Top 3 Superpowers (Laura)

Let's follow up on the exciting topic of superpowers that Hannah and Laurie introduced back in April. Here are some additional ones.


3. Animal empathy

Having the ability to understand and communicate with animals would be pretty interesting. Plus, the more people with the ability, the more peaceful the world would be. Perhaps the interspecies harmony would even influence more empathy between people of different backgrounds and cultures throughout the world. And, besides, think how neat it would be to call out your window, as Giselle does in Enchanted, and have a willing army of friendly pigeons and vermin help you clean your apartment. Or have a squirrel save you from death by poisoned apple on multiple occasions, as does her friend, Pip. Snow White and Cinderella are also characters with the magical ability to communicate with animals.

2. Teleportation

The first example that made me think of teleportation was actually not from a superpower, unless you consider intellectual genius superhuman. In the hit 1990's sitcom, Family Matters, the epically clumsy, nerdy, and lovable next-door neighbor, Steven Q. Urkel, uses his invention the Urk-pad to transport himself to places such as Paris. If I had the ability to teleport, I would explore the world without having to travel, and visit family whenever I wanted. Other fictional characters with the ability to teleport include Samantha from Bewitched and Maleficent.

1. Rapunzel's healing hair and tears
In Disney's Tangled, Rapunzel has magical abilities given to her by a healing flower during her infancy. While her abilities can be exploited, as done by Mother Gothel, they can also be used to mend wounds and even save lives. Not only magical, her hair, in particular, is like its own character in the story. It is not simply long and beautiful, but extraordinary and resourceful in the

ways Rapunzel uses it to swing, climb, direct, and heal.


What are more of your favorite superpowers?


Laura


Attributions
Giselle: http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/File:Giselle-and-her-animal-friends-wallpaper.jpeg
Steve Urkel: http://dragon-rap-battles.wikia.com/wiki/Steve_Urkel
Rapunzel: http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Rapunzel

A Time to Rise (Out of Time Book 3) by Nadine Brandes (Elizabeth)

If you remember, I posted a review on the first two Out of Time books in the series, and in October, the last book has finally come out!

If you haven't started this series, I'd recommend checking out the book review I linked above, so the summary below won't reveal any spoilers ;)

From Amazon
What more can you sacrifice than your life?

Parvin Blackwater is dead.

At least that's what the Council and the world thinks. But her sacrifice tore down part of the Wall long enough to stir up hope and rebellion in the people. Now she will rise again. Strong, free, and fearless.

Parvin and Solomon must uncover the mysterious clues that Jude left behind in order to destroy the projected Wall once and for all. Meanwhile, the Council schemes to new levels of technology in its attempts to keep the people contained. Can a one-handed Radical and a scarred ex-Enforcer really bring shalom to the world?


All the books in the series have covered an inspiring part of Parvin's faith journey, and this book was no exception. Her spiritual journey was both inspiring and relatable. The characters were multi-dimensional, inspiring me with their examples, yet still very much human and flawed. And, of course, I adored Solomon and Parvin's relationship. Parvin had to learn what it means to step back and let Solomon take charge. I suspect that this won't came naturally for me either... I seriously loved Solomon. He was always a leader, yet he was also completely behind whatever Parvin tried to do. He was kind, compassionate, and his faith and reliability helped anchor Parvin. After what they'd been through previously, Solomon would have done almost anything to make sure they're not separated again. The plot, as always, was interesting and kept me on my toes. I was never quite sure what to expect next. Being the last of the series, the book concluded beautifully, and its ending resonated with shalom.

Endings can be hard. What factors do you think determine a satisfactory ending? Have you ever struggled with your role in a relationship, like Parvin?

Thanks for reading!
-Elizabeth Newsom

NaNo Prep: Exploring the Extent of Your Plot (Hannah)

All month I have been preparing for the monumental challenge known as NaNoWriMo.  It starts in exactly one week, and I have been building up to it with blog posts covering three of the four most important elements in your story: characters, worldbuilding, plot, and theme.  I've been collecting and compiling the best of my resources to share with you, and I hope it has been a blessing.  I posted my top three character resources at the beginning of this month, a book that has helped my worldbuilding immensely in the middle of the month, and now it is time for my plot post!  I know I have neglected theme, which is vitally important to your story, but I am still having such trouble with it myself.  If I were to try to do a post on theme, it would be like the blind leading the blind.  However, if you are interested in seeing some of my resources, I will do my best to pull something together.

NaNo Prep: Plot

Characters, setting, plot - the "big three" of fiction.  Theme makes up the fourth critical element, but is not discussed nearly as often.  After writing my NaNo Prep posts on characters and setting, I thought plot wouldn't be significantly more difficult.  I was quite wrong.  Of course, when you think about it a little more, it makes sense.  People are people, no matter what, and it isn't too hard to talk about people in general because there are enough similarities.  Especially in fiction, it is relatively easy to talk about character arcs and archetypes and the components of personality.  Setting is similarly general.  Plot... Plot can be anything.  It can go anywhere.  While some people believe there are only two or three or seven basic plotlines, others see twenty, thirty-six, or more.  I can't cover everything there is to know about plot in this post, so I would refer you first to K.M. Weiland's incredible series on story structure, and then after that to the other resources at the bottom of the post.

That said, this post isn't going to tell you how to write plot, or even give some basic guidelines.  Instead of giving you a formula or structure to follow, I am going to try to help you look outside of the box.  There are several methods for how people write plot.

How do you write your plot?

Some people focus heavily on their characters at the beginning, and let plot take shape as they imagine what each character would do in reaction to the original premise.  These stories have the distinct advantage of being the most easily "relatable."  The characters are deep and realistic, and they are actively driving the rest of the story.  However, this leads to the main pitfall: the plot might seem like a series of events chronicling the characters' lives instead of a tight, cohesive storyline.

