Mette Ivie Harrison's Blog, page 60

17 Questions to Ask Yourself About the Food in Your World:

These may seem trivial, but I cannot tell you how many times I have been jerked out of a fantasy world by food references that seem wrong. If you don't remember that potatoes and tomatoes are New World foods and would not have existed in European-based fantasy worlds, I am annoyed. Turnips were the roots used before potatoes, and let me tell you, people were glad to get potatoes, tastier and more nutritious (despite what stupid modern nutritionists tell you about the evils of potatoes). Corn, also was a New World food. Before that, the word "corn" referred to any grain. The Indian word "maize" is the word that specifically refers to the yellow grass vegetable/grain we eat in America now. So think about these questions as you write:

What are the ethnic roots of this food?

What roots were grown here originally?

What plants have been imported and from where?

What foods are most nutritious?

What foods are most coveted and most expensive? Breast meat of chicken or the eyes of the fish?

What food do the poor eat? Offal, or potatoes or corn?

Are smelly foods desirable?

How do they eat soup?

What utensils are in use commonly?

What are the table manners?

What rituals surround food?

Who eats with you?

Are there gods to thank for the food?

What prayers might be said over the food?

What do people do to ensure a plentiful harvest?

Is the food form the land or the sea?

How much trade is involved in each meal?

Making Heaven Part 3

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

The meek are those who turn the other cheek. They are those who are gentle and kind, who do not anger easily. And the reward for those who are meek is to inherit the earth? Surely this makes no sense, in a world where it is the early bird who gets the worm and the self-promoters who make the most money and the liars who get elected to political office and the fake movie stars who are our heroes.

But that is the world that we have because it is the world we have made. We are vain and selfish, and so we get a vain and selfish world. Until we learn to become meek, and see that the world has, all along, been made for the meek.

The flowers that bloom only one day a year—the meek see those. The sunsets and sunrises that those working too hard never notice—those are for the meek. The shy smile of a child who lives across the street and is not sure if the world is friendly or not—that is for the meek grandfatherly figure. The reflection on a life lived well—that is for the meek.

Monday Book Recs--Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

I loved how this book opened, with Kami in a regular, everyday situation. She has a family, friends, go to school in a regular town, has a plan for her life including becoming a reporter, and she is working toward that plan. I love it when any character has a plan, but especially a girl, because there are so many female characters who seem to wander around waiting for life to happen to them, instead of for them to happen to life.

The introduction of the speculative element in the book is so understated you might not even notice it for a little while. It turns out Kami has an imaginary friend named Jared, whom she has talked to all her life in her mind. He talks to her back, and while at first you might not be sure, you realize not too long after that Jared is no ordinary imaginary friend. In fact, Kami and Jared meet in person for the first time in the early chapters of the book.

And this is where I started to love the book. I tell writers all the time that the best kind of speculative fiction uses our world as a template and changes one thing. Just one thing. That's all you need to do. Really, if you change on thing and you do it well, you will be changing everything, but just slightly, and the genius is in showing how those small changes ripple through everything. Sure, you can do epic fantasy where there are elves and dwarves and magic spells, and special magic objects to search for, and a secret history of the kingdom. Sometimes I yawn when I hear these elements, though. I want really good writing and great characters, and they don't have to be dressed up in fancy clothese necessarily. Too often writers focus on the fancy clothes and miss the rest of a great story. Sarah Rees Brennan doesn't do that.

Because when Kami and Jared meet--wow! It isn't the fantasy that they would have imagined. It's awful. Jared thinks of Kami as "some annoying Asian girl" and Kami hears his thoughts. Kami, meanwhile, thinks Jared is hot and would like to date him, but he can't even stand to touch her. And for both of them, the person they once trusted most with all their deepest, scariest thoughts, has now become someone they can't trust, they can't share with, and is all too complicated to know what to do with. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book. I even like the way it ended, though I am trying hard not to give spoilers here.

