Writing Spaces: The Novel

The Writing Spaces lecturer usually splits a single topic over two weeks, building on what we learned in the first week during the second week. But the lectures on prose fiction were split a little differently. The first week, which I re-capped in my last post, was about short stories and flash fiction more than anything, and the second week, which I'll cover in this post, was dedicated to a form I think more of you out there reading this will be interested: the novel.

In the lecture, we talked about some of the qualities of a novel. It's a form of long prose fiction which is capable of exploring every type of plot, in many different styles and genres. It has the capacity to cover every imaginable subject matter from all points of view. This writing space appeared with the print revolution and has developed since then into the most diverse and commercially used forms of literature. Today, a novel has the freedom to explore multiple conflicts and complex issues and themes in depth, which is something that cannot be done as successfully within the constrains of shorter prose.

The novel that we studied for this particular part of the unit was The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy. I haven't finished it yet, but none of my assignments are going to be based on it so that's okay. I'm determined to finish it though, as I firmly believe that it is one of the best books I have ever read. I'm only a quarter of the way through and so I won't say it's because of the plot or the characters, though so far I love them too. What I love most about this book is Roy's ability to surprise me over and over again on every page by the way she phrases things. There are so many moments, moments I wouldn't have even considered, that could have been written in cliches, but the descriptions in this book are so incredibly unique that it makes me want to keep reading and never stop. I can't wait to finish reading it.

Writing a good novel takes a lot of hard work. There's finding and developing a substantial idea for the novel, and then there's putting in the hard yards to writing out that first draft. Then there's looking over your first draft, seeing it riddled with cliches and unnecessary dialogue, among other things, and having to redraft it. And redraft it again. And again. Until you are satisfied that it is good enough to start showing people. I mean people who matter, like agents. Especially agents. If you're lucky enough to get an agent, then there's all of the redrafting and editing they'll make you do, and all the editing and redrafting you'll have to do to please the publisher if you make it that far.

Basically, editing and redrafting is a lot harder and more time consuming when you've got a chapter length novel that's tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of words long, than when you're doing the same thing for a short story. Novels require a long-term commitment. Maybe this is a big part of why some people consider short stories the inferior 'easy' way into publishing. (I am not one of these people. I love a good short story as much as I love novels. This is just food for thought and whatnot, so no hating.)

What are some of the best novels you have ever read and why? 

- Bonnee.

Catching Fire - Review

Well I read the second book in The Hunger Games series, Catching Fire. While I hold much of the same criticism I gave for the first book (too simplistic for the themes, character relationships could have been better developed, poorly proofread, etc) I still have to say that I loved it.

At this point, I couldn't tell you if I preferred the first book or not, but I certainly disagree with those who say that Catching Fire was poorly done. The bottom line is that there was no way Suzanne Collins could have ended the series after the first book. Katniss had caused too much damage with her 'Nightlock' stunt for there NOT to be a sequel... or two.

I couldn't put this book down. I would have to credit this to the way, just like in the first book, every chapter ends on a cliffhanger. For example, *SPOILER ALERT* when Peeta and Katniss were doing their victory tour and made their stop in District 11 where they made a more personal speech than they were supposed to for Rue's family and Thresh's family, the old man in the crowd whistled Rue's four-note song and everybody in the crowd gave Katniss the District 12, three-finger salute. I was going to put the book down at the end of this chapter, but then it ended with the man who'd whistled being dragged onto the stage and shot in the head. Of course I had to keep reading! *SPOILER OVER*

I have to say a lot more things happened in Catching Fire than what happened in the first book. This is probably because the first book gives more of a spotlight to the Games themselves, while Catching Fire is supposed to be about the aftermath of Katniss's actions in the Game of the first book. This quick-paced action of new event after new event, shock upon shock, kept me hooked. And sure enough, the ending of Catching Fire consisted of the perfect twist to leave room for the third installment, Mockingjay.

Katniss is growing on me more and more. I think she's a great heroine, and the inner conflict we are exposed to through her rings rather true to life. Peeta, I feel is both helping them in the eyes of the Capitol and digging a hole for them both with some of the stunts he pulls. I cannot believe what happened to Cinna, or at the very least what was implied! I actually really loved Cinna, though I didn't give him much of a mention last review. I no longer know how to feel about Haymitch... I guess I'll let you know when I review the next book, which I have already started reading.

What were everyone else's thoughts on Catching Fire?

- Bonnee.

Movie Adaptions of Books: The Hunger Games

If you're like me, then you'll agree that movies are generally not as good as their book counterparts. Unfortunately, it is often because a movie is coming to the 'big screens' that a lot of people even take notice of the book. They come out with a huge hype about the movie, and then people who've read the book, or who will read the book later, end up disappointed when they compare it to the book (or in the case of the Twilight movies, just how bad the movies are, period.)

