Angelia Sparrow's Blog, page 8
August 19, 2015
Visualizing your novel, or Ways to Use Pinterest for your writing.
We're visual creatures. Writing a book is all about capturing what we're seeing in the mind's eye and putting it into words so the next person can see it too.
Some people go overboard with description, because they want there to be no ambiguity at all. The reader must see the exact shade of the character's eyes, know precisely how many bricks are in the wall and be aware of what every appendage of every being in every scene is doing.
Some people, myself included, are sparse with description. We're impressionists, not drafters, to use artistic terms. We assume our readers have mental sets marked "interior: bad mental hospital" or "exterior: decaying southern mansion." The latter differs, of course, from "exterior: haunted castle" and "exterior: creepy Victorian house." So, with a few necessary pen strokes, we fill in the needed details on the set pieces.
You get the idea. Some things are different, but two stories, columns, squarish, the whole ball of wax.
But how do we assemble our own set pieces?
We're fortunate to have Pinterest. The site's been up and running for 3 years and I find it extremely useful for visualizing my fictional worlds
How to get the most out of Pinterest for novel planning.This assumes you have a pinterest account. Signing up for one is easy if you don't.
Create a board just for your novel or its universe. I call mine things like "Writing: 1920s Paranormal" or "Writing: the Cyber'Verse." So now you have a board. Think like a reporter: Who? What? When? Where? (the Why and How are the novel itself)
Who: Mentally cast your novel. This means assigning roles to various actors, living or dead, good or bad. Think about who you would want for your main character, who for the villain? Is he suave or rugged? Is she plain or vapid or austerely beautiful?
For instance, a year ago, I wrote a post called "Historical casting," imagining who would play each of several characters from my Nikolai'verse in various eras: Modern (early 2000s), the 1960s and the 1930s.
If you were making a movie, who would you want saying the lines you have put in your characters' mouths?
When you pin pictures of these people, add a little about the character. A quote, a description. Be sure to say something like "Muse/Playerbase/Inspiration is [Actor's Name]"
Here's a sample pin from one of my boards. The picture, a listing of who it is, a quote from the book and the actor name.
What:Many times, objects are important in the universe as well as the people. Rings of power, swords of destiny, stolen data tapes, all of that.
Think about the things your characters use: cars, weapons, clothes, anything.
I did my homework on large motorcycles before selecting this one for a secondary character. DeMarco leads a group of biker mages, and has to show he is big and bad enough to do so. The Triumphs are some of the most powerful bikes on the road, and this one is top of the line. And it gives me a visual for when I think of him on Dorothy (his bike is named for Dorothy Dandridge).
Or also, links to useful articles. Eight Thrones is set in 2080-2090. This links to predictions of what the weather will become by then.
When:
Time is a powerful thing. They influence everything from your characters' behavior to speech patterns to their very names. Knowing When your characters are from is as important as knowing where.
Pictures from the period, clothing of the period. if you can find your player bases in a movie from the era, it helps the visualizing a whole lot.
Where
Location. Setting. These can play a minimal role or a vital one. Knowing your locations is important.Sometimes, you can shoot your own photos, especially if they are places you know:
Nick Harper's Duplex from Alive on the Inside .
The Restaurant that opens Power in the Blood.
But a good location pin tells you the place, and its significance to your universe
The Loch Ness pin is gorgeous, but there is nothing to tell me why I pinned it on the DJ'Verse board. (Our hero's mum lives in a village just north of the Loch)
The 351 Carroll pin has a good pic, some history, how it connects to the universe, and the facts about the place.
There are all sorts of ways to use Pinterest.I have music, screen shots from movies to remind why I cast a certain actor in a certain role, music videos.
But the best thing of all to put on your inspiration board?
The finished book cover!
Go forth and happy pinning!
Some people go overboard with description, because they want there to be no ambiguity at all. The reader must see the exact shade of the character's eyes, know precisely how many bricks are in the wall and be aware of what every appendage of every being in every scene is doing.
Some people, myself included, are sparse with description. We're impressionists, not drafters, to use artistic terms. We assume our readers have mental sets marked "interior: bad mental hospital" or "exterior: decaying southern mansion." The latter differs, of course, from "exterior: haunted castle" and "exterior: creepy Victorian house." So, with a few necessary pen strokes, we fill in the needed details on the set pieces.
You get the idea. Some things are different, but two stories, columns, squarish, the whole ball of wax.
But how do we assemble our own set pieces?
