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My daughter has spent the last couple evenings snuggled up under her blanket reading a book. Correction: reading the iPad. Last night at 10 p.m. I finally said sorry, but you need to go to sleep. I promised to wake her up early so she could finish reading before school. Here's hoping she finishes before it's time to leave or we're going to have a real struggle! The book that has captured her attention? Boys are Dogs by Leslie Margolis. I don't know the author, but with such a ringing endorsement from my reluctant reader, I'm going to have to read this one myself!
But not today. Today is World Read Aloud Day, a celebration of shared words, encouraged by LitWorld.
I read aloud a lot with my entire family. (Yes, my hubby likes to listen in, too!) Right now we're in the middle of Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire. My son and husband have heard this entire series before, but it's the first time through with my daughter. It's been hard to keep some of the secrets of the stories from her (darn those evil children who like to spoil endings!) but the books are so wonderful that we've all enjoyed discovering them again. And of course, each time we finish a book, the dvd comes out so we can compare the book with the movie. You can guess which version wins every time :-)
What will you be reading out loud today with a child?
2 Comments on World Read Aloud Day, last added: 3/6/2013
I remember when I was a kid getting in trouble for reading so much...I used to hold the book up to those dim LED nightlights and get terrible headaches, but I never wanted to stop! And we read aloud a lot in my home, too. My husband works from home, so often I'll read aloud to everyone--just finished The Silver Chair. :)
No kids to read aloud with, but I have very distinct, wonderful memories of my parents reading aloud with me. No doubt that's where my affinity for reading and writing comes from. :)
I'll probably catch a bit of heat for this, but I have a huge pet peeve when it comes to children's books: I hate dead parents.
Most times, dead parents are used as a device for writers to allow the child character to go off and have adventures that no sane parent would allow. For me, it's a huge problem because most of these literary children never have another thought about their deceased parents. Granted, a child that was orphaned at 10 is not still going to be moping and crying at 16. But even if that child was adopted by a loving family, the lack of parents will influence them in countless ways.
I should know. I was that child.
Every person reacts differently in a given situation, but even a child that never knew their parents will think about them at different milestones or tuning points in their lives. When I learned to drive, I remembered sitting on my father's lap and steering the car on country roads. I wondered how he would have taught me differently, if I would have even been learning on the same streets, in the same car. When I had my first boyfriend, I wished my mom could have met his mom because I knew they would have been friends. I wondered what advice she would have given me and how it would have differed from my adoptive mother. To this day, every time I bake cookies, or smell fried chicken, or see a violet or a duck, or hear certain songs on the radio, it triggers a memory of my parents. I don't break down and cry, but I think about them, every day, in so many little ways.
Novels are stories about turning points in a character's life. Too often characters don't ring true because writer's don't give them that added depth of reflecting on how their turning point would have been different if their parents were around. J.K. Rowling did this masterfully in the Harry Potter books. His parents were woven into the storyline countless times, in a way that was meaningful and real. When Harry looked in the Mirror of Erised, I desperately desired my own. And the photos where he could see his parents moving about? Priceless. Rowling understood the emotions surrounding the death of a parent, probably because she experienced that loss herself as she was writing the books.
Many things can be imagined in a novel, but false emotions regarding dead parents never sit well with me. It's hard to write a book with realistic, living parents. But it's a challenge more writer's should attempt. Because when we were children, every day was an adventure. And even when our parents were around, we found ways to have those adventure, safe in the knowledge that our parents would be there to bail us out if things got out of hand.
Maybe it's my own fantasy, my way of making my parents come alive in the pages of my stories. Maybe someday I'll be a good enough writer, a brave enough writer to honestly portray the raw emotions of a character without parents. But another part of me fights back. Aren't there are enough dead parents in children's books?
I think I'll keep mine alive.
16 Comments on Why I'll Never Kill My Parents, last added: 12/19/2012
Interesting post. I finished read a book today in which the dead parent is really a driving force -- A Smidgen of Sky by Dianna Dorisi Winget -- and, I think, handled really well. In my two (as yet unpublished) novels I have no dead parents in either, but in one the MC thinks his mother is dead. I hope I've handled it well. This certainly is something for all writers to keep in mind. Thanks for a thoughtful post.
Dead parents is too popular in childrens books. I don't know that many kids with dead parents. I want my grandkids to read books that help them through life - even if it is written in a fantasy world.
I am kind of embarrassed to admit now that the book I just sold is a dead parent book. However, my characters thought about their parents quite a bit and were greatly affected by being left alone, without family.
I am currently planning book 2, and the MC finding family he didn't know he had plays a big part. But you've reminded me how emotionally raw it needs to be for him. I shouldn't downplay it -- and I should let it drive his actions even more than I was originally planning.
This is very interesting, and it's wonderful to get your take on it. I'm a huge sucker for books WITH parents, because I think if you can maintain tension and allow your characters to be heroes even when their parents are there, you're a great writer. That said, I have written two manuscripts where characters have lost one or both parents....they certainly don't go on as if nothing has happened, but their loss defines who they are and what they need throughout the story. Much of that comes from stories my dad told me of losing his mother when he was young... Maybe I'm writing these for him, in a way.
First, thanks for baring a part of yourself to write this post. It feels very... personal, very special, and I feel privileged to read it.
Second, even though I have two living parents, I have always agreed with your stance on there being too many dead parents in children's lit. This is how I feel to a tee:
"Because when we were children, every day was an adventure. And even when our parents were around, we found ways to have those adventure..."
Most of the time, killing off parents (or any, character, really) seems to be a convenience for the writer, as opposed to a necessary or germane part of the story. I have a lot of respect for writers who don't take the easy way out, and instead juggle all the different characters and interactions.
(Note: I'm not saying there can never be dead parents. Obviously -- obviously! -- some people do experience that. But not to the same proportions as we see in YA.)
(Hey, can we flip the ratio of orphans with the ratio of diversity as seen in YA? Then I think we'd be on the right track.)
Rosi: There are novels where the emotions surrounding death feel authentic. And when it's done well, not just used to manipulate the reader, those are stories that I cherish.
Donna: I agree. The ratio of dead parents in books far outnumbers the reality. I love that you want to find books that help your grand kids through life. They're lucky to have you.
Anne: Thanks. I've been thinking about this post for a long time, but it took a while to get up the nerve to write it.
Diane: I'm glad this post was a timely one for you. And now I'm curious about this new story of yours :)
Faith: I'm also a sucker for books WITH parents for the same reasons as you. I love that you're writing stories for your dad. What a great way to honor him.
Karen: It has bothered me for a while, too. It just took a while for me to be able to say something about it because it hits so close to home.
Kristan: I don't usually warm to math, but I like your idea of flipping the ratios! Not that I see that happening any time soon...
Thanks for sharing. When something hits home for us then it's hard to see how it's handled in fiction.
For me, it totally depends on the book, the premise, the tone, the themes...whether a dead parents works and whether it's done well. I don't know why but I've never had a dead parent in my stories. An absent parent, yes. Poor relationships? yes. But for me those are causes of conflict b/c most teens and/or kids have issues with their parents.
I think this is a wonderful post, Sherrie! I'm with you on this one. I've always felt that there should be more YA books in which the parents are living.
The MC in my most recent project has both parents, but no siblings. Having two responsible parents in her life made for a few challenges for my character and for me as a writer.
And thanks for the little glimpse into your childhood. I can see your words sticking with me for a long time.
I, too, have problems with dead (or even the 'mysteriously missing') parents. As you said, often it's a device so the kid is on his own. Seeing more books with parents is something I'd like. One very well done with-parents book is TRACING STARS by Erin E. Moulton.
There's a dead parent in my WIP. My MC is affected by the absence, though, even though the book isn't "about" death or mourning. I'm glad you brought up these points, and I'm going to be even more careful of this aspect of my book because of them.
I have been known to kill off a parent (or two), but never for the purpose of keeping them out of the way so the characters can go on an adventure. I agree with you there, Sherri. That drives me nut. There needs to be a much stronger reason than that. And their death should play a role in the character's characterization.
Such a powerful post. Thanks, Sherrie! I agree about missing parents in books. It's very hard to write true emotions with dead parents and doesn't need to be so prevalent in kid's books. (My other peeve is Disney seems to have it out for mother's in all their movies too.)
I've written books both with orphans and without. And now with my own mother about to pass on, I can tell the depth of my own emotion in writing loss barely hit the mark in what my characters were experiencing.
I was not one of the first people to run out and buy a Kindle. I resisted it. For a long time.
I've always considered myself lucky to live in a town with a fabulous bookstore run by intelligent people who know books and know their customers. I love being able to go to a store and pick up a book, study the cover, read the back, explore the first few pages. And I never want to lose that.
