An Announcement and a Contest

I know I said I'd continue with my discussion about show and tell, but this information was just too noteworthy to pass up. But don't worry, I will get back to "show" in a few days.

As for today . . .

First, my friends Nichole Giles and Cindy Beck have a book coming out in December titled, "Mormon Mishaps and Mischief." It consists of humorous anecdotes related to LDS life, and I AM ONE OF THE CONTRIBUTORS! So make sure you keep an eye out for it. It would make a fun gift.

Second, I've recently learned of a great opportunity--a contest--for all you writers out there. LDS Publisher is holding a Christmas Story contest RIGHT NOW, and the winning entries will be published in a Christmas book this year! You really ought to check this one out.

Happy reading and writing.

Show or Tell

At the Teen Writer's Conference last June, Heather Moore and I taught a class on editing and critiquing. One of the subjects we covered was Showing Vs. Telling. Since learning the difference between the two is essential to becoming a better writer, I thought I'd post a blog or two about it. Today, I'll define "Telling." Plain and simple, telling is a summary of events or a report of what happened, kind of like what an anchorman might do on the late night news. He might give us a quote or two, and he might even describe the action with a few, well-chosen words, like "raced" or "smashed," but overall, we, the audience, will not feel as if we're in the middle of the event; we'll simply know it happened. This is not what we fiction and non-fiction writers (barring news reporters) want to do.
Let me repeat: Do not tell your story. Show it. In fact, best-selling author, Janet Evanovich, said in her book, "How I write," "Don't tell the reader anything, if you can show it instead."
True, there are a few times when telling is best, like when a character is repeating information the reader already knows to another character, or when we have to quickly update our reader about what's happened over an extended period of time--think of some of those sections in Stephenie Meyers "New Moon," shortly after Edward left. But by and large, we should try our level best to avoid telling.

Still not sure what telling is? Here are a couple of examples:

“She also volunteered lodging for my servants and the stable for my horses, but didn’t seem surprised when I told her I had neither, or offended when I told her I’d rather not talk about how I arrived. Wealth apparently brings you unquestioned acceptance.” (“My Fair Godmother,” Janette Rallinson, pg. 119-120.)


“Jeb started sending me on little errands. Run back to the kitchen for another roll, he was still hungry. Go fetch a bucket of water, this corner of the field was dry. Pull Jamie out of his class, Jeb needed to speak with him. . .”
(The Host, Stephenie Meyer, pg. 242-242.)

Until next time.

Still Trying to Catch Up

Now that I've resubmitted Missing to my publisher and am again in the waiting for their response mode, I'm trying to catch up on other writing assignments. Two months ago, my editor at yourLDSneighborhood.com requested I write a specific article for the newsletter. I told her I'd do it, but since the subject was not a "pressing" issue (as she'd already informed me), I requested a couple of months because I was swamped with my book. She acquiesced, and now, two months later, I've finally written and submitted that article. Whew! Another "To Do" wiped off the list. Grin.

I've Submitted my Revisions

As you know, I've been a bit absent in the blogging arena because I've been furiously rewriting my novel, Missing, per my editor's concerns. I sent it to her on Wednesday night (actually Thursday morning) at 1:00 a.m. My goal had been to submit it that day, so I stayed up until I completed it. Yay! I'm now waiting for her and her co-worker's responses. So far, they've mentioned they like my "new" beginning, which is actually a prologue I'd previously edited out of my book, so I hope that's a good sign. This will be my 4th full rewrite of this novel. I guess I should expect stuff like this since this is the book I've "learned" on, but let me tell ya, I've been over the same story and the same words so many times I'm not sure I can see it subjectively anymore. One bit of writing advice I've heard over the years is that you should work and rework your novel until you've done everything you know to do, and you're sick of it. I've been at that point a few times now. I guess we'll see what happens.

As far as my second book goes, I've finally completed the final chapter. It is a romantic-suspense novel, like Missing, but also includes a hint of fantasy. Everyone who knows anything about this book loves it. Hopefully, once I find a publisher, etc., you will, too.

I know I still have some scenes to adjust, some details to include, and some overall editing to do, but I'm grateful to be at this point. My next goal for it is to begin drumming up interest in it through contests, etc., while I edit. So, back to writing.

Superior Scribbler Award

I know, I know. It's been a while since I "scribbled" here, but I do have a good "scribbling" reason. First and foremost, I've been revising MISSING per my editor's concerns. Beyond that, I prepared my presentation and PowerPoint for the TEENS CONFERENCE I had the privilege of helping with on June 6, I submitted the first few chapters of my second book to a contest, and I've been editing my second book--a very little, since I'm spending most of my time on MISSING.

Anyway, back to the award.

Jordan McCollum, a fellow member of Author's Incognito, gave me this award because I offered a comment on his query. So now it's my turn to pass it on. Here are the rules:

Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.

Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author and the name of the blog from whom he/she has received the award.

Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog and link to This Post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky list. That way we'll all be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives this Prestigious Honor!

Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

So, drum roll please . . . The Winner's are:

Cindy Beck

Sharee Wanner

Rebecca Talley

Jenn Wilkes

Joyce DiPastena

I've Been Tagged

Tag time again, folks. This one's called "Crazy Eights." I was tagged by my fellow Author's Incognito friend, Christine Bryant. I'm usually a bit nervous to take part in these because I feel like I might be giving out too much information to the identity thieves out there. This one looked fairly harmless, so I succumbed to her pleading--jk--and, well, here goes . . .

Here are the Rules:
1. Mention the person who tagged you.
2. Complete the list of 8's.
3. Tag 8 other bloggers.
4. Tell them they have been tagged.

Eight Things I Look Forward To:
Attaining Best-sellerdom.
Getting my first book published--this year (grin!)
Completing my second book--the rough draft's almost finished!
Finding an agent.
Getting my second book published.
Both my boys returning from their missions
Going back to Austria
Continuing to live Happily Ever After

Eight Things I Did Yesterday
Groaned over how I'd ever find the time to answer this tag.
Went on a walk
Worked on my Power Point for my presentation at the Teen Writer's Conference
Wrote a page on my newest novel
Went to work
Washed dishes
Fed the calves
Went to the farm implement store, gave them an empty box, and said, "My husband needs three of these."

Eight Things I Wish I Could Do (I copied some of Christine's. I couldn't help it. They were to "right on.")
Be perfect
Visit the settings of my books again
Be a better wife and mother
Be more computer literate
Snap my fingers and our house would be finished and paid for.
NOT haul hay again.
Visit Australia
Be a better writer

Eight Shows I Watch
I actually don't watch much t.v.--who has time? And when I do, I gravitate to the good movies. Here are some shows I watch from time to time, though.
Andy Griffith
Bonanza
Home Improvement
American Idol
Dancing with the Stars
Passport to Europe
News

Eight Friends I Am Tagging:
Becki C.
Anne C.
Josi K.
Cindy B.
Michelle E.
Stacie H.
Joyce D
Hazel J.

And there you have it! Crazy Eights!

I've Been Blindsided!

Last weekend, my editor sent me half of the "final" edits of Missing to look over while she worked on the other half in preparation for it to go to press this weekend, but somewhere between then and now, she decided there were several elements to my story that she'd like revised. I now don't know when my book will be ready for publication. I'll let you know as I learn more. Meanwhile, back to the revising board!