It's my birthday tomorrow, and I will ascertain a semi-significant age. Let's just say that with the conclusion of another year in my life, I will have more privileges, and obviously with those privileges come more responsiblities. I know I'm young, but I feel old. After all, strangers give me weird looks when I frolic on the community playground. I'm reaching the serious place in highschool where you have to actually try, and I might have to get a job to buy a car etc. As one of my friends said, "I don't have time to grow up." Like seriously, with just a snap of the fingers I am in the second half of teenagedom. Sometimes I feel like throwing up my hands and shouting, "I didn't sign up for this!"
But moving on to a new stage in life reminds of what it feels like to begin a new writing project. I'm almost done with my first full length novel, and I've already started working on the second one. All of a sudden I'm detaching myself from characters who I spent years developing, and am learning to aquaint myself with a new set, living in a different time and place.
It's not easy, but the more I write with these characters, the more I love them and to be honest, I'm ready for the previous book to be done. I'm proud of what I've written but I don't want to labor over it anymore; lest the magic appear mundane.
Starting your first book isn't easy, and starting your second book won't be either. The challenges may be different, yet they remain daunting nonetheless. The sun will rise tomorrow whether we want it to or not. Therefore, we have no time to lose in despairing over the fleetingness of life, but rather we should seize the moment in revel in it. Whether this means growing accustomed to a new stage in life, or starting your next big writing project. Every day is a new beginning. Make it count.
If you could get through that post without rolling your eyes I applaud you. Now I'm off to stuff my face with cake cause ya know...life is short.
Written by: Karoline Kingley
Adverbs
23 April 2013
Okay, there is something floating around the writing world that has bothered me for quite some time. And you, my dear readers, seem like the perfect candidates for me to vent/discuss this idea with. Cause all writers enjoy a good rant! But I'll attempt to maintain a moderately calm and collected composure for all ya'll's sake.
I've seen the following warning far too many times: "Avoid adverbs." And I have one thing to say about that: umm...no.
However, I can see what viewpoint these claimers come from. Surely if the author can adequately describe what is happening, we don't need to be told how i.e. quickly, sadly, happily etc. But did you see what I did there? Look back at my last sentence. Uh huh. "Adequately." I suppose I could have left out that word and my point still might have been made, but that adverb not only provided furthur illumination and specifaction to my point, it made the overall sentence flow more smoothly. One thing authors should be aware of, is not to avoid those so called weak tactics to the extent that the writing sounds no longer human. We often hear we ought to lay off the adjectives and adverbs, and increase the nouns and verbs. And while this can indeed sometimes create a more succinct effect...nobody talks like that! If you write with the voice of one who considers themselves oh so learned and superior to most minions who couldn't write a book if they tried, chances are, the reader will have difficutly connecting with you.
Adverbs specifically, create music and clarification. However, as with any literary part of speech or tactic, we must beware to not overuse them. And I would like to challenge you to see how many adverbs I used in this blogpost and determine whether you thought it made it better or worse.
Written by: Karoline Kingley
I've seen the following warning far too many times: "Avoid adverbs." And I have one thing to say about that: umm...no.
However, I can see what viewpoint these claimers come from. Surely if the author can adequately describe what is happening, we don't need to be told how i.e. quickly, sadly, happily etc. But did you see what I did there? Look back at my last sentence. Uh huh. "Adequately." I suppose I could have left out that word and my point still might have been made, but that adverb not only provided furthur illumination and specifaction to my point, it made the overall sentence flow more smoothly. One thing authors should be aware of, is not to avoid those so called weak tactics to the extent that the writing sounds no longer human. We often hear we ought to lay off the adjectives and adverbs, and increase the nouns and verbs. And while this can indeed sometimes create a more succinct effect...nobody talks like that! If you write with the voice of one who considers themselves oh so learned and superior to most minions who couldn't write a book if they tried, chances are, the reader will have difficutly connecting with you.
Adverbs specifically, create music and clarification. However, as with any literary part of speech or tactic, we must beware to not overuse them. And I would like to challenge you to see how many adverbs I used in this blogpost and determine whether you thought it made it better or worse.
Written by: Karoline Kingley
Writing to Smart Readers
16 April 2013
A writer's job is not necessarily to answer every question. It's okay to leave a few spaces blank. I'm not talking about plot holes or inconclusive endings, I mean that you should learn to master the fine line between telling a story to your audience and being well...annoying.
Have you ever read a book and found yourself grumbling, "yeah, I get it!" I know I have. Those authors who would rather pander to the reader than let me connect the dots on my own. I've been guilty of this blunder many times. Reading back on a chapter I realize that where I meant to instill clarity, I instead patronized the reader. You have to treat your audience as though they are smart. And even if some of the people flicking through your book aren't the brightest bulbs in the chandelier, for those who are intelligent, the reward when they realize something left half-answered is an irreplaceable sensation.
