Beth Rodgers's Blog: A Fresh Perspective: A Blog by Beth Rodgers, Author of "Freshman Fourteen"

Voting Reminder

Thanks to everyone who has already voted for me and my novel, 'Freshman Fourteen,' in the Bookbzz.com Prize Writer Competition! We're nearing the end of the competition - only 8 days left! - and if you haven't voted and wouldn't mind taking a minute out of your day to do so, it would be much appreciated in an attempt to bump up my rank! Thanks in advance, and please spread the word!

http://bookbzz.com/prize-writer-young...

Vote for 'Freshman Fourteen' on Bookbzz!

I am pleased to announce that I am a finalist in the Bookbzz.com Prize Writer competition! I'm in fourth place right now, and my goal is one of the top three spots. That's where you come in!

Please go to the link that follows this post to visit the Bookbzz Young Adult voting page and vote for Freshman Fourteen by Beth Rodgers. Voting closes on February 28th, and voters can only vote once in each category, so you only need to do it once, but feel free to spread the word! Thanks in advance for your vote!

Also, as a special treat, you can find my novel on Amazon Kindle for $2.99 through the end of February! You can also find it in paperback on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Link to Voting Page:
http://bookbzz.com/prize-writer-young...

Quotes to Write By

Some of my favorite quotes are just the inspiration I need to pursue my love of writing. Here are five of my favorites to help you contemplate your own writing craft:

1. "Only connect." -- E.M. Forster

How do you connect with your writing? With your subject matter? With your thoughts and emotions? If you are not able to connect, what is causing the disconnect and how do you plan to remedy it?

2. "Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." -- Samuel Beckett

Keep trying. No matter how much you don't believe in yourself or your writing anymore, don't give up. You will only be cheating yourself.

3. "I have often rewritten -- often several times -- every word I have ever published. My pencils outlast their erasers." -- Vladimir Nabokov

Your pencils should outlast their erasers. If you erase, you might lose something that later on would have proven useful. If you must erase, draw a thin line through the words you don't like, or rip out the pages and put them aside. Just don't permanently discard any material.

4. "You write a book and it's like putting a message in a bottle and throwing it in the ocean. You don't know if it will ever reach any shores. And there, you see, sometimes it falls in the hands of the right person." -- Isabelle Allende

Your writing may not be meant for everyone. However, there are many people out there who will love your writing and find it inspirational for them, just as these quotations or other writings you have read may be inspirational for you.

5. "One of the most difficult things is the first paragraph. I have spent many months on a first paragraph, and once I get it, the rest just comes out very easily." -- Gabriel Garcia Marquez

This quote definitely applies to me. Don't despair if it applies to you, too. If you have ideas about where the rest of the story will go, write them down. The first paragraph will come to you eventually. Then you can alter the rest of what you've written to accommodate your beginning.

What are some of your favorite quotes and how do they inspire you in your writing or otherwise? Share in the comments!

Feel free to check out Freshman Fourteen by Beth Rodgers, available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. You can also visit www.BethRodgersAuthor.com or www.facebook.com/bethrodgersauthor.

Trust your Instincts

Knowing what you want to write about is half the battle. The other half - actually doing the writing - is based at least in part on how much you trust your instincts. You are the author of your work. You are the creator of whatever world, fictional or non-fictional, you are sharing with your readers. If you don't trust your instincts and know that what you are writing is worthwhile and engaging, why should your readers ever think so?

An easy way to trust your instincts is to write from experience. When you do this, the facts speak for themselves. You might choose to negotiate which facts you want to include in your writing and which you would rather leave out. This is another form of how to trust your instincts. If you don't think something will make good writing material, don't include it. If you'd just rather people not read something you thought of, don't include it. You have creative authority to keep or discard any material you see fit.

The same ideas hold true when reading. If you like something, you generally keep reading. You trust that it will continue to stay engaging so you will not regret continuing on with it. If you dislike something, you may stop reading it or give it a second or third chance to wow you before you stop reading.

Instincts are powerful. They can make or break your thought process, and by extension, whatever it is you are planning to do (or not do). Keep them in mind the next time you have a decision to make. Have they been on your side in the past or not?

Beth Rodgers is the author of Freshman Fourteen, a young adult novel. You can visit her website at www.BethRodgersAuthor.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bethrodgersauthor.

Inspiration in the Likeliest of Places

Inspiration is a tricky thing. It is, at its essence, something that you can't quite put your finger on, but you know it when it finds its way into your thought process.

Everyone always talks about how inspiration is found in the unlikeliest of places. You didn't know it was going to happen, but it just did. It's just like finding the ordinary in the extraordinary. When you see something spectacular and amazing, you say to yourself how extraordinary it is. Yet, that "extraordinariness" had to come from something ordinary originally. Normal items, actions, people, and ideas can become extraordinary when they do wonderful, fantastic, over-the-top things.

