Liebster Award

 
This is an award given by bloggers to bloggers. I received mine by Bridgette Booth(http://bridgettebooth.com/) who is a historical writer, teacher, reader, and a blogger to be looked at in awe with her regular blog posts.

 

I will be passing this honor in the Youth category to  Caroline, (http://crohnsandme-caroline.blogspot.com/) a ten year old girl who posts about her battle with Crohns in a Christian and positive way.

 

And into the Makes You Think category I will give this to Kent, ( http://mkenttravis.com/) a blogger who is a teacher, and a youth leader(Yes, I am showing favouritism, he is my youth leader. I still like his blog. )

 

I hope you check out both their blogs and like what you read.(You will)

 

Poll: I Want Jody to Donate to . . .

Poll: I Want Jody to Donate to . . .

This is a Chirstian author who wrote a Chirstian book and wants to donate it to one of these foundations, here are the causes:

Illumination Publishers International is a non-profit organization which sends Christian literature to missionaries and Christians in third world countries.

Judith’s Reading Room is an non-profit organization which creates mobile libraries for VA hospitals, war zone areas for active military, pediatric emergency rooms, and underserved communities.

Christian Library International is a non-profit organization that brings Christian literature to men and women in prisons.

Donation Town is an online directory for local charities that accept book donations for adult literacy programs, hospice reading to patients programs, and small struggling libraries.

Christian Resources International a non-profit organization which ships donated books to missionaries and pastors around the world.

Vote Vote Vote!!!

Adverbage

No, I do not know if that is a word. But it is a bad thing.

 "An elephant quickly ran towards me." Gag.  Do you feel scared? I don't.I feel amused. I think of an

elephant to fat to go fast so he kinda power waddles to me.

"An elephant charged to me in a furious gallop."  My knees are a little more wobbly now. Why? because

adverbs are fairly weak when it comes to Mad elephants or type of action really. Bad arguments, fist fights,

running away scenes.  When you read an adverb, you get the sense of being cheated out of the scene. I feel

like I am in one of those black and white movies, the really old ones where the words come after the actors

move their mouths, the lighting in virtually none-existent, and the quality is grainy. You can't get into the

scene, and you get bored easily. Compared that to sharp, clear words that are precise, true and descriptive.

It'll sharpen up your scene and make your reader more interested. Here are some commanly miss-

used/overly used adverbs you should avoid:

very - While “very” is intended to magnify a verb, adverb, or noun, it lacks precision. “Very” is

seldom essential. (Now, what’s wrong with “seldom” in the preceding sentence?) And very, very is

even worse. That's like saying infinite squared.

not - “Not” is an adverb meaning “in no manner” or “to no degree.” I discourage writers from using

“not” in short phrases. i.e. "It is not." Instead. "I disagree," "You're wrong." etc.

never / always - Absolutes either lock a writer into a position or give the reader the feel of

exaggeration, which typically makes them feel the word being described is not of great importance.

Use these words when the absolute is a command or instruction.

Always make sure the nuclear reactor chamber is sealed properly.

almost / nearly - Approximations should be used sparingly. Use “almost” or “nearly” when a precise

measurement is unrealistic in fiction or impossible. Plus, its boring. it reminds of

"Kids...We're almost there..."

anxiously / eagerly - “Anxiously” implies with anxiety and “eagerly” implies with anticipation. Both are weak adverbs that can be replaced by better describing a situation, as with all -ly words.

She waited anxiously.
She sat waiting, biting her lip and looking around the room.

only / merely - Condescending when used to describe a noun. Can be confusing.

Juciy

If you’ve read just read “Just Say Yes” then you know I support writing regularly. But what about? If you’re sick and tired of your book (and if you’ve been writing faithfully then you will be soon) then just write about life. About unloading the dishwasher. Turn that into a horror about being attacked by knives. A mystery as to who is stealing your silver. Or write about some idea you had/have that isn’t substantial enough to actually be written out in NIP form. Recall some random dialog you overheard in the supermarket and turn it into a scene. I’ve found that a great deal of times things like that end up in my manuscripts. (Except for the knives attacking me.) This is also great for people who really want to write but don’t have much to go on. It encourages you to write and gives you ideas, getting that creative juice flowing.

