Propel your writing career by entering a contest | onewildword

Propel your writing career by entering a contest | onewildword.

Check out these contests with upcoming deadlines.  It’s a great way to get your name out there.

Good luck!

Absolutely Overwhelmed!

Okay.  I have been getting many requests for book reviews and I just want to be clear and up front.  I am not accepting requests at this time.  It is not because I don’t believe in you.  It is not because I don’t want to help you.  It is because I am a full-time teacher with a stack of papers to grade that I could literally be buried in and my own writing career has been put on hold for this.

So, while I’d love to help and fully support your endeavors (as I can relate), I have to help myself first and I’m drowning in work right now.  It kills me that my own writing has been pushed aside, because it is truly a top priority.  And you even may have noticed that I’m lagging behind in blog entries.  It is simply because I do not have time to write, let alone read a book to review it right now.

Jacinda was doing her best to help me as the school year started, and hopefully she’ll jump back on the bandwagon, but for now, she’s having Internet issues at her home in Germany.

Again, I apologize and wish every writer the best!  I may be open to accepting requests this summer, but I’ll know more as that time approaches.

Best of luck, writers!

Best Teen Books of 2011 | Kirkus Book Reviews | Kirkus Book Reviews

Best Teen Books of 2011 | Kirkus Book Reviews | Kirkus Book Reviews.

Kirkus Book Reviews has compiled a list of their favorite teen books of 2011.  There are some titles I haven’t heard of and would like to add to my reading list (which has been sorely neglected due to work, unfortunately).

But check it out!  There may be something you’re interested in reading.

Synopsis How To

Synopsis How To (from The Story Bodyguard by Zara Altair)

I struggle with plot development and as a result, find myself floundering a bit during the writing and revision processes.  Now, much of this first novel has happened organically.  I had a basic premise in my mind and since then, the characters have taken the plot in places I never could have imagined when I began.  For some writers, this organic process is the only thing that works for them.  It’s hard to imagine planning so specifically before beginning.

This blog post is technically written for screenwriters, but the advice applies to any type of story telling.  It suggests plotting the story first by writing every scene you have in mind on notecards, shuffling them up, and then placing them in the correct order on a storyboard or within the plot sequence.  From there, you expand upon the scenes and by the end, have written your synopsis before you’ve even written your first draft.

Essentially, that first draft should be much easier now to write.  Will this method work for everyone?  Probably not.  Will it work for me?  I’d like to try it and find out.

In my revision process, I’m finding that much of the second half of my book needs reworking.  I’m going to take the writer’s advice and use notecards.  I already know what scenes I like and don’t like.  I’m ambivalent towards some of the characters, but this method will force me to pay attention to what’s important and to follow a natural sequence to help build suspense.

Wish me luck!

~Brei

Related articles

• Synopsis How To (storybodyguard.com)
• When to Write a Novel Synopsis? (pronovelist.wordpress.com)
• The Query Beast & the Pitiless Synopsis (rillawriter.wordpress.com)
• What is a Plot Synopsis and How do I Write One? (theonano.wordpress.com)

Happy Black Friday

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday and for those of you daring enough to risk the crowds today (I am not), good luck!

I haven’t written in a while because of a really bad week last week.  It started on Monday when I spilled an entire cup of coffee on my computer – the one place I had my entire novel stored.  Yes, I cried like a baby.  After desperately calling for a substitute teacher – to no avail, I hauled my miserable self to school.  I felt like everything I had worked for had been lost.  It hurt like hell.

What did I learn from this?  Backup hard drives are a necessity.

The good news is that my wonderful husband spent much of his time off last week visiting computer repair stores and ordering me a new computer.  They were able to save my hard drive – THANK GOD!  And my new computer didn’t arrive until this week.  Yesterday, my husband and I were finally able to get the new computer up and running, complete with all of my old documents, pictures, and music.

So, please, excuse my absence.  I’m back – with my new hard drive on standby.

Have a good one, everyone!

Who would I invite to dinner?

I was asked the other day by my professor, if I had the chance to invite three people to dinner, who would they be? I didn’t answer him. I would have to mull-over that question. I woke up thinking about it today. It’s a tough decision but one person came to mind that I knew I would enjoy the company of, Maya Angelou. I remember in fifth grade she came to visit my school, talked about her life, and told us a story. I remember sitting in awe of her, my eyes with filled with tears, and thinking, how is she so strong after everything that she has been through. Inspirational, is what she is. And if she joined me and some others for dinner, I would have her tell us a story or read some poetry afterward while we enjoyed a cup of tea together.

Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou (one of my favorites)

 

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies. I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size But when I start to tell them, They think I’m telling lies. I say, It’s in the reach of my arms The span of my hips, The stride of my step, The curl of my lips. I’m a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That’s me. I walk into a room Just as cool as you please, And to a man, The fellows stand or Fall down on their knees. Then they swarm around me, A hive of honey bees. I say, It’s the fire in my eyes, And the flash of my teeth, The swing in my waist, And the joy in my feet. I’m a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That’s me. Men themselves have wondered What they see in me. They try so much But they can’t touch My inner mystery. When I try to show them They say they still can’t see. I say, It’s in the arch of my back, The sun of my smile, The ride of my breasts, The grace of my style. I’m a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That’s me. Now you understand Just why my head’s not bowed. I don’t shout or jump about Or have to talk real loud. When you see me passing It ought to make you proud. I say, It’s in the click of my heels, The bend of my hair, the palm of my hand, The need of my care, ‘Cause I’m a woman Phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, That’s me. ~ by Maya Angelou Enjoy your Tuesday ~ Jacinda

Veterans’ Day: Remembering the Hurtgen Forest Battle (WW II)

"A Time for Healing"

A few weeks back, my husband and I took a tour through the Hurtgen Forest. We had never heard about the battle there as I am sure that you haven’t either. Our guide and historian, Martin King, introduced a battle to us in the forest 5 miles south and east of Aachen, Germany. This battle claimed around 30,00 American GIs, either killed, wounded, lost or captured, deep within the dense, cold and wet forest. The Hurtgen Forest Battle was one of the most brutal and bloodiest battles in history. It began in September of 1944 and ended around February 1945.

Many people believe that this battle shouldn’t have been fought. With outdated topographical maps, Americans were dropped in Germany and then trudged their way through a forest that they never realized they were going to encounter. There was no way to get air relief because of the dense woods, and the trail they attempted to get their tanks up was incredibly narrow and windy.

In visiting the battle site, we physically stood in foxholes that still exist from over 60 years ago. We also got to see the some bunkers and walk part of the Kal Trail where the tankers and the men slowly made their way to the Schwammenauel Dam.

Please take a moment today to remember those who have fought for us.

Hurtgen Forest Battle

Here are some websites to read more on the battle of The Hurtgen Forest

http://hurtgen1944.homestead.com/index.html

http://home.scarlet.be/~cv920172/indexenglish.htm

Our guide:

Martin King is a respected military historian who has conducted tours for many Allied veterans and interviewed both German veterans and civilian witnesses in and around Europe’s World War II battlefields. Voices of the Bulge is King’s first book.

~Jacinda

Maybe it’s time for some poetry~

The weather has started to cool down and the sun isn’t out as much as I would like it to be. It’s fall or technically, the beginning of winter here. We are starting to prep for the holidays, making lists of gifts that we need to start buying, and planning for our Thanksgiving dinner. The smell of spice fills the air and all I want to do is curl up with a glass of Gluhwein and a good book. But there is a part of me that just wants to spend some time writing. Maybe not a novel because I do not think I am even anywhere capable of that but maybe a long journal entry or how about even a poem? When is the last time I have even written a poem? I cannot even begin to remember when or what it might have been about. But maybe it’s this time of year that I just feel more emotional and poetry might be a great way to become more in tune with my inner feelings. Maybe it’s time for some poetry…

Below is a poem that Brei wrote last year after my grandfather’s passing on November 19, 2010. If you didn’t read it when she posted then, please take some time to read it now. It is a beautiful poem and maybe it can inspire some of your own poetry. Our maybe it will just make you think of your own family and how important they are to you.

 

 

 

 

Photo taken by Julie Napear Photography

http://www.julienapearphotography.com/

The Last Great Cowboy

Solid.

A sturdy, dependable presence.

That’s how we think of you.

Bear-hugging arms,

Sloppy, wet kisses,

Rough whiskers against our soft cheeks,

And always a smile on your face

When you see us.

 

Your smile is a gift –

Unique to each one of us.

With it, we know we’re special.

We know you see us.

All of us,

As we are.

 

Sometimes we may feel that no one else

Sees us

But you.

 

With dirt under your fingernails,

Sawdust on your boots,

A hammer ready on your tool belt

And a Western in your hands,

You are a present day cowboy.

A hero –

Our hero.

 

You have crossed the country

To save us from our own mistakes.

You have calmed our fears

when we’ve been surrounded by danger.

You have repaired the cracks in our dry wall

As well as in our self-confidence.

You have built up our homes and our hearts

When they started to crumble.

 

We may not always be at our best,

But you see us.

You save us.

 

You have been our father,

Our grandfather,

Our great-grandfather.

 

A worthy opponent

In our childhood tickle wars

And a worthy opponent

For our children as well.

A confidante, even when our words

Are hard to hear.

A giver of advice

Even when we don’t listen.

 

We can be difficult,

But you see what’s in our hearts.

 

You bring us humor

When we want to cry.

You offer praise

without criticism.

You give hugs

And never a cold shoulder.

You see our success

And say nothing of our shortcomings.

You see us as beautiful,

Even when we’re not.

 

Sometimes we feel invisible.

Sometimes we feel overlooked.

Sometime we feel misunderstood.

Sometimes we make mistakes.

Sometimes we give up.

Sometimes we fail.

Sometimes we don’t say all that we should.

But at all times we feel loved by you.

 

You can’t always hear us,

But we know that you see us.

 

Thank you,

For being

Solid, sturdy, and dependable.

A working man.

A realist.

A giver of unconditional love.

