ivy + bean: week 5

Have you picked up an Ivy + Bean book yet? Around my house we are devouring them. Andy even read one so he wouldn't be left out of the dinner conversation. I'm starting to imagine some quirky characters for this genre.

One of the things that make Ivy + Bean stand out are their specific qualities. They have hobbies and personalities that make them a little different from the crowd. Take a minute to consider some quirky, special, or unique qualities you might use to create an early chapter book character.

I'd love to hear your ideas in the comments. On Sunday I'll use a random number generator to select four giveaway recipients. One person will receive:

Three people will receive:

I'll select the names before I go to bed on Sunday. Remember if you are selected, you are entered for a chance to receive the grand prize giveaway:

Check out these other blogs to increase your chances!

The Children's Book Review

Coquette Maman

The Family That Reads Together

In the Pages

Kid Lit Frenzy

Media Darlings

One Page to the Next

The O.W.L.

The O.W.L. for YA

Roundtable Reviews for Kids

Sharpread

There's A Book

 Van Meter Library Voice

 Watch. Connect. Read.

discovering a new character

Today's #TeachersWrite quick write challenge is to put a character in the media center of a school. I love quick writes, because there is always something lurking just beyond the edges of my mind that I get to discover when I take a few minutes to scribble some words.

Today I found a new character -- the media center specialist. I think I'm already in love with this quirky lady. I wrote fast and long (for a notebook entry), ending up with 400 words. Then I turned the page of my notebook to a clean sheet and began noting the things I learned because of the quick write.

How about you? What are you discovering as you spend some time with a quick write in your notebook?

Pssst...if you're not writing along with #TeachersWrite, it's not too late to join. Join us on Kate Messner's blog. It's summer writing camp for teachers...really, you can't go wrong!

hot rod grandma

I was on my way to a meeting this morning when I pulled up to a stoplight behind a shiny black corvette. Around the license plate was a sign declaring:

Mamaw's Hot Rod

I was dying to get a glimpse of the driver, but the windows were tinted and the car was fast. Still, it made me think of writing and character development. I wondered about the character that is beginning to take root in my notebook (and maybe in my heart too). Would her grandma drive a hot rod?

{Discover. Play. Build.} Challenge
These kinds of unexpected traits are what make people fun. It's true in real life and it's true in fiction. This week's challenge is to create an OUTRAGEOUS list in your notebook, imagining odd and eccentric traits for a character. I can't wait to see what emerges in my notebook, as well as to hear how it goes for you.

unexpected inspiration

I have some new characters tumbling around in my mind. (This may be the last thing I need right now with the end of the school year, trying to finish Celebrating Writers (Christi had her baby!), and finalizing my keynote.) Still, I have some characters tumbling around and I should be thankful. One of the characters is a teenage girl. She loves to read, and her favorite book is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. (This might be ironic for those who know me and my feelings regarding the "cannon" in high school English.)

Naturally I cracked open the book to reread it. (Well, technically I clicked it open on my Kindle app.) I've found myself highlighting passages (like this one) about Mr. Darcy that are revealing insights into the second character tumbling in my mind -- a guy who has moved in with the girl character's family to complete his senior year.

I've always been intrigued by books that follow another story from classic literature or mythology. I'm a little bit giddy to see the very organic nature of the story development. It's not forced or fake. I'm simply following the character. I even ordered a copy of the book in order to read it outside this summer. The character who is pushing on the edges of my mind loves reading outside around the farm. I want to read Pride and Prejudice outside on a quilt under a tree on a breezy summer day. The Kindle version just isn't going to do the trick for this kind of "research."

For now, I'm going to leave this character and her book right here. I need to focus my attention on professional writing --- the book and keynote and articles. When I make progress on one of those projects, I'll be rewarded with time to spend with my nose in a book or scribbling in my writer's notebook.

{discover.play.build.} take a walk.

This week I was out walking and a character popped into my mind. I walk past this farm many times each week. It's been showing up in my notebook a lot lately, and I've been thinking about the kinds of people who could live on a farm like the one I walk past. I've been asking myself What if...What if...What if...

So I began to dream about the kinds of people who may live there. I walked and thought. Walked some more and said What if...some more. When I returned home, I couldn't get to my notebook fast enough. I had to capture some of my thoughts in my notebook.