But I noticed something shocking this week. At least shocking to me. In the last year, the number of ebooks I've read outnumbers paper. By far. I think I've read maybe 15 physical books. By comparison, in the same time frame, I've read (gulp!) 75 ebooks.
How did I make such a drastic shift?
Blame it on the iPad. Being able to download books for Kindle, Nook, PDFs and Bluefire Reader makes it oh so convenient to read anywhere, anytime, any format. And where do I do most of my reading? In bed with the blanket pulled up over my head so I don't disturb my sleeping husband. I feel like a kid with my favorite novel and a flashlight. Only the iPad lights itself, and instead of one book, I've got hundreds. And now that I have an iPhone, I can also read while I wait for my kids, when I'm in line at the grocery store, on my lunch break.
And then there's the price. I read a lot of books from independent authors which tend to be in the $0.99 to 3.99 range. Not to mention the fact that most of these would never be found in a bricks and mortar book store. I do also buy Big Six books (often when they're on sale), and I've also been sucked into a series and shelled over the $8.99-10.99 for a book I just had to read. Even then, the digital book is less than a hard cover.
Even the library has contributed to my digital habit. Borrowing an ebook from the library is easier than a regular book because there's nothing to return. Once the time's up, it just disappears from my reader -- no more late fees! Hooray!
I never thought I'd move away from "real" books. My son still hates electronic reading and while my daughter is more open to it, she still prefers paper. When they pick up the iPad, they tend to open up Doodlejump or Angry Birds, not a book. But I wonder when that will shift for them as well.
What about you -- do you read more paper books or electronic books? How has that changed from how you read a year ago?
8 Comments on Digital vs. Print -- How I Read, last added: 12/2/2012
Your story is exactly like mine. I def. read more digital. My library has some great print books lately and I read the ones I want to. But I also download digital ones from my state library. And I've found some tremendous books b/t the 99-3.99 price point.
It happens slowly. You browse Amazon for the top books or ones you like or you see a tweet. But yes, slowly it happens. I read more now than I ever have before. And that's good!
I'm the same as you and Laura. I've been downloading a number of SP'ed New Adult books (and some YA. Seriously, who can beat a $3.99 book that comes highly recommended?), and I have occasionally bought traditionally published ebooks (unless I can get them for about the same price in paperback). I still like hardcopy books, but I am starting to move more toward ebooks. It's so easy with my iPod Touch. I can take my books anywhere with me.
Ditto you, Laura and Stina, although I'd put my percentage at 60/40 in favor of ebooks, and the 40 is only because my writing group and I share so many books, and I'm the only one with an ereader. (They lend me books; I sometimes lend them my Kindle!)
I don't know what it means for the landscape of publishing and bookstores, but as long as stories and writers survive, I think it's okay. (And heck, maybe this will help stories and writers THRIVE.)
I'm still a print reader. My husband has a work iPad he brings home in the evenings and I could download books on that, but I still prefer the feel of a real book. I will read on my iphone when I'm out so I don't have to take a book with me (and I listen to audiobooks in my car), but at home I read print books exclusively.
I'm the minority. I still read print books because most are books I give away on my blog. I just was given a Nook and am going to start reading some books on there but will continue to buy books so I can share them on the blog.
Laura: I've actually bought a few print books after reading the digital version because I wanted to be able to share the story with friends. I don't know that I read more. I've always had a voracious appetite for books!
Stina: Er, what's SP'ed mean? I also like hardcovers, especially of my favorite books. But the low price point for ebooks makes me more willing to try out new authors, too.
Kristan: Most of the print books I've read this year have been ARCs or books I borrowed from friends. I have some hard covers that I bought that I've been waiting for Thanksgiving break to read since I'll have more daylight hours to read instead of work :)
Annalisa: I still love the tactile sensation of a paper book, too. I think if I didn't have to work and had more time to read during the day, I'd read more paper books than I do right now.
Natalie: I read a lot of ARCs so at least half of the print books on my list were ARCs. Which reminds me, I'm going to need to do a giveaway soon!
And then there's the price. I read a lot of books from independent authors which tend to be in the $0.99 to 3.99 range.
*fistpump*
Ahem. :) I read almost exclusively ebooks now, not on purpose (although you could be forgiving for thinking I'm not telling the truth about that) - it's just so much easier. I will occasionally spring for print, ironically almost always hardcover, because it's something I simply must have in paper form, or that's the only way that it's available. But I was shocked when a package arrived from B&N the other day, convinced my mom had sent me a present! Instead, it was a hardcover book I had preordered, that just released (I'd ordered it for research).
It's still sitting on my table, unopened. I'll get to it, but if it had been available when I first thought to order it, I would have read it already.
There's an immediacy to ebooks - their availability, the fact that you can get them on your phone when in line - that means I'm reading more and more all the time.
Every writer knows that November means NaNo, even if they've never participated in the challenge. This year, romance authors have one more reason to finish that book they're working on: Avon Impulse wants to read their new novels. From their news release:
During the month of November, Avon editors will make themselves available to the author community via online forums at www.nanowrimo.org, and by sponsoring “NaRoWriMo,” the publisher hopes to acquire original works of romantic fiction, to be released in 2013 by Avon Impulse. “NaRoWriMo” romance fiction submissions should be submitted by December 10, 2012 to Avon Romance’s online submission portal (www.avonimpulse.com), and tagged “NaRoWriMo.” All novel and novella-length submissions (50,000 words and above) will be reviewed, and will be considered for publication through Avon Impulse, the publisher’s digital-first arm.
I'm not a romance writer, but I know a lot of you out there are. Check it out and let me know if it's worthwhile!
4 Comments on So, that Romance Novel You're Writing for NaNo..., last added: 12/2/2012
Last week, a very special guest came to talk to the seniors at the school where I work: Greg Steltenpohl, the founder of Odwalla. He said a LOT of inspiring things to the seniors, but this really stuck in my mind.
“Being an entrepreneur, you have to kind of put your idea out there and believe in it and then manifest your vision,” he said. “You just keep coming up against things constantly, no matter how long you go along, there’s going to be someone who just says, ‘It isn’t possible.’”
Change "entrepreneur" to "writer" and omigosh, it's totally my truth. And how did he deal with the doubters?
“Nine times out of ten, it’s about manifestation. If you believe it, then other people start to believe it and pretty soon it becomes the reality.”
Kind of how I try to live my life. Believe it into reality. His final pearl of wisdom:
“You never know what's going to happen, just by doing what you love.”
Greg sold Odwalla to Coke in 2001 for $160 million. Not a bad payoff for doing something he loved!
I have no aspirations to make millions. But I do hope that by staying true to what I love, I can find success.
Yeah, not so much. This is actually a parable of sorts that a writer friend sent out last week. I love the story here, especially since I read it the day after having coffee with my friend Casey (skinny latte, hold the mayo, thanks). Rather than tuck it away somewhere, I thought I'd post it here for others to see and as a permanent place for me to find it as well.
Enjoy!
-----------------------------------
A professor stood before his philosophy class with some items in front of him. When the class began, he picked up a very large, empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “YES.”
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
“Now,” said the professor, as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things – your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, and your car. The sand is everything else – the small stuff. “If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important.
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children! Take time to get medical checkups. Take your wife/husband/lover/friend out to dinner. Maybe even play another 18. There is always time to clean the house and fix the disposal.
Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled.
“I’m glad you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there is always room for a couple cups of coffee with a friend.”
6 Comments on Mayonnaise and Coffee, last added: 10/29/2012
I've heard this before, but not the coffee part, which is a very cool thought to take away. And we all need the reminder now and then, because it's just too easy to start paying too much attention to that sand again.
Love it! I've heard a similar parable, but not in a long time, and this dovetails nicely with some "soul-searching" I happened to be doing recently. Thanks for sharing. :)
We’d talked about it–fantasized really–for months, maybe even years. A girls' weekend/writing retreat with nothing to distract us: no families, no internet (hopefully!), not even each other. We’d stay at a spa and eat healthy meals, have separate rooms, but get together every once in a while to bounce ideas off each other and just have a mental break. At the end of the day we’d relax with massages to ease away all the tension from a long day of writing.
Of course, the price tag gave us a reality check, but we weren’t ready to give up the idea. After all, when it came right down to it, the Motel 6 would serve our purposes just fine, right? But then just like a good novel, a twist: Lori’s husband took the boys camping, but her daughter got sick. Could we just meet at her house?
Definitely cheaper. But would a familiar location be too much of a distraction, especially for Lori with a sick child?
Nope.
For 24 hours we wrote, stopping briefly to eat, compare notes, sleep. And it worked. I spent my time reworking a story I’d given up on. With quiet time to think about what worked and what didn’t, to experiment, cut, write and rewrite, I found threads I didn’t even know where there. Best of all, I found my mojo again. I was ready to write. Anything. Ideas were bursting over each other, words flowing, aching to come out.
