Pirates and Priests

You know what sucks? (Okay. Besides, you know, natural disasters, mean people, and running out of ice cream at an emotionally difficult time.) Let me rephrase that question. You know what my least favorite part about writing is? Endings. Yep. You’d think, after spending all that time with the characters and world and story, everything would just sort of wrap itself neatly up with a bow on top. (All of you writers out there, stop laughing. I know. But I used to think that’s the way it should happen. At least, until my favorite character died tragically at the end of my first story. Sniff…)

Seriously, though, endings are hard. Very hard. For me, anyway. Even if I know where I want the story to go, it’s difficult to make the denouement live up to the rest of the story. And that’s very important. If the ending doesn’t resolve things satisfactorily, then, as a reader, I’m left with the impression that the entire book sucked (for lack of a better word). If it does live up to the promise of the rest of the book, then a shiny golden aura surrounds the book in my mind. I want that aura around my own stories, so I get a case of…performance anxiety about the ending. Two movies I saw recently are good examples of good endings…and not-so-good ones. (No spoilers. I swear.)

I saw Priest a couple of weeks ago. Still not sure how I got talked into that, since I don’t do scary movies, and the trailer looked…quite scary. Vampires, Paul Bettany, and Karl Urban would normally be a sure bet for me, if it weren’t for the scary part. The movie had an interesting premise: vampires had once almost overrun the world, and a bada** group of warrior-priests were created to fight them and confine them to reservations. We’re not talking about cute, sparkly vampires here, either. Gross, slimy, beastly monsters is much more accurate. Anyway, the niece of one of the priests gets snatched by vamps and he defies the church in order to go after her. Turns out, his old priest buddy, whom he thought was killed by vampires, is actually the first known human vampire and is in charge of a nifty new vampire army intent on destroying all humans. It had all the makings of an epic showdown. The reality was….well, the words “anti-climatic,’ “convenient,” and “disappointing” leap immediately to mind.

Last night, I saw the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie: On Stranger Tides. Now, pretty much everyone on the planet should know the basic premise of the Pirates movies (and if you don’t, exactly what rock have you been hiding under?). They’re not deep, soul-searching types of movies. But fun and entertaining, yes. So, Captain Jack is trying to reach the Fountain of Youth before the English delegation, led by his old nemesis Captain Barbossa, and the Spanish delegation. Oh, and he’s up against the notorious Blackbeard, and Blackbeard’s daughter, whom Sparrow has a history with. Of course, much chaos and hand-gesturing ensues, but in the end, you know there’s going to be a big, violent showdown with lots of Captain Jack’s tricks and maneuverings. And the movie doesn’t disappoint. That’s exactly what happens. The viewer is not disappointed. Guess which movie I liked more?

So, as I get ready to start outlining my new story, my thought is this: I want a Pirates ending, not a Priestly one. (And as a side note, the vampire mermaids in Pirates are pretty freaking cool!)

Goals. And Strippers. And Maybe Some Writing Stuff…

You know what I’ve discovered after taking off months from working on anything related to writing? Getting back into the swing of things is hard. I mean really, really hard. I started working on revisions to the faerie story today. Wow. It’s like I forgot what the story was about. I’m using Holly Lisle’s How to Revise Your Novel, and this lesson involves the Monastery. If you’re familiar with the technique, can you imagine how difficult it was to keep track of everything when I haven’t really thought about this story in months? Yeah. I’m sure I missed some things. And if you’re not familiar, well, it’s an excellent technique (as is the class as a whole), and definitely worth the effort.

Also, I’ve been doing a bit of research for the new story, the DOTD (Day of the Dead) story. Very little, to be completely honest, but I’m hoping (No. I’m PLANNING.) on getting the last of my background details (of which there aren’t going to be too many) solidified today, and hopefully start outlining this weekend. Of course, it’s research, so I’m easily distracted by all the pretty, shiny lights (What? The Mayans practiced bloodletting as a form of worship? And made bread offerings of a specific number of grains? Hmmm…..), but I think I have some of the pertinent details I intend to use (where “use” means “twist to my own nefarious purposes”) nailed down. So, yay, I’ll finally be writing again!

