Rules are for Sissy's

I don't hate all rules... just the ones I don't like. I like to live outside the box. Make my own rules and break them. Live life in the fast lane. OK, I'm not that extreme but when it comes to writing, rules and I never really got along.



In high school I used to zone out when my teachers tried to teach us about writing elements. I would think to myself when will this ever matter or no way do writers actually think about this stuff while writing. Obviously I didn't come to enjoy writing till later.



In first drafts, my thoughts in high school pretty much apply. I just get the story on paper. It's amazing though how much those elements of writing appear. They may need copious amounts of TLC to get them up to par but they are there. That is when I realize that those little lesson throughout school stuck and that they are helpful.



As I go through the rewriting and editing process I begin to realize just how important and helpful those elements really are. They make life so much easier and lets face it life can get pretty difficult all on it's own, it doesn't need my help. These literary elements, symbolism, characterization, foreshadowing, irony, point of view, etc, are like guide posts to writing a great piece of literature. Of course there's more but don't be like my high school self and ignore them, they will only serve to help.



What are some other elements you like to include? Do you find it difficult or easy to include them?

A World All My Own

I love fantasy, I love reading it, I love writing it, I love obsessing about it. I love it so much that my town librarian noticed that every time I come in, which is often, I head straight for the fantasy section and I know it's layout better than many that work there. The librarian asked me why I loved fantasy so much he didn't understand what was so appealing about reading fantasy novels. As I thought about it I found several things that I loved about fantasy, all of which boil down the worlds.

All fantasy novels have elements to their worlds that are all their own, whether it's a completely new world with it's only laws, people, magic, creatures, cultures, etc, or it's based on our world with fantasy elements woven in. As a fantasy writing I'm learning that while it is fun to create a world it is no easy task. I'm also learning that the more detailed it is the better it is for the reader. I've often joked with my husband that I need white boards for walls so I can keep track and map out my worlds.

Here are some things to remember when building you worlds, be they intricate and completely your own or based in this world with elements that are your own:

The world itself; is it earth or like earth, or is it completely different?
If it isn't like earth what's the geography, the weather patterns, seasons, natural resources?
What's the history of the place both political and social?
How are people divided? Countries, states, regions? Is it political, racial, or religious?
Are there supernatural elements? What are the laws?
Whats the social structure? Political Structure? Religious structure?
Who are the people? What are the customs? Rites of passage, holidays, greeting, eating, ethics, values, language, education, etc.
What's the monetary and trade system?
What are the social organizations? How do people relate? From governments all the way down to families.
What's the law and legal systems?
What's the day to day? Fashion, diet, work, etc.

Those are just a few things to think of when world building. What experiences can you share? What are things you've learned from world building?

Marshmallow Wars

Last week was our districts Cub Scout Day Camp. As a favor to my mother I subbed as walking den leader for a day. On this day I learned something important about boys... they are predisposed to war games, and they are good at it.

I laughed as, after crafts where they made marshmallow bazookas, they shot them at each other, forming sides, alliances, and strategies. This went on the entire day, at lunch they did a sneak attack on their rival dens, they took prisoners of war and even eventually surrendered. It was a humorous though slightly unsettling sight to watch.

A few day's ago I was asked if I was a wall flower or busy bee as I thought about my response I realized something; the more I sit back and watch people the more I learn about human behavior and the more I can apply that to character building.

I really enjoy character building, I love getting to know new people and as that is essentially getting to know new people it's fun. I can let my imagination run with it and come out with a totally unbelievable yet perfect character. However, for those times when I need a believable character I find that I can draw on the behaviors and motives that I have observed and learned about people.

So the next time I have to write in a boy I'll remember to through in some fun war games.

Commas Save Lives!!!

“Let’s eat, Grandpa!”
“Let’s eat Grandpa!”


Commas are something I always have problems with. My teachers in school were horrible and taught me to just put a comma in when I paused to take a breath. Shame on them. It wasn’t until my senior year in high school, in my AP English class, that a teacher finally taught my correctly. By then, however, it was so ingrained in me that I continue to get it wrong! Now I work feverishly to correct that bad writing habit.

Does anyone else have bad habits they are trying to break in their writing? If so, how are you doing it?

Basic Writing Tools

I find that if I don't put on my blinders,
I will become easily distracted--even to the smallest of trivial things!
(This goes for thoughts, too!)

Okay okay okay . . . I stole this brilliant idea from Paulette at 700blankpages. I didn't even paraphrase. I totally plagiarized. It was way too perfect to pass up and not share with you!