Happy New Year to one and all! It is hard to believe that 2017 is already a part of the history books. Now I look eagerly toward all great things for 2018. This month we Quills are writing about what has or does inspire us to write and/or or what may have inspired us to write a particular work. First up is Robin Lythgoe, author of As the Crow Flies and Blood and Shadow. As I near the day I push the “publish” button for the second book in The Mage’s Gift, this seems a good time to reflect on the motivation behind the story. I think it was years in the making, and I think I will say the same about all my books and stories. What does inspire me? What prompts me to set pen to paper (I really did start out that way), and then fingers to keyboard? I’m inclined to call it “magic.” The best part of our monthly posts for me, is reading what my fellow Quills have to say. Thank you, Robin! Now I turn my attention to P.S. Broaddus's comments. What say you, Parker? I like the question "what inspired you?" To inspire is to motivate, to encourage, to incite. It is an action that is uniquely intimate through its connection with personal desire. It touches on motivations and vocations, capturing both the mind and the heart. To be inspired is a special thing, and to inspire others an almost otherworldly, yet, perhaps, a worthy goal. Depending on the end. Depending on what you inspire your neighbor toward. Is it my turn now? Is it really my turn now? Yes, it is! So, here are my thoughts . . . Taking a short hiatus from writing my fantasy series (The Oathtaker Series) over the past few months, I’ve been working instead on a non-fantasy story entitled, So I Opened My Mouth and Screamed. It will be published in 2018. This story is near and dear to my heart, as being aware of a real-life story with which this one shares features, I felt I had to write it. It opens when a young man breaks and enters into the home of a family and, armed with a knife, sexually assaults the youngest family member (a young woman just turned 16) and threatens her not to call for help. I don’t want to give away the details, but the young woman in question is/was not your typical 16-year old. Rather than being a victim to the demands of her unknown assailant, she did precisely what he demanded she not do. That is, she screamed. She screamed loud and long and strong. Of course, help came running. But the story did not end after the assailant fled the scene. The young woman and all of her family were then left to deal with the aftermath of such an invasion of their place of refuge, and the assault, itself. While based loosely on real-life events, the particulars have changed sufficiently such that this would not be deemed a work of non-fiction. The family is different, the family member characters are different, and the setting is different. But I used one crucial fact from the real-life story. Specifically, the young woman proved to be her own hero. But she also became a hero to other women (including me!). You see, this young woman’s story makes me appreciate the power of my own voice in a new way. How did that come about? Well, the girl in my story (as in real life), explained to the police what had transpired. She said that once she was fully awake, she realized that events were real and not part of a dream, and that the person who was demanding she do certain things and who threatened her with a knife against calling for help, was real. In telling her story, she said that in her panic, she thought about what she should do. Upon recollecting that her mother had told her to scream should such a thing occur, she said, “So, I opened my mouth . . . and screamed.” Once she was able to do that, help came. The young hero in my story doesn’t always feel like a hero. Often she feels like a victim. But as time has passed since that dark summer night, and as she has come to look at the events now through the help of a counselor and in other ways, she has grown better able to appreciate that she is not just a victim. She is not even “just” a survivor. Her life wasn’t over the night someone tried to harm her—and the event did not “ruin” her future. You see, she is a fighter. She is a winner. And as such, she is a model for us all. I discovered something in her story that I though worthy of sharing with others. Specifically, I discovered that sometimes, in the midst of horror and danger, we have but to find our voices. That's it for this time around. Thank you for joining us. Please leave your comments and visit again soon!