I was so happy I cried on the way back home.
And now I know. Next time I hit a rut, all I have to do is find a quiet stretch of time to focus.
Or send Lori’s family packing for the weekend and move myself back into her house :)
13 Comments on Writing in Retreat, last added: 10/26/2012
My local RWA chapter organized a retreat last year. I have no problems staying at home to write. I get more work done that way. The massages, though, do sound like a great idea.
So glad you found your way back to a story. When a story won't let you go,and keeps you trying new things to make it work, there is always a reason for it.
Aww... I'm so glad you guys persevered and got some writing time, even if it didn't look the way you'd initially hoped/expected.
And that reconnection with your work? With a story you love? *big sigh* I know that feeling, that overwhelming, indescribable emotion. If only we could bottle it up and take a sip every day, you know? But I don't think that's how this writing life works. So you just be sure to drink up as much as you can, whenever you can. :)
Writing retreats are wonderful! A few years ago I went to my best friend's lakehouse so we could write the whole weekend. We got there and part of the house was flooded after record rains! So half the time we sucked water out of her house but still ended up getting some writing in. I actually got stranded another night there because rain got so heavy during the weekend that so many roads were closed!
I have occasionally thought about trying to get some blogger friends to meet me at my Pocono house for a writing retreat, but I worry the place is too small: two bedrooms, a loft, and a fold-out sleeper in the living room. The ones who ended up in the loft and living room would have no privacy.
So far, I've only gone up to the house alone to write. Which is also cool.
Stina: Don't laugh too hard! I might drive up to Canada and take over your house instead :P
Sheri: Thank you -- I've been feeling awesome ever since!
Shelley: It might be the One. Or not. But it just keeps getting better :)
Bish: If I had my way, I'd do it at least once a month. It's a fabulous way to spend a weekend!
Caroline: Thank you for thinking of me. All is well now :)
Kristan: I wish we could bottle that feeling!! Being able to reconnect with my story has been indescribably wonderful, the gift that keeps on giving!
Tricia: We were determined to make it work so I'm glad our determination paid off :)
Kelly: That must have been depressing to find the house flooded! But how cool that you lucked out and got an extra day for your retreat!
Dianne: I might have to convince my husband that we need a cabin somewhere for me to write. Not sure that he'd find it a valid reason for another house payment, though :P
p.s. I've snuck away to the local cheapo motel for a weekend or two when I'm under a deadline. It's amazing what can happen in that brief burst of intense focus time.
It's amazing what a little time to clear your head and write can do. I think that's why I've started writing at our local library's quiet room. It gets me away from my comfortable home where distractions are too great and all consuming. I'm amazed at what I've managed to accomplish with this change of setting.
I’ve always believed happiness is a choice. At least for most people, most of the time.
I don’t claim to understand clinical depression. But I do understand the blues. I experienced them after the birth of my son. I was deliriously happy. But also sleep deprived, adult deprived, constantly covered in regurgitated milk and slowly losing touch with life outside of my house. It may sound like the romanticized pressure of being a new mom, but the reality was far from charming.
The same could be said about my writing life. I’ve definitely experienced the blues, sometimes for months on end. I’m proud of things that I’ve accomplished. But I’m also sleep deprived, understanding adult deprived and constantly surrounded by people who are doing everything better than I can. At times, it’s hard to focus on anything other than life inside the writerly sphere, especially when things aren't going as planned.
Definitely not charming.
And the thing is, when I slip into the blues, even though I do have understanding adults around me, I push them away. I paste on a smile and deflect their concern with unrelenting cheer. Every once in a while, the forced happiness is enough to pull me out. Other times it sends me further into hiding, away from anyone who might ask questions I don’t want to answer.
Although it’s hard to avoid the tough questions I ask myself.
Oddly enough, it’s the writing that pulls me out. A big block of time, a story that’s dying to be told. That’s what brings me back, every single time. Because no matter how hard my doubting brain works to convince me otherwise, the fact is, I’m a writer.
And so, I write.
12 Comments on On Being Relentlessly Happy, last added: 10/13/2012
I try not to let the blues hit my writing, but it is hard at times. Once I push away the stress of getting it right and remember why I write, writing becomes fun again.
Writing does it for me too - it's what got me in the game to begin with, and when the "game" gets me down, the writing never does. It's essentially a "creative" task in the fundamental sense of being life-giving, constructive and positive. No wonder it feeds our souls! Keep having faith in yourself, to know just what you need (time alone, time with others, time to write).
Oh Sherrie, I think we writers all know some version of this story. *hug* And like you, we all cling to the life rafts in our lives, whatever they may be. (The writing, our children, our significant others, mindless TV, etc.) Hang in there, and remember: we're all in it with you. Even if you need us at arm's length away, we're here.
You hit on some really good points here. I suffered from severe depression after my daughter was born, and I'm still not over it six years later. It's one of the reasons I haven't had any more children. I really understand the forced happiness thing. One element that has helped me like no other has been writing.
Stina: Yeah, the getting it right causes me way more stress than working on a new idea. Thanks for the hug -- I'm glad to be back, too :)
Susan: The creative part I love wholeheartedly. And I think having time alone feeds that, at least for me. When I'm too crowded -- physically and mentally -- my creativity suffers.
Kristan: Funny that you mentioned the life raft. Mine is word games. And books. I've read an obscene number of books the last few months. But now that I've found my writing mojo again, I haven't read any at all! Funny how that works...
Thanks for the hugs and the kind words. It means a lot.
Perna: Glad I'm not the only one writing myself out of a funk :)
Michelle: I knew you would get it. Thanks for sharing.
Oh, Sherrie, I know exactly what you're talking about. I suffer huge chunks of sad time when I have little faith in myself or what I do and then I write and world's open before me with all kinds of possibility. I hope you're following a story's lure right now. I've missed you.
Glad to have you back, Sherrie. Especially glad to hear the truth of how you are. You're right. It's definitely not charming, but it's real. But real has more power and takes more courage. Keep writing. You inspire others, including me, to do the same.
I agree that for most people, most of the time, happiness is a choice. It doesn't mean that clinically depressed people can just "snap out if it," but nevertheless, it remains true.
Last month on NPR, they asked people to nominate their favorite YA novels of all time. Yesterday they posted a list of 235 finalists. The panelists that narrowed down the nominations included a teacher librarian, the children's book editor at the New York Times Book Review, the children's book editor at Publishers Weekly, and the book editor from The Onion.
There are quite a few classics sprinkled in with new titles, and some series' that haven't even finished being written yet. And yes, this is VERY unscientific, but it was cool to see how many bloggers and new authors made the list, some of which have been interviewed right here on this blog :-) Everyone gets to pick their top ten. Voting is open for a few weeks.
Here's the list, along with my highlights and comments: (Blue books I've read and recommend, starred books I love, my personal top 20 from this list)
13 Little Blue Envelopes, by Maureen Johnson Abhorsen Trilogy / Old Kingdom Trilogy (series), by Garth Nix **The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie An Abundance of Katherines, by John Green **Across the Universe, by Beth Revis(read my interview with Beth Revis) Airborn, by Kenneth Oppel Alan Mendelsohn, the Boy from Mars, by Daniel Pinkwater Along for the Ride, by Sarah Dessen American Born Chinese, by Gene Luen Yang Anna and the French Kiss, by Stephanie Perkins Anne of Green Gables (series), by Lucy Maud Montgomery(I read this in middle school; doesn't seem YA, but that's just my opinion) Annie on My Mind, by Nancy Garden Ash, by Malinda Lo **Ashfall, by Mike Mullin(Read my review on Shelf Awareness) The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing (series), by M.T. Anderson The Bartimaeus Trilogy (series), by Jonathan Stroud Beauty Queens, by Libba Bray Before I Die, by Jenny Downham Before I Fall, by Lauren Oliver Betsy-Tacy Books (series), by Maud Hart Lovelace Between Shades of Gray, by Ruta Sepetys (Another one I want to read) Blood Red Road, by Moira Young Bloodlines (series), by Richelle Mead Bloody Jack Adventures (series), by L.A. Meyer The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley The Book of Blood and Shadow, by Robin Wasserman The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak Boy Meets Boy, by David Levithan Brooklyn, Burning, by Steve Brezenoff Bruiser, by Neal Shusterman The Call of the Wild, by Jack London **The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger Chaos Walking (series), by Patrick Ness
9 Comments on NPRs List of Best-Ever YA Novels, last added: 7/27/2012
I went and voted yesterday, saw it on Beth Revis's blog. I was really surprised by some of the more modern titles that made the list. Shows YA is a young genre (no pun intended)(okay some pun intended).
