Storyteller's Journey

Public Domain Photo by George Hodan

Clearing Cobwebs

This week I've finally started writing a new, and hopefully exciting, story. But clearing the cobwebs in my mind after the holidays was not easy. That got me thinking of ways to do just that.

Here's a list of ways I came up with to clear the cobwebs of my mind:

1- Allow yourself time to fully recover from an intense season of your life. Whether it's the holidays, a summer vacation, or the birth of a baby, you need time to get back to your normal routine.

2- Once you've allowed yourself the appropriate time to get back to normal, make sure you don't procrastinate. Make a detailed list of goals (with deadlines) that you want to accomplish in the coming months and follow through with steps to make them happen.

3- If it seems difficult to grasp hold of creative or imaginative ideas then mix it up. Most libraries and community centers offer free classes or meetings. A great way to clear the cobwebs of your mind is to engage in an activity you've not previously participated in. While it might seem counter-productive to spend time on a new activity or hobby, I've found just the opposite to be true.

4- Be a member of a critique group. Hearing about other writers' stories and accomplishments might be just the kick in the pants you need. (My critique group took a winter break; I  can't wait to meet with my writer friends in a few weeks!)

5- Read a book on the craft of writing, and then follow up by working on one of the techniques mentioned in the book. It might be just the thing to jumpstart your writing.

6- Another point to remember is that if you have responsibilities you've not taken care of, by all means fulfill your responsibilities. There is no way I can write if there is a chore or project constantly on my mind. (That's why I write in the afternoon: the household chores, errands, and appointments have been completed for the day.)

7- Lastly, if all else fails...get away! Sometimes the hubbub of our lives is just too much. Whether it's spending the day writing at the library, at a friend's house, or even at a quiet cabin, getting away might be just what you need.

I'm spending this long weekend in Cannon Beach, Oregon with my husband Michael. One of the things we'll be doing is putting our heads together in an attempt to come up with a rough draft for another children's book. Below is a photo (from my archives) of the coastal area we'll be visiting:

Wishing each one of you luck clearing any cobwebs in your mind!

Whimsical Word of the Week

Pismire - (n.)

an ant.

Example: After calling his classmate a puny pismire, the big bully was sent to the principal's office.

Bibliophile's Corner

Absolutely Truly
by Heather Vogel Frederick

Amazon Description:
An unsent letter in a first edition copy of Charlotte’s Web leads to a hunt for treasure in this heartwarming middle grade mystery from the author of The Mother-Daughter Book Club.

Now that Truly Lovejoy’s father has been injured by an IED in Afghanistan and is having trouble finding work back home, the family moves from Texas to tiny Pumpkin Falls, New Hampshire, to take over Lovejoy’s Books, a struggling bookstore that’s been in the family for one hundred years.

With two older brothers and two younger sisters clamoring for attention, her mother back in school, and everyone up to their eyebrows trying to keep Lovejoy’s Books afloat, Truly feels more overlooked than usual. So she pours herself into uncovering the mystery of an undelivered letter she finds stuck in a valuable autographed first edition of Charlotte’s Web, which subsequently goes missing from the bookshop. What’s inside the envelope leads Truly and her new Pumpkin Falls friends on a madcap treasure hunt around town, chasing clues that could spell danger.

My Thoughts:
I absolutely loved this novel by Heather Vogel Frederick! It took a few chapters to really hook me, but once it did I couldn't put it down. Absolutely Truly features stellar characters, scrumptious settings, and a puzzling plot that ultimately leads to a fantastic finale. Great themes of family, friendship, and perseverance are all wrapped up in this fun-filled middle grade mystery. I highly recommend this novel to readers from the ages of eight to twelve.

Click here to learn more about the author, Heather Vogel Frederick.

Storyteller's Journey

   Searching for Magic in 2015

What makes a story seem so real that it tricks the reader into feeling like she's been transported to another place, time, or situation?


It comes from a writer who can create magic with her words.

But how? I've thought a lot about this question - especially while reading a story that has cast its spell upon me! I've scrutinized numerous novels and have come to the conclusion that there are several elements that must all come together if the writer is to compose a story that can magically "transport" the reader.

Here is a list of things I'm working on to become a wizard of words:

1- Know your story. What I mean by that statement is that it's not enough to have done research: I must know my protagonist, plot, setting, antagonist, etc. so well that when I weave my web on the page it sounds like I'm telling a story straight from my heart. That takes time.

