Beyond Her Pale Crib Walls

Hello all!

The following is an original poem that I wrote when I was in high school. It was published in the high school literary magazine and is currently my one and only published piece. Hope you enjoy it!


Beyond Her Pale Crib Walls

By Shellie Kinard

The baby cries out softly

but no one hears her plea.

They don't know why she's whining

and, sadly, nor does she.

Her fragile heart is beating

to the rhythm of the clock.

It hangs upon the wall

making endless ticks and tocks.

Her little fingers reach out

then curl up into balls.

She looks out with curiosity

beyond her pale crib walls.

The surroundings lie in shadows.

Her timid eyes cannot see.

This crib is safe and warm

yet she longs to be

                            Free.

The Bookman's Tale Review

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     After reading the Earth’s Children series, it was weird to read such a short book. Weird, but still very refreshing. The Bookman’s Tale by Charlie Lovett was my consolation prize for having made it through my last reading adventure. I’d had my eye on this book for a while, and I’m glad I finally got a chance to read it.

     Peter Byerly is the main character in this book. He is an antiquarian bookseller who, while struggling with the loss of his wife, gets entangled in a web of conspiracies that dates back to the time of William Shakespeare. It all starts with Peter discovering a miniature portrait of a woman that dates back to the 1800s. The strange thing is, the woman in the photograph looks just like his wife.

     There were definitely some mysteries throughout this plot that made me want to keep reading and get to the end. I think what I enjoyed most, though, was the love and appreciation for books that many of the characters had. In fact, I’m pretty sure I want to be an antiquarian bookseller myself when I grow up. Actually, I would probably just want to keep all of the books for myself instead of making money off of them so that wouldn’t work. I think I’d rather be a wealthy book collector. J

     I gave The Bookman’s Tale a three because it’s one of those books where, once you’ve read it and you find out what happens, you don’t really feel the need to read it again. I definitely recommend reading it if you never have before, but I probably won’t pick it up a second time.

     One thing I enjoyed, though, is the way Lovett plotted out the story. He set the course of events up over three separate timelines that alternate between chapters. One timeline was set far back in the past, beginning with when Shakespeare was just starting to produce his plays. Another timeline was set in the recent past to show how Peter and his wife met and what happened over the course of their relationship. The third timeline was set in the present to show what was currently happening to Peter and how he was being affected by the events from the other two timelines.

     I don’t think I’ve seen a story plotted out quite that way before, and it always intrigues me to see how authors organize stories that take place over multiple periods of time. I’d love to write something that takes place in the past, and books like this one give me ideas for interesting ways to plot that out.

     If you enjoy reading novels about people who love reading as much as you do, add this one to your list. Another novel that has a bibliophile as the main character is The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. I absolutely loved this book, and I can’t wait to read it again someday!

    

     What are some great novels that you’ve read about people who love books? I’m always looking for recommendations in this category!

The Land of Painted Caves and Overall Series Reviews

     Okay, so I’ll be honest with you guys. Normally, I am super upset when a series ends, and I have to take a few days to grieve the end of the story. Even if it had a happy ending, I’ll never get to read a story with those characters again (at least not an authentic one written by the actual author).

     I enjoyed the characters of Ayla and Jondalar, and their love for each other was very inspiring. Once I had finished this final book, though, I was so excited!!! It felt like a huge accomplishment to finish this series, and I couldn’t believe I had finally made it through! Maybe it’s just been awhile since I’ve read a complete series straight through, but this one felt pretty overwhelming.

     However, it was still an incredibly written series. I knew I’d be itching to start on a book with new characters, but I felt that this book deserved a few days of closure as well. So, I told myself that I couldn’t start another book until I’d put up a review for each book in this series.

     Now, here I am, at the final review. It’s been a long journey, friends, but we’ve finally made it. Without further ado, here is my review and rating for The Land of Painted Caves and the series as a whole.

Rating:

  

  

     Growing up with the Clan, being cursed with death and banished from the only family she could remember, struggling to survive in the wilderness with only a horse and a cave lion to keep her company, saving a man’s life and traveling on an epic journey with him back to his homeland, meeting and befriending various tribes along the way (some friendlier than others), and finally making it to her future mate’s home to start a family of her own.