In other news, I’m working on my 101 goals for the year. Maybe I should post them here and keep them updated? Yes? No? You don’t really give a crap? Well…goal #21 is: Start going out more. I’m working on that. Yes. As a matter of fact, last week, I went out so much I was exhausted at the end of it and practically comatose. First, I went out for dinner and drinks with a friend who was in from the Big Easy (had a great time, and I really miss hanging out with my friend…). The next night, I went out with a couple of the girls from work, and one of their sisters. Who is a stripper. Excuse me, an exotic dancer. (No, I did not put “start hanging out with colorful people” on my list. I already know plenty of those. I didn’t think it was necessary to state it explicitly.) On a slightly unrelated note, while we were out running around, I discovered I have the same taste in shoes as she does. (No, I don’t want to know what that says about me, thankyouverymuch. The shoes were cute. That’s all that matters. Pfft.). After that little adventure, the next night I hung out with an old friend ‘til 2 a.m. and then collapsed from exhaustion. This week…well, the new Pirates of the Caribbean movie comes out, so I’m definitely gonna see that. As for the rest of the weekend, well, I’m going to try to knock out at least two of my goals (#14 and #26)….

Goals…and More Goals

In my last post, I mentioned the website 101in365. It took me a while (about a week), but I finally came up with 101 things I want to do in the next year. Some of them are rather…uninspired, maybe (learn how to change a tire). Some are books I have always meant to read (I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings). Some are things I want to learn how to do (dance, make my mother’s awesome chocolate cake and peanut butter fudge). Some are things I intended to do anyway, but now I’ve made a commitment, so it’s a definite (win NaNo again, get my next two tattoos). Some are things that scare the crap out of me (Skydiving. Really. I’m terrified of heights….What was I thinking?!) Some are things I want to do (Yoga, a 5k). And some are things I should do. (Pay off my credit cards. Forgive.) I also made a goal of blogging at least twice a week, so hey, I’m getting started on that one right now!

On a side note, I tend to get a little, ah, over-ambitious at times, so while I might be filled with wild enthusiasm for these goals right now (Except for the skydiving. The only thing that thought fills me with is unbridled terror and a desire to pray.), I’m quite sure my enthusiasm will wane at some point, probably along with my time when the fall semester starts. But hopefully some of these things will be a habit by then, and some will already be accomplished. Goals keep me motivated, so I was really excited about this website (and I’ve convinced one of my friends to make her own list—hope my incessant mentioning of it isn’t driving her crazy!).

If you’re in need of a little motivation, this website might be the thing for you. You can browse other users’ lists, and I saw quite a few writing-related goals. I’ll be sure and keep you posted when I actually start accomplishing the things on my list!

Conquering the Chaos

So, yeah, it’s been a while since I posted. A while. Um, it wasn’t deliberate. Really. I didn’t intend to fall off the edge of the map. I just sort of got bogged down in…stuff. Some of it was school stuff. Some of it was starting-a-new-job stuff. Some of it was “life sucks” stuff with a side of personal disaster…but I’m pleased to report that it’s better now. Much better. So much better, in fact, that the improvement can really only be appreciated by me. (And the close group of friends that got me through it. Thanks, friends. I owe you.)

Now the semester is over, the new job is going well, and I’m a much happier person. I’ve slacked on the writing and the revising lately, so I intend to remedy that ASAP. The new story idea is in need of some mulling-over and some research (ancient Egyptian religion, anyone?). The faerie story, whose revision I stopped mid-stream, needs some TLC. And my personal view of myself and my place in the world is going through a slight…re-focusing. To aid in this last, I found a really cool website to help me keep track of my goals. And also this other one, that makes my soul-searching so much more…deep.

So, yeah. That’s what I’ve been up to.

When Words Aren’t Enough

Emotional catharsis comes in a lot of forms. Runners log miles. Artists throw themselves into their paintings. Writers….write. For me, writing has always been a catharsis, whether it’s journaling or immersing myself in a story. Whatever I’m feeling, I pour it into the writing. Anger. Frustration. Despair. Joy. Hope. All of those go into the writing. One of my favorite writing quotes (from Red Smith) is “Writing is easy. I just open a vein and bleed.” This statement is so true. So very true. I think better on paper, whether “paper” is actually paper, or a computer screen or text message. Verbalizing things…I’m not so good at. I don’t like confrontations. I don’t like arguments. I despise drama. It’s more difficult for me to get my point across if I’m emotionally involved in the situation. That’s why I turn to words. They’ve been my salvation many times.

But what happens when words aren’t enough? When there are things you want to say, so many things, but you don’t get a chance to say them? Maybe you were never given the opportunity to actually say the words. Maybe words—or a lack of them—are actually part of the problem in the first place. Maybe a situation escalated because you were never told what was going on, and without that knowledge, it felt like something totally different was occurring. If you’d had the words, the situation never would have happened in the first place.