They did a follow-up post about why some notable classics are missing. (Mostly they skewed too young.)
I thought it was a great list, but I do think many of the contemporary titles would not be included in, say, 10 years from now. They're just so fresh in people's minds.
Still, it was really hard to pick only 10. But I did vote!
Like others have already said, I was surprised by some of the titles on this list. While I liked and even loved quite a few of them, I also think some of them wouldn't be on this type of list years down the line. They're just so popular and hyped up right now, which isn't to say they aren't good!
I just found myself, when voting on this list, picking a lot of the classics - I guess the YA books that have already stood the test of time - to fill my very limited 10 spots. Immediately on my list were Fahrenheit 451, To Kill a Mockingbird, and (my favorite book ever) The Last Unicorn. But that isn't to say there weren't a number of recent books that I thought were going to be still amazing to me 10 years down the line. Like it killed me a little to leave THE CALL OF THE WILD off (one of my childhood favorites), but I absolutely love THE SCORPIO RACES and couldn't leave that off.
Kristan: I'll have to go look at that follow up post, but I agree that many of the newer titles are on there because they're fresher in people's minds. Glad you voted!
Krispy: I had such a hard time picking just ten! Which is why I had to highlight more here :)
If you've read my blog for a while, you know I'm a pretty big fan of Maggie Stiefvater. When I heard about her new series, The Raven Boys, I was beyond excited. New characters, new stories to get lost in.
Since I actually have a job this summer I can't slip away to wonderful events like Comic-con or ALA, places where I could have snagged an ARC. So I can't even explain to you the joy I felt when this baby landed in my hands.
Isn't it be-yootiful??!!
Thank you, Book Loft! Seriously, if you ever find yourself in Solvang, best book store ever!!
I'm only on page 93, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to want the hard covers of all three books. Which means I'll probably be giving this lovely ARC away at some point.
Stay tuned!
6 Comments on ARC Love - The Raven Boys, last added: 7/20/2012
I loved Shiver. But for some reason I couldn't get into the rest of the series. Maybe it was too many point of views for me? And for some reason I couldn't get into Scorpio Races either. But I'm thinking I didn't give it enough pages. I'm going to try again. I assume our library will get this new one in so will try it. Not sure why I don't feel the love for her stories. Her writing is terrific though. So happy for you that you got an arc!
Has there ever been a time in your life when you felt like you weren't enough? I know I can think of several. Okay, yeah, a LOT of times. In high school I worried about not being thin enough, not being cool enough. Actually, those worries still plague me at times, but at least as an adult I'm comfortable enough with myself to not let those passing insecurities overwhelm me.
As part of the release for NEVER ENOUGH, the newest YA novel from my agent-mate Denise Jaden, several author-friends contributed their thoughts on not feeling like enough. You can see them on the video embedded below.
But wait! That's not all!
Denise is also hosting a HUGE book giveaway. Leave a comment here and then visit her blog and share the link back to this blog, and that will earn you TWO entries--one for commenting, and one for sharing the link. You can see all the books she's giving away by visiting this post: http://denisejaden.blogspot.ca/2012/07/blog-tours-and-entries-and-prizes-oh-my.html
Speaking of which, I can tell you exactly what I never have enough of: shelf space for all the books I want to read!
5 Comments on Never Enough...Book Giveaways!, last added: 7/12/2012
Back in the old days, newspapers and magazines were the only place to read reviews about books. Publishers would send their upcoming releases to these publications and their paid reviewers would critique them.
These days, very few papers around the country even print book reviews. And why should they? Plenty of people are willing to write reviews for free: on blogs, on Goodreads, B&N.com and Amazon.
But how many of those reviews are actually "free?"
Everybody knows that friends of the author are going to write some of the reviews. But some authors, even big name, best selling authors, are finding elaborate ways to get good reviews for their books. For example:
For every 25 reviews posted to Amazon or B&N, J. Thomas Shaw, author of The Rx Factor, will give away a $25 gift card to the "person judged to have written the best review."
Last year Karen Kingsbury gave away airfare and hotel accommodations for two for a two-night, three-day visit to Portland, OR to the person who wrote the best review of her book, Leaving.
Then there are websites like Readers Favorite that provide reviews and awards for authors. You too can "Become an Award Winning Author."
I get that people want, okay, need, good reviews of their books. But it makes me highly suspect of any positive review. At least in a newspaper, you know that the writer was paid to give their opinion. These other tactics feel like scams because as a reader, you don't know up front which reviews are honest. Unless they only have one or two stars. I'm pretty sure no one pays for those.
What do you think? Does it make sense to run contests to bump up your positive reviews?
9 Comments on The Quest for a Good Review, last added: 6/30/2012
I don't trust reviews. I know too many authors whose friends write sparkling reviews on Amazon and Goodreads even if they don't like the book. They're doing it to help their friend out, but it doesn't help me as a reader. I only trust word of mouth from my friends.
I trust 3-star reviews. They are usually the sweet spot, and if I want to know what people generally think of my published books, the 3-star reviews are where I look. :) Paid reviews are just part of business. You can pay to get a starred review. I don't try to push for reviews, but I do like to have exposure for my books, and book reviewer blogs are a fantastic resource for that. That does, of course, involve reviews.
Stina: I agree that reviews from an author's friends are automatically suspect. And unless you know who those people are, it's hard to trust any review on Amazon or Goodreads.
Michelle: I agree that 3-star reviews tend to offer more realistic opinions on books. But I have to say I was surprised when I first heard that you could buy a starred review, even from a place like Kirkus. *sigh* I think book review blogs are great for exposure, but like Stina said, I trust word of mouth more than reviews.
Yep, word of mouth is fantastic, but to get that going, you have to get exposure, and that means things like reviews. Not solely reviews, though, so that's good. :)
Yuck. There's nothing illegal about doing those kinds of promotions, I suppose, but it's certainly a sticky area morally.
Like Michelle said, I tend to look at the 3-star reviews. (Actually, the 1-, 2-, and 3-star reviews.) I find those most helpful, because I can see what issues they had with the book and determine whether or not I'm likely to have those issues (or whether or not I can put up with them).
Word of mouth from friends is my #1, but an overall rating from GoodReads combined with skimming some low reviews on both GR and Amazon serves as a pretty good guide for me personally.
So yeah, incentivizing people for good reviews wouldn't have too much impact on me.
Like Michelle above, I find that 3-star reviews tend to give a balanced view. To be honest, I generally skim the reviews for content, rather than whether the review writer enjoyed that content or not. I want to know what's IN the book, because I may not have the same taste as a reviewer.
For example, I recently saw a book that interested me, based on the cover and blurb. I thought it was a gothic mystery. But the reviews revealed that the mystery turned out to involve werewolves -- something not mentioned in the promo material. I didn't want a werewolf story. I didn't buy.
I'd like to say that it's mostly word of mouth on how I buy books but lately it hasn't been. I do rely on reviews before purchasing; and, of course, reading the sample pages. That's how I really know.
I tend to ignore the 1 and 2 star reviews because usually the book just wasn't a fit for the reader. But I make purchase decisions based on the 3 and 4 star reviews. I didn't buy the 3rd book in a top selling trilogy because of the reviews. I decided it wasn't worth it. I also didn't buy a highly buzzed book because of the number of 3 star reviews it got and they all said the same thing. I decided I could wait.
I do look at what the reviewer says, what bugged them, what they liked because I know what I like and don't like in a book and many times I'm willing to overlook the flaws.
My questions is: how is this any different from bloggers running contests where you have to follow them? It leads to bloated numbers and a lot of followers that don't actually follow the blog. But why do bloggers do it? For exposure. Because no one will like their blog or their book unless people that enjoy it are willing to spread the word.
The reason I do trust reviews is that after reading a book I go back and look at reviews and for the most part the readers do get it right, barring the extremes.
Again, it's the sample pages that mean the most to me.
Michelle: Reviews do provide exposure. I just think readers have to know they can't take them at face value.
Kristan: I agree that it's a sticky area. Like you, I read the low reviews to see if they're just hating on the book or the author or if they have valid reasons for not liking the book.
Dianne: Good point -- the reviews CAN tell you more about the actual story than the blurb.
Laura: Bloggers running contests that require following and tweeting and whatever other host of promotion are annoying, too. But there's a big difference: you usually aren't buying anything from those blogs. If you're spending money on a book that got six hundred good reviews, wouldn't it bother you to find out that ninety-five percent of those people wrote the good review because they were trying to win a trip? It makes the review seem not as honest, not as heartfelt, if they were just trying to make it sound good so the author would pick them as the winner.
The kids weren't ready. And come to think of it, they didn't smell quite as nicely as they should. "Take a shower while your father and I run an errand. When we get back, we'll all go out to lunch." Sounds reasonable, right?