Also, just because I say that Brennan's book changes one little thing and then lets it ripple, don't think that means that there aren't lots of fun magical things going on here. There's plenty of big world building and magic rules and all the things that you love in fantasy. It's just that it starts small and then starts rolling and then sort of explodes near the end. Hang on to your hat!

Race Report: Kokopelli Olympic 2012

So I had a not-perfect race today. It wasn't bad. But it wasn't what I hoped it would be. I struggled with sighting on the swim. I was in the wrong gear wheel for most of the bike and didn't notice until it occurred to me that there might be something wrong with the fact that I couldn't pedal on gentle downhills. The run went well, and was my favorite part of the race. This is not my normal experience. I usually like the swim, but it felt interminable.. And I usually like the bike, but I kept thinking I had a flat and almost ran off into a ditch.

Things I Learned:

1. I hate chip sealed roads. I get it that they are cheaper and that cars don't care. I get it that roads are mostly for cars. Nonetheless, do we have to make all of our choices based on cars and push bikes further and further away? In our community, even the bike trails are moving toward having speed limits, which forces the expert cyclists (even the ones commuting) back out on the freeway. Please, let's think about what "Share the Road" really means.

2. There is a temperature at which I do not like to wear a wetsuit. The limit is 78 F and this water was 77F. Legally, we were allowed to wear wetsuits for the race (speaking of legality in terms of USAT rules). But I was too hot and that was not fun. This has never happened to me before, that I felt too warm in a wetsuit.

3. I like medals and awards, but I can get over the need to have outward symbols of my accomplishments. At this race, because of some circumstances that do not make sense to me, I ended up being moved out of the age group awards, but I was fourth overall, so out of the medals. I would have beaten the next closest woman in my age group by 25 minutes, but I didn't count. And you know what? It niggles a bit, but I'm a big girl. I know what I did.

4. Pain from something unrelated to the race makes my threshhold for race pain lower. I wasn't sick and I didn't have an injury, but nonetheless, the pain distracted my brain and probably hindered me.

5. Because I was in the "open division," I was unable to see my competition in other divisions. While it was nice not having to pass people contantly (and sometimes be passed), I am frustrated by the fact that most non-Ironman races start people in separate waves, dividing them by age and gender. I do not want to be separated by age and gender. I want to see my competitors. Although I am over 40 and a woman, I want to be able to see which men are ahead of me. I want to compete with them on an even field. I want to compete with women much younger than I am and the assumptions that the race organizers make about my capabilities annoy me. I am sure that this is not as bad as it could be, but it's one way to point to the prejudices that inform our everyday decisions. When you tell people they cannot compete, you make it a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Friday Tri: Saving Time for Free

I'm headed out to a race this weekend, so I thought I would give some quick advice on saving time for free. In triathlon, every second counts. I've lost multiple races by less than a minute, so I know. Obviously there are ways to get some time banked by spending loads of money on great equipment. A more expensive wetsuit, a more expensive bike and wheels, aerobars, better seat, better shoes with elastic laces, hiring a coach, on and on. But if you don't have money to spend, how do you get those few precious seconds?

1. Sighting on the swim. If you only swim the actual 1500 meter distance instead of 1800 meters because you are going far off course, you will save tons of time. The best swimmers are the ones who swim the least distance.

2. Know where your bike and shoes are in transition. Run through transition a few times before the race starts so you aren't wandering around during the race, trying to find your stuff. (It still happens to me, eys.)

3. Take care of business. You really don't want to spend race time in the portapotties. So make sure you don't eat a lot of fiber the day before and go more than once before the race starts.

4. Check out the bike and run courses beforehand. Make sure you know where the turnarounds are. Don't go off course and you save time.

5. Drink and eat, but not too much. You want to do as close to possible what you did in training. Don't be confused by extra offerings at some races. Never eat or drink anything you haven't before. If a race offers a sports drink not familiar to you, take water and add other supplements of your own.

