They Could Not See the Sky

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Evelyn

Joining a writing group is a great way to improve your writing. I know I’m learning a lot from mine.

Each month, we all read something we’ve written. People write in different genres. Some are skilled, some just beginning. But the feedback I receive is valuable, and helps me know if I’m on the right track, or need to do some serious re-writing. Or both.

At the close of each meeting, someone suggests a writing prompt. The idea is to write a 300 word piece using the prompt to get started. I’ve found this to be a great way to force myself to create a scene that has a distinct beginning, middle and end, and builds tension-all in less than 300 words.

Just for fun I thought I’d share last month’s piece, written to the prompt of “they could not see the sky.”

As the old woman and her granddaughter stood at the bus stop, they watched the bus creep away, disappearing into the rusty-colored air before it had traveled past four houses. Usually they could see the silver domes of the church in Petushki from the road, a small onion dome soaring above the larger one. If the wind was right, they could smell the chicken farm, the odor still sharp two kilometers away.

Not today. All they could see were the trees lining the road, leaves covered in brown dust. All they could smell was burning peat mixed with smoldering pine and birch. This year the fires were worse than ever. No one could sleep for the strong smell, like someone was chain smoking nearby.

So much destruction, the old woman thought. No warnings to the villages in the path of the fires. No fire rangers, no fire trucks. She and the girl had been visiting relatives in Karelia, far to the north, so they weren’t at home when the fires started. The fires were permitted to go where they willed, led by the wind’s whim to spare one village and consume another.

Clutching her tattered bag, the old woman led the way along the narrow trail that wound through an empty field to their village, ten minutes’ walk away.

The smell was growing stronger, as if thousands of people were lighting fires to cook over. Odd no one else was walking the path.

“Babushka, we’re almost there! You’re walking too slow.” The girl ran ahead toward the village, disappearing into the misty smoke.

The old woman paused, then trudged on. She knew what lay ahead before she heard her granddaughter’s scream. A burnt-out village under a sky they could not see.

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On Writing: My review

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Evelyn

Book cover image of On Writing Several authors, aspiring and otherwise, have cited Stephen King’s On Writing as required reading for anyone who is serious about writing as a career. I’m not so sure I agree.

To be sure, On Writing lives up to its subtitle A Memoir of the Craft quite well. King traces his development as a writer and how his success burst upon him after years of hard work. If nothing else, I found this section to be both an encouragement, as it is a reminder that the way to success as an author is by writing, as well as a challenge. Critics of King may quibble, but I found this to be an extremely well-written readable memoir.

The writing section summarized much advice that can be found elsewhere, but in King’s own voice with his own twist. At one point he says you can’t make a bad writer into a competent one, or a good writer into a great one, but you can turn a competent writer into a good one. So, is good all we can (or should) aspire to? If I read him right, his answer to this question is no. It all depends on the talent you bring to the keyboard.

I found useful his summary of narration (what moves the story from point A to point B), description (what creates a sensory reality for the reader) and dialogue (the tool that brings characters to life through their speech) useful. For me, this kind of summary will be helpful in bringing focus to my editing. The book contains some other useful tips as well.

King comes down on the side of those who don’t see the need for plotting in advance. In his view, such an exercise takes the creativity out of the process. I myself find it impossible to finish even a short story without knowing the end before I start writing, but’s that me. King’s method has served him well. I can only hope for one percent of his success.

When discussing backstory, he says “everyone has a history. Most of it is not interesting.” His point is that most writers feel compelled to tell the reader everything, whether or not it moves the story along. In writing his own memoir, it’s clear he followed his own advice, including only those bits that move along the story of the creation of a successful novelist. In that he succeeded.

So while I think On Writing is a worthwhile read, it’s not the be-all, end-all book on writing some have made it out to be. To be fair, King doesn’t claim that either. He’s just giving us his take on what made him as a writer, and some of what he learned along the way.

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What I’ve been Reading Lately

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Evelyn

Game of Thrones and GreenFor some reason unknown to me, I haven’t read much fantasy or science fiction in the past few years, excepting Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. So this winter I’ve been making up for that with a vengeance. Here’s my take on a few of the books I’ve read recently:

The Game of Thrones

On the positive side, I love getting lost in long epics. Long is what this provides. The story is complex, weaving around no less than eight major characters. For an epic fantasy, much of the book is centered on the desires and plotting of the characters, which shows multiple layers for all of them. I can almost believe this world exists, and got caught up in the drama of the kings and rulers vying for control of the land.

