What Would Your Character Say/Do Wednesday

I’m always looking for questions to ask my characters; anything to pull them out of their shell and see how they act in foreign territory. I wondered what it would be like if my characters participated in other Middle Grade and Young Adult stories. How would they act in Narnia, or at Hogwarts? It’s interesting to see how your characters act in a completely different setting.

Interview questions for your character based on “Suite Scarlett.”

1)What specialized school would your character want to attend? What would their best subject be?

2)If they were in a play, would your character be the star of the show, a bit player, the director, the designer, the art dept…?

3)Does your character have siblings? If so, which are they closest too? Which do they have issues with? Have they ever had to face the possibility of losing that sibling to illness?

4)If your characters parents/family were in financial trouble, what would he/she do to help?

5)Is your character a good problem solver? Able to think on his/her feet? What’s an example of a time when they had to come up with a fast solution to a problem?

Melissa's Myths for Mondays

Myth #6

Revision Is A Necessary Evil Because Your Word Processor Doesn’t Always Find All Your Mistakes.

I’m really hanging my head over this one. I remember with great chagrin thinking that the revision process was a matter of looking for any misplaced commas or misspelled words that my word processor didn’t catch.

What else was there? I was a true neophyte. I watched an interview that Diane Sawyer did with JK Rowling right before the 7th Harry Potter was due to hit the shelves. In it, Diane visited Joanne in her London hotel room while she wrote the last lines of The Deathly Hallows. Cameras peered over her shoulder as she typed the final words. Then she printed it out, bundled it up, and off to the printer it went. Isn’t that how it’s supposed to work? Surely she didn’t have to revise anything, right?

Since then, I’ve learned a lot about the revision process and all the work that goes into it. It took me less than three months to write my last novel, and six months to revise it. True, I’m not the fastest reviser in the world. I have trouble looking for multiple things. If I’m focus on POV, I’m lible to miss repitition. If I’m looking for show vs tell, I’m likely to miss characterizations. I know that most people can concentrate on multiple issues at once, but not me. Oh well.

What is your revision process like? How many times do you usually revise a manuscript before you consider it “finished”.

The Quintessentially Questionable Query Experiment

Matt has kindly featured my query for Zombie Rabbit on his blog:http://theqqqe.blogspot.com/

Matt's blog is really great. It focuses a lot on the madness that is the query process. So if your in the thick of that, you should check it out. If you're not there yet, check it out to get prepared for the future fun. If you've been there, done that, check it out to rejoice or commisserate with others who've been in your shoes.

He also has some other fun features such as his 12 step program for blog-aholics.

Fonetic Fridays: Word of the Day

Hey, you know those cool words they make you type when you comment on a blog, the ones that prevent spammers from commenting? If they were real words, what would they mean? See if you can come up with a definition and use it in a sentence.

Today’s word is: Snuncli:

HAVE FUN! AND HAPPY FRIDAY?

Snuncli: This is the latest accessory to wear with you snuggy. It goes over your head, and flows down your back, sort of like a nuns wimple. That way, every inch of your body can be covered by micro-fleece.

 “The amazing new Snuncli comes in dozens of fashion colors to match your Snuggy. If you order in the next 20 minutes, we’ll throw in an additional Snuncli FREE.”

Check Out the Great Contest

Checkout the awesome 250 follower contest of Justine Dell's site. Justine's blog is great, she always has funny and informative posts for writers.

http://justine-dell.blogspot.com/2010/09/jds-250th-follower-contest-come-enter.html

What Would Your Character Say/Do Wednesday

I’m always looking for questions to ask my characters; anything to pull them out of their shell and see how they act in foreign territory. I wondered what it would be like if my characters participated in other Middle Grade and Young Adult stories. How would they act in Narnia, or at Hogwarts? It’s interesting to see how your characters act in a completely different setting.

Interview questions for your character based on “Thirteen Reasons Why.”

1)Does your character have a crush or hidden admiration for someone that they haven’t shared with that person?

2)Has your character been let down by the adults/authority figures in their life? How did they respond?

3)What is your characters “reputation” in their school/community? Is the reputation well earned? What will your character do to change their reputation?

4)If your character moved to a new school/community, would they worry about making friends? What clique/club/group would they wind up in?

5)What kind of catastrophe, if any, would cause your character to reach a point of no return?