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It is December and we are into the holiday season! Thanksgiving was wonderful and now my family and I will look forward to sharing new Christmas events which I’m confident will translate into new holiday memories. This time around, we Quills would like to share with you, our best holiday gifts for readers and/or writers. One or more of us may offer suggestions for both! P.S. Broaddus, author of A Hero’s Curse has some ideas for you. So, Parker, take it away! You're a reader. You have friends who are readers. You have family who are readers. As Christmas comes galloping toward us, you've finally cast your thoughts toward that annual tradition of giving a gift that says you know and appreciate them, even if they are often lost in other worlds. But what to give? Here are some ideas I've found that made me laugh and snort my eggnog ~ with a couple of them making it to my shopping cart. First up, for your reader who is also the coffee drinking family member. Here's a way to honor that love, while still subtly saying, "You've ignored the rest of us for too long. . ." Thank you, Parker! Next up is Robin Lythgoe. I'm anxious to learn more, Robin. What have you got for me? Bookish gift ideas are nice to have any time of the year, right? We all know people who love to read and write, and there are many gifting occasions throughout the year. But it's December already, and although we have the same twelve months every year in which to prepare ourselves, we're running behind again. And if you are one of those Miracle Early Shoppers, you're probably still looking for a few last minute ideas for stockings, or office parties, or . . . all that jazz. So put on your party hats, queue up the holiday tunes, and let's do this! I couldn't help but chuckle when I read Parker's opening. Then I got to Robin's and laughed out loud. Why? Because she mentioned early shopping. I find the concept more than a little amusing. You see, I tried that early shopping routine some years back. I discovered it wasn't for me. Here are my reasons: (1) I buy things I like so well and am so excited about that I give them to the person right away, thereby leaving myself in the position of having to shop again for the actual holiday; (2) I buy things I like so well, I keep them (and yes, that leaves me having to shop again); and (3) I just keep buying things! I never seem to think it's enough, I forget what I already have, and really, let's be honest: the gift-giving impulse builds as the holiday approaches. With that, needless to say, I did not buy early this year. And now I'm up against the clock, as I lost the last week with my husband in an ICU unit in an area hospital. Fortunately, things are looking up and he is now home. So . . . I now turn my attention to gift-giving. Of course, it goes without saying that some of the most perfect gift ideas for the readers on your list, are the books we three Quills have penned. You might even get some good holiday pricing on them. But before I share more ideas for those readers, let's chat about the writers on your list. A few years back, I started using a new service, called “Bublish.” While Bublish offers a beginner-level service for authors for no fee, there is also an option for a service with added features. Bublish is unique in that it gives authors an opportunity to share excerpts from their works along with their thoughts, purposes, memories, and more, with readers. With each post—which can be daily, weekly, or otherwise—the author takes an excerpt from her work and adds commentary about it. Here are a few examples of things I’ve done: Unexpected Events – This Book bubble discusses how I created suspense in the opening scene of Oathtaker. Scent – Here I mention the importance of scent in my stories. An oft-forgotten sense for authors, it is "key" in The Oathtaker Series. In fact, the gift of smell is so important to the storyline, that I did another Bubble on the subject in this one, entitled Fragrance. Yet another is found in a Bubble I entitled Signs and Scents. Research is a subject I addressed so as to share a part of my writing process and some tools I use—including Visual Thesaurus—which, incidentally, would make another great gift for the author on your list. (And, lucky you, it is quite inexpensive!) Doorways is a Bubble I published to discuss the literary device of inviting the reader to wonder what is behind that next door, or down that next path, or around that next corner . . . For more of these, I invite you to follow me on Bublish. Oh yes, that brings up another great feature of Bublish. It provides a means for authors to stay in touch with readers on a regular basis! As to readers—well, suffice it to say that Bublish would be a great gift for them, as well. That said, the service is entirely free for all readers. All they have to do is sign up. But you could lead them that way! For the reader on your list who already has everything—and, yes, we all have someone on our list like that—I suggest you provide