Nancy I. Sanders's Blog, page 24

Oldie But Goodie: Middle Grade Musings

My Oldie But Goodie posts continue on Middle Grade Novels…

Everything I Need to Know about Middle Grade Novels I Learned from Jurassic Park

Part 5

In Jurassic Park 3, the characterization was weak and this made the plot weak. Another problem surfaced, however. Some of the main characters in Jurassic Park 3 weren’t even likeable. I mean, in Jurassic Park 1, even the minor characters and bad guys were so over-the-top unique that we liked not liking them.

Main Characters:

Main scientist guy: He should have still been with his girlfriend. It totally erased the excitement and tension of this character by having his girlfriend now married with kids. This made him a loser. Instead, they should have been married to each other and she could have been unable to come so she stayed home and saved the day.

Dad: He was the most developed character in movie, but he was boring. Ordinary. A wimp. A loser. Nobody liked him or cared about him. The boyfriend who died in the beginning was way more interesting!

Kid: Robinson Crusoe type. He had the strongest characterization and came into the movie with a bang. But it lasted about five minutes. From then on, he was just an ordinary kid the rest of the movie and watched the adults solve the problems. He should have been the Robinson Crusoe guy the rest of the movie! He could have led them to hidden hideouts he’d created and done all sorts of things to get them to safety on the beach…but didn’t do a thing the rest of the movie.

Mom: The mom was the main character but did not have one single unique character trait. She could have been anybody’s mom, anywhere.

The main characters in this movie once again did not even have one unique characterization that was developed over the whole movie. The first movie gave each main character three unique traits and each minor character one unique trait and developed every person’s trait throughout the entire length of the movie to influence the plot. But not the second two movies. Their main characters were one dimensional and undeveloped. Their main characters had no unique traits and didn’t affect the plot in any way. The end result was that the plot lacked tension and was driven forward just by action. Therefore the last two movies lacked the thrill and excitement found in the first.

By doing such an in-depth study of the strengths and weaknesses in characterization in the Jurassic Park movies, I have learned invaluable lessons about developing characters in a middle grade novel! And another benefit of all this is that as I’m taking time to develop the characters in my own novel, I’m getting more excited about each one of them, too! The idea of writing the book is become more exciting, too, as I’m determining how to use characterization to drive the plot.

Filed under: Middle Grade Novels, Oldie But Goodie, Uncategorized

Oldie But Goodie: More Middle Grade Musings

OK. I discovered I’d written even more posts on Middle Grade Novels…Here’s another one.

Everything I Need to Know about Middle Grade Novels I Learned from Jurassic Park

Part 4

Previously, I explained how fantastic characterization was used and developed in Jurassic Park. Each character had unique qualities, a distinctive voice, and over-the-top personality. However, Jurassic Park 2 (Lost World) and Jurassic Park 3 did NOT have the same use and development of characterization. As a result, the second and third move seemed flat and boring compared to the first.

In Jurassic Park 2, they gave each main character just one unique characterization, so they were essentially only as important as the minor characters in the first movie. None of them had three unique traits as did the main characters in the first movie, so none of them appeared 3-D. Plus, in Jurassic Park 2, even the one unique characterization of each actor was just kind of mentioned to introduce them but was NOT developed over the rest of the movie or used to influence the plot.

Main Characters:

The math guy (Malcolm): He still believed in chaos. However, unlike the first movie where every sentence of his was either a wisecrack or a reference to chaos, in the second movie, he just said mostly ordinary statements in his dialog. He did not change by the end of the movie.

The wealthy guy: He was just kind of not nice. There was nothing over-the-top about him, though. He was just kind of an ordinary wealthy guy who wasn’t very nice. Compared to the over-the-top computer geek bad guy in the first movie, this bad guy was bo-o-ring. Too ordinary.

Hunter guy: He was a very typical big game hunter. But again, that was it. One dimensional and flat. Also, his character wasn’t really developed through the movie. He was just the typical big game hunter. By the end of the movie, he changed to be sad about capturing the T. Rex. But this was a weak change because it hadn’t been developed well. He just changed and it didn’t even affect the plot.

Minor Characters:

Photographer girlfriend: She was supposed to be a safari expert in beginning but then this was forgotten because she made silly mistakes all the rest of the movie a safari expert would never make. The rest of the movie she just talked and acted like an ordinary person.

Daughter: She was a gymnist. This was mentioned once at beginning, then forgotten, and then her gymnist skills saved the day. Since this wasn’t developed through the middle, it seemed fake to bring it back in at the end.

Other minor characters didn’t even really have unique characterizations, so we didn’t even care what happened to them. They didn’t add tension to the plot or help move the plot forward. So not only were the characters one dimensional and flat in Jurassic Park 2, the plot was therefore also weak.

