Best Book in April at Ink Slingers

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To see the entire critique group's best book of April go here!

April's book of the month goes to:

Welding Technology Fundamentals

(I would have given them bonus points if they changed it to Funde'metals', ha ha.) <--please excuse me, it's finals week.

Anywho, this may seem like an off the wall selection, but not as off as you might think.


Ever heard the expression, write what you know? I have about a million times. What happens though if you have the perfect solution to your plot problem but it means 'Mike' who used to work at a desk job, actually has to work in a motocycle shop for everything to work out? Give up? NEVER! Your solution is to buy a textbook.


Text books can come in every variety but there's one thing that makes them different than any random information you could dig up on mororcyle shops on the internet:
It's guarenteed to be correct. That, my friends is worth the expense.


I'm the first to complain about a teacher who insists on the newest version because on page 88 they changed "a" to "the." It's a pain for poor college students like me, but it means great news for writers like you. It floods the book markets with college textbooks just a year or so old and sells them cheap. (We're talking 20 bucks a pop or less on some) Most of the time they just change a couple pictures or a phrase here or there. 99% of the time the information is the same.*

*this is a completely made up statistic. Made up, but with strong personal opinoin backing it from a college student in the know.

So, what do you think? Ready to invest in some textbooks? If you are there's of course amazon.com. There's also half.com and a sleu of others with a simple google search.

Con Fessing at Ink Slingers

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This week at the Ink Slingers we're all about confessing. Go here to see everyone else's secrets. 

I'll keep this simple. I am fessing to a love of a show about cons, convicts that it.
No, I am not in love with someone in jail.
I am in love with two characters though who happen to be convicts in a show.
Prison Break.
(Sadly, the show ended a few years ago, but this does not detract from it's awesomeness)

Quick Summary:
One guy who has a sketchy past gets set up and convicted of a murder he didn't commit. He has this brother who plots out their escape, tattoos it on his body and then pulls off the biggest jail escape of all fictional time. Through the next part in the television series the brothers are on the run and go through extreme obstacles in their search for the truth, justice, and a normal life.
I am in no way influencing you to take the law into your own hands or do any crime at all.
I am inflewancing (or trying rather) to take another look at your characters.

Here's what I've learned from the show:

• Keep true to what your characters would and wouldn't do.
• Completely flesh out your character's family background. This will tell you the lengths they'll go to help not only family, but also their friends.
• Keep them working. Do not give the characters or yourself the easy way out.
• Make it original. 
• Throw in realistic curve balls.
• Don't forget the love. 
• Get them in some trouble. 
• Don't make them perfect.
• Have your characters make mistakes. 
• Make them real. 

I can't stress that last one enough. Bring a picture of them to your mind. Pause for ten minutes and consider what they'd do in every hard decision you've had to make. Don't make them paper. Make them alive until they jump off the page. I know, easier said than done. It's great to say those things and most of you already know them. I'm holding by the old saying "what practice can't make perfect, experience can."

You can see the series online at Netflix.com or Hulu.com  Also, you get to see Dominic Purcell and Wentworth Miller (among others). Not a bad thing in my book. Seriously, look at those eyes. If this isn't character inspiration I don't know what is.

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What I hate to write at Ink Slingers!

First though, an ammouncement:

Henceforth, I will be posting on Tuesday and Thursday only. Between work, school, writing, and blogging, I've nearly keeled over this semester. I will be here though on those two days bright eyed and ready to slash ink across this metaphorical canvas.

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On to today's post. Over at the Ink Slingers, it's what you don't like to write week. While there's nothing I really HATE to write (except for maybe nonsensical essays with no room for creativity), there is one thing I don't enjoy writing as much. What? You ask, not enjoy writing something? BLASPHEME!

Super action scenes. 

I know and I'm even hanging my head in shame right now...sort of. Okay, not really.

