It seems only yesterday that the US and North Korea couldn’t play nice together, but today here I am watching the NY Philharmonic playing in Korea on PBS. What a grand turn of events! You know I’m all for everybody getting along and acting like grown ups, so I couldn’t be happier.
Take that, American Idol! (or should I just say, Simon?)
No that’s not some alien code. It’s a reminder to me that it’s been exactly a year since my last cigarette. No more smoking for me–ever. I finally believe that now. I don’t need any more cancer sticks, thank you.
What convinced me of this was being able to finish my first writing project since giving up the demon weed (tobacco, what did you think I meant?). Now I am writing up a storm to make up for lost time.
Oh, to breathe those non-smoke-filled sighs of relief. Thank you Universe for all your help.
Now back to work–lol
I’m not going to discuss the Democratic end of the drowning pool, since the contest between Hillary and Barack I find simultaneously heartwarming and the most depressing bit of business I’ve seen in a long time. I was thinking of the Republican side, as in what is Mike Huckabee’s problem? Long after common sense says he can’t win, there he is. My take on it is that Huckabee looks at McCain’s age and figures if he can be enough of a pain in the butt he can give the old guy a heart attack and since he never withdrew like Romney, guess who’s the candidate? Talk about a spoiler!
Maybe not. Maybe that’s a political thriller I’d like to read. But here’s the point I’ve really been pondering–it’s obvious what’s in it for Huckabee for him to stay in the race, but what about McCain? Why doesn’t he get someone in the party to thump Huckabee on his hard head and tell him to sit down?
That’s what I pondered (okay, thought about it once or twice) until I was watching the political shows this Sunday morning. I think it was on the McLaughlin group where someone posited that McCain needs Huckabee to stick around to keep his name in the newspapers the same way Clinton and Obama act to generate press for themselves and each other.
I can buy that. As an author I can appreciate the use of a good foil. Using one character to illuminate the character of another is as pervasive as having a title. However, how we make use of that foil can either enhance or detract from the story.
Most often in romance the foil is the best buddy, who can generally be more outrageous, outspoken or otherwise unsuitable to be the protagonist of that particular story (though they may come back somewhat sanitized in a story of their own). Foils work best when they are fully formed characters in their own right, or at least fully formed in the aspect that is being compared. Think of Hamlet and Laertes. Laertes is the obedient son and dutiful brother, while Hamlet stumbles around, unable to figure out if and it what way to avenge his own father. (Incidentally, if you haven’t seen the Gilligan’s Island Hamlet-a-go-go interpretation, it’s a must-see.)
Come to think of it, mysteries and other genre fiction works basically the same way, as well. Main characters are usually more conventional than their foils. Think Spenser and Hawk or Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. That’s just off the top of my head. There are probably better examples if I really think about it.
One thing is certain in my mind, especially if you are creating a series in which the same characters will appear more than once, you really need to do some analysis of not only each character but how they will relate together, what their relationship is, how it started, what each of them really wants from one another, etc. if you want that pairing to be dynamic and not fall flat. Just one more thing to think about while plotting and planning a novel. Oy!
This one is for the educator in me. I saw this on one of my lists and thought I’d share.
School Days: 1957 vs. 2007
1957 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack’s
shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to
show Jack.
2007 - School goes into lock down. FBI called. Jack
hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun
again. Counselors called in for traumatized
students and teachers.
Scenario : Gary and Mark get into a fist fight after
school.
1957 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Gary and Mark
shake hands and end up buddies.
2007 - Police called. SWAT team arrives, arrests
Gary and Mark. Charges them with assault. Both
expelled even though Gary started it.
Scenario : Jeffrey won’t be still in class, disrupts
other students.
1957 - Jeffrey sent to office and given a good paddling
by the Principal. Returns to class, sits still and does
not disrupt class again.
2007 - Jeffrey given huge doses of Ritalin. Becomes
a zombie. Tested for ADD. School gets extra money
from state because Jeffrey has a disability.
Scenario : Billy breaks a window in his neighbor’s
car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt.