6. Bring your own tire changing kit. You can wait for the van to come help you, but you'll be waiting. And honestly, you know your own bike better. I had a van come along within seconds after a flat, but it took the guy twice as long as it would have taken me to fix the flat because it was my bike.

7. Don't crash. That sounds stupid, I suppose. But what I mean is, don't take stupid risks going around corners or downhills too fast. And don't take turnarounds too fast, wither your own or the sprinters.

8. Grease up. Before a race, you need to make sure you are well greased to prevent friction problems. They are painful during the race and afterwards. But greasing up is also great when you are trying to get your wetsuit off. Don't panic. Sit down if you need to. But grease up beforehand and it will be a lot easier.

9. Wear a watch. I know no one wears a watch anymore because everyone uses their cell phone, but I think wearing a watch at a race makes you more conscious of your time.

10.Forget the socks. This is only advice I would pay attention to in a shorter race, either Olympic or Sprint. Not Ironman or Half. But if you skip the socks and keep your shoes clipped in, you can save a minute or so in transition time. And it doesn't take much to practice it. Try going barefoot on your trainer first. Then practice it in training once a week or so. It's not that bad. Also, try running without socks. If you use good shoes, it shouldn't make much difference on shorter distances.

18 Questions to Ask Yourself About Gender Relations in Your Novel:

Who has the most power?

In what ways is power shared?

What happens to those who abuse power?

What are the boundaries between the genders?

Who transgresses the rules?

What are the superstitions surrounding those who transgress the rules?

What are the spheres of each gender?

What is most beautiful/attractive about either gender?

What is least attractive?

What clothing is worn and what is its purpose in revealing or concealing genders?

What place does physical violence have between the genders?

How many genders are there?

Is gender chosen or imposed and by what?

What rhythms are associated with which gender?

What are the gender cliches?

What metaphors are typical because of this gender system? How has language been shaped because of it?

What do the great literatures of this world say about gender relations?

What are the opposing sides arguing about?

Making Heaven Part 2

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

It doesn't feel very blessed to be in mourning. Most of the time it feels like a curse, like being stuck in the eye with a needle at every moment. And I HATE it when people tell me that at least I will learn sympathy for others in the same situation. I like to believe that I have the imagination to have sympathy for people in terrible situations without having lived in them myself.

And yet, there are people for whom imagination is not sufficient. Being in mourning does teach them to know how to comfort others. And for me, being in mourning taught me some things that I don't know that other people were willing to tell me. Because not everyone is open with what mourning is really like. You can ask and ask, and they just won't tell you. Partly because it hurts too much and partly because they aren't articulate enough.

I am articulate. I'm a writer and I have certain skills. I have told many stories about mourning since I lost my daughter at birth. And me telling those stories has, I believe, created a world in which other people (even those who have not suffered the same way I have) understand mourning better. Creating that world where mourners find comfort from those who mourn as they do and those who don't is part of creating heaven on earth, isn't it?

So blessed are those that mourn, for they must create a world in which mourners are comforted. Sometimes they will comfort themselves and sometimes they will teach others how to comfort, even if that is not what they wanted to do. They will do it even so because by expressing their mourning, they teach. And by refusing to express it, they also teach.

Figuring how to comfort is one of the most difficult tasks of those who are not in mourning right now. You must ask. You must be willing to listen to the worst. You must resist the temptation to say things that only comfort you, or that wipe away the mourning. You must actually MOURN with those that mourn, in order to comfort them. Bringing them food does not give you points when they are throwing up constantly with grief.