Little action scenes are fine, it's those monumental, climatic, stupendous, make-it-or-break-it action scenes that really make the book superb that I flounder with. It's not flounder really, but I'm constantly tweaking them, constantly reading them again and again. I'm in constant doubt if it really hits the level that it needs to be at, hits it and then supasses it. It very nearly freaks me out. I mean, what happens if the only reason I'm feeling something in that moment is because I now my story well and I know what I want it to be, not what it is? What if I'm blind to the biggest flaw in the biggest part of my story?

Ahhh!

This would be the point when I run for cover. 

Thankfully, I have a great critique group that tells me what works and what doesn't. What detail adds the right touch and what is a tad too much. (Thanks gals!) Without them, I'd probably be on my millionth rewrite of the same scene and in the end it'd end up in the same place, back in rewrite mode. (Not that I'm downing rewriting because it's rockin'. The trick is knowing when you've hit gold and knowing when you're still at iron ore.)

So, which type of scenes do you stuggle with? Do you know why? Let me know in the comments!

My Critique Partner, EMERY LORD, has an AGENT!!!!!

WaaaHOooooo!
That's right people of the world. The lovely and awesome Emery Lord has landed herself an agent (Taylor Martindale). I had the pleasure of interviewing Ms. (soon to be Mrs.) Emery just a couple days ago. So, hot off this keyboard it comes to you.

1. If there is one thing you want to get accomplished as a writer, what is it?  

On a read-to-read basis: to have the reader to identify with a character or feel like they know them, enough to want to spend some time with them. Sure, I have other career benchmarks I'd like to hit, but mostly I just want people to feel at home in my world for a few hours. 

2. Name something you'd die without....dun, dun, duuuun.

Coffee, laughter, my girl friends, books, online shopping. (I know. That was five. I am the Charles Dickens of questionnaire responses.)

3. Who is your agent and how did you manage to snare her?

Haha* "Snare" sounds like I tricked her into signing me. Maybe I did... :) Anyway, my agent is Taylor Martindale, and I contacted her the old-fashioned way: research agents till nearly cross-eyed, draft many iterations of a query and have critique partners massacre each version until one is passable, click send. 

Emery and Winston Churchill (aka the cutest dog on Earth).

4. Who/what is most helpful in the writing process

a. the future hubbs  b. Winston (dog)   

c. the cat(Hazel)  d. an unknown party/thing

Definitely Choice A. I'm kind of a hot mess- in writing and life- and he holds together all my crazy pieces. Winston Churchill is only good for falling asleep on me, and Hazel is, if anything, counterproductive to my writing process. She tries to nap on my desk chair, sulks when I move her, and shoots me judge-y glares while I'm trying to write.

5. If people want to check out more of your awesomeness where should they go?

www.emerylord.blogspot.com - or twitter.com/emlord1 ...I really don't know about awesomeness though ;) It's mostly just me blabbering on about writing and pretty shoes and television. 

Don't let her fool ya ladies and gents, she's full of awesome. If she wasn't, she wouldn't have an agent. Go follow her and tweet her something nice...something about shoes...or maybe cute puppies...or maybe even, I don't know? 

CONGRATS!!!!

Block Party at Inkslingers: Building Books with Stacy Henrie UPDATE

Stacy Henrie is a writer of inspirational historical romance novels. When she's not writing or blogging (go here) she's reading, interior decorating, digital scrapbooking, seeing new places, watching movies/TV with her hubby, joking around with her boys, or cuddling with her daughter.

She is also the featured blogger for today's post at the Ink Slinger Critique Group blog!  Go here to see what she has to say about building a book. Trust me, you will enjoy it.

Have a great weekend!

EDIT: Whoops! My bad. The link is definitely working now. Sorry! 

BLOCK PARTY!

Today there's an awesome writer taking over the Ink Slinger Critique group blog! Go here to see who it is and what she has to say. It's going to be awesome.

BLOCK PARTY! Why I Think Bloggers Are the New Booksellers

It's a week long BLOCK PARTY at the Ink Slinger's blog this week! Super exciting!

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Today's post comes from author, Holly Schindler at Novel Anecdotes. She is awesome so go here to read her post at the Ink Slinger's and go here to follow her.

What's she talking about?

The role of bloggers in the book industry.  How much inflewence do we have? Where are readers getting their reviews from?

