Lynne Stringer's Blog, page 17

Taking time

Most of you know that I’m currently editing a new manuscript, one that recently gave me some grief with the possibility of a major plot hole.

Fortunately, I seemed to have dodge that bullet, much to my relief! However, I’ve found it difficult to re-engage in my manuscript, especially to make the changes I need to make in order for it to be more plausible.

Why? I’m not sure, exactly. Most of the changes I’ve had to make aren’t that big or difficult to do. However, it has still been hard to force my way back into that world.

Perhaps it’s just because of the busy-ness of this time of year. Yes, Christmas Eve is a month today! Hard to believe, isn’t it?

However, I think it’s more likely because the discovery of this plot hole scared me. I’m continually afraid I’m going to find another one and that it will be impossible to fix.

But I can’t let that fear rule me, so I have decided to move forward little by little, doing a bit each day and working methodically. It might take longer that way but I think it will help me if I take the time. It might be just what I need to re-engage in the story and enjoy it once more.

And who knows? If I do find another problem, by then I might be so in tune with my work that it will be easy to solve!

Do you ever struggle with something when things get difficult, even after the problem is solved? Leave a comment and let me know.

I hate research

There’s a reason the majority of my trilogy was set in outer space. Why?

I hate research.

Which is not to say that I’m not the kind of person who doesn’t like to know information about something. Sometimes the information I store in my head is amazing. But that has to be about a topic of particular interest to me, like dogs and birds. When I’m not that interested in finding out about something the desire to research tends to be non-existent.

It can be especially hard when writing a novel because sometimes I need to include something when I have no experience with it. For example, mediation between two estranged parties is a major feature in the manuscript I am currently working on. Now, I’d always known that this would be something I would need to research before I started writing about it, as I have never experienced it myself. However, for some reason when I sat down to write How Far Forgive I forgot all about checking it with someone. This may be because I wasn’t sure who to ask. Who do you contact about something like that?

Once I’d written the first draft I had some social work friends look at it, as it has a character studying social work in it as well. One of them pointed out that they weren’t sure if I’d put the mediation scene properly, or even if mediation would be allowed legally in the situation I described.

Oh, no! It’s a major part of my novel. What if I can’t do it that way? Not only would it mean a major rewrite, it might make the climax and resolution of the plot fell down flat. So much depended on it. And who did I ask to find out?

Fortunately, I remembered the friend of a friend who I thought might have some idea. I got his contact details and bingo! He didn’t know himself, but he knew someone who lectures in mediation. What I wrote is apparently okay, although I will need to make some minor adjustments. Phew! Bullet dodged!

Next time I hope I’ll remember to do the research up front, but knowing me, it probably won’t happen!

How about you? If you’re a reader, does it bother you if an author has written something that you think isn’t accurate? Are you an author yourself? What do you do in these situations?

Ups and Downs

One of the strangest things about being an author is how quickly your opinion of your work can change.

I’ve heard the same thing from other authors so I know I’m not alone in this and I’ve experienced it with every novel I’ve written so it doesn’t seem to be something I can learn not to do.

What I’m talking about is that moment when I’m writing or reading over what I’ve written and I say to myself, ‘This sucks. Why am I even bothering to keep writing this crap?’

I had this experience while editing my latest manuscript, How Far Forgive. One day when I was reading over it I was wincing and cringing my way through it, but the following day I was saying, ‘Hey, this is really good!’

Perhaps I was just in a bad mood one day and in a better mood the next, so my perception changed. Perhaps the story improved as I worked on it. I’m not sure.

Thinking these things is always worrying. What if everyone else feels the same way? This concern is always the most intense when you are the only one who’s read your book. Once a few other people have told you that it’s good it gets easier. Or perhaps they help you fix up problems with it which means it becomes something that even you like.

Whatever the case, sometimes an author is his/her own worst enemy. I know I am!

Website worries

If you are reading this now, it means that my website is up and running and that hasn’t been a common thing of late!

My website has been hacked three times in the last three weeks. In fact, during that time, it has been offline more than it has been on. It’s proved frustrating, especially for a not tech-savvy person like myself. Fortunately, my husband is pretty good at those kinds of things and he has been excellent at working out what to do to fix it.

It’s a pain that we have to do it just because there are people out there who feel the need to cause problems for others. Some friends of ours had their site hacked recently too, and the hacker left them a note to say sorry, but he was just trying out his hacking skills. Gee, thanks for that!