However, there was more brutality, including violent sex than I care for. The ending did not bring much resolution to the plot. Apparently, you have to read the rest of the series for that. I also thought it bogged down a bit toward the end. The last scene, however, ended with a twist I didn’t see coming and gave me an image I won’t soon forget. If you’ve read it, you know what I mean. If you haven’t, I don’t want to spoil it.

If you like intelligently written fantasy that breaks many of the stereotypes of the genre and don’t mind brutality, incest and other gritty topics, than The Game of Thrones is for you.

The Dispossessed

The Dispossessed is a novel that wanders in a circle, starting in the middle, filling in the past and moving forward in alternating chapters. While it moves slowly, the contrasts between the two societies are thought-provoking. Ursula Le Guin shows the strengths and weaknesses of both worlds, leaving the reader to consider which system works better. It’s clear that the anarchistic society works only because most of the people possess the shared moral values of hard work, responsibility, and the willingness to serve and sacrifice for the good of the community. Without these, their experiment would have failed. If you enjoy this kind of exploration of philosophy and politics and don’t mind them as a substitute for action, you’ll probably like The Dispossessed.

Blackout

I’ve been a fan of Connie Willis ever since I read To Say Nothing of the Dog, and Blackout did not disappoint. Like her earlier time travel story, the novel skips from the future to the past, and the reader is as equally confused as the time travelers who don’t always know when and where they are. For me, the uncertainty is part of the appeal of the novel, since I’m trying to figure it out along with the characters.

All Clear

All Clear is really Part 2 of the story begun in Blackout. If you haven’t read that one, read it first. All Clear continues the detailed look at life during the Blitz, meshing the science fiction of time travel with a historical novel, and is well done on both counts. This is another book I couldn’t read fast enough to find out what happened, and I’m sure it’s one I will re-read with pleasure.

The Light of Eidon

I knew nothing of Karen Hancock before I read the Light of Eidon, but am glad I found her. This was a thoroughly enjoyable book, with some interesting twists. I bought this book because it was marketed as Christian fiction as I was curious about the genre, so was not surprised that the religion in the story is very similar to Christianity. Some reviewers felt blindsided when that aspect became more obvious, but to me, it was clear where the religion of that world was drawn from.

Green

This was the first of Ted Dekker’s novels I’ve read. He also creates a believable world, weaving Christianity into his plot. However, had I to do over, I wouldn’t have read this one first. It was billed as Book 0 in the Circle Series, both the first and last. I felt a bit cheated by the end, as did many other readers. I’m thinking about trying Black (book 1), as many reviewers thought the first books of the series were pure genius, and Green didn’t measure up to them. Still, it is a fun and enjoyable read.

What about you? What have you been reading lately that you’d want to recommend?

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Creating Mythical Monsters

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Evelyn

Source: Albinoaxolotl2 by Orizatriz on Wikimedia Commons

As I’ve been plotting my fantasy novel, I realized I need to ramp up the tension a bit. Adding a few vicious monsters seems like a good way to make life difficult for my characters.

A quick google search led to over an hour surfing the net. I stared wide-eyed at the pictures of animals I’ve never heard of, like the axolotl. Seriously, it looks it belongs in an episode of Barney. He’d fit right in with that purple dinosaur.

Axolotl doesn’t exactly fit my idea of a scary monster, so I kept looking.

Source: Public Domain

Then I found the star-nosed mole.

With a little modification, I think this critter would horrify my protagonists as they hide from their pursuers in a cave. Imagine meeting a six-foot long version of this beast in an underground tunnel, one with spikes around its mouth?

While the warthog isn’t quite so exotic, he sure is ugly.

Source: Public Domain

What if I make him twice as big, and add some spikes on his tail? That could add some terror to my heroine’s flight through the mountains while she’s being pursued by bounty hunters.

Who knew writing a novel could be so much fun?

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Seven Things that Keep me Reading

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Evelyn

Ever notice how it’s harder to be specific about what you like than what you don’t like? I’ve written before on what makes me stop reading a book once I’ve started it. Today I’m trying to come up with a list of what keeps me reading. Once I started, I realized it’s a lot harder to be point out the positive than the negative. Still, I was able to come up with seven things that keep me reading, four for fiction and three for non-fiction.