I'm realizing the thinking that comes during walks (or runs or bike rides) is some of the best for me as a writer. I'm learning to slow down and let the story work itself out. Today I was watching a video of Mo Willems. He talked about how it takes awhile for his characters to develop. He's constantly working on new characters. His next book is the one where the characters are ready.

{Develop. Play. Build.} Challenge
Take some time to walk around outside. Dream a little. Imagine What if... Look around and wonder. Fill your brain with possibilities and then come home and crack open your notebook. Let me know what you discover.

teens -- a notebook entry (soLs)

Every week there's a group of high school kids that hang out at our house. I make a dessert and they eat it and talk. It's the best. One of the reasons I like it is because I get material for YA books. I love to listen to them talk and watch their mannerisms. Mostly, though, I love how they make me laugh.

So here's a quick list of things I noticed that may (or may not) influence my writing.

• "She's in hot water because she posted about the play on FB. There's like 50 responses. Here, I'll read some to you."
• As far as dating status, there's...
• talking
• hanging out
• going together
• dating 
• serious. 
• They have different laughs. One that is for something that is all-out funny, another is a surprise. There's a laugh for "I-don't-believe-you-just-said-that" and a nervous laugh too.
• When we get together at night, they wear totally different clothes than what they wear to school. Sweats, athletic shorts, t-shirts (almost always with the school name on them), and ankle socks or knee socks (if it's the winter). Girls have their hair pulled up in sloppy buns or pony tails. Guys wear hats.
• They are concerned about homework. And they have a lot. They complain about teachers saying, "This is so easy," or "This won't take you long." They also complain about teachers just lecturing and lecturing and lecturing and not giving time to work.
• They are tired. Their days are full and they don't get a lot of sleep.
• They are stressed. School is overwhelming. Sports are demanding. Then they balance friends and families and work. They are making decisions about college. They are doing their best.
• They tease each other. A lot. They laugh and stick out their tongues and say, "I'm just kidding."

Lots of other things, but that's enough for tonight. It's these kinds of lists that fill my writer's notebooks. Maybe someday this kind of collecting will pay off.

Read other slices at Two Writing Teachers.
Just click on the image.

notebook #4 for my current wip

I've been playing with characters for a new YA story since April. About six weeks ago, I started to play with a draft. Last month at writing group, Ruth helped me think through the structure of my story. It was giving me fits and we finally realized it's a story told from two voices -- and with flashbacks. Ruth insisted that I let Krums, a teenage boy, into my head to help tell the story.

It was painful, but I did it. For a month I've had a teenage guy talking to me, telling me his side of things. At one point, this showed up in my notebook (it's from Sophia) --

Straight from Soph's heart and  into my notebook.

Last Thursday our writing group met again. Ruth and I had the following conversation (She's an actual person...this isn't a conversation with myself. Here's her blog for proof -- but don't be fooled by the sweet persona. She is more like an evil drill sergeant.):

Vicious Ruth: You are writing a love story.

Me: I. Am. Not.

Incessant Ruth: You are too. You have two main characters, a boy and a girl, and a couch. It's a love story.

Me: Is not.

Brutal Ruth: If you want it to be more than fluff you have to dig into their back stories. The stuff you wrote about Sophia's past was powerful. There's more there.

Me: No there's not. That was the only horrible thing that happened in her life.

Ruthless Ruth: You're lying. It's not going to be easy, but you know there's more there.

Me: Major eye roll. It's not a love story.

Atrocious Ruth: It is a love story, but it's more. You need to dig into Krums' history too.

Me: I let him into my head, what more do you want?

Relentless Ruth: You need to listen to before to understand who he is now. And I'm not surprised you found him to be sensitive.

Me: Sigh. Then a bigger sigh.


Unreasonable Ruth: Just write the back story. It doesn't mean it'll be in the book, but I think you need to know it so you can write the kind of story you want it to be.

Me: What if I don't want to know their histories. I'm afraid it'll hurt too much.

Sinister Ruth: Then don't do it and write a fluffy love story.

Me: It's not a love story.

Ghastly Ruth: It is a love story, but you can make it more. Just let them tell you their back stories.

Me: Maybe I'll give up.

Why-I-listen-to-her Ruth: No you won't. You can't leave them where they are. Besides you need to write this story. Not only that, but you can write this story. First you need to dig into Krums and Sophia's pasts, though.

