tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58549495894148892072024-02-02T03:03:30.040-08:00C. M. RosensC. M. Rosens is an aspiring author of dark fantasy, crime and urban paranormal, a reptile-lover, converted gym-bunny and embroidery enthusiast with an academic alter-ego.C. M. Rosenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732209188950803732noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5854949589414889207.post-36974513052402324882018-08-06T17:30:00.000-07:002018-08-06T17:43:14.397-07:00Say hi!<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_QIBamPmDsNNMQY7buu9ueMPU8cFj9JYPGz3vYdu0UCKDFPs7Twh3_URac8HMWUxomN5E01nsYPWtYnLFA-qpWsKViDhD1gQFwDbavO6QQRBjydAv8OlqMsdDjp-bSZZhBcVyisF9WcR/" alt=""><p></p>C. M. Rosenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732209188950803732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5854949589414889207.post-38287245285808583952018-07-31T17:58:00.001-07:002018-07-31T17:58:25.893-07:00Zodiac Posts 2.0<div style="text-align: justify;">
<h2>
Blog Post Prompts</h2>
<br />
Back in 2014 I had this idea for taking the traits assigned to a zodiac sign and using them as prompts for blog post themes.<br />
<br />
It was good for a bit but life, work and my mental health got in the way of my writing, so the blog was the first thing to go. I loved the series and the concept, though, so now I think the time has come to revive it!<br />
<br />
This post is basically me re-blogging the original concept with the ideas I had for each post. I got as far as Gemini before.<br />
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.runwaylive.com/files//horoscope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://www.runwaylive.com/files//horoscope.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
I started with my own sign, Capricorn. See below for the links to the previous posts!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://cmrosens.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-zodiac-posts-capricorn-1.html" target="_blank">Capricorn [1]</a> - Capricorns are known for their down-to-earth mentality. So I blogged on being down-to-earth in the sense of being realistic, and how realistic character development can be achieved if you're writing the same characters over a long period of their lives. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://cmrosens.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-zodiac-posts-capricorn-2.html" target="_blank">Capricorn [2]</a> - Capricorns are meant to be mature, so I took this theme and made it about age and representation. Ageism in Fiction came up because I noticed that while families like mine - where the grandparents did the majority of the childcare - are very common in the UK, positive portrayals of mature/older/elderly characters in KidLit and YA are not as common. So I blogged about my thoughts on that. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://cmrosens.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-zodiac-posts-aquarius-1.html" target="_blank">Aquarius </a>- I found a description of Aquarians that claims they are good at consciously and unconsciously absorbing information. I applied this to a recent book I'd read (<i>The Silkworm</i>, Robert Galbraith), and thought about how different in tone it was to <i>Cuckoo's Calling</i>, where J. K. Rowling was trying to disguise her style. In <i>Silkworm</i>, she had been outed as Galbraith, and she hadn't bothered to hide her <i>Harry Potter</i> voice as a result, even having one character paraphrase a key message on [her views on] murder from the later books. The conscious disguise of style versus the unconscious revealing of style was something that had bothered me a bit, so I discussed it in a sort-of review. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://cmrosens.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-zodiac-posts-pisces-1.html" target="_blank">Pisces [1]</a>: Pisces are 'emotional souls' according to one source, so I thought first about emotional and psychological issues that might affect characters, and mental health in fiction. This blog post was a collaborative effort, looking at main characters [MCs] who fitted certain criteria. I had a bit of a personal reflection here, in context of the Time to Change campaign that took place across Britain (it says England in the original post, but it was more widespread than that). Thinking of MCs who fit the criteria was a bit of a struggle but we got a good list, I think. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://cmrosens.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-zodiac-posts-pisces-2.html" target="_blank">Pisces [2]</a>: The Interview with Maya Starling. Taking the theme of 'emotional souls' a bit further, I interviewed author Maya Starling about one of her then- works in progress on Wattpad, and her protagonist Etta, who struggled with mental health issues. Her interview includes extracts from the story and her inspiration for the novel, as well as the challenges of writing it. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Since Aries is a dynamic sign, I took the basic theme 'A is for Action' and considered a number of ways that could be interpreted with the three authors I interviewed. I asked each author about their work specifically, but I also asked them about their ways of building up to a climactic moment in the narrative, their views on writing dynamic scenes, and the energy it took them personally to get to this point in their writing careers. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://cmrosens.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-zodiac-posts-aries-1.html" target="_blank">Aries [1]</a>: The Interview with Kara Jorgensen. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://cmrosens.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-zodiac-posts-aries-2.html" target="_blank">Aries [2]</a>: The Interview with Charlotte Ashley.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://cmrosens.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-zodiac-posts-aries-3.html" target="_blank">Aries [3]</a>: The Interview with Jaycee Ford.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Moving on to Taurus, I considered the obvious characteristic of the bull: strength. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://cmrosens.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-zodiac-posts-taurus-1.html" target="_blank">Taurus [1]</a>: What is strength? This is a big question, and the post is LONG. The main inspiration was a question that deeply resonated with me, in the form of a headline: <b>...if I have PTSD then how can I be strong?</b> I got a few author friends to let me know what they thought, including Lisa Gillis and Alys Arden. Then I mused in usual rambling fashion about what people thought about strength, and how many different ways a protagonist could look and <i>still</i> be 'strong'.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://cmrosens.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-zodiac-posts-taurus-2.html" target="_blank">Taurus [2]</a>: This was the follow-on post, where I used the tag #WhatIsStrength to muse about my own writing and the patterns there are within it. I was reading about Strong Female Characters as tropes rather than fully-formed three-dimensional people, and that inspired the more personal reflection on what sort of characters I write. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://cmrosens.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-zodiac-posts-taurus-3.html" target="_blank">Taurus [3]</a>: Who is strength? This one was my favourite, as it was a collection of people's ideas of strong characters. I looked at my own three fictional role models (Miss Marple, Granny Weatherwax and Diana Trent) and asked people to give me theirs. Everyone had a different idea: from Anitmony Carver (<i>Gunnerkrigg Court</i>) to Albus Dumbledore (<i>Harry Potter</i>). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://cmrosens.blogspot.com/2018/06/the-zodiac-posts-gemini-1.html" target="_blank">Gemini</a>: My last post was also the most recent and I posted out of guilt for not posting for so long!! I didn't really put much effort into this one. Inspired by the twins, it was a reflection on my double life in writing fiction and academic non-fiction. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
This was my original list of ideas for the signs, and some of them were pretty good ideas, so for my Zodiac Reboot I think I will give some of them a shot.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="box-100" style="color: #414141; float: left; font-size: 15px; height: auto; line-height: 22.5px; padding: 5px 6.1875px; text-align: center; width: 606.891px;">
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b><u>Aries</u></b><br />
The people born under the Zodiac Sign Aries are curious, energetic and enthusiastic individuals, who want to initiate and make things happen rather than being mere spectators. The need for excitement push them into new territories and makes them extremely action-oriented.<br />
(see: <a href="http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/aries/aries-traits.action">http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/aries/aries-traits.action</a>)<br />
<b></b></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<b style="color: #333333;">> Writing action and dynamic scenes</b></div>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b>> Drama and the dramatic event: how do you write that pivotal moment?</b></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b><u>Taurus</u></b><br />
Known for being reliable, practical, ambitious and sensual, the people born under the Zodiac Sign Taurus have an eye for beauty. They tend to be good with finances, and hence, make efficient financial managers. However, like everyone else, a Taurus also has both positive and negative traits.<br />
(see: <a href="http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/taurus/taurus-traits.action">http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/taurus/taurus-traits.action</a>)<span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b>> Making a living from writing: is that a practical dream?</b><span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b>> How do you handle rejection and keep on trekking?</b><br />
<br />
<b><u></u></b></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b><u>Gemini</u></b><br />
All Signs have dark sides as well as the bright sides, and the Gemini is no exception. People born under the Zodiac Sign Gemini have some distinct positive and negative traits. For example, they are clever and intellectual but they can also be tense and restless. To understand a Gemini it is essential to understand his/ her traits.<br />
(see: <a href="http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/gemini/gemini-traits.action">http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/gemini/gemini-traits.action</a>)<span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b>> The Twins: a trope in fiction</b><span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b></b><b>> Doppelgangers: representations and tales</b><br />
<br />
<b><u></u></b></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b><u>Cancer </u></b><br />
The Cancer-born are quite complex individuals, but fundamentally, they are conservative and home-loving people. They love to be in familiar surroundings and nurture their relationships.<br />
(see: <a href="http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/cancer/cancer-traits.action">http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/cancer/cancer-traits.action</a>)<span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b>> Writing about familiar surroundings: finding magic and inspiration where you live</b><span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b></b><b>> Writing who you know: confessions of a writer (or two!)</b><br />
<br />
<b><u></u></b></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b><u>Leo</u></b><br />
Warm, action-oriented and driven by the desire to be loved and admired, the Leo have an air royalty about them. They love to be in the limelight, which is why many of them make a career in the performing arts.<br />
(see: <a href="http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/leo/leo-traits.action">http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/leo/leo-traits.action</a>)<span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b>> Writing royals: best depictions of royalty in fiction?</b><span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b></b><b>> Writing royalty: who makes the top 10 best authors of all time?</b><br />
<br />
<b><u></u></b></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b><u>Virgo</u></b><br />
Quiet undemonstrative and introvert, the Virgo are the waters that run deep. Wise, witty and well spoken, the Virgo have a good understanding of human nature and can effectively help people solve their problems.<br />
(see: <a href="http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/virgo/virgo-traits.action">http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/virgo/virgo-traits.action</a>)<span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b>> Deconstructing human nature: conveying personality through dialogue</b><span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b></b><b>> Literary Fiction: what is it?</b><br />
<br />
<b><u></u></b></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b><u>Libra</u></b><br />
Kind, gentle and lovers of beauty, harmony and peace, the Libra-born are attractive people. However, in their bid to please everyone, they can rarely say no to anyone, and as a result, end up stretching themselves.<br />
(see: <a href="http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/libra/libra-traits.action">http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/libra/libra-traits.action</a>)<span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b>> The Scales of Justice: why should characters find redemption, and should your antagonists ever 'get away with it'?</b><span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b></b><b>> Regaining equilibrium: how do you resolve conflict in your plots?</b><br />
<br />
<b><u></u></b></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b><u>Scorpio</u></b><br />
Mysterious and strong willed, the Scorpio-born easily grab the limelight as they have what it takes to accomplish their goals. Besides, they possess a magnetic charm that not many can ignore.<br />
(see: <a href="http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/scorpio/scorpio-traits.action">http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/scorpio/scorpio-traits.action</a>)<span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b>> Romantic heroes and brooding bad boys - how (not) to write them</b><span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b></b><b>> Secondary characters who steal the show - good, bad, or <i>really</i> annoying?</b><br />
<br />
<b><u></u></b></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b><u>Sagittarius</u></b><br />
The Sagittarius enjoy travelling and exploring what life has to offer. <span style="color: #333333; text-align: justify;">Adventurous that they are, the Sagittarius are always willing to take risks and keep the excitement levels in their lives alive.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 22.5px; text-align: justify;">(see: </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/sagittarius/sagittarius-traits.action">http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/sagittarius/sagittarius-traits.action</a>)</span><span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.5px;"><b>> Travel writing in fiction: when you can't write 'what you know'</b></span></span><span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.5px;"><b>> The Quest Novel: what makes a good one?</b></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 22.5px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<b><u></u></b></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b><u>Capricorn</u></b><br />
Capricorn is the Sign of stability, calmness and maturity. People born under this Sign are sensitive, sensible and secure in their own space. They not take mindless decisions but at the same time they will take well-calculated risks to get what they want.<br />
(see: <a href="http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/capricorn/capricorn-traits.action">http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/capricorn/capricorn-traits.action</a>)<span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b>> Writing family sagas - how do your characters cope with the passing of time?</b><span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b>> Ageism in fiction and fictionalizing ageism</b><br />
<span style="color: #414141;"></span></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
</blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b><u>Aquarius</u></b><br />
The Aquarius-born are strong and attractive individuals, who can think abstract and at the same time be practical as well. Their willingness and capacity to accept people as who they are make them sought-after company.<br />
(see: <a href="http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/aquarius/aquarius-traits.action">http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/aquarius/aquarius-traits.action</a>)<span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b>> #WeNeedDiverseBooks - how important is diversity in fiction?</b></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<b>> How can fiction help/hinder perceptions of people groups and individuals?</b></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
<b><u>Pisces</u></b><br />
These are generous and emotional souls. Quite popular in their social circles for being a genuine friend to everyone, a Pisces-born values human relations the most and puts the people he loves above everything else.<br />
(see: <a href="http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/pisces/pisces-traits.action">http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/pisces/pisces-traits.action</a>)</blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px;">
> <b>Spotlight on</b> <b><a href="http://www.litworld.org/" target="_blank">LitWorld </a>- helping people through the power of literacy</b></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
> <b>Serious Fiction: Changing Lives through the Power of the Story</b></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I may be adding ideas to these - and I'll be getting guest bloggers in on this too! Looking forward to interviews, features, general ramblings, and other cool stuff. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Anything you want me to add, let me know! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">CMR</span></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #414141; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; text-align: center;"></span><br />
<div class="box-100" style="float: left; height: auto; padding: 5px 6.1875px; text-align: center; width: 606.891px;">
<div class="nrmltxt" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="gs_nrml_100_box">
<div class="box-100" style="float: left; height: auto; padding: 5px 6.3125px; width: 619.281px;">
<div class="box-100" style="float: left; height: auto; padding: 5px 6.3125px; width: 619.281px;">
<div class="nrmltxt-justify" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="nrmltxt-justify" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="nrmltxt-justify" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="nrmltxt-justify" style="color: #333333; font-family: verdana, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
C. M. Rosenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732209188950803732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5854949589414889207.post-79423136567206474372018-06-27T06:23:00.001-07:002018-06-27T06:23:59.324-07:00The Zodiac Posts - GEMINI [1]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<h2>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsjsDhVh1FdFCAywHyOVLftn7mBc_w2nxGw9-0gjIIJozMMALBT9eQDTpBQpa_zeQSstMxpYs_bq3lXhpEZkizWeBNkeJOUGrw6oL6cKM7m6cWx_Ip52ADVBvZZBalFaPplVCVR4Deva9Z/s1600/1gemini+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></h2>
<h2>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsjsDhVh1FdFCAywHyOVLftn7mBc_w2nxGw9-0gjIIJozMMALBT9eQDTpBQpa_zeQSstMxpYs_bq3lXhpEZkizWeBNkeJOUGrw6oL6cKM7m6cWx_Ip52ADVBvZZBalFaPplVCVR4Deva9Z/s1600/1gemini+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsjsDhVh1FdFCAywHyOVLftn7mBc_w2nxGw9-0gjIIJozMMALBT9eQDTpBQpa_zeQSstMxpYs_bq3lXhpEZkizWeBNkeJOUGrw6oL6cKM7m6cWx_Ip52ADVBvZZBalFaPplVCVR4Deva9Z/s1600/1gemini+2.jpg" width="245" /></a>Living a Double Life</h2>
<div>
I have been away from this blog, and my academic blog, for a while. I’ve actually been blogging at two other sites related to my day-jobs and voluntary projects, so I’ve not been offline for two years, but my headspace has been overcrowded.<br />
<br />
I stopped writing. I couldn’t do it. It was too much pressure, and too much to cram into my head at once. But my goals for 2019 include gaining a HE teaching qualification (something I’ve been working towards since 2013) and publishing a book. I have a publisher interested in my academic book, which is a totally different topic to my doctoral thesis, but I will be going down the indie publishing route with one of my fiction novels. This is for a number of reasons, which I will explore in a later post. So here I am again, blogging.<br />
<br />
I’m reviving the Zodiac posts (where I get topic inspiration from an attribute of a zodiac sign - Gemini = The Twins, hence my post on living a double-life). I might go with Elements or Celtic Tree signs next. I need prompts.<br />
<br />
<br />
The main difficulty I have in my fiction writing is the tendency to write like an academic. I can't help it. It's very hard to switch from the academic writing style or <i>vice versa</i>, and I think it's something I've only recently got better at. While my paranormal and crime writing tends to be better in terms of the writing style (or so I personally believe), my fantasy work has more of my academic alter ego in it, and that makes it harder for me to switch styles. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My academic work focuses on thirteenth century baronial families, and my fantasy series is also more of a family saga, with the interpersonal tensions of the characters driving the plot more than the external challenges they face. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A lot of my ideas come to me while I am researching - almost all of my world-building came about in a library or archive, and lots of my scenes were influenced by the ways historical figures actually behaved. The problem is that I'm building my career as an academic (currently about as stable a profession as acting, and just as likely to get a full-time post somewhere as it is to get a Hollywood break... so maybe I should've gone with acting as a 'proper job' instead...). That gives me little time to write fiction, as I need to publish as much as I can while I've still got the time (read: while I'm only working part-time hours at my Paying-The-Bills-Job). </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It sometimes feels like I'm not just living a double life, but several of them all at once.<br />
<br />
Currently, though, I am taking more proactive steps to streamline my life, and have more of a balance. I am back writing again: I have completed two new novels since February this year, and finished the Faustine Chronicles quartet. So hopefully my double-life will remain harmonious, rather than wrestling for supremacy.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
Apologies for the unpolished post: I wanted to break the ice and say hi! I’ll be back soon with musings on conversations, conlanging and other topics.<br />
<br />
~CMR</div>
<div>
</div>
<h2>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsjsDhVh1FdFCAywHyOVLftn7mBc_w2nxGw9-0gjIIJozMMALBT9eQDTpBQpa_zeQSstMxpYs_bq3lXhpEZkizWeBNkeJOUGrw6oL6cKM7m6cWx_Ip52ADVBvZZBalFaPplVCVR4Deva9Z/s1600/1gemini+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></h2>
C. M. Rosenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732209188950803732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5854949589414889207.post-71882649689977820372016-05-25T12:20:00.001-07:002018-07-31T16:48:24.172-07:00Barker Crescent [now called Real Meat]I've finally managed to get back into fiction writing.<br />
<br />
I've published two more chapters of Book of Death on Wattpad, and I'm planning a new Dr Monday novel... this one set at the same time as The Crows, because I like playing with narrative and suchlike.<br />
<br />
I thought it would be really fun to show the same time period in the same place from the perspective of a totally different person, who was unconnected with the events happening to Carrie. With Carrie, you get an outsider's view of the town: with Meredith Blake, you get an insider's view.<br />
<br />
However, even with Meredith as the MC, you still only get her perspective on the werewolf community - even she is an outsider where it comes to the other communities of supernatural and paranormal entities in Pagham.<br />
<br />
Here's the blurb:<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: "source sans pro" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: "source sans pro" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Investigative journalist Meredith Blake is a werewolf on a mission. After the disappearance of the local History Society's secretary, a member of the lycanthropic community, Meredith decides to uncover the truth. Rumour has it that the missing secretary had a taste for human flesh: and Meredith discovers that she wasn't the only one.
Her investigations take her deep into the heart of Barker Crescent, home to the werewolf community of Pagham-on-Sea. When one of her young informants turns up dead, Meredith realises she's stumbled onto something big - and murder is just the tip of the iceberg. Can she expose the truth before she too is silenced?