What is it about people that make them feel that doing this to others is okay? Is it the excitement of doing something that’s wrong? I guess that could be part of it. Sometimes people enjoy doing things that they think are a little bit naughty, although I think this goes beyond that. It has cost me both money and time to get my website running again. Maybe it’s the challenge of trying to overcome the problems or the prestige of doing something that other people can’t do. I guess there are people out there in computerland who find these kinds of skills impressive.

Whatever the reason, I think it shows a lack of empathy and consideration. I’m not one of those people who thinks it’s a sign of how bad society is these days – there have always been people around that like to do this kind of thing; they’ve just used other avenues – however, I wish people would think twice before doing it.

But when I do think these things I regularly catch myself wondering if there are things in my own life that don’t measure up when it come to empathy and consideration. Get me behind the wheel of a car, for instance, and empathy goes out the window. You’d better not take my spot or there’ll be hell to pay! So I guess I’m not perfect in that department either. Perhaps it’s merely a question of having a different idea of what is the most important way to show consideration for others. Mine just don’t tend to take place when I’m behind the wheel of a car!

What about you? In what way do you show that you consider others? Are there other areas in society where you feel empathy is lessening? Leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts.

That sinking feeling

A year or so ago I completed a manuscript for the Christian market. It’s a contemporary romance and I’m now looking for a publisher for it.

That thought terrifies me every time I think about it.

While I was waiting for the Verindon trilogy to be published, I didn’t consider that there might be a time when I would, once again, have to send a manuscript off to different publishers for consideration. But publishers can be specific about what they publish, and for this manuscript, a different one is required.

So now I am, once more, looking over lists of publisher and seeking out those few who accept unsolicited manuscripts (for those of you who don’t know, an unsolicited manuscript is one that the publisher has not specifically requested from someone). Again, I am experiencing that nervous wait, that sinking feeling in my stomach every time I hit ‘send’ and add another publisher to my submissions list.

I never thought that being a published author meant that I would never feel this way again. I’m not arrogant enough to think that any success I have with the first three guarantees success anywhere else. I’m also unsure if my book will be acceptable to these others, even if I do already have three available. After all, the Verindon trilogy, although well received by those who’ve heard of it, remains foreign to many people out there because of the difficulty in connecting with people when you don’t have the benefit of a huge publisher with a massive publicity machine. I do what I can, but will another publisher consider that to be enough? I don’t know.

So I wait with bated breath to see if anything will come of this latest endeavour. Maybe I will succeed, maybe I won’t. But I know I can’t let this define me, whether it results in success or failure. I am an author, and although I may not be world class, I have a product that has proved it can entertain and inspire a readership, and I must keep in mind that that is an achievement in itself.

 

Better than success

Last week I experienced the thrill of receiving an award for my debut novel, The Heir.

Along with a number of other books, The Heir won the silver award in the YA science fiction category from Literary Classics. It was exciting to see my book on their website with a silver foil on the front, indicating the prize I had received.

However, what made it even more exciting for me was that other authors also published by Wombat Books received the silver award in other categories as well. LD Taylor received one for her novel, Motive Games, in the faith-based young adult category. Kayleen West’s picture book, Without Me?, received the award in the preschooler picture book category. And Lizbeth Klein recieved it for her book, Firelight of Heaven, in the YA fantasy fiction category. It was more fun achieving something like this knowing that I could share it with friends of mine. That was better than simply receiving congratulations for myself, although that was still great. This way I could share the excitement with others in a greater way than I otherwise would have experienced.

If you haven’t seen any of the books these ladies have written, please check them out at the Wombat Books’ website: http://www.wombatbooks.com.au

Here’s the press released from Literary Classics. It lists all the winners in different categories.

 

 

Literary Classics Announces Youth Media Top Book Award Recipients

 

SOUTH DAKOTA – Literary Classics announced its 2014 selection of top books for children and young adults today. Award recipients were selected from entries received from around the globe. The Literary Classics selection committee is proud to recognize the following titles in children’s and young adult literature which exemplify the criteria set forth by the Literary Classics Awards committee.

