Rebecca H. Jamison's Blog, page 18
January 29, 2013
Getting the Ending Right
I've been coming home from the library every week with two or three new Romance DVDs to try out. This is how I cope with organizing my taxes and folding laundry. (My husband is going a little crazy. Last weekend, to get me back, he brought home a pile of Star Trek movies.) It's not that easy to find a great romantic movie. They all start out great. It's the end that's the problem, so you have to watch the whole thing before you know if you're going to like it or not.
Writing a great ending is a challenge for any writer. I only found two movies that succeeded in doing this--The Decoy Bride and The Lake House. They both had likable characters, who were well developed. I especially loved the dialogue in The Decoy Bride. The endings were predictable--a characteristic of the Romance genre--but both movies left us guessing about how that ending was going to come about.
Now, onto Pitfalls to Avoid in Writing Endings:
An Ending that is Too Short I've heard many authors say that you should end the book quickly--right after the climax and resolution. This is what happened in North and South, one of those four-hour-long BBC productions of a classic novel. Though the movie was a bit dismal, I enjoyed learning about the characters and the English industrial age. (I should also mention that the actor who plays Mr. Bates from Downton Abbey has a leading role in it.) During the final episode, I was on the edge of my seat. After watching this thing every night for a week, I was rewarded with a resolution that lasted less than five minutes. Ughh. Even my husband was dissatisfied. We wanted a glimpse into the characters' lives after the resolution. We wanted some more dialogue.
A Climax that Isn't Stressful Enough I'm a fan of classic movies, so I thought I'd try The More the Merrier. The beginning was hilarious and charming. The middle was pretty good. But the conflict kind of fizzled out before we got to the ending. To make a good ending, the characters must suffer. Like Jonah, they must enter the belly of the whale before they can come out on the other side. It seemed like the writers of this movie didn't want to hurt the characters, so they allowed them to anticipate potential suffering and avoid it. Not a good idea.
Characters who Aren't Developed Enough In Midnight, another classic movie, the writers got the plot right. It's unpredictable and suspenseful. I liked the main character in the beginning, but I didn't learn more about her during the movie. I wanted to know how she got to be the way she was, and the writers never let me know. Sure, she was witty and clever, but I didn't really care enough about her to get excited about her happy ending.
Characters who Act Inconsistently I know, I should have learned my lesson about classic movies, but I watched another one--The Major and the Minor. Once again, it had a great beginning and middle. In the end, both main characters act against their values, which totally killed the story.
How about you? Do you have any movies to recommend or any advice about endings?
Writing a great ending is a challenge for any writer. I only found two movies that succeeded in doing this--The Decoy Bride and The Lake House. They both had likable characters, who were well developed. I especially loved the dialogue in The Decoy Bride. The endings were predictable--a characteristic of the Romance genre--but both movies left us guessing about how that ending was going to come about.Now, onto Pitfalls to Avoid in Writing Endings:
An Ending that is Too Short I've heard many authors say that you should end the book quickly--right after the climax and resolution. This is what happened in North and South, one of those four-hour-long BBC productions of a classic novel. Though the movie was a bit dismal, I enjoyed learning about the characters and the English industrial age. (I should also mention that the actor who plays Mr. Bates from Downton Abbey has a leading role in it.) During the final episode, I was on the edge of my seat. After watching this thing every night for a week, I was rewarded with a resolution that lasted less than five minutes. Ughh. Even my husband was dissatisfied. We wanted a glimpse into the characters' lives after the resolution. We wanted some more dialogue.
A Climax that Isn't Stressful Enough I'm a fan of classic movies, so I thought I'd try The More the Merrier. The beginning was hilarious and charming. The middle was pretty good. But the conflict kind of fizzled out before we got to the ending. To make a good ending, the characters must suffer. Like Jonah, they must enter the belly of the whale before they can come out on the other side. It seemed like the writers of this movie didn't want to hurt the characters, so they allowed them to anticipate potential suffering and avoid it. Not a good idea.
Characters who Aren't Developed Enough In Midnight, another classic movie, the writers got the plot right. It's unpredictable and suspenseful. I liked the main character in the beginning, but I didn't learn more about her during the movie. I wanted to know how she got to be the way she was, and the writers never let me know. Sure, she was witty and clever, but I didn't really care enough about her to get excited about her happy ending.
Characters who Act Inconsistently I know, I should have learned my lesson about classic movies, but I watched another one--The Major and the Minor. Once again, it had a great beginning and middle. In the end, both main characters act against their values, which totally killed the story.How about you? Do you have any movies to recommend or any advice about endings?
