Thursday, March 31, 2016

Classics Challenge: "The Great Gatsby"

I finished "The Great Gatsby."

And I absolutely hated the book. More so than last month's Classics Challenge "Pride & Prejudice." In fact, if TGG was longer, I probably wouldn't have finished it either.

Oh, where do I start?

If you remember from my Mid-Month Update, I wasn't too pleased with the characters. Aside from Gatsby and Daisy that is.

Now that I'm finished, let me just say... I didn't like ANY of the characters. Daisy was a weak-minded girl who couldn't figure out what she wanted (or establish any convictions). Her flaw came down to an inability to withstand the trials that come with love. Instead of waiting for Gatsby when they first knew and loved each other, she caved for someone who was available in a proximity sense. Never mind that Gatsby was fighting in a WAR


Why don't I like Gatsby?

He doesn't understand what love is. He claimed to "love" Daisy. Way off base. Gatsby, my man, what you have isn't love. It's obsession. Love is wanting the absolute best for someone. You went about the right way, trying to make money so she could live comfortably (albeit illegally...). But trying to get her to leave her husband? That's a big no-no.

Guys, for future reference. Throwing big, drunken parties is not the way to impress your girl.

Of course, I might be typing a different tune if these characters had redeeming qualities or learned a lesson. I won't spoil the ending for you (though I've spoiled plenty already), but none of these characters were improved. None of them learned their "lesson." Though I suppose Tom realizes that he could lose Daisy. So maybe that's something.

Overall, "The Great Gatsby" is definitely not on my "favorite classics" shelf. In fact, I can't wait to return the thing to the library.

I will not be watching the movie.

UGH.

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Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Easter Fun

March 27th marked the celebration of an annual, joyous, delicious holiday. Easter!

For the Christian, Easter is an even bigger deal than Christmas. Christmas the promise arrived, Easter the promise was fulfilled

As many secular and religious alike, my family celebrates Easter by getting together and eating some delicious food. Unfortunately, per my diet (mentioned in this blog post), my normal spread was limited.

But, THANKFULLY, my favorite Easter staple (other than the "Easter bunny" chocolate) was very much allowed.


I'm talking about ambrosia. 

Oh, ambrosia.

I'm not sure I could ever get enough of this delicious Easter dessert. I always manage to secret some away to take home with me. Sometimes I eat it for breakfast. It's that good.

Are you one of the unfortunate few who doesn't know what I'm talking about? Ambrosia is a delicious mix of maraschino cherries, mandarin oranges, pineapple, shredded coconut, marshmallows, and whip cream. 

Written out, it sounds kind of unappetizing. But trust me. This desert is ah-may-zing!

I hope all of you had an absolutely wonderful, safe Easter full of family and rejoicing.

My Savior lives! Hallelujah, my Savior lives!



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Thursday, March 24, 2016

Bookish Nostalgia

Why do the books we read as kids still hold a magic sway over us today?

Maybe it's the familiarity they provide, or maybe they're a physical reminder of simpler days and sweeter times. Either way, there are stacks of books that hold a special place in my heart. Today I'm going to share five of them with you, and a bit about why they're so special.

Ready? Here we go...


"Chicka Chicka Boom Boom" by Bill Martin, Jr.

I don't know what kid (at least who grew up in the 90's) that didn't read this book and love it. If I ever have kids, this will be a staple on our bookshelf!


"Caps for Sale" by Esphyr Slobodkina

No idea how this book was introduced to me (probably by my wonderful parents). But I loved it as a kid, and I love it now. Such a creative, fun idea for a children's story!


"The Three Robbers" by Tomi Ungerer

This book wasn't originally introduced to me as a book. I actually first watched an animated short of "The Three Robbers," which can be found here. To be honest, I've never read the book, but the animated version is straight from these pages... So I think it counts. Warning. It's kind of a weird story.


"Dealing with Dragons" by Patricia C. Wrede

My dad found this book for me when I was just breaking into chapter books. It's an amazing series for young girls, and I loved it (and still love it) desperately. I dutifully introduced it to my younger sisters.


"Green Rider" by Kristen Britain

The library in my middle school was a magical place. There were so many books packed into the enormous space. I could've spent all of homeroom there. It was among these shelves that I discovered two of my pre-teenage-hood favorites, "Green Rider" being one of them (and the book below being the other). Ms. Britain is stilling writing "Green Rider" books today. There's about a 3-6 year gap between them. So, in a way, I've grown up with these books. Which is so cool. I'm eagerly anticipating the next installment!


