tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32248886111609107912024-03-13T06:26:41.271-07:00Cynthia Chapman Willis' BLOGCynthia Chapman Willis is an author of children's books and instructional materials for elementary classrooms. She lives in Branchburg, New Jersey. Her first middle grade novel, Dog Gone, published by Feiwel and Friends, is now available online and in bookstores. Her second novel, Buck Fever, also published by Feiwel and Friends, came out in the fall of 2009!Cynthia Chapman Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.comBlogger229125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-64507243694631861352014-03-16T15:23:00.002-07:002014-03-17T13:11:33.948-07:00Cindy Chapman Willis 1961 - 2014<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">
It is with deepest regret and a heavy heart that I must inform you that
Cynthia Chapman Willis passed away on March 3, 2014 at the age of 52.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">
Cindy always aspired to be a writer and, to
that end, she spent many years in the publishing industry before having her
first book, Dog Gone, published in 2008. Cindy left the world of publishing and
committed herself completely to her career as an author. She loved the
book signings and school visits where she had an opportunity to meet so many
wonderful people and answer their questions. Those of you lucky enough to
have met her will no doubt remember her bubbly personality and bright,
infectious smile.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
Cindy told very few people about her
battle with cancer. She did not want to burden others with her situation
and felt she could maintain her career despite all the demands that cancer made
on her. Maintaining a positive attitude and steely determination, Cindy
fought this battle for twenty, long months. The most difficult part of
her “cancer journey”, as she called it, was not having enough time to write all
her stories.<br /><br />
Cindy had an amazing and beautiful
gift of connecting with people. She cared deeply and it showed in everything
she did. She saw the value in everyone she met and made each person feel
special.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;">
I am Cindy’s younger sister. I think
of her as the comet in my life: shining brightly and bringing joy to all who
were lucky enough to catch a glimpse. I basked in the bright glow of her
wake, always happy to tag along. I know that, although it feels very sad
and dark right now, the stars will shine again and life will march on as it
always does. Perhaps that’s why we need to take the time to watch for
comets. They fly by so fast, burn so bright, and disappear so quickly.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt;"><br />
For all of you that loved and
supported her as an author and friend, thank you and God bless.<br /><br /> Carey</span></div>
Cynthia Chapman Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-25064585019232911422013-10-31T08:14:00.000-07:002013-10-31T08:17:39.023-07:00Tricks and Treats<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Happy
Halloween!</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> M</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">y mind is full of tricks
as well as treats—both the sugary kind and the writing kind. I thought that I'd share some, but<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qiIAa2RZhAM/UnGbMDVEj7I/AAAAAAAAA6s/52cMxZF3TVY/s1600/10.31+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qiIAa2RZhAM/UnGbMDVEj7I/AAAAAAAAA6s/52cMxZF3TVY/s320/10.31+blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by earl53</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
not the yummy chocolate or caramel stuff since I haven't figured out how to download high calorie goodies. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Some treats:</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">An article written by H.M. Lewis in the July/August SCBWI Bulletin: “Smart Research for Dummies.” It highlights the benefits that writers might find
in some of the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For Dummies</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> books. Believe
it or not, this was interesting enough for me to label it a treat. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Body
Language For Dummies </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">by Elizabeth Kuhnke, for example, snagged my
attention. Suggestions on how to give my characters another way to communicate? I'll take them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">To learn more about the For Dummies books (on writing and almost everything else), check
out </span><a href="http://www.dummies.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">www.dummies.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The list of finalists for The National Book Awards, which were announced last week. I love reading award-winners. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For more information: <a href="http://www.nationalbook.org/nba2013.html#.UnFeb5EsvlI">http://www.nationalbook.org/nba2013.html#.UnFeb5EsvlI</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Another treat is when my mind stirs up the “perfect” ending to a story that I am writing, especially when this solves more than one story problem. I’ve only experienced this
kind of an epiphany once or twice, but it can be more delicious than an entire bag of Halloween candy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Writing inspiration that comes from reading a
novel written by another author. I love this treat. A story can be different
in every way from what I am writing, yet inspiration, unrelated ideas, and lots
of insights pop into my head about my own work as I read. Yummy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Some Tricks: </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Novels
with ho-hum stakes. When I start reading a story only to
realize that the stakes are not high enough, I taste sour disappointment. Why not? If I don’t care
all that much about whether the protagonist reaches his or
her goals, there's not much point in reading. When I mutter “So what?” it's only a matter of time until I put the book down,
usually with a sad sigh.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">A character that does something that I can’t
believe he or she would ever do, and without reason or justification. My trust disappears. Or when a character says something not in keeping with his or her personality, also without reason or justification. What? I am left feeling as if I’ve been tricked. I no longer trust that I know this character. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Computer irritations. This can be anything from a computer glitch that means my writing, edits, research, etc. has not being saved to some craziness that allows my computer to eat my work. Any techno-nightmare that ruins my writing day falls into this "trick" category.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Are
there any tricks and treats that you enjoy? Or tricks that make you want to throw candy at your computer? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Wishing you all a Happy Halloween!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
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Cynthia Chapman Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-87786477534499249282013-09-04T12:32:00.000-07:002013-09-04T12:32:24.150-07:00Setting as Character
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have
you ever read or heard that a writer should consider setting to be a character in a
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z1dFkY3F0xM/UieJoONWJxI/AAAAAAAAA6c/RhkVbc6li2s/s1600/9.3+blog+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z1dFkY3F0xM/UieJoONWJxI/AAAAAAAAA6c/RhkVbc6li2s/s320/9.3+blog+photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Hotblack, Morguefile.com</span></td></tr>
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story? Have you ever read a story in which the setting came alive? Or, the
details, moods, and symbolism of a story brought it to life? I have. And I must say, the right setting details can make an almost magical difference to a story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Think
about a story with a vivid setting. I bet it evoked emotions in you as reader.
