It's campaigning time!
Rachael Harrie is hosting a "platform-building campaign." Yes yes, I know -- it's a little weird to build a platform when I'm not selling anything. Sue me.
(For reals, someone please sue me. I'm getting rusty.)
Now, I've got to admit: this is bad timing for me. While I would love to find new fun blogs to read, and have other people find my blog, I am going out of town for a week (which also results in a lot of crazy-busy-ness this week as I try to wrap up some projects). So anyone who finds this blog because of the "campaign," I promise you -- I will find your blog. I will respond to comments. I will eventually catch up.
Or curl up in a ball on my couch with a Cafe Rio salad while catatonically watching Jersey Shore and whimpering softly.
But one of those things is going to happen.
In the meantime, let's all hope I figured out how to do that "scheduled blog post" thing correctly! And everyone else out there thinking, "Oh hey, maybe I should do that campaigny thingy too" -- DO IT.
* A GAZILLION points to whoever figures out why I titled this post "BCRA." You're going to have to be pretty nerdy (or should I say wonky?) to figure it out.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Favorite summer read
Cherie Reich is hosting a blogfest (I know! When did that become a word, right?) (Sidenote: So! Many! Blogfests! I need a break.)
I am a big re-reader. Ever since I graduated from The Babysitters' Club, which realistically probably began my journey of re-readership,* I have tended to re-read my favorite books over and over again. This is probably why every summer I read The Stand, Fight Club, Pride and Prejudice, and at least one Harry Potter.
But I don't only re-read. This summer my Kindle and I have become quite close ... you could say we've taken it to the next level, in fact. So for anyone out there looking for a few more books to tear through before the summer is over, I'd recommend the following:
1. A Game of Thrones (George RR Martin)
2. A Clash of Kings (George RR Martin)
3. A Storm of Swords (George RR Martin)
4. A Feast for Crows (George RR Martin)
5. Supernaturally (Kiersten White)
6. The Fifth Witness (Michael Connelly)
7. Full Dark, No Stars (Stephen King)
8. John Adams (David McCullough)
(Yes, I read more than this. These are just the ones I'm telling other people to read. I'll be honest - I chose a few strike-outs this summer.)
And on my To Be Read While On Vacation Next Week list:
Any others I should put on there? Don't be deterred at the 1,040 historical fantasy novel in the third spot, I'm a reading machine and I need suggestions!
* While I never technically "re-read" a BSC book, anyone who was ever a nine-year-old girl knows that once you've read one of Kristy's, Claudia's, Stacey's, Mary Anne's, Dawn's, Mallory's, Jessi's, Logan's, Shannon's, or Abby's (yes, those were all members of the Club at one point of another) adventures, you've read them all. Anyone remember the format of Chapter 2? Because it's burned into my brain.
Random fact about me? I pronounced Janine "Ja-9" for probably two years before anyone corrected me. In my mind, the older Kishi sister is straight up gangsta.
The Spark: Wrapping Up
So I've talked about how I first got it into my head that I could or should try a writer. But now I'll switch to a different question posed by the Spark Blogfest:
Is there a book or author that changed your world view?
Little known fact - the film The Shawshank Redemption was based on a novella in the Stephen King book, DIFFERENT SEASONS called "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption." (Like how I used three different styles in that last sentence? Me too.)
If you haven't read it, I recommend it, and then go ahead and buy the film as well because you'll want to watch it as soon as you've read the last page.
I don't want to give anything away, in case you haven't read it or seen it, but suffice it to say, it caused me to look at the criminal justice system in an entirely different way. There are guilty men at Shawshank Prison and there are innocent men at Shawshank--but none of that is as important as the fact that there are men in Shawshank Prison, and they all deserve as much dignity as they can be afforded under those circumstances.
(PS - Do you know what signing up for three blogfests, all with overlapping dates, gets you? A boatload of posts in one week, which is truly unfortunate, since (a) I haven't had much of a chance to explore other blogs this week and (b) will be somewhat MIA next week. But never fear! I will catch up as soon as I'm able. Thanks to all the new followers, I'm super stoked to go check out your blogs as well.)
Is there a book or author that changed your world view?
Little known fact - the film The Shawshank Redemption was based on a novella in the Stephen King book, DIFFERENT SEASONS called "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption." (Like how I used three different styles in that last sentence? Me too.)
If you haven't read it, I recommend it, and then go ahead and buy the film as well because you'll want to watch it as soon as you've read the last page.
I don't want to give anything away, in case you haven't read it or seen it, but suffice it to say, it caused me to look at the criminal justice system in an entirely different way. There are guilty men at Shawshank Prison and there are innocent men at Shawshank--but none of that is as important as the fact that there are men in Shawshank Prison, and they all deserve as much dignity as they can be afforded under those circumstances.
