The Blog Chain – Unfinished Business

The Blog Chain question this week is:

Is there a writing project you've failed to finish? If so, why? Are you planning to return to it at some point? Alternatively, describe a book you started to read but didn't finish and why you didn't finish.                                              

 

Writing:

I haven’t started and not finished many writing projects…except for the one I was working on when I got my book deal. Unfortunately my historical fiction was only halfway done when I had to put it aside for two years while I edited IN THE AFTER, wrote IN THE END and edited that same book. I’ve actually started to work on it again, but it may be interrupted by a third book for HarperTeen, a stand alone yet to be determined.

The reason why I don’t start many writing projects I don’t finish is because I don’t start many writing projects. Sure, I have the ideas in my head, but that’s where I try to work them out before I ever put them down on paper. A few people have commented that they’re amazed it takes me 3-5 months to write a book. That’s not where the process begins though. I can think about a book from anywhere to a couple of months to a year before I begin to write.

 

Reading:

I’m one of those readers who will hold on to a book until the bitter end, even if I’m not a huge fan. One reason is that some books start off slow, then suck you in toward the middle. I wouldn’t want to give up on a book a few pages in, when I might actually end up enjoying it.

Another reason is that I see each book as an opportunity. Some books (a lot of books) are for enjoyment. But even the books I don’t enjoy, I can learn from. What was it about this book that made it catch the eye of an editor? What was the author trying to accomplish? What could someone else love about this book? I never ask, “Why was this book published!?” But “Why was this book published?” Any book I don't finish is more because I left if for too long, read something else instead and never got back to it. I always feel slightly guilty toward these books...like I've wronged them in some way!

As an author, I feel I can learn a lot from every book I read, even books I might not enjoy. Being exposed to a range of genres and styles will help me continue to grow as a writer.

Keep following this topic on the chain and check out Michelle’s blog on Monday, or look back at Katrina's post from yesterday.

What do you think? Do you give up on many books/writing projects?

 

The Blog Chain – Book to Movie Successes and Disasters

The blog chain question this week is:

What is your favorite book-to-movie adaptation? Why? What's your least favorite and why?                                               

There are so many bad movie adaptations…and it seems to have nothing to do with loyalty to the book. Some movies are amazing adaptations and completely take artistic license, not following the book exactly, but following its spirit. LAST OF THE MOHICANS is a favorite of mine (and yes, I’ve already used it in a blog chain post, but that’s how much I love it.) THE SHINING is another example of a great, creepy, scary movie, that barely follows the book at all. BLADERUNNER barely looks like DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?, but is a cult classic. The HARRY POTTER movies are more faithful to their books, and also fun in themselves. The recent JANE EYRE movie was also fantastic. Michael Fassbender as Rochester?…yes please.

                  

But my absolute favorite movie adaptation is JURASSIC PARK, a movie I’ve watched a hundred times as a child and loved more than the book. That happens so rarely, that a movie outshines a book that it’s my all time favorite.

 

A few not so successful adaptations…please don’t hate me, but the HUNGER GAMES. It wasn’t a bad movie, but the book was so much better, it’s hard to judge the movie fairly. And then there are just the awful adaptations, like the Demi Moore version of THE SCARLET LETTER and the Jack Black version of GULLIVER’S TRAVELS.

Keep following this topic on the chain and check out Michelle’s blog on Monday, or look back at Katrina's post from yesterday.

 

What are your favorite book to movie adaptations? Which ones can you just not stand?

The Blog Chain - Guilty Pleasure Reading

The Blog Chain question this week is:

 

What are your guilty pleasure books/genres?

 

My guilty pleasure reading is historical fiction...which I admit doesn't sound like it should be a guilty pleasure. It's far from dull, though. I once described historical fiction as a retelling of "really old gossip" and the juicier the better. Especially anything to do with royal intrigue. There's always murder, adultery, international espionage, and of course pampered royalty who have more power than sense.

 

I love love love anything by Philippa Gregory.

 

 

 

 

 

And I also love any historical fiction that is also a ghost story...here' a recent one I read that was fantastic:

 

 



 

 Keep following this topic on the chain and check out Michelle’s blog on Monday, or look back at Katrina's post from yesterday.

 



What are your guilty pleasure books/genres?



My First Ever Panel & Writing Summer Flings!

So Sunday is my first panel and I'm really excited. If you're in Chicago, head down to the Printer's Row Lit Fest. Here's the details:

June 9th (Sunday) - Printer's Row, Chicago 10am
Panelist - The First Chapter: Debut Children's Authors
Located - 525 S. State Street - University Center/Park/Foundation Room - Printer's Row neighborhood on the blocks surrounding Dearborn and Polk Streets.

Also, the blog topic this week is:

Have you ever written a summer fling? Or are all your fictional relationships the deep, forever kind? If you did write one, how would it begin (the meet cute)? Where would it be set? Give us a few paragraphs sample.   


I am horrible at romance, and have never written a summer fling...or a fling of any kind for that matter. I feel my romance turns out all soap-opera-y and I think romance should be left to others. What about you all, have you written a summer fling...would love for everyone to post a sample!