a gift of books to a local shelter. You might arrange with the entity in advance to provide for their specific needs. Alternatively, you could provide a gift certificate for books so that they may choose whatever works they most need. For the reader on your list who doesn’t already have everything—(which covers more people, don’t you agree?), how about some classics with some crazy-beautiful book spines? Like this Jane Austen set. Or check out Juniper Books. Too rich for your blood? Yes, mine too. So, how about some fun stationery, including gift wrapping paper. Here’s one of my favorites from Ideal Book Shelf. I know I’d love to receive this either as a gift or as the wrapping for something more, and especially, if that "something more" is a book! How about you? What is on your holiday list? November is a quiet month, unless of course winter storms visit us. But even the holiday it is best known for, namely, Thanksgiving, can be a rather introspective one. This year as always, I've much to be thankful for, including my fellow Quills who join me today for our topic: "Picture This!" Our goal is to provide you with pictures of people, places or things from our stories. (Be sure to clink on the link at the end of the posts for each of Parker and Robin so as to get the rest of their stories!) I think we'd do well to hear from P.S. Broaddus first this time around. Well, Parker, what do you have for us from A Hero's Curse? There are several images and fan art pieces that I really enjoy and that even inspire the way I write. Many deal with Essie Brightsday herself, the central character of both A Hero's Curse and Nightrage Rising. Essie Brightsday is a 12-year old blind girl who has a certain amount of gumption, but still wrestles to find her place in the world. The way artists and illustrators have rendered Essie is both interesting and inspiring. Interesting, as each image reveals something new about both the artist and the character, and inspiring in that I get to discover new aspects to a character I created. I'm anxious to hear what Robin Lythgoe, author of As the Crow Flies, has. Aren't you? Take it away, Robin! I have a huuuuge collection of images. I will never run out of inspiration from that quarter! I write primarily fantasy, but that doesn't stop me from seeing a science fiction style image and diving off the cliff of "What If..." That happened recently with the short story "Sixes" that I wrote for the Quills' flash fiction challenge. In my story, Elran's Journey, the main character is the younger son of highly regarded and respected members of the Peerage. In the eyes of society he has everything any boy could or should want. Finally, I've been busy scrounging around, looking for pictures that will show you things that I had in mind while writing. So, here we go! It’s interesting how vivid are the pictures in my mind of things I write about, yet how terribly difficult it is to find photographs of those people, places and things, to show others. Readers of Oathtaker know that early on, the twins, Reigna (derived from the word, “reign”) and Eden, are born. For me, this picture shows a bit of what I had in mind. Of course, one of these infants looks a little more like a boy, and it is true that these infants have the wrong hair color (given that Reigna and Eden as young adults, have copper colored hair). Still, I chose this photo for the overall feeling that it evokes through the following text from the tale: This was indeed a miracle. No Select had ever before born twins—not one, not ever. “Easy, Rowena, you can do this.” Half giddy, Mara fought to hold down her grin. A tear rolled down Rowena’s face as another contraction took hold. “Almost there,” Mara encouraged. “Almost there.” After a couple minutes, a final contraction gripped the woman. When it released, the Oathtaker held up another child. She tied off the cord and cut it. Once again she felt a tingling sensation, then the infant’s heavenly scent momentarily overtook her. Although this child looked identical to her sister, her fragrance, a combination of bergamot, jasmine, and orange, with hints of warm musk, differed. Like her sister, the infant took in a gulp of air, but she did not cry. In danger but with Dixon’s assistance, Mara sets off with the infant twins, seeking a place of refuge. Before long, they come upon the home of Drake and Maggie. Here is what I described that they saw: The small thatched cottage showed signs of wear. It leaned slightly to one side as though it had grown weary of holding its own weight and rested on one hip. Planters at its windows sported scented violas, while a large flowerpot at the steps provided an assortment of herbs at the ready for kitchen use. The citrusy scent of lemon thyme, the clean smell of lavender, the earthy scent of oregano, the freshness of mint, and the piney aroma of rosemary, filled the air. I admit that the thatching appears to be missing from the cabin in the photo here. Still and all, this place feels "right” to me. What do you think? Does it work for you?
