Hello gentle reader,
today I’m guest posting on Aimee L. Salter’s blog about Writing Rules.
Read the post here and feel free to leave a comment!…
Have a good writing week!
Monthly Archives: April 2013
My Week In Review – ROW80 Check-In 4
Hello gentle reader,
It is time for the fourth check-in of this round! I hope you had a good and productive week…
ROW80 Check-In
My goal for this round is to write every day. This week, I managed to write
3/7 days
Word Count of the Week
I added 4000 words to my Work In Progress. I won’t win Camp NaNoWriMo this year, but at least I added some words to my Work In Progress.
TV Show of the Week
The Vampire Diaries – The Originals (CW)
So what did you think of this first episode in the spin-off series?
Good news of the Week
The lovely Sarah Cradit awarded me the Versatile Blogger Award, the Very Inspiring Blogger Award and the Sunshine Award in this post. I have already received these awards, but I’m happy and humbled Sarah thought of me as deserving of them again. Go and visit her blog!
Links of the Week
This week on my blog I discussed how to build a bridge between Genre fiction and Literary fiction.
On the There And Draft Again group blog, Rachel wrote about the editing process and Kathi talked Myths and Legends in Fantasy.
Finally, make sure to check out The Write Stuff for Boston Auction and to bid for items such as signed books, advance reader copies (ARCs), artwork, critiquing services, book-related swag, author visits, book bundles, or the chance to name a character in an upcoming book. All proceeds will benefit the victims and families of the Boston Marathon bombings of April 15, 2013.
Next Week
Next week I’ll be writing a guest post for the wonderful Aimee L. Salter so make sure to check out her blog on Monday!
How was your week? Make sure to share your writing progress and what inspired you this week in the comment section below!
Building a bridge between literary and genre fiction
Hello gentle reader,
Last week at the London Book Fair, I attended a seminar on Genre Snobbery, which inspired me for this post (please note this is not a recap of said seminar).
Traditionally, literary fiction and genre fiction have been akin to two different planets. On the one hand, literary fiction is seen as character-driven, “serious” fiction with universal/thought-provoking themes and global recognition. On the other hand, genre fiction is supposed to be plot-driven, focused on narrow niches of readership and often snubbed by well-meaning critics.
Yet.
Is it impossible for a book to be BOTH literary and genre fiction? To bridge that gap between both readerships, both genres, both worlds?
Yes, and here are a couple of examples (genre classification is mine):
Wicked by Gregory Maguire (Literary Fantasy Retelling)
The Radleys by Mat Haig (Literary Vampire Book)
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova (Literary Historical Fantasy)
How do these books bridge the gap?
– The cover: only one detail (a drop of blood, a green girl) indicates the book could belong to the fantasy genre. At a first, quick glance, a reader could think this is a literary book. The cover thus appeals to both readerships.
– The content: these books have vampires, witches and ladies in petticoats, yet both their characters and plot lines could belong in a literay book.
– The author: often, a book that bridges the gap between literary and genre fiction has been written by a writer who has published works in both genres.
– The classification: these books are hard to put in a box. Often, the marketing team in charge of promoting them has struggled to pinpoint which genre they belong to, which readership they would appeal to and which cover to give them.
So what do you think? Have you ever read a “genre book” that you felt was literary? What do you think about genres and classifications in general? Feel free to leave me a comment below and to join the discussion!
My Week In Review – ROW80 Check-In 3
Hello gentle reader,
It is time for the third check-in of this round! I hope you had a good and productive week…
Quote of the Week
“All the elements in your body were forged many many millions of years ago in the heart of a faraway star that exploded and died. That explosion scattered those elements across the desolations of deep space. After so, so many millions of years, these elements came together to form new stars and new planets. And on and on it went. The elements came together and burst apart, forming shoes and ships and sealing wax and cabbages and kings.
Until, eventually, they came together to make you.
You are unique in the universe.”
The Doctor in Doctor Who, “The Rings of Akhaten”
Picture of the Week
Daffodils in the park… it’s springtime!
ROW80 Check-In
My goal for this round is to write every day. This week, I managed to write
2/7 days
Word Count of the Week
I added 3000 words to my Work In Progress. Well below my goal, but still better than nothing…
TV Show of the Week
The Borgias (Showtime)
The Borgias are back! I LOVE this show. Can’t wait to find out what they are up to this season.
Good news of the Week
This week my wonderful Critique Partner Jessica Montgomery has launched her Editorial Services! Need help with your query, your synopsis, your manuscript? She’s your girl!
Links of the Week
This week on my blog I’m holding a giveaway to celebrate my 400th Blog Follower! You can still enter here and win a signed copy of A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness.
Since it was also a week full of sad events around the world, I blogged about Kew Gardens, one of the most beautiful and peaceful man-made places on earth.