</span><br />
<img alt="Barker Crescent" src="https://a.wattpad.com/cover/73060405-208-k143885.jpg" /><br />
Completed, on CelticMedusa's profile on wattpad<br />
Entered into #Wattys2018<br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #555555; font-family: "source sans pro" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
C. M. Rosenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732209188950803732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5854949589414889207.post-46278267593581841122015-10-30T17:03:00.001-07:002015-10-31T04:03:28.299-07:00Sorry for the Hiatus!Quick hello to break my silence: I've been focusing on my academic career this year, and have my first article published! I have another two forthcoming, plus the monograph (single-author book), a book chapter in a volume I've co-edited with my Supervisor and two other members of my conference team (I co-founded and co-organise a biannual conference), and, um, I have three other articles looking for homes at the moment. Well, one is submitted and in the academic version of the slush pile, awaiting referee selection. The other is due to be submitted shortly, and the third is yet to be written but is co-authored, and has a December deadline.<br />
<br />
Oh, and there's that book review I'm writing.<br />
<br />
And the impact projects I'm working on - enriching the curricula of secondary schools, and so on.<br />
<br />
My novel writing is sadly on hold and I do miss it so.<br />
<br />
I'm doing #AcWriMo this month, the academic writing version of #NaNoWriMo, just to get three chapters of my book done for the panel if they like my proposal and ask for a sample chapter.<br />
<br />
I miss the worlds in my head, but the real world is also full of adventures!<br />
<br />
I will be back with you all soon, I hope!<br />
<br />
CMR<br />
<br />
P.S.<br />
<br />
If you want to follow my real world adventures, go subscribe to my <a href="http://www.melissajulianjones.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">real world blog</a> or follow my <a href="http://www.twitter.com/MedievalMJJ" target="_blank">real world Twitter! </a>C. M. Rosenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732209188950803732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5854949589414889207.post-45581118363354814292015-02-15T18:00:00.001-08:002018-07-31T16:48:52.970-07:00The Zodiac Posts - TAURUS [3] WHO is Strength?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTq2d_S6En0Gp6ZeuvR4jSVd6S3Tv-mAiiYv-6G3aF9YK1eZ0dkaKu803N_tUx84MSr0NKHqXMBOFqfTlCFFugBvRgCnpQZns7Ou02xdS8rYOFwZaLnV-QUrC_6JW5fZATeRoN-Pt9MJR/s1600/taurus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTq2d_S6En0Gp6ZeuvR4jSVd6S3Tv-mAiiYv-6G3aF9YK1eZ0dkaKu803N_tUx84MSr0NKHqXMBOFqfTlCFFugBvRgCnpQZns7Ou02xdS8rYOFwZaLnV-QUrC_6JW5fZATeRoN-Pt9MJR/s1600/taurus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<h2>
WHO is 'Strength'?</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In the last of the Strength-themed posts inspired by the Taurus sign, before I move on to "Gemini" which gives me a perfect excuse to take that literally and do some posts on twins/doppelgangers as tropes, characters and their foils and all that sort of thing, I thought I'd do something more visual and fun!<br />
<br />
I've already asked <a href="http://cmrosens.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/the-zodiac-posts-taurus-1.html" target="_blank">what three words "strength" immediately conjures up</a> in my word association game, and I've briefly mused about <a href="http://cmrosens.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/the-zodiac-posts-taurus-2.html" target="_blank">Strong Female Characters and how my own writing doesn't seem to have any</a>. I don't believe in writing tropes unless you're doing it deliberately to make a point; I believe in writing about <i>people</i>.<br />
<br />
So here we are, with my final inspired idea.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I asked my friends and followers on Facebook and Twitter if they could each pick three "strong" fictional role models. They didn't <i>have </i>to justify them but they could if they wanted - they just had to give three names from any form of media who, to them, represented "strength".<br />
<br />
<h3>
</h3>
<h3>
#WhoIsStrength? - My Three Fictional Role Models</h3>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://cmrosens.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-zodiac-posts-capricorn-2.html" target="_blank">As I've said in previous posts</a>, I was brought up by my grandparents and my great-grandmother. That probably explains a lot about my three childhood/teenage fictional role models, whom I saw as "strong" women.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLFOVXkrXG7KrCM4JCEmDINLZtn3uXKd3PVIbAmK7JkiyePodQP65BsGwzXDLP8nkEks3g36QzzyQgYb0r5tO_KgJf0t9SwlWcaTDysZX4-gVBSDIGqLpG8wLlIpeFPNKlIu589SZq76Y/s1600/marple.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLFOVXkrXG7KrCM4JCEmDINLZtn3uXKd3PVIbAmK7JkiyePodQP65BsGwzXDLP8nkEks3g36QzzyQgYb0r5tO_KgJf0t9SwlWcaTDysZX4-gVBSDIGqLpG8wLlIpeFPNKlIu589SZq76Y/s1600/marple.gif" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miss Marple, played by Joan Hickson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I grew up loving Miss Jane Marple, avid gardener, keen knitter and devoted aunt, who had in her youth fallen for a married man who had gone to war and never returned. Underestimated by almost everyone who meets her but held in high regard by those who know of her remarkable powers of observation and deduction, Miss Marple is the "grey-haired cobra" and notorious "nosy parker" who gets to the bottom of murder most foul. She also gets to have afternoon tea a lot. Which I also like the idea of having.<br />
<br />
Miss Marple sees the world and everyone in it through the prism of her little English village, St Mary Mead. A professional student of human nature, there is very rarely any type of behaviour she encounters which she cannot link back to a case study from her village, and the people she knows so well. She is also maternal and chatty, plays up to the dotty old lady impression to get information and appear harmless to potential suspects, and lives a quiet, rich, full life with her many friends (when not solving murders).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMaoWT9d2_lDLJWOcm_aSsS7VeXGhMi4uYY27NCjOSB3BSosWcpP8uu0LaTkty1WgWTQoM8eFNNgbzP1TJIDuHZ99H1a6v6FV3g7xQuto2x_g-BPHAb_JBHMgk41oJra9l_Al9bnDtzoG/s1600/esme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMaoWT9d2_lDLJWOcm_aSsS7VeXGhMi4uYY27NCjOSB3BSosWcpP8uu0LaTkty1WgWTQoM8eFNNgbzP1TJIDuHZ99H1a6v6FV3g7xQuto2x_g-BPHAb_JBHMgk41oJra9l_Al9bnDtzoG/s1600/esme.jpg" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Esme Weatherwax (centre)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Then, there was my discovery of Discworld, and Esme "Granny" Weatherwax. I picked up a copy of <i>Witches Abroad</i> in our High School library and I was hooked. Granny Weatherwax never gives up, or admits that she's wrong, and practices 'headology' on people. She defeats Elves (no, they are <i>not </i>nice), vampires, twisted fairy godmothers, usurping rulers, and often has to overcome herself. She knows exactly who she is, and has loyal friends (each strong in their own way) to make sure that her independence and hot temper don't get the better of her. I was drawn to her because of that 'weaker' aspect of her character - the fact that she <i>needs</i> other people to ground her and keep her from cackling (first it's the cackling, then you're up to your eyes in spindles and it's nothing for it but a hot oven and a fast horse) and the fact that she would be fantastically terrifying as a 'wicked' witch but <i>relentlessly </i>does the right thing. Her pride is her fatal flaw, but it's her self-control and will of steel that triumph, and the fact that she has a very balanced and accurate understanding of human nature. To quote her best friend, Gytha "Nanny" Ogg, (whom she cannot be doing with at all), if you throw yourself on Granny Weatherwax's mercy, you had better be damn sure you deserve to bounce.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Lastly, the third role model of my early teens was the indestructible, indomitable Diana Trent, played by Stephanie Cole in the BBC sitcom <i>Waiting for God</i>. Diana is a retired freelance photographer and journalist whose adventurous working life usually involved hanging out of helicopters over war zones with her camera. Now a permanent resident in Bayview Retirement Village, Diana and her loyal sidekick, the delightful, consciously eccentric and upbeat Tom Ballard, spend their autumnal years enthusiastically Sticking It To The Man. With Tom in tow, Diana runs rings around the home's oppressive management, and the pair of them make life a living hell for oily manager Harvey Baines, his simpering assistant Jane, and their own families... not to mention anyone else stupid enough to cross swords with them. Diana is sarcastic, cynical, rude, embittered and utterly unimpressed with everything and everyone. She always outsmarts the con-artists, the greedy and the unscrupulous, pretends to despise her beloved niece so that she will remain untouched in her niece's memories as the fun, lively and active woman she used to be, and takes zero shit from anyone. I mainly loved her because she always came out with gems of practical wisdom like this:<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx9QJuUscuLLyzICtEzhfIZvIzlhHA8-TBoQF9JjIED4BBytJsDiBg29XhkV4_GCnVQIndsZaBMZwJVEn_QXA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
... Got that, my old parrots? Never. Sign. Anything. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
#WhoIsStrength to You? </h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When I posed the question on Facebook and Twitter, I had a HUGE range of responses. Just as a lot of people responded very differently to "What Is Strength?", people had a range of fictitious "strong" role models too. </div>
<br />
Check out the Strong Gallery: from Jane Eyre to Captain Kirk, can you see the strength in them that others see? (That may mean adjusting your definition of strength!)<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_G8TzL5x9RGBcXUVl7-YMsuRXdVuIlxJ2NTVWAIm93ZfAe49a2l9GIgCNm_eF1Vu-mV1wKkb8KGdCQIGL296cbaFVBZUbwxowct3jH65ROTWnW8171rmhNaaa3ZhyRzXZ7ZTLUgSHnQS8/s1600/Antimony.png" width="265" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/" target="_blank">Antimony Carver</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9pbkuWVC8DyfHbgptYmbhQ1O3BeLAMty5FffCVCGtvWtRmIbekfchQVUX4h4RGfWdDQihtmn6EP5ZZR7gWB9Idf1WV6BpYVIOswmKnfkPbUam9ZDt0ypnn9XcY2M-MKea5zOB7cOFU-e/s1600/buffy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho9pbkuWVC8DyfHbgptYmbhQ1O3BeLAMty5FffCVCGtvWtRmIbekfchQVUX4h4RGfWdDQihtmn6EP5ZZR7gWB9Idf1WV6BpYVIOswmKnfkPbUam9ZDt0ypnn9XcY2M-MKea5zOB7cOFU-e/s1600/buffy.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118276/" target="_blank">Buffy Summers</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460681/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8sR8ha0D1sLvwfV0FkmKb2IbGwb5T-jRX2RVg0alInjitmzN-6FmWPvHPkE7eozStEnGwuyEJWCs9cNS4_avX_Z3_90ohfTrl_nFRRysqjsYJVQqGitnQfKL5EdAfz8sKLvXfP2zrgxr/s1600/dean.jpg" width="215" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460681/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Dean Winchester</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.abebooks.co.uk/Harry-Potter-Paperback-Box-Set-Books/7246076773/bd?cm_mmc=gmc-_-gmc-_-PLA-_-v01" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNtSvHnQz1Iywd0rKCe7t6WpP_-ya0BkanrmSWBLO_34huC-i7AbqHmxLMCnYqlNhH0SLq9RYmrzEX7rliDWOOHTThuvALRRc32vCQqMtRlwDbJ92FY9pV1ZLHU_8jy4NQ8yjFc58SavtP/s1600/dumbledore.jpg" width="239" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.abebooks.co.uk/Harry-Potter-Paperback-Box-Set-Books/7246076773/bd?cm_mmc=gmc-_-gmc-_-PLA-_-v01" target="_blank">Albus Dumbledore</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89owyn" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVYjlvLJARxfgbzd4DiqpOAbVwg8BCTvflnTnC249xSq9ZfiLp5xUcZhFLWLH93Ygw-oZiMTKdQRO_tbEnPnfXkQEgZkKx4ojznOhetREcy9-cP-VKbkpmSzLC3xzLSPafsEoQepzKXHHg/s1600/eowyn.jpg" width="173" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89owyn" target="_blank">Eowyn of Rohan</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mansfield_Park" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzBONH3UyxHnhKpvcdOQzECMLMS0Oey2dtfU3LESpzSRkHe6Yqspyo5PGSjKxj7_zcBzGWUlkFxiOg0f4FC2y8qNVkoYOkDgPHjaVmZIvRuLNPGhkTrSMrcmJhbZD-1_jUJGpANHYOIuNX/s1600/fanny.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mansfield_Park" target="_blank">Fanny Price</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068098/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhRnQCfNSWVloi-RGhHfYmrxE0q84sLuo6BSqxFPXY_bo090egJcrAa8Z3eq_owT5vheCL5CvYTU0dy3uMDlHcnxGqkG1WaxQtC21j608UnyWCRG5NgRzdVVeexg6evVH4QLWq0KVOCr0/s1600/hawkeye+pierce.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068098/" target="_blank">Dr Benjamin "Hawkeye" Pierce</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQ5F5SgC4UvhbqFXKWtWGwZbniPR3NB2Ieo862h_9iymlPJDDf3WmIuehViXNZd1lqVSNmu1-UkVt4i71NmuNzteHD9CxXpUVnCihgeZ2G368LDDUp41hMWv1WR_Pp9IlaNbjIGJsq9sO/s1600/hermione.jpg" width="272" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter" target="_blank">Hermione Granger</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Eyre" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynGcx7dJcCASft_2U7xFd2cS5KDV3X3Z-IhIBtOQb2kDh-FJ6s_QACBTUSdaNMWG3PhJH_xyIuIiX46BD89d0lInJRcQhHKapAT-4V4CQCWI60VDNOj5bS11RqocysejRR5Md4SiYmBEb/s1600/janeeyre.jpg" width="211" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Eyre" target="_blank">Jane Eyre</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.strangersinparadise.com/characters/katchoo.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirKDBiNlfHl7iRRuhWcUvjon1kVfgdyyRrNRntn0Sy4V-XZBtEymE1XGZaXMQfLjQikwwlQb_3M_7jBVBrjSIzSdbADyB8LX3HX-Ltu0AeZjJ6hiDuLRHKofkWr6mplg0ZTrMNVtVlIij-/s1600/katchoo.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.strangersinparadise.com/characters/katchoo.html" target="_blank">Katchoo</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.startrek.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhx41mxUg_SQnrlpcgwfimDQfbFh502b0k4ozeW8dbIK58lTUquWxuze0Y2Qzweosr6QPTCyZOrqGKyVotWlOf-Nxkv2n8PRGrPH7dA2V53eL1oyJ61a7MzKburj-D5R93hVhloQFtqAC/s1600/kirk.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.startrek.com/" target="_blank">Cpt Kirk</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1695360/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVizbKtxpE8Gwd6k2QLtkvOj_0YOTXmmdRpHv5DWPGeLQQxFrC1WPOYNrPaSwN33RJNqx0ER88Uau7saOKlZCpOJKtt4IglM1psVQDp75c0E6-zYhWZR-MQ_WnYOnJj_SV3cN1-QADYi0/s1600/korra.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1695360/" target="_blank">Korra</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vorkosigan_Saga" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-YI1neBdtH1m9-ouRa1iUYYEx201UaaYhtSkj9YHxFhr2CZHKbFM_3KmUDtyNM0lz7VVOz9A73Jy9suKFEefQiUTzG_uSy6x1mKhwWEhdEaAWAZvJ6M7NfdF-PfqqOz3A4vVJZuHcVOR/s1600/miles_vorkosigan_2.jpg" width="191" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vorkosigan_Saga" target="_blank">Miles Vorkosigan</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wind_in_the_Willows" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6r8Wp754mLWByXXs4_5pWlxiMKlmLSnwJB7iFicjeDIlHt-d2Osb6Dk16AtQ56XE8haPTzIQNQLkZszHTvdh4S90UJzxJKxogD0NfYBgxVD8REsuoUTIsNZCdCzBgWqaHP-Nh4mEx1LP6/s1600/mole.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wind_in_the_Willows" target="_blank">Mole, <i>Wind in the Willows</i></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbM2CtvGews3aTxX6_PYlo79AUv_lrnweIXgX5Td9hXm9KegYgL-RMkuIttGmJkq-_C9Ld-Edz6XKueiOdTsOs6lOd9TGAberJ2yjBkn2WCLpV-5xuy0hAuutlRFO5ms_v0ERy-SAs8Jt/s1600/Neville.jpg" width="216" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter" target="_blank">Neville Longbottom</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.phrynefisher.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghbDqfAfXoU1E_SPQub9I5H3qASoFpvGyuBXp6VnqDMrpQm3rWyKOIrVfKrnDcikPlSYAW1QKzC6D7VugqpbfSo6Iqoo-NwgjEJrRbVo5RyqKgqc1PaRhzPlbj6QAPht4XSX0MXaTa4P3-/s1600/phryne.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.phrynefisher.com/" target="_blank">Phryne Fisher</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Princess_Bride" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpBsQr1t7XtrNhH97O4EmtMQEyiUx8ZKQsRtjyct-ksMhvcIWFTGpmLSU7_O2wXLiHaR7vcpmvlx6WQ-DCjRNKjZ4BuB8EfyzZ6EusDH5UirSIVM7G2p32olImBD8s4uSQFHUInzauz6Z/s1600/princess-bride-book.jpg" width="212" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Princess_Bride" target="_blank">Buttercup - from the book, not the film</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.thewalkingdead.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZsFRfQRnnFub5rZ4gvqZV7OK_uDTQWQGOGTW9pOzKr4RRCE67LB7R6RGi8QSyQVA02e6edWAXlk076gzqBYg-iHyYEqcw08oxERJjFXzq6Y7zya_mIFAvZ9tDCHMLGXaVk0cAOO7E3bu/s1600/rick.jpg" width="226" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thewalkingdead.com/" target="_blank">Rick Grimes</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.philip-pullman.com/books/the-sally-lockhart-quartet/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4p8n0z3UClacvnKpKR77dW3cvGszq2tQBdd2jWBz-NC09_2K0bcbxtMdT2iEMKf8187Egxy8zsl8HytZBvyAqmMETyKSgpmh7m0Yp_JAr-Fwf_XIJeDelHFYLubq7_YsHW5f381Gpt6e/s1600/sally.jpg" width="241" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.philip-pullman.com/books/the-sally-lockhart-quartet/" target="_blank">Sally Lockheart</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.tolkien.co.uk/category/The+Lord+of+the+Rings" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16GERvQEaWtonHAkTE0A9-U903vIVRCAFzZF-Wim5mdoVwdrCD4OGbQAzBS2xNBgbn6PTaECKy_hs54KnmnC16RusUDUVoz1xyCc2T2Ep6nUxqBbiDSW3c0aU5JPKFLwbIiRy9k-sP5Ad/s1600/samwise.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.tolkien.co.uk/category/The+Lord+of+the+Rings" target="_blank">Samwise Gamgee</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0303461/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOZzIHtrzgFBXT5_Iw9L49VVEDrw8MNpwvSydiCud53dTDFkyj4WvofH28x_CW4RQoUc803XqAp6hwkjxvSHBYmq42czia1LRYsowu4AawnteC6UkooCsbfHRv13I44NtguvmiacQhopA/s1600/simon+tam.jpg" width="229" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0303461/" target="_blank">Dr Simon Tam</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118276/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYNJUqyp0pK3bZfC7jJeGli8xfGNQH0kX3iUwje9Inf4lCuwMiBGoVugYr9aUdy6UmxSS2Pxnw8cyEQPwWgNcEnzmkfH_qWFQR70RfqQ1bMMO3FgZzn98H1pLUydjKZh-bZbvESTXdRAAh/s1600/tara.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118276/?ref_=nv_sr_1" target="_blank">Tara Maclay, <i>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</i></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Eight_(novel)" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7gb7gQvEoL6waUhkQ3fCAFE7Gzx0EohwWlyk7e3IH6xDr1Tx5G-rG1lEpYcraMm6q4el3NLBm0og2amXtaXyD9m0OgRAfw5sue0cGERZ2lL5jmwoRlgbchgnT9NmJXTozsU0z8bEU7-8/s1600/the+eight.jpg" width="210" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Eight_(novel)" target="_blank"><span data-reactid=".18.1:3:1:$comment1533714436880729_1533726130212893:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:0" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.3599996566772px; text-align: left;"> </span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".18.1:3:1:$comment1533714436880729_1533726130212893:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body" style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.3599996566772px; text-align: left;"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".18.1:3:1:$comment1533714436880729_1533726130212893:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0"><span data-reactid=".18.1:3:1:$comment1533714436880729_1533726130212893:0.0.$right.0.$left.0.0.1:$comment-body.0.$end:0:$0:0">Catherine Velis/Mireille</span></span></span></a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://avatar.wikia.com/wiki/Toph_Beifong" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfan-4Bj8vp51WzZMy1f-Kr88cFGCw6MV4oo8M7Pf-4d3OiC25YfBlXqBEhi2_yD9LsR5Ez25p3K4RUTtbh8472bPWM3bOdOM43waPR8tBRWys43euTnhz_pJGZtdP35X6ygNeFQlrmlbU/s1600/Toph_Beifong.png" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #f6f7f8; color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.3599996566772px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://avatar.wikia.com/wiki/Toph_Beifong" target="_blank">Toph Beifong</a></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://gameofthrones.wikia.com/wiki/Tyrion_Lannister" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkUfRSUrYuYbWc_gxY-CZDemXNeepHlKVchmiH_nOS-8Ff5bkO6Fa9kFkwooPP_rMsCTma8Pl_Ul9MfePXwh6MN_Z9w0N__dy3iiXMwaqGPEim-VHANDM8hi6vEigsxXNfQR4mydtHLAtA/s1600/tyrion.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://gameofthrones.wikia.com/wiki/Tyrion_Lannister" target="_blank">Tyrion Lannister</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118276/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUmsZpfXWfePaqPJviHRyn1ozLqdc2HUdCwrMU5iJc_NW3L236ksu5B00fITllRH39kOQuflUp7zgElBZDoJXmydlSqHyiJ9bW1B5NaANHC8gKZDwZiwb7CUARzItVbmTZKDLUP6f7aj2U/s1600/xander.jpg" width="226" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118276/" target="_blank">Xander Harris</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Who do you relate to? Are your fictional role models up there? There are plenty to choose from! I'm sure I'll be adding more to the list...</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Remember folks. Always be yourself. Unless you can be your fictitious role model - or <i>Waiting for God</i>'s Basil. Then always be Basil. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwdxq4-tJNgIBW9teFJNLWRRoWQsUcL07byL2D-wIiHAHpQ2qnmoJr64IAY2H6oRN87QLbsTtQ1-ofynn_3QA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Nice one Basil. #WhatIsStrength</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
C. M. Rosenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732209188950803732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5854949589414889207.post-53413372656083924302015-02-15T12:59:00.002-08:002018-07-31T16:50:04.627-07:00The Zodiac Posts - TAURUS [2] #WhatisStrength<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTq2d_S6En0Gp6ZeuvR4jSVd6S3Tv-mAiiYv-6G3aF9YK1eZ0dkaKu803N_tUx84MSr0NKHqXMBOFqfTlCFFugBvRgCnpQZns7Ou02xdS8rYOFwZaLnV-QUrC_6JW5fZATeRoN-Pt9MJR/s1600/taurus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTq2d_S6En0Gp6ZeuvR4jSVd6S3Tv-mAiiYv-6G3aF9YK1eZ0dkaKu803N_tUx84MSr0NKHqXMBOFqfTlCFFugBvRgCnpQZns7Ou02xdS8rYOFwZaLnV-QUrC_6JW5fZATeRoN-Pt9MJR/s1600/taurus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<h2>
#WhatIsStrength?</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://cmrosens.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/the-zodiac-posts-taurus-1.html" target="_blank">My previous post on "strength" and "strong characters"</a> led me to think about my own writing a little more. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Quite a few people last week looked at strength through a very personal lens, identifying it with family members and friends. Others saw it in an abstract, ideal way, equating it with concepts rather than people. Still others thought that vulnerability was just as much a marker of strength as confidence was. I really enjoyed finding out what people thought, and suggesting ways of expanding the definitions of "strength" we all have in our minds. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This week, I've been writing the fourth in my fantasy series, <a href="http://cmrosens.blogspot.co.uk/p/life-universe-and-everything.html" target="_blank">The Faustine Chronicles</a>, <i>The Book of Death</i>. I've got a few new characters to have fun with, and, just as I was writing my other characters, I wasn't thinking about whether they were "strong" or not. I was actually thinking about how realistic they were given their back stories, personalities and the situations they found themselves in.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After reading a piece on <a href="https://thedissolve.com/features/exposition/618-were-losing-all-our-strong-female-characters-to-tr/" target="_blank">"Strong Female Characters"</a> by Tasha Robinson, critiquing female characters such as Valka in <i>How To Train Your Dragon 2</i>, and WyldStyle in <i>The Lego Movie</i>, I posed her questions at the end of the article to myself.<br />
<br />
Do I write SFCs? As in, not individuals with flaws and weaknesses and cracks and limitations like everyone else (for these are the things that make us human) but Strong Female Characters [SFCs] as tropes, as walk-ons, as conventions? </div>
<div>
<ol style="background-color: #f5f2ed; color: #2b292b; font-family: HarrietText; font-size: 10px; list-style: decimal-leading-zero outside none; margin: 0px 3.4375em 2em 4.0625em; padding: 0px 3.4375em 0px 7.1875em;">
</ol>
</div>
<div>
I hope not.<br />
<br />
I see all my characters as individuals, so when I tell their stories, you have people in their stories who are peripheral, vital, passing by and deeply important. There are men in my life who are completely peripheral and had a passing or momentary impact on my life. There are women who have done the same thing. And for my male friends, the same thing applies. Everyone is the hero of their own story, but what you need to do when being in total control of that story is to ensure there is a balance. Real life doesn't have a balance, is messy, and is basically what you get with no means of appeal - but fiction has to make sense.<br />
<br />
<br />
The one character that has always bothered me, though, who is abused and criticized and isn't very likeable but at the same time (I don't think) deserves what happens to her, has never had any sympathy from the readers.<br />
<br />
Her name is Gisa Ranheard, and she appears in <i><a href="http://cmrosens.blogspot.co.uk/p/life-universe-and-everything.html" target="_blank">The Book of Time</a>. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Gisa outlived her abusive, cursed family, and even though her own curse is activated manages to turn it to her own advantage. But, because she stands in opposition to characters that the majority of readers seem to like, she gets zero sympathy from anyone. It was important to me that in some way there was justice for her. That was up to the other women; it was always going to be up to the female characters to sort each other out, and reveal their strengths and weaknesses to one another <i>because of </i>one another.<br />
<br />
<br />
I think that's a key element in the books without me even realizing.<br />
<br />
<br />
Perhaps that's because to me, strength comes in spite of mistakes and flaws, and shines through the cracks.<br />
<br />
#WhatIsStrength to you? </div>
<div>
</div>
C. M. Rosenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732209188950803732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5854949589414889207.post-66559302782775962322015-02-14T04:29:00.000-08:002015-02-14T04:46:07.370-08:00Valentine's Day Special: Excerpt from The Book of Death<h2>
The Birth</h2>
<div>
<b><i>This is an excerpt from my current WiP, </i>The Book of Death. <i>It is unedited, and comes from one of the first chapters. I haven't got to any "romantic" bits yet - so you'll have to make do with newborns. </i></b></div>
<div>
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div>
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: justify;">
The crowd were now completely hushed. The silence was eerie - eerie in its suddenness, the way it passed like an electric current from person to person, group to group. Their king was reclusive, not given to many public appearances of this type. He was so pale it seemed he was not given to many private outdoor appearances, either. In fact, he had lived most of his pre-royal existence outdoors, hardy and tough despite his frame and well used to making the best of things in all weathers and without shelter. Seven hundred years could change a man. So could draining a powerful Dark Faerie of his life-force and glamour, and artificially extending his youth and life through drinking the blood of willing mortal donors. The heart that pounded resolutely in his chest was fit and strong, and the hazel eyes that looked out over the crowd below were sharp, shrewd and flecked with purple.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: justify;">
"We are delighted to announce," he said in low tones which nevertheless carried all around the city, "Her Majesty, Queen Johanna Vassilissa, has given birth to our firstborn -" There was an eruption of cheers, and the king raised his voice, drowning them out with little effort, "- <em>twins</em>, a boy and a girl, safely and without complications. Prince Cenred Kristof was born two minutes before his sister, the Princess Adosinda Elsa. We thank you, our people, for your love and your faith, and take all of your good wishes and prayers to our hearts at this glad time. A national holiday is declared - we wish for you all to celebrate with us, and share in our joy." He dipped his head, the chiseled, serious features ever the fantasy of many of his more romantically-minded subjects, and the crowd erupted.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: justify;">
