11th Free “Dear Lucky Agent” Contest (Middle Grade Fiction) is going on now!
Agent judges and super-cool prizes...
To find the 11th (free!) “Dear Lucky Agent” Contest go to the GLA blog by clicking More information about the contest, which is live through August 27th!
I know I'll be entering...what about you?
Leave a comment and I'll gift you one of my novels or a subscription to my Wellness Ezine.
Follow me by email, below right
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Thursday, August 9, 2012
I got the Versatile Blogger Award!
I'm shocked and pleased to have received this award! What a high!
.By accepting this award I agree to do the following:
- Thank the blogger who awarded me with a link back to him/her.
- Share seven things about myself.
- Pass the award on to fifteen other newly discovered blogs.
Along with being a fiction writer, I am a nurse and wellness educator (at http://www.carolynchambersclark.com where I offer a free Wellness Newsletter, copies of my health-related books, e-books, free articles, and more.
I was born in northern Wisconsin, went to college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and then moved east for a masters degree at Rutgers University and a doctorate in nursing education at Columbia University.
I write fiction by myself and with my co-author, Anthony Auriemma.
I love the beach and can drive there in 5 minutes or bike in 10.
I garden all-year round in large pots.
Blogs I have passed this award on to are: (I'm working on getting okays for these...)
Thanks again to Glo Haynes, blogger extraordinare
(https://plus.google.com/1162083985767116575/posts)
for finding my blog interesting and Versatile!
What is High Concept and what does it mean to writers and readers?
Whether you're a reader or a writer, I'll bet you're wishing for that terrific book to come your way...the one that makes your heart beat with anticipation, and won't let you stop no matter what.
Does that happen often for you?
It probably happens only when you come upon a high concept book...something that strikes an inner chord with you...makes you say..."Yes, I have to read that."
High concept could be the term that explains why some books that may not be that well-written, have main characters we can't identify with, and have many flaws, become overnight sensations. Yes, of course, word of mouth and/or great promotion can do that, but, for me at least, their popularity stuns me.
Alexandra Sokoloff is my guru for this topic. Although she writes about screenplays, what she says is just as true for books... Whether you're a writer or a reader, I've jotted down some "rules" about high concept books.
First rule
It's high concept if the book can be explained in one sentence and the majority of people who hear it will want to read it.
Second rule
It could be a high concept book if it's whimsical and helps us pretend the real world doesn't exist. I guess any escapist theme will do...
Third rule
It could be high concept if it's so intriguing we've all been there (or would like to be). Star Wars, ET, X-Men, Sleepless in Seattle, Kate & Leopold, anything with Simon Baker in it...oops, gotta control those fantasies.
Fourth rule
It's topical and hits a nerve or fetish. Examples? Fatal Attraction, Disclosure, Fifty Shades of Grey.
Fifth rule (Here's one that explains the zombie craze to me, not that I understood the vampire craze that came before it).
It contains a cultural metaphor for the moment, i.e., information overload has turned us all into brainless undead, which are what zombies are!
Sixth rule
If you can exploit a primal fear, you're in with a high concept book. Examples? Jaws, Jurassic Park, Exorcist, and yes, zombies taking over the planet! No wonder Ms. Hocking is a millionaire!!
Seventh rule
Even though it may read as a mishmash, be sacrilegious or controversial and you'll be high concept. This includes: Da Vinci Code, Fifty Shades of Grey, some of Mel Gibson's films and Jesus Christ Superstar.
Eighth rule
Retell a classic or a fairytale and you're in. Recently there have been scads of retellings and they do well.
Ninth rule
Answer the question, "What would you do if...?" Of course, the question has to be sexy, indiscreet, and possibly ridiculous, ala Indecent Proposal. This movie was a while back,but it asked the question, "Would you have sex with a stranger for a million dollars?" As Ms. Sokoloff writes so well, the movie promoted a zillion water cooler discussions as people fantasized about having sex with Demi Moore or Robert Redford...Personally, Demi's gorgeous and a great actor, but she does nothing for me, but Robert Redford, now there's a man...oops, fantasies again!
Tenth rule
Tie the premise to a theme or holiday or setting that makes the story universally appealing. There are plenty to choose from: Christmas, Thanksgiving, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Paris, London, turning forty and still terrific, etc. Flirting with Forty had both Hawaii and gorgeous bodies (Heather Locklear and Robert Buckley...no, Heather was the one turning 40; Robert was like 25, but he fits the gorgeous bodies category..Whatever happened to Robert? And speaking of gorgeous, why isn't Hugh Jackman making romances anymore? I like him much better as a stunning lover ala Kate and Leopold than as an X-man with metal things coming out of him...but that's just me).
Eleventh rule
Choose an old-fashioned romance. Ms. Sokoloff helped me understand why so many people adored Twilight when it did nothing for feminist, me. Take an annoying, plain, stupid, selfish, clumsy, unkind girl and a superhero or two and voile! Magic...
For more of Alexandra's brilliance, go to
http://www.screenwritingtricks.com/2010/02/what-is-high-concept.html
Does that happen often for you?
It probably happens only when you come upon a high concept book...something that strikes an inner chord with you...makes you say..."Yes, I have to read that."
High concept could be the term that explains why some books that may not be that well-written, have main characters we can't identify with, and have many flaws, become overnight sensations. Yes, of course, word of mouth and/or great promotion can do that, but, for me at least, their popularity stuns me.