1957 - Billy apologizes to the neighbor and take
a summer job to pay for the window. He also never
breaks any windows, car or otherwise, again.
2007 - Police called, Dad is arrested for child abuse.
Mother divorces Dad. Billy undergoes years of therapy.
Scenario : Harry gets a headache and takes some
aspirin to school .
1957 - Harry shares aspirin with Principal out on the
smoking dock.
2007 - Police called, Harry expelled from school for
drug violations. Car searched for drugs and weapons.
Scenario : Jose fails high school English.
1957 - Jose goes to summer school, passes English,
goes to college.
2007 - Jose’s cause is taken up by state. Newspaper
articles appear nationally explaining that teaching
English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU
files class action lawsuit against state school system
and Jose’s English teacher. English banned from core
curriculum. Jose given diploma anyway but ends up
mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak
English.
Scenario : Richie takes apart leftover firecrackers from
4th of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle,
blows up a red ant bed.
1957 - Ants die.
2007 - BATF, Homeland Security, FBI called. Richie
charged with domestic terrorism. FBI investigates
parents. Siblings removed from home, computers
confiscated. Richie’s Dad goes on a terror watch list
and is never allowed to fly again.
Scenario : Bobbie falls while running during recess
and scrapes his knee. He is found crying by his
teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him.
1957 - In a short time, Bobbie feels better and goes
on playing.
2007 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator
and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison.
Bobbie undergoes 5 years of therapy.
Earlier today, I found myself in the unenviable position of watching a double dose of Family Feud. I hate to admit it, but I think I’ve seen every incarnation this show has offered–from pervie/creepie Richard Dawson to the suicidal guy whose name escapes me to the porcine Louie Anderson. Now we’ve got J. Peterman, I mean John O’something with the voice.
So the question comes up–what weapon could a murderer use to kill . . . drumroll please . . . Pinocchio. Pinocchio? First off, why is anyone contemplating killing fictional characters from Disney of all places? I could see if we were talking about wicked stepmothers. Who wouldn’t want to give Snow White’s step mama a thump on the head for unbridled vanity and poor wardrobe choice. But Pinocchio, whose only crime was trying too hard to fit in. Who’s next? Dumbo?
As you can imagine, this round quickly descended into the macabre. Chop him with an ax. Throw him in the wood chipper. Make him tell lies until his nose falls off. At least that last one didn’t make it onto the board. My favorite answer was the one I least expected–slow torture. Termites.
This doesn’t really have anything to do with writing except that it made me think of all the lengths mystery/suspense/thriller writers go to to have a, if not unique, interesting death occur in their stories. Murder can’t be mundane anymore, it’s got to have flair. Either the motive, the means or the murderer him/herself has got to have a bit of panache. And serial killers fuggedaboutit. I myself had my Amazon killer in Body of Lies who cut off the right breast of all his victims. oogie if you ask me, but others are far worse.
Just something to think about as I get back to my work for the day. In this one, the murder is quite ordinary, but what happens the next day when the body is found–that’s the doozy.
But nevermind that. Tell me, what’s your favorite fictional kill and why? But let’s leave the cartoons out of it this time.
Maybe your manuscript is done and maybe it isn’t. In deciding I usually follow the Cantstandit litmus test. When I can’t stand even the sight of the manuscript anymore, then it’s time to send it in. Either that or my deadline is up. But I found an article in the blogosphere to aid those not quite as circumspect as I.
Big Bad Book Blog’s post begins thusly:
Forget all that business about checking a publisher’s submission guidelines before you send your manuscript in. The most important consideration when you’re preparing to take a project to the next level is whether your work itself is ready, fully conceptualized and mature. Who cares about typeface and font size if the content is half-baked? There’s no setting for “masterpiece” on my egg timer, but these guidelines will help you know when to call it done.
To find the six ways to tell if your book is done visit here.