Thank you for

Bone-crunching bear hugs

And big juicy kisses

And for letting us sit in your lap

With our head on your shoulder.

 

Thank you for giving us confidence

And for believing in us

When you are the only one,

Because at times,

We forget to believe in ourselves.

 

Thank you for seeing us

And letting us know that you love

What you see.

 

And we want you to know that

we see you.

 

We may not live in the

Wild West of your novels.

But with your tough, calloused hands,

Gentle in our own and with our hearts,

And your fighting spirit,

To us, you will always be

The Last Great Cowboy.

 

And long after you ride off into the sunset,

We will love you.

 

~ by Brei Wilson

 

Below are a couple of links to some poetry contests.

Teen Ink:

http://www.teenink.com/Contests/PoetryC.php

Checkout Goodreads.com to for their poetry contest:

GOODREADS POETRY CONTEST

Want your words to reach 4 million people? Goodreads and the ¡POETRY! group have partnered to host an ongoing poetry contest. Join the ¡POETRY! group to vote each month to pick a winner from among the finalists. You can also submit a poem for consideration.

~ Jacinda

You learn something new everyday~

Image via Wikipedia

So, I have this addiction to Podcasts right now and I am always searching around for something new to listen to. While doing a search, I came across the Grammar Girls Quick and Dirty Tips podcast and uploaded as many free episodes as I could at that time. Pretty much every one of them, each only approximately five minutes long, have great tips and information that I have forgotten or wasn’t aware of. I just wanted to mention one today because I had typing class in high school and double spacing behind a period was drilled into my head and is a hard habit for me to break. Maybe a lot of you do not have this problem but at least I can introduce you to this wonderful podcast and helpful tips to grammar and writing.

Most typewriter fonts are called monospaced fonts. That means that every character takes up the same amount of space. It made sense using two spaces after a period because of the size of the letter and gave you that visual break that you needed. Now, no longer working on typewriters, most computer fonts are proportional fonts which means that letters are different widths. Single spacing is more logical. Chicago manual of style, the APA style book and the modern language association all recommend using just one space after a period.

Check out Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips:
http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/

Check out the article on NPR News. At the bottom you will see a paragraph that explains the “rule” of spacing after a period.
http://www.npr.org/2011/11/03/141976518/the-war-between-google-amazon-facebook-apple?ps=cprs

Another good article is on About.com:
http://desktoppub.about.com/cs/typespacing/a/onetwospaces.htm

~Jacinda

Book Review: Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi

     Sometime in the near future, hurricanes have destroyed our cities and instead of a line between the rich and the poor, it has become a gigantic gap.  Those that have the luck and were born swanks, live in luxury with jewels and a never-ending food supply while those that were not so lucky, live as scavengers.  Nailer, a teenage boy, works for the light crew and scavenge for copper wire inside of old oil tankers.  He works day-to-day, trying to make quota on his job just to be able to afford some food for that night.  After a hard and dangerous day’s work, he finds himself going home to a drug induced, abusive father.  He compares his father’s moods, fueled by drugs and anger, to the deadly weather that he endures on a daily basis living on the coast.  He somehow still finds it in his heart to care for him though silently attempting to tiptoe around this tattoo covered man, because before his mother’s death, he was once a caring and somewhat loving father.  Shortly after a huge storm, Nailer and his friend Pima, a light crew worker for whom he shares a blood oath with, discover a beached ship filled with lots of goods that a swank lives and grows up with.  All of this loot could make them rich and they could leave the hardships of a light crew worker but they discover a surviving swank and have to make a decision to kill her and keep the goods or save her in hopes of a big reward.

This is the first book in a while where the main character is a male.  He is not the big, buff, and some say, dreamy, Edward of Twilight but is food deprived, soiled head to toe but still he maintains a kind heart and is surprisingly clever.   I was pleasantly surprised by his character.  He is uneducated and illiterate but is very admirable because of how hard-working and loyal he is.  It took me a little while to get into the book most likely because of my own issues, lack of sleep and what not, but once I got through the first 50 pages, I was ready to read more.  With some dystopian novels, I find it a little difficult to allow the names of the characters to be accepted into my own vocabulary.  I am not sure if I am explaining it correctly but sometimes I am a little turned off from the beginning with names or nicknames or titles or worlds.  For example, if you ever read The Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld, you may or may not disagree that the description from the beginning of the uglies and the pretties was a little off-putting, but it sinks in soon enough and you will not be able to put the series down!  That review will have to be for another day, though.

There was a part of me that was thankful for watching the Pirates of the Caribbean and The Titanic because I was visually able to create the ships in my head.   I truly think anyone who enjoys a good pirate book or movie would enjoy the ride in this novel because there is a lot of action and fighting.  Also, there is minimal intimacy between the two main characters so if you are looking for a good love story, look for a different book.  I do see it progressing in the next book, though.  I expect the next book, The Drowned Cities, to be more brutal and packed full of even more action.  So I would recommend it for anyone who enjoys a good fight and who appreciates good moral values.

Overall, the book was filled with vivid imagery of the two classes, graphic violence, and mature situations, so I would definitely recommend it for older young adults or mature readers.

~Jacinda Herner