Great Beginnings

“It was the day my grandmother exploded.”

Did I get your attention? This is what a great beginning can do for your story. Author Iain M. Banks in his book “The Crow Road” pulls you in with his first sentence. Now I have to admit that I have never read the story, I found the line on a website that lists the top 100 Best First Lines in Novels, but I am intrigued enough to look further based on that first sentence.

Darcy Pattison offers this great advice for having a great beginning for your story on her site, Fiction Notes.

Darcy suggests:

When you write the first draft, you should jump in and get started. But when you revise your novel, you have a better chance of making the right choice.

1. Connect the beginning and the end.

Make sure the beginning sets up the ending.

2. Set the tone.

Make sure the tone–the attitude displayed by the choice of vocabulary, sentence structure, genre, etc.–sets up the rest of the story.

3. Consider beginning much later (or much earlier).

Here is an exercise to try:

• Open your mss to page 25. Consider starting your story near here. Would you really miss anything from the first 25 pages?
• Open to page 50. Would this be an even better place to start?

This exercise gives you a good idea where you are heading and whether or not you need to start a little further on in the story.

It is said in this fast-paced world that we live in you have 9 seconds to make a great first impression. I am currently in the revision stage for my latest WIP, I can see the importance of a great beginning in addition to a great first line.

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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Reason to Procrastinate #52- Cascarones

It’s procrastination time again. Time to take a little break from the writing and do something fun with the family. I mentioned in an earlier post, the tradition we have in our family of making cascarones (confetti eggs) for Easter. Each year my Mother-in- Law makes dozens of these fun-filled treats for the kids to hunt and crack on the (hopefully unsuspecting) adults heads. Sometimes these cascarones have a slip of paper inside that can be redeemed for a prize. It’s great fun and we look forward to it every year.

There is something a little bit magic about a cascarone. Author Viola Canales charmingly portrays  the collecting of eggs for cascarones to pit two characters against each other in her novel “The Tequila Worm.” In my current Work-in-Progress (WIP) I am trying to include a scene with cascrones, I don’t know if it will make the final draft but it sure is fun to write.

Save on Crafts has great step by step instructions on how to make your own cascarones. The pictures are helpful and they show a picture of the final product.

Have fun and get cracking. (He He)

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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9 Steps to Plot (or Revise) Your Book

My current WIP (Work in Progress) is in the revision stage. I am finding this process, in some ways, much more difficult than writing the original manuscript. This is the time to work out those kinks and tighten up all of the loose ends, a time to really make sure that your plot is working and the characters ring true. The process is filled with moments of brilliance and then moments when you feel less than brilliant.

I found this exercise on the Query Tracker.net website and thought I would pass it on. I found it very helpful to really lock in on where my story is going. The site gives a possible origin as the author  Verla Kay but they were not certain.

9 Steps for Plotting Fiction

Start with a piece of paper. It should be large enough to write on. I used 11×14 just to give me a little more room, but 8×11 is fine. Draw two parallel lines both vertically and horizontally across the page, creating 9 comparable boxes, as if you were starting a game of tic-tac-toe. These boxes represent chapters, scenes, or sections, depending upon your book’s intended length.

Number the boxes, starting from the upper left: 1, 2, 3.

Next row, starting from the left: 4, 5, 6.

Last row: 7, 8, 9.

Title each box…

1. Triggering Event

First things first. What happens? Why have you bothered to write a book, and more importantly, why should a reader invest time flipping through its pages? Your triggering event is the answer to these questions, so make it a good one. Also, don’t make the reader wait very long for it. First page, first paragraph, first sentence. These are good spots for a triggering event.

2. Characterization

Generally, books succeed or fail on the strength of their characters, more so than on the strength of their plots. Box 2 is where you explore what makes your protagonist tick. No, this isn’t an excuse for drawn out exposition, history, or back story. If your triggering event is captivating, the reader will discover enough about the protagonist in Box 2 simply by reading how he or she reacts to the event.

3. First Major Turning Point

By now, your plot is picking up steam, and because of Box 2, the reader is invested in the ride. Time to throw a curve ball. This turning point can be either a positive event for your protagonist, or a negative one, but it should lay the groundwork for the negative turning point in Box 6. There is a reason these boxes are touching one another; they interrelate. For example, Box 3 may introduce the motivation of the antagonist, which then justifies the events in Box 6.

4. Exposition

You’ve earned some time to fill the reader in on important data. Since this box touches Box 1, here’s where you shed some light on that triggering event. Since it also touches Box 7, you get to foreshadow your protagonist’s darkest hour. Box 4 often reveals a relationship, character flaw, or personal history that contributes to the dark times ahead.