     These and many other events are all things that Ayla has gone through to become the person who we see in the sixth and final installment of Earth’s Children: The Land of Painted Caves. During each leg of her journey, we’ve been side-by-side with Ayla as she’s learned about acceptance, survival, love, perseverance, and family.

     Her lessons aren’t over just yet, though. This last book is all about Ayla’s final tests as an acolyte before she can become a full-fledged Zelandoni. On top of her training, she still has to find time to balance her equally-important role as a mother and wife. We’ve seen Ayla go up against giant prehistoric animals, dangerous elements of nature, and even harmful people of her own kind, but how will she do when facing the ordinary difficulties of everyday life?

     Whether or not you’re married with kids and trying to work a job at the same time, I think this book shows a side of Ayla that we can all relate to. We’ve all struggled to balance our obligatory work or school load with our social lives at some point or another. It’s a constant juggling act, no matter what role you play in life. 

     It’s actually kind of a relief to see in this book that we’re not alone in these struggles. Everybody goes through them, but as Ayla and Jondalar show us, if the people in your life are really important to you, you won’t let anything stop you from sticking together.

     I ended up giving this one three Star Lords, because I thought it wrapped the series up pretty well, but some of the problems with Jondalar and Ayla felt a little too similar to their struggles in The Mammoth Hunters. Once again, I found myself frustrated at how stupid they were both being, but I totally wanted to give Danug a huge high five after the talk he gave them at the end.

Overall Series Rating:

   

     Even though the average amount of Star Lords makes it seem like the series should be rated as a three, I decided to rate the overall series as a four. Jean M. Auel writes her books in a unique and impressively in-depth style that allows the reader to experience the prehistoric era in the most realistic way possible. I walked away from the series feeling like I really had gone on a journey back to the Ice Age.

     One of my favorite things about the series is how Auel fit in moments of innovation that perfectly explained how certain everyday creations could have come about. It feels like you’re watching life-changing history in the making when Ayla comes up with the idea for the “thread-puller” and Jondalar for the “spear-thrower”. Part of me kept waiting for one of them to invent the wheel. Not to mention, her explanation at the end for creating the term “father”. That word has deeper meaning for me after having read this series.

     Even if you are not sure whether you want to read the entire series, I recommend that you at least read the first novel if you get the chance. Auel is a master writer, and she knows how to fully immerse her readers in the story’s setting.

     Well, about seven months later, I’ve finally finished this astounding series. Hooray! If you’ve read through it yourself, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Did you feel as accomplished as I did to make it through?

     Other than that, I think the most appropriate thing I can leave you with is the last line of the Mother’s Song:

“Earth’s Children were Blessed. The Mother could rest.”

The Shelters of Stone Review

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*For those of you who haven’t read The Plains of Passage yet, SPOILER ALERT!

     I feel silly saying spoiler alert for this post because, was there really any doubt that Ayla and Jondalar would make it back to his homeland? True, there were a few moments that probably had us all a little worried (like the S’Armunai War of the Women), but sure enough, our heroes prevailed!

     In The Shelters of Stone, we join Ayla as she finally gets to meet the Zelandonii. In a way, the whole series has really been leading up to this book, more so than the final one. Ever since Ayla came to realize how different she was from the people of the Clan, she’s been searching for people like her and a place to call home.

     She’s been welcomed almost everywhere she’s gone and even adopted into another family, but there was always this temporary feeling at each place. Her heart belonged to Jondalar, and he could never be satisfied living somewhere other than his true home. Now, at long last, Ayla can really sink in her roots and start a family with him.

     This book was a tough one for me to rate because there wasn’t really anything in particular that I disliked about it. At the same time, nothing extraordinary really stood out to me.

     This far into the series, I’ve gotten used to Auel’s phenomenal attention to prehistoric detail, and I know all of the incredible things that Ayla is capable of. Overall, it was a bit less memorable than the other books. So, it has been given the rating of three Star Lords.

     The one thing I loved about this book, though, was that we finally got to meet all of these people that we’d heard so much about: Jondalar’s mother, Marthona; his older brother, Joharran; Willamar, Folara, and all of his other family members; Marona (ugh); and, of course, Zelandoni, not to be confused with Zelandonii, the name of the people as a whole (yeah, that’s totally not confusing).

