Leading By Example

This morning I watched my two year old son climb up on a chair and make his own (from a packet) oatmeal breakfast (with assistance from me at the tap).  He measured the water, dumped it in the bowl with the pre-measured oats, instructed me in which manner to carry across the room, and then pushed the correct buttons on the microwave to cook the yummy meal.  After a scoop of sugar and a helping of milk (which he uncapped and added himself), he was happily eating, and I was sitting there in awe. 

On one hand I was thinking, how is it that my toddler can almost independently complete a task that my two school aged children only mastered within the last year?  On the other hand I was worrying about how to keep him from experimenting with his newfound abilities to operate the microwave when I'm not in the kitchen with him?

I tried to reflect on my older children.  They certainly did not express an interest in cooking their own breakfast at the age of two, and I probably never would have even assumed they had the ability.  Is there something different about this child?  Is he smarter, more determined, or more observant?

It's impossible to say with certainty, but the more I think about it, I believe it really has to do with leading by example.  You see, my toddler gets to interact with two older, independent children who treat him like an equal, and in his mind, age difference is not a concrete idea.  He likely sees himself as their peer.  If they can make their own oatmeal, so can he.  He's watched them do it, and he knows how.  The age and authority gap that exists between a parent and child is much different between supportive siblings.  My older children likely could have completed the same task at a similar age, had they had the tutelage of a similar kind.

Which got to me thinking about writing:  Its a good thing we all work at this skill from different levels.  We have varying amounts of experience and education when it comes to being writers, but the key is to be interacting.  While there are giants and professionals in the writing world whose advice and instruction can be of great benefit to our growth and progress (similar to our parents), what we really need are peers.  We need other writers, no matter their stage or experience, to share and learn and grow and interact with.  We need siblings.  Siblings with which it is difficult sometimes to differentiate an 'age difference', though it certainly will exist.  Then we won't know when we're completing a task that should be too difficult for our abilities - because we watched our peers do it successfully.  Once we know we can do something impossible, we can focus on doing it more independently, and with more confidence.

So get out there.  Make some writers friends.  Make some contacts.  Find some peers.  And if you have something great, nurture it.

In the end, what we really need is each other.

Penny For Your Thoughts?

Now I know you religiously answer every comment on your own blog. It’s one of the ways you thank people for taking the time to read your work, right? ;-)  Commenters on your blog deserve to be thanked and responded to, because they’re loyal and interested...This is the first impression you make! Be present, be attentive, be responsive. Tell them you appreciate them by appreciating them!  Loudly and publicly.  You’re not just being polite when you engage with commenters in this way. You’re also able to gain valuable insights into what about your work interests, bothers or inspires them.

          ~ Author/Blogger Danny Iny

One of my weaknesses has always been replying to comments left on my blog posts.  I know I'm not the only one.  Some bloggers are fantastic at it, and I've had some good only conversations about writing topics via the comment section, or read those left by others.  But there have also been numerous times I've left comments or questions on a post that have never been replied to (and I don't say that in a judgemental way, because I'm the WORST at it!).  So are comment threads useful?  Is it important to respond to those who leave them?  Do they ever check back for a reply?

It's easy as a blogger to check for comments on the blogger dashboard.  There's a button totally dedicated to them.  But it can become difficult to check back to the dozens of blogs you might visit in a week to see if anyone replied to anything you said.  So while the Danny Iny quote above certainly made me stop and think, I wonder what the consensus out there is on its validity?  

What do you think?  (And yes, this means you have to comment :)  It also means I had better reply!!

On another note, the Canadian Government recently stopped manufacturing the penny, and is in the process of removing it from circulation.  I wonder what will become of the cliche phrase, penny for your thoughts?  Perhaps inflation has already altered it to be more along the line of 'quarter for your thoughts?'  Just sayin!

Double Oops!

Anna, looks like you're in good company.  With it being spring break, kids and hubby off school, my days of the week have been slightly scrambled.  Apparently it's Thursday today (instead of tomorrow, as I spent a majority of the day believing).

So I'll leave you with an interesting thought on writing, that I found reading the following article.  This is what the author, Daphne Gray-Grant had to say about the concept that "...writing is talking on paper."

Imagine sitting in a coffee shop and chatting with a good friend. Do you stumble for words? Do you struggle to express yourself? Of course not! Now picture yourself standing in front of a room of 500 people without any notes. Can you talk easily now? Probably not—even if your subject is something with which you're very familiar. What's the difference? It's perception.

 

With a friend, you are relaxed. In front of an audience, you're worried about being judged.