That is why you can find inspiration in not only the unlikeliest places, but the likeliest. For example, I saw a puppet show of 'The Princess and the Pea' today. It was adorably done, with music and singing and a variety of different characters. A puppet show is a likely place to find inspiration. It is, at its core, a story, and to make it even better, it is being told with different voices, through the eyes of different characters, and to top it all off, it is interactive! It is likely that I will take pieces of what I gained today from my viewing of this puppet show and jot down some notes for some future piece of writing I plan to do. I don't know how I'll use it yet, but the point is that no matter where you are, what you're doing, or who you're with, every place is a likely place to find inspiration. You just have to give in to that fact, and lo and behold, you might find the best writing material!

Beth Rodgers is the author of Freshman Fourteen, a young adult novel. You can visit her website at www.BethRodgersAuthor.com or see her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bethrodgersauthor.

Happy Holidays: Taking it All In

Happy holidays to you, no matter what holiday you celebrate. Even if you don't celebrate any holiday at this time of year, this is a time to not only be thankful for what we have, but to consider how those around us influence who we are, and how what we have, want, and need can make all the difference in our lives, both positively and negatively (but hopefully not so much of the latter). Take every experience in. Every moment is one to be cherished, even if it doesn't go just the way you might have hoped. This is because these moments, each and every one of them, make us who we are. They make us able to identify with others and not only sympathize, but empathize. They make us able to seize new moments and remember others fondly or not-so-fondly. These experiences can be used for mere moments of recollection or for more developed thinking as we write new stories, poems, or other forms of the written word. They can be used to capitalize on reading we are doing. Don't let any moment be wasted at this special time of year - or any time of year for that matter. They all carry too much weight, even if that weight isn't realized at first.

Beth Rodgers is the author of Freshman Fourteen, a young adult novel available on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.

'Wicked': A Theatrical Marvel

Last night I had the extreme pleasure of seeing the musical 'Wicked' for the second time. It was fantastic! I cannot rave enough about the show. Even though it is a Broadway musical, it stems from a novel by Gregory Maguire. The music and lyrics for the musical show are by Stephen Schwartz and the book for the musical is by Winnie Holzman. The esteem I hold these people in is quite high. They are leaders in their fields, crafting superbly enriching material that has sold out innumerable shows over the years.

'Wicked' is a theatrical marvel in that it encapsulates the prequel to the movie version of 'The Wizard of Oz,' casting the Wicked Witch, Elphaba, in a different light than many would have ever expected her to be capable of. The way we perceive her as wicked is merely the fault of circumstances that were beyond her control, and the musical seeks to outline these points, all the while introducing us to well-known characters from L. Frank Baum's original story, such as Glinda, the good witch, along with the scarecrow, the cowardly lion, and the tin man. We find out how these characters came to be, how they knew each other, what their relationships were like, and what happened after Dorothy arrived in Oz. The storytelling all combines into one fantastic feat that engages, surprises, and delights all who come to see the show.

When I teach college Composition courses, we discuss the rhetorical devices of ethos, pathos, and logos. 'Wicked' does a tremendous job incorporating these three devices without blatantly announcing their inclusion. This is the mark of writing that is sound and focused, whether it is written in an academic tone or a more creative one.

Ethos is dependent on the credibility of the person who is writing, speaking, or in some other way sharing his or her opinions. Since the vast majority of the musical revolves around Elphaba, with Glinda and other characters also present for good measure, it is easy to see ethos shining through. Elphaba's credibility is laid out in nothing but plain terms, showcasing how she was a misunderstood person who only wanted to help in situations that became beyond her control once she realized who was against her and what power they wielded to turn everyone else against her as well.

Pathos is most certainly evident in that it deals with emotion, and the feelings the characters possess for one another as well as for themselves and their plights was worthy enough for me to not only laugh, but to shed a few tears for the trials and tribulations they had to go through to have life still not turn out quite like they expected it to.

Logos deals with the evidence that helps substantiate the crediblity and emotion. The evidence is clear, showing how Elphaba went from being misunderstood to being 'wicked'. Seeing how she deals with others after being labeled as such is a testament to the character she possessed before she was labeled so negatively. It also proves that sometimes people truly can be victims of circumstances that are beyond their control.

If you haven't seen 'Wicked,' I can't recommend it highly enough. It is truly a theatrical marvel that takes the story of 'The Wizard of Oz' to new heights, including music, a compelling story, and healthy doses of the rhetorical devices that can only add to the beauty that the story already exudes. It is the writing that we can only hope to achieve as we work on our own stories, poems, essays, and other works.