5. Connect the Dots

Here is where many plots fall apart. Box 5 represents the trickiest part of fiction, and since it is the center of the diagram (and book) it must connect to all the boxes around it. (2, 4, 6, & 8.) Kind of like the nucleus at the center of a bomb, Box 5 should tick systematically upon elements introduced in Boxes 2 and 4. And like the calm before the storm, Box 5 should give the false impression of resolution before heading like a freight train to Box 6. Most importantly, it needs to provide foreshadowing for the protagonist’s revelation in Box 8. That’s a lot for a little box to do, but focus on efficient prose to get it right. Your plot depends upon it.

6. Negative Turning Point

Here’s where that bomb explodes and all (word censored) breaks loose. Good thing you laid the groundwork in Box 3. Good thing, too, that Box 9 will deliver some just desserts.

7. Antagonist Wins

The protagonist is defeated here, and the antagonist apparently wins. How the protagonist deals with the darkest hour of defeat depends upon the traits and/or story developed in Box 4, which leads to his or her revelation in the next square.

8. Revelation

Of course! The protagonist’s revelation turns the tide. Here is where the protagonist connects the dots and overcomes the obstacles of Boxes 6 and 7 via the device introduced in Box 5.

9. Protagonist Wins

The negative turning point in Box 6 is rectified while the character’s resolve from Box 8 is brought into full bloom. Congratulations! Another great tale told greatly.

Thanks to Suzette Saxton for the article and  Debbie Ridpath Ohi for another great cartoon.

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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Going Above and Beyond

The February meeting of our San Diego SCBWI chapter meeting featured speakers Barbara Fisch and Sarah Shealy, from Blue Slip Media- a publicity and marketing agency. Both women, former Associate Directors of Publicity at Harcourt, and each with over 20 years experience in the field, gave a great presentation on what to expect from your publisher and what you as the author need/should/could be doing to help market your book.

With these tough economic times publishing houses are stretched thin time and money wise to promote your book, but what can an author do to help?

Here are some tips:

1. Contact your publisher approximately 6 months before your publication date to set up a meeting with the marketing department. Make sure you are prepared with a list:

• Do you have an interesting back story that will tie into the book.  Are you an award winning arborist and you have written a book on trees? This is something that the marketing department could use to promote your book, and they won’t know this unless you tell them.
• Does your book fit into a unique niche? Does that book on trees publication coincide with the anniversary of Earth day? This would be a great thing to let them know.
• Provide your publisher with a list of contacts, be sure to include local papers, college alumni groups, professional and personal connections. These people and groups can be notified of your upcoming book and spread the word. (Tip: Prepare this list as an excel spread sheet, it will be easier to send. Also be sure to keep it up to date so that it isn’t sent to an incorrect address.)

2. Think of yourself as a partner with your publisher.

3. Establish links with local contacts:

• Teachers (Great for classroom visits)
• Librarians (Children’s story hour or craft time, readers groups)
• Local Book sellers (Book signings and author events)

4. Publish your website approximately 6 months before publication, this timing will help you work out the kinks. Make sure to include:

• A picture of the book jacket.
• Contact information for you and your publisher.
• Links to buy your book (make sure you include local book sellers as well).
• Reviews

5. Hire an outside publicist if you would like to do more. An outside publicist will work with your publishing house to help market your book and maybe approach it with some new angles that you had not considered.

I found the topic very helpful and with the publishing date of my book right around the corner, I have some things to think about. I am fortunate that my publisher already does some of the things they suggested and as for the rest of it, I will have to get busy.

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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Free!

I was thrilled to get this message about free e-books this morning. I’m extra-super excited because I’ve met Nancy Bo Flood who is one of the featured authors. I am pretty sure I read an early draft of her book WARRIORS IN THE CROSSFIRE when we were in a VCFA workshop together. Her story was amazing way back then. And Nancy herself is all-around amazing: brilliant and kind and passionate about life and literature. Check it out!

“I normally trash any e-mail that includes the word free in it. And I often ignore any that mentions e-book, as I’m not up to date on that technology. But I concocted this experiment and egged on my friend Stephen Roxburgh, who is an early adopter of e-books and things high tech. I got used to seeing him in a rocking chair engrossed in his Kindle. Stephen has been a student of the book in whatever format most of his life and is articulate on the importance and magic of story, independent of platform.

Front Street, founded by Stephen and now part of Boyds Mills Press, has among its recent publications four great novels, which we selected for this experiment. They are characterized by the gentle hand of Stephen Roxburgh and the skills of colleagues he trained and inspired.

The novels are ACCORDING TO KIT by Eugenie Doyle (2ce4), CITY OF CANNIBALS by Ricki Thompson (d35f), THE DOG IN THE WOOD by Monika Schröder (3bd5), and WARRIORS IN THE CROSSFIRE by Nancy Bo Flood (2ac4).