To get you started, write a scene with no more than 3 adverbs on this topic:

A young boy has tried repeatedly to fly a kite his whole life, but never succeeded. Then, one afternoon, his father who abandoned him comes back and tries to teach him how to fly a kite.

What are some things that you creative juices flowing? And what real life things have ended up in your manuscripts?

NED...is it contagious??

NED. It is a seemingly an innocent name. Au contraire.  NED stands for three of the most horrible syndromes an author can have.

1.) N= No one syndrome.  The No one syndrome is when someone thinks no one at all can write except the already published and successful writers, and even they are pushing it. These people may have great talent, they just have no faith. If you think you have what it takes to write, then try it.  What’s the worst thing that can happen?

2.) E=Everyone  syndrome. It is the exact opposite of N. These people think that everyone who wants to be published can be. That’s not quite true. Writting is a hard business, and not all people have the time, talent, money and skills to do so. Frequently E’s are unable to write, but have unrealistically high expectations. So if you suffer from this, you will suffer in writting, but I assure you it will all be worth in the end.

3.) D=Delayers syndrome. They aren’t pessimistic. They don’t have ridiculously high hopes. So they start prepared...but don’t carry through.  They get to something they don’t like...outlining, tough scenes, difficult character, and suddenly their busy. Their manuscript left under other work...then in a drawer...then they’ve forgotten half of their ideas. Stick through it! Plow through! Make time for your manuscript. It’s your baby, you don’t want to leave your baby whenever you get busy!

Do you notice what is the cure for all NED’s? Writing.

Quirky Quotes

Quirky Quotes

“The man who doesn’t read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them”

-Mark Twain

    

     “I love being a writer, what I can’t stand is the paperwork.”

-Peter DeVires

      “Writing is easy, all you have to do is stare at a blank sheet over paper until drops of blood form on your forehead.”

-Gene Fowler

   “When you put something down that happened, people often don’t believe it; whereas you can

 make up anything , and people assume it must have happened to you.

-Andrew Holleran

    “The role of a writer is less what we all can say, but what we are unable to say.”

-Anais Nin

  “The free lance writer is a man who is paid per piece, per word or perhaps.”

-Robert Benchley

  “I write to discover what I think.”

-Daniel J. Boorstin

   “Writers and Politian’s are natural rivals, both groups try to make the world in their image; they fight for the same territory.”

-Salmon Rushdie

   “Every writer is a frustrated actor who recites he’s lines in the hidden auditorium of skull.”

-Rod Serling

   “If there is a special hell for writers, it would be the forced contemplation of their own works.”

-John Dos Passos

   “It took me fifteen years to discover I had no talent for writing, but I couldn't give it up because by that time I was too famous.

-Robert Benchley

“I’m writing a book, I’ve got the page numbers done.”

-Steven Wright

“I just sit at a typewriter and curse a bit.”

P. G. Wodehouse ...after being asked about his writing technique

“I only write when I am inspired, fortunately , I am inspired every day at nine o’clock.”

-William Faulkner

The Real Letters

Until this moment you have not know that you had no absolutely clue your preschool teachers lied to you.  The alphabet goes ABDCE. No joke. It stands for Action, Background, Development, Climax, Ending.  In short, that is your plot. Drag in your readers by showing them a bright, sudden sense of Action (or something extremely unusual)   so that the audience will want more. The “more” you give them is the Background, the why’s, the who’s, and the childhood stories of you character without giving all their background away, spread the rest throughout the book. Development is slow suspense and added and mounted Action until you reach the Climax, which isn’t only one scene, but a whole sense that stretches throughout a whole chapter maybe. Ending is just the denouement, the wrapping up of the story, where all (unless more will come) sub-plots, loose ends, and questions are answered.

Real vs. Realistic

 What is the difference?

The difference is that a real conversation people talk about weather, use distinct dialect, and are quite frankly irreverent. While we think it’s normal-which it is- don’t ever use it in a book unless you’re going for a certain awkward aspect . Realistic conversation is where not everything is stilted, but direct. There is a fine line between being blunt and getting to the point, so I would recommend reading a lot of opening dialogue to really get to know it.

