Symmetry in Writing (KaLyn)

When I first began writing, all my focus was on characters, plots, settings, and themes. I delved into story structure and, later, ventured deeper to discover how to build it with harmonious symmetry to create a lasting impression. In fact, it's a topic I previously visited on my blog (if you are inclined to read it, you can find the post here).

But, at that point in time, I often overlooked elements like pace and tone. Those were elusive ghosts roaming the halls, their essence unobtainable.

Today, I want to share with you a recent area of exploration: how sounds and syllables affect tone and pace.

Length

Paragraphs, sentences, and words - the length of these can effectively reinforce the pace and tone of a scene. Think of it as a dance. Drawing in your arms shortens the distance between you and your partner, creating intimacy and allowing for a faster tempo. Whereas, extending your arms lengthens the distance, thus adding a sense of formality and a softer flow to the rhythm.

Sound

The sound of a word, whether soft or hard, affects the tone of a scene. Softer sounds are associated with a more relaxed scene, while harder ones leave the reader with a harsher impression of the events.

Telling the difference isn't always easy, but here are a few tips I have learned.

• Words beginning with b, c, d, g, k, p, q, t usually have hard sounds.
• Words beginning with e, f, h, i, j, l, m, n, o, s, w, y usually have soft sounds.
• Exceptions are often determined by the letter sounds following the first one. Is it a plosive sound? Can the word be said in one breath or does it have a longer sound made with a continuing breath? For example, 'take' is short, plosive sound, while 'theater' is a long sound made with a continuing breath. 

Rhythm

If symmetry in writing begins with story structure and cascades down to the tiniest level of prose, how then does it play out with syllable structure? Much like iambic pentameter creates a rhythm, to what end and effect would a particular syllabic rhythm in similar types scenes create in a body of prose?

Considering the discussion of length and sound, imagine a short syllabic rhythm with a cadence that matches the scene or the emotions of a scene - like the rapid heartbeat of your main character as they run from danger. How would a more complex rhythm - like a waltz or an epic ballad - be woven into the syllables of a scene, paralleling the same story or theme as the song?

Something to ponder and experiment.

A lifetime is not long enough to master the craft of fiction writing.

Share your tips, tricks, thoughts, or questions in the comments. And if you know of any good resources, be sure to include those too!

My 3 Favorite Secondary Characters in Common (Laurie)

Happy Blog Tour to me!!! My debut YA fantasy novel, Common, releases in four days. FOUR DAYS!!!!! And we're in the midst of a blog tour to celebrate! See below for more information about my book and the other stops on the blog tour.

Since it was my scheduled day to post here at Lands Uncharted anyway, I thought I'd share something specific to my book! But as you've probably noticed by now, I really have trouble choosing my favorites for Top 3s posts. So I went a little easier on myself and decided to go with my top 3 secondary characters in Common, which at least narrows the options a bit :)  (If you want to learn about more of my characters, make sure to stop by my visual guest posts on www.theantrimcycle.com and www.jmhackman.com from earlier this week!)

So, here are my top 3!


3) Sister Val

I wish I could tell you all about Sister Val, but I'll have to be cautious to avoid spoilers! She was definitely one of the characters I had the most fun with because she's a constant source of surprises. Beneath her exterior as a devout nun living in seclusion, she's funny, adventurous, and even knows her way around a dagger :) She's a prime example that a person doesn't have to fit a certain stereotype to have a deep faith in God.








2) Mabel

Once again, I can't reveal too much about how Leah knows Mabel because she doesn't show up until the second half of the book, but you'll know her when you see her! She was a fun character to write because she just jumped off the page for me - her dialogue practically wrote itself :) A motherly housekeeper with a feisty side, Mabel is loyal and compassionate to a fault. Her accent and sometimes unusual phrases give her a little extra spunk, and despite holding what some would consider to be the lowest position in her household, she's stubborn and not afraid to speak her mind.







1) Gretchen

Gretchen is Leah's closest friend, and she's my favorite secondary character in Common because she makes me smile every time she's in a scene :) Her vibrant personality and sense of fun make her the perfect counterpart for sensible, hard-working Leah. Outspoken, dramatic, and a bit of a flirt, Gretchen lives life to the fullest and makes friends wherever she goes. Leah doesn't always appreciate her friend's antics, but having Gretchen around keeps things interesting and she couldn't ask for a more loyal companion.



There you have it! To find out more, you'll just have to read the book :)


Speaking of which, here's the back-cover blurb for Common:

Only one person knows of the plot against the royal family and cares enough to try to stop it—the servant girl they banished.

Leah spends her days scrubbing floors, polishing silver, and meekly curtsying to nobility. Nothing distinguishes her from the other commoners serving at the palace, except her red hair.

And her secret friendship with Rafe, the Crown Prince of Imperia.