     Needless to say, none of these people were expecting Jondalar to come back after five years had gone by, and they definitely weren’t expecting him to show up with a beautiful foreign woman, two horses, and a wolf. Read for yourself to see how each of them reacts and welcomes (or doesn’t welcome) Ayla into their home.

     If you’ve already read this book, I’d love to hear what you thought. Were Jondalar’s family members and his Zolena similar to how you thought they’d be?

The Plains of Passage Review

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* For those of you who haven’t read The Mammoth Hunters yet, SPOILER ALERT!

     Oh my goodness, this book was exhausting!

     In The Plains of Passage, Jean M. Auel’s fourth installment in the Earth’s Children series, Ayla and Jondalar go on a year-long journey to travel back to Jondalar’s people, known as the Zelandonii.

     Just like with all of the other books in the series, Auel does not fail to place her readers firmly in the story. I applaud her incredible craftsmanship, but, due to that skill, I too felt like I had gone on a journey of epic proportions. Can you even fathom taking an entire year to get somewhere?

     Allow me to digress for just a moment to put this into perspective. When I was about four years old, I went on a family road trip from Florida to the Grand Canyon. I don’t remember how long it took us to get there with all the stops we made along the way, but, according to MapQuest, it takes about a day-and-a-half one way if you drive continuously. 

(I tried to see how long it would take to walk there since Ayla and Jondalar traveled by foot and horseback, but MapQuest couldn’t even calculate it.)

     By the time I got home from this trip, you’d better believe I marched right into the house, grabbed my plastic Minnie Mouse chair, plopped it in front of the television, and sat my butt down. True story. At such a young age, even I understood that more than one day is too long to have to be on the road.

     Yet Ayla and Jondalar dared to set out into the wilderness for 365 days (give or take) through fields of grass that towered over their heads, bug-infested swamplands that made their skin itch, and many other treacherous landscapes.

     Using one of my favorite suspense tricks, Auel also gave them a pressing time limit in which they had to reach their destination. They had to make it across an icy plateau glacier that lay at the end of their journey before the end of winter. Otherwise, the ice would start to melt and it would be too dangerous to cross. 

     Remember, this was long before the invention of GPS, and there was hardly anyone around that you could stop and ask for directions. One wrong turn and they’d never make it home.

     While I was definitely anxious to see if they would get there in time, this book still felt like it took forever to read. I was probably more excited than Ayla and Jondalar by the time this trip was finally over.

      So, book #4 in this series was given 3 Star-Lords. Excellent attention to detail as usual, but a little too long of a trip for my tastes. I think next time I’ll just stay home in my Minnie Mouse chair and leave it to someone else to go traipsing through the plains of passage.

** I couldn't find a picture of me in my Minnie Mouse chair, so I've left you with the next best thing.

Mini me finds the lack of dinosaurs on this prehistoric trip to be highly disappointing.

The Mammoth Hunters Review

            

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*For those of you who haven’t read The Valley of Horses, SPOILER ALERT!

     I don’t know about you, but I was thrilled when Ayla finally met Jondalar. What are the odds, though, that the first of her kind that she meets is the most handsome man on the planet and he just happens to fall in love with her? If only it were that easy in real life.

     Nevertheless, now that she’s finally found her mate, Ayla travels with Jondalar and they happen to run into the Mamutoi along the way. The Mammoth Hunters is the third installment in the Earth’s Children series, and it focuses on Ayla and Jondalar’s extended stay with them.

     I gave this book three Star Lords because this one started to feel like it dragged a little bit more than the first two. It was exciting to see how Ayla handled meeting a whole group of Others for the first time, but spending a large part of the visit stuck in a cave with everyone in the winter can get kind of boring. You know how it gets when your relatives visit for the holidays. By the end of the season, you’re practically kicking them out the door so you can have a little time to yourself again. Yeah, it was a little like that.

                

     Still, it had its high points as well. In fact, my favorite scene in the entire series (and I’m writing this after having read all of the books in the series) is in this book. It’s all the way at the end, though, so I don’t want to say too much. Let’s just say it has to do with Jondalar asking Ayla a question, and leave it at that.