The Hunger Games, for instance. I hadn't heard about The Hunger Games until people started going on about the movie. It caught my interest, and I ended up watching the film first (about a week before reading the book). But even without reading the book, there were moments I thought 'this is bound to be a better scene in the book'. After reading the book, I found that I was mostly right.

I'll focus on characters. First, Rue, who I thought we only got a proper glance at for two minutes during the film. While Rue and Katniss don't develop the deepest relationship in the book, I found that we still got a better sense of the way Katniss related Rue to her own little sister, Prim. We got to actually know her a little better in the book, and learn about her District and where she'd come from. In the movie, she's just a kid who hides in shadows and comes out to buddy up with Katniss until... well. Ya'll know what happened there.

Peeta. I HATED, Peeta in the movie. I couldn't stand him. But in the book, I thought he was the sweetest. The way the movie showed him giving the bread to Katniss when they were younger confused me, while I got it quite clearly in the book. In the movie, I couldn't tell if he was trying to be horrible to her by throwing it to the ground and giving so much to the pigs, instead of putting it straight into her hands. And as far as his 'love' for her went, I wasn't quite so convinced in the movie. I felt like he was acting as much as she was at points. In the book, I believed much more of it.

Haymitch. Complete opposite to my reaction to Peeta. I loved him in the movies and despised him in the books. He seemed a lot more caring and nurturing of Katniss especially in the movie, after she and Peeta had made it clear that they meant business in the Games and actually wanted to stand a chance. In the book, it didn't seem to matter how much he wanted them to win; I don't think he could have been more of an $*#hole if he tried. It bugs me when the movie changes a character's personality.

And of course, we have the ending of the film to compare to the ending of the book. Hm. I have to say, I hate it when they change the endings. I mean, for something like Harry Potter, where it ends with the Hogwarts Express taking everybody back to Kings Cross every time, that's a little different.

Of course, there were still a couple of good pointers to the movie. I liked the way the movie allowed us to escape from Katniss's point of view now and then. We see Haymitch interacting with sponsors, and we see people back in the districts watching the Games. Showing those other perspectives which go unseen in the novel gives a fuller, better idea of what is going on in their world.

Overall, I'm not saying that it was a bad movie. I enjoyed the movie, and I'm glad I saw it before I read the book. But it didn't live up to the hype it was given. Expected, but disappointing nonetheless.

What did you think of the movie adaption of The Hunger Games? Any other film adaptions you'd like to give a mention?

- Bonnee.

'The Hunger Games' (Book 1)

Over the course of the past week, I've read the first installment of Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games. Wow, what an adventure that was! A few people told me, when I mentioned I was reading it, that I wouldn't be able to put it down, and I have to admit, they weren't wrong. In all honesty, I couldn't sleep last night and ended up reading it from about 2:00AM until around 4:15AM.

While I agree it was a good book, I can't say I ended up as excited about it as I was hoping to be. I had too many issues, not so much with the story itself, but with the writing. Somebody told me, before I started reading it, that books written very simplistically are proof that you don't have to write very well to be a bestseller. I can't say I exactly agree with them, because I don't think simplistic is the same as not being able to write very well. But Suzanne Collins kept a very simplistic style of writing throughout The Hunger Games, and I felt that it was TOO simplistic, considering the themes it was carrying and the complexity of the situation and the characters. I understood what was going on perfectly, but I found myself disliking how easy it was to understand, because sometimes it felt like I was being told in dot-points. I believe that certain points in the story could have been more meaningful if the style of the writing had been a little less simplistic, such as character relationships. We kept getting the idea that Rue reminds Katniss of her little sister Prim told to us, but I didn't feel it being shown as well as it could have been. I don't mean that the author should have used every big words in the dictionary she possibly could. I just feel that the simplistic style of writing against the dark and complicated plot and back-story made it sound very childish, when the protagonist isn't so.

Go ahead, crucify me for criticizing a bestseller if you must. Go on, get it over with.

The other issue I found with this book could probably be credited to whoever did the proofreading and editing. As I want to be an editor myself, one thing I can't stand is continuity issues within the writing. And I notice them without meaning to. There was a point where Katniss was counting, and it was written, 'One, 2, 3' and I almost lost my shit. One moment, tracker-jacker was hyphenated. Suddenly tracker jacker was not hyphenated. I found myself criticizing sentences as I read them, for being clunky or poorly worded. Maybe it's my own fault for having such a good eye for catching such things, but it really bugged me!

Are you all gathered around my house with torches and pitch forks yet?