I bet it added to the characterizations in the story. And, I bet that setting
changed and developed ever so subtley. Maybe it even included specifics that set
the mood and the tone of the scenes. Perhaps the setting even took on a life of
its own. Didn’t this use of setting enhance the story? I am guessing
that it did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All of this started churning around in my head as I started reading a novel in which the setting is, so far, a character. The
night air breathes, the floors moan and whisper under the weight of someone’s
steps, the moon hides behind clouds and peeks out every so often. Goosebumps,
anyone? At this point, the setting is a creepy sort of character setting me up
for something scary. And I can’t wait to read more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enough about what I think. What
do you think about setting? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">*
NOTE: Some of you may have noticed that I skipped blogging in August. Many
apologies! I hit a bit of a health snag in my road to recovery. As a result, my
writing and blogging schedule felt the hit. Thank you for visiting again, my bloggy
buddies! I am on my way to visit you, again, too. : ) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Cynthia Chapman Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-22877803147063301072013-07-03T12:48:00.000-07:002013-07-03T12:48:45.843-07:00Summer Reading
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<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Summer
is a great time for reading. I love sitting outside, immersed in a wonderful
novel or a nonfiction book (maybe a book on the craft of writing), with a glass of lemonade on a sunny day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
recently finished two books on writing that will end up on the top of my desk,
where I keep my favorite books on craft (meaning within reach). <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft</i>, by Janet Burroway,
Elizabeth Stuckey-French, and Ned Stuckey-French was recommended to me at a
Highlights novel workshop. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Writer’s
Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers</i>, by Christopher Vogler was a gift
from a well-published author who said this book changed his fictional writing
life for the better. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6pCstVsmvu8/UdR-Q5nILeI/AAAAAAAAA6E/Xgl7RpUChb4/s166/9780205750344_p0_v1_s114x166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6pCstVsmvu8/UdR-Q5nILeI/AAAAAAAAA6E/Xgl7RpUChb4/s166/9780205750344_p0_v1_s114x166.JPG" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft </i>is considered a textbook, so be warned--it is a bit pricey. Still, I’m
glad I bought it. The text outlines the writing process, including discussions
on finding the right details, characterization, fictional time and place, story
structure, point of view, and (of course) the process of revision. Short
stories and writing exercises at the end of each chapter highlight and
reinforce the lessons discussed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A
sure sign of how helpful I find a book is how much I highlight the text and
dog-ear the pages. My copy of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Writing
Fiction</i> is tattooed in purple highlighter and sports many bent
corners. It’s a good thing that I didn’t borrow my copy from the library.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U1MroM6A8LY/UdR-TAuehgI/AAAAAAAAA6M/cnF8bjAsZ7k/s166/9781932907360_p0_v1_s114x166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U1MroM6A8LY/UdR-TAuehgI/AAAAAAAAA6M/cnF8bjAsZ7k/s166/9781932907360_p0_v1_s114x166.jpg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for
Writers </i>explores the relationship between
mythology and storytelling. This book focuses on screenwriting as well as
novels. According to Christopher Vogler, "all stories consist of a few
common structural elements found universally in myths, fairy tales, dreams, and
movies." Agree or disagree, this book provides a lot of helpful and
thought-provoking information for fiction writing, which probably explains why
it is an international bestseller. The text discusses the story journey and its
stages, which include archetype characters and the various points of the journey
from beginning to end. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yes, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I highlighted the text of</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>The Writer’s Journey </i>as </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">much
as I highlighted <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Writing Fiction: A Guide to
Narrative Craft</i>. I also dog-earred lots of pages.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you read either or both of these books? Have you read any books on the
craft of writing that you’d recommend? Anything that goes with sunshine and lemonade?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy
July 4<sup>th</sup>!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Cynthia Chapman Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-78582762826351875282013-06-04T10:15:00.000-07:002013-06-04T10:15:16.576-07:00The End In the Beginning?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Qk0DuidE9g/Ua4gBTzQXfI/AAAAAAAAA50/xQscOBEAoY0/s1600/maze.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7Qk0DuidE9g/Ua4gBTzQXfI/AAAAAAAAA50/xQscOBEAoY0/s320/maze.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">T.S. Eliot said that "The end is in the beginning." </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve
always heard that it is not only wise to plant the ending of a story in the
beginning, but necessary. Not in an obvious way, of course, but subtly. The
beginning of a well-told tale should at least hint as to where that story is going, and perhaps where it will end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
This
is one of the many reasons why, for me, much of writing is revising. I outline
and yet, because I don’t force myself to stick to the outline (it’s more of a
safety net), I often need to revise my story based on what the first draft ends
up becoming. I almost always need to adjust my story beginning (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">adjust</i> often being a nice way of saying
<i>rewrite</i>) to suite my story ending. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
How
about you? If you are a writer, do you try to allude to your story endings in
those story beginnings? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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If
you are a reader, do you appreciate how the ending of a story is sometimes
reflected in the beginning of that tale?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Cynthia Chapman Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.com57tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-61402192206875552152013-05-07T13:10:00.000-07:002013-05-07T13:10:43.195-07:00Something Old Into Something New
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CN0hEX0KG_c/UYldMQXBxtI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/sX-PJQnHBFI/s1600/old+book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CN0hEX0KG_c/UYldMQXBxtI/AAAAAAAAA5Q/sX-PJQnHBFI/s1600/old+book.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">photo by clarita, MorgueFile.com</span></span></td></tr>
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<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">It
has been said that there are no unique story ideas. Okay, but does that condemn most </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">stories,
then, as nothing more than rehashed, already told tales? If so, wouldn’t
readers be too bored to pick up a new novel?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Sometimes
writers can become infatuated with a great story idea that is less than unique, but the initial impulse might be to shy away from developing such an idea. Is
this always wise? Why not consider developing a been there done that premise into
something new--a version different and hopefully special. Yes, there are those
published story premises done one too many times (Did someone mention vampire
romances?) On the other hand, some stories stand out as unique despite the reflection
of an already done premise. Think about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Romeo
and Juliet</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">West Side Story.</i> Sometimes,
a familiar story can be molded and contoured into a stand-alone work with its own
merits.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">How?
Consider fresh characters with unique bends and twists to their back-stories, unique
motivations, interesting values, and funky quirks. Or perhaps a unique setting can
make a story unique. Maybe an added plot twist or different ending. How would Romeo and Juliet be different if their story was
set in the year 2075, on Mars? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">What
do you think? Can a less than unique story idea be tweaked to be new and
improved? How might you transform something old into something new?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Cynthia Chapman Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-87874690374922677602013-04-09T09:03:00.000-07:002013-04-09T09:03:50.287-07:00The Home Stretch<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hfnLxjrPUpM/UWQ5lkrNUgI/AAAAAAAAA48/iAgUW33mfFM/s1600/homestretch.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hfnLxjrPUpM/UWQ5lkrNUgI/AAAAAAAAA48/iAgUW33mfFM/s1600/homestretch.jpeg" height="320" width="253" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Jade, Morguefile.com</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Isn’t
it exciting to come into the home stretch of a work in progress? For me, this
is when I am satisfied with the overall story, but I am questioning the smaller stuff. With my focus on the finish line, I give a last look at specific areas of my novel that might
need a tweak or an adjustment. For example:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>CHARACTERS</b>
Will readers care enough about the characters in my novel to keep reading from page one
until the end? I hope the answer is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">yes, </i>but
I will often do a final review by concentrating on individual characters. This
is a good way to be sure that each is unique and that actions are not
predictable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>CONFLICT</b>
I often reread to be sure there is enough conflict and that it is balanced. Too much
all at once can be overwhelming or ring false. Not enough can be ho-hum. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>SCENES</b>
Does the setting come alive in a way that most benefits each scene? If not,
what details can I add to make this happen? How many characters are in the scene
and does this work? A crowd can be cumbersome. Also, does something change in
