Last Monday Book: on writing horror

Post by Jenny

Horror is a fiction genre that leaves me cold. Literally. I’m more than a bit squeamish and always wonder why and how horror writers do what they do. For that reason (and because today is Halloween) this month’s Last Monday Book is on writing horror, A Handbook by The Horror Writers Association, Edited by Mort Castle. The book is a compilation of essays written by HWA members. I always enjoy this kind of format, because it offers the perspectives, and lessons learned, of many different writers.

Any aspiring horror writers who fear that the genre lacks something in the legitimacy department will rest assured after reading Part I. This short section includes Joyce Carol Oates’s “The Madness of Art,” Stephen King’s 2003 National Book Award Acceptance Speech, and Michael McCarty’s “Why We Write Horror,” a collection of short answers to that question by the likes of Peter Straub, Ray Bradbury, David Niall Wilson, and others.

After delving briefly into the history of horror writing, the book addresses the nuts-and-bolts which concern all fiction writers: character, dialogue, setting, plot, pacing, et cetera. This is where the essay format works so well. Because each writer offers his or her keys to successful horror in just a few pages, the advice is succinct and to-the-point, but always seen through the shadowy lens of fiction’s dark side. The last third of the book deals with horror sub-genres (has there ever been a better title than Weston Ochse’s “Freaks and Fiddles, Banjos and Beasts: Writing Redneck Horror?”), publishing, and marketing, with an afterword by the great Harlan Ellison.

Not being a fan of horror, I confess that on writing horror was more useful and engaging than I thought it would be. As I read, I was struck by how horror fiction is such a balancing act. Yes, it’s often good vs. evil, but successful horror writers also know how human to make the monster, or how monstrous the human; how much to reveal, and how much to leave in the dark recesses of the imagination; what should shock, and what should simmer; and how to breathe new life into a familiar character—even an undead one. And, perhaps most importantly, how to avoid literal and figurative overkill. “Horror,” writes Douglas E. Winter, “is not a genre. It is an emotion.”

What have you learned from reading or writing horror fiction? And, in honor of Halloween, what is the scariest book you’ve ever read?

The Medusa Plant

Guest post by Dean K. Miller

I approached my adversary with trepidation. Neither fully dead nor alive, the wayward shrub stood before me. Its twisted limbs choked half its own life away, but the plant refused to die. Scattered green leaves flicked in the breeze taunting me. The barren limbs scraped the fence, a challenge to my reserves of stamina needed to complete the task.

With shovel in hand and an axe at my feet, I stood ready for battle. There was but one acceptable result. Fifteen minutes of chopping with pruning shears severed every twig and twisted limb that had spread like the snakes of Medusa hair. That trial complete, it was time to get to the heart of the matter: dig and chop the main root system and rid the yard of the damned beast.

I stabbed the leading edge of the shovel into the dirt. It sank into the soft soil, but then was deflected by a thick root. Exchanging weapons, I lifted the axe high overhead and descended a blow worthy of Paul Bunyan. The power of my strike cut through the dirt, bisecting the softened fiber. This wasn’t going to take long.

However, with each probe of the shovel I discovered more fingers of the plant’s root system. Most were small enough to cleave with the shovel. Others required additional influence from the axe. And what was this? A tributary root, as thick as my wrist was hiding deeper below and reaching under the fence. I whacked three successive blows of the axe and then flung it aside in resolute victory. Still the plant would not budge.

Soaked in sweat and panting, I found myself battling the Lernaean Hydra, as every root I dismembered seemed replaced by two more. Resolute as Heracles, I managed to slay the underground Hydra. Pulling the vanquished plant from the ground, I held it high in victorious solute and then cast the heart of the beast asunder. It caromed off the fence with a protracted thud. My trial complete, I sought shelter in the cool of my abode.

What does any of this have to do with writing? Quite simply, if the Greeks had not told and recorded their tales, I would’ve been left to my own vices to extricate the plant. Inevitably, this would have led to several profanities and most certainly the axe lacerating my shins. Instead I delved into the world of Greek Mythology, conquering my respective nemesis’ first as Perseus and then as Heracles.

As writers we must tell stories. Though we may never know who might read our words, some day a child, or even an adult will be transported through time and space to do battle and emerge victorious, without ever leaving their own back yard.

What conquests have you made
with your writing (or landscaping) lately?