And that's the problem when we write. We imagine people judging us. We worry about making mistakes. About being boring. About not succeeding.

I'll see you next week.  Hopefully, with my days all straightened out...

Self-Editing Your Manuscript - A Good Reference

If you're looking for a fantastic reference while editing your writing, I found the following book to have some very useful advice from some seasoned editorial professionals.  Here are some of the main points I gleaned from this book:

• Probably my favorite rule from the Show Vs. Tell chapter is RUE: Resist the Urge to Explain.  They talk about the importance of showing all the elements of good writing, and using telling sparingly and only when necessary.  If you are editing a section of text that feels like a textbook explanation of character history or setting, try to rewrite that information into description, action or dialogue.  There are some good examples of how to do this.
•  
• Give the characters views of the world, rather than your views through the characters eyes.  This is where really knowing your own characters comes in handy.  You might not include their most embarrassing moment in the third grade, or list their favorite flavors of ice cream for the reader, but the more you know about your own protagonists/antagonists, the better you show the world through their eyes.
• To help edit dialogue to make it sound more natural, read it out loud.  The book suggests that you, "...bring your ear into play when editing...dialogue is an artificial creation that sounds natural when you read it...the eye can be fooled, but the ear knows."

I'm only half done reading this editing guide, but already its packed full of sound and useful information.  Some of the points the authors make I've heard before, but its still nice to have reminders, especially as I'm getting deeper into my first round of edits on my manuscript.

What about you?  Have you read any good writing craft books lately?

Characterization: Who Cares?

Have you ever read a book where you feel like you don't really care about the protagonist(s) by the time you finish (or don't) the story?

Have you ever written a character that makes you want to scream, "Who cares?"

There is a very basic principle in the art of characterization.  In a very awkward, wordy way, you could say it like this:

It doesn't matter what your character cares about, if you don't care about your character.

Okay, so an interesting philosophy.  But how do you apply it to your writing?

One possible approach is to look at the reactions of your character to the event in the story.  If your story is rushing through the action of a scene, but we never see it from the emotional, physical and intellectual viewpoint of a unique POV character, than we don't have anything to connect with in the story.  The natural reactions of the character are what allow us to connect.

So, every key or crucial moment in a scene needs an internal reaction from your character.  

Not every moment:

 (if the hero unlocks a door with a key, we don't need every intimate detail of that moment unless it is crucial),

...but the ones that move the story ahead:

 (if the villain is on the other side of the door ready to pounce, we need to feel any pain or emotional horror resulting from being surprised or ambushed - not just have the actions of the event described).

It's just like that science law: action = reaction

When my kids scrape their knee or pinch their finger in a drawer, they don't come to me first with a tale of what happened - its always preceded with their reaction of hurt or pain.  First the ouch, then the explanation.  And as parents, we care about the emotion. We care that our child hurts, then we want to know why.  If it were the other way around, we'd have to muster some sympathy for the drawer.  Or the sidewalk.

Saved By The Bell

Saved by the bell...what does that phrase really mean?

I saw a post not long ago on Facebook, entitled "Life in the 1500's", that talks about the origin of several (now) cliche phrases and traditions, such as the bridal bouquet, or it's raining cats and dogs.  I found the post interesting, and at moments, subtly amusing.  I even read parts to my husband.  A lot of the information seemed solid and reasonable, and I took it as truth at first glance (even though there were some parts that begged me to question their plausibility).

I read Anna's great post earlier this month, entitled Errors In Translation, and it got me to thinking more about the topic of research.

I decided to research more about the origin of different phrases, and I found the following article that totally debunks the info I had read, in such a humorous way that I can't believe I ever took a single part of it at it's word.

Life In The 1500's - Folk Etymologies

I guess it just goes to show how important research truly is.  Because if you don't have reliable and credible sources, and you don't do the proper research, you'll just end up looking foolish or fraudulent. And no bell is going to save you from that.

Oh, and I guess I've learned I can't believe everything I read on the Internet....right?

True Love (& a Winner)

Happy Valentines Day!  I thought long and hard about the topic of this post.  I felt like I should pay homage to the one day where Cupid has free reign to wreak romantic havoc, but wasn't quite sure how.  I started to think about defining love, or discussing the importance of romance in literature.

I couldn't quite find the words.  So I decided to get some help - I turned to a few of the authors whose books have recently inspired and impressed me.  I asked them to help me define the meaning of true love.  Here's what they had to say:

True love is caring for someone through their worst moments with the same tenderness as their best. It's loving "because of" rather than "in spite of". 