Monday Book Recs--Harris's Sebastien St. Cyr and Your Brain at Work by Rock

Your Brain at Work by John Rock
Tobias Buckell recommended this book to me over a year ago, but it took me a while to get to it. So far I am finding it interesting, validating, and at turns also useful. Interesting, because it explains how the different parts of the brain works. Validating because I have long believed that if you spend a little while on things with absolute attention, you get a lot more done than if you spend all day with only half your attention. Useful, because it is giving me tips on how to work through some of my anxieties about writing, even when they happen in the middle of something where I wish they wouldn't. A lot of the book talks about mindfulness, which a friend of mine has already introduced me to, but still it was good to have the concept reinforced. My conclusions: I need to do more yoga, and spend more time doing nothing other than feeling "in the moment."


What Angels Fear by C.S. Harris
I really enjoyed this Regency England set mystery. There were clearly a lot of deeper mysteries to explore in the series, such as the long-gone mother, the odd relationship with the father, the hatred of the older sister, and the political problems. I enjoy that in a long series, the sense that we can wait and let the rest of this play out as it will. As a Jane Austen lover, the Regency period is familiar to me, but in the countryside more than London and with very little politics. Here, it's all the man's story, really. Which isn't that different than most stories, honestly. Still, I thought the female characters were interesting. If they fell a bit back on the standard maiden in distress, I forgave them. And since I have peeked ahead, I know that the not-maiden-in-distress/whore with a heart of gold character is the one who wins, in the end. St. Cyr's strangely acute hearing and sight, as well as his yellow eyes, are not part of the work of fiction, as Harris explain in the author's note. They are a real historical fact of Welsh families.

Friday Tri: Honesty

One of the hardest things about changing your life is realizing that you have to be honest first. It doesn't matter if you want to be healthier, if you want to have better relationships, be a better writer, or if you want to get your finances in order. You've got to be honest and that is painful. Being honest means looking seriously at the things you are doing wrong. It doesn't have to be a blame fest, but it can feel like you are ripping yourself apart.

My husband and I went through several years of dishonesty with regard to our finances. We financed a home business with credit cards, and at a certain point, the debt was so unreasonable that we actually bought things on credit to use it up. We knew we were going to be shut down, and we figured we might as well enjoy using the credit while we still could.

Then came the years when the credit was shut down. I remember calling CCC (Consumer Credit Counseling) asking for help dealing with the creditors who were calling. The first thing they did was lead me through a monthly budget. They wanted me to list EVERY expense, from groceries and gas to haircuts, movie tickets, date nights, and babysitters. They weren't trying to make a judgment. They just wanted me to look at what I was really spending.

Then the reality check came. There was no way that we could live on what we were earning, let alone pay back the creditors. I guess I had already known this, or else I wouldn't have called CCC in desperation. The only suggestion they had for us was to declare bankruptcy and start over.

In the end, we didn't declare bankruptcy. We cut expenses. We looked at our real income and we made the first really painful step, which was to stop spending more money than we had. It's not like we were living large. But we had to cut back even more. We had to let our car be taken back by the leasing company. They sued us for damages (apparently, this always happens, whether or not you've damaged the car). We couldn't pay them. We put them on hold. We rode bikes around until my dad found us a junker and gave it to us for free (yes, we were lucky enough to have a support system).

About three years later, we had paid off the bulk of our creditors. How? Mostly because we took the painful step of confronting the truth. We still don;t buy things on credit. We don't trust ourselves to use it wisely. We pay cash, and then we know it's paid for and we don't think about it.

As I watch other people struggle with finances, I think that sitting down and doing a budget is the first step. Once people do that, they almost always figure out how to get out of debt. And most of them, like my husband and I, don't make the same mistake again. We don't live on credit cards. We have a couple, but we don't use them except for business trips when you need a card for a hotel or car. We use our debit card. We pay cash for our cars. We pay cash for everything.

I think that the same rule works with health. When you are forced to look at the bad choices you are making, it is painful. But it helps. It's the only way to figure out how to make changes. Go to your doctor, find out what your risk factors are. Look realistically at the BMI charts. Sure, they aren't everything. There are many people who are above the BMI charts who are still healthy. But look at them.

