Julia Karr's Blog, page 19
November 18, 2011
The Friday Five - Uh... yeah...
1. There was a recent news story about a hunter taking part in a deer cull. He shot a deer, but didn't kill it outright. When he attacked the deer (hand/knife to hoof/antler) to finish it off (which he did) the deer killed him, too. Instant karma?
2. NBC is calling for a reboot/updated version of The Munsters. Can't someone come up with a new twist? Well, supposedly this is going to have a new twist. (O.O) I'm a little worried...
3. I was just reading about the reopening of the investigation into Natalie Wood's death. It hit me that this is a lot like #2 above... instead of working on something new - the media is rehashing - trying to rewrite - the original. Hmmm... you can draw your own conclusions about the reasons behind this by reading news stories on the subject.
4. There are days when I want to be anything BUT politically correct. Because... well, honestly - how CORRECT are politics??!!!
5. And, finally... Thank God for green tea!!! Warms me to the cockles of my (weird) little heart!
How is your Friday going? Anything interesting? Weird? I'd love to hear about it!
November 15, 2011
Endings - Really?
Well, I've been thinking about this - cause I tend to write endings with loose ends and unanswered questions. And, one of the things that hit me was - of course - I like life! And, life is one sort of frayed, raveled blanket that has no neat, tidy end.
That's it you know... I like books that remind me of the mysteries of life. There are no absolute answers - no one knows anything really for sure. Certain episodes of life have endings - or beginnings if you will. Falling in love might end in marriage - and then that's a beginning. Then there's a baby - and that's an end of a couple and a beginning of a family. Then the baby grows and leaves home and that's an end - and a beginning... and so goes life. There's birth and death - beginnings and endings - but honestly, who's to say which is which?
Before I get too esoteric... let me just say - I like my endings real - and that doesn't necessarily mean they will be neat and tidy. Life sure isn't!
What do you like?
crossposted from The League of Extraordinary Writers
November 11, 2011
The Friday Five - Veteran's Day Edition
1. I cannot attend a parade without getting choked up when the American flag passes, because I feel very deeply about the ideals on which this country was founded.
2. Yankee Doodle Dandy is one of my favorite movies & I always sing along to all the songs.
3. My great-uncle, Junius aka "Babe", returned shell-shocked from WWI - he spent the remainder of his life institutionalized. That broke the hearts of his mother & my grandmother (his sister.)
4. Peace-time service is as honorable and necessary as war-time service.
5. I pray for an end to wars everywhere.
I didn't think this would be a hard post to write... but the reflection on the horrors of war, what it did and still does to everyone involved (military and civilian)... well - it just makes me want to cry. I wish I had answers. I wish I knew how to "make war no more" become a reality. I know that it all starts in my heart & mind - peace, tolerance, kindness, and love. I am going to think on these things today.
From the King James version of the Bible. Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
November 10, 2011
Do you need to wrap it all up neatly?
"It is better to ask some of the questions than to know all of the answers."
Now, I have to admit, I loved the epilogue in The Deathly Hallows. Why? Because I'd spent years with all these characters and I wanted - maybe even needed - to know how they turned out - or at least a hint of their future lives. (Thanks, JK!!!) But, is that always necessary? Does every story need a neat little bow at the end? Is it even possible to put a knot at the end of some stories? And, do you want to?
Mysteries are one genre that comes to mind in the knot-tied category. When I'm reading a mystery, I expect to find out who did it in the end! (And, hopefully, I won't have figured it out too much before hand.) However, even in mysteries - and particularly the cozy variety (which I LOVE when they're good!) - there are open-ended threads, mostly related to the main character who is present in many books. Those loose ends don't need to tie up because you'll keep learning more and more about the character(s). (As it should be!) And, those unanswered questions make you want to keep reading!
I write sci-fi/dystopian, which is a genre that almost demands no tidy endings. Why? Because the world - any world - is never static. There are always unanswered questions, a myriad of directions to take, and nothing is ever set in stone - even if it seems like it is!
So - particularly for my NaNo writing friends - don't worry about wrapping up every little detail. Ask the questions! The necessary answers will come, eventually!
What do you guys think? Do you like neat, tidy endings? I'm curious...
November 9, 2011
1 of the 2 things we don't talk about...
I voted yesterday.
I was raised by my grandmother. Surely she had political views, but she didn't put them on display. The only things I knew about her politics were that she adored Teddy Roosevelt. When her family was not allowed to attend school because they were Italian - Roosevelt personally wrote to the school district and informed them that immigrants were allowed the same educational opportunities as all Americans. She (and her various brothers/sisters/cousins) went to school! And, after Nixon resigned she was heartbroken and said she was through voting. Other than that, I really didn't have a clue whether she was Republican or Democrat. What I do remember is that she never, ever, told anyone how she voted - she considered a "secret ballot" to be secret.
This morning I got to wondering about when I had any kind of 'political' sense. I kind of figured it out.