(PS - Do you know what signing up for three blogfests, all with overlapping dates, gets you? A boatload of posts in one week, which is truly unfortunate, since (a) I haven't had much of a chance to explore other blogs this week and (b) will be somewhat MIA next week. But never fear! I will catch up as soon as I'm able. Thanks to all the new followers, I'm super stoked to go check out your blogs as well.)
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
The Spark: Part 3
So which writer really lit my fire (as you will) on the writing front?
As I suspect is the case for many people ... Stephen King.
I know, right? Those of you who have seen my overly pink! green! orange! high heels! cardigans! wardrobe, my yellow-and-mint house, my CUTESY WOOTSEY puppy are probably thinking ... "Huh?"
But it's true, and anyone who has gotten into Stephen King understands why he could have this effect on a young mind. (And a 27-year-old mind, because really, I'm still obsessed.)
A friend once showed me a video on Youtube where the world's biggest nerd dissected all the problems with Star Wars: Episode I. The biggest problem he identified (and I agree) is that when you tell random people on the street that they're going to have to describe a character from Star Wars without saying who played them or what they look like, this is what you get:
Han Solo: dashing, reckless, rebellious, kind of a shady character but ultimately pretty loyal
Queen Amidala: (cricket noises)
As they say, the devil's in the details, and Stephen King provides a lot of details without bogging down his story. When you name a Stephen King character, people KNOW who you're talking about. (Provided they've read him, of course.) What's more interesting is that I submit they usually will not be able to say what the person looks like.
Take Louis Creed, for example. Anyone who has read Pet Sematary is probably going to remember that he's a middle aged doctor with a wife, two kids, and he grew up poor. He wants to provide for his family, he still resents his in-laws. He's a hard worker who put himself through school. He likes cheap beer and loves his neighbor, who is like the father-figure he never had. He's agnostic bordering on atheist. He resists believing in the supernatural until presented with overwhelming evidence.
What hair color does he have? Hell if I know. But who cares? If I had to choose between remembering that Dr. Louis Creed once worked after school in his uncle's mortuary and whether he's a blond or brunette, I know what I choose every time.*
That's important for characters, but it's also important for setting, which is really just your silent character.
Even though Stephen King usually writes in a contemporary setting, he still goes to the effort to make his "world" come alive. Some writers just think, "Hey, everyone knows what small towns are like," but with Stephen King, you know what THIS small town is like, which is just as important as knowing the geography of Westeros or where in Diagon Alley you would go to get some really great ice cream.
Think about it. If you've read Harry Potter, you can visualize Hogwarts. If you've read A Song of Ice and Fire, you can picture The Eyrie. Why should it be different if it's not fantasy? I had a picture of Shawshank Prison in my head before I saw the movie, I know which roads lead out of Chester's Mill, Maine, and I know I don't want to set one foot in Derry, Maine for any amount of time, EVER. And I know I want people to feel the same way about the towns, businesses, and high schools I tell them about in my writing.
So there's that. Check back tomorrow if you want to find out what story changed my world view ... bonus points if you can guess it with just these clues:
1. I'm currently a lawyer
2. This blog post happens to be about Stephen King, not John Grisham
3. I said "story," not full-blown book
* Now that I've made this claim, I'm curious if I can back it up. Everyone who has read some Stephen King, let me know if you can describe the following characters from memory (I'll do my best to only list big ones):
1. Bill Denbrough (IT)
2. Garraty (The Long Walk)
3. Jack Torrance (The Shining)
4. Dolores Claiborne (same title)
5. Harold Lauder (The Stand) (yes, some physical description of Harold is OK.)
6. Larry Underwood (The Stand)
7. Annie Wilkes (Misery)
8. Chris Chambers ("The Body" in Different Seasons)
9. Rainbird (Firestarter)
10. Bobby Garfield (Hearts in Atlantis)
Or list your own examples. Fun times for all!
For another, less scatterbrained explanation of why Stephen King is the cat's pajamas, go here.
As I suspect is the case for many people ... Stephen King.
I know, right? Those of you who have seen my overly pink! green! orange! high heels! cardigans! wardrobe, my yellow-and-mint house, my CUTESY WOOTSEY puppy are probably thinking ... "Huh?"
 |
| I just realized - there haven't been enough Spenner-Baby pictures on the blog lately. (Gasp!) Here's Spence at Rodrigo's cabin two weekends ago at LAWYER RETREAT 2011! Let's hope it becomes an annual thing, because there's nothing quite like spending the weekend with old friends, little pups, funny client stories, and those ridiculous chocolate donuts from Costco. |
A friend once showed me a video on Youtube where the world's biggest nerd dissected all the problems with Star Wars: Episode I. The biggest problem he identified (and I agree) is that when you tell random people on the street that they're going to have to describe a character from Star Wars without saying who played them or what they look like, this is what you get:
Han Solo: dashing, reckless, rebellious, kind of a shady character but ultimately pretty loyal
Queen Amidala: (cricket noises)
As they say, the devil's in the details, and Stephen King provides a lot of details without bogging down his story. When you name a Stephen King character, people KNOW who you're talking about. (Provided they've read him, of course.) What's more interesting is that I submit they usually will not be able to say what the person looks like.