Other people focus mainly on the plot itself, building a suspenseful, unexpected, and intriguing storyline.  This method has the advantage of a very cohesive, self-contained, and organized story that whisks readers along at lightning speed.  The main disadvantage lies with the characters.  With a pre-determined plot, the characters are just "along for the ride," and can fall into three pitfalls: they are passively watching as the story occurs around them, the plot forces characters to act out-of-character in order to accomplish pre-determined goals, or worst of all, the plot is so disconnected from these particular characters that any character could fill the roles and the story wouldn't change.

Yet another group starts building the story from the setting.  I fall into this category.  I had a neat concept for a hybrid group of people, descended from two races that are mortal enemies.  As I worked, the world became fleshed out, history danced across the page, and I had compiled so much information for my setting that I had the seeds for hundreds of possible premises.  The problem for me was that I had neither characters nor plot, beyond "I want the main character to be from the hybrid tribe and I want her to travel all over the world (so that readers could experience my magnificent setting.)"  There is certainly danger here: When you look at society first and then zoom in to study the characters, it is easy to forget they are individuals who are not defined entirely by the way their society has affected them.  Plot likewise tended toward a very simplistic, world-traveling/questing formula.  This group has to be careful to focus on the details and nuances of the characters and plot, lest they get swallowed up by the huge, impersonal setting.

The final theoretical group I am focusing on starts the story focusing on theme or concept.  They usually fall into another category as well, but the main reason they are writing the story is to convey a particular message or explore a particular "What If?" scenario.  Their stories are generally emotionally and morally powerful and explore some deep themes and messages.  The danger of this path is twofold: if the message becomes so important that the writer forgets fiction is supposed to entertain first and foremost, the story could become overly "preachy" for lack of a better term and lose all of the power it was meant to have.  On the other hand, the writer may become so involved in exploring the various aspects of an idea or theme that the story lacks focus, and therefore is difficult to follow.

Not everyone falls neatly into just one category, and these are not the only methods available.  Nevertheless, I would be willing to bet that most people can identify with at least one of these methods.

I thought this was about writing plot... why did you just explain how different people favor characters, plot, setting, or theme over the other elements?

If you noticed my not-so-subtle pattern above, you are right on target.   Although each of these elements is vitally important and can be considered on its own, they are all interconnected and ultimately cannot exist without each other.  Which element is most comfortable to you affects how you plot your story.  Each method, as I explained above, has strengths and also potential weaknesses.  I encourage you to work especially hard to make sure you don't fall into the pitfalls available, but that is not what this post is about.  This post is about helping you think outside the box.

Last time, in my NaNo Prep: Worldbuilding post, I emphasized that constraints breed creativity.  This is certainly true... but there are also other ways to reach creativity.  In keeping with my natural tendency toward worldbuilding, I was dutifully working through 30 Days of Worldbuilding, preparing for NaNoWriMo.  On the very second day of this task, I discovered that the author wasn't just focusing on worldbuilding: she was leading you step by step through creating a world that not only provided background for the plot, but also supported it.

Day 2: Physical Planet.  It looks quite unassuming, doesn't it?  Does it give you some vague notion of a large-scale map showing the various large land-masses on your imaginary world?  It sure did for me.  But wow, was I in for a surprise.  There are four short paragraphs explaining how and why certain climates and weather conditions exist.  Then, at the bottom, it said the magic words for me: What role do you anticipate weather playing in your story?... Jot down ten plot devices related to weather, and what you think they do to the story...

What?!?  

Weather - That's it?  That's the big deal?

For me, it certainly was.  In the original draft of my story, my characters sailed across a sea to land in a foreign land.   From there, they would trek east until they met a particular person, who would end up helping them.  As I brainstormed what I could do with inclement weather, my plot was radically altered.  Instead of calmly stepping off of the ship to casually travel cross-country, the characters are thrown overboard because of a storm at sea and washed up on the beach.  That very same storm chases them through the forest until they are forced to sneak into an enemy military base for shelter.  Now, suddenly, the characters were no longer in control, no longer comfortable, and no longer taking the plot at their own, boring pace.  They were in serious trouble.  I won't explain the rest of the far-reaching consequences this plot development had on my story, since I think you get the point.

Instead, I will do my best to help you find AHA! moments of your own.

After all, the best stories aren't the highly specialized ones that prioritize character, plot, setting or theme.  The best stories can boast a perfect balance of all of these elements, so that they all work together.  If you identify strongly with any category above, my goal today is to help you think outside of the box and look at your story from another point of view.

Inspiration Questions

Character-Related

• How would your story change if an important character suddenly acted out-of-character at a critical moment?  What would cause this character to act this way?
• What if an important character experienced a major mood swing at the worst possible time?
• What if one of your characters acts in a way that causes an important ally to get angry and decide to withdraw support?
• What character traits do your characters value in others?  How would they change if they decided to start emulating a trait that is contrary to their natural disposition?  How would it affect their family, friends, and enemies?
• What if your characters are thrown into an unexpectedly tense situation, and they realize they don't like the nasty side that comes out of a new ally or companion?
• What if the main characters realize their new friend or ally holds a belief or opinion that the main characters feel is unacceptable?  Are they still able to work together?  If they have to work together whether they like it or not, how can this ideological conflict lead to disagreements over how to handle certain situations or strengthen your theme?
• If you developed your antagonist as much as your main character, would your story change?  Remember, good guys aren't the only ones who shouldn't act out of character.  Examine your antagonist's actions and make sure they are driven by his fears and desires.  If there is a discrepancy, how would your story change if the antagonist stayed true to his own personality?
• What if your character thought she could trust someone else and revealed her deepest secret to him, only to have him turn on her or use this information against her?  How long would it be before she trusted someone again?  Would she be able to get help from her other friends without revealing her secret to more people?