 

A list of the 2014 recipients follows:

 

TOP HONORS BOOK AWARDS:

Enchanted Page Book Award for the most distinguished children’s storybook – Scratch and Old Mouse, written by Kathryn England and illustrated by Kimberly Soderberg – Character Publishing

 

Eloquent Quill Book Award for one work of extraordinary youth fiction – Strange Metamorphosis, by P.C.R. Monk – Bloomtree Press

 

Lumen Award for Literary Excellence honoring the most notable work of youth nonfiction – The Men Who Made the Yankees, by W. Nikola-Lisa – Gyroscope Books

 

Words on Wings Book Award for the most remarkable young adult fiction work – Dew Angels, by Melanie Schwapp – Independent

 

BEST IN CATEGORY: (Gold)

Best Illustrator – Morton Munson Built a Mansion, written and illustrated by Jeff Busch – Bongo Books

Best First Picture Book – Scratch and Old Mouse, Kathryn England – Character Publishing

Best First Chapter Book – Annie the Scientist, Daniel Johnson – Character Publishing

Best First Novel – ​Unveiling the Wizard’s Shroud, Eric Price – Muse It Up Publishing

Best Children’s Picture Book Series – Shelly’s Adventures (Shelly Goes to the Zoo, Shelly’s Outdoor Adventure), written by Kentrell Martin and illustrated by Marc Rodriguez – Shelly’s Adventures, L.L.C.

Best Chapter Book Series – 1950s Adventure Series by C.A. Hartnell (Scary Spring, Sinister Summer, Ferocious Fall, Wild Winter) – Hawk Prints Publishing

 

PRESCHOOL/EARLY READER:

General Infant / Preschooler GOLD – Benjamin Jay was a Bully, Emma Glover – Guardian Angel Publishing

General Infant / Preschooler SILVER – I Like Pink, by Vivian Zabel – 4RV Publishing

Picture Book / Preschooler GOLD – Even Poop Has a Purpose, Uncle Paul – PerBook Publishing L.L.C.

Picture Book / Preschooler SILVER – Without Me?, Kayleen West – Wombat Books

General Early Reader GOLD – Deputy Dorkface, How Trutherton Got its Honesty Back, Kevin D Janison – Stephens Press

General Early Reader SILVER – A Creepy Nothingness Came Crawling, Gideon Maxim – Dot and Odd Press

Picture Book Early Reader GOLD – Odie the Stray Kitten, Kristen Mott – Author House

Picture Book Early Reader SILVER – CougaMongaMingaMan, Nancy Scalabroni – Mascot Books

 

PRE-TEEN / TWEEN

Fiction Chapter Book GOLD – Benton Believes, Kimberly Bugbee, M.S. – Character Publishing

Fiction Chapter Book SILVER – The Mysterious Mandolin, Aneta Cruz – Independent

Fantasy Pre-Teen GOLD – The Magician’s Doll, M.L. Roble – Independent

Fantasy Pre-Teen SILVER – Karmack, J.C. Whyte – Muse It Up Publishing

Mystery Pre-Teen GOLD – A Secret in Time, HY Hanna – Wisheart Press

Mystery Pre-Teen SILVER – The Charelton Locket, Ann Morgan Taylor – XLibris

Fiction Pre-Teen GOLD – Glimpse, Steven Whibley – Steven Whibley Books

Fiction Pre-Teen SILVER – Sons of the Sphinx, Cheryl Carpinello – Beyond Today Educator

Health /Self Esteem GOLD – Kaylee, the “What if?” Game, Christine Dzidrums – Creative Media

Health /Self Esteem SILVER - Not a Doctor Logan’s Divorce Book, Sydney Salter – Character Publishing

 

YOUNG ADULT

Fiction YA GOLD – ​Alchemy’s Daughter, Mary A. Osborne – Lake Street Press

Fiction YA SILVER – Sway, Jennifer Gibson – Black Opal Books

General Young Adult GOLD – Curse of the Crystal Kuatzin, Jan H. Landsberg – CreateSpace

General Young Adult SILVER – My Name is Rapunzel, ​K.C. Hilton – CreateSpace

Fantasy Fiction YA GOLD – Strange Metamorphosis, P.C.R. Monk – CreateSpace

Fantasy Fiction YA SILVER – Firelight of Heaven, Lizbeth Klein – Wombat Books

Science Fiction YA GOLD – Protostar, Braxton A. Cosby – Winter Goose Publishing

Science Fiction YA SILVER – ​The Heir, Lynne Stringer – Wombat Books

Faith Based Young Adult GOLD – The King, Lorilyn Roberts – CreateSpace

Faith Based Young Adult SILVER – Motive Games, L.D. Taylor – Wombat Books

Historical Fiction GOLD – Alchemy’s Daughter, Mary A. Osborne – Lake Street Press