Awesome, right? Go check it out. Your life will be utterly incomplete if you don't.*

*Only you can judge the complete or incompleteness of your life. The writer of this blog is not stalking you in any way to prove or disprove value of your life....well, probably not anyway.

Hey all! Hope you're having a wonderful day in sunny where-ever-ville. It's PARTY TIME at the Ink Slingers' Blog. (Go here for an all access pass to our BLOCK PARTY!)

Part of a great Block Party is spreading the news about wonderfully awesome things and we have a great one for you! Tahereh Mafi is a 23-year-old author represented by Jodi Reamer of Writer's House. Her debut novel, SHATTER ME, is set to release November 15th of this year! We have the great pleasure of sharing a post she published on her blog (go here!) just a few days ago. 

READ ON! READ ON!

so this is a story.

it's a story about all the things you've ever wanted and all the things you didn't know you even had it in you to want and you sit there. you watch the windows and you wait for the mail and you jump up, alert, ready for even the smallest bit of news, something to change, something different coming your way, something to tell you your time has come. maybe now maybe in just a moment maybe even tomorrow.

you wait for it.

you open the doors and look outside and walk up and down the driveway. you check your watch and peek into the neighbor's yard and wonder why they never open their blinds anymore. you sit on the sidewalk. you smile at the strangers who stroll past, leashes laced into fingers clenched, concentrated on keeping the dogs at bay. don't step out of line, little quadruped. don't bark too loudly and don't jump too high and make sure, they tell you, they say make sure you sign on the dotted line and don't forget to file your taxes on time. wear your shiniest shoes just to stand in lines and fidget just enough, smile just a little, nod at nothing in particular and shove your hands in your pockets and pretend you're unable to make eye contact with anything but that spot, that little mark on the wall 50 feet from where you're standing. pretend you're just a number.

tap your left foot. shift your weight. tug at your collar and bite your bottom lip and take a deep breath. look around a little. check your wrist for the time you've lost and beg a stranger for a cigarette.

flip the channels on your television and watch the colors flicker and fade. pay your bills and play with the kids, touch the aging walls, run your hands through your hair and ignore whatever it is in your throat that you just can't seem to swallow. close the windows in your home and open the windows on your desk, forget all about outer space and lose yourself in cyberspace and click away the moments, the conversations you're not interested in having.

open that word document and stare at it.

wait for the moment. stare at the cursor blinking back at you and study it, try to ignore the bleats of your heart as you check your phone for no missed calls, no new messages, no news worth staining your screen. try to stop your fingers from running a marathon down your thigh.

tell the moment to jump off a cliff.

stack the dishes in the sink and shove the papers off your desk and cut the cord on your internet connection. lose the pleats in your pants. pick up your fingers and put them to work. catch the clock on the wall and put it in your pocket. chain it to your wrist. don't let it go.

don't wait for someone else's moment. write the book ripping a hole in your chest and seize the hours slipping through your fingers because it's now, the moment is now, it's right now it's always been right in front of you.

don't apologize for having a story to tell.

apologize for not telling it.

<3

Thanks Tahereh for letting us post it! Go here to visit her in her own domain. (You won't regret it!)

So, what did you think? Inspired? Fired up? 

What story do you have to tell? And better yet, are you telling it?

BLOCK PARTY!

This week is officially block party week at the Ink Slinger Critique Group Blog! ( go here) We've some fantastic guests lined up. Tell one, tell all! All are welcome to stop, share, and check out other neighbors/bloggers.

Today's guest is Ghenet of Ghenet Writes. 


She is talking about.....

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Trust me, this post is a must read. Check it out here!

Titles Reign at Ink Slingers and BLOCK PARTY INVITE!

Hey all! So titles, they will drive you crazy, drive you wild, make your hair fall out, and give you the urge to slit throats. <---just me? 

*cough*

How embarrassing. *blushing like a firetruck*

Titles are super-substantially-importantifical (yes, I did just make up that word, it's 1 am. Give me a break) because they are the first thing the reader is exposed to, aside from the cover in some cases, of a book. A book called, "Dusk" is most likely going to be different than something called, "Willy and the Witch's Brew." It gives a general idea of your story. 