                

      During their stay with the Mamutoi, Ayla and Jondalar go through a pretty big rough patch in their relationship. Aeul gives us a deeper look into all of the interesting characters that she introduces and there’s a lot of fascinating anecdotes, but the underlying current is how Ayla and Jondalar develop (or don’t) as a couple. It definitely kept me reading to find out how they were going to fix things, but I also wanted to smack both of them upside the head for being so oblivious to each other’s true feelings.

       It’s interesting how silly a problem can appear when we’re given insight into what both people are thinking, but Ayla and Jondalar only have their own perceptions to go off of. They simply can’t see what we and all of the Mamutoi around them know to be true. By the end of the book, we come to the same realization as these two clueless lovebirds: love isn’t always as easy as you think it should be, but it’s always worth fighting for.

The Valley of Horses Review

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*For those of you who haven’t read The Clan of the Cave Bears, SPOILER ALERT!

                

     The second book in the Earth’s Children series is The Valley of Horses. At the end of the first book, Ayla finally leaves the Clan behind to find her own people, the Others. This novel follows her treacherous and solitary journey through the wilderness as she searches to meet someone else like herself.

     

     I personally really enjoyed this novel. The first book centers completely on Ayla’s similarities and differences to people of the Clan, and she’s forced to hold back her own unique skills to match their traditions. In this second installment, we get to see just what Ayla is capable of. For the first time, she doesn’t have anyone to tell her that she can’t hunt, take care of wounded animals, or even laugh. It’s exciting to see her explore her own abilities and find new and improved ways of doing things.

            

     I also really like how the format of this story was set up. Instead of just seeing things from Ayla’s perspective and what is going on where she is at, we get to follow two brothers as they go on a journey to places far from their home.  Both stories are told side-by-side, switching between perspectives after every few chapters.

     As a writer, I can’t help but appreciate how well this technique works for building up suspense. From the beginning, it’s obvious that Ayla is going to have a run-in with these brothers, and it makes the reader so curious to see how they will respond to each other. Every chapter I kept wondering, “Is this the chapter where they’re going to meet?”. To be honest, I was starting to get a little impatient because I was so looking forward to that scene. It was totally worth it when I got there though!

     The whole time I was reading this sequel, I kept thinking back to my experience reading Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer. It takes place in a completely different setting, but Archer also uses the same suspenseful technique, writing from two different characters’ points of view and bringing them closer and closer to each other before they finally interact with each other. There’s something so satisfying about reading a book like that and finally getting to the scene where two important characters meet.

     Other great aspects of this novel are Auel’s incredible detail and realistic descriptions of prehistoric times. After reading the first book in the series, I would expect nothing less. So, with so much to love, The Valley of Horses definitely gets four Star Lords from me. If you enjoyed The Clan of the Cave Bear, you’ll love this one!

The Clan of the Cave Bear Review

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     So, I’ll be honest. I’m going through a bit of a love/hate relationship with the Earth’s Children series. Maybe I’m just not in the habit of reading lengthy series, but seriously (or should I say series-ously?). These books are taking me forever to read. I started the first book in mid-February, and I’ve just recently started reading the fifth one. Granted, each book is over 800 pages, but still. That’s a long time to spend with a cast of characters. However, I did say love/hate relationship, so don’t let this mini rant scare you away from reading it. I did give the first book four Star Lords after all. Read on to find out why!

     As I may or may not have mentioned before, one of my favorite things about reading is that you get to experience imaginary lands and ancient civilizations in such a realistic way that you almost feel like you’re there. Well, The Clan of the Cave Bear goes above and beyond in this regard, which is why I have given it the rating of four Star Lords.

  Set in prehistoric times during the middle of the Ice Age, this novel follows the life of Ayla, a young girl who loses her family to an earthquake and ends up being raised by the Clan, or as we know them, cavemen and cavewomen. Even though she is so different-looking from the people who raise her, Ayla does everything she can to fit in, learning their language and obeying their customs to the best of her abilities. With no memory of her birth parents, Ayla has no choice but to learn to survive among these strange and exotic people, and you get a front-row seat to her thrilling experience.

