tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34028582517206640382024-03-13T17:12:58.559-07:00Notes From The FrontNina Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940094611524209087noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402858251720664038.post-67899789015173194812011-09-06T12:02:00.000-07:002011-09-06T12:05:44.847-07:00Baby StoriesWell, if any of you are still following my blog, I am humbled extremely, because I have been a Very Bad Blogger. :(<div><br /></div><div>I do have an excuse, though. My baby arrived on July 6, in a wild crazy Hollywood-style delivery. He (yes, it's a boy!) also brought quite a surprise with him. If you'd like to find out the details, the birth story is here: <a href="http://misadventuresandmiscellany.blogspot.com/2011/07/baby-is-born.html">http://misadventuresandmiscellany.blogspot.com/2011/07/baby-is-born.html</a> and the story of the surprise is here: <a href="http://misadventuresandmiscellany.blogspot.com/2011/07/our-super-special-boy.html">http://misadventuresandmiscellany.blogspot.com/2011/07/our-super-special-boy.html</a></div><div><br /></div><div>I promise to try to find time to blog HERE again soon!</div>Nina Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940094611524209087noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402858251720664038.post-75811905450163101272011-06-02T00:01:00.000-07:002011-06-02T00:01:04.380-07:00Sandbox Link: Harold Camping<div>Everyone's laughing at Harold Camping, but has anyone considered this angle of the latest and greatest End of the World prophecy?</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://misadventuresandmiscellany.blogspot.com/2011/05/oh-irony.html">http://misadventuresandmiscellany.blogspot.com/2011/05/oh-irony.html</a></div><div><br /></div>Nina Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940094611524209087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402858251720664038.post-7369892959373593662011-06-01T14:15:00.000-07:002011-06-01T14:35:33.300-07:00Stinky Feet: What You Can Learn From Your Character's Shoes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36fgrn-CqiTEya83bwfsuJ88seNXKRhkkCP1NENNsyyuw4GEu9fgdpBnQVxQsCqidwkoZtG2CdgBzbo5fG_Uj4b8pBePH5JfRDsfglmK3sal6xqhxrgqCVRi6iB86dvhscxaxZVY-tQ4/s1600/113233897.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 220px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg36fgrn-CqiTEya83bwfsuJ88seNXKRhkkCP1NENNsyyuw4GEu9fgdpBnQVxQsCqidwkoZtG2CdgBzbo5fG_Uj4b8pBePH5JfRDsfglmK3sal6xqhxrgqCVRi6iB86dvhscxaxZVY-tQ4/s320/113233897.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613368164107359202" /></a><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Have you stepped into your character's shoes lately? Have you literally jumped feet-first into an intimate, probably odiferous detail of your character's life?</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">No? Well, grab a clothespin and some clean socks and prepare to be amazed at how much you can learn from a pair of shoes.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Ready? Okay, open your character's closet and ease your feet into your character's shoes, the ones they wear every day. Are they too big? too small? Let's say you're a woman, size eight, and your character is a woman, size seven. Too small, but never mind, for this exercise they magically fit.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">What kind of shoes are they? Flats or heels? (Flats.) Flip-slops, sneakers, or slides? (Elegant leather slides.) Interesting. Go deeper. Sink your feet into the soles. Are they new and stiff, or comfortably worn? (Stiff, hard, and so new they hurt.) So appearance matters to your character, at the expense of comfort. </p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Now take a peek around the closet. Are the other shoes similar? You're puzzled: all the other shoes are casual ones, well-worn and comfy. Why has your character suddenly started wearing something different?</p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Kick the left shoe off now, and raise it to your nose. Yes, go on! <i>Ugh.</i> Sulphur and onions! So she's got smelly feet. What's that white poof of powder? Baking soda. So she's aware of the odor enough to do something about it. Why? Does she work somewhere where the occasional whiff of Foot is not acceptable? Is she dating someone, and eager not to offend? Or is she simply very conscious of herself? Is this self-consciousness why she started wearing these shoes in the first place?</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">There's nail polish on the edge of the shoe. Glittery silver. An unusual color. What made her choose this?</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">You're curious now. Step out of the shoes, and wait, invisible, as your character comes into the room and steps into them herself. Now, with the magic power of an author, enter your character. Become her, as she stands in those shoes.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Feel how her heelbones crunch against the hard soles of the slides. She's tired and discouraged. Her heels are itchy from the pumice rub she just gave them in the shower. She scuffs one against the toe of her other foot. A flake of polish chips off her toenail. Angrily, she bends over to yank at the loose flap.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">You sense someone made fun of the color. A boyfriend?</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">“Dear mother-in-law.” An angry grunt as the polish is removed. “I can't keep anything of my own, can I? Not even this.”</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Wow! Were you expecting that? I wasn't. I thought she was dating, and eager to impress that Perfect Someone. Instead, she's making an abnormal effort to please her mother-in-law, of all people. Why is the older woman's opinion so important? What does that say about Ms. X's marriage? Something's strange here, and obviously, it's crucial to the character. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">See how much you can learn from sticking your feet into someone else's shoes? You can do this with clothes too, but for me, shoes work best: both men and women tend to individualize more with shoes than clothing. This is probably the single best way I know for getting to the <i>sole</i><span style="font-style: normal"> of your character (pardon the pun: couldn't resist) and finding out what makes them tick. It works fantastically for exploring a new character, but try it on your tried-and-true standbys, as well. If you don't know how it feels to stand in your character's shoes, then you don't know your character as well as you should. Maybe none of what you learn will ever fit into your Epic Work, but the details you learn will change how you see your characters, and will give them depth they never had before.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Just...make sure you have a clothespin. Some of the details you turn up might be a little - smelly?</p>Nina Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940094611524209087noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402858251720664038.post-63803962379389408792011-05-26T10:32:00.000-07:002011-05-26T10:37:24.020-07:00New blog!As most of you know I've been debating about whether to make this blog personal as well as writing-themed. After poking it with a stick, hanging upside down to examine it from all angles, and running it through a chemical test, I decided the idea was a bad one. <div><br /></div><div>Problem was, in between a new life in Florida, an ever-increasing snarky view of the world, and out-of-control pregnancy hormones, I still have a lot to say. So, I started a new blog, where I can randomize to my heart's content. (<a href="http://misadventuresandmiscellany.blogspot.com/">http://misadventuresandmiscellany.blogspot.com/</a>) If you're interested in my rambles, go ahead and take a peek, but if you only stop by here to read about WRITING, then rejoice! This blog's word-themed purity is back. :) </div>Nina Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940094611524209087noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402858251720664038.post-48999258694765574452011-03-29T06:00:00.000-07:002011-03-29T06:00:00.763-07:00Author Interview: Linda Yezak<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmD7PO5ye8sctDUodgFyKH6afy7jyXFB-kRC2YtPix9nmVUo41sVafdxgmlKY27euC0S37Z4v3uPBNxzL1zboBbBlSqm6TqwxYez4ij6uqP-HzVRsONFboNs5JpWhp7kORzjwQxX5VN4/s1600/37391_1421627897705_1142936726_31330449_8227790_n+%25282%2529.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 179px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmD7PO5ye8sctDUodgFyKH6afy7jyXFB-kRC2YtPix9nmVUo41sVafdxgmlKY27euC0S37Z4v3uPBNxzL1zboBbBlSqm6TqwxYez4ij6uqP-HzVRsONFboNs5JpWhp7kORzjwQxX5VN4/s200/37391_1421627897705_1142936726_31330449_8227790_n+%25282%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589240455828239202" /></a><br />It's Author Interview time! Yay! Getting to share cool conversations with amazing and interesting people is my favorite part of blogging. <div><br /></div><div>Today I get to interview Linda Yezak, who just published her first novel <i>Give the Lady a Ride</i>. Linda Yezak resides in the state of <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Texas</st1:place></st1:state>, where tall tales abound and exaggeration is an art form. She lives in the heart of a forest with her husband, three cats, four ducks, and a pond full of fish. Aside from being a member of<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Women Writing the West (WWW) and The Christian PEN, she is a proud member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Her debut novel, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Give the Lady a Ride</i>, was a finalist in the 2009 ACFW Genesis contest, and her work-in-progress, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">The Cat Lady's Secret</i>, was a finalist<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>in 2010. A self-described nut, she says, "I keep both feet candy-coated, because there's no telling when one or both will land in my mouth." <p class="MsoNormal">Candy flavor of choice? "Peppermint. Chocolate melts too fast."</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Nina: Welcome to Notes From The Front, Linda! Tell us about yourself!</b></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV1PK6h8ectQoS_gg23WHkQOo8l2rvAxBBzHOUwaxbsLFgWEA7A6p9LcLs2sk_4Zi3IPWGOS51kmHSqzq-_kWwrGdK1a5knhhLOZGNWKBjw-s14sooKthUfQbSt7si14O3GLoIFkyJGME/s320/ly.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589239202892162050" /><p class="MsoNormal">Linda: How I wish I could whip out some wonderful stories about how fascinating I am, but there isn’t much to tell. I’m a wife, step-mother, grandmother, with a degree in English and a grad certificate in paralegal studies, and now I’m a published author. Although I’m not physically capable of much anymore, I’m game for anything. I love fishing and hunting, canning and cooking, horses and cattle, needlework and baseball. My interests are eclectic. If I were younger, and away from all those who once told me not to, I’d add sky diver and barrel racer or show-horse jumper to the list. Oh well, c’est la vie!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Nina: Give the Lady a Ride is your first published novel. How does it feel to have a book in print?</b><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none">Linda: Like a ride in a hot air balloon. In the weeks before the debut, I was scrambling to get everything prepped. Attach the flat balloon to the carrier basket, hook up the gas for the burner–or in writer’s terms, get my debut activities lined up, announcements printed and cyber-announcements posted, parties planned, guest pieces and interviews written.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none"><o:p> </o:p>The morning of the debut, I shot heat into the balloon in a glorious sunrise fire-up. Or for me, before sunrise. I was so excited I got up two hours before the sun even thought about climbing over the horizon.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none">As the day went on, my balloon sailed through the sky, fired by every encouraging comment and congratulatory remark.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none">And it’s still flying!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Nina: What is your favorite scene from <i>Ride</i>? What makes you like it?</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none">Linda: There are so many it’s hard to choose, but I think my favorite comes near the end, and surprisingly doesn’t involve the hero, but one of the other ranch hands. Throughout the book, a character named “Frank” provides fatherly wisdom to the hero, Talon, about Patricia, but at the end, he shares his wisdom with Patricia too. I’m not going to reveal the scene here, but “cowboy logic” is the perfect term to explain what Frank has to say about Patricia’s ride!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none">The scene really revealed Frank’s character to me, and I just fell in love with him. I’m going to tell you a secret, because I’m not sure whether I’ll actually write a sequel to Ride, but I started one, and Frank is the hero of that book. I hope everyone comes to love him as much as I do, because if I do write the sequel, I’ll be presenting more of his cowboy logic. <b>(Nina: Sequel about Frank? Oh yes yes!)</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Nina: One of the hottest topics in Christian writing right now is how to weave faith into a novel without becoming preachy. I really like the practical down-to-earth cowboy faith you wove into <i>Ride</i>. Was it difficult to decide how much religion to put in the book?</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none">Linda: Yes. Oh, yes.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But I’ve never written anything that didn’t reflect my love for my Savior. Even in grad school, for my final grade in my criminal law class, I wrote about the Hebraic penal code (got an A too!). <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none">Aside from worrying about how much religion to include, I also worried about religious views. I want to appeal to a broad audience, but Christians hold diverse beliefs on so many topics. Whether a new convert is sprinkled or submerged for baptism, whether dancing is allowed among the members, and so on. These topics can spark heated debates among the family of Christ.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none">With the folks in a cowboy church though, submerging is preferred and dancing is fine. Since my hero is a member of a such a church, I hope readers with different beliefs will forgive me if I’ve written things they don’t practice themselves.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Nina: Tell us about other projects you have simmering. Do you have a new novel on the drawing board?</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none">Linda: Of course, I do! <i>The Cat Lady’s Secret</i> is about three quarters done, and I can’t wait until I can get back to it! I’m still working on the elevator pitch, but it goes something like this: <i>Carrying a fish net as she walks around town, Millie is on a mission to catch and rescue feral cats. As she hunts, she learns of people's needs and wishes--and all these are fulfilled. But what will happen to the town's benefactor if the journalist dogging her trail reveals her identity?</i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b>Nina: Thanks so much for coming! As a wrap-up will you give us a teaser from the book?</b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none"><o:p>Linda: </o:p>Patricia felt her vertebrae jar each time she pounded on Tandy’s bare back. It took all her will power not to hold on with both hands . . . <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Cowgirl?</i> She didn’t think so.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-pagination:none"><o:p></o:p></p></div>Nina Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940094611524209087noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402858251720664038.post-48736792893076944942011-03-08T16:38:00.000-08:002011-03-08T16:42:42.860-08:00Questions, Questions!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscLzyEtMKQoccxV0omsmR8i_AQWoWXLpG7my1tFyzpiW5rLqDTZibaRy8qpoLj194_Ol-psYeBqOxY-hv8ZICNOl9o1v8utluzdpMho48fjJHWdfHnlH5TneaJyWVnQKDkby9Zrl8kM0/s1600/200199407-007+-+Copy.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscLzyEtMKQoccxV0omsmR8i_AQWoWXLpG7my1tFyzpiW5rLqDTZibaRy8qpoLj194_Ol-psYeBqOxY-hv8ZICNOl9o1v8utluzdpMho48fjJHWdfHnlH5TneaJyWVnQKDkby9Zrl8kM0/s320/200199407-007+-+Copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581873937719008786" /></a><p class="MsoNormal">Spring comes.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The snow melts.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The birds sing.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Rain is followed by the promise of sun.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And my curiosity, tingled out of winter dormancy, is busy asking questions.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">So!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>This blog post will be about YOU, not me.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’ll ask the questions, you’ll answer them.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Then I’ll post again, this time with a compilation of your comments, and my own.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Please <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">spring</i> right in, let your ideas scatter like rain, and your creativity bloom!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">What season of the year are you most creative as a writer?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Do you generally find books, movies, or music to be more inspiring!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(List examples!)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Is Absolute Quiet a must for you while writing, or do you work better with background noise?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Everyone has things they care about deeply, and much of the time, these fuel our writing, whether subtly or directly.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>What makes your heart leap and your blood boil – and have you put this into your creations?