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Friday, December 16, 2011

Ironic

Sara and I are taking a two week blogging break to spend the Christmas break with our kids and family. Don't worry We'll be back bright and shiny on January 2nd. With that, I leave you some parting thoughts.


Need to infuse your writing with more irony? You are in luck because I have some inspiration for you. Have A VERY Merry Christmas.


-Angie







Thursday, December 15, 2011

Your Genre...



“Read in your genre. Read in your genre. Read in your genre.” 

You hear it all the time. From agents. From authors.  From people on the street (No, not really, but it seems that way) It feels like everyone gives the same advice.

I think it’s good advice. I’m a huge propionate of reading, but are you limiting yourself by only reading in the genre you write?

I think so.

There are PROS for reading IN your genre.
  • You can spot trends
  • You know the market
  • You know what’s been done already
  • You find new exciting authors
  • You understand what readers of your genre expect 

But there are PROS for reading OUTSIDE of your genre.
  • You can learn how to add suspense from reading Mystery or Suspense Novels
  • You can learn how to add emotion form reading Romance and Contemporary
  • You can learn how to use lyrical language from reading Literary Fiction
  • You can learn world building from Fantasy, Sci-Fi, and Dystopian
  • You can learn how to make everything boring from reading Non-Fiction (I’m just kidding J But only a little) 

I’m sure there are more. What do you all think? Do you stick to your genre or do you find branching out helps you as a writer?

-Angie



Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Lost and Found

My first attempt at a Blog Hop - I couldn't pass this one up! Thanks Abby and the others for kicking this off!

This is for my brother Brian. His ideas of Christmas Giving have become a legend in our family! Here goes:

"Mom, no way! A new pocket knife?" Craig clutched the object within the newspaper wrap. "Wait a second, this is my old knife. Where did you find it? I thought I lost it after scout camp." Craig rubbed his finger across the rough edge where he’d carved his initials, CSA, into the handle. He waited for his mother to fill in the blanks, but she looked as surprised as he did.

"Your old pocket knife?" she repeated, grabbing the newspaper which had served as Christmas wrap. "It says from Santa," she said, looking at her husband. He shrugged his shoulders and pulled another gift from under the tree.

This one bore duct tape trim along the edge of yesterday’s front page. Across the newspaper in black marker someone wrote, “TO: Net, FROM: Snata.”

"Another from Santa, but this is for you, Lynette." He tossed the gift to his daughter, who wasted no time yanking at the duct tape.

"Here," her mom said, handing her the scissors.

"Daisy! It's Daisy, Mom! Where did you find her? I thought I lost you!" Lynette cried, hugging the doll to her.

“Hey, Dad, this one’s for me,” Clair said, reaching under the tree for the final newspaper donned gift. “Can I open it?” His dad nodded, eyebrows raised in curiosity as his third child tore open the wrap and pulled out a faded baseball cap. “My hat! Are you kidding me? I looked everywhere for this! Where was it?”

Their father scanned the room and settled on a small bundle nestled in the corner of their orange couch. There sat his four-year-old son, peeking at him from behind a blanket. The small form shook with a muffled laugh.

“I guess Santa surprised all of us this year!” their father said, winking.


--Sara Bulla

For my kids :)



Here’s my entry—for my kids :)

            If we’re quiet Mom and Dad will never know. How can they think I’ll wait until six o’clock to see what Santa brought?
            It’s not fair. They’re my presents after all.
            “Do you think we should do it?” my brother McKay asks.
            “Yes…no…maybe. I don’t know.” I flop back on my bed. All this thinking is making me tired.
            The clock blinks…4:01…4:01…4:02.       
            My sister rolls over in her sleeping bag. She’s snoring again. She’s even loud in her sleep.
            McKay starts laughing.
            “Shush,” I tell him.
            “Should we do it?” He asks swinging his footie pajama feet onto the floor, careful not to step on Sis.
            I look at him.
            He looks at me.
            We both smile.
            We’re brothers so I know what he’s thinking.
            We’re out the door and through the hall—too fast to be quiet.
   “Shush,” we both say together.
            We pause at the top of the stairs
            We’re supposed to wait here and at 6:00 a.m. Mom and Dad will come get us. It’s tradition. Just like all the kids sleeping in the same room is tradition.
            I want to start my own tradition. Sneaking to look at my presents. That’s my kind of tradition.
            “Okay, be quiet,” I tell McKay.
            The stairs squeak, and it sounds like screaming. Why is nothing quiet when you need it to be? Stairs? Sisters?
            I can see the lit tree. Now my heart is racing…then I see a shadow.
            “Hey boys. Whatcha doing?”

It’s not to late to join. Get in on the fun. Thanks Abby :)

-Angie


Monday, December 12, 2011

What do you notice?


This topic has been on my mind for a while. Have you ever noticed that most writers have the super power of—noticing :) I read books and think, “Wow, I never noticed that, but it’s SO true!”

Writers notice everything. I don’t know of any other job that requires such great powers of observation. Maybe a spy—maybe. Or a mom—for sure.