Take Louis Creed, for example. Anyone who has read Pet Sematary is probably going to remember that he's a middle aged doctor with a wife, two kids, and he grew up poor. He wants to provide for his family, he still resents his in-laws. He's a hard worker who put himself through school. He likes cheap beer and loves his neighbor, who is like the father-figure he never had. He's agnostic bordering on atheist. He resists believing in the supernatural until presented with overwhelming evidence.
What hair color does he have? Hell if I know. But who cares? If I had to choose between remembering that Dr. Louis Creed once worked after school in his uncle's mortuary and whether he's a blond or brunette, I know what I choose every time.*
That's important for characters, but it's also important for setting, which is really just your silent character.
Even though Stephen King usually writes in a contemporary setting, he still goes to the effort to make his "world" come alive. Some writers just think, "Hey, everyone knows what small towns are like," but with Stephen King, you know what THIS small town is like, which is just as important as knowing the geography of Westeros or where in Diagon Alley you would go to get some really great ice cream.
Think about it. If you've read Harry Potter, you can visualize Hogwarts. If you've read A Song of Ice and Fire, you can picture The Eyrie. Why should it be different if it's not fantasy? I had a picture of Shawshank Prison in my head before I saw the movie, I know which roads lead out of Chester's Mill, Maine, and I know I don't want to set one foot in Derry, Maine for any amount of time, EVER. And I know I want people to feel the same way about the towns, businesses, and high schools I tell them about in my writing.
So there's that. Check back tomorrow if you want to find out what story changed my world view ... bonus points if you can guess it with just these clues:
1. I'm currently a lawyer
2. This blog post happens to be about Stephen King, not John Grisham
3. I said "story," not full-blown book
* Now that I've made this claim, I'm curious if I can back it up. Everyone who has read some Stephen King, let me know if you can describe the following characters from memory (I'll do my best to only list big ones):
1. Bill Denbrough (IT)
2. Garraty (The Long Walk)
3. Jack Torrance (The Shining)
4. Dolores Claiborne (same title)
5. Harold Lauder (The Stand) (yes, some physical description of Harold is OK.)
6. Larry Underwood (The Stand)
7. Annie Wilkes (Misery)
8. Chris Chambers ("The Body" in Different Seasons)
9. Rainbird (Firestarter)
10. Bobby Garfield (Hearts in Atlantis)
Or list your own examples. Fun times for all!
For another, less scatterbrained explanation of why Stephen King is the cat's pajamas, go here.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
The Spark: Part 2
For better or worse, I am a contrary person.
Throughout my childhood, various people encouraged me about my writing, mostly my pops and teachers. Because of that, I always knew I was a pretty good writer, but it never occurred to me that I ought to pursue it in anyway.
But then, sometime in junior high, I read a book (no, I won't name it, but yes, I can remember which one it is) and thought -- I can do better than this.
And for the first time, it occurred to me that I should think about trying to be a serious writer.
Throughout my childhood, various people encouraged me about my writing, mostly my pops and teachers. Because of that, I always knew I was a pretty good writer, but it never occurred to me that I ought to pursue it in anyway.
But then, sometime in junior high, I read a book (no, I won't name it, but yes, I can remember which one it is) and thought -- I can do better than this.
And for the first time, it occurred to me that I should think about trying to be a serious writer.
Monday, August 22, 2011
The Spark
It's hard to say.
But I think it's when my dad made a big deal over something dumb.
When I was probably 5 or 6, I created my own picture book, complete with illustrations. The story was ... not good. The art was worse.
But my dad paraded the thing around like I had written a Pulitzer Prize winner, and at six, I was too little to be embarrassed.
For more information, check back tomorrow ...
August 23rd Update: I'm also going to be doing another blogfest (holy crap, ANOTHER ONE?), but I'm going to talk about it in more detail later in the week, so as to not take away from The Spark. Click here to find out more!
Not gonna lie, super impressed with myself right now
But I'm MORE impressed with the fabulous Emily King, who interviewed me for her blog today.
I'm a "blogging mentor," guys! I sincerely hope this turns out better than that time I was a law student mentor, and all the advice I gave to new 1Ls had to do with good parking spots and cheap lunch options. (Sono Express, friends. It never fails.)
Go over to Emily's blog and read my interview -- and then read some of Emily's fantastic posts, because she is just fabulous.
I'm a "blogging mentor," guys! I sincerely hope this turns out better than that time I was a law student mentor, and all the advice I gave to new 1Ls had to do with good parking spots and cheap lunch options. (Sono Express, friends. It never fails.)
Go over to Emily's blog and read my interview -- and then read some of Emily's fantastic posts, because she is just fabulous.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)