Photo Finish Friday: “Portal”

In the hedge lay adventure.

Robbie said, “Ain’t so.”

“Is too,” Ray said back.

Robbie and Ray were each six years old. Robbie was a few months older, and on occasions like this, he like to remind Ray of that. They just weren’t sure what this occasion was. Still, Robbie was asserting his role as elder statesman to tell Ray he was wrong.

“It’s like Nose legend.,” Ray said “You know, that great fight called Rag in a rock.”

“This got nothin’ to do with that,” Robbie said. “Ain’t nothin’ more than a strange cut in the hedge for that box.”

“It’s a portal, I tell you. And those Nose gods will come pourin’ through it to do battle with them frost giants and there will be an army of Gideon.”

“Who’s that?” Robbie asked.

Ray shrugged. “Some guy who can pour armies.”

“Ain’t no army goin’ to come pourin’ out of that hole in the hedge. It don’t even go all the way through.”

“It’s still a portal,” Ray said, “and if you go and sit in it for six hours, you will see it: happening. I dare ya’. I double dog dare ya!”

Not one to turn down a double dog dare, Robbie snuck up on the rectangular. And to show he wasn’t scared at all, he climbed into the hole in the fence. He tried several different poses and a few words he wasn’t supposed to.

After thirty minutes, Robbie fell asleep in the portal. After another ten minutes had passed, Ray left and walked back to the family picnic where he immediately ate his ice cream allotment and Ray’s, too.

Haiku to you Thursday: “First fright”

He reached the road’s end. /

He stepped into the unknown. /

The first fright was love.

Adventures In Editing, Part V

Reblogged from You and Me, Dupree:

One day, Bantam publisher Irwyn Applebaum summoned me into his office and asked, “How do you respond when I say, ‘Tom Robbins’?” Without even thinking, I said, “one of the great prose stylists of his generation.” He said, “That’s what I thought. I want you to go out to Seattle and meet him. You might become his editor.” (Spoiler Alert: I did, and I did.

Read more… 1,856 more words

Step up, sit down, and read about one editor's adventures in editing. If you are a writer, it is worth your time, and if you are a reader, it is also worth you time. And if you don't do either, well, then, shame on you.

Writing tip Wednesday: “Frankly, my plot doesn’t give a….”

WHY DOESN’T MY PLOT WORK?

by BRUCE HALE and MICHAEL STEARNS

http://www.brucehalewritingtips.com/

Getting perspective on your own writing is tougher than two-year-old Halloween caramels. You squint at the story, mull it over, and suspect something isn’t working, but it’s hard to say what, exactly.

At a recent conference, my friend and former editor, Michael Stearns, offered up one of the best cures I’ve seen for this problem. His series of diagnostic questions can help you turn your plot from wimpy to wicked-strong.

Reprinted with his permission, here’s an excerpt from Michael’s list of questions, together with my explanations.

1. Do you have something pulling the character forward?
Every character needs a powerful goal or desire. Make sure it’s compelling enough to believably motivate them.

2. Do you have something pushing the character from behind?
Add a meddlesome mom, a pursuing villain, an obnoxious rival — someone who applies pressure.

3. Have you remembered clocks?
This refers to a deadline that must be met, or else. Think of Marty McFly in Back to the Future, who must drive his time machine
past the clock tower at the right moment, or remain stuck in the past.

4. Have you made the character lie — to others and to us?
Everybody lies. And whether it’s a big lie or a little one, the truth wants to come out. This energy helps invigorate your plot.

5. Do you know your character’s motives inside and out?
Often, plots bog down when you lose sight of why your hero wants to do something. Unmotivated action rings false.

6. Does all the above apply to even minor characters?
The villain, the best friend, even the bit players have a reason for doing what they do. And when you get clear on that reason, their actions will be make more sense.

7. Have you buried the ends of chapters?
Don’t immediately resolve the issue or question that gets raised near the chapter’s end. Resolve it in the next chapter — or better yet, the chapter after that. Your readers will curse you while they keep on reading.

8. Have you been as mean as possible to your characters?
We’re talking about Job mean, Sophie’s Choice mean, evil-punk-the-reader-will-hate-you-forever mean. Don’t just give your hero grief, give her the worst day imaginable.

9. Do you always go for the extreme?
What keeps readers reading is high-stakes action. In the words of Spinal Tap, dial it up to 11. The higher the stakes, the better the book.

Michael Stearns is an agent and partner of Upstart Crow Literary Agency. You can visit his website at: http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=O8uEK&m=IsxyiV6D9FLsQz&b=7cPIzxf9UuUk28zsEYoWSw

___________

Bruce Hale

About Bruce…
Bruce Hale began his career as a writer while living in Tokyo, and continued it when he moved to Hawaii in 1983. Before entering the world of children’s books, he worked as a magazine editor, surveyor, corporate lackey, gardener, actor, and deejay.

Bruce has written and illustrated over 25 books for kids. His Underwhere series includes Prince of Underwhere and Pirates of Underwhere. His Chet Gecko Mysteries series includes: The Chameleon Wore Chartreuse, The Big Nap, The Malted Falcon, Hiss Me Deadly, and others. More at http://www.brucehale.com/

Eleanor and Rose, and “The Case of the Fleaing Colors,” Credits

Cartoonist: Lauren Booker

This has been a Talltalestogo presentation of The Case of the Fleaing Colors.

Starring: Eleanor and Rose
Special appearance: Kali

Drawings by Lauren Booker

Coloring by Lauren Booker

Non-coloring by Lauren Booker

Story adapted for the blog screen by David E. Booker from a story told to him by Lauren Booker.

Editing by David E. Booker

Layout by David E. Booker

Concept by Lauren Booker

Any resemblance to dogs or monkeys real or imagined may not be completely coincidental.

Copyright 2013 by Lauren Booker and David E. Booker

Thank you for reading The Case of the Fleaing Colors

A Talltalestogo presentation.

To re-view any or all of the mystery strong>The Case of the Fleaing Colors, click on the links below, especially the one that reads: “The case of the fleaing colors”.

Story by: Lauren Booker and David E. Booker

Monday morning writing joke: “the screen and the bulb”

Q.: How many screenwriters does it take to screw in a light bulb?

A.: Why does it have to be changed?

Just For Openers

Reblogged from You and Me, Dupree:

The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.

That’s one of the greatest opening lines in literary history, for my money. It has stuck with me for nearly thirty years. In fact, I just quoted it by heart (double-checking only to make sure I got the comma right: I did). As everybody else who has encountered it also doubtless remembers, …

Read more… 1,750 more words

An interesting rumination on some well-known opening sentences.

Eleanor and Rose, and “The Case of the Fleaing Colors,” part 25

Part 25: The End, except for the credits

Haiku to you Thursday: “Scatters”

Lightning, thunder, rain — /

wind scatters all that remains: /

memory, leaves, love

Eleanor and Rose, and “The Case of the Fleaing Colors,” part 24

Part 24: One last reveal