I really enjoyed this thought provoking article about reading and buying the right book for readers in your life. Read this before you send that book to a friend or relative.
The Great Chapter Book, Middle Grade Confusion | Chapter Book Chat.
Archive for the ‘Author’ Category
A Great Summer Adventure with P.W. Catanese.
Posted in Author, Literary works, Reading, tagged Great, great characters, hooked, P.W. Catanese, reading, Summer, The Books of Umber on July 7, 2014| 1 Comment »
Jessica Wilson’s Reviews > Happenstance Found
Happenstance Found (The Books of Umber, #1)
by P.W. Catanese (Goodreads Author)
by P.W. Catanese (Goodreads Author)
Wow! I have been searching for something like this for a long time (maybe years). This was a wonderful surprising cleverly written story that takes you on a journey to a world you never want to leave. I loved the main character Happenstance and all the mysteries surrounding him. Lord Umber is a character you root for and hope to see in the next installments as someone who will surprise you with more hidden bits of wisdom. Catanese is a great writer and has the ability to capture your attention with just a few lines. I am hooked and I am seriously going to invest in purchasing the series.
These Are Not Rules of Fantasy
Posted in Author on July 5, 2014| Leave a Comment »
This is a great read and I suggest this to all writers.
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A big headache for genre writing is that nearly every reader has their own set of rules about how that genre should work. They have their favorite authors and all others get compared to those ‘elite’. Any deviation is met with disagreement or outright rage because god forbid you have two fantasy authors who take different approaches to the genre. So I’m going to have a little fun here and go over a few rules that have been hurled my way over the years:
- YOU HAVE TO KILL CHARACTERS– No I don’t. Just because you have a disturbing blood lust doesn’t mean I have to give you a body count. We can’t all write ‘Game of Thrones’, which is actually a rarity in terms of death. 8 of the 9 Fellowship members survived Lord of the Rings. Drizzt is still kicking around since the 1980’s. Conan…
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I Really Hate Editing…..
Posted in Author, Editing, Writing, tagged editing, Editors, hate, line by line, love, manuscripts, pictures, research, solutions, writing on June 24, 2014| Leave a Comment »
Manuscripts. Why is it easier to write than edit? I can edit other people’s work. I have edit a novel that was over 500 pages. It took a while because I was doing a line by line. But editing my own work is so much harder. I have seen these words so many times that I simply can not see what to do with it. The solution: pay a professional to edit it;
or tackle it backwards. Wait! Backwards? Yes, backwards. Why, do you ask? Well because when you read it starting from the last page it feels like a fresh manuscript and tricks your mind into thinking of the lines instead of where the story is going. This takes a lot of concentration. After a while, things should become easier. I have tried this for smaller works but nothing as large as my own novels.
I am embarking on the hated long journey of editing (at least for writers) and sometimes I will need a break. So I will do some research, I will read, and I’ll even waste time on the internet. Sigh Yeah, it is hard to stay on target. 
There are great websites also to help you start figuring out the best way to tackle your story. But I love pictures that put it all together for you. 
If anyone has any pictures with help all on one page, send it to me. I would love to see it.
So enough whining. Time to get busy. If things become worse I will fall back on hiring some help. 🙂
POV in Children’s Books
Posted in Author, Writing, tagged beginner writers, characters, editing, good, main character, mistakes, Multiple POV, POV, Red Pyramid, Rick Riordan, stories, writing on May 29, 2014| Leave a Comment »
Has anyone ever read a book where the POV switches from one character to another or the POV is unclear? I have, and at first I felt a little disoriented. The POV should be clear from the beginning of your story and continue the same way throughout the story. I loved reading Rick Riordan’s Red Pyramid. This was a great story about Egyptian Gods. But the story flip-flops POV between a brother and sister. They tell the story to you in a way though that is cute and very likable. Rick pulled this off in a children’s book that not a lot of people can do. 
I have struggled with one of my stories switching POV, and now I have trimmed the fat. Yeah, I did the hard thing and took out some parts where the POV switches to another character. Some people might have liked it, but I didn’t want to confuse any readers.
After recently reading an article about Top Ten Mistakes new writers make I thought I would share some of them with you here:
- No clear POV– Children tend to relate to the POV character in a story. This is the person they will root for. Make it clear right from the start whose story is being told. Even if you have two main characters (twins, for example), you need to pick just one of these kids to be your POV character. And, it should go without saying, when writing for children, make sure your POV character IS a kid – even if Grandma has a big part in your story.
- Multiple POV’s – Unlike stories for adults, stories for children are generally told from only one POV. It isn’t difficult to maintain a single point of view once you get the hang of it. Just remember– if you are “showing” everything from your main character’s point of view, then he or she has to be present for everything that happens. I see stories all the time where the POV character suddenly leaves the room. Yikes! If your POV character wasn’t there to see or hear what went on, then we can’t see or hear it either.