     If you’re looking for a light and enjoyable read, like junk food for your brain, then this book is not for you. But if your brain is craving a full-course Thanksgiving meal that’ll leave you full and satisfied for at least a week, then look no further. This book is filled to the brim with rich history and vivid descriptions of places that no longer exist. As the sole human among dozens of cave people, Ayla is our relatable guide in this ancient world, and she carries out her role very well. Everyone has felt like an outcast before, but Ayla’s trials take it to an entirely different level. It’s encouraging to see how she handles every situation that arises and grows into a strong young woman. 

     The thing about this book that I’m most stunned by is the incredible amount of realistic detail included. I shudder to think of how much research Jean M. Auel must have had to complete just to write this one book. With her in-depth description of the landscape and her detailed explanations for how to create prehistoric tools, I’m almost convinced that she’s hiding an iPed (see Rule #5) in her garage that she used to travel to the Ice Age. Either that or a caveman in her basement. 

     Her research for this series is so extensive that Auel was given honorary degrees from four different universities as well as the title of Officer in the Order of Arts and Letters by the French government’s Ministry of Culture. I’m not even sure how much of her book is historical fact and how much is made-up fiction because she blends the pieces together so well. After reading this book though, I’m pretty sure that if I ever got stuck in the woods, I could cook up a mean stew and build all the necessary dishes and eating utensils just from my immediate surroundings. 

     So, do you think you could survive the coldest period in history with a group of cave dwellers? Could you live off of the land before the invention of the grocery store? Would you dare to face a wooly mammoth with nothing but a handmade spear and your fellow hunters? If you think you’ve got what it takes, join Ayla before the dawn of time in a world of epic proportions, where the wild animals are more ferocious and the winter winds more fierce.

My Personal Book Rating Scale

     For the sake of clarity, I’m going to be using a five-star rating scale. But stars are boring, so I’ll be calling it the 5-Star Lord Scale! In addition to being a play on the term ‘5 Stars’, Star Lord’s real last name is Quill, which is also awesome because, back in the good ole’ days, writers used feathery quill pens to write down their masterpieces.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The ratings I give a book are my own personal opinions. Everyone has different tastes, so I encourage you to seek out books that strike your fancy, no matter what they may be rated on here. I’d hate for you to pass over what could’ve been your favorite book because I personally thought it was awful.

    With that said, here’s a breakdown of every rating in my personal scale:

The Star Lord Scale

5 Star Lords: Two weeks later, and I’m still thinking about this book. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time, unable to put it down but not wanting it to end. It was a reading experience that I’ll never forget and never get to re-live.

4 Star Lords: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. There were original elements that made me see things in a new light, and something in particular stuck out to me (writing style, character development, unexpected plot twist, etc.).

3 Star Lords: There were good parts and bad parts. I enjoyed it while I was reading it, but it didn't really give a lasting effect. I would probably recommend it if you’ve never read it, but it’s not one I would necessarily pick up again.

2 Star Lords: I barely managed to finish this book. It was drawn out, poorly written, and confusing. Only through sheer determination did I get to the end. 

1 Star Lord: I couldn’t finish it. I put it down and walked away. Not because it goes against some personal morals, but because it was just that terrible. Every time I tried to sit down and keep reading the book, I immediately fell asleep or came close to it. How did this get published? *

* I know this last rating sounds harsh, but let me preface it by saying that I almost NEVER walk away from a book. I can think of only three books that I did not finish, and they were all well written from what I could tell, but I just couldn’t get into them. A book has to be reeeeeeeeaaaaally terrible if I give it this rating.

On the flip side, it will be rare for me to a rate a book as a five either. It has to be a truly magical reading experience for that to happen. Most of my ratings will range between two and four Star Lords.

The Struggle

      My first book review should be up shortly, but until then, here's a lovely poem to hold you over! I wrote this piece at work one day when my computer stopped working and wouldn't let me log in. I hope you enjoy it! Let me know in the comments if you've ever experienced . . . The Struggle.

The Struggle

by Shellie Kinard

(It's real guys.)

The computer's a most useful tool

Used for business or pleasure or school.

But user beware

For when you most care

It will shut down and make you the fool.

There's no point in begging and pleading.

Devices don't interpret feelings.

So swallow your tears

And get help from peers

To decode your error box meaning.

Now you've clicked around in confusion

And still can't find a solution.

Troubleshooting and malware

As you pull your hair.

Screw it. Just throw it in the ocean.