We're fortunate to have Pinterest. The site's been up and running for 3 years and I find it extremely useful for visualizing my fictional worlds
How to get the most out of Pinterest for novel planning.This assumes you have a pinterest account. Signing up for one is easy if you don't.
Create a board just for your novel or its universe. I call mine things like "Writing: 1920s Paranormal" or "Writing: the Cyber'Verse." So now you have a board. Think like a reporter: Who? What? When? Where? (the Why and How are the novel itself)
Who: Mentally cast your novel. This means assigning roles to various actors, living or dead, good or bad. Think about who you would want for your main character, who for the villain? Is he suave or rugged? Is she plain or vapid or austerely beautiful?
For instance, a year ago, I wrote a post called "Historical casting," imagining who would play each of several characters from my Nikolai'verse in various eras: Modern (early 2000s), the 1960s and the 1930s.
If you were making a movie, who would you want saying the lines you have put in your characters' mouths?
When you pin pictures of these people, add a little about the character. A quote, a description. Be sure to say something like "Muse/Playerbase/Inspiration is [Actor's Name]"
Here's a sample pin from one of my boards. The picture, a listing of who it is, a quote from the book and the actor name.
What:Many times, objects are important in the universe as well as the people. Rings of power, swords of destiny, stolen data tapes, all of that.
Think about the things your characters use: cars, weapons, clothes, anything.
I did my homework on large motorcycles before selecting this one for a secondary character. DeMarco leads a group of biker mages, and has to show he is big and bad enough to do so. The Triumphs are some of the most powerful bikes on the road, and this one is top of the line. And it gives me a visual for when I think of him on Dorothy (his bike is named for Dorothy Dandridge).Or also, links to useful articles. Eight Thrones is set in 2080-2090. This links to predictions of what the weather will become by then.
When:
Time is a powerful thing. They influence everything from your characters' behavior to speech patterns to their very names. Knowing When your characters are from is as important as knowing where.
Pictures from the period, clothing of the period. if you can find your player bases in a movie from the era, it helps the visualizing a whole lot.
Where
Location. Setting. These can play a minimal role or a vital one. Knowing your locations is important.Sometimes, you can shoot your own photos, especially if they are places you know:
Nick Harper's Duplex from Alive on the Inside .
The Restaurant that opens Power in the Blood.But a good location pin tells you the place, and its significance to your universe
The Loch Ness pin is gorgeous, but there is nothing to tell me why I pinned it on the DJ'Verse board. (Our hero's mum lives in a village just north of the Loch)
The 351 Carroll pin has a good pic, some history, how it connects to the universe, and the facts about the place.
There are all sorts of ways to use Pinterest.I have music, screen shots from movies to remind why I cast a certain actor in a certain role, music videos.
But the best thing of all to put on your inspiration board?
The finished book cover!
Go forth and happy pinning!
August 15, 2015
Wake up calls in the middle of the night
I was doing fine. I had cleaned and done dishes and read from a physical book. I was winding down. I went to bed before midnight.
At 12:15, my 6'3", 17 year old son opens the bedroom door. "I'm bleeding."
I made Mudd get up and get him to the bathroom while I hunted for my caftan. I heard Mudd say "From your crotch?" and blinked. Remember, son. I got my caftan on and joined them.
Jonner was sitting on the toilet holding a wad of toilet paper against a boil just under the waistband of his shorts. I go for bandages and ointment. I come back and he has no color in his face. He looks waxy and yellow, and his lips are the same color as his skin.
Mudd, looking quite pale himself, helps Jonner to his bed. I apply bandages and reassurance. I tell him he has to wash out his skivvies, but not to do it until he can sit up and not feel dizzy.
Color was coming back into his face when I went to bed. Mudd was doing the Lamaze breathing thing he does when he's trying not to pass out himself. I cuddled him, checked on Jonner and now I can't sleep.
Apparently, "Mom, I'm bleeding" is better than amphetamines at waking me up. Only worse way to wake up is a sudden ejection of bodily fluids all over you.
At 12:15, my 6'3", 17 year old son opens the bedroom door. "I'm bleeding."
I made Mudd get up and get him to the bathroom while I hunted for my caftan. I heard Mudd say "From your crotch?" and blinked. Remember, son. I got my caftan on and joined them.
Jonner was sitting on the toilet holding a wad of toilet paper against a boil just under the waistband of his shorts. I go for bandages and ointment. I come back and he has no color in his face. He looks waxy and yellow, and his lips are the same color as his skin.
Mudd, looking quite pale himself, helps Jonner to his bed. I apply bandages and reassurance. I tell him he has to wash out his skivvies, but not to do it until he can sit up and not feel dizzy.