It's official: autumn has arrived! With it, we Quills will try a new venture: FLASH FICTION. If you're new to the concept, it's quite simple, really. Flash fiction covers a variety of works that are extremely short. Consider the following descriptions (lifted straight from Wikipedia):
To add to the fun, we Quills chose a single picture for inspiration, and here it is! The pic, entitled Long Walk, it is the creation of Jonathan Bach. I admit that I rebelled a bit over our selected motivational picture ... It just ... didn't speak to me. But then, finally, one thought came to mind. Just one, mind you. So I decided I'd go with it. You'll soon see what I came up with ... While I'm anxious to hear what you think of my take, for now, Robin Lythgoe, author of As the Crow Flies, is up first! Sixes by Robin Lythgoe Copyright Robin Lythgoe 2017 The mages—along with the history books and a dozen or so scouts—had professed their absolute certainty that the Shader Needles no longer held any power. Either they lied, or the maggots had figured a way to put them back in operation. Cleaved nearly in half, my flitter wrapped around the base of one pitch black, sword-like spire. Shock chased after shock. First, came the shattering of the sky like a thousand shards of lightning. Struck, I hustled earthward, out of control. Glass jangled and metal shrieked. Unimaginable pressure and the sensation of tearing preceded the remainder of my flight—without the benefit of the flitter. I met the sand with ferocious force. Finally, and most astounding of all, came the realization that I still drew breath. Each inhalation burned like a hot poker, but by all rights, I should be dead. Sprawled in the needle's dubious shade, I processed the fact that I'd been thrown clear before my little flying machine slid down the length of the spire to smash to splinters against the ground. If I died, who would stop the poison spreading from the decaying city? Next is P.S. Broaddus, author of A Hero's Curse. Accustomed to Parker's ready wit, I'm expecting a laugh or two. Or maybe things will go another way entirely. Hmmm. Well, let's find out ... The Prophet and the Assassin by P.S. Broaddus Copyright P.S. Broaddus 2017 Landships are usually a safe way to travel the dunes. Unless it's a "clanker," built from parts of the old combustible engines. They can't go high enough to escape the desert sands that come out of the south like a solid wall of death. But it wasn't the time of year for storms. I've dreamed of starting over. I've dreamed of a fresh slate. It's a myth. You can't start over. The memories remain. The command remains. There is no fresh slate for the living. Finally, here's my flash fiction story. Her Golden Hair by Patricia Reding Copyright Patricia Reding 2017 I had no choice. I had to leave her behind. Still, the ugly hands of guilt and grief, like the twin jaws of a vise, squeezed my heart. I couldn’t count the times she’d saved me. I could only hope I’d prove as faithful. She deserved that . . . and so much more. How could I have been so reckless? I’d heard the rumors of pirates having invaded the area—and all from highly reputable sources, no less. Still I’d insisted on doing things my way. I alone was responsible for my foolhardy pride, my selfish desire to be the first to arrive, my rash behavior. The vise crimped tighter. It wasn’t like time was so short that taking the shortcut to Aeiron had been necessary. How could I? I’d had no right to risk her safety along with my own. I’d had no right to act so heedlessly. The vise pinched tighter still. Shame motivating me, I marched through the barren landscape, hoping the obelisk-like figures dotting the way ahead led to civilization—to help. I vowed not to stray from them. I’d need to find my way back, even after my tracks disappeared, the consequence of mist-like swirls of sand that billowed in the air all around. Tiny granules of it coated my throat and clogged my airways. My warrior training would be of no value here, as no weapon forged of steel could defend against such an insidious enemy. I coughed, then took a swallow of water from my canteen, wishing I could rid my conscience of the responsibility of what I’d done as easily as I could clear my throat of sand. Try though I might, I couldn’t get the picture of her—of her golden hair, nor the last sound I’d heard her make, out of my mind. After the pirates had forced our crash, she’d only been conscious for a few short minutes. Trapped and with a metal shard protruding out from between her shoulder and neck, I’d laid my head next to hers. Willing her to be strong, my hands cradled her neck. Within seconds, her blood covered them—and likely would remain there forever—in my imagination at any rate. Her eyes, mahogany pools, bore into mine as she silently pled for help. I stroked behind her ears, touched her wet nose with mine and patted her head. With that, my faithful canine companion whimpered before losing consciousness. Please, share your comments with us!