Seeing these weaknesses and analyzing them has really made a difference as I’m working to develop my characters for my middle grade historical novel. So far, I’ve only written two chapters of my novel. Before I proceed any further, I’m working on giving the main characters each 3 distinctive characterizations that I plan to develop in the beginning, middle, and end of the book. I plan to use these characterizations to also affect the plot by moving it forward or throwing obstacles in the way. Plus, I plan on giving my minor characters each one distinctive quality and a distinctive voice so that my readers care about each one. I am also working to figure out how each of my minor characters will use their one unique quality to save the day or ruin everything. This will increase the tension and add dimension to the plot. I’m doing all this BEFORE I write the book so that I make sure to add these qualities in as I’m writing the story.

Filed under: Middle Grade Novels, Oldie But Goodie, Uncategorized

Faith Building Fridays: Double Blessings

I promise this very day

that I will repay two blessings

for each of your troubles.

-Zechariah 9:12, NLT

Did you get a rejection? Rejoice, scribe! God promises two blessings in exchange for one sorrow. And in God’s economy, the bigger the pile of ashes we collect, the larger amount of beauty He’ll exchange for it! So don’t let those rejections or disappointments make you quit. Keep writing! He’s calculating the blessings that are coming your way, and they’re double the amount of troubles you’ve experienced so far!

Dear God, thank You for this encouraging word. Thank You for Your promises. I praise Your name! Amen.

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Scribes: Devotions for Christian Writers is available at Amazon.

Filed under: Faith-building Fridays, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Oldie But Goodie: Middle Grade Musings

Here’s the third and final post on Middle Grade Novels I wrote several years ago here on my blog. Hope this helps!

Everything I Need to Know about Middle Grade Novels I Learned from Jurassic Park

Part 3

In Jurassic Park, each actor’s characterization was developed over the entire length of the movie and also affected the plot. Here’s how:

The main dinosaur guy:

1. His favorite dino was the raptor: By the middle of the movie, he was so scared of the raptors that he threw away his treasured possession (a raptor claw). By the end of the movie it was confirmed—the raptors were the most intelligent and scariest of all. He CHANGED by the end.

2. He disliked kids: By the middle of the movie, he was willing to help these kids even if he didn’t really like them. By the end of the movie, he cared deeply about these kids. He CHANGED by the end.

3. He always broke computers. In the middle of the movie, he couldn’t fix anything when technological/computer problems arose—even tho he was the most important person there. By the end of the movie, he was still helpless to solve the problem of getting the electricity turned back on via the broken computer. His characterization served to MOVE the plot forward by adding tension.

The math guy (Malcolm)

1. Believed everything was chaos: By the middle of the movie, he was a foreshadow of doom. By the end of the movie, his predictions occurred and everything became chaos. His characterization served to MOVE along the plot.

2. Gave a wisecrack about everything. Kept this up through the entire movie and never broke out of this. His characterization served to MOVE along the plot.

3. Was totally like a reptile and unlikeable (which made him somehow likeable!). Kept this up through the entire movie and never broke out of this. His characterization served to MOVE along the plot and added tension.

Grandpa (the owner of Jurassic Park)

1. Thought life was like an amusement park. By the end of the movie he CHANGED to know dinosaurs weren’t just an amusement park feature. His characterization brought RUIN.

2. Spared no expense. By the end of the movie he CHANGED to find out that no money could protect them from messing with “creation.” His characterization brought RUIN.

3. Was self-centered like a child. Kept this up through the entire move. His characterization served to MOVE along the plot and added tension.

The computer geek

1. Was totally over-the-top obnoxious. His characterization moved the plot along and brought RUIN to everything in the movie.

2. Was messy and irresponsible and greedy. His characterization moved the plot along and even RUINED himself.

3. Was the only guy who understood all the computer technology. This created a major plot issue when he figured out how to steal the DNA. Then it created a major plot issue when nobody knew how to fix his computer mess-up. His characterization actually affected the plot in major ways.

Each minor character had at least one unique characterization:

Grandson: very smart, invincible kid who loved dinosaurs: He got scared in the middle and needed care by the end—seemed a lot younger and vulnerable at the end.

Granddaughter: computer whiz. In the middle she was interested in anything techie. Her skills save the day at the end.

Lawyer: very totally predictable lawyer. Everything he said and did was so typical lawyer and everyone knew of course he’d be the first guy to go.

Overseer of dinosaurs: was in charge of raptors and worried about dinosaurs’ intelligence. This was a foreshadow technique and was used to move plot forward by adding tension. In the middle he keeps popping in to say he’s worried about raptor’s intelligence. He CHANGED by the end because the raptors took charge of him.