Color was coming back into his face when I went to bed. Mudd was doing the Lamaze breathing thing he does when he's trying not to pass out himself. I cuddled him, checked on Jonner and now I can't sleep.
Apparently, "Mom, I'm bleeding" is better than amphetamines at waking me up. Only worse way to wake up is a sudden ejection of bodily fluids all over you.
August 14, 2015
Watching A Sex Comedy with my teenagers
I have two teenagers. My older two children are out of the house.
Jon is 17 and Olivia is 15.
Jon is reserved. A lot goes on in his head, but very little makes it out of his mouth.
Olivia is less so. She's always been the most gregarious of my kids.
He is not sexually active. We assume he's heterosexual because he likes busty anime girl video games.
She is actively bisexual and prefers girls as partners.
And I told you all that so you have some context.
Thursday was a crafternoon. My partner, Gabriel. and I get together at zir place, watch movies and do crafts. I found out Gabriel had never seen Deuce Bigalow, Male Gigolo, which is one of my favorite bad comedies, and features Oded Fehr at his dead-level hottest as Antoine, the very sexy and very bad-tempered.
So, Gabriel painted, I knitted, Jon played video games, and Olivia watched the movie.
I hadn't expected the kids along when we planned the movie. But I had promised naked!Oded, and I was going to deliver.
Olivia sat next to me and cracked up at all the right places. I knitted along.
I was surprised neither of them were embarrassed at watching the movie. Then again, the sex is minimal (he does make love to the girl he has fallen in love with). The language is a bit raunchy (what with one of the dates having Tourette's), but as I recall, we only get a wet t-shirt clinging to a bra-less woman, and rear male nudity.
Jon said nothing, but Olivia got the message about half way in. These are women who deviate from the norm in some way: extremely fat, extremely tall, Tourette's, narcolepsy, one-leg. And Deuce finds a way to make them feel like real people instead of the freaks that society tells them they are. When he offers the narcoleptic lady the helmet so they can go dancing together, the look on his face is sweet and hopeful. And her response shows it's the nicest thing anyone's ever done for her.
The message is that kindness wins over everything: looks, money, prestige. Deuce shows it to everyone, including Antoine who has issued him at least two death threats. He even shows it to the cop who gives him grief through the whole picture, helping fix the man's marriage and turning him from an enemy into a friend.
Jon mentioned it later. Because he always needs a bit to process fiction.
And both of them came away with the message that being kind costs nothing, and gains everything.
Which isn't a bad message for a dumb little sex comedy.
And just because I can:
Jon is 17 and Olivia is 15.
Jon is reserved. A lot goes on in his head, but very little makes it out of his mouth.
Olivia is less so. She's always been the most gregarious of my kids.
He is not sexually active. We assume he's heterosexual because he likes busty anime girl video games.
She is actively bisexual and prefers girls as partners.
And I told you all that so you have some context.
Thursday was a crafternoon. My partner, Gabriel. and I get together at zir place, watch movies and do crafts. I found out Gabriel had never seen Deuce Bigalow, Male Gigolo, which is one of my favorite bad comedies, and features Oded Fehr at his dead-level hottest as Antoine, the very sexy and very bad-tempered.
So, Gabriel painted, I knitted, Jon played video games, and Olivia watched the movie.
I hadn't expected the kids along when we planned the movie. But I had promised naked!Oded, and I was going to deliver.
Olivia sat next to me and cracked up at all the right places. I knitted along.
I was surprised neither of them were embarrassed at watching the movie. Then again, the sex is minimal (he does make love to the girl he has fallen in love with). The language is a bit raunchy (what with one of the dates having Tourette's), but as I recall, we only get a wet t-shirt clinging to a bra-less woman, and rear male nudity.
Jon said nothing, but Olivia got the message about half way in. These are women who deviate from the norm in some way: extremely fat, extremely tall, Tourette's, narcolepsy, one-leg. And Deuce finds a way to make them feel like real people instead of the freaks that society tells them they are. When he offers the narcoleptic lady the helmet so they can go dancing together, the look on his face is sweet and hopeful. And her response shows it's the nicest thing anyone's ever done for her.
The message is that kindness wins over everything: looks, money, prestige. Deuce shows it to everyone, including Antoine who has issued him at least two death threats. He even shows it to the cop who gives him grief through the whole picture, helping fix the man's marriage and turning him from an enemy into a friend.
Jon mentioned it later. Because he always needs a bit to process fiction.
And both of them came away with the message that being kind costs nothing, and gains everything.
