Sunday

Photo by me.

Lazy Person's Reading Group - August Update

Hmmm. I guess I've been lazy since my July update.

10. A book that pertains to a skill you do not, and never will have.

Another Day in the Frontal Lobe: A Brain Surgeon Exposes Life on the Inside by Katrina Firlik. Don't read this book when you have a headache, especially if you have a tendency to self-diagnose. Sections of this book were fascinating, but other passages, I just skimmed. The most important take-home message is WEAR A SEAT BELT.

8. A book that has recently received rave reviews. Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy by Ally Carter. This is the second book in the Gallagher Girl series, and again the voice and the rising tension combine to make an enjoyable read. This time around, I could see some of the plot twists coming.

Young Folk BookFest

This year's Great Lakes Folk Festival at Michigan State University will also feature the Young Folk BookFest. Several terrific Michigan authors and illustrators will speak (schedule here), and the "Michigan Reads!" winner will be announced.

This all takes place on August 8 & 9 at the Young Folk BookFest tent, located on Abbot Road at Albert Avenue in East Lansing, MI.

Not only that, they used a picture of Science is Golden on the poster.

Another Dryad

The old man in the tree.

Photos by me.

Overheard #67

"I laugh in the face of optimism."

Wonderful Writing Retreat

The World's Greatest Critique group spent last weekend on a writing retreat at Topliff's Tara B&B. In the picture, the gentleman holding the llama (Gus Pacho) is Don Topliff who with his wife, Sheryl, run the bed and breakfast and raise llamas. The other people in the picture are Buffy Silverman, Tim Bogar, Lori Van Hoesen, Debbie Diesen, me, Kay Grimnes, and Ruth McNally Barshaw. Next year's photo will also include Amy Huntley and April Young.

They had a baby llama named Fergie who had an itch when I snapped that photo.

The moth is a "bird poop moth" also known as a beautiful wood nymph or pearly wood nymph. How's that for mimicry? Tim identified the moth and provided the link.

I spent the weekend among great friends and shared much laughter and a little wine.

I made some progress revising TAoCBS and figured out how much more there is to do.

Sunday

Photo by me.

My Poll

What do you do when you're sick of your work-in-progress?

Thanks to everyone who voted in my poll. I received a variety of answers, probably because different problems require different solutions. My approach was to persevere with CBL and finish the stylistic changes, then put it aside for a few days. During that time, I got a great idea, for one scene at least.

Today I leave on a writing retreat. I hope to tweak the beginning of CBL before I leave, then focus on TAoCBS while I'm away. I have the comments of three critique group members to ponder.

I scheduled this week's Sunday picture to appear, and I hope it will. Blogger can be willful. By the way, Jeremy calls my Sunday series "naturey things".

And speaking of Blogger's willfulness, I could not move the poll to the post column. Not to be thwarted, I copied it into PowerPoint, saved it as a JPEG then imported it as a picture. Thus, the resolution is terrible. I'm sure someone will tell me a better way to do this.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow, the World's Greatest Critique Group leaves for a writing retreat. A couple members won't be able to attend this year, and I miss them already. We'll be joined by a talented writer who isn't in our group. I am looking forward to tackling the many problems in TAoCBS.

Here, here and here are posts about last year's retreat.

Overheard #66

"Mythological genetics are not bound by Punnett Squares."

My Father's Secret War

My Father's Secret War
a memoir

by Lucinda Franks

Hyperion Books, 2007



I added this book to my Lazy Person's Reading Group list because I thought it would complement the other spy books I've been reading. I learned much about covert operations during World War II, but for me, the important lesson involved character development.

Lucinda Frank's father, Thomas Franks, was a spy for the US Navy during WWII, a fact not known to his family or friends. Like many soldiers returning from WWII, Tom Franks hoped to forget the atrocities he'd witnessed and refused to speak of them. In addition, he'd been ordered to secrecy. His daughter, Lucinda Franks, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, wheedled parts of the story out of him, battling his reticence and age-related memory loss.

