Following my new passion

I found a new passion--family history.  It took a few months to find my relatives up through my great-grandparents on all 4 sides.

In the process of this search, I discovered that I'm at least 15/16th Russian heritage, and I know almost nothing about the culture or why my family immigrated in the 1880s.  

Doing a little history research, I've found that it's quite possible that my family came to America to escape the pogroms that were happening in and around Russia at the time.  I do have a small quilt that was literally cut, possibly from wall brackets, so I know that at least one family left in a hurry.

I've also done a little cultural research.  OK, food recipes.  :-)  It's been yummy fun.

Research done, it's time once again to focus on my health and on my writing. 

Hopefully, some of what I've learned will translate into better writing.

Author Poll: Windows v. MAC and what writing software do you use

Author quick poll.  Please post a comment and tell me:

1) Windows PC or MAC (or ?) (I was using an iPad for writing)
2) Which writing software do you use?  (Word, Pages, or ?)

Thanks for your input!

Hunger Games Saga v. Twilight Saga

The following thoughts are my own.  This is a reprint from my post on YA Audiobook Addict's blog:

...Apples and Oranges, on the surface only.  Both Bella and Katniss are self-sufficient and capable of supporting themselves and their families.  Both grow to find inner and outer strength that they didn't know existed.  Both fight to free their families from unjust dictators (Vulturi and Capital).  The comparison has to take into account the entire saga, not just the first book, as the ladies grow and mature at different rates over time.

Eating for Brain Power!

What do writers eat? I don't have much luck with creativity when I'm loaded down with cookies, chocolate, and sodas. In answer to a challenge on the Engine2Diet website, here's an ideal day of healthy eating...

Breakfast, veggie stirfry with portabella mushroom. Takes about 10 minutes to make. I have a desk job, so eating lots of carbs first thing in the morning doesn’t work well for me.
Snack, pistachios and a small banana
Lunch, refried beans, sliced tomato and corn chips (baked?)
Snack, raisin bran flake cereal with unsweetened soy milk.
Dinner, pan-fried tofu slices (non-stick spray), steamed greens, corn, and a salad
Desert, an apple or a frozen, 100% fruit pop
And, of course, lots of water.

Yes, I do feel better on the days that I eat like this; need to make sure I have more of these days in 2012!

Rest in Peace, Anne McCaffrey

One of my all-time favorite sci-fi authors, Anne McCaffrey, passed away at age 85 a month ago, on November 21st.  From Restoree, to Killashandra, to The Dragonsinger and Dragon-Rider series, to The Crystal Singer series, to The Ship Who Sang.... Mrs. McCaffrey's books and short stories were the ones I read and re-read the most.

Her women were so very human, and strong, and confident, and smart.  Her stories gave me stability in my younger world of turmoil.   Sanity when all around me there was none.  Confidence when I lacked my own.

She's left quite a legacy--a world that I hope to follow someday.

Things I've learned this summer

Yes, I've learned a few things this summer. Some of these actually caught me off-guard.

I like reading more than I like writing. I think this is because I can read lightyears faster than I can write.

When the going gets tough, throw in an unexpected plot-twist. It seems to me, that the newest middle-grade books all employ this solution to problems. When the MC is backed into a corner, instead of working through the issue, the situation suddenly changes. I just have to remember that these authors have been published while I am not.

When doing intensive edits, it's disastrously simple to get frustrated and burned-out. Yes, my plans for the summer were sidelined by my frustration, and an intense longing to get healthier. I swam, I biked to nowhere (stationary bike), and I'm on my way to healthier.

Writing a book on an iPad comes with extra distractions. Games, news, etc...

Reading the news helps with writing sci-fi. For example, I learned about vertical gardening, which is very helpful in an enclosed habitat.

I also learned that I really do believe in my story, even though this fall and winter will bring another intensive rewrite. All I need to do is get started.

Restoree

Written in 1967, Restoree is Anne McCaffrey's first full-length novel.  Sara starts out as a mousy librarian and soon finds herself as nurse to a strange man on a strange planet.

Her political expertise and technological savvy make this one of my all-time favorite sci-fi novels.

I read the book as a teen, and just completed my first re-read in several years.   Amazing how my perspective has changed.  :-)  The element of discovery and Ms. McCaffrey's flowing wording are what keeps the plot fresh.