     ~ Betsy Schow

(Betsy's book Finished Being Fat has become a nationwide phenomenon.  For more information, read her post here...)

True love is the last soldier standing on the battlefield of your life. It is the person who leads the charge against your foes, and when everyone else has retreated or fallen, still flies your colors.

Friends and acquaintances flee, hopes vanish, one by one,people disappoint or disappear.

And when you look over the battlefield of your life, the casualties and the costs, you see the silhouette of one person who will not surrender your dreams, or accept defeat. You see one person who will always believe you are worth the fight.

That is true love.

     ~ Regina Sirois

(Regina won the 2012 YA Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award for her book On Little Wings, which is being released late May, and can be pre-ordered on Amazon)

February is a good time for love stories (but really, is there ever a bad time? I will have to test that hypothesis). There are your own, of course, but fiction is usually more reliable--who doesn't have at least one dismal Valentine's day in the chapters of their life? And even though I am exceedingly happy with my own Dearest Love, sometimes I still like to escape to Thornfield. Dearest Love doesn't quite understand why I love Edward Rochester. "He's horrible! He lies, he's always sulking--what's wrong with St John Rivers? He's a nice guy." 

Don't get me started. I suppose there are many reasons why one shouldn't fall in love with Edward Rochester, least of all that he isn't real (I can't believe I just said that. Is it pathetic, that the words seem to sting just a little?)

Yes it is. But I'd rather be pathetic than deny myself Jane Eyre. It is a Book with a capital B, the kind I can open it at any place and tumble into without a backward glance. I have a small stash of books like this, with dog eared pages and shredding covers. (Quite a number of them are romances). 

Love is a wonderful thing, whether it's your own, or pressed onto pages. Scarlet and Rhett, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, Maxim de Winter and his unnamed wife, Anne and Gilbert . . . I have loved reading them all. But I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks true love means Theo and Mickle, Harriet and Rom, or Freddy and Kit. Who means true love to you? 

     ~ Jaima Fixsen

(Jaima's debut YA novel Fairchild is a Regency Era retelling of the classic fairytale The Princess and the Pea.  You can find it here on Amazon).

I'd love to hear from all of you!  Leave a comment on this post, and tell us what you think.

True Love Is....

Also.... Before I forget....

Last week, I announced a giveaway for an Ebook of Fairchild.  Jaima handpicked a name, and the winner is....

Christie Wright Wild!

Congratulations!  Leave a comment letting me know how I can get in contact with you.

Author Interview: Jaima Fixsen (& a Giveaway!)

There is something very magical about stumbling upon a gem of a book. There is something unforgettable about the chance to be involved in the evolution of one.

One of my best friends, and critique partner, Jaima Fixsen, just published her first book.

I have been waiting and waiting and waiting for this book. Not waiting for the chance to read it (I've already had that unique privilege). No - waiting for the chance to share it! Because, when you believe in something, you want to stand and shout it from the roof tops. You want to pepper the streets with pamphlets and flyers. You want to tell every stranger you meet on the street.

However, that's not exactly standard author behavior, so I shall censure myself, subdue my excitement, and pass on the good news with more socially acceptable composure.

I have invited Jaima over today to dish on some of her writing secrets.  I am also giving away an ebook copy of her new book (see the end of the post).  Her she is folks, the spectacular Jaima:

 

Thanks Mandi, for inviting me over to dish. If only we could share dessert too . . . I'll imagine a plate of cupcakes. Chocolate? Red velvet? Anyone?

Sorry. That was mean. There's nothing worse than pseudo cupcakes. We'll just have to go straight to the part where I dish.

1. When/Why did you start writing?

After my third child was born I stopped working as an occupational therapist. I'd been working part-time, covering weekends at the nearby hospital. I loved stepping away for a few hours and coming home, feeling like I'd been missed. I knew I would have to replace work with something, but I had no idea what. First I tried a dance class. It was fun, but I'm afraid I was pretty awful. I decided to try writing because it was cheap (no supplies to buy), convenient, (I could pick it up and put it down whenever I needed), and I had a character hanging around in the back of my head that I wanted to get to know.

2. How did you get the idea for Fairchild?

Well, I've always thought the story of the Princess and the Pea is a little odd. It's a fairy tale that doesn't belong. There's no magic, no villain, just a girl in disguise and a mama's boy prince. I thought about these two people--unheroic, passive, even a little boring--and wondered what it's like for them, mingling with the rest of the fairytale crowd, standing next to plucky children who push witches into ovens, dragon slaying knights and the fairest in the land. The characters in the Princess and the Pea don't fit in that club any better than their story. Immediately I imagined a bastard child--a girl who can't fit anywhere. Right away I knew she was my girl in disguise, pretending to be the impossible--legitimate, a person who belongs. An accident brings her to a handsome boy. What would happen, if she's so good at pretending he thinks she's real? A princess even?