each scene? Where is the crisis and the drama? Is every scene necessary to my
plot? Are there too many similar scenes?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>OVERALL
MESSAGE</b> Have I said what I intended? Or, has the message changed somewhere in
the many drafts? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">What
do you focus on when you hit the home stretch of a project (other than finishing it)?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Cynthia Chapman Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.com51tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-747104475295238442013-03-19T09:59:00.000-07:002013-03-19T09:59:41.388-07:00
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NThOS0S2koQ/UUiWQDw2dXI/AAAAAAAAA4k/1Ap7AXzpxho/s1600/songbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NThOS0S2koQ/UUiWQDw2dXI/AAAAAAAAA4k/1Ap7AXzpxho/s1600/songbird.jpg" height="148" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Juditu</span></td></tr>
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<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There
is a wonderful quote in <i>Writer’s Digest, </i>(October
2012) by author Patricia Cornwell. It is in response to a question<i> </i>about rejections and what advice she
gives writers. Here’s the quote: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Quitting
can’t be an option. You don’t become a writer—you are one. And if you really
are a writer, it’s like telling a songbird to shut up—you can’t.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I agree, yet, in chat time with some of my writer pals, I have bemoaned the trials and tribulations of writing and publishing, marketing and promoting. Crafting,
revising, and polishing a story can be frustrating and grueling. However,
despite this, I can’t imagine not spending as much of my time as possible
engaged in this struggle. In fact, when I am put into a situation that doesn’t
allow as much writing time as I’d like, I become</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m8M8-loPt6A/UUiWsmob8TI/AAAAAAAAA4s/ckw5poteQes/s1600/songbird.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m8M8-loPt6A/UUiWsmob8TI/AAAAAAAAA4s/ckw5poteQes/s1600/songbird.jpeg" height="178" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by AcrylicArtist<br /></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">edgy and discontent. I crave
the struggle even though I may still fantasize about throwing a manuscript out
an open window (complete with laptop). Quitting is not an option. Like the
songbird mentioned by Ms. Cornwell, I can’t shut up (ask anyone who knows me).</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do
you consider yourself this kind of writer—the songbird that can’t be quieted? Have
circumstances ever road-blocked your writing? If so, how did this affect you? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A happy Spring to all! </span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Cynthia Chapman Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.com50tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-32050105255797168602013-02-26T09:26:00.000-08:002013-02-26T09:26:58.732-08:00Head Versus Heart
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<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w4UIq-jJDOw/USzvRBUw5CI/AAAAAAAAA38/bJdA56hn0hU/s1600/hearts.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w4UIq-jJDOw/USzvRBUw5CI/AAAAAAAAA38/bJdA56hn0hU/s320/hearts.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by Ladyheart, www.morguefile.com</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">How
many times have you heard a writer, actor, or artist talk about his or her
wildly successful project? Often, we hear or read that such a project has
sprung from subject matter close to the creator’s heart—some deep passion about
something. In the September, 2012 issue of <i>Writer’s
Digest</i>, for example, author Chris Cleave (best seller <i>Little Bee, </i>as well as <i>Incendiary</i>
and <i>Gold</i>) shared that he only writes
about topics that he really<i> </i>cares
about. Doesn’t it seem like more
often than not, success stories start with this kind of spark or passion? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">On
the other hand, though, it’s sometimes hard to ignore what the market hungers
for or requests.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">If
you are a writer, do you write solely about subject matter that has deep
meaning for you or that resonates with you? Or, do you let trends or the market
influence what you write about? In other words, do you listen to your head or
your heart as you decide on a new project?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">When
you read, can you discriminate between an author who is passionate about his or
her subject matter and one who may be more grounded? Does passion for a topic or
subject matter always bleed through? Does it need to? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Cynthia Chapman Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.com50tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-38154122183107772952013-01-22T10:36:00.000-08:002013-01-22T15:21:46.917-08:00The Ballad of Jessie Pearl: A Book Birthday<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Hello
everyone! I apologize for being more absent from this blog than usual. A bit of
radiation was added to my ongoing treatment schedule, which messed with my
writing life for a bit. To make up for my absence, though, I have a special treat for
you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 292.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 292.5pt;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xZO2zgxPS4U/UP7XVlM206I/AAAAAAAAA3Y/lCmtsDdb1xg/s1600/9781608981427_p0_v2_s114x166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xZO2zgxPS4U/UP7XVlM206I/AAAAAAAAA3Y/lCmtsDdb1xg/s200/9781608981427_p0_v2_s114x166.JPG" width="128" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">February
1<sup>st</sup> will be a very special book birthday. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Ballad of Jessie Pearl</i>, a historical fiction debut novel published
by Namelos and written by a wonderful writer, and my friend as well as critique
pal, Shannon Hitchcock, will be officially released. Insert celebration dance
here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 292.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 292.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Already
this novel has received lovely reviews from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kirkus</i>
and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Publishers Weekly</i>. (PW review here: <a href="http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-60898-142-7">http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-60898-142-7</a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 292.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 292.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">As
if this is not enough reason to break out the party cake, the amazing Richard
Peck liked Jessie Pearl enough to write a cover blurb for the novel: “With the poetry of plain speaking, Shannon
Hitchcock recreates the daily drama of a vanished world.” Wow. Let loose the
balloons and confetti.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 292.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 292.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Inspired by
Shannon’s family history, <i>The Ballad of
Jessie Pearl</i> begins in 1922. Young and spirited Jessie has big plans for
her life, until tuberculosis forces her to put her dreams on hold. Oh, and she
falls in love for the first time, too. Pushed into confronting what she really
wants, and what she is willing to sacrifice for it, Jessie learns that fighting
for one’s dreams can be anything but simple. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 292.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 292.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Not only is
Shannon a wonderful writer, she is also proving to be a whiz at marketing and
promotion. She spoke on January 18<sup>th</sup> at the Florida SCBWI conference
on a panel of debut authors, she is slated to speak at NCTE on a panel of
southern authors in November, and she’s sold numerous copies of her
novel out of the back of her car. Impressed yet? I am. So, I thought we’d chat
with Shannon about marketing a debut novel.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Welcome, Shannon! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">So, how much of the
marketing and promoting are you taking on (as compared to what your publisher
may be doing)?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>
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</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>I look at marketing as a
partnership. My publisher sent out approximately 150 copies of my book to
reviewers and awards committees. Those are contacts that I don’t have on my
own. I’m always reminded of a quote from Joyce Sweeney, “Your publisher is
doing more than you think they are.”</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>
<!--EndFragment--></b></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">What resources did you find
most helpful in guiding you on how to market and promote your debut novel? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lisa Schroeder has a handy
“Timeline and Checklist for YA or MG Book Release” posted on her blog. <a href="http://www.lisaschroederbooks.com/2010/02/timeline-and-checklist-for-ya-of-mg.html">http://www.lisaschroederbooks.com/2010/02/timeline-and-checklist-for-ya-of-mg.html</a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I also highly
recommend Katie Davis’s e-book: HOW TO PROMOTE YOUR CHILDREN’S BOOK. Oh, and
use SCBWI. I wrote an article for my regional chapter and I spoke at the Miami
conference.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Can I get you to share some
of your marketing strategies, or how you have been or will be promoting? For
example, how do you go about selling books out of your car? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>I’ve made it my mission to
contact all of my friends and relatives, contacts my publisher doesn’t have. I
started by writing a letter to everyone on my Christmas card list and inserting
two bookmarks. I invited the recipients to read my book and asked that they
pass the extra bookmark to a friend who might also enjoy it. As for selling
from the back of my car, I try and keep about ten copies of my book in the backseat.
I’ve chatted up my book at church, the beauty salon, even the drycleaners, and
then if anyone expresses interest in buying, I have a book handy to sell them. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>I also uploaded my book trailer to YouTube, Vimeo, TeacherTube, and to my Goodreads author’s
page: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRXyeIJ4js8">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRXyeIJ4js8</a>.