"Lirael" by Garth Nix

This book terrified and exhilarated me at the same time! Walking dead controled by bells? A dangerous library with monsters sealed inside rooms? An outcast girl becoming friends with a talking "disreputable" dog? Yes, please! I still love this book to this day. Though I don't get scared quite so easily.

Do you have any childhood favorites that are near and dear to your heart? Give them a shoutout in the comments!


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Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Hot Spots

No, I'm not talking about wifi. Instead of Internet, think Inspiration hot spots.

In other words, places where you get inspired most often.

I like to imagine that these "hot spots" teem with a special kind of energy. The leftover sparks of our inspiration flit about, just waiting to burst into a story the next time we visit.

Of course, my hot spots are the most amazing places. Bet you're picturing some kind of magical garden where buds are always in bloom, the temperature is perfect, and I stroll through barefoot in a pretty dress...

Or maybe I'm imagining that. Ahem.

My hot spots are as bland as they get. Where do I get most inspired? Usually in my car. More specifically, the driver's seat. There's something about cruising along (windows up or down, depending on the fickle weather) and listening to music that tickles my thoughts. It's wonderful! 


I know. It's not very exciting. It's either that or while I'm asleep. Which, unless you count my crazy dreams, isn't very exciting either. There are times when I'm somewhere new that I do get inspired. But this post is about "hot spots," not happen-chance adventures.

What about you? Is there a particular spot that inspires you more than others?



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Friday, March 18, 2016

Thursday, March 17, 2016

Change in Perspective

In the last year I've bumped into two teachers from my past. One was my fifth grade math teacher and the other my ninth grade Spanish teacher. Why is this worthy of a blog post?

Well, back when I was nine and fourteen respectively, these two teachers terrified me. 

I was very much a "good girl" in school. C's and D's would make me cry. And getting in trouble? Don't even ask. 

Which is why, when my fifth grade teacher (let's call him/her Ms. Clark), did the following, I never wanted to study math again...


THE HICCUP INCIDENT

On this fateful day, I had the hiccups. Like really bad, annoying as anything hiccups. In the midst of my "attack," Ms. Clark appraoches my desk.

"Emily," she says to me. "Go up to the front of the room and do jumping jacks." 

Because nine-year-old me is incredibly self-conscious and DOES NOT want to jumping jacks in front of the whole class, I said no.

Ms. Clark strides to her desk, collapses into her chair with a sigh and warns, "If you don't do jumping jacks, I'm going to write a Referral."

In elementary-school speak, this equals being sent to the office for a chat with the principal and a phone call home. At this point Little Me wanted to die, but I still said no. 

Ms. Clark actually took out the Referral and said, "Emily, come here." 

Blinking back I'm-a-good-girl tears, I stumbled over. She whipped out her blue pen and inked Emily Layne on the top of the form while I watched. Suddenly she stopped, capped the pen and looked up, asking with a grin, "Are your hiccups gone?"


Oh. My. Goodness. Looking back at it as an adult I can laugh and see what Ms. Clark's intentions were. As Little Me, I was terrified of math and Ms. Clark from that point forward. As for my Spanish teacher, she was just intimidating and yelled at students a lot. No fun stories there.

Even still, when I bumped into her the other day (she didn't recognize me), I looked at her and realized, she's not scary at all. Same thing for "Ms. Clark." They're just regular people. Though I'll probably never get over The Hiccup Incident.

Age makes a huge difference in thinking levels, which is important when it comes to characterization. A younger character might look at an event completely different than the story's adult. Keep this in mind as you write. Not only will it make your plot more believable, but the characters will become real and relatable to your readers.

Anyone else have scary school-related stories they'd like to share? Bet you can't top The Hiccup Incident!


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Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Classics Challenge: Mid-Month Update

It's March 15th already. Can you believe it? I can't! I feel like February owned the calendar just yesterday.

Lucky for me, unlike PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, I am halfway through THE GREAT GATSBY at this point. Which, okay, isn't hard. The classic is the shortest on the list and not even 200 pages long.

Let me start by saying, I've never seen any of the many movies made after this book. So I'm going in with a totally fresh and empty-slated mind. What are my thoughts so far?

The men in this book are jerks. And the women are idiots. Adultery and heavy drinking is a huge part of this book which is really aggravating. Squeeze your eyes shut if you don't want a spoiler, because I'm about to go on a rant.

Ready?

Okay. 

Nick is the narrator of THE GREAT GATSBY. His cousin is Daisy. Her husband is Tom.
Tom goes out with Nick one evening and what do they do? Visit Tom's married lover and have a mini party at her apartment! 