Historical Fiction SILVER – My Name is Luke, Jim Ruddle – Amika Press

NonFiction YA GOLD – The Men Who Made the Yankees, W. Nikola-Lisa – Gyroscope Books

NonFiction YA SILVER – Once Upon a Road Trip, Angela N. Blount – Artifice Press

 

SPECIAL INTEREST (Gold)

Rhyme Book – ​If Chocolate Were Purple, Jen Barton – Flickerfawn

Self Esteem Preschool – Alex and the Rabbit, Monica Dumont – Independent

Gender Specific Picture Book – My Brother Is My Best Friend, Nicole Weaver – Guardian Angel Publishing

Interactive Book – Bubble Tubbie, Epiphany Schwarz – Black Catapult Publishing

Faith Based Early Reader – Sì Mama, Sì Papa, Nancy Scalabroni – Mascot Books

Holiday Book – The Santa Spy, Patrick Bates – Character Publishing

Educational Book – Cockroach Invasion, Dr. Sherry L. Meinberg – Archway Publishing

Environmental Issues – Cycle, Jay Amberg – Amika Press

Guide Book – What Do They Want from Me?, Kristina Kumar – Character Publishing

Gender Specific Young Adult – Hometown Heroines, Betty Boltè – ePublishing Works

Inspirational / Visionary – The Undecided, Robin Donaruma – ​Sunbury Press

Cultural Issues – Dew Angels, Melanie Schwapp – Independent

 

Literary Classics, an organization dedicated to furthering excellence in literature, takes great pride in its role to help promote classic literature which appeals to youth, while educating and encouraging positive values in the impressionable young minds of future generations. Judging is based upon the criteria set forth by Literary Classics’ highly selective awards committee which honors books promoting character, vision, creativity and learning, through content which possesses key elements found in well-crafted literature.

 

The Literary Classics judging committee consists of experts with backgrounds in publishing, writing, editing, design, illustration, and book reviewing.   To learn more about Literary Classics, visit their website at www.literaryclassicsawards.com.

 

An original idea?

One of the most frustrating things I have experienced as an author is to find another novel that is similar to the one I am writing.

There’s nothing more deflating than realising someone else has beaten you to the punch with your supposedly original idea.

The novel I’m working on the moment is a classic example. I originally wrote How Far Forgive? back in 1998 and I have kept it in mind all this time because I’d never read another book like it.

Then I started to work for Rochelle Manners at Wombat Books/Even Before Publishing and she gave me a copy of Paula Vince’s Picking up the Pieces to read. What do you know? The two stories have a lot in common! Fortunately, there are still some significant differences as well.

I’m more accustomed, these days, to seeing similar books to my own works and recognising that what I am writing can still have a place in spite of those similarities.

The Heir has a lot in common with Twilight and one of my favourite TV shows, Roswell. However, while there are similar themes, I take them in different directions from both of these works. In fact, when writing The Heir I tried to avoid as many similarities as I could.

I think there’s a limit to how original any of us can be. My publisher occasionally reminds me that there are only about seven stories in the world and every story we see or read is a variation on one of them.

I think most authors know this but some of our readers may not. A few months ago a friend of mine contacted me in a panic. She had seen the trailer for the upcoming movie by the Wachowskis called Jupiter Ascending.

‘They’ve stolen your story from The Heir!’ she said. ‘I just thought you needed to know.’

I reassured her that I was sure the Wachowksis were unlikely to have read The Heir and stolen it from me. A quick google search revealed the premise of Jupiter Ascending, and although there were clear similarities, there were plenty of differences as well.

Are you an author? Have you ever discovered a book eerily similar to one you were working on? Are you a reader? Have you ever read a book that had a lot in common with another you had loved? Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

 

The long and the short of it

This week I passed the 60,000 word mark in the novel I’m writing. As it is, again, for the YA market, I can almost hear my publisher saying, ‘Between 50,000 and 70,000 words only!’ I don’t think I’m going to go beyond 70,000, but then, sometimes it’s hard to tell. All three of my other published works, all written for the YA market, came in at over 70,000, so I guess it’s not a hard and fast rule, but how long is too long? Is there such a thing?