That night, after writing group, at 11:18 pm, I started a notebook just to record Krums & Soph's back stories. Here are the first two pages (and probably the only pages I'll share out of it).

First page of writer's notebook #4.

Either write now or write later...I might as well get started!

 Less than a week of listening to their back stories and I'm already gaining more of a vision for the draft. I can see how the past and the present are woven together. I think I might have the smartest, extremely brilliant, and amazing crit partner on the face of the earth. (Of course, she had to be a little atrocious first...but I imagine that's what makes her so remarkable.)

{discover.play.build.} character wants

Just like real people, fictional characters are driven by their wants. And just like real life, if I can figure out what people want, it's a lot easier to understand their actions and choices. In order for a story to unfold when I'm drafting, it helps to know what my characters want. It's even better when the wants of different characters conflict, because then there is tension.

Often in order to discover a character's wants, I put them in action via a scene. Here is a notebook entry from a few years ago where I'm trying to discover more about the character's wants. I put him in action in three different places to try to discover more about him.

I've noticed this shift in my notebooks. After I learn some of the "surface stuff" about a character, I tend to put him in scenes to see how he acts. One of the best ways for me to get to know my characters is to see them in action. As is often the case, this element of fiction mirrors real life. It is by watching people in action that we really get to know them.

{Discover. Play. Build.}
Write a scene showing your character's wants through thoughts, dialogue, or actions. Change the setting and see if you can discover different wants. If you don't want to play with a fictional character, try this with yourself. Choose three different settings from your life and write three different snippets showing what you want when you are in each place.

{discover.play.build.} bone map

Getting to know a character by
making a bone map.

I like forcing myself to think about characters and their lives by making different kinds of lists and maps in my notebook. Often with students, I ask them to map their hearts. A few years ago, I added bone mapping as an option for students who didn't want a "sissy heart" in their notebooks. Good thing, because Krums (a character I'm dabbling with) refused to make a heart map. Since life as a fiction writer is much easier when the characters are talking to me, I decided to listen to him and make a bone map instead.

I was surprised to find his dog on the map. I didn't realize he had a dog, but it makes sense. All I know about the dog right now is he is a German Shepherd. I can't wait to find out his name. I also think it is quite telling that no people are on his map and Krums got a little snarky when pushed to think about the people who are close to his bones. Mountain biking filled the map, which didn't surprise me. Krums wanted me to make the words bigger because this is one of the most important things to him (and he wanted the map to fill up faster). I just realized school isn't on the bone, but I'll go back and add it. School is important to him, and being first in his class is even more important.

{discover.play.build.} "hands" list

I was reading b.'s blog, Live...Write...Teach..., and was reminded of making a hand list. I first saw this strategy in Penny Kittle & Don Grave's Inside Writing. I'm glad b. reminded us of it. Read her post and then make your own (or one for a character, which is what I did).

What do your character's hands touch?

{discover.play.build.} what's lurking in your email box?

Tam, a friend and fellow writing group, member sent our writing group an email last weekend that said:

Here is Neville's friend.

She is getting to know her characters and in a forwarded message about the "Legend of the Porcupine," she found the inspiration she's been looking for in a new character. Here is the photo that inspired her character:

It makes me wonder what inspiration is lurking in my email inbox that maybe I've missed. This week I'm going to look through my messages with this new lens. How about you? What inspiration is in your email?

{discover.play.build.} long-term relationships

I've been thinking about what I know about Andy now that I didn't know when we got married twelve years ago.

1. He has more compassion for the underdog than I ever believed was possible.
2. He is fiercely loyal to his family.
3. He works hard because he cares about a job well done.
4. A fifteen minute nap + a shower wipes away all stress, frustration, and grouchiness. It is magic.
5. He likes to make people feel good about themselves.

It makes me realize there's a rhythm to relationships when we've been in them for awhile. This isn't just true for married people, but for friends, siblings, and parents.When we know someone for many years, the relationship feels differently than when we only know someone for a few weeks or months. And this different can be good or not.

{discover.play.build.}

Consider the relationships in your character's life. Who are the people that have been around for awhile? Who is new to her life? How can we tell the difference?