Which isn't a bad message for a dumb little sex comedy.
And just because I can:
August 12, 2015
Social media and numbers
I've had social media for a long time. My LJ is 13 years old.
And I was asked to sort out my media, check out the numbers. Gaining followers has never been a huge motivation, so I don't try. I'm kind of surprised the numbers.
Where to find me around the net:
Author sites: www.brooksandsparrow.com
Blog: valarltd.livejournal.com 317 friends, some of whom are dead
I don't say the dead part jokingly. We've lost a few to various causes over the year. I thought the number was higher. It cross-posts to LJ and Twitter.
angelsparrow.blogspot.com 4 followers. I average 30-40 views per entry.
This is us here. Because it crossposts to facebook, Google+ and twitter, it brings in readers
Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/Angelia-Sparrow/e/B003B5AFY2
Facebook (account and page)
Angelia Sparrow: www.facebook.com/angelia.sparrow 950 friends, at least 10 of which are dead
Again not joking on the dead part. I had a pretty good grasp. And I know only about 100 people see any given post and only 50 or so will like it. My LJ, Tumbler, Blogger and Pinterest all crosspost here
Author Angelia Sparrow: www.facebook.com/AuthorAngeliaSparrow 328 total page likes
Google+, Angelia Sparrow, 332 people in my circles
plus.google.com/u/0/104234724695623603043/posts/p/pub
I can't get the hang of this piece of media. I try, but revert to just crossposting.
Twitter: asparrow16 twitter.com/asparrow16 320 followers
My LJ, blogger and Pinterest all crosspost here. I do not like the format. It posts back to my LJ.
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/valarltd/ 414 followers
I was surprised that iI had so many. I love this piece of media. It appeals on a lot of levels.
Other SN platforms:
Tumblr: www.tumblr.com/blog/valarltd 70 followers
I like Tumblr, but it's mostly my fannish activity these days. A mix of SW, SPN, HP and Inception, with lots of knitting and crochet.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=35216248 222 connections
Another thing i haven't gotten the hang of.
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/2476859.Angelia_Sparrow 310 friends
My blogger crossposts here. but I find the groups tedious.
Dreamwidth: valarltd.dreamwidth.org/ 11 followers
(this is a backup to LJ)
MySpace: myspace.com/valarltd 171 connections
Haven't used this in 5 years. Need to get back to it.
Instagram: instagram.com/valarltd/ 65 followers
Figuring this one out.
And I was asked to sort out my media, check out the numbers. Gaining followers has never been a huge motivation, so I don't try. I'm kind of surprised the numbers.
Where to find me around the net:
Author sites: www.brooksandsparrow.com
Blog: valarltd.livejournal.com 317 friends, some of whom are dead
I don't say the dead part jokingly. We've lost a few to various causes over the year. I thought the number was higher. It cross-posts to LJ and Twitter.
angelsparrow.blogspot.com 4 followers. I average 30-40 views per entry.
This is us here. Because it crossposts to facebook, Google+ and twitter, it brings in readers
Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/Angelia-Sparrow/e/B003B5AFY2
Facebook (account and page)
Angelia Sparrow: www.facebook.com/angelia.sparrow 950 friends, at least 10 of which are dead
Again not joking on the dead part. I had a pretty good grasp. And I know only about 100 people see any given post and only 50 or so will like it. My LJ, Tumbler, Blogger and Pinterest all crosspost here
Author Angelia Sparrow: www.facebook.com/AuthorAngeliaSparrow 328 total page likes
Google+, Angelia Sparrow, 332 people in my circles
plus.google.com/u/0/104234724695623603043/posts/p/pub
I can't get the hang of this piece of media. I try, but revert to just crossposting.
Twitter: asparrow16 twitter.com/asparrow16 320 followers
My LJ, blogger and Pinterest all crosspost here. I do not like the format. It posts back to my LJ.
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/valarltd/ 414 followers
I was surprised that iI had so many. I love this piece of media. It appeals on a lot of levels.
Other SN platforms:
Tumblr: www.tumblr.com/blog/valarltd 70 followers
I like Tumblr, but it's mostly my fannish activity these days. A mix of SW, SPN, HP and Inception, with lots of knitting and crochet.
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=35216248 222 connections
Another thing i haven't gotten the hang of.
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/2476859.Angelia_Sparrow 310 friends
My blogger crossposts here. but I find the groups tedious.
Dreamwidth: valarltd.dreamwidth.org/ 11 followers
(this is a backup to LJ)
MySpace: myspace.com/valarltd 171 connections
Haven't used this in 5 years. Need to get back to it.