Setting is the same. Real is you probably spending a lot of time in your room, at school or in the office. Don’t put your characters there.  Put them somewhere unique, but not unreasonable.  Don’t shove them on a foreign planet because their aunt’s friend mom took them on drive and they fell into a portal.  One of my favorite illustrations of unique, useful, realistic setting is Sarah Dessen and her books. In every book there is a place you would never think of putting your characters in, and they have an airtight reason for being there.

And then there is my pet peeve, Characters.  Authors so frequently make them very real, not realistic. This is a real person.  Consider the person closest to you, and how well you know them, and how deep they are. I’m not saying their genius deep, just many levels, many personalities. It took you years to know all that about them, and you are constantly finding out more.  Now the average noel is 80,000 words.  Not all of them are the hero. Could you write about the person you know closer than anyone in less than 80,000 words?  Too many authors try that, and the reader is left feeling like they didn’t the main character, Because, well they didn’t.

Main Characters should look like this. Layered, but not completely impossible to figure out.  You should gradually get to know them, and finish the book (or series) feeling like you have friend. Kinda like dog.

Top Three Surprisingly Good Books

Top Three Surprisingly Good Books (why it’s surprising and why it’s good)

1. Twilight. I know right? With all the haters you would think this was a flimsy, bored-to-tears book, but I really like it. No, I am not an obsessed Twi-hard, but I think if you look at what the book was meant to be, an entertaining read, then it is good. I highly doubt Stephanie Meyer wrote this book thinking it would be as famous.

 I give it (on entertaining) 4 stars.

This book is the first in a saga (four) where Bella Swan has just moved to Forks, Washington to live with her father when she meets Edward Cullen, a loner who seems to be superhuman. Bella is nothing but resourceful and does her research, talking to childhood  friend Jacob Black to see if he knew anything on the subject of the Cullen’s after a fellow Native American of Jacob’s said they weren’t allowed on the reserve. He tells her an old legend concerning the Cullen’s. And Vampires. Bella puts two and two together to realize Edward is a vampire. But ironically it is he who must protect her when another vampire decides to hunt down, and kill Bella.

2. Ranger’s Apprentice. I judged. I will admit it, I judged this book and thought that is would not be good and therefore put off reading it for a loooong time. I then read it. And really liked to my great surprise.  I am not by any stretch of the imagination into fantasy/foreign creatures/weird names/long not-so-epic battles type of books. Never have been, never will. That was what I labeled this book, than I read it to find it had quick humor, good plot lines, and realistic characters.

I give it 4 1/2 stars.

Will is small. He’s short and thin with no muscles but to honor his dead father he never knew memory he wants desperately to be a student at the Battleschool, and certainly not be Ranger, people who protect the Kingdom, but keep strangely quietly about it. However, when no one- no one – will take Will on as an apprentice because of his slightness, except for Halt, the mysterious Ranger. The rest of the book is about Will learning about how to be an apprentice to the oddest protectors on earth, and how to stay alive in the upcoming war against a man who wants nothing more than people like him dead.

3. Hunger Games

It’s set in the future. It’s about people you’ve grown to love dying. And it’s amazing. I doubt I’ve read anything like it and ever will again. It has a strong shock value in every word.  One wouldn’t think it was amazing by just the description, but once you start, I promise you won’t end.

I give it 5 stars.

Katniss doesn’t mind hunting, she has to keep her starving family alive in the cruel times of the Capitols reign. But hunting people? The Hunger Games is a television ‘game’ show where the Capitol crushes the different districts spirits by having a boy and girl from each district thrown into an area where competition  takes place, one where you kill, or be killed. Katniss’s sister is chosen to be represent her district, and desperately Katniss volunteers herself to take her place. And so she is trust in the Game.

What are some surprisingly good books you’ve read?

P.S.( More will be added A.S.A.P.)

Caring Confusion

You might have been a little confused when you read in my post 'Elementral elements', and saw that you were supposed to write about characters you "care" about. What makes you care about a person? A fictional person at that. Well, the choices that they make really make you warm up to them. Still don't understand? Well here's an example.

