, was working the drive-thru at the local Arby's restaurant. Now, whenever I need to tap into my inner teenager, all I need to do is head down to the local Arby's and munch on a roast beef. Whenever Blister In The Sun by the Violent Femmes comes on the radio, the teenager is there. Whenever I stroll down the wine aisle in the local supermarket and spot a bottle of Boone's Strawberry Fields, she smiles. And whenever I need to draw upon that feeling of hopeless teenage love/obsession, all I need to do is pop in Untamed Hearts. (I don't care how old Edward Cullen is, Christian Slater was sneaking into girls' bedrooms and watching them sleep waaaaaaaay before Robert P.) *Swoon*.

So there's the secret to finding and maintaining my YA voice. How do you find yours? Check out the hilarious Shaun's answer from yesterday (I can't wait to buy his book!!!) and Rebecca's (who never fails to make me laugh, either) answer tomorrow!

Blog Chain Post: Only One

It's my first time starting a blog chain and picking a topic. A few days ago I had a topic all picked out but at the last minute inspiration struck and I changed my mind. This blog chain is a game! Your subject is writerly advice. (I just made that word up. Hee) Pretend you are addressing a crowd of aspiring authors eager to soak in your words of knowledge. The problem is, you've only been given a time slot of five seconds. In one sentence (no more than 20 words), please summarize the most important words of wisdom you can impart.

You can elaborate and address questions only in the comments section.

When this blog chain is complete I plan to list the entire chain's one-sentence pearls of wisdom in a blog. Feel free to do the same - just give credit where credit is due!

If you do not belong to the blog chain please feel free to play along. Just post a link to your own blog in my comments section and I'll make sure your sentence is listed in the final blog. Have fun!

Here's mine:

"Read as many books in your genre as possible and join a critique group".

Please check out Rebecca's post tomorrow for her answer.

Okay, now it's your turn.....GO!

Blog Chain - Is your idea really your idea?

Current Obsession: Finding the perfect pair of black Mary Janes

Let me just say that I'm super happy to be back on the chain! This week's topic was started by Annie. She asked:

Do you ever get inspired by a real-life event or news story and fear you're ripping off the story too much? Do you ever get inspired by a song or poem or line from a book and worry you're stealing that original person's idea?

Please check out Michelle's fabulous answer from the day before and Terri who will answer this question tomorrow.

What a tough call. We all know that this has been done in the past:

Les Miserables inspired The Fugitive
Emma inspired Clueless
The Taming of the Shrew inspired The Ten Things I Hate About You
ect, ect, ect. The list is a mile long.

How can people do this?

The secret is in the weaving. Have you ever watched a textile worker at a loom? It's beautiful and fascinating work.

Strung through the loom are the base threads, usually a bland off-white that no one will ever notice due to the colorful thread woven through them. Those colorful threads are your characters, subplots, and setting. They must be distinctive enough to display a story never told before even if the base threads are the same as another rug. Now, if the base threads are showing through or your design resembles another rug, well, then you have a problem.

I find the easiest solution is to put a bit of myself into my characters. I mean, there's no one quite like me just as I imagine there's no one quite like you. How many characters have you read that like to pet bumble bees (they're surprisingly soft and don't mind) and will fight to the death for the little triangle corners of a thin crust pizza?

So weave away, my artistic friends, and let the designs flow!

Incidentally, song writers have the same challenge. (I found this video extra hilarious because I played cello grade school through high school.)

The blog chain--Are your characters real?

Okay, so who has Fleetwood Mac's CHAIN stuck in their head now?

I am a member of a group of writers who have formed a blog chain. Each week or so a new topic is posted and we go down the list and post. Check out Elana, who posted before me, and Terri who will post after me.

This week's topic is: Are your characters real?

Hoo Boy! Are they ever!

What? You think I can come up with this stuff on my own?

The fun thing about writing is that you can take the most exteme/outrageous quality of one person and pair it with the most extreme/outrageous behaviour of another person and viola'--one great character made to order.

I guess you could say that none of my characters represent a single person, but they are all a collection of friends, family, and yes, even a little of myself. Dear god, save us.

But that's the fun part about writing; taking Uncle Morty's paranoid schizophrenia, Grandma's obsession with cross stitch, and Neighbor Joe's hobby of street racing, and now you have 17-year-old Mary who, while cross stitching a pillow case late one night, hears a voice in her head telling her to steal her dad's '69 camaro and race the neighborhood bully at the track in an effort to save the world from demons who are possessing the students at her highschool.

Okay--maybe that was a little extreme, but you get my drift.

You don't? Okay, let me try again...My point: Why make up characters, when real people and their real traits/quirks are way better than anything I could come up with on my own?