I'm It

That title sounds like a bit conceited, What I mean to say is that I've been tagged, to give answers to eight questions.   Thanks so much for the tag.

see http://greyplaces.blogspot.com/2010/09/eight-questions.html

So here are all the hot goods on yours truly.

1. If you could have any superpower, what would you have? Why?

I had to look to see what my options were. Who knew there were so many super powers. Trouble was, the one I wanted wasn’t’ listed. I’d like the ability to talk to animals. To really know what’s going on in their heads. I’m calling that a super power even if it’s not on the list.

2. Who is your style icon?

My sister. She picks out all my clothes.

3. What is your favorite quote?

If man could be crossed with the cat, it would improve man but deteriorate the cat.- Mark Twain.

Yeah, sorry guys.

4. What is the best compliment you’ve ever received?

I’m sure I’ve been given compliments but I’m modest.

5. What playlist/cd is in your CD player/iPod right now?

I know this is going to sound totally nerdy, but ever since America’s Got Talent, I’ve been obsessed with Opera. I even got a great story idea from Turondot. I’m very excited. I’ve been listening to Opera Arias for days now.

6. Are you a night owl or a morning person?

In my heart I’m a night owl, but I have to be at work at 7:00am. I have to admit that it’s great to be done with my work day early.

7. 7. Do you prefer dogs or cats?

I love all animals, but I’ve never really had the time or space for a dog. I love my cats, and can’t imagine life without at least one cat. Of course I love my mice too.

8. 8. What is the meaning behind your blog name.

Pretty simple, it’s just my journey toward getting published.

So now I tag three more people to give us their answers to the eight questions: http://sarahblackstock.blogspot.com/
http://suzimcgowen.blogspot.com/
http://lyndaryoung.blogspot.com/

Melissa's Myths for Mondays

Myth #5

Once You Have a Good Book on Craft, Stick With It
To go along with all books being created equal, I also thought that one book would serve all my needs forever.

In fact, things change so rapidly in this industry, (not to mention the world in general), that even books written five or ten years ago can seem hopelessly out of date. Especially when it comes to dynamic things like getting an agent, or trends in publishing. Not that books written several years ago can’t have value, it’s just important to make sure you understand the context and relevance of the publication. It’s important to keep reading new things every year. If updates or 2nd additions to your favorites come out, to see what’s been added that might be significant for your current WIP.

How many books on craft do you read every year. If a book has a sequel or 2nd addition would you invest time reading it?

Fonetic Friday: Word of the Day

Hey, you know those cool words they make you type when you comment on a blog, the ones that prevent spammers from commenting? If they were real words, what would they mean? See if you can come up with a definition and use it in a sentence.

Today’s word is:Puress

HAVE FUN! AND HAPPY FRIDAY?

My definition is: The title of the Empress of Pure.

Can I get you another blindfold, Your Puress?

What Would Your Character Say/Do Wednesday

I’m always looking for questions to ask my characters; anything to pull them out of their shell and see how they act in foreign territory. I wondered what it would be like if my characters participated in other Middle Grade and Young Adult stories. How would they act in Narnia, or at Hogwarts? It’s interesting to see how your characters act in a completely different setting.

Interview questions for your character based on “Fabelhaven.”

1)What if a trusted friend betrayed your character? How would they feel? What would it take to earn their trust back?

2)If your character was given “dark powers” would they use them for good or evil? How could they make use of dark powers? What kind of dark powers would they want?

3)If your character was forced to wear a “truth chain,” what truths would he/she hat to have to tell?

4)What kind of potion would your character have Tanu make up for him/her?

5)If your character cold have one artifact to use as they wished, which one would it be? And how would they use it.
a)Sands of Sanctity for healing
b)Chromometer to control time
c)Oculus- unlimited sight to any place.
d)Translocator-control space, move from place to place
e)Font of immortality- for everlasting life.

Melissa's Myths for Mondays

Myth #4

All Books About Writing Are Created Equal.

My first thought was to find the quintessential book on writing, and make that my bible. Surely if I chose the “best book” on writing, I could use that as my life long guide.

Not all books on writing are created equal. Writers who write about writing have to find a hook, just like the rest of us. There are some fundamentals that every book on craft will explore, Show Vs Tell, POV, Voice, etc… It’s the added information that makes reading a variety of books valuable. It’s those precious nuggets of fresh information that can add a layer to your story that will set it apart from the crowd.

What books on craft have you found that have an unusual slant, or different approach?