Instagram: instagram.com/valarltd/ 65 followers
Figuring this one out.
August 1, 2015
Photo Scavenger Hunt
Here are the rules.
1) The pictures are posted at Livejournal. Answers can be left there, or at Tumblr or Facebook.
2) There are 10 pictures and clues. Answer with the book title. Book titles can be found on my websitehttp://brooksandsparrow.com
3) Leave a screened comment or a PM or an inbox message. You must include your email address to win. The screening and privacy measures should be adequate.
4) All 10 clues right gets a short story in .pdf format
5) On August 5, I will draw a name at random (from all the correct entries) for a copy of Terror of the Frozen North. (If you have Terror, please feel free to let me know and choose another novel)
Here's the link
http://valarltd.livejournal.com/2202926.html
1) The pictures are posted at Livejournal. Answers can be left there, or at Tumblr or Facebook.
2) There are 10 pictures and clues. Answer with the book title. Book titles can be found on my websitehttp://brooksandsparrow.com
3) Leave a screened comment or a PM or an inbox message. You must include your email address to win. The screening and privacy measures should be adequate.
4) All 10 clues right gets a short story in .pdf format
5) On August 5, I will draw a name at random (from all the correct entries) for a copy of Terror of the Frozen North. (If you have Terror, please feel free to let me know and choose another novel)
Here's the link
http://valarltd.livejournal.com/2202926.html
July 31, 2015
Paganism, Witchcraft and Woo
So I read and interesting article today.
http://badwitch.es/coming-out-of-the-woo-closet/
It's about how we limit ourselves by not talking about our power, by not accepting we are witches and saying "my spirit guide told me" or other such because of fear of being perceived as mentally ill.
Essentially, the woo closet is the forces that keep us from being open about the way that magical, energetic, psychic, extra-sensory or spiritual forces nourish and guide us. To my mind, the woo closet is very old and is one of the most powerful spells (or cluster of spells) that keeps us from stepping into our truth and power.
Me, I do witchcraft. I am blunt and open about this.
"Hex 'em til they glow and curse 'em in the dark." is a common phrase. I have a plaque in my house that says "Today I am" and the flip part says "good witch" and "bad witch."
When some boys were giving my daughter trouble about being a pagan, I picked her up and had a chat. It ran like this "Yes, she is a witch. And do you know where little witches come from? Mama witches. Now, unless you would like to spend the summer in the bayou eating flies, I suggest you lay off of her."
The way I do witchcraft looks a lot like hard work and headology* and not at all like circle-dancing and chanting. I determine my will, focus it and do it. The doing is always work. It may be cleaning. It may be creating a whole book out of nothing but imagination. It may be turning a skein of yarn into something lovely and useful. I am doing my will.
I am open about my paganism. There are statues of Athena, Medusa, Tiamat and Hera on my mantle. The Greenman hangs on my study, as does the Horned God. I have a sun and moon face on my front door. I have a Tree of Life tattooed on my shoulder.
I deal with a variety of deities, but mostly Hera and Hermes. For me, paganism is about the gods.
But I don't believe in woo. I am not about the energy or the crystals. I don't believe in essential oils, Ley lines or pyramid power. I will work with the moon phase and astrological sign, but only to a degree. I remember three past lives, none of which are Cleopatra.
The point is, I don't have to believe in it.
I may not believe in chakras or understand them, but apparently I can do a pretty fair job of cleansing them for other people.
I always preface a tarot reading with "the cards have no power. They're mass-produced pasteboard. What they do is give you a framework to hang your own knowledge on."
My readings are still scary accurate, regardless of the deck. I talk about my decks as if they have actual personalities and abilities. (Robin's hiding today), and nobody handles them but me.
I read weather signs in clouds and plants and animals--documented stuff most have forgotten--and get laughed at for being an old hillbilly granny in the middle of suburbia, but they don't laugh when they get rained on and I said they would because the leaves were showing their bellies and the cows were lying down.
I use chants and cantrips and charms about my daily business, invoking gods, saints, angels and household sprites alike. And I always sweep sunwise. It seems to help.
When I was pregnant, I wore a berkana rune around my neck. Just a bit of clay on a leather thong, marked with a sharpie. But I was not sick at all during the pregnancies I wore it. I used it to focus my psychosomatic impulses that had made me so sick with the others.
So apparently the Woo works as expected, even if you don't believe it whole-heartedly.
I do believe that charms work as heard as their wearers, spells as hard as their casters and prayers as hard as the supplicant.