• How do people act when they've known each other for awhile?
• What are ways to tell when people are comfortable or uncomfortable with another person?
• What makes a long-term relationship special?
• What makes a long-term relationship difficult?

{discover.play.build.} holidays

Happy 4th! (photo: 2006)

Last night I was sitting on the balcony off my bedroom watching fireworks with my family. The kids heard the booms from their beds and got up to investigate. Sam tip-toed downstairs and peeked out the front window: "Fireworks! Yes! We can see them!" and then, a whisper, "I gotta tell the girls!" Back upstairs he hurried and we heard the door open to the girls' bedroom.

What other choice did we have than to sit outside and watch local fireworks? From our vantage point we caught three shows. We were far enough away that the booms, blasts, and sizzles lagged behind the colorful, glittery pops. And I found myself thinking about some characters I've been discovering.

{discover. play. build.} Naturally you can play in your notebook with your own experiences or use this idea to get to know your characters better or springboard into a poem or...the possibilities are endless!

• What is your character's favorite holiday? Why is this holiday a favorite? 
• Make a list of words associated with this holiday. 
• What are the traditions surrounding this holiday? 
• Who else celebrates this holiday with the character? 
• Try writing a scene showing the character enjoying a favorite part of the holiday.

{discover.play.build.} idiosyncrasies

id·i·o·syn·cra·sy

 noun \ˌi-dē-ə-ˈsiŋ-krə-sē\

plural id·i·o·syn·cra·sies

Definition of IDIOSYNCRASY

1

a : a peculiarity of constitution or temperament : an individualizing characteristic or qualityb : individual hypersensitiveness (as to a drug or food)

2

: characteristic peculiarity (as of temperament); broadly :eccentricity

from: Merriam-Webster Online

Keeping a writer's notebook has helped me to notice the details surrounding me. I like capturing tiny details that become significant in crafting the story or building the character. In order to do this, I must be aware of the world around me.

Just now, as I was waiting for water to boil for my tea, I looked out the kitchen window and noticed the sky. I thought: Wow, that's a crazy color for the sky. This kind of thought passes through our heads everyday. The difference between writers and everyone else is writers pause and notice. I lingered at the window and asked myself: How would I describe this sky in my notebook? What words would I use? How would a character feel if surrounded by this sky? Before writing this blog post, I took a few minutes to jot a list in my notebook: steel; thick; vast; grey; confused --- blue and pink and bright sunrise on one side, grey and dark and omniscient on the other; melancholy; lonely; small in a big world.

I watch  people too. And not just for entertainment, but for their idiosyncrasies. I watching for the actions that define them. I looking for the way their words and actions work together to tell me something about the person. I'm paying attention to the clues they give me that lead me to inferring their emotions.

Last night I was watching a little league game. Going into the fourth inning, the team on the field was ahead 9 to 0. The first three batters got on base, the fourth came up and hit a grand slam. I watched the catcher stomp his foot, throw his mitt, and whine to the team. The next batter up hit a triple. Now the third baseman, short stop, and left fielder join the catcher in the charade of foot stomping, mitt throwing, and whining. I was surprised at their behavior.

So I started paying closer attention. The next batter hit a home run. As the score sat at 9 - 6, the entire team on the field showed their disgust. Everyone. No kidding. Before writing, I used to let these things pass by, thinking, Hmmm, that was interesting. Now I replay it in my mind and hold on to it until I can get to my writer's notebook. I jot down the interesting parts. I write about the different ways a baseball player can show disgust on the field. I work my way to an understanding of how the catcher influences the team. And I write about the hitting team and how their emotions shifted -- suddenly they were in the game; suddenly they had a chance to win. The energy was electric.

{discover. play. build.}
Finding defining traits in characters and places ins't magic. Instead, it is about slowing down a little to notice the world unfolding all around us. It's about smelling something and saying to the people around you: how would you describe that smell? (And if you're really lucky, a child under the age of six will be with you, because they always have a great way of looking at the world.) Today look for the idiosyncrasies around you and find the time to jot them in your notebook. I can't wait to see what you {discover.play.build.} with your words.

{discover.play.build.} fears

You can understand a lot about a person when you know their fears. Fictional characters are no exception. Last year the compulsion to write a YA novel struck at the same time as Laurie Halse Anderson's Write Fifteen Minutes a Day (WFMAD) challenge. (Lucky me since I had no idea how to go about writing a YA novel.)

