Whenever my youngest son gets upset he lowers his head and slits his eyes and provides anyone looking a grumpy face. We call him "Baby Thundercloud" when he does this.
He's the second in the two part team that makes up the Word Smith/Word Wiz duo that is a part of this blog. Lately we've noticed alot of bunnies outside our house. One day Price and I saw a hawk snatch a bunny just a few meters from us (later, he provided a terrifically gruesome sight for Price by eating that bunny in our front yard then leaving the carcass in our tree).
There are so many bunnies that problems like the hawks, the cars, dogs all provide quick ends to them. So, when Charlie started to take notice in them it was funny to hear his two year old voice call them. "Dabbits." Now, with all the bunnies not surviving very long it seems more apropos that he calls them "Dummy Dabbits."
Monday, August 13, 2012
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Don't Believe Me? Just Pay a Bit More Attention
It's true what Roger said, you can only call the day a ochre dying schmear so many times, but authors love to talk about mornings. Case and point. Not even 10% into the book and I hit the first. Not bad, though in terms of morning descriptions that I've cataloged.
Dawn was coming up in streaks and slashes over the foggy moor. Our destination loomed ahead, a huge bulk of dark stone outlined by the grey light.
Gabaldon, Diana - Outlander
Still it continues to amaze me that this is such obvious and almost over-used fodder in novels. It sure makes me want to describe afternoons since everyone else is so focused on mornings.
Dawn was coming up in streaks and slashes over the foggy moor. Our destination loomed ahead, a huge bulk of dark stone outlined by the grey light.
Gabaldon, Diana - Outlander
Still it continues to amaze me that this is such obvious and almost over-used fodder in novels. It sure makes me want to describe afternoons since everyone else is so focused on mornings.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Outside the Box and Not Sure I Like It
I'm reading outside the box. This was recommended to me by a reviewer and I'm not sure if I'm going to like it. I bought it though, so I have to finish it.
It wasn’t a very likely place for disappearances, at least at first glance. Mrs. Baird’s was like a thousand other Highland bed-and-breakfast establishments in 1945; clean and quiet, with fading floral wallpaper, gleaming floors, and a coin-operated hot-water geyser in the lavatory. Mrs. Baird herself was squat and easygoing, and made no objection to Frank lining her tiny rose-sprigged parlor with the dozens of books and papers with which he always traveled.
Gabaldon, Diana - Outlander
It wasn’t a very likely place for disappearances, at least at first glance. Mrs. Baird’s was like a thousand other Highland bed-and-breakfast establishments in 1945; clean and quiet, with fading floral wallpaper, gleaming floors, and a coin-operated hot-water geyser in the lavatory. Mrs. Baird herself was squat and easygoing, and made no objection to Frank lining her tiny rose-sprigged parlor with the dozens of books and papers with which he always traveled.
Gabaldon, Diana - Outlander
Monday, August 6, 2012
Great Title, Greater Article
I read Karen Thompson Walker's article Sentences Sentenced to Hard Labor in the WSJ with great verve and excitement. Usually I eschew articles on sentence crafting and word smithing. I have a series of posts on word smithing inspired by my two children, but that's about as far as I'll deign to go. Miss Walker's article changed that, at least on Saturday.
I liked Miss Walker's article for one very prescient reason, she used relevant and meaningful examples to express her point. I started my series on First Lines because every writing class always emphasizes the importance of first lines but beyond that you just don't hear much. Miss Walker goes beyond the importance of first lines and tackles how sentences can provide several degrees of depth to the story.
Most importantly, like a waiter who doesn't drop a single plate but also engages in charming conversation, the best sentences do more than one job at the same time. And I've found that the frequent use of these multitasking sentences is often what separates great books from all the others. These sentences give literature its layers, mystery and depth.
The example follow on the heels of this statement. The one I liked the most was this one.
One of my favorite hardworking sentences is the first line of "The Virgin Suicides" by Jeffrey Eugenides: "On the morning the last Lisbon daughter took her turn at suicide—it was Mary this time, and sleeping pills, like Therese—the two paramedics arrived at the house knowing exactly where the knife drawer was, and the gas oven, and the beam in the basement from which it is was possible to tie a rope."
This sentence 1) delivers crucial information via back story—all the girls in this family have committed suicide; 2) creates mystery and suspense by withholding the reasons for the suicides, the events that preceded this final day and the identity of the person telling this story; 3) shows us carefully chosen details, as vivid as they are meaningful, and 4) sounds good to our ears—the element that drew me in right away. To say that Mary "took her turn at suicide" instead of the more familiar "committed" is just one example of the line's fresh and subtle poetry.
Miss Walker's article did it's job. I'm travelling this week, invariably this is when I get the bulk of my writing in. Guess who will stop taking sentences for granted?
I liked Miss Walker's article for one very prescient reason, she used relevant and meaningful examples to express her point. I started my series on First Lines because every writing class always emphasizes the importance of first lines but beyond that you just don't hear much. Miss Walker goes beyond the importance of first lines and tackles how sentences can provide several degrees of depth to the story.