For more fun with these short-shorts, check out Flash Fiction Online and Flash Fiction Magazine. In the past, when I noticed time flying quickly by, I’d comment with things like, “It must be due to the holidays,” or “It must be the season.” I’ve long since learned, however, that it is always the season for being busy. And so, as the calendar moves to September and autumn approaches, we Quills return once again with our thoughts on “books we love.” (How it is that we actually find time to read them remains one of the greatest mysteries of all time.) First up this time, is Robin Lythgoe, author of As the Crow Flies. I really love chatting with my readers, and in a recent email exchange someone recommended a book for my Flinch-Free Fantasy list: The Dragon and the George, by Gordon R. Dickson. Hey! I’ve read that! About a million years ago… I recall liking it, and the foggy memory tickled my brain until I had to go pick up a copy and read it again. It didn’t disappoint. True, the style is dated and it took a little too long for the real action to start, but what a fun read. A modern couple is transported into another version of our world. The kicker? Our hero ends up in the body of… Read more. Now let's turn our attention to P.S. Broaddus, author of A Hero's Curse. Take it away, Parker! The Hardy Boys series is formulaic and simple, and often plods into the cliche. I couldn't help thinking however, how well they build their mysteries through the story. While bland, they get the formula right. I just finished a second one in as many weeks, and it was a good study in the structure of the genre. While I may not want to copy The Hardy Boys series when writing my own mystery, there's value in internalizing the genre, the beats, and the structure on display. You've got to know the rules before you break them and I love that the series feels like a set of training wheels for writers. Fun, whimsical, dated training wheels. But I didn't come here to talk about The Hardy Boys. I've actually been ruminating on a story I just finished that involved an old man and a big fish... Read more. Finally, here are my thoughts. Recently, I read Robin Hobb’s Liveship Traders Trilogy, consisting of Ship of Magic, Mad Ship, and Ship of Destiny. While I wouldn’t say I “love” these books, exactly, there are parts of this series that I very much enjoyed—so much so that I quickly read them one right after the next. I liked the set-up of the Bingtown’s oldest families and I loved the concept of the liveships. As for the characters, I appreciated their diversity. That said, I found that while Althea was often in the spotlight, she wasn’t one of my favorites. Neither were any of the others in her family—with the possible exception of her nephew, Wintrow. In fact, I found that some of the worst characters in terms of their morality or lack thereof, were some of my favorites. I thought the pirate, Kennit, was well drawn, and Hobb offered a believable story as to how he came to be the man he was. I also rather liked his woman, Etta. She was ruthless and cruel, but there was something vulnerable about her at the same time. I did find a fair amount of repetition, although I appreciate that such can happen in a series. Finally, I discovered as I have with various Hobb’s characters in the past, that some are frustrating “whiners,” including Althea’s niece, Malta, by way of example.
All that said, I appreciated the concept of the dragons and how they played into the story (although I didn’t care much for the time spent with the "serpents"). I also found that I couldn’t buy into the concept of the “dead dragons” who clearly lived on. So . . . there’s that . . . In the end though, I recommend this series. So, what great reads would you like to share with us? August is upon us and we Quills now turn our attention to our favorite songs to write by—our top 10, that is! I thought I'd go ahead and share first this time. My fellow-Quills, Robin and Parker, have thoughts to share with you as well, so keep reading. I thoroughly enjoy having music playing while I write. It can create such an emotional environment. Sometimes it’s presence makes for the difference between my simply feeling something internally as I write it—and actually laughing out loud--or perhaps even weeping. I find that my tastes tend—for writing purposes anyway—toward the melancholy. Thus, here are my top 10. As a bonus for you, in most instances, they are not just for single song titles. Rather, they are full soundtracks. So, here goes--
In addition, I would add almost anything “Celtic” and/or from Enya. Here's where Spotify and Pandora come in handy. These tunes and others like them help to set my mood and to keep me creative. What about you? What ideas do you have for me that I should add to my list? Next up is Parker. That's P.S. Broaddus, author of A Hero's Curse. Imagine a busy journalist's bullpen, with phones ringing, reporters talking, laughing and yelling, screens flashing, and papers occasionally flying. I can write there. A busy mall, with the flurry of shopping and eating. I can write there. A quiet office, with nothing but the occasional hum of the air conditioner or the click of the printer. I can write there. So long as the environment doesn't demand my personal attention and intervention, I can write. (It's harder to write at home with the boys running around my desk - they aren't just noise. They necessitate intervention). So when it comes to music, I can write to a lot of things. Pandora Radio might be tuned to a Mumford & Sons or Lumineers station, or country, or Christian radio. Like many writers, I do enjoy instrumental music. Something with a cello is sure to be listened to with favor. Then there are a few select songs that I turn on, not as background noise, but as a part of my writing process. Songs that run through my blood and sometimes even shape the story as I go... Read more at http://www.psbroaddus.com/2017/08/04/a-drift-of-quills-writing-musically/. Finally, Robin Lythgoe, author of As the Crow Flies, has some music-inspired ideas for us. I write better when there is music playing. I dream better. Music is powerful stuff. Thanks to my mom and older sisters, I grew up listening to a wonderful variety of music. Sadly, not a one of us can play any instrument but the stereo. But just like with my reading and writing, I gravitated to certain genres of music. When I’m writing, that selection narrows even further. I need music with no words—unless the words are… more at