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">What part of writing do you hate most?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(everyone hates something!)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Name a few favorite words and/or phrases.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Would you say writing engages your mind or your body more?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">There’s nothing in the world to compare with finding that perfect turn of word or phrase.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Tell us about the latest one you found.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">And finally – what project are you working on right now?</p>Nina Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940094611524209087noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402858251720664038.post-67697808849902950902011-02-14T14:32:00.000-08:002011-02-15T18:24:18.420-08:00Favorite Fictional Romance?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2pGm8V7VJd2HCqtg53o73-qf025NdKg1PCMOvUrtbxbi5-PEVaJazyrVu3pQS18fM6hn-ywzPWhgNQwwJ5rUJG7o_BxxPbuaLG-wBF9NE7afg-aUWxjZ6ZSWmkzVyRdgq7claL5iJa0/s1600/85663469+-+Copy.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2pGm8V7VJd2HCqtg53o73-qf025NdKg1PCMOvUrtbxbi5-PEVaJazyrVu3pQS18fM6hn-ywzPWhgNQwwJ5rUJG7o_BxxPbuaLG-wBF9NE7afg-aUWxjZ6ZSWmkzVyRdgq7claL5iJa0/s320/85663469+-+Copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574107268468389282" /></a>Assignment: Come up with a Valentine-themed blog post! Result: one author with a headache!<div><br /></div><div>Don't get me wrong. I love romance in real life. But I'm not the biggest fan of romance writing. And usually, when I do like a novel with romance, it’s a dysfunctional romance that may or may not end well.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Not appropriate for Valentine’s Day!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>However, my all-time favorite fictional romantic couple do get together.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Most of you have read or at least heard of them:<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Dorothy Sayers’ Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane. <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p>I love Lord Peter and Harriet’s relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>They originally meet with Harriet on trial for her life, accused of murdering her fiancée.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Lord Peter sees her in court, is immediately attracted, and sets about proving her innocence, in the course of which he manages to fall in love with her.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Harriet, on the other hand, not only has sworn off any romantic relationships, but because Peter saves her life, her (very British) pride won’t allow her to care for Peter back.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Thus begins a famous literary chase which spans several novels as Peter doggedly pursues Harriet (and the occasional criminal), eventually becoming successful in Gaudy Night.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I love Peter and Harriet’s relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Probably the most obvious reason is Sayer’s brilliant characterization.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In Peter and Harriet she pairs two extremely intelligent, independent, proud and reserved people who on first glance are clashing opposites.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Sayer also succeeds in creating two equally interesting characters.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Contrary to most romantic stories, where if one character evaporated the story would flop, Peter and Harriet are equally fascinating.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Then there’s the dialogue and scenarios, which range from hysterically comedic to thoughtfully poignant.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In scene after scene Harriet and Peter spar with subtle wit, making every interchange great fun to read.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">And finally, there’s the romance.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It’s not overt.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>It’s very British, very subtle.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>And yet Sayers manages to explore the ins and outs of every romantic relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>She shows the darkness and the light that enters into any couple’s lives, and she challenges the conventions of typical romance.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>In short – her brilliance in literary romance is a constant inspiration.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’ll never be that good, but I’ll definitely try!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Who’s your favorite fictional romantic couple?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Why do you like them?</p></div>Nina Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940094611524209087noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402858251720664038.post-6542217882009152802011-02-10T14:22:00.000-08:002011-02-10T16:50:05.845-08:00Writing As Therapy?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0GFyVyJJpMRU15ywdlrpwRC3qB0k6BL_Cf7H2fG-QrLZemLtBAdcPhH6zEMRJNUMH5XDiJbcGSk82jrM4ecQcMtGiDSjDp5TG3cta3wAmFbSMRN3w3g-lJ8CWgQQYCemyDO-l2PRU_-c/s1600/QLYOD00Z.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0GFyVyJJpMRU15ywdlrpwRC3qB0k6BL_Cf7H2fG-QrLZemLtBAdcPhH6zEMRJNUMH5XDiJbcGSk82jrM4ecQcMtGiDSjDp5TG3cta3wAmFbSMRN3w3g-lJ8CWgQQYCemyDO-l2PRU_-c/s320/QLYOD00Z.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572219577423901394" /></a>How many of you have used writing as a form of therapy?<div><br /></div><div>My guess is 99% of you raised a hand and said "I". The use of writing as a means of channeling grief, depression, or other emotions is amazingly widespread. Most contemporary authors admit freely to using writing as therapy. A few bold ones manage to turn therapy into glossy-covered bestsellers, but for the most part, those scribbles stay buried in some obscure drawer or cached in a remote corner of cyberspace.</div><div><br /></div><div>Authors are not the only ones who use writing for therapy. Ever since the ability to write became common, people who experience traumatic events often find solace by writing. Whether it be a war, natural disaster, or simply the death of a loved one, the result is the same. Ordinary people who have never written before pick up a pencil and begin.</div><div><br /></div><div>The poems of the first and second World Wars have been a fascination of mine for years. Our written record of these wars is vast - some of the greatest writers of the century detailed every event as it happened. More intriguing to me, though, are the thousands of poems and short stories written by soldiers and their loved ones. Many are anonymous. Most were never intended for public view. Few are written according to good writing standards. Yet they're filled with humor, pathos, resignation, bravery...</div><div><br /></div><div>All the histories written about the wars record <i>what happened to peopl</i>e. The poems and stories record <i>who those people were</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div>What is it about writing that helps people deal with grief, anger, and frustration? For myself, it allows me to see things clearly. When I'm upset my emotions tangle into a knotted mess that would traumatize a psychoanalyst. I can't understand myself! Always I end up with a chewed-off pen and a scrap of paper, scribbling down verse, scraps of ideas, fragments of sentences. I allow myself to spill over onto the paper, not holding anything back.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hours later, relieved somewhat by the "public privacy" of expression on paper, I read through the jottings. And an odd thing happens. What made no sense in my mind gradually takes form before me. I can isolate the problem, figure out the cause, approximate a solution. Perhaps most valuable, I can perceive the melodrama. Being able to laugh at yourself does wonders for your sanity.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm sure not everyone feels this way about writing. The best part about it is that words, like people, can become anything. All I know is that if I ever get shipwrecked alone on a desert island, forget the coconut trees. I'll be hunting papyrus and a cuttlefish. :)</div>Nina Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940094611524209087noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402858251720664038.post-76559198858131806952011-01-24T13:53:00.000-08:002011-01-24T14:40:48.222-08:00Best Novels Of 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4urinhk6eEGqqo74NsbAUfH0U1EpOwAaToSlqyiefnBFAdXoH5Lm3Csu2M6Y5rsFpXG2lY7doOawNUZpTXvVEiyA4j3GcQaZ1LDEaSTmA104I189Ks-f5pav3unqT0AqvfqBJM9ECe0/s1600/old-stack-of-books+-+Copy+%25282%2529.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD4urinhk6eEGqqo74NsbAUfH0U1EpOwAaToSlqyiefnBFAdXoH5Lm3Csu2M6Y5rsFpXG2lY7doOawNUZpTXvVEiyA4j3GcQaZ1LDEaSTmA104I189Ks-f5pav3unqT0AqvfqBJM9ECe0/s320/old-stack-of-books+-+Copy+%25282%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565885964939666882" /></a>A recent perusal over my fiction shelves reminded me that I had not yet completed a "Best Novels Of The Year" list (a necessary deed once a year)! There's no time like the present. Unfortunately, I had shockingly little time to read this year, but in the time that I <i>did</i> have, I found some jewels. In no particular order...<div><br /></div><div><i>Enemy Brothers</i> by Constance Savery. Possibly the best book of the year. A beautiful YA story of a young Nazi taken in by an English country family during WWII, the novel filled my heart. The writing is marvelous, brief prose that evokes an amazing range of emotions, and the characters are fantastic. This will become a regular read.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>The Empty Crown</i> by Rosemary Edgehill. Actually three novels in one, The Empty Crown combines a snarky (and secretly lonely) New York librarian with an elf king on a mission who becomes stranded in New York. High fantasy with an active sense of humor. Anyone who loves books, history, or random facts will love this.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Ender's Game</i> by Orson Scott Card. This is technically a re-read, but I got so much out of it on the second go that it deserves to be listed. For anyone who (gasp) hasn't read it, it's... impossible to describe. Read it. Card's ability to tell stories of chilling despair, soaring hope, and unflinching truth through the eyes of children boggles my mind.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>The Dark Is Risin</i>g by Susan Cooper. I enjoyed all the books in this series, but this one stands alone. It takes the basic premise of any fantasy (an unwilling young hero on a quest) and turns in into a modern, dark, frightening story of good and evil, written by a master wordsmith. This is one of those YA novels that defies age limits.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Gaudy Nigh</i>t by Dorothy Sayers. Another re-read, by my reaction to reading this was so dramatically different the second time that it needs to be listed. Sayers is a literary genius, and I believe this is one of her best. Here plot and character entwine perfectly. Although the mystery is central, the heart of the novel is the relationship between Harriet Vane and Lord Peter, and the surprises they discover inside themselves as they challenge evil. I discovered a few surprises inside myself while reading this one. </div><div><br /></div><div>.....</div><div><br /></div><div>I also discovered Agatha Christie and her brilliant, timeless studies of human character, all wrapped up in witty entertainment, and as usual, read Chesterton, both fiction and nonfiction. Reading Chesterton, I know, will be a part of every literary year for me. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>Another novel I loved this year was <i>Day Of Ashes</i> by Kelsey Kline. It didn't make the list simply because it's author stubbornly refuses to complete and share it. She should be warned... dreadful things happen to such persons.</div><div><br /></div><div>What are the best novels you read this year?</div><div> </div>Nina Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940094611524209087noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402858251720664038.post-114783102960450432011-01-04T14:35:00.000-08:002011-01-04T14:40:06.703-08:00In Search of a Dream<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0iiOcPnY8GUw1zaYBQtKSLHOOXoNzbiSGr1_dJ2ikQ-GGe7aNiljDAUsSxKkCrCxuwNEUV0VRstERtVGilwU4yN4nyb3tppaWj7Bv7GOxBy9JOs8hn8AXCBXDp4mMysmTQ3MPIP6_RU/s1600/57423616+-+Copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 302px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ0iiOcPnY8GUw1zaYBQtKSLHOOXoNzbiSGr1_dJ2ikQ-GGe7aNiljDAUsSxKkCrCxuwNEUV0VRstERtVGilwU4yN4nyb3tppaWj7Bv7GOxBy9JOs8hn8AXCBXDp4mMysmTQ3MPIP6_RU/s320/57423616+-+Copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558464033467716130" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Is the presence of longing inside a writer’s heart essential to writing fiction?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Is the faint melancholia created by things we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">wish</i> for, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">dream</i> of, what puts the magic into make-believe?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Those questions have been prodding at my subconscious for some time now.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>The prod turned into a painful jolt when, after a summer of not writing fiction, I attempted my third NaNo in a row – and did not complete the required 50,000 words.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">To tell the truth, I completed barely 5,000 words.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I still don’t know quite what was wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I sat at the keyboard for hours.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I allowed myself to leap between plots.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I allowed myself to write <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">endings</i> before I wrote beginnings!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>But nothing worked.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Words appeared on the screen, crafted strings of emotionless sentences, crisp-edged two-dimensional characters without character.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">spark</i> wasn’t there.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">At the time I attributed it to lack of time, to the stress of everyday life, to pregnancy hormones.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Yet none of that ever affected my writing before…<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>(okay, I haven’t been PREGNANT before, but you know)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Now I’m wondering if my life has become a little too full.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Instead of a rather uneventful life that I spiced up by constantly spinning tales of adventure and romance, I started to live all those things I dreamed about.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Now, I have a husband (who I’m very much in love with), a baby on the way (who is wanted very very much), multiple jobs, college, travel…<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I don’t have <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">time</i> to dream!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">And is that the problem?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I pose the question to you all reading this.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Has this happened to you?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Do you think writers’ best work is influenced by what’s happening (or what’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">not</i> happening) in their lives?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>Or (as many great writers believe) should good fiction be utterly unconnected to circumstances in writers’ lives?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Share your thoughts, please!<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span>I’m eager to read them!</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">(oh yes, and if anyone has suggestions for how to overcome a fiction dry spell…<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">please</i> do not refrain from suggesting!)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Nina Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940094611524209087noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402858251720664038.post-37925538336627683782010-12-28T13:54:00.000-08:002010-12-28T14:33:39.779-08:00Merry Christmas!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeWnO8cION5EAJTENYHhQYm_-szjwgIxZPZgTUxYISWX_zk1O2yOa1wfsLpNyxT44gUhJ3TR6f_r_VH7Zo-wVqXjripQA6bvpzxIYvV_zoyjJFtszxCQU0rB6xsvstWvxg6_VGfr7_kI/s1600/general+c+card+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWeWnO8cION5EAJTENYHhQYm_-szjwgIxZPZgTUxYISWX_zk1O2yOa1wfsLpNyxT44gUhJ3TR6f_r_VH7Zo-wVqXjripQA6bvpzxIYvV_zoyjJFtszxCQU0rB6xsvstWvxg6_VGfr7_kI/s400/general+c+card+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555864588134712402" /></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Merry Christmas!<br /><br />Sorry this is a bit late, but no at-home internet access does tend to prohibit one from posting on days when all libraries are closed! ;) And blah to Blackberry service which does not allow one to do anything IMPORTANT online, such as check school email, post on Blogger, or access useful weird trivia pages.<br /><br />That aside... did everyone have a good day? I hope so! I did. It was funny... I wasn't sure if it would be, coming up to it. Job stress, finances, and the constant ups and downs of pregnancy had been turning Tanner and I into two cranky Scrooges. However, the wonder of Christmas prevailed. Two good friends came over Christmas Eve and we had a marvelous time doing proper Christmas-y things like decorating, making Christmas cookies (and then running around the neighborhood dropping them off) and trying to wrap last-minute gifts without the recipent peeking! All in all, it was one of the best Christmases I can remember.