Except that my phone wasn't on. And really, any time I'm away from the kids my phone should be on, shouldn't it. Because you never know what can happen...
My husband's phone rings, maybe fifteen minutes later. Since he was driving he didn't pick it up to answer. I glanced down and saw that a friend who lives down the street was calling. "I'll be you secretary," I said, answering the phone. "Hey, Mike! What's up?"
He hesitates, but I figure he's just surprised to hear my voice instead of Craig's.
"I don't want you to worry, but I have both your kids."
Any sentence that starts off I don't want you to worry, is usually good cause to worry.
"Why do you have the kids?"
"Well, there was a little accident while you were gone. We're on our way to Urgent Care."
My heart literally stops. We'd only been gone fifteen minutes! How much could have happened in fifteen minutes? And why didn't anyone call me?
I pull out my phone. Four missed calls from home and one from Mike. I slide the switch to turn the ringer back on, cursing myself for ever having turned it off.
On the left is an image of how we were supposed to spend the day. On the right is an image of my son's foot. The one that now has six stitches in it.
Apparently, after he slid the shower door open, the glass shattered and one chunk lodged itself in the top of his foot. My daughter went running into his room when she heard the crash, saw the mess, and immediately started trying to call me. When she couldn't get a hold of me, she called Mike. Thank goodness he was home and answering HIS phone. And thank goodness my nine-year-old daughter had the presence of mind to turn to him when she couldn't reach me. (Yes, I'm still beating myself up over the request AND the fact that my phone was off. And yes, we need to get Daddy's new phone number programmed into the home phones!)
One of the drawbacks to living in a small town: our Urgent Care was closed. Because emergencies don't happen on weekends, y' know? After going back home, flushing the wound out and putting on a fresh bandage, I took my son to another Urgent Care, thirty minutes up the road. My husband stayed home to clean up the glass and blood in the bathroom and on the carpet. Exactly how he planned to spend his Father's Day. *sigh*
But don't worry. I'm already finding a way to incorporate this into a story. Because that's what writer's do, don't we? Here's hoping your weekend wasn't anywhere near as eventful as ours!
9 Comments on Father's Day with the Petersens, last added: 6/23/2012
Everyone knows we only have emergencies during business hours!!!
My son accidentally knocked a wine glass off the shelf one and it shattered on the floor (just as I was about to rush out to a writer workshop). Fortunately I got to him before he jumped down and landed on a piece of glass. Otherwise that would have been bye bye to my eagerly anticipated workshop.
Eeks! I'm so sorry for your son, daughter, neighbor and you. That was surely traumatic for all. Urgent Care that isn't open on weekends isn't worth it's name.
That would be scary and I'd surely feel guilty. But accidents happen. I'm so glad he's okay. Your kids stayed in control and called someone they knew. What a test because parents aren't always around.
I've been working so hard on not-fun-projects (i.e. freelance work, volunteer work, housework, work work -- notice a theme here?) that finding myself with some free time has been...freeing. I have time to write again, and edit. All the pent up ideas are finding their way onto the page. At last.
So that's what I'll be doing for the next few weeks -- binging on words. Mine.
How do you plan to spend your first few weeks of summer?
8 Comments on The Creative Binge, last added: 6/1/2012
I know exactly what you mean! Unfortunately, my time just got eaten up instead of being freed up because my sister and I adopted a puppy. So it's all puppy all the time now. Haha, but I hope after he's more adjusted, I'll get some of my reading/writing time back. I love him though, so no real complaints...except for being so tired! Haha.
Summer has taken on a different context now that I work :(. But I've been knee deep in editing for the last couple of weeks. I am not an editor by nature, but chipping away at that wall has brought it's own satisfying of the creative craving. I'll be glad to get back to writing writing, though :).
I have a few days off before my kids come home for summer (kindergarten's last day was earlier) so I am getting home projects done so I can concentrate on writing next week! I may try to fit an hour or two of writing this week too... Enjoy the bingeing! :)
I still have a couple weeks left to go and I'm looking forward to it. I def. don't get as much done with family visiting and the kids home but that's okay. :)
Susan Quinn is one of the hardest working writers I know. She's frightfully organized, incredibly generous and often quite lucky. And did I mention talented? And super nice?
Today I'm proud to be part of the virtual party celebrating the release of the second book in her Mindjack trilogy. I've been lucky enough to be one of the beta readers for both books in this series and let me just say they are more than worth the $2.99 Ebook price.
But don't just take my word for it. Read a sample.
Book Two of the Mindjack Trilogy
When you control minds, only your heart can be used against you.
Eight months ago, Kira Moore revealed to the mindreading world that mindjackers like herself were hidden in their midst. Now she wonders if telling the truth was the right choice after all.
As wild rumors spread, a powerful anti-jacker politician capitalizes on mindreaders’ fears and strips jackers of their rights. While some jackers flee to Jackertown—a slum rife with jackworkers who trade mind control favors for cash—Kira and her family hide from the readers who fear her and jackers who hate her. But when a jacker Clan member makes Kira’s boyfriend Raf collapse in her arms, Kira is forced to save the people she loves by facing the thing she fears most: FBI agent Kestrel and his experimental torture chamber for jackers.
I have to get my copy of OM back from my friend so that I can reread it before reading CH. Can't wait to read what happens next, but it's been over a year since I read an old version of OM.
One of the downsides to reading as much as I do: it's really hard to impress me. I used to feel obligated to finish a book once I started it. Not anymore. There are too many other books worthy of my attention to force myself to finish reading something that doesn't capture me.
THE FALSE PRINCE captured me from page one. Honestly, this book is freaking brilliant.
Sage is one of the best characters ever. Fighting everyone and everything, for reasons that aren't always clear at first to the reader, Sage is complex and funny and wonderfully developed. Whether brave or stupid, watching him grow into a role that he SO doesn't want was an absolute thrill of a ride. I literally did not want to put this book down until I got to the last page.
While technically I didn't care for the info dump in Chapters 42-43, at that point it didn't matter. I was in love with the characters, in love with the book and eagerly anticipating the climactic scenes ahead. As soon as I finished reading (okay, I went back and reread some of the juicy parts!) I handed this one to my 12yo and told him he had to read it. He devoured it and wanted more.
And therein lies the downside: it's the first in a trilogy. We have to wait another year to read the next one.
This will definitely be a read-aloud on this summer's road trip. It's one of those books that has enough depth to intrigue adults, will appeal to male or female and doesn't have objectionable material for younger readers. Yeah, it's the perfect book.
Wish I had written it myself :)
12 Comments on Must Read Title: The False Prince, last added: 5/17/2012
I recently read this and really enjoyed it. The story was fun and the main character had an interesting voice. It's funny, because the first line of the book really seemed awkward and I thought I wouldn't like it, but after I got past that, I loved it!
Andrea: I totally agree with you. Not the best first line ever. But omigosh, the rest of the book sure makes up for it!
Natalie: I AM in love with this book. I can't wait to read it again with my family.
Laura: It's one of the best middle grade novels I've read.
PJ: I love that this book had such an impact on your boys' book club. It really is amazing.
Kristan: I hate to compare it to Potter because it's nothing like that, but it has the same level of crossover appeal. It's one of those books that can draw a huge audience because it's so well written and full of incredible characters. Love it.
Barbara: Anyone who reads or writes middle grade HAS to read this book. It's truly fantastic.
Looks like I'd better add it to my list, though I might wait for the sequels to come out first.
I know what you mean about quitting a book that doesn't wow me. The only exception is if I bought the book. Though I did recently quit reading a book I bought because I just couldn't take it anymore. It was boring!!!!
I've been to a lot of author talks and regardless of the audience, the inevitable question always comes up: Where do you get your ideas from?
Even if the author is gracious enough to avoid the eye roll, I'm not. (Guess I'll need to work on that before I get published!)
The question doesn't annoy me just because everybody asks it. The truth is, most writers can't pinpoint a specific time or place where an idea comes from. At least I can't. Every book tends to come from a different spark. There isn't some magic box under the bed that writers pull ideas from.(If you have one, please share. I'm willing to split royalties.)
As I worked on edits for a book that I'm not ready to give up on yet, a new idea came to me, an idea that would add depth to the character and offer him an impossible choice. I have no clue where the idea came from. Unfortunately, I also have no clue as to how I'm going to incorporate this brilliant plot point. So I turn it over in my head and pray to whatever deity impressed the idea on me in the first place, to follow up with the second half of the equation because the drivel I've been typing out just isn't cutting it.
I guess that's the persistence part of this writing journey. Even if it's drivel, I keep typing, keep writing until it makes sense. At this point, I'm still willing to believe that if I keep at it, I'll figure it out. Eventually.