<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Since I hope JESSIE will be
used in classrooms, I also worked with Debbie Gonzales to create a Curriculum
Guide that is linked to the new Common Core State Standards. It’s available for
free downloads, too: <a href="http://www.shannonhitchcock.com/forteachers.html">http://www.shannonhitchcock.com/forteachers.html</a>.
<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>I also gave my website a
facelift to focus on my new book. </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">How much do you use social
media, such as Face Book and Twitter, to promote? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>I try and tweet and post to
Facebook a couple of times a day. <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">What would you suggest to
someone just starting to promote his or her first novel?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What would you advise against? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Have bookmarks made as soon
as your cover art is final. Bookmarks are relatively inexpensive and people
love getting something for free. I advise against doing anything you detest.
One of my critique mates hates to blog. She tried it and it’s not for her. I
think if you hate doing something that you’ll find every excuse to avoid it.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>I’ll be honest and tell you
that I’m afraid I’m leaving out some vital pieces of the marketing puzzle.
Maybe your readers will share tips and strategies in the comments section so
that we can all help each other. </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Thank you, Shannon! Wishing
you every success with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Ballad of
Jessie Pearl</i>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">For more on Shannon and her
fabulous novel, hit these links:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="https://www.shannonhitchcock.com/">https://www.shannonhitchcock.com/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_20?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the+ballad+of+jessie+pearl&sprefix=the+ballad+of+Jessie%2Cstripbooks%2C188">http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_20?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=the+ballad+of+jessie+pearl&sprefix=the+ballad+of+Jessie%2Cstripbooks%2C188</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/the-ballad-of-jessie-pearl?store=book&keyword=the+ballad+of+jessie+pearl">http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/the-ballad-of-jessie-pearl?store=book&keyword=the+ballad+of+jessie+pearl</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Cynthia Chapman Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-72396294198771778842012-12-18T10:11:00.000-08:002012-12-18T10:11:46.101-08:00Gift Ideas?
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cnd0n-HC1OA/UNCwbSYp-mI/AAAAAAAAA20/NOA2tkCec18/s1600/il_570xN.306869594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cnd0n-HC1OA/UNCwbSYp-mI/AAAAAAAAA20/NOA2tkCec18/s1600/il_570xN.306869594.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">Tis’
the season of gift giving, which can be stressful. Finding the time and energy
to find, make, or purchase just the right gifts can be tough, though. So, in an attempt to
lighten the tension, provide inspiration, and perhaps bring on a smile, I
thought I’d share some fun writer gift ideas. Here goes: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Check
out this fun writing pendant that warns others of the power of the pen (or
keyboard): </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/76415686/careful-or-youll-wind-up-in-my-novel?ref=sr_gallery_8&ga_search_query=gifts+for+writers+etsy&ga_ex=adwords&ga_awsrc=adobe_g&ga_awmed=us_ppc_w&ga_awcmp=S&ga_gclid=CLu5yZmGhLQCFcXb4AodtRcAzw&ga_utm_source=adobe_g&ga_utm_"><span style="font-family: Arial;">http://www.etsy.com/listing/76415686/careful-or-youll-wind-upinmynovelref=sr_gallery_8&ga_search_query=gifts+for+writers+etsy&ga_ex=adwords&ga_awsrc=adobe_g&ga_awmed=us_ppc_w&ga_awcmp=S&ga_gclid=CLu5yZmGhLQCFcXb4AodtRcAzw&ga_utm_source=adobe_g&ga_utm_medium=us_ppc_w&ga_utm_term=gift-forwriters_p&ga_utm_campaign=S&ga_ef_id=Styg0NBbricAACuBCKEAAAFA%3A20121205195708%3As&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery</span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This
license plate frame is a must have for any author intent on safe driving. </span><a href="http://www.cafepress.com/+i_brake_for_book_sales_license_plate_frame,396414434"><span style="font-family: Arial;">www.cafepress.com/+i_brake_for_book_sales_license_plate_frame,396414434</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cnd0n-HC1OA/UNCwbSYp-mI/AAAAAAAAA20/NOA2tkCec18/s1600/il_570xN.306869594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">When
inspiration hits in the shower (and it does), this waterproof gift might be the
answer: </span><a href="http://www.myaquanotes.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial;">http://www.myaquanotes.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Is
the writer in your life bored with scribbling in the same old journal? Could he
or she use some new and different paper? Why not check out </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">POOPOOPAPER™? These natural, recycled and
odorless paper products are made from the (ahem) droppings of vegetarian
animals such as elephants, cows, horses, moose, pandas, and donkeys. No, I’m
not kidding. </span><a href="http://new.poopoopaper.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial;">http://new.poopoopaper.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Happy
gifting to all and to all who celebrate, a merry Christmas and a happy new year!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Cynthia Chapman Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-59900195270523371412012-11-27T12:28:00.001-08:002012-11-27T12:28:17.194-08:00Inspiration
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<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E9xqHmCO6AI/ULUdfyNfQVI/AAAAAAAAA2M/4ykndRwXASo/s1600/boltforblog.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E9xqHmCO6AI/ULUdfyNfQVI/AAAAAAAAA2M/4ykndRwXASo/s320/boltforblog.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by fannfango, Morguefile.com</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 16pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In
the July/August 2012 Writer’s Digest, Celia Johnson wrote about “bolts of
inspiration” that have influenced authors. Apparently E.B. White was walking
through an orchard, on his way to visit some pigs when he considered a large
spider that had woven a web in his house. Bam, Charlotte of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Charlotte’s Web </i>was born.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Celia
Johnson also wrote about how a sixteen-year-old C.S. Lewis daydreamed about a
half-man, half-goat rushing through snowy woods with an umbrella and packages.
Mr. Lewis remembered this image twenty-four years later and used this hoofed character
in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.</i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I find these anecdotes fascinating. Yet, I’ll admit to being a pinch envious. I don’t
think I’ve ever been inspired on my way to visit pigs. And I’m pretty sure I
didn’t daydream about half-man goats at sixteen. In fact, I don’t recall ever
being jolted by inspiration as if stung by a live wire. Sure, ideas come my way
and some intrigue me, but (as of yet) nothing as dramatic as a half-animal toting
an umbrella (not to mention packages). And, as much as I adore <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Charlotte’s
Web</i>, I doubt a spider will ever inspire me to do anything but scoot away
from it (probably with a squeal). My ideas are more like seeds that require
planting, cultivating, and nurturing before there is even the possibility of
them growing into anything that might be useful. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How
about you? Have you ever experienced the full on kick of inspiration? I’d love
to read about it--and be envious of you, too.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Cynthia Chapman Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.com51tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-30391164600675957672012-10-31T10:58:00.000-07:002012-10-31T10:58:19.553-07:00What Scares You?
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ck-rstPAVtg/UJFkfzo3qiI/AAAAAAAAA1g/CASNM8-azpo/s1600/zombie.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Happy
Halloween, everyone! </span>We just got our power back as a Halloween treat after
Hurricane Sandy blew through earlier this week (she came as a wicked witch).