But Leah’s safe, ordinary world begins to splinter. Rafe’s parents announce his betrothal to a foreign princess, and she unearths a plot to overthrow the royal family. When she reports it without proof, her life shatters completely when the queen banishes her for treason.

Harbored by an unusual group of nuns, Leah must secure Rafe’s safety before it’s too late. But her quest reveals a villain far more sinister than an ambitious nobleman with his eye on the throne.

Can a common maidservant summon the courage to fight for her dearest friend?

In case I've managed to intrigue you, you can find the purchase links for Common here :) And make sure to come hang out with us this Thursday, February 15th from 8:00 to 10:00 pm CST if you're available! The Facebook party celebrating the release of Common is going to be a blast - my co-hosts are super fun and the list of giveaway prizes includes so many of my favorite books!! RSVP and check out some sneak peeks here.

And here's a full list of all the stops on the blog tour! It's been so much fun so far, and there are some awesome posts still coming next week! Please stop by every post if you have a chance, I took these opportunities to share so much about myself and my inspirations for Common, and I'm so grateful to all the bloggers who offered to host me!!

Monday, February 5th, Review of Common, Pam Halter, www.pamhalter.com

Monday, February 5th, Interview with Laurie Lucking, Taylor Bennett, www.taylor–bennett.com

Tuesday, February 6th, Visual Post, Nancy Moors, www.antrimcycle.com

Tuesday, February 6th, Behind-the-Scenes Feature, Rae E, www.anewlookonbooks.com

Wednesday, February 7th, Visual Post, J.M. Hackman, www.jmhackman.com

Wednesday, February 7th, Guest Post: Author’s Journey, Kristen Stieffel, www.newauthors.wordpress.com

Thursday, February 8th, Guest Post, Laura A. Grace, www.unicornquester.com

Friday, February 9th, Interview with Laurie Lucking, Jebraun Clifford, www.quillsandinkblotts.wordpress.com/

Friday, February 9th, Review of Common, Erica Hogan, www.booksaholic.wordpress.com/
Saturday, February 10th, Top 3 Post, Laurie Lucking, www.landsuncharted.com
Sunday, February 11th, Behind-the-Scenes Feature: Laurie’s Writing Process, Liv Fisher, www.livkfisher.blogspot.com/
Sunday, February 11th, Review of Common, Jebraun Clifford, www.jebraunclifford.com/
Monday, February 12th, Character Interview, Brenda Anderson, www.inspyromance.com/
Monday, February 12th, Visual Post, Jannette Fuller, www.jannettefuller.com/blog
Tuesday, February 13th, Interview with Laurie Lucking, KaLyn Cummins, www.authorkacummins.com
Wednesday, February 14th, Release-Day Feature, Laurie Lucking, www.laurielucking.com (Release Day)
Thursday, February 15th, Facebook Party Feature, Michele Israel Harper, www.micheleisraelharper.com (Facebook Launch Party)
Friday, February 16th, Review of Common, Cathrine Bonham, www.dolphin18cb.wordpress.com

Thank you so much for celebrating with me!!!

Going Deep (Julie)

I'm a sucker for stories with happy endings and don't particularly dig books with deep, thought-provoking themes. I'd rather read to escape reality. However, recently I found myself reading Neal Shusterman's Scythe, because it received high praise from several friends. Writers are supposed to branch out after all. Well, I am now reading book two in the series.

If you want the synopsis, check out Jill's post here.

What fascinates me about this book is actually the deep, thought-provoking message (shocking!). In a world where humans are now immortal with no more diseases or pain, there's also a stagnation. Everything has been achieved so there's nothing left to work toward. No goals, no aspirations, no discoveries. Since humans can't die, except by fire, they have employed Scythes to keep the world's population from becoming too excessive. Yet, in such a perfect world, is it perfect after all?

I started reading the series right after I joined a book discussion at my school on helping students understand the process of thinking. While reading the book, it got me to thinking, among other teacherish things, just how powerful a book can be. Shusterman's book has you wondering about what life would look like if we did actually conquer our "problems". Could pain and hardship be a good thing after all? If we had no problems, we'd never grow and learn and so forth.

As Sean Connery said in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, "The pen is mightier than the sword."

Books, if done right, can be amazing tools for helping us think and understand the world around us. Writers have the power to change lives!

Those are my deep thoughts for today. Are you reading any books currently or in the past that got you to think beyond the surface into the profound mysteries of life?

Resolution Checkup (Lizzie)

It's February 6. How are your New Year's resolutions coming? I'm doing okay. I spoke to a local bookstore owner about carrying The Rose and the Wand (haven't heard back yet), turned in a short story for an anthology, made several notes on a few stories, and kept up with my two jobs. I added the goal of taking voice lessons to improve my singing and get over some of my self-consciousness--and it's helping both. But ... I haven't exercised as much as I should have, nor read as much as I needed, studied French as much as I should, or written much at all (creativity is dry from lack of reading and recreation time).