Fiction

Good flow

Stories that keep moving along, progressing to the dramatic climax keep my interest. These dole out the characters’ backstory in teasing little bits, making me wonder how all the pieces fit together. The same is true for the history of the world, setting, or family that are central to the narrative. The characters all talk like normal people, meaning they have conversations that alternate speakers by sentences or short paragraphs.

Interesting characters

Stories populated with people who are interesting, complex, even contradict themselves are more likely to hold my attention. Even if I don’t agree with what the character does, if I have some sympathy for him, I’ll be interested in how things turn out. Also, characters that have some level of self-awareness, as in they understand the foolishness of their choices, or that their stubbornness is getting to be embarrassing, are more likely to engage my interest.

Attention to Detail

Not that the classics don’t have major holes, as in Jane Eyre at age 19 being able to give away three-fourths of her fortune. However, this happened at the end of a very satisfying novel, so it could be forgiven. Stories that don’t have holes but are believable and consistent in detail allow me lose myself in the reading. So if the moon is full one night, a week later it still can’t be a round silvery orb. Little touches of detail that add realism and flavor also help.

Accuracy

Along the same lines, accuracy helps. Novels set in 21st century hospitals need to have nurses wearing the right uniforms (ie, no caps). Historical novels based in facts are more enjoyable than ones with obvious and careless errors.

Non-fiction

Make it Accessible

I don’t want to have to work too hard to be educated. If I did, I’d go back to school. If the writing style is interesting and easy to understand, I’ll stick with it. Simple language, clear explanation of terms, good organization so I can find the information I am looking for factor into my decision of whether or not to keep reading.

Make it Usable

The information in a book might be great, but if you don’t give me some pointers on how to use it, you’re not making me into a fan. Tips, worksheets, schedules, checklists all make me think I’ll actually be able to implement what I’ve learned, rather than feeling overwhelmed and ready to quit.

Stick to the Point

I appreciate authors who stick to the point. If a tangent’s really important, it should be in a sidebar, or another chapter. Likewise, authors who feel the need to rant about something and give a warning to the reader or highlight that section so it can be easily skipped have earned my gratitude, and willingness to read on.

These are seven qualities that keep me reading. Without them, I’ll probably be skipping a few pages, or closing the book and putting it in the donate to Goodwill pile. Unless I really hated it, then to the recycling bin it goes.

What about you? What keeps you reading?

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Welcome to Tlefas!

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Evelyn

Welcome to Tlefas, the country where my new fantasy series begins. I’ve got the first novel just about plotted out and hope to finish the first draft by the end of May.

In the meantime, I’ve created a map of Tlefas. Hope you’ll want to join my heroes and villains there someday!

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On Writing Well

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Evelyn

On Writing Well made it onto my must-read list partly because of its subtitle The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction. I was not disappointed by that billing. Zinsser gives clear, practical advice, practicing what he preaches. His book is easy to understand and equally easy to finish.

If I could sum up On Writing Well in one word, it would be simplify. Cut out the clutter, Zinsser advises. Use shorter words. One technique he advises it to try to cut 50% from an article. Then try to cut 10% more.

He has a way of providing a technique along with his advice. We all know writing that breathes warmth will connect better with readers. Zinsser explains how to generate some of that warmth.

Like many others who write books on the craft of writing, he makes a case for planning ahead. “What one point do you want to make in your piece?” he asks. Once that’s decided, then don’t try to do too much, just cover that one point well.

Some of his advice seems obvious. Collect more material than you need is one such tip. Maybe it’s obvious to me, since I’ve made that mistake many times. Having to go back to collect more information or to clarify a point is a waste of time and disrupts the creative flow. The extra material gives you much to choose from to get the right example or statistic. And who knows, it could come in handy for another project.

Clarity is another theme throughout the book. I truly enjoyed the section that warns against what he calls creeping nounism. Communication skills enhancement facilitation is just one of his examples of this deadly rot.

He devotes several chapters to genres within nonfiction: interviews, travel, memoir, science and technology, business writing, sports, arts and humor. While all of the sections provide valuable information, I was most interested in the travel section. He distilled into a few sentences the core of great travel writing. That is, that the writer brings out the essence of the place, and what that essence brings out of the writer.

His humor chapter taught me that good humor is really truth exposed in an unexpected way, and the writer that pokes fun at himself will have readers laughing along.

I especially appreciated his counsel on how to “stave off fear” that comes to all writers. Knowing I’m not alone in the battle against the fears that keep my fingers off the keyboard is one step in facing them.