So, in keeping with the spookiness of All Hallows Eve, I thought I’d toss out a
question for you to chew on instead of those candy bars or caramel apples begging
for your attention. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x3B8VYiwKYw/UJFkks8vKZI/AAAAAAAAA1o/xF2BRPcRQqo/s1600/scarypumpkins.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x3B8VYiwKYw/UJFkks8vKZI/AAAAAAAAA1o/xF2BRPcRQqo/s320/scarypumpkins.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Pumpkins by markmiller at Morguefile.com<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">What frightens you
most about starting a new writing project? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">Does
coming up with an idea feel a bit too much like putting together a Frankenstein
monster (from scratch)?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">Or,
do you worry about surviving that unholy bog that is the middle of a novel or
writing project? Working through that can be more challenging than pulling
through a sour swamp blanketed in a slimy fog—at night, with no moon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">Or,
does an unknown ending hover over your shoulders, baring threatening fangs?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ck-rstPAVtg/UJFkfzo3qiI/AAAAAAAAA1g/CASNM8-azpo/s1600/zombie.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ck-rstPAVtg/UJFkfzo3qiI/AAAAAAAAA1g/CASNM8-azpo/s320/zombie.jpeg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">Scaryface by wallyir at Morguefile.com</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">Perhaps
you worry that your characters won’t develop any </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">more charisma than hollow-eyed
zombies?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">Maybe
the voice, or the lack of one, haunts you?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">For
me, the thought of writing the first draft of a new novel brings on chills and
sleepless nights. I’ve been known to wake up screaming at the mere thought of
sitting down to write a first draft. Terrifying. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">Whatever
part of writing frightens you most, be brave and face it with your favorite
trick or treat in hand. I recommend chocolate or caramels, but a good book on
writing technique, a workshop, or guidance from others in the know can also be
helpful. Just remember that writers are courageous and can (usually) conquer the
scariest of hurdles. It’s a big part of what we do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">Happy
writing and trick-or-treating! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;">And
wishing those coping with the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy warmth and a
speedy recovery.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Cynthia Chapman Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-66837321629959596482012-10-09T15:25:00.000-07:002012-10-09T15:25:22.976-07:00That Character Did What??? <br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iz-6shVlojM/UHSjkGvvYHI/AAAAAAAAA00/BD07HBwhbO8/s1600/888888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iz-6shVlojM/UHSjkGvvYHI/AAAAAAAAA00/BD07HBwhbO8/s1600/888888.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Photo by Blueprint, Morguefile.com</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am well into reading this novel and enjoying it--really enjoying it. The main character happened to be this guy obsessed with being neat and fastidious. Very detail oriented with a hearty dislike of littering and sloppiness of any kind. Then, midway through the novel, the guy tosses aside half of a sandwich, paper wrapper, napkin and all, without any pang of guilt. Not even a passing thought. What? This threw me until a few paragraphs later, when I realized that the tossed sandwich served a distinct purpose—a plot purpose. Mr. Fastidious acted out of character in order to allow something else to happen in the plot. Hmm, kind of a Bozo no-no, wouldn’t you say?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Confession time: The writer in me does, at times, become tempted to have a character do something he or she would never do. Why? To set up an event I need in the plot. But as a reader, this device leaves me cold and disappointed. I want, at the very least, the character to recognize what he’s doing and have a reason for doing it. Otherwise, I stop believing in that character. The magic is gone; the fictional balloon is popped. Bozo puts on a disappointed face and wags his finger (which is never good).</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you ever stumbled over a character that did something unbelievable in order to serve the plot? Did you throw the book away or shrug this off and read on?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Writers, have you ever been tempted to have a character do something that doesn’t work for his or her personality (and hope no one notices—especially Bozo)?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<div>
<br /></div>
Cynthia Chapman Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.com56tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-9799419592974848882012-09-18T10:30:00.001-07:002012-09-18T10:30:19.554-07:00Three Things and a Personal Note
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<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">I
love quotes. I stumbled across the following gem from William Faulkner:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">“A
writer needs three things—experience, observation and imagination—any two of
which, at times any one of which, can supply the lack of the others.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Interesting.
Experiences have become the seeds for some of my stories, as well as for some
scenes. Observations have helped me to find the right details for characters,
settings, and plot developments. I consider imagination, though, the most
important of the three, at least for my fiction writing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Do
you agree that a writer needs experience, observation, and imagination? Which
would you label the most important? If you don’t agree with Mr. Faulkner, what
would you list as the three things a writer most needs?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And now for a Personal Note: <br /><br /> As many of you know, I posted about a “curve ball” health issue that has kept me away from the bloggy universe for the last month plus. Since I have not been around as much as I had hoped, and it’s looking like I won’t be blogging regularly any time soon, I’ve decided, after much <i>should I</i> <i>or</i> <i>shouldn’t I?</i> debate to share my circumstances. <br /> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">An MRI of my shoulder, meant to diagnose what I thought was a torn rotator cuff muscle, revealed that I have lung cancer. A shocker, especially since I have never smoked and I have always been what my friends and family consider a health and fitness nut. Apparently cancer doesn’t care. And, apparently, it can be ironic. Anyway, such a diagnosis demands treatments, surgeries, and all kinds of appointments and paperwork--stuff that has a way of taking over a life, like it or not. Soon enough, though, thanks to the battalion of angels also known as doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals, I will be back to writing and blogging full time with (thank you Mr. Faulkner) plenty of new experiences and observations to draw from. “Soon enough,” though, may mean months. I will do my best to be around as much as possible the way I’m doing my best to finish my latest novel, but this may be sketchy at times. <br /> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Everyone has something to deal with; this is my something for now, but I wish you all happy reading and happy writing and I promise to visit whenever possible. </span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>Cynthia Chapman Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.com71tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-10223532635415121782012-08-21T12:10:00.000-07:002012-08-21T12:11:14.918-07:00Alligators Overhead<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">As many of you know, I’ve been laying low the last month or so. However, I am happy to pop back to help celebrate
the release of C. Lee McKenzie’s novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Alligators
Overhead</i>. I just started reading this middle grade novel and I can tell you
that I’m already pulled in by the mystery of the spooky mansion that appears.
What does this mean? How will Pete and his pal figure out what’s going on? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Alligators,
witches and a spooky mansion aren't your average neighbors unless you live at
the edge of the Ornofree swamp in the backwater town of Hadleyville. The town's
bad boy, Pete Riley, may only be twelve, but he's up to his eyeballs in big
trouble, and this time he isn't the cause. This time the trouble arrives when a
legendary hundred-year-old mansion materializes next door and the Ornofree
alligators declare war to save their swamp from bulldozers. Things only get
worse when Pete's guardian aunt and several of her close friends vanish while
trying to restore order using outdated witchcraft. Now Pete must find the
witches and stop the war. He might stand a chance if his one friend, Weasel,
sticks with him, but even then, they may not have what it takes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">C.