I found this announcement in my mailbox this morning and thought I ‘d pass it on:
Named after the co-founder of the Romance Slam Jam Conference, the Emma Awards is THE premier awards event for readers and authors of Black romance. Congratulations to the 2007 Emma Award finalist:
Favorite Anthology:
Big Spankable Asses by Angie Daniels, Kimberly Kaye Terry, and Lisa G. Riley
Creepin’ by L. A. Banks, Donna Hill, Monica Jackson, and J. M. Jeffries
Cuffed By Candlelight by Beverly Jenkins, Gwyneth Bolton, Katherine D. Jones
Love For All Seasons by A. C. Arthur, Barbara Keaton, Sapphire Blue, and Maureen Smith
Favorite Hero
Blade Navarone Only You by Francis Ray
Flex Sweet Sensation by Gwyneth Bolton
Merrick Grayslake Stranger In My Bed by Rochelle Alers
Reese Anthony Deadly Sexy by Beverly Jenkins
Favorite Heroine
Camille Davis A Cinderella Affair by A.C. Arthur
Justine Crandall In Another Man’s Bed by Francis Ray
Sierra Grayson Only You by Francis Ray
Skye Barclay Slow Burn by Brenda Jackson
Teresa July Wild Sweet Love by Beverly Jenkins
Favorite Inspirational
Guilty of Love by Pat Simmons
Redemption by Jacquelin Thomas
The Ex Files by Victoria Christopher Murray
The Pastor’s Woman by Jacquelin Thomas
Favorite Novel
A Cinderella Affair by A.C. Arthur
Deadly Sexy by Beverly Jenkins
Only You by Francis Ray
Wild Sweet Love by Beverly Jenkins
Working Man by Melanie Schuster
Favorite Novella
Handcuffs Means Never Having To Say You’re Sorry by Gwyneth Bolton
Payback’s A Bitch by L. A. Banks
Prisoner by Beverly Jenkins
Favorite Sequel
A Cinderella Affair by A.C. Arthur
A Lovers Mask by AlTonya Washington
Ian’s Ultimate Gamble by Brenda Jackson
Only You by Francis Ray
Stranger In My Arms by Rochelle Alers
Favorite Steamy
Ridin’ the Rails by Kimberly Kaye Terry
Risky Pleasures by Brenda Jackson
Taming The Wolf by Maureen Smith
Whisper Something Sweet by Deatri King-Bey
Favorite Suspense
Deadly Sexy by Beverly Jenkins
Ebony Angel by Deatri King-Bey
Serial Affair by Natalie Dunbar
Whisper My Name by Maureen Smith
Whispers In The Dark by Denise Jeffries
Cover of the Year
Deadly Sexy by Beverly Jenkins
Just Can’t Get Enough by Cheris Hodges
No Commitment Required by Seressia Glass
Ridin’ the Rails by Kimberly Kaye Terry
Whisper Something Sweet by Deatri King-Bey
Debut Author of the Year
Carmein Canton Not His Type
Farrah Rochon Deliver Me
LaConnie Taylor Jones When I’m With You
Pamela Yaye Other People’s Business
Savanna Frierson Being Blumville
Author of the Year
A.C. Arthur
Beverly Jenkins
Brenda Jackson
Dyanne Davis
Francis Ray
Please join me in congratulating all the finalists!!
It’s great to be back from deadline hell. Just turned in my very sexy Marine story for the forthcoming Soldier Boys. All I can say is that if your fingers or sensibilities are easily scorched, don’t pick it up. By the way, notice my boy on the cover.
Anyhoo, I love to admit it when I read someone else’s posts, especially rookies and see that they “get” what this business of writing is about. I tooled over to Patricia Woodside’s blog to view her entry on beginnings. Very pithy stuff. My favorite part is:
Some writers say, “Jump into the action!” Others say, “Set the scene.” Took me a while but I figured out that one does not negate the other. The scene, or ordinary world, may be established in an active way, using character actions and dialogue as opposed to descriptive narrative. Still, it’s important to ground the reader (unless it’s a murder mystery and someone is shot in the first sentence)!
Most of everything in life is making sense out of dualities and writing is no different. The rest of Patricia’s post is just as good.