<br /><br />Every Christmas I remember why I love this holiday so much. Despite the commercialism, despite the canned carols played in department stores and the focus on materialism, the spirit of Christ's birth is still alive and well. Kindness and joy do truly fill people's lives. It gives the world hope, does it not?<br /><br />Anyway. Here's hoping everyone had a merry and blessed Christmas!Nina Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940094611524209087noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402858251720664038.post-33773868837159180732010-11-24T11:47:00.000-08:002010-11-24T13:09:29.636-08:00Thoughts On Being Two People At Once<div style="text-align: left;">WARNING: This is a ramble. A senseless, hormone-ridden, spacy, unconnected ramble which most probably will not make sense to anyone besides myself (and probably not even myself after a few days). If that disturbs you, close the window now.</div><br />For all brave (aka crazy) people who kept reading...<br /><br /><div><br /></div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbA8aaUF8VmxJpYL5SBbOPSAKakafvLpaMrKNv0G22TBJ_hNdrndKndLmloiS6282FmBDJDjaNKjxIgZ6IX3LFFqw45Rc7c8vC_w5O2DPX-TezhWGYbLX08g_4mKCDgpJnNDRvf4PD-0/s320/91957115.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 192px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543224246678077378" /></div><div><br /></div><div>I suppose I should start at the beginning (the last natural place) and announce my news. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm pregnant. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, I know this is a fairly obvious result of getting married, and yes this is exactly what we hoped for, but shock and surprise still course through my body on a regular basis. I AM PREGNANT. In other words, there is another human being inside me. Two of us. I'm no longer one person, I'm two.<br /><br />Confusing. Amazing. Bewildering.<br /><br />I discovered I was pregnant a week and a half ago. The baby is due on the 25 of July (I think). I'd been feeling sick for a week, but simply assumed it was my period coming on - till I realized my period was almost two weeks late. I realized THAT fact at work, and ended up getting so excited I drove into town at 10 PM to get the test. After two positive results, I drove home to tell Daddy the news. Talk about <i>special</i>. Those first three days of wild, bubbly, insane excitement and happiness are going to be memories I can't wait to share with our baby.<br /><br />Now, two weeks later, reality has kicked in. This is going to be a BIG JOB. Actually, it's just the start of a Big Job. Are we ready? Is any parent-to-be ever ready? Questions swirl through my head day and night: am I going to be a good mom? Is the baby going to be all right? Will I be able to be the loving mother I so desperately want to be?<br /><br />Needless to say, we spend a lot of time praying.<br /></div><div><br />I also spend time praying to survive two things. Morning sickness (which should be renamed All-Day-And-All-Night Sickness) and mood swings. Hormones have been driving me crazy. One minute, I'm calm and euphorically happy, the next I'm ready to kill someone. Unfortunately, that someone is usually Tanner, simply because he's the only person around. I alternate between feeling guilty and sorry for him, and plotting revenge when he gives me the Look. You know, the one that guys give women that says "Honey, I love you but please stay at least twenty feet away until you regain your sanity."<br /><br />I would love, just <i>love</i>, to afflict him with female hormones for just twenty minutes. Just twenty minutes!<br /><br />Maybe twenty minutes would be too mean. Ten? Five? It wouldn't take much!<br /><br />The mood swings are by far the worst part, worse than the constant nausea and vertigo. I'm also tired all the time, and simple household chores are nearly impossible. I can't even cook for myself, as food preparation sends my stomach over the edge. Tanner is handling all this calmly and doesn't seem phazed by my sudden helplessness, but I HATE IT. I've always hated feeling vulnerable. I take independence far beyond where I should, so this is a bitter pill indeed. Humility lesson, perhaps?<br /><br />I still don't "feel" pregnant. I feel different (usually sick!) but not pregnant. I know there's a child inside me, but I can't "feel" it yet, physically or emotionally. That's probably what I look forward to most: the day when I can physically FEEL this new life inside me! </div><div><br /></div><div>Tanner, I think, is most looking forward to when I start to show. He keeps standing at a distance, squinting at my belly from all angles, hoping it will magically start to grow!<br /><br /></div><div>We spend a lot of time looking at photographs of unborn babies, imagining what our child looks like. Sometimes, we sit there for half an hour just looking at one photograph. Then, in unison, we look up at each other and smile. No words. The emotions inside us are too fragile at that moment to find voice.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQolv1ES-5R8urFqf0NBTv-YPeN3ikkigGBRbnYP9lTvifvTjpL5Wmi1rfJ5To1pOMjG49ewCEY68N-ibJafu8O8aya1egO72HD1v-iqoZzc5kqjsPilc5fqOufJTvacFTKXStSKX9y4/s320/AB64834+-+Copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5543226172489866242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 275px; height: 320px; " /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div>Okay, well, I'm rambled out for now, plus I need to get to work. I've some writing news as well, but that'll be the subject of another post. If you managed to get through these paragraphs of insanity, I would love to hear your thoughts and input!<br /><br />Oh, yes, and I'm thinking of starting to swing this blog over to some personal posts, as well as strictly writing posts. Thoughts? Good idea or bad?</div>Nina Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940094611524209087noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402858251720664038.post-58513973027247907202010-11-05T13:07:00.000-07:002010-11-05T13:54:20.311-07:00Wedding Bells!<div style="text-align: left;">No, I've not died. Nor fallen off the face of the earth, actually – though the attention I've given this blog over the past few months does make such a supposition likely.</div> <p align="LEFT" style="text-align: left;margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal"> Actually, two things have been occupying my time to such an </span>extent that I haven't given much attention to anything else. Thing #1: college, specifically a technical college nestled in a beautiful swatch of country fifty miles from my house. I finally decided to try and make something profitable of my graphic hobby, and am going for graphic design. Juggling school and my usual proliferation of jobs has been quite a challenge.</p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-style: normal">Thing #2: (and this may come completely out of the blue for some people) a very special man named Tanner. We met early this spring at the restaurant where I work (which is an entire story in an of itself!) and started dating in early summer. On August 25, he asked me to marry him. A week later, upon receiving my “Yes” he gave me a shimmery ring promise.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p align="LEFT" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTs6k_hwDtfrsN5dXU0GNDB8Dyym3yGEU54z5SXlrfXmsSqs5xwskteBObEkeRZNV3Fkk1nrTr5rNIkj018ggqqXI-vZIFCQRgUpN9mb4uLtdM39ospPk0VkgRT963h7wEKZrA-jtvJGk/s320/009+(2).JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536164552708709170" /></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal"><br /></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-style: normal">And on October 24, 2010, we had a wedding!</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-style: normal"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYjx-FcPebmayBBX9Nf8tEhEEv38y26NcMRe9QZf4S6CQ8523_xNV4w-SHdFn8umUVUkD67G9iZ8tragsfa2eukaUtGzO_t9_86BtBsXHuS58CCjawu7D1kfv_bIG2noRWI2t8kR51mc/s200/Under+lamp+(edited).jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536167160732301858" /></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_C7gpqRjEHuNd__rf65vV9ZvShmP2hHFF7sG79n8tI5XFUiaHMf5oZDO0wIEQJJ0bsp-pOWrjAM5DTB3ORgUTiJ2-HUq2AHV97kJUIBB2FtGM1hMnIR9u0imygAkrt8dXesQ8vmfqDKE/s320/girls+(post).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536171218391095314" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></p><div><span style="font-style: normal"><br /></span></div><p align="LEFT" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-OS59hGKZqC3VkeJMcgByZKc9NZ5TN1s1OWN8G4KQjUk3DizszQIX19pXiQzot4Mjvk_WaIO0Dy2HWGtVsBLMvOQqhRUED7DWZ7et5Bf3DlwWDh8yNY_gJrXeC2OnKb_PopYo9_JSoM/s320/Kiss.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536171229073812434" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></span></span></p><div><span style="font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></div> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in">So. Yes. Been a bit busy! Hopefully now I'll have more time to apply to blogging, writing, and so forth. I'm certainly going to try, as I've missed this whole writing life!</p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-style: normal"> Not much is new on the writing front for me, as I've had writing on hold pretty much since I started college and began planning a wedding. I intend to start querying again and gradually get back into the swing of writing. </span> </p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-style: normal"> Whew! Just reading over this blog post leaves me feeling a bit breathless. Needless to say, it's been a summer full of surprises. I promise to return to this blog again soon (ie, </span><i>not</i><span style="font-style: normal"> three months from now) to share more.</span></p>Nina Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940094611524209087noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402858251720664038.post-39678430390628586092010-07-21T13:35:00.001-07:002010-07-21T13:37:14.218-07:00Murder By Pumpkin - Excerpt!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYBQxjsEfO0g7_n8YnYFRJGT9IwWrRnrRZJBikjFD4idwxhskFWpoNNDa_t4pfGJ-B7eS7N3G-9WQrWNCxI6nRtqD6dGZJrrVyHNQjPvYk3UekB56DH6NZzjMv9jzBWTJMGty-XLyiYs/s1600/sn.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkYBQxjsEfO0g7_n8YnYFRJGT9IwWrRnrRZJBikjFD4idwxhskFWpoNNDa_t4pfGJ-B7eS7N3G-9WQrWNCxI6nRtqD6dGZJrrVyHNQjPvYk3UekB56DH6NZzjMv9jzBWTJMGty-XLyiYs/s320/sn.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496461063881757714" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 22px; font-family:Helvetica, Arial, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', Verdana, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><em><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Teaser time! Today's the day for a novel excerpt - this time, a snippet from my still-untitled parody of fairy tales and detective fiction. I started this novel a few months ago and haven't had much time to work on it: so far it's my "fun" project. I've never done a parody before, though I've a passion for reading them, and Leonie, with her snarky-yet-introverted personality, is completely unlike any character I've ever met. It's been brilliant fun! </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Now, I'm thinking of taking it seriously...and wondering if it ought to be a serious project at all. Hence my casting the opening few pages up for review! What do YOU think? Want more?</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 22px; "><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></em></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 22px; "><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>***</span></span></em></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 22px; "><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></em></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lady Leonie L'Amarr was having a very bad day.</span></span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />That's how I'd begin it, if today were a novel and if I were writing it. Which of course I would be since nobody else does. But on re-read, that sentence doesn't begin to do today justice. I'd write:<br /><br /></span></span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lady Leonie L'Amarr was having the most miserable, perfectly putrid, absolutely awful and completely contemptible day of her life.</span></span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />There. That's more like it.<br /><br />It has been the rottenest day ever. First, I was promoted. Some may rejoice and throw balls when they are promoted. I feel like jumping into a swamp. Because, you see, I was lady's maid to Her Highness Princess Albania Whitefrog, a youngish woman of few brains but amiable intent. Serving her required little work and no mental exertion. Besides, she frequently took long naps in the afternoon, which gave me time to kill off a few more dukes and duchesses before putting the kettle on for tea.<br /><br />And today, this morning which promised to be full of sunshine, birdsong, and a tour of the torture chamber, proved to be miserable when I got the notice that I'd been promoted Up two Levels. I am now lady-in-waiting to Her Highness Princess Welberta Quillnose. Princess Welberta's amiable intent has not been in question since age three, when she pushed all three of her larger (also male) cousins into the well, and then dropped in her pet piranhas. She is, also, unfortunately for me and for her cousins, not dumb.<br /><br />In fact, she is considered to be the most intelligent woman in the land. “Welberta doesn't miss </span></span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">anything</span></span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">” is the word whispered behind palm plants at the balls.<br /><br />So here I am. The one person in the palace with a secret (well, the only important secret, the only one worth keeping) and I will be locked in mortal combat with Welberta the Clairvoyant Cousin-Killer.<br /><br />Oh me.<br /><br />The news about Welberta, however, was only the beginning to my shining day. The second bit of wonderment occurred when I opened my Box of Weapons and discovered that chapter 3 was quite as horrible as it had been when I'd shut it up in there the night before.<br /><br />But I'm getting ahead of myself. I should explain a few things first. If I am going to keep this diary...journal...book of events...or whatever it is, I should do it properly.<br /><br />It would be a first.<br /><br />So then. I am known (because it's my name) as Lady Leonie L'Amarr. I'm of common birth, with just that drop of royal-ish blood somewhere in my ancestry (not pedigree, I'm not royal enough for that) to allow me to serve those with more royal blood. Hence my existance as lady-in-waiting.<br /><br />I celebrated (with a new bottle of ink and second-hand sheaf of paper) my twenty-third birthday five months ago. I like lizards and spiders and things that go bump in the night (usually royalty stumbling home from a ball) and I enjoy sunshine in moderation. Thunder is excellent at all times, and a good smashing hailstorm does wonders to wake up the world. I have a passion for poached eggs on toast and cannot bear snail soup. Which is another reason to be thankful for not being royal. I cannot bear porridge either, which is a reason to be thankful for not being common.<br /><br />In matters of looks, I'm tallish, with sticky-out elbows and long toes. My fingers are long as well. I have long </span></span><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">straight</span></span></em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> brown hair. In a book, I would have ginger-brown hair, or autumn-brown, or hair the color of leaves in a stream.<br /><br />In reality, it's just brown.<br /><br />My eyes are indecisive, much like me, and change from green to blue to brown on a whim. Some say it's with my moods, but since last time I looked in a mirror, carefully feeling cross, they were brown, and the time before, blue, I feel my orbital color is not a safe meter of my mental state.<br /><br />My face is oval, with a chin that juts, and I have interesting cheekbones, one slightly dented from a run-in with a wall. Overall, my physical appearance is one to attract little attention, a tendency I cultivate. Invisible ladies-in-waiting get into less trouble.<br /><br />And they have more time to write.<br /><br />Which brings me to the purpose of this journal—diary—shall I just call it my List of Rants? I like that. Very well. The purpose of this List is (when not being a list of rants) for me to collect my thoughts on people, and cutlery, and life in general. The purpose of such a collection brings me back to my horrible day.<br /><br />Because it was today I finally realized that I am going nowhere as a writer.</span></span></span>Nina Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940094611524209087noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402858251720664038.post-89259792200805572702010-07-16T08:30:00.000-07:002010-07-16T09:11:15.131-07:00Confessions of a Nazi - Sympathetic Bad Guy?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYhm5NPhyphenhyphen606ULEbvpk65_EmjG6bqKrHtWxEh8xud1rv8pxJ97PCS-RCyGsrN6FUyBY9XZn2_aVAzP4AgF42uO70hVTUGnkXAu4xVINFtLcUpmFKsWPsqqExVwgGK-hEFT_b4fIH4uaH4/s1600/villain.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 285px; height: 297px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYhm5NPhyphenhyphen606ULEbvpk65_EmjG6bqKrHtWxEh8xud1rv8pxJ97PCS-RCyGsrN6FUyBY9XZn2_aVAzP4AgF42uO70hVTUGnkXAu4xVINFtLcUpmFKsWPsqqExVwgGK-hEFT_b4fIH4uaH4/s320/villain.