Zinsser makes that case that above all, writers must bring enjoyment to their work and to have the confidence to trust your instincts. He points out that in our results-obsessed culture, too many writers think ahead to the published book or article, and give little thought to the actual process of writing. “The writer, his eye on the finish line, never gave enough thought to how to run the race.”(I’ll raise my hand here and confess I’ve been there. And without thinking of how to run the race, it’s tough to actually make it to the finish line.) We need to savor the process, and use that energy to refine our craft.

His final chapter “On Writing as Well as You Can” is an inspiring piece on striving to write the very best prose we can, consistently. He quotes Joe DiMaggio, who gave this answer to someone who asked how he could play so well consistently. “I always thought that there was at least one person in the stands who had never seen me play, and I didn’t want to let him down.”

Having read Zinsser’s book, I’ve learned much that will help me not let my readers down, but instead, to inform or entertain them. Isn’t that why we all write?

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Seven Reasons I Stop Reading a Novel

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Evelyn

My parents brought me up to finish what I start. If I have too many unfinished projects, my anxiety level goes up and my emergency chocolate stash gets depleted. So I’ve always been kind of compulsive about reading a book to the end. Maybe it’s the eternal optimist in me that thinks surely it will get better, even when after 100 pages I have no reason to think that.

Lately I’ve given myself permission to not finish a book I’m not enjoying. For me to close the book for the last time without reading to the end, it has to be really bad. Here are seven factors that cause me to lose interest. One or two might not be enough for me to stop. Three or more, and I’m done.

1. Stereotyped characters

I’ve read too many books with a spunky heroine whose headstrong nature gets her and everyone else into big trouble, or sometimes even dead. Or the religious person who is stupid, rigid, or annoying. Add to this a drop-dead gorgeous heroine and stunningly handsome hero, ugly villain, nerdy scientist, nurturing grandmother, evil businessman and I’ve lost interest in the story.

2. Badly drawn characters or character arcs

This includes characters that are all good or all bad, don’t develop, or are inconsistent. If the spunky heroine loses her nerve and becomes passive, or the religious person suddenly becomes a drug addict without the author showing us how these developments are happening, it doesn’t feel real.

3. Stupidity in general on the part of the characters

Too many times I’ve read novels in which the spunky heroine does stupid stuff because she knows best or won’t allow anyone to tell her anything. Sometimes the stupidity is so extreme the characters have embarrassed themselves, but strangely, they don’t seem to realize they should be embarrassed. Add no self-awareness to stupidity.

4. Manipulation by the author

Obviously, the author is manipulating the whole story. But how the characters find out information or learn should flow from their actions, not through some trick device.

5. Predictable characters or events

If from the introduction of a character (i.e. the religious one) I know how he’ll be painted (stupid), the author has lost me. The same holds true with events. If I know what’s going to happen next, it’s not worth my time reading the book.

6. Bad writing and melodrama

As in excessive use of effusive, extraneous adjectives and exaggerated adverbs that conjure up nonsensical fleeting images of emotion squeezed out of flat characters like juice from a desiccated lemon. Or metaphors that make no sense, like a person living in the 1600s comparing his wife to a Hostess Twinkie.

7. Typos, punctuation and grammar mistakes

I can overlook a few, especially if the writing and story are good. After awhile, if an error is repeated, I’ll start to notice it. Then I’ll be looking for it. The characters, plot, story will all be lost as I wonder when the next mistake will come.

So those are the reason’s I’ll quit reading a book and put that author on my do not recommend list. What about you? What makes you decide to give up on a novel?

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Why Wool Works

Posted on March 16, 2013 by Evelyn

I’ve been reading quite a few dystopian novels lately, and have been struck with the fact that several just didn’t work for me. Wool is one that did. What’s different about Wool that made it stand out as so much better than the others? Why did I get drawn into its world when others didn’t keep me riveted?

First, the world that was created in Wool is believable. The idea of people living in an enormous silo after the destruction of the atmosphere is a viable solution. The concept is so simple, it almost appears obvious. (The author in me asks, “why didn’t I think of it first?”)

I did question a few things, like why did everything have to be carried up and down the stairs without even a freight elevator in sight. But overall, the setting worked and I wasn’t constantly questioning it. The level of detail added to the credibility of the world the author was building.