http://robinlythgoe.com/drift-quills-muse-department-music. With the rockets red glare of July 4 behind us, we Quills focus this month on “people, news stories, or current events” that play a role in the construction of our stories. Do authors really do that? Use the stuff of real life in their stories? Oh, to be sure! Now, let’s hear what my fellow-Quills have to say on the subject. Robin Lythgoe, author of As the Crow Flies, is first up. Use people? And places? And stories?? I’m innocent! Well… mostly innocent. Maybe “unconscious” would be a better word, because while I don’t (usually) intend to put current happenings and humans in my stories, I’ve had people point out that this is like that, or this person is just like that person. One of the most frequent questions I get as an author is… Get more! Now, let’s turn to P.S. Broaddus, author of A Hero’s Curse. Stories inspired by a specific person, news story or current event can be fascinating. Of course there is the historical fiction category, but there's also the plain good fun of fiction or fantasy that incorporates timely and relevant news. Godzilla, (2014), references and borrows from the Fukushima nuclear disaster of 2011. I'm sure you have a favorite cultural or newsy reference in story. (Comment on Parker’s site if you like, linked below, or share your favorite there). Alas. I don't usually write that way. A quick review of my short stories, screenplays, and novels reference nothing about today's trending topics. But my stories may have something to say about today's topics, without mentioning them directly. Find out more. And now, for my thoughts. An author writes what she knows—whether she knows it or not. By that I mean that when she writes, her knowledge, awareness, and/or understanding of the things she writes about shows. So, if she tries to write on a topic of which she knows little, that lack of knowledge will shine through just as clearly as if she writes about a field in which she is an expert. But as to her use of specifics from the world around her . . . now that makes for an interesting topic. Of course, I use information from the real world in my stories. I also—quite intentionally—create “faith” or “belief system” allegories between the fantasy world I’ve created in The Oathtaker Series and the real world. When I do so, I use real life issues not in the micro-sense so much as in the macro-sense. Oh, yes, of course, I do use character traits and idiosyncrasies of people I know or have met—or have simply run into and found particularly amusing—but the most frequent use I make of real people, places and events is with regard to the big issues: worldwide power struggles; border control issues; the persecution of groups of people based on their beliefs; and so on. From time to time, a reader of The Oathtaker Series will mention to me an issue she identified in my work that compares to the real world. Those “in the know” on the issues seem to readily identify what I’ve done. Sometimes they even have a sincere appreciation for why I’ve done it. But I also look at my writing as an opportunity to offer an—admittedly long—“parable” of sorts. I look at Biblical parables as the means by which Jesus offered truths about fundamental life and faith issues. He drew people in with his stories—because when he separated his listeners from the particulars of their own world, they were able to more readily grasp the truths of the principles he illustrated. Once done, his listeners could see the issues presented in their own world more clearly and they were better able to apply the wisdom gained from the parables, to those issues. (This really is the stuff of "fantasy" as a genre!) When I started writing, I knew there were some truths—some things I regard as fundamentally true principles—that I wanted to illustrate. For example, in Oathtaker (Volume One) one “fundamental principle” I address relates to the power of the spoken word, the importance of a person’s following through with what she said she would do, the pain that may come of it—and the glory that is sure to result from that sacrifice. The principle I’m illustrating? Well, I believe that when we sacrifice something, God (or for you unbelievers, the "Universe" or whatever you like) redeems that loss. (“Redeem” here is defined as "to compensate," or "to gain or to re-gain something lost in exchange for a sacrifice or payment.") I decided to use the fantasy genre to illustrate my ideas because (like with the use of a parable), I thought people might be more receptive to the ideas than they might be if they thought I was commenting on their own lives in the “real” world. As The Oathtaker Series progresses, more macro-world issues come to play. One will find parallels to worldwide terrorism, the dilemma of a nation’s protecting its citizens by potentially refusing entrance to outsiders (including innocent children), and more. What do you think? What parallels to the real world, or “faith-based” allegories have you discovered in The Oathtaker Series? How about in your other readings? Please, do share! This month we Quills wax eloquent about Goodreads. For my part, due to an extended family situation, I will not be participating. However, my fellow Quills would like to share their thoughts with you, so here goes! First up this time is P.S. Broaddus, author of A Hero's Curse. Goodreads. Pinterest. Facebook. Google+. I'm a relative newcomer to cataloguing my reading socially. I saw the option on Facebook years ago, but felt like it was too much work to go through and name all the books I love and like - and then I felt like Facebook itself was too broad - I could detail my favorite books, my favorite movies, my causes, my hobbies - it was all too much, and too invasive! Only recently (within the past couple of years), did I discover . . . Find out more. My good friend, Robin Lythgoe, author of As the Crow Flies, has some thoughts to share. Here goes . . . When it comes to talking about social cataloguing for books, I think Goodreads is the *800 pound gorilla in the room. Nearly everyone knows what it is and how to use it. Nearly everyone uses it as their go-to option. I do. It's easy to keep track of my books, including the correct covers and editions if you're particular about that. I can put all the candy - er, books, onto shelves I can name however I please, thus creating lists of . . . Find out more! For my part, I hope things will have settled down a bit by the time we are ready to post for July. Until then, happy reading!
