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Don't you just love opening up a book and discovering a map on the inside cover? This is especially exciting in the case of novels, when the prospect of finding anything visual is on the low side. Most fantasy novels have some sort of orientation map, an invaluable aide for the reader to navigate the often complex journeys the protagonist travels. But it's the other books, the contemporary novels, that offer a promise of slipping into a world that is familiar yet new at the same time.

More specifically, maps appear more in middle grade than Young Adult novels. A few of my favorites are:

The Callahan Cousins by Elizabeth Doyle Carey. The map of Eastport Harbor on Gull Island is charming and sets up this quintessential girls summer adventure story. I mean, who wouldn't want to spend their summer on Gull island with three of your best pals?

Bloomibility by Sharon Creech has a map. More like a whimsical piece of art. It sets the tone and setting but sadly, is the only illustrated piece in the book. Don't you wish there were more illustrations in middle grade?

Another one that I love is printed on the inside cover of The Secret Order of the Gumm Street Girls by Elise Primavera. The map is hard to read, even with a magnifying lens, but the impact is perfect.

A few books make it necessary to provide a map, some type of guidance system for the reader. The Diamond of Darkhold by Jeanne DuPrau has two: One on the back jacket flap and another on the first two pages. Both are beautifully illustrated and both are helpful for following the story.

Perhaps the most classic map of all is The Sea of Knowledge Map in The Phantom Tollbooth by Norman Juster. Who wouldn't want to travel to the Foothills of Confusion or The Mountains of Ignorance?

One of my favorite books, Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale, has a map, but it's a bit of a disappointment. It doesn't match the richness of the story or the text. Oh well, at least it makes some sense of the Eight Realms.

Of course, this post is not random. I've been visualizing my own story's map for quite some time now. The aerial view of Greenwood Academy; the equestrian center, the gymnastic and skating complex, the woods where the tragic accident occurred, the maze, etc. I thought I had it locked in my brain, but confusion from my fellow critique partners prompted a closer look.
How do the buildings piece together? How far apart are the complexes? What's the topography like? How are the dorm rooms separated?
I finally took some time the other day to draw something. I've attempted this before, but when logistics crashed with actual descriptions, I threw away the pencil and went back to the keyboard. No will notice, I said. But they did.

Most of the time, I consider myself a fairly motivated person. When I want something done, I do it. If I want to lose weight, I do it (although, I really have to want too). If something isn't making me happy, I change it. You get the idea.

After two weeks of writing heaven, I'm back at work. Not that teaching 400 kids the beauty of art is bad, but it means I must be very efficient with my free time.

My kids are great. We all arrive home around 3pm, catch up for a few minutes, then scatter. This leaves me about two hours of free time before dinner prep begins.
Oh, what to do?
I write. Or blog surf. Or download pictures onto my art blog. Of course, the first one is what I should be doing. Especially if my goal of landing an agent or editor is achieved this year. But sometimes it's hard to focus. I've come up with a strategy for eliminating the distractions.
Visuals.
Sounds simple, but here's the thing. I'm a visual person. I like perusing blogs and downloading art pictures because the images inspire me. So I try to make my writing projects visual. No, I don't write picture books, nor illustrate them. So how do I make my projects visual?
Character boards. I posted a link a while ago showing my boards. Check them out. Here's how to make one:

• Decide whether you want a notebook or a poster that hangs on your wall. If you want a poster, go to your local craft store and buy a piece of foam core (that stuff that kids use for science projects). It's great because not only can you tape and glue pictures onto it, you can also tack them on. Trim it to the appropriate size with an exacto knife or hack away with scissors. Neatness doesn't count here.
  


• Thumb through the latest Teen Vogue, Girls Life or even American Girl Magazine for images that capture your protagonist and her slew of friends. (Don't have any recommendations for Boys...even though I have boys. Sad, I know.) Paste them in a notebook along with clippings of clothes your character might wear, jewelry, what their bedroom looks like, favorite quotes, favorite snacks, etc.


• Get colorful. Nothing is more boring than black and white. Get out highlighters, markers and even those fancy stickers and have fun!

Ultimately, your characters should be treated like your children and everyone has scrapbooks of their children, right???

My second project, Ainsley Archer/What Boys Want/Hopelessly Untitled, is the story about a sister of a disgraced junior golf phenom who is desperately trying to get out from under her sister's mega dark shadow. This is story that will appeal to hip, boy crazy teens as well as provide a glimpse into the world of high school golf. So for my "Ainsley" scrapbook, I've also searched for articles in golf magazines. Part research/part inspiration, I compiled teen golf interviews, pictures of beautiful golf courses, etc.
This is what motivates me. Flipping through my scrapbooks or glancing at my posters immediately places me in the book. I want to know what happens next. I can't wait to write about it. Even if I have thirty minutes, I'll do the same thing. Thirty minutes is better than nothing.

Stuart P. Green, author of Lying, Cheating, and Stealing: A Moral Theory of White-Collar Crime, is the Louis B. Porterie Professor of Law at Louisiana State University. His book navigates the ambiguity of white-collar crimes by examining the underlying moral fabric and illuminating what conduct is worthy of punishment by criminal sanction. Below Green looks at the case of Lord John Brown.

Earlier this month, Lord John Browne, once hailed as the “Sun King of the oil industry,” resigned from his post as CEO of British Petroleum amid allegations that he had lied to a court about his sexual relationship with another man. The 58-year-old Browne, who is viewed as one of the most accomplished business executives of his generation, had brought an invasion-of-privacy suit seeking to enjoin the Mail on Sunday tabloid newspaper from publishing reports about his four-year relationship with 27-year-old Jeff Chevalier. (more…)

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