This is one book that I'd love to see made into a movie.  We now have the technology to make it beautiful. 

Living Life to get some more ideas

It's always difficult for me to focus on desk-projects in the summer when there are so many other fun things to do, like see movies and go swimming. Spend time with family. Swat mosquitos, swim some more.

I've also just read two great new books. Jacob Wonderbar... By Nathan Bransford, and Supernaturally by Kiersten White. Both are fast-paced middle-grade books. One sci-fi fantasy and the other paranormal fantasy.

I need to unlock the secrets to making a read fast-paced. My book drags a bit in the middle.

Good news is that school starts in 3 weeks, so I might have a little more time to write, because electronics will be silent during homework time. Is anyone else looking foward to school starting again?

A case of writer's block?

My story is languishing on my table in the front hall.  I haven't been completely idle, though.

I've been researching another person's reality.  "Eat Pray Love" was a truly great read.  I loved the self-discovery, the descriptiveness, and the random trails of thought.

Now, applying that to my MC, I need to let her feelings and thoughts flow.  Memories come from everyday occurrences.  I wonder what would happen if more unusual, or alien, happenings filtered into my tale?

Yes, I found my alien lexicon--"Alienology," right on my own book-shelf.  Figures.  I searched far and wide, and the river of knowledge was in my possession all along. 

So, what mental map can I give my MC to deal with the known and the unknown? 

Completely changing topics, Harper Teen has the first 70 pages of "Supernaturally" available for reading, a full 13 days before book release.   Kiersten has done it again--her quirky, train-of-thought, second book in her paranormal trilogy is off to a great start.

My Drawing Board Awaits

Another wonderful Beta reader, who I respect immensely when it comes to children's lit, has flagged many pages of my story for corrections, thereby reinforcing the concept that a diverse selection of beta readers is necessary for success.
My school of beta's includes:
-- A HS English teacher
-- Moms and their daughers
-- A technical writer
-- A children's librarian
-- My sons
-- A friend

So, it's back to the books for another major revision.  My one comfort is that my story will be much stronger when I come out the other side.  Also, I miss doing research.   There must be an alien lexicon out there somewhere on the web?  I will find it!

Why I write MG Fiction

I wanted to write a YA novel, truly. My first Beta reader, though, was an 8-yr-old.

Try as I might, I couldn't add anything that would make the book "too adult" for her. Therefore MG.

Try as I might, I couldn't get my wordcount much above 30,000 words, about the length of most Nancy Drew books. Therefore MG.

Try as I might, I couldn't write anything that my "dream agent" possibly wouldn't like. Therefore MG.

Then, finding out that an agent said in her blog that NY Publishers are looking for MG, I celebrated!!! Now, I'm working to get my current edit finished, an ace synopsis and query letter written.

Almost 1,000 Pageviews

I am humbled. Truly. From my own little corner of the world, my thoughts have been read almost 1,000 times, by people other than myself. Amazing!

In a sense, I am a published author already. We all are.

................

Have you ever listened to the silence in your home, heard the buzzing of everything electronic, and seen the small points of light from everything electronic? The humm of the freezer reminds me of a lawnmower and the lightswitch on the wall reminds me of a car's running lights.

What I'm trying to say, is that every sight or sound can invoke an involuntary association, or emotion, if we just let it. Our characters in our stories need that same freedom to let their thoughts and feelings roam. It won't be easy, stepping not only through our characters' lives, but also through their memories. Sometimes these memories are good, and sometimes, these memories are bad. Let the memories be strong enough to help drive the story through its twists and turns.

When we're ready, we can share these stories, just as we share our own thoughts and feelings in our blogs and in our comments.

Those three letters in the YA genre?

Hey, y'all!  Kiersten White has a great discussion going on her blog on this topic.  Check it out!  I posted my comments on her blog.

http://kierstenwrites.blogspot.com/2010/12/safe-and-somewhere-in-between.html

Have you got your copy?

Latest additions to my library that I'm looking forward to reading:

The Scorch Trials, which is the sequel to James Dashner's The Maze Runner.  This is an upper-middle-grade save-the-world story with a twist.  (not to give the plot away).  Not for the faint of stomach.

