Fiction Scribe

I say … and you think … ?

1. Flute:
2. Eyes:
3. Cigarette:
4. Alabama:
5. Isis:
6. Purple:
7. Moose:
8. Santa:
9. Heart:
10. Candle:

Idea courtesy of Luna Nina

Last week, I challenged you to write a humorous short story. Humor writers who can actually write humor well is, I believe, a rare talent. In a world of most sitcoms being:

1. A character lies.
2. A character spends time trying to cover up the lie.
3. The character is found out and has to face the consequences.

it’s no wonder we consider it a rare talent. I’m not saying humor writers aren’t out there, but good ones are a rare find indeed.

This week, you challenge is…to relax.

Yes, you read that right.

As you read this, I’m away at Conflux 4 and having a lovely time. Because I’m so happy about getting such a lovely opportunity, you get the week off to write as much as you like, as little as you like, and about whatever you like.

Enjoy yourself, relax, and go out to do things you love and what inspires you.

Hello and welcome to Banned Books Week! From September 29th to October 6th, the American Library Association is putting on Banned Books Week. You can participate, too, by going to the site, reading up on what BBW is all about, and even purchasing your own BBW stuff.

You can also go to the Office for Intellectual Freedom and find out ways you can celebrate BBW.

Here’s a bit of an introduction to BBW: (more…)

Happy Friday!

Today I have a lovely interview for you from man of many trades, Nick Oliva. The trade that brings him here to Fiction Scribe, is of course, writer. He’s written a novel that encompasses much of a lifetime called Only Moments.

Hello and welcome to Fiction Scribe. Tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Nick Oliva (O-lee-va’) and I have been a musician, composer, photographer, an audio engineer, an Entertainment Director and Technical Director for over twenty-five years and am a successful self-made money manager. I also have just opened an upscale restaurant for my brother Anthony called “Wyatt’s” in Henderson, Nevada. I live in what is known as Mount Charleston, in the mountains outside of Las Vegas.

How did you get into writing? Did you always want to be a writer?

I started in grade school writing for the school newspaper. I have always written poetry and songs, but this is my first novel. I have no formal training, but my homeroom nun who had a Master Degree in English, taught me by the stick and did a great job way back then. We had her from the sixth to the eighth grade so her influence on me on learning English and reading skills was great. We took a test in the eighth grade and I had first year and second year college level reading, vocabulary, and comprehension skills. Now you may think I’m crazy, but I think the profession finds you. I would have never thought that I would be doing the things I’m doing.

In your book, you shift from a time in the near future, back to the 1970s. Did your idea always involve jumping in time, or is it something that came to you later?

In “Only Moments” I started with the middle section as I wanted to record the experiences I had for posterity and it indeed was an experience that changed my life and outlook on the world at a very young age of 16. Then without knowing where I was going, I realized that I had to create a climax in the future for my characters and began the futuristic conclusion and then went back and wrote the beginning that leads to middle.

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Hi everyone! I know it’s Thursday, but I have a bonus interview for you this week.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, the author of a wonderful diary-style book called The Truth: I’m Ten, I’m Smart and I Know Everything. Please join me in welcoming her to Fiction Scribe, and I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I did.

Hello and welcome to Fiction Scribe. Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m a positive psychologist with 25 years on clinical experience. I’m in private practice with my husband in New Jersey. I was a school psychologist for a number of years and also taught first and second grades. I’m passionate about my work and teaching women and girls how to live happier lives. For your readers who have never read much on positive psychology I offer a free e-paper I wrote, THE SEVEN GATEWAYS TO HAPPINESS by going to my site Enchanted Self on the front page.

How did you get into writing? Did you always want to be a writer?

I guess in some ways I did always want to be a writer. I started keeping a diary, pretty faithfully, actually I was three days behind, from the time I was nine.

You’re currently on virtual tour for your book “The Truth: I’m Ten, I’m Smart and I Know Everything”. What a title. How did you come up with it?

