Guest Author Allison Rushby: I Don't Know How She Does It (well, actually, I do…)

Today, I'd like to welcome Allison Rushby to the blog to help us figure out how to do it all. Okay, maybe her advice is aimed more at juggling writing and being a parent, but even those without children can pick up a trick or two from her wise words. Her newest novel Shooting Stars releases today, so be sure to check it out.

Over the past ten years, Allison has published five books for young adult readers and five for adult readers in the women’s fiction genre. She is currently working on a six episode New Adult e-serial for St Martin’s Press, a new YA novel, a travel memoir and her sanity.

Having failed at becoming a ballerina with pierced ears (her childhood dream), Allison instead began a writing career as a journalism student at The University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. Within a few months she had slunk sideways into studying Russian. By the end of her degree she had learned two very important things: that she wasn't going to be a journalist; and that there are hundreds of types of vodka and they're all pretty good. After several years spent whining about how hard it would be to write a novel, she finally tried writing one and found it was quite an enjoyable experience. Since then, she has had nine novels published. She keeps up her education by sampling new kinds of vodka on a regular basis.

Take it away Allison...

Footloose and Not So Fancy Free: Four Ways to Update an Old (And Familiar) Stories

When the hubby and I watched the new Footloose movie and we had mixed feelings about it. Part if it was easily because the original 1984 version was a big part of our teen years, but part of it was due to the almost too faithful remake. Nothing felt fresh, even though it was new movie. It took what was already out there and just re-made it. It's a great example of why a book might not grab an agent's or editor's eye.

There's nothing fresh about the story.

For those who haven't seen the movie (shame on you) here's a quick summary: Ren moves to the small town of Belmont, where a tragic accident in the past forced the leaders to enact a no dancing, no drinking, no partying law. Ren challenges that law to hold a senior prom for his classmates. The plot device is a bit cheesy, but it's a story about growing up, challenging authority, and standing up for what you believe in.

A classic plot.

We all know there's nothing that hasn't been done before, and how important it is to put a fresh spin on a common story. But how do you know what to update and what to keep the same tried and true?

Real Life Diagnostics: Living in a Dream World - And Writing About it

Real Life Diagnostics is a weekly column that studies a snippet of a work in progress for specific issues. Readers are encouraged to send in work with questions, and I diagnose them on the blog. It’s part critique, part example, designed to help the submitter as well as anyone else having a similar problem.

If you're interested in submitting to Real Life Diagnostics, check out the page for guidelines.

Submissions currently in the queue: Nine

This week’s questions:

I'm working on a MG fantasy novel. This selection is from chapter 2, the introduction of one of my main characters. My story is built around a boy who has bizarre dreams. I'm a little worried about it reading right. Does it work the way I have it below? My other question is about voice: Does the writing sound too plain? Do you have any sense of the character telling the story (the narrator)?

On to the diagnosis…

You Can Fight Mama Nature: What to do When Your Antagonist is Nature Herself

The last few weeks we've been discussion the four basic types of conflict. (man vs. man, man vs. self, man vs. society) Today, let's wrap it up with man vs. nature.

The easiest example of this is a traditional disaster movie like Volcano. Unbeknownst to the sleepy little town of Los Angeles, an active volcano is about to rise in the La Brea Tar Pits. The hero, Mike Roark (played by the always awesome Tommy Lee Jones) is the city's director of city management and it's his job to handle all city-related crises. What starts off as a basic small earthquake turns into a major event that puts the entire city at risk. To save lives, Mike and his thrown-together-by-chance geologist partner, Dr. Amy Barnes, (the also delightful Anne Heche) have to deal with the volcano and the repercussions of its sudden emergence.

What makes this such a great example is that it covers all the elements of a man vs. nature movie.

On the Road and Chatting About Voice

I'm over at Suzanne van Rooyen's blog today, talking about voice, how I found mine, and why it works for YA.