January 22, 2013
The 8 Keys to a Woman's Heart
The other day, while driving carpool, I heard that there's actually a secret to a woman's heart--just one, mind you. One of the boys at my daughter's high school knows the secret, but he's not telling. Being a woman, I really wanted to know what it was. Unfortunately, none of the girls in the carpool knew the key to a woman's heart and neither did my son. Dang!
Then it occurred to me . . . I've been creating romantic heroes for the past six years. I may not know the one and only key to a woman's heart. But I can teach my sons some simple steps to becoming a romantic hero. So, here they are--8 keys to a woman's heart:
Keep up with basic hygeine, wear clothes that fit well, and don't be sloppy. You don't need to be incredibly handsome (although that helps.) Listen and be a friend first. Focus, oh so intensely, on your heroine.Give gifts of service. If you want women to swoon, find ways to help them--whether that be opening a door, changing a flat tire, or carrying something. Anticipate her needs. Just don't be a cave-man--overbearing and forceful about it.Be responsible. No romantic hero sits around all day playing video games. Usually they have a job, go to school, or both. They work hard.Be intelligent. Learn important things.Be confident. I know, that's easier said than done, but women love men who are confident.Have a sense of humor.Live with integrity. Have a strong moral code. What do you think? Did I leave anything out?
Then it occurred to me . . . I've been creating romantic heroes for the past six years. I may not know the one and only key to a woman's heart. But I can teach my sons some simple steps to becoming a romantic hero. So, here they are--8 keys to a woman's heart:
Keep up with basic hygeine, wear clothes that fit well, and don't be sloppy. You don't need to be incredibly handsome (although that helps.) Listen and be a friend first. Focus, oh so intensely, on your heroine.Give gifts of service. If you want women to swoon, find ways to help them--whether that be opening a door, changing a flat tire, or carrying something. Anticipate her needs. Just don't be a cave-man--overbearing and forceful about it.Be responsible. No romantic hero sits around all day playing video games. Usually they have a job, go to school, or both. They work hard.Be intelligent. Learn important things.Be confident. I know, that's easier said than done, but women love men who are confident.Have a sense of humor.Live with integrity. Have a strong moral code. What do you think? Did I leave anything out?
January 15, 2013
2013.1
I don't know about you, but my 2013 has been somewhat dissatisfactory. It started out with a week-long case of the flu, followed by extremely cold weather, record-level air pollution, a snowstorm, two car repairs, and a case of pinkeye. I haven't really had a chance to think about resolutions. So you know what? I'm starting over. I don't know if it's possible to exchange 2013 for a better year, but I'm sending it back. Therefore, today is going to be the first day of my new year 2013.1. Happy New Year! So far, I've kept all my resolutions today. How about you? Do you think they'll let me write 2013.1 on my checks?
January 7, 2013
Book Review: 10 Questions to Answer While Preparing for a Mission
Before I get into my review of this really great book, I just want to say sorry I've been missing in action so long this month. The good news is that I'm in the middle of rewrites for Emma, which will probably come out in August. Yay! Now on to the review:As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, my husband and I have encouraged our children to prepare for missions. Until recently, young men could serve starting at age 19 while young women served at age 21. Now the age requirements have changed to 18 for young men and 19 for young women. It may not seem like a big change for some, but for me, it means that I could potentially have two children serving missions within the next two-and-a-quarter years. Yikes!
One of my concerns, as a parent, is that my children are adequately prepared for the challenges of being a missionary. When Benjamin White asked me if I'd like to review his book, 10 Questions to Answer While Preparing for a Mission, I was hoping it would be the kind of book to help them prepare. I was very impressed with the book. It's a quick read, straightforward, and honest. It's written for young people who are already interested in serving a mission. (In other words, it's not the kind of book you give someone to convince them to go on a mission. That book would be The Book of Mormon. The author also recommends that youth familiarize themselves with Preach My Gospel.)
Since the book contains a lot of good scripture stories and quotes from General Authorities, I plan to use parts of the book in Family Home Evening lessons. I loved all the chapters, but one of the most insightful chapters for me was "Question 8: Do I know what success really means?" (I wish I'd read it before my mission. Oh, well, my mission was awesome anyway.) The book also helps missionaries plan for what they'll do after their missions--something that is often overlooked as we help young people prepare for missionary service.
The author, Benjamin Hyrum White, is a seminary teacher and recently received his master’s degree in religious education from BYU, where he wrote the history of Preach My Gospel.
