Watch This Before Deciding To Write A Book

Okay, so this video is already floating around on various blogs, but I think it's hilarious and must post it here. Just because. Okay. Just because!

10 Things Teens Won't Tell Their Parents

I wasn't a teen THAT long ago, but I still have to remind myself from time to time what it was like. We YA writers want to make sure we portray authentic voices that represent teens living TODAY (not a decade ago when I was a teen!!). I thought this article was a nice reminder. What do teens really wish their parents would understand? A few of the points made me think oh yeah that is how I felt.

Click here for the article.

What's changed since you were a teen? What's stayed the same?

New Project: what's your project style?

I came up with an idea for a new project, and right now I'm in that puppy love stage. I can't stop thinking about it. I want to be with it every second of the day. I can't sleep because I'm already writing the query letter on my iPhone...under the covers. I can't eat because my desk is crowded with papers and pens and post-it notes, so there really isn't room for a plate.

Starting a new project is like stepping outside and seeing it has snowed for the very first time of the season. In your mind, everything is pure and white. The ideas have yet to be trampled by self-doubt. The ideas are not only coming out faster than you can write them down, but they're all wonderful...spectacular...award winning (am I stretching it?)...and you just can't wait to get started.

So, what's your project style? In the old days, I'd sit down, start writing, and see where the story would take me. My first book at 12 yrs old probably didn't have much of a plot. It was really more like a bunch of brainless characters wandering around in a vaguely detailed world (hah!). In recent years, I've learned to write brief outlines. As I have jumped from project to project, I've become even more fond of highly detailed outlines. The problem is I'm always so enthusiastic, I just can't wait to get started.

For my latest project, I don't want to begin the actual writing until the whole outline is complete down to the very last scene. The reason being is I don't want to make any mistakes this time around that cost me a truck load of time and effort. (You're thinking that's probably going to happen anyway...and you're probably right.) So, my project style is CRAZY DETAILED OUTLINING.

What steps do you take when you have a new project in mind? Do you write character bibles? Outline? Jump straight into it? Something I'm totally not even thinking about?

Rescue Me from Reader’s Purgatory, Please!

Currently, I’m suffering a reader’s purgatory wherein every novel I read is mundane with cardboard characters, a plodding plot, or uninspired writing. Let me tell you about it: 

I read a book which is a young adult paranormal novel about a girl who falls in love with a young, mysterious, fallen angel. I liked the premise and thought it might be wildly, wickedly romantic and entertaining. A week after I read the book, I couldn’t remember a thing about it. Not one. To tell you this much about it, I had to look it up online. I can’t recommend a book that is so unremarkable. I still don’t know how the title relates to the story, but the best thing about the book was the cover and the promising title, Hush, Hush. Perhaps you’ve read it.

I noticed Nicholas Sparks has a new book published and thought it would be great for my next book review. It’s called Safe Haven and tells the story of a woman with a secret and a good guy who falls very quickly in love with her. I delight in a love story where the reader can savor the clever dialogue between the couple as the romance builds. This is not that story. These characters fall in love ‘kerplunk’ as if they need to fall in love with someone….any highly attractive, nice person will do. The story is reminiscent of one of the lesser Hallmark Channel movies...been there, done that. The young woman’s secret is an abusive husband. There are details of the abuse that I really didn’t want to read about. Too tell the truth, I decided to do something I hardly ever do—I decided not to finish the book. I glanced at the end and realized there is a twist to it…maybe that and the author’s reputation will create some interest for you to read the book.

Because Safe Haven was commonplace, I began a search for a book with the promise of more excitement. I came across an online article about a new book that Steven Spielberg is developing a film from-- a posthumously published novel by the late Michael Crichton. Perfect! Remembering the uniqueness and thrill of Jurassic Park, I decided to read Pirate Latitudes. The first few chapters introduce the flavor of the often lewd, coarse 17^th century living conditions, customs and habits of the residents of Port Royal, Jamaica. I could tell from the details that Michael Crichton had done his historical research. Captain Charles Hunter selects his pirate crew according to their various talents to aid in seizing a Spanish treasure galleon anchored at an impregnable Spanish harbor, guarded by a garrison of soldiers with a particularly nasty villain in charge. What follows is one adventure after another. Yet, the adventures are superficial and seem hurried. And the characters seem flat. I didn’t care if they triumphed or not. Again, I did something I rarely do—skipped to the end after reading two thirds of the book. Since this story was found on the author’s computer after he died, I’m wondering if it was actually not ready for publication. Perhaps, it is a comprehensive outline and would have had more depth of character and plot had the author finished it.

