The Magic Pill

Every time I learn something new about writing I expect it to give my book a magical makeover. This simple trick will somehow make JK Rowling look like a hack and Dickenson come back from the grave just to read my stuff. Then comes the inevitable day where I finish the draft using this new tool and it’s still not perfect. My writing is a little better but it's still not what I dreamed it would be.

When my last big push ended (outlining!) I was still disappointed with my first draft. How could this happen? Why, oh why, is the Muse so mean to me? Once again I got to face the reality that while each step forward is a good thing, it’s not the thing that’s going to solve all of my problems.That means I’m now on to editing. This time I’m going into it knowing that it won’t make everything perfect. As my skills grow as a writer so do my abilities to spot my own mistakes. Hopefully my ability to fix my mistakes will keep growing as well! As each trick fails I become more hopeful that persistence will take me where I want to go. What’s the best writing tip you’ve heard recently?

Jennavier Recommends: Fangirl

So the time has come for me for my next book recommendation! I’m figuring you really need one right now. If you’re anything like me you’re family/friends/credit card owning pets get you a bookstore gift card for Christmas. So I’m going to give you an almost foolproof option to blow it on.  The book of choice is Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell.

I’m not reaching all that deep for this one. After watching Ms. Rowell’s very distinctive name getting splashed all over the blogosphere I succumbed to the allure of the shiny and bought Fangirl. Buyer’s remorse didn’t kick in over this one. It’s an awesome book. All of that

My normal reading fare leans towards speculative fiction. That’s why I was so surprised when I really loved Fangirl. It’s a contemporary about a girl who loves fantasy books, specifically Simon Snow (sort of like Harry Potter but not). She loves it so much that she lives in a Simon Snow world of her own devising. Thousands of people read her slash fiction online under her pseudonym. Now that she’s moving on with her life will she be able to maintain the safe world of Simon Snow or will she move on and create worlds of her own? Helping with that decision is one of those roommates that you know you would either love or plot to murder and a very cute farmboy, who may or may not be interested in Cath.

What did I get out of this book? I stayed up until two o’clock in the morning reading it. That means that my desire to see what happened next overrode my sense of self preservation. So what was worth turning into the Grouch from Sesame Street? The romance certainly was.  It’s sweet and gave me all the warm butterfly’s. That wouldn't have been enough without the larger structure of Cath’s development. Cath is totally relatable. She’s shy and is struggling with family and the move to college. With no friends and a sister who is AWOL she’s forced to deal with things she really doesn’t want to handle. The best part is that Rowell’s voice is so warm and welcoming that I fell right into her story. Bonus points are added for a non-weird ending. It wrapped up the most important plot lines, left some things open, and clearly wrapped up the book. Many books like this I compare to cotton candy. Their fluffy sweetness makes me happy and feels like a break from everyday life. Fangirl could be called that, but it is more filling then that. I think I’d call it one of those expensive fried sandwiches that are warm and delicious and still filling.

If you’ve already read it and loved it feel free to tell me all about it! One of the great thing about books is squeeing over them! And don't have too much fun at the bookstore:).

Christmas!

Merry Christmas! You are probably up to your eyebrows in food, presents, and family. If you're overwhelmed by the commercialization or just in the age-old debate of Santa Clause I'd like to leave you with one thought. Not from me, because I'm not this smart, but from the great Terry Pratchett.

“All right," said Susan. "I'm not stupid. You're saying humans need... fantasies to make life bearable."

REALLY? AS IF IT WAS SOME KIND OF PINK PILL? NO. HUMANS NEED FANTASY TO BE HUMAN. TO BE THE PLACE WHERE THE FALLING ANGEL MEETS THE RISING APE.

"Tooth fairies? Hogfathers? Little—"

YES. AS PRACTICE. YOU HAVE TO START OUT LEARNING TO BELIEVE THE LITTLE LIES.

"So we can believe the big ones?"

YES. JUSTICE. MERCY. DUTY. THAT SORT OF THING.

"They're not the same at all!"

YOU THINK SO? THEN TAKE THE UNIVERSE AND GRIND IT DOWN TO THE FINEST POWDER AND SIEVE IT THROUGH THE FINEST SIEVE AND THEN SHOW ME ONE ATOM OF JUSTICE, ONE MOLECULE OF MERCY. AND YET—Death waved a hand. AND YET YOU ACT AS IF THERE IS SOME IDEAL ORDER IN THE WORLD, AS IF THERE IS SOME...SOME RIGHTNESS IN THE UNIVERSE BY WHICH IT MAY BE JUDGED.

"Yes, but people have got to believe that, or what's the point—"

MY POINT EXACTLY.”

My Christmas Wish for You

So Christmas really crept up on me this year! My plan with this brand new blog was to keep soldiering on right through the holiday season. Obviously that hasn’t happened. All of my best intentions got kicked to the curb by the day to day requirements of traveling across the country. Now I’m in Boise, far from my home base, enjoying the company of family. I’m now having to choose between cuddling my nephews or blogging/writing/worrying. 

I’m usually so worried about what I’m supposed to be doing that I totally miss out on what I can do. I don’t want my holidays to be consumed throughout the holidays with regrets. So my Christmas wish for you is the same as it is for me. That we will let go of all the things we have to do this season and focus on things we can do. An almost impossible task, but isn’t that what wishes are for? All the things we left will still be here when we get back. My best wishes for a wonderful holiday season. I'll be back soon.

Great Class and It's Free!

If you're like me you’ve probably already started your New Years resolutions. If you're not crazy like me and don't do those things for fun, maybe your waiting until after Christmas. Or if you just love writing have I got something for you! If you're not, well, come back later. About two years ago I came across writing lectures by author Brandon Sanderson and ever since I’ve been hooked. All of us newbie writers have listened with rapt devotion to industry professionals giving the inside scoop. Some of them are great, some  are less so. Sanderson is one of those rare birds who is as good a teacher as he is an author. Every year he teaches a class at BYU about the practical application of genre writing. Since most of us don’t have the time or ability to actually go this class (I live 2000 miles away, a little far for a weekly jaunt) he’s started filming them and posting them for free on Youtube. I’ve learned so much from Sanderson’s lecture series and I’ve noticed a marked improvement in my WIPs. So if this sounds like something you'd be interested in I'm the first to tell you to give it a try.

Disclaimer: I have in no way been paid to do this. My husband hasn't been kidnapped by an evil Sanderson, really!