To get your free electronic copies, go to www.namelos.com and locate the book by title or author by browsing or use the “search” option. When you get to the book page, enter the unique code provided for each book (shown in parentheses above) in the box in the lower-left corner of the page (under the list of prices) and click “submit.” You will be asked to provide your name and e-mail address and to select the file format you want. You will receive an e-mail with a link that will download the file you selected to your hard drive, from where you can transfer it to your preferred reading device.

The code will allow you to download one file format per title. If you need a file format that is not provided, write directly to Stephen (roxburgh@namelos.com) and he’ll provide it.

Frankly, it’s an increasing challenge to get attention for novels, particularly first novels.

So, in cooperation with Stephen Roxburgh and his new venture, namelos llc, we are offering for a limited time downloads of the four novels. From now until April Fools’ Day, you can put these on your e-reading device without charge. And since we are doing this to get the word out, we would be very happy if you shared the opportunity with your friends.

We want everyone to know about these books.

Boyds Mills Press has the hardback editions in stock, and they are available through all the places you buy books. Namelos llc will be selling the e-book versions of these titles in April and beyond. Almost all other Front Street novels are available now for purchase to download at www.namelos.com.

If you take advantage of this special offer, you can expect namelos to keep you up to date on the books they are offering in e-book format. If that’s not to your liking, you will have a chance to opt out.

I cannot answer your technical questions—Stephen can do that—but I’d be happy to hear about your experience with this experiment.”

Kent Brown, Executive Director, Highlights Foundation, Inc.
Former Publisher, Boyds Mills Press
KBrown@boydsmillspress.com

Sarah Wones Tomp

WRITING ON THE SIDEWALK

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That Cat Said What?

Talking Animals in books for kids.

Thumbs up or thumbs down? It seems as though I’ve heard a lot of snobbery towards animals as main characters. But my youngest child loves several talking animal series: The Warriors by Erin Hunter (cats), Redwall by Brian Jacques (assortment of rodents) and The Guardians of Ga’Hoole by Kathryn Lasky (owls).

Pros for talking animal novels:

• Race and cultural issues are a non-point. The characters can very well have prejudices and opinions on other species, but no reader is alienated.
• It’s easier to put your characters in danger. Do you know how many really good cats die in the Warriors series?
• Parents can be a non-issue
• They feel a little bit like non-fiction. For fact-magnet boys like mine, they feel like they are really learning (about cats, rodents, owls, etc)
• Humor can be woven in on several levels. First level humor within the story but also the idea of this animal struggling with its specific animal limitations – or pure animal magnetism.

And if you have a clouded leopard baby with a party hat, what’s not to love? (Thanks SBB!)

Sarah Wones Tomp

WRITING ON THE SIDEWALK

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Party With Your Characters

Writers use all kinds of tricks to get to know their characters better. One of my favorite ways is to answer character questionnaires. These are a series of questions – often regarding topics seemingly irrelevant to the actual story – to help you gain insights on your character. This helps them to be more three-dimensional and fully realized. It’s a great way to discover your characters’ back story and hidden agendas.

This is a questionnaire I developed with the very specific focus on parties. Parties are a big deal to kids and teens – and to humans in general. Love ‘em or dread ‘em, parties can be very revealing.

Personally, I think parties are difficult but rewarding to write. Parties allow you to show (not tell) a character’s place in society as well as the setting, culture, socio-economic status and general personality traits of everyone involved.

Some questions to ask about your character(s):

• What is her/her general attitude about parties?

1. Does he seek or avoid parties?
2. What kind of entrance would he make?
3. Would he attend one alone?
4. Would he crash a party?
5. How important are manners?

• What is his/her ideal way to celebrate birthday?

1. Small intimate gathering vs huge bash?
2. How would she react to a surprise party?
3. What’s on the gift wish list?

• Why would he/she throw a party?

1. Celebration?
2. Revenge? Other ulterior motive?
3. Hopes and goals behind the party?

• Who would be on the guest list?

1. Family? Friends?
2. Ideal size of party?
3. Who would be a dream guest?
4. Who would ruin the party?
5. Reaction to party crashers? Or to no one showing up?

• What About Refreshments ?

1. What could he afford to serve? What is the perfect menu?
2. Any cultural foods?
3. At any party what is his attitude toward food? Chow down vs nibble vs purposely ignore?
4. Alcohol? Illegal substances?

• When and Where?

1. What are her options? Preferences?
2. Rural or urban? Home or public place?
3. Decorations? Homemade, store-bought or none?
4. Are balloons environmentally acceptable? Other considerations?

• Activities?

1. Is he a control freak?
2. Games?
3. Play list?
4. Temptations?

• In planning a party, what would be the greatest source of stress?
• What would be the most fun?

Whether you plan to write a party scene or not, answering these questions should help deepen your understanding of your character.

Party on!