Beth Rodgers is the author of Freshman Fourteen, a young adult novel. You can visit her website at www.BethRodgersAuthor.com for more information.

Heroes vs. Villains

An interesting topic to consider in writing has to do with heroes and villains. When one writes a villain, that person does not necessarily have to be evil incarnate. A villain is not always cruel in an obvious way. Villains may be good people who are misunderstood for any number of reasons. Likewise, heroes do not have to be perfect and untainted. They can be strong, mentally and/or physically, without knowing how to channel that strength into action. Heroes can be defeated while villains triumph, and vice versa.

When we are children, we are often asked who our heroes are. Oftentimes, after considering superheroes and other potential heroic figures, children say their parents are their heroes. Parents may not have superhuman strength or the ability to see through walls. They may not have conquered armies or led a movement for change. Yet, they hold a place in their children's hearts as heroes. They are there for them. They care for them. In this same token, a parent can be a "villain," in that they may not be around, or they may punish too easily and cause their children to cast them in a villainous light, despite the parent not intending to become such a figure in their children's eyes.

So, you see, heroes and villains are subjective. The way they are perceived makes the difference in how they are written by different people who have different agendas at different times in their lives. If they were objective, we wouldn't be able to develop them with as much depth and emotion. We wouldn't be able to subtly express how character growth is a natural part of being human, whether in reality or even in fictional writing.

What are your definitions of heroes and villains? Are there any overlaps in your thinking about who they are and what issues they have that can affect both themselves and others? Sometimes considering this overlap can bring about greater focus, as including some of another person's strengths or faults in someone who normally does not display them may provide the best form of character development.

Beth Rodgers is the author of Freshman Fourteen, a young adult novel. You can visit her website at www.BethRodgersAuthor.com.

Criticism: Good or Bad?

Criticism has a negative connotation. Even though it isn't always bad, it is construed as being that way, and therefore, people are very wary of receiving it - and, for that matter, giving it. No one wants to upset anyone's feelings. Yet, criticism can be wonderfully validating and helpful.

When you review a book, a movie, a television show, or even a person (based on their storytelling skills, teaching methods, etc.), you are being critical. But it can be positive.

Critiquing someone is just another way of getting them to understand your own viewpoint. You may completely agree, completely disagree, or have mixed opinions on what they have been writing, saying, sharing, or doing, but no matter your viewpoint, sharing it with them is sharing criticism.

One of the many definitions of 'criticism' is 'the act of passing judgment as to the merits of anything.' Therefore, what you are critiquing may have merit. It may have worth. Even the negative aspects can be re-done to find strength and value. Without the negative being there to begin with, you may not be able to find the best ways to form your thoughts, your writing, your ideas. Negatives can be made into positives. The opposite is obviously true as well, depending on how you work with what is presented to you.

So, think of criticism as a steppingstone to finding your strongest and most worthwhile abilities. When you write book reviews, for example, share the best and the not-always-the-best. By doing this, you are painting the most vivid and focused picture for the writer so that he or she can move forward and become better, stronger, more purposeful in how they write and share their gift with others.

Beth Rodgers is the author of Freshman Fourteen, a young adult novel. Visit her at www.BethRodgersAuthor.com or www.facebook.com/bethrodgersauthor on Facebook.

Asking 'What If?': A Stimulating Activity

Sometimes asking 'what if?' can be bothersome and frustrating, making you wonder if you really made the right decisions. Second-guessing yourself is never much fun. However, sometimes playing the 'what if?' game can be extremely thought-provoking and can stimulate some of the deep-seated knowledge that you didn't even realize was rooted right in your very mind.

Be creative with your 'what if?' questions, though. If you only ask yourself, 'what if I had become a doctor rather than a writer?' you may come up with some interesting answers, but they may not prove as fruitful as 'what if Cheerios tasted like tiny donuts?' or 'what if we could understand dogs when they bark?' - or maybe they just might. It all depends on who's asking and how that person is answering.

Even if you think a 'what if?' question sounds stupid, I guarantee there is some creative response, whether it is fictional or realistic, that you can gain from it. Think about all the topics you've wondered about throughout your life. What made these issues and ideas so curious and caused you to question them? These are the questions to ask. Even if you think you'd like to write non-fiction instead of fiction, you can still use creative 'what if?' questions. You just have to think of how you can phrase your responses to lend them to the appropriate genre. For example, think back on the Cheerios example above. If you were writing a non-fiction book, or maybe even an article for a newspaper, about ways to make people want to eat certain foods, maybe proposing solutions for how to gain more interest in those foods would be beneficial.

So, what if you tried this activity? What if it worked and you came up with new, exciting, relevant, and engaging topics? Good luck!

Beth Rodgers is the author of Freshman Fourteen, a young adult novel.