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494535892029441922" /></a><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Hello there! I'm doing </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">another</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> blog chain (yes, yes, we already covered the addiction problem last month) with AW members. This time, the fascinating topic is to show your antagonist in a sympathetic light. I LOVED the idea, but had quite a hard time figuring out how to do it. The problem, y'see, is I very rarely have an ANTAGONIST. Not the capital letters type. More often the antagonist is a situation; the person themselves; or the entire Nazi army. The few novels where I have a definite antagonist are mysteries. You don't expect me to reveal my carefully-hidden villain, do you? Well, it doesn't matter - I'm not going to. :)</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And since it's a bit difficult to paint the entire German army (or Protectors, or CIA-gone-wrong, or Black Ops group) in a sympathetic light, I tried to find one specific antagonist. I found him (a Nazi captain) hulking and lurking his way through three chapters of A Fire Is Woken. He doesn't have a pronounced role, but readers have said he's chilling and completely evil, so I sat down with him this morning and we had a nice little chat about WHY he's evil. </span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Found out some interesting things! He didn't very much like talking to me (apparently there was some left-over resentment from WWII) but he agreed to write a letter to his wife explaining the situation, and it's that which I will present here. But before the letter, I'd like to post a short snippet from the novel, showing him in fine fettle as the evil villain. </span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Backstory for the snippet: Julie works as a secretary for the SOE (British secret service during WWII). Through a complicated series of events, she's now on an emergency mission in France with four other trained agents. A few hours previously, they've been captured by SS troops, and are being held in SS headquarters by aforementioned SS kapitan.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none"><br /></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none"></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none">Iron scraped against iron. Light flashed down the stairs, bounced off the wet walls, glinted off the round helmets of the descending German soldiers. Their rifles banged against their shoulders as they dragged a formless shape down the stairs.</p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none"> The cell door rattled open, and Trese's limp body slumped to the floor. In speechless horror, Julie watched as his head rolled sideways. Bloody bruises swelled his face out of shape; his mouth hung half-open over broken teeth. His shirt was ripped, and chunks of flesh stuck to bloody fiber.</p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none"> A scream of horror built inside Julie, edging her vision with black. <i>Oh God!</i> Then, as Trese's body twitched and his eyes rolled open, she crawled forward. <i>What do I do. What can I do.</i></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none"> Her hand reached out, slipped behind his head, lifted it off the floor, even as she ripped the sweater from around her shoulders and and put it beneath his head. Caught up in the desperation to help, somehow, <i>anyhow</i>, she forgot the Germans...</p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none"> ...until the cool tickle of a whip touched the back of her neck.</p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none"> The <i>kapitan's</i> mouth pursed thoughtfully as he looked down at her. “This one,” he said in English, “this one will talk. Take her!”</p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none"> The two Germans leaped forward. Their hands, sticky and wet from Trese's blood, closed around her arms, jerked her to her feet.</p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none"> Time stopped. Unable to breathe past the terror, she stared around the cell, begging wordlessly for help she knew wasn't coming. Richards met her gaze for a split second, then he turned away and stared at his hands laced around his ankles. Bonvie didn't even look up.</p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none"> <i>Help me!</i></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none"> <i> </i>At her feet, Trése looked up through bleary eyes, and seemed to see what was happening. His mouth worked, as if he might be trying to speak, and then a bubble of saliva formed and deflated on his lips, and his head fell back.</p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none"> <i>This is it</i>. In that moment Julie knew. She was completely alone and help wasn't coming.</p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none">The cold slick whip curled around her wrist. The cool blue gaze of the kapitan appraised her. For a split second, he seemed to hesitated. Emotion flickered through his eyes; his mouth twitched. </p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none; "><i>Let me go. Please let me go.</i></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none">Then he smiled, and let the coil of whip slither from her wrist. "You will talk," he said again in English. "Oh yes. You will."</p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none"> Inside Julie a scream began to build. <i>I'm not ready to die. Oh God, I'm not ready to die.</i></p> <p align="LEFT" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; ">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And now you (hopefully) have been creeped out, here's the letter he wrote to his wife the morning before.</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none"></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">To my wife Minna</span></i></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">You will never read this letter. I will destroy it the moment I finish it. I am a fool to write it at all. It is a weakness, an act of foolish desperation: a child throwing blocks at a wall. Unworthy of an officer of Germany. I do not say an officer of the Reich, for there is no worthiness there at all.</span></i></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Our son is dead. You have received the telegram today, doubtless. You have read the high-minded words of his noble sacrifice, and the condolences and assurances of his painless, brave death in battle.</span></i></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">What you will never know is they are all a lie.</span></i></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Our son did not die in battle. He did not die nobly. And he did die screaming in pain.</span></i></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">You have heard Hitler scoff of the secret agents Britain has sent to French soil, but what you have not heard is that they are a deadly weapon. These people are without honor, soul, or truth. It was to them that our son died. He was lured in by a girl, apparently from the local village, sympathetic to our cause. Our son, as you know, had a kind heart and the girl's pitiful story moved him. He went, finally, to “visit” her – and there was captured by her colleagues, enemy agents all.</span></i></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The rest I pieced together only with guesswork...and by the hideout, which we found and captured. Too late. I found our son's body there. He had been tortured to death. He died screaming in pain. I saw him lying there, Minna, saw his blood and his broken body.</span></i></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And yet I could have born that, but for the destruction of the weapons train the night after. The weapons shipment from the Homeland was the closest kept secret of the month. Only five officers knew of it in our sector. Myself, three others...and our son.</span></i></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">He died screaming in pain, Minna, screaming out the information they sought.</span></i></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Our son did not die a hero, Minna. The enemy made him a coward, a traitor, and deserving of death.</span></i></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I prayed once that this war would end, that Hitler's insanity would end, that our men would return to our great country to the arms of our loved ones. In the moment I looked down at the body of our son, my prayers ended. All I wish for now is to destroy every man, woman, and child who destroyed my son.</span></i></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I will not rest until I have brought them down.</span></i></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">What do y'all think?</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Check out all these posts as well to see more interesting and unusual looks at the traditional Bad Guy!</span></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">CScottMorris: </span></span><a href="http://cscottmorrisbooks.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://cscottmorrisbooks.com/</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://cscottmorrisbooks.com/2010/07/01/july-blog-chain/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to his post</span></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Aheïla: </span></span><a href="http://thewriteaholicblog.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://thewriteaholicblog.wordpress.com/</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://thewriteaholicblog.wordpress.com/2010/07/02/aw-july-blog-chain/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to her post</span></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">AuburnAssassin: </span></span><a href="http://clairegillian.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://clairegillian.wordpress.com/</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://clairegillian.wordpress.com/2010/07/02/aw-july-blog-chain-antagonist-redux/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to her post</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">DavidZahir: </span></span><a href="http://zahirblue.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://zahirblue.blogspot.com/</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://zahirblue.blogspot.com/2010/07/july-2010-chain-meeting-marko.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to his post</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">IrishAnnie: </span></span><a href="http://superpenpower.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://superpenpower.blogspot.com/</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://superpenpower.blogspot.com/2010/07/blog-chain-bad-guy.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to her post</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Anarchicq: </span></span><a href="http://anarchicq.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://anarchicq.com/</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://www.anarchicq.com/?p=190" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to her post</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Proach: </span></span><a href="http://everythinghistorical.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://everythinghistorical.wordpress.com/</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://everythinghistorical.wordpress.com/category/aw-july-blog-chain/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to her post</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">devero: </span></span><a href="http://mysticcrossroads.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://mysticcrossroads.wordpress.com/</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://mysticcrossroads.wordpress.com/2010/07/08/july-2010-blog-chain-villains/#more-132" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to his post</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">hillaryjacques: </span></span><a href="http://www.hillaryjacques.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://www.hillaryjacques.blogspot.com/</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://hillaryjacques.blogspot.com/2010/07/absolutewrite-july-blog-chain-saddies.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to her post</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">LadyMage: </span></span><a href="http://www.katherinegilraine.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://www.katherinegilraine.com/</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://wp.me/pwskS-eQ" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to her post</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">M.R.J. Le Blanc: </span></span><a href="http://libraryofandunien.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://libraryofandunien.blogspot.com/</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://libraryofandunien.blogspot.com/2010/07/blog-chain-sympathy-for-antagonist.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to her post</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mariekeme: </span></span><a href="http://www.mariekenijkamp.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://www.mariekenijkamp.com/</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://www.mariekenijkamp.com/musings/?p=112" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to her post</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">aimeelaine: </span></span><a href="http://www.aimeelaine.com/writing/blog" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://www.aimeelaine.com/writing/blog</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://www.aimeelaine.com/writing/blog/?p=625" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to her post</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Fokker Aeroplanbau: </span></span><a href="http://rightfarright.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://rightfarright.blogspot.com/</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Irissel: </span></span><a href="http://irissel.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://irissel.blogspot.com/</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Collectonian: </span></span><a href="http://collectonian.livejournal.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://collectonian.livejournal.com/</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Amb The Creative: </span></span><a href="http://ambthecreative.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://ambthecreative.blogspot.com/</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">defyalllogic: </span></span><a href="http://tavialewis.com/hyperbolicallyspeaking/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://tavialewis.com/hyperbolicallyspeaking/</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Alpha Echo: </span></span><a href="http://writersramblings81.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://writersramblings81.blogspot.com/</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">cryaegm: </span></span><a href="http://enigmainklings.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://enigmainklings.blogspot.com/</span></span></a></div></span></span><p></p><p></p><p></p>Nina Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940094611524209087noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402858251720664038.post-68905928604052378622010-07-09T06:59:00.000-07:002010-07-09T07:18:24.974-07:00Out Of The Mouths Of Babes...<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Good morning everyone! Since the writing quotes I posted a while ago were so popular, I decided to do another post of more this month. Here they are, in no particular order or organization. Can't you tell what a tangled ferment of ideas my brain is always in? ;)</span></span></div> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYMq6qUucPps5bjwovkpJsWepz_7MgymgvfF64YF17Z-Y4YRfZiboQ8XyuV1M5rm1KmkMgIDI_e8Fv_jWxbxWEBjvDc43ZS-PFq81kEVYFMYRXtGfOcSEI3L6FGoSerSiJs9tCpHB0VY/s400/3178-000019+-+Copy.jpg" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491909263656390002" /></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';">Out of the mouths of babes...</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">.</span></span></i></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">“The only thing I was fit for was to be a writer, and this notion rested solely on my suspicion that I would never be fit for real work, and that writing didn't require any.” </span></b></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">~~ Russell Baker</span></b></span></i></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">“Writing well mean never having to say, 'I guess you had to be there.” </span></b></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">~~ Jeff Mallet</span></b></span></i></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">“Most writers regard the truth as their most valuable possession, and therefore are most economical in its use.” </span></b></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">~~ Mark Twain</span></b></span></i></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">“To be arrested for the power of your writing is the highest compliment a writer can be paid—if an unwelcome one.” </span></b></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">~~Ngugi wa Thiong'o</span></b></span></i></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">“A happy ending...a distribution at the last of prizes, pensions, husbands, wives, babies, millions, appended paragraphs, and cheerful remarks.” </span></b></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">~~Henry James</span></b></span></i></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">“I have always wanted to write in such a way that will make people think, 'Why, I've always thought that but never found the words for it.' ” </span></b></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">~~ Pamela Johnson</span></b></span></i></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">“There is no rule on how to write. Sometimes it comes easily and perfectly: sometimes it's like drilling rock and then blasting it out with charges.” </span></b></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">~~ Ernest Hemingway</span></b></span></i></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">“Writing is easy: all you do is sit staring at a blank piece of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead.” </span></b></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">~~Gene Fowler</span></b></span></i></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></b></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">“One writes to make a home for oneself, on paper, in time, and in other's minds.” </span></b></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">~~ Alfred Kazin</span></b></span></i></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">“When I say “work” I only mean writing. Everything else is just odd jobs.” </span></b></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">~~ Margaret Laurence</span></b></span></i></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">In this batch of quotes I've picked three “Author's Choice” quotes to feature. I've been reading this a lot lately. This one always puts a wry smile on my face, because it fits quite perfectly with my struggle to remain true to writing while I could be making </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">so much more</span></span></i><span style="font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> MONEY for </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">so little stress</span></span></i><span style="font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> if I were to simply do a job like ordinary people!