Plot-Related

• If at some point your character is being pushed into a particular course of action by outside forces, what would happen if he actually shows the strength of will and determination to find another way out that is more in keeping with his character?
• What would happen if a minor character already knew about the major plot twist?  If your characters solve a mystery, discover a dark secret, or are blindsided by a new revelation, how would this be impacted by having someone else know about it in advance?
• What would happen if a main character got injured in a fight or disaster?  Would he be in shape for the next one, or would he be dead weight?  Would the team have to veer off course to seek medical help?  (This is another great idea that radically changed the progression of my story.)
• What are some of the far-reaching consequences of your characters' actions?  If they lie to someone to gain their help, what would happen if the person discovered the lie?  If they help a princess escape her arranged marriage to a disgusting prince, what will be the political fallout of such an event?  Will the kingdom lose a vital ally?  Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, even in fiction.  Use this to your advantage.

Setting-Related

• How would a sudden weather change affect your story?
• What would happen if a natural disaster forced thousands of refugees to migrate to another location?  
• What would happen if a city on the border of two kingdoms switched sides?
• How would a sudden shift in resources alter the world?  (For example, a famine causing a particular country to run out of food, or perhaps an essential commodity for one nation is rendered obsolete by technological advances in a different nation, or maybe a war has caused resources like cloth and metal to be rationed.)
• What do your characters think about people from other regions?  Countries?  Classes?  Races?  Professions? Religions?  Does that country boy think the professionals from the city are sophisticated and advanced, or does he think they are stuck up and obnoxious?  Would the princess from one kingdom be offended by the manners of the prince from the neighboring kingdom, or does she think he is exotic?  What if one of the main characters is injured, but the only one who can help him is a priest from a religion he hates?
• What character qualities does your main character's society value?  Does she possess all of them, or is she missing some?  How does she view herself in light of what society thinks of her?

Theme-Related

• What would happen if you introduced a likable, sympathetic, well-developed character who believes and lives by the antithesis to your main message?  Give him a very good reason to believe your theme is false, and give him the best arguments you can against your own theme.  You will quickly find that your theme goes much deeper when you take the other side seriously.  Maybe it will help you think of ideas and implications you had never considered before.
• How would your characters react if the "right" choice led to unforeseen disaster?  Maybe that person they helped turned them over to the antagonist, or their mercy toward an enemy led to him being able to greatly harm a team member or an uninvolved innocent.  How would this shake their belief and shape their actions?
• What would happen if a "bad guy" also firmly believed in the story's theme, and cited it as the motivation for some of the bad things he does?  How would your characters respond to the perversion of their message... or do they start to reconsider whether they are right after all?
• What if the only way forward toward the goal forces the characters to cross their moral boundaries?  Will they do it?  What if some do, and some don't?  Will the group split, thinking those on the other side have betrayed them?

Don't just give one answer for each of these questions.  If one intrigues you, answer it several times.  A storm wasn't the first weather idea I came up with, but it is the one that worked the best and has affected my story so much.  The goal of these question's isn't to change your story (although that may be a by-product.)  The idea is to round out your story by brainstorming other ways to look at it.  The best practice would be to come up with questions on your own that are specific to your story, or talk to someone else so that he can help you brainstorm.  There are also many more resources online.  Stimulate your imagination by looking at your plot from different angles!

------------

Thanks so much for reading!  This month, I am busy preparing for NaNoWriMo, so I took advantage of the excuse to share some of my favorite writing tips and resources.  I hope you are enjoying it. See the bottom of the page if you would like some more worldbuilding resources. If you would like to read other related posts, see below:

NaNoWriMo: Write with Abandon!

NaNo Prep: Character Resources
NaNo Prep: Setting Resources
NaNo Prep: Plot Resources

NaNo Tips: Give Your Story a Chance
NaNo Tips: What Helps You Focus?
NaNo Tips: My NaNo Journey

Would you be interested in having a theme resources post?  Do you find that you focus more on character, plot, setting, or theme?  Have you ever come dangerously close to one of the common pitfalls?  Has a random burst of inspiration ever radically altered your story?  Do you have any thought-provoking or interesting questions to add to my list?  Let me know in the comments!

~ Hannah

Other Plot Resources

Note, offsite links may contain a couple of minor curse words.  It is the Internet, after all.  Nevertheless, I thought these and other links were valuable enough to post anyway.

• Dramatica's Eight Essential Plot Elements
• How to Write Story Structure
• How to Plan Your Book and Write a Novel Outline
• 5 Ways to Write a Killer Plot Twist
• The Basics of Writing a Mystery Plot
• On Creating, Keeping, and Building Suspense
• The Addictive Power of Emotional Investment - Plot
• How Story Structure Creates Foreshadowing
• 9 Steps to Build a Strong Plot
• And of course, 30 Days of Worldbuilding, which is mainly about worldbuilding, but in a way that builds plot and character organically from the setting.  It's perfect for people who start their stories with the setting, and very good for everyone else.

And of course, these are just scratching the surface on the resources for plot.  If you have any more, please recommend them, and I will gladly add them to this list.

Top Three Memorable Picture Books (Erin)

Not too long ago, Laura posted about her Top Three picture books, and I thought I would chime in. I was also intrigued by Laurie's post on Top Three Speculative worlds, but my favorites are so predictable--Narnia, Rivendell and Hogsmeade--that I thought you might be more interested in my picture book choices.


3. What Do You Do with a Kangaroo? Also by Mercer Mayer, one of Laura's author picks, this book was one of my childhood favorites. A sassy girl in bell bottoms is harassed by a menagerie of demanding animals who interrupt her daily schedule. I love the illustrations and I can relate to her dilemma. What do you do when a "grown Bengal tiger with flashing green eyes" is sitting on your "red-painted tricycle seat?" You can view the pictures and have the book read to you by a gentleman with a delightful Australian(?) accent here: What Do You Do with a Kangaroo?  Can you find the kitty in most of the pictures?