How to come up with a title: No Clue

This is what I do: _________<---big period of time where I wait for it to "come to me"

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What I suggest: Find titles that you like and try to figure out why. Symbolism? Simplicity? Superficiality? (just kinda kidding on that last one. I really just wanted 3 "S" words...like I said, it's late.) Then, mess around with some words, think about what you want the reader to get make a big mess of what your brain is thinking on a whiteboard, chalkboard, wall, or other shiny surface, like a mirror. Play scrabble (but with words) just have fun. You'll be suprised what comes out...like Girl of Words, Boys of Betrayal or even Children of Reptiles. (At least one of those is a future book of mine. Guess which in the comments)

Part 2 of this post is a super awesome and amazing event the Ink Slingers are hosting all week long next week. It's going to be totally fun and really awesome. What is it? 

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We're inviting all of our friends and that means you! YES YOU! Bring your friends, your family, your fellow writers! It's fun for all! 

The best part is we've lined up some fantastical guest bloggers. Check some them out!

SUNDAY: My guest is Lisa (aka The Blonde Blogette) - http://the-blonde-blogette.blogspot.com/. She's a pop-culture/reality TV kinda guru. ~B. Robison

MONDAY: My guest is YA writer Ghenet, of www.GhenetWrites.blogspot.com. Her blog is a must-read for me, and I'm so glad she'll be regaling us with her insights about time management in writing. As someone who continued to write during a period where she was working full-time, planning her wedding AND receiving an MFA, she's an inspiration to us all! ~Emery

TUESDAY: Surprise guest blogger!

WEDNESDAY: My guest is YA and MG writer Holly of www.hollyschindler.blogspot.com. In addition to being the author of the fantastic books A Blue So Dark andPlaying Hurt Holly was the first author whose blog tour Ella and I participated in. Her insights about using blogs to promote newly published books were a real eye opener for me. ~Aaron

THURSDAY: Surprise guest blogger!

FRIDAY: Surprise guest blogger!

So, what about it? Are you going to be at the cyber world's largest BLOCK PARTY!? 

Love is in the Air at Ink Slinger Blog!

I love a good classic romance like pretty much everyone else. (Including my critique partners, go here to check out their thoughts on our group blog.)

Ron and Hermionie = Perfection. 

Harry + Ginny = (there are no words)

Emma + Knightly = LOVE!

Noah + Allie = Breath taking (The Notebook)

Benjamin + Andie = Lovely (How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days)

Elizabeth + Will Turner = H.O.T.

Elizabeth + Mr. Darcy = Classic

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They can MAKE the story for me. That said....there are so many books/movies/etc out there with the happy couple ending that sometimes I want the love to be more complex. I want the challenge to be more that getting up the guts to ask that girl/guy out or get over the fact that your parents expect you to marry someone you'll never love. I'm not trying to say those aren't great, because they are. I find myself wanting...more. On those days I dig out the historical fiction books. Namely, anything to do with Elizabeth I of England, aka The Virgin Queen.


Elizabeth's love story is filled with rumors and accusations. That alone makes it fascinating. What I like most about her is she gave up love, among a lot of other things, for the chance to rule her people. I won't go into her history, because I know for some that's boring, but trust me when I say, she's more than the classic love story.

I adore love stories where one of the lovers has to make the ultimate choice: love or the greater good. I rejoice with them when they choose love, but I respect them when they choose the greater good. I think most of us would choose love, but people like Elizabeth couldn't be as carefree as we are. She had a country to lead, nothing she did could be done carelessly or selfishly, not even love. I find that really tragic.Which may be part of my fascination with her. I can't imagine going through the same thing.


If you are interested in Elizabeth's story I could name a million and one books to read, but I think it'd be more useful for you to check out what your local bookstore or library has. You'll be amazed the amount of historical fiction available. (One of the best things, is that these people lived. Sure, the writer may have fudged a little, but it's still fascinating.)