Elsewhere, you can watch Thirty Seconds To Mars new music video, Up In The Air. You know how much I love them.
And the Undiscovered Voices competition (for UK and EU Children’s Unpublished Writers) is coming up soon, so check out the website for information.
Next Week
Only ten days left of Camp NaNoWriMo… how is it going for you? Will you meet your goals?
How was your week? Make sure to share your writing progress and what inspired you this week in the comment section below!
A Visit to Kew Gardens…
Hello gentle reader,
this week again I’m taking part in the Thursday’s Children meme hosted by Rhiann Wynn-Nolet and Kristina Perez. It is “a weekly blog hop where writers come together to talk about whatever inspires them.”
Because this week has been full of sad news, I thought I’d share pictures of a place that is wonderfully peaceful and inspiring: Kew Gardens. All the photos are mine, so please mention my name if you reuse them…
The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew are 121 hectares of gardens and botanical glasshouses between Richmond and Kew in southwest London. Created in 1759, the gardens celebrated their 250th anniversary in 2009.
The Palm House (built in 1844–1848)
Inside the Palm House…
The Cherry Walk, leading to…
The Temperate House (this greenhouse is the world’s largest surviving Victorian glass structure)
Kew Palace (the smallest of the British royal palaces, built around 1631. The home of George III and his family)
Do you have a favourite place near where you live? One that feels peaceful and inspiring when the world seems like a dark place? Feel free to leave me a comment below, and to visit the other Thursday’s Children posts here.
Signed Book Giveaway (aka 400 Followers Giveaway)! (closed)
Welcome gentle reader!
My blog has reached 400 followers and to thank you all I am taking part in the Signed Book Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer.
*GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED!
THE WINNER WILL BE CONTACTED BY EMAIL*
The giveaway runs from today until Monday 22d April 2013. Since this giveaway is to thank my followers, you have to follow my blog via email or WordPress to enter. If you do, it is a chance for you to win a SIGNED paperback copy of A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. The giveaway is, as always, international.
Giveaway information:
The giveaway is open until Monday 22d April 2013 at midnight (BST time).
To enter please fill in the contact form below with your name and email, and let me know if you follow via email or WordPress. You HAVE TO follow my blog by email or WordPress to enter.
Entrants must be at least 13 years of age.
This giveaway is open Internationally.
The winner will be chosen randomly, notified by email and will have 72 hours to reply or a new winner will be chosen.
I am not responsible for items lost in the mail.
I hold the right to end the giveaway before its original deadline without any prior notice.
I hold the right to disqualify any entry as I see fit.
Privacy information: no information given for this giveaway will be used for other purpose than this giveaway. All information provided (names, emails and mail addresses) will be deleted after the giveaway.
Good luck and feel free to leave me a comment below…
This is a blog hop! Visit the other giveaways here.
My Week In Review – ROW80 Check-In 2
Hello gentle reader,
this week’s post will be short because I am in London for the London Book Fair…
ROW80 Check-In
My goal for this round is to write every day. This week, I managed to write
4 days out of 7.
Word count of the Week
My goal during CampNaNoWriMo is to write 1500 words a day. This week again I only wrote an average of 1000 words a day.
TV Show of the Week
Hannibal (NBC)
I started watching this thriller this week and found the first two episodes very promising…
Good News of the Week
I am now on Pinterest! If you are too, let me know, I’ll be happy to follow you!
Next Week
Next week I’ll have my 400 Followers Giveaway! Drop by to see what awesome bookish prizes you could win…
How was your week? Make sure to share your writing progress and what inspired you this week in the comment section below!
Writers In Movies – Angel by François Ozon
Hello gentle reader,
this week again I’m taking part in the Tursday’s Children meme hosted by Rhiann Wynn-Nolet and Kristina Perez. It is “a weekly blog hop where writers come together to talk about whatever inspires them.”
This week I’d like to share with you a movie I really like: Angel by French director François Ozon (2007).
In a previous post, I mentioned how I’m always annoyed by the way writers are portrayed in movies. In a word: unrealistic. Except maybe in Angel. This movie is about the life of a young romance writer at the beginning of the 20th Century. It was inspired by the life of Marie Corelli, who was one of the first authors to write bestsellers and become a star in the UK.
Here are a few reasons why I like this movie:
– It shows a writer writing.
In the morning, in the afternoon, at night, Angel writes. She forgets to eat, reads her stories aloud, sighs at people who disturb her… and she writes books. A lot of them. And the movie shows how much work and commitment it takes to do that.
Angel: “I am NOT leaving this room until I wrote ‘The End’!”
– It shows how crazy writers can appear to non-writers
Angel’s mother: “What if Angel is very gifted and we just don’t understand it?”
Angel’s husband: “You write too much!”
I love these quotes, because to her relatives, Angel is an alien. She spends her days in her bedroom writing stories. Who does that?! I also love the reaction of Angel’s mother when Angel tells her she’s getting published:
Angel: “A publisher wants to meet me!”