I found it interesting that many of the negative reviewers of the book questioned the science behind the silo idea. I don’t know enough about heat transfer and agriculture to have come up with the same criticisms. When I’ve read novels about something I do something about (like the health care industry), and they get something really wrong, I lose interest immediately. Since Wool covered science I know nothing about, I bought it and just enjoyed the story. Lesson learned: there will always be some scientist or professional ready to criticize the science or technology of a fictional work. If it’s well enough with some level of credibility, most people won’t question it.

Another aspect that I liked was that the major villain had a chance to make his case. He was convincing. I almost bought it.

While Wool had a love story, it did not become a distraction from the plot. Rather, it felt almost like an afterthought. It might not have developed as fully as it could have, although I could see it coming early on, but at least it didn’t stick out like something added in just to be there.

A strong feature was that the story kept moving along. Even though several major characters died early on, there was one story line that continued. Once Wool settled on the person who was the protagonist for the remainder of the book, the story accelerated and I could not read fast enough.

This device frustrated me a little, as the people I was caring about were dropping dead, but it made me care all the more about Juliette, hoping she wouldn’t succumb as well. Nice way to build that sense of investment in a character.

The evil way the silo’s inhabitants were kept in line was brilliant, and kept me guessing. The powers that be were not drawn as evil for the sake of evil, or omnipotent, or crazy smart one minute, and blindingly stupid the next.

That’s why Wool worked for me.

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2013 Nebula Award Nominees

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Evelyn

2013 Nebula Award Nominees

Recently, the Nebula Award nominees for this year were announced. Out of curiosity, I decided to check out of few to find out what’s considered winning fiction. Since they were shorter, I read the short stories. OK, that’s not the only reason. I’ve been writing a few pieces of short fiction lately, and wanted to compare my efforts to the winners. Here are my impressions:

“Robot” by Helena Ball

Not your usual story with beginning, middle and end. But I could feel the sadness, desperation and even anger of the person speaking, expressed all through instructions to their robot. An inventive, creative way of dealing with the theme of loneliness in old age.

“Immersion” by Aliette de Bodard

Another sad story, this one about cultural alienation. Many layers, multiple points of view about conforming to another culture’s idea of beauty. This one is also not told in the typical linear fashion.

“Fragmentation, or Ten Thousand Goodbyes” by Tom Crosshill

This story is about letting go of a dying loved one, or keeping them “alive” forever. It explores the uses of technology to do this, and how people change in the process. Thought-provoking, as it makes me think about how avoiding one’s own pain can lead to some very selfish actions.

“Nanny’s Day” by Leah Cypress

Finally, a story with a little more upbeat tone. This one explores child custody laws in a society that can test emotional attachment. Children are awarded to the person they are most attached to, whether that is one of the biological parents or the primary caretaker, in this story, the nanny. It also looks into what it calls bioism, or favoring the biological parent over the caretakers. Interesting twist at the end.

“Give Her Honey When You Hear Her Scream” by Maria Dahvana Headley

This one gets more into the fantasy genre. It’s the story of a pair who fall in love and the revenge their betrayed spouses (a witch and a magician) take on them. Creepy villains, horrible revenge.

“The Bookmaking Habits of Select Species” by Ken Liu

Very imaginative and inventive, this story tells of 5 alien peoples and how they record for posterity, or how they read what’s been left by others. It speaks to a universal desire to understand the world around and the increasing wisdom and knowledge people accumulate. This was my favorite of the nominees.

“Five Ways to Fall in Love on Planet Porcelain” by Cat Rambo

Another inventive story of a tour guide from a world where all the inhabitants are made of porcelain (or if of a lower class, clay). She falls in love with a human, only to pay a high price.

For me, all seven were enjoyable reads that took me into another world and caused me to see problems of life in different ways. I can see why they all were nominated.

I also read one of the novels, Kim Stanley Robinson’s 2312. Never having read any of his work before, I was blown away by his detailed world-building and the hard science fiction aspect. The protagonist was annoying and some of the way the plot was resolved was a little shaky, but these did not take away from this imaginative look at our Solar System 300 years into the future. The world building and descriptions of that world make it a far more enjoyable read for me than many other sci-fi novels I’ve read that are stronger on characters and plot. If you like plot driven, action packed fiction, this isn’t the book for you. If you seek intelligent fiction that stretches your mind and your vocabulary, you’ll love this one.
To see the complete list of nominees or to read the samples for yourself, stop over to Galley Cat.

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