With May’s debut, we Quills come to you once again, this time with our thoughts on our favorite tools for writing. First up this time, is Robin Lythgoe, author of As the Crow Flies. What have you for us today, Robin? There are so incredibly many tools for a writer to use today. (Not like in the Old Days, when it was pen and paper, a set of encyclopedias if you were lucky, and the library!) What a wonderfully rich age we live in! Find out more. Next is P.S. Broaddus, author of A Hero's Curse. What's on your mind today, Parker? Today our writing group asked about favorite writing tools. I puzzled over the question while I cleaned out my pockets for the day. Old notes, a to-do list, a pen, a tattered emergency twenty, and there--a tiny thumb drive. That is probably my favorite tool as a writer. Find out more on Parker's website. And now, for my thoughts . . . As I’m sure my fellow Quills have regaled you with their ready wit and humor, I will, for my part, dig in with the mundane. :) Unlike some authors, I actually can imagine what it would have been like to write a piece of any length before the day of word processing programs, and the ability to find information through the Internet with a few simple keystrokes. You see, I did something of that nature when I wrote a law review article in my second year of law school . . . a while back . . . As I recall, it ran about 60 pages, to which was added another 25 or so in citations. Following the rules set out in The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, every comma, every semicolon, every space, had to be “just so.” (It takes a second book just to figure out how The Bluebook works.) I recall typing that law review article on a typewriter that had a limited amount of “memory”—likely a couple of pages at a time. I paid a fortune for that thing, as it was quite advanced for its day. Still, for making most changes, I had to engage in good old-fashioned cut-and-paste efforts. That is, I printed the document, and literally cut and re-pieced (taped) things together. Of course, a work of that length needs more than one edit. I don’t recall how many times I had to re-type that article, but I know I wouldn’t want to do that again. Fortunately, it was not long later that word processing became the way of things. Of course, personal computers were still rather young and so, one was ever concerned that all her work might suddenly “disappear.” (Yes, that really did happen—although fortunately, not for me!) Oh, how far we’ve come . . . Today, the tools at the disposal of we writers are many and varied. Of course, the most obvious for me, is my desktop MAC with its big screen (oh, and I do love it!). Once that is in place, the next tool is the Internet. When I write, I keep one window open to a search engine so that I can look up, in seconds, what in earlier days I may have had to make note of, and then go to a library to research. The issue could be the name for something, a grammar rule, or otherwise. (The power of the tools young people seem to take for granted these days (as they’ve never lived in a world without them), is incredible!) The next most obvious tool is, of course, a good word processing program. Sometimes I use Word, and sometimes, Scrivener. There are things I quite like about Scrivener, such as the ability to keep notes in the same document, and my character list and research information at my fingertips. Even so, to get the most out of this tool, I should probably go through all of the training once again . . . Unfortunately, that takes time, and time is always hard to come by. Next come the fine-tuning tools. One of my favorites is Visual Thesaurus at www.VisualThesaurus.com. Access to this service comes at a price—which, fortunately, is quite low. Of course, you can always look up a word or two without a subscription, but as I always keep a window open on my desktop for this, I pay the $20 a year. I love how, when I put a word into the look-up box, a separate window opens and things “pop” into view, ultimately ending up with something that looks like this pic. Hit any of those words, and you get another window for it. Interesting, don't you agree? So, what do you think? What are your favorite writing tools? What tools are you dying to tell me about that I might put into use?
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