So, here I am once more, an avid reader on a quest for an exceptional book--exciting, memorable, fresh. Perhaps you can help with a recommendation of which I will be most grateful.

Nerd Girl Tip #2

Hey fobsters <friends of blog(sters)>,
I have a new tip for you. But, my butler, Winston, has asked me to pass along some exciting news first. Earlier this week, we took a break from researching and made a trip to Bucharest. As you know, World's Greatest Writing Tips (written by none other than the Nerd Girl herself) has been on Romania's bestseller list for the past 45 consecutive weeks. My fans in Romania asked the city of Bucharest to erect a statue in my honor. Somehow a marble sculpture transitioned into what you see below.

For a full view of the Bucharest Metro, please click here

They named a Metro station after me. So, I may not have thousands of Romanian eyes on my pale marble buttocks as they pass through a beautiful city square, but I have other perks, such as people telling their loved ones to pick them up at "Nerd Girl station." It is surely just as good. Surely.

On to the tip...

Movies...movies...movies...movies
 
Use movies to help you get a good idea of what you should include in your 1)action scenes 2)romance scenes 3)booger picking scenes 4)husband and wife bickering scenes 5)you get the point

Start by choosing a movie that has a similar scene to the one you are writing. First, watch it without the sound. Watch for 1)body movement 2)placement of props 3)facial expressions 4) spacial proximity between characters 5)characters in the background who aren't talking


Now, rewind and watch it with the sound turned on. How did dialogue change the feel of the scene? What about the tone?


We are so used to interpreting data visually that when we're thinking about how a scene should unfold in our mind, we might be missing a key element. It's also a motivator when you're feeling stumped on how to begin a scene. But remember, don't *over-stuff* your scene. This exercise may help you identify what's missing in your scene, but you still have to par it down to the most important information.

At the end of the day, be creative, be resourceful, and do what you love. As a nerd, I don't expect you to like this tip, I expect you to love it. Or do I mean the opposite? Not sure. Good-bye, friendly fobs...until next time...next time...next time...

 

Lady Mystery is delighted: Official Trailer for "Jane Eyre"

As this is one of my favorite books of all times, I just had to share. The movie is set for release in March 2011.



(Thanks for the tip, Galley Cat.)

Characters & Stories in Art

I read a post the other day on Gowanus Lounge about a woman who was reunited with "Motherhood Triumphant"--a painting she modeled for almost 100 years ago as a toddler. What an interesting story! You can read more about it here.

Seeing the painting triggered a memory from my teenage years when I would visit my Grammy's house in Palm Desert, California. Those long, hot summer days kept me inside where the air conditioning felt like our lifeline. All cooped up, I had to get creative to keep myself entertained. Drawing. Writing. I Love Lucy episodes. There was also this atlas-sized book I'd stare at for hours called 100 of the World's Most Beautiful Paintings.

I was mesmerized by these paintings. They were so vibrant, so full of life. Each painting was a window into another world, another time. There was the coy woman and her lover's tender expression in Picasso's The Lovers. I was captivated by the pensive expression of the woman sitting alone in Foujita's painting Cafe. No matter the painting, there was only so much of the story told in that single snapshot. And as a lover of stories, I wanted to know more. Was the woman sitting in the cafe lonely? Perhaps she was waiting for her husband to arrive. Or she might have been taking a moment to relax and ponder the day's events. 

I was thirteen or fourteen at the time and planned to one day write a short story for each of the 100 paintings found in the book. If ever you need some inspiration, turn to the characters and stories in artwork. The stories expressed by paint and brush are just waiting to be put into words.

