Rhetoric: The Small Stuff

I’m starting a two-part series with this post – two part; so, blink and you might miss it. But I want to talk to you about rhetoric – you know, that stuff you hear on the news all the time that’s keeping politicians from actually getting anything done? Fortunately, I’m kidding: today’s political rhetoric is about as juvenile as college humor compared to what it actually means. It is, technically, using words to convince the listener of the rightness of the speaker. In its highest form, though, it’s supposed to convince the opposition of the rightness of the speaker – not convince those who already agree, like political rhetoric tends to do.

Adding Character to Your Novel

My new plan of revision (a revised revision plan?) is humming along nicely – it was supposed to, since the early chapters were already pretty solid. I’d say in a few weeks, as hard as I may try, I’ll be slowing down a bit. For now, the prologue and three chapters are locked in, and I’ve only started this last Saturday. So I’m pretty stoked about that. But what was really fun on Wednesday was adding some character to the novel.

How, do you ask? More thematic elements? Some symbolism to spice things up? Maybe a rip-roaring description? No, silly: by adding a character.

Trails of Literature

There’s an interesting thing about the mountain bike trails in my area: I’ve ridden three (or four if you count my parents’ property) and each place, even though within 30 miles of one another, has a distinctive feel to them. One place has ten to fifteen miles of trails, another seven, a third has near 30 I believe, and my parents have six miles. But I’d be willing to bet you could drop me blindfolded in the middle of any one of those parks, take off the blindfold, and in a few minutes of riding I could tell you exactly where I am.

Scent of Creativity

So, I was working on my book this past week (yay!) and something interesting happened. Let me back up: I’m still deep in the middle of revising my book, getting everything aligned with the most recent vision of the stories events, and trying to make sure that I don’t have references to past (edited out) or future (abandoned ideas) plot lines – as well as generally fixing the issue with having a lack of sub-plots.

The Three Percent

I read an interesting statistic the other day on a buoy-me-up self-publishing picture: it said, in a contextual tone to suggest this was why self-publishing is awesome, that of all the manuscripts that are received yearly by traditional publishers, only about 3% are accepted. It also mentioned that, a few years ago, 86% of all books published were self-published. What it failed to mention was what percentage of that 86% found any kind of success. How much would you like to bet that it was somewhere in the neighborhood of 3%?

Whack-A-Scene

Not because it's relevant...just because it's
so darn cute

Well, one week down on the new schedule. If you follow me, you know I missed this past Wednesday. There’s a very good reason for that: I hadn’t written the post on the previous Thursday like I wanted to. Because once we get into the week, all bets are most definitely off. It’s incredible the things that can pop up, and you with hammer in hand can only do your best to pop them back down.

Biographies

It’s that special time of book-writing – at least, fantasy-book writing – when things start to come alive. I’ve had a map up on my wall for a while (more fully fleshed out from something I’ve had for quite a number of years now), with all the little towns and castle and villages and things; names that carry some amount of meaning; a little bit of history and culture worked out, and a description of a key point within the story that epitomizes the culture of the land today. Which is all well and good. But it hadn’t truly come alive. Yet.

OMG OUTLINES!

Sorry for my teenybopper outburst there, but I’ve just spent a few hours today revising my book, now that I have character arcs – complete with necessary scenes, incidents, and internal and external manifestations of each stage of the arc. It went so much better than any of the other of my attempts at revision, I just had to tell you about it.

New, Magical Waters

The day has come; the time is rotten (I let it ripen a little too much; lot’s going on, you know). I have character arcs in hand – well, in Word, but you know – I have scenes planned, even a couple all worked out in my head. It’s going to be fun.

You're Showing Too Much

If you’ve been interested in writing for more than a year, and have read at least two blogs or books on writing, you’ve heard “show, don’t tell.” I talked about it here myself. And as I also talk about there, sometimes we lose the point among all the emphasis – we tell, instead of show, how to show instead of tell. But it doesn’t end there.

Plan to Look at Planning Ahead

Be careful of those who look too far ahead, because they often don’t know where they are. The downfall of the idealist is they don’t often know how to get from where they are to where they want to be – they’re so intent on what should be that they can’t recognize what, for now, only can be. But there is a good way to look forward, that I’m practicing right now with my writing.

A Taste of Spring

Going to take a different track, today. I’m still holding steady in the novel-writing arena, without any major, major breakthroughs (outside of some new ideas for book 3, and finishing up minor tasks toward the revision of book 1). So I thought I’d talk about another passion of mine: cycling.

Blundering Along

Don't be an intestine: they're full of crap!