Sheesh, Nick! Where is your loyalty to your cousin? Come on!

It gets worse. Tom's "lover" mouths off against him and what does Tom do? HE BREAKS HER NOSE.

Yes, you read that right. I instantly hated every single person in that apartment for taking Tom's abuse in stride. Nick didn't even bat an eye at this. It might've had something to do with the fact that he was incredibly drunk. But still.

Honestly, the only characters I'm invested in at this point are Daisy and Gatsby. Daisy because she's a literal spot of sunshine in the book. Gatsby because he's a mysterious man who's desperately in love.
And who doesn't like a man in love?


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Thursday, March 10, 2016

A Twist in Routine

Confession time. Ready?

I struggle with acne. Not horrible, full blown, all-over-my-face acne. But it's not just the occasional pimple either (and it really affects my self-esteem, if I were honest). I've gone through dermatologist after dermatologist, cream after cream with no real relief. After some research on the glorious thing we call The Internet, I found one final option: A Naturopath.

A week or so ago, I took an hour drive to see A Naturopath. Long story short, she gave me a regimen to follow for a while to first see if the dreaded acne is stemming from any food allergies (even though I strongly doubt this, I'm willing to give anything a go).

Enter in the liver detox. The last week I've been gluten free, dairy free, sugar free, and egg free.

If you know me at all, this is a huge challenge. Just check out my bio. See that "food loving" bit? Well, you can translate that into "junk food."

This week-long detox has been difficult, but it's also subtly inspired me.

While I stood over the stove yesterday afternoon, jealous of half my family sitting by the firepit cooking hotdogs, simultaneously sauteeing onions and celery that would go into my quinoa concoction...


Prickling began in my fingertips. An idea was forming.

What is it, you ask? I'm not entirely sure. I know two things:

1. I really need to write this down.

and 2. The main character in my next book is going to be a really quirky girl who loves to cook.

What's the plot? The conflict? The side characters?

Yeah, I've got no idea.

But if you guys followed my blog series Idea to Pages, you should know...

This is just the beginning.


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Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Thinking Beachy

We've got a brief swell of warm weather out here on the East Coast. 

(By warm, I'm talking very low 70's)

The coat-less weather has my mind wandering away from fuzzy sweaters and boots to skirts and flip flops. In just a few short months, summer will be here in all it's warm, humid, buggy glory. I don't know about you, but I plan for Summer 2016 to be even more adventurous.


Literally. I'm planning.

Remember my Summer 2015 Bucket List?  Well, I'm making another one. Almost finished, in fact. And, let me just tell you, this one is even bigger and more "out there" than the last.

Why am I telling you guys this in early March (regardless of the warm weather), when summer doesn't start until June?

I WANT YOU TO HAVE TIME TO PREPARE A LIST OF YOUR OWN!

Sure, it's fun to be spontaneous. But "spontaniety" in the summer usually equates laying around the house with a book and junk food. 

But maybe that's just me...

Join the fun! Work on a Summer 2016 Bucket List of your own! Mine goes live on the blog June 1st.

Less than three months to go.

I.

Can't.

Wait!


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Thursday, March 3, 2016

Classics Challenge: F. Scott Fitzgerald

"Nothing is as obnoxious as other people's luck." ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

Our first male author in the Classics Challenge--and full-blooded American! The "F" stands for Francis, in case you were wondering.

Mr. Fitzgerald loved writing. So much so that he neglected his studies at Princeton University and focused on literary pursuits. All too aware that he wouldn't graduate due to failing grades, Mr. Fitzgerald ditched school for the army and WWI. The belief that he would die on the field compelled Mr. Fitzgerald to write his first novel: The Romantic Egotist. 

In the end, Mr. Fitzgerald never even left home. The war ended, and he was discharged before being sent overseas.

Now Mr. Fitzgerald abandoned the "sword" for the "pen" and his lifelong writing career began.

Though he had commercial success with his novels and short stories, critics didn't take him seriously. His reputation as an alcoholic painted him as an "irresponsible writer"--despite the fact that he wrote sober. Which is an interesting twist of things, considering his close friendship with Ernest Hemingway ("Write drunk, edit sober" cough cough).

After writing his third novel, the famous The Great Gastby, Mr. Fitzgerald's life collapsed. His alcoholism grew worse and his wife, Zelda, was in and out of mental institutions. In the end, Mr. Fitzgerald died of heart failure in the apartment of his "girlfriend" (while still married to Zelda). The Love of the Last Tycoon, a work in progress at the time, was never finished.