I was taken by this quote that ends a description of a family Thanksgiving dinner.
"Chatter and clatter and wine corks popping and everything is normal except that the quiet, unassuming gentleman pushing in the chairs of the women has taught people to kill in cold blood."

Many characters harbor secrets, and how they choose to conceal them provides a goldmine for writers.

Sunday

Photo by me.

Helpful Suggestion

Me: This revision is wearing me out.
Jeremy: You could throw in a puppet show.

My First Poll

This blog doesn't have many readers. I appreciate each and every one of you MORE THAN YOU KNOW.

I have hesitated to post a poll because it would be embarrassing if no one voted. Please enter your choices. Someone? Anyone?

The astute reader will have divined that I am sick of CBL. I started CBL a long, long time ago. I've done lots of other things while writing it. I cared for an elderly mother, wrote another YA novel (TAoCBS), saw one son into high school and the other one out of high school. Recently, I had sort of a revision request for CBL, so I need to love this manuscript again and love it quickly.

Overheard #65

"There are two reasons for doing pushups. They make your arms stronger, and they give you a chance to think about what you did wrong."

Sunday

Photo by me.

Mutterings of a Madwoman

TAoCBS is off at summer camp, visiting the homes of my critique group members. Yesterday I had a hilarious conversation with a young man who had seen the manuscript on his mother's desk and was intrigued by the title. He will be in 5th grade next year, and his mother and I agree that TAoCBS (a younger YA novel) is a tad old for him. Just try to talk an articulate, persuasive and intellectual kid out of reading a book. I dare you. My efforts failed so dismally that I'm almost tempted to try this reverse psychology in my next query letter.

I have embarked on an in-depth revision of CBL, focusing on writing style. It's slow going. I've been reading each chapter out loud to check flow and pacing. My sons' friends must hear me mumbling in the bedroom and think I'm wacko.

Overheard #64

"You can gain wisdom, or at least experience."

Dryad

This fellow graces a yard near the local library. I currently have a few stumps and logs at my disposal. I were so inclined, I could create an entire population of these creatures.

Or not.

Freshmen Orientation

thirteen years ago
the boy in red shorts
turned back, eyes wide,
before the Kindergarten bus

today he strode away,
long-fingered hand
raised in casual farewell,
looking ahead

Sunday

Photo by me.

Background Noise

Several years ago, our neighbors had a sweet, but lonely dog who barked constantly. During that time, canine characters appeared unplanned and unexpected in my manuscripts.

This morning I wondered if music could have a similar subliminal effect. Could serene background music produce a flowing writing style? Would staccato marches inspire short snappy sentences? What about dynamics, piano vs. fortissimo? Of course the results would be skewed if the writer knew of the experiment, so I started to design a double-blind study.

Then I realized I should get back to my revisions. In silence.

Lazy Person's Reading Group - July Update

It’s the beginning of July, and here’s an update on my Lazy Person’s Reading Group list.
So far, I’ve finished three books. I don’t usually review books on my blog because many other blogs do that so well, but here are my impressions.

1. A book of fiction you've been looking forward to reading. The Grail Quest series by Bernard Cornwell. (The Archer's Tale, Vagabond, and Heretic). Okay, that's three books, but I am looking forward to them.
Although this novel is not my favorite of the Bernard Cornwell books, I learned a tremendous amount about the beginning of the Hundred Years War, including the capture of La Roche-Derrien, the battle of Crécy and the destruction of Caen.

8. A book that has recently received rave reviews. I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have To Kill You by Ally Carter. I see this mentioned everywhere.
This is a fun read about a spy-training academy for that masquerades as an exclusive girls’ boarding school. Carter lures the reader with an intriguing voice then cranks up the tension bit by bit.