Here's a sneak peek:

Before I started my debut novel, I’d always written third person narrators with multiple POVs. First person was this scary perspective I knew was hard to get right, so I stayed away from it. That is, until I sat down to write THE SHIFTER.

And it came out in first person.

A huge shock, let me tell you. There was no conscious thought to do this; my protagonist, Nya, just spoke to me in that voice. It was her story, and she wanted to tell it in her words, not mine. I was smart enough to let her do it, even though trying first person was a little intimidating.

I’m so glad now that I did.

 Come over over and say hello!

And...End Scene: When to Add a Scene Break

Elmore Leonard is frequently quoted as saying: "I try to leave out the parts people skip." Nowhere is this more useful than in knowing when to break a scene. Transitions have a funny way of being the parts people skip.

But there's a skill to knowing when to break a scene. You don't want to just stop and jump ahead in time or location, because that can feel jarring. Too many scene breaks can feel like pieces of a story strung together and lose the narrative flow. Breaking every time you get to a good hook line just feels choppy and...weird. Like chapter breaks, you want a scene break to make the reader think "ooo" and keep on reading.

What makes a good scene break?

Guest Author Suzanne van Rooyen: Shifting the Story

Today I'd like to welcome Suzanne van Rooyen to the blog. She's here to talk with us about something I've seen asked many a time: How do you turn a short story into a novel? Sometimes you just don't know where a story is going to end up until you write it, and that path can lead in some interesting directions.

Suzanne is a freelance writer, author and occasional musician. Despite having a Master's in Music, Mind and Technology, she prefers writing twisted tales of the SF persuasion and playing in the snow. She's the author of the cyberpunk novel Dragon's Teeth released in November 2011 by Divertir Publishing, and has a handful of short stories and non-fiction articles published across the globe. You can find her on Facebook and Twitter.

Take it away Suzanne...

How Important is Genre in Today's World of E-Books?

Last week I was talking about genre, and commenter Wendy said something that really made me think:

I often hear writers say that genre isn't so important in these days of e-books and self-publishing -- selling novels in the 21st century is supposedly all about author platform now, not bookshop shelves. Just wondering...

It's a great observation, because more and more people are buying books online and not going into the stores (sad as that in). Shelf space isn't what it used to be.

But will it affect genre and how readers buy books?

Real Life Diagnostics: A Voice From Afar: Voice in Third Person

Real Life Diagnostics is a weekly column that studies a snippet of a work in progress for specific issues. Readers are encouraged to send in work with questions, and I diagnose them on the blog. It’s part critique, part example, designed to help the submitter as well as anyone else having a similar problem.

If you're interested in submitting to Real Life Diagnostics, check out the page for guidelines.

Submissions currently in the queue: Eight

This week’s questions:

This is the beginning of my WIP, which is written in 3rd Person. I find it difficult to establish voice in 3rd Person, but it feels like the best POV for this story. Does this create a voice that is distinct enough to keep a reader engaged? Is there enough of a hook to keep you reading? I've also read that too much description about clothing is the mark of a novice writer, but shortly after this scene, the reader learns that Sameen and her uncle are ostracized by the prejudicial villagers because they look and dress differently. Is this brief description of the stranger's similar manner of dress too much, or will it help establish a natural connection between the two characters?

On to the diagnosis…

There is No Bad Guy: What to do When Your Antagonist Isn't a Villain

All stories need an antagonist, but not all stories have a villain. At least not in the literal sense of the word. I've talked recently about the man vs. self type bad guys, so today, let's talk about man vs. society. (and we'll wrap up the four basic conflict types next Friday with man vs. nature)

A great example of man vs. society is the recent movie In Time. It's a world where people have been genetically altered to stop aging at 25, with a one year advance on their lives after that. To continue living, then need to get more time. They work and get paid in actual time (as in it gets added to their lives). The rich live for centuries, the poor struggle with just days (or less) left. The hero is a poor guy named Will who is living hour to hour so to speak.