Gail Carson Levine's Blog, page 37
February 22, 2012
Beset by settings
Agnes, thank you for referring Maddi to my post about Ella Enchanted the movie. I just want to add one comment, which I make whenever I talk about the film at schools and conferences. The movie has brought many readers to the book, for which I'm exceedingly grateful - so, if any of you are producers or directors or future producers or directors, please keep in mind that I have lots of other books! Making a movie costs a great deal and you'll need studio support, but I'll be eager for you to s...
February 15, 2012
Writer's Theme Park
Some of you may already know about this historic practice that I happened on during the week: In the middle ages books, which were hand copied and thus very expensive, were often chained to their shelves, like chain-gang prisoners or kidnap victims. Here's a link to an image of what was called a "chained library:" http://atlasobscura.com/place/hereford-cathedral-chained-library.
Now for the main post. On September 11, 2011, Pororo wrote, ....Do you have any suggestions for themes I could...
Now for the main post. On September 11, 2011, Pororo wrote, ....Do you have any suggestions for themes I could...
February 8, 2012
The Conflict Count
This question has come up a few times, so let me say it here: The prompts in Writing Magic and on this blog are yours to use. If the resulting fiction is published I want to hear about it so I can cheer along with you, and a print acknowledgement, if you can, is always appreciated.
On August 31, 2011, Lexa wrote, How much conflict is too much/not enough?
My story has one main conflict— Lana's parents are killed and she finds out she has powers. The problem is nothing else ever happens.
This...
On August 31, 2011, Lexa wrote, How much conflict is too much/not enough?
My story has one main conflict— Lana's parents are killed and she finds out she has powers. The problem is nothing else ever happens.
This...
February 1, 2012
Start the heart throbs
Back from vacation in sunny Tucson. Thanks for keeping the blog going last week!
Before the post starts, here's a great, over the top review of my upcoming book, Forgive Me, I Meant to Do It: http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/afuse8production/2012/01/25/review-of-the-day-forgive-me-i-meant-to-do-it-by-gail-carson-levine/.
In August, M.K.B. wrote, ....I'm having some difficulty showing romance in my story. I mean, I can easily show that they like each other, but it's kind of difficult to...
Before the post starts, here's a great, over the top review of my upcoming book, Forgive Me, I Meant to Do It: http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/afuse8production/2012/01/25/review-of-the-day-forgive-me-i-meant-to-do-it-by-gail-carson-levine/.
In August, M.K.B. wrote, ....I'm having some difficulty showing romance in my story. I mean, I can easily show that they like each other, but it's kind of difficult to...
January 18, 2012
Brave new world
Just to let you all know, the blog may take next week off. I'll be vacationing, tra la, and I don't know if I'll get to it.
On August 29th, 2011, Charlotte wrote, ....I've got the plot set down pretty well in the novel I'm working on, but what I'm having trouble with is the world itself. It's fantasy, and it's set in a world other than this one, and I don't want it to come off quite as modern as our world--e.g. skyscrapers, cars, etc. But there are some modern aspects that I do want to...
On August 29th, 2011, Charlotte wrote, ....I've got the plot set down pretty well in the novel I'm working on, but what I'm having trouble with is the world itself. It's fantasy, and it's set in a world other than this one, and I don't want it to come off quite as modern as our world--e.g. skyscrapers, cars, etc. But there are some modern aspects that I do want to...
January 11, 2012
Quirks
On April 28th, 2011, Squid, writer, wrote:
1- Where do you write? Virginia Woolf famously said it's important to have a room of one's own... How do you arrange your supplies, do you write indoors or outdoors? I'd like to know.
2- What supplies do you use? Do you write first drafts longhand, or do you type them? What journals and pens do you use?
And on January 7, 2012, April wrote, I'm curious for more peeks into your life. Perhaps you could divulge a little more in another post? For example, I ...
1- Where do you write? Virginia Woolf famously said it's important to have a room of one's own... How do you arrange your supplies, do you write indoors or outdoors? I'd like to know.
2- What supplies do you use? Do you write first drafts longhand, or do you type them? What journals and pens do you use?
And on January 7, 2012, April wrote, I'm curious for more peeks into your life. Perhaps you could divulge a little more in another post? For example, I ...
January 4, 2012
The Writing Days of Summer
On August 22, 2011, Melissa wrote, ....I still want to know what you're doing at your summer workshop. Or if you could tell me some of the homework you gave the kids. Hopefully I can find your answer this time.
Thirty to thirty-five children sign up and usually about twenty or so are there each week. The age range is ten years to eighteen. Debby, a fifth grade teacher volunteer helps me. (I'm also a volunteer. The local library hosts us.) I hold six sessions, each an hour-and-a-half long. We a...
Thirty to thirty-five children sign up and usually about twenty or so are there each week. The age range is ten years to eighteen. Debby, a fifth grade teacher volunteer helps me. (I'm also a volunteer. The local library hosts us.) I hold six sessions, each an hour-and-a-half long. We a...
December 28, 2011
Before I start, here's a link to a poem I read this week ...
Before I start, here's a link to a poem I read this week and loved that seems to me to get (metaphorically) to the essence of fiction and poetry: http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/index.php?date=2011/12/20.
On August 16, 2011, bluekiwii wrote, ....The best stories are the ones which show more than tell. I've heard this advice many times in articles and books on how-to-write. Yet I wonder sometimes if I'm not underestimating the value of telling. I feel that telling instead of showing...
On August 16, 2011, bluekiwii wrote, ....The best stories are the ones which show more than tell. I've heard this advice many times in articles and books on how-to-write. Yet I wonder sometimes if I'm not underestimating the value of telling. I feel that telling instead of showing...
December 21, 2011
Writing in tongues
On August 12, 2011, Caitlyn wrote, ....My story is set in modern times, but it has a group of major characters who have been around for a few thousand years, and English is not their first language. Though they speak English around the MC, in stressful or emotional situations they revert to their native tongue. Many of those lines of dialogue are left uninterpreted, at least for a while.
I feel like the language needs to be included for authenticity's sake, so I was wondering: what is the ...
I feel like the language needs to be included for authenticity's sake, so I was wondering: what is the ...
December 14, 2011
Going crazy
Before I start the post, in case anyone will be near Pawling, New York, this Saturday, I'm signing and talking. Details are on my website.
In August, Alexbella Sara wrote, How does one get across that a character is, to put it quite bluntly, going insane? I have one who is going insane and I don't know how to show it.
And Lexi commented, I wrote a story where my MC temporarily lost his mind. Now I'm not saying that this is the best way to do it or anything, but when I did it, I gradually began ...
In August, Alexbella Sara wrote, How does one get across that a character is, to put it quite bluntly, going insane? I have one who is going insane and I don't know how to show it.
And Lexi commented, I wrote a story where my MC temporarily lost his mind. Now I'm not saying that this is the best way to do it or anything, but when I did it, I gradually began ...