It’s hard enough to put words to what is actually occurring in your own life. If you’re on the outside of someone else’s life, and you’re never given any hints as to what they’re going through, choosing the wrong words is inevitable. Wrong words = misunderstandings and hurt. They can cut like a knife in an instant, and do damage that will never heal. Or they can drive a wedge between two people that will never disappear. But the right words can heal anything.

Phantom Evil, by Heather Graham

Phantom Evil, Mira

Set in the historic French Quarter of New Orleans, Phantom Evil by Heather Graham is a ghost story and murder mystery rolled into one. The city itself is detailed so realistically that it becomes practically a character in its own right, and glimpses into the city’s shadowy past give it an even darker side.

A newly-formed paranormal investigator team comes to New Orleans to look into the murder of the wife of a prominent senator. Though the team has never met before, they each have a psychic talent of their own, and they are all haunted by their pasts.

They are staying in the historic mansion that was the home of one of the city’s first serial killers, and the site of many of his grisly murders. The senator’s wife has been ruled a suicide, but the senator does not believe she jumped from the balcony to her death. That is what the team is there to discover: haunted by the death of her young son, did she jump? Or is something more mundane, and human, responsible for her death? With the team seeing ghosts and other threatening presences, and the murky associations of those closest to the senator, the answers are hidden beneath a veil of evil and lies that threatens the team itself as they race to uncover the truth.

Ms. Graham does a masterful job of bringing the city to life in all its glorious, Technicolor detail, but she does just as good a job creating characters that are both memorable and realistic. The characters are flawed, but likable, and their different personalities shine through on the page. Some of the scenes in Phantom Evil are eerie, bordering on scary, and the urge to figure out what is behind the mystery will have the reader turning pages far into the night—and jumping every time something goes bump in the night.

(Galley provided by Mira via NetGalley)

Motivation Waning…

So, I just started the new job this week. I like it, but I’m having a hard time adjusting to 1) having to get up and go to work, and 2) having to get up at 4:15 IN THE MORNING. Yeah. That’s proving to be a big adjustment. Who knew having three months off would turn me into a sleeping-late kind of person?

Clearly, trying to adjust to a work schedule AND the time change has made for a rough week. I haven’t done anything writing-related all week. Heck, I’ve barely managed to function on a day-to-day level (Sad, really.), much less actually be coherent. (FYI being too tired to even check my email for two days resulted in approximately 100 emails, half of which I deleted without opening, and about three times that much spam. Really? Do I really need THAT many advertisements for Viagra? Is somebody out there trying to tell me something? Okay, Universe, I’ll pass the message along.) So, now that I have three days off, I’m trying to get some writing things done, namely revisions and lessons one and two of How to Write a Series. I’m not saying it’s working, but I’m trying.

Other than that, I’ve got nothing. Except…I really hate when people don’t think about how their actions affect other people. Or their lack of action, either one. Really, people? You’re not the only one on this planet. Other people need certain things, too. Think of someone besides yourself!….Deep breath….Okay. That is all.

Pearl in the Sand, by Tessa Ashfar

Pearl in the Sand, Moody Publishers

Biblical fiction is a difficult genre to write in. Many people are familiar enough with the Bible to be able to point out inconsistencies and inaccuracies, even in written works that are clearly mean to be fictionalized. Writing about well-known and beloved characters without alienating readers would be hard, but writing about a character about which almost nothing is known is probably even more difficult. Tessa Afshar does an amazing job at this with her new book, Pearl in the Sand, about Rahab, the harlot who helped bring down the walls of Jericho and ended up becoming the ancestor of Jesus.

At the age of fifteen, Rahab became a harlot. She did it to save her family, but that did not stop her shame and dislike of her life. She despises Canaan’s gods, and refuses to worship them. If they were truly gods, would they allow their people to starve and suffer? When she first hears of the fierce Israelite army and their awe-inspiring God, she doesn’t know what to think. Soon the city of Jericho is awash in tales of the destructive army, but these Canaanites are smug about the protection of Jericho’s famed walls. Rahab is merely intrigued with tales of the Israelite God. When two Israelite spies enter Jericho, Rahab is moved to hide them, and even helps them safely escape the city. In return, they offer her protection with their army takes the city, and she and her family are the only ones who survive the ensuing destruction.