7 Comments on Chasing the Elusive Idea, last added: 5/11/2012
I know exactly how you feel. I've been sitting on a wip for the last month trying to figure out a plot point. And it wouldn't come to me. And then BAM, yesterday (believe it or not) it smacked me right between the eyes. I have no idea where it came from. But I'm lucky to have it, because now I can finally finish the story.
I'm the opposite. I can tell you were all my ideas comes from. At least the big ones. Sometimes I have no idea where they come from. I'll be running and wham the idea hits. My brain truly does work in mysterious ways. :D
I love it when it happens! Some ideas i can pinpoint the time and place. Sometimes an image or place but often it comes out of research or what I love to read. I'm sure that is asked a lot!
And it's amazing, isn't it, when new ideas emerge for old stories -- things you never thought of before, but which add dimension and substance to the story. The truth is, the ideas for our stories emerge bit by bit, piece by piece. I think it would be a rare story that arrived in its entirety, like Athena being born out of the head of ... who was it? Zeus?
Kristan's quote is great! I totally feel you on that question. While it's interesting in theory to find out where people get their ideas, there's no easy answer! I'm like you - I don't always know where ideas come from, and sometimes they're from a bunch of things coming together all at once, inexplicably. So basically, if I'm ever asked that question, I have a really boring, vague answer. Haha.
Today I have a treat here on the blog – best selling author Samuel Park. I “met” Sam through blogging, shared his excitement when his book sold, gave my opinion when he chose his author photo. It's so much fun to see blogging friends do well!
His novel, This Burns my Heart, was recently released in paperback and he has generously offered to give away a copy to one lucky blog reader. Isn’t it a gorgeous new cover? Even more evocative than the original.
Sam, I’m so happy to have you here!
Thank you so much for having me on your blog. I remember when my book became an Amazon Best of the Month, you were one of the first people to email me and congratulate me, and I really loved that.
Oh, well, I’m kinda nerdy that way. I get ridiculously excited when I see press about people I know. (See my blog post on Friday for proof!)
I don’t read a lot of books for grownups, but I have to tell you that I loved This Burns my Heart. There was one scene near the end, where they’re in the park listening to street musicians – omigosh, the longing, the covert thing with the hands – I don’t want to give away too much, but it was so beautifully written. Did it take a long time, getting the prose just the way you wanted it?
I think it's a tricky balance. On the one hand, you have to hold the reader's attention through beautiful language, almost like poetry. And I think this is particularly true nowadays, with all the competition from other mediums, and the availability of so much other (often free) entertainment--beautiful language is the only thing fiction can offer that other mediums can't. But I also believe that in order for the reading to become an immersive experience, the reader shouldn't even notice the language, and just become engulfed by the story.
I suppose in a way I just described the difference between literary and commercial fiction. The goal for me, then, is to find scenes where it feels organic to pause and engage in some beautiful language. Like the scene you're talking about--the descriptions of the musicians and the song involve lyrical language, but they're also embedded within the plot, since that's what the characters are listening to in that very moment. You look for moments where those two things can overlap, or where the fast moving plot can discreetly cede way, for a moment, for a beautiful reflection, or a metaphor.
English is not your native language, and yet you have a doctorate and you’re a professor of English. I know you decided as soon as you could read that you wanted to be a writer. What made you want to be a teacher?
I think it started when I was six years old and I would put mine and my sister's teddy bears and dolls in front of me and pretend that I was giving them a lecture. I don't remember what I would teach them, but it must've been pretty engrossing, since they would never move. Also, growing up, I always loved teachers. I was a classic teacher's pet, you know, the one the teacher would put in charge whi
11 Comments on Author Spotlight on: Samuel Park, last added: 3/23/2012
What a great story. And it sounds like an amazing book. I love stories with that poetic edge to them. And that is so cool about the Today show! Congrats!
I remember advising about Sam's author photo, too. :) The new cover is beautiful and I'd love to win a copy!! Congratulations on all your success, Sam! I'm so happy for you, and you inspire all of us.
Would definitely love to win a copy. And I loooved this interview! He just has such a grounded, humble, positive energy about him. (And a way with words, obviously.)
This in particular spoke to me:
"I think it's a tricky balance. On the one hand, you have to hold the reader's attention through beautiful language, almost like poetry. ... beautiful language is the only thing fiction can offer that other mediums can't. But I also believe that in order for the reading to become an immersive experience, the reader shouldn't even notice the language, and just become engulfed by the story."
well, this interview warms my heart. :D I also remember before Samuel sold the book and how wonderful it was when he did, but all these fantastic following events are extra fine. I particularly loved reading how he weaves lyrical writing in so it is natural to the storytelling. Excellent advice.
Sounds like a great book. I also found his take on cover design very refreshing, although I don't know if I could maintain that level of detachment. I would love to win this book.
Laura: It IS an amazing book. And can you imagine having people on the Today Show talk about your novel? Very cool.
Faith: Isn't it funny that we were both there to advise on the photo and now it's in the hands of thousands of people? Inspiring for sure!
Kristan: Sam does have an amazing way with words and an incredibly positive energy. I'm so glad you loved the interview. I loved doing it!
Tricia: Isn't wonderful to see someone you know do well? It warms my heart too. His writing is quite lyrical and beautiful but still readable and page turning. Such a good story.
Ivanova: I agree -- it would be hard for me to stay detached about the cover! Although he wound up with a fabulous hard cover and a gorgeous paperback, so maybe there's something to that!
Sharon: I liked hearing how supportive S&S was, too. I've heard so many people saying that authors need to do so much themselves. It's good to know that publishers DO still support debut books and authors.
Rosi: Glad you enjoyed the interview. Thanks for stopping by!
I didn't realize Samuel's book has been out that long. For some reason I thought it had just been released.
The best part about having stuffies for students is that they don't talk back. Unlike some of my classmates back when I used to play teacher with my dolls.
Greg Pincus from The Happy Accident mentioned this in an email and I'll admit, as a bit of a techno geek, I was curious. It's called Auto Crit and it's basically an automated critique wizard. Seriously. Gives a whole new meaning to an online critique.
So obviously, I had serious doubts as to what this thing could do, but since I had a chapter that was annoying me, I thought I'd paste it in and see how the program worked. I was impressed by the points it claimed it could critique: overused words, sentence variation, cliches & redundancies, repeated words & phrases, pacing, dialogue, initial pronouns, readability and homonyms.
Since I was testing the free version, it would only accept about 800 words and it only critiqued the first three points. Once you pay an annual fee ($47 – $117, depending on the level you choose) you can enter more text and access more critique points. But what it found in those first few points was kind of cool.
The programmed false praise "Awesome! Nice work!" was kind of annoying, but the information was good, especially since this list was followed by my text, with overused words highlighted in red. Guess I need to cut back on it/there and knew/know! The second report on sentence variation was interesting, too.
I like how it gives a visual representation with the red dots of how long the sentences are and I was glad to see that my sentences vary in length. And just in case you were wondering, I blurred my words since this is a first draft of this story :) The third report showed that I had no redundancies (Yay) and no clichés (Great work).
Of course, these are technical points and it makes sense that an automated editor could find these issues. But can a robot really judge these finer aspects of a story? I'm really curious to know how the algorhythms work on pacing, dialogue and readability. Just not sure if I'm $47-$117 curious.
What do you think? Would you invest in a robot critique partner?
-------------------------------------
And the winner of the paperback copy of Samuel Park's THIS BURNS MY HEART is:
Congratulations, Ivanova! Email me at solvang sherrie at gmail dot com and I'll get that book sent out to you pronto.
In a New York Times essay on March 29, Joel Stein wrote:
The only thing more embarrassing than catching a guy on the plane looking at pornography on his computer is seeing a guy on the plane reading “The Hunger Games.” Or a Twilight book. Or Harry Potter...
I have no idea what “The Hunger Games” is like. Maybe there are complicated shades of good and evil in each character. Maybe there are Pynchonesque turns of phrase. Maybe it delves into issues of identity, self-justification and anomie that would make David Foster Wallace proud. I don’t know because it’s a book for kids. I’ll read “The Hunger Games” when I finish the previous 3,000 years of fiction written for adults.
Let’s have the decency to let tween girls have their own little world of vampires and child wizards and games you play when hungry. Let’s not pump Justin Bieber in our Saabs and get engaged at Cinderella’s Castle at Disneyland. Because it’s embarrassing.
To which Maggie Stiefvater tweeted:
I realize the guy's a satirist, but really? Maybe because he wrote a book for adults that's coming out soon, he wants to make sure there are adults around who are interested in reading it.
Based on his essay, he can count me out.