While I may not be perfectly on track for this year's goals, I'm not going to get discouraged. I hope you wouldn't either. I'll keep going and accomplish whatever I can. I hope you will too!

How is your progress?

Top 3 Myths of a Writer's Life (Jill)

Last month, I was at a sale, selling books. People would come up, ask questions, and read the back cover.  I'd encourage them to take a free book mark, and we'd talk. Many of the comments were positive and encouraging. But the event made me really look at this profession I've chosen. There seem to be some myths surrounding a writer's life, and I'd like to address my top three.



3) You're wealthy. Unless you're J.K. Rowling, or George R.R. Martin, this is a common misconception. One woman asked where I lived and when I indicated I was local, she responded, "Oh, local girl makes good? That's great." Being a writer is not a more "good" profession than any other. And while I'm thrilled to have my book published, I'm not rolling in the money. Most authors aren't--they hold down their regular day job and write during their free time.

2) It's easy. Thankfully, nobody at the sale said this, which is good because this comment really upsets me. But many years ago, I attended a non-writing conference. When the lady sitting next to me heard I was writing a book, she said, "I think I'll write a book. Yeah, I've always wanted to do that." Writing is not easy. While I believe every person has a story to tell, they should know what they're signing up for. Ernest Hemingway summed it up best when he said, "There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed."

1) It's glamorous. I don't go to movie screenings, or chat with famous people, or fly in private jets. Another customer at the above-mentioned sale was thrilled to talk to an author and was positively giddy when I offered her a book mark. These encounters always make me feel thankful, yet a little odd, like I'm pretending and pretty soon the Fraud Detectors will show up to escort me from the building. I'm still the same person I was a year ago. I still deal with laundry, vacuuming,  and dirty dishes. But if I ever get a butler, I'll know I've made it.

Do you have any myths you've encountered on this writing journey? We'd love to hear them! Please leave them in the comments below.

Amber Eyes by S.D. Grimm (KaLyn)

The blog tour for Amber Eyes by S.D. Grim is in full swing and, today, we get to be a part of it! More about the book and the author are included below, along with the details about an exciting giveaway for a signed copy of Amber Eyes! Don't miss it!

Amber Eyes is the second book in the Children of the Blood Moon series. In this medieval saga, seventeen-year-old Jayden is revealed as a Deliverer after her family is murdered. Unsure of herself, she rejects her destiny. However, fighting against both her destiny and her enemies puts those she cares for at risk. Only by embracing her abilities and her role as a Deliverer, can Jayden become the protector needed to save the world from darkness and her people from extinction.

Action-packed and well-crafted like the first book, Amber Eyes delivers on the romantic conflict we see brewing in Scarlet Moon. With plot twists and new insights into the characters' psyches and bonded abilities, book two finishes strong, leaving the reader wanting more and setting the stage for an epic ending to the trilogy.

Where are the Wielder and the remaining Deliverer? What is the power Conner fights to contain? And on which side of the battle will Ryan land?

I enjoyed reading both books and look forward to the final installment releasing next year.

Amber Eyes is available for purchase from Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Visit Unicorn Quester to view the full blog tour schedule.

Here's the book blurb for Amber Eyes:

Destiny can be cruel.

Darkness retreated from the light of the scarlet moon, but has since grown even stronger. The Mistress of Shadows has found a new pawn—one that may be the key to unlocking the door to her underground prison. Now evil threatens to escape its shackles and destroy the land.

In the aftermath of loss and betrayal, Jayden’s fight with the enemy still isn’t over. But while she isn’t sure she can stop the Mistress alone, leaving her friends might be the only way to keep them from being consumed by the darkness.

With lives hanging in the balance—and no time for error—can Jayden make the right choice?

Amber Eyes is the second book in S.D. Grimm's Children of the Blood Moon series. Scarlet Moon is the first book in the series and is available for purchase from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Here's the book blurb for Scarlet Moon: 

Destiny can pick someone else.

Evil is slipping through the cracks of its prison, and all Soleden trembles in its wake. Yet some would harness that evil to their own ends, and first among them is Idla, the sorceress queen bent on distorting the world.

Only one can stand in her way: Jayden. Upon realizing her mark as the prophesied Deliverer, Jayden conceals herself from her enemies and her Feravolk countrymen. But after the harm the Feravolk caused to her family, she's loath to rescue the not-so-innocent.

Hiding her mark was never easy, but now that Jayden knows both Queen Idla and the Feravolk are after her, hiding her gift of the Blood Moon will be impossible.