</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">“</span></span></b><span style="font-style: normal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The fact that writers will go through so much to remain writers says something. It would be far easier (and nearly always more profitable) to become a real estate agent.” </span></span></b></span><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">~~ Maria Lenhart</span></span></b></i></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The next one makes me chuckle and remember all the strange looks I get at work every day, when I get a story idea and stare blankly off into the distance, gabbling to invisible people. Oh the trials employers (and friends, and families, and boyfriends and girlfriends and dogs) of writers go through...</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"> </p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Many people hear voices when no one is there. Some of them are called mad and are shut up in rooms where they stare at the walls all day. Others are called writers and they do pretty much the same thing.” </span></span></b><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">~~ Meg Chittenden</span></span></b></i></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And the third is Truth. The more I watch and study people, the more I see how much they miss. Most people seem to have tunnel vision... they don't see the drama, pathos, and romance that fills the world around us. You don't have to travel to faraway lands or pay buckets of money to find adventure. It's right here in our backyard, just waiting for someone to be conscious that it's there. Writers usually manage to find it. :)</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in"> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">“</span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I must write it all out at any cost. Writing is thinking.. It is more than living, for it is being conscious of living.” </span></span></b><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">~~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh</span></span></b></i></p>Nina Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940094611524209087noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402858251720664038.post-35494330839672224002010-07-04T06:37:00.000-07:002010-07-09T07:30:49.960-07:00The Discomfort Zone - Stepping Outside Your Box<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflpzjWg2pjRbcfOTRxQ85hjANEz2WEdHHi2ar0qjR_vyxxagWUbMkQrx2T6TuuSc64gHbc0MzXRXWePZhXBx078feVHLkvQdBJMl9uQky-OZqCFCrMt5Uj37hbx7QyTibyjc-6VCMIVc/s1600/96421378.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 295px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflpzjWg2pjRbcfOTRxQ85hjANEz2WEdHHi2ar0qjR_vyxxagWUbMkQrx2T6TuuSc64gHbc0MzXRXWePZhXBx078feVHLkvQdBJMl9uQky-OZqCFCrMt5Uj37hbx7QyTibyjc-6VCMIVc/s320/96421378.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490046208524477906" /></a><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The Discomfort Zone.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I love the title for this blog chain. (Kudos to Victor Travison for the brilliant suggestion!) To me, it expresses perfectly the “edge” that all writers need to balance on to be really good. Writing is just like rock climbing or water skiing – you can't be satisfied with </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">good enough.</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> A rock climber who learns to scale the glacial deposit in his backyard isn't going to stop there: he'll head for the Grand Canyon next. A water skiier who learns to cut wake isn't going to stop: she'll grab a single ski and try that.</span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Writers are the same way – or at least </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">we should be</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">. Just like in sports, we need to push ourselves. Try something new. Dare the unknown.</span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">And, like all new things, it's a little scary. A little uncomfortable. It's the Discomfort Zone.</span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I've been labeled as an adrenaline junkie, a risk-taker, and a crazy fool (in no particular order). I like risk. I like the element of fear, the uncertainty of the unknown, the tingle of adrenaline. I'm also a sucker for punishment. The result? I spend a heck of a lot of time in the Discomfort Zone. :)</span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Every time I get comfortable with writing one genre, or one style, or one character, I want to try something new. My launch pad for writing usually is historical with a slight literary slant: from there I ricochet off in all directions. A few of my “projects” are:</span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The Hanging Tree</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> – historical/mystery. I wrote this two years ago and at the time it felt quite brave to combine a Western and a mystery. Now it's the norm... but it was my first excursion into the DZ.</span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">SS-5</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> – historical/suspense. This is probably my single biggest jaunt into the DZ. It was my first suspense novel. The suspense wasn't scary – but writing the main character was! (for Myers-Brigg people, he was an ESTP and I am an INFJ. Scary.)</span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">A Forbidden Homeland</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> – fantasy/thriller. Almost-completed-but-not-quite, this second 2009 NaNo novel jumped WAY out of my comfort zone! First stab at fantasy (a genre I swore I'd never write – haha) and also first stab at thriller. It's a dark novel about a people driven to extinction, sheltering in the shadows of the City of their oppressors. And it's about the man who leads the final fight for freedom... and the woman of the enemy who is his only ally and most dangerous enemy. Oh yeah. Who says the Discomfort Zone isn't fun!</span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Stranger's Eyes</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> – thriller. This is my latest project, and it's comparable to wing-walking for me. Not only is the novel told </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">only</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> from a male POV, but it's straight thriller, and it's </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">contemporary.</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> Rob is an ordinary guy; nine-to-five job, football on the weekends. The center of his life is his young wife, Kay. But when his wife appears to lose her mind and assassins are breaking down their door, Rob has to become anything but ordinary in a race to stop a black op takeover. At stake is the future of the USA – and Kay's life.</span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">And if that isn't </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">enough</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> to prove I've won my Crazy Writer badge, I'm also dibbling with an as-yet-untitled novel, which is sort of a parody/satire of fairy tales and classic detective stories. Leonie is a maid-of-waiting in the castle of King Percival. Ordinary serving girl by day, at night she writes the murder mystery novels that are sweeping the kingdom. No one knows who writes them – but when the Prince hosts a ball and one of the guests turns up floating in the goldfish pond, the author is top on the kingdom's wanted list – and Leonie's little hobby turns quite literally into a matter of life and death. This one is incredibly fun to write and it's so different from anything I've ever written – it's been a blast. Once again proof that being in Discomfort can be fun. :)</span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">And now I've run out of time and space and therefore shall stop. Your turn – tell me about <i>your</i> excursions into the Discomfort Zone! When you're done, don't forget to check out the other posts in this blog chain!</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana;color:#333333;"><p align="LEFT" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><a href="http://superpenpower.blogspot.com/">Ruth Rockafield</a> -- <a href="http://superpenpower.blogspot.com/2010/07/blog-chain-outside-of-my-box.html">July 1</a></p><p align="LEFT" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><a href="http://frontnotes.blogspot.com/">Nina Rose</a> -- <a href="http://frontnotes.blogspot.com/2010/07/discomfort-zone-stepping-outside-your.html">July 4</a></p><p align="LEFT" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><a href="http://seedsofchristianity.com/wordpress/">Edward Lewis</a> -- <a href="http://seedsofchristianity.com/wordpress/?p=1277">July 6</a></p><p align="LEFT" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><a href="http://www.tracykraussexpressionexpress.blogspot.com/">Tracy Kraus</a> -- <a href="http://tracykraussexpressionexpress.blogspot.com/2010/07/discomfort-zone.html">July 7</a></p><p align="LEFT" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><a href="http://www.katsmusings.com/">Kat Connolly</a> -- <a href="http://www.katsmusings.com/the-discomfort-zone">July 8</a></p><p align="LEFT" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><a href="http://lindayezak.wordpress.com/">Linda Yezak</a> -- July 9</p><p align="LEFT" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><a href="http://lynnmosher.blogspot.com/">Lynn Mosher</a> -- July 10</p><p align="LEFT" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><a href="http://www.nonaking.com/blog/">Nona King</a> -- July 11</p><p align="LEFT" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><a href="http://victortravison.webs.com/apps/blog/">Victor Travison</a> -- July 14</p><p align="LEFT" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; ">Janalyn Voigt -- July 15</p><p align="LEFT" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><a href="http://www.collings.phozofree.net/">Adam Collings</a> -- July 17</p><p align="LEFT" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><a href="http://libertywordwanderings.blogspot.com/">Liberty Speidel</a> -- July 19</p><p align="LEFT" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><a href="http://creativeadventuring.blogspot.com/">Chris Solaas</a> -- July 27</p><p align="LEFT" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><a href="http://suzanne-hartmann2.blogspot.com/">Suzanne Hartmann</a> -- July 30 </p></span><p></p><p></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"></p>Nina Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940094611524209087noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402858251720664038.post-68647431212358670172010-06-15T17:55:00.000-07:002010-06-23T16:29:21.943-07:00Candid Camera: A Look At Character<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLE-clY5x3yGvuAM10-2HMR6LlI665pFsrwSeFSNZA7hMjcJe2tbZDEb8QVQX_2SWQ7DXrNLbpT25sAVA2NfpK0Hg_vQqcLc9TeEfS6xnJMoob1w87-EKM5fe3fbECUweuKWeymhYezk0/s1600/tlp675057.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLE-clY5x3yGvuAM10-2HMR6LlI665pFsrwSeFSNZA7hMjcJe2tbZDEb8QVQX_2SWQ7DXrNLbpT25sAVA2NfpK0Hg_vQqcLc9TeEfS6xnJMoob1w87-EKM5fe3fbECUweuKWeymhYezk0/s320/tlp675057.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483171779987288402" /></a><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">I think I'm addicted to something. A </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">new</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> something, I mean. Blog chains, in general and particular. Here I am again taking part in an AW blog chain, topic of which endeavor is Character. Specifically, a scene which perfectly captures the essence of your character.</span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"> </p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">So last night I got out my “camera” and went hunting for a candid snapshot. After wandering through four of my novels and dozens of characters, I finally settled on this scene from my novel </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">SS-5</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">. (For those of you new to my blog, that's 2009's NaNo novel, my first excursion into YA, thriller, and suspense. Details here: </span><a href="http://frontnotes.blogspot.com/2009/10/historical-note-teenage-spies.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">http://frontnotes.blogspot.com/2009/10/historical-note-teenage-spies.html</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> )</span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"> </p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">SS-5</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> is based on the true story of five Dutch teenagers (four boys and a girl) who, when the Nazis took control of Holland, banded together to fight back. At this point in the novel, the boys have been assimilated into the real Resistance, and are actively involved in deadly espionage. The pressure and danger is forcing them into a maturity far beyond their age, and it's ripping apart the bond of friendship between the five.</span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"> </p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Affected most is Charlotte, who is forbidden to take part because of being female. She's forced to watch as her friends are destroyed, and is tormented by the ferocious need to take part in the fight.</span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"> </p> <p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">The scene should be self-explanatory. Thoughts and critical feedback would be awesome!</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman, serif;">*********</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;"><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Charlotte sat in her room, drawing with fierce strokes the figure of a girl in armor. A girl, standing on a hill, armies sprawled shining out below her. She held up the flag of victory, and from open mouths all around poured grateful accolades. But there was no triumph in the girl's eyes, just a sort of sad relief.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Had Joan the Maid, centuries ago in France, wondered if she could ever succeed? In those days when everyone said she was mad, had she known that her cause was true?</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Charlotte wondered.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">After a moment, she laid down her pencil and pushed up the sleeve of her sweater to look at her watch. Piet had leaned toward her for a moment during dinner, whispered “Meeting tonight at six” and then turned back to his carrots before anyone saw.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Ten minutes yet before she had to leave.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">She hadn't been in school today; she'd been with her mother, a few blocks away, with two terrified children huddled in a cellar. The Gestapo had broke down their door the night before, hauling their parents and older brother away. The two children, both girls younger than six, had huddled under their bed and managed to escape detection.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“Jews?” Charlotte had whispered when her mother told her.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“No.” Lorrie Skyyjer's face was grim. “The father had helped in printing and distributing pamphlets about the Allies' progress in the war. He was the man who brought paper, only that. But it was enough. Someone saw, reported, and the Gestapo came.”</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">A neighbor had found the children. They refused to come from under the bed, even when Charlotte and her mother came. They stared at something only they could see, and, arms twined together, refused to move.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Finally they had to be pulled out, separately since their combined weight was too much. Charlotte didn't think she'd ever forget their screams.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And here she sat, on her feather bed, in her warm house, wearing good, solid, even pretty clothes, with a full stomach. Safe. Secure. Out of danger.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">While all around her people lost their lives fighting back.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Charlotte traced the figure on her easel with the tip of her pencil. “What would you do, Joan? What did you do? Did you sit safe at home and wait for your brothers, your best friends, to die?”</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">History proclaimed the answer.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And also the price Joan had paid.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Restless, Charlotte got up, pacing her room, until she gave it up, tugged a scarf over her flame of hair, and hurried out into the night.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">The farmhouse was dark and empty, the barns likewise. The truck wasn't in the yard; obviously Farmer Smit, Jan and Piet hadn't arrived back yet.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">She slipped through the darkness to the kiln, and swung the secret door open in the dark. From below she saw the flicker of candlelight. “Hello?”