Rhetorical Devices Are a Writer’s Friends
February 26, 2015 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as OCCRWA Online Class, Writing Fiction with ImpactGuest-blogging today is MM Pollard of Workshops with MM, an editor with Black Velvet Seductions. MM will be teaching OCCRWA’s March Online Class, “Writing Fiction with Impact”
When you hear the phrase “rhetorical devices,†do you break out in a rash? Do you think they are only for lawyers and other people who argue for a living? Do you think including them in your fiction will make your writing sound artificial and too scholarly for your readers?
Bully Pulpit
February 24, 2015 by A Slice of Orange in category ArchivesDid you know that Emerson’s saying is “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds,” not, as I had heard for many years (and found very confusing), ‘Consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds.’
I understand that rigid adherence to consistency can be problematic—following the letter Vs the spirit of a law or requirement can be absurd.
But in general some level of consistency seems like a good thing. Inconsistency can be unfair. It’s untrustworthy, can be arbitrary and impossible to work with or depend on.
So when someone is strongly endorsing some belief and presenting the profound rightness of their opinion and the unbelievable wrongness of alternative positions—when they demand that others change their minds and believe whatever the speaker believes, it begs the question whether that declared “truth” is adhered to consistently across the board by its passionate advocate.
That only seems fair, right?
Some people are convinced that their belief trumps all others. And that everyone that believes differently is wrong, bad, indeed evil. They believe that any action to convert or convince others of the error of their ways is justified, and if unconvinced, exterminating the unbelievers is a justifiable solution (figuratively or literally).
Unfortunately, that applies to many early versions of present religions—I’m thinking the Crusades and the Inquisition, for example—and for some, this attitude remains true to this day.
Bullies and bullying are not just in playgrounds or schools, they are all around us. And like those bullied children, we rarely have the courage to stand up to them or call them out. In fact, we can be complicit. For even as we cheer at watching a triumph-of-the-underdog story, we delightedly click on some over-the-top hate-filled rant, or pillory someone for a politically incorrect faux pas.
Indeed bullies seeking the public eye often gravitate towards a position that is on the moral high ground, so they are given a pass on their bullying behavior. They are “saving” some unarguably sympathetic element that cannot speak for itself—and thus cannot reject its self-appointed “savior” as a self-serving, manipulative bully (e.g. animals, children, environment, etc.). Their statements of caring are specious and inconsistent—they talk and talk, but do not walk the walk.
If they truly cared about what they so passionately claim, what other behaviors might we reasonably expect them to exhibit? What are they actually doing to meaningfully help those they are the alleged advocates and supporters of?
For the most part they just like to dictate to others how to live their lives. But no matter how many flags they wrap themselves in, or selfie halos they snap on, they are bullies, and there is no practice to their preaching.
Just how consistent are they? Really, that’s not a foolish question.
How Choreographing a Musical Led Me to Writing a Novel
February 16, 2015 by Denise M. Colby in category The Writing Journey by Denise Colby tagged as dance., Denise Colby, music, the writing processRight now I am in the middle of choreographing a musical for my son’s middle school. We are doing Aladdin, Jr., and I am working with 60 5th-8th graders. As I draw out diagrams of who goes where and count beats, I realize that all this orchestrating I’m doing is another form of storytelling, just like writing a book. As Co-Director I’m making decisions on how we tell the story, just like writers decide what scenes they write for their book.
As I pondered this, I found more similarities between staging a musical and writing a novel. In a musical, there are sets and costumes that make the setting. In a book we write descriptions of clothes, buildings and surroundings to help communicate the setting. In a musical, the ensemble cast adds to the storytelling, helping communicate setting and interaction. In both, main characters have lots of dialogue.
So how did choreographing lead me to writing a novel? When I was asked to do this three shows ago, I taught dance and choreographed children’s choirs in the past, but nothing of this magnitude. I had no idea if I could do something on such a large scale. Honestly, I was scared.
That musical was Little Mermaid, which consisted of 75 kids. I constructed something I was quite proud of. And the confidence that grew out of the entire experience was amazing. I stepped out beyond myself. It was so empowering. And that is what helped me cross over into the next challenge of my life – writing a novel.
Up to that point I would read, and read, and read and when I finished a novel, I’d say to myself “I would love to write one like that.†Then I’d look at my life and think, how in the world would I fit that into my schedule? I had thought the same thing about choreographing. But after the show, I realized I had made the schedule work. Whatever obstacle my mind would make up, I pushed through. I had to. I didn’t have a choice because I had made a commitment. I somehow figured it out. And because I did, it helped me see that I can do anything I put my mind to.
The next year, I choreographed Beauty and the Beast. It was easier, even though I was still nervous. I trusted myself a little more. I’m sure that is what it feels like when you start working on a second novel. I’m not quite there yet.
I love doing this even though it is more challenging to fit in writing time while I’m choreographing. But, instead of picking one over the other, I find that they complement each other. I can see my choreography become something tangible and it encourages me to keep writing. All the writing and edits are like rehearsals, fine-tuning the details. It keeps me motivated.
So what’s the lesson in all this? Don’t let anything keep you from doing what you want to do. That first show ended in April 2013. By September that year I had joined OCCRWA. And I am so glad that I did. I have learned so much from all of you. It has been a wonderful journey so far, just like fun rehearsals before the main performance. Thank you for being such a great cast to work with.