2. Animalia by Graeme Base is a sophisticated alphabet book in which Base uses alliteration and paints fantastic images of all things ordinary and fantastical beginning with each letter of the alphabet. The "D" page highlighted on Base's author page is one of my favorites. "Diabolical dragons daintily devouring delicious delicacies." Indeed!





1. Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems. This hilarious book was the source of much consternation in my life as a mom. Thankfully, my children are old enough now to laugh at the book's message and not take it literally. However, a mischievous auntie gave my youngest the book several years ago. Since my youngest was just a toddler then, she spent a happy aisle or two in the grocery store with her sweatshirt around her waist. When I realized why all the other people in the store were laughing as they passed us, I asked her to pull her shirt up. Unfortunately, she exclaimed, "No! We be naked!" Mortified at the time, I now think the book is fabulous, and makes a great gift. (Here is a handy Amazon link)!

Fun Note: Did you notice all these books are technically fantasy books?

What are your favorite fantasy picture books? 

Attributions:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dsQ3NvYOMU
http://graemebase.com/book/animalia/
https://www.amazon.com/Naked-Mole-Rat-Gets-Dressed/dp/142311437X/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1477006967&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=naked+moe+rat+gets+dressed#reader_142311437X

Interview with S.D. Grimm (& Giveaway!)

We have a lucky winner...Caryl Kane!!! (Winner chosen via Rafflecopter.) Congratulations to Caryl, and many thanks to S.D. Grimm and all of you who stopped by to enter! Check back for more giveaways in the coming months :) Have a wonderful weekend!


We are thrilled to welcome S.D. Grimm to Lands Uncharted to celebrate release day for her debut YA speculative novel, Scarlet Moon! Sarah is a woman of many talents in addition to writing (and has a great sense of humor!), and we're so grateful she took the time to answer some questions for us today. And, did you notice GIVEAWAY in the post header?! That's, right, Sarah has generously offered to give away a signed copy of Scarlet Moon to one lucky winner. Find out how to enter below!


And now, without further ado, here's Sarah!


First, a little introduction:

S. D. Grimm’s first love in writing is young adult speculative fiction. She is represented by Julie Gwinn of the Seymour Agency and her debut novel, Scarlet Moon, is slated to be published in October 2016. When she’s not writing or editing, Sarah enjoys reading (of course!), making clay dragons for her Grimmlies store on Etsy, practicing kickboxing and Brazilian jiu jitsu, training dogs, and doing anything outdoorsy with the family. Her office is anywhere she can curl up with her laptop and at least one large-sized dog.


What's something we wouldn't know about you just by looking?

Well, I do like Brazilain jiu jitsu, kickboxing, fencing, and shooting. Archery is next.


Do you have any go-to foods or beverages while writing?

Ummmm . . . water. :)


What fictional character(s) best describes your personality?

Well, I’ve been called Rapunzel from Tangled. I think that scene in Tangled where she flits back and forth between feeling horrible and amazing for leaving the tower pretty much nails it. That and the singing while cleaning. Holy awkward, Batman.


Since we're all about exploring new worlds here at Lands Uncharted, if you could choose one place to visit, real or fictional, where would you go?

Real: the UK
Fictional: Hiccup and Toothless's world from How to Train Your Dragon


Why do you write speculative fiction? What draws you to it? 

Magic. I love the endless creative possibilities of fantasy and sci-fi. Something about this genre sparks to life the kid inside me that makes me want to share the wonder I experience in believing and hoping and knowing the impossible is somehow possible. I like to encourage others to embrace that inner child and believe it too.


What advice would you share with an aspiring author?

Don’t give up. Find supporters and a few people you trust to critique your work. Then treat them like gold.


What has your journey to finding an agent and the road to publication been like?

Hard. Crazy. The thing about this business is it’s not for the faint of heart. You better your craft all the time. You build your social media presence. You try to send the right work at the right time to the right people. You attempt to stay ahead of the curve without knowing where the curve is. You survive getting your heart broken again and again and again. You don’t give up. You make connections. Friends. Partners in writing who help and encourage you. You have fun. You learn a lot about writing and about yourself. And when something good happens and you take another step forward down this path, all those people celebrate with you. You find community. You work your heart out and wear it on the pages of your work. People will crumple it up, step on it, and some will even use it wipe the snot off their own faces. And then there will be those who feel what you’re trying to say. They’ll cherish it, and they’ll recommend that others read it. Some will misunderstand it. Others will get it. And still that journey—probably on the road less traveled—is just beginning.


No visit to Lands Uncharted is complete without Top 3s! Give us a Top 3 list, in the category of your choice.

Top 3 Favorite Animal Characters (besides mine, of course):

Toothless the dragon, Ghost the direwolf, and Bigwig the rabbit from Watership Down


Now, we can't forget to talk about Scarlet Moon, which releases TODAY! What's it about?

Told from multiple point of view characters, Scarlet Moon is a young adult fantasy about Jayden, a seventeen-year-old, dagger-wielding, storm-detecting orphan who can save the race of people known as the Feravolk from a sorceress queen bent on annihilating them. Maybe they should have thought of that before they killed Jayden’s family.


What was your inspiration for writing Scarlet Moon?

I love animals. The novel I wrote prior to this one (which sits in a proverbial dark, secret drawer) was about animals. All the characters were animals. And one day I decided to get serious about publishing. Then I decided I was going to write about people. I still wanted animals to be a big part of the story so I chose to write about a race of people who can commune with nature. These people basically get certain talents or abilities from animals—and they reciprocate, giving animals certain abilities too. Then I researched some really cool animals, including mythological ones, and the story world really grew from there.


What do you hope readers will take away from Scarlet Moon?