I remember when reading Sherlock Holmes for the first time, I was thrown into the second act with a huge cliffhanger. That next half of the story demonstrated a completely different set of characters in a different time and place; for a minute I thought I was reading a different book. But when I realized what the author was doing, my eyes got that (what I like to call,) reader's glow and I giddily stamped my feet, sure that my assumptions were true. The confusion was all worth it. If Sir Arthur Conan Doyle chose to simply state what was going on in a two, or three paragraph explanation, I would have been just as informed, though far less enthusiastic.
When writing your book or poem or whatever, don't neglect your job to set the scene and illustrate the characters. But when it comes to a complex plot, you don't have to explain everything right away. Even though the reader may be confused for a short while, they will reap the reward of being treated like an intelligent consumer when they figure it out for themselves before you reveal it. So the next time you find yourself wondering how to string out the suspense, or fill in the implied metaphor, continue mindful of the intelligent audience you hope to target.
Have you ever read a book and found yourself grumbling, "yeah, I get it!" I know I have. Those authors who would rather pander to the reader than let me connect the dots on my own. I've been guilty of this blunder many times. Reading back on a chapter I realize that where I meant to instill clarity, I instead patronized the reader. You have to treat your audience as though they are smart. And even if some of the people flicking through your book aren't the brightest bulbs in the chandelier, for those who are intelligent, the reward when they realize something left half-answered is an irreplaceable sensation.
I remember when reading Sherlock Holmes for the first time, I was thrown into the second act with a huge cliffhanger. That next half of the story demonstrated a completely different set of characters in a different time and place; for a minute I thought I was reading a different book. But when I realized what the author was doing, my eyes got that (what I like to call,) reader's glow and I giddily stamped my feet, sure that my assumptions were true. The confusion was all worth it. If Sir Arthur Conan Doyle chose to simply state what was going on in a two, or three paragraph explanation, I would have been just as informed, though far less enthusiastic.
When writing your book or poem or whatever, don't neglect your job to set the scene and illustrate the characters. But when it comes to a complex plot, you don't have to explain everything right away. Even though the reader may be confused for a short while, they will reap the reward of being treated like an intelligent consumer when they figure it out for themselves before you reveal it. So the next time you find yourself wondering how to string out the suspense, or fill in the implied metaphor, continue mindful of the intelligent audience you hope to target.
Strong Characters
09 April 2013
Your favorite book quite likely has your favorite character. Some of the most memorable people you have ever "met" have come from books. But have you ever read a novel with such a strong lead, they the story required little plot due to their charming charisma? Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery comes to mind. If you think about it, not much happens in that book other than a series of girlish scandals and child's play. Yet because the protagonist, Anne Shirley is larger than life, she carries these events on her shoulders and the reader is so taken by her, we are content to sit back and watch her mistakes and adventures unfold without considering the plot. Every writer wants their book to be remembered, and one of the ways of accomplishing that is to create a character who will never die. How is this done?
1. Put Yourself Into It - I've created some characters that are very different from me. But they all manifest an aspect of myself, however small. I could argue that it is impossible to create a character unlike yourself, but I have not experimented enough to discover if this is true. When you have a little bit of you in your character, be it the protagonist, sidekick or villain, that nugget of reality is often sufficient to inspire some emotional hook that feels real. We've all seen those fantasy novels that you can't really get into, because none of it seems believable. When we combine fiction with reality, our reality, it enables us as the writer to work with our experiences and transform them into something magical. (How chessey.)
2. Give Them a Quirk - When I think of larger than life characters, people like Sherlock Holmes come to mind. I am not at all suggesting you make every hero a complete weirdo like him. Your character's quirk could be a simple as OCD behavior or a keen interest in pot holders. Apart from being a genius, Sherlock has his odd habits and weaknesses that romanticize his intellectual abilities. And while Holmes is one of the more extreme examples of a quirky character, I think there is no denying, we remember the weirdos.
3. Make Them 3-D - What I mean by that is, make certain your character is as complex as a real human. They need more than a motive and dilemma. There should be different sides to their personality, a distinguishable way of walking and talking. Give them a little fire, of whatever kind you like. Maybe it's a temper, sarcastic humor or narcissism. Don't let your character be that boring guy you know who sits in the corner with his hands in his lap and doesn't have an opinion on anything. He's boring in real life; why he be any different in the pages of a book?
Written by: Karoline Kingley
1. Put Yourself Into It - I've created some characters that are very different from me. But they all manifest an aspect of myself, however small. I could argue that it is impossible to create a character unlike yourself, but I have not experimented enough to discover if this is true. When you have a little bit of you in your character, be it the protagonist, sidekick or villain, that nugget of reality is often sufficient to inspire some emotional hook that feels real. We've all seen those fantasy novels that you can't really get into, because none of it seems believable. When we combine fiction with reality, our reality, it enables us as the writer to work with our experiences and transform them into something magical. (How chessey.)