If want the quick version, I have yet to see an Elizabethan movie based on her life that doesn't give an overview of her love life. So go pick up a couple at your local rental. It seems they come up with a new one every couple years.  I just saw ELIZABETH, the Golden Age. It was amazing and held true to most of the history I know.



So what about you? What couples make your heart flutter? Let me know in the comments!

One last note: Don't forget to go congradulate Demitria Lunetta!!! She just got an offer on her manuscript, In the After. Go here to check her out, trust me, you'll be happy you did.

Naming Names at Ink Slingers

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Ever heard a future parent say that until they see their baby, they won't know a name? Or even that the baby will name itself, based on it's reaction to names said? That is basically how I name a character. (To read how my critique partners name theirs, click here.)

I'm a pantser, first and foremost (pantser = no/little planning for novel other than possibly knowing the end and a few tidbits ), so it may come as no surprise that I don't really create a character, except for the main ones. They just float in and out of the story, sometimes with more importance than other times (that's what editing is for right?) Sometimes, I won't know they're there until they start talking...and then the details come....and then their name. Other times, I start writing and fill in the details right before they jump in. (which is what happens below) (Keep in mind, that, like most things I do, this is a mental process that I don't write down and plan...normally)

Example: Let's say I'm writing something about a girl, named Lisa, who is skipping class...For all I know at this point, Lisa could continue walking down this sidewalk for the rest of her life, but something tells me she's going to run into someone who isn't in school either. As soon as the idea hits me to add another character, I start imagining it.

  

This is what I know just from seeing him in my head:

• It's a boy, though not one Lisa knows well or by name
• He's a dweeb
• Slightly annoying--makes me think he's younger than her
• Brown hair that hasn't been combed
• He has glasses that are too big for his face
• Mismatched clothes, they're worn, as if they've come from a lower end thrift shop
• He's bored and curious as to why "Perfect Patty" has skipped. 

Here are the names that immediately come to mind, just from thinking about who I think he is:

1. Tom
2. Andrew
3. Matt
4. Harold

Two stick out the most for me (Which for you? or are you seeing another name?) Tom and Harold. He seems like an young kid under the influence of older people...like he lives with his grandparents or his parents are older.  I don't confirm a name in my mind until I actually start writing him.


"Hey!" 
Something flopped from the bushes not ten feet before Linda and landed on the sidewalk, blocking her path like an animated trash bag. It took a few minutes for her to see there was a head attached to the bag along with arms and legs. It waddled like a duck coming closer until she could see it wasn't a bag at all, but a boy in an over-sized black jacket, floppy baseball hat, and shoes at least three sizes too big.
"Uh." She looked down at the mess and figured he was about ten. "Excuse me." She tried to edge past the blob of clothing.
"I said, 'hey.'" The boy complained in a whining tone, pushing the thick glasses up his nose, which like the rest of his attire were way too big. "I'm Harold."


Not my best, but you get my point...at least, I hope you do.
I can't name a character until they come alive on the page. Until they have an actual voice or flow about them, I find that I keep renaming them every ten seconds. Every image of a character conjures a name or two that seem to just "fit" the character. Of course, if I want to surprise the reader, I may pick a name like Harold, and turn him into the school jock, just because that seems less predictable.


So, what about you? Are you feeling a different name for this new character? How do you name your characters? Let me know in the comments!

Fictional Females at Ink Slingers

This week at the Ink Slinger Critique Group blog, we are talking about what makes our female characters awesome and what we require in a good female character. Go here to read everyone's responses. Trust me, you'll want to (especially Emery's).

I love my female characters to stand out and surprise the reader. I also want them to be challenged to do something that may not follow their traditional gender role. I require my girls to be fearless and confront danger head on. (None of this damsel business). I don't want my readers to see my female characters and say, "Ugh, she's pathetic." (I'm talking to you Bella Swan and Sleeping Beauty. Seriously? The first time you see a spinning wheel you reach out to it...duh.)