Here are a few things I notice:

People: I watch people. I want to see how they interact with each other. I love to see their quirks and habits. What motivates them and how can I show that motivation through their actions?

Settings: Whether it is outside or inside, buildings or nature, events or quiet moments—I notice it. What is it that makes a haunted house creepy? How can I use those same principles to make a hospital or grocery store just as creepy.

Language: I notice the funny things people say. I notice the unusual words they use. But most of all, I notice what language says about them and how they view the world.

I’m sure there are more, but these are the three I notice myself noticing :)

What about you? AWhat do you notice? Tell me. I’m dying to know.

-Angie 

Friday, December 9, 2011

Best pick up lines...ever!


My 17 year old Bro, Alex, is quite popular with the ladies so I asked him for his best pickup lines. Here are a few gems. They are too good to keep to myself...enjoy!
  • If you were a booger, I would pick you first!
  • Did you fart? Because you just blew me away!
  • Oh, there is something wrong with my phone...your number's not in it!
  • You look a lot like my next girlfriend.
  • My love for you is like diarrhea... I can't hold it in.
  • Will you hold this (offering a hand) while I go for a walk?
  • Hi, I'm Mr. Right someone said you were looking for me.
  • I lost my teddy bear can I cuddle with you instead?
  • Excuse me, I'm lost can you give me directions to your house?
  • I think there is something wrong with my eyes...I can't take them off of you.
  • When I saw you across the room I tripped and fell...I am going to need your name and number for insurance purposes.
  • I am not telling you this to impress you, but...I am Batman.
  • Kiss me if I'm wrong but is your name Guadalupe?
  • I'm incredibly rich.
Isn't he a great writer :) Have a wonderful weekend.

-Angie

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Why Storytelling is important


The Storyteller 

I’m sure you could take a college class or attend a lecture about this topic, and I’m not a teacher, but I’ve been thinking about this lately and I wanted to share my thoughts :)

Why storytelling is important (at least to me :)

Stories provide a safe way to confront personal demons. There is something so cathartic about a character fighting through the same thing you are. There is something about the outside looking in that makes the right thing to do easy to see. Personally, I like this fight to be abstract. I can’t begin to tell you how hard I cried thinking about two small hobbit battling against a power they logically couldn't beat.

Stories challenge our prejudices. We all have prejudices. They are built into our psyche as a way to keep us safe. I love reading books that begin with a character I’m not particularly fond of and then the author turns my world upside down and changes everything I know. I remember feeling this way after I read To Kill a Mockingbird.

Stories provide a needed escape. You can bury yourself in Angry Birds or worse more destructive kinds of escape, but reading is the perfect retreat. Not only do you get away, but you are working your mind and learning too. Now that is my kind of multitasking. This last year I read over 80 books and next year I’m setting a goal for 100. I need books—they are my oxygen.

Mark Twain said—“A person who won’t read has no advantage over one who can’t.”

To that I say…AMEN!

-Angie

What do you think? Why important is storytelling to you?

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Take Two


Yesterday I posted, The Take Back - Query, and doubled up on top of Angie's 'embarra**ing moment' post! D'oh! It was intended for today and rather than post something new, I'd like to leave my yesterday's post out there in the blog-o-sphere for today as well. I received some really great feedback (Thank you again for the advice and pointers that were shared. SO helpful!), and I'd love to receive more. You can scroll down to yesterday's post, or I've also pasted my query below. I haven't made any changes as of yet, though I know they are needed and will get on it as soon as time permits. Any comments, critique, suggestions, etc. are more than welcome!

Thanks everyone! And Happy Wednesday!

--Sara Bulla

Life energy can be stolen—days, months, years of life snatched with nothing more than irritated eyes to show for it. The Takers are waiting, committing the perfect crime, so they can live forever.

Seventeen-year-old Abby Crawford thought she was the only one with a secret—seeing the death of strangers and friends in her dreams. But when she flees her home town, ashamed of her ability, she discovers people who know not only of her power, but her family and destiny, too.

Will never believed the far-fetched stories about his life, but once Abby arrived, he couldn’t ignore that her gift might confirm his greatest fear: that he’s a Taker. Now their fates are bound together by Abby’s gift and Will’s dark past. Abby and Will are all that stands between humanity and the Takers. But the Takers have a secret that could leave the world defenseless—forever.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Freezing your butt off :)


Oh my goodness, I had to dig deep for this post. I think it is because I rarely get embarrassed. It isn’t because I never do anything stupid or shameful, but because I have that kind of personality that shrugs that kind of thing off. Is that weird?

I also never write embarrassing things happening to my characters (propably because I have so little experience). I’ve realized I need to work on that. I’m making a goal now to put that something embarrassing in my current WIP.

So instead of a story about me I will share something that happened to my dad’s best friend :) Is that cheating? Sorry :)

My dad is a phenomenal skier. He was on the downhill ski team in college and when I was just a baby he worked for Grand Targhee Ski Resort in Wyoming.

One day he and his best friend Michael were assigned to patrol the slopes. So, dad and Michael are skiing around helping the inept skiers and Michael suddenly has a problem. He needs to go to the bathroom. They are at the top of a run and there isn’t really anytime to make it to the bottom.