Rahab and her family are allowed to join the Israelites, and she finds faith in God that gives her strength. She meets Salmone, one of the leaders of the tribes, and the two must fight to overcome their pride and distrust and follow the path God has laid before them.

Pearl in the Sand is beautifully written, and grounded in historical details and description that brings not only the doomed city of Jericho to life, but also the Israelites and their way of life. Rahab is mistrustful of men, scarred by her path, and she has many emotional barriers to overcome before she grows into the full strength of her character. Salmone is burdened with pride and judges Rahab for her past, and it is difficult for him to see past who she was. The characters truly live and breathe on these pages, and it is wonderful to read this vision of how one woman’s life helped change the course of history.

(Galley from Moody Publishers via NetGalley)

Those that Wake, by Jesse Karp

Those that Wake, Harcourt Children's Books

The recent trend in dystopian young adult books continues with Those that Wake by Jesse Karp. Set in a future New York City where technology consumes the lives and minds of everyone, the setting of this story is dark and foreboding, filled with shadowy, threatening authority figures and a populace that is so self-involved as to be almost paranoid.

Laura has a perfect life. She makes good grades in school. She has a bright future ahead of her. Then one day, her parents no longer know who she is, and no one at her school has any memory of her. Mal is a loner, a boxer with no family but his brother, Tommy. After one middle-of-the-night phone call, Tommy disappears, and soon no one remembers Mal, either. When Mal and Laura meet, they discover that they have both had strange dreams, and everything around them seems to be breaking down. The two must struggle to figure out what is happening to their society, and to try to reclaim their lives.

Those That Wake is not a book that is overwhelmed with backstory and setting details. On the contrary, details are few and far between for both the reader and the characters, which can be a bit confusing. The book is well-written and the characters are engaging, but this lack of detail detracts from the quality of the writing and the story.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

What, for you, is the hardest part of writing? The part that makes you want to bang your head against your desk (or the nearest wall), the part that you have to grit your teeth to get through? Is there a part of writing like that for you, or is it all sunshine and roses? (And if it is all sunshine and roses, you suck. Just sayin’. I’m jealous…)

I’ve been writing more or less seriously (depending on how you look at it) for the past 11 years. I love the thrill of getting a new idea, and planning a new story is great fun. (Sometimes a little too much fun, as I tend to plan all sorts of details that aren’t particularly necessary, and therefore keep myself from actually starting to write the story. But that’s a whole other post…) The rush of writing and getting what I see in my head down on paper is always (Okay, usually.) fun. I like talking about writing. I like thinking about writing.

But for me, the part I like least about writing is…revising. Yep. Revising=not so much fun to me. My revision process goes like this:

1) Finish draft, put it aside for at least 2 months.
2) Re-read draft and resist impulse to cry at how badly I suck!
3) Slog through the MS, trying to figure out how I managed to mess up my spiffy, pretty idea so badly…and try to repair it.
4) Actually cry when I couldn’t quite manage to make the actual draft match the vision in my head.

Well, at least that’s how my revision process used to work. And then I discovered Holly Lisle’s How To Revise Your Novel class. I’ve been a long-time member of Forward Motion for years. I’ve been in a private crit group there for years (Hello, any of my fellow Silver Griffins!). The crit group alone has taught me an astronomical amount. I would never have imagined that critiquing other people’s work would teach me so much about my own, but it did. I took Holly’s How To Think Sideways class, and while I know some of the techniques escaped me, I learned a lot. So, when she created HTRYN, I jumped at that chance, baby! A system to actually teach me how to revise, and how to look at each aspect of revision logically (and therefore avoid the whole crying/head-banging thing?). I was there!

I’ve only used the class to revise one full novel so far, but I’m a third of the way through my second revision with it. Is it easy? No. Is it still painful? Yes. Do I still want to cry when I realize what I wrote doesn’t quite match up to my vision? Yeeesss. Do I actually cry now? NO!

Revision is still my least favorite part of writing, but this class has made it much less painful. More like minor surgery without anesthesia, instead of…a double amputation. And I think it’s awesome that Holly does so much to pay it forward to other writers. I’ve read several of her books, and enjoyed them all, and the amount of work she puts into helping other writers is phenomenal. Her amount of knowledge–and she freely admits that these techniques are what work for her–is also astonishing. If you haven’t yet checked out her site, you should. In addition to the paid courses, she also has a bunch of helpful freebies and writing advice.

So, tell me, what’s your least favorite part of writing?