11 Comments on According to Joel Stein I'm a Perv, last added: 4/6/2012
I'm currently reading the 3rd book of The Hunger Games... took me a while to get to it. (So many wonderful CHILDREN'S books to read.) I'm totally impressed. As for what's his face? Never heard of him!
This guy is just looking for attention in the most (can I say it?) childish way. LOL! AT first his piece made me angry, but then someone pointed out how sexist his rant is as well and I just mostly wrote him off as a nutjob. (Poor showing on the part of the NYTimes though.)
Wait wait wait - he's a satirist?! Okay, that makes me read his piece in an entirely different light. Now I'm wondering, truly, if we all just missed the point. (Which would still be partly his fault, since good satire shouldn't be SO subtle that we miss it.) But if he was being sarcastic, that would explain the completely ridiculous, ignorant views in that piece...
OH, a satirist?! That does make me look at it a little differently. I mean, I thought to begin with that the opinion piece was exaggerated and provocative-on-purpose, but now it makes more sense why it's so ridiculous. Either way, not impressed & kinda offended. :P
I had my book group read Twilight because I thought we were reading too many books about refugees. My friend commented on this article to me. My reply: I find the NY Times juvenile.
Huh. Honestly, Joel, I don't think we should leave the tweens to read Twilight because they are too young for it in my opinion. Wait til your kids are 13 to turn them on to passive-aggressive vampire stalkers.
But there is this brand new idea in publishing called "crossover" novels. And no, it wasn't created by pervs (unless the publicists trying to revitalize the flailing publishing industry have secret whoopie pie fetishes).
Industry professionals suddenly realized how many adults were reading young adult books (one of the only genres that didn't take a dive during the recession. Gee, I wonder why?) and decided to market them accordingly so that adults can read The Hunger Games (which has more mature themes than the latest Franzen debacle) WITHOUT feeling like pervs. Satire or not, this article reeks of jealousy.
Oh, wow. I can't believe anyone could be so publicly close-minded. I suppose I shouldn't be shocked that people feel this way, but it never ceases to amaze me. I love Maggie's response. :)
I didn't' read the article but I've gotten the gist of it through responses. Unfortunately many adults will feel that way about kidlit but just as many adults love it! And not just writers. So many more adults are reading Hunger Games right now b/c of the movie!
I can't believe he has the audacity to write this about Hunger Games when he hasn't even read it and has no idea what it's about! "Games you play when hungry"? Give me a break!
I think he thinks he's clever. That's not the description that comes to my mind. One of the great pleasures of life is reading excellent kid's books for all the wonder and imagination that is found in them. Life isn't about growing up, it's about growing.
Thanks so much for this list and the reminder to vote. My younger two absolutely LOVE the Bad kitty books. And I know my oldest will want to vote for Divergent. :)
I took my son to the midnight showing of The Hunger Games the day it opened. So many people were wrapped around the building that they had to show it on two screens. In my small community, that’s pretty amazing. But I guess we’re just a reflection of what was going on in the big cities.
A group of smiling girls dragged my son into their part of the line. And while he still claims to hold to the belief that girls are strange, he didn’t fight them too hard.
I was ambivalent going into the movie. Most adaptations fail, in my opinion, to capture the essence of a book. And this book was so very good that the thought of seeing it ruined before my eyes, larger than life, left me with butterflies in my stomach.
When the lights finally went down, people cheered. The spectacle we’d waited so long to see was finally here. As the opening frames lit up the screen, their screams got louder, then died away. And the further we got into the story, the more I felt embarrassed by our exuberance. This wasn’t a rom-com, lighthearted flick. Children die on the screen. It’s not the sort of film you can walk away from without being moved.
Over spring break, Drew tore through the next two books. I warned him that I was depressed for a week after reading Mockingjay. But of course that didn’t stop him. Some things you just have to discover for yourself.
I don’t know if I’ll watch the sequels. I LOVE The Hunger Games. And I think they did an incredible job making it into a movie. I highly recommend it. I enjoyed Catching Fire, though I still have a major hang-up with them returning to the games. But Mockingjay? I don’t know if I could ever read it again, let alone watch it unfold in all its horror onscreen. Though maybe a watered-down theatrical version would leave me less disturbed.
My son and I have had some pretty in-depth conversations because of these stories, about right and wrong, choice and sacrifice. That, I think, is what sets this trilogy apart. All those layers to chew on.
And once we’re done discussing the “heavy” stuff, there’s always the endless debate: Team Gale or Team Peeta? I loved Gale from the opening pages, had my heart torn out by him in the final chapters. My son thinks Peeta is a much better character, (though that might have more to do with projecting himself into Peeta’s role since, y’ know, he winds up with the kick-ass heroine).
13 Comments on Living with a Peeta-file, Part I, last added: 4/20/2012
Yes, the idea of watching a movie about kids who fight to the death for entertainment is very meta, and I'm glad that the significance of that wasn't lost on all the viewers.
I loved Catching Fire, but like you, I found Mockingjay very difficult -- important but not exactly enjoyable. I haven't been able to reread it, though I don't think I'll be able to resist seeing the film/s.
The irony that a book about violence as entertainment is turned into a movie, and here we are cheering it on...Capitol, anyone?
I saw it and found it very well done. I loved the series because it is provoking and disturbing and don't want to lose sight of this. Entertaining, yes, at the price of a commentary on our own weird ways.
I haven't seen it yet but will eventually. I won't reread the books but I liked Hunger Games the best. And I was disappointed in Mockingjay for a lot of reasons. I forced myself to finish it. I'm glad to hear the movie was good!
Isn't it interesting how the movie sparked so many fires of debate? I think a lot of uninformed people had the idea that it was some sort of Running Man for kids. I adore the book, and not really because it was "entertaining," but because it is an amazing story. I agree that they did a good job with the movie.
I have to disagree with you about Mockingjay. I loved it, and think the ending is perfect.
I totally agree with you about the layers in this trilogy. The movie actually got me thinking about many of those themes with a lot more depth because I was comparing and contrasting the two mediums - book and movie. I liked the movie and think they did an admirable job, but it also, in many ways, fell just short for me. I'm not going to get into that in your comments because it'd be longer than your post, and I already wrote 2 Walls of Text on the subject on my blog, haha.
But yeah, I'm grateful to the movie for adding another layer to the discussion. I also loved much of Catching Fire, but I didn't like Mockingjay. It was difficult, and I appreciated many of the themes and commentary in it, but in the end, it left me feeling both incredibly drained and kind of disappointed. But I'll probably see whatever movie-version they make out of curiosity, and like you said, a watered-down commercialized version of MJ might make it okay. :P
Oh and I have to add, yeah, totally Team Gale (BOOK version, MOVIE version wasn't as interesting). I love Peeta too and think he's wonderfully nuanced in the books, but there's just something about Gale that gets me.
Kristan: I'm sure I'll see the other movies, if only because my son will "gently encourage" me :)
Caroline: We are very like the Capitol in so many ways. But more about that in Part II...
Shannon: I liked seeing what was happening with Seneca and in the game room. But I love knowing more about Katniss' motivations in the book.
Laura: I've read Hunger Games four times. I think it's brilliant. I'm honestly scared to go near Mockingjay again, but I think I need to, if only to have a better conversation with my son about it.
Rebecca: It's definitely the type of book that sparks debate. The subject matter kind of warrants it.
Krispy: Now I need to go read what you wrote on your blog! And yes for Gale! They shared so much before she left, in their care for their families, surviving their fathers. They really knew and respected each other. It broke my heart to see that blown to shreds.
I reread the trilogy before the movie came out, then was worried that was a mistake. It wasn't. I loved the movie and felt they did an amazing job dealing with some of the issues that arose with the book being from Katniss's pov and that we were often in her inner thoughts. I loved the behind the scenes stuff in the control room. That and the Games commentary solved a lot of the potential problems.
I'm curious how old your son is? My ten-year-old grandson is reading Hunger Games and wants to see the movie. I never would have given him the book, but a friend of his did. He's a very solid, thoughtful kid. But I really wonder about the movie. What do you think?
Stina: I reread The Hunger Games after I saw the movie and it thrilled my geeky heart to see that entire passages had been used in the movie, almost word for word. :-) They did a really amazing job bringing this book to life and staying as true to the story as they could.
Rosi: My son is 12. I read the book out loud to him when he was 11 because a lot of kids in his class were reading it and he was curious. I wanted us to be able to discuss it and not have him just tear through it and forget to ask questions as they came to him. He read the other two on his own. I think the book and movie are fine for a mature kid. My daughter is 9-and-a-half but she isn't nearly as mature as my son was at that age. It varies with each child.
A lot of people feel that The Hunger Games is too brutal. They say the book is nothing more than glorified violence, that real people would never let something that horrific happen.
I respectfully agree. And disagree. Here’s why.