The Blog Chain – How do you define success?

The Blog Chain question this week is:

How do you define success? Is it getting published, making the New York Times list, or just finishing a novel?      

Success is such a loaded word. To a lot of people it quite simply a matter of $$$. If you make a certain amount of money, you’re successful. Really success isn’t that simple.

To a writer, number of books sold or making a bestseller list could be seen as becoming successful. Although one definition of success is the attainment of fame, wealth, or power, I like this definition better: the achievement of something planned or attempted.

I successfully wrote a novel. I successfully got an agent, who in turn successfully found a publisher. I succeeded in getting IN THE AFTER published. It will be on shelves June 25^th. I consider every goal conquered to be a success, even if my book doesn’t sell a billion-trillion copies. My next goal is to have my book reach readers who will enjoy it. I consider every review (good and bad) a success because it helps others who might like my book find it to read.

How do you define success with your writing?

 

Keep following this topic on the chain and check out Michelle’s blog on Monday, or look back at Katrina's post from yesterday.

The Blog Chain – Too Many Smiles

The Blog Chain Topic this week is:

What are your "go-to" scenes or phrases? You know, the ones you have to remind yourself NOT to use too frequently? What do you do to keep yourself from being overly reliant on them?                                          

While I don’t have any “go-to” scenes, I definitely have go-to facial expressions…as in smiling. When I’m in the early rough draft stages of my writing, I always use smiling as a filler reaction/action/expression.

 

For example:

She looked at him with a sad, tight smile.

“It’s not what you think,” he said with a friendly smile.

She smiled bravely. “I know…it’s just…”

He took her hand and offered her a smile. “I had to do it.”

 

Okay, so that’s an over-the-top example (from a soap opera perhaps?) but you get the idea. I always have to back in and make sure people aren’t smiling so damned much, cause really, if you think about it, it’s kind of creepy.

I think it’s easier to edit out your “go-to” words and phrases then to try and banish them altogether. In edits you can more clearly see a scene and work in what people would actually do in a situation.

That’s all for now, (she said with a smile.) J What are your go-to scenes or phrases?

 

Keep following this topic on the chain and check out Michelle’s blog on Monday, or look back at Katrina's post from yesterday.

 

The Blog Chain - The Thick Skin of a Writer or How not to Sculp an Ashtray

The Blog Chain topic this week is:

Have you developed thick skin as a writer? How do you handle having your work critiqued? Do you love revising? Hate it?

Any writer knows: Writing is editing. It’s very difficult to be a writer if you’re unable to handle critiques. It isn’t always easy. There may be a part of your story that you absolutely love, but no one else seems to. Writing is a fluid process. You can’t plop a lump of clay down on the table and call it art, unless of course you’re a postmodernist. J You have to be able to mold your plot and characters. And that’s where critiquing comes in.

It’s always a little strange to have someone tell you what’s not working with something you’ve poured your heart and soul in to. At the same time, you need an outsider to look at it objectively (or as objectively as a human can). When my editor gives me notes, 95% of the time I think, “Why didn’t I see that?” or “Yes. I understand now!”

I love revising. Taking the lump of clay metaphor a bit further, it’s like working at home on molding that clay and it somehow ends up an ashtray…or maybe a really nice paperweight. That’s fine and dandy, but not spectacular. Then someone comes in, takes a look, points out the flaws and all of a sudden it snaps in to place. A pinch here, a tuck there and all of a sudden you have sculpture. It becomes better than “just really nice.” It becomes art.

That’s my take…now I feel like I should take some ceramics classes. What about you? How do you deal with critiques?

 

Keep following this topic on the chain and check out Michelle’s blog on Monday, or look back at Katrina's post from yesterday.
 

The Blog Chain - Genres I Love

The Blog Chain topic this week is:

 

What elements in your favorite genre make it your favorite?

I read almost anything, as long as it can hold my attention, but my absolute favorite genres are Science Fiction & Fantasy. Here’s why...

I was hooked on Sci-fi from the first time I saw Star Trek (yes, The Next Generation) on television. As a child I was enthralled by the amount of imagination it took to envision the future. I started reading the old school Sci-fi books around my house and was hooked. Spaceships, androids, aliens, crazy dystopian societies, the ending of the world; all of it fascinates me. I feel YA Sci-fi especially has fresh takes on the genre and keeps it fresh. Sure, there are a ton of YA Sci-fi books out there (mine soon to be included among them), but none of them are the same and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next one.

My love for Fantasy echoes my feelings for Sci-fi. I’d read and re-read The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe as a child and wanted to imagine my own worlds where animals could talk or evil needed to be vanquished. I love reading/writing Fantasy because the possibilities are endless. If you want people to have wings, bam, they have wings. Unicorns, dragons, centaurs? Bam, no problem! I also like that Fantasy usually incorporates a journey into the plot. Love when characters have to travel great distances to overcome overwhelming odds.

