Oral traditions are an incredibly powerful way to pass traditions, history, culture, and heritage from one generation to the next. The story tellers of many cultures were highly revered people in the tribes as they were the keeper of the history. This was true in the Celtic Tribes as much as it is in any of the African, Native American or other tribal people.
As a young girl I learned the art of story telling from my grandparents. As a young adult I would tell the stories, or stories of my own, to my children. But, in today's publishing world, an aspiring author must be careful not to cross the two. There is a difference in telling a story and showing a story.
When I first began my journey to become a published author, I hated that phrase, "Show don't tell." I would see it digitally scribbled in the borders of my creations and I would scream inside with frustration. I would reword the paragraphs of prose only to be told I was stilling telling and not showing.
Practice makes perfect. I haven't reached perfection yet, but I am making progress which counts for more than gold in my profession of writing. Learning to show a story through dialogue and action words in present tense - even if the scene's setting is historical to the story -- is something that takes practice. Breaking old habits of a story teller is a feat of greatness in and of itself.
I wrote and rewrote "Sticks and Bones" at least eight times to eliminate all the telling. I was and am more careful with "The Malakai Chronicles". When you are forced to correct something over and over you eventually learn; right?
I don't think I will ever stop telling stories in my family. I feel that it is an important piece of our culture and traditions. My two grandchildren enjoy the stories that grandma tells far more than the books that we read together.
The challenge: Show don't tell when writing stories. It's a fine line, but I will learn to tread on it lightly.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Building Character
Oftentimes in literature we read about building character. That which doesn't kill us only makes us stronger. I think I might be a mighty woman of fierce character; at least I should be after successfully surviving forty winters in North Dakota.
These are the weeks in January when the temperature plummets below the zero mark (f). The wind blows with dangerous windchill factors. Yesterday the windchill reached -46 degrees (f) in Grand Forks, North Dakota. My hometown of Parshall, North Dakota holds the state record of -60 degrees (f) - February 16, 1936. It is my belief that it was a windchill factor and not the actual temperature...at least I hope not.
Winter in North Dakota offers several opportunities for character building. We don't have 'black ice'. Oh, no. North Dakota ice is bold and brutal at the same time. You can see it. You know it's there and that is when you develop mad driving skills that astound the non-Dakotan drivers worldwide.
Two days ago I was outside, briefly, with a co-worker and when we went back inside I felt a slight burning sensation on my face. Yep, I froze my face. I guess they really do make scarves for more than an accessory. This is most likely why my grandparents made a hat AND scarf for each grandchild every year.
The Discovery Channel could do a whole documentary on survival of the fittest in a North Dakota grocery store before a blizzard. Those who have wicked mall shopping skills don't have anything on these ladies. It's not about getting the best deal, it's about getting everything you need in the shortest amount of time possible. Bread, milk, eggs, cheese, coffee, tea, candles, matches, flashlights, shovels...oh the shovels. If you see a lady carrying a shovel beware - it's not just for removing snow; she probably has a black belt in shovel wielding.
The simple act of walking out your front door can also be an act of character building. First, you have to devise a method of removing the snow on the outside of your door so you also can be outside. Once that's accomplished you must have the physical stamina to traverse through snowdrifts three to six feet high. Apartment living is not necessarily the solution to this problem as one must depend upon the moral fortitude of the landlord to remove the snow in a timely manner.
The most perilous form of character building in North Dakota is cabin fever. It's not the kind of peril those in the movie 'Cabin Fever' encountered. It is the peril of living on the edge of insanity. Days and weeks can go by where the temperature is so cold you have no real desire to be outside, but you can't stand being inside either. You spend days hurrying to your car and from your car to the warmth of your desired destination; and back again. My only solace for cabin fever is when I write. I create a world of warmth and activity - if only in my mind - to alleviate the monotony of the days. Of course, cabin fever has built some very interesting characters over the years.
These are the weeks in January when the temperature plummets below the zero mark (f). The wind blows with dangerous windchill factors. Yesterday the windchill reached -46 degrees (f) in Grand Forks, North Dakota. My hometown of Parshall, North Dakota holds the state record of -60 degrees (f) - February 16, 1936. It is my belief that it was a windchill factor and not the actual temperature...at least I hope not.