By the by:

I stumbled upon this really great blog where random paintings are posted everyday.

NERD GIRL Tip #1

When I'm lacking inspiration, what do I do? I read my favorite books, the ones that give me a great deal of energy and inspiration. You know...like Everyone Poops, and The Tao of Pooh, and of course all of the Harry Potter books. Harry Potter in particular.

Just the other day I was feeling tremendously ho hum about my quest for the secrets of writing the perfect book. So, what did I do? I walked into our dusty home theater and plopped down onto one of the red velvet seats. Winston, my butler, brought me a bucket of fresh, buttery popcorn and handed me the remote. Flipping through the channels, I found HARRY POTTER numero uno playing for my greatly-needing-inspiration convenience. I tossed the popcorn aside and ran across the marble foyer to the library. I'm much more comfortable there, anyway. I found Harry Potter on the shelves under (R) (you know, for Rowling?) and read until I felt ALIVE....until I felt that EVERY breath I took was filled with 10,000,000 atoms of INSPIRATION!

Thank you Harry. Thank you J to the K to the R-O-W-L-I-N-G!

And, that, my friendly fobs (remember, Friends of Blog), is how I felt inspired enough to write another page in my current best selling book (which you can buy by the page, here).

Introducing: Nerd Girl

Hey there fobs (Friends Of Blog), Just writing a quick post to introduce myself. I've got a huge collection of writing tips to share with you guys, so stick around (sometime within the next 24 hours, 1440 minutes, and 86,400 seconds) for my first ever tip.

I know it's hard to take advice from a nerd like me, but you don't judge a book by its cover do you? Oh wait. Yes, you do. Well, even though you judge a book by a cover, you don't judge a person by their nerdiness. Or maybe you do. IF you're a mean person (mean people never ever ever get published so you better check into mean people rehab) we don't like you anyway. So all you nice people, just stick around or come back later to read my first ever writing tip. It might be about plot. It might be about publishing. It just MIGHT be about the ancient scrolls my butler, Winston, is bringing back from the Vatican as we speak....uh....never mind. Just come back later for the tip. Okay?

To read more about me, click here.

To visit the blog where my award winning book is sold, click here.

Self Censorship

I take things too seriously (in all aspects of life, probably), and I think that calls for a change. From now on I will do none of the following:

1.(Save for blatant disrespect of others and myself) I will no longer censor what I write about. Creativity comes forth with freedom, not when the mind is shackled by self doubt. Somewhere...somehow...some way...I've grown up thinking that people have to watch what they say because it might *offend* someone or *hurt* someone's feelings or be *incorrect.* Usually, I only write with humble opinions that strip me of my personality and creative ideas. I look at the pieces I wrote as a child, a teenager, and an adult and find one thing: a lessening of imagination as I got older. Yes, I've become a better writer. I've become a damn good writer (in comparison, A DAMN, DAMN good writer....see the tiny censorship here. I have trouble writing I think I'm good at something without wondering whether humility is more important than being able to state something I truly believe in.)

2.I will no longer censor my stories just because I'm concerned the audience can't handle "gritty" plot lines. For 27 years old, I sure act as though I live 100 years ago where sex, drugs, violence were forbidden subjects for young ladies to talk about. I tend to want to shelter my readers knowing that they are impressionable teenagers. This is a bunch of crud. It holds back so much I can do in my story. My main character's voice isn't as authentic as it could be. My current re-write should rectify that. I guess I'm saying I need to snap out it. Get with the times. Stop censoring. The sought after stories are ones with CLEAR, AUTHENTIC, CONTEMPORARY voices. We live in a fast, hip culture where teens are exposed to the same themes adults are. I suppose if I want to uphold to my plan to set a good example for teen readers, instead of excluding controversial themes, I can portray them in a way that makes the readers see it in a certain light. Teen enlightenment or something like that.

Anyway, I guess this is my first official blog rant. Yay.

DYKTBE? (Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon)

Did You Know This Book Exists? (DYKTBE?) is a reoccurring feature on The Lit Express. The purpose is to connect readers with books they may not have known existed prior to Lady Mystery's review. Lady Mystery goes to her local bookstore and chooses a book at random. Read more about this feature here.

Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon

Summary from Goodreads: After Renee Winters discovers her parents lying dead in California’s Redwood Forest in what appears to be a strange double murder, her grandfather sends her off to Gottfried Academy in Maine, a remote and mysterious high school dedicated to philosophy, “crude sciences,” and Latin: the Language of the Dead. It’s here she meets Dante, a dark and elusive student to whom she feels inexplicably drawn. As they get to know each other better, Dante can’t seem to control his attraction either, and their desires gradually deepen into a complex and dangerous romance. Read more of the summary here.

Lady Mystery's Review

Genre: Young Adult; paranormal romance

The Cover: Beautiful art design, and the dust jacket is smooth to the touch (I do not like to rough up my finger tips with a grainy dust jacket, thank you very much).

The Blurb: The description on the back of Dead Beautiful is written in first person. I do not mind this, but I know others (like my esteemed colleagues at Oxford, though I doubt said colleagues will wander to YA section) who might. The description of the plot isn't on the back but on the inside flaps. Essentially, regrettably, all it says on the back is our (nameless) character's parents are dead, and she is sent away to Gottfried Academy where mysterious things happen. Sometimes the back of the book is all I read when deciding whether or not to purchase it.

Prologue/First Page: The prologue is vague but very interesting. First page: tone pulled me in immediately.

Overall Score: 4 points. (5 for cover design, 2 for blurb on back, 5 for opening pages=average of 4) If I choose to read it, I predict a review score of 4 stars on a five star scale.

Deal Breaker or Deal Maker: Picking up this book at random has led to an interest in purchasing it. I must read online community reviews before I make my final choice. At the moment, I lean toward Deal Maker. Although the back of the book does not grab my interest, I thought the writing style in the prologue and first page shows promise. We shall see what we shall see. Anon.

Introducing: Did You Know This Book Exists?

Let's face it, there are way too many books to have heard of all of them. The purpose behind DYKTBE? is to introduce you to a random book. Lady Mystery (my "alter personality" for this activity) will do the following steps for each review:

1.Lady Mystery will go to the bookstore
2.Pick a book at random (she's trying to decide if she wants to make her way through the different categories)
3.Take a picture holding the newest DYKTBE book
4.Read the back
5.Read the first page
6.Write a review based on her unscientific findings
7.Include various information about the DYKTBE book in her review
8.Rate the book (star scale) based on absolutely no other information (this might seem preposterous, but we expect those who have read the book to step forward and tell us Lady Mystery is wrong...or right!

Lady Mystery's bookstore

(The store may vary when Lady Mystery goes on vacation or to a city where there is actually more than one bookstore.)

Lie to Me: Characters lie too

I'm a Netflix patron and recently watched the whole first season of Lie to Me starring Tim Roth (in a 3 day marathon :-D!!). It's about a genius psychologist who studies microexpressions and body language to determine whether or not people are telling the truth. Microexpressions are involuntary facial expressions so fleeting that people aren't aware of doing them, and most people don't see others doing them either. (Test how good you are at reading microexpressions).

Tim Roth's character, Dr. Liteman, is hired by major corporations and federal agencies to conduct investigations. Lives are always on the line when Dr. Liteman is around. Watching this TV show has made me want to study applied psychology (yet another want-to-be profession added to my ever growing list!) Anyway, getting to the point, it's also made me think about the various ways characters interact in books.

We've all heard that no matter what we say to someone, body language is what communicates most of our message. This should hold up in the stories we write. It's difficult because unlike real life interactions...or interactions in movies...we rely on communicating a message with words and no pictures. We use words to create the pictures. Our characters' body language and facial expressions are still important. Writers rely a great deal on dialogue to move the story along. But to add depth to what our characters say, it's important to tag dialogue with the appropriate body language and facial expressions.

"I'll give you the money," he said obligingly. <-- This is quick and easy, but it's lacking depth.

His nostrils flared a second before he smiled. "I'll give you the money." <-- This isn't as black & white as the the line above. The difference is the subtle suggestion of an emotion besides "obliging." This guy was trying to hide his resentment with a smile, but his involuntary microexpression gave him away to the reader and possibly the other characters.