Dreams: having them can really suck, sometimes. Like when you try to fulfill them, and they refuse to be fulfilled. Or when you think they’re about to be fulfilled, and then suddenly it seems like it’s going to be years. Or maybe they are fulfilled, but they’re not nearly as dreamy as you hoped they’d be. I’m on the second one, right now.

Finding Time

Time. It’s an interesting thing; people think of it as a line, a continuous sequence of events from one moment to the next. But really, from God’s perspective, it’s a giant ball of wibbly-wobbly, time-y wimey…stuff. (Yes, that’s adapted from “Dr. Who”. Moving on…) And within Creation, it’s everywhere. You can’t go any-stinkin’-where without time being right there with you. And yet people these days have so much trouble finding it; it’s incredible. Don’t get me wrong, I have that problem too.

The Low Moors

In my fantasy novel By WaysUnseen there’s a place called Frecksshire that’s dominated by the high moors in the center, and the low moors in a ring around the high moors. The low moors are so called because most of the year they are submerged in water, with bits of firmer ground like muddy walkways – think the Dead Marshes, but shallower. Haydren won’t fall in and almost drown. But in the darkness it can be tough going, especially as it continues to rain and the firmer ground becomes steadily softer. And I feel like my revisions are on the low moors in a rainstorm.

A Handy Skill

You know, I realized something the past few days: writing can be a good skill to have. After four years of college, mostly in an English major, writing a lot has helped me in one big way: writing a little is stinkin’ easy. I’ve been writing articles on bicycle-related stuff – not much, 300 to 500 words – and honestly, it’s being kind of easy. I’m not saying I’m some sort of prodigy, or even very good. But small pieces, now, don't even increase my heart-rate.

Very Inspiring Bloggers

There are days when waking up is awesome: Sunday was one, as I received a notification that Tash Berbank over at TashEdits nominated me for the Very Inspiring Blogger award! Whodathunkit? Thanks Tash! It's wonderful to know I'm not just rambling (though I still do that ~_^)

Now it's my turn. Check-list time:

·  Thank and link back to the awesome person who nominated you.

            Check

·  Share 7 things about yourself.

1.      I love casseroles. And chili. Amalgamations just do something for me.

2.      I find the Book of Revelations is equal parts terrifying and exciting.

3.      I thought I loved my Keurig until I didn’t like the non-recyclable waste and got a standard 4-cup brewer that supports a reusable filter: now I realize I just like access to coffee.

4.      Some people have a countdown to birthdays or Christmas or a concert: I’m counting down till spring, and a local six-hour mountain bike race.

5.      I have one pair of shorts that I can wear, because they actually come close to fitting: this will be a problem soon.

6.      I recently learned to make over-easy eggs. To date, 30 unborn chicks have entered the world to be fried and dusted in salt, pepper, and garlic powder or chives. Don’t worry: they were delicious.

7.      Intro to Rhetoric class changed my life. At least my writing.

·  Nominate 15 5 other bloggers and comment on their blogs to let them know.

Yeah, I really don’t keep up with 15 blogs. So here’s my top 5, in no particular order.

Courtney Rae

Joline Atkins (currently under construction, but returning in its aweseomeness soon!)

Glynn Young

K.M. Weiland

All the ladies at Daily Fast Fuel: Joline, Debbie, Sara, Katie, Angie, and my main girl, Anitra.

What Had Happened

“Show, don’t tell.” Can anyone explain this maxim better? A lot have tried, and a lot have tried to claim one secret to understanding “show, don’t tell.” Unfortunately, it’s a lot more complicated than that. Now, if you’re a passable plot-creator, and just want to make money, then it’s simple: stuff action into every possible crevice of your writing. But if you enjoy wordplay and will write whether you get published and make money or not, and are aware of subtle action (think PBS instead of NHL), then I’ve found one instance of telling that’s easy to spot.

Mountain Biking with Rushdie

This is sort of a mixed post, writing/riding – two of my favorite activities. Some of my best writing has come after an hour of riding, and some of my best riding has come after not being able to write. It’s not that one motivates the other, at all; it’s just that riding allows my mind to focus and follow a single train of thought (rather than the usual two trains), since most of the rest of my brain is screaming “AHHH IT’S A TREE!!”

A New Word Order

I had a major break-through the other day. Well, the breakthrough happened much more slowly; but I recognized it a few days ago. At some point in the writing process of my novel, I had to add a character into the story. I don’t remember why, and I don’t even remember if they’re still in there, or if that was one of the several forgotten ideas now left behind in my subconscious to crop up in some later novel without my realizing. But I did it wrong. I didn’t know how then, but I realize now how I did it completely wrong.