B.J. Hoff's Blog, page 11

Memorial Day

 There are still heroes in the land--

We're grateful to all those who serve today ...

We honor all those who served yesterday ...

We remember all those who gave

 the ultimate sacrifice... 

Thank you. 

Traveling Light

Apparently I've used the term "travelogue description" too often. I used it again the other day in an email to a reader who asked me a question about how much description to apply to her story. My answer led to another question, so I'm using the following, taken from a blog entry I posted at Grace Notes a couple of years ago, to explain:

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Think of a guide who's taking us on a tour. Just for the sake of example, let's say we're visiting a spacious old mansion in the historical district of...

Giving Birth ... to a Character

 I confess that I don't entirely understand the mysterious process by which a character is "born." That it is a mysterious process, however, I don't question. Most of my story people simply show up, usually unexpectedly and almost always uninvited. I might have a whisper of an idea, but the story itself takes shape from the characters. In fact, it's probably accurate to say that every novel I've written began with a character, or more than one, rather than a plot.

Because I don't actually...

To Journal--or Not

A reader and a writer-in-progress asked me not long ago what my journaling routine is like. I had to confess that I don't journal.

I've tried--more than once, actually. But what I learned about myself is that the time and thought and energy required to keep a journal seemed to drain the same (time and thought and energy) away from my fiction writing. I soon developed a kind of distaste and impatience for even the briefest journal entry and had to stop. 

It was almost a disappointing...

No Comment(s)

For a number of reasons, I've changed the settings on Grace Notes to a more journal-editorial type web log. It will still lean toward a more information-like blog for readers and writers, but without a comments feature. 

As all of you no doubt know, spam and other objectionable intrusions are increasingly on the rise on almost all parts of the internet.Because of the serious illness of my husband and my own writing deadlines and related obligations, I don't have time to check every comment...

iPad ... or Not

 I played with a friend's iPad over the weekend--probably for a couple of hours, but I knew within the first few minutes I didn't want one. Not that they're not nifty--they are. Beautiful display (though not quite up to the ones on the new MacBook Pros.) But they have great, smooth speed, they're nice and thin (though heavier than I'd thought they would be), and I could see where they'd be fine for email and probably great for games and photos--the display alone would make photos more fun...

Q & A

 Q.    When you count your blessings, what are you most grateful for?

A.    God and my salvation. My family. Friends. Pets. The gift of writing. Music. Books. Freedom.

Q.    Do you have a favorite hymn?

A.    "Be Thou My Vision," an old Celtic hymn.

Q.    Do you have an office at home? What's it like?

A.    Yes. Cluttered. Loaded with books. An iMac and a MacBook Pro. More books. A printer. More books. An all-in-one fax/printer/copier. More books. Phone. More books. Desk. More books. Computer...

A Cup of Kindness

 One of the traits that, for me, makes a character memorable is kindness, just as one of the traits I'm drawn to in a person is kindness. I warm to the character who warms the heart of another character, and I tend to remember that character.

In my life, I've had much kindness shown to me, too many acts to mention by too many people to name. I'm afraid we often take the kindness of family and friends for granted, but there are times when a perfect stranger will also bless us by affording...

How About Those EBooks?

 I've  been asked--fairly often these days--if I think the increasingly popular ebook trend will eventually replace print books altogether. 

My answer is fairly predictable, given the exchanges I've had with other writers and feedback from my readers: I don't think so. My take is that as more and more companies produce ebook readers with continuing improvements in the technology, then the sales of both ebooks and ereaders will only increase. Obviously, we're well past the point where...

Easter Blessings

As we enter this holy week, I'll be taking a few days away from Grace Notes, not only to prepare for Easter and time with my family, but also to read two heavyweight galleys in advance of the re-release of Books One and Two of my Emerald Ballad Series. 

In the meantime, I want to wish all of you a special Easter blessing. May God fill this glorious time of resurrection and new life throughout all nature with grace and peace and joy beyond all telling. Have a wonderful, memorable Easter!

BJ