Most importantly, like a waiter who doesn't drop a single plate but also engages in charming conversation, the best sentences do more than one job at the same time. And I've found that the frequent use of these multitasking sentences is often what separates great books from all the others. These sentences give literature its layers, mystery and depth.
The example follow on the heels of this statement. The one I liked the most was this one.
One of my favorite hardworking sentences is the first line of "The Virgin Suicides" by Jeffrey Eugenides: "On the morning the last Lisbon daughter took her turn at suicide—it was Mary this time, and sleeping pills, like Therese—the two paramedics arrived at the house knowing exactly where the knife drawer was, and the gas oven, and the beam in the basement from which it is was possible to tie a rope."
This sentence 1) delivers crucial information via back story—all the girls in this family have committed suicide; 2) creates mystery and suspense by withholding the reasons for the suicides, the events that preceded this final day and the identity of the person telling this story; 3) shows us carefully chosen details, as vivid as they are meaningful, and 4) sounds good to our ears—the element that drew me in right away. To say that Mary "took her turn at suicide" instead of the more familiar "committed" is just one example of the line's fresh and subtle poetry.
Miss Walker's article did it's job. I'm travelling this week, invariably this is when I get the bulk of my writing in. Guess who will stop taking sentences for granted?
Friday, August 3, 2012
Argh! What a Let Down the End Was
I don't think I've felt more let down by the ending of a book than I was by Nelson Demille's Night Fall. I finished it last night and have felt down in the dumps since. The last line:
It wasn’t until Friday that I returned to the Plaza Hotel to pick up our things in the suite, and to have the safe opened to claim Mrs. Winslow’s package. The assistant manager was accommodating, but informed me that there was nothing of Mrs. Winslow’s in the safe.
DeMille, Nelson - Night Fall
Such a let down compared to the first line that seemed to make the novel so intriguing. I'll have more in the upcoming review.
It wasn’t until Friday that I returned to the Plaza Hotel to pick up our things in the suite, and to have the safe opened to claim Mrs. Winslow’s package. The assistant manager was accommodating, but informed me that there was nothing of Mrs. Winslow’s in the safe.
DeMille, Nelson - Night Fall
Such a let down compared to the first line that seemed to make the novel so intriguing. I'll have more in the upcoming review.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
The Big Surprise is Live and Let Die
My brother sent me this link to a site that shows the real revenue (as well as adjusted for inflation revenue) for all of the bond movies. Yes, this is a book and writing blog, but I blog alot about James Bond novels so there is a tangential relationship. That being said, I still find it sad that there are so many great bond novels out there that got lost in translation . . . lost may be the wrong term, I don't even think they read the novel, just stole the title.
The biggest surprise is not that when you adjust for inflation that Thunderball is the biggest revenue winner. The surprise is that Live and Let Die is the highest grosser for all the Roger Moore movies. What's up with that? Have these people not figured out that Christopher Walken is in A View to a Kill? Secondly, where's Never Say Never Again?
The biggest surprise is not that when you adjust for inflation that Thunderball is the biggest revenue winner. The surprise is that Live and Let Die is the highest grosser for all the Roger Moore movies. What's up with that? Have these people not figured out that Christopher Walken is in A View to a Kill? Secondly, where's Never Say Never Again?
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
On the Cusp
As I am on the cusp of completing this next novel and shall presently be adding to both my last lines and first lines labels, I'm going to resort to a bit of a re-post.
I re-post this at least once a year if only cause I find it so dang useful. The Literature Map link that you see on the right of this blog is an incredibly useful application. I doubt if it is updated and administered as much as many folks who read this blog might like, but it is useful nonetheless.
Go try it out. Put in the name of an author you like, and see what is returned. I use it tons.
I re-post this at least once a year if only cause I find it so dang useful. The Literature Map link that you see on the right of this blog is an incredibly useful application. I doubt if it is updated and administered as much as many folks who read this blog might like, but it is useful nonetheless.
Go try it out. Put in the name of an author you like, and see what is returned. I use it tons.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Glad I Found My Way Back
It is stunning to me that the movie version had a submarine car, Jaws, a secret underwater hideout for villains and so much more nonsense when the book was perfectly good by itself. I'm not quite sure why they share a name to tell you the truth. Granted, I didn't enjoy the book too awful much, but it was solid and fun to read like all of the other Bonds.
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The story was written not from Bond's perspective which is the norm, but from the girls. This was a bit different and although it made me not think as much of the book, this twist did make me applaud Ian Fleming all the more. I like the fact that he wrote what he felt like writing and didn't fall for any demands that might have been pressed on him by others. It's as if he's always trying something new just to see how it will fit for a bit.
Unlike the movie there is a ton of introspection and flashbacks from the main character. It's not till halfway through the book that Bond actually shows up. I know I was supposed to care if only cause part way through the book Fleming writes how his protagonist is learning to write.
