Oh, The Agony!

Today I've been thinking a lot about suffering. Not the world calamity earthquake and volcano type of suffering, but the kind that comes with characters in the books we read.

We love suffering. The conclusion to a story isn't satisfying if it wasn't hard to get there. If Harry Potter lived a charmed life, never dealt with loss, and easily learned every potion and spell, his defeat of Voldemort would have been a mediocre pleasure, if that. But as a picked-on orphan, who struggles with school, watches friends die, and carries a heavy burden, we really like Harry and want him to win.

A lack of suffering makes for a "Mary-Sue" character, one that is practically perfect in every way. I found this "Mary-Sue" online test that was interesting. Not sure how accurate it is since some of the questions are a little unusual, but it was fun to take, nevertheless. Go ahead, check it out:

http://www.ponylandpress.com/ms-test.html

I scored a 19 for the main character of the book I'm currently working on. How does the test rate your characters? How does it rate the characters you've read and loved? What are your favorite characters and why? Let's discuss!

Holy Volcano Batman!

If you've been following the news at all this week, you will know a volcanic eruption on the small island country of Iceland has thrown all of Europe into a tailspin, creating ash-filled skies over the continent and shutting down major airports.

My first thought upon hearing this story was, "Iceland has volcanoes?". I hate to admit my ignorance, but my only previous knowledge of Iceland is that it is cold and the singer Bjork is from there.

It sparked my curiosity enough to do some very brief research. It reminded me how fun research can be and the many gems you can find to spark story ideas.

Here is some interesting info I found about Iceland (attributed to GVP/Smithsonian Institution):

Iceland has the land area of Virginia and the population of Virginia Beach (about 260,000 people). The country has the highest literacy rate (100%) of any nation in the world. Its history has always been closely related to volcanoes and knowledge of many volcanic eruptions since the middle ages are preserved in accounts.

First settled by Vikings in the 9th century AD, Iceland established its own parliament in 930 and recorded its first historical volcanic eruption only a few years later. After a golden age of literature in the 12th and 13th centuries (when the sagas were written), natural history reporting reached a low around the 15th century. In the years 1707-09 a third of the population died from smallpox, and the 1783-84 Laki eruption killed a fifth of the remaining population by famine. Iceland gained sovereignty from Denmark in 1918 and complete independence in 1944.

Hood, by Stephen R. Lawhead

I enjoyed this first installment of the King Raven trilogy retelling of the Robin Hood story.

Stephen Lawhead focuses a lot of his fiction on Celtic myth, and this Robin Hood version is no different. As Lawhead explains in the book, the Robin Hood myth was very widely used and interpreted in the British Isles--something of an Everyman myth. Lawhead decided to interpret Robin Hood as a deposed Welsh prince during the times of the Franks/Normans' recent conquest of England and the start of their conquest of Wales.

Lawhead is immaculate and detailed in his Welsh backdrop, making for the most convincing Robin Hood version I've ever read/seen. The details of language, lifestyle, castle construction/use, armory, agriculture, etc., enrich the story.

His characters are gray, and Robin Hood himself is frustrating at times, even a Nancy boy, until he comes into his own. Friar Tuck, Little John, and the capricious Marian are delightful characters, somewhat different in their usually perceived roles (as is well manifested by Marian especially).

The book is not a standalone, as it ends in preparation for book two, even though it does have a natural climax and preceding rising action.

Baron Neufmarsh is one of the more interesting gray characters, someone who seems traitor and friend to the protagonist at times. I'm riveted on what Lawhead will do with him in the two novels to come.

Hood is a pleasant read for those Anglophiles who enjoy British history with relish while also delving into the legends surrounding the Isles.


Hood, by Stephen R. Lawhead. 2006. Thomas Nelson. 512 pp. $7.99 (PB).


King Raven Series:

Hood
Scarlet
Tuck

Into the Fire!

Have you ever noticed how facinating a fire is? Not in a pyromaniac-I-can't-live-without-it way, but in the skittering flashes of color that are gone almost before your brain can register them, cool campfire way.

I could tell you a long and probably not-super-interesting-to-anyone-but-the-Inkers story about how we sat around the fire pit last night and sacrificed our stress to the karma gods, BUT instead I want to talk about the fire and not us.

I started to think of ways that we use the word fire. It is a simple non-profane four letter word that can convey emotions from hatred to passion and destruction to rebirth. Such a versatile little word and often so unexchangeable.

Here are some phrases that came to mind:
"We didn't start the ...."
"My hearts on ...."
"Someone yelled .... and cleared the building."
"My soul's on ...."
"He had a .... in his belly."
Now try to use a substitute like combustion or inferno, or flame. They just seem wrong.
Sometimes a thing just is what it is...Fire and as simple as it seems it really is the word that works best.
Hit us with some of your campfire stories...I know you've got some.

Shot in the Arm

Last night was our monthly writers' group.  We talked about pitch sessions again (since three of us are doing pitch sessions at LDS Storymakers).  We also talked about how hard its been to fit writing into our hectic lives.

Part of what makes our writiers' group so great is we are all in a similiar situation.  We are all parents, we are all involved in our church, we are all involved in our community, etc.  Sometimes it can get really depressing when we don't have time to write as much as we would like to.  Sometimes we get discouraged.

Donna sent out an email this morning cheering us on.  Telling us we need to find a shot in the arm to get us motivated again.  We need to make writing FUN! 

What do you do to get you motivated?  What boosts you up when your feeling sluggish?

Last week was Spring Break and I was camping in Moab with my family. (You might have noticed there was no post last Wednesday--sorry.)  That was a great shot in the arm.  We spent our time in the sun (vitamin D is awesome) and hiked and ignored all the pressures of home.  Now I am ready to shake off winter's dreggs and move into spring.  That was one great shot in the arm.

Let's hear it!  What moves you?

Did you know that 20 pounds of strawberries makes a lot of jam? I found out last night at around 3 in the morning when I finished making it. Can you say tired?....

On a different note, I'm sad more people didn't contribute to Linda's post about collaboration. I was looking forward to seeing where that was going. So if you didn't add to it, you can do so now by clicking here.

Happy writing!

Getting Gas

I was talking to a friend the other day and was surprised to find out she didn't know about the gas gauge arrow, you know, the friendly little pointer by your gauge to let you know what side of the car your gas tank is on. Almost every car has one. Check yours, you probably have one too. By using this arrow, you'll never have to climb out of your car to get gas, only to find you've pulled on the wrong side. So just in case another friend of mine wasn't aware of this wonderful help, I thought I'd blog about it.

That and I've got nothin' else today :)