There had been no heir for seven hundred years. Their great-grandparents had told them stories of when the royal couple first began their shamanic experimentations, their grandparents had wondered if it was possible. Some of them had been in this very square twenty years ago, when the announcement had been made that a prince had been delivered stillborn. Those that had been there could recall even now the deathly hush that had descended after the chamberlain's quavering words, and the way the wailing had began. Quietly, with gasps, broken and sad - and the ones that wept, the ones that sobbed, the ones that screamed. The candles and lanterns that had been lit, and stayed lit, and the crowd that camped out in the square for a whole week in resolute steadfastness despite the miserable weather, remaining to grieve with their king and queen.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: justify;">
Now, it had worked. The historic moment had arrived. </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: justify;">
Those that remembered sitting down on the cold wet stones, staring up at the balcony with tears and raindrops running down their cheeks, were so happy they were weeping out loud, their passionate sobs of joy merging with the frenzied roars of excitement and history-making hysteria until the sounds were indistinguishable and the ensuing din could be heard for miles around.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: justify;">
They were still cheering ten minutes later when he finally made it back through the curtains and into the warmth of the plush carpets and central heating system of the palace, running on its immense furnace deep in the belly of the basements. King Vin had invented central heating himself, based on descriptions of the ancient underfloor heating systems of his mother-in-law's native country, and had also designed Acca's sewage system. He had established the Royal Academy of Inventors and Engineers, and worked closely with them on various projects. He was eternally thankful that the royal treasury had also invested in the Royal College of Shamans, without whom the twins would not have been conceived, and the Royal College of Midwifery, without whom the twins would not have been so safely delivered.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: justify;">
The Black Queen was in bed with the twins, the midwives still present and standing by, when he came into the room. The grey light of the mild December poured through the bay window, washing over the thick pile blue carpet, where soft-soled midwives were handling bloody sheets and wrapping up the afterbirth for burning. Jola looked up at him with a bright smile, still bathed in a sheen of sweat and looking exhausted. Her long black hair was spangled with white, which glowed brilliantly as if a constellation had been sprinkled through the raven curls, which were not true black but shot through with the same glimmering purple that shimmered in the clouds.</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: justify;">
"Is it too late to change the names?" she said, as soon as he pushed open the door. </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: justify;">
Vin nodded, walking gingerly across the room to the bed as if afraid the carpet would scream. "We agreed." He took a seat by the pillows and kissed the top of her head. "Naming them after our parents does not mean they will turn out <em>like</em> our parents." They both knew he meant <em>her </em>parents, but Jola appreciated the inclusivity of 'our'. "Have you taken blood yet?" </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: justify;">
"Yes." </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: justify;">
He checked; the glass at the bedside was stained, but empty save for a few clots. Jola had not been taking blood throughout her pregnancy - the shamans had advised against it - but now it would help her to heal faster following the birth. Jola and Vin had aged a little in the centuries that had passed since their marriage. Jola had been sixteen when they met: now she was thirty. When she stopped taking blood, she aged naturally, her body clock ticking forwards again at a steady, normal pace, and when she started her daily rations again the aging process halted. Vin had allowed himself to age a little more, and counted his natural years as thirty-two, but they had both been around for far more years than they cared to remember. </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: justify;">
He looked down at the twins, nestled in their mother's arms, wrinkled red faces and closed squinting eyes giving them the confused expression of newborns unused to the world beyond the womb, and a great surge of love welled up within him. They were so real, so present, no longer a bump separated from his touch by layers of skin, no longer hypotheticals and what-ifs and maybes and the subject of aching daydreams. They were finally here. </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: justify;">
"Hello, Addie," he whispered, as his daughter's tiny mouth moved. Her brother flexed his little fingers into a star, whole hand completely dwarfed by his father's calloused palm. "Hello, Red." </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: justify;">
He had almost given up with the treatments. He had even begun to resent Jola for forcing them both on down that path of private humiliation and endless disappointment, but seeing her now, the culmination of all their struggles peacefully napping in her arms, and her exhausted joy shining through the blotches and sweat, made all their dashed hopes seem more than worthwhile. Vin swallowed, so full of emotion it physically hurt. </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
C. M. Rosenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732209188950803732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5854949589414889207.post-72377576903198614542015-02-07T06:04:00.002-08:002018-07-31T16:49:46.390-07:00The Zodiac Posts - TAURUS [1] What Is Strength?<br />
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLQurme8HtLeGvyxuDpBzavxcCQUJIBx6cTbW0c1pKxuD22bL4X9tqfXUqR4E5Mh-5rJXSeRRT8IuDJkYlfuT_hzVuDdsAA7Z_0sAFPgmGHU-hEohWRRrHcJ4Yue25Wx9JRXTZvUmcxR4/s1600/taurus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbLQurme8HtLeGvyxuDpBzavxcCQUJIBx6cTbW0c1pKxuD22bL4X9tqfXUqR4E5Mh-5rJXSeRRT8IuDJkYlfuT_hzVuDdsAA7Z_0sAFPgmGHU-hEohWRRrHcJ4Yue25Wx9JRXTZvUmcxR4/s1600/taurus.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">What is Strength?</span></h2>
<div>
I have to say, I'm enjoying the challenge of coming up with blog posts inspired by zodiac traits. It's a lot of fun looking at the prompt options for each sign, and gives me a lot more scope than I imagined! it's also much better than having to come up with new topics completely unprompted. I'm quite bad at that.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After our <a href="http://cmrosens.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/the-zodiac-posts-aries-3.html" target="_blank">dynamic action interviews inspired by Aries</a>, we come to Taurus - and "strength" is the obvious thing that comes to mind here. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now I can really roll my sleeves up, because I have this thing about "strong women". Oh dear lord, yes. In fairness, I have a thing about "strong" <i>people</i> - strong <i>women </i>may be a more talked about concept, but "strong" men - or the idea about what makes a "strong" male character is actually just as contentious. It's not all about the armour, folks.<br />
<br />
I really appreciate the work of these guys, <a href="http://www.omims.org/" target="_blank">One Mile In My Shoes</a>, a charity working to end the stigma against mental illness one story at a time. The title that caught my eye in my Newsfeed was "... <b>if I have PTSD then how can I be strong?</b>"<br />
<br />
It was <a href="http://www.omims.org/#!emily/c23pk" target="_blank">Emily's story</a>, and it's very challenging. But it was that initial question itself which resonated with me. "... If I am x, or have y, <i>how can I be strong?</i>" This is what we ask ourselves, as if "strong" people are perfect, flawless, and have no scars. I know from experience that when you are at your weakest, and someone says to you, "You're the strongest person I know", it makes no sense to you. My own response was to shut down. I was like, "What the hell do you mean? Is it because I still get up in the morning and I'm dressed? Is it because I seem to be able to buy my own food? Is it because I look like everything's normal? <i>Because it isn't. And it is not fine. And this is the weakest and most impotent and most helpless I have ever felt</i>." But I'd just say nothing. With hindsight, I can say that now I really <i>am</i> fine, I know that I am a strong person. You can be strongest in weakness - it's in the getting to the other side that you're tested, and while other people can't see that you're in your own private hell, feeling thin and stretched and useless, when you make it to the other side there is somehow more of you than before - or more to you than before. At any rate, you're never the same. So what impact does this knowledge have when you come to write "strong" characters?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanRRIjum5BCnXz_HuXpse2YDRbeskQtQ9iliT_UEvuWVvt_Gp4wJbFysuqENibKlFkDym7gl4OxofuRql5uX08eg8bfdTK-QruyntrNylyUdgEjSk121bquJAtbUDyy8w76ki6NYZJeL5/s1600/J3Msc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjanRRIjum5BCnXz_HuXpse2YDRbeskQtQ9iliT_UEvuWVvt_Gp4wJbFysuqENibKlFkDym7gl4OxofuRql5uX08eg8bfdTK-QruyntrNylyUdgEjSk121bquJAtbUDyy8w76ki6NYZJeL5/s1600/J3Msc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This links in with my <a href="http://cmrosens.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/the-zodiac-posts-pisces-1.html" target="_blank">earlier post on representations of mental health in fiction</a>, and why more antagonists have mental health issues than protagonists. I then <a href="http://cmrosens.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/the-zodiac-posts-pisces-2.html" target="_blank">interviewed author Maya Starling on her work in progress</a>, working title <i>Vengeance Upturned</i>, and its main character Etta. I wondered how many <i>pro</i>tagonists were out there, grappling with various personal issues. Most of them seem to be detectives, driven by their own demons to solve crimes and combat the darker side of human nature. Either that, or they take up arms against injustice and evil, and live ambiguous lives of heroism on the margins of society. "Noir" is a thriving, rich sub-genre, applicable to most things. I wonder if there's a Romance Noir out there somewhere, waiting for me to discover it like a hidden box of Black Magic chocolates. (Anyone else remember those? Christmas tradition in our house...)</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/46/6e/d3/466ed3682447d59fd9ae418a0cb7c7a5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/46/6e/d3/466ed3682447d59fd9ae418a0cb7c7a5.jpg" width="263" /></a>I asked: can you be considered a protagonist, or even a straight hero, if you also have schizophrenia? How many schizophrenic heroes are there in fiction? How many of them are main characters, not secondary characters? (I'm using "hero" gender neutrally here. At least, that's the intention).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
What about a romantic lead with Aspergers, hoping to meet the boy/girl of their dreams?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Can someone suffering an ongoing battle with depression - and never actually wins, but learns to deal with it rather than overcoming it completely (in itself a kind of victory) - be a protagonist, a hero, a main character, in something other than a detective role <i>or a story ABOUT depression</i>? (Re)-imagine the story of Snow White, where the story is exactly the same in all respects, but in which Snow is exactly this kind of character. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Would 'Cinder' Ella still be a classic heroine if <i>she</i> had depression, or was an alcoholic, or addicted to prescription painkillers? Or <a href="http://humorchic.blogspot.it/2014/01/humor-chic-equal-rights-disabled-disney.html" target="_blank">if she had a physical disability</a>, perhaps, or learning difficulties? Could she be the heroine and get the prince <i>and have every part of the story remain exactly the same</i> i<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/oct/31/petition-calls-for-disney-to-create-downs-syndrome-princess" target="_blank">f she happened to have Downs Syndrome?</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I hope you see where I'm going with this...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now, the concept of writing "strong" women cropped up in my Twitterfeed the other day, and I knew exactly what I wanted to discuss next, so I was pleased that this fitted into the next zodiac sign I was given to inspire my topic. A lot of people want their "strong" characters to demonstrate strength by kicking ass and taking names. That's fine - that's a form of strength. I used #WhatIsStrength on twitter, and found a load of fitness tweets and gym-related articles. That's another form of strength. These are both very valid. So I wondered what other people thought strength was.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I asked people on Facebook and Twitter to tell me what three words instantly came to mind when they saw the words "STRONG"/"STRENGTH". </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here are some of the answers (there's obviously no 'right' or 'wrong' answer to this, it's just a word association game and all answers will be personal and relevant to that person's understanding and conceptualizing of that attribute).<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: lime;"><b>FRIENDS </b></span>/ <span style="color: lime;"><b>FAMILY </b></span>/ <span style="color: lime;"><b>MYSELF </b></span>- Lisa Gillis, <a href="http://www.lisathedramaqueen.com/quick-buy-links" target="_blank">author of the rock star romance novels in the G-String and D-String series</a></blockquote>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: red;"><b>INDEPENDENCE </b></span>/ <b><span style="color: red;">STEEL </span></b>/ <b><span style="color: red;">INNER </span></b>- Natasha Rowlin, <a href="http://www.psgpublishing.com/chamber-of-music/" target="_blank">author of the moving short story "The Cello Room"</a> </blockquote>
<div>
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><span style="color: blue;">POWER </span></b>/ <span style="color: blue;"><b>FREEDOM </b></span>/ <b><span style="color: blue;">AUTONOMY </span></b>- Kara Jorgenson, <a href="http://karajorgensen.com/buy-links/" target="_blank">author of <i>The Earl of Brass</i></a></blockquote>
<div>
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
[Overcoming]<b><span style="color: orange;">HARDSHIP </span></b>/ <b><span style="color: orange;">INTELLIGENCE </span></b>/ <b><span style="color: orange;">MUSCULAR </span></b>- Nikki Gantt</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">RESILIENT </span></b>/ <b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">WILLPOWER </span></b>/ <b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">UNYIELDING </span></b>- Alex Rosa, <a href="http://www.authorarosa.com/#!about3/crcv" target="_blank">author of <i>Tryst </i>and <i>Emotionally Compromised</i></a></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: magenta;"><b>PASSION </b></span>/ <span style="color: magenta;"><b>STEADFASTNESS </b></span>/ <span style="color: magenta;"><b>DETERMINATION </b></span>- Emerald Delmara, <a href="http://www.psgpublishing.com/library-of-dreams/" target="_blank">author of fantasy short story "Eternal Dreams"</a> </blockquote>
<div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>IRONCLAD </b></span>/ <b><span style="color: #3d85c6;">WILLFUL </span></b>/ <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>COMMITTED </b></span>- Kim Fry, President of Kace Tripp Publishing and <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kim-Fry/e/B00HJEGTIM" style="font-weight: normal;" target="_blank">author of <i>Jumper 27 </i>and short stories "Dead Girl Walking" and "Bone Music"</a></blockquote>
<div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: #351c75;"><b>COMMITMENT</b></span> / <span style="color: #351c75;"><b>INTELLIGENCE</b></span> / <span normal="" style="color: #351c75;"><b>CARING</b></span> - Mel Favereux, <a href="http://melfavreaux.blogspot.co.uk/?zx=4ca78e2b58fa2ed1" style="font-weight: normal;" target="_blank">author of the Sanctuary series</a></blockquote>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><span style="color: #f1c232;">GRACE </span></b>/ <span style="color: #f1c232;"><b>RESILIENCE </b></span>/ <span style="color: #f1c232;"><b>HUMOUR </b></span>- David Jon Fuller, copy editor and <a href="http://www.davidjonfuller.com/about/" style="font-weight: normal;" target="_blank">author of several short stories including "The Harsh Light of Morning" and "A Deeper Echo"</a></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><span style="color: lime;">MOTHER</span></b> / <b><span style="color: lime;">FRIEND</span></b> / <b><span style="color: lime;">SISTER</span></b> - Donna Sharples </blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: red;"><b>RESILIENCY </b></span>/ <span style="color: red;"><b>DEPENDABILITY </b></span>/ <span style="color: red;"><b>POWER</b></span>[To Change] - Pratik Khuthia </blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: cyan;"><b>COMPELLING </b></span>/ <span style="color: cyan;"><b>INTENSE </b></span>/ <span style="color: cyan;"><b>PASSIONATE </b></span>- Laura Perry, freelance editor and <a href="http://www.lauraperryauthor.com/" target="_blank">author of fiction and Pagan/Wiccan non-fiction titles</a> </blockquote>
<div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">My three words are: </span><b>DETERMINATION</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> / </span><b>GRIT</b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> / </span><b>VULNERABILITY</b><span style="font-weight: normal;">. </span></blockquote>
<div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Strength can come in many forms. </span>I'm not trying to present answers - just ideas.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
#WhatIsStrength? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</div>
... A lot more than the sum of its representations.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>WRITING CHALLENGE:</b></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Think about your own personal view of a "strong character"</b>. Write down how <i>you</i> define "strong", and the things that you believe give a character strength. Now think about this:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.elkriver.k12.mn.us/webpages/weatherford/photos/33198/Writing21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://www.elkriver.k12.mn.us/webpages/weatherford/photos/33198/Writing21.jpg"></a></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Can you have a "strong character" who is willing to be vulnerable? </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Can you have a "strong character" who is having therapy?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Can you have a "strong character" who is unapologetically sensitive and emotional?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Can you have a "strong character" with depression?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Can you have a "strong character" with schizophrenia?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Can you have a "strong character" with multiple personalities?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Can you have a "strong character" who has no idea how to physically defend themselves and never does - because they won't, or can't?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Can you have a "strong character" with Dissassociative Identity Disorder?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Can you have a "strong character" with Downs Syndrome?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Can you have a "strong character" with learning difficulties?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Can you have a "strong character" who is just not that clever or quick-witted?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Can you have a "strong character" <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/21/asexual-awareness-week_n_4138261.html" target="_blank">who is asexual</a>?</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
... Ok.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Consider what you've got on paper. I find reflective exercises after the writing stage sometimes help the process, too.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>For example:</b><br />
<br />
How comfortable are you with "strong characters" who are also protagonists, but have religious convictions you are not familiar with, or don't personally accept? Can you have a "strong character" who is passionate, intelligent and determined, but also has strong, deep and genuine religious convictions - somewhat out of fashion in fiction, perhaps, unless we're talking Historical Fiction? (Even then, I've noticed that the "outsiders" or "rebels" in various HistFic periods are usually always atheists, with atheism as a mark of their rebellious, 'strong' personality. That's fine and often works really well, but it can feel as if there are other stories left untold, and whole new sets of conflicts left unexplored... and sometimes, at worst, just comes off as a lazy trope applied because the author wanted to write a "strong character".)<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Or, how about this:</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
Do characters <i style="font-weight: normal;">need</i> to be <u><b>active </b></u>in order to be "strong" - what about <b><u>passive </u></b>characters? Is there strength in passivity? (What about passive forms of resistance, like the villagers of <i style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://books.google.co.uk/books/about/Kanthapura.html?id=cZuCb9jQZLoC" target="_blank">Kanthapura</a></i>? What about pacifists or conscientious objectors? Are they the 'cowards' of official contemporary WWI / WWII narrative, or are they strong, too? What about characters who <i style="font-weight: normal;">refuse</i> to take revenge? Those who would rather face the consequences of their non-action than undertake something against their conscience?) </div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
I find things like this interesting because I get to think about other perspectives and <i>really</i> get to grips with 'lazy thinking'. <i>Why</i> do I think the way I do? What assumptions do I have about people, and how do my real-life assumptions impact the way I represent my characters?<br />
<br />
<br />
Who decides that some stories are worth telling while others are not, and who casts people in the roles they play? Is it you as the writer, or are you unconsciously reproducing a trope or type that fits a socially accepted image of strength, which perhaps you have never had cause to question? (I've done that. I need to think more about the people I write, no question. There's no judgement here.)<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>Yes, of course you can write a two-dimensional or even one-dimensional character on purpose, if that's what you require and it works. This isn't about censorship or judgement of good writing. It's just me sat here behind a laptop, thinking aloud into cyberspace, and wondering what the hell "strong characters" even are. And why they aren't also something else. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In the end, perhaps "strength" and how we view it comes down to how we see empowerment as a culture. Strength can be seen when the swords are dropped, not when they are drawn. Strength can be found in the granting of second chances and the showing of mercy, not in revenge and justice. Strength can be found in laughing at yourself. Strength can be found in shouldering responsibility and sacrificing adventure to do so. Strength can be found in the willingness to change, as well as the determination to stay the course.</div>
<div>
<br />
#WhatIsStrength?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
C. M. Rosenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732209188950803732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5854949589414889207.post-3035318382117257902015-02-01T13:09:00.005-08:002018-07-31T16:51:31.656-07:00The Zodiac Posts - ARIES [3] A is for Action - the Jaycee Ford Interview<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZTtxyQ5CMnwqxHNyYplzcJqu7Uw2HHz-BCutK7n-bz6AmG80gxVy-4Dp-JWWmyBdckyviZ54edX7gMB-H8ryNdVoY7t__Zxsx1sOOMoJlbTcOQ0jdHez07EZcnGqxyhv9T9CKqPmt2xX/s1600/Aries-sign-10.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZTtxyQ5CMnwqxHNyYplzcJqu7Uw2HHz-BCutK7n-bz6AmG80gxVy-4Dp-JWWmyBdckyviZ54edX7gMB-H8ryNdVoY7t__Zxsx1sOOMoJlbTcOQ0jdHez07EZcnGqxyhv9T9CKqPmt2xX/s1600/Aries-sign-10.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<h2>
A is for Action</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
#DoYouHearTheBuzz?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Following my interview with <a href="http://cmrosens.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/the-zodiac-posts-pisces-2.html" target="_blank">Maya Starling about mental health in fiction and her main character, Etta</a>, I decided to interview three very different authors on their craft and their various approaches to action and writing dynamic scenes. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
You can read steampunk author Kara Jorgensen's interview here: <a href="http://cmrosens.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/the-zodiac-posts-aries-1.html" target="_blank">ARIES [1]</a></div>
<br />
You can read author and editor Charlotte Ashley's interview here: <a href="http://cmrosens.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/the-zodiac-posts-aries-2.html" target="_blank">ARIES [2]</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Interview with Jaycee Ford</h3>
<br />
<br />
The last of my three interviews is with bestselling romance author <a href="http://www.jayceeford.com/" target="_blank">Jaycee Ford</a>,<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jaycee-Ford/e/B00MRMKTBY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_2?qid=1422824480&sr=8-2" target="_blank"><img alt="Jaycee Ford" src="https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71lBPayX2mL._UX250_.jpg"></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Jaycee Ford grew up chasing street cars around the city of New Orleans. After doing a four year stint at Louisiana State University, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and fled for the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. New Orleans beckoned her home again where she put her love of the foothills into a series of romance novels. In between writing, she's found behind her desk at a top rated law firm ... or still chasing street cars.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">1. What
inspired you to write a linked series,</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">What
inspired you to write a linked series, and the Love Bug theme?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></b></div>
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Everyone
always starts out stating that they wrote well in school or had a
passion for reading early in life. The truth is that I used to loathe
reading. I’ve come to learn it was because I only read books
required by school and they just didn’t do it for me. As I grew up,
I had come to enjoy some of the required reading. When I became an
adult, I discovered romance novels. Even though most are considered
“easy reads,” I devoured them quickly and almost intensely. Most
married woman in their mid to late twenties would more than likely
agree with my statement. By the time I turned thirty, I couldn’t
find a story that met all my expectations. I decided to write my
Happily Ever After. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Watching
Fireflies</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">
is very loosely based upon me and my husband’s meeting and our rush
to the altar. Quick by my standards is meeting and marriage within
two years. Well, it was quick for me. Anyway, we had our “insta-love”
romance which began shortly after I ended a horrid relationship with
an ex. In real life, the ex did not meet the same demise as the
villain in </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Watching
Fireflies</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">,
but as the saying goes, “Never piss off a writer.”</span></blockquote>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">I
came up with the title </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Watching
Fireflies</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">
because I was a city girl who moved to the country hills of North
Carolina. The thing that most drew me to the country life was the
fireflies. I never witnessed that sort of beauty in the city. I used
to watch them for hours and hours during the summer months. Since my
favorite pastime was watching fireflies, a novel was born. My second
novel in the series was actually written much later. My second
written novel was </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Hornet’s
Nest</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">,
which is available for purchase on 3 February 2015. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The
story took readers away from the country and into the city of
Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlotte is dubbed the “Queen City.”
