The Rules
July 14th, 2008 by SaraA while ago, I had a friend read the opening chapters to my novel. He was very supportive, but he said that there wasn’t enough momentum to my story. Not enough momentum?! What does he know? He’s an illustrator. He reads picture books and graphic novels. He doesn’t know ANYTHING about young adult books!
Okay. Maybe he does. Maybe he was right.
The main problem with my book was that it wasn’t exactly sure where it was going. Or actually, it knew where it was going, it just wasn’t sure how to get there. And it didn’t know what the rules were.
Rules are what give your story boundaries. They give your words room to stand up and stretch. Plot points can be powerful and huge, or quiet and small, because they know exactly how far to go. And the reader can get comfortable, too. They may not know what’s going to happen, but at least they know what game is being played.
Another friend of mine said to me, Fantasy writers spend so much time creating their worlds, no wonder they write sequels and series. You wouldn’t want to have to start over!
The same thing is true for contemporary fiction. Each story has to have its own set of guidelines. How far are your characters willing to go? What principles lead them through life, determining what they would do, and what they would never do, even if it would be so convenient for your plot. And how far are you, the author, willing to go? Are your character’s lives in jeopardy, or just their lunch money?
My book has a foot in both worlds. It takes place in a contemporary setting, but all kind of unusual, supernatural things are happening. The reader never feels comfortable, if they don’t understand what the rules are. Magic wishes cannot be unlimited. Super heroes cannot be completely invincible. And life cannot always be fair. It is the limitations, and what the characters do with them, that gives your story power.
Posted in Characters, Revision, Writing
July 20th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
as the aforementioned bastard illustrator, i still feel badly about causing you so much consternation and grief that i’ve cut off 3 toes.
and to clarify, i do read more than just picture books and graphic novels- i also read the backs of cereal boxes and the comics page in the daily newspaper. (yes, i still like getting printers ink on my fingers as i peruse the day’s news:)
Sigh….
April 25th, 2008 by SaraSigh…
Today in the mail, I received the bane of a writer’s existence. “Your work was given careful consideration by one of our editors, and we are sorry to say that we do not feel like it is right for our list.” ARGGGGGGG!
The form letter has the power to derail you like nothing else. That’s because it is exactly that, nothing. You can’t fight back against it. You can’t rage against its harsh judgment. You can’t even scream ‘THEY’RE WRONG.” It’s pretty hard to argue against a non-opinion about your work.
And, of course as writers, we start imagining. Picturing the assistant editor’s assistant who looked at your pages. She sneered at them. She didn’t even bother getting to the second paragraph. She just cackled evilly to herself.
“I wouldn’t sully my pen by writing a single word on this manuscript. The ink would probably eat through those terrible metaphors anyway. How dare such filth be sent to this fine establishment! Ban the Sara-woman for life!”
I will not let the reality of my experiences and conversations with perfectly nice editors get in the way of my imagination either. The assistant is actually a dragon, sitting in her cave, surrounded by manuscripts instead of treasure. She roasts the truly despicable ones… I can even see the singe marks around the edges of my story now. Can’t you?
Whew. I’m actually feeling pretty lucky now. I’m sure the worst authors get kidnapped and skewered for dinner. At least, I escaped that fate.
Flap. Flap. Flap. Do you hear that strange noise?
AHHHHHHHHHHH!
Posted in Not-so-nifty happenings, Writing
April 28th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Sara,
let’s take a little of that WHUMP! WHOMP! energy from the drumming and open up the can of WHUMP *$$ motivation they mailed you with that lame form rejection letter.
Think about this: the best revenge will be success, HUGE success!
You are a great writer, and they just lost out on something really special.
So, WHUMP! WHOMP! On to the NEXT prospect - you’ve got the gold, you just need to find the right editor, editor’s assistant, and assistant to the assistant editor who KNOW treasure when they’ve got it in their hands!
So take that rejection letter, put it on the floor, and STOMP on it!
WHUMP!
YOU ARE A DRAGON, TOO!
WHOMP! WHUMP!
And you’ve GOT the treasure, by golly!
WHOMP! WHUMP! WHOMP!
GIVE A GOOD ROAAAR, AND SOAR INTO THE SKY!
You’ll get there. I KNOW it.
Your fan,
Lee
Whump! Whomp!
April 18th, 2008 by Sara
There is nothing like
Taiko drums to root rhythm
Deep into your words!
Posted in Writing
April 19th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Oh, yeah!! I’ve been meaning to tell you, if you and Tony are interested in trying taiko again, I’ve got a recommendation for you!! :D
Warts and All
April 17th, 2008 by Sara
Well, instead of groveling for bloggle forgiveness for my inexcusable absence, I’m merely going to chalk it up to an excellent example of how I write.
What an great idea, you’re saying. Why didn’t I think of that excuse myself, you wonder. Why? Because I’m simply BRILLIANT and full of sh…arp ideas!
So, here’s the thing. This past weekend was Writer’s Day here in the LA chapter of SCBWI and one of the speakers was Gail Carson Levine. Someone asked her what her writing schedule was like. She stalled for a moment, then revealed the awesome truth.
I have a laptop, she said in Sara’s fairly accurate paraphrase, and I write when I eat breakfast. And lunch. And I write while I eat dinner. I tend to fall asleep while I’m writing and at least I can’t sleep while my mouth is moving.
Ok. Hands down one of the best answers to that question EVER.