I put this story in the English Regency because it's a real time and place, but one where fairy tales belong. Balls, gowns, Mr. Darcy--all the good fairy tale elements are right at home here. I wanted this story to sparkle like Eva Ibbotson's romances, but for the characters to be as nuanced and ambiguous as they are in the original tale--there's a lot making this batch of misfits tick.

 

3. What was the hardest part about writing Fairchild?

The middle. I got there and I knew where I needed to end up, but I couldn't find how to get there. In my first draft, big chunks of the middle were even in point form. Like this:

-Somehow Sophy and Tom meet at X.

-They say m, n, o, p.

-What are you going to do about Alistair?

-Lady Fairchild doesn't like the dresses Sophy chooses.

It required shelf time, substantial rewrites, and stage dressing. If I hadn't had so much encouragement from early readers, I think I would have left it alone for much longer.

4. What is your writing routine?

Without firm limits I'm afraid I tend to submerge myself in writing and neglect important things like listening when my husband is talking and making sure my kinds have clean socks and underwear. It takes care to keep things balanced, and often I get it wrong. What works best for me is to allow myself one hour when my kids will not need me--when they are in bed, at school or ski lessons, or whatever. I don't answer the phone, I don't check email, I just write. I have a daily word target, and I do everything I can to meet that target within my allotted time. But if I don't, I stop when my hour is up. I'm trying to do the same thing with the publishing/promoting work, but things are still pretty hairy and I'm learning as I go, so it's harder to contain that in a fixed time. I'm working on it. If I'm lucky enough to get extra time, of course I take it.

5. What books/authors inspire you?

Oooh, that's hard. There are so many books I love. I reread my favorites over and over. Fairchild was inspired by Georgette Heyer. I love her Regency novels, but I have particular favorites: Friday's Child, Cotillion, Arabella, and Regency Buck. Heyer is a writer with humor, flair, and the best eye for historical detail I have ever come across. It is hard to believe she wasn't writing during the Regency. I was also inspired by The Secret Countess and A Company of Swans by Eva Ibbotson. I love her quirky characters and her deft use of the omniscient perspective.

6. Have you ever based a character on someone you know?

I don't think so. If I have, it was unconcious and I apologize. I'd like to point out that even though I am a redhead like Sophy, the protagonist in Fairchild, I never intended her to be me (or me to be her). For one thing, Sophy's hair has more curl than mine. And I think I am much more reticent.

The reason I made Sophy a redhead was because I wanted her to have some trait that indisputably linked her to her father. My father is blond and my mother brunette, and I grew up hearing 'So, where'd the red hair come from?' probably every week. So making Sophy and her father both redheaded seemed the easiest way to connect them physically, and was perhaps a quiet joke for (or on?) myself.

 

Okay, It's Mandi again.  And now I want to give you a chance to win your own copy of Fairchild.  I had hoped to use rafflecopter for this giveaway, but I've been having some issues with it this week, and have opted for a more old-fashioned technique.  All you have to do to qualify for an entry in my draw is:

 

Leave a comment on this post explaining how you helped spread the word about Fairchild.  You can do this any of the following ways:

• Share the link on facebook (to this post, or to her book)
• Pin the book to pinterest
• Add the book to your goodreads list
• Tweet about the book
• post about the book on your blog.
• Any other creative way you can think (as long as you share what it is)

For each of these things you do (and tell me about in the post), you will earn one entry.  Because this is based largely on the honor system, for each entry you can provide evidence for, you will gain an additional point.  Next Wednesday, I will put all the names (one per point) in a hat, and have Jaima physically draw a winner.  I will announce the winner next Thursday.  (Who knows, there may be more than one!)

Believe me, this is a book you will enjoy reading!

Parenting Pearls

Okay.  So this might label me a nerd, but I enjoy a good parenting book.  I try to glean little pearls of wisdom from each one, and work each day at being a better mother.  But this is probably the best parenting book I've come across in a long time.

So for any world-weary mothers out there looking for rays of sunshine, or any fellow nerds that love parenting manuals, here's a recommendation:  The Love & Logic program, by Jim Fay and associates.  I actually had the pleasure of hearing him speak at a Professional Development Seminar several years ago, and found him very wise and uplifting.  This month I finally picked up one of his books, and found it equally encouraging (they have a wide range of topics available, this just happened to be the one at my local library).