December 11, 2012
The Shepherd's Dinner
This is my Portuguese Nativity set.One of our family Christmas traditions is to have a Shepherd's Dinner. I love it because it's so simple to pull off, yet it still feels special.The purpose of the dinner is to think of what it must have been like to be one of the shepherds who first visited the baby Jesus. We usually have our dinner sitting on the floor picnic-style in front of a fire in the fireplace with the lights turned low. The little kids like to wear their bathrobes.
Before we did everything gluten-free, we served pita bread. Now we serve either Progresso Lentil soup or lentil casserole (click the link for a recipe like mine) with dried fruits, nuts, and maybe a salad. Depending how brave I feel, we may have grape juice. This year, it'll probably be water.
After we eat, we read the Christmas story from Luke. The little kids usually like to act out the story, and sometimes we sing a few carols, too.
Do you have a special holiday tradition?
December 4, 2012
The Anti-Bragging Christmas Letter
It's that time of year--time for the Christmas letter. I try to stay away from bragging about my kids' achievements because you already know my kids are outrageously talented and your kids/nieces/ nephews/ grandkids are too. That leaves funny, and lots of funny things have happened this year.
(Since this blog is for the world to see, I'm sharing pictures that don't compromise my younger kids' identity. These were all taken by my friend, Rachael at rachaelnelsonphotography.com . Isn't she awesome?)
So here's funny thing #1: My 3-year-old has an imaginary baby. He named it "Sit Down." We're having a lot of problems with that name: "Sit down, Sit Down; Stand up, Sit Down." He also has a stuffed lamb named "Tree Pants."
My kids are wonderful and they keep me so busy--sometimes crazy busy.
This is my oldest son. He's 15. Whenever he's behind the wheel, he's smiling.
Time for funny thing #2: One day my daughter couldn't find a belt and her pants kept slipping down. Her brother said, "Why don't you just yank on that strappy thing and put it on the next buttonhole." So many of his pants have adjustable waistbands that he thought all pants had them.
This is my only daughter. She totally rocks and is by far the tallest girl in her school.
Her funny thing is #3: "I went to the library to get a book about being tall. Wouldn't you know it was on the bottom shelf?"
My third son is going to be a teenager soon, which means half my kids will be teenagers. Wow! So far, it hasn't been so bad.
Funny #4: My son got to take a tour of the local television news station. I asked him what he learned. He said, "I learned you can get fired for farting on the air." When I asked for an elaboration, he said, "the guy told me that if you drop an F-bomb while you're on TV, you'll lose your job."
Last of all, this is my husband and me. Every year gets better--not easier, just better.
We hope you have a peaceful and merry Christmas.
Love,
The Jamisons
(Since this blog is for the world to see, I'm sharing pictures that don't compromise my younger kids' identity. These were all taken by my friend, Rachael at rachaelnelsonphotography.com . Isn't she awesome?) So here's funny thing #1: My 3-year-old has an imaginary baby. He named it "Sit Down." We're having a lot of problems with that name: "Sit down, Sit Down; Stand up, Sit Down." He also has a stuffed lamb named "Tree Pants."
My kids are wonderful and they keep me so busy--sometimes crazy busy.
This is my oldest son. He's 15. Whenever he's behind the wheel, he's smiling. Time for funny thing #2: One day my daughter couldn't find a belt and her pants kept slipping down. Her brother said, "Why don't you just yank on that strappy thing and put it on the next buttonhole." So many of his pants have adjustable waistbands that he thought all pants had them.
This is my only daughter. She totally rocks and is by far the tallest girl in her school. Her funny thing is #3: "I went to the library to get a book about being tall. Wouldn't you know it was on the bottom shelf?"
My third son is going to be a teenager soon, which means half my kids will be teenagers. Wow! So far, it hasn't been so bad.
Funny #4: My son got to take a tour of the local television news station. I asked him what he learned. He said, "I learned you can get fired for farting on the air." When I asked for an elaboration, he said, "the guy told me that if you drop an F-bomb while you're on TV, you'll lose your job."
Last of all, this is my husband and me. Every year gets better--not easier, just better.
We hope you have a peaceful and merry Christmas.