</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“Charlotte?” She caught the owl-like glow of Jos's glasses. “Where is everyone?”</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Charlotte's feet thudded down the earthen steps. “The boys aren't back yet. Isn't Hendrik here?”</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“He's not coming.” Jos slid over on the rug, making a place for her to sit. “I've been here hours alone. I'm glad you're here.”</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Startled, Charlotte glanced over to see if he was joking. But beneath his glasses, she saw not the twinkle of mischief, but the glitter of tears. “Jos. What's wrong?”</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">He shook his head. </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Nothing</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">She turned him so he faced her. “Jos. What happened?”</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">His throat convulsed as he swallowed. “Remember the flour mill?” His voice was only a whisper. “The flour mill that was being converted into an munitions factory that we blew up?”</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">She nodded.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“I went along because I was small, and good with chemicals and fire. But Farmer Smit made sure no one knew my name or who I was. It was safer that way, he said. So I was the one who destroyed the mill, along with them.”</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">He paused. “The day before yesterday the Gestapo caught one of the people involved. They tortured him until he gave names. The Gestapo caught every one of the people involved in that mill, and twelve more who had nothing to do with it. Thirty people shot, Charlotte. Thirty people dead because of me.”</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Oh, Jos</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">.” Emotion surged through Charlotte, smothering her. Jos took his glasses off, rubbing them with his handkerchief. In his eyes she saw the pain and the agony of guilt.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">He's just twelve. Oh God, he's just a kid. He can't be responsible for thirty people's deaths.</span></i></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Her hands twitched, ready to pull him into an embrace, hold him tight. Tell him it would be all right.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">But somehow she knew it had gone beyond that.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“If only someone had known,” Jos said dully. “The first man they captured was in prison for a week before he talked. If someone had been inside, someone who could warn the others, then no one would have had to die.”</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">His words mingled in Charlotte's mind with words she'd heard Farmer Smit say.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">“We need someone on the inside. Someone to find out what the Germans are going to do. But we can't ask anyone to risk their lives to that extent.”</span></i></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">And in that moment, Charlotte knew what she had to do.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Her mouth went dry, just thinking about it. Her father...everyone...</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Bitter fear and sweet relief clashed in her mouth.</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">She knew what she had to do.</span></span></p> <p align="LEFT" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Thanks so much for reading! If you liked this post, follow these links to read more excerpts by these talented bloggers!</span></p><p align="LEFT" style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal; "><br /></p><p align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in; font-style: normal"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">LadyMage: </span></span><a href="http://www.katherinegilraine.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://www.katherinegilraine.com</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://wp.me/pwskS-di" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to her post</span></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">FreshHell: </span></span><a href="http://freshhell.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://freshhell.wordpress.com/</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://freshhell.wordpress.com/2010/06/01/aw-blog-chain-for-june-attitude/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to her post</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Collectonian: </span></span><a href="http://collectonian.livejournal.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://collectonian.livejournal.com</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://collectonian.livejournal.com/673064.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to her post</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Aimee Laine: </span></span><a href="http://www.aimeelaine.com/writing/blog" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://www.aimeelaine.com/writing/blog</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://www.aimeelaine.com/writing/blog/?p=598" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to her post</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">AuburnAssassin: </span></span><a href="http://clairegillian.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://clairegillian.wordpress.com/</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://clairegillian.wordpress.com/2010/06/04/doricallahanscene/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to her post</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lyra Jean: </span></span><a href="http://lyratorres.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://lyratorres.wordpress.com/</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://lyratorres.wordpress.com/2010/06/04/aw-blogchain-june-2010-attitude/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to her post</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Aheïla: </span></span><a href="http://thewriteaholicblog.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://thewriteaholicblog.wordpress.com/</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://thewriteaholicblog.wordpress.com/2010/06/07/aw-june-blog-chain/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to her post</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ArcticFox: </span></span><a href="http://picaresqueblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://picaresqueblog.blogspot.com/</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://picaresqueblog.blogspot.com/2010/06/absolute-write-june-blog-chain-wip.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to her post</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Fokker Aeroplanbau: </span></span><a href="http://rightfarright.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://rightfarright.blogspot.com/</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://rightfarright.blogspot.com/2010/06/but-another-absolute-blog-chain.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to his post</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Alpha Echo: </span></span><a href="http://writersramblings81.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://writersramblings81.blogspot.com/</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://writersramblings81.blogspot.com/2010/06/meet-chase-morgan.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to her post</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">xcomplex: </span></span><a href="http://arielemerald.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://arielemerald.blogspot.com/</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://arielemerald.blogspot.com/2010/06/aw-june-blog-chain.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to her post</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">CScottMorris: </span></span><a href="http://cscottmorrisbooks.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://cscottmorrisbooks.com/</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://cscottmorrisbooks.com/2010/06/10/june-blog-chain/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to his post</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">egoodlett: </span></span><a href="http://wordlarceny.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://wordlarceny.blogspot.com/</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://wordlarceny.blogspot.com/2010/06/aw-june-blog-chain.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to her post</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lilain: </span></span><a href="http://abigailschmidt.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://abigailschmidt.blogspot.com/</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://abigailschmidt.blogspot.com/2010/06/scene-from-wip.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to her post</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">defyalllogic: </span></span><a href="http://tavialewis.com/hyperbolicallyspeaking/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://tavialewis.com/hyperbolicallyspeaking/</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://tavialewis.com/hyperbolicallyspeaking/2010/06/15/june-blog-chain-post-a-scene-that-describes-or-defines-your-main-characters-attitude/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to her post</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">*RomanceWriter*: </span></span><a href="http://www.staceyespino.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://www.staceyespino.blogspot.com</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://staceyespino.blogspot.com/2010/06/absolute-write-june-blog-chain.html?zx=c6b58c4efc10e979" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to her post</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">IrishAnnie: </span></span><a href="http://superpenpower.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://superpenpower.blogspot.com</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://superpenpower.blogspot.com/2010/06/blog-chain-define-your-character.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">direct link to her post</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Anarchicq: </span></span><a href="http://anarchicq.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://anarchicq.com/</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">littlebear91: </span></span><a href="http://blog.littlebearz.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://blog.littlebearz.com</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">hillaryjacques: </span></span><a href="http://www.hillaryjacques.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">www.hillaryjacques.blogspot.com</span></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Proach: </span></span><a href="http://desstories.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'times new roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://desstories.blogspot.com</span></span></a></div></span><p></p></span><p></p>Nina Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940094611524209087noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402858251720664038.post-43655090063422937812010-06-11T16:45:00.000-07:002010-06-23T16:24:08.232-07:00Bobblehead: Reacting To Rejection<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrz5ywVzFbLW3wwgPFvW83CislrVnS9CFpXFf5I4OdgN_q7shS7iTn6pMCiCGYx_viJvfCmOwDBykabUT5ZG4kvMxgdBO2u0oubfQnjdlwXpytFgQA8elrdAuGdLfSLORGa9_A_VW7_Hs/s1600/mjanebobble1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 215px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrz5ywVzFbLW3wwgPFvW83CislrVnS9CFpXFf5I4OdgN_q7shS7iTn6pMCiCGYx_viJvfCmOwDBykabUT5ZG4kvMxgdBO2u0oubfQnjdlwXpytFgQA8elrdAuGdLfSLORGa9_A_VW7_Hs/s320/mjanebobble1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481667317537333234" /></a><p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Rejection.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">It's an ugly word. Anger, sorrow, frustration, abandonment, loss, and discouragement are all conveyed by rejection. It's probably one of the most difficult things anyone can face.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">And it's a non-stop part of a writer's life.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I've been getting a lot of rejections lately. In my personal life they've been coming thick and fast, but more importantly, I'm being rejected in my writing life. </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">This summer is the first time I'm actively pursuing publication. I've been playing around with it since 2007, but this year I've turned my hard-headed stubborn persistence to GetPublishedOrDieTrying. Two of my novels are sitting on editor's desks, waiting for the final verdict. The third (last year's NaNo novel <i>SS-5)</i> I've been sending out to agents since early April. I've probably sent it to close to 30 agents so far. Most have gotten back to me within a week with politely worded rejections, some form, some personal. I've gotten to the end of my list of “probabilities”. I'm mopping up the “possibilities” and, gritting my teeth, now moving into the “you've-got-to-be-crazy-to-think-they'll-accept-it” bracket.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Am I discouraged? You better believe it.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Am I giving up? Not on your life.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">Writers are suckers for punishment. They have the toughest skins on the planet – it's a survival thing. I watched a kid playing with a bobblehead doll the other day, and suddenly the image of a writer came to mind: the kid's poking finger was the rejections, and the doll who (stupidly, stubbornly, without fail) bobbed back up to take more punishment was the writer. I ended up doubled over laughing, clutching my purse, making futile, laughter-limp gestures, to the consternation of store employees. (try to explain a metaphor like THAT to a Wal-Mart clerk)</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">So no, I'm not giving up. Neither are the multitude of fellow writers close to me who have been handed out some pretty crushing rejections these past few months. Yet a couple of them have come to me, exhausted and frustrated, wondering if there's really a good reason for pushing on. <i>Maybe there's something wrong with the novel. Maybe it really sucks. Maybe it will never get published. I might as well not send it out anymore.</i></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in">I wince every time I hear it, because it echoes my thoughts so perfectly. <span style="font-style: normal"> The truth, though, is that it's a terrible time for novelists. What with the economy and the growing commercialism of the publishing industry, it's incredibly hard for new writers to break in. But it's not a reason to give up. I've a few friends who consistently remind me that the right person for my novels is out there. I just have to find them.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-style: normal">And that's what it comes down to. Don't give up. Don't let the rejections stop you from sending out your novel (or short story, or poem, or article) again and again and again. If your work sits at home, buried in some dusty drawer or cobwebby corner of cyberspace, it's 100% sure that no one will accept it. If it's out there, knocking on doors, there's a chance. </span> </p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-style: normal">So that's where I stand. I'm the bobble-head doll who, after getting hit with three rejections before breakfast, turns right around and sends out five new queries before lunch. It helps, in a bizarre way. Maybe it's all about faith. Maybe it's believing enough in your dreams and your writing to keep throwing it out there.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-style: normal">Whatever the case, I do have faith that sooner or later, it'll all be worth it and my manuscript will land on the right person's desk, at the right time of day, with the right weather outside and the right cup of coffee nearby and... you get the picture. :)</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><span style="font-style: normal">Don't give up. Don't get discouraged. Somewhere out there the right person (and the right desk, and the right time of day, etc) is waiting. You just have to find them.</span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><br /></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-bottom: 0in; "><span style="font-style: normal">How do you deal with rejection? Share all the crazy ways you cope with this hard aspect of a writer's life. Have you gotten a particularly crushing rejection lately? Go ahead and vent. Or perhaps you've gotten some really good news! Share the encouragement!</span></p>Nina Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940094611524209087noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402858251720664038.post-6105450797381604362010-05-24T16:27:00.000-07:002010-05-24T18:55:55.200-07:00The Write Note - Music and Writing<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNaKy1_weFGgwdm9php_GP_sxlVitzR3F3BDS0BsVaCPEGXyrgHs_VwPph5KlJQy2PBG1Pb5IsnfRJcqesYvmXuvbhdy3pVCbXMk9r8hCQMUs1_SgheNdSu1zlbsDR2hIHIjK4oo4UgY/s1600/z+(3).jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 264px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNaKy1_weFGgwdm9php_GP_sxlVitzR3F3BDS0BsVaCPEGXyrgHs_VwPph5KlJQy2PBG1Pb5IsnfRJcqesYvmXuvbhdy3pVCbXMk9r8hCQMUs1_SgheNdSu1zlbsDR2hIHIjK4oo4UgY/s320/z+(3).jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5474983589119085218" /></a><div>There's no obvious connection between writing fiction and music. Writing is primarily mental, and making music engages the physical body as much as it does the brain. The connection...?</div><div><br /></div><div>Any writer who's used music to help them write knows the answer. Because writing primarily engages the brain, it's a constant battle for writers to choose the right words to evoke sensual, physical reactions. Music, famous for its physical effect on people, helps writers “make music” with their words and create prose that explodes into life. </div><div><br /></div><div>Listening to music, whether instrumentals (such as soundtracks – brilliant for writing!) or vocals, doesn't just set the mood and inspire, it actually can improve the prose by weaving in themes, threads, and subtle variations the writer couldn't achieve with silence.