Writing this all down really helped me see how I need to develop the characterization of both my main characters and minor characters throughout the entire novel—beginning, middle, and end. It also showed me how I need to use their characterizations to move the plot along or throw obstacles in the way.

CLICK HERE to get information and purchase my audio workshop so you, YES YOU! can learn how to write a middle grade novel in one month.

Filed under: Middle Grade Novels, Oldie But Goodie, Uncategorized

Oldie But Goodie: Middle Grade Musings

Here’s Part 2 of my Oldie But Goodie on Middle Grade Novels:

Everything I Need to Know about Middle Grade Novels I Learned from Jurassic Park

Part 2

As I mentioned yesterday, the main characters in Jurassic Park all seemed to be 3-D with three main distinctive character qualities each:

The main dinosaur guy:

1. His favorite dino was the raptor.

2. He disliked kids.

3. He always broke computers.

The math guy (Malcolm)

1. Believed everything was chaos.

2. Gave a wisecrack about everything.

3. Was totally like a reptile and unlikeable (which made him somehow likeable!).

Grandpa (the owner of Jurassic Park)

1. Thought life was like an amusement park.

2. Spared no expense.

3. Was self-centered like a child.

The computer geek

1. Was totally over-the-top obnoxious.

2. Was messy and irresponsible and greedy.

3. Was the only guy who understood all the computer technology.

Each minor character had at least one unique characterization:

Grandson: very smart kid who loved dinosaurs

Granddaughter: computer whiz

Lawyer: very totally predictable lawyer

Overseer of dinosaurs: was in charge of raptors and worried about dinosaurs’ intelligence

Writing down these characterizations for Jurassic Park’s main and minor characters made me realize that every single one of my characters in my middle grade novel was one dimensional, a clone of the other, and bo-o-ring. My goal is now to give my main characters each 3 strong, over-the-top characterizations, and each of my minor characters at least one unique trait.

In my next post, I’ll show how strong characterizations were developed over the entire length of Jurassic park and also affected the plot.

CLICK HERE to get information and purchase my audio workshop so you, YES YOU! can learn how to write a middle grade novel in one month.

Filed under: Middle Grade Novels, Oldie But Goodie, Uncategorized

Faith Building Fridays: Live!

So I [wrote] the message as he commanded me,

and breath came into their bodies.

They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army.

-Ezekiel 37:10, NLT

There is a lost and dying world that we live in. Yet, through some mysterious power of God most high, the message He commands us to write can bring dead places to life! Let’s write words so others can come to life and stand up on their feet. Let’s write words that empower a great army in God’s kingdom. Let’s write words and live the purpose God has designed us for since before the creation of the world!

Dear God, sometimes I feel the words I write are powerless and meaningless. Thank you for reminding me that the words I write can bring life and that more abundantly. Help me always to remember this and write your words each day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

_______________________________________________________________

Scribes: Devotions for Christian Writers is available at Amazon.

Filed under: Faith-building Fridays, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Oldie But Goodie: Middle Grade Musings

Here’s an Oldie But Goodie about Middle Grade Novels:

Everything I Need to Know about Middle Grade Novels I Learned from Jurassic Park

Part 1

Okay, okay…I may be a bit behind on the fact that I’ve never watched all three movies of Jurassic Park until this past month. But then, we’re a family who loves books, not movies. In fact, as some of you may know, we haven’t watched TV in the 25 years since my husband and I have been married. Oh sure, about 10 years ago we “inherited” a television that we keep out in our garage under a blanket. It’s handy for watching home videos. We have TV Guardian on the DVD player so that when we do watch an occasional movie, we don’t have to listen to all the swearing. (TV Guardian does a great job of blipping out all that stuff!)

So anyhow, we decided to watch all three movies of Jurassic Park this past month. Of course, I’m a wimp at watching icky stuff, so I closed my eyes for about half of each movie. But wow! Did it give me lots of material to work on with my historical middle grade novel that I’m writing!

Is my historical MG novel set back in dinosaur days? Not! It only goes as far back as the American Revolution. But watching Jurassic Park taught me AMAZING lessons about developing my characters. Here’s how.

Jurassic Park was the ultimate example of how strong characterization works. Each and every single character had unique qualities, distinctive voices, and over-the-top quirks. And each character either CHANGED or DIDN’T CHANGE by the end of the movie in a dramatic way. Also, they each used their unique characterizations to either SAVE THE DAY or BRING ABOUT TOTAL RUIN. In other words, their characterizations not only developed their personalities, but also worked to move the plot forward or throw obstacles in the way.

The main characters each seemed to be 3-D with three main distinctive character qualities each. Even each minor character had at least one unique quirk. The interesting thing, however, was that Jurassic Park 2 (Lost World) and Jurassic Park 3 did NOT have the same strong characterization. And my husband and son and I all agreed—as a result both the second and third movies were flat compared to the first. In an upcoming post, I’ll explain what I noted in more detail.