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Dean K Miller is a member of NCW. His blog, "And Then I Smiled" can be found at: www.deankmiller.blogspot.com. He writes a monthly on-linefly fishing article for Elkhorn Fly Rod and an on-line serial titled "The River Zen" found at www.flyfishingcrazy.com. 

The 2012 Market Guides are Here!

Post by Kerrie and Delaney Flanagan
**Leave a comment for a chance to win the 2012 Guide To Literary Agents. Deadline to enter is Saturday at noon (mst)**

As a full-time editor for Writers Digest books, Chuck Sambuchino has his finger on the pulse of the publishing industry, especially when it comes to literary agents. Each year, Sambuchino updates, revises and includes new articles in the 2012 Guide to Literary Agents, which makes each edition feel like a brand new book.

Any writer looking to find a literary agent should have a copy of the 2012 Guide to Literary Agents. It is more than just a market guide with the contact information for agents. It is a helpful resource with great articles that will help you stay in tune with the current happenings in the industry.

“As the publishing industry continues to evolve,” writes Sambuchino, “writers need literary agents now more than ever. If you want to get published by a big publishing house that can distribute and promote your book—and ebook—everywhere, you need an agent who can access editors and negoitiate the best deal for you.”

The 2012 Guide to Literary Agents provides authors everything they need to be prepared. The first section of the book includes informative articles by Sambuchino and other writing professionals with titles like: Avenues to an Agent, Crafting a Query, Nonfiction Book Proposals and Agents and Self-Publishing.

One article in the screenwriting section, Think Like a Script Agent or Producer, written by Trai Cartwright, gives 10 tips on scoring an agent or producer for your screenplay.
“Understanding the filter through which a producer, director or agent reads a script,” writes Cartwright, “will help you identify all the potential No’s in your script.”

Another important resource to have along with the 2012 Guide to Literary Agents, is the 2012 Writer’s Market, by Robert Lee Brewer. The 2012 Writer’s Market is filled with articles about finding publishers, how to promote your work, freelancing, self-publishing, along with an extensive list of markets for magazines, agents, publishers and even greeting card companies.

I am privileged to be a part of this great resource with my article, The Art of Promotion. I interviewed a variety of successful authors like Laura Resau, LeAnn Thieman, Greg Campbell, and Christina Katz to find out the creative ways they promote their books.

Most writers understand that acquiring the right agent, publisher or market is necessary to seeing their work in print. In the 2012 Guide to Literary Agents , and the 2012 Writer’s Market, Sambuchino and Brewer provide the needed tools to give writers a better chance of finding writing success.

Do you have your copies of these market guides yet?
If you want to win a copy of the 2012 Guide to Literary Agents, just leave a comment. 

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Tales of the Unread

Post by Jenny

Among the most frequently-offered advice for aspiring writers is simply to read. From the oft-quoted Stephen King: “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” Nowhere do I take this advice more to heart than at my local library. I love browsing the stacks and knowing I can check out anything that strikes my fancy. But that often means I bring home too many books, and then I end up taking them back without reading them.

In the spirit of the Halloween season, here are the undead reasons my library books go unread:

The Mummy’s Curse: Preparing a mummy required hundreds of yards of linen, especially if each finger and toe was individually wrapped (which makes me think of really unappetizing Slim Jims). When I’m feeling mummified—too wrapped up in other things, too wound up, too unwound, or so busy I think I’m coming unraveled—I fall behind in my reading.

The Vampire’s Curse: Dracula had to manage his time well in order to bite the requisite number of necks and make it back to his crypt before the sun came up. I often don’t do so well with deadlines and have had to return many books when the due dates came around, even if I wasn’t finished reading. (I don’t think my friendly librarians have the power to turn me into a pile of dusty bones, but I’m not willing to risk it.)

The Phantom’s Curse: I love ghost stories and other creepy tales. During the day. At night, it’s a different situation entirely. When a scary book gets into my head and either keeps me from sleeping or gives me fretful dreams, I have to give up on it. This happens so often that I should know better, but I don’t.

The Zombie’s Curse: Disheveled, shambling, and with a bigger appetite for organ meats than even the Brits, zombies are more popular than ever. Too bad they can’t appreciate it, what with having their cognitive powers compromised by death and/or powerful voodoo toxins. Likewise, when a book I’m reading is so lowbrow, highbrow, convoluted, or slow that it gives me a similar numbness in my brain, back to the library it goes.

What’s the best book you’ve left unread?

Finding Your Creative Space

Post by Kerrie

Over the past month, a few amazing things have happened which have impacted my writing life and allowed me to find my creative space again.