Alexandra Sokoloff is my guru for this topic. Although she writes about screenplays, what she says is just as true for books... Whether you're a writer or a reader, I've jotted down some "rules" about high concept books.
First rule
It's high concept if the book can be explained in one sentence and the majority of people who hear it will want to read it.
Second rule
It could be a high concept book if it's whimsical and helps us pretend the real world doesn't exist. I guess any escapist theme will do...
Third rule
It could be high concept if it's so intriguing we've all been there (or would like to be). Star Wars, ET, X-Men, Sleepless in Seattle, Kate & Leopold, anything with Simon Baker in it...oops, gotta control those fantasies.
Fourth rule
It's topical and hits a nerve or fetish. Examples? Fatal Attraction, Disclosure, Fifty Shades of Grey.
Fifth rule (Here's one that explains the zombie craze to me, not that I understood the vampire craze that came before it).
It contains a cultural metaphor for the moment, i.e., information overload has turned us all into brainless undead, which are what zombies are!
Sixth rule
If you can exploit a primal fear, you're in with a high concept book. Examples? Jaws, Jurassic Park, Exorcist, and yes, zombies taking over the planet! No wonder Ms. Hocking is a millionaire!!
Seventh rule
Even though it may read as a mishmash, be sacrilegious or controversial and you'll be high concept. This includes: Da Vinci Code, Fifty Shades of Grey, some of Mel Gibson's films and Jesus Christ Superstar.
Eighth rule
Retell a classic or a fairytale and you're in. Recently there have been scads of retellings and they do well.
Ninth rule
Answer the question, "What would you do if...?" Of course, the question has to be sexy, indiscreet, and possibly ridiculous, ala Indecent Proposal. This movie was a while back,but it asked the question, "Would you have sex with a stranger for a million dollars?" As Ms. Sokoloff writes so well, the movie promoted a zillion water cooler discussions as people fantasized about having sex with Demi Moore or Robert Redford...Personally, Demi's gorgeous and a great actor, but she does nothing for me, but Robert Redford, now there's a man...oops, fantasies again!
Tenth rule
Tie the premise to a theme or holiday or setting that makes the story universally appealing. There are plenty to choose from: Christmas, Thanksgiving, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Paris, London, turning forty and still terrific, etc. Flirting with Forty had both Hawaii and gorgeous bodies (Heather Locklear and Robert Buckley...no, Heather was the one turning 40; Robert was like 25, but he fits the gorgeous bodies category..Whatever happened to Robert? And speaking of gorgeous, why isn't Hugh Jackman making romances anymore? I like him much better as a stunning lover ala Kate and Leopold than as an X-man with metal things coming out of him...but that's just me).
Eleventh rule
Choose an old-fashioned romance. Ms. Sokoloff helped me understand why so many people adored Twilight when it did nothing for feminist, me. Take an annoying, plain, stupid, selfish, clumsy, unkind girl and a superhero or two and voile! Magic...
For more of Alexandra's brilliance, go to
http://www.screenwritingtricks.com/2010/02/what-is-high-concept.html
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
I just got interviewed on Queen Writer's blog!
Read all about me and my secrets on my author interview at http://www.qw-blog.blogspot.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Free edit of your work, YA and/or MG writers!
Pitches, queries, text...whatever you need feedback on. The contest opens next Tuesday over at http://motherwrite.blogspot.com/
Go there and find out.
Good luck!
Go there and find out.
Good luck!
Win a free copy of FROST!
If you'd like to get away from the heat of summer, sign up for this giveaway. Who knows? You might be the one to win a free copy of FROST.
For particulars, go to http://www.goodchoicereading.com/2012/07/frost-by-kate-avery-ellison-blog-tour.html
Good luck!
For particulars, go to http://www.goodchoicereading.com/2012/07/frost-by-kate-avery-ellison-blog-tour.html
Good luck!
Friday, July 6, 2012
Five Ways Fridays: Too many Writing or Reading Projects
Whether your a writer or a reader, spreading yourself too thin can be draining. I ought to know. Just a while ago, I was working on eight books, that's right, count them one...two...three...four...five...six...seven...eight.
Whew, it's hard just counting to eight. It didn't work out too well. What was I thinking? Multi-tasking is one thing, but octo-tasking is another.
But...I think I've finally steadied my writing ship. Here are 5 things I learned doing it.
Whew, it's hard just counting to eight. It didn't work out too well. What was I thinking? Multi-tasking is one thing, but octo-tasking is another.
But...I think I've finally steadied my writing ship. Here are 5 things I learned doing it.
- Although it's good to have a lot of ideas, writing a little here and a little there dilutes your effort.
- Find someone or something to help you decide what to focus on. Get as much information as you need to make a good decision.
- When in doubt, ask your readers (if you're a writer) or a trusted friend (if you're a reader). If you're both, then, aren't you lucky? You'll have two sources of answers.
- When a trusted reader gives you information, listen. If it sounds logical, at least try it. In this case, my trusted reader asked me, are any of these books part of a series? Of course, then it became logical to choose to work on the series book, which by the way, happens to be the best seller.
- Once you've decided, follow through and stick with your decision. In this case, it hasn't been hard because I'd already finished 1/4 of the book and had detailed notes for the rest. Although I'm writing this as a writer, I've also tried to read several books at the same time. That dilutes the experience, too, so maybe all of these steps also apply to readers...at least they apply to me as reader...
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