</div><div><br /></div><div>Just the other day I discussed this with someone and they wanted to know how music could affect the writing itself. Certainly it could affect the writer, but how could the intangible essence of the music get into the words?</div><div><br /></div><div>“Don't look at me,” I said, “I haven't a clue! All that I know is that it <i>does</i>.” Perhaps it has something to do with the subconscious. A psychologist could theorize, but as writers we don't need to know why music works for us, we just need to believe and let the music sing through our fingers into the words.</div><div><br /></div><div>One of the most dramatic times music has affected my writing happened when my cowriter and I were editing our WWII novel <i>A Fire Is Woken</i>. I was working on the first romantic climax, the scene where the two main characters (<i>FINALLY!!</i>) admit they love each other. Sentimental, happy sigh kind of stuff was how the outline shaped the scene. A satisfying ending, a calm and happy oasis in a rather turbulent sea. </div><div><br /></div><div>How boring! The first rule of good writing is keep the reader turning the pages! What a disaster to have the reader, halfway through the novel, put the book down with a satisfied smile thinking they'd reached the happily-ever-after?</div><div><br /></div><div>No, of course that wouldn't do. But one week and a bout of pneumonia later, my aching head couldn't come up with a solution. Finally, I decided “Oh <i>to heck with this</i>, I'll just write it,” turned on some writing music and dove in. The scene played out as outlined. No conflict, no tension. I sighed, muttered, kicked by chair away from the keyboard and stared up at the ceiling in despair. And then... I realized this song was playing on repeat, tinkling, sunshine-y music. Romantic sweeps and trills of exultation. <i>Just like the scene.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Then beneath the surface I heard the background: dull low notes, ebb and flow, almost reaching a crescendo, then sinking back below the surface, hidden but not gone.</div><div><br /></div><div>An idea started to tingle on the edge of my brain. I sat there for a second, held my breath, then flew back to the keyboard. My fingers couldn't fly fast enough as the scene played out in my mind.</div><div><br /></div><div>The end result? The scene is romantic, and satisfying on the surface. But below the outward happiness, there's a strong undercurrent of trouble. The reader can feel the trouble ahead; not blatantly, but as a subtle shiver...they know there's a heck of a lot more book to come. The one comment we get consistantly about the scene is that the readers are unable to put it down. They can't wait to find out what happens next – <i>because they know something will.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>That never would have happened without music. The odd part is, I don't know where that piece comes from. It exists on my computer simply as “Track 01”. But somehow, in a mysterious way, that piece inspired and saturated me enough with its message that I was able to pass that mystery, that apprehension onto black and white, paper and ink.</div><div><br /></div><div>Pretty amazing, huh?</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What are some instances music has drastically changed your writing? What sort of music inspires you?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Note: this post is part of AbsoluteWrite's May blog chain! Below are links to the other participants in this enticing endeavor!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; "><b>The AW May Musical Blog Chain's Fantabulous Links Are:</b><br />Aheïla: <a href="http://thewriteaholicblog.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">http://thewriteaholicblog.wordpress.com/</a> and <a href="http://thewriteaholicblog.wordpress.com/2010/05/01/aw-may-musical-blog-chain/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">direct link to my blog chain's post</a><br />Stefanie Gaither: <a href="http://stefanie-gaither.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">http://stefanie-gaither.blogspot.com/</a> and <a href="http://stefanie-gaither.blogspot.com/2010/05/may-musical-blog-chain-post.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">direct link to the blog chain's post</a><br />AuburnAssassin: <a href="http://clairegillian.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">http://clairegillian.wordpress.com/</a> and <a href="http://clairegillian.wordpress.com/2010/05/03/aw-may-musical-blog-chain/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">direct link to her post</a><br />xcomplex: <a href="http://arielemerald.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">http://arielemerald.blogspot.com</a> and <a href="http://arielemerald.blogspot.com/2010/05/aw-may-musical-blogchain.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">direct link to her post</a><br />Proach: <a href="http://everythinghistorical.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">http://everythinghistorical.wordpress.com</a> and <a href="http://everythinghistorical.wordpress.com/2010/05/05/may-aw-blog-chain-what-does-your-story-characters-sound-like/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">direct link to her post</a><br />8thSamurai: <a href="http://digitalisdreaming.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">http://digitalisdreaming.blogspot.com/</a> and <a href="http://digitalisdreaming.blogspot.com/2010/05/my-first-blog-chain-what-do-your.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">direct link to her post</a><br />vfury: <a href="http://helencorcoran.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">http://helencorcoran.wordpress.com</a> and <a href="http://helencorcoran.wordpress.com/2010/05/10/aw-blog-chain-music-and-writing/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">direct link to her post</a><br />CScottMorris: <a href="http://cscottmorrisbooks.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">http://cscottmorrisbooks.com/</a> and <a href="http://cscottmorrisbooks.com/2010/05/12/may-blog-chain/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">direct link to his post</a><br />Hayley E. Lavik: <a href="http://hayleyelavik.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">http://hayleyelavik.blogspot.com</a> and <a href="http://hayleyelavik.blogspot.com/2010/05/between-sound-and-word.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">direct link to her post</a><br />FreshHell: <a href="http://freshhell.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">http://freshhell.wordpress.com</a> and <a href="http://freshhell.wordpress.com/2010/05/17/aw-may-blog-chain-writing-and-music/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">direct link to her post</a><br />LadyMage: <a href="http://www.katherinegilraine.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">http://www.katherinegilraine.com</a> and <a href="http://katherinegilraine.com/2010/05/17/aw-may-blog-chain-music/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">direct link to her post</a><br />DavidZahir: <a href="http://zahirblue.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">http://zahirblue.blogspot.com/</a> and <a href="http://zahirblue.blogspot.com/2010/04/character-music-may-2010-blog-chain.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">direct link to his post</a><br />Aimée Laine: <a href="http://www.aimeelaine.com/writing/blog/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">http://www.aimeelaine.com/writing/blog/</a> and <a href="http://www.aimeelaine.com/writing/blog/?p=579" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">direct link to her post</a><br />egoodlett: <a href="http://wordlarceny.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">http://wordlarceny.blogspot.com/</a> and <a href="http://wordlarceny.blogspot.com/2010/05/may-blog-chain-music.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">direct link to her post</a><br />Semmie: <a href="http://semmie.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">http://semmie.wordpress.com</a> and <a href="http://semmie.wordpress.com/2010/05/18/aw-musical-blog-chain/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">direct link to her post</a><br />Sbclark: <a href="http://sonyaclark.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">http://sonyaclark.blogspot.com/</a> and <a href="http://sonyaclark.blogspot.com/2010/05/aw-blog-chain-for-may.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">direct link to her post</a><br />Razibahmed: <a href="http://write-translate.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">http://write-translate.blogspot.com/</a> and <a href="http://write-translate.blogspot.com/2010/05/absolute-write-blog-chain-may-2010-two.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">direct link to his post</a><br />ArcticFox: <a href="http://picaresqueblog.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">http://picaresqueblog.blogspot.com/</a> and <a href="http://picaresqueblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/absolute-write-may-blog-chain-music.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">direct link to her post</a><br />Lilain: <a href="http://abigailschmidt.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">http://abigailschmidt.blogspot.com/</a> and <a href="http://abigailschmidt.blogspot.com/2010/05/where-words-fail-music-speaks-andersen.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">direct link to her post</a><br />Truelyana: <a href="http://expressiveworld.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">http://expressiveworld.com/</a> and <a href="http://expressiveworld.com/aw-may-musical-blog-chain-sounds-of-inner-life/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">direct link to her post</a><br />CowgirlPoet: <a href="http://frontnotes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">http://frontnotes.blogspot.com/</a> and <a href="http://frontnotes.blogspot.com/2010/05/write-note-music-and-writing.html" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">direct link to her post</a><br />defyalllogic:<a href="http://tavialewis.com/hyperbolicallyspeaking/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">http://tavialewis.com/hyperbolicallyspeaking/</a><br />circlexranch:<a href="http://www.whyifearclowns.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">http://www.whyifearclowns.blogspot.com/</a><br />IrishAnnie: <a href="http://superpenpower.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">http://superpenpower.blogspot.com</a><br />Anarchicq: <a href="http://anarchicq.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">http://anarchicq.com</a><br />Harri3tspy: <a href="http://spynotes.wordpress.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">http://spynotes.wordpress.com</a><br />Alpha Echo: <a href="http://writersramblings81.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">http://writersramblings81.blogspot.com/</a><br />roh: <a href="http://www.rohmorgon.com/blog" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); ">http://www.rohmorgon.com/blog</a></span></div><div><br /></div>Nina Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940094611524209087noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402858251720664038.post-5435796574369732372010-05-04T19:27:00.000-07:002010-05-04T20:18:39.597-07:00Words From The Wise - Writing Quotes!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vnWeExuo2ovYv76ukoDpvY_RTFAWIukEG4UvsfB_xyHt539jtB7I3hUXz7NmqNUecrdazlM_LzgRXwzQvBsbWUjC1pMm2yb1WmxSYQ7PoKnFuTTJRNy3mMkWcIAg6rMlftjM4FKWOeM/s1600/word+fitly+spoken+av2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-vnWeExuo2ovYv76ukoDpvY_RTFAWIukEG4UvsfB_xyHt539jtB7I3hUXz7NmqNUecrdazlM_LzgRXwzQvBsbWUjC1pMm2yb1WmxSYQ7PoKnFuTTJRNy3mMkWcIAg6rMlftjM4FKWOeM/s320/word+fitly+spoken+av2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467620014204615362" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;">Today, instead of an article on writing, I decided instead to do something fun and post some of my favorite writing quotes. (Oh </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;">all right</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;">, yes, it's a lazy cop-out, but it'll hopefully provoke a few chuckles, and that's just what the doctor ordered, eh?)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;">So here are a few of the writing quotes I have plastered over my notebooks and walls and in the margins of my REFUSED file. Enjoy!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>“Most writers enjoy two periods of happiness—when a glorious idea comes to mind, and when a last page has been written and you haven't had time to know how much better it ought to be.” ~~ J. B. Priestly </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>“A writer lives in a state of astonishment.” ~~ William Sansom</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>“It's nervous work. The state that you need to write in is the state that others are paying large sums to get rid of.” ~~ Shirley Hazzard</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>“My books happen. They tend to blast in from nowhere, seize me by the throat, and howl 'Write me! Write me now!' But they rarely stand still long enough for me to see what and who they are, before they hurtle away again. And so I spend a lot of time running after them, like a thrown rider after an escaped horse, saying 'Wait for me! Wait for me!' and waving my notebook in the air.” ~~ Robin McKinley</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>“If you are in difficulties with a book, try the element of surprise. Attack it at an hour when it isn't expecting it.” ~~ HG Wells</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>“I love being a writer. What I can't stand is the paperwork.” ~~ Peter de Vries</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>“Sometimes I think my writing sounds like I walked out of the room and left the typewriter running.” ~~ Gene Fowler</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>“I can look at my books with pleasure from a distance. Four feet is close enough.” ~~ Jim Bishop</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It took me fifteen years to discover that I had no talent for writing, but I couldn't give it up because by that time I was too famous. ~~Robert Benchley </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>“My stories run up and bite me on the leg—I respond by writing down everything that goes on during the bite. When I finish the idea lets go and runs off.” ~~ Ray Bradbury</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>“There is no way that writers can be tamed and rendered civilized or even cured...the only solution known to science is to provide the patient with an isolation room where he can endure the acute stages in private and where food can be poked to him with a stick. If you disturb the patient at such time, he may break into tears or become violent.” ~~ Robert Heinlein</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>“A book is like a quarrel. One word leads to another, and may erupt in blood or print, irrevocably.” ~~ Will and Ariel Durant</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>“Computers will have to learn that when I quote from some old author who spelled differently from the machine, the wishes of the long-dead author will have to be respected, and the machine will have to mind its manners.” ~~ Robertson Davies</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>“Sir, perhaps the lack of literary inventiveness in modern opening lines is due to the effect of the word processor. When I ran the first line of <i>Moby Dick</i> through my spell-checker, it suggested changing it to 'Call me Fishmeal'.” ~~ Helen Grayson</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>"Your manuscript is both good and original; but the part that is good is not original, and the part that is original is not good." ~~ Anonymous</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>“I love being a writer. What I can't stand is the paperwork.” ~~ Peter de Vries</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;"><i>When I'm not in the mood for laughing, I read these two quotes – they sum up beautifully the need for perseverance in writing, and the assurance that if you just keep WRITING, sooner or later you will achieve your dreams.</i></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>A writer is a writer not because she writes well and easily, because she has amazing talent, because everything she does is golden. In my view, a writer is a writer because even when there is no hope, even when nothing you do shows any sign of promise, you keep writing anyway. ~~ Junot Diaz</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>“A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit.” ~~ Richard Bach</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000066;">And for a final chuckle... :D</span></i></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>“Coleridge was a drug addict. Poe was an alcoholic. Marlowe was killed by a man whom he was treacherously trying to stab. Pope took money to keep a woman's name out of a satire then wrote a piece so that she could still be recognized anyhow. Chatterton killed himself. Byron was accused of incest. Do you still want to a writer--and if so, why?” ~~ Bennett Cerf</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Nina Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940094611524209087noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402858251720664038.post-48582307569763298702010-04-24T13:55:00.000-07:002010-04-24T14:06:09.758-07:00So Much To Do – No Time At All!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3ZTV7I1xK83C6CDfRQ-gnZh5M9R-mgXD53eOLUdVSTrV5Pt9P5P6YWKWqFTKtTMDcCwniGy8ZvyFqPICeO8kyrrge_fpOpcLJSWQl7i6avxp-Y2x950HBC3yM-rpD0Loe76Lcj9kNWY/s1600/AB15521+-+Copy.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3ZTV7I1xK83C6CDfRQ-gnZh5M9R-mgXD53eOLUdVSTrV5Pt9P5P6YWKWqFTKtTMDcCwniGy8ZvyFqPICeO8kyrrge_fpOpcLJSWQl7i6avxp-Y2x950HBC3yM-rpD0Loe76Lcj9kNWY/s320/AB15521+-+Copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463813260822989570" /></a><br />Guess what? I'm still alive! I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, relapsed into pneumonia, or run away to join the FBI. However, I've been feeling a bit Dorothy-ish – as if a tornado had whirled through my life, spun me off my feet, and dropped me in a whole new world.