11. A book recommended by your hairdresser or barber. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. The woman who cuts my hair says this is great.
If you’ve ever dreamed of running away with the circus, read this book. I enjoyed the way the novel shifted between the story of a prohibition-era circus and the current life of the protagonist in an assisted living facility. (Some of the nursing home scenes hit close to home.) I’m not a fan of starting a book at the climax then going back to tell the story, but I’ll forgive that technique this time.

Overheard #63

"Money comes and goes. Friends last."

A Few Definitions

meshugas (meh-shi-gaas): A Yiddish word meaning craziness or madness

Michigander (mish-i-gan-der): a native or inhabitant of Michigan, also Michiganian

Michigoslings/Meshugaslings (mish-i-goz-lings): how we refer to our sons who were born and raised in Michigan

Six emails, five administrators, one secure website and two phone calls: what is required to convince a premier Michigan university that one of said Michigoslings deserves in-state tuition

Meshugas!


References:
http://www.yiddishdictionaryonline.com/
http://dictionary.reference.com/

Sunday

Photo by me.

I can't always find a gray treefrog, so here's a blossom-full of light. To be honest, though, I snapped a photo of a lily in profile. I didn't know the camera would see it this way.

The Premature Book Trailer

I hate writing novel summaries for query letters. You know the drill: encapsulate the plot, elucidate the important characters and provide a hint of the voice in fifty words or three sentences, whichever comes first. Be enticing. Be compelling.

Piece of cake.

On the other hand, I love a good book trailer, a short, zingy message that makes me want to race to the nearest bookstore. So, I decided to make an imaginary book trailer for TAoCBS, even though that’s putting the cart way before the maverick manuscript.

I present three easy steps to an imaginary book trailer.

1. Hear the music in your head. Don’t worry about copyright restrictions. What plays in your dreams stays in your dreams.
2. Visualize the actors. Don’t worry about their salaries. Your imagination is independently wealthy.
3. Write the voiceover script. And use it in your query letter.

I liked the results. Will I use these lines in my query? I’ll decide when the time comes.

Overheard #62

"The author suffers from what many of us suffer from - not being F. Scott Fitzgerald."

Frog Identified

Thanks to Tim Bogar*, the frog in last Sunday's photo has been identified as a Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor or Hyla chrysoscelis). Here is some great information from the Department of Natural Resources on Gray Treefrogs. These frogs can change color to match their surroundings, but fortunately for my photograph, fuchsia is not in their repertoire.


*You can read some of Tim's ideas on our critique group's blog, Write Brainers.

Ideas

I wish I could tell you the idea for improving my stereotyped antagonist came while paddling our canoe under these amazing skies.

Watching these sailboats come about, drop their jibs and hoist bright spinnakers would have been a great inspiration for changing his personality.

But I got the idea while I was brushing my teeth.

Sunday

Photo by me.

All on a Ten Mile Bike Ride

1. I swerved around the fattest, most self-satisfied toad in Michigan's lower peninsula. I didn't even scare it.

2. The County Sheriff smiled and waved (instead of giving me a ticket) when he saw me riding the wrong way on a one-way street. Ahem.

3. A doe stepped out in front of my bike, but nothing bad happened.

This must be my lucky day. I should buy a lottery ticket or send a query.

Things I Should Have Realized a Long Time Ago - Part 5

Kids have a lot to learn.

Well, duh. That's why they go to school. And that's why they make such fascinating subjects for fiction.

Earlier this week, I accompanied Jeremy to his first voice lesson. While I've taken many music lessons, none have involved singing. Breathing for singing involves the diaphragm, which is similar to playing a wind instrument, but the big difference is where the air goes after a breath. When playing a wind instrument, the air goes out the player's mouth, and the vibrations that produce the sound waves are made by the reed, lips or mouthpiece. The sound is then enhanced by the structure of the instrument. When singing, all that happens in the singer's body. I don't understand the bits about the back of the throat and the sinus cavities, but clearly, good singers do. The voice lesson contained a wealth of new information.