Parenting is hard.  Raising children is not the same as it was two generations ago.  But it can be rewarding.

And I can use all the extra help I can get...

Oh, I'm So Blue!

Okay, so maybe this blogpost title is a little deceiving.  I'm not actually blue (in colour or emotional context). And yes, I used a 'u' in colour, despite blogger's desperate attempts to correct my mistake.  If websites/software could twitch, I'm sure blogger would have a lovely kink in its neck by now.

But I digress.  Do you know what the significance of this past Monday was?  Perhaps you heard, but January 21, 2013 was deemed the most depressing day of the year.

Was it because we made it another month past 'the end of the world' (and turned over the Mayan calender only to realize that the next 2012 years were printed on the back....awkward!)?

Was it because we realized it is another ten months before we can play Christmas albums again (without guilt or strange stares)?

What makes one day of the year more depressing than any other?

Well, according to one researcher, who has been credited with coining the term 'Blue Monday' (you can read an article about it here), it's a number of factors that work together to make the third Monday in January the day when we feel most blue.

And honestly, I can see his point.  Monday, here in Central Alberta, Canada, was a balmy - 20 degrees C, with blowing snow.  Yay!  And most of the monthly bills arrived around that time.  Yay!  And I realized that exactly a month before, we'd been gearing up for Christmas (where has the time gone already?) with all the excitement that accompanies that blessed event.  So yes, I suppose a day like that could harbour a depressing edge.

And yet, on Blue Monday, I felt fantastic.  Why?  Because I'd spent the whole weekend living.  I'd made memories with my family (a temple date with hubby, a restaurant and movie date night [gift cards - boo yah!], a family date with my favourite kiddos, reading a book, working on my WIP, feeding the missionaries, and board games with good friends).  I went into Monday feeling rejuvenated and revived.

And ready to write.

And you know what?  I realized something....

Sometimes I get so caught up in trying to focus on my writing (because, like so many of you, my writing time is sparse, and usually allocated to the evening hours that my body screams were made for sleeping) that I forget to remember to live.  And then my writing stagnates: probably because my life stagnates.

And while I can't keep up the kind of pace that last weekend allowed, it's nice to have a little boost once in a while.

Here's hoping your Monday wasn't too blue...

Brandon Sanderson Teaches Writing

It's January.  We're full of warm memories from the holidays, or perhaps finally triumphing over the latest bout of whatever flu bug is making its rounds.  Time to pull out the old manuscripts, dust em off and dig in, right?

Feeling a little rusty?  Sometimes it helps to have some motivation.  What better than free online writing classes (in the form of YouTube videos) from master author Brandon Sanderson?

An author by the name of John Waverly has composed a playlist of the lecture series, and you can link to it here.

Happy writing!

To Resolve

Maybe this topic is old-hat by now, because I've seen a lot of talk about it around the Internet, given the season, but the idea of New Years goals and resolutions have been bouncing around my head like that old ping pong arcade game.

While I've been pondering, cogitating and weighing my goals and resolutions for 2013, an email from David Farland arrived in my inbox (it's called the daily kick in the pants for writers, and you can sign up here).

So even if you've already read five blog posts about writing goals today, here's his take on how to meet your own expectations:

With writing goals, I’ve tried a number of different types of goals over the years. I’ve tried the, “I will write a book a month goal.” This is the astronomical goal intended to just push you to get words on paper. I have had times where I was extremely productive, but I’ve never been that productive, unless I’ve been on a writing retreat. The problem is, life ain’t a writing retreat. I can’t do that all of the time. Still, there may be a period where setting an extreme goal makes sense. I can go on a long writing retreat and get huge amounts written.

 

 

I’ve tried the “I will work on one scene a day” goal, which basically says, “I won’t go to sleep until I’ve at least done a little writing.” This seems reasonable, but there are days when other things need to take priority for an entire day, maybe even entire weeks. So you feel pretty crummy about yourself at the end of one of those days. The goal also suffers from not being strictly defined. What does “I will work on a scene” mean? Does it mean that I will completely write a draft of a scene? That’s a nicely defined goal. But “working” on a scene too often becomes sitting around with a distant gaze, just thinking about it.

 

 

How about the “I’ll write X pages per day” goal. It sounds reasonable and measured, yet ensures that by the end of the year, you’ll have a large amount of work done. Same problem happens as above, other things get in the way on certain days. For example, Tax time is coming. It takes me a full week or more to get my taxes prepared, and I can’t clutter my mind with other things while doing it. So by tax time every year, that goal goes out the window.