Here's what I look for in a Fictional Female:

-Fearless (or if they have fear, they work through it)
-Don't let others fight for them (Take on their own battles, though in their own way)
-Challenge themselves to something better (They're not satisfied with being mediocre, *cough* Bella Swan *cough*)

-Don't let the boys have all the fun while they drink tea in the parlor (Self explainitory)
-Never use gender as an excuse (I can't! I'm a girl!!! <--Characters you're warned. I will kill you and it will be excruciating)
-DON'T WHINE. (this is pretty much any character for me, unless I mean for them to be annoying)

And the most important:

Have faith in themselves.

Eventually the young adults reading my books are going to have to go out on their own in the world. For some it won't be so bad (Harry practically ran from the Dursley's) but for others leaving home is not going to be easy. Home is comfortable and safe, and you don't have to worry about making really stupid mistakes.The world is freaking scary. I like to see my characters take the jump and not look at where they're landing, only have the faith that they will land on their feet. It goes back to the saying, "If they can do it, why not us?" Thank you J.K. Rowling for that brilliance.

Chloe Moretz: Rumored by imbd.com to play Katniss

.

Take Katniss from The Hunger Games.

- volunteers in her sister's place.
- fights her own fight, she doesn't even make really good alliances.
- risks her life to hunt food for her family.
- tries to save Peeta, even though he won't let her.
- takes on the role of mother when her own is out of it.


I know what you're saying...she was soooo stupid about Peeta though. Why did she have to be so dumb? He loved her.



Easy. Look at her stats. Female characters who are this self reliant (and awesome) usually have a common flaw: they won't let a guy close. They are often scared that by depending upon a guy, they will turn into those fainting Disney princesses (I love Disney, don't get me wrong, but sleeping while the prince comes to kiss me sounds a bit...pitiful.). This also adds tension to the story...will she fall? Won't she fall?



This means your guy characters have to be hunters (not literally). They almost have to be those guys you see in romantic comodies shaking the girl and screaming, "My God, when will you understand I love you and I'm not going anywhere?"


Basically, my fictional females must rock the world of my readers by being awesome and working through their flaws. What makes your fictional females awesome?


Sidenote: You're right if you were wondering if I choose that pic of Chloe just because she was with Rupert Grint.

DOUBLE Sidenote: Hello and welcome to everyone who has joined the last two weeks. If I haven't made it over to your blog to follow or responded,  it is due to my lack of awesomeness. I'd love to meet you. Leave me a comment if you want or shoot me an email. I love hearing from fellow bloggers. Have a great weekend!

Best Book in January at Ink Slingers and Contest Results

Yesterday, I had a random contest and we have two winners (I couldn't choose. They were both awesome) The winners should have received an email with instructions, if not, email me at bkaymattingly@yahoo.com.
Congrats to:
~Nicole Ducleroir~ said...

I always compare writing to quilt-making. Not so original, I know. And a quilt is a metaphor for pretty much any aspect of life -- hell, of life itself!

Demitria said...

I always thought writing was like knitting...you sort of pluck away at it until you come to the end...but then you have to go back and tie up the loose strings.

On to our regular scheduled post...

Go here to read the other Ink Slinger's best books or continue to read on my thoughts with Coraline.

Best (Or only) book I read in January goes to......
Coraline by Neil Gaiman

I read this quick middle grade just a couple days ago and was astounded by two things:

The vocabulary.

The story.

The vocabulary in this quick read was really complicated for the grade level in my opinion. There were some words that even I had to think about twice, and I like to think I have a pretty good vocabulary. I think for a middle grade or even young adult reader it would be very challenging.

The story was freaky and scary (Ella, totally a book made for you) in a good way. Coraline basically lets curiosity get the best of her and travels into another world. In this world, there are a lot of creepy things including rats (ewww) and a woman who looks like her mother, but isn't, and wants to replace her eyes with black buttons. TOTALLY CREEPY!!!!! 

Now, I'm dying to see the movie now :) As an adult, I like it. As a kid, I think it'd really give me bad dreams. (Kinda like the Nightmare before Christmas did) If you're a fan of that though, you're guaranteed to love this book.

Have you read it? Plan on reading it? What about the movie? Let me know in the comments!