Part 4: The Rest is History

            For the final part in my Tallahassee Writer’s Conference Goodies, I will be discussing how to effectively research and write historical fiction. This information came from two different sessions presented by Arliss Ryan. I had a chance to read excerpts from some of the books she’s had published, and they were excellent! She definitely knows what she’s talking about, and you should go check out her work on her Facebook page here.

           Without further ado, here is the last golden nugget:

#1. We Search for Research

If you plan on writing historical fiction, it’s important to make sure you get the history part right. Many people that read these types of books are knowledgeable in history, and they’ll know if your facts aren’t straight. Thanks to a handy little tool called the internet, you’ve got a large amount of resources at your disposal to find the information you need.

There are other places that you can find fun facts, though. Consider going to a library, museum, or historical society to learn more about your topic. Keeping in mind that some of your audience will already know a lot about the history you present, you want to give them something new to learn so that your book will feel fresh and interesting. Going to places other than the internet is a great way to dig deeper and uncover unique and largely unknown bits of history.

If your research involves speaking to an expert, make sure that you do your homework before meeting with the individual. Do some basic research and compile a list of questions beforehand. Sending a handwritten thank-you note after the meeting is a nice touch as well.

Who's up for a field trip?

#2. Anna Lies (and so does the Internet)

I remember once getting so excited when I saw an article on the internet that said there was going to be a Doctor Who/Sherlock crossover. I immediately started imagining what the meeting between Sherlock and The Doctor would be like and what that would mean for Sherlock’s opinion on scientific truth. It’s amazing how carried away I got with it. Imagine the crushing blow that I took when I found out later that it was a just a cruel April Fool’s joke put out by the production company. My bubble of excitement had grown so big I’m surprised it didn’t send out seismic shock waves when it burst.

The point of that sad little tale is that it’s ridiculously easy to put something fake on the internet. You have to take everything you read with a grain of salt. Especially if it’s on Wikipedia. Just because Joe Schmo writes an entire article about how dinosaurs actually went extinct from going on a gluten-free diet doesn’t mean it’s actually true. Make sure you’re getting your information from a trusted site, and double-check your info with multiple sources if you can. Also, learn to tell the difference between facts and speculation. If a site says that Harry Houdini was likely a fan of chocolates because his cousin owned a candy store, that’s speculation, not fact. (As far as I know, that last sentence wasn’t even speculation because I made it up.) Analyze. Because Anna lies and so does the internet.

*Bonus tip: Don’t do internet research on April Fool’s day. Trust me on this one.

This is only slightly related, but come on. It's the Hulk. (Side note: Go see the new Avengers movie! It's awesome!)

#3. Information Overload

Info-dumping is a wonderful way to get your reader to put down your book and go do something productive. But as writers, that’s the last thing we want. Think about how to use the factual information you’ve learned to add depth to your story without taking away from your page-turning plot. As Arliss Ryan said in one of her sessions, “Your research should never stick out like a sore thumb, but should be weaved in seamlessly so that the reader hardly notices it’s there.” If you want recognition for how much stuff you know about the Roman empire, go on Jeopardy. The ultimate purpose of your fiction should be to entertain the reader, not bore them with a lecture.

If you want to share important knowledge in a visual way to better represent how it connects to the story, consider including a map or family tree at the beginning of the book. In the Earth’s Children series, Jean M. Auel provides a map at the beginning with an outlined trail of the path that the character takes throughout the story. It helps readers gain a better understanding of just how far she had to travel from start to finish.

#4. That Thing that Writers Do

You know that thing that writers do? Where they put words on paper? Yeah, writing. That’s what this step is about! Once you’ve gathered enough info, checked its accuracy, and decided how you want to present it, you’re just going to write! Keep in mind that you shouldn’t wait until you’ve gotten every little bit of research finished and become a world-class expert on the subject. Since you’re writing a fiction book and not a textbook, you really just need enough facts to make sure your story makes sense and gives characters a vivid backdrop.

This one’s a toughie for me because I always feel like I have to know everything and be perfectly prepared before I begin. But if you did that, you’d just use up all your energy on research and be too exhausted to write. It’s also a good idea to write as much of your first draft as possible before traveling somewhere for research. That way, you have a good idea of the facts you’ll need to learn, and you won’t end up having to make another expensive trip. Just put an asterisk next to info in your story that still needs to be verified and use the ‘find’ tool in word to go back to it later.