This list goes on with other mistakes that have to do with other writing mishaps. You can read more mistakes at:http://www.absolutewrite.com/specialty_writing/top_ten.htm
So long story short, I had to do what was best for the story. Editing is the hardest part of writing, but well worth it.
Happy writing!
How to be an Agent’s ‘Dream Client’
Posted in Author, Literary agents, Writing, tagged agents, blogs, literary agents on March 26, 2014| Leave a Comment »
I loved this post by Chuck. There are so many great hints of what agents want. Finally a real look into what they think of you.
How does a literary agent define their “ideal client”? The question is extremely important because it’s one that factors into an agent’s mindset before and after they sign you.
If an agent has read your complete novel or book proposal and wants to sign you, the next step is almost always to arrange a telephone call where the two of you get to know one another. You ask the questions you want to ask about her and her style; she does the same regarding you and your style. During the phone conversation, the agent is trying to gauge whether you’re compatible enough with her to be signed as a new author in her stable. She’s already sizing up whether you can be a good, long-term client, or close to it.
Then after you sign with the agent, the two of you begin a long process of working…
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Happy St. Pat’s Day
Posted in Author, Reading, Writing, tagged blogs, Life lessons, Oscar Wilde, posts on March 18, 2014| Leave a Comment »
A great post I stumbled upon today:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/harpercollins/10-life-lessons-from-oscar-wilde-9npd
Procrastinating Part 2
Posted in Author, tagged critique, literature, procrastinating, publishing, work, Writer, writing on February 17, 2014| 4 Comments »
I know I have covered procrastinating before. (See “Procrastinating” post: 2011/09/08.) And I even went so far as to think that I am the only writer who does procrastinate. But now I find out that this phenomenon is not solely my problem but many other writers as well. Attending countless writers conferences and hearing agents and editors all say the same thing about the problems of writers I just did not connect the dots till now. I read an article posted by friend and it says that procrastinating is something all writers face. This is should not be a new concept but let’s just say I was a little slow to finally grasp the connection until I read this. The article was spot on with all the problems I have and I am so glad to see I am not alone. So for all I would like to say…..
“Hello, my name is Jessica. I am a procrastinator.”
Why Writers Are the Worst Procrastinator
Meeting a famous author
Posted in Author, tagged Book, Children, Creepy, Creepy Carrots, Curious Garden, Illustrator, Nathan Bransford, Peter Brown, Picture book on November 15, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Cover of The Curious Garden
So I had the opportunity to meet author/ illustrator Peter Brown at the Tulsa County Library in Tulsa, OK. I have liked his work since I first seen the book “The Curious Garden” several years ago. I was searching for an illustrator and came across this book and fell in love with the idea and imagery in it. It is about a boy who changes his world with just a simple idea.
One of Peter Brown’s other books (and I think I have blogged about it before), Creepy Carrots, received the 2013 Caldecott Honor. It was a beautifully fun picture book. My children have enjoyed it immensely.
So while getting myself hyped up for days about what to say to him I asked someone for advice. Nathan Bransford told me to “just be myself and have fun!” This is exactly what I did. I waited in line with my daughter and our four books, to be signed by Peter Brown, for more than thirty minutes. As I got closer I realized that I will have to say something cool.
What came out was something bordering blubbering idiot and stalker fan. I said, “I have loved your books for years.” He made a joke about one of my child’s names and then it was over. We were moved aside and left the library with our freshly signed books.
Okay I didn’t get him to look at my picture book manuscript and he didn’t ask me if I was a writer either. But I enjoyed myself. I realized that this is what I wanted. I don’t want to work a job everyday in sales. I want to visit schools and libraries talking about my books. I want to sign my books till my fingers bleed. (Maybe till they are sore anyways) I know now that I need to follow my dream and keep trying until I finally become published.
Books to Treasure 2013 Featuring Peter Brown (Photo credit: Tulsa City-County Library)
Book Review of “Ender’s Game”
Posted in Author, Literary works, movie critique, Reading, tagged Arts, Book, books, Children, Ender, Ender Wiggin, Enders game, Harrison Ford, List of Ender's Game series organizations, literature, Orson Scott Card, Shopping on July 27, 2013| Leave a Comment »
Cover of Ender’s Game (Ender Quartet)
Being a fan of Orson Scott Card I have read many of his books. So how did I miss this one? Or the fact that it is a series? The only reason I even knew about it was because of the movie coming out later on this year.
I loved this book and was shocked at the end. Who would have guess? But I kept wondering. Card takes a young child and puts him in adult situations making serious decisions. Very thought-provoking and intense scenes with bullies and fights. Children are so innocent and usually make decisions based on what they have seen other children do. Ender Wiggins was a genius and did things that some adults would never even thought of doing. I was glad in the end when Ender was able to reconnect with his sister. It would have been a sad life if not.
Now I can’t wait to read the next books in the series. Card has a way with words giving them a deeper meaning. Philosophy classes or even theorists could spend years psychoanalyzing his work.
http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/3252247-jessica-wilson”>View all my reviews
Does anyone have a favorite Orson Scott Card novel?
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