About the author:

S. D. Grimm’s first love in writing is young adult fantasy and science fiction, which is to be expected from someone who looks up to heroes like Captain America and Wonder Woman, has been sorted into Gryffindor, identifies as rebel scum, and loves elevensies as much as afternoon tea. Her patronus is a red Voltron lion, her spirit animal is Toothless, and she totally has a superpower. She is represented by Julie Gwinn of the Seymour Agency, her office is anywhere she can curl up with her laptop and at least one large-sized dog, and you can learn more about her upcoming novels at www.sdgrimm.com.

You can also connect with S.D. Grimm on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Spotify, Pinterest, or Goodreads.


Sign up for her newsletter here.





DON'T MISS OUT ON THE GIVEAWAY!!!

Want to dive into a new world? Enter to win a signed copy of both Amber Eyes and Scarlet Moon, a grimmlie dragon of the dragon on the cover (made by the author), a charm bracelet (made by her Captain America), and a $10 Amazon gift card. (US only. Sorry!)

Enter the here for a chance to win. Ends February 4th at 12 am CST.

How Disowned Evolved from the Hot Mess of my First Draft (by special guest Sarah Addison-Fox!)

Today we're excited to be part of the MONTH-LONG blog tour celebrating Disowned, the first book in the Allegiance series by Sarah Addison-Fox! You can find out more about Sarah, her book, and the blog tour below, but first we have a guest post from the author about how her manuscript has evolved. Enjoy!

I wrote Disowned on the heels of binge reading the entire Ranger’s Apprentice series. By the time an editor got hold of it, it was 86,000+ words and riddled with a huge amount of inter-scene head hopping. Without realizing it, I was emulating the style of Ranger’s Apprentice, unintentionally giving absolutely everyone within a scene the same "screen time." Which is absolutely fine for many types of books, but it wasn’t really working with what I was trying to achieve for Disowned.

Don’t get me wrong, I am a die-hard Ranger’s Apprentice fan, and I have no problem with authors using the technique if the story is best served by head hopping, but it didn’t lend itself to really getting inside each character’s head the way I intended. I will be forever thankful that the editor smacked some sense into me.

The most notable head hop award would have to go to a scene about learning to ride an old horse. In the comments, the editor wrote, "Now you are writing from the horse’s point of view." I think she embellished her point by adding a bucket load of exclamation marks.

Honestly, the first draft was riddled with so many information dumps, head hopping, grammatical errors, and a truly cringe-worthy scene which didn’t make the final cut.

I’ve written seven more first drafts since Disowned, including rewriting the second in the Allegiance Series, Dissemble, almost completely, and each time I learn something. There are so many things I’d probably do differently if I wrote Disowned now, but I’m coming to accept that at some point an author has to let the book go and trust it will find an audience to appreciate the merits of the story you are trying to tell. Warts and all.

The Disowned that was published ended up 20,000 words shorter, a character survived, around seven scenes were chopped and though there are still multiple points of view, I did use scene breaks instead of trying to jump around and hear from everyone in the scene.

See, you can teach an old dog new tricks.


Thank you so much for sharing with us, Sarah! I love hearing the process authors go through to get to the final version of their story!


Want to know more? Here's the back cover blurb for Disowned:

Two countries, two choices, one life. When Kyraenean slave Celeste risks her life to reach the free nation of Etraea, a country filled with technology and wealth, she unknowingly sets off a chain of events that will change her life forever.

After escaping her new owner, Celeste awakens in the home of an Etraean soldier, sworn to protect the fragile peace. For Corporal Mick Haynes, life is simple. Follow the rules, do your job and work your way up the ranks. Getting shot and finding a wanted slave at his family's farm wasn't part of the plan. 

When a Kyraenean bounty hunter locates Celeste, Mick's loyalty will be stretched to the limit. With war on the horizon, Celeste faces two impossible choices. Both securing her freedom, but both at a cost she could never have imagined. Will Etraea provide the freedom she's longed for or shackle her to an entirely new master?

You can purchase Disowned here. And here's a little more about the author:

Sarah Addison-Fox is a New Zealand-born home-schooling mother of two who loves action-packed, clean, fantasy with strong heroines. She has an astonishing amount of nail polish, has all her creative writing credentials shoved in a drawer somewhere, and has a husband who, after 27 years, can still make her blush. When she’s not working on both her YA fantasy series' she can be found fangirling on Goodreads or sending GIFs on Twitter.

You can connect with Sarah on her website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or Goodreads.

Thanks for visiting us today, Sarah! And thanks to Livy Lynn's Blog Tours for including us in the Allegiance tour! Make sure to check out tomorrow's post at godspeculiartreasurerae.wordpress.com!

P.S. We are absolutely THRILLED to be welcoming KaLyn Cummins to Lands Uncharted as our newest regular contributor!!! Make sure to check out her bio (on the upper left) and stop by on Thursday to see her first post!