Also make a journal of your food each day. After a week, look at it. Are you eating healthily? How can you change? Does the very fact of writing down what you eat change what you eat? For many people it does, which is why I have chosen to write down what I eat every day for the last couple of years (my kids say this is actually because I am OCD and has nothing to do with healthy eating, but whatever). Are you getting enough of the healthy stuff? Are you eating 5 fruits and vegetables a day? Are you getting enough fiber? Are you getting too much protein? Too much fat and cholesterol? Do you eat more homemade food than processed food?

Along with this, I will say that part of dealing with the honesty of your body is accepting that there are certain things about your body you are not going to be able to change, no matter how many situps you do or how many calories you restrict from yourself. Real honesty means looking at what is there, accepting it first, and then choosing what changes you want to make that will be helpful. But you have to accept what is in the mirror. You can't keep turning away from it, wanting it to go away.

The best athletes do this on a regular basis. They look at their strengths and weaknesses, based on real performances, not on hoped for or wished for performances. And then they figure out ways to improve those weaknesses or build on those strengths. Often both. If you are getting injured a lot, you are going to have to deal with that. It doesn't help to think that you want to run 100 miles a week if that gets you injured half the year. You are going to have to change your plan, even though other people seem to run 100 miles just fine. You are not other people. You have to see that honestly and accept it.

If you are a writer, this same kind of honesty is really important. It's one of the reasons that self-publishing is tricky. People who don't have a framework that demands they get honest feedback tend not to get better as writers as quickly as those who do. Honesty can hurt. I know. Believe me. It still hurts, after years of working in the business. I'm not sure it hurts any less now than it did in the beginning.

Expecting that you will have work to do froim the outset is good to begin with, and knowing that it will take a while to get over the hurt and get back to work can be useful, as well. But find a way to get that honest feedback so you can grow. Go to workshops. Find a writer's group that doesn't just tell you it's great. Make sure you're not just getting your family's feedback (they're prejudiced--mine are prejudiced in the negative). Consider hiring someone to critique who is a professional.

If you aren't sending manuscripts out, start sending them out either to agents (for novels) or to magazines (short stories). Look at the feedback you are getting. Do you get any personal comments? That's good news. Don't pay slavish attention to them, but pay attention to them. Look at any compliments you get, as well. Pay attention to those.

Also, read books. This is an indirect check on your own writing. Does it compare to the best of the best? What do you still need to improve on to be looked at in the same class with the great writers you admire? Do you need to start over again? Then do it. Better now than later. You'll lose less time.

Be honest with yourself as much as you can be. We all lie, and we all probably need to be hopeful, but I think hope is part of honesty. There is always the chance for improvement, as long as you are willing to start now.

30 Questions to Ask Yourself About Your Worldbuilding

Can humans live and thrive in this world? If not, how do they change the world to make it a different place?

What do people eat s a primary calorie source? Is there enough of this? Is it easy enough to harvest?

What is the basic economic structure of this world?

How does trade happen between places?

How are most people employed?

Is the labor base sufficient for the technology?

What is the political system?

What wars have been fought recently, and over what?

What are the geographical boundaries to this place?

What groups hate what other groups?

What is the religion, or if there is no religion, what are the origin stories?

What is sacred here?

What is the monetary system?

What is the black market here?

What is the penal system like?

What are the laws and how have they developed?

What groups are most honored? Judges, politicians, storytellers, actors, athletes, needleworkers?

What curses are offered in every day conversation? What blessings?

What patterns do people see happen over and over again in their lives?

Who loves whom and when is it forbidden?

Who is considered the most important moral teacher of this culture?

What cultural stories matter?

What are children taught in school? What subjects that we have and what subjects that we don't have?

What is the process of moving from childhood to adulthood?

What happens to the elderly?

What items are most precious?

What would you find in the garbage of the people in this world?

What rituals/holidays are common here?

How is news spread?

Is there bribing? How is it done?