Winter in North Dakota offers several opportunities for character building. We don't have 'black ice'. Oh, no. North Dakota ice is bold and brutal at the same time. You can see it. You know it's there and that is when you develop mad driving skills that astound the non-Dakotan drivers worldwide.
Two days ago I was outside, briefly, with a co-worker and when we went back inside I felt a slight burning sensation on my face. Yep, I froze my face. I guess they really do make scarves for more than an accessory. This is most likely why my grandparents made a hat AND scarf for each grandchild every year.
The Discovery Channel could do a whole documentary on survival of the fittest in a North Dakota grocery store before a blizzard. Those who have wicked mall shopping skills don't have anything on these ladies. It's not about getting the best deal, it's about getting everything you need in the shortest amount of time possible. Bread, milk, eggs, cheese, coffee, tea, candles, matches, flashlights, shovels...oh the shovels. If you see a lady carrying a shovel beware - it's not just for removing snow; she probably has a black belt in shovel wielding.
The simple act of walking out your front door can also be an act of character building. First, you have to devise a method of removing the snow on the outside of your door so you also can be outside. Once that's accomplished you must have the physical stamina to traverse through snowdrifts three to six feet high. Apartment living is not necessarily the solution to this problem as one must depend upon the moral fortitude of the landlord to remove the snow in a timely manner.
The most perilous form of character building in North Dakota is cabin fever. It's not the kind of peril those in the movie 'Cabin Fever' encountered. It is the peril of living on the edge of insanity. Days and weeks can go by where the temperature is so cold you have no real desire to be outside, but you can't stand being inside either. You spend days hurrying to your car and from your car to the warmth of your desired destination; and back again. My only solace for cabin fever is when I write. I create a world of warmth and activity - if only in my mind - to alleviate the monotony of the days. Of course, cabin fever has built some very interesting characters over the years.
Monday, January 17, 2011
What to expect in 2011
Wow, I can't believe 2011 is already here. I seriously thought I would be farther along in my writing career than I am at this moment. Be that as it may, here I am and from here I will start.
2010 was a productive year as far as the physical act of writing. I am well into the first manuscript for "The Malakai Chronicles". The title of the first book is "The Ten Thousand Hands Project" which introduces the Malakai to the world.
My challenge is to get readers excited to find out just 'what' are the Malakai and how do they compare to vampires, werewolves and other creatures in the popular books of today's market.
The Malakai can be frightening at times. They are fierce in their mission and very real to many people worldwide. They don't hide under the cover of darkness, in fact, it is more difficult to detect a Malakai in the light of day than under the dim light of the moon.
My goal is to finish "The Malakai Chronicles" series by the end of 2012.
I'm not sure what I am going to do about "Sticks and Bones". It's a full length novel for the young adult market which uncovers one of the darkest parts of our society. "Sticks and Bones" is a murder mystery set in West Fargo, North Dakota, with a female lead character. I am going to continue to query to agents and publishers with the hopes it will be picked up sooner rather than later.
This year is going to be very busy for me as my youngest daughter is about to graduate from high school, my oldest daughter is graduating college AND getting married. Someone please let me know when September ends.
Keep checking back for updates on what I am doing, how are the manuscripts progressing and to find out if I have found an agent yet.
2010 was a productive year as far as the physical act of writing. I am well into the first manuscript for "The Malakai Chronicles". The title of the first book is "The Ten Thousand Hands Project" which introduces the Malakai to the world.
My challenge is to get readers excited to find out just 'what' are the Malakai and how do they compare to vampires, werewolves and other creatures in the popular books of today's market.
The Malakai can be frightening at times. They are fierce in their mission and very real to many people worldwide. They don't hide under the cover of darkness, in fact, it is more difficult to detect a Malakai in the light of day than under the dim light of the moon.
My goal is to finish "The Malakai Chronicles" series by the end of 2012.
I'm not sure what I am going to do about "Sticks and Bones". It's a full length novel for the young adult market which uncovers one of the darkest parts of our society. "Sticks and Bones" is a murder mystery set in West Fargo, North Dakota, with a female lead character. I am going to continue to query to agents and publishers with the hopes it will be picked up sooner rather than later.
This year is going to be very busy for me as my youngest daughter is about to graduate from high school, my oldest daughter is graduating college AND getting married. Someone please let me know when September ends.
Keep checking back for updates on what I am doing, how are the manuscripts progressing and to find out if I have found an agent yet.
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