Keep following this topic on the chain and check out Michelle’s blog on Monday, or look back at Katrina's post from yesterday.

What are your favorite genres and why?

Also guys, check out this awesome countdown widget that Harper Teen made for my book…pretty cool, right? J

 

The Blog Chain – I Love Bad Boys (& Girls)

The Blog Chain question this week is:

 

As a reader and/or a writer what are some of your favorite fiction
tropes? Are you sucker for secretly in love with best friend type
stories, stories set in mysterious boarding school stories, stories
that contain time travel, or something else entirely? As a writer how
do you try to give the tropes you tackle in your own books a fresh
spin?

My favorite trope is…the Anti-Hero

I love dark stories and what is darker than the idea of an anti-hero? A character that is flawed and lacking, but so incredibly compelling because of these facts. My favorite examples of this are John Constantine from the Hellblazer comics, Bruce Robertson from Filth by Irvine Welsh and of course, Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

 

 

 

 

Anti-heroes are becoming more prevalent in mainstream media, just think how wildly successful shows are like Madmen, Breaking Bad, and of course, Tony Soprano from The Sopranos. We all want a hero, but maybe we want our hero to be a little bad. Whether they are all bad, good at heart, or just have a loose definition of what good and bad actually mean.

I haven't written anything with an anti-hero, I know it's really hard to pull off. There also seems to be a lot more male anti-heroes than female. I do have an idea for a Mean Girls type novel where the main character is so loathesome, she's likeable. Who knows, maybe that will be the next project I work on.  J

Keep following this topic on the chain and check out Michelle’s blog on Monday, or look back at Katrina's post from yesterday.

Who is your favorite anti-hero?

 

The Blog Chain - An American Classic Goes Post-Apocalyptic

The Blog Chain topic this week is:

Pick a book or story and imagine it in a new genre. For example, what would Oliver Twist be like if it was a sci-fi novel. Would Fagin have been a robot? Do you prefer you new creation or the original?

 

 

For my genre reassignment, I chose THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS by James Fenimore Cooper. Even if you haven’t read the original novel, you’ve probably seen the movie featuring a young, rugged Daniel Day Lewis. Let's have look shall we...

 

 

 

 Even though the plot is completely different the movie still covers the basics: Set during the French and Indian War, Hawkeye travels with his adoptive Native American father and brother, Chingachgook and Uncas. They meet up with the newly arrived Munro sisters and take it upon themselves to protect the girls from all kinds of unexpected dangers. Characters run around the American wilderness, fall in love, and some die bravely. Everything you could want from an American classic.

I would love to see these characters survive a virus caused apocalypse. There’s so much survival in pre-revolutionary times, that the skills Hawkeye possesses would really translate. He could even have the same weapons and his adoptive family. Filled with not so subtle racism and sexism, (in the book, English and French hate each other and the Native Americans while the Native Americans hate the English and any other tribe of Native American. There are some interesting jibes about how the English are dogs to their women and the Delaware wear skirts). Even these elements could stay…a post-apocalyptic world would not be completely politically correct. The English and the Native Americans can be updated to two competing factions, while the French would translate well as humans effective by a virus…probably with some horrific mutation. Not quite zombies, but aggressive, violent, sub-humans.

If you’ve read (or seen) LAST OF THE MOHICANS, you know that’s there’s a ton of action, a solid romance, and some heart-breaking loss. The characters are courageous, and fueled by a strength of character required to survive the early days of America.

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS, but I’m really digging the idea of an updated version.

What about you guys, which books would you reimagine and how? 

Keep following this topic on the chain and check out Michelle’s blog on Monday, or look back at Katrina's post from yesterday.
 

The Blog Chain - The Balancing Act

I'm so lucky to have joined an awesome group of bloggers that post about various writing topics. The blog chain follows the same topic for two weeks, through ten different blogs, then starts all over with a different topic! I'll be posting bi-monthly, every other Friday.

And my first ever blog chain topic is…(drum roll please)…

The balancing act. How do you balance your writing time with everything else in your life--including, kids, job, book promotion

This one is a tuffy. Before I became a full time writer, I wrote when I could. Usually on weekends and on my lunch break. Now that I’m a full time writer I feel that writing needs to come first, especially when I’m on a deadline. I’m not going to lie, sometimes other aspects of my life suffer, including but not limited to: laundry, changing out of my pajamas on any given day, seeing friends and family, and remembering to eat. I don’t have children, so don’t worry, I’m not a neglectful parent, although I do rely on my husband a little more than is fair to take care of our dog.

I’m trying to get out of the bad habit of shutting out the world when writing/editing. I’ve actually got myself on a schedule now which helps me fit everything into a day, including meals and time spent outside the house. Although writing still comes first I make sure to set aside time for other things as well. Hopefully when my book two edits come in, I won’t become a hermit again, but I’m not making any promises. J

Want to read more on this topis? Follow the chain and check out yesterday’s blog post with Sandra. The next stop on the blog chain is Monday with Michelle.

Okay guys…how’d I do on my first ever blog chain post?