Well, I settled down in my new job as ‘Assistant to the Editor’ and I was given more writing to do and less legwork and in due course, after I had been there for a year, I graduated to a by-line and ‘Vivienne Michel’ became a public person and my salary went up to twenty guineas. Len liked the way I got on with things and wasn’t afraid of people, and he taught me a lot about writing—tricks like hooking the reader with your lead paragraph, using short sentences, avoiding ‘okay’ English and, above all, writing about people.
Although he was writing about people, I still had a hard time caring about this people. I even faltered in starting this book. I read the first few chapters, gave up, read two other books that you can find in previous posts on this topic, The Corpse Goddess and Wool, then came back to it. I'm glad I did. It was worthwhile all told.
The story was written not from Bond's perspective which is the norm, but from the girls. This was a bit different and although it made me not think as much of the book, this twist did make me applaud Ian Fleming all the more. I like the fact that he wrote what he felt like writing and didn't fall for any demands that might have been pressed on him by others. It's as if he's always trying something new just to see how it will fit for a bit.
Unlike the movie there is a ton of introspection and flashbacks from the main character. It's not till halfway through the book that Bond actually shows up. I know I was supposed to care if only cause part way through the book Fleming writes how his protagonist is learning to write.
Well, I settled down in my new job as ‘Assistant to the Editor’ and I was given more writing to do and less legwork and in due course, after I had been there for a year, I graduated to a by-line and ‘Vivienne Michel’ became a public person and my salary went up to twenty guineas. Len liked the way I got on with things and wasn’t afraid of people, and he taught me a lot about writing—tricks like hooking the reader with your lead paragraph, using short sentences, avoiding ‘okay’ English and, above all, writing about people.
Although he was writing about people, I still had a hard time caring about this people. I even faltered in starting this book. I read the first few chapters, gave up, read two other books that you can find in previous posts on this topic, The Corpse Goddess and Wool, then came back to it. I'm glad I did. It was worthwhile all told.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Incredibly Short, But Incredibly Clever
The title describes both this post and the Word Smith . . . my son. For previous posts about his ability to "know things up" hit the link in this sentence or the Word Smith link on the right side of the page.
We have been watching the Olympics. I'm trying to instill in him a sense of patriotism and and understanding of the Olympic Games. Nevertheless, he saw archery, fencing, biking et al. Whilst watching swimming today he decided he wanted to watch a different event.
"Dad, can you fast forward to Jump-nastics"
I knew immediately what he meant, and why he might say it. Then I wondered about my own pronunciation. Perhaps I'm saying things too quick. Perhaps he just has better ideas on what things should be called.
We have been watching the Olympics. I'm trying to instill in him a sense of patriotism and and understanding of the Olympic Games. Nevertheless, he saw archery, fencing, biking et al. Whilst watching swimming today he decided he wanted to watch a different event.
"Dad, can you fast forward to Jump-nastics"
I knew immediately what he meant, and why he might say it. Then I wondered about my own pronunciation. Perhaps I'm saying things too quick. Perhaps he just has better ideas on what things should be called.
Friday, July 27, 2012
It Kept Me Reading
Who wouldn't want to keep reading when you read this as the first line and the first few passages:
Bud Mitchell drove his Ford Explorer along Dune Road. Up ahead was a sign that said CUPSOGUE BEACH COUNTY PARK— OPEN DAWN TO DUSK. It was dusk, but Bud drove through an empty parking field, on the far side of which was a wide nature trail, partially blocked by a roll-up fence. A sign said NO VEHICLES.
He said to the woman sitting in his passenger seat, “Are you sure you want to do this?”
Jill Winslow replied, “Yes. It’s exciting.”
Bud nodded without enthusiasm. He skirted around the fence and continued on in four-wheel drive along the sandy trail flanked by high, grass-covered dunes. Having extramarital sex should have been exciting enough for both of them, he thought, but Jill didn’t see it that way. For her, cheating on her husband was only worth it if the sex, romance, and excitement were better than at home. For him, the taboo of having sex with another man’s wife was the turn-on.
DeMille, Nelson - Night Fall (John Corey)
It gets even better when their video tape recorder records the missile that shoots down TWA Flight 800.
Bud Mitchell drove his Ford Explorer along Dune Road. Up ahead was a sign that said CUPSOGUE BEACH COUNTY PARK— OPEN DAWN TO DUSK. It was dusk, but Bud drove through an empty parking field, on the far side of which was a wide nature trail, partially blocked by a roll-up fence. A sign said NO VEHICLES.
He said to the woman sitting in his passenger seat, “Are you sure you want to do this?”
Jill Winslow replied, “Yes. It’s exciting.”
Bud nodded without enthusiasm. He skirted around the fence and continued on in four-wheel drive along the sandy trail flanked by high, grass-covered dunes. Having extramarital sex should have been exciting enough for both of them, he thought, but Jill didn’t see it that way. For her, cheating on her husband was only worth it if the sex, romance, and excitement were better than at home. For him, the taboo of having sex with another man’s wife was the turn-on.
DeMille, Nelson - Night Fall (John Corey)
It gets even better when their video tape recorder records the missile that shoots down TWA Flight 800.
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