What would you do? Me? I don’t know. Do you really have options? I can see what is coming, but evidently Michael can’t.

Michael skis off the run and into the trees—far away from people. Of course. Now this story would be okay if the bathroom problem was a standing up problem, but it isn’t. This is a squatting bathroom problem. *shakes head*.

Michael drops his pants and…takes care of business. And then suddenly he’s moving…backward…down the mountain.  Gives new meaning to the phrase—a**  backward :)

I’ve heard this story from Michael’s own lips, so I know what he was thinking. He was sure he could turn himself around, so he just kept on going. My dad is racing after him, but Michael is in a tuck and cruising down the run. Luckily he’s a great skier and manages to miss all the other skiers.

By the time my dad catches up, Michael is at the bottom of the run lying in a heap laughing his frozen butt off. At least he has a sense of humor!

Thanks for the fun blog hop Cassie. If you want to read the other entries check out her blog.

-Angie

The Take Back - Query

I am a gleaner, harvesting information from all those around me. I am so new and unfamiliar with the 'business' side of writing: The query, the synopsis, blogging, cover letters, etc. I have learned SO much from my critique partners as well as those of you who follow our blog and whose blogs I follow! Thank you for your gems of wisdom ... I have truly benefited.

So, can I impose upon you all once again? I know Angie threw her query out to you a while back and received some incredible feedback. I'd like to do the same, if I may. I've written a YA/Urban Fantasy novel topping off at 94,000 words. I would greatly appreciate any and all feedback!! Thank you and good luck to you all in your own writing pursuits whatever they may be! Here goes ...

Life energy can be stolen—days, months, years of life snatched with nothing more than irritated eyes to show for it. The Takers are waiting, committing the perfect crime, so they can live forever.

Seventeen-year-old Abby Crawford thought she was the only one with a secret—seeing the death of strangers and friends in her dreams. But when she flees her home town, ashamed of her ability, she discovers people who know not only of her power, but her family and destiny, too.

Will never believed the far-fetched stories about his life, but once Abby arrived, he couldn’t ignore that her gift might confirm his greatest fear: that he’s a Taker. Now their fates are bound together by Abby’s gift and Will’s dark past.

Abby and Will are all that stands between humanity and the Takers. But the Takers have a secret that could leave the world defenseless—forever.


Ta-Dah! That is the Take Back in a nutshell. Thanks to Angie and others who have already given me a lot of guidance with this. And thanks, in advance, to you who take the time to post a comment/critique. Happy Tuesday everyone!

--Sara Bulla

Monday, December 5, 2011

What is success—really?

Not a picture of me :)

My kids and I have been sick for a week, so if I’ve been a little absent from the blog-o-shere, I’m sorry.

NaNoWriMo kicked my butt. I ended with 22, 039—which is good, but obviously short of my goal. I keep telling myself that it is 22K more than I had in October, but somehow it still feels like a failure.

I’m a bit of an overachiever, so less than perfect is never good enough. And I always make the mistake of doing too much at once.

Last month I—
  • Remodeled my bathroom
  • Started a new diet and exercise program (and lost 10 lbs)
  • Wrote 22k
  • Was sick for a week.
  • Had sick kids for a week.
  • Hosted Thanksgiving at my house.
  • Read 5 books
  • Did hours of house work
  • Finished all my Christmas shopping

I look at this list and in my mind I know I accomplished tons, but why does it feel like I failed?

AUGGH!!! Am I crazy? Someone help. I’m going to lie down...I'm still kind of sick.

-Angie





Thursday, December 1, 2011

Shopping for books?


I love to get books for Christmas. I remember when my husband and I were first married, he said he thought getting books for Christmas was a terrible idea. He is SO wrong! I think he’s changed his tune because I’ve gotten books for a few years now.

So if you are wondering what to buy for gifts, I thought I would give out a few recommendations. I was going to go with just books published in 2011, but then I changed my mind. Happy Christmas Shopping!

My Favorite Books of 2011

Non-FictionOutliers by Malcolm Gladwell


 Religious:  Seven Miracles that Saved America by Chris Stewart and Ted Stewart


 MysteryLemon Tart by Josi Kilpack


Literary Fiction:  The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Bradbery


 RomanceThe Kiss of a Stranger by Sarah Eden


 Verse NovelFar From You by Lisa Schroeder


 YA ContemporaryThe Next Door Boys by Jolene Perry


 YA ParanormalParanormalcy by Kiersten White


 YA DystopianPossession by Elana Johnson



YA Sci-FiAcross the Universe by Beth Revis


Women’s FictionGravity vs. TheGirl by Riley Noreen


 Middle Grade FantasyThe Shifter by Janice Hardy



Children’sJunie B. Jones (all of them) by Barbara Park


 Picture BookSleep, Big Bear,Sleep by Maureen Wright


and Millie Waits for the Mail by Alexander Steffensmeier



That should be a little something for everyone :) Give books for Christmas!

-Angie

And just in case you are wondering...of course I have read them all :)
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