In the latter part of the summer until early fall, I found it difficult to do any writing that wasn't related to Northern Colorado Writers. People would ask what I was writing and I would say, "website content and emails." No, they would say, YOUR writing. I'd pause and confess, "Nothing. I haven't written anything of my own."

As the director of a writing organization, this is a hard thing to admit. Here I am offering suggestions to other writers about their writing and how to organize their lives to fit it in and I can't even do it myself. My problem was all in my head--literally. Thoughts of work, ideas, family issues, finances, all whirled around in my head like a tornado spinning out of control and I couldn't figure out how to stop it.

At the end of the summer, I took two weeks off from work hoping that would help, but all that did was move the location of all the stress. I still had access to my computer, I still read emails everyday and the F4 twister in my head showed no signs of downgrading to anywhere near an F1.

So, when my friend, also one of my daughter's high school teacher's, asked if I would help chaperone a week long school fly-fishing adventure trip with 21 high-school students, I was hesitant. First off all, I don't know how to fly fish and second, how could I possibly leave with all that I felt I had going on? With some coaxing and my insistence on being in charge of the food and cooking, he convinced me to go. (you can read all about that trip here)

Being away from my computer, phone and anything else feeding the tornado,caused it to lose its momentum. Add the fresh air, hours by the river and beautiful scenery and clarity soon followed. I was soon able to "see" just how cluttered my creative space had become and it was no wonder I couldn't do any writing. I started reorganizing everything in my head and was able to clear out a small space to do a little journaling. (its all about baby steps)

Upon our return home, the twister started again, but with less "junk" in there it wasn't quite as strong as before, but it was still there, impeding on my creative space. The good news is I got enough clarity to see what I needed to do.

With the encouragement of some friends, I decreased the NCW studio hours by 2 hours a day and made a plan to take one day a week off in order to open up some time for me to write. Lastly, I needed to schedule times away from my computer (ideally outside). This is where the fly fishing comes back in. I finally went for the first time where I actually got to fish and I fell in love with it. I can absolutely see this being new favorite down time activity away from my computer. At the end of that day fishing, my mind was effectively cleared, allowing even more creative space to open up.

Because of all that, I have been able to start writing again. The last two mornings I got up around 5:45am to write in my journal. Both days I was able to crank out 8 pages and it felt great. Tomorrow I plan to do the same thing.

Then to top it all off, I am going fishing!
                             ~

What is the condition of your
internal creative space?

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Would You stickK To It?

Post by Jenny

Writers tend to be goal-oriented people, whether that goal is to put the first sentence down on paper or complete seven books in a series. But because the writing process can be a lengthy one, some of us may, on occasion, stray from our goals just the tiniest bit. When that happens, friends, family, and critique groups can help keep us on task--if we're honest with them about how much time we spend writing and how much time we spend playing Angry Birds.

Recently, I ran across stickK, the on-line program which bills itself as “the smartest way to set and achieve your goals.” This is done by creating "Commitment Contracts based on two well known principles of behavioral economics:

1.People don't always do what they claim they want to do, and

2.Incentives get people to do things.” (I'm assuming these principles have been simplified for the non-economists among us.)

Here’s a summary of the plan's four steps:

1. Set a goal – Most of us have already done this once or fourhundredthirtyseven times.

2. Set the stakes – This is where things get interesting. The goal maker has the option to put real money on the line. If the goal is not met, “stickK will send your hard-earned cash to one of three options—friend, charity, or Anti-Charity, which is an organization you hate!” Ooh, a diabolical twist.

3. Get a referee – someone you know and trust who keeps tabs on your progress

4. Add friends for support – your chosen stickK community, which provides encouragement and “peer pressure”

stickK is the brainchild of smart people at Yale University who saw the need for a motivational AAA of sorts along the long and sometimes lonely road between goal and accomplishment. Judging by their website, they were right. The homepage goal scroll lists individual member goals including “open a yarn store,” “lose weight,” “only one cup of coffee a day,” and “climb Mt. Everest.” I am not a member, but any of the following goals could be mine: “write 1000 words a day,” “write for at least one hour each day,” and “publish.”

So, what do you think, writers? If you have trouble meeting your goals and don’t already have a reliable someone keeping you honest, is stickK a service you’d consider using? Would the thought of your money going to your most reviled “anti-charity” motivate you to sit your butt down and write?