 

 

While we are at it, how about the “At 6:00 AM, I will park my butt in my chair and start writing.” That’s the goal that I’m using today. I find that setting a time and a place to write works pretty well for me. It has for years. My writing day is supposed to start by 8:00 AM, and I’m an hour early to work this morning. For me, this one has always worked best. Why? Because humans are creatures of habit, and by making writing a habit, I can ensure that I’ll get at least something done every day.

 

~ David Farland, On Being Resolute

 I'm off to get some writing done.

Did You Read A Great Book in 2012?

My first order of business today is to wish you all a happy new year.  I'm hard at work working out my new year resolutions, and getting back into a normal routine after the memorable Christmas fun that is now behind us.  2012 was a very good year.  I'm looking forward with great anticipation to many exciting events in 2013.

Secondly, this post was meant for last Thursday.  It is one week late, and I wish I had a reasonable excuse.  I apologize for the tardiness.  The combination of holidays and a nasty flu virus navigating our domicile, made way for an error on my behalf.  

I love book recommendations.  In fact, almost all of the books you will see below were drawn to my attention by the recommendation of someone I cared about or trusted (could make for a interesting future topic).  Here are some of the best books I read in 2012 - some moved me, some surprised me, all satisfied me in the way only books can.

What about you?  What great books did you read in the past year?  Because, if I could repeat it again, I love a good recommendation.

Merry Christmas - Let's Read!

Wow!  It's just four days till Christmas.  Where did December go?  Never mind that - where did the year go?  I think I'm finally ready for Christmas morning, but it seems as though little 'to-do's' keep popping up. 

Before we all head into the last few magical days of Christmas, I thought I'd share some of my families favorite picture books - Christmas style. 

We read this book every Christmas Eve - it helps to draw the parallel between the secular and spiritual sides of Christmas.  Plus, the writing is sweet and simple.

This is part of the bear series by Karma Wilson, which has a catchy rhyming style the kids can't get enough of.

This book is one of my all time Christmas favorites - I still can't read the last page without crying.  And of course it is better than the movie!

I love Fancy Nancy - so why not add some Christmas pizzazz!

And you can't beat Laura Numeroff for circle stories.

What about you - what are your favorite Christmas books to read as a family?

Family Togetherness With Chapter Books

First off - thank you for the wonderful book suggestions last week!  I've already checked them out from the library.  There is nothing quite like finding a good book to share...

This week, I'm looking for some good discussion on middle grade and young adult literature that can be read together and enjoyed as a family - because isn't that part of what Christmas is all about?

As the kids get older, and the daily tradition of reading together transitions from picture books to chapter books, what are some of the quality works of literature that will brings our families together? 

Here are some of my suggestions for MG and YA books that can be enjoyed and discussed as a family (Please note that while I love books like the Harry Potter Series, and do read them with my kids, due to their level of fame, I'm going to stick with discussing other works):

Your turn!  What do you like to read with your older kids?

Be sure to visit next week to share your favorite Christmas books...

Christmas, Picture Books and Family Togetherness

I read a post this summer by author Connie Sokol, called Spies, Phantoms and Wookie Cookies: Connecting with your kids in a literary way.

When I though about my approach to blogging in December (in my opinion the busiest month of the year and the one in which I do the least writing), I thought to myself, what kind of posts can I do that will be of value to the equally busy mommy writer's out there?

Well I thought to myself - aside from the obvious, what is Christmas about?

It's not just about remembering and honoring the birth and the life of our Savior.  It's not just about presents, and sleigh rides and twinkling colorful lights.

It's also about family togetherness, tradition, and love.

And what better way, as Connie Sokol explains, to come together than through good literature?

So each Thursday in December, I'm going to share with you some of my favorites in each of the following categories:

December 6: Picture Books
December 13: MG and YA Books
December 20: Christmas Books
December 27: Best Books We Read in 2012

Please stop by and share your favorites!  I know there are so many books out there of a high quality and value that I have never heard of.  Also remember, this list is not exhaustive.  I don't want to list every single good picture book I've ever read, because then what would I leave for you to say?

I also want to keep in mind that the point of these posts is to bring us together as families at this special time of year.  So if you see something that sparks your interest over the next few weeks, please, find a copy (at your local library or bookstore) and delve in with the ones you love the most: it can only add to the special spirit of the Christmas season!

Week 1: Best Picture Books

Here are some amazing authors to check out with your kids - there is so much opportunity to expand on the content with activities that build togetherness.  These are the ones we can read over and over again and never tire of.