Sarah Wones Tomp

WRITING ON THE SIDEWALK

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Kindle with a Kiss

My sweetie surprised me big time  on Valentine’s Day: He gave me a KINDLE!

I’m really not sure what inspired him – we don’t usually do big expensive gifts for each other – especially not for Valentine’s Day. But wow.

I know there’s lots of controversy with Amazon right now and I absolutely agree with this hilarious video, starring Lemony Snicket, but I must admit I have definitely been intrigued with the idea of an electronic reader.

I like the idea of carrying more than one book without being loaded down – and it is scarily easy to buy more (I even bought one by accident – thank goodness it’s easy to undo). I wanted my first e-book to be one that was special to me that I didn’t have on hand already…  however, I couldn’t find any of the ones I wanted. I finally gave up and ordered two new ones.

But, so far anyway, reading is definitely different. It feels like a different experience. Kind of like hearing a book on CD is a different experience. I can not imagine e-readers ever being the ONLY option. That could be the end of reading. Or at least the end of reading beyond your own narrow experience. I have bought and read countless books because they called to me as I meandered through a book store – you just can’t meander through an online store.

And I love stopping by my home bookshelves and looking over the spines – and being reminded for an instant of the magic inside.

I see this new gadget as a groovy tool – an addition to my reading experience, never a replacement for books.

Thanks, Sweetie!

Sarah Wones Tomp

WRITING ON THE SIDEWALK

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Writing Garbage

I have been recently reading blogger Samantha Clark’s update for the Austin SCBWI conference on her blog “Day by Day Writer“. It sounds like it was a great event and filled with tons of useful information for all who attended. I was very interested in speaker Lisa Graff’s insight regarding revision.

Here is what Samantha shared on her blog:

“For the first draft, Lisa said it’s ok to write garbage. Writers can’t get to their genius until they’ve written the garbage, she said. The editor part of the writer takes out the garbage after the  genius has come through.”

This is something I struggle with daily. I constantly have to tell myself that it’s ok to write garbage and that editing can’t take place on a blank page.

Here’s some other great advice from Lisa:

• Read what your audience is reading, especially for picture books because markets change. And read like an editor, questioning everything, every decision that went into that book.

• Know the rules (such as POV) as an editor, but be willing to experiment with them as a writer. It’s ok to break the rules when it’s essential for storytelling.

• Write for yourself not for trends, because you won’t be happy.

• Enjoy your own writing as a writer, but be prepared to kill your darlings as an editor. Do what’s right for the book.

• Make sure that everything in your book is there for a reason.

• As a writer, believe in yourself, but as an editor, push yourself to do better.

• Don’t be a writer and editor at the same time, because it will make you overly critical, stop your creativity and lead you to writer’s block.

• And, never try to appease an agent or editor. Be willing to stand up for yourself.

So today I am giving myself permission to write something truly awful, and hopefully I will find my genius. If not there is always the delete button.

And be sure to check out Samantha’s blog to find out more great information from the Austin conference.

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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Bored Children? There’s an App For That

When my boys were small I was constantly trying to find ways to entertain them on long car trips. Since most of our family lives 100 miles away, each trip home required several hours in the car driving to and from our destination. We could always count on a nap during the drive, but I still had many hours to fill. We would play countless games of “I Spy” or “Count the yellow cars” but their favorite thing to do was to listen to books on tape. As soon as the boys began to get cranky we would put in one of the stories and they would quiet down like magic. Unfortunately for me, our library didn’t have many books on tape available, so we usually listened to the same story over and over. I still know portions of that “Star Wars” book by heart and if I ever have to go through Jedi Training, I know I will be fully prepared.

I just recently heard about an application for the iPhone called “Tales2Go” that is similar to those old books on tape. According to their website:

Tales2Go is an innovative new subscription service for moms and dads who want instant access to nearly a thousand great kids’ audio stories to stream to their smart phones (iPhone to start), to play over the car speakers, pass back to kids, or listen to anywhere, at anytime. We feature the best in kids’ audio stories from leading audio publishers and award-winning storytellers.

Son #1 (my technical genius) and I decided to check it out. We found the app well designed and easy to use. They had quite a variety to listen to with nearly 1000 titles available that range in length from two-minute fables to six-hour novels, with just about everything in between. With titles like; “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”,”Encyclopedia Brown” and “Henry and Mudge” there was nearly something for everyone.

If you have the ability to listen to your iPhone via your car’s speakers, you will have a great way to entertain the kids in the car just like the old books on tape. The portability of  the iPhone means that you can also use this during those long waits at the doctor’s office or standing in line at the post office.

I wished  this technology was available when my boys were small, I can think of a hundred ways I could have used it. I would not have had to listen to the same “Star Wars” story over and over, but then again, I wouldn’t be as prepared to be a Jedi.

Suzanne Santillan

Writing on the Sidewalk

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