The other part of Jeremy's learning experience was driving to and from the lesson. Jeremy has a learner's permit and is currently logging his fifty hours of practice driving. When we got to the lesson, he parked on the curb. When we left, he had to make a three point turn (in my lengthy station wagon), which he did beautifully. Then he had to negotiate that that tricky section of road where two busy lanes suddenly become one.

I realized teenagers learn a ton of new stuff every day, and there isn't much of a break between each learning experience.

Overheard #61

"We're striving to improve on reality."

A New Prime Number

Math is in the news today!

A new prime number has been discovered by Odd Magnar Strindmo from Melhus, Norway. It is 13 million digits long, so I won't display it here. It is a Mersenne prime number which means it can be calculated from the equation:

where n is a prime number.

The calculation required a lot of computing power (because the values for n are so large) and was aided by the Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search (GIMPS). People can download software onto their personal computers to help with the calculations.

This Is the Way We Wash Our Clothes

I’ve been giving laundry lessons to my college-bound son.

"Could I get this in writing?" he asked.

Sunday

Photo by me.

An Idea

Just when I thought it was safe to declare I'd finished the second draft of TAoCBS, a new idea wormed its way into my brain. It addresses a couple problems with the manuscript, and fits nicely/eerily/amazingly into the rest of the story.

One problem with the manuscript is Troy (our hero) is a bit of a victim. Other characters do mean things to him, and he suffers. But Troy has to fight back, and my new idea provides him with a chance at revenge. Of course his plan will backfire (at least once), and Troy will again suffer. As a protagonist, suffering is Troy's job. If he wanted an easy life, he should have auditioned for a different role.

Another problem is the second draft, at 23,800 words, is almost as scrawny as our hero. While the new idea will not bulk up my manuscript as much as a summer in the weight room, it is a start.

Time to get to work.

Debbie's Lazy Person's Reading Group

Back in May, Debbie Diesen proposed The Lazy Person's Reading Group on her blog. I don't have entries for all 11 categories, but Debbie suggests trying for five. Here are my seven.

1. A book of fiction you've been looking forward to reading.
The Grail Quest series by Bernard Cornwell. (The Archer's Tale, Vagabond, and Heretic). Okay, that's three books, but I am looking forward to them.

3. A book by someone whose last name begins with Z.
Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr. This book was recommended by Sarah Miller who read the ARC. The book hasn't been released yet, but I guess The Lazy Person's Reading Group won't rush me.

4. A book from a genre you rarely, if ever, read.
My Father's Secret War: A Memoir by Lucinda Franks. I usually don't read memoirs. Why not?

7. A book you figure you probably should read, even though you don't really want to.
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. Everybody recommends these books, but somehow, I've never read them. I'll start with The Golden Compass and see how it goes.

8. A book that has recently received rave reviews.
I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have To Kill You by Ally Carter. I see this mentioned everywhere.

10. A book that pertains in some way to a skill you do not, and never will, have.
Another Day in the Frontal Lobe: A Brain Surgeon Exposes Life on the Inside by Katrina Firlik. I stole this from Debbie's list, and I'm not ashamed.

11. A book recommended by your hairdresser or barber.
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. The woman who cuts my hair says this is great.

Overheard #60

"The whole thing reads like a train wreck that I have to watch."

Quote from Tomorrow The River

Tomorrow, the River

by Dianne E. Gray

Houghton Mifflin Company (2006)

"Without the daydreams, the joy in the work was gone. Without the daydreams, I was working only to buy a ticket home."

Sunday

Photo by me.

They Liked It!

TAoCBS has been difficult to write. Most days, I feel like each letter has to be whittled into wood or formed from clay. Words do not flow easily or quickly with this one.

I'm proud to announce that The World's Greatest Critique Group likes it - so far. They told me so today. If I listened very carefully as they made their comments, I could almost hear music playing in the background.

Step Away from the Computer and No One Gets Hurt

The frustration level on one aspect of a writing project had reached a zenith, and yesterday, I needed a break.