Per Wikipedia, it is named in honor of</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Charlotte
of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who had become</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">queen
consort</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">of</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Great
Britain</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">the
year before the city's founding. I couldn’t come up with anything
regal related in the form of titles. However, there is also a second
nickname for this city. The story goes that British commander General
Charles Cornwallis occupied the city during the American
Revolutionary War. Charlotte is one of the largest southern cities in
the United States. Of course, it’s a little rebellious. When the
residents drove him out of occupation, he described the city as “a
hornet’s nest of rebellion.” Enter light bulb moment here. The
Love Bug Series was born. I rearranged the order before publishing
making </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Dragonfly
Awakening</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">
second and </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Hornet’s
Nest</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">
third. The fourth and final book in the series is my current work in
progress. It’s titled </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Mosquito
Chase</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">. </span></blockquote>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">2. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">How
do you build up to that climactic moment in your narrative?</span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">My
published works, </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Watching
Fireflies</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">
and </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Dragonfly
Awakening</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">,
are both romance novels; however, their climactic approach was vastly
different. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Watching
Fireflies</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">
is a romantic suspense. I gave the readers the love and passion early
on in the story. Some may describe it as “insta-love” but the
focus was the suspense (with </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>highly</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">
romantic elements). The emotions throughout the novel lead up to the
climax of both story arcs. We have the obvious climax in the romantic
sense (</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>wink,
wink</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">)
and the climax of the suspense, which I cannot say. I wouldn’t want
to ruin the experience. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Dragonfly
Awakening</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">
is a classic New Adult/Contemporary Romance where the spoken words “I
love you” is the peak. I always write Happily Ever After romance
novels because that’s the epitome of romance.</span></blockquote>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">3. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">What
do you think you’ve learned about writing dynamic scenes, keeping
the interactions engaging and hooking the reader from when you
started writing?</span></b></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">I
find starting off a novel with some sort of action always grabs the
reader’s attention. They want to find out instantly why the
character is driving furiously or why the character’s heart is
pounding. If you can grab their attention with some sort of feeling,
they will continue to want that dire need to feel what the character
is feeling. It’s another factor in the “Show, don’t tell”
requirement of writing. Don’t just show the reader what the
character is feeling. Make the reader feel what the character is
feeling. If you want tears, make the character go through agony. If
you want happiness, make the character elated with emotion. It’s a
hard task, but very easy to achieve through personal experience.</span></blockquote>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">4. How
much energy and drive does it take for you to get where you are now
in your writing career?</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></b>
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Becoming
a writer is easy. Becoming a published author is not for the weak of
heart. The time a writer spends on the luxury of writing will be cut
by more than half (even more if the publishing process is self rather
than traditional). I’ve taken on the roll of self-published author,
which can also be called a business owner. I have my company </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Jaycee
Ford</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">
and I have to sell, market, account for all assets, and manage all
aspects that goes into this company. Once one product is cleared
through the lines of production, the process starts over again with a
story plot. The end goal is to hit the button “Publish.” It’s
gratifying to read “The End” knowing that you can lay it to rest.
But as any good product you produce, you still have to sell it. The
salesman is always working.</span></blockquote>
<br />
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">As
many writers know, this isn’t a make it rich quick business. It’s
a passion. Writers have to supplement their passion with pencil
pushing desk work. In my case, it’s in an accounting cubicle at a
law firm in downtown New Orleans, Louisiana.</span></blockquote>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Author
Links:</b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Author's website: <a href="http://www.jayceeford.com/">www.jayceeford.com</a></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Follow on Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJayceeFord">www.facebook.com/AuthorJayceeFord</a></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Follow on Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/atJayceeFord">www.twitter.com/atJayceeFord</a></span></div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</div>
<div class="western" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Follow on Amazon: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/author/jayceeford">www.amazon.com/author/jayceeford</a></span></div>
</div>
C. M. Rosenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732209188950803732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5854949589414889207.post-56155862162953713202015-01-28T16:51:00.000-08:002018-07-31T16:52:01.398-07:00The Zodiac Posts - ARIES [2] A is for Action - the Charlotte Ashley Interview<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZTtxyQ5CMnwqxHNyYplzcJqu7Uw2HHz-BCutK7n-bz6AmG80gxVy-4Dp-JWWmyBdckyviZ54edX7gMB-H8ryNdVoY7t__Zxsx1sOOMoJlbTcOQ0jdHez07EZcnGqxyhv9T9CKqPmt2xX/s1600/Aries-sign-10.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVZTtxyQ5CMnwqxHNyYplzcJqu7Uw2HHz-BCutK7n-bz6AmG80gxVy-4Dp-JWWmyBdckyviZ54edX7gMB-H8ryNdVoY7t__Zxsx1sOOMoJlbTcOQ0jdHez07EZcnGqxyhv9T9CKqPmt2xX/s1600/Aries-sign-10.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<h2>
A is for Action </h2>
<div>
I thought it would be a good idea to ask three very different talents the same questions on action and dynamism in their work. I got this idea from <a href="http://cmrosens.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-zodiac-posts-part-1.html" target="_blank">my Zodiac theme</a> - Aries being apparently all about action. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
First, I interviewed Steampunk author <a href="http://www.karajorgensen.com/" target="_blank">Kara Jorgensen</a>, on #WeNeedDiverseBooks, writing a linked series, and writing dynamic scenes. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://cmrosens.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/the-zodiac-posts-aries-1.html" target="_blank">You can read Kara's interview here</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now it's the turn of blogger, author, editor, bookseller, historian and all-round legend <a href="http://www.once-and-future.com/" target="_blank">Charlotte Ashley</a>, who should be nominated for a Hugo Award. Seriously. People need to get on this.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Interview with Charlotte Ashley</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Charlotte-Ashley/e/B00GJ03W3W/" target="_blank"><img alt="Charlotte Ashley" src="https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81KQiaEizEL._UX250_.jpg"></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Charlotte Ashley collects the works of Alexandre Dumas, and owns 19 editions of The Three Musketeers, one of which is a purse. Her family tolerates her book obsessions because they pay the bills: she is also a writer, editor and independent bookseller in Toronto, Canada.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><b>1. You have several short stories published now. [Check out Charlotte's work in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Personal-Essays-Representation-SF-ebook/dp/B00JND5RBW/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank"><i>Invisible</i>, ed. Jim C. Hines</a> ; <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lucky-Unlucky-13-Stories-Fate-ebook/dp/B00GDVLDDS/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank"><i>Lucky or Unlucky</i>, ed. N</a>. E. White featuring Mark Lawrence ; <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fierce-Family-Effie-Seiberg-ebook/dp/B00HWUL74O/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank"><i>Fierce Family</i>, ed. Bart R. Leib</a> ; <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Library-Dreams-Charlotte-Ashley-ebook/dp/B00HBH1P6I/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank"><i>Library of Dreams </i>ed. Charlotte Ashley</a> ; <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Chamber-Music-International-Anthology-Stories/dp/1503079554/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" target="_blank"><i>Chamber of Music </i>ed. Charlotte Ashley</a>] Do you find the short story structure more difficult than a novel in terms of constructing the plot, balancing action with world-building and character-building etc? </b></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">At first, yes, it was harder. You can't mess around in a short story. You simply haven't got the space. Every scene, every action has to have a reason for being there. Characters have less chance to sit around gazing at their navels. You also learn to dispose of a lot of pointless action and description, which can sometimes make building a complex world difficult. There's no space for 1500 words of world history in a 5000 word story. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">But the same diligence makes short stories easier to write. Once you think of every scene in terms of how, exactly, it moves the plot forward, you are able to keep a tighter grip on your story. Now that I'm letting myself stray into longer forms (first it was a novelette, now a novella,) I realize how much more plot you need in a novel to justify all those words. You can't just publish a puffy version of a simple story. You need all these extra layers.</span></blockquote>
<br />
<b>2. How do you build up to that climactic moment in your narrative?</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">To be honest, I write like a reader. I read my whole story (or scene) beginning to end again and again with each new paragraph, trying to get a feel for the pacing. If I find myself skimming or getting bored, I know I need something to build. If it feels like it's time for a major climax or confrontation, then I know it is time to trow in that bombshell. If it feels like we don't know the characters or situation well enough, it isn't.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"> </span></blockquote>
<br />
<b>3. What do you think you've learned about writing dynamic scenes, keeping the interactions engaging, hooking the reader etc, from when you started writing?</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">First of all, that people prefer to read dialogue than description. Readers engage better with the human element than the intellectual one! Secondly, do the unexpected thing. I am a plotter - I break my stories down scene by scene before I start writing so that I know, in broad strokes at least, what will happen. When it gets to a major decision or climax, I sometimes have to make a decision tree for the story. What COULD happen at this point? Is it too obvious, too boring, out of character? I keep coming up with possible outcomes until I hit on something which has the right balance of inevitability and surprise. People keep reading, I think, because they want to know what will happen - if they can guess, than you've lost half the reason they turn the page.</span></blockquote>
<br />
<b>4. How much energy and drive has it taken for you to get where you are now in your writing career?</b><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">I am a total type-A workaholic. I also didn't start writing seriously until I was in my 30s, so I am impatient. For so many writers, it takes ten years to go from "I'd like to write" to seeing something in publication - I just wasn't willing to wait that long. So my writing work day is every bit as long and intensive as any other day job. I write, read, edit, revise or critique at least 8 hours a day, sometimes more. I write when I'm busy, I write when I'm sick, I write when I don't want to, and when I have nothing to say. I write when I have had three crushing rejections in a single day and when my beta readers say they don't understand my latest story. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">That's life - that's a job. Only, nobody is going to make you do it. You are your only boss. If you don't push yourself, you won't get there. But it seems to work!</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
</blockquote>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Thanks Charlotte! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">You can follow Charlotte <a href="http://www.twitter.com/CharlotteAshley" target="_blank">@CharlotteAshley</a> on twitter, follow her blog <a href="http://www.once-and-future.com/">www.once-and-future.com</a>, or check out <b>free </b>drafts of her novels, short stories and flash fiction on wattpad, also <a href="http://www.wattpad.com/user/CharlotteAshley" target="_blank">@CharlotteAshley</a>.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Compare Kara Jorgensen's <a href="http://cmrosens.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/the-zodiac-posts-aries-1.html" target="_blank">answers to the interview questions here</a>, and get her views on novel writing and action scenes!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">NEXT WEEK - <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23DoYouHearTheBuzz&src=typd" target="_blank">#DoYouHearTheBuzz</a>? Oh yes - it's Amazon bestselling romance author, <a href="http://www.jayceeford.com/" target="_blank">Jaycee Ford</a>. Love Bug fans, UNITE. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
C. M. Rosenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732209188950803732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5854949589414889207.post-17589282754787812922015-01-23T11:15:00.000-08:002018-07-31T16:52:31.319-07:00The Zodiac Posts - ARIES [1] A is for Action - the Kara Jorgensen Interview<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdz6ZUn52pKfYJIsCJRC-MWTGwFduHob77xsOBw5fvKMUtyxTA6zEG6hcCd-mKlGsEOMOYduVLiQqA85prabphg0rBI3MLvfpE2BVzJht-3sON_LuLVeZqBy_I9F7j3CCZ9kSpgx23DI78/s1600/Aries-sign-10.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdz6ZUn52pKfYJIsCJRC-MWTGwFduHob77xsOBw5fvKMUtyxTA6zEG6hcCd-mKlGsEOMOYduVLiQqA85prabphg0rBI3MLvfpE2BVzJht-3sON_LuLVeZqBy_I9F7j3CCZ9kSpgx23DI78/s1600/Aries-sign-10.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<h2>
A is for Action </h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
At last, we get to Aries - the dynamic sign, I am told. This made me think of action as a genre, and action/dynamism in particular scenes.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I really wanted to use my blog to showcase the work of other writers, and so I've got three more exciting interviews for you to enjoy! </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
First up, as a bridge between the "active" topic and #WeNeedDiverseBooks is <a href="http://www.karajorgensen.com/" target="_blank">Kara Jorgensen</a>, author of The Mechanical Devices series. Book 1, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Earl-Brass-Ingenious-Mechanical/dp/0990502201" target="_blank">THE EARL OF BRASS</a>, is already out, and I am among those fans eagerly awaiting Book 2, THE WINTER GARDEN. So, it's a real pleasure for me to host Kara's interview here. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I will also be interviewing author, editor, bookseller and historian <a href="http://www.once-and-future.com/" target="_blank">Charlotte Ashley</a>, and bestselling author <a href="http://jayceeford.com/" target="_blank">Jaycee Ford</a> - all will be answering similar questions, and the three different perspectives should make for some fascinating reading!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
Interview with Kara Jorgensen</h3>
<div>
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kara-Jorgensen/e/B00L4KTO0W/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1" target="_blank"><img alt="Kara Jorgensen" src="https://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41a+SbSgyeL._UX250_.jpg"></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><i><a href="http://www.twitter.com/AuthorKaraJ" target="_blank">Kara Jorgensen</a> is an author and professional student from New Jersey who will probably die slumped over a Victorian novel. An anachronistic oddball from birth, she has always had an obsession with the Victorian era, especially the 1890s. Midway through a dissection in a college anatomy class, Kara realized her true passion was writing and decided to marry her love of literature and science through science fiction or, more specifically, steampunk. When she is not writing, she is watching period dramas, going to museums, or babying her beloved dogs.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.18cm; margin-top: 0.18cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b>Q1. What inspired you to write a linked series, and the Mechanical Devices theme?</b></span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.18cm; margin-top: 0.18cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I started writing <i>The Earl of Brass</i> when I was an undergraduate, and the further I got into it, the more I began to care about characters who were not the stars of the show. The second book, <i>The Winter Garden</i>, shows what happens to one of the side characters after the first book. What I love about a linked series rather than a continuous one is that hypothetically it can go on forever. I can explore every character’s back story or future without having to worry that it doesn’t fit with the overall series arc. As much as I would love to write a trilogy or quartet, I’m not sure if I have enough forethought to plan the whole thing out.</span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.18cm; margin-top: 0.18cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">The title of the series, The Ingenious Mechanical Devices, came to me while I was working on <i>The Earl of Brass</i>. While I was researching automata for the story, I discovered that in the Middle East during the Middle Ages there was an inventor named Al-Jazari, who created automata for the royal courts that were not only functional but beautiful. To chronicle his creations, Al-Jazari wrote a book entitled, <i>The Book of Knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices</i>. One of my main characters, Eilian, is entranced by the culture of the Middle East and this married well with the steampunk aspect of the book. The theme continues into the other books because in each one there is an anachronistic device that in some way drives the plot. In <i>The Earl of Brass</i> it is Eilian’s prosthetic arm, and in <i>The Winter Garden</i> it is a machine that can either infuse a body with a soul or pull it out.</span></blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-size: large;">Q2. What is your take on the #WeNeedDiverseBooks campaign? How do you see your work fitting into that? Is it conscious, or unconscious?</span></b><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 16px;"><br /></b>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.18cm; margin-top: 0.18cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">When I started writing <i>The Earl of Brass</i>, I never thought I was doing anything special by having a handicapped main character. Eilian loses his arm in the dirigible crash and tries to regain the normal life he lost in the process. Throughout the first half of the book he is rejected and alienated by his family and society for being different, but the point is, he knows he is the same person he was before only now he has to do things differently. After writing it, I think about how many soldiers are returning from war with injuries similar to Eilian’s and I wonder if any of them would see themselves in him. Representing people with disabilities is incredibly important in modern literature. If you choose to ignore an entire group of people, you are essentially saying their stories are not worth telling.</span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 16px; margin-bottom: 0.18cm; margin-top: 0.18cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">In <i>The Winter Garden</i>, a gay couple is introduced into the series. I am bisexual as well as a huge supporter of LGBT rights, and the Victorian era was one of the most controversial times to be gay. My characters meet and begin to fall for each other, but in future books, they will find that with the Oscar Wilde trials, their lives become much more complicated. While many of the issues gay Victorians faced have faded, readers will still be able to relate to what they go through, the good days and the bad. In future books (not necessarily in this series as I have another on the back burner), I would like to possibly have a bisexual female protagonist or even a trans main character.</span></blockquote>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.18cm; margin-top: 0.18cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Q3. How do you
build up to that climactic moment in your narrative? </b></span>
</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.18cm; margin-top: 0.18cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.18cm; margin-top: 0.18cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">This is one of the
questions I ask myself every time I get toward the end of my stories.
A good way to put off the climactic moment in a book and build
tension is to alternate between moments of calm and moments of
action. By preceding an action-packed scene with one that is calm,
it creates contrast. Another way I like build up to climactic
moments is to alternate between tension and emotion. They can easily
go together, such as in a romantic scene, but sometimes a tender
scene where a character opens up creates a rise in action as the
reader experiences it as a rise in emotion. I think I’m still
learning how to do this and wish I could do it as masterfully as
suspense writers.</span></blockquote>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.18cm; margin-top: 0.18cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />
</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.18cm; margin-top: 0.18cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Q4. What do you
think you've learned about writing dynamic scenes, keeping the
interactions engaging and hooking the reader from when you started
writing? </b></span>
</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.18cm; margin-top: 0.18cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">When I first started
writing, I was not good at cutting to the chase. My stories would
drag on for a twenty pages before anything exciting happened. With
<i>The Earl of Brass</i>, it took about three or four pages into the
first chapter before the dirigible crashes and the action begins, and
in my second book, <i>The Winter Garden</i>, I was able to get to the
action even sooner. I’m still fighting my natural tendency to
ramble like a Victorian novel. Modern readers want action and they
want it now. I typically don’t start the action immediately, but
I’m definitely getting better at hooking my readers with something
out of the ordinary happening.</span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.18cm; margin-top: 0.18cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">In regards to
keeping interactions engaging and dynamic, I think writers need to
study how real people interact. Most complaints readers have with
characters interacting is that it’s stilted or unrealistic. Read
your work aloud with another person. Check to make sure it flows
correctly and that the replies and questions make sense and don’t
try to cram information in where it won’t fit. It isn’t worth
having in a scene if it breaks up the realism and flow. Also, while
writing dialogue, it’s important not to forget that characters
fidget, their eyes rove, and their tones change while they speak.
All of these quirks and habits will help to make your characters seem
more alive and break up a giant wall of dialogue.</span></blockquote>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.18cm; margin-top: 0.18cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 100%;"><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.18cm; margin-top: 0.18cm;">
<b style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 100%;"><span style="font-size: large;">Q5. How much
energy and drive does it take for you to get where you are now in
your writing career?</span></b></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0.18cm; margin-top: 0.18cm;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Some days I can
barely get out of my own way and write even a few hundred words and
other days, I can write an entire chapter in one or two sittings.
The drive is always there, but it definitely waxes and wanes with my
graduate school schedule and life. Sometimes when I think about all
the work I have to do to get my book ready for publication or even
finished, I wonder why I do it, but then, I remember that I love it.