2. Give Them a Quirk - When I think of larger than life characters, people like Sherlock Holmes come to mind. I am not at all suggesting you make every hero a complete weirdo like him. Your character's quirk could be a simple as OCD behavior or a keen interest in pot holders. Apart from being a genius, Sherlock has his odd habits and weaknesses that romanticize his intellectual abilities. And while Holmes is one of the more extreme examples of a quirky character, I think there is no denying, we remember the weirdos.
3. Make Them 3-D - What I mean by that is, make certain your character is as complex as a real human. They need more than a motive and dilemma. There should be different sides to their personality, a distinguishable way of walking and talking. Give them a little fire, of whatever kind you like. Maybe it's a temper, sarcastic humor or narcissism. Don't let your character be that boring guy you know who sits in the corner with his hands in his lap and doesn't have an opinion on anything. He's boring in real life; why he be any different in the pages of a book?
Written by: Karoline Kingley
The Development of Ideas
02 April 2013
Where do ideas come from? A daunting question indeed. But more importantly, how do I get an idea for a story? I'm not writing this post because I can adequately answer every sub-question that accompanies these thoughts; yet it is something I have considered, and formed decent answers upon (that satisfy my intellect.)
If anyone has ever asked you, "where did you get the idea for your story?" In all likelihood, you probably responded something to the effect of, "uh..it just...fell into my head I guess." Any writer can understand this feeling. You could be just sitting there, eating leftover meatloaf and stale french bread when suddenly, a fully fleshed out protagonist with a complete background and looming dilemma, presents itself in your mind. These sorts of ideas are generally the kind you don't have to write down. The character/story is so tangible and complete that it has already manifested itself in your mind. This common occurence might suggest that ideas cannot be forced...well...I disagree.
Sometimes all you need is a tiny spark. Or perhaps there is a particular topic you have always wanted to tackle, so without too much effort you put your pen to paper and start constructing a possible outline. With this mindset, we have to be open to the fact that ideas can (and probably will) evolve. About four years ago, I had an idea to write a story about a servant in a castle. Two years later, I decided to sit down and write an outline for that story. All of a sudden I had a villain, a hero and a problem. That simple idea turned into a complicated puzzle of suspense that I could never have foreseen.
Maybe for some writers this discussion isn't an area of question, or dispute. Nevertheless I think it is important to realize that ideas come in many forms, and we don't have to sit around waiting in our romantic mindset for divine inspiration to grace us. I have a ludicrous confession to make: I have this crazy idea to invent a super hero. Don't worry, there have been no developments on that idea. Currently it's just some weird, boyish desire brooding in the back of my brain. But because in the past I have seen how "strange" ideas can so readily come to life, I'm not opposed to the idea. On a plus side it gives me an excuse to watch more superhero movies for "research." (Seriously though, the new Spiderman sequel can't come soon enough.) I attempted the method of sitting down and writing out the story but I simply don't posses the tools yet. So with whatever idea you have, be it tiny or tangible, work with it. But whatever you do, don't waste your time waiting for it to come to you.
Written by: Karoline Kingley
If anyone has ever asked you, "where did you get the idea for your story?" In all likelihood, you probably responded something to the effect of, "uh..it just...fell into my head I guess." Any writer can understand this feeling. You could be just sitting there, eating leftover meatloaf and stale french bread when suddenly, a fully fleshed out protagonist with a complete background and looming dilemma, presents itself in your mind. These sorts of ideas are generally the kind you don't have to write down. The character/story is so tangible and complete that it has already manifested itself in your mind. This common occurence might suggest that ideas cannot be forced...well...I disagree.
Sometimes all you need is a tiny spark. Or perhaps there is a particular topic you have always wanted to tackle, so without too much effort you put your pen to paper and start constructing a possible outline. With this mindset, we have to be open to the fact that ideas can (and probably will) evolve. About four years ago, I had an idea to write a story about a servant in a castle. Two years later, I decided to sit down and write an outline for that story. All of a sudden I had a villain, a hero and a problem. That simple idea turned into a complicated puzzle of suspense that I could never have foreseen.
Maybe for some writers this discussion isn't an area of question, or dispute. Nevertheless I think it is important to realize that ideas come in many forms, and we don't have to sit around waiting in our romantic mindset for divine inspiration to grace us. I have a ludicrous confession to make: I have this crazy idea to invent a super hero. Don't worry, there have been no developments on that idea. Currently it's just some weird, boyish desire brooding in the back of my brain. But because in the past I have seen how "strange" ideas can so readily come to life, I'm not opposed to the idea. On a plus side it gives me an excuse to watch more superhero movies for "research." (Seriously though, the new Spiderman sequel can't come soon enough.) I attempted the method of sitting down and writing out the story but I simply don't posses the tools yet. So with whatever idea you have, be it tiny or tangible, work with it. But whatever you do, don't waste your time waiting for it to come to you.
Written by: Karoline Kingley
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