Did I travel to a large body of water and listen to soothing splashing sounds? No.
Did I walk in the woods, letting birdsong and rustling leaves calm my soul? No.
Did I ride my bike so all that pent up anxiety could be expended as energy? No.

I cleaned my house, weeded my flower garden and reseeded some bald spots in the lawn. At the end of the day, I could say to myself (for a change), "Look how much I accomplished!"

Now it's time to get back to work on the hard projects.

The Balance

The bad news:
I still don't have an enticing summary of CBL for my query letter.
The good news:
I'm going to put that project away for a few days (or possibly a few weeks or months). I can stop banging my head on the monitor.

The bad news:
I haven't written much lately.
The good news:
Life has been full of joyous events, like my older son's high school graduation and my 25th wedding anniversary.

The bad news:
The beautiful ash trees in our yard have been reduced to enormous piles of logs.
The good news:
Our neighbor has stopped brandishing firearms at the tree trimmers. We (and probably several future generations) can look forward to numerous fires in the fireplace.

The bad news:
I can't think of a downside to this one.
The good news:
The World's Greatest Critique Group meets on Saturday.

Overheard #59

"There are people at my school who think London and Paris are countries."

Fortune Cookies, Hamlet and Revisions

The message in my fortune cookie read:
"Truth can be harsh, but it can be helpful."

Or as Hamlet said:
"I must be cruel only to be kind;
Thus bad begins, and worse remains behind."

Sunday

Photo by me.

Emerald Ash Borer

This wood came from tall beautiful ash trees that were killed by an infestation of emerald ash borer. We can't remove

the wood from our property because that can spread the disease.

Next winter, and every winter for the foreseeable future, we'll be having fires in the fireplace. The tree guys stacked the wood in weird places, but I guess my brawny lads can move it this summer. The squirrels are running around the stumps as if they're trying to figure out what happened.

When Life Imitates Fiction

I am a strong advocate of high drama on the printed page. There's nothing like a strong plot and fast action to keep a reader glued to a book. I also believe a story is only as interesting as its characters.

On the flip side, I'm blessed with a fairly mundane existence. My quiet life lets me focus on the drama in my manuscripts. The people in my family are interesting to me, as any reader of this blog knows, but I don't put anyone I know directly into novels.

Today my life had some excitement. We're having several dead trees taken down. Our ash trees succumbed to emerald ash borer, and several yew trees died as well. The tree guys accidentally let one tree fall on the house, but that's not the exciting part. According to the boss tree guy, my neighbor came out of his house carrying a gun and told the tree guys to keep off his property. (That's the exciting part.) I didn't see this episode because I was typing away on TAoCBS at the time.

The tree guys don't want to call the police. The description of the firearm grows with each telling, so I'm trying to differentiate between fiction and nonfiction.

Who would believe this story if I put it in a manuscript?

Overheard #58

"I challenge anyone to show me a book that is NOT about loneliness."

The Not So Good Idea

I love that feeling when a new idea sparks in my brain.

An entire novel burst into my mind yesterday evening. This concept is funny, exciting, clever ... (I could go on and on.) So what if I had to finish revising CBL and TAoCBS and write DB before I could get to it. The idea is stellar and will only improve on pondering.

In this manuscript, I could employ my knowledge of martial arts and nursing homes. What a combination!

This morning I rushed to my computer and began taking notes.

Then I realized the premise wasn't unique to me. It was the subject of not one, but three, feature length, well-publicised Hollywood films.

Better luck next time.

Sunday

Photo by me.

A New Pleasure

I bought these golden oyster mushrooms at the farmers' market this morning. We intend to eat them.

I thought I'd saute them in olive oil.

As my Grandma Gussie used to say, "So, what could be bad?"

A couple of my in-laws enjoy mushroom hunting. They say if you search for mushrooms, they are hard to see, so the best way to find mushrooms is to look for something else.