 

 

What about you?  What are your families favorite picture books?

Who is Whitney?

Here we are: tomorrow is the end of November.  Did you cross the NaNoWriMo finish line yet?  Did you meet the personalized writing goals you made for yourself this month?  Are you ready for the crazy busy-ness of December Christmas traditions?  Please drop a note in the comment box!  I want to know how everybody did with their word counts/goals!

As for me: as of Wednesday night, I was sitting just below the 47,000 word mark, so the end is in sight for me!

Because the end of 2012 is upon us, I wanted to put out a little plug for a very special award.  I was very privileged to have the opportunity to attend the very first Whitney Award Gala in 2008, and so I find a certain excitement in following their progress each year. 

If you've never heard of the Whitney Awards, I encourage you to go explore their page (just click on the image).

If you are already aware of this special literary award, this is your reminder to think back over the year about the good books you have enjoyed.  If you know of any that meet the guidelines, please take a moment right now to go nominate them.  Click on this link.  Show those authors the support of the writing community.  (It used to be easy to find lists of all the books eligible, but I haven't found anything like that this year.  If you know of any lists of a similar idea, please leave a comment!)

Because on Saturday, December starts, and we're about to get swept into the whirlwind of Christmas and New Years, and miss out on the opportunity to nominate good books.

And then don't forget to comment - tell us how your writing goals are going....

"Oops....Gravity Works"

I got the title for this post after watching the 90's animated movie 'Ferngully', in which the character Batty (played by Robin Williams) falls backward out of a tree as he says, "Oops...gravity works!".

I remember watching the movie as a kid and loving that particular bit of dialogue.  Today, it has inspired a blog post.

Gravity is one of those natural laws that shapes the world around us.  It allows us to participate in sports where we work against it - (think pole jumping - not really a great idea on the moon), use it to provide a thrill (bungee jumping, skydiving), and holds us to the ground.

 It can also work against us.  Everybody has a memory of a smashed dish or broken keepsake, slipping from their fingers and falling in slow motion towards the floor.

And if you asked my daughters opinion, she'd tell you there should be less gravity and more pixie dust, so she could fly like the girl from the Tinkerbell movie.

Whatever our feelings or experience, gravity is an inherent part of life on earth.

I'm learning, too, in writing, there are some natural laws that no author can escape, no matter their skills or experience.  One of those natural laws is the slump, sometimes referred to as writer's block.  It's that point in writing a manuscript that the job has gone from exciting and exhilarating, to tedious and cumbersome. 

For me, this usually comes as I approach the middle of a story: I've gotten past the initial excitement of exploring a new setting, meeting new characters and inciting some interesting dilemmas, but not far enough in that I've made it to the thrilling feeling of writing a climax and tying up loose ends.

By this point, my story has usually changed quite significantly from the outline and road map I'd laid for it in the planning stage - those characters seem to take on a life of their own and steer the story in a different direction than I may have intended.  Trying to bridge the gap between what I initially envisioned, and where the story is headed, can be a chore.

Thus, the writer's slump.  And I don't think I'm alone in this experience.  The NaNoWriMo talks these past few weeks have all dealt with this natural tendency for writers to get stuck.  I've seen the topic on many a blog post and writing forum.  I think its safe to say that at one time or another, every writer deals with a slump.

And if you've read the same articles I have, you'll notice the advice is always the same: the best antidote is to just keep writing.  Put your butt in your chair and make your fingers move (or pen) across the keyboard (or paper) until words begin to form.

If all else fails, take a break - go out and experience something exciting that life has to offer - like gravity defying thrill rides, or bungee jumping!  Or better yet, send your protagonist on a skydiving expedition.  It might get the adrenaline pumping through your story again.

Because, hey - gravity works.

Come On An Adventure to Edenbrooke

 I was picking up my daughter from school a few weeks ago when a friend of mine approached. She handed me a copy of a book called "Edenbrooke" and said, "You have to read this. I just read it twice in two days. I've never done that before." I've always trusted the literary tastes of my friend, and so I dove right in. 

Edenbrooke was written by the delightful new author Julianne Donaldson, and published by Shadow Mountain.  The blurb for the story (as taken from the back of the book):

Marianne Daventry will do anything to escape the boredom of Bath and the amorous attentions of an unwanted suitor. So when an invitation arrives from her twin sister, Cecily, to join her at a sprawling country estate, she jumps at the chance. Thinking she’ll be able to relax and enjoy her beloved English countryside while her sister snags the handsome heir of Edenbrooke, Marianne finds that even the best laid plans can go awry.