Mother (puzzled): “Whatever for?!”
Angel (laughs hysterically): “To publish my book!”
– It shows a writer who writes the stories she wants, and which then touch readers. I like how Angel writes what she loves and that’s how she becomes successful. But towards the end, when she writes to earn money and to give the readers what she thinks they want, her books don’t sell anymore.
Angel: “Don’t you know what this book means? It means money!”
– It shows how fleeting literary success is, but how a writer is a writer for life. After ten years of writing bestselling books, Angel stops being a successful writer when readers turn to other authors. But even when her books stop selling, she keeps writing, keeps coming up with new stories. Because you can’t stop imagination.
Have you ever watched this movie? Do you recognise yourself in this character? Feel free to leave me a comment below, and to visit the other Thursday’s Children posts here.
My Week in Review – ROW80 Check-In 1
Hello gentle reader,
It is time for the first check-in of this second round! I hope you had a good and productive week…
Quote of the Week
Yes, it’s terribly simple. The good guys are always stalwart and true, the bad guys are easily distinguished by their pointy horns or black hats, and we always defeat them and save the day. No one ever dies, and everybody lives happily ever after.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer (Season 2, Episode 7 “Lie To Me”)
Picture of the Week
Photo by my friend M.LIN
Look! It’s springtime! (Or not)
ROW80 Check-In
My goal for this round is to write every day. This week, I managed to write
every day!
Word Count of the Week
My goal during CampNaNoWriMo is to write 1500 words a day. This week I only managed to write an average of 1000 words a day.
Movie of the Week
From Hell (2001)
I watched this movie for research (it’s about the Jack The Ripper murders in Whitechapel). It turned out to be a decent movie!
Good news of the week
This week my friend Juliana Haygert published her NA Paranormal Romance DESTINY GIFT! Find out more about it here.
Links of the Week
This week on my blog I wrote a recap of the SCBWI Europlitan Conference.
On There And Draft Again, I discussed Gender Bias in Fantasy novels.
On her blog, Carissa Taylor talked about rejection in a fantastic post quoting best-selling YA authors.
The amazing Summer Heacock also wrote a blog post entitled When You Wish Upon A Book… and you should read it!
Next week
Next week I’m attending the London Book Fair! Stay tuned for a recap…
How was your week? Make sure to share your writing progress and what inspired you this week in the comment section below!
SCBWI Europolitan Conference Recap (Paris, March 2013)
Hello gentle reader,
this week again I’m taking part in the Tursday’s Children meme hosted by Rhiann Wynn-Nolet and Kristina Perez. It is “a weekly blog hop where writers come together to talk about whatever inspires them.”
Today I’d like to share with you what I’ve learned at the SCBWI Europolitan Conference I attended last week in Paris. In case you don’t know, SCBWI is the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. As its name implies, it is an awesome way to network with other writers.
The Paris conference had an amazing faculty, with YA authors Amy Plum, Sara Grant and Lenore Appelhans, agents Jennifer Laughran and Jenny Savill, and editors Heather Alexander (US Penguin) and Elizabeth Law (ex-Egmont USA), among others.
Spending two days with these awesome people, you can understand I came home with a notebook FULL of writerly advice. Here are a few things I thought I could share in a few bullet points…
- Betsy Bird, the NYPL’s Youth Materials Specialist and blogger for School Library Journal, once said “Most publishers look for books that have either windows or mirrors.” It means a novel needs to open onto new worlds or to reflect the reader’s life.
- If you’re writing YA fiction, personal marketing is essential. Social networking with your readers is what will sell your books to teenagers, not a marketing plan devised by your publisher. (Amy Plum)
- Networking with other writers before publication is a great way to have support and to avoid stress. (Amy Plum)
- Forget about trends. Write a book as original as possible within its genre. The book will be published in 18 months at the earliest, who knows what the trend will be by then?
- Voice is what matters. (Jenny Savill)
- Do things in your own time. Don’t rush. Write a great book. Learn, Write, Revise. (It took Sara Grant 17 years to get published. Now she is a best-selling author).
- When revising, start with macro-revising (revising the story, the plot, the characters) then micro-editing (word doctoring). (Sara Grant)
- Before you query or self-publish your book, make sure you know: the book’s most appealing quality, who will read it and why, what the gist of the story is, what makes it stand out from similar books on the market. (Heather Alexander)
- A query or a blurb should answer the questions: Who, What, Where, Why do I care? (Jennifer Laughran)
I could go on, but we’d be here all day… 😉 Needless to say I returned from the conference really inspired and ready to write ALL THE THINGS.
Have you ever attended a writers’ conference? Did you find it helpful and inspiring? Feel free to leave me a comment below, and to visit the other Thursday’s Children posts here.
EM Castellan 