Sometimes, the same thing happens in revision. Finding the solution to a problem is easier if I'm not looking directly at it.

Bandit

This little bandit stole my attention from chapter 12.

A few posts ago, I complained about the difficulty of photographing Taekwondo sparring matches. Wildlife also has an aversion to posing for the camera. And the flash flares on the window.

On to chapter 13.

Junk Mail Serendipity

When I moved my mom to Michigan, I had her mail forwarded to my address. The other day, a realtor from her former town sent a picture postcard announcing a house sale. In an odd coincidence, the house in the photo is only a short walk from where Lia, the protagonist of CBL, lives. The floor plan of Lia's house is almost identical to the house in the photo.

I like having the picture on my desk. It reminds me to get back to work.

Overheard #57

"They took a short story and made it very, very long."

My Novel Was In the News … Sort of

Morning Edition on NPR reported that a magnitude 4.7 earthquake rocked the Los Angeles area on May 17 at 8:39 PM. It was followed by a micro-quake of magnitude 2.5 and an aftershock of 3.1. Fortunately, the quakes caused little damage and no serious injuries.

The announcer on NPR mentioned the oil refinery in El Segundo which also appears in Chapter 2 of CBL. See, I’m practically a celebrity.

If you click on this link to the LA News, you’ll see a map. Most of CBL takes place on that green peninsula.

My enthusiasm for this brush with fame is not shared by most news organizations. The article about the earthquake was not included on the NPR website, and The Daily Breeze, the small local paper I grew up reading, has already archived the story.

Sunday

Photo by me.

Trust the Process

I'm not writing anything off today.

While it sounds wonderful to spend a gloomy Michigan Saturday typing away on CBL, I'm opting for the tortoise, not the hare, approach. At this point in the project, I need the best ideas, not the first ones to pop into my screen.

This morning while making my family's weekly dose of muffins, two separate conversations coalesced in my head to give me the beginning of a plan for fixing TAoCBS. Perhaps by the time this tortoise ambles back to TAoCBS, the rest of the idea will have solidified.

Revision Metaphors

I'm not going to use the trite puzzle metaphor to describe my current revision plan.
I'm not going to say everything has started to fit together.
I'm not going to tell you I've located the missing piece.

Let's put it this way. My GPS is finally programed for the correct address.

Overheard #56

"It’s 100% right, if you account for hyperbole."

Lessons Learned

The master of my sons' Taekwondo studio says everyone, even the spectators, should learn much from attending tournaments. So, what did I learn from Saturday's state-wide Taekwondo tournament?

First, it is darn difficult to photograph sparring matches. The photographic subjects keep moving! The stands were too far away to get great shots, even with the zoom. Before I try this again, I shall learn how to use the motor drive on the camera. This sport is fast.

I also learned about perseverance. Sam competed against four Masters and did not place in forms or sparring. When asked later about the tournament, he said, "I'll just have to work harder," and listed a few areas he felt needed improvement.

In my revisions, I'm also working harder, and thanks to an amazing critique, I know what to focus on.

Sunday

Photo by me.

Taking My Medicine

Some revisions are like taking medicine. They're good for the manuscript, and the end result will be improved novel health, but the side effects are tremendous. Many carefully crafted interactions get killed along with the novel's disease.

Recently on the advice of a wise woman, I started another revision of CBL. Her main idea seemed simple at the outset, but has far reaching effects on the story. To my surprise, the side effects make the novel better in ways that were totally unexpected.

At least to me.

Overheard #55

"There are infinitely many infinities – even more than you can count with the infinitely many infinities."

Sunday

Photo by me.

Saturday Inspiration

Need a pick-me-up? Click here.

This link was sent to me by my friend Maia Cheli-Colando.