My parents would much rather have seen me go to medical school as I
planned when I entered college, but writing is my passion. Also,
once you have one book out and people tell you how much they enjoyed
it and how they are dying for the next one, it gets much easier to
bang out those next hundred words. Success breeds success, and with
each positive review or bit of encouragement from readers, I find
that I am able to write more and do it more efficiently. It’s much
easier to write when you know you are writing for people who are
looking forward to your work.</span></blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<b>Many thanks to Kara Jorgensen for this interview!</b><br />
<br /></div>
C. M. Rosenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732209188950803732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5854949589414889207.post-74422923811099659462015-01-15T17:01:00.004-08:002018-07-31T16:52:58.389-07:00The Zodiac Posts - PISCES [2] Emotional Souls - the Maya Starling Interview<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSFD1R2lx4_Yn6sSn9fnJrHVoWl8Ff3WVswhjO7bYr7EHxGuwgIV8KoMbyVFchNI8Do_cl_E1geaaxlCzRt8L5BqudwqWjnteTSX4Yj7PQdUCoKXPgtIIYdTALmkV9JORX_Qlw-TXNF7S/s1600/pisces-comment-008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSFD1R2lx4_Yn6sSn9fnJrHVoWl8Ff3WVswhjO7bYr7EHxGuwgIV8KoMbyVFchNI8Do_cl_E1geaaxlCzRt8L5BqudwqWjnteTSX4Yj7PQdUCoKXPgtIIYdTALmkV9JORX_Qlw-TXNF7S/s1600/pisces-comment-008.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
<h2>
Emotional Souls - Spotlight on the Work of <a href="http://www.mayastarling.com/" target="_blank">Maya Starling</a></h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In my quest to find blog topic inspiration, I have looked to the signs of the zodiac and their reported personality traits to help me think of things to write about. Pisces are, apparently, emotional souls, and so that got me thinking about emotional issues in fiction, and representations of mental health. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Very often, those with mental health issues are cast as antagonists. It is incredibly easy to list antagonists who exhibit psychotic, sociopathic, narcissistic, or other mental disorders. It is very easy to list antagonists with mental illnesses, too - paranoid schizophrenia is a favourite for serial killers and the like, for example - but it is far more difficult to list protagonists (as opposed to antiheroes) who exhibit the same traits and struggle with these kinds of problems. I tried to come up with a list of main characters (MCs) who were: </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
(1) Protagonists, not antiheroes or antagonists </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
(2) Happened to have a mental health problem <i>at the start of the story</i> which was not the main thrust or theme of the plot </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
(3) Were not "cured" at the end of the novel suddenly or implausibly, but instead learned to deal with their condition - which should be character development, not the whole point of the plot (see point 2)</blockquote>
<br />
Most of the ones I could think of were detectives (and some of those were tenuous), although perhaps the best example for SFF was Danny Torrence, Stephen King's protagonist in <i>Doctor Sleep, </i>the sequel to <i>The Shining</i>. In discussion with other writers, particularly <a href="http://www.karajorgensen.com/" target="_blank">Kara Jorgensen</a>, author of <i>The Earl of Brass</i>, and <a href="http://www.mayastarling.com/" target="_blank">Maya Starling</a>, prize-winning author of <i>Dragon's Treasure</i>, I realized that I was not the only one to think about these things. We had a really interesting discussion along the lines of #WeNeedDiverseBooks, a Kid Lit hashtag but one I think applies to YA and adult literature as well.<br />
<br />
Maya Starling's current work in progress is a novel called <i>Vengeance Upturned</i>, which, as the title suggests, is a novel charting the protagonist Etta from her vengeful beginnings to a better, healthier place. At the same time, this is a story of bandits, murder, kickass action, a shadowy figure manipulating lives and orchestrating death behind the scenes, and the ultimate threat: the rise of Mor, god of chaos.<br />
<br />
<br />
I asked Maya about the inspiration for Etta, and if she would be willing to talk about her new novel:<br />
<br />
<br />
<h3>
Etta - Maya Starling</h3>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: orange;">On the inspiration for the novel:</span> </span></h4>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I started writing </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Vengeance Upturned</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, I had my mind set on a flawed main character. Since I mostly read fantasy, science fiction, paranormal and some romance, the characters always seem so perfect, pretty and strong minded. There are rare occasions where characters start the story with bad experiences behind them (traumas, flashbacks, nightmares; the whole deal not just something minor) and it mostly happened in romances, where the main female character went through a certain trauma, but again, those traumas are often repetitive and stereotyped.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wanted my character to be flawed both physically (some scaring, unusual looks for the region she is in), emotionally and psychologically. I wanted to challenge her further, to let her fall deeper, to the pit of despair before she slowly started to build her way up.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What bothers me a lot in majority books I’ve read and movies I’ve seen, is that when there is a strong female character where I’m finally </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>woohoo! -</i></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> but through the story, when that female character meets her “destined” male character, they somehow lose that strength, become dependent on the man, and in the end he often saves the day. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mind you, there have been stories that have proved me wrong, but still, those are rare. It’s the man that’s the hero and the woman that needs to be saved.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="color: orange; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17.25px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>On Etta:</b></span></h4>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Etta’s had a great childhood and difficult late teen years. After losing her parents to a common disease, it was just her and her twin brother. The two were very connected as most twins are, depending on each other and living on their lives on the family farm, until their home got raided and her brother was murdered. That one event is the catapult of the main plot of the story and also a start of her descent. There are people who know how to deal with loss, those who try to move on and heal along the way, but there are also people who get consumed with anger, rage, guilt, sadness, despair, desire for vengeance. Etta is one of the latter. She spent years trying to find the one person to blame so she can avenge her brother’s death and get closure. She sinks deeper and deeper into that dark need, until she loses herself and finds her meaning in reaching that goal, still being haunted by that fateful night… not only haunted, but driven forward.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The story starts a few years after her brother’s death, when she is close to discovering who the person to blame is, and where she also draws nearer to that ultimate downfall, the bottom. She meets people on the way who help her “see” better, learn a new perspective, teach her that it is alright to lean on others, but she is the one who deals with her feelings on her own, calling upon the memories of her family in happy times, and the teachings of her father. The main plot isn’t about her state of mind and how she deals with it, but it is one of the major parts of the story, influencing the choices she makes along the way. I hope to inspire people who find themselves in that darkness to find their way out, that things can be worked through, and yes it can and will get better, just don’t give up, and find support. Even the most unlikely people can surprise you by being there for you or saying the simplest thing that turns everything around.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What she has been through and how she has dealt with it makes her a very impulsive, and emotional person (even though she doesn’t show it). She gets into fights easily and is easily provoked; she’s strong-headed, and single-minded. She thinks she has her life under control, but in reality, it’s driven by the emotions she’s not willing to face.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Also, another thing I did on purpose, that often misses in stories, is that she has control of her sexual life. She was never raped and will never be, and she considers sex to be a causal thing. The first male character she hooks up with is not the one she gets “shipped” with… it’s just sex for her. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of course, she has problems connecting with people and developing deeper relationships (friendship and romance wise), most people who have lost those close to them deal with the same issues.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<h4 style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: orange; font-family: inherit; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">On the challenges of writing the novel:</span></h4>
<div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The challenge of writing such a character is getting into that dark mindset, into that state of being that’s so far from my natural one. I mostly put myself into her shoes and try to react to the challenges before her the way she would, not I. It is also one of the first main characters that I’ve written that doesn’t have any connections to my own mindset and life values. Also, it’s very challenging for me to come up with Etta proper cuss words because I just don’t curse, while she has a very vast vocabulary for that, and almost never repeats them. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.wattpad.com/story/6037813-vengeance-upturned" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img src="https://a.wattpad.com/cover/6037813-256-k188329.jpg"></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I actually haven’t done much research on such psychological issues, but I have friends, I listen to others, supporting friends when needed, I read and I watch documentaries, I took some psych classes, and I also lived through my own loses. All that helped me shape Etta the way she is. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">The one thing I did research on is meditation and Zen Buddhism as an inspiration for Etta’s coping mechanism, a heritage left by her father. Here’s a sneak peek quote about that:</span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“Henrietta though, was left with a choice, follow her mother’s teaching, or those that her father, Tao-Sihn, imparted to her. The way of the balance, where everything returns to its source, where everything has a reason and purpose. The way of nature and the spirits. Born, dead, reborn. He taught her three key driving forces in life she should live by; kindness, simplicity and modesty. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have strayed too much.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Henrietta sighed, for she had followed her father’s teaching, learning to appreciate the smallest things; each breath she took, each flutter of her eyes, the sun warming her skin, each little bug and insect, each animal, rain, a stream, a flower… all a part of the circle of life.”</span></blockquote>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.1500000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I don’t plan on Etta being magically healed or suddenly enlightened so that all her problems and traumas vanish by the end of the book, she only learns how to accept her emotions and learns how to deal with her past so she can move forward in future.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-6ae69fee-f02a-fd8b-200f-1ef929d44929">You can read drafts of the chapters for free on wattpad: <a href="http://www.wattpad.com/story/6037813-vengeance-upturned" target="_blank">http://www.wattpad.com/story/6037813-vengeance-upturned </a>. </span><br />
<br />
Follow Maya Starling on Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/MayaStarling" target="_blank">@MayaStarling</a><br />
Like Maya Starling on Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/StarlingMaya?fref=ts" target="_blank">Author Maya Starling</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />C. M. Rosenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732209188950803732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5854949589414889207.post-40907569195514974092015-01-07T06:15:00.002-08:002018-07-31T16:53:19.925-07:00The Zodiac Posts - PISCES [1] Diversity in Fiction: Mental Health<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFuPyob230R-BbzEAufUmQS62Iy6Zb0hdIN5hkbtTM6yAkJBre_6ChQrEkM3rnTxAGJ2t5fXqAvRsg7F9JtWjwRFvUa3MtRosmgbjh0e7AHfih4gRUojEPf8V7p2412NOLQNO8emT1aAGY/s1600/pisces-comment-008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFuPyob230R-BbzEAufUmQS62Iy6Zb0hdIN5hkbtTM6yAkJBre_6ChQrEkM3rnTxAGJ2t5fXqAvRsg7F9JtWjwRFvUa3MtRosmgbjh0e7AHfih4gRUojEPf8V7p2412NOLQNO8emT1aAGY/s1600/pisces-comment-008.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
<h2>
Diversity in Fiction - Mental Health</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A while ago <a href="http://www.cmrosens.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-zodiac-posts-part-1.html" target="_blank">I started to do a themed series of blog posts</a>, using the zodiac signs and their associated traits as the central inspiration for the blog post topic. I'm resuming this because it's a ready-made series of topics, and it's a bit of a challenge!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I started with Capricorn, my sign. Because Capricorns are meant to be down to earth and display maturity and responsibility, I was inspired to write about <a href="http://www.cmrosens.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-zodiac-posts-capricorn-1.html" target="_blank">realistic character development over longer periods of time</a>, especially in family sagas following a group of people across several generations, and the fact that <a href="http://www.cmrosens.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-zodiac-posts-capricorn-2.html" target="_blank">few Children's books deal with families where the Grandparents are in a parental role</a>, despite the fact that in reality a great many grandparents are in that very situation, bringing up their grandchildren. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Then, I looked at Aquarius. One of the traits of an Aquarian is the ability to consciously and unconsciously absorb impressions and information, apparently, so I used this as an excuse to look at <a href="http://www.cmrosens.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/the-zodiac-posts-aquarius-1.html" target="_blank">'conscious and unconscious writing', using Galbraith/Rowling's latest novel, THE SILKWORM, as an example</a>. I compared Galbraith's voice in THE CUCKOO'S CALLING [when no one knew it was really J K Rowling's pseudonym] with 'his' voice in THE SILKWORM, after everyone had found out who 'Galbraith' really was. I think there's a difference, and that made me a bit sad. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Anyway - this time, I'm on Pisces, who are apparently emotional souls. So that made me stop and think. I've had my say about elders and their portrayal in Kid Lit ... but what about heroes with emotional or psychological problems? <i>Are </i>people with emotional and psychological issues considered "heroes" by society's definition or mainstream readership's (whatever that is assumed to be...) definition? In England, there is the <a href="http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/" target="_blank">Time To Change campaign</a> underway, and Mental Health is being put under the spotlight in a more overt fashion. I'm not sure how this is being reflected in terms of what we watch, and what we read.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLAS5oUKbP5vnoO67RORJkbkC0YLjSFydHfdHnm6w-42jTg_AMRCQqQAp_qWkuGv9OwIxrwuL4ywGu179mFBgt4MqTINWjHvYGDk1jnRsYZn5Mnk0bp7qwNRvOaaz3EyadEpqLq-eXdXv/s1600/Time-to-Change---top-graphic__jpg_472x225_crop_upscale_q85.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLAS5oUKbP5vnoO67RORJkbkC0YLjSFydHfdHnm6w-42jTg_AMRCQqQAp_qWkuGv9OwIxrwuL4ywGu179mFBgt4MqTINWjHvYGDk1jnRsYZn5Mnk0bp7qwNRvOaaz3EyadEpqLq-eXdXv/s1600/Time-to-Change---top-graphic__jpg_472x225_crop_upscale_q85.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvyWsoK7BWQga4sWcVPcqUXUEZ6HwkA3D5koJWmsPHxULwWSua27VladKQejsegtTojdOH-ZWLxSEJxAVbDKu-JZ4H9icrOsd5iILHQjJJ1lBg9xjSQzOIdMwRYPHTIO5Kzhqx9Q2RzTJ/s1600/TTC_anti-stigma_ruby-wax-static_300x250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvyWsoK7BWQga4sWcVPcqUXUEZ6HwkA3D5koJWmsPHxULwWSua27VladKQejsegtTojdOH-ZWLxSEJxAVbDKu-JZ4H9icrOsd5iILHQjJJ1lBg9xjSQzOIdMwRYPHTIO5Kzhqx9Q2RzTJ/s1600/TTC_anti-stigma_ruby-wax-static_300x250.jpg" /></a></div>
I've suffered from depression, and believe me, there is nothing heroic about it. More heroic to my eyes is my oldest friend, battling and overcoming an eating disorder. To be perfectly honest, if I could block out those years and the things I said and did (and did not do) to people I cared about, I would. I had counselling twice, and I am very aware that depression is a part of me that I need to be alert to, and identify before I permit it to take over. I have the tools to deal with it now, but I am certainly not heroic. Sometimes I am not even likeable. And I think that is why I don't see myself - the old me, angry, aggressive, unable to express myself, or unable to understand or desire basic social interaction and unable to look at myself in a mirror - in many fictional protagonists. I think it's also interesting that I've chosen to encase this confession - confession? - in protective pictures from the Time to Change campaign. If I had a problem with my mental health issues, I wouldn't put them on the interwebs in the first place. But for some reason, I need Stephen Fry and Ruby Wax for moral support.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
Anyway.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
Where it comes to fictional characters, Buzzfeed have, of course, <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/leonoraepstein/disney-characters-who-really-need-to-see-a-psychiatrist#.awnOGKmnj" target="_blank">had their say with Disney</a>. Wikipedia has a list of works of fiction that deal with mental health problems: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_illness_in_fiction" target="_blank">you can read that here</a>. However, not all characters listed there are the protagonists, such as "the hobbit with Disassociative Identity Disorder" in Tolkein's beloved books, and in some cases mental health is a deliberate theme. I was thinking of characters who <i>happen to have </i>a mental health problem, not books which <i>focus</i> on mental health. Wikipedia also has a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Fictional_characters_with_neurological_or_psychological_disorders" target="_blank">larger list of characters with neurological or psychological disorders</a>. Again, not all of these are protagonists, such as Renfield from Bram Stoker's <i>Dracula</i>, or DC's Batman villain, The Joker. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, I've asked a few fellow writers to help me think of protagonists who fall under the following criteria, and do some analysis. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
1. They have to be MCs, not side characters. </blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
2. When introduced, the reader must realize that their condition or issues are a part of who they are: they must not develop throughout the story.</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
3. They must not "overcome" their condition suddenly or implausibly: it must be something they deal with as a matter of course, while the main action of the plot itself <i>has nothing to do with their personal struggles and challenges</i>. Things happen to them - they deal with it - they <i>happen to have </i>a mental health problem which impacts their way of dealing with things, but is not the <i>point</i> of the plot. In the same way that some MCs <i>happen </i>to be orphaned or divorced, or physically impaired, or have magical powers, or even <i>don't </i>have magical powers, but the plot isn't <i>about</i> that. If you see what I mean. It's part of their character and part of their conflict, but not <i>the whole point</i>. </blockquote>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This rules out Septimus Smith, the PTSD sufferer in Virginia Woolf's <i>Mrs Dalloway</i>, because he is not the title character - however, he is key to the novel, and so deserves a mention. (Thanks for the suggestion, <a href="http://karajorgensen.com/" target="_blank">Kara Jorgenson</a>!)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It also rules out Harry Potter, although years of neglect and psychological abuse at the hands of the Dursleys should certainly have given him a more obvious complex from the start.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My own suggestions are mainly limited to crime fiction:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Peter_Wimsey" target="_blank">Lord Peter Wimsey</a>, scarred for life after seeing action at the Western Front, the 'gentleman detective' of Dorothy L. Sayers' series - he solves mysteries, mainly but not always murders, but happens to suffer from PTSD as a result of WWI.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roderick_Alleyn" target="_blank">Roderick Alleyn</a>, another 'gentleman detective' created by Ngaio Marsh, who suffers from bouts of depression. He too solves crimes, finds love and starts a family, all over the course of 32 novels. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_Wallander" target="_blank">Kurt Wallender</a>, created by Hennan Mankell, whose personal life is disintegrating and who suffers with anger issues, periods of emotional instability, and lives a less-than-desirable lifestyle. Again - the point of the Wallender books is as much the crimes he solves as the character building of Mankell's protagonist.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperance_Brennan" target="_blank">Temperance Brennan</a>, created by Kathy Reichs - not to be confused with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperance_%22Bones%22_Brennan" target="_blank">Temperance Brennan</a> of the TV show, which is not based on the character, but on Kathy Reichs herself. Both, I think, still fit the bill. In the books, she is a divorced, recovered alcoholic.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_Grimshaw_and_the_Shed_Crew" target="_blank">Urban Grimshaw and Bernard Hare</a>, in <i>Urban Grimshaw and the Shed Crew</i>, but this is an autobiographical account by Hare, a disgraced social worker, of his experiences of being part of the 'underclass' of 1990s Leeds where he met and helped 'Urban', a twelve year old drug user, and his gang. Names were changed to protect the children's privacy in the novel, and it is now being <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3590858/?ref_=nv_sr_5" target="_blank">adapted for the screen</a> with Richard Armitage as Hare, who described himself as "Mr Chips on smack", and Anna Friel as 'Urban''s addict mother. This is non-fiction, but there are so few examples I can think of that I included it here anyway.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2407574/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl" target="_blank">My Mad, Fat Diary</a></i> would also work, but this based on <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mad-Fat-Diary-Rae-Earl/dp/0340950943" target="_blank">real-life diaries of Rae Earl</a>, and is now a TV show for Channel 4. Teenager Rae comes back to school after attempting suicide, and her friends have no idea that she has been in a psychiatric hospital for the past four months, believing that she had gone to France. Seventeen year old, boy-mad Rae has both mental health and body issues, but tries to reconnect with her friends and family. </div>
</div>
<br />
I guess <i>Lolita </i>and <i>American Psycho</i> sort of meet my criteria, but their narrators are both antagonists rather than protagonists, so although they both deserve a mention, that's not what I'm after. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I found this list too: <a href="http://www.bustle.com/articles/24100-11-of-the-most-realistic-portrayals-of-mental-illness-in-novels" target="_blank">11 of the Most Realistic Portrayals of Mental Illness in Novels</a>. I think I'll be checking some of those out. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I think I just need to read more. I <i>hope</i> I just need to read more, and that there are plenty of examples out there that match my criteria. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><u>But what about SFF?</u></b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In terms of SFF, I guess there are others:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Elena, from <i>The Vampire Diaries</i>, who is going through the five stages of grief at the start of the series/show, having lost both parents;</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>Game of Thrones</i> is littered with MCs who have serious, serious emotional and psychological scars...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
... and then I was stuck, because I really do need to read more, so fellow author <a href="http://www.mayastarling.com/" target="_blank">Maya Starling</a> came up with a few too:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Carrie Vaughn's female protagonist in her werewolf series; </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Quite a few of Marvel/DC protagonists - Rogue (X-Men), Wolverine (X-Men), Tony Stark (Iron Man) - and so on. The graphic novel <i>Sin City </i>also has some good examples, like Marv.<br />
<br />
<br />
But then, the more suggestions we came up with, the further away we were getting from MCs - there are plenty of side characters or secondary characters, but I would be open to suggestions.<br />
<br />
<b>Leave yours in the comments!</b><br />
<br />
<br />
#amreading<br />
<br />
<br />
With this thought in mind, I realised that Maya Starling's current work in progress has the perfect example of this kind of character. <a href="http://www.wattpad.com/story/6037813-vengeance-upturned" target="_blank">Free chapters are available on wattpad</a> - it's a very good read so far! Maya will be talking to me later on about Henrietta, her MC, and I can't wait to share that interview with you all!<br />
<br />
<br />
CMR</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
[<b>UPDATE</b>: Stephen King's latest novel, <i>Dr Sleep</i>, fits the bill nicely. Danny Torrence, the little boy in <i>The Shining</i>, is all grown up and battling his own inner demons of alcoholism, self-loathing, and the scars of his childhood at the Overlook Hotel]. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
C. M. Rosenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732209188950803732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5854949589414889207.post-48766517984240147922015-01-05T16:12:00.000-08:002015-01-05T16:12:17.269-08:00HAPPY NEW YEAR! <div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTCawaHJZz6ajYFSEIajmXbYzbsPFEEOldWdTdbvx_fF07zFypX" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Quite a lot has been going on in my academic life, but my fiction writing has resumed.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thanks for supporting me through 2014.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The build up to THE BOOK OF DEATH, the fourth in the Faustine Chronicles series, is approaching - I'm going to release chapters from April onwards, and have written about 20,000 words so far. It will hopefully be an introductory book for the series as well... I kind of want it to stand alone. My problem is that it was originally inspired by the Celtic Hero Cycle: the conception of the hero, the childhood of the hero, the deeds of the hero as a young man, and finally, the death of the hero. I'm not ready for the last part of the cycle yet... and since the hero is a Necromancer I feel like I can cheat Death a little. So I suspect that while this will be the last novel (at least, I think so at this point), there may be other short stories afterwards. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
One short story is already available to buy - you can find it in the anthology CHAMBER OF MUSIC, edited by Charlotte Ashley, available from Amazon, Smashwords and Createspace in paperback and various ebook formats, including Kindle, epub and mobi. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Check out <a href="http://www.psgpublishing.com/">www.psgpublishing.com</a> for more information - and if you buy, please note all profit goes to charity, and please leave an Amazon or Goodreads review!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Wishing you all a great 2015. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
C. M. R.</div>
C. M. Rosenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732209188950803732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5854949589414889207.post-55093553804449696782014-11-19T16:59:00.000-08:002014-11-19T16:59:08.637-08:00The Little Writer Who Cried "Troll" and other stories<br />
<h3>
Newsflash: Not All Negative Reviews Are The Work of Trolls</h3>
<br />
<br />