From a terrifying run-in with a highwayman to a seemingly harmless flirtation, Marianne finds herself embroiled in an unexpected adventure filled with enough romance and intrigue to keep her mind racing. Will Marianne be able to rein in her traitorous heart, or will a mysterious stranger sweep her off her feet? Fate had something other than a relaxing summer in mind when it sent Marianne to Edenbrooke.

I recently contacted Julianne and asked her to answer a few questions about her own unique writing and publication journey.  I am so grateful that she agreed to answer, and here is what she had to say:

1.  When and why did you start writing?

I started writing when I was young because I love to tell stories. As an adult, I would write stories here and there but never seriously thought about being published until I started having children. As a stay-at-home mom, I found within myself a yearning to create something outside of my home and family--something that belonged just to me--something that wouldn't come undone overnight (like the dishes, the laundry, the cooking, the diapering, etc.). I started small, with poems and ideas for picture books. Then I started dreaming bigger and bigger until I had written Edenbrooke.

2. How did you get the idea for Edenbrooke?

 

 Edenbrooke didn't come to me as an "idea." I don't think it's an "idea" type of book. If I try to describe it, I usually end up saying inane things like "It's about a girl who lives in England in the 1800's who grows up and falls in love at a grand estate." No big ideas there. So writing Edenbrooke was not really writing around an idea, but taking a journey of emotional exploration. I escaped into a finer world than my own, where no children existed and money was not an issue. And in my escape, I tried to recreate what it felt like to grow up and fall in love.

3. What was the hardest part about writing your novel?

 

The hardest part about writing my novel was finishing it. I spent hundreds of pages writing threads of plot that I didn't know how to tie together. Huge gaps existed in the middle of my story that I didn't know how to fill. And the perfectionist side of me rebelled every time I attempted to call the story "done." The best thing I did for myself as a writer was attend a writer's conference, where I learned how to overcome those trouble spots. And sheer determination did the rest.

4. What future plans do you have for your writing?

 

 I loved writing Edenbrooke, but after I finished it I vowed I would never write another historical fiction. It is so limiting to write in that genre, and I think it takes a lot of patience and attention to detail to do it well. Yet...here I am, writing another historical fiction. My fans convinced me to give it another go, and I am currently working on Blackmoore, which is set in England in the same time period as Edenbrooke, but features a whole new cast of characters and problems. As I have been writing Blackmoore, I have sworn up and down that I will never write another historical--yet, I am obviously a person who can be persuaded to change her mind. So I guess I will take things one book at a time. I do know that there are a lot of stories I want to tell. And I have a real science fiction streak in me that will probably make itself heard sooner rather than later.

 

I invite you to go check out her blog.  If you haven't heard of Edenbrooke, I urge you to go get a copy.  I loved it so much, I bought my own, and you can bet I'll be reading it again.

Lest We Forget

As writers, our stories are influenced to a large extent by the experiences, background and opportunities that life presents to each of us individually.  The trials, the blessings, the love, the heartache, the success - each give us a varied and unique view of the world, that seeps into our stories and gives them flavor and variety.

And so it should.

I wanted to share with you today a tradition that has influenced my life and upbringing, and one that I hold very dear to my heart.  Even as I write this, I'm not aware if this tradition exists outside my own country - whether in the USA or other nations around the world (if it does, please share!  I'd love to learn more).  It will be something I will have to read up more on this evening.

Growing up Canadian, October was all about Thanksgiving and Halloween, and December was for Christmas celebration.  In November our focus was on the memory of wars fought and the hope for future peace.  Each year, November 11th is a National Holiday known as 'Remembrance Day'.  Schools and non-essential business close (though less and less each year I've noticed), and special ceremonies are held in each city and town around the country.  Remembrance Day ceremonies.

Though I have never known war, and grew up very sheltered from the terrible consequences of violence, slavery and hate, I was taught and impressed upon to learn and show respect for those who gave their lives - both in life and death - in conflicts meant to further the cause of freedom.  I remember attending those ceremonies each year, watching the veterans and their descendants lay wreaths at memorials, a red and black poppy over my heart.  EAch of these symbols, this annual tradition, and the teachings of my parents and grandparents built a sense of respect and love for all those men and women who fought (and still do) for my freedom.

And now I pass the tradition on to my own children.  Each year we watch the song A Pittance of Time on YouTube.  We buy poppies and wear them proudly every November.  We read 'In Flanders Field' and talk about the consequences, causes and history of war.  We do this to show love and respect for the countless sacrifices of others, and to remember.

Remember what?  Why peace is so important.

May we never forget.