Pint-Sized Fuzzy Dinosaur

The March 19, 2009 issue of Nature (vol. 458, p. 333) reports a cool new proto-feathered dinosaur, Tianyulong confuciusi. Most of the feathered dinosaurs discovered so far are two-legged carnivores who nested on the branch of the evolutionary tree that led to modern birds. Tianyulong confuciusi belongs to the other major branch of dinosaurs that includes armored, horned, spiked and duck-billed species. Psittacosaurus is the only other dinosaur in this group known to have integumentary structures (fur, feathers, etc.)*. This implies that feathers evolved earlier that previously suspected, or both branches of the dinosaurs evolved feathers independently.

Tianyulong confuciusi’s feathers were not true feathers as are found on birds. They appear to be hollow filaments known as proto-feathers or “dinofuzz". These plant-eating dinosaurs were about the size of a cat and had long tails. The Not Exactly Rocket Science blog has an artist’s rendition of the dinosaur and some photos of the proto-feather fossils.

*Psittacosaurus had tail bristles.

What Color is a Gray Wolf?

Wolves range in color from white or cream to gray and black. The darker colors are common in wolves that live in forested areas, but rare in wolves in the Canadian tundra. Scientists have proposed that darker fur color confers a selective advantage in a forested habitat and have speculated about linked genetic advantages not related to color.

In the March 6, 2009 issue of Science (vol. 323, p. 1339), Dr. Gregory Barsh and graduate student Tovi Anderson describe the genetics of black coloration in wolves. They examined genetic variation in wolves, dogs and coyotes, and concluded that dark coloration was introduced into the wolf population from domesticated dogs. Black wolves probably started appearing shortly after the first humans (and their domesticated dogs) migrated to North America.

Humans often have disastrous effects on wolf populations. Global warming and land development reduce wolves’ habitat. It is ironic that a gene introduced to the wolf population by man’s best friend may help wolves survive.

Here is a related article in Science Daily.

Overheard #54

"Most committees decide action is useless."

Finding Time to Write

I recently learned that Sir Thomas Malory, author of Le Morte d'Arthur committed a variety of heinous crimes. He spent the last years of his life in Newgate Prison where he did much of his writing.

Sure, it's hard to find time to write.

But there has to be an easier way.

Sunday

Photo by me.

Baby Mammoth

I haven't had a science post in a long time. Here and here are a couple links about a baby mammoth that was discovered in Siberia in 2007. The mammoth is the cover story of the May issue of National Geographic Magazine and will be featured in a special called Waking the Baby Mammoth (April 26, 2009, 9:00 PM ET/PT) on the National Geographic channel.

Change

In a graduation speech at the University of Michigan, Cathy Guisewite said, "If you want something to change, do something different." She did not say "do something differently", meaning take something you're already doing and tweak it a bit. By using an adjective to modify something, She suggested an entirely new approach.

Major revisions are difficult. Even a short novel is unwieldy to turn inside out and attack from a different angle. I've decided to start the revolution.

Today I sent my fictional heroes to Laguna Beach. They had a lousy time, but I enjoyed my mini, expense-free vacation on a gray Michigan day.

Sunday

Photos by me.

Primary Colors

Good Advice

Lately, I've been reading a lot of historical fiction, specifically the Sharpe's series by Bernard Cornwell. I had to smile at this line in the Historical Note section of Sharpe's Tiger (HarperCollins, 1997).

"I changed the nature of that explosion, and delayed it by two days, because fictional heroes must be given suitable employment."

How did he know my fictional heroes and I have been lollygagging in a very rough first draft? Pay attention, boys. It's time to get back to work!

The Problem with Parents

You’ve gotta love those spunky orphans. And there are so many to love in tween and teen literature. Writers need to get helpful parents out of the way so protagonists can solve their own problems, and orphans come with a ready made solution.

I’d like to propose an alternate approach. The parent can be clueless. This oblivious parent doesn’t have to be in prison or on mind altering drugs. He or she can be loving and attentive, but simply not know what’s going on.

What happens in school stays in school.

Last night I attended Jeremy’s choir concert and discovered he was singing a solo. Surprise! He sang the “EEEE-EE-EE-EE-EE um um awaaaaay” on Mbube (The Lion Sleeps Tonight) and sounded terrific.

