Books on Writing

While this feels some what ironic, there are a fair number of books available on writing. They range in topics from general to genre specific to focusing on one element of writing. Each has it's useful side and a negative one.

Why buy books on writing? While, writing books will never replace the actual act of writing when it comes to a writer's improvement and style, there is a use for the books. The books that focus on one single element of writing are ones that can be useful. There are areas where a writer has strength and an area where they have a weakness. The books can help the areas of weakness and give some items to consider while attempting the techniques. Genre books are useful for getting to know the set factors that are expected in that genre. Most of the genres have some similarities but they also have differences to consider.

Here are a few books on writing to consider.

General fiction writing: Your First Novel by Ann Rittenberg and Laura Whitcomb

This book is divided into two sections, Writing Your Novel and Publishing Your Novel. Both focus on the general aspects of first getting a novel written and then published. While it is a useful book for general information, there aren't enough pages to go into details on the different aspects of writing, along with genres, etc. There is still a ton of information distilled into one book.


Plots: 20 Master Plots and how to build them by Ronald B. Tobias

This book is about exactly what the title says. There are 20 plots presented in the book and it discusses how those plots are built to create different stories. What I like is that the book provides 20 instead of the 6 or so that most claim exist. It does go into enough detail on each plot. However, for those of us that get plenty of book ideas there isn't as much of a need to read on what counts as a plot.


Characters and Viewpoint: Characters, Emotion & Viewpoint by Nancy Kress

As the title suggests, this book focuses on the characters of the novel, how to develop the right main character, what viewpoint to use and how to invoke emotion for said characters. One thing this book does, like many writing books, is that it provides exercises for the writer to attempt. The exercises are nice because it gives the writer a way to develop the skill beyond reading the words on the pages.


Children's Books: The Everything Guide To Writing Children's Books by Lesley Bolton

This is a general books version of a genre topic as the book covers everything from picture books to early readers and beyond. Part of the book is on the writing of the books but the other part is for the publishing/business side. It focuses on making the writing into a career but while it's a big book it has the same problems the generalized fiction writing books have.


Romance: On Writing Romance by Leigh Michaels

I got this book for Christmas. It's interesting but has its flaws. The first section talks about the overall genre and how different publishers have come to be big names like that of Harlequin. Then it goes on to talk about the different elements expected from those writing in the genre. The information works for general romance but it has limited information for those who write on the outskirts of the genre.



Problem of books on writing is that they can get repetitive. You don't want to buy too many because many of them will say the same thing, just in a different way. This is the same for all writing books, however. At some point there isn't anything new to learn on the particular topic.

The tone of the book is important and some will reach to you more than others. Also, the examples presented are based upon what the writer of the book knows, and may often be books you've never read or even heard of. That can be okay but doesn't make the understanding of the topic any easier.

Remember to take what is said in all writing books with a grain of salt. You don't have to do everything the books say to do because there aren't many hard rules in writing. If you find the book says something you don't agree with, that's okay. It's just one book. And you can always break the rules. That is part of the fun in writing.

Almost Kiss

This is from a story line that I started a long time ago. Was going to use it for writing a movie script during script frenzy but never got around to that. In the story, the two main characters are pretending to date, and be gay, in hopes of winning back or just winning in the first place the girls they like. This is a rough draft, so not really looking to fix any errors.

Here is the scene:

The moment Jason was waiting for had almost occurred. He watched Marc in the corner of his eye while pretending to focus on the movie. They had been watching any gay movie they could sneak into his parents' house in order to learn how to act in order to fool people. It would have been an impossible task to pretend being a couple if they had just decided to wing it. The movies were helping, so far, but they hadn't come across any kissing or sex scenes yet. But one was coming.

"Did we decide to have popcorn, or no?" Marc searched the floor before returning his attention to the television.

Then it happened. Music filled the air as the to male characters in the movie pushed together in a long, tongue filled kiss. It didn't end there as they moved to the bed, taking the scene from hot to steaming in a matter of seconds. As Jason suspected, Marc looked away and didn't watch the makeout session that the movie displayed. His face turned bright red from embarrassment.

"We might have a problem," Jason admitted, once the scene had changed.

"What?" Marc turned to look at him. He didn't look too concerned.

Taking a deep breath, he explained. "Tricking my ex will be easy. All I have to do is tell her and she'll believe me. But it's going to be hard to convince the gay group that we're a couple."

"That makes sense, I guess." Marc nibbled on his thumb, as he often did when thinking. "What are we going to do?"

"We might have to..." Jason stammered at the end, "kiss."

The comment received an immediate response. "No way!"

He decided to take a different approach. Pulling his knee up to his chest, he wrapped his arms around it before focusing on Marc. "Have you ever kissed a girl? Or anyone for that matter?"

"Of course!" Marc sounded offended, but also seemed to overdue it as his voice pitched up in his hurry to speak. "I've kissed a couple of girls, in fact."

"Okay." He didn't believe him but wasn't going to question it. "How about we look at this in a different way. Actors kiss all the time and it means nothing."

"I'm not an actor."

Sighing, Jason wasn't ready to give up. He'd put too much into their lie to back down now. "I bet a kiss would convince Tracy. And she seems like the type who enjoys watching two guys kiss."

"What makes you say that?" Marc's attention was caught and he sounded interested in the idea at last.

"She is the president of the club."

"Fine," Marc gave in. "How do we get through this?"

