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Time Machine!

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Everyone always bemoans the loss of creativity in schools, forced out in favor of standardized testing.  In an attempt to combat that, for their end-of-term final project my students (age 16-19) did a group art project.  I wanted them to make a life-size papier maché giraffe, but they decided on a time machine instead.  And this is the result, made using only materials in our classroom that day – styrofoam trays, staples, masking tape, unbent paper clips, and a couple popsicle sticks (to make the front panel – the “door” – flip up so you can get in).  And, of course, a calculator for punching in the year to which you want to travel.

The best part, however (aside from now having my own classroom time machine), is that they made this as a group.  I gave them a task, and my eleven students came together and made this in 1.5 hours.  They used a trial-and-error process to assemble it, and if someone had an idea they tried it, rather than shooting it down.  They organically took turns giving directions and keeping each other on task.

I am so proud of all of them.

Book Review: The Glass Man by Jocelyn Adams

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I’m a member of a writing workshop website with a ton of talented people, and proof of that can be found in a novel written by one of them:  The Glass Man by Jocelyn Adams.

This book, a paranormal romance, is nearly perfect.  Lila Shaw is running through a post-apocalyptic world (which is never really explained), chased by someone she refers to as the Glass Man.  She stumbles upon a Pennsylvania farm where she meets and falls for Liam.  Then in a twist she finds out she’s fae, and he’s fae, and so is the Glass Man, and she has to save them all, and humanity as well.  This has all the elements needed for a great paranormal romance novel – steamy romance between two attractive people, fairies, pure evil villians, dark twists that you don’t really expect (well, I didn’t), and a pace that leaves you unable to put the book down even though you know everything will work out in the end.

So why just nearly perfect, if it’s so great?  (And it really was a good book – just not really my type of book.  I still highly recommend you read it.)

The characters were kinda flat for me.  Parthalan (the Glass Man) is evil and that’s it.  Pure evil.  No redeeming qualities whatsoever, unless you count being hot a good thing.  And because he was simply evil, there was no depth to him.  No guessing about the ending, because in books like this, good always wins.

Lila was flat too.  She was bad-ass to the point of being obnoxious at times.  Yes, I know that uber-strong female characters are all the rage, but there’s a difference between being strong and standing up for yourself, and mouthing off just because you can.  A lot of times, Lila crossed the line.

And finally, a big thing for me – why does Lila fall for Liam?  Well, because he’s the main love interest – duh.  Because they’re both hot – duh.  For me, this especially is what kept this book from being perfect.  Hot Girl meets Hot Guy.  Hot Girl and Hot Guy feel chemistry but argue a lot.  Hot Girl and Hot Guy hook up.  Hot Guy does something to anger Hot Girl, so she hates him.  But she still wants him.  Hot Girl and Hot Guy fight.  Hot Girl and Hot Guy hook up again.  Hot Girl and Hot Guy decide that because of the physical attraction, they love each other and have to spend eternity together.

I realize that romance readers aren’t looking for realism, but I would’ve liked more depth to Lila and Liam.  But I guess since this is only Book 1, we’ll see that later in the series.

A series I’ll keep reading.  This is definitely better than a lot of other commercially published stuff I’ve read.

Six Sentence Sunday – 10/9/11

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Another Lone Wolf excerpt.  Kasey and Andrew again, in a scene my beta readers forced me to write, for which I’m glad – the story needed it.

“Andrew,” I whispered, “I–”

He cupped my face with his hand and kissed me, silencing me as his tongue brushed against mine.  His other hand found the small of my back and pushed my body towards his.

“Andrew,” I tried again.

“Don’t talk,” he murmured between kisses, “and don’t think.  Just feel.”

Post a link to your six sentences blog entry, or join the fun at the Six Sentence Sunday website. 

Unreliable narrators

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There’s a concept in stories, the unreliable narrator, where the main character is so convinced of something that his beliefs color his every word and thought and action, even though we the readers know otherwise (Humbert Humbert in Lolita is a great example of this).  Or sometimes, we the readers don’t know it until an outside event opens our eyes.

It’s not that the characters are lying, necessarily.  Teenagers always think they’re persecuted and misunderstood, but most people realize the melodramatics are overblown by the time they reach 25-30.  In my Lone Wolf novel, the main character Andrew sees himself as a martyr, as always doing the right thing and being punished for it.  The reader, I think, can see right through it, but that doesn’t make him less of a person.  The female MC, Kasey, is also a bit of an unreliable narrator, although with her it’s more subtle.

It can be more blatent.  One of my students told me today that he went by an Army recruitment office yesterday, and that if he signs up (he’ll be 18 in a few months) they’ll pay to send him to Missouri for training.  Yesterday he had a story about missing a job interview at McDonald’s.  He went by and talked to a major factory employer who offered him a job.  His uncle is a millionaire.  The list goes on.  We both know that he’s exaggerating or outright lying, but it’s who he is – he wants to impress everyone, so he makes up stories.

