Gail Carson Levine's Blog, page 36
May 2, 2012
Villainy
On November 2, 2011, Rina wrote, I need motivations for my villains, you see. If anyone has any good motivations for villains...?
This is a perfect companion question for last week’s post about backstories. Motivation can be backstory, or front story. Let’s put front story up front and take it first.
Here's an example:Training in alien communication at the Starship Academy begins with a placement exam, part of which is a chess game. First-year student Anthea intuits the meaning behind the game...
This is a perfect companion question for last week’s post about backstories. Motivation can be backstory, or front story. Let’s put front story up front and take it first.
Here's an example:Training in alien communication at the Starship Academy begins with a placement exam, part of which is a chess game. First-year student Anthea intuits the meaning behind the game...
April 25, 2012
Backstory story
On October 31, 2011, writeforfun wrote, ...how do you know where to put those important backstories, the ones that are pivotal to a character? Is there any way to know, or do you just put it where it seems “right”?
There are lots of ways and places and times to work in a backstory, and I think where it seems right is a good guide.
You can do it in dialogue. For example, Elizabeth and Pamela are sleeping over at Marianne’s house. They’re in their pajamas in Marianne’s room. They’ve been friends...
There are lots of ways and places and times to work in a backstory, and I think where it seems right is a good guide.
You can do it in dialogue. For example, Elizabeth and Pamela are sleeping over at Marianne’s house. They’re in their pajamas in Marianne’s room. They’ve been friends...
April 18, 2012
Tensing
First off, welliewalks’ comment last week about setting a goal to get something published before the next school year gave me an idea: how nice if you would post your publishing triumphs here so we can all bask in the reflected glory. Please do!
Now for the post. On October 20, 2011, Charlotte wrote, I've been thinking lately about tense, as in past or present. I've read some fantastic stuff in the present tense (read: THE HUNGER GAMES and other less fantastic things) and I've been wondering w...
Now for the post. On October 20, 2011, Charlotte wrote, I've been thinking lately about tense, as in past or present. I've read some fantastic stuff in the present tense (read: THE HUNGER GAMES and other less fantastic things) and I've been wondering w...
April 11, 2012
In a word
On October 14, 2011, maybeawriter wrote, I have a problem with my stories. I like the ideas but the words never seem right. Please help!
I asked for clarification, and maybeawriter added, Well, it seems like they don't flow right or seems like there is another word that might fit in better, but I can't really think of any, like there could be a better word for just walking, or the feel of the water.
Word choice influences everything, but it especially affects voice, tone, and mood. I recently r...
I asked for clarification, and maybeawriter added, Well, it seems like they don't flow right or seems like there is another word that might fit in better, but I can't really think of any, like there could be a better word for just walking, or the feel of the water.
Word choice influences everything, but it especially affects voice, tone, and mood. I recently r...
April 4, 2012
Dragons and fairies and more, oh my!
On the evening of Friday, April 13th, I'll be speaking in Longmont, Colorado. If you can make it, check out the details on the Appearances page of my website (click on the right). Hope to see you there!
On October 12, 2011, Elizabeth wrote, I'm working on a novella right now about dragons, Gail, and I was curious about your take on dealing with magical creatures, as my novella will have lots of them. Do you have any advice on how to deal with them? I'd be happy to hear what other people...
On October 12, 2011, Elizabeth wrote, I'm working on a novella right now about dragons, Gail, and I was curious about your take on dealing with magical creatures, as my novella will have lots of them. Do you have any advice on how to deal with them? I'd be happy to hear what other people...
March 28, 2012
Filler doldrums
Our detour into my books is over, at least for now. Back to writing yours.
On October 14, 2011, Jenna Royal wrote, ...I have problems with filler scenes. They're important for the flow of the story - I can't have just conflict or it gets crazy, but the in-between is hard.
Then, on Feb 11, 2012, Brianna wrote, ....I've got a ton of ideas for big scenes that move the plot along, but obviously I can't jump from some guy threatening them in their house to her being shoved in a locker at school ...
On October 14, 2011, Jenna Royal wrote, ...I have problems with filler scenes. They're important for the flow of the story - I can't have just conflict or it gets crazy, but the in-between is hard.
Then, on Feb 11, 2012, Brianna wrote, ....I've got a ton of ideas for big scenes that move the plot along, but obviously I can't jump from some guy threatening them in their house to her being shoved in a locker at school ...
March 21, 2012
Finale My Books
First off, the lovely reviews that Forgive Me, I Meant to Do It has gotten are now posted on the website. You can visit them, if you like, and rejoice with me!
I believe this is the final post about my books, at least until more questions accumulate. The first questions come from Elizabeth: Does A Tale of Two Castles take place in the same world as Ella Enchanted? And does Ever take place in the same world as Ella Enchanted? Basically, how are all the different countries in your books related ...
I believe this is the final post about my books, at least until more questions accumulate. The first questions come from Elizabeth: Does A Tale of Two Castles take place in the same world as Ella Enchanted? And does Ever take place in the same world as Ella Enchanted? Basically, how are all the different countries in your books related ...
March 14, 2012
Even more my books
Thanks to Agnes last week who posted the link to The New York Times Sunday Book Review review of Forgive Me, I Meant to Do It, which came out yesterday. For those of you who missed it, here it is again: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/11/books/review/bookshelf-poetry.html?_r=1&ref=books. And for you poetry buffs, there was an amazing essay in The Atlantic online at: http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/03/why-poetry-should-be-more-playful/254188/. I'm delighted to say the book...
March 7, 2012
More my books
News! Forgive Me, I Meant to Do It is getting a lovely short review in The New York Times Book Review this coming Sunday, March 11th. I'm so happy! It will be great for the book.
Last week I overlooked this question from Charlotte about the Fairies books: Can fairies die of old age, or just disbelief/hawks/drowning/etc.?
In my idea of it these fairies don't age. If disbelief, hawks, drowning, and so forth don't get them they can go on forever. The fairies in Ella Enchanted, on the other hand, d...
Last week I overlooked this question from Charlotte about the Fairies books: Can fairies die of old age, or just disbelief/hawks/drowning/etc.?
In my idea of it these fairies don't age. If disbelief, hawks, drowning, and so forth don't get them they can go on forever. The fairies in Ella Enchanted, on the other hand, d...
February 29, 2012
Disney FAIRIES, of course
A few months ago, some questions came in about my books. Maybeawriter started it off with this: You know, I've been wondering about the Disney thing for ages, but for some reason never brought it up. I was wondering, how much did Disney give you as a jumping-off point, and how much was your own ideas? Was it your idea to make the sequels, or did Disney want you to? What about Vidia? How much of her was your idea? Do you feel annoyed that they changed her personality so much in the Tinker...