If you are interested Friends Christian Middle School will be performing Aladdin, Jr. March 13 (7pm) and 14 (1 & 4pm) at Rose Drive Friends Church in Yorba Linda. Tickets are $7. Call 714-202-8410 for more information.
The Orange Rose Contest for Unpublished Writers is OPEN
February 13, 2015 by Marianne H. Donley in category Archives tagged as The Charlotte, The Orange Rose Contest
Welcome to the Orange County Chapter/RWA’s 32nd annual Orange Rose Contest for Unpublished Writers! This year’s contest will be bigger and better than ever, with a revamped score sheet and final round judging by acquiring editors and agents. Have a look at this fantastic roster:
- Bess Cozby, Editorial Assistant, Tor/Forge Books
- Cat Clyne, Editor, Sourcebooks
- Katherine Pelz, Assistant Editor, The Berkley Publishing Group, div. of Penguin Random House
- Brenda Chin, Editorial Director, ImaJinn (an imprint of BelleBooks)
- Jill Limber, Editor, Boroughs Publishing group
- Priyanka Krishnan, Associate Editor, Ballantine Bantam Dell of Random House
- Tera Cuskaden, Editor, Samhain
- Alycia Tornetta, Editorial Director, Entangled
- Raela Schoenherr, Editor, Bethany House
- David Long, Executive Editor, Bethany House
- Flo Nicoll, Editor, Harlequin UK/Mills and Boon
- Karen Reid, Associate Editor, Harlequin
- Nicole Fisher, Editorial Assistant, Avon Books and Avon Impulse
- Courtney Miller-Callihan, Agent, Sanford J. Greenburger Associates
- Nalini Akolekar, Literary Agent, Spencerhill Associates
Also new this year: Finalists are chosen by their overall score in each category, so we’ll have a first, second and third-place winner in each category. The contest deadline is April 15, 2015, so polish up those opening pages (maximum 35 pages including a synopsis, electronic submission) and check out all the contest rules and other details at www.occrwa.org/orangerosecontest . While you’re there, read the story of the Charlotte Award (our top prize) and don’t miss the informative editor/agent Q & A blogs and stories from past contest winners and finalists. Make the Orange Rose Contest for Unpublished Writers your goal for 2015. You won’t want to miss out on this one!
Contest Chairs:
Maria Powers
Jann Ryan
Barb DeLong
OCC/RWA
A Short Interview with Kat Martin
February 10, 2015 by marianne h donley in category Spotlight tagged as Against the Sky, Kat Martin, romantic suspense
New York Times bestselling author Kat Martin is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara where she majored in Anthropology and also studied History. Before she started writing in 1985, Kat was a real estate broker. During that time she met her husband, L.J. Martin, author of thirty western, non-fiction, historical, and suspense novels. A resident of Missoula, Montana, Kat and her husband spend their winters in Ventura, California. She is a currently writing her next Romantic Suspense.
With fifty-five novels to her credit and more than fifteen million copies of her books in print, Ms. Martin has been published in twenty-one foreign countries including France, Japan, Greece, Argentina, Russia, Sweden, Turkey, China, and Spain. Here is a short interview with Ms. Martin.
Have you ever suffered writer’s block? If so, how did/do you get past it?
I mostly suffer plotting block…that means I have my hero and heroine in deep trouble and I’m racking my brain, trying to figure out how to get them out. I spend about half the time thinking and the other half writing a book. I make a lot of notes, try to get some input from my husband, who’s also a writer.
What profession other than your own would you love to attempt?
I wanted to be an astrophysicist. Unfortunately, I don’t have that big a brain.
What’s the funniest (or sweetest or best or nicest) thing a fan ever said to you?
I had a wonderful email yesterday from a fan thanking me for the uplifting words I said to her mother who has cancer. Sometimes readers tell me they escape their problem in the pages of my books. I love hearing that.
If you could travel back in time whom would you like to meet and why?
Be fun to meet Buffalo Bill Cody. He was a true hero and a legend, a handsome man in his day, too!
If a space ship landed in your backyard and the aliens on board offered to take you for a ride, would you go? Why or why not?
I would definitely go with them. Life on earth is much too short. Gotta jam in all you can. Imagine what you could learn from a trip to another planet?
What’s the best thing about being an author?
The great people you meet and the places you get to visit to research a book.
What are you currently working on and when can we read it
I just finished the edits for Against the Tide, which is Rafe Brodie’s story. It’s the last of my Brodies of Alaska series, out May 27th. After that, I’m sticking with the Brodies, introducing Nick’s cousin Ethan, a hunky PI and bodyguard who works at BOSS, Inc in Seattle, the first of my INTO books. Into the Fury is book #1, out February, 2016.
You can read more about Kat on her website: www.KatMartin.com.
Or follow her on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatMartinAuthor
Twitter: @katbooks https://twitter.com/katbooks
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/luvromance/
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Kat-Martin/e/B000AQ0OJQ/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/49381.Kat_Martin
Kat’s current book, Against The Sky, will debut at No. 7 on the New York Times Bestseller list.
It is available at the following online stores:
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1420133845/
BN:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/against-the-sky-kat-martin/1119437332?ean=9781420133844
Indiebound:
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