In the fifth grade, leading up to election day, we had various debates in class - with each of us having to speak as if we were one of the candidates. We didn't get to choose our candidates - we had to pull them out of a hat. We researched what our particular candidate believed and then, based on that, we had a debate with our opponent.
Here's what I remember about that. I researched both my candidate and my opponent. I found that my ideas of how life should be were much more closely aligned with those of my opponent! It made for a less than lively debate. And... when the class voted - I lost. But, I learned valuable information about myself... I have to be true to my ideals. It is impossible for me to spout beliefs that are not mine.
I think that's a good thing!
November 8, 2011
The Cursed Beginnings!
You've got an idea for a story, but where the heck do you start?
It's tempting to do a prologue, an entire set-up before you jump into the story - right? You want your reader to know who your main character is, what he/she looks like, how happy/sad/nervous/scared they are... what kind of surroundings they are in. But... and this is a BIG BUT!!! DO NOT start your story that way!
If you must do a set-up -- do it for yourself. That can be your pre-story before you jump into the REAL story! And, actually it's not a bad idea to write down all kinds of character analysis on all of your characters. Detail your setting - I even draw maps and sketch out rooms, etc. Tell yourself what your characters look like. But again - DO NOT - put those into the beginning of your story. Weave those kinds of details into your first few chapters. It's not urgent (usually) that we know your MC is a blond. However, when she pulls a brown wig on to disguise herself - THEN is when we need to know that. Yes - a scene like that could be the first scene - but chances are, it won't be!
Your beginning needs to have enough mood to draw in the reader - enough voice of your MC for readers to start caring about them - and enough plot set-up that the pages are begging to be turned.
Hard? Yes. Necessary? Yes. Achievable? Most definitely, YES!
However, for those of you doing NaNo - remember - this month is about getting the story down. Don't concern yourself with the dreaded beginnings - just jump in and write. Then come December - your real work will begin!
Any books you can think of that immediately draw you in? I'm curious...
cross-posted from http://leaguewriters.blogspot.com
November 4, 2011
The Friday Five - NaNoWriMo edition!
1. If you get stuck, not sure what to write next... write some character interactions between your main character and the people around her (or her surroundings.) These don't necessarily need to stay in the novel, but you can take them out later! It is, after all, about getting to 50K! When you do this, you will learn more about your MC and that will end up deepening your story.
2. Also, for stuckedness... stop writing about your MC and turn the focus on secondary characters. Allow your minor characters some face time and they may end up playing a larger part in your story. At the very least, you will learn more about them and how they support (or try to thwart) your MC.
3. Write some scenes in dialogue only. What do your characters have to say to each other? Maybe you're not sure just where they'll be saying these things, but chances are the conversations will lead to the settings and more!
4. If you suddenly discover that a character you thought was good (or vice versa) resist the urge to go back to where they first entered the story and edit their actions. Make a note at the point where your discovery happens (IN CAPS) about this character shift and that you'll need to fix it - but, carry on writing as if the change was already done.
5. Remember that your goal is to write a first draft, not a ready-for-submission book. So - don't stop, don't go back, don't aim for perfection... just write.
In the spirit of NaNo... Write On!!!
If you're doing NaNo, how's it going? Are you at your word goal? Close? Over? I'd love to know!
If you're not doing NaNo - how's the writing and/or life in general going?
October 31, 2011
'Twas the day before NaNo and all through the office...
Although I have plenty of writing planned for November, I prefer to do NaNoWriMo as a separate, pristine event - with a brand-new, shiny idea - rather than using the days to polish off something on which I am already working. And, I am currently deep in the middle of a project, so... I will not be NaNo-ing this year.
However... on Thursday I'll be at the Greenwood (Indiana) Library talking about the "No Plot, No Problem" aspect of NaNo. It is one that is very dear to my heart. Especially since XVI (a NaNo novel and my debut YA release) started out with no plot whatsoever!
I actually NaNo throughout the year - that is - I like to fast draft novels, setting a goal of 1667 words per day (the NaNo goal that gets you to 50K in 30 days.) The reason I like to fast draft is that if I dawdle around, parsing every paragraph and tweaking every modifier, well... nothing would ever get written! I'd be like Oscar Wilde... "I have spent most of the day putting in a comma and the rest of the day taking it out." Although surely he jests... since he did a whole lot of writing!
So, although I will be writing along with a large portion of the world starting tomorrow - it will not have a NaNo label on it - not this time.
Are you NaNo-ing this year? Have you ever? Do you want to? Any and all NaNo comments (or any other kind!) are welcome! Oh, and if you're near Greenwood, IN on Thursday, you should definitely stop by!
October 28, 2011
The Friday Five
There are more, but it is Friday... and today is all about 5's!
And now - in no particular order...
1. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
This book is about a girl who is part angel and is waiting to find out her purpose. It's well-researched and totally believable. AND - there are hot boys (uh... a hot cowboy! Yee Haw!!!) Seriously - the romance is beautifully done - the girl's inner struggles are relatable - the writing is fabu! YAY!