Writerly Things to Learn from F. Scott Fitzgerald:

1. Don't give up just because you were rejected the first AND second time. Mr. Fitzgerald's The Romantic Egotist went through massive editing after a publisher rejected it twice. It went on to garner acclaim, published as The Side of Paradise.

2. Keep your nasty habits in check. In a world of social media, we are even more "out in the open" than in Mr. Fitzgerald's day. Remember to always keep your writerly persona professional; you never know what could make the difference in your success.

3. If you want to write, you have to make sacrifices for it. Mr. Fitzgerald pursued the literary world with all he had (much to the chagrin of his Princeton professors, I'm sure). After the success of The Side of Paradise, he quit his job to devote even more time to the craft. Devote time to your story.



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Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Query Critique #9: KINETIC: THE FIRST ALLIANCE

My thoughts are added in redEvery comment is my own opinion. Readers, feel free to leave your own comments below and help a fellow writer out!

If you're interested in a Free Query Critique, follow the link for more information.

Original Version (with comments):

No one ever said being a hero was easy. At the very least, it definitely wasn’t smart.

Kinetic: The First Alliance is the story of intergalactic betrayal and revenge that will forever shape the lives of five teens back on Earth as they struggle to find the meaning of their existences and keep their humanity in the process. One by one, they’re forced them to fight a war light years away that they never asked for, or wanted to be a part of.

(This is all very, very interesting! Unfortunately it’s not necessarily needed. Instead of hurling your audience straight into the plot, you’re summarizing backstory—and what actually happens! I think you could do without this. After all, the real interesting part is the next paragraph!)

In the not-so-distant future, Alex Carter is a southern teen from Houston, Texas who had dreams of going to college and living a nice, boring existence. However, his life just took a turn for the chaotic when he is (I don’t think you need this. Jump straight into the action! His being visited by this “Shyra” is where your story really starts!) visited (Do you have a stronger word other than visited? Is he kidnapped at first?)  by Shyra, a beautiful and deadly alien from a far off world. After revealing Alex can control electricity, and must use his powers to try and save the world (I think something is missing in this sentence. Is Alex supposed to save Earth or Shyra’s world?). She manipulates his need to protect his grandfather (Could you show this? Maybe she threatens to kill his grandfather?), the only family he has left (Maybe earlier in the query letter consider showing how much Alex’s grandfather means to him. Otherwise it only comes off as a contrite plot device to get Alex to leave.), and he chooses to leave with her into the night.

The curt and brazen alien Shyra rips four more kinetics (Might want to explain what that is here), each with different amazing abilities (I can assume they’re amazing, if they’re anything like Alex’s!) from their homes and forces them to be conscripts them as soldiers for an upcoming interplanetary battle-royal I’m not quite sure what you mean by “battle-royal,” but I might just not know the term) to the death. Alex is forced to grow up and become a man and hero in just one year before the evil Zenakuu arrives.

Alex juggles a wide array of emotions for his team and mentor such as love, jealously, brotherhood, and hatred to name a few (Don’t tell us, show!). When war finally makes its way to Earth’s doorstep, Alex must choose between either surviving the day, or sacrificing himself to save the lives of his team.  The fate of humanity lies in the hands of a teenager who is only sure that he’s impossibly unsure (This ending doesn’t have quite the punch that it could, considering tons of planets’ fates rest in the hands of an insecure teenager! Try giving it more punch instead of summarizing what’s to come).

“KINETIC: THE FIRST ALLIANCE” is a 123,000 word Young Adult Sci-fi novel with series potential (Agents always worry that an entire series might not sell, so it's always good to say that the book can standalone). It the first installment in a Sci-fi, Young Adult series and is 123,000 words. It’s pace and theme will appeal to the readers of such books as Pittacus Lore’s “I AM NUMBER FOUR,” and “STEELHEART” by Brandon Sanderson.

Right off: your story sounds like a super cool YA sci-fi! I can already imagine what the movie would be like in my head (definitely saw I AM NUMBER FOUR!). The thing I think you really need to focus on with this query letter is to show instead of tell. You do a lot of glossing over and summarizing instead of going through what actually happens to Alex. The result is lack of empathy for anything he’s going through and lack of interest in his fate (as well as this not-so-distant Earth’s). Try to go through the book and jot down the most important parts as well as a fact about Alex that makes him relatable (other than his wanting to just have a perfectly boring life). Then take those pieces and weave them together to form your query letter. I wish you the very best of luck! Feel free to send the edited version to me, if you so choose!


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