Love,
The Jamisons
November 27, 2012
My Gratitude Project #6--Driving through Roadblocks
We're all addicts. At least that's what Angeles Arrien says in Gratitude: The Essential Practice for Happiness and Fulfillment. Her theory is that four universal addictive behaviors prevent us from feeling gratitude:The Need to Know--some of us really want to know what's going to happen, whether it's in our relationships, our work, or elsewhere. We like to control our outcome and we have trouble trusting that everything is going to be okay. Can you see how this works against gratitude? If we wait until we know everything to be grateful, we'll always be waiting. (I am sooo guilty of this.)Fixation on what's not working instead of what is working--This one's self-explanatory. It's so easy to focus on the failing grade, the bad review, the stain on the carpet, etc. Gratitude requires us to focus on what's going right.Perfection--A lot of us think that if we just work hard enough, we can achieve perfection. If you have this addiction, Angeles suggests you strive instead for excellence. Be grateful that you're doing your best.Intensity--Some of us fear that our lives will become dull or boring. To compensate, we make mountains out of mole hills and dramatize the bad stuff. I'm only guilty of this one during one week of the month. ;-)Learning about these four addictive behaviors really knocked the wind out of me. It makes sense that I won't be able to feel gratitude while I'm thinking in these ways and I spend quite a bit of time thinking in these ways. Knowledge is power, right?I've loved immersing myself in gratitude this month. I have so much to be grateful for, and one is being able to write things that people read. Thanks for reading. What are you grateful for?
November 20, 2012
Gratitude Project #5--Ordinary Stuff
"Never forget how easy it is to forget.
I wish I could tell my younger self: Make a photo diary before you leave this place! You think you won’t forget, but you will! Instead of taking photos of unusual sights, take a photo of the most usual sights. In the future, you’ll be a lot more interested in seeing a photo of your dorm-room closet or your laundromat than seeing a photo of the Louvre."
—Gretchen Rubin
This week, I'm following Gretchen's advice and taking pictures of ordinary stuff. I don't know about you, but taking pictures always makes me feel more grateful.
Here are some pictures my husband took a long time ago of one of my kids who had a lot of trouble falling asleep. It used to frustrate me to have him fight sleep every single night. Now I think these pictures are funny, and I'm so glad my husband took pictures of ordinary, every day events.
Sleeping beside the bed
A boring book did the trick this time.
This time he chose to sleep in a box with his bum on the pillowFor more sleeping pictures, see this post. 
I wish I could tell my younger self: Make a photo diary before you leave this place! You think you won’t forget, but you will! Instead of taking photos of unusual sights, take a photo of the most usual sights. In the future, you’ll be a lot more interested in seeing a photo of your dorm-room closet or your laundromat than seeing a photo of the Louvre."
—Gretchen Rubin
This week, I'm following Gretchen's advice and taking pictures of ordinary stuff. I don't know about you, but taking pictures always makes me feel more grateful.
Here are some pictures my husband took a long time ago of one of my kids who had a lot of trouble falling asleep. It used to frustrate me to have him fight sleep every single night. Now I think these pictures are funny, and I'm so glad my husband took pictures of ordinary, every day events.
Sleeping beside the bed
A boring book did the trick this time.
This time he chose to sleep in a box with his bum on the pillowFor more sleeping pictures, see this post.
November 14, 2012
My Next Book
I've finished writing another book, and today I'm answering questions about it.
I was tagged by A.L. Sowards, author of Espionage. Here's her website , facebook page and twitter (@ALSowards).
So about my current project:
1: What is the working title of your book?
Emma: A Latter-day Tale
2: Where did the idea come from for the book?
I wanted to write a book about a life coach with an eating disorder who likes to play matchmaker.
3: What genre does your book fall under?
Romantic comedy with a smidgen of inspiration
4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Whew, I hate these kinds of questions. My two male leads look Bob from The Biggest Loser and a younger version of Mel Gibson. The female lead looks kind of like the little cartoon girl from Brave only she's 23 and six feet tall. How's that for a realistic cast?
5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
When Emma sets out to make the perfect match, her friend ends up with a burned behind instead of a new boyfriend and a craving for the cigarettes she gave up months before; nevertheless, Emma doesn't give up, coaching her friend from one disaster to another until she makes the perfect match.
6: Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
It's in submissions right now, so we shall see. One way or another, it will be out within a year or so.
7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
A little over a year.
8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Books by Elodia Strain, Rachael Anderson, and Melanie Jacobson.
9: Who or What inspired you to write this book?
Jane Austen's Emma.
10: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
My book pokes fun at country music since Emma's nemesis, Jena Farley, is a rising country music star. Don't worry, country music lovers, you won't be offended. Most of all, though, it's a book about learning to overcome perfectionism and learning to love yourself.