Lee McKenzie is a native Californian who grew up in a lot of different places;
then landed in the Santa Cruz Mountains where she lives with her family and
miscellaneous pets. She writes most of the time, gardens and hikes and does
yoga a lot, and then travels whenever she can. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">She
takes on modern issues that today's teens face in their daily lives. Her first
young adult novel, Sliding on the Edge, which dealt with cutting and suicide
was published in 2009. Her second, titled The Princess of Las Pulgas, dealing
with a family who loses everything and must rebuild their lives came out in
2010. Her short stories appear in Stories for Children, The First Time and the
soon to be published, Two and Twenty Dark Tales. She just published her first
Middle Grade novel, Alligators Overhead, this year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Here’s
the booktrailer: </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YP9I401gWNQ?rel=0"><span style="color: #0017f8; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">http://www.youtube.com/embed/YP9I401gWNQ?rel=0</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-size: 15.0pt;">" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">WEBSITE: </span><a href="http://cleemckenziebooks.com/"><span style="color: #858ea8; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://cleemckenziebooks.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">BLOG: </span><a href="http://writegame.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #858ea8; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://writegame.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">FACEBOOK: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/cleemckenziebooks"><span style="color: #858ea8; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">https://www.facebook.com/cleemckenziebooks</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">TWITTER :
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;">AMAZON AUTHOR
PAGE: </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0042M1KYW"><span style="color: #858ea8; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B0042M1KYW</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2809083.C_Lee_McKenzie"><span style="color: #858ea8; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2809083.C_Lee_McKenzie</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SMASHWORDS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/204548"><span style="color: #858ea8; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/204548</span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 16pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There’s nothing like a good novel to fall into on a summer day.
Have you read <i>Alligators Overhead</i>
yet? </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 16pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m off to go read some more. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 16pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy reading and writing!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br clear="ALL" style="page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Cynthia Chapman Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-41163240704781102472012-07-26T08:31:00.001-07:002012-07-26T08:31:46.781-07:00Curve Ball<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yUSbxHDwJnA/UBFeYksTD_I/AAAAAAAAAyw/ZloXjSxxjDo/s1600/curveball-1280x800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yUSbxHDwJnA/UBFeYksTD_I/AAAAAAAAAyw/ZloXjSxxjDo/s200/curveball-1280x800.jpg" width="182" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every once in a while, life pitches a curve ball. Two weeks
ago, one of these came my </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">way--an unexpected health issue that has taken up all
of my time, interrupted my writing and reading life as well as my blogging. *Insert
growls and grumbles here.* I apologize for dropping out of the blogging
universe with no notice. Unfortunately, this couldn’t be helped. And, double
unfortunately, I need to take more time off. I am hoping that I won’t be away
for long, and that, instead, my blogging will simply be sporadic until
this curve ball passes on by. Time will tell. I miss blogging, writing, and
reading, of course, but sometimes stuff happens in our lives, right? Anyway, please
know that I will visit your blogs whenever possible and be back soon.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One more thing! I hope you’ll be sure to stop by on August
22<sup>nd</sup>. I have a very special guest blogger coming by. You won’t want
to miss her. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wishing you lots of wonderful reading and writing and
amazing books while I am away--and always!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hugs,</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cynthia</span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yUSbxHDwJnA/UBFeYksTD_I/AAAAAAAAAyw/ZloXjSxxjDo/s1600/curveball-1280x800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>Cynthia Chapman Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-68965737664648330662012-07-10T14:24:00.000-07:002012-07-10T14:24:47.466-07:00Do You Hang Off Cliffs?
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">At
BEA a few weeks ago, R.L. Stein (the ever-so-famous author of the crazy popular
Goosebumps books) attributed some of the success of his novels to his use of
cliffhangers—those suspenseful situations at the end of a scene or chapter.</span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pcItWZqRX8U/T_yZlihYFAI/AAAAAAAAAyE/-_hMZKYy9Uo/s1600/cliff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pcItWZqRX8U/T_yZlihYFAI/AAAAAAAAAyE/-_hMZKYy9Uo/s320/cliff.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; line-height: 22px;">Photo by ajenyon</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I
am a huge fan of cliffhangers at the end of chapters, unless, of course, it’s 2
am, I’ve just reached the end of a chapter where the characters I care about
are in some sort of grave danger or about to make a momentous decision, which
will be revealed in the next chapter, yet I’ve got to haul my exhausted carcass
out of bed at 6 am. In that case, I’m frustrated because I must know what
happens next in the novel, yet I anticipate being bleary eyed the next day. I dwell on how much caffeine I will
need to come to life after too little snooze time. If you’re an avid reader, I’m
sure you know what I’m talking about here. Cliffhangers build suspense,
tension, and create an emotional response in readers that often makes them sacrifice sleep in order to find out what happens next in a story. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">If you’re a writer, you probably itch to torment your readers in this way. I'm guessing you’d love to make them sacrifice good sense and well being for
the sake of turning the pages of your story. But how? Some authors accomplish
this by revealing a key piece of information that the reader needs to know at
the end of a chapter, or a tease that this piece of information will appear in
the next chapter. An author might also reveal some twist or important plot
development as a cliffhanger. Or, a writer might push the main character into
an ugly and sticky situation to be resolved pages later. I just finished a
chapter in which the heroine was facing some serious danger when she
passed out—at the end of the chapter. Since I care about this character, I had
to know whether she’d be descended upon by the evil or if she’d be saved. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Also, cliffhangers work especially well when each one is bigger
than the last. This kind of makes sense given that the novel is building toward
a climax, right?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">What do you think about cliffhangers? Do you like to hang off cliffs or are
you afraid of heights? If you are pro-cliffhanger, do you have a favorite? One
that kept you reading against your better judgment? <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Cynthia Chapman Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.com55tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-88825909413386424212012-07-03T16:03:00.000-07:002012-07-03T16:03:11.666-07:00Interesting (I think) 4th of July Writing Tidbits<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Happy almost July 4<sup>th</sup> everyone! In honor of
Independence Day, I thought I’d share some facts that I find interesting about
the writing of The Declaration of Independence. Here’s hoping that they might
interest all of you writers and readers, too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Did you know that Thomas </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Jefferson
was one of five men appointed to write The Declaration of Independence? </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">John Adams of Massachusetts and Roger Sherman of
Connecticut, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, and Robert R. Livingston of New
York joined Mr. Jefferson. Doesn’t that sound like a powerful writer’s group?
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Thomas Jefferson,
however, was asked to write the first draft. I’m guessing he was more of an
outliner than a pantser. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uxKWRXCE4Ck/T_N4oX3tbvI/AAAAAAAAAxg/QXK4Mm69E7c/s1600/220px-Writing_the_Declaration_of_Independence_1776_cph.3g09904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uxKWRXCE4Ck/T_N4oX3tbvI/AAAAAAAAAxg/QXK4Mm69E7c/s1600/220px-Writing_the_Declaration_of_Independence_1776_cph.3g09904.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">This writing project
took him less than three weeks. This bit of information, frankly, makes me
a little sheepish about my slow writing pace.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Upon completing the
final draft (after many), Mr. Jefferson showed it to Benjamin Franklin and John
Adams, who input their own revisions. The Congress, of course, made
more alterations and deletions. The process of
revision continued through all of July 3 and into the late morning of July 4.
And I’ve read that Mr. Jefferson was not thrilled with the final product.