CLICK HERE to get information and purchase my audio workshop so you, YES YOU! can learn how to write a middle grade novel in one month.

 

Filed under: Middle Grade Novels, Oldie But Goodie, Uncategorized

Oldies But Goodies: Resumes

Here’s my final post on resumes that I published several years ago here on my blog:

By the time you have acquired enough writing credits that it’s too bulky to include in your query or cover letter, you’re ready to prepare an actual resume.

Keep it pertinent to writing and make it look professional. Here are several tips:

Header:

Center your name in a large font at the top of the page.

Underneath in regular font (Times New Roman 12), list your address, phone number, e-mail, and website or blog if it pertains to writing.

Directly underneath this list any job titles or membership in critique groups or writing societies. Many editors will actually take the time to seriously look at your manuscript if they see that you’re an active member of a writing society such as the Society of Children’s Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

Skip a space or two and then build the body of your resume. (Again, use regular font.) There are various ways to do this. In fact, over the years, the look of my resume keeps changing. At first, when I didn’t have many published credits, I listed the names of the various magazines I’d been published in. Then, underneath each one, I listed the title of my article and the date it was published. I centered all this to help give a better visual appearance. And of course, when my first book was published, it took top billing on the page!

Now that I’ve had over 75 books published, my resume is kind of easy. I just have the header with my name, contact information, and positions I’ve held as Contributing Editor, etc. at the top. Plus I include membership in writing societies.

Underneath that, I just list the various publishers and the titles of books I’ve written for each one. In columns. That’s it. Nothing fancy. It gets the job done.

One more note—over the years I’ve also had some news that certain publishers might be interested in. For instance, one of my books was a bestseller for Scholastic. Another book has won several nice awards. Stuff like that. I include that information on a separate sheet I call Noteworthy News. I also include lists of magazines I’ve written for over the years on that page. If an editor wants to know more about my publishing background, I e-mail them this page along with my resume. But not usually.

The final thing about building a resume is just to use good old-fashioned common sense. If it makes sense to you to include something, put it in. If it makes the layout of the page look good, put it in. If in doubt, keep it out. Don’t stress over it, and don’t worry about it. Just create your resume as it seems best. Then send it in with your manuscript submission.

Filed under: Oldie But Goodie, Tips and Strategies

Faith Building Fridays: Reputation

So the Lord was with Joshua,

and his reputation spread

throughout the land.

-Joshua 6:27, NLT

It’s important to gain name-recognition as an author. People tell us to tweet on Twitter, post on Facebook, and spend overwhelming chunks of time participating in social media. Yes, each of these venues has its purpose and its value for an author. But ONLY after we first spend a meaningful portion of our day meeting alone with God.

If you have to make the choice…social media or God…choose God first. Meet with God each day BEFORE you sign onto the Internet. God is the one who spreads our reputation and name recognition in the industry after all.

Dear God, please help me keep my priorities straight. Help me prioritize my time alone with you each day as more important than chatting with any friends online. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

_______________________________________________________________

Scribes: Devotions for Christian Writers is available at Amazon.

Filed under: Faith-building Fridays, Inspiration, Uncategorized

Oldie But Goodie: Resumes

This Oldie But Goodie continues our discussion on resumes:

When I was a beginning writer, I never submitted a resume. Why not? I didn’t have anything to put on it.

If you’re just starting out as a writer, you don’t need a resume either. What you do need, however, is a sentence or paragraph in your query or cover letter that describes your qualifications as a writer. Don’t even have that yet? Don’t worry! Just skip this part at first. If you don’t have any educational background, job skill experience related to your manuscript, or writing credits, don’t say anything about this in your query or cover letter. The worst thing you can do is describe something about yourself that has no relevancy to the manuscript you’re submitting. It’s better not to say anything. Just target your manuscript to a publisher who is open to working with new writers. How can you know this? Read your market guide.

For instance, I just randomly opened my Children’s Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market Guide. Moon Mountain Publishers was listed on the page. In their little blurb it says, “50% of books by first-time authors.” Bingo. They understand someone who doesn’t yet have publishing credits or a resume. Target publishers like this who say 50% or more of their titles or articles are with first-time authors. It ups your chances of getting your foot in the door so you can start on your way to acquiring an impressing resume.

After you do start accumulating publishing credits, then you can state in your query or cover letter a sentence or two about what you’ve had published. At first, you can list the one title of your article and the publisher it was published with and the year it was printed. As you gain more and more credits, you can list them as bullets in your paragraph of the letter. When you start to have so many that they don’t all fit in one paragraph, then it’s time to prepare an actual resume!

In an upcoming post, I’ll share about how to prepare your first resume as a writer.

Filed under: Tips and Strategies