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Inner Conflict- Tear Up Your Characters

Jan 6, 2009 | characterization, writing | 7 Comments

One focus in my current WIP is creating inner conflict in my characters. I decided to pull out some of my favorite novels to see what those characters had to go through.

Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer- Bella is in love with both Jake and Edward. She cannot love both, Werewolves and Vampires aren’t exactly buddies. She must choose.
Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray. Gemma wants to bring the magic into her world but she knows she can’t control it.
Magic or Madness by Justine Larbalestier. Reason must either except the magic within herself which her mother has taught her is evil or go insane.
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr- Aislinn is madly in love with Seth but she is destined to become the fairey queen.
Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle- Percy is torn. She thinks she’s put a love spell on the guy she’s madly in love with. Should she accept his love even if it’s not real or push him away?

It’s the PULL. In all these novels, the MC is pulled in two directions, both possible, but both with inner conflict. I’m trying to build this inner conflict in my characters and I’ve been pleased with the results so far.

In Donald Maas’s book Writing the Breakout Novel, he asks these questions: (Paraphrased)
1. What does your character want more than anything?
2. What is the exact opposite of that?
3. How can you blend these to make your MC desire both?

Tear your characters up. Send them through an internal roller coaster. Put them through inner pain as well as external. After all, no pain, no gain.

Fast Drafting in 2009!

Jan 2, 2009 | writing | 8 Comments

2009 is here and I’m jumping right into one of my goals—finish a YA novel. I hooked up with a fabulous and motivated group where we email each other our daily numbers. Having a core group to bounce ideas off of and encourage each other makes the process slightly less painful. At least you know that there are others as crazy as you out there.

For my last book I made a sketch of an outline, which kept me focused and helped on those days where I wanted to just stare at my computer.

But for this novel, I went a step further. First I used this template to keep my story focused. I also took each character and created a web for them with all their favorites, needs, desires, motivations, and such. Jenny Myers has a fantastic character questionnaire that I used too, which got me asking some tricky questions.

Finally, I read Donald Maass How to Write a Breakout Novel, which by the way is excellent. Everything he had to say was spot on but what I liked best about his book were the examples he gave. It brought the concepts he wrote about to life. I also got the workbook that goes along with the book and I’ve been using that as well.

So, with all these tools, I’m ready to start writing! Better head back to my novel and start FAST DRAFTING!

Success in 2009!

Jan 1, 2009 | writing | 6 Comments

It’s that time again. Time to make New Year Goals. I went back and looked at my goals that I made last year and interestingly enough, I achieved nearly everything on the list except for two. When I showed the list to my husband, he pointed out that the two that I didn’t achieve were out of my hands. They weren’t my decision to be made but someone else’s.

He’s right! Goals made should be within our own power to make them happen. My critique partner, Beth Revis, talks about this on her blog too.

So this year, I’ve made my goals to be achievable only by me.

Here they are!
1. Finish revisions of my MG and tween novels.
2. Write and revise a YA novel.
3. Take a writing class.
4. Submit magazine articles from my travels to the Carus group and Highlights.
5. Blog and contribute to the writing community.

6. Read, read, read

Totally Wild

Dec 29, 2008 | travel | 3 Comments

Crikey! The animals of Australia are totally wild. While there, we visited the Australia Zoo (home of the Crocodile Hunter) and a wildlife preserve. It amazed me how unique Australia’s animals really are.

I mean, where else in the world do you have to worry about dingos stealing your steak off the barbie (American translation: BBQ)?

Luke was obsessed with feeding the kangaroos.

We saw the emu. Kind of looked like a peacock.

The cute little penguins. (I love penguins!)

I learned other things too. Like if you see a crocodile and it’s chasing you, run in a straight line, ’cause they’re actually quite slow on land.

Oh, and if you hit a koala, make sure you check to see if it’s still alive. If it is, head on down to the nearest wildlife rescue center.

And, if you walk out your front door to find a giant snake hanging out there, don’t panic. Just stroll on out the back door instead. After all, that’s why you have more than one door- right?

When the animal experts were explaining all this to us at the various shows and talks, I wasn’t so sure I could use this information since I live in an apartment in high rise city (Seoul). But then again, you never know…

Here’s a wombat we petted.

Yep. There’s no question about it. Australia is really a totally wild world.

Journaling- Capturing Senses

Dec 26, 2008 | writing | 2 Comments

I’m back from the Land Down Under! It was a 10 hour flight but our two boys took it all in stride, happily playing with Leapsters, writing and drawing in their journals (What can I say? They have a mother whose obsessed with writing), watching unlimited movies (Heaven), and eating lollipops (for the takeoff and landing).

For an early Christmas gift, my hubby bought me a cute journal (He read my blog. Bonus point!). I did my regular reflections and memories from each day of course, but this time I decided to go a step further.