I remember being surprised when my published told me that YA books were supposed to be under 70,000. At the time, most of the YA books I’d read were huge. But then, I was a first-time author, so the rules were different for me. It didn’t seem fair to have that limit. Although I do think a limit can be helpful for some people, even if it’s a ball park figure. When I originally handed in The Heir to my publisher it was 125,000 words long. I managed to cut it down to 75,000 or so. That was a feat, let me tell you! However, it was one that did the book a lot of good. It’s true there were a couple of things I had to cut that upset me, but most of the things I cut were not required.

Authors often seem to think that longer is better and that things should be explained over and over again to make sure our audience gets it. Sometimes I think we undervalue them. This is where a helpful, if brutal, editor can come in handy, but that process isn’t fun either.

Being an editor myself, I can see it from both sides of the fence. Yes, I hate it when an editor cuts things I don’t want cut, but I also know how it feels to be the one doing the cutting, who says, ‘You don’t need that. It’s not helping your story. Don’t be so precious about it!’ Yes, I can be tough when I’m editing, but tough love can be a good thing.

Are you a writer? Did your editor make you cut your book by more than you liked? Did they help your book or did you feel they went too far? Are you an editor? What is your pet peeve when it comes to authors? Are you a reader? Is there a writer out there who you think could do with a more brutal editor?

Let me know what you think.

 

Forgiveness in fiction

After last week’s blog I have been thinking a lot about forgiveness in novels. I must confess I can’t think of too many examples that come to mind in works of fiction.

In non-fiction it is more common. Jeanette pointed out last week about the wonderful book The Hiding Place which tells the true story of the Ten Boom family who lived in Holland during World War II and hid Jews in their house to save them from being taken by the Nazis. Eventually Corrie Ten Boom and her sister, Betsie, were captured by the Nazis and sent to a concentration camp, where Betsie died. After being released from the camp, Corrie began to preach about forgiving the Nazis and had a great deal of success with that. Then one day she came face to face with one of the guards from her camp and when he held out his hand to shake hers, she hesitated. Finally accepting her need to offer forgiveness on a most personal level, she took his hand. She wrote, “As I did, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes.”

In fiction, forgiveness seems a little harder to find, at least, in the novels I have read. The only example I can think of is in Jane Eyre where Jane offers forgiveness to her dying aunt who had mentally abused her as a child, had told a rich relative that she (Jane) was dead (the relative wanted to leave Jane his fortune) and even on her deathbed, still abused Jane. Jane also needed to forgive Mr Rochester, but she loved and understood him so that seemed more natural. Forgiving her aunt, who she did not like at all, was a different matter

What about you? Have you read a novel where forgiveness is a major theme? What was it?

What do I write?

I am currently writing a novel which is a reworking of a story I originally wrote in the nineties. Tentatively called How Far Forgive? it chronicles the story of a young woman who is the victim of a violent crime and has to find a way to forgive the perpetrators in order to move on with her life.

This novel awakens a lot of feelings in me, as I am a victim of violent crime myself. In 1991 I was working in a bookstore when a man came in with a knife and threatened me with it. I gave him the money in the till without hesitation.

While writing this story I have been forced to ask myself whether or not I have forgiven my perpetrator for what he did to me. The honest truth is I don’t know. It was a long time ago and I don’t usually think about it. When I do, I usually shudder a little but quickly compartmentalise my feelings. I’d like to think I’ve forgiven him but how can I tell unless he is standing in front of me, asking for forgiveness? What if he was standing in front of me saying he was glad he did what he did? Could I forgive him then?

Here is my dilemma: can I write about a girl who learns to forgive when I’m not even sure I’ve done it myself? Is that hypocritical? Admittedly, the story also chronicles the journey of someone who doesn’t forgive (although his story is not the main focus) but I hope I will never travel the road he goes down.

What about you? Are you a writer? How do you handle it when you’re tackling a subject and you have a moral dilemma like this? Do you feel a responsibility to live up to what you are presenting in your story?

Are you a reader? Would you think it hypocritical if you read a book and learned that the author could not live up to what she preached? Leave a comment in the section at the bottom of the page and let me know your thoughts.