'Callie was a pretty girl at fourteen who lived in Arkansas. today she was wearing a  red shirt, blue jeans, and converse. they were her favourite pair'

Do you car about Callie? Do you care if she skydives and her parachute doesn't open? No. At least I don't. You don't want her to die, but you don't necessarily want anyone to die. At a personal level, you most likely have no emotions for her. that is because you know nothing about her. Her age and she's pretty and what shoes she likes, but nothing personalty wise.  Now look at this little section:

'The nurse's heart melted a little for the first time in a long time. She honestly couldn't help it when reading this report:"Agreed to donate kidney, not sure if will live, but patient #201 will be good."

She knew that it was talking about the women, #201, who would die if she didn't have another kidney. No one had been a match except for a little boy they had found through records, he had agreed to donate his own kidney for her, dispite not knowing her. And despite he might not live.'

Ok, so what about him? You don't know his age, where he lives, or even his favourite shoes, but you know about the choices he makes. And that, make you care about him. So, to be very cliche but very nessicery, "Show, don't tell."

Quirky or Annoying?

I have noticed in my supreme observations(ha.ha) that there are some quirks out there in books that are...annoying. A quirk is something that is something only a certain character has. Nervous habit, phrase they always say, popping knuckles. The benefit in putting a quirk to some character is that it defines them, as well clues the readers into what their feeling without just coming out and saying what they felt. However, I was reading this one series of books (Fallen, Lauren Kate, 2 stars) where the main character cracked her knuckles when she was nervous, bored, or awkward. It started off as a way for another character to remember her , then morphed into a constant, somewhat random habit of the author. It took from the story in my own opinion, but not all quirks have too. I have a friend who's a Blondie, blue-eyed and cheery. She's like a  bubble of happiness. She used to have this habit we'd tease her about non-stop, she's sweep her bangs out of her face and simultaneously say "Seriously" But now thinking back on it, I realize that it was a window to her deeper self. She is really very a well thought out person, and can be serious. This was her way of agreeing, of making things more serious. In a book this would be a bit to reveal herself more to reader, for them to get to know her better.

What are some quirks you've read about, or know?

Elementral Elements

I just now discovered something that makes me very, very happy.

Dum-dum elements.

I am assuming that you know the basic elements in writting:

setting,

theme,

characters,

 plot,

  style.

All books, movies, and graphic novels have them. Well, whenever I used them to write my story, I would always struggle to think of intelligible answer, one that would look good on a test, not one that looks good in a book. Therefore when I found David Schwabauer and his dum-dum elements, I was beyond thrilled. Here are his:

Someone To Care About

Something To Want

Something To Dread

Something To Suffer

Something To Learn

J

1. Someone To Care About is your Star, your Hero, your Other You. You’ll notice it doesn’t say Someone You Like, that is because you may not like the main character, and also, which person is closer to you, the person you like, or the person you care about? I’m guessing you thought care about.  This enables the audience to become closer to the main character, to want what they want, which draw them into the story.

2. Something To Want is the story goal, what makes your character keep going, it makes a photographic image in your readers mind of what they think will happen at the end of the book. This is what makes the end the end, and also makes the end climatic. You may or may not give your hero their Stroy Goal.

3. Something To Dread is the punishment of the story, it can be if the main character does get what they want, making it dangerous, or it what would happen if your star doesn’t get the story goal, like in Harry Potter, If Harry doesn’t get Voldie dead, it’s the end of the world. It could have nothing to do with the Story Goal. Just make your Hero scared of something.

4.Something To Suffer should really be somethingS to suffer, considering your Other You must be miserable at numerous times.  They can’t win anything too easily or it will be unrealistic, annoying, and just flat out bad writting. So spit on your character.

5.Something To Learn is the least important, in the sense of the NIP doesn’t have to have it, but It will make your novel memorial, unlike the books that are popular for a week then are never heard of again, in which the theme is making-out is fun. Those are fluffy, needless books, make yours outstanding.

Writting.....

A few people have commented on the fact that my blog has writTed, instead of writing. I do know that it the word is not supposed to have the extra t. When I first was creating this site a few months ago, it was late, I was tired, and many of my ideas for names had already been registered. so when i saw that "quirksofwritting" was available, i was thrilled and  and took it up. I never stopped to think of why  it was avalible. I later noticed and was horrfied. Then I thought it wasn't too bad, the world wouldn't because of my mistake,  then I kinda liked it. I decided it would be one of my quirks. Then I started writing all my writings "writtings".