Truth.

#5. The Conveyor Belts of History

There are a handful of excellent “literary conveyor belts” that can get your history facts across to the reader during your story without being too obvious. For example, you can use character interaction, conveying info about a place as one of your characters walks through it. This gives you a great opportunity to use sensory language and make your readers feel like they’re really there. Until Apple invents an iPed (which is bound to be the name of their time-traveling moped once they invent it), reading is still the only way we have of traveling to another time in history so make it an unforgettable trip for your readers.

Another way to convey facts is through flashbacks. When you do this, you can share important info with the readers while keeping certain characters in the dark still. Maybe Donna is mentally looking back on her times as a ballerina assassin as she washes the dishes while her friend Becky does the drying and remains completely aloof.

A third information conveyor is dialogue. Just make sure that you don’t have a character telling someone else what they should already know just so you can tell the reader. That makes it seem forced. The character giving the historical facts through dialogue should be a believable source that would be likely to know that info, whether it’s because they’re a studied doctor or an avid eavesdropper picking up the latest gossip.

One other way to share your history facts believably is through character recollections. A great place for characters to have deep inner monologues is a church because it’s a likely place for someone to reflect on things. Make sure your recollections are driven by the character’s unique perspective.

Apple iPed: Coming to a Store Near You

#6. Davy Jones’ Diary

Would you find a story believable if the author included a scene where Christopher Columbus walked up to King Ferdinand and said, “Hey dude. What’s up? Can I borrow your boat? Let me borrow your boat.” Not likely. I don’t know when the word ‘dude’ first started being used, but I can guarantee that Columbus never uttered that word (unless it had some weird alternate meaning back then, like the plume of one’s hat). 

So, since the iPed has yet to be created, how are we supposed to know what historical figures from the past were likely to think or how they probably talked? If you’re able to find a diary or some kind of writing from your chosen time in history, that would definitely be the best way. You can also examine photos of your time period to get a good feel for a place. When looking at the images, try and think about the sensory details. What kind of material are their clothes made out of and how did the weather look that day? Were they eating some kind of food in the picture? What did it probably taste like? This is where you have to get a little creative if you don’t have much information to go off of.

For more help in the language aspect, use the dictionary or internet to look up the kinds of words that were used in that time. Since you’re writing for a modern audience, it’s okay to still use slightly modern language as long as you slip in some words here or there that still give the vibe of the book’s time period.

Welcome, mighty Columbus. The dude on your hat is looking most feathery today.

                And that’s the end of my writing tips from the Tallahassee Writing Conference! As you can see, there is a lot of information that can be learned from attending even just one writing event. I put my own personal twist on each speaker’s advice, but overall, everything I wrote about was learned from a much wiser and more experienced writer. I’ve included links to each of their pages in the posts and on my Miscellaneous page, so I hope you’ll go check them out.

              Other than that, keep writing, reading, and being awesome!

Part 3: Make ‘em Pull an All-Nighter

            This has nothing to do with becoming an evil professor that gives a ridiculous amount of homework that is all due the next day. No, I’m referring to those books that keep you reading into the wee hours of the morning because you just can’t put them down.

The tips from this session came from a long-time book editor named Lorin Oberweger. She actually handed out a detailed sheet with her own method and rating sheet, but I’m just going to give you some of her general tips. I don’t know if her method is copyrighted or not, so I won’t go into it. If you want to look into taking one of her awesome sessions, though, you can find out more about her here.

So let’s get started:

#1. Out with the Old, in with the New

Readers are excited when they’re given a new way of looking at things. Be original with your story and put something fresh out there. “But how?” you say. “There are so many stories out there. The one I want to tell is probably already written!”

I don’t know about you, but I don’t totally buy into that phrase, “There’s nothing new under the sun.” It just sounds like an excuse to not be creative. Sure, there are going to be unoriginal pieces in your writing, but what will make your work one-of-a-kind is how you manipulate those pieces and make them into a brand new whole.  Write about a murder from the perspective of the victim’s ghost or place your story in prehistoric times but give everyone cellphones. Use your book as a kaleidoscope that readers can look through to see their ordinary world differently.