I’ve blogged about The Cone of Silence before. I’ve even written about this song, but alas, I didn’t suspect the solo.

If kids don’t talk about positive stuff, who knows what else lurks beneath the surface?

Overheard #53

"I don't like vampires. I don't even like mosquitoes."

Sunday

Photo by Z.F. Burton

Spring Break

Lately, I've been having a problem with manuscript fidelity. Usually, I cuddle up with my WIP, and stick with it until submissions do us part. This past week, I couldn't seem to decide which manuscript was my heart's desire.

Last Monday, I posted that I was putting aside TAoCBS. I started an exciting new affair with DB. I adored the protagonist of DB for at least a couple chapters. Then, alas, TAoCBS started looking better. I remembered its laughter and light-hearted spirit.

In honor of the NCAA playoffs, I revisited G&G, my basketball novel. Perhaps G&G is my true champion.

Fortunately, CBL is off getting a paid critique. Out of sight. Out of mind.

I noticed something important during my wild and crazy spring break. The manuscripts with male protagonists have more action than the ones with female protagonists. Who knew my muse was so sexist?

The Magnitude of the Error

I didn't realize the rejection letter fiasco involving the California university was big enough to make the news. Thanks to Jacqui Robbins for cluing me in.
Click here to read more.

The UCSD notified acceptances in March, but they do not send rejection letters. It's easy to see why so many students were upset.

There might be a story in here somewhere.

A New Take on Rejection

Last week Sam received an email from a university in California that contained a congratulatory message of acceptance and an invitation to attend freshman orientation. A few days later, he received a second email that said the first was a mistake, apologized for any undue disappointment and wished him luck in his educational pursuits. Sam had already decided to attend the University of Michigan, so he didn't care, but I'm sure some of the applicants who received that pair of emails were distraught.

The next time I get a rejection, I'm going to console myself by realizing the agent did not write, "Yes!" then later tell me, "Uh, sorry. I meant another writer."

And the next time one of my characters has to face disappointment, I will first set him on top of the world.

Overheard #52

"I grew up in the Age of Aquarius, but now I live in the Age of Infinite Accountability."

More on Teen Driving

As a followup to a previous post on teen driving, here's what Sam said about NCAA commercials.

"They tell me what car I should drive, what beer I should drink, and what insurance I should buy if I do both simultaneously."

Progress Report

I finished the first draft of TAoCBS. It was difficult to write, so finishing even a short, rough, first draft is an accomplishment. This manuscript is different from all my other projects, and I'm glad I attempted it.

Now it's time to put it aside. I’m not doing this because The Voice of Doubt has joined a street gang which he/she/it has. The Voice of Reason is telling me that I know enough about writing to recognize that this manuscript is not a novel. Maybe someday, I'll figure it out, but right now, I don’t have the answers.

Meanwhile, there are other stories to tell and other voices to discover.

Sunday

Photo by Z.F. Burton

Froggie went a-courtin'

What Did You Mean, Exactly?

Have you ever noticed how some phases in the English language are intended to be untruthful?

Yeah, right
With all due respect
Fine
Don’t worry about it
Pretty good
Leave it to me
It’s easy
No, really
Just follow the instructions
You’ll be done in no time
Trust me on this
It’s not that bad

The Target Audience

Every YA author should have to teach a teen to drive. In case you don’t have a young driver handy, here are two conversations that occurred while Jeremy was behind the wheel.

Jeremy (singing falsetto): In the jungle, the mighty jungle,
Me: Don’t sing while you’re driving.
Jeremy: the lion sleeps tonight.
Me: Okay. Only at red lights.

Me (after emphatically correcting a driving error): When I was learning to drive, Grandma got mad at me.
Jeremy: You must have been terrible. Grandma was really nice.

Overheard #51

"Is there a reason why you put the mark of Zorro in my underwear?"