A friend of mine is the same.  He tells outrageous stories that I know didn’t happen.  But he’s told them so many times, to so many people, that he now believes they’re true.  To him, now, they did happen.

Our perceptions color so much of how we experience life, how we process our thoughts.  I think the key to building great characters is to give them that lens that colors their world, and then let the readers decide if their POV is justified.

PS: My muse went AWOL last night.  I think I know why and I’m hoping it’s just temporary (it usually is), but if not, if you see my muse tell ’em to come back.  I’m a little directionless without it and with NaNoWriMo starting in a few weeks, I need all the help I can get.  Stupid fickle inspiration.

Getting your readers’ attention

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I freely admit that as a teacher, I don’t always read my kids’ papers that closely, especially late work.  I skim it to make sure it’s done, then slap a grade on it and move on.

Today I came across this:

12.  List four tips for students who want to demonstrate leadership qualities.
Try your hardest, dont get in tourble, don’t smoke crack, and keep your head up.

While technically true that yes, good leaders shouldn’t smoke crack, it’s definitely not an answer from their class notes.  But it made me pay attention, and I read the rest of the paper very closely looking for more unorthodox answers.

So what’s the point of this, and what does it have to do with writing?

When someone’s reading a novel, there might be parts they skip over – long paragraphs of descriptions, fight scenes, or mundane dialogue.  But as writers, we want readers to devour our every word.  So throw in a bit of the unexpected, not just as words in a paragraph but as plot twists.  As character quirks.  Give your readers a reason to pay close attention to your story, rather than viewing it as a mindless throw away story.

What are some unexpected things you like in stories, either from the reader’s or writer’s perspective?

Six Sentence Sunday – 10-2-11

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I’m elbow deep in edits of it right now, so let’s go for another Lone Wolf excerpt from a scene with Andrew and Kasey.

“You don’t need me, Kasey, and you never did.”

“Why do you keep saying that to me?  Do you think if you say it enough, it’ll make it true?  If you say it enough, do you think it’ll make me give up on you?  Because if it were possible to let go of you, I would’ve done it months ago.  No matter how hard I try to forget about you, to not think about you, I always have this small voice whispering to me to have faith that you’ll come back to me.” 

Post a link to your six sentences blog entry, or play along at the Six Sentence Sunday website.

New Facebook fan page

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After months of trying to convince Facebook that I am not, in fact, the washed-up Missouri politician Ed Martin, and months of getting an automated response that they’d look into it, I decided, screw it; I’ll make a real author’s page that I don’t have to share with some guy who can’t even win a seat in the state legislature.

So, if you’re a fan on Facebook, please go to my new page and hit like. If you’re not a fan yet, well, now’s your chance to show your love.

Thanks!

The Lone Wolf Soundtrack

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I know I’m getting ahead of myself, seeing as my novel is still being edited and hasn’t even been picked up by an agent, let alone sold the movie rights (although Alexander Skarsgard, you should probably keep your schedule open just in case).  But that doesn’t keep me from thinking what I’d put in that soundtrack (that I’m well aware I’ll have no control over.  Shut up and let me dream).

The Connell’s “74-75” would play early on, as Kasey and David are preparing to move.  (As a side note, these guys are from the Triangle of North Carolina.  Even though I don’t live there anymore, it’s nice to know that local guys make it big.)

Autovein’s “Whisper” would pop up as Kasey and Andrew interact at McKay’s, first as they get to know each other and then later when he helps her with her terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

José Gonzales’ “Heartbeats” would be played when Andrew is 17, at the end of that chapter/scene.

Placebo’s “Protège-Moi” would be played in two spots – where Andrew pulls over Kasey, and then later that night when she calms his nightmares.

Bits of Naked’s “What About You” would get thrown in for several Andrew chapters, probably the PTSD ones.

For the last chapter, in the hospital, “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen.  I heard a Spanish version in a movie recently and really liked it, but really the song is always beautiful.

And of course, Kathleen Edward’s “The Lone Wolf” would play as the credits roll. 

What about you?  Do your stories and novels have soundtracks?

Six Sentence Sunday – 9-25-11

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I’m not doing so well with these, am I.

“Where do we stand, you and me?” I asked, heart pounding, hoping he didn’t notice how nervous I was to hear his response. “I annoy you a lot, I know, and you ignore me half the time. Should I just stop trying?”

“Trying to what?” he asked, looking down at me again. “What is it you want?”

What did I want?

Kasey and Andrew in a scene halfway through The Lone Wolf.

Post a link to your six sentences blog entry, or play along at the Six Sentence Sunday website.

Actions vs. words

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If you’re a Netflix customer, then you received an email today from the company’s CEO, Reed Hastings.  He started out by apologizing for how they’ve handled the pricing issues recently and concluded with,

“Actions speak louder than words. But words help people to understand actions.”

Agree with the email’s message and the new Qwikster/Netflix companies or not, but you have to agree that’s a great quote.

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