Still, when the Declaration of Independence was finished, church bells rang out
in Philadelphia. Don’t we all celebrate once those final revisions are made,
for better or for worse?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Fifty years later, Thomas
Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, as did John Adams. It’s true: Two of the men
who crafted The Declaration of Independence died on the same day, and on the </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">50th anniversary of the adoption of the document. Kind
of wild, don’t you think?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">And now I leave
you to your fireworks (for those of you celebrating the birth of the USA) with
a few quotes on the value of reading and writing:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">“I cannot live without books.” </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">~
Thomas Jefferson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">“The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words
when one will do.” </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">~ Thomas
Jefferson </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">"Either
write something worth reading or do something worth writing."</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> ~ Benjamin Franklin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">“Let us dare to read, think, speak and write.” </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">~</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> John Adams</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">“I read my eyes out and can't read half enough...the more one reads
the more one sees we have to read.” </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">~</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">John Adams</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Can you add any fun, Independence Day writer facts? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Happy fourth of July whether you celebrate Independence Day or not!</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Cynthia Chapman Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.com49tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-64551688506488177412012-06-20T06:52:00.000-07:002012-06-20T06:52:42.952-07:00Visits and Visitors<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KNefNbq2XgU/T-EhaWAyO-I/AAAAAAAAAw4/cG7hhYXbdYI/s1600/steps:path.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KNefNbq2XgU/T-EhaWAyO-I/AAAAAAAAAw4/cG7hhYXbdYI/s320/steps:path.jpeg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Photo by Raywal65 at Morguefile.com</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;"> </span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Happy
Wednesday! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It is a very happy Wednesday for me. I am thrilled to be over at The
Writing Nut for the Wednesday Writer’s Workspace. I’d love for you to come on
over and check it out, if you have the time. </span><a href="http://www.thewritingnut.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial;">http://www.thewritingnut.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Also,
I won’t be around next week (my mom is coming to visit). I’ll be back July
3<sup>rd</sup>. Just a little bloggy break. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Happy
reading and writing, my friends!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>Cynthia Chapman Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-16994604250426758842012-06-12T11:32:00.001-07:002012-06-12T11:32:12.909-07:00Book Mania Anyone?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Last
week I attended BEA (BookExpo America). I’d never been to this conference
before. In summary: Wow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z8AUVZ3zv_0/T9eI12fe6gI/AAAAAAAAAwM/OED5Q_ZRxs8/s1600/BEA.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="244" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z8AUVZ3zv_0/T9eI12fe6gI/AAAAAAAAAwM/OED5Q_ZRxs8/s320/BEA.JPG" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">First
of all, this ginormous convention took place in the mega huge (think multiple
airplane hangers) Jacob Javits Center in New York City. And every inch of this
place was crammed with publishers, areas for workshops and seminars, signing
booths where authors gave away copies of their newly released or soon to be
released books (many signed at the publisher booths, as well), and vendors
selling food and drink (with prices that required buyers to sell kidneys). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The
day began early with the Children’s Book and Author Breakfast, a ticketed event
that sold out months ago. Chris Colfer (who plays Kurt Hummel on <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Glee</i>), the master of ceremonies for the
breakfast, woke us up with his wit and sense of humor (while plugging his middle
grade novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Land of Stories)</i>.
John Green, Lowis Lowry, and Kadir Nelson also spoke, each amazing, as I’m sure
you can imagine. As a bonus, everyone in the audience walked away with copies
of the latest books from these authors. Sweet!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Beg694zwv7c/T9eJW20s3II/AAAAAAAAAwU/a0Gc89oFM9o/s1600/BEA2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"></span></a></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Beg694zwv7c/T9eJW20s3II/AAAAAAAAAwU/a0Gc89oFM9o/s320/BEA2.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A glimpse of a few signing booths.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">For
the rest of the day, my writer pals and I cruised, perused, and attended
workshops and interviews. Moving about was often challenging given the dense
crowds and snaking lines of people waiting to have often free books signed. I
practically tripped over Chris Colfer as he signed copies of his novel<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">. </i>I spotted Jane Seymour (actress) signing
books, and I became lost in what might have been a flash mob around Rachel Ray
(celebrity chef and daytime TV show hostess). I also heard R.L. Stein talk
about his famous <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Goosebumps</i> series
and middle grade novels. To top all this off, I scored a better seat for the
interview with Patti Smith and Neil Young than I’ve ever enjoyed at a concert
(and believe me, this was a one interesting conversation).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">All
this and I walked away with enough books to dislocate at least one shoulder. I
hadn’t planned on this, but every time I paused, someone handed me a book. I am
not kidding when I tell you that I turned more away than I accepted. In the
end, sacrificing a shoulder or two seemed like the right thing to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">For
more info and a more professional take on the BEA scene as it pertains to the children’s book
industry, check out this Publisher’s Weekly article: </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/52446-bea-2012-big-books-for-kids-surveying-the-scene.html">http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/52446-bea-2012-big-books-for-kids-surveying-the-scene.html</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Now tell
me, have you ever attended BEA, or a mega book conference or event such as
this? If not, would you want to check it out (keeping the crowds and chaos in mind)? If you
have been to BEA or a like conference, what did you take away from the
experience?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Cynthia Chapman Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.com56tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-27122852695542557252012-06-05T14:03:00.000-07:002012-06-05T14:03:58.749-07:00Symbols<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rflUB5mLKZM/T85kafDrurI/AAAAAAAAAvg/pXkFFuCMIBc/s1600/trafficlight.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rflUB5mLKZM/T85kafDrurI/AAAAAAAAAvg/pXkFFuCMIBc/s320/trafficlight.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Traffic light photo by
alvimann at Morguefile.com</span></span><!--EndFragment--> </td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Do
you notice symbols when you are reading? Or, for that matter, in the world
around you? They can sometimes be easy to overlook, I think. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Do you incorporate them into your writing? Symbols can add meaning,
highlight the underlying theme, or even nudge a reader to make certain
connections. I like symbols best when they occur organically and throughout a
story, as long as they are not stuffed into the text with a heavy, over-enthusiastic hand. Like mine. W</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">hen I revise, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">I often have to delete a symbol or two (or three) that I like too much.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I love coming across symbols while I am reading. Maybe a character has a beloved bicycle that she rides in the
beginning of a story. The bicycle ends up at the back of the garage as the
story rolls along. This could be a subtle indicator of what is going
on in the character’s life. Maybe the bike symbolizes the character being
neglected or distracted from what she loves. Maybe the bicycle shows that she’s
growing out of a bicycle-riding stage. The bicycle could
be just a bike, or it could be a symbol or reflection of what is going
on in the character’s life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--T50vft2Jaw/T85kg_Ok1oI/AAAAAAAAAvo/EQOBMSw7DAY/s1600/blogsymbols.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--T50vft2Jaw/T85kg_Ok1oI/AAAAAAAAAvo/EQOBMSw7DAY/s200/blogsymbols.jpeg" width="122" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Ring
photo by lisafanucchi at Morguefile.com</span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Symbols
don’t have to be objects, either. They can be phrases, gestures, or character
traits. The trick, for writers, is to be sure that the symbols sprout in a natural way from the
story. Whenever I force a symbol into a story, it’s obvious. As in there’s an
orangutan sitting at the kitchen table obvious. It’s best to pull symbols from what the story
offers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">What
are some of your favorite symbols from your reading and writing? I still think
about that famous pie from <i>The Help</i>. And,
of course, who could forget Frodo’s quest for that symbol of all symbols—the
ring?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Cynthia Chapman Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.com65tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-27345251599161330442012-05-29T15:03:00.001-07:002012-05-29T15:03:35.294-07:00Plot Versus Character<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C1yXlYiRW2Q/T8VE7MVuIUI/AAAAAAAAAu8/Erm74kqhLyE/s1600/8328280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C1yXlYiRW2Q/T8VE7MVuIUI/AAAAAAAAAu8/Erm74kqhLyE/s320/8328280.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">Somewhere
in my travels through the bloggy universe, I read a five star review of a book
titled </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Plot Versus Character: A Balanced
Approach to Writing Great Fiction</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> by Jeff Gerke. Since I love books on
craft and can’t resist anything with </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><i>great fiction</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> in the title, I picked up a copy. Of course it ended up on a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">books to be read</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"> shelf, but, since I
wasn’t absorbing its information by simply sharing office space with it, I recently
read the thing--and I loved it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Mr.