Please don't kill me. I promise that overall, I really did enjoy reading The Hunger Games, and intend to continue reading the sequels, although I've been warned it goes downhill after the first book. Katniss has done things in book one that cannot allow her to live the rest of her life without some sort of serious repercussions  and I do want to see how the reunion with her family and Gale goes, and how the romances play out in the long run. I've been forewarned *SPOILER ALTER* that some tragedy occurs regarding Prim and that Katniss isn't going to end up with who I want her to end up with *SPOILER OVER*. 

Am I dead yet? Well, I hope not, because I'm still typing and I don't want to be a zombie, so...

Thoughts, debates, arguments for or against my opinion of The Hunger Games? Talk to me in the comments, and please keep your deadly farming equipment away from me.

- Bonnee.

The Joys of Editing

Going over my novel, again, I still manage to find mistakes, useless and unimportant details and badly-worded scenes. I have deleted so many "moments" within the text that it's not even funny anymore; and what's more, I haven't even gone over HALF of it yet!

But it's worth it. My first chapter alone might be a whole 150 or so words shorter, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The beginning felt too drawn out as I read it over, and so I've added hints of the conflict sooner. This should also introduce the conflict more smoothly.

Another thing I'm changing are some character names. While all of the main characters have Japanese names, some of the minor characters don't quite fit into the scene. I've SORT OF picked out replacement names and I'll have to change them as I go. Naming characters in your book is like naming your child while you're still pregnant; you've still got time to change your mind if you reconsider, and you want to choose the right name because once it's published, there's no taking it back.

I read an interesting blog post about naming characters and babies here a week or so ago if anyone's interested.

"I've Lost Mine" by yours truly. 

In other news, "Emma" is horrible even though I've finished reading it. Never read anything by Jane Austen if you can avoid it. Having said that, if you can manage a Jane Austen book, you can do anything. "The Rugmaker of Mazar-E-Sharif" by Najaf Mazari and Robert Hillman is a breeze in comparison!

Ta-ta for now everyone. Check back soon for more blog updates!
- Bonnee xx

Evergreen: A Fallen Star

This blog will be about my novel. Includes: Previews/snippets from the novel, about setting, and main character bios. 

"The autumn breeze was sweet and refreshing on the skin of the three siblings who came dashing out into the gardens that early morning. The air was pleasantly icy, and its sweetness came from the Evergreens, the fruit trees and the exotic flowers. There was frost on the grass, telling them that winter was approaching fast, and would arrive before autumn’s end. The frost was disturbed as they raced into the gardens." 

(Opening paragraph from the novel.) 

What is 'Evergreen' about?

Very briefly, three kids saving the world. 

Not quite so briefly, but still briefly, 'Evergreen' is about three teenagers, brothers and sisters, who embark on a journey to save the life-source of their world, after a fortuneteller shares a prophecy revealing them to be the ones destine to be the heroes. 

"‘Ebony wings of a nightingale

Soft, black feathers of a nightingale

Sweet, sad song of a nightingale

My dear angel, nightingale…’"

(The siblings' childhood lullaby, Verse 1.)

So... Where is this novel set?

'Evergreen' is set in an alternative universe where the Imperial Family reigns over the peaceful and prosperous Middle Kingdom. The Middle Kingdom is full of life which is given and protected by the sacred Evergreen Trees; the life-source of the entire Kingdom. The Middle Kingdom is a heavily Asian (particularly Japanese) inspired place. 

"‘Delicate wings of a sparrow

Soft, brown body of a sparrow

Sweet, sad flight of a sparrow

My dear angel, sparrow…’"

(The siblings' childhood lullaby, Verse 2.)

Who are these characters anyway? What are their names?

For this, I'll give you a bit of a character bio for the main protagonists and antagonists.

First up, the good guys!

Chihiro: The 19-year-old older sister of the Imperial siblings. Chihiro is a motherly figure for her younger brother and sister and an understanding, thoughtful friend whom they confide in and often receive good advice from. She is strong willed, influential, intelligent and the immediate heir to the Imperial Throne providing she marries before the responsibility is passed down. 

Zutto: The middle child of 16. He is quiet and pessimistic and doesn't choose to socialize with anyone beyond his two sisters. Chihiro is his trustworthy best friend, and he would do anything to keep his precious little sister safe. If Chihiro hasn't married by the time the responsibilities of the throne are ready to be passed down, it will be his place to step up. 

Sakura: The youngest of the three who turns 13 early into the story. Sakura is still very childish and has never expected the responsibilities of the throne to end up falling on her, and therefore does not act so level-headed and responsible as her two older siblings do. She looks up to them and depends on them. Zutto is her best friend and his opinion is most important to her. 

"“Colourful wings of a butterfly

Soft, black body of a butterfly

Sweet, sad flutter of a butterfly

My dear angel, butterfly…”"

(The siblings' childhood lullaby, Verse 3.)