My goal is to be more aware of my characters' body language...to pinpoint the right body language and facial expressions to match emotion and intention. I think we all do this to a certain degree naturally, of course, but I know I could be more aware.

(My tips from this post can also be found on Casey McCormick's Literary Rambles blog. I love Casey's blog.)

"What's your bookprint?"--Social Networking based on book preference

Scholastic says a bookprint is "the list of books that leave an indelible mark on our lives, shaping who we are and who we become." Scholastic just launched a new social networking site where you can connect with people around the world based on your taste in books. Create a profile, select the 5 books that have most influenced your life, and be matched up with like minded readers. Are you a reader like Bill Gates or Taylor Swift? Find out who reads the books you read.



You are what you read.

Review of The Help by Katheryn Stockett

Which is it? A Five-star or a One-star Book? You decide.

By Linda

Summary: The year is 1962 in Jackson, Mississippi. The book begins with Aibileen, a black maid who must endure racial disrespect from her employer and her employer’s friends. Aibileen tells her story in first person and begins with her care for a little girl who is selfishly ignored by her mother, Aibileen’s employer. Aibileen also shares the tension she experiences when her employer’s racist friends don’t want to use the same bathroom as the “colored” maid. They convince their friend, Aibileen’s employer, to build a small wooden bathroom in the garage for the maid to use. Aibileen never expresses her opinions or feelings to these ladies and submits to saying thank-you for the bathroom when pressed. She knows it’s not safe for her to express her anger or make any mistakes. One young black man who has befriended Aibileen merely makes a mistake and suffers a terrible consequence.

The second part of the book has her friend Minnie, also a maid, as the first person narrator to further the story. Minnie can’t control her anger at the way she is treated with contempt by the white people in her life. Minnie ‘talks back’ and when one of her mean-spirited employers takes offence, she accuses Minnie, unfairly, of stealing and fires her. As a result, Minnie takes an ‘unspeakable’ revenge. And she has a very difficult time finding another employer.

But the tables are about to turn because the third and final narrator is a young white woman who sees the treatment of the black maids as unjust. She wants to interview them for a book that will reveal the facts, and she has the ear of a New York editor who thinks this idea will make a perfect book for them to publish.

My Review: I was immediately drawn into Aibileen’s story. In many cases, she was the only voice of reason, and there was something very likable about her. But the fact is, I would have enjoyed the book more if she had remained the narrator for the entire book. I don’t find the ‘voice’ or the stories of the other two characters as vibrant. I wonder if the author felt more affection for Aibileen too.

On Amazon.com there are 2,706 reviews of this book so far—an astounding 2,160 people gave it 5 out of 5 stars and only 94 people gave it one star. The contrasting viewpoints of the reviewers were whether or not the characters’ dialect was representative of the story’s setting, whether the events were true to life and whether the characters seemed real or were cardboard stereotypes.

As to the debate about the authenticity of the dialect, I am not personally familiar with the southern black dialect of the 60’s so I found Aibileen’s words and way of speaking different from my only sources of information—tv and the movies. However, the plot seemed realistic and the characters seemed to be genuinely motivated.

Five-star or one-star book? You decide. If you like a detailed, thought-provoking, character and relationship driven, slower-paced novel with a message, then, this one is definitely your cup of tea.

About the Author: This is Kathryn Stockett’s debut novel. She was raised by a black maid, Demetrie, in Mississippi and says she wanted to write the book because she has spent years wishing she had asked Demetrie what it felt like to be black in Mississippi , working for a white family.

As a side note, I highly recommend a movie from the early 90s that starred Whoopi Goldberg and Sissy Spacek called The Long Walk Home. It has a similar theme of a black maid in a white household. The story takes place in Montgomery , Alabama during the mid 1950s, the time of Rosa Park’s arrest, the bus boycott, bombing of Dr. King’s house and the beginning of the civil rights movement. I cheered for the black lady who stood up quietly, yet proudly, for her civil rights and also for the honorable white lady whose response to injustice was defiance.