Gerke maintains that there are two types of novelists. Those for whom plot
comes naturally and those for whom characters come naturally. Frankly, I don’t
think I fit into either category, but whatever. The point is this: the plotter
must find “the plot of the main character’s change,” while the
character-inspired novelist must build plot by “finding the story within the
main character.” Either way, the main character’s layers and inner journey is
the spine of the novel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">The
book is divided into sections: “Memorable Characters” followed by “Marvelous
Plots,” and a final section that discusses the union of plot and characters. Within
these sections there are diagrams, examples, suggestions, tricks, and tips. For
example, Mr. Gerke recommends that writers read a book on psychology and
temperament titled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Please Understand Me
II </i>by David Keirsey. I am halfway through this fascinating book on
personality types and I’ve just about worn out my highlighter. There’s no doubt
that the information in this book will help me to develop deep, layered
characters with substance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So,
if you’re up for an interesting read on developing multi-layered characters
with riveting inner journeys capable of fueling a three act story structure, grab a copy of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Plot Versus Character: A Balanced Approach
to Writing Great Fiction. </i>It’s worth the read.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Or
have you read it? If so, what did you think about it? Have you read <o:p></o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><i>Please Understand Me II </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;">by David Keirsey?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Have you read any other good books on craft lately?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Cynthia Chapman Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.com55tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-19264247672214422592012-05-22T14:00:00.000-07:002012-05-22T14:00:31.819-07:00Filter Words<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 21px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1W4kubcr4MM/T7vwu3975KI/AAAAAAAAAuw/iUeXTiwQzn0/s1600/filter+photo+IMG_3439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1W4kubcr4MM/T7vwu3975KI/AAAAAAAAAuw/iUeXTiwQzn0/s320/filter+photo+IMG_3439.JPG" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 29px;">Are
you familiar with filter words? Not filler words. Filter words. These are the
words that filter
the reader’s experience through a character’s point of view. During the
Highlights Foundation Whole </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 29px;">Novel Workshop that I attended in March, we talked
about filter words. The term, apparently, comes from Janet Burroway, a novelist
who co-wrote </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 29px;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Writing
Fiction : A Guide to Narrative Craft</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 29px;">, which is, according to its description, “</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 29px;">The most widely used and respected text in its field</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 29px;">.”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22.0pt; margin-bottom: 11.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22.0pt; margin-bottom: 11.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filter words include <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">see</i>,
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hear</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">feel</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">think</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">realize</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">watch</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">look</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">seem</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">know</i>, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sound </i>(to list
a sampling). Although they can have their proper place in writing, they can
also put distance between a character and the detail the writer wishes to
present. For example, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I see the horse run from the field into the
barn</i></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>without the filter words
would read<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The horse runs from the field into the barn.</b> </i>Which sentence is
more clean and sleek? Which sentence do you prefer?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22.0pt; margin-bottom: 11.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I feel the cold wind bite into my neck</i></b> would transform into <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The cold wind bites into my neck.<o:p></o:p></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22.0pt; margin-bottom: 11.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 22.0pt; margin-bottom: 11.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Filter words can tell a reader what is happening
rather than letting the reader experience the scene. They can put distance
between the reader and the character’s experiences. And we know this isn’t a good
thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have
you read about or heard about filter words? What are your thoughts about them? Have
you read or heard about <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Writing
Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft</i> by Janet Burroway and Elizabeth Stuckey-French? Do tell! : ) </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Cynthia Chapman Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.com61tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3224888611160910791.post-663307145998095672012-05-14T05:28:00.000-07:002012-05-14T05:28:16.954-07:00Random Act of Kindness BLITZ!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><b style="color: blue;">A
smile. An encouraging word. A thoughtful gesture.</b> Each day people
interact with us, help, and make our day a bit brighter and full. This is
especially true in the <b>Writing Community</b>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Take a second to think about writers you
know, like the <b>critique partner</b> who works with you to
improve your manuscript. The <b>writing friend</b> who listens,
supports and keeps you strong when times are tough. The
<b>author</b> who generously offers council, advice and inspiration
when asked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">So many people take the time to make us
feel special, don't they? They comment on our blogs, re-tweet our posts, chat
with us on forums and wish us Happy Birthday on Facebook.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SM_x6AJ4eeQ/T5gz19B9NZI/AAAAAAAADhE/I2XgMQ7frsQ/s1600/raok1287582_50143387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SM_x6AJ4eeQ/T5gz19B9NZI/AAAAAAAADhE/I2XgMQ7frsQ/s320/raok1287582_50143387.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"></span></div>
<div style="color: blue;">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Kindness ROCKS! </b></span></span></div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">To commemorate the release of their book
<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13554235-the-emotion-thesaurus">The
Emotion Thesaurus</a>, Becca and Angela at The Bookshelf Muse are hosting
a TITANIC <b style="color: #cc0000;">Random Act Of Kindness BLITZ</b><span style="color: #990000;"></span>. And because I think KINDNESS is contagious, I'm
participating too!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">I am blitzing Shannon Hitchcock because we've been friends, writing critique pals, and conference buddies for years now. Shannon always makes the time to review whatever I'm working on and chat with me about it when I'm stuck. Awesome. So, as my random act of kindness, I'm offering Shannon a Barnes & Noble gift card because she loves to read (of course). </span> If you have a minute, why not stop by Shannon's blog to see for yourself how great she is? <a href="http://www.shannonhitchcockwriter.blogspot.com/">www.shannonhitchcockwriter.blogspot.com</a> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Do you know someone special that you'd like
to randomly acknowledge? <b></b></span></div>
<b>
</b><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-CA"></span></b>Don't be shy--come join us and
celebrate! Send that person an email, give that person a shout out, or show your appreciation
in another way.<b> Kindness makes the world go round. :)</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Becca and Angela have a <b style="color: #990000;"><span style="color: black;">special</span>
<span style="color: blue; font-size: medium;">RAOK
gift</span> <span style="color: black;">waiting for you
as well</span></b>, so hop on over to <a href="http://thebookshelfmuse.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Bookshelf Muse</a> to pick it up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-CA">Have you ever participated in or been the
recipient of a <b>Random Act Of Kindness?</b> Let me know
in the comments!</span></div>Cynthia Chapman Willishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12408985785062180536noreply@blogger.com64