Persevere. And real love always protects, no matter the cost.


And I can't help but ask, can you tell us what you're working on now?

A Cyberpunk with superheroes.


Sounds amazing, right? Thank you so much for visiting and letting us celebrate your release day, Sarah! You can find out more about Sarah at http://sdgrimm.com, or by connecting with her on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest. You can purchase Scarlet Moon on Amazon.

Now, about that giveaway :) Enter using the form below (U.S. residents only). The giveaway closes at 11:59 Central Time on Thursday, October 27th and the winner will be announced here on Friday, October 28th. Good luck!!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Live Action Remakes - What Should Be Next? (Laurie)

Erin's last Top 3s post involved her favorite live action movie remakes. I'm super behind on movies, so I'm ashamed to admit I haven't seen any of the movies that made her list, but I did finally see the 2015 version of Cinderella a few weeks ago. I'll be honest, while it was sweet and the visuals were beautiful, I didn't feel it added much to the large array of Cinderella remakes already out there. My favorites are still Ever After and the Brandy version of the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical :)





That being said, I can't wait for the Beauty & the Beast live action remake coming out in 2017! My favorite Disney movie starring Emma Watson and featuring what look to be some amazing special effects to create the Beast's Castle? Yes, please!

And since today is a Your Turn Thursday, that brings me to our question: which animated movie(s) would you like to see remade in live action? Any special requests for cast members?

Maybe if we get enough votes for a certain movie, we can start up a petition for Disney :)


Thanks for reading!
Laurie


Attributions:
Cinderella: http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/b/b4/Cinderella_2015_1.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20141119151633
Beauty & the Beast: http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/5/5a/Beauty_and_the_Beast_2017_teaser_poster.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20160715085129
Sleeping Beauty: http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/5/5f/Sleeping_Beauty_1990%27s_Re-Release_Poster.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20131219054505
Aladdin: http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/9/96/MPW-10542.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20160617153548
The Little Mermaid: http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/0/09/The-Little-Mermaid-Poster-walt-disney-characters-19222477-1032-1500.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130629230339
Pocahontas: http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/5/57/Pocahontasposter.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20160617124923
The Hunchback of Notre Dame: http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/a/a5/The_Hunchback_of_Notre_Dame-_1996.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130420022954
Hercules: http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/7/76/Hercules.png/revision/latest?cb=20151108163136
The Princess and the Frog: http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/f/fa/Frog_official_poster_500.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20120915095456
Mulan: http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/a/a5/Mulan.JPG/revision/latest?cb=20140316163838
Snow White: http://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/4/45/Snow_White_Poster.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20160617160623
Tangled: http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/c/ca/Tangled_rapunzel_poster_20.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110929034113
Brave: http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/0/07/Brave_poster.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20141201050701
Frozen: http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/disney/images/5/58/Frozen-movie-poster.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20160606223222

Puss in Shoes (Laura)

I love my cat, and I can't help but write another post about her. (Here is the first one.) This one is dedicated to her shoe fetish. That's right, my cat has a thing for shoes. I personally have a problem saying no to new PJs and notebooks, whereas my cat can't seem to make it past the shoe lineup at home without making a move.

Cat vs. Shoe

They are one of her favorite play things. Who needs rubber bands and milk caps when there are strappy sandals and crisp slip-ons? Though seemingly harmless, they can be quite dangerous when found resting too close to another toy. Never fear! My cat will save the day.


From out of the blue (aka, around the corner), she sails in and tackles the shoe to the ground (read: lands on it awkwardly), then bunny-kicks it into lifelessness. Sometimes this involves an army of shoes (see figure 2A). The shoe isn't moving (because she is no longer kicking it), but she holds it down anyway, just in case the shoe gets a second wind.

The day for the strawberry catnip toy or the helpless string has been saved, though the day for the shoe has been somewhat deflated. Having done a lot of difficult, highly skilled work, my cat must take a nap immediately, directly where she has defeated the fallen shoe. Now that it is no longer a threat, she can cuddle with it, snuggle even. Sounds comfortable to me. Thank goodness she was there or things might have gotten out of hand, what with the shoe sitting there and all.

My brave kitty. Now how could I not be a proud cat mama?

What amusing--at times perplexing--things do your pets do?

Laura



2A

Triumph (Taming the Shoe)

Top 3 Unusual Force Powers (Elizabeth)

I was inspired by Laura's Top 3 Magical Elements in Harry Potter, so I decided to do a post on the most unusual Force powers, from Star Wars. When most people think of the Force, the think of telepathy, Jedi mind tricks, agility, and telekinesis, but there are so many more, a few of which I'll be showing you today.

3. Thought bomb
Side of Force: Dark Side

Multiple Sith Lords are required to form this powerful piece of Force weaponry. When the bomb explodes, it completely destroys any Force being in the area, both their bodies and their blue ghosts, and captures their souls in a swirling vortex of eternal torment. Fun.

2. Alter Environment
Side of Force: Light Side

Using this power, a Force-user can manipulate their environment by causing sub-zero temperatures, blistering heat, enough air pressure to burst your ear drums, create fogs, storms, earthquakes, and flash floods.

1. Dopplegänger
Side of Force: Universal

Using this, a Force-user could create duplicate illusions of him or herself, which they could manipulate to talk and move like real people. This power can also be used to make identical illusions of other objects.

If you could have any of these force powers, which would it be? (Hopefully, not many of you would choose the Thought bomb... If you do, I'll have to remember I don't want to get on your "dark side" ;)

Thanks for reading!