In the good old days, trolls lived under bridges, and were presumably illiterate, and ate people but were easily fooled by little gruff billy goats. Or, they had amazing hairstyles and jewels about their person, and were popular with children. Nowadays, they seem to lurk anonymously on internet forums and upset people. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6tX5sGZAVTRmASjbjBgWCjax9eRb-gNWUnZhfqzp56umL9jCHeAT94d_pPURUOml1eqErMrHdcAB7X_hmM2wcCsc0umYO75SFGOYsYmoNMPVhHn80ST1NLwkOWHGYYadQ8hd_m0Jw-8jI/s1600/sg6FI3w.gif" height="297" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Check out the Wiki definitions <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_(Internet)" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Don't_feed_the_Troll" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Sometimes, it's very obvious when someone is trolling you or an article or whatever. Sometimes they are just plain abusive, or just have a negative opinion they need for whatever reason to get off their chest, or a compulsive need to argue with someone for the sake of it. Threats and abusive language - that's all trolling, and that's not cool. They usually post short comments like, "You're all so stupid, I'm laughing at you all right now" and generally baiting people. Some people are unintentional trolls, of course, and they are sometimes just as bad.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFdcbvU-zmAoCnl5seKVN7DYZro3l2qSZCfXba9huhp3mWZGGuiypEZpCdTJoo0a2gZsPRkAkkdnR1CzxQadDu05l2ijRIejRVXBv2PXJu1BQE0El8UCccQ62nJFYElj8icQutjy7HyCG/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFdcbvU-zmAoCnl5seKVN7DYZro3l2qSZCfXba9huhp3mWZGGuiypEZpCdTJoo0a2gZsPRkAkkdnR1CzxQadDu05l2ijRIejRVXBv2PXJu1BQE0El8UCccQ62nJFYElj8icQutjy7HyCG/s1600/images.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
However, in the world of beta-readers, readers and those who comment on your work, "trolling" can be more problematic. When a writer is new, before they have toughened their skin into a full-blown exo-skeleton, it's very easy to hide behind the concept of trolling and cry "troll" at every opportunity when someone says something about your work that you don't like.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
They may not like it for actual reasons of their own but don't have the ability or the vocabulary to express themselves and say <i>why</i> they don't like it. Someone who gets a bad review and then says "I was trolled" needs a few more bad reviews, clearly, because they need to get used to people not liking their work. People who get a bad review, feel sorry for themselves, then shake it off and learn from it, are the ones who <i>get better at what they do. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
But the trouble with trolling is, because it's a genuine problem, people use it as an excuse. They salve their egos with that soothing thought, <i>they didn't like it, because they are a troll</i>.<br />
<br />
<br />
The truth is, you will <i>always</i> find someone who <i>hates</i> what you've written, someone who gets bored of it, someone who doesn't get it, someone who just doesn't care, and someone who likes it fine but not enough to continue beyond a certain point. You'll also find people who really like it, people who love it, and people who even fangrrrrrrl over it. The danger is to be so caught up in chasing the positive reactions that you can't handle the negative ones. And so, your fragile ego wrapped in the cotton wool and candyfloss of "OMG! You're SUCH a great writer!!" and "This is the best thing I've ever read", knowing they are genuine comments from genuine fans, cannot handle the "this sucks", or the "I thought this was pretty unimaginative", or the "what the fuck is this shit" when it comes along.<br />
<br />
Now, I get why trolling is (rightly) discouraged. But there's a <b><u>massive</u></b> difference between writing a one-off comment like the above, and coming back again and again to write the same comment in different ways with increasing levels of nastiness and frustration. There's a big difference between thinking, <i>this person won't leave me the hell alone, it's really creeping me out and upsetting me</i>, and thinking, <i>ouch, a single negative remark with no feedback! That really hurt my feelings! But it's ok, I'll be ok, I will get through this, because I can call TROLL! TROLL! TROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLL!</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsiVz0VVgq84cHH2f3aZRBjRJsNgvLMxh4brzxPFSFP42RcyenVLr4raB2JVTl6P8FiHwKSlc6L2ELPOa5_cmbZXVgaoOpc12xqWboqdbwX9DSrLLqw6s1e_MoZ6my6rMi4f26EufCSUC/s1600/tumblr_llr9lylVGh1qazkdco1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsiVz0VVgq84cHH2f3aZRBjRJsNgvLMxh4brzxPFSFP42RcyenVLr4raB2JVTl6P8FiHwKSlc6L2ELPOa5_cmbZXVgaoOpc12xqWboqdbwX9DSrLLqw6s1e_MoZ6my6rMi4f26EufCSUC/s1600/tumblr_llr9lylVGh1qazkdco1_500.gif" height="176" width="320" /></a></div>
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<br />
<br />
No one says TROLL when someone says "good writing", or "I like this". It's just as vague and unhelpful as "this sucks" or "I didn't like this." The only difference, then, is the opinion conveyed in the vague few words. <br />
<br />
<br />
People who have something negative to say are also entitled to their opinion, and they should be allowed to say it without having you retaliate or jump down their throats. They don't owe you anything. They don't have to automatically like your work just because they picked it up and thumbed through it, or downloaded it onto an app on their device. And if people who have something nice to say are allowed to say it in erudite, dumb, grammatically perfect, grammatically disastrous, or just good old vague ways, so too should people who didn't like it be allowed to express themselves in the same ways. Don't accept positive comments if you don't want to accept negative ones: they are two sides of the same coin. Or rather, they are the <i>same</i> side of the coin, because (to stretch this metaphor to breaking point) the other side of the coin is <i>not writing for the public at all</i>.<br />
<br />
<br />
If I have a sweary negative comment that's a one-off, I ignore it, and if it's been flagged as "offensive" and therefore is in a queue to be reviewed by the powers-that-be, I'll un-flag it. I have, in fact, done just that. And why? Because they have the right to use the words "shit" and "crap" if they want to, if that's what they think. That's fine. I allow people to use the same sort of emphatic language in positive comments, so why shouldn't people who <i>don't </i>like it not be allowed to swear? "What the fuck is this shit, it sucks, " is NOT REALLY trolling. "Hey, bitch, what the fuck is this shit? You suck" IS trolling. The difference is that the first instance is a rhetorical question, and the gut reaction someone had to reading my work and just not liking it. The second is <i>directed at me as a person</i>, and uses personal, intrusive and abusive language. The first is directed <i>at the writing</i>, which is fine - the writing can't hear, or feel, or be upset. It's a <i>product</i>, and the question of whether it's good or bad is entirely subjective. Feeling upset on behalf of your writing does not make the negative comment any less valid, I'm afraid. The second version, however, is personal, attacking <i>the person behind the writing</i>, and that's the key difference. A person <i>can </i>feel, and be upset. And that's the <i>intention</i> behind the comment.<br />
<br />
<br />
I have had to report this sort of abusive language, which is a totally different thing. I once had a really random string of comments that were sent to me privately by an individual who had found my author page and worked themselves up into a frenzy, accusing me of hacking their account at one point when their Facebook glitched (!! this wasn't even on my Facebook author page, it was a different, unrelated site) and calling me a "bitch" repeatedly and demanding to know what I had done and "who the fuck" I REALLY was. *X-Files theme plays* I managed to calm them down, and then reported the incident, as I was quite concerned about their mental health. They even thanked me for taking the time to sort out their technical problem in the end, which was a little bizarre. The whole thing had started with them observing that my work was disturbing and that since I had a PhD in "science" (I don't, it's in history) I should do something better with it than meddle with the occult (I think they thought my dark fantasy series was somehow real). I'm not sure that counts as a troll - I think they genuinely believed they were being helpful, and clearly had some problems.<br />
<br />
<br />
Then I see writers throwing little hissy fits over bad reviews which make some valid points, but some points which are just clearly personal preference, and slamming the TROLL label on without taking anything on board, even if it's a <i>genuine</i> review. I've seen that happen - and sadly, it takes those writers a lot longer to hone their craft than it would do if they just accepted they are not freaking Tolstoy. And this, ladies and gents, is the trouble with crying troll.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwtRw4t4D0k8cBaKT5_WmtYJCpYGc6GOrZ0RsmBoajALRgja_mPvH-fHLKnuJ_g6LBjygFocaxM_zEtPuoorIDBmHc0_ZEMp4V7jFrtRayAaI-AEHkCqy10Xe3uJQ6YO3MwDmI06XV4TB/s1600/you-keep-using-that-word1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwtRw4t4D0k8cBaKT5_WmtYJCpYGc6GOrZ0RsmBoajALRgja_mPvH-fHLKnuJ_g6LBjygFocaxM_zEtPuoorIDBmHc0_ZEMp4V7jFrtRayAaI-AEHkCqy10Xe3uJQ6YO3MwDmI06XV4TB/s1600/you-keep-using-that-word1.jpg" height="268" width="320" /></a></div>
<h3>
</h3>
<br />
<br />
<i><br /></i>C. M. Rosenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732209188950803732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5854949589414889207.post-55772175352874670522014-11-15T11:50:00.003-08:002014-11-15T11:50:34.159-08:00#AmWritingSo, I'm writing. I've got several projects on the go at the moment: two main ones, and one I'm turning over and over in my head.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: red;">First, I have my ongoing WiP, THE CROWS.</span> </span><br />
<br />
THE CROWS is about murder, identity, and the fleech's art of getting by. [Don't know what a fleech is? See Chapter 1]. It's about the paranormal, the wyrd, and the eldritch happening in a seaside town to a woman getting over a break-up, a redundancy, and losing her flat. It involves a crumbling renovation project, a mysterious local society, and relationships.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Then I have my new WiP, THE BOOK OF DEATH.</span><br />
<br />
THE BOOK OF DEATH is the fourth in the Faustine Chronicles series, and I've blogged a lot about the difficulties of writing that as an ongoing family saga. BoD is set seven hundred years after the end of the third book, THE BOOK OF CHANCE. The whole saga has been following the Celtic Hero Cycle, from the conception of the hero (BOOK OF FATE), the childhood of the hero (BOOK OF TIME) and acts of the hero as a young man (BOOK OF CHANCE). The last one in the cycle should be the death of the hero, but that's not really how I see BoD ending. So perhaps there will be another. But I don't know about that!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Both are giving me problems, for different reasons.<br />
<br />
<u>THE CROWS</u> - because I am experimenting with narrative, and ways to split the narration to generate suspense and at the same time create a sense of realism. I want to swap between three scenes in one chapter, and see how that works. I want to offset a mundane or "normal" activity - like a date at a restaurant - with two other pairs of characters, each involved in more sinister actions, building to an overlapping climax. Troublesome, n'est-ce pas?!<br />
<br />
<br />
<u>BOOK OF DEATH</u> - because 700 years have passed, and, due to a temporal accident, no one can ever go back. Yury, the hero, is stuck in the Underworld and when he comes back, nothing is the same. His immortal family have developed, moved on, lived their lives without him, and he barely recognizes them, or the new world into which he re-emerges. It's psychologically challenging, and it's also a real test of my world-building skills. The problems involve the dynamics of the family, whom the readers are very familiar with, changing in realistic and drastic ways, and the world they knew in the previous three books being almost completely reconstructed. Just as Yury is thrust into a world that doesn't make sense to him, and a family he struggles to accept despite their willingness to accept him, so to is the reader, but before the reader and even before Yury, so am I. And I'm finding it just as bewildering. This one may take a while.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">My next idea: Haunted Forests of the Mind</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
A few things have really struck me. They have no place in the WiPs I've already got going on, but there are elements swirling around which don't marry up with each other either. I've been fascinated by two "real-life" stories - Hoia Baciu forest in Romania, and the disturbing tale of Lerina Garcia. Are there sensible scientific explanations for these things? Personally I believe so, but I really don't care. I don't care, because the stories are fascinating.<br />
<br />
<br />
Hoia Baciu forest near Cluj is allegedly haunted, contains portals to other worlds, has balls of unexplained light floating around in it that apparently transmit diseases "if they enter your aura", and is generally absolutely terrifying. It has been a prime location for paranormal investigative shows like Destination Truth, which made for some pretty compulsive viewing.<br />
<br />
Here are some links, including the alien theories:<br />
<br />
1. <a href="http://www.hoiabaciuforest.com/truth-about-the-hoia-baciu-forest-an-area-on-earth-created-55000-years-ago-by-atlanta/" target="_blank">It Was Aliens, Dude!</a><br />
2. <a href="http://www.hoiabaciuforest.com/" target="_blank">Official Website for Hoia Baciu, the World's Most Haunted Forest</a><br />
3. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoia_Forest" target="_blank">Wikipedia Never Lies</a><br />
4. <a href="http://theparanormal.ca/haunted_forests_woods.html" target="_blank">It's Number 1 in the Top 7 Most Haunted Forests...</a><br />
<br />
<br />
The story of Lerina Garcia is also weird and disturbing. Basically, one morning she woke up and found everything was slightly different, and not how she remembered it from the previous night (or indeed the previous few years of her life). It sounds a bit like a psychological condition where you suddenly don't recognise your loved ones, or think they've been replaced with imposters: but in this case, <i>it's her whole life</i>.<br />
<br />
A version of her story is <a href="http://beforeitsnews.com/beyond-science/2012/01/redux-terrified-woman-from-another-universe-wakes-up-here-1575265.html" target="_blank">here on Redux</a>.<br />
<br />
So...<br />
<br />
What if a woman wakes up to find herself in a different place, with little things not the way they should be? What if she has to adjust to a new life in the wrong dimension, her office in a different part of the same building, her friends not quite the same, and the sum of all the little differences adding up to a new identity - or madness? And what if, in all of the unexplained confusion of it all, she dreams of a forest... a forest that might take her back there, or might take her anywhere.<br />
<br />
It's kind of a suicide metaphor, I guess: finding out what it would take for her to risk everything by finding and ultimately entering the forest. Or maybe not that bleak - maybe it's a metaphor for self-discovery and the bravery to pursue the path of who you really are. Or about embracing the unknown and risking change. I don't know what it's about yet.<br />
<br />
I don't know how to write it yet.<br />
<br />
If someone reads this post and writes it before me, I'd be very interested in seeing how it turns out.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In the meantime... au revoir! I shall be getting back to it. If you're interested in my work, come find me on wattpad - <a href="http://www.wattpad.com/user/CelticRose" target="_blank">CelticRose account</a> for the Faustine Chronicles, <a href="http://www.wattpad.com/user/CelticMedusa" target="_blank">CelticMedusa account</a> for The Crows - or on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/CMRosens" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, or on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/CMRosens" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />C. M. Rosenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732209188950803732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5854949589414889207.post-56824850009350014282014-11-04T03:19:00.001-08:002014-11-04T03:19:24.568-08:00 I Have Returned -!<h2>
Update:</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Sorry to have been away for so long. In the meantime, I passed my Viva and now have a PhD in Medieval History: hence radio silence while I completed the thesis and prepared. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I now have until January 7th to resubmit the thesis with all the corrections (minor) agreed upon in the Viva. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In other news, I have finished the third book of my dark fantasy series which can be read for free at the moment in its rough, unedited state, so if you would like to beta-read it for me (or just enjoy it before I get on with butchering it later) then feel free to check out <a href="http://www.wattpad.com/story/4880121-the-faustine-chronicles-iii-the-book-of-chance" target="_blank">THE BOOK OF CHANCE</a>.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In OTHER other news, a short story of mine is in a charity anthology being published by <a href="http://www.psgpublishing.com/" target="_blank">PSG Publishing. </a> The anthology is called CHAMBER OF MUSIC, and my story is "The Snake Charmer's Pipe". Anyone who has read BOOK OF TIME may recognize one of the characters... it's a stand-alone spin-off of the Faustine Chronicles, so I hope it meets the approval of Faustine Chronicle fans!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Watch this space for more!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
C. M. Rosenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732209188950803732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5854949589414889207.post-38925944722857885162014-07-28T17:37:00.000-07:002018-07-31T16:54:17.519-07:00The Zodiac Posts: AQUARIUS [1]: The Silkworm Review (Kinda)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.buzzle.com/images/tattoos/aquarius-tattoos/aquarius-sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://www.buzzle.com/images/tattoos/aquarius-tattoos/aquarius-sign.jpg" height="320" width="247"></a></div>
<h2>
The Water-Bearer and <i>The Silkworm</i></h2>
Theme #02 for this series of posts is Aquarius, so my challenge is to think of two topics that I can blog about taking "Aquarius" as my theme.<br />
<br />
Capricorn is, I'm told, an Earth Sign, and apparently Capricorns tend to be family-centric individuals, so I took that as an idea and wrote about <a href="http://cmrosens.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-zodiac-posts-capricorn-1.html" target="_blank">developing characters over time</a> - e.g. in a family saga - and the difficulties that presents, and then discussed <a href="http://cmrosens.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-zodiac-posts-capricorn-2.html" target="_blank">ageism in fiction and positive portrayals of maturity in KidLit</a>.<br />
<br />
This time, I've got more of a challenge! Should I write something based on the Aquarian traits (although different sites say different things) or perhaps on what the water-bearer is, or represents, or what?<br />
<br />
Tricky.<br />
<br />
I discovered a 1922 text available via sacred-texts.com that gives me something interesting to work with:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Those born under the influence of Aquarius possess extremely complex minds and dispositions often <b><u>unconsciously as well as consciously</u> absorbing impressions and information</b> on all kinds of topics and out-of-the-way subjects, <b>their interests being widely spread and far-reaching</b>; and, as their symbol the Water-bearer suggests, their diffusive natures give them an extraordinary facility in the <b>passing on of knowledge to others in a manner easy to understand</b>, their <b>well-stocked minds full of reminiscence and anecdote</b> making them most interesting companions when they choose.</div>
</blockquote>
This actually fits in quite well with a book I've recently read - <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silkworm-Cormoran-Strike-Robert-Galbraith/dp/1408704021" target="_blank">THE SILKWORM by Robert Galbraith</a>. I wanted to write a review of this book ever since I finished it, and this topic fits in pretty well with that! I'd like to blog about the book from the perspective of <b><u>conscious and unconscious</u> writing</b>, which is something that really interested me - and bothered me - about the second detective novel in this series.<br />
<br />
Here's why.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="data:image/jpeg;base64,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" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For those of you who are unaware (and this isn't a spoiler - it says so on the dust-jacket of the book and in every review), Robert Galbraith is the pseudonym of J. K. Rowling. This piece of information has completely ruined the Cormoran Strike series for me now. I read <i>The Cuckoo's Calling</i>, the first book which made it to the bestseller list and sold a modest few thousand copies - average for a crime bestseller, I believe - and got good reviews from critics who noted that it didn't read like a first novel. They were right - a lawyer tweeted and spilled the beans that Robert Galbraith was in fact none other than <i>Harry Potter </i>author, J. K. Rowling, and immediately caused uproar. Fans of <i>Harry Potter</i> rushed to buy this latest secret gem. Reviews of <i>The Casual Vacancy</i> were mixed, and I have to admit I didn't read it. I didn't have a lot of faith in it... but <i>The Cuckoo's Calling</i>, which achieved quiet acclaim all on its own, that I <i>did</i> have time for, because <i>it was clearly very good</i>. </div>
<br />
I read it, and only on a few occasions did I think, <i>ah yes, I see J. K. Rowling behind that dialogue</i>, or <i>that sentence is very Rowling-esque</i>. You know, it's the style and the way the sentences are constructed that give the game away - the syntax an author uses is a kind of fingerprint, and every narrative voice is unique to its author in some way. Even though I tried to pretend I didn't know who Robert Galbraith really was, I kept seeing the veneer slip every so often because I was, at times unconsciously and at others consciously, looking for the clues. That annoyed me, because it's a great detective read. It <i>really </i>annoyed me because I'd been tempted to buy <i>The Cuckoo's Calling</i> when it first came out, and couldn't justify the expense at the time, because I was flat broke. <i>If only!</i><br />
<br />
The furore about the real identity of its author also didn't bode well, in my opinion, for the second novel.<br />
<br />
Rowling had <i>consciously</i> written the first detective novel in a style that was <i>slightly different</i> to her usual one. The voice and feel and tone were different. Her narrative, while still sprinkled with Rowlingisms, had obviously been edited and carefully pruned to make it appear as if the author was (a) male, (b) genuinely an ex-army guy, and (c) a new author fresh to the Crime Fiction scene. It worked very well. It was very well written, it flowed beautifully, the dialogue was realistic and the insight into the world of the paparazzi, the fashion industry, and the internal world of the main characters, Strike and Robin, remarkable. It was a great read.<br />
<br />
But, with the second novel, the secret was out. There was no point in going through all that care and attention to get that novel at the same level as the first, because <i>everyone knew</i>. So, sprinklings of Rowlingisms became, as I'd feared, blatant peppering. She hadn't bothered to disguise her hand this time, and it showed. I felt a little cheated of the mature sparkle of the first one, as if the second one had had less <i>conscious</i> time and effort put into it. The story itself is great. It's dark, twisted, and bits of it freaked me out a little. I'm still haunted by some of the scenes and the descriptions, and I'm still thinking about the cast of characters a few weeks on after finishing it.<br />
<br />
But what irked me was that in terms of its <i>writing</i>, <i>The Silkworm </i>felt, to me, like watching a play where the curtain had gone up too early and ruined some carefully planned surprise, so that the actors behind said curtain were left to play the scene anyway knowing that everyone in the audience already knew the punchline but would applaud wildly no matter how the lines were delivered.<br />
<br />
I didn't guess the end of the actual <i>plot </i>- I suspected, but I didn't quite have it all together. I say this as a veteran of crime and detective fiction. I read more crime and detective novels than fantasy novels! In fact, I hardly ever read fantasy novels. I don't dare, any more, in case it turns out my ideas are not at all original and I've actually been <i>unconsciously</i> ripping off some published person for years. Epic fail. That said, I do occasionally tentatively Google, just to make sure I'm not going to end up being sued for accidentally plagiarizing something I've never read.<br />
<br />
I digress.<br />
<br />
The point is, while the <i>story</i> was brilliant, the <i>plot</i> worked well, the <i>pace</i> was fine, the ending delivered, and the characters were all spot on pretty much, and I'd love this series to continue, I just can't help but feel it's lost something because it's now well known that there is no Robert Galbraith. I liked Galbraith's writing. It was fresh and polished. Now, I'm reading a Rowling novel that isn't so fresh or polished, and actually has Dumbledore quotes paraphrased and coming out of the mouth (or rather, being thought in the head of) a character that <i>is supposed to be new to me</i>.<br />
<br />
Exploration of death and murder and what it takes to be a killer are themes Rowling has looked at with great effect in the <i>HP </i>series, and naturally returns to in the <i>Strike</i> novels where people are being disemboweled, pushed over balconies and covered in acid, not to mention stabbed and shot at. But really? A whole paragraph about <i>murder not being easy</i>, and the phrasing making it sound like<i> </i>almost the same speech? (<i>Potter</i> fans will know what I'm talking about here).<br />
<br />
Before I am burned as a heretic by the internet, I too am a <i>Potter </i>fan. Oh yes... I queued up at midnight for the final book, and saw a midnight showing of the final film. I phoned my High School best friend after Desert Island Discs to discuss Rowling's interview. I rang various friends after her first TV interview and we fed off that for weeks. I printed off whole Sequoia-worths of fan rumours about the next books and brought them to school to share and shout at other obsessive teens with at break and lunch and in between classes. And in classes. I seriously considered auditioning for Hermione and actually genuinely thought each film was the best film I had ever seen until I became older and a <i>tiny</i> bit more discerning. Oh yes. Let it not be said that I am not a fan.<br />
<br />
I'm not saying that revisiting themes are a bad idea - quite the opposite. It's just the way you put forward these perspectives, and the way you handle the material, needs to be fresh and polished, otherwise you run the risk of it looking like <i>recycled writing</i>. It seems to be unconscious, embedded and a part of Rowling's psyche and deeply held life-philosophies, but that's the kind of thing Robert Galbraith would have hidden better - consciously scouring the manuscript for giveaways like this and rephrasing them into shadows of their former, obvious selves, so that people might assume "Oh, Galbraith has read <i>Harry Potter</i> and agrees with Rowling about murder not being easy to commit, much like Gaiman has read the <i>Discworld </i>series and agrees with Terry Pratchett about that belief-creating-and-sustaining-gods philosophy". Reading that section of <i>The Silkworm</i>, it was obvious that Galbraith had not <i>read</i> Rowling, Galbraith <i>was </i>Rowling. And that, for a minute, jolted me out of the world of Strike. I felt like a paying member of an audience whose surprise had not only been spoiled by the premature curtain raising, but who was now acutely <i>aware </i>that they were watching a play. That was a real shame.<br />
<br />
I would absolutely <i>love</i> it if Rowling could forget that everyone knew who she was. I would love it if she wrote the third in the series with the same pretense and care as the first one. I would love to see her writing style developing and growing into something new and exciting, while still retaining that familiar sparkle of wit, whimsy and magic. She does all that so well. And I sincerely hope that the next time she or another famous author chooses a pen-name, they don't get outed before <i>they </i>are ready to do the Big Reveal, even if that turns out to be posthumously. It ruins it for the rest of us who like to guess, and like to experience new novels on their own terms, without the overhanging shadow of unconscious judgement and comparison clouding over what would otherwise have been a dazzling read.<br />
<br />
That said - I loved <i>The Silkworm</i>. Loved it. Go and read it, and maybe you'll see what I mean!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />C. M. Rosenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732209188950803732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5854949589414889207.post-91207880921093480862014-05-28T08:48:00.000-07:002018-07-31T16:55:35.462-07:00The Zodiac Posts: CAPRICORN [2] Ageism in Fiction<h2>