Scumble, which is the companion book to Ingrid Law's Savvy.  This is a young middle-grade fantasy that shows key interpersonal relationships. 

War of the Worlds interactive iPAD storybook app, presented by Smashing Ideas, Inc.  I read about this in USA Today and just had to give it a try!  I haven't read WotW yet, anyways.  It was on my list of must-read someday.  I look forward to being amazed at the awesomeness of an interactive book.

These should keep me busy for awhile!

General impressions of Author panel

Following Saturday's author panel, I'm left with general impressions, rather than distinct memories. Here are some that stuck in my rather permeable mind.

There are many different approaches to writing, almost as varied as the snacks that we eat while writing. My snack is peppermint tictacs, by the way.

There are differing book lengths, starting at about 50,000 words.

Fantasy elements are only consistent within the same author's books. Each author creates their own world.

Some authors focus more on romance, and others focus on non-romantic interpersonal relationships.

Even published authors struggle sometimes.

The multi-book series is very popular right now. I liked learning that one!

The road to publication differs, too.

Some authors struggled for years before getting published.

Authors are very giving, sharing, kind people.

Austin Teen Book Festival

Something happened today that I never expected. I heard several published authors answer questions in a panel discussion. Words cannot express my joy!

More on this next week.

Back to Where I Began

When I began my writing journey, I had only a story idea and a single reference book, "The Basic Formulas of Fiction," by Foster-Harris.  I also acquired his follow-up book, "The Basic Patterns of Plot."  Both are still available for re-sale at my favorite .com bookstore.

What I truly need to do, is re-read Foster-Harris' books, picking up check-points for editing. 

One question in my mind, though, is does the main character, or a supporting character, always have to be in some sort of personal, physical peril at some point in the story?  I prefer emotional twists and turns to physical peril, myself. 

I'm finding that I have used primarily the subjective view, and worked in the objective view, as needed.  The verbs could probably be scrubbed to add more color, and depending on whether the book ends up MG or YA, I will need to tailor or add additional thematic elements, and another 5,000 to 20,000 words. 

I feel like I'm in a "holding pattern," because I can't proceed past chapter 2 of book 2, until I have a definite answer on the genre. 

At least I can continue my research, so that I'm well-prepared to pick up my iPad and type, when the time comes!

Umpteenth read!

Yes, I'm reading my book again! I'm only writing what I want to read, so why shouldn't I read it? :-)

Seriously, though, I've noticed that the book "reads easier" starting about half-way through. This may be partly due to the original draft being written in present tense for the first 11 chapters, and partly due to writing skill and comfort level increasing as I kept on writing.

Finding my writing voice has definitely been a journey! My only question now to myself, since my iPad won't give me the answer, is whether the next edit should focus the book more towards Middle-grade readers, or YA readers? At this moment in time, I don't have the expertise to make that decision myself.

No matter how many blogs I read, or how many red pens I wield, I'm not a trained editor, (at least not yet!).

Book two title and research

For Book One, my title was aleady selected, with the website names reserved before I even put one word to paper. Book two's title is proving to be rather elusive. I could do a play on words, selecting something that rhymes with Interstellar Creations, or I could simply name the book, Interstellar Creations Book Two: (book title goes here).

Haven't decided which I like better. So, instead of writing, tonight I did a little research reading. My research reading is titled, "Podkayne of Mars.". It's a coming-of-age young adult science fiction book by Robert Heinlein, copuright 1963. "Poddy" may have inspired other authors and script-writers to write stronger female charaters. It's this strength of conviction that I truly want to capture in Book Two.

Learning about the business

Today, I spent several hours reading through Nathan Bransford's wonderful blog. It's chock-full of great information about how to be a good author.

http://blog.nathanbransford.com/

This is soo much more than just writing and sharing. It's a multi-step process with no definite timeline. Not something a Program Manager like me really wants to hear!!!

We are where we are, though, and I'll make the best of it.

One thing I'm still a little confused about is the role of the Agent/Editor, when it's a single person. I'll send an e-mail over to the good folks at.... to learn more.

In other news, I had a great holiday weekend with my right thumb (read, space-bar thumb) in a brace due to tendonitis! Yes, I'm typing this post using my left thumb on the space-bar. So frustrating! No, this wasn't due to my book-writing. That draft was finished over a month ago.