-Elizabeth Newsom

Attributions:
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/File:Yodasforcedeflection.png
SaveSave

NaNo Prep: Learning Worldbuilding from the Masters (Hannah)

A few weeks ago, I introduced an annual tradition for me: NaNoWriMo, a challenge that will dare you to write with abandon.  The idea of the challenge is to encourage participants to write quickly without getting bogged down in research, planning, or agonizing over details.  However, the most efficient way to be able to write like this is to plan out what you are going to do ahead of time.  Some people, like me, plan their stories in great detail, while others believe in following inspiration.  Either way, it is incredibly helpful to know the three most basic and most important elements before you ever start the first draft.  I covered characters two weeks ago in an abnormally in-depth and technical post, and next time I will review plot.  This post will deal with the darling of fantasy and science fiction writers - worldbuilding.

NaNo Prep: Worldbuilding

How many times have you had to stop your productive momentum of writing to do research?  Have you been caught up in the bliss of inspiration only to have it all come crashing down as you are forced to spend precious time searching the Internet for some obscure detail, discouraged because you might have to read through the entire Wikipedia page to find a relatively minor fact?  I know I have had these problems.  Even though I write fantasy, I want it to be as believable as possible, which means I ground my writing in reality.

Being the compulsive researcher that I am, I had been searching for a book that specifically covered fantasy and science fiction.  After all, speculative fiction has a very different set of problems from the other, more reality-based genres.  Much to my surprise, I discovered a hidden gem while browsing the hidden, tucked-away, ridiculously small reference section in my local Barnes & Noble bookstore.  I had seen many books on writing before, but this was what I had been looking for all along: Behold,

Writing Fantasy & Science Fiction: How to Create Out-of-This-World Novels and Short Stories

Orson Scott Card's name is on the front, but in reality he only wrote one quarter of the book.  His section is titled "How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy," and gives a solid overview of good writing, with some important fantasy and science fiction related tips and stipulations.  In the next section, Philip Athans shares a history of speculative fiction and its status in modern culture.  Jay Lake finishes the first part of the book by speaking specifically to steampunk writers.

The real value of this book comes after the first one-third.  Many noted speculative authors contributed to "The Writer's Complete Fantasy Reference" - this section makes the book completely worthwhile.
It boasts a comprehensive collection of technical information, all conveniently gathered into one book.  It is easy to waste valuable time combing the internet for exactly what fabric your middle-class Italian merchant's daughter would wear, whether to call your hero's weapon a mace, a flail, or a morning star, or how a castle siege would affect daily life.

If your fantasy is even remotely similar to medieval Europe, there are many resources for you.   Read through the section on fantasy cultures - you will find summaries of several different types of government and economic systems, definitions of various titles, and explanations of the important political entities and people groups of the times.  The section on commerce, trade, and law covers virtually every European profession and then some, with some elementary explanation of basic economics of the times.  Another section, titled "The Anatomy of a Castle," is quite self explanatory, covering the form and function of every element of a medieval castle, with additional information on daily life in the castle.  Finally, there is a chapter that guides you through medieval clothing, from fabrics to colors to pieces all sorted by gender and class.

Not interested in traditional medieval European fantasy? The section on world cultures covers a dozen kingdoms across the world, from Africa to Asia over the Pacific to North and South America.  It shows their economy, politics, religion, and military, to help you understand them well enough to incorporate those lesser-used cultures into your fantasy stories.

Other chapters cover magic in all its forms, the practices and effects of witchcraft and paganism, fantasy races from cultures all across the world, and creatures from the myths and legends of virtually every culture.  The "Complete Fantasy Reference" is certainly not much of an exaggeration.  This book has been an invaluable tool to help me ground my stories in realism without having to search the Internet.

So, how does this help you?

Besides encouraging you to get your hands on this fantastic book, I will give you three takeaways to help your NaNoWriMo preparation:

1. Using correct terminology will make you more credible and give your stories life.

It seems small, but if you write like you are an expert on your subject, readers will notice.  You may not know everything about 16th century London, but if you add some accurate details for flavor, it will help them become more immersed in the world.  After all, one of the most important elements of a great fantasy world is a foundation in reality.  It will also help readers remember your story, and may help them learn something as well.  Correct, specific terminology will help your world feel real and well-developed, and what speculative writer doesn't want that?

2. Constraints breed creativity.

It seems counter-intuitive to scour what has already been done in order to find new ideas, but this is exactly the way inspiration works.  Some people complain about having to learn about story structure, character arcs, character archetypes, theme, and every other supposedly pre-defined aspect of writing.  They feel these things force their creativity into the proverbial box and stifle inspiration.  My response? "You have to know the rules before you can break them."  More often than not, this defines how I like to act: do your research, learn everything there is to learn about your subject, and do it the prescribed "right" way first.  The people who have gone before you weren't stupid, after all.  Many would balk at this procedure, but at least for me, it works well.  I find more inspiration and more creativity when I am trying to work within pre-determined constraints, and the more difficult the problem, the better the solution.

Recently, I was struggling with my climax and couldn't figure out how to reach the outcome I wanted.  Every action the characters could take swept the story away from the resolution I wanted.  My dad helped me brainstorm, and after many good but insufficient ideas, he helped me strike the nugget of gold I had been searching for, and if I had been in a cartoon, a light bulb the size of Texas would have appeared over my head.  The result revamped my story and boosted my excitement for weeks afterward.

It might just be that my brain is more logically wired than creatively oriented, but I think there is some truth here: don't throw away the "rules" to boost your creativity, instead, embrace them.

3. Look for inspiration everywhere.

Although I had done a good chunk of my worldbuilding before finding this book, some of the chapters drove this point home for me.  The world cultures, fantasy races, and mythical creatures sections opened my eyes to so many potential ideas buried in the fantastic ideas from cultures around the world. As much as I love a good Tolkien-esque traditional fantasy, that isn't the only type available.