So pray with one hand.
Work with the other.
Do your will.
~~~
*Headology is a term coined by Terry Prachett. It describes a form of psychology used by witches in his Discworld series:
The difference between headology and psychiatry is summarized as follows:
A psychiatrist, dealing with a man who fears he is being followed by a large and terrible monster, will endeavor to convince him that monsters don’t exist. Granny Weatherwax would simply give him a chair to stand on and a very heavy stick. (Maskerade, 325)
My Mudd tells the story of a man in a mental hospital who locked himself in the bathroom, and refused to come out because God was angry with him. The staff reasoned with him, argued with him and finally gave up on him. One of the other patients slipped a note under the door and he came out, smiling. The note read. "I'm not mad. I love you. God."
http://badwitch.es/coming-out-of-the-woo-closet/
It's about how we limit ourselves by not talking about our power, by not accepting we are witches and saying "my spirit guide told me" or other such because of fear of being perceived as mentally ill.
Essentially, the woo closet is the forces that keep us from being open about the way that magical, energetic, psychic, extra-sensory or spiritual forces nourish and guide us. To my mind, the woo closet is very old and is one of the most powerful spells (or cluster of spells) that keeps us from stepping into our truth and power.
Me, I do witchcraft. I am blunt and open about this.
"Hex 'em til they glow and curse 'em in the dark." is a common phrase. I have a plaque in my house that says "Today I am" and the flip part says "good witch" and "bad witch."When some boys were giving my daughter trouble about being a pagan, I picked her up and had a chat. It ran like this "Yes, she is a witch. And do you know where little witches come from? Mama witches. Now, unless you would like to spend the summer in the bayou eating flies, I suggest you lay off of her."
The way I do witchcraft looks a lot like hard work and headology* and not at all like circle-dancing and chanting. I determine my will, focus it and do it. The doing is always work. It may be cleaning. It may be creating a whole book out of nothing but imagination. It may be turning a skein of yarn into something lovely and useful. I am doing my will.
I am open about my paganism. There are statues of Athena, Medusa, Tiamat and Hera on my mantle. The Greenman hangs on my study, as does the Horned God. I have a sun and moon face on my front door. I have a Tree of Life tattooed on my shoulder.
I deal with a variety of deities, but mostly Hera and Hermes. For me, paganism is about the gods.
But I don't believe in woo. I am not about the energy or the crystals. I don't believe in essential oils, Ley lines or pyramid power. I will work with the moon phase and astrological sign, but only to a degree. I remember three past lives, none of which are Cleopatra.
The point is, I don't have to believe in it.
I may not believe in chakras or understand them, but apparently I can do a pretty fair job of cleansing them for other people.
I always preface a tarot reading with "the cards have no power. They're mass-produced pasteboard. What they do is give you a framework to hang your own knowledge on."
My readings are still scary accurate, regardless of the deck. I talk about my decks as if they have actual personalities and abilities. (Robin's hiding today), and nobody handles them but me.
I read weather signs in clouds and plants and animals--documented stuff most have forgotten--and get laughed at for being an old hillbilly granny in the middle of suburbia, but they don't laugh when they get rained on and I said they would because the leaves were showing their bellies and the cows were lying down.
I use chants and cantrips and charms about my daily business, invoking gods, saints, angels and household sprites alike. And I always sweep sunwise. It seems to help.
When I was pregnant, I wore a berkana rune around my neck. Just a bit of clay on a leather thong, marked with a sharpie. But I was not sick at all during the pregnancies I wore it. I used it to focus my psychosomatic impulses that had made me so sick with the others.
So apparently the Woo works as expected, even if you don't believe it whole-heartedly.
I do believe that charms work as heard as their wearers, spells as hard as their casters and prayers as hard as the supplicant.
So pray with one hand.
Work with the other.
Do your will.
~~~
*Headology is a term coined by Terry Prachett. It describes a form of psychology used by witches in his Discworld series:
The difference between headology and psychiatry is summarized as follows:
A psychiatrist, dealing with a man who fears he is being followed by a large and terrible monster, will endeavor to convince him that monsters don’t exist. Granny Weatherwax would simply give him a chair to stand on and a very heavy stick. (Maskerade, 325)
My Mudd tells the story of a man in a mental hospital who locked himself in the bathroom, and refused to come out because God was angry with him. The staff reasoned with him, argued with him and finally gave up on him. One of the other patients slipped a note under the door and he came out, smiling. The note read. "I'm not mad. I love you. God."
Photo Scavenger Hunt
I always do an August Promo.