#2. Action vs. Reaction

I used to come up with these fast-paced plots that I was so excited to write, but when it came time to sit down and begin, I found that my main characters were dull and flat. Every time. I couldn’t figure out where I’d gone wrong when I had such a riveting story line planned out. Then, one of my friends pointed out that my protagonist wasn’t causing any of the action but was simply being carried along by the events in the story and reacting to what others were doing.

Don’t make the same mistake I did for the longest time. Make sure your main characters are actively engaging in the story. Have them make bold choices or stupid mistakes that alter where the plot goes. The character may not have caused the inciting incident, but the rest of the story should be about the actions they take to reach their ultimate goal that was set in motion by that incident. To make sure that your character is being active, ask yourself this: If I took away the external conflicts and obstacles, would my character be doing anything?

In one of the best movies of all time, Starlord kicks off the movie by making a choice that affects the rest of the plot. He steals the mysterious glowy ball for himself and everyone comes after him.

#3. FOR SPARTA!!!!!!

Another way to make sure that your characters are exciting and well-rounded is to give them clear goals that motivate their actions. If you set up an important desire for your character that he’s determined to accomplish, readers are more likely to keep reading to see if he succeeds. You can also use a more tangible goal of completing something concrete to symbolize the character getting what he wants internally.

For example, let’s say my character is a guy named Hank Girlyman. He decides he’s going to be the ultimate wrestling champion, no matter what it takes. He goes through a lot of unfortunate (and hilarious) attempts but he never gives up, despite the impossible odds. In the end, he loses, but he’s gained the respect of many people. He’s still happy even though he failed, because what the wrestling champion goal really represented was his desire to be seen as a manly man and to be respected. Yay Hank!

Hank Girlyman is manly.

#4. The Reader Connection

Okay. I know I’m starting to sound like a broken record with how much I’m talking about characters, but they’re sort of an important part of the story. So here’s another tidbit to work on with anyone you put into your book. Use lots and lots of emotion. I don’t mean, “Marcy felt afraid as she walked through the woods.” I don’t want to be told that she’s afraid. I want to be shown so that I can feel it too. “As she crept through the woods, the hairs on the back of Marcy’s neck stood up and she felt a tingling sensation down her spine, as if a thousand spiders were crawling down her back.” See the difference?

People read stories because it’s the closest they can come to living in another time or possessing magical powers. They want to be the characters and not just see them. Lorin Oberweger pointed out that books should be less passive than movies. In books, we can get inside a character’s head and experience things through their eyes, instead of just watching things happen to someone else.

Someday we'll find it, the reader connection, the readers, the writers, and meeeeeee!

#5. Be a Drama Queen

That’s right, I said be a drama queen. Writing and acting are probably the only two places where you’ll hear that. (By the way, have you ever noticed that writing is basically acting for introverts?) What I mean by that is that you shouldn’t be too afraid about giving your characters too much emotion. Open yourself up and let it out. Just like with makeup for actors on stage, you have to lay your characters’ emotions on thick for anyone to really notice them. What seems overdone to us is probably not the case for the reader.

Remember what I said about motivating characters with strong goals? Since they cling to these goals so dearly, they’re likely to have some pretty extreme reactions when things bring them closer to or further away from their dreams. Make them throw things or cry or laugh uncontrollably. But remember: show, don’t tell.

What do you mean there's no milk left? I've already poured the cereal! All I wanted was a fulfilling breakfast. My life is over!

#6. The Eye of the Beholder

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, which means that one person’s perspective is different from another’s, and that’s another great way to bring some excitement into your story. Give your characters unique ways of looking at things and demonstrate their diverse personalities through strong voice. Your writing voice should be a combination of the character’s emotion, language, and perspective.

Lorin actually had some really good exercises for practicing different voices. First, she said to take your opening scene and practice re-writing it in a different emotion, such as fear, anger, or anxiety. The more you emphasize your character emotion, the stronger your voice. She also said you could practice writing one setting from multiple perspectives. Maybe Tabitha thinks of the mansion as a big fairy-tale castle while her father just thinks of it as a big lonely house with a lot of empty rooms. Feel free to share what you come up with in the comments. I definitely want to try these on my own stories!