My current work-in-progress was inspired by the original dark elves of Norse mythology, which were elf-dwarf hybrids who lived underground because they would turn to stone if the sun touched them.  Other ideas have also come from unorthodox places.  The fourth module in my 10th grade biology course covered mushrooms, and almost immediately my stately, stone, Gothic underground cities turned into mushroom colonies, with residents eating mushrooms of various types almost exclusively because plants do not grow underground.  That same year, I had a friend who was obsessed with Japanese video games and another who was a master martial artist.  Their influences on me ended up causing my familiar magical high/light elves to take on a distinct feudal Japanese flavor.  Ironically, the frequent spectacular light saber duels in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series convinced me to rethink my automatic use of swords and bows as the primary weapons - my main characters now use maces and spears.

No matter where you are, it is easy to find inspiration if you look for it. Don't censor it, either.  If you turn ideas over in your mind instead of dismissing some of them out-of-hand as cliche, silly, or unreasonable, you will boost the effectiveness of your inspiration. The "What If?" of unorthodox ideas leads to the most innovative, creative, and intriguing stories.  Inspiration isn't necessary for your writing, but will give you the energy and enthusiasm to continue through NaNoWriMo when you are reaching the mid-month slump.

------------

Thanks so much for reading!  This month, I am busy preparing for NaNoWriMo, so I took advantage of the excuse to share some of my favorite writing tips and resources.  I hope you are enjoying it. See the bottom of the page if you would like some more worldbuilding resources. If you would like to read other related posts, see below:

NaNoWriMo: Write with Abandon!

NaNo Prep: Character Resources
NaNo Prep: Setting Resources
NaNo Prep: Plot Resources

NaNo Tips: Give Your Story a Chance
NaNo Tips: What Helps You Focus?
NaNo Tips: My NaNo Journey

Where do you find inspiration?  Do you find yourself being more creative when you have constraints, or do you prefer complete creative freedom?  Do you think worldbuilding is as important as characters, plot, or theme?  Let us know in the comments!

~ Hannah

Other Worldbuilding Resources

Note, offsite links may contain a couple of minor curse words.  It is the Internet, after all.  Nevertheless, I thought these and other links were valuable enough to post anyway.

• My beloved 30 Days of Worldbuilding, which has perfect 15-minute exercises to help you prepare during October
• Country and Culture Development Questions
• Creating Better Fantasy and Science Fiction Species
• Fantasy Creature Development Questions
• How to Create an Awesome Setting
• Setting the Rules and Limitations of Your World
• Town and City Development Questions
• Worldbuilding Basics - The Elements of a Well-Developed World
• 7 Deadly Sins of Worldbuilding

There are so many more posts on worldbuilding.  If you want to leave a comment and recommend additions to my list, I will be happy to update it.

Attributions
Writing Fantasy & Science Fiction: http://fw.cdn.iwp.com/media/catalog/product/cache/33/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/t/h/the-guide-to-writing-fantasy-and-science-fiction_1.jpg

Stuck in the Mud (Erin)

Do you ever feel like you are going happily on your way, and then you get stuck in the proverbial mud? Not literally. . .our Minnesota weather has been too nice for that. But figuratively, this is where
my writing is right now.

I am starting to learn that, historically, September and October tend to be crazy, hectic months in my life. As the mom of three school-age children and the wife of a marathon-running cross country coach, fall in my life brings lots of running around. Between school, practice, appointments I missed scheduling in the summer--not to mention my own (new) job, correcting papers, conferences for everyone, and grocery shopping, I tend to be rather busy. I love all of our activities. . . crisp, cool mornings, sipping coffee in a camp chair and watching a soccer game, or stopping for cinnamon rolls on the way home from watching a race, or even hanging out at the bus stop, waiting for someone to come home all have delightful elements. However, I find I have little time for writing.

With my first completed manuscript finished and awaiting a response from an agent, I need to be working on my second manuscript. It is the sequel to my first, and I have already written over 42,000 words. Although it felt great to sit down and add a couple hundred words the other day, I still feel stuck, like when I skip running for too long and even the thought of putting my running shoes on makes me wince. Wandering around my house, wondering how to get out of my slump, I saw one of my favorite sources of inspiration, Sophy Burnham's book, For Writers Only  on my shelf. Flipping through it, I came across these words:

When I am happiest, I write almost every day. For long periods, however, my time is taken. Days pass. . . weeks. Then I forget all over again how to write. I forget I can begin. I forget I ever once began. At times like these, then, fear and doubt must be fought with every weapon in our arsenal. These include: affirmations, prayer, silence, stillness, trusting, trying, waiting, walking, reading, not reading (45).

I love the way Burnham says, ". . .my time is taken." There is no judgement in her words. She doesn't make me feel guilty for not writing. My time has been taken. . .with the sixty-five short stories I foolishly refused to burden with a length limit; with my beloved children's sports games and practices and conversations; with cooking (although I must confess, my mom keeps blessing us with meals. . . 12 homemade hamburger patties, mashed potatoes and mushroom barley soup last week); with laundry and elections and life.

When your time is similarly taken and you have forgotten how to begin writing again, which of the weapons Burnham mentions are most helpful to you? I think, for me, this week, affirmation speaks most clearly. Two years ago, in the front cover of Burnham's book, my husband wrote, "I love reading your writing. Please keep it up. . .."

Okay. I think I will.

Attributions:
https://www.amazon.com/Writers-Only-Inspiring-Exquisite-Practitioners/dp/1585429120/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1476151948&sr=1-1&keywords=sophy+burnham+for+writers+only
https://pixabay.com/en/red-oak-oak-leaves-autumn-leaves-61975/

Top 3 Speculative Worlds (Laurie)

One of the things I love most about the fantasy genre is that anything can happen in worlds with elements both familiar and foreign. This summer, Elizabeth did a post on her favorite speculative worlds, which got me thinking about the fantasy worlds in the books I've read. Months later, I'm finally ready to share my top 3!