#WeNeedDiverseBooks b/c I rarely saw my older family in KidLit & then often as figures of fun...</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://static.tumblr.com/6a848f1490f8f583ebb086e8fdd4fb0c/u9bbhth/Spamx2ugt/tumblr_static_zodiac-sign-capricorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://static.tumblr.com/6a848f1490f8f583ebb086e8fdd4fb0c/u9bbhth/Spamx2ugt/tumblr_static_zodiac-sign-capricorn.jpg"></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I was surprised when reading through the <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23WeNeedDiverseBooks&src=tyah" target="_blank">#WeNeedDiverseBooks</a> hashtag on twitter that while sexuality, gender and race were prominent issues, no one mentioned the need for older characters in KidLit to be more three-dimensional, or for there to be more books where the child protagonist is raised by their grandparents or elders. I'm not the best at fitting my thoughts into 140 characters, so when I tried to find out why this was, people thought I was accusing the campaign of being ageist. Only one person who read my original tweet <span style="background-color: white; color: #292f33; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 28px; line-height: 34px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Interested in views on </span><a class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link js-nav" data-query-source="hashtag_click" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/agism?src=hash" style="background-color: white; color: #ce7834; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 28px; line-height: 34px; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><s style="color: #e1ae85; text-decoration: none;">#</s><b style="font-weight: 300;">agism</b></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #292f33; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 28px; line-height: 34px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> in fiction - </span><a class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link js-nav" data-query-source="hashtag_click" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeNeedDiverseBooks?src=hash" style="background-color: white; color: #ce7834; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 28px; line-height: 34px; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;"><s style="color: #e1ae85; text-decoration: none;">#</s><b style="font-weight: 300;">WeNeedDiverseBooks</b></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #292f33; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 28px; line-height: 34px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> didn't seem to cover too many older characters or portrayal of older ppl?</span> recommended a Children's book that featured elders in a positive and respectful light. [I'd thought the "in KidLit" was implied by the use of the hashtag! Oops!]</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So, here's another blog post inspired by the "maturity" aspect of life and literature, represented by Capricorn... because pretty pictures. And the challenge of doing twelve different blog topics inspired by zodiac personality traits. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So, after I had managed to clear up the embarrassing misconception that I was accusing an excellent campaign of being ageist, I managed to engage in some interesting conversations with people. It turns out, I'm not the only one who has noticed the absence of elders or a positive model of maturity or growing old in KidLit, and it intrigued me that while <i>one</i> person instantly understood what I meant, there were three or four others who misconstrued my question. Admittedly, my question was badly phrased. #HowBritishOfMe [!]</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Are we blind to an aging population, and do we think that children are just too young to notice the old? </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/society/2011/oct/30/ageism-european-social-survey" target="_blank"><i>The Guardian </i>reported in October 2011</a> that the UK was one of the worst countries in the EU for ageism, with the belief that old age starts at 59, and that "youth" ends at 35. In Greece, old age was thought to begin at 68, and youth ended at 52. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Daniel Boffey wrote, "<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">the statistics show that, while there is admiration for the elderly, more people pity than envy those they regard as old, suggesting a perception that age brings weakness and unhappiness."</span></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When so many children in less advantaged areas - the very children for whom literacy and education is so vitally important, and the very children who are the least likely to engage with either - are being brought up by grandparents, often single grandparents, or who have more contact with their grandparents than with their parents who are working and unable to look after their children without using their own aging parents for help with childcare, it's important that they too see models of family they can relate to.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When society is telling children to prize their youth (and innate within youth, the toxic concept of subjective beauty) more highly than anything else, including their own individualism and self-worth, then is it a wonder they have no respect for the elderly? Funnily enough, aging is an international issue, too. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/1915000/images/_1917478_world_facts4_300.gif" height="266" width="400"><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1913515.stm" target="_blank">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1913515.stm</a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So what do we all have to look forward to, once we pass the end of youth? After all, when you get old, you lose the looks that you spent so much time perfecting as a child and young adult. The elders in society somehow don't feel the need to dress up and impress complete strangers in the street with the latest fashion trends. They talk a lot about their past, and try to impart out-of-date wisdom when everyone knows you can just google that shit. Which you're not going to, because you have facebook, and what's happened TODAY is far more important than ANYTHING ELSE EVER. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Is this really what children and teens think, though, or is this view itself a stereotype of younger attitudes? According to <a href="http://www.grandparentsplus.org.uk/network" target="_blank">GrandparentsPlus</a>, 4 in 5 teens say that grandparents are the most important people outside their immediate family. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #494949; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Across the country, it is estimated that 200,000 grandparents and other family members are raising children who cannot live with their parents. This may be because of parental illness or disability, drug or alcohol misuse, imprisonment, bereavement or relationship breakdown. These kinship carers ensure that children stay within their families, providing the essential care, love and support they need. However, the carers themselves can often feel isolated and stigmatised, ignored by government policy and practice.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #494949; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The Grandparents Plus Support Network brings together grandparents who are raising their grandchildren and other kinship carers to give them a voice, to share experiences, to find solutions and to tell government, children’s services, the NHS, drug and alcohol agencies and others what needs to change.</div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So why aren't they being championed in KidLit and YA as often as they could or should be? Where are <i>these</i> families, and where are the voices telling these stories? Why am I not telling this story? This story is <i>my</i> story, and yet I write about "norms" and two-parent families more often than any other type. <i>I'm </i>not even telling <i>my</i> story. I guess that for me, that's a personal thing that is quite private and often painful to expose to the critical eye of a reader who doesn't see the story I've written through the same filters as I do. Perhaps it's a protective instinct, of whom or of what I'm not entirely sure, and perhaps I'm afraid of what I might write if I did start writing. I don't know. It's not something I've ever really considered before. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And yet... </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And yet, perhaps the antidote to a lack of self-worth among the younger generation and the lack of respect towards the older generation, not to mention the unnatural pressure put on children to look perfect and "respect their youth" by becoming over-sexualized from a disturbingly young age, is to encourage them to see getting old in a positive light. Just because you lose your firm skin and toned muscles when you age does not mean you automatically lose your value to society or your innate worth as a human being. It does not mean you stop contributing to your community and the lives of others, and growing old is not something to be afraid of. Even growing old as a single person is not the terrifying, lonely prospect we are all told it is. I know a number of fulfilled, happy, full-life-living over 70s, all of whom never married. They are the lucky ones, with a number of friends, active interests, and maintain various degrees of independence. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120921180310/agathachristie/images/e/e0/Marple.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120921180310/agathachristie/images/e/e0/Marple.gif" height="320" width="200"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Miss Marple, fictional detective created by Agatha Christie, was my childhood hero: older single/unmarried women solve murders, and then go home and have tea with friends! </b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I also know older people who have been completely ignored, cold-shouldered and abandoned in their old age, living secluded, lonely lives because no one takes the time to knock on their door and find out if they would like some company and a cuppa once in a while.<a href="http://www.ageuk.org.uk/" target="_blank"> AgeUK figures show that a staggering one million older people go a month or more without seeing or speaking to anyone</a>. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #5f7286; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Loneliness is a massive issue for people in later life in the UK. Half of all people aged 75 and over live alone, and 1 in 10 people aged 65 or over say they are always or often feel lonely – that’s just over a million people.</div>
<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #5f7286; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Shockingly, half of all older people consider the television their main form of company. - </div>
<a href="http://www.ageuk.org.uk/health-wellbeing/relationships-and-family/befriending-services-combating-loneliness--/">http://www.ageuk.org.uk/health-wellbeing/relationships-and-family/befriending-services-combating-loneliness--/</a></blockquote>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In the UK, we live with an aging population whom no one seems to know what to do with - and I would suggest that tackling attitudes towards older people should begin by normalizing them and the variety and diversity of their lifestyles, with KidLit as a key vehicle for this positive portrayal.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So if children are reading books where it's funny that granny lost something and can't remember where she left it, or is always doing "hilarious" things like putting a goldfish in the kettle (read: has dementia), or infuriates Mum and Dad by mishearing everything they say, then the image you end up with is that getting old is a process that happens to other people, and when it does, should be laughed about. Old people are annoying, smelly, and forgetful. They are often deaf. They are often completely absent altogether. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmvT37RUJvGXaZztMWrNxKeIt6kHNkVurvZgsrn6awD3lA0fhyFsSgjA1C4wPAlg6hPhPzTZnJ8KHmAKH_LTSWa-9FvVJttqaYFe-75LaN2BoyvJUzulJlGHvQ3Ob5oBcYaTPk1jzZXKna/s1600/HJ+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmvT37RUJvGXaZztMWrNxKeIt6kHNkVurvZgsrn6awD3lA0fhyFsSgjA1C4wPAlg6hPhPzTZnJ8KHmAKH_LTSWa-9FvVJttqaYFe-75LaN2BoyvJUzulJlGHvQ3Ob5oBcYaTPk1jzZXKna/s1600/HJ+Cover.jpg" width="320" /></a>I've read books like this, and, as a girl brought up by her grandparents and great-grandmother, it was upsetting. I also find it a bit worrying that I can think of very few contemporary TV shows that positively portray older characters, whether those shows are aimed at children or not. With a few CBBC exceptions, though! </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I'm not the only one to have noticed this: here's a fantastic blog post from Lindsay McDivitt on <a href="http://cynleitichsmith.livejournal.com/566770.html" target="_blank">Positive Images of Aging in KidLit</a>, with an excellent list of points for writers about crafting older characters and how to (and not to) use vocabulary and illustrations. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Debbie Reese has also recently blogged about the positive portrayal of elders in Obijwe culture as part of the #WeNeedDiverseBooks campaign and the inclusion of Native American literature. <a href="http://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/cheryl-minnemas-hungry-johnny.html" target="_blank">She reviewed <i>Hungry Johnny</i> by Cheryl Minnema</a>, and it's exactly the kind of thing #WeNeedDiverseBooks is about. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
C. M. Rosenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732209188950803732noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5854949589414889207.post-34478206664146759602014-05-14T10:55:00.000-07:002018-07-31T16:56:13.740-07:00The Zodiac Posts: CAPRICORN [1] Being Down-to-Earth - Realistic Character Development<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://static.tumblr.com/6a848f1490f8f583ebb086e8fdd4fb0c/u9bbhth/Spamx2ugt/tumblr_static_zodiac-sign-capricorn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://static.tumblr.com/6a848f1490f8f583ebb086e8fdd4fb0c/u9bbhth/Spamx2ugt/tumblr_static_zodiac-sign-capricorn.jpg" height="320" width="247"></a></div>
<h2>
Being Down-to-Earth: Realistic Character Development Over Time</h2>
<div>
I've decided to start with Capricorn, because <a href="http://cmrosens.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/the-zodiac-posts-part-1.html" target="_blank">the ideas for topics that I came up with</a> for this general sign resonated with me after watching Season 3 of a TV show last night. My life is really very exciting. Clearly. Now, I know <a href="http://cmrosens.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/the-faustine-chronicles-who-are-you.html" target="_blank">I've blogged on this topic before</a>, but I think there's more to say. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Showing the development of characters over a long period of time is a challenge, because if you were to keep a journal for two or three years, especially in your early to mid twenties, you would barely recognize the person who began writing their innermost thoughts all that time ago. If you begin with characters on the cusp of adulthood, or going through adolescence, as with YA novels, or with characters just emerging into the "adult" world and finding their feet, as in NA novels, the changes wrought in them by time and circumstance and the natural process of aging - which has psychological effects as well as physical ones - is something subliminal and subtle that even the character themselves is unaware of. No one wakes up in the morning and <i>feels</i> twenty-one. Your concept of who you are is constantly in flux and completely relative to what is going on around you, and you do a great deal of your "growing-up" between the ages of 18-25, typically. Some people are 20 going on 50; others are 20 but still mentally stuck at 17 - but <i>not in <b>every </b>area of their thinking and acting</i>. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
On the other hand, there are some things that do permeate your subconscious from a young age, and even when you're not so young, and they do inadvertently have an enormous impact on how you are as a person. They can invade your thinking and your behaviour so completely that you're not even aware That Thing You Do is a subconscious response to That Thing That Happened When I Was, Like, Five. It's not even that obvious - it's a combination of things which inform and consolidate our ideas of the world, not a singular event (unless that event had a massive psychological impact). What is going to happen when Protagonist A's concept of normality collides with someone else's, who reacts to things in a different way, because of their not-so-dysfunctional upbringing? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/be/28/1e/be281e5b746f09b6da14eed2edb80381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/236x/be/28/1e/be281e5b746f09b6da14eed2edb80381.jpg"></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So imagine, Protagonist A has a dysfunctional family (as most protagonists do). The day-to-day atmosphere of that family is something which has an on-going impact on Protagonist A. You (as the creator and controller of Protagonist A) have decided that they are naturally quite shy and introverted, as a consequence of being bullied at High School and being ignored or used by Mum and Dad as a weapon against one another, as they go through a messy divorce. Protagonist A has never had a long-term relationship, though they have had a few before which didn't end very well. Protagonist A goes away to college, and meets Love Interest, but is being stalked at the same time by Crazy Obsessive Ex. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Fine. It's straying into <a href="http://cmrosens.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/mr-perfect-meets-miss-virgin.html" target="_blank">Mr Perfect Meets Miss Virgin</a> territory here, but you've got a few issues to add a bit of a grittier edge, and you're trying to reflect a real situation. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We have all of the angst and drama and the catalyst for general shenanigans, depending on the tone and style of your story, and ultimately, Protagonist A Grows Up and Finds Love and Lives Happily Ev- hang on. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Supposing you were to fast forward the clock. What bits of their past has Protagonist A overcome now they are in a loving relationship with Love Interest? What have they brought with them? Which of their parents are they turning into as a result of absorbing mannerisms and attitudes and so on from a young age? Do they notice? How does their childhood come out in their actions as an adult, <i>bearing in mind that, according to your back story for Protagonist A, they have had few positive examples of adulthood, few (if any) positive examples of a couple being A Couple, and few positive examples of parenthood?</i> </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In what ways does Protagonist A do a better job, spurred on by Not Wanting To Turn Into Mum And Dad, and in what ways are they just kidding themselves? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
How do Love Interest and Potential Children respond, <i>not really knowing the details of Protagonist A's background?</i> It's a very different thing to seeing someone's parents and thinking, "Well, that explains a lot", and actually living through the experience of being in that family unit every day of your life for eighteen solid years. Now, obviously, it's not all bad. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.imgur.com/NecddtW.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://i.imgur.com/NecddtW.gif"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I SAID, IT'S NOT ALL BAD, DEAN! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Honest. But there's no chance your character in a sequel novel is going to have it all together. Zero. Chance. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The way they are in their late twenties or early thirties with kids is not going to be the same as the last time the readers (or you!) saw them. You need to take into account the fact that, as a person, your character has altered, and try to make those changes realistic in light of their back story, the first novel, and what you know has happened between the end of the first novel and the start of the second one. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You need to strike a balance between the character being <i>essentially</i> the same, as in the same character the readers fell in love with in Novel 1, but also having changed in particular - and believable - ways.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is the biggest challenge, and one I'm trying and perhaps failing to fully strike a balance with in my series. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
In my case, dealing with children and all the events that have torn his world apart and sewn it back together has affected Kristof quite significantly. He has mellowed a lot, and picked up traits from his wife Elsa, and is showing a bit more restraint as the weight of real political power and military campaigns and general courtly backstabbing takes its toll. He has also had to accommodate the needs of his four children, all of whom are individuals with their own personalities which will disrupt the original family dynamic as they grow up and push against their boundaries. Kristof had a very difficult and cold relationship with his own father, and is struggling not to be as harsh with his own children. He is willing to allow them to make their own mistakes and to rebel, but that is not because he's a "good father" - it's because he's a good manipulator, and, even though he loves his children, he wants to make best use of them as marital alliance assets, and also make best use of their powers. He's not going to flip out every time his children disobey him - he knows he's already on thin ice with his oldest daughter, Jola, as it is. She witnessed him doing terrible things to people over the years, including his abusive treatment of Gisa, his ward, and that has already driven a wedge between them. The fact that she is queen now is more of a reason for him to rein himself in, which was never his strong point. His explosive temper will break through the veneer eventually, and it will be pretty bad when that happens.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
All of this character deconstruction has been an absolute nightmare - and I'm not sure I've got it quite right. That's a job for the editing, when I get around to finishing the first draft!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
... Which leads me to my little rant about <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006m8g7?44,13,00,04,03,2008" target="_blank">BBC series <i>Robin Hood</i></a>, whose character development is all over the place. [<b>SPOILERS, PEOPLE. SPOILERS</b>.]</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's a lot easier to maintain consistency when you're the only one in charge of the character. When several writers are in the pool for scripting the season, the danger is that in one episode or another they will pick on their interpretation and ideas for the character, and then use it to further their plot in ways that act to the detriment of that character. It's the classic conundrum of "how do I get from A to B in this episode so that C can happen next week?" </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's easy to switch "episode" to "chapter" for all you plotters (and pantsers!) out there, although plotters may have the advantage in that their narrative and character arcs are neatly laid down, leaving less room for tangents. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Now, I really liked the whole thing with Marian. [<b>SPOILING HAS COMMENCED!!</b>] I'm not going to do a blow-by-blow account of that. But what got me was the way Guy devolved in Season 3 - in particular the episode where he briefly gets to be sheriff - and <i>doesn't learn anything at all</i>. There's a blip in that Season where he is almost reduced to a predictable cartoon villain, whose actions are formulaic and flat. He is just doing the same thing, over and over and over. The surprising moments of depth in his character come out of seemingly nowhere, and you can't really see that developing naturally. It's all a bit abrupt - and Richard Armitage, kudos to that man, pulls it off in such a way that you don't really care that the writing isn't all that great. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The other thing that <i>really</i> annoyed me was the complete lack of reference to Sheriff Vesey's sister after she fell in the pit of snakes. DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THAT PIT OF SNAKES. #MedievalistProblems</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnM5q_uloqJXsANKuAiJNXtw08yS2hjH-MkQnCskZFls8NJn-uHc718qGFnHuEF9SP3oSmAJh0C2vM7qz9-IBtTGhyS01LTMFPC2dV5rpz-7-tUxro_JI-dGlOvciVNTYBPrBVVbAGCLgT/s1600/boys+will+be+boys_4c30af_5020903.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnM5q_uloqJXsANKuAiJNXtw08yS2hjH-MkQnCskZFls8NJn-uHc718qGFnHuEF9SP3oSmAJh0C2vM7qz9-IBtTGhyS01LTMFPC2dV5rpz-7-tUxro_JI-dGlOvciVNTYBPrBVVbAGCLgT/s1600/boys+will+be+boys_4c30af_5020903.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The relationship between the Sheriff and his sister is explored briefly, and then there's a moving death scene which Keith Allen plays brilliantly... and then... nothing. The sister and her tragic early demise are NEVER MENTIONED again. Ever. And all that potential character development for the Sheriff is completely lost, and the sister is a completely wasted character. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm not sure what that's about. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm sure I could think of more examples - not just in that show, but in other shows (and books - including my own work, on occasions) where the plot is literally lost completely and a character's development gets stunted, flattened out into a temporary (if you're lucky) 2D version of themselves, or just afflicted by a case of Random Identity Crisis where they just forget key parts of their personalities in order to do something to move the plot forward. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It mildly annoys me when other people do it. When I catch myself doing it, it fills me with white-hot rage. [<< one of my overused phrases - note to self - stop it!]</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I will strive to do better. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Anyone else find the same problems with character development over longer spans of time? <b>Comment and let me know! </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
C. M. Rosenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732209188950803732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5854949589414889207.post-68379987739002073172014-05-05T09:51:00.001-07:002018-07-31T16:57:24.463-07:00The Zodiac Posts [Part 1]: Why the Zodiac Theme?<div style="text-align: justify;">
After the blog-hop post, I've decided to do a series of posts around some kind of concept or theme - - I thought of doing the Zodiac... not sure why, just 'cos. I thought it was just another one of my whims, but the more I thought about it, the more fun I thought I could have. I had the idea of each Zodiac sign representing an aspect of writing, or a genre, or a trope... something along those lines. I'm not taking the Signs that seriously - I've just borrowed the personality traits of the Signs according to one site for convenience, and am not myself a believer in astrology, but I'm also happy to look generally at astrological influences in fiction writing and that sort of thing!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.runwaylive.com/files//horoscope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://www.runwaylive.com/files//horoscope.jpg" height="301" width="400"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
I'm up for this challenge... I was wondering if anyone has any other suggestions for posts on the following themes. I've thought up two per Sign... they may change, and I'm also open to other suggestions.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="box-100" style="color: #414141; float: left; font-size: 15px; height: auto; line-height: 22.5px; padding: 5px 6.1875px; text-align: center; width: 606.890625px;">
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b><u>Aries</u></b><br />
The people born under the Zodiac Sign Aries are curious, energetic and enthusiastic individuals, who want to initiate and make things happen rather than being mere spectators. The need for excitement push them into new territories and makes them extremely action-oriented.<br />
(see: <a href="http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/aries/aries-traits.action">http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/aries/aries-traits.action</a>)<br />
<b></b></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<b style="color: #333333;">> Writing action and dynamic scenes</b></div>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b>> Drama and the dramatic event: how do you write that pivotal moment?</b></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b><u>Taurus</u></b><br />
Known for being reliable, practical, ambitious and sensual, the people born under the Zodiac Sign Taurus have an eye for beauty. They tend to be good with finances, and hence, make efficient financial managers. However, like everyone else, a Taurus also has both positive and negative traits.<br />
(see: <a href="http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/taurus/taurus-traits.action">http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/taurus/taurus-traits.action</a>)<span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b>> Making a living from writing: is that a practical dream?</b><span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b>> How do you handle rejection and keep on trekking?</b><br />
<br />
<b><u></u></b></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b><u>Gemini</u></b><br />
All Signs have dark sides as well as the bright sides, and the Gemini is no exception. People born under the Zodiac Sign Gemini have some distinct positive and negative traits. For example, they are clever and intellectual but they can also be tense and restless. To understand a Gemini it is essential to understand his/ her traits.<br />
(see: <a href="http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/gemini/gemini-traits.action">http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/gemini/gemini-traits.action</a>)<span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b>> The Twins: a trope in fiction</b><span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b></b><b>> Doppelgangers: representations and tales</b><br />
<br />
<b><u></u></b></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b><u>Cancer </u></b><br />
The Cancer-born are quite complex individuals, but fundamentally, they are conservative and home-loving people. They love to be in familiar surroundings and nurture their relationships.<br />
(see: <a href="http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/cancer/cancer-traits.action">http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/cancer/cancer-traits.action</a>)<span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b>> Writing about familiar surroundings: finding magic and inspiration where you live</b><span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b></b><b>> Writing who you know: confessions of a writer (or two!)</b><br />
<br />
<b><u></u></b></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b><u>Leo</u></b><br />
Warm, action-oriented and driven by the desire to be loved and admired, the Leo have an air royalty about them. They love to be in the limelight, which is why many of them make a career in the performing arts.<br />