So, inspired by that wonderfully bizarre and revealing answer, I realized that this blog is clear proof of my writing style and schedule. Sometimes I write consistently. Sometimes erratically. Sometimes I seemingly abandon my writing all together. But no matter how my ‘active’ writing process is going, I am always, _always_, ALWAYS thinking about my stories.
When I go to the Battlestar Galactica concert featuring the amazing music from that amazing show, I find in the music a soundtrack to my novel that uncovers the sense of urgency I’ve been trying to inject into my key scenes.
When I go to the bookstore to peruse the new picture books, I find a book that uses page turns in just the way that will give my picture book the added momentum it needs.
And when I get angry at the world because my writing is stalling out, and I’m no closer to reaching my goals, I realize that rage is the exact emotion that is missing from my final scene.
Sometimes I feel like I lose my way, but the truth is, I’m walking the writing path every minute of every day. Even when there are these spells of seeming dryness. I’m really just one of those toads who lives in the desert. They bury themselves, sometimes for months at a time. They just sit there and sit there, existing. Waiting. Then it rains and they emerge. They splash and drink and eat and sing and well… you know. They party until the rains stop and the desert dries up. Then they burrow back down into the dark to wait.
So, I’m a toad.
Except for one huge difference. When I’m in the dark, I’m never waiting. I’m dreaming and plotting and planning exactly what’s going to happen when I finally do reach the world up above.
April 17th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
man, i love your insights into the writing process. you make it easy to understand what goes on in the life of a writer. :)
April 23rd, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Hey Sara,
This was really deep and considered. And I really appreciate how thoughtful you are about your process, and how open you are to sharing it with all of us in the blog-o-sphere.
I don’t think I’ll ever look at desert toads in the same way again!
Maybe they’re plotting and dreaming while they’re burrowed deep, too?
It’s a great reminder that each step, even when it’s not directly putting words down, is part of this writer’s journey of ours!
thanks for that!
Namaste,
Lee
Movin’ Right Along
February 29th, 2008 by Sara
So, amazingly, my recent abandonment of my website actually has a real and justifiable reason this time! We’re moving!
We found a great place about a week and a half ago and have been scrambling to get everything packed and ready. And by we, I mean me. Tony has been working 13 hour days, 6 or 7 days a week. I barely remember what he looks like. 
Long hair right? Flannel shirt? The rest seems kinda fuzzy.
So this weekend is it and we’ve assembled a gaggle of rowdy friends to help us out. So wish us luck and see you on the flip side.
2 bedroom apartment, baby!
Posted in Nifty happenings
March 9th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Congrats! Moving is the worst but as you know, housewarming parties are the make-up sex of the whole moving process.
March 10th, 2008 at 5:11 am
> The rest seems kinda Fozzie.
Haw HAW to Andy’s comment!
Happy moving!!!!!
March 13th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Sounds exciting! You know what I love about moving? Enjoying the first couple of weeks when I haven’t gotten to “decorating” the place. I LOVE that yet to be lived in feeling. The possibilities are endless!!!
Paul Fleischman responds!
February 15th, 2008 by SaraI snailmailed Paul Fleischman’s Valentine to him and this is what he had to say! Hooray!
Posted in Authors, Valentines, Nifty happenings
February 18th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
What!! Was this snail mail you got back??
Wow!!!! TOO COOL!!!!!!!
Our Roots…
February 14th, 2008 by Sara
Posted in Authors, Valentines, I heart this book, Books
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Valentine hearts for Roald Dahl
February 7th, 2008 by Sara
Posted in Authors, Valentines, Haiku review, Books
February 8th, 2008 at 5:34 am
Hahahaha. Matilda is one of my favorite books in the world. Danny, Champion of the World and Fantastic Mr. Fox and, and, and . . .
And, and.
February 8th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
And don’t forget “The Boy Who Talked to Animals” from Henry Sugar and 6 More. It’s my absolute favorite of his writing.
February 10th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Ooh, there is one moment in the title story, of Henry Sugar, that just knocks. Me. Out.
February 11th, 2008 at 8:52 am
okay you have to tell me how you are making the candy hearts?
Meg
ps. I think he ROCKS too!
February 12th, 2008 at 1:27 am
Isn’t it cool?!???! If you click the original heart (BOOK LOVE) it’ll actually take you to the link or go to
http://www.acme.com/heartmaker/
February 13th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Okay,
And James and the Giant Peach was amazing - I so identified with James, and wished I could munch on that juicy huge peach as it rolled right over the mean people in my life!
Sara, I’m lovin’ your fan-gush valentines -
thanks for sharing with us all,
(and the candies ROCK!)
Lee
Adam Rex answers!
February 7th, 2008 by SaraA email response from Adam Rex! Hooray!
Well, this made my day. I’m going to have it tattooed on my head. Thanks so much Sara!
-Adam
Posted in Authors, Valentines, Writing
February 8th, 2008 at 5:32 am
That is sweet. You should tattoo his reply on your body, and blog about it! Then he could tattoo that, and you could . . .
February 8th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
It’s be like looking into 2 mirrors at once…. the infinite compliment!
Violets are Blue, Diana Wynne Jones is Faboo
February 6th, 2008 by Sara
Posted in Authors, Valentines, Haiku review, Books
February 7th, 2008 at 2:46 am
Ahh . . . It’s amazing it even took six days to get to this amazing author. How I love Howl’s Moving Castle!! And the Chrestomanci books. ANd, and . . .