In the early 1960s, the United States increased their support of a war that was already in progress halfway across the globe. We didn’t have nearly enough soldiers to make a difference in that war, so in 1969a televised lottery was held. The draft. (Reaping, anyone?) Many of the young men sent to fight in Vietnam were poor; they had no means to avoid the draft. And according to a popular song from the 80s, the average age of those soldiers was 19.
The Vietnam War was the first televised war. Unlike the newsreels sent home from previous wars, the government didn’t get to edit the footage that was released to the American public. Technology had advanced too far and a growing mistrust of our elected leaders made news services all too eager to exercise their freedom of speech.
But here’s where we differ from the people of Panem. Those nightly images served up with a thawed out tray of mystery meat got to be more than Americans could tolerate. Rather than accept that this was our fate, that we had to send more of our children to die, people started protesting the war and demanding that our soldiers come home. It didn’t take twenty-four years for people to start a Rue Riot. Thank goodness.
I know the parallels aren’t exactly the same. But when people say the Hunger Games is too violent, I wonder if they’ve watched the nightly news. Because those smiling hosts are always happy to dish from the scene of the crime and replay the carnage until we’re numb. When people say that we would never let that happen, I say we already did.
And we still do.
Only these days, no one’s forcing us to watch. And I’m not sure if that’s a good thing, or not.
11 Comments on Living with a Peeta-file, Part II, last added: 4/27/2012
One of the points Jennifer made during an interview was that the story reflects how we now view the news and reality shows. We've become numb to what's going on since it's nothing new, so both have to sensationalize it more to get our attention. I thought that was well put.
Very well said. I have no problem with fiction portraying real life or an exaggerated life. My issues with the series had less to do with the violence but in set up expectations and the author veering from them. Or that's what it seemed like to me. But I've let go of my feelings toward the last book and moved on. :)
I personally think that kids under 13 probably shouldn't watch the evening news OR read the Hunger Games. Each parent has to decide this on their own, but my 8yo asked yesterday when he would be old enough to read the HG and I said 13, just like his big brother. I figure they have their whole teen years to learn about the carnage the world is capable of.
I third the BRILLIANT and add bloody brilliant. Sherrie, your analogy is accurate and breath-taking. And we've all heard more recently about very young child soldiers in other countries. Human beings can be brutal, can avert their eyes and pretend they don't see, but history shows again and again what we're capable of. The real danger of televised violence is the numbing effect.
One thing that annoys me about all the uproar about The Hunger Games is that people often make a judgement about the book/movie before reading it or seeing it themselves.
The story isn't about the glorification of violence. It's about taking stand against tyranny.
I think the concept of these books (for if they are not high-concept, I have no idea what is) sometimes overshadows the message, but mostly by those who have not yet read the book or seen the movie. It's pretty obvious once you do that that the violence is not being glorified, at least, not by the character through whose pov we experience the story.
I agree with you completely, and thank you for making the point. (I had no idea the Vietnam War draft was televised, actually.)
However, I will say that one minor problem I had with the concept in HG was that SEVENTY-FOUR years (not 24, btw) would have gone by before anyone disrupted the games like Katniss did. I find that hard to believe. As you said, it didn't take long for Americans to protest Vietnam.
My 7th grader just read Hunger Games and my 4th grade daughter is so sad she has to wait three years to read it. But I do think a child needs to be mature enough to read it due to the violence. I did love the series. I still need to see the movie!
Also, if you think about it, much worst things have been done to humans in the past. Like the MK-Ultra mid programming experiment. Some say it's still going on. But as you said, most people decide not to dig in to things like these.
Excellent point! I think that's why the books are so popular; they really resonate with aspects of our lives right now. Suzanne Collins has said herself that part of the inspiration for the concept of the book was from watching reality TV and the news.
While the books were violent, I never felt it was being glorified. It was there to make a point. It's there to be brutal, so that readers can really see how wrong that society has gone.
I don't think HG is glorified violence. I think that actually Collins is making a lot of statements, and violence is used in an effective way to show the brutality of her deeper message. Luckily, it's fiction. What's on TV is not.
Last weekend I got a dose of inspiration when I attended the L.A. Writer's Days. The two regional advisors, Sarah Laurenson and Lee Wind, put together an exceptional group of presenters. And I got to meet fellow blogger Tricia O'Brien. Bonus! I'm so glad I got to go.
One of my favorite Santa Barbara writers, Lee Wardlaw, talked about the fact that her most recent book, Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku, was rejected by seven editors over three years. That book, which my daughter proudly owns, is now in its fourth printing and has won scads of awards including the 2012 Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award and the 2011 SLJ Best Books of the Year. Lee said something that resonated with me:
"I'm thankful for all those rejections. Because those editors wouldn't have loved it enough to see it through acquisition meetings, marketing, finding the right illustrator... If it hadn't been rejected, it wouldn't have become the book that it is."
Photo of Stacey, Michael & Sara by Rita Crayon Huang
Agent Michael Bourret spoke on a panel with editor Stacey Barney (Putnam/Penguin) and debut author Sara Wilson Etienne. The synergy between the three of them was beautiful to witness and I kid you not -- as soon as their panel finished talking, all of Sara's books were gone within a matter of minutes. They were that good.
I could write several posts just based on the things they talked about, but here's one thing that really stuck with me. Sara wrote the first draft of her book, Harbinger, ten years ago. There was no dialogue, only one character and the entire novel was about 90 pages long. She didn't know what to do with it so she put it away for a few years. She worked on it some more, took it to an SCBWI conference and got good feedback on it from an editor there. She worked on it for almost two more years before sending it to Michael Bourret. And then, when he took it on, they revised it together for another year.
I can't even begin to tell you how much this encouraged me. I am a SLOW writer. I get impatient with myself, frustrated because I can't whip out a novel in six months, let alone in the month of November. Some edits are easy. Others have to go round my brain for a while before they solidify. Knowing that there are other slow pokes like me who take their time and still manage to make their debut and make it big, was incredibly inspiring.
People ask me all the time if I think it's worth the money to go to a conference. When you come away inspired to keep at it, excited to lock yourself away and sit in front of a glowing screen, I'd say it's definitely worth it.
10 Comments on Writer's Day L.A., last added: 5/6/2012
Yay for us slow pokes! Sometimes I read about writers who can whip out their drafts in 9 days or 2 weeks or whatever, and I kind of want to die. It's taken me a long time to accept with my pace, and even so, being at peace with it is not the same as being happy about it.
So what I'm saying is, this helps me too. Every story about a slow writer helps me too. Thanks for sharing. So glad you enjoyed yourself and found some inspiration! :)
I'm so glad you found a spark to keep your motivation burning bright! We have to take that wherever we can. Everyone has their own style, but the great thing about the writing world is knowing you're not the only one that works that way!
Wow, these comments are becoming like a support group I should join. This is a brilliant post. I'm so glad you loved the editor/agent/author panel, too, because, you know, I could be biased, but I don't think I am. (It was AWESOME, right??)
It was so great to see you there, Sherrie! Write on!!
P.S. I saw your post on Lee Wardlaw's Facebook page, and for some reason the pull quote there zoned right in on, "Yay for us slowpokes!" (Kristan's comment above, but I thought it was the start of your post). I thought you were talking about how long it took me to get out these photos, hahaha! But when it comes to writing...yeah. I'm not ready to admit it online yet. Let's just say, I love this post and these comments. :)
Kristan: Yes! Slow pokes unite! I wish I was one of those fast writers, but it is what it is. And putting out something I'm proud of is more important than just getting it out.
Lee: Your talk was brilliant. And with all the cat pictures that tied in with the points you were making (or not!) -- you made me laugh. And cry. I'm so glad I got to hear you because it was most definitely inspiring.
Susan: All the writer friends I've found help keep me going and conferences like this one are the perfect boost.
Shelley: It was a great conference. One of these days I'm going to meet you, too!
Krispy: I'm so glad this post helped inspire other slow pokes, too!! I was hoping I'd run into you at this conference, considering it was right in your back yard! Next time :)
Rita: You are more than welcome to join this support group. We slow pokes have to encourage each other :P And thanks for all the wonderful photos. You got so many fabulous ones, I had a hard time deciding which one to use!
Thank you for the encouragement! Slow is my go too, and I'm even slower in revision because things do, like you said, need to echo around the brain awhile.
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I remember when I was a kid getting in trouble for reading so much...I used to hold the book up to those dim LED nightlights and get terrible headaches, but I never wanted to stop!
And we read aloud a lot in my home, too. My husband works from home, so often I'll read aloud to everyone--just finished The Silver Chair. :)
No kids to read aloud with, but I have very distinct, wonderful memories of my parents reading aloud with me. No doubt that's where my affinity for reading and writing comes from. :)