This year, it's a photo scavenger hunt. I haven't done this for about 7 years. You can see the last one at http://valarltd.livejournal.com/883601.html
The pictures will be different but the clues will be much the same. They should provide enough information that you can figure it out from my website http://brooksandsparrow.com
The pictures will be at Livejournal, Tumblr and Facebook. (I can't screen replies here)
Winners (All answers correct) will receive an ebook of their choice. One of the winners, randomly chosen, will get a copy of Terror of the Frozen North.
This year, it's a photo scavenger hunt. I haven't done this for about 7 years. You can see the last one at http://valarltd.livejournal.com/883601.html
The pictures will be different but the clues will be much the same. They should provide enough information that you can figure it out from my website http://brooksandsparrow.com
The pictures will be at Livejournal, Tumblr and Facebook. (I can't screen replies here)
Winners (All answers correct) will receive an ebook of their choice. One of the winners, randomly chosen, will get a copy of Terror of the Frozen North.
July 29, 2015
Submitting and writing thoughts
Today, the last of my Uugly Remillard babies, poor Jack, finished his surgery and went out to my editor. The Sweet Science of Bruising should be out from Ardent Press next year.
I have a book my Beta didn't hate, didn't feel the need to shower after and enjoyed.
I also misspelled the hero's name 8 times. (I <3 Spellcheck)
The hero is no longer a mobile vibrator and a backdrop for the heroine. She's still rather high-handed, being a notional woman quite used to getting her own way. But she's like that with everyone, because genius.
~~~
Done writing women for a while, I think.
I do all right with them as side characters, but all the strong ones ever come out as is ice-bitches.
DJ Admire is a very flawed character, hostile, alcoholic and generally abrasive. She's also determined, dedicated (if only to the next bottle) and unafraid. This is a woman who walks into a nightmare--her recurring nightmare--with her eyes open and her Desert Eagle ready, who wagers all her life-span to get the information she needs. She's horrible to the one person in the whole world who loves her, mostly in an effort to make him stop, and keep him alive.
Lillian Shaw is high-handed and imperious. She has money and brains and an insatiable curiosity and does not tolerate being told what to do. She does exactly as she pleases and ignores her reputation in the best Scarlett O'Hara fashion, without the moping and pining, but with some machinating.
Sarah Brown is a loathsome bitch. She has money, she wants a title. And she wants it from her old fiance, Edward Kilsby, Lord Withycombe, who dumped her after the War. She has decided to marry Edward, come hell or high water, whether he likes it or not. Financial abuse, blackmail and outright murder are not beneath her.
~~~
Had an interesting experience. Was told "I like contemporaries, because I want to fantasize about it happening to me." I responded with "That's exactly why I write space opera. I wanna be a space cowboy and have hot sex in the zero-gee harness. Nobody wants to be a part-time merchandiser."
I thought it through a bit more. I write fantasy. All of it is fantasy. The werewolves and elves, space opera and dystopia, the kink and the romance alike. They're all fiction and I write it by the rules of fiction because they don't happen in real life.
I know the tone and the tropes and the conventions: Werewolves change on the full moon, subs control the scene, vampires are best killed by beheading, people really do believe in their religion, push a button and it goes ftl, and people do love their partners. It's all just tropes to me.
I ultimately believe in happily ever after as much as I believe in flower fairies. I believe in zombies more than I believe in love, because zombies are a real thing (the drugged kind). I define family as the people you have an obligation to.
I have a book my Beta didn't hate, didn't feel the need to shower after and enjoyed.
I also misspelled the hero's name 8 times. (I <3 Spellcheck)
The hero is no longer a mobile vibrator and a backdrop for the heroine. She's still rather high-handed, being a notional woman quite used to getting her own way. But she's like that with everyone, because genius.
~~~
Done writing women for a while, I think.
I do all right with them as side characters, but all the strong ones ever come out as is ice-bitches.
DJ Admire is a very flawed character, hostile, alcoholic and generally abrasive. She's also determined, dedicated (if only to the next bottle) and unafraid. This is a woman who walks into a nightmare--her recurring nightmare--with her eyes open and her Desert Eagle ready, who wagers all her life-span to get the information she needs. She's horrible to the one person in the whole world who loves her, mostly in an effort to make him stop, and keep him alive.
Lillian Shaw is high-handed and imperious. She has money and brains and an insatiable curiosity and does not tolerate being told what to do. She does exactly as she pleases and ignores her reputation in the best Scarlett O'Hara fashion, without the moping and pining, but with some machinating.