3. His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman

There are aspects of this series I didn't agree with, but the world-building was phenomenal. I enjoyed the idea of parallel worlds, and the fact that there were consequences for traveling between them. Pullman incorporated so many fascinating elements into these worlds, including armored polar bears, spectres, dust (invisible, mysterious particles), and the remarkable items the books are named for: the Golden Compass, the Subtle Knife, and the Amber Spyglass. Most of all, I loved the concept of daemons, an external manifestation of a person's soul in the form of an animal. I remember wishing I had a constant companion who could provide consolation and guidance like Lyra had in Pantalaimon. And since daemons take a permanent form once their humans reach adulthood, I also had fun speculating what animal form would be a good match for me. The complexity of Pullman's world-building and the way it interacts with the story really made this series stand out when I read it as a teenager.


2. The Hollow Kingdom Trilogy by Clare Dunkle

I already posted about this series as part of my top 3 couples, but I have to give it another shout-out for world-building. In the first book, Kate and her sister discover that a civilization of goblins lives underneath a nearby hill. When Kate marries the goblin king, she goes through an interesting series of initiations and learns a great deal about goblin history and customs. In the second and third books, elves are also thrown into the mix, and I loved the way Dunkle handled the suspicions and misunderstandings between the races. I also liked how well developed the goblin and elvin societies were, incorporating everything from fertility issues to standards of beauty. The reader gets a balanced look at each race's point of view, giving thought-provoking perspectives on how divisions and biases form, and how they must be overcome in an interdependent world where each race needs each other to survive.



1. Chaos Walking Trilogy by Patrick Ness

I've been waiting for an opportunity to talk about these amazing books, and world-building is the perfect occasion! The series is based on a planet where a small civilization of humans has settled. In this New World, men can hear each others' thoughts, creating Noise. One of the things I enjoyed most about this trilogy was how integral Noise was to the entire plot. As one would imagine, having their thoughts known by everyone around them has a huge impact on how the characters act, especially when dealing with secrets. In addition, women's thoughts aren't audible (but they can hear Noise), a distinction that creates a great deal of conflict and division. Over the course of the books, the main character, Todd, learns to control his Noise, to the point that he can produce physical reactions in others just using his thoughts. Ness's world also has a complex history including relations with an indigenous species called Spackle. The way his world-building elements come together makes the reader fully experience his speculative world, yet creates moral dilemmas that are all too familiar.


Have you read any of these series? What are some of your favorite speculative worlds? What elements make a fantasy world stand out for you?


Thanks for reading!
Laurie

What are Your Favorite Autumn or Back-to-School Books? (Laura)

The back-to-school time of year can be daunting, even for those of us who enjoy the classroom. Whether you are a student now or you've been one, what books with academic settings have gotten you hyped for the school year?

A. Harry Potter, by JK Rowling
B. Princess Academy, by Shannon Hale
C. Fangirl, by Rainbow Rowell
D. Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte
E. A Little Princess, by Frances Hodgson Burnett

F. Wonder, by RJ Palacio

G. Blank notebooks excite me most!

H. Other___________

      

Laura

Attributions

Autumn leaves: http://austinally.wikia.com/wiki/File:AutumnLeaves.jpg

Princess Academy: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/princess-academy-shannon-hale/1100181119

Fangirl: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fangirl-rainbow-rowell/1114258557

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/harry-potter-and-the-sorcerers-stone-j-k-rowling/1100036321

Wonder: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wonder-palacio-r-j-1116883369

Burdens or Gifts? (Elizabeth)

"You don't know what you've got until it's gone."

I thought I'd defied this maxim, especially where time was concerned. I budgeted my entire day into simple categories to keep myself as productive as possible, but really I was living like my life as a means to an end, rather than what it really is. A gift.

I used to have a chronic scheduling problem. It wasn't necessarily bad in it of itself, but I'm not sure it was the healthiest way to live my life. Allow me to show you:

This list reads from bottom to top. I used a handy dandy app to time every single activity. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. I timed when I brushed my teeth, how long I spent with friends and family (that would be underneath the Relationship category), how long I ate... everything. And at the end of the day, I got a pretty little pie chart:

So what's the problem? Well, it'd gotten a bit obsessive. I required every spare minute--nay!--every spare second to be productive (And I only used social media strictly to promote my blog, so yes, that's productive too). While that might sound absolutely wonderful to some, I realized that certain things can't really be measured, and I'm not sure if they ever should be. We not only don't need to control everything, but we shouldn't control everything. I still have a student planner I use, but I'm not timing my waking hours anymore. I've decided that having a little wiggle room in my life spices it up with spontaneity and leaves room for God to interfere with my schedule, which is a good thing! Though it's taken me a long time (about the entire 17 years I've been alive...) to figure that out. 

God spoke to me about this during this past ACFW conference, during Allen Arnold's continuing education, and the point was hammered in by Allen's book The Story of With. If your life is beginning to feel like an endless to-do list, I'd highly recommend it. All that to say is: God's ultimate goal isn't your productivity. Yes, productivity is important, but one day all the work we've done and books we've written will crumble into ashes. Why wear ourselves out on building something temporary? Especially when we can focus on eternal things while actually enjoying our lives, like building character and relationships--as my dad so often likes to remind me. 

I'm not encouraging you to quit working. God's given each of us a purpose and a job for this life. The blessing to create masterpieces, whether it's a book, a painting, or a building, is a gift unique to mankind. But gifts aren't supposed to be rushed through. When you open a box of chocolates from a spouse or friend, you don't stuff them in your mouth and choke them down. You savor each one. With that, I hope everyone will be reminded not to treat their lives like a means to an end or their talents like burdens, as I've often done, but to treat both of them like what they really are: gifts. 

If you could change anything in your schedule, what would it be? Do you over-schedule or under-schedule? Have you ever treated a gift like a burden? 

Thanks for reading!

-Elizabeth Newsom