2. The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
London, Boarding School, Ghosts, Murders, and Jack the Ripper! What's not to love? And, I personally think Maureen Johnson is one of the most gifted storytellers in YA (maybe in any age writing!) This is a must-read, folks!
3. The Revenant by Sonia Gensler
A girl on the run, ghosts at the Cherokee Female Seminary, and a totally hot boy! This one kept me up into the wee hours. Yes!
4. The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch
I didn't think I was into post-apocalyptic, until I read Jeff's book. Wow! Just... WOW!
5. Memento Nora by Angie Smibert
Violence in this future society is easily forgotten when you take a trip to the Theraputic Forgetting Clinic. Then you can get on with the important things in life, like shopping. But, what if you don't want to forget? This is one of the best dystopian's I've read! Read it!
So - what have you been reading lately that you just simply HAVE TO tell people about? I'm always looking for new books to add to the TBR pile!
October 25, 2011
A short story for Halloween...
The Fifth Floor
Honestly, I have no idea what I’m doing here...
On the elevator ride, I thought of everything wicked I'd done, from the very first time I ever lied (to Grammy about swigging maple syrup directly out of the bottle), to earlier this very day when I’d stuck that pen in my bag before I left work. I mean, come on... I know stealing is stealing, but it’s just a measly rollerball. It came in one of those annoying mailings where the contents rolls around inside and somewhere between origin and destination, the envelope gets torn because of the stupid pen bulge. Well, no matter... let me tell you and you see what you make of it.
My day was pretty normal. Uneventful even. Although, as I think back, there was the odd moment...
Like the incident after our requisite 1:15 meeting with the boss. Leaving the conference room, I’d nodded to him, as always, and for half a second I thought his eyes were red. Not red-rimmed from crying because sales were down in the basement; he wouldn’t cry about that anyway, he’d just yell at the sales team. Nope, those eyes had looked like glowing red embers. I’d chalked it up to the lighting. I remember he’d said, “Later.” Definitely more than the usual grunt, but, I’d shrugged it off as his sorry attempt to be cool.
Come to think of it, there were a lot of things that had seemed “off” at the office. (No pun intended, well... yeah... But, seriously, how can I joke at a time like this – right?)
When I say work had been normal, it was in that half-a-degree to the left sort of way. My eyes were constantly adjusting to the lights being too bright or too dim. (Which validates my theory about the boss’s weird eyes, doesn't it?) My co-workers were their usual combination of annoyingly cheerful and painfully dull, except for the nagging sensation I’d get upon passing them in the hallway. That prickles-up-the-neck feeling of being scrutinized, in a totally unpleasant way. But, when I’d turn around to see if they were looking at me, they were blithely going about their business, or so it seemed.
Then the whole pen-in-the-mail thingy. I’d only just glanced at the accompanying insert. The pen was included so the recipient could notate some kind of choice. I do remember thinking it odd that a religious organization had sent something to a business. Of course, being the lowly admin assistant, I get all the junk mail and stuff addressed to “occupant.” But, funny... now that I recall, the envelope had been addressed to me, Mary Blaize. Huh...weird. Oh well, I guess that means I didn’t steal the pen.
When I left work, I distinctly remember the receptionist saying, “goodbye,” not her typical, “Have a great evening.” It had kind of creeped me out with its ring of finality. If she noticed my questioning look, she’d done a great job of ignoring it.
I was nearly home, the front porch was in my sights, a glass of red wine in my near future, when two unfamiliar people approached me. I figured they wanted directions. I was wrong.
The events following, “Good evening, Miss Blaize.” are blurry. There was movement, maybe even traveling. How? I can’t really say. But I ended up in the lobby of a building I’d never seen before, in front of the elevator. I was wearing the dress I’d worn to the company Christmas party two years earlier and had stuck in the back of my closet, never to be seen or thought of again – until now.
The woman stuck a bouquet in my hands and the man punched the elevator button. “Get off on the fifth floor,” he said.
When I got on the elevator there were already three people inside. As the doors closed, I reached over to press 5. There were only four floors. I'm going to have to go back down to the lobby and these people are going to think I am so stupid, I thought. Paying me no mind, the occupants exited on the fourth floor, Two other people entered and, although it felt like the elevator was going down, when it stopped, the indicator above the doors lit up 5. We all got off.
The two people, another man and woman, bustled me through a busy office. In the adjacent hallway, the woman appraised my appearance and made miniscule adjustments to my hair and the skirt of my dress, then positioned me front of a door.
I know who’s behind that door. Don’t ask me how, I can’t tell you. But, I definitely know.
Standing there, sweaty palms around that pathetic bouquet you'd think I’m scared (well, yeah, I am... just a little.) But mostly, I'm wondering – is the devil’s due really a nosegay of painted daisies and forget-me-nots?
cross-posted from The League of Extraordinary Writers