I posted this not-related-in-any-way-to-this-blog to let you know, that you are not taking writing tips and reading suggestions and reviews from a person who can write writing, read properly to understand she did.

:)Rachel

Just Say Yes

I have problems sometimes saying yes. Yes, I will sit down and write this chapter sketch, yes, I will type up all those words in this scene.  I'm guessing you know just what I'm talking about. The moment of dawdling, excuses, and "tiredness". The moment of "I Don't Want To Deal With This Now!!" You simply  must do it then. Your book is kinda like a young child, your young child, wonderful and brilliant, but requires a lot of time and energy. So if planning out every time you write doesn't work for you,  try finding a spare moment, and sit down and make yourself, if you have no inspiration, edit something. Anything. Even after a book is published, it can stilll be edited more. After your done editing and still no closer to gaining some new chapters, write about coffe and guy named Micky. Yes, you did read that right. I mean for you to just be writting about anything in the world. As long it's writting. Every published auther that has a website and a FAQ section, has the question "How do I become an author?" And every answer is the same. Write.  At first when ever I saw those never varying answers, I kind of nodded at the computer screen and think, "Well, that why they call us writers, isn't it? And it is, but you must be repeative about your habits. It must become a natural thing for you to be writting all the time, even when it isn't on the calender and your inspired. Take a notebook with you wherever you go, if you can, so you can write ideas and dialogue you overheard that's perfect for your NIP(novel-in-progress). Just say yes, and write.

Words....oh the horrid things.

Even if you don't write, even if you don't like to read, you know that books, fiction, non-fiction, whatever

genre, have words. That's fairly obvious. But what words, my dear reader is essential. My current novel-in-

progress(NIP)  is set in 1700's. With a good dose of Pirates. So problem is, as a Christian, I can't have my

foul mouthed pirates curse. I don't want to set that example, and frankly don't really want to cuss myself.

However, after exhaustive research, I learned people, and most certainly heartless, cold-blooded pirates in

1749 did not say "oh my gosh," or many of the shortcuts so helpful in today's world.  So What am I to do?

Curse or Christ?

I decided on no cursing, but making it known to the reader that Person A is unhappy in a way that uses facial

expressions,  breakable things being broken, and silence treatments. Anything that doesn't stray from their

character but doesn't make the Lord flinch whenever I write an angry scene.

Any thoughts on a clean, angry scene?

Post below :)

Google And God

I am a Christian. I read the Bible, and actually enjoy it. I'd gone to 2nd grade Sunday School class all my second grade year and memorized the verses. However,I cannot tell you half of what I learned. But what I researched on Google for my book. Every.Word.I.Know. But can I say the same for the Bible I say I love? The honest answer is no. I spend more time analyzing what my main character of my own book is going to do in chapter four, scene three than what Jesus did, The main charter of God's Word did in the fourth book and third chapter of the Bible. Sad. And Hypocritical of me.  So if you're reading this to hope to gain supreme knowledge on your upcoming book(no promises) the advice I'll give you now is research in  your Bible and research on the web for your book.

First Off+Research

Hey, I am Rachel and this my blog. Congrats on making it this far! You can see the "about me" column to see what all I am doing.

Today I learned from my mom today the value of research on your books. yeah, I knew it was important but now I know how much effort it takes and the knowledge, Patience too. A lot of patience.You have to go find sites and see pictures and hear quotes and expressions. Especially if you're doing a historical novel or something along those lines. Which I am doing.I recamond http://www.answers.com/ and http://www.wikipedia.com/ the only problem is that the answers and essays and info is provided by people like us. Sadly those two do not have super smart tech stuff that answers all questions for us. Sad day.

However someone who does have that are people like the all famous Google, bing, and Yahoo.Trust me, they know evrything.

So take time to let one site lead to the next, and have anotebook to take...well notes and to write down the sweb adddress so you can re-look things up.If that's a word.

Another way is to forgot the internet and use the old fastioned things called resource books. It was only until I started volenteering at the library that I realized how many there were. And many really are...resourceful. Get inter-library loans if your library dosen't have what you want or go to gorage sales, estates sales, and bascially nose around. If your a writter your friends will be used to the oddness.I have to go but I'll add more later.

Rachel