First Lines: Character Reveal or Plot Reveal, that is the question?

by Brooke Favero

This week I've been revising the beginning of my story. Where to start is such a hard thing to decide. It needs to be close to the inciting incident but not so close that the reader gets lost.

And then there is the very very beginning: first sentence, first paragraph, and first page. All three are critical to hook your reader deeper into the plot and the characters. They must make your reader care enough to turn the first page.

Personally, I don't hinge whether I stop reading based on the first page. (I usually give a book about twenty pages. If it doesn't hold my interest by twenty, I'm done.) But I do notice when a first line, paragraph or page is done well. If you need help like me, The Other Side of the Story has some great techniques for crafting the first page.

So I've been reworking my first line a lot this week, and I've also been studying the first lines of many different books. Great first lines generally fit into two categories: character reveal or plot reveal. (Although I think the very best lines do both.)

I took a look at my original first line and it was a character reveal. Not bad but my inciting incident isn't till page 18. I decided I needed a first line with a plot reveal to hook my readers to get them through those 18 pages of character development---sort of a promise of what's to come.

Here's my new first line of my middle grade story (for now): When you fall through a puddle, no one hears you scream, and yet I scream every time.

I still don't love it. Arrrggh. Any thoughts?

What is the first line of your WIP? Is it a character or plot reveal or both?

What are your best tips for writing a first line?

The "A" Circle

Post by Jenny

I know The "A" Circle sounds like a place where Brangelina might hang out, so let me clarify. On Thursday, I went to the NCW studio to hear Literary Agent Sara Megibow talk about the things authors must do before they can even think about getting published. Sara began by stretching out her arms, making a circle, and saying (I’ll paraphrase) here you writers are, in your circles, being artists. Then she stepped to the side and made another circle to describe her space, the publishing biz. I’ll call that The "B" Circle. A for Artist, B for Business…you’re with me here, right?

The majority of Sara’s class addressed the ways in which writers can increase their chances of gaining access to that coveted "B" Circle of agent representation and, hopefully, publication. Good news: it doesn’t involve sacrificing live chickens! Unless your book happens to be about sacrificing chickens. Or you’ve written a short story collection, in which case you might also need to hire a voodoo priestess. (If you were not able to attend the class, don’t despair. There are pages and pages of helpful information at The Nelson Literary Agency website.)

For the rest of the evening, I found myself mentally returning to the image of the artist’s circle. Now, I think of myself as a number of things: mother, wife, sister, daughter, competent wordsmith (on a good day), hopeless wanna-be (on a bad one), friend of Gayle and Rosie (oh, wait, that’s Oprah). But I never think of myself as an artist, so having an industry professional call me that, albeit indirectly, made me feel kinda warm and fuzzy inside.

But then I tried to picture my circle, where I presumably work and be happily artistic and drink wine—or at least learn how to spell gewürztraminer. The image that came to mind was less like a circle and more like…an amoeba. Sort of shapeless, with a highly permeable outer membrane that lets all sorts of distractions—phone calls, Awkward Family Photos, jalapeno-cheddar potato chips, nagging self-doubt.

Oh, my. Time to shape up my circle.

Lacking an actual human-sized hamster ball in which I can curl up and be an artist while gnawing on seeds and dried corn, my circle will have to be a virtual one. I imagine it as a shining bubble around me that is ionized to let in the positive writer juju and deflect the negative. And with every keystroke—yes, even the backspaces; those are important, too—it grows brighter and stronger, bathing me in creativity while giving me an awesome sunless tan.

Much better.

Do you think of yourself as an artist? Do you have a space to call your circle?

Gone Fishing...

Sometimes, not writing can be as powerful as sitting in a chair for 8 hours spilling our deepest thoughts onto the page.

At 8:30am on September 26, my daughter and I went to her school, Polaris Expeditionary Learning School, where we loaded up all our gear, 21 middle and high school students, 2 teachers and 3 parents (including me) into 5 vehicles and headed to Kremmling, Colorado for a week-long fly fishing adventure.

The winding Poudre Canyon led us to the top of Cameron Pass. The yellows, oranges and reds on the trees turned more vivid the higher we went. It some areas, the groves of aspens seemed to be glowing, showering us with bright colored leaves as we drove through. As we traveled over the pass, the colors intensified and took our breath away.

After one stop at the Moose Visitor center, we arrived at our destination, Grand River Ranch (a private property) four hours later. The students, well-skilled at setting up camp, went to work. (I, on the other hand, had the privilege of being able to set up my cot in the heated, nicely decorated, complete with bathroom and running water, day-use cabin).

