Sometimes it feels difficult to write the opposite sex. [For me that means a male character.]
One way that I’m trying out = reading a few books by John Green & Jerry Spinelli, paying attention to places where their male characters think and speak differently than I would.

What do you do to get into your character’s head when they are the opposite sex?









And I JUST HAD TO post this! iI brought smiles & tears when I watched it again – especially after hearing her say that she wanted to be as big a star as Elaine Page

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk&feature=related

[they wouldn’t let it embed and show here – so click the link ]

I stood in line at a mall to meet Ina Garten and have her sign this book!




This book is the first in a series of 10

Great mystery – I listened to it while driving. I have the next one cued up in my iPod =)




Great character, and the author REALLY seems to know this character. Authentic dialogue. I’m looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the Joey Pigza series.




A classic, that I hadn’t read, even though I saw the movie a few times. AMAZING writing!





This is a fun picture book. Check it out – you can learn a lot about picture book structure & humor and including a fun twist at the end. All while the author uses the nature of the character [ a goat] to tell the story about what Tucker took and why!

Make sure you include The Shadow character in your novel.


In working on my middle grade novel, I’m studying The Hero’s Journey. I’m using this book to help me understand the components of and the characteristics of the ‘players.’





Today I’ve been reading about The Shadow to help me with the antagonist in my story.


Christopher Vogler explains the Shadow
“The archetype known as the Shadow represents the energy of the dark side, the unexpressed, unrealized, or rejected aspects of something. . . Shadows can be all the things we don’t like about ourselves, all the dark secrets we can’t admit, even to ourselves. . . The function of the Shadow in drama is to challenge the hero and give her a worthy opponent in the struggle.. . . The psychological concept of the Shadow is a useful metaphor for understanding villains and antagonists in our stories as well as for grasping the unexpressed, ignored or deeply hidden aspects of our heroes.

Throughout this book, Vogler uses movies to give examples of the archetypes.
For Shadow -- Hannibal [Anthony Hopkin’s character ] in Silence of the Lambs.





The Shadow Knows--





What does YOUR SHADOW know??????????

I participated in the Highlights Foundation Workshop – FINDING YOUR VOICE

FINDING YOUR VOICE



I highly recommend it! You will discover aspects of yourself and unearth childhood memories that will help you write your stories with YOUR authentic voice. In rewriting the first few chapters of the middle grade novel I decided to focus on now, [ until it is finished ;) ], I’m using some of my experience when I was the main character’s age, to get me to remember and use the emotions and thoughts I had back then. I’m also using those emotions to help me write in the character’s voice.

And I’m using my older self’s experiences and emotions to guide the voicesof the adult characters in the novel.

Part of my new writing plan is to *actually use* the writing craft books I’ve collected over the past few years. I’ve decided to work on one chapter each day during my Monday-> Friday Writing Time.
Today, I’m starting with Donald Maass’s Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook, Chapter 1 From Protagonist to Hero
It’s from Part 1 – Character Development. Chapter 1

What are some heroic qualities that you admire?

I’m going to think about that and see if my main character has any of them.

A question – [not from the workbook.]

Have you thought of your main character, as a hero?

I hadn’t. She’s 10 years old, dealing with a change in her usual Summer plans. Now that I’ve read this chapter from the workbook, I’m rethinking some of her characteristics & her nature, to show how she becomes a hero to herself and for others!

For a way to get to know the characters in my current novel, I’ve decided to give them each a journal and let them write to me.
They can write to me about anything – what they did that day [ which I think will help me write the/their story They can write about their fears, hopes and dreams. I think it will be a great warm-up writing activity & help me 'get into character.'

What are some of your techniques to help you learn about your characters?

In thinking out my writing plans and goals for next year, I've been trying to decide on a title for my blog.

I am going to focus on writing middle grade novels in 2011. [I have 3 that I've started, about 5 chapters for each.] I'm working with a writing coach and I can tell that it will be a wiser use of my time with her, if I spend most of my time writing novels, reading novels, blogging about that and focussing on all aspects of the craft = character, plot, setting and all that those entail =)

Any ideas on a title that encompasses all that?

Thanks in advance 8^)

--LiZ

Tuesday Writing Prompt

Feel free to share either what you started writing or what thoughts came up when you look at today's photo on this site --

http://www.creativity-portal.com/prompts/365/pictures.html


“Don't wait. The time will never be just right.”
~ Napoleon Hill



YOU WERE MEANT TO BE --

WRITING PROMPT--

If you had to be trapped in a TV show for a month, which show would you choose?


“Writing is an exploration.
You start from nothing and learn as you go.”
~~E. L. Doctorow



Somewhere Over the Rainbow sung by Connie Talbot

Writing Prompt

Who would you most like to be stuck in an elevator with? Least like?



“No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise for the writer, no surprise for the reader.” Robert Frost