And now for the bad guys!

The Witch of the White Lands: This evil and ancient woman has been waiting thousands of years to take her revenge on the human race for the injustice they did her by rejecting her dark magic and therefore rejecting everything she was. She can feel when the Evergreen Trees begin to fail and her aim is to use the Middle Kingdom's crisis to her advantage. But to achieve this, she has to get past the Imperial Children, and to save the world, they have to get past her. 

The Witch of Thorns: The Witch of the White Lands's twin sister who lives in another realm of their universe; the same realm in which the Imperial Children will find the answer to their crisis. 

"“Nightingale, sparrow, butterfly

Far from home where they will fly

Up the mountain to a better place

Where the enemy will not show her face

As they’re searching for a star

Back home we wonder where they are

And hope they come back to us in time

Before I sing my final rhyme

Nightingale, sparrow; fly on home

My dear butterfly, cease to roam

Time is short so come home soon

Before our Kingdom meets its doom…”"

(The fortune-teller's prophecy.)

So tell me, my audience...

What do you think of the previews I slipped in there? What do you think of my setting and my characters? Are you interested in my novel yet? 

Any questions? 

Leave me a comment if you read this, anonymous comments are welcome. 

- Bonnee. 

Unsolicited Manuscripts

It always bugs me that I'm not 100% sure what publisher mean when they say "No unsolicited manuscripts", but after Googling it and finding a new blog of a published children's author to follow after reading these two posts, I think I have a much better understanding.

So here are couple more useful links for my fellow writer friends, and some more knowledge for those who care to know it: 

An explanation of what "No unsolicited manuscripts" means

And

An example of a query that got an author published, along with some helpful query writing tips.

I feel a lot better in reading these blogs, I actually feel like I know a little more... AND I have a new publisher to look in to. 

But seeing as I haven't heard back from Penguin at this point (and seeing as it's been four months since I sent them my manuscript), I figured I'd redraft my novel, Evergreen: A Fallen Star, and then send it into Allen & Unwin - The Friday Pitch for assessment and another shot at getting published... I'm also going to work on getting an agent to help me out. 

Wish me luck everybody! Bon voyage!

- Bonnee.

Gumballs

My most recent writing prompt from a friend was to write about a gumball's journey to find his long lost brother. I think I did pretty well making a short story out of that.

In other news, the awesome person I gave a copy of my story to has been doing his reading and giving feedback and I've repaid him by reading a short story of his and editing it. It was pretty cool. I enjoyed it and I'm liking the arrangement.

I love editing, guys.

Peace out.
- Bon xx

An Idea of How Much I've Written

If you don't feel like reading much, just pay attention to the stuff in bold. 

I keep everything I write these days... and save multiple copies of it in different places. Three different places. One copy on my laptop, one copy on my every-day-use memory stick, and one copy on an emergency memory stick which I tend to forget to update.

Having said that, I'm a bit of a neat-freak, and when you have THAT MANY Word Documents in one big folder, things tend to get a bit hectic. I solve this problem by dividing my writing folder up into more manageable sub-folders:

• Evergreen, where I currently keep all of the files related to the two novels I've written/I'm writing, Evergreen: A Fallen Star and Evergreen: Thorn of the Heart. This includes the full manuscript, synopsis and cover letter to the first novel, the original story-lines, chapter planners, fragment and ideas and chapters written out in separate documents, both the first drafts and the final drafts. The two stories themselves have their own personal folders, respectively titled, within the Evergreen folder. There are about 76 Word Documents in this folder, and counting.
  

• Short Stories, where, obviously, I keep a record of all the the short stories I've written. Directly inside this folder, there is another folder titled The Garden Swing and Other Stories, which I one day hope to call my first collection of published short stories. This folder holds 21 documents containing short stories I've written; MOST, of which are complete.
  

• Songs and Poems, is one which I don't touch so often anymore, especially not the Songs side of it. There are 103 poems (including 13 Haiku), 101 songs, and one other document containing random lines that I might incorporate into another song or poem at some point. So this folder has a grand total of 205 documents! 
  

• Last of all, Summer Projects, which contains 15 documents worth of story-lines, some of which might have hope of one day becoming novels, and another 9 folders containing documents of briefly-started or partially-written novels, (including Demolition Lovers, which I mentioned in my first blog-post). There are 52 documents floating around in there! 

Of course there's a bit more, but nothing worth mentioning here. I'm just telling you the important stuff here. All of the above would suggest that there are 354 Word Documents on my laptop that range from being somewhat mildly important to of extreme importance... and this suggestion would be correct. The number will continue to rise over time, I'm sure. :)

So there's a little more insight into my stuff! Like it? You better!

Peace out,

- Bon xx