Fly Fishing School

Then it was off to town for fly fishing school. Kyle, the high school science teacher, who also moonlights as a guide for St. Peters Fly Shop in Fort Collins on weekends and in the summer, plunged right in and taught students about leaders, tippets, the parts of a fly rod and of course, flies. It was then time for them to put their fly rods together and practice casting (without a hook at this point).

Casting Practice

While they were busy with this, I headed to the Kremmling Mercantile to pick up the necessary supplies for a big pot of homemade chili. Back at camp we all enjoyed Frito Pie (Chili, Fritos and cheese). With full stomachs we set out for the river. As we approached, the kids talking turned to whispers, then to silence and all we heard were our footsteps and the river.

Kyle got in the water and gave us a river anatomy lesson, teaching us about riffles and pools and typical fish behaviors. In the middle of the lesson, a bald eagle flew overhead on his way back to his nest. We all watched in awe.

Around the campfire that evening, after all the students had went to their tents. The five of us adults talked about the plans for the next day, while the coyotes serenaded us.

Enjoying coffee and the sunrise

I woke up the next morning before the sun and before anyone else to get the coffee and breakfast going. This is my favorite time of day and being in such a beautiful location made it even better. The eagle flew over again on his way to "work" and I once again marveled at his grace.

The view from the Deck

After a morning of practicing roll casts on a small lake, the kids were ready to give the river a try. They all wadered up, grabbed their rods and the 4 groups spread themselves out in the river. Then for the next three days, they followed the same routine. Eagle, breakfast, fish, lunch, fish, eagle, late dinner (with one of those mornings being spent catching, counting, measuring and weighing fish with the Division of Wildlife and with one evening being cut short for a group when a student made had a brief bear encounter).

So what does all of this have to do with writing? A lot.

Even though I wasn't writing, my brain and senses were filling with new experiences, sounds and images that will be embedded in my memory forever and can be used in my future writing:

Delaney Fishing

• Watching my daughter display great fishing skills on the river with her beautiful casting and effectiveness in stripping the line as the indicator floated by.
• Listening to the sounds of the river for hours on end.
• Sharing the excitement of the kids as they caught fish.
• Being outside in the fresh air for 5 days, away from my computer
• Enjoying the fish stories each night
• Learning a new "language" (roll cast, tippit, leader, surgeon's knot...)
• Sitting wrapped up in a blanket on the deck after everyone went to sleep and looking at the countless stars while the river provided the background music.
• Experiencing a profound sense of calm.

Writing doesn't always entail sitting with pen and paper in hand or tapping away at our computer. If we are paying attention and being in the moment life can be our muse.

Kyle and Delaney

Delaney and Luna tying on a fly

The whole gang

Another view from the deck

October Fun

Post by Jenny

Moving on from the serious topic of Banned Books Week, let’s have a little literary fun now that October is here. (Answers are at the bottom.)






Author Scramble
The following authors were born in October:

NENA CIRE (10/4/1941)
RAFNK TERHBER (10/8/1920)
LIMACHE ONTCRHIC (10/23/1942)
DROOFY VESTOOSKDY (10/30/1821)

Match the October title with its author:

1. The October Horse (Historical Fiction)
2. October Fest (Murder-by-Month Mystery)
3. October Fury (Historical Nonfiction)
4. The October Country (Stories)
5. The Hunt for Red October (Military Fiction)

A. Ray Bradbury
B. Tom Clancy
C. Jess Lourey
D. Peter A. Huchthausen
E. Colleen McCullough

Oscar Wilde, Eugene O’Neill, and Noah Webster were all born on October 16. List them oldest to youngest.

What movie with October in its title was based on the book Rocket Boys, by Homer H. Hickam, Jr.?

What author and etiquette expert was born October 27, 1872?

Born on October 31, 1795, which English Romantic Poet wrote “Ode To Autumn,” and died of tuberculosis at the age of twenty-five?

This one’s not October-related but is fun anyway: Merriam-Webster’s Visual Vocab Quiz.

Last but not least, Writer’s Digest reminds us that October is National Book Month. What October reading and writing fun do you have planned?

Answers:
Anne Rice, Frank Herbert, Michael Crichton, Fyodor Dostoevsky

1-E; 2-C; 3-D; 4-A; 5-B

Webster (b. 1758), Wilde (b. 1854), O’Neill (b. 1888)

October Sky

Emily Post (1872-1960)

John Keats (1795-1821)