2- Be a wordsmith. While most of you know that I love unusual words, I'm also prone to including a unique word in a story when a more ordinary word might be a better choice. (It's one of my weaknesses as a writer that I'm working on this year!) That being said, it's also not good to become lazy in our choice of words when writing what we hope will be a special story. Selecting just the right word can make all the difference in our story's ability to whisk the reader away.

3- Look for the unique. Whether it's choosing our protagonist's name, occupation, or fatal flaw, it's important to make unique choices. Certainly an imaginative plot is something all readers expect. No one wants to read a rehash of something that's been written before. Quirky, whimsical, and/or extraordinary should be the writer's new normal.

4- Plant "story seeds." It's always a treat when an author plants a small idea (story seed) at the beginning of her novel and then allows the story seed to come to fruition at the culmination of the book. When a writer can do that, it adds complexity and believability to her story. It's an important technique in helping the reader to leave his or her world of reality behind. (J.K. Rowling is a master at this.)

5- Use first person &/or internal dialogue. While I've not yet written a manuscript in first person, I do use internal dialogue quite a bit in my writing. Using one, or both, of these techniques allows the reader to get inside the head of the protagonist; it's a way of feeling closer to the main character. (Much like getting closer to a friend when she bares her soul.)

6- Find your funny bone. Including humor in my writing is something I've decided will always be a challenge for me, but I'm constantly working at it. Who doesn't enjoy a good laugh while reading a book? It's not only a way to invite readers into your story, it's an excellent way for them to leave their seemingly humdrum life (and possibly their problems) behind.

7- Use a storyteller voice. This doesn't necessarily mean you break the fourth wall, but it does mean that you compose your story like you're writing a letter to a friend. One of the first pieces of writing advice I ever received still stands as one of the best: Do you want people to notice what a talented writer you are? Or, do you want readers to love your story? (Author, Carolyn J. Rose) As writers we all probably hope peers and readers like our stories. However, if we're too concerned about what our peers think, we'll probably let our readers down. After all, isn't a great writer one who makes you forget that her story didn't always exist somewhere in time?

These are just a few ways we can magically "transport" our readers.

   ~ Hope you all find the magic in your writing this year! ~

Whimsical Word of the Week

Jokul - (n.)

an Icelandic mountain covered with snow and ice.

Example: The clan of magical nisse lived hidden high on a steep jokul.

Bibliophile's Corner

Hook's Revenge
by Heidi Schulz

Amazon Description:
Twelve-year-old Jocelyn dreams of becoming every bit as daring as her infamous father, Captain James Hook. Her grandfather, on the other hand, intends to see her starched and pressed into a fine society lady. When she's sent to Miss Eliza Crumb-Biddlecomb's Finishing School for Young Ladies, Jocelyn's hopes of following in her father's fearsome footsteps are lost in a heap of dance lessons, white gloves, and way too much pink.

So when Jocelyn receives a letter from her father challenging her to avenge his untimely demise at the jaws of the Neverland crocodile, she doesn't hesitate-here at last is the adventure she has been waiting for. But Jocelyn finds that being a pirate is a bit more difficult than she'd bargained for. As if attempting to defeat the Neverland's most fearsome beast isn't enough to deal with, she's tasked with captaining a crew of woefully untrained pirates, outwitting cannibals wild for English cuisine, and rescuing her best friend from a certain pack of lost children, not to mention that pesky Peter Pan who keeps barging in uninvited. Will Jocelyn find the courage to beat the incessant monster before time runs out?

My Thoughts:
Hook's Revenge is the recently released debut novel by Heidi Schulz - it's sure to delight all young pirates! This well-written middle grade fantasy novel includes entertaining escapades, a feisty female protagonist, and a host of mischievous and colorful supporting characters. I especially enjoyed the character development of the young protagonist, Jocelyn. If you have a reluctant reader or a young girl who is somewhat of a tomboy, Hook's Revenge might be just the novel you need. I would recommend this book to readers from the ages of eight to twelve.

Click here to learn more about the author, Heidi Schulz.

Happy New Year!

For last year's words belong to last year's language. And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.
~ T. S. Eliot



A simple poem for the new year:

New Days in Time

New thoughts to think,
new truths to learn.
New prayers to God,
new leaves to turn.

New paths to tread,
new sod to seed.
New words to write,
new tomes to read.

New dreams to dream,
new peaks to climb.
New seas to span -
new days in time.
                ~ V. Lindstrom