Here is a list of authors I've tagged to join the hop for week 22 on November 21st. It's totally up to them whether they participate though. I'm a really lazy tagger. I hope you’ll visit their blogs and learn more about their books. Maybe one of them will become your new favorite author!
1 Laurie L.C. Lewis
2 Misty Moncur
3 Mandi Ellsworth
4 Mandi Slack
I was tagged by A.L. Sowards, author of Espionage. Here's her website , facebook page and twitter (@ALSowards).
So about my current project:
1: What is the working title of your book?
Emma: A Latter-day Tale
2: Where did the idea come from for the book?
I wanted to write a book about a life coach with an eating disorder who likes to play matchmaker.
3: What genre does your book fall under?
Romantic comedy with a smidgen of inspiration
4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Whew, I hate these kinds of questions. My two male leads look Bob from The Biggest Loser and a younger version of Mel Gibson. The female lead looks kind of like the little cartoon girl from Brave only she's 23 and six feet tall. How's that for a realistic cast?
5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
When Emma sets out to make the perfect match, her friend ends up with a burned behind instead of a new boyfriend and a craving for the cigarettes she gave up months before; nevertheless, Emma doesn't give up, coaching her friend from one disaster to another until she makes the perfect match.
6: Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
It's in submissions right now, so we shall see. One way or another, it will be out within a year or so.
7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
A little over a year.
8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
Books by Elodia Strain, Rachael Anderson, and Melanie Jacobson.
9: Who or What inspired you to write this book?
Jane Austen's Emma.
10: What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?
My book pokes fun at country music since Emma's nemesis, Jena Farley, is a rising country music star. Don't worry, country music lovers, you won't be offended. Most of all, though, it's a book about learning to overcome perfectionism and learning to love yourself.
Here is a list of authors I've tagged to join the hop for week 22 on November 21st. It's totally up to them whether they participate though. I'm a really lazy tagger. I hope you’ll visit their blogs and learn more about their books. Maybe one of them will become your new favorite author!
1 Laurie L.C. Lewis
2 Misty Moncur
3 Mandi Ellsworth
4 Mandi Slack
November 13, 2012
Gratitude Project #4--Books about Gratitude
I always love to read Christmas stories in December. Why not read books about gratitude in November? Here are a few books that help me feel thankful:
Picture Books:
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig: This is a cute story by the author of Shrek.
Material World: A Global Family Portrait by Charles C. Mann and Paul Kennedy: This book contains photos of people from different countries who are standing in front of their homes with all their possessions. The differences are a good reminder for me of how rich I am compared to most people in the world.
Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco. I love all books by Patricia Polacco. This one is about a teacher who made a difference for a young girl with dyslexia.
The Firefighter's Thanksgiving by Maribeth Boelts. This book is about some hard-working firefighters and how some kind citizens thanked them for their dedication.
Longer Fiction:
It's Only a Mountain: Dick and Rick Hoyt, Men of Iron by Sam Nall
(or watch videos about Team Hoyt on YouTube.com)--Dick Hoyt is famous for running the Boston Marathon while pushing his son, Rick, in a wheelchair. This is their story.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. This is one of my favorite classics. It's a great reminder of how we should all be grateful for our blessings.
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. This is a story of a Christian family in Holland who went to the German concentration camps for hiding Jews. Despite her unimaginable trials, Corrie fought to hold onto gratitude and forgiveness.
Do you have any books about gratitude or Thanksgiving to recommend?
Picture Books: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig: This is a cute story by the author of Shrek.
Material World: A Global Family Portrait by Charles C. Mann and Paul Kennedy: This book contains photos of people from different countries who are standing in front of their homes with all their possessions. The differences are a good reminder for me of how rich I am compared to most people in the world.
Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco. I love all books by Patricia Polacco. This one is about a teacher who made a difference for a young girl with dyslexia.
The Firefighter's Thanksgiving by Maribeth Boelts. This book is about some hard-working firefighters and how some kind citizens thanked them for their dedication.
Longer Fiction:
It's Only a Mountain: Dick and Rick Hoyt, Men of Iron by Sam Nall
(or watch videos about Team Hoyt on YouTube.com)--Dick Hoyt is famous for running the Boston Marathon while pushing his son, Rick, in a wheelchair. This is their story.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. This is one of my favorite classics. It's a great reminder of how we should all be grateful for our blessings.
The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom. This is a story of a Christian family in Holland who went to the German concentration camps for hiding Jews. Despite her unimaginable trials, Corrie fought to hold onto gratitude and forgiveness.
Do you have any books about gratitude or Thanksgiving to recommend?