Getting ready for an uncomfortable kiss, Jason stood up. He pulled Marc up from his sitting position on the floor. They stood, facing each other. Jason tried to step in closer but Marc moved backwards away from him.

"Marc, this isn't easy for me either." He grabbed Marc by the wrist and pulled him closer again. "Okay. How about we just close our eyes and go for it. No tongue or anything."

Marc nodded in agreement. "Okay. Let's get this over with."

Closing his eyes, Jason leaned in. He had a good several inches on Marc in height, so he tried to aim down a little. It seemed to take forever, but at last he felt something with his lips but it wasn't what he expected. An almost moist sensation occurred as he felt part of Marc pressing against his jaw line. He backed up and opened his eyes.

Wiping his eyelid, Marc was the first to react. "What the hell?"

"I had my eyes closed." He tried to defend himself.

"So did I."

They both burst out laughing.

2010

This post is going to be my personal goals for the new year. There will be a post soon that discusses writing how to books and my thoughts.

For me, writing goals are very important. Some people come up with new years resolutions: I do goals. Now it is true that sometimes I don't make my goals but all I have to do when I fail is adjust the goal. I work better with deadlines. I could do the usual daily word count goal but I never do well with that. However, I am liking the idea behind chapter goals.

These are the goals developed for a writing group on writing.com:

Yearly Goal: Rewrite ED and have one other novel first draft done at least

Six-Month Goal: Work on F, ED, BP and AAE

Three-Month goal: Work on F, ED, BP and AAE

Weekly Goal: write/rewrite one chapter at least

ED is a teen novel that only has a little over 23,000 words in the first draft. I started it in 2007 during nanowrimo but took many breaks.

F is a novel about an angel and a demon. It is my two main character project, following both as they fall in love.

BP is a more formal style novel that I'm struggling with because it deals with beings that are similar to vampires but I refuse to call them that. It is my only book right now with a female main character.

AAE is my attempt at a mystery. Follows a young, gay detective on his first high profile case.

Aside from this I have other goals like everyone else. Get a job, which has been my goal for the last year. Get into a nursing program. Move out of my mom's house (again) and on my own. Find someone who wants to be with me in hopes of settling down. And lose weight.

So many goals but I am optimistic for the new year. 2010 will be great, because I will make it be!

no kiss blogfest, 1-02-10

http://frankiediane.blogspot.com/2009/12/no-kiss-blogfest-is-coming.html

This sounds fun and so I'm gonna take part.

"We'll be posting scenes from our WIPs, favorite books, movies, and tv shows that show the almost kiss-- the rising, crushing, excruciating, longing, tension that comes from when two characters get oh-so-close to kissing that you can just feel it....and then...they don't!" - from frankiediane's blog.

Expect my almost kiss to be between two males, because I'm cool like that.

Go to the link and take part!

Too Perfect?

Had a review of the first 6 chapters of my 2008 nanowrimo novel on writing.com today. It was a surprise because books don't often get reviews and they read that far even though they aren't a fan of gay erotica. One comment caught my attention. The person said that the dialogue on it was too perfect and that people don't talk like that.

Granted, the first draft does have some problems. I mean, it is a first draft. Most the contractions were kept as separate words because of the goal. Trying to write 50,000 words in one month is tough and every word counts. However, all of those chapters have received a minor edit because they have been critiqued by a writing group. So, they are still too perfect?

I have had a comment on perfect language one other time on a different novel. For Blood Prophesy I am using a more formal language in the writing. One critic actually thought English wasn't my first language because it was too perfect.

It is an odd predicament. I can't imagine it is common that people would find the writing to be too perfect in rough drafts. Yet here I am, with too perfect dialogue and language in two different novels.

Word Count versus Chapters

I was going to do a wonderful blog about the greatness that is National Novel Writing Month but that never happened. Then again, I was going to write 100,000 words in November and that didn't happen either. So, influenced by the word count goals that are common in this month, I am instead going to talk about the difference of having a word count goal or having a chapter goal when writing.

Word Count Goals

This goal is often daily, but can also be a weekly, monthly or even a yearly goal.

The point of this goal is to pick a target number of words that the writer wants to have written in the time frame chosen. The common word count goal is to write 1,000 words a day. During the month of November, those participating in nanowrimo have the goal of 50,000 words in that month and that equates to 1667 words per day.

I have often tried to get a certain number of words per month on projects, but I'm beginning to think I should try a different approach.

Chapter Goals

This goal is similar to word counts in timeframe, but the difference is the number of words written doesn't matter. The goal is to write a certain number of chapters in a given project/book.

I am going to try this starting in December.

First Real Con Experience

I attended the Sirens Conference in Vail Colorado, October 1st-4th. It was fantastic.

http://www.sirensconference.org/

The Keynote Authors were Tamora Pierce, Sherwood Smith and Kristin Cashore. All women writers of the fantasy genre that focus on strong female main characters. Cashore is a newer writer of the three, having her second book published this month. All of the authors gave talks. Tamora Pierce did her talk the first night, Smith the second day during lunch and Cashore the third day during lunch. All were fascinating. During one rountable discussion on the word "feminine", Tamora Pierce sat beside me.

There were other authors at the convention as well. Anne Osterlund was there, has published a few books, and she signed her book for me as well. I talked a bit with her during the convention. Also, I had many discussions with Valerie Estelle Frankel, who wrote a couple of Harry Potter parodies and is getting a nonfiction book published.

Overall. The whole experience was amazing. I would recommend going to small conventions if the opportunity arises. As a writer, there is always something you can take out of any conventions.