<br /><br />Since the last post, I have (a) moved, (b) acquired – or will soon – a new job and (c) started a new novel. :D As well as a host of other things which have kept me in a permanent tailspin! What with two jobs, a possible publishing contract (at least one!) and actually sheltering in the same domicle as my best friend/co-writer, the summer's going to be mad. Beautifully mad, but crazy is crazy any way you slice it.<br /><br />Writing stays at the top of my priority list, though, and in the next few weeks I'm going to post updates about my newest novels. I'm guessing my actual writing time is going to get cut down, but in a way that's a good thing: right now editing and stepping up the publishing endeavor is more important.<br /><br />As for the writing itself – NaNo taught me how powerful writing a little bit, just a <span style="font-style:italic;">little bit</span>, every day is. Those five hundred words per day add up. I think, as well, it's the physical act of writing, the concentration of your thoughts into words, that keeps you fresh. I know I'm never happy until I've written!<br /><br />In matter of actual quantity - we'll see what happens as the days grow warmer... and in case anyone didn't notice, aren't we having a BEAUTIFUL SPRING?!?!<br /><br />In the meantime – sorry for disappearing and please bear with me as I get back into a regular posting schedule! Next post will be a collection of the funniest, wisest, and most uplifting quotes on writing, so be sure to check back in a couple of days.<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />What are you doing for the summer? Starting a new job? Heading out on vacation? How are you fitting your writing schedule around the warm weather, or is your typewriter tucked away in cotton till the leaves turn?Nina Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940094611524209087noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402858251720664038.post-34911085101919024082010-03-29T15:19:00.000-07:002010-04-05T14:57:56.389-07:00Write Your Synopsis - And Stay Sane!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZBdVQ_HZZuR-lQuwVuvoQxj0fOLkl0rzX0-R8YdBe0yabySBJ9IdHNg1-6l1I2PbCB5qjBe3mTqVdiNAfYrfeInrlfKA3qVyYLKj_M3udP8yf2dF6EzVfUeAu-ZXO6yJgwZ2Y4Usw4A/s1600/ls012809.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 157px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPZBdVQ_HZZuR-lQuwVuvoQxj0fOLkl0rzX0-R8YdBe0yabySBJ9IdHNg1-6l1I2PbCB5qjBe3mTqVdiNAfYrfeInrlfKA3qVyYLKj_M3udP8yf2dF6EzVfUeAu-ZXO6yJgwZ2Y4Usw4A/s200/ls012809.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5456774625130238082" border="0" /></a>
<br /><meta equiv="CONTENT-TYPE" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><title></title><meta name="GENERATOR" content="OpenOffice.org 2.3 (Win32)"><style type="text/css"> <!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --> </style> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">How hard can it be to summarize your novel in about 700 well-chosen words? Sounds simple, eh? But as anyone who's tried it knows, those 700 words can cause terrible grief, precipitate nervous breakdowns, hair loss, and murderous mood swings—and in some cases, take longer to write than the whole 100,000-word novel did!</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">If there is one thing the diverse writing world agrees on, it's that being captured by headhunters is preferable to writing a synopsis. Stephen King said the best thing about success was that he'd never have to write a synopsis again.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">...since most of us are a ways from being the next Stephen King, what are some ways to dull the agony and turn out something that makes agents claw each others eyes out to get their hands on the book?</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">A method I recently discovered is the chapter summary: take each chapter of the novel and summarize it in one or two sentences. You'll end up with about 25-40 sentences, which may not make any sense, but it'll give you an idea of the novel's skeleton. The next step is to flesh out the skeleton. This method works well for plot-heavy novels, because it forces you to get down to the core ideas of your book.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>
<br /></b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Example: (from my novel SS-5)</b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>
<br /></i></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>(chapter 1) Birthday plans. Father leaves for the army. (chapter 2) Nazis invade. Holland surrenders. Father goes missing.</i></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">...and the final version...</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>
<br /></i></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>It's May, 1940 and war rumbles across the European countryside, yet Jan Jonkheer believes it couldn't possibly touch the safety of neutral Holland. Jan's father, who has faced the truth and knows Hitler is coming, breaks his promise to stay with his family and joins Holland's army on the eve of his son's fourteenth birthday.</i></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>
<br /></i></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>Jan, betrayed and angry, wakes on his birthday morning to the crash of bombs and the drums of war. Hitler's armies have invaded Holland. Within twenty-four hours, the tiny Dutch army is conquered and Jan knows he has lost his father forever.</i></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Another method is to use the character outline. Select the three or four characters who drive the novel, and write a paragraph for each describing who they are at the beginning, what happens to make them change, and who they become at the end. Then take a couple of paragraphs to summarize how the characters interact, the conflict and the resolution, and you're done. The character outline works particularly well for literary novels and character-driven novels where the characters are central. Randy Ingersoll, creator of the Snowflake method of novelwriting, says agents/editors <i>love</i> character outlines.</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>
<br /></b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Example: (from my novel Through A Rain Of Fire)</b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>
<br /></i></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>Flight Lieutenant Peter Standish is the best pilot in his squadron. He's engaged to a beautiful girl, and they've planned a wonderful future. Peter thinks he is unstoppable: until the day he goes down in flames. His body burned beyond recognition, his world in ashes, Peter Standish fights to find a reason to live.</i></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i> </i></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>
<br /></i></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>Growing up in a sheltered, loving family, Julie Knight never knew how bad life could get. Abandoned for dead after a tragic train wreck, the seventeen-year-old hides in the shadows as her city is bombed to ruins. Locked behind the prison walls of a London orphanage, alone without friends or family, she struggles for hope of survival.</i></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">One more helpful tip is not to worry about word count. (Do that while writing the synopsis and your risk of insanity triples.) Use the chapter outline or the character sketch—or something else entirely—and just write. At the end, if you're short words, you can fill with description or added information. If you're too long, set it aside for a couple of days and then cut. It's amazing how many unnecessary words we use! (Look at this blog, for example...)</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">A final comforting thought is that, sooner or later, you won't have to write synopses anymore. You'll either be a bestselling author – or you'll have gone insane. :)</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">______________________________</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">Are you a super-synopsis-writer? What are some tricks you use? Have you ever tried the chapter outline or the character sketch?</p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<br /></p> Nina Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940094611524209087noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402858251720664038.post-3642042400102134562010-03-25T10:59:00.000-07:002010-03-25T11:31:40.122-07:00It “Was” Horrible – and ways to make it better!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy-mwYQ5EZpNs0rcbWhVWP4zJrxjUOCqscwulI3PKVpRtFK0-NIHMf7JRybB6XffaPuLTe1IRgg0f_3xMI-MXA_KlIBr4t6rI4MlMKrhRyEkVdUf6RvZNctpbDvIFyveJfmTYCi6fD3Y4/s1600/was.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452639390919965106" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 144px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy-mwYQ5EZpNs0rcbWhVWP4zJrxjUOCqscwulI3PKVpRtFK0-NIHMf7JRybB6XffaPuLTe1IRgg0f_3xMI-MXA_KlIBr4t6rI4MlMKrhRyEkVdUf6RvZNctpbDvIFyveJfmTYCi6fD3Y4/s200/was.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p>It's a nasty word. It drives editors to distraction, causes agents to go into anaphylactic shock, and writing mentors to slosh red ink around like blood. From the moment we start to write, we hear “NEVER USE WAS!”<br /></p><br /><p>However, they rarely say why. And even rarer do they give advice on how to fix it! But the solution to “was-less” prose is actually quite simple. In this post, I'll give some pointers showing how to replace it!<br /></p><br /><p>First, though: Why is “was” wrong? Well, because it's passive. It's the quickie way of saying something, and it makes the writing sound lazy. “She was angry” is much less exciting than “Her teeth gritted and her fists bulged in her pockets.”<br /></p><br /><p>Despite the taboos, “was” is still a perfectly good word, and in some cases, it belongs. But chances are you use it too much, just like 99.9% of all writers. The good news is that it's surprisingly easy to get rid of!<br /></p><br /><p>Here are a few common “was” phrases I've seen. Below each, I've rewritten the sentence to get rid of “was.”<br /></p><br /><p><em>The floor was cold under his bare feet.<br />His bare toes curled against the cold floor.<br /></em></p><br /><p><em>She was too tired to keep her eyes open.<br />Exhaustion dizzied her and her eyes drooped shut.<br /></em></p><br /><p><em>The sun was warm on his face.<br />Rays of sunshine beat down, hot on his face.<br /></em></p><br /><p><em>The food was spicy.<br />Heat tingled through his mouth as he ate the food.</em><br /></p><br /><p>Notice how much more powerful and interesting the rewrites are than the original sentence? Grammatically, there's nothing at all wrong with the originals, but by replacing “was” with active verbs, the impact of the writing takes a giant leap for the better. It's a subtle trick, but it guarantees a better piece of writing—and it guarantees editors and agents won't react to your work like it was poison ivy!</p><br /><p><br />It's actually simple to find replacements for “was,” especially on an edit. (I often let the word fall where it may when I'm churning out a scene, and go back and replace them later.) Try it yourself – go through your own writing and find seven or eight “was” sentences, and rewrite them using active verbs and sentence structure. Do it on a regular basis, and pretty soon it'll become second nature!<br /></p><br /><p>One warning – don't try to replace “was” in dialogue. Like it or not, we murder grammar when we talk, and if you try to make all dialogue perfect writing, it'll sound stilted.<br /></p><br /><p>And don't forget, there are some places that definitely merit a “was.” If you think you've got a place where the word works, go with it! Just like any other rule, this one can be broken successfully.<br />_________________________________________________<br /></p><br /><p>What are some of the strategies YOU employ to avoid using “was”?<br /></p><br /><div></div>Nina Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940094611524209087noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402858251720664038.post-63747400175861571332010-03-19T16:30:00.000-07:002010-03-20T11:21:52.062-07:00Awards - Oh My!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFx6aSUlyoOfyRH1YbvR4BbDVVMAbMZAsbIffTKarcAaypm2YskxO9iz7rQZxxezO-Mc5SZ1ZvrOyVCgpWzoc1JwMg3b-PQ0ToALagKqCGEIReWQggTCv3kdxu5k4COWzdbrQ8V_kb3o/s1600-h/Kreativ+Blogger.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450496504495395538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBFx6aSUlyoOfyRH1YbvR4BbDVVMAbMZAsbIffTKarcAaypm2YskxO9iz7rQZxxezO-Mc5SZ1ZvrOyVCgpWzoc1JwMg3b-PQ0ToALagKqCGEIReWQggTCv3kdxu5k4COWzdbrQ8V_kb3o/s320/Kreativ+Blogger.jpg" /></a><br /><div><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;"></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;">This lovely award was given to me by Elisabeth (elisabethscorner.blogspot.com) and I am (belately) accepting it with much thanks!!! </span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;">Now, this award apparently comes with a few rules. They are:</span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;"></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><em><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;">1. Tell you seven things you don't know about me</span></em><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><em><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;">2. Name seven other blogs to receive this award</span></em><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><em><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;">3. Leave a comment on the other blogs I have nominated letting them know that I have given them an award.</span></em><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><em><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;">4. Thank the blog that gave you the award!</span></em><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><em><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:10;color:#333333;"></span></em><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;"></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;">Seven things who doesn't know about me? ;) Seven things NO ONE knows about me is about seven things more than I want to share with the general world at large. But let's see what odd facts I can dig up.</span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong><i><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:15;color:#333333;"></span></i></strong></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong><i><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:15;color:#333333;">1.</span></i></strong><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;"> I love Dorothy Sayers, and Lord Peter would be my favorite detective of all time - except Father Brown squeezed in for first.</span></p><br /><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;">*<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><em><b><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:15;color:#333333;">2.</span></b></em><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;"> My favorite food is spaghetti and I have been known to eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!</span></p><br /><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;">*<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><em><b><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:15;color:#333333;">3.</span></b></em><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;"> If I could have a magical talent I would want to be able to breathe underwater.</span></p><br /><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;">*<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><em><b><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:15;color:#333333;">4.</span></b></em><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;"> If I changed my name I'd be "Katherine".</span></p><br /><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><em><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;">*</span></em><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><em><b><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:15;color:#333333;">5.</span></b></em><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;"> I believe reading P.G. Wodehouse should be mandatory - to maintain a healthy level of insanity.</span></p><br /><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;">*<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><em><b><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:15;color:#333333;">6.</span></b></em><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;"> If I weren't a writer I'd be a trauma surgeon or a third-word paramedic.</span></p><br /><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;">*<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><em><b><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:15;color:#333333;">7.</span></b></em><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;"> All of the above information has been falsified, especially this paragraph. ;)</span></p><br /><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;">*<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;">And now to spread this madness across the web.... I am presenting this award to:</span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;"></span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;">Ruth</span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;">Becky</span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;">Mitzi</span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;">Kayla</span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;">Aisely</span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;">Nona</span></p><br /><p style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;">Blanche Rose</span></p><br /><p style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: 19.2pt; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-family:Georgia;color:#333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div>Nina Hansenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17940094611524209087noreply@blogger.com3