You see, when I was writing my book set in France, I kept trying to pull back my memories of my trip there. What smells did I sense? Sounds? Fortunately I fast drafted that book just after the trip so everything was fresh and alive in my mind.

But what if I wanted to write another story in that same setting, say five years from now? (Confession: I have one in mind). Would I be able to pull that journal out and remember those senses? Maybe.

So for this trip, I had another section in my journal divided by each sense: smells, sights, touches, and sounds (note: this category had two parts, one for noise and another for language with words like g’day, mate and cheeky). Anytime one of those senses was triggered, I jotted it down. And every time I went to a new place- like the zoo, beach or pool- I made a mental note to identify those scents.

By the end of the trip, I was pleased with my results of my journal. And I hope, whenever I write my story set in Australia, I’ll have a plethora of sensory details to enrich my story.

Writer’s Rendition of the 12 Days of Christmas

Dec 16, 2008 | Uncategorized | 8 Comments

In just a few hours we’re heading to the Gold Coast, Australia for Christmas where it’s nice and hot. But before I do, I wanted to leave you with my Writer’s Rendition of the 12 Days of Christmas.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true muse gave to me
Twelve story ideas
Eleven blogging posts
Ten blissfull sleeps
Nine sharpened pencils
Eight book reviews
Seven cups of coffee
Six revisions
Five trips to the bookstore
Four quiet hours
Three autograph parties
Two book deals
And a fabulous agent

Happy Holidays and a Christmas full of blessings!

Twilight Comes to Korea!

Dec 15, 2008 | movies | 5 Comments

Twilight is here! I begged my hubby to take me and so it was a proclaimed date night. We scootered down to Sinchon (it’s a district near our apartment) all bundled up.

A large crowd had gathered outside the Mega Box Theater. Though there were no screaming fans, there was an energy that permeated the place. It was contagious!

Once inside, we bought our tickets, picking center seats from the computer screen. Then we headed to the concession stand. Our choices included the usual: popcorn, squid, or corn dogs. Though tempted by the honey roasted squid, I chose popcorn. Butter flavor.

The movie was great- even with Korean subtitles. I thought Kristen Stewart as Bella did a fabulous job and was mostly satisfied with Robert Pattinson as Edward. The makeup was a bit overdone and I thought the Cullens as a whole could have been flashier as that’s how I pictured them in the book. But the scenery and views added to the mood and I liked the hints at the future books. Sequel! And the audience loved it too (At least that’s what I assumed the reason for the screaming and sighs).

Walking out, we spotted some of our students. They were squealing and jumping around over the movie. I was half tempted to run over and squeal with them, but restrained myself much to the of my husband’s relief.

Why Live Overseas?

Dec 13, 2008 | Indonesia, Korea | 7 Comments

A couple of you have asked what brought my family and me to Korea. So here’s the short of it. About 9 years ago my husband and I were bored. We weren’t ready to settle down to the same job for the next twenty years, buy a house, and pop out five kids. (Don’t worry, that’s coming soon!- well, maybe not the 5 kids part)

A friend of ours encouraged us to check out teaching overseas and since we were both teachers, it was the perfect fit. After going to a job fair at ISS, we landed our first overseas post in Bogor, Indonesia. Wow. Was that an eye opener.

We had a view of a dormant volcano from our upstairs window.

Borobordur- a step pyramid temple. When we went it, was practically empty.

The hiking through the mountain villages was as if we had stepped back in time one hundred years ago. One time we were walking through rice patties during an earth quake. That was interesting.

One of my favorite past times was shopping. (Of course!) I bought my first strands of pearls on a beach on Gilli Trawangan (a remote island between Komodo Island and Bali).

Indonesia. Wild, full of adventure and never a dull moment. In fact, I never really knew what each day would bring when Iwalked out my door. And the mangos..

… sigh.

But after two years there, we were ready for another adventure. Back to the job fair we went where we were offered numerous posts, but in the end, we chose Korea.

The plan was to stay in Korea for 2-3 years and then jet off to somewhere else. But it’s been 7 years, 2 cats and 2 kids later and we’re still here. The school we’re at is amazing (Seoul Foreign School) and the opportunities and friends we’ve made are true treasures.

Living overseas sparked my interest in writing again. Between traveling and meeting the most interesting people, I’ve found new things to write about from my adventures. Next time, I’ll post some pictures of Korea.

So, here I am. Korea. Sandwiched between China and Japan, it’s an incredible country with a rich history and culture all its own. It’s a great place to hang out. And believe me, definitely not boring.

The Slush Pile

Dec 11, 2008 | manuscripts, slush | 9 Comments

The slush pile. It’s talked about and you may have read about it. Editors rather burn it, writers fear it. So I thought it would be fun to show some pictures of slush piles from different publishing houses.