One of the prompts was to complete a questionnaire for a character. One of the sections of the questionnaire was FEARS. As I was getting to know one of the characters, I stumbled across this portion of the prompt and was floored by what it revealed, both about the character I was working with and the main character and the story. As I began listing questions, they mostly stemmed from wanting to know more about the fears.

Here is part of the notebook entry from that WFMAD prompt (August 2010):

Ahh, look at the edges of this notebook, it is really beat up and used and worn. I love it when a notebook looks like this. So much better than pristine.

In April I finished the first draft of this story. As I was letting it "cool off" a little in order to reread then roll up my sleeves for hefty revision, I began playing with new characters. One of the first things I considered were the characters' fears. Here is a list about that character I mentioned the other day -- the one I let run away because I didn't like her enough to spend massive amounts of time writing about her life.

Today I'm going to write about Sophia's fears. I'm going to answer some of the questions I have like:

• What makes her so close to her parents but keep everyone else at a distance?
• Why is she afraid of having a close friend?
• Why doesn't she like her sister's boyfriend?
• How does her BFF feel about her distance?

How about you? What are you going to {discover.play.build.} in your notebook today? Also, this prompt can easily be converted to something more personal. It doesn't have to be fictional characters...it can be about your own fears. Or you can play a little and just make something up...even if you don't have any plans for it to go anywhere. It's fun to imagine and make things up every now and then.

(discover.play.build.) images

Kristina McBride shared in her presentation that she often turns to iStockPhoto for inspiration. A few nights ago I played a little with the site. It has a nice search feature and tons images. Here are eight images that have helped me gain a clearer understanding of the story beginning to swirl in my mind.

Photos from iStockphoto intended to help me
get to know the story.

It's fascinating to me the way a story world can be built. I've noticed I take a lot of time allowing the characters and setting to take root in my mind. I like to have a strong understanding of the characters before I begin drafting. However, there are things that are only revealed through the act of writing, leaving a delicate balance between getting to know characters and the story world and settling in to draft the story.

How do I know when it's time to begin drafting? I'm not sure, exactly. I suppose my fingers start itching to type and the characters' voices start getting louder. I move from lists and sketches and collections in my notebook to writing scenes and the scenes start filling several pages. It is then I know it is time to start drafting.

Currently I'm playing with this new story world. I'm discovering the things I need to know in order to draft well. I'm also revising the ending to my first YA story and preparing the query letter, which I intend to have prepared to go after the holiday. I don't want to start a new draft and fully immerse myself in a new world until I've finished revising the ending on the story I want to query with. After that, it'll be nice to have my focus and energy on something besides waiting for a query response.

(Link Love Notes: You can download a comp with a watermark for free to use as inspiration, however, if you are going to use the image for publication purposes then you'll need to purchase it using credits on iStockPhoto. I've spent the last hour searching for instruction about citing these images and have come to the understanding that if I'm using the image in a final product then I must purchase it and give credit. This is not intended as a final product, simply a way to jump start creative juices and get a stronger understanding of my characters, their lives, and the setting of a novel.)

inside a locker

I've had a hard time getting to know the main character in my newest WIP. In fact, I filled a notebook about her and ended up learning I didn't like her enough to want to spend the time it takes to write a whole novel with her. Meanwhile, I've been getting to know another character, but my main character has been elusive. After yesterday's post, I mapped her locker and now feel like I am beginning to know her. I played with this notebook entry on and off all day. It took some time, but it was worth it because I feel like I have a better understanding of Sophia (I think that's her name, but I'm not sure.).

I used to think coloring in notebooks was a waste of time. Now, though, I don't. It gives me thinking time, and I like the pages when there's a little color on them. Color fills my notebook and I believe it helps me know my characters better. Can you tell what Sophia's favorite color is? I know so much more about her now that I know what classes she is taking. And the strips of paper with inspirational quotes? That came straight from walking the halls of a high school. One of my former students kept quotes like this inside her locker. The quotes came from the captains of the team. They put them on the outside of the team's lockers a few times each week.

Once again, I'm realizing questions drive me to write. Although this entry helped get me closer to Sophia, I still have many questions. There is more I want to know about her. There is more I need to know in order to write her story well. This play in my notebook is a crucial part of my process in getting to know the characters.