Exercise Your Creativity

I found a way to exercise and write at the same time. With a notebook in front of me, I can write a scene or blog post at about 4 mph.

Note yesterday’s post, "Finish Your Novel".

And yes, that is Edward on the wall in front of me, as if I am ‘…running toward him…’

The hubby grumbled a little over my inspiration. “You oughta have MY photo up there not some character from a novel.”

“Hey, your photo provides inspiration also,” I said.

“Oh, yeah? Where is it?”

“Behind me.”

 His response was sooo typical.

Finish Your Novel

Life can intrude in that creative process.

School. Kids. Work. (not housework though. Hell no)

In short, Life Happens.

But finish you novel anyway.

Find the time to Create.

Minutes stolen while waiting for the kids. Cooking the roast. After that first cup of coffee in the morning.

Keep a notebook in your pocket. Jot down those fleeting bits of story.

And routine. Routine. Routine. Pick a time of day to write and stick with it even if it is only 50 words. Write. Compose.

Do it.

Finish your book.

To help along the way, my Team Members and I are giving away The Breakout Novelist by Donald Maass. Go to Unicorn Bell and follow the rules to enter.

• Comment
• Be a Follower of Unicorn Bell
• Link to Unicorn Bell from your blog or Twitter

Finish your novel. Otherwise, you’ll never know how the story turns out.

And the along the way, you’ll discover the steel in your backbone.

An Amorphous Beginning

Color me stumped.
Should I go with Gran?
Granny?  ACK *shudder*

Nana?

Yeah.

I kinda like that one.

Tag, you’re It?

Oh, Marcy, Marcy. What have you done? Here I was, enjoying a cold glass of tea.

Then I read your blog and now, with that mouthful of tea splattered across my desk, I must find a paper towel.

*sigh*

So ‘taggees’, since I am the ‘tagger’, here you are. If this is your second/third tag, roll your eyes and grin:

1. Bethany-just because your picture is beyond cool
2. Cherie-humor is your forte
3. Ellie-love your blog. Loooovvvve it.
4. Linda G.-you are the banana to my split
5. Jenn-because we are so alike we must have been separated at birth.

 Now the dreaded questions:

Do you think you’re hot?

Hell, people! I’m going through menopause here, whaddya think? Sheesh

Upload a picture or your current wallpaper.

When was the last time you ate chicken?

Chicken. Like you buy swimming in liquid at Wal-mart? Or something that tastes good.

Hm. Last week. Fresh. Farm raised. Good. Very good.

What were you thinking while writing your answers?

Dressing a chicken for supper.

What songs have you listened to lately?

Oh, man. Well. Um. “Lady Gaga’s, Born This Way,” she said in a small voice.

Do you have a nickname?

Yes. I do.

That Critical First Page

Think of the books sold because of the first page, the first sentence even.

My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. – The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Marley was dead; to begin with. – A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

I didn’t realize he was a werewolf at first. – Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

I felt her fear before I heard her screams. – The Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

The hill people and the Mexicans arrived on the same day. – A Painted House by John Grisham

I heard the mailman approach my office door, half an hour earlier than usual. – Storm Front, The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher

Note what each example has in common.

Simple nouns combined with strong verbs. Few adjectives and nary an adverb. The first sentence takes the reader by the hand and yanks them into the roller coaster ride of the story.

Every writer from published to the newbie must have Betas and critique groups. They provide the perspective, the fresh eye that a MS needs to breathe.

Find a beta or a crit group that fits your style.

My team members and I called for First Page submissions onUnicorn Bell.

Give your First Page a shot at our critique group. You'll be among friends.

Thanks Blogger

How nice of you Blogger.

You returned my followers to me.

I was beginning to wonder.

A Quickie

Blog Award to Rowenna of Hyaline Prosaic.

Nothing for you to do. Just stuff the Blog on Fire under you arm and take it :)

YA Controversy

First things first, everyone is entitled to their opinion. Absolute and sacrosanct.

Now let’s get down to business.

Like television and movies, reading content has changed over the years, particularly in the genre of Young Adult.

All three push the limits of what they can get by the censors. When Whatis-His-Face bared his derriere on TV, critics and fans went ‘oooooh, how unique”.

Eh, maybe. Guess I’ve seen enough bare butts though.

Is voyeurism human nature? Or is it our rebellious attitude, the ‘you can’t tell me what to do’, kind of stuff?

Whatever.

One article about the content of YA novels is in the Wall Street Journal. Literary agent, Janet Reid of FinePrint Literary, also has an opinion and expresses it quite thoroughly.

This makes for good debate and there is nothing better than civilized conversation.

My opinion?

Like TV, the modern YA genre pushes the boundaries of what should be Young Adult. Risqué content, mindless violence, graphic adult situations; all come under the YA tab partly for the shock factor, the Its Never Been Done Before!! and is therefore quite amaaaaazing. *insert tongue in cheek here*

Personally, I disagree with the designation of YA for some novels.

Bottom line. Read the YA book before handing it over to your kid. Do not let some publisher/editor/agent/author tell you what your child should read.

Be responsible.

Tonganoxie Split

Tonganoxie is a city in northeast Kansas, population around 5000. Named for a Native American from the Delaware tribe who lived near the site of the town, it is known for a weather phenomenon called, ‘The Tonganoxie Split’.


Weather systems boil up in central Kansas and move with determination to the northeast, hit the area of Tonganoxie and split apart. Like a wave hitting the prow of a ship, the mass goes north and south and spares the region.

At least, that is the myth.

Northwest Missouri is in line with the so-called Tonganoxie Split. Sometimes is works, sometimes it doesn’t. Like about all legends.

Whatever, it sure makes for good growing conditions.

From Jenn

Thank you, Jenn.
Awards are one way to spread the wealth of friendship and humbleness.
Visit her website at Into The Wild Blue Yonder, an excellent blog of photos and good feelings.

Thank you again.