Sarah Brown is a loathsome bitch. She has money, she wants a title. And she wants it from her old fiance, Edward Kilsby, Lord Withycombe, who dumped her after the War. She has decided to marry Edward, come hell or high water, whether he likes it or not. Financial abuse, blackmail and outright murder are not beneath her.
~~~
Had an interesting experience. Was told "I like contemporaries, because I want to fantasize about it happening to me." I responded with "That's exactly why I write space opera. I wanna be a space cowboy and have hot sex in the zero-gee harness. Nobody wants to be a part-time merchandiser."
I thought it through a bit more. I write fantasy. All of it is fantasy. The werewolves and elves, space opera and dystopia, the kink and the romance alike. They're all fiction and I write it by the rules of fiction because they don't happen in real life.
I know the tone and the tropes and the conventions: Werewolves change on the full moon, subs control the scene, vampires are best killed by beheading, people really do believe in their religion, push a button and it goes ftl, and people do love their partners. It's all just tropes to me.
I ultimately believe in happily ever after as much as I believe in flower fairies. I believe in zombies more than I believe in love, because zombies are a real thing (the drugged kind). I define family as the people you have an obligation to.
July 26, 2015
Big Fish, a commentary
Tonight, I saw the movie Big Fish.
I went in expecting a piece of southern gothic with some tall tales. What I got was much much bigger.
It's a movie about stories. About the stories we tell and the stories we become. I knew how the story had to end, and I was not disappointed.
At one point, the hero says to his father, "You never told me one true thing."
And I yelled at the screen, "Everything he told you was true. It just wasn't all fact."
Albert Finney and Ewan McGregor turn in amazing performances as Edward Bloom.
Billy Crudup reminds me of Cillian Murphy, except the part where I don't want to punch him on principle. (Murphy has a Backpfeifengesicht, a face in need of a fist)
Jessica Lange is always good. And Helena Bonham Carter turns in one of her most understated performances. She's brilliant in a triple part, and explains to Will "There are only two women in your father's world, your mother and everyone else."
In In the Mouth of Madness, Sam Neil's John Trent is very big on reality. Until he is informed that "Reality is what we tell each other it is."
This is a gentler take on that idea. The reality of Edward Bloom's life meshes almost seamlessly with his imaginings.
"You do your best to corrupt them and fill their heads with nonsense. They turn out normal anyway."
I think that's my favorite line.
Tell your story. Make it big, make it bold. And if it needs singing conjoined twins, a giant a witch and a werewolf ringmaster, put them in.
I went in expecting a piece of southern gothic with some tall tales. What I got was much much bigger.
It's a movie about stories. About the stories we tell and the stories we become. I knew how the story had to end, and I was not disappointed.
At one point, the hero says to his father, "You never told me one true thing."
And I yelled at the screen, "Everything he told you was true. It just wasn't all fact."
Albert Finney and Ewan McGregor turn in amazing performances as Edward Bloom.
Billy Crudup reminds me of Cillian Murphy, except the part where I don't want to punch him on principle. (Murphy has a Backpfeifengesicht, a face in need of a fist)
Jessica Lange is always good. And Helena Bonham Carter turns in one of her most understated performances. She's brilliant in a triple part, and explains to Will "There are only two women in your father's world, your mother and everyone else."
In In the Mouth of Madness, Sam Neil's John Trent is very big on reality. Until he is informed that "Reality is what we tell each other it is."
This is a gentler take on that idea. The reality of Edward Bloom's life meshes almost seamlessly with his imaginings.
"You do your best to corrupt them and fill their heads with nonsense. They turn out normal anyway."
I think that's my favorite line.
Tell your story. Make it big, make it bold. And if it needs singing conjoined twins, a giant a witch and a werewolf ringmaster, put them in.
July 23, 2015
A Thursday
Today was filled with work.
And just as a fun aside, that place on my foot that's been a problem all week? Spider bite.
So I get to call the doc.
Bun came by for dinner. She's on her way to St. Louis. She liked the kittens. I measured her for a Weasley Sweater.
Domino moved the kittens (too much human time) and Henry is missing.
Some editing accomplished.
must do call reports so I can get paid.
A Throwback Thursday of me and Oli
And just as a fun aside, that place on my foot that's been a problem all week? Spider bite.
So I get to call the doc.
Bun came by for dinner. She's on her way to St. Louis. She liked the kittens. I measured her for a Weasley Sweater.
Domino moved the kittens (too much human time) and Henry is missing.
Some editing accomplished.
must do call reports so I can get paid.
A Throwback Thursday of me and Oli