The Girl, who starts out as ten, in the book actually led me to the title. Like the little prince in The Little Prince, she quickly began to show me that she had an acute understanding of right and wrong, having fun, treasuring day to day life and so much more.

Tell us a little about the book.

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Thirteen Things I’m Looking Forward to at Conflux

1. Meeting up with Gillian again!
2. Talking with other authors
3. Talking with other authors who seem to love chocolate
4. Making new friends
5. Possibly getting more local (Australian) authors for interviews
6. Being present at a book launch
7. Talking to other people in different parts of the writing business
8. Promoting Fiction Scribe
9. Offering to promote their books, tours, events, companies, contests
10. Wearing my 451Press press badge
11. Traveling to Canberra (not technically AT Conflux, but…)
12. My first writers conference experience
13. Workshops

Hello everyone, and welcome back to the Fiction Scribe discussion of Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird. Last week I got a pleasant surprise with finding that, even though I am a dialogue-focused writer, I thoroughly enjoyed the chapter “Set Design”.

This week we will be discussing three sections: “False Starts,” “Plot Treatment,” and “How Do You Know When You’re Done”. I’ll try not to babble on too much for each of them.

This chapter didn’t quite go the way I thought it would go, but it was good nonetheless. Once again, Lamott presents easily understood metaphors to help us to realize what getting to know our characters is all about. I’ve heard this advice before - take everything away from your character and see who is left - but this was presented in a better way.

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The Bird by Bird book discussion will be continuing tomorrow, don’t forget!

Remember to have your copy of Bird by Bird and have read “False Starts”, “Plot Treatment”, and “How Do You Know When You’re Done?”.

Thank you to all who participate. Feel free to jump in at any time on the discussions.

How does this happen? Why do we feel the need to make up words that mean exactly the same thing as other words?

Irregardless = Regardless

Regardless = Irregardless

Why do we need them both? Why do people insist on saying “irregardless”?

I have no idea. I’m busy. We’re all busy. The last thing we need is people making up words that are the same as other words simply to sound different from everyone else?

Well, for those of you who didn’t know - just say ‘regardless’. That’s all you need and all you’ve ever needed.

Bah.

Perhaps these images are a bit extreme for what I’m about to talk about, but I’m pissed off and I’m going to use them anyway.

The images I’m using are from a time that, unless you were alive during it, we don’t often think about. A time of war, prejudice, and book burnings. But since then, we’ve come past that. We still deal with most of the same problems but at least we’re not still burning books, right?

Wrong.

Fiction Scribe readers, I am thoroughly disgusted at book destruction. Modern day book destruction. Not last year. Not even last month.

Book destruction for various reasons is still happening, and now it has touched me directly.

When I was younger, I found the book to the left: The Writers Complete Fantasy Reference: An Indispensable Compendium of Myth and Magic

I saved up and bought it. While I didn’t find it “indispensable”, I did find it a good resource in checking up on facts on basic fantasy. It says “myth and magic,” but it talks about traditional fantasy cultures, races, traditional dress and costumes, and much more. It was lovely for me, who, at the time, didn’t have a clue about medieval clothing.

I am currently not in possession of the majority of my books, which includes that book.

Or rather, used to include.

I received a letter listing what was left of my “inventory”. When it came to the list of the books, there was my fantasy reference guide right on top with a cheery little note on the side saying - “I destroyed this one. There’s demonology stuff in this and I can’t contribute to it.”

The people holding my books are strongly religious, which I have no problem with until they start to destroy my books because they happens to have “magic” or something similar in the title.

It’s a fantasy writer’s reference guide. It does not push any religion, worship, rituals, or anything else. Fantasy. Is there anything else I can do with the font to make that more clear?

Honestly, I don’t know what makes me more angry - that someone destroyed my property or that book destruction is still happening today.

It’s disgusting, and I am fuming. Absolutely. Fuming.

I thought we were in a better world than this.

I say … and you think … ?