I Need Help From My Brilliant Blogging Friends

Help!

I entered a contest on Adventures in Children's Publishing:  http://childrenspublishing.blogspot.com/.

The contest is to 1) write a synopsis, that will become part of the query and 2) write a one sentence pitch. These are reiewed by debut authors who provide feedback, and other followers who also provide feedback.
Ultimately the two pieces will be put together into what becomes your query. There are prizes, etc.. But what I'm really interested in is getting a really good solid query and log-line. 

It's a great contest, the only problem is that once you get the feedback, you can make changes and additions, but rarely will people come back and critique those. Understandable, most people don't have time to visit the same posts over and over.

So now I need feedback on my changes. My query synopsis was a complete disaster at first. I wasn't clear on what they were looking for, so I submitted something that seemed more like a synopsis, but anyway, you can see what I did here.  EM Kokie is the expert. I added my normal query which is what I really need help with. http://childrenspublishing.blogspot.com/2010/08/pitch-entry-5-melissa-gill.html

My log-line was a little better, but I used the x meets y format.  I was very deliberate in the choices I made, Watership Down meets Zombieland.  I chose Watership Down, because my story is about the journey of a rabbit who faces dangers and challenges as he grows into an inspiring leader. Unlike Watership Down, my story is humorous. So I chose Zombieland because that's a funny movie, with a lot of physical comedy which equals my book.

The problems with these choices are, Watership Down may not be considered a children's book??? I find this hard to believe because it was one of my favorite books as a child, but then I enjoy it just as much today so maybe I'm wrong. But really in spite of  the difference in humor (and Richard Adams writing skills) I really think Watership Down is a solid choice.

As for Zombieland, of course this is a movie, not a book, and it's definately for adults, but again it has the physical comedy, inspired by zombies.

Another book I thought of was Bunnicula, because many people have made that comparison. So I might go with Watershipdown meets Bunnicula.

This is where all my wonderful bloggin friends come in. Here's a link to my log-line. http://childrenspublishing.blogspot.com/2010/09/pitch-entry-5-melissa-gill.html

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Melissa

Fonetic Friday: Word of the Day

Hey, you know those cool words they make you type when you comment on a blog, the ones that prevent spammers from commenting? If they were real words, what would they mean? See if you can come up with a definition and use it in a sentence.

Today’s word is:Hyptati

HAVE FUN! AND HAPPY FRIDAY?

My definition is: A slang term, familiarized by the residents of the remote island, Beerabonga, to describe the reaction to the local fire water.

That gelloshota (their term for tourist) is so hyptati he can’t get his big white hairy behind off the beach.

What Would Your Character Say/Do Wednesday

I’m always looking for questions to ask my characters; anything to pull them out of their shell and see how they act in foreign territory. I wondered what it would be like if my characters participated in other Middle Grade and Young Adult stories. How would they act in Narnia, or at Hogwarts? It’s interesting to see how your characters act in a completely different setting.

Interview questions for your character based on “Harry Potter.”

1)Make up a spell for your character to cast, what would it do?

2)If you character were to send an owl, whom would they send it to? What would it say?

3)What would you character do if they had an invisibility cloak?

4)Make up a “house” for your character and his/her friends. What would their symbol be? What would their colors be? In what part of Hogwart’s Castle would they live?

5)If your character could have any magical animal as a pet, what would it be and why?

Melissa's Myths for Mondays

Myth # 3

Reading Books About Writing Will Kill Your Creativity

To go along with the notion that real writers don’t need to read books about writing, I was convinced that they would squash my creativity. I’d be filled up with other peoples ideas about how to write, and I’d lose my own way. If I read “On Writing” by Steven King, I’d wind up sounding like a “copy” of him. (Yeah righ, I wish).

Another ridiculous notion that was quickly proved false when I started reading books on craft. What I discovered as I learned more about the craft of writing was a whole new level of creativity.

What new tools have you discovered about craft that have enhanced your creativity?

Fonetic Friday: Word of the Day

Hey, you know those cool words they make you type when you comment on a blog, the ones that prevent spammers from commenting? If they were real words, what would they mean? See if you can come up with a definition and use it in a sentence.

Today’s word is: Sking

HAVE FUN! AND HAPPY FRIDAY?

My definition: A slang word that combines “getting skooled” with a sting”.

Tiger Woods is caught cheating. His wife divorces him and takes him for a mint. “Sking!”