(see: <a href="http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/leo/leo-traits.action">http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/leo/leo-traits.action</a>)<span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b>> Writing royals: best depictions of royalty in fiction?</b><span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b></b><b>> Writing royalty: who makes the top 10 best authors of all time?</b><br />
<br />
<b><u></u></b></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b><u>Virgo</u></b><br />
Quiet undemonstrative and introvert, the Virgo are the waters that run deep. Wise, witty and well spoken, the Virgo have a good understanding of human nature and can effectively help people solve their problems.<br />
(see: <a href="http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/virgo/virgo-traits.action">http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/virgo/virgo-traits.action</a>)<span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b>> Deconstructing human nature: conveying personality through dialogue</b><span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b></b><b>> Literary Fiction: what is it?</b><br />
<br />
<b><u></u></b></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b><u>Libra</u></b><br />
Kind, gentle and lovers of beauty, harmony and peace, the Libra-born are attractive people. However, in their bid to please everyone, they can rarely say no to anyone, and as a result, end up stretching themselves.<br />
(see: <a href="http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/libra/libra-traits.action">http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/libra/libra-traits.action</a>)<span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b>> The Scales of Justice: why should characters find redemption, and should your antagonists ever 'get away with it'?</b><span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b></b><b>> Regaining equilibrium: how do you resolve conflict in your plots?</b><br />
<br />
<b><u></u></b></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b><u>Scorpio</u></b><br />
Mysterious and strong willed, the Scorpio-born easily grab the limelight as they have what it takes to accomplish their goals. Besides, they possess a magnetic charm that not many can ignore.<br />
(see: <a href="http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/scorpio/scorpio-traits.action">http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/scorpio/scorpio-traits.action</a>)<span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b>> Romantic heroes and brooding bad boys - how (not) to write them</b><span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b></b><b>> Secondary characters who steal the show - good, bad, or <i>really</i> annoying?</b><br />
<br />
<b><u></u></b></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b><u>Sagittarius</u></b><br />
The Sagittarius enjoy travelling and exploring what life has to offer. <span style="color: #333333; text-align: justify;">Adventurous that they are, the Sagittarius are always willing to take risks and keep the excitement levels in their lives alive.</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; text-align: justify;">(see: </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;"><a href="http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/sagittarius/sagittarius-traits.action">http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/sagittarius/sagittarius-traits.action</a>)</span></span><span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;"><b>> Travel writing in fiction: when you can't write 'what you know'</b></span></span><span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;"><b>> The Quest Novel: what makes a good one?</b></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<b><u></u></b></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b><u>Capricorn</u></b><br />
Capricorn is the Sign of stability, calmness and maturity. People born under this Sign are sensitive, sensible and secure in their own space. They not take mindless decisions but at the same time they will take well-calculated risks to get what they want.<br />
(see: <a href="http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/capricorn/capricorn-traits.action">http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/capricorn/capricorn-traits.action</a>)<span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b>> Writing family sagas - how do your characters cope with the passing of time?</b><span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b>> Ageism in fiction and fictionalizing ageism</b><br />
<span style="color: #414141;"></span></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
</blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b><u>Aquarius</u></b><br />
The Aquarius-born are strong and attractive individuals, who can think abstract and at the same time be practical as well. Their willingness and capacity to accept people as who they are make them sought-after company.<br />
(see: <a href="http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/aquarius/aquarius-traits.action">http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/aquarius/aquarius-traits.action</a>)<span style="color: #414141;"> </span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b>> #WeNeedDiverseBooks - how important is diversity in fiction?</b></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<b>> How can fiction help/hinder perceptions of people groups and individuals?</b></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b><u>Pisces</u></b><br />
These are generous and emotional souls. Quite popular in their social circles for being a genuine friend to everyone, a Pisces-born values human relations the most and puts the people he loves above everything else.<br />
(see: <a href="http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/pisces/pisces-traits.action">http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/pisces/pisces-traits.action</a>)</blockquote>
<blockquote style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
> <b>Spotlight on</b> <b><a href="http://www.litworld.org/" target="_blank">LitWorld </a>- helping people through the power of literacy</b></blockquote>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
> <b>Serious Fiction: Changing Lives through the Power of the Story</b></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I may be adding ideas to these - and I'll be getting guest bloggers in on this too! Looking forward to interviews, features, general ramblings, and other cool stuff. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Anything you want me to add, let me know! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">CMR</span></div>
</div>
<span style="color: #414141; font-family: "verdana" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; text-align: center;"></span><br />
<div class="box-100" style="float: left; height: auto; padding: 5px 6.1875px; text-align: center; width: 606.890625px;">
<div class="nrmltxt" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="gs_nrml_100_box">
<div class="box-100" style="float: left; height: auto; padding: 5px 6.3125px; width: 619.28125px;">
<div class="box-100" style="float: left; height: auto; padding: 5px 6.3125px; width: 619.28125px;">
<div class="nrmltxt-justify" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="nrmltxt-justify" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="nrmltxt-justify" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="nrmltxt-justify" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 22.5px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
C. M. Rosenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732209188950803732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5854949589414889207.post-19335868049819405102014-05-02T10:32:00.002-07:002014-05-02T10:32:44.844-07:00A Blog HopBefore we go any further, and I unveil my plans for the next blog post series - which I am ambitiously naming THE ZODIAC POSTS - I've been handed something fun to blog about.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.once-and-future.com/" target="_blank">Charlotte Ashley</a>, writer, bookseller, collector and historian has tagged me in a blog hop! Basically, this means that I get to answer four questions that she has set me, and then I will tag three others and set them questions. Fun times!<br />
<br />
Without further ado, here are my four questions and rambling responses:<br />
<br />
<span 12px="" 15.359999656677246px="" arial="" font-size:="" grande="" helvetica="" line-height:="" lucida="" pre-wrap="" sans-serif="" tahoma="" verdana="" white-space:=""><br /></span>
<span 12px="" 15.359999656677246px="" arial="" font-size:="" grande="" helvetica="" line-height:="" lucida="" pre-wrap="" sans-serif="" tahoma="" verdana="" white-space:=""><b>1) How different is the current (or final) draft of your novel from the original? What changed and why?</b></span><br />
<br />
DONWIGHT is quite different to THE BOOK OF FATE, because although I really might put Fate and Nicodemus back in as the prologue/frame, I realised that the story itself was too clunky in terms of its mechanics. You don't need <i>two</i> frames for the narrative, for example - you had Fate, then the Faerie Kings - and I thought that given the need to market the book, it really needs to be <i>saleable</i> which means, not so niche and more accessible in terms of narrative style. Not only that, but I felt the novel length was too long in the original form. There are things that don't need to be n there until later, and characters who should be given <i>more </i>page time (like Fyn and Bard). I have NEVER liked Tristan and Lars as characters, because, when set against the stronger, well-rounded characters, both of them seem two-dimensional. So I set out to fix that, and ended up re-writing the plot to accommodate my character changes. Tristan has had to go completely, and that means I have more room to explore other characters who had more dramatic potential and an even more interesting backstory (which is more relevant to the plot). I've also shifted the emphasis on the main shadowy antagonist... whose identity has changed to tie up some rather interesting threads in the Faustine family history I never addressed in the original version.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span 12px="" 15.359999656677246px="" arial="" font-size:="" grande="" helvetica="" line-height:="" lucida="" pre-wrap="" sans-serif="" tahoma="" verdana="" white-space:=""><b>2) If you could pick one book you'd like to see your book shelved next to, what would it be and why?</b></span><br />
<span 12px="" 15.359999656677246px="" arial="" font-size:="" grande="" helvetica="" line-height:="" lucida="" pre-wrap="" sans-serif="" tahoma="" verdana="" white-space:=""><b><br /></b></span>
<span 12px="" 15.359999656677246px="" arial="" font-size:="" grande="" helvetica="" line-height:="" lucida="" pre-wrap="" sans-serif="" tahoma="" verdana="" white-space:="">Oh my... well... any, to be honest. I'd be happy to see it on any shelf. Maybe Umberto Eco's <i>Name of the Rose</i> - that would be really cool. It would make me feel like it's a thinking fantasy. ;)</span><br />
<span 12px="" 15.359999656677246px="" arial="" font-size:="" grande="" helvetica="" line-height:="" lucida="" pre-wrap="" sans-serif="" tahoma="" verdana="" white-space:=""><br /><b>
3) If you could write anywhere you wanted to, where would you go? What would your writing space look like?</b> </span><br />
<span 12px="" 15.359999656677246px="" arial="" font-size:="" grande="" helvetica="" line-height:="" lucida="" pre-wrap="" sans-serif="" tahoma="" verdana="" white-space:=""><br /></span>
<br />
It would have... um... coffee... an unlimited supply of coffee. And all my books in one easy place. Also a window and sun. I'm easily pleased.<br />
<br />
<span 12px="" 15.359999656677246px="" arial="" font-size:="" grande="" helvetica="" line-height:="" lucida="" pre-wrap="" sans-serif="" tahoma="" verdana="" white-space:=""><b>4) Your novel sells, becomes a best seller and you now have ten million dollars. The first thing you buy is...</b></span><br />
<span 12px="" 15.359999656677246px="" arial="" font-size:="" grande="" helvetica="" line-height:="" lucida="" pre-wrap="" sans-serif="" tahoma="" verdana="" white-space:=""><b><br /></b></span>
<span 12px="" 15.359999656677246px="" arial="" font-size:="" grande="" helvetica="" line-height:="" lucida="" pre-wrap="" sans-serif="" tahoma="" verdana="" white-space:="">Mosquito nets and pharmaceutical investment in lesser researched (read: not as lucrative) diseases, like leprosy, which affect a vast number of people in the Third World. Because the sufferers of these diseases are dirt poor and can't afford the drugs they need which would quickly cure them, the drug companies don't produce them or really research them, and it's largely up to medical charities and foreign aid to fill the gap. Malaria, spread by mosquitoes, is also easily treatable, and yet mosquitoes kill over 725,000 people a year compared to "dangerous" animals like sharks, who kill 10 people a year. If anyone missed it, Bill Gates declared a <a href="http://guardianlv.com/2014/04/gates-declares-mosquito-week-to-raise-awareness/" target="_blank">Mosquito Awareness week</a> to raise awareness. I'd love to also invest in literacy programmes and access to education. Lots of money would go to <a href="http://www.litworld.org/" target="_blank">LitWorld</a>, for example, and their <a href="http://www.litworld.org/standupforgirls/" target="_blank">Stand Up For Girls</a> programme in particular, which is awesome. If you want to contribute to this, you can donate directly, or buy a copy of the<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Library-Dreams-Charlotte-Ashley-ebook/dp/B00HBH1P6I" target="_blank"> <i>Library of Dreams</i> anthology</a> - all profits of the anthology go to that programme. </span><br />
<span 12px="" 15.359999656677246px="" arial="" font-size:="" grande="" helvetica="" line-height:="" lucida="" pre-wrap="" sans-serif="" tahoma="" verdana="" white-space:=""><br /></span>
<span 12px="" 15.359999656677246px="" arial="" font-size:="" grande="" helvetica="" line-height:="" lucida="" pre-wrap="" sans-serif="" tahoma="" verdana="" white-space:="">For myself? I don't know... mew. A new cooker would be nice. ;)</span><br />
<span 12px="" 15.359999656677246px="" arial="" font-size:="" grande="" helvetica="" line-height:="" lucida="" pre-wrap="" sans-serif="" tahoma="" verdana="" white-space:=""><br /></span>
<span 12px="" 15.359999656677246px="" arial="" font-size:="" grande="" helvetica="" line-height:="" lucida="" pre-wrap="" sans-serif="" tahoma="" verdana="" white-space:=""><br /></span>
<span 12px="" 15.359999656677246px="" arial="" font-size:="" grande="" helvetica="" line-height:="" lucida="" pre-wrap="" sans-serif="" tahoma="" verdana="" white-space:=""><b>Who's next?? </b></span>I'm tagging some pretty interesting people to continue this blog hop -<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.mayastarling.com/" target="_blank">Maya Starling</a>,</span> an NA fantasy author whose work (and dragons) I love, and who is currently looking for representation...<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://robthier.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Robert Thier</a>,</span> historian and historical fiction writer, whose medieval adventure <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Robert-Thier/e/B005QLASSM/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1" target="_blank">The Robber Knight</a> </i>is available in English, but who also writes in his native German...<br />
<br />
...and finally,<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.authorarosa.com/" target="_blank">Alex Rosa</a>,</span> the talented romance author of <i><a href="http://www.authorarosa.com/#!about3/crcv" target="_blank">Emotionally Compromised</a></i>.C. M. Rosenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732209188950803732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5854949589414889207.post-2471508518962113652014-04-23T17:14:00.003-07:002014-04-23T17:14:33.500-07:00On the Page, On the Screen: Sex and Violence in Books and Film<br />
**WARNING: This blog post contains spoilers for Game of Thrones Season 4 ep 3**<br />
<br />
<h3>
Sex and Violence in Books and Film, or, Why The Issue Is About More Than Cersei Lannister</h3>
<br />
So much has been said about The Scene in "Breaker of Chains" already - I'm not weighing in with a different view, and this isn't really what this post is about. I have very strong views about the depiction of women in the media, and about modern "rape culture" and casual sexism, but that's not for now. Other people have already said a lot on this subject far more eloquently.<br />
<br />
So, apologies for the potentially triggering subject, and for the potential spoilers in this post, but the reactions of the fans of the books to The Scene (which is not based on the source material, although GRRM has said he intended it to be "ambiguous") made me consider the differences between <i>reading </i>and <i>watching</i>.<br />
<br />
This is pretty complicated - I'm going to stick with Game of Thrones as an example because it is the best thing to compare a show and a book with.<br />
<br />
I was really surprised by my reaction to the latest Game of Thrones episode. Jaime and Cersei have been stuck in a sexual power-play from Season 1, where Jaime has seemingly always taken charge and Cersei has grown increasingly distant and unwilling to make their relationship public (as in the books).<br />
<br />
What happened last episode in the Sept has caused outcry among fans, with several blogs criticizing the writers and the script choice, dissecting the character arcs and expressing concerns that Jaime's redemptive curve has now been irretrievably derailed.<br />
<br />
I was very surprised that my own reaction was nothing like this. It really unsettled me, reading the backlash and gut feelings that many people had to this scene, and realizing that I didn't feel as strongly about it as I felt perhaps I should. I genuinely wondered if that made me a terrible person, or a bad woman, or a misogynist, or just plain cold.<br />
<br />
Do I not care about sexism and sexual politics and the portrayal of rape on screen? No, <i>of course </i>I do. I don't think it's that. I do appreciate that when it comes to the mass dissemination of images and messages, overt, subliminal, visual or otherwise, you do have to consider the impact they have and what they say about society. <a href="http://www.themarysue.com/game-of-thrones-rape-controversy-grrm/" target="_blank">Did the (male) writers rape Cersei Lannister</a> so that she would get her comeuppance for turning her loyal brother away, and as punishment for her various character flaws and devious actions? <a href="http://katie-kapulet.tumblr.com/post/83436714944" target="_blank">To quote one blogger</a>, I don't have to explain to you why that's a misogynistic, messed up scripting decision.<br />
<br />
Rebecca Pahle has a good discussion and stance on this in her post, which you can read <a href="http://www.themarysue.com/game-of-thrones-rape-controversy-grrm/" target="_blank">here</a>, and there is also a good article from the <a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/game-thrones-season-4-spoilers-breaker-chains-rape-scene-raises-controversy-1574209" target="_blank">International Business Times</a> and one from <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1726555/game-of-thrones-george-rr-martin-jaime-cersei.jhtml" target="_blank">MTV</a> which basically gives various opinions from the director, writers, GRRM himself, and the thoughts of the fans.<br />
<br />
My issue with The Scene is that of all the articles and comments I've read of <i>fans of the books</i>, (as opposed to only the TV viewers), I've not yet seen a comparison with the way <i>the books</i> deal with rape or fit into the rape culture. I think that, while I did immediately see The Scene as a rape scene (if it's ambiguous, it's probably rape... if it's 'yes and no', then it's probably rape... if she's saying 'no' and he carries on, it's probably rape... so, just to clarify - it's rape) I also saw it as part of the power-play going on between the siblings and I did see what they were, not very sensitively, trying to get across. I was struck with the juxtaposition of doing this in front of the dead son and product of consensual incest as the setting, but even that was pretty much in-keeping with what we've come to expect. Not from the show - but from the world and atmosphere of the Song of Ice and Fire.<br />
<br />
What really bothers me is that no one who has read the books and watched the show has made the connection between the rape of Cersei and its depiction, and the rape of another, secondary character at King's Landing, who never made it into the show. Thank goodness.<br />
<br />
We never see <a href="http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Lollys_Stokeworth" target="_blank">Lollys Stokeworth</a>. We never get a chapter in her POV. What we do find out is through the perspectives of everyone else, and it's not complimentary. She's a "simple", fat girl and the daughter of a titled minor noblewoman at court, and she is gang-raped, brutally, during the King's Landing riots. Not only do the main characters <i>not care</i>, but they actively make fun of her and grow impatient with her crying all the time and locking herself in her room. Then, when they find out she's pregnant, that too is told in a snide manner, and in the end, the punchline of the whole sordid mess is that she's married off to <a href="http://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Bronn" target="_blank">Bronn</a>. Because, you know, no one with a title is going to touch her, and Bronn can get a title through marriage to her.<br />
<br />
Shae sums it all up beautifully. "All they did was <i>fuck </i>her," she says.<br />
<br />
Er.<br />
<br />
Wut?<br />
<br />
Not cool.<br />
<br />
Which brings me on to the complaints of book fans about the gratuitousness of the nudity in the show. I'm fairly sure that nearly all of Tyrion's scenes with Shae in the books are graphic soft porn, which do not further the plot in any way shape or form. I've read about him "exploding" inside her and having to have another go, her nails opening his back, her dancing about doing sexy little stripteases for him, and lots of descriptions of his erect, throbbing manhood (which the young Sansa isn't too impressed by on their wedding night). I've read pages and pages of brothel scenes and sex jokes and descriptions of women's bits.<br />
<br />
I'm not sure that the plot was improved - or the character development arc, for that matter - by their inclusion.<br />
<br />
<br />
Now - - - here's the thing.<br />
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Does this mean that there's a significant difference between the way people react to READING and the way people react to WATCHING? </i></blockquote>
<i><br /></i>
<br />
I mean, if you're a fan of GRRM's sex and violence and casual attitude to outright rape and not-quite-consensual-sex, not with Cersei but with other female characters such as Asha (read: rape) and the powerlessness of women and the power<i>ful</i>ness of women in terms of their sex and sexuality, why is it that on the page it comes across one way (or does it?) while on the screen, portrayed visually, the same type of thing albeit with different characters, causes a different kind of kick-back?<br />
<br />
<br />
When you <i>read</i> about the same themes, does it have the same impact for you as when you watch them happening right in front of you, in your own living room?<br />
<br />
Perhaps that says something about the filters that we as readers put up in our heads when we read. Our imagination not only allows us to travel deep into the worlds that our favourite authors have created, but it also protects us from the aspects of that world we don't want to confront.<br />
<br />
Otherwise, why would it bother us so much when we <i>see</i> an attack, compared with <i>buying into or accepting</i> a derogatory, piecemeal report of one that we have only read on the page?<br />
<br />
Are we more accepting of Lollys's fate because characters we have grown to like consider her a joke anyway, and she's not especially attractive or interesting, or clever? Does that make it okay? But I don't see anyone up in arms about this. The most I found was a discussion in the thread of <a href="http://www.reddit.com/r/asoiaf/comments/1wfs1p/spoiler_all_most_underrated_player_in_the_game/" target="_blank">this forum</a>, which contains spoilers.<br />
<br />
I wonder, if the writers had chosen to depict Lollys's scenes and transposed her plight and interactions with the other characters straight from page to screen, would people be blogging and tweeting and writing articles about this, or not? If not, <i>why </i>not?<br />
<br />
Well - - if the issue is not the content, I would argue that this is because of the <i>medium </i>GRRM is using.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
It is argued that the plight of women and their [mis]treatment<a href="http://www.salon.com/2014/04/22/tvs_rape_problem_is_bigger_than_game_of_thrones_partner/" target="_blank"> is used as "shock value" in the show</a>, while "<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px;">Martin always meant for the world of </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Game of Thrones</em><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; line-height: 20px;"> to be shocking, but usually that shock is warranted. The reader or viewer is supposed to be forced to reconcile how hard this world is for women, and maybe then reflect on how hard our world is for women."</span></blockquote>
<br />
Martin succeeds in this because he is using the medium of paper, which encourages this kind of reflection, and not the in-your-face medium of screen, where the interpretations of events are passing through (a) the filter of the writers as they make their not-so-wise choices (b) the director, who interprets this into physical action (c) the performances of the actors, who visually portray the events in their way using the written script and their direction notes, but also their own take on their roles, before it even gets to the viewer, who brings their own filters and thought processes to make sense of what they have just seen.<br />
<br />
When things are occurring in real time, right in front of you, you can't look up from the book and pause and reflect and then read it again. That moment on screen has come and gone and left you reeling, and you can't un-see what you just saw.<br />
<br />
On the page, the reader is in control of the words they read. It really doesn't matter what the author <i>intended</i> the reader to think, because each reader will have their own ideas about the world, the characters and the events, and bring their own set of experiences and opinions to the text. They can break off mid-sentence and miss the meaning altogether; they can go back and read that part again; they can skip forwards and backwards as they please, and they can give themselves time to think about it before they move on and read the rest.<br />
<br />
All this means is that people have a different kind of reaction to what they <i>see</i> than what they <i>read</i>.<br />
<br />
I am not in any way saying that means <i>writing</i> gratuitous sex and violence means that tackling these subjects insensitively makes it okay. I am certainly not saying I approved of The Scene. But what I am saying is that I think I've figured out why it didn't immediately repulse me - because, as a fan of the books, <i>I realized that I had read worse</i>.<br />
<br />
In fact, that is why I'm not all that bothered about the nudity in the show. As a fan of the books, I've been reading it all the time. It's always there, in the background, either not explicitly talked about or graphically described, but nevertheless a clear part of the Westeros atmosphere. On the page I can filter it out and concentrate on what I, as a reader, think is important - the mechanics of the writing, the plot, the dialogue, the descriptions. I filter out the images I don't want in my head. I can't do that with a show. All you have in a show, is, well... the <i>show</i>.<br />
<br />
This is making me re-think my viewing and reading choices, and has given me a new appreciation of the way that I read, and the way that I think when I read, and the way that I experience a TV show based on something I've read. Not just Game of Thrones - it's by no means the only culprit here - and not just regarding thorny issues like sex, violence and violent sex.<br />
<br />
Hm.<br />
<br />
I'm going to think about that more.<br />
<br />
Mainly, I'm definitely going to think about how that relates to my own writing.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>What did everyone else make of it? Thoughts on how you perceive things in books versus how you react to them on screen? Comments are open!</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />C. M. Rosenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732209188950803732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5854949589414889207.post-16416547485939281552014-04-14T11:43:00.001-07:002014-04-14T11:43:57.575-07:002014 - Work Time, Play Time<h2>
I'm Back!</h2>
<div>
I've just submitted my doctoral thesis, so the last three months have been all about getting that done. I've got two papers pending publication, and I'm looking to write a few more... if you're interested in <a href="http://www.melissajulianjones.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">my academic blog and real life world</a>, you can check out what I've been doing there, while the worlds in my head have been put on hold. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Meanwhile, I've found that getting back into fiction writing is a lot harder than I thought. I'm finding it hard to switch from 'telling supported with evidence' to 'showing', and I think not reading any fiction for a while has made that transition harder. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I've updated <a href="http://www.wattpad.com/story/4880121-the-faustine-chronicles-iii-the-book-of-chance" target="_blank">BOOK OF CHANCE</a>, and I'm using my drafts of THE MAGICIAN'S DAUGHTER and A TALE OF THREE SORCERORS (the two previous incarnations of this story) to help me construct it, which has proven to be really useful. It's helped me to edit old work and ease back into my 'voice' again. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Do other people find it hard to get back into writing after a time away? How do you get back into it? </b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div>
Let me know - I'd love to hear from you! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
CM</div>
C. M. Rosenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10732209188950803732noreply@blogger.com4