1. Singles ::
2. Blaze ::
3. Sandwich ::
4. Outside ::
5. Gooey ::
6. Industry ::
7. Exclusive ::
8. Warranty ::
9. Magical ::
10. Heels ::

Courtesy of Luna Nina

Courtesy of Inky Girl

Hello and welcome to this week’s weekly writing challenge. As you may have noticed, it’s Saturday, not Sunday. I’ve been meaning to make the change for a while, and now I finally remembered. (That’s pretty good for less-than-a-week-to-Conflux brain.)

Last week I challenged you to write at least a paragraph from one or more of your characters’ perspectives. I thought I’d share one of the paragraphs I wrote for a character of mine called Mabel from a children’s story. Keep in mind I’m just getting to know her, so this might be a bit…rough.

Talk about me? Well… My name is Mabel. I come from a large family – I’m the eldest. I work for the four princes of Lorne. I do maid things as well as whatever else the princes request. I have a good life.

I don’t want much more out of life. As long as everyone is happy, then things are good. I’m good friends with Prince Edo. I care a lot about him. I wish he could be happy with me, but I’d never tell him that. His brothers, the twins, know. The twins are quite clever. Edo is as well, but he’s so enamoured with Helene that…I’d rather not talk about it.

That’s your basic introduction paragraph. From there you should get to know your characters more by having them delve into their relationships. Ask them about what they want out of life and for the world, even. You’ll find your character turning into a pessimist, optimist, coward, aggressor…

This week’s challenge may sound simple, but it’s a bit more complicated than it may at first seem. I challenge you to write a humorous short story (or longer if you like). Not a lot of people can write good humour, so it’s definitely a trait worth cultivating.

You pick the setting, the characters, and the plot. As long as it’s humorous, it works.

For other challenges, check out past writing challenges.

Hello everyone. This week I had the pleasure of interviewing historical romance novelist Hazel Statham.

Hello and welcome to Fiction Scribe. Tell us a little about yourself.

I live in Staffordshire, England and have just ‘officially’ retired. I have been married to my husband since 1969 and have a daughter and a beautiful five-year-old grandson. Apart from writing, my other ruling passion is animals and until recently I was the treasurer of an organization that raised money for animal charities. I write mainly in the Regency and Georgian eras but occasionally stray into Medieval times.

How did you get into creative writing? Did you always want to be an author?
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Found at M.G. Braden

1. I’m not here to be your fan, but I will be your first fan the day your story is published. I am here to see the flaws in your submitted work. It’s my job. Author, try to understand this when you get back your first revision, your second, or any of them. Flaws hurt and create upset, but it’s not about hurting and upsetting you. It’s about fixing a story. If I’m honest, if I’m any good at my job, you’re going to hear about the flaws in your story. There’s no getting around this.I’ll try saying things as politely as I can, but I must say the truth. Author, try to remember blunt does not mean I want to hurt your feelings. Blunt merely means I’m working as hard as I can while being honest about what I see. I will not waste time writing advice full of apologies for doing so. Expect honesty from me. Expect directness. I do not go out of my way to attack you, the human being, when I make a request, say a character isn’t sympathetic, give you a suggestion, tell you more than once to fix the same flaw. This is about getting a story edited and that is all.

2. My tools of the trade are words and grammar. Definitions, usage, punctuation, POV. I require knowledge of all these things and a skill for seeing the difference between a style choice and bad writing. Author: I will do my best to explain why something is bad writing. Please listen. I’m not here to change your style, but if I point something out, calmly look at your manuscript again and check for what I discussed. What if I’m right? You’re the one who must live with the end results of your revisions. The editing process, a real editing process, can result in growth for an author. Try to welcome it.

3. Author, your tools of the trade are words and grammar. Definitions, usage, punctuation, POV. I expect you to use these properly. If I discover you require relearning the rules for any of them, I’m going to say so. I will insist that you learn to use them properly. Only when you truly understand the rules can you work the tools of your trade in a manner that defies the rules. When you reach that point, I will smile as I read your work, because I will admire that you arrived at that pinnacle.

4. Revision work is not my work. (more…)