Three Things Thursday

http://iamalivephotos.blogspot.com/2010/09/three-things-thursday.html

Amie at I am Alive wants to know How I Sleep for Three Things Thursday. This is a sore subject for me, because my bed is made of solid granite with railroad spikes protruding from it. Therefore it's very difficult to get comfortable, and a good night's sleep is out of the question.

1) How do I sleep. Answer: However Mitchell Lafayette (see 25lb cat) will let me. I usually start out on my stomach and ML jumps on the backs of my legs and wedges his fat goo gut between my knees. I'm pinned to the bed-of-nails like a bug. When I inevitably have to turn over, he dumps off and winds up in the very middle of my bed. Then I spend the rest of the night trying to work my way around him.

2) I have no idea what I might say at night, because Mitchell never tells me anything. I do wake up frequently to the sound of him snoring, or my mice fighting with each other. Luckily, I've never woken up to Mitchell fighting with the mice, that would be bad.

3) Somehow, despite my discomfort, I do manage to dream. I don't have a lot of nightmares, but I often visit the same places night after night. I've used some of these dreamscapes as settings in my writing.

I was overjoyed to win two very special awards from Tessa Quinn who is not only an awesome blog buddy, but a great writer, and a native of Iceland.  http://tessyquin.blogspot.com/

The Rules for The Versatile Blogger Award:


1)Thank and link back to the person that gave you the award.
2)Share seven things about yourself.
3)Pass the award to fifteen bloggers that you think deserve it.
4)Lastly, contact all of the bloggers that you’ve picked for the award.

One Lovely Blog Award Rules:
1)Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.
2)Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered.
3)Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

Seven Things About Myself:
1) I live in the great state of Kansas, outside of Kansas City, MO. It's almost as cool as living in Iceland, but not quite. (Especially when it's 100 degrees with 100 percent humidity.)
2) I'm very sarcastic. (Maybe you already picked up on that though.)
3) I am a docent at the KC Zoo. I volunteer as part of the Education Department to educate zoo guests about the animals that we are privileged to care for.
4) I have two cats (Margaret and Mitchell) and two mice (Laura and Louisa). I name all of my pets after my favorite authors. (I had to give Mitchell a middle name because his behavior is so bad, I needed two names to really yell at him in an impactful way. His middle name is Lafayette after my Grandfather.)
5) I have three nieces and one nephew. I see them every weekend, and love them like crazy.
6) I knit for fun and relaxation, and every year I attempt to make 50 pairs of slippers which I donate to my church. The slippers are given to nursing home patients as Christmas gifts.
7) I sponsor two sisters in Uganda whose parents died of AIDS. They are like daughters to me, and I hope to go to Uganda sometime in the next year to visit them.
Here are the people I'm passing the awards on to:
http://iamalivephotos.blogspot.com/
http://www.mbwcreates.com/
http://rosetranspose.blogspot.com/
http://sarahblackstock.blogspot.com/
http://jodyhedlund.blogspot.com/
http://lyndaryoung.blogspot.com/
http://greyplaces.blogspot.com/
http://kzupancic.blogspot.com/
http://hemingwayheroine.blogspot.com/
http://claudiadelbalso.blogspot.com/
http://cazwilliams.blogspot.com/
http://lunathetypewriter.blogspot.com/
http://louderthannoise.blogspot.com/
http://mywritingandresearchnotebook.blogspot.com/
http://thebookshelfmuse.blogspot.com/
 
You have probably all figured out how "technology challenged" I am, so I hope this works out they way I wanted it to. Anyway, Thanks  again Tessa, and Thanks to all the wonderful bloggers out there who make everyday a new creative experience.
 
Melissa
 

What Would Your Character Say/Do Wednesday:

I’m always looking for questions to ask my characters; anything to pull them out of their shell and see how they act in foreign territory. I wondered what it would be like if my characters participated in other Middle Grade and Young Adult stories. How would they act in Narnia, or at Hogwarts? It’s interesting to see how your characters act in a completely different setting.

Interview questions for your character based on “Twilight.”

1)If your character became immortal, how would they spend the next millennium?

2)How would your character feel about drinking blood for sustenance?

3)Who would your character want to “change” if he/she were a vampire?

4)What would your character have to give up to become a vampire?

5)Does your character believe in being “imprinted” on someone, and if so whom are they imprinted on?