Thursday, March 25, 2010

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma, by Trenton Lee Stewart

In the third installment in this series, the brainy and variantly gifted Reynie, Kate, Sticky and Constance tackle a new threat from their benefactor Mr. Benedict's evil twin, Ledroptha Curtain, and his memory-altering machine called the Whisperer. Having just returned from the second adventure (TMBS and the Perilous Journey) in which they had to rescue Mr. Benedict and his adopted daughter known only by the name Number Two (whose physical description is almost identical to a #2 pencil, though that is left for the reader to figure out), all four children are sequestered for their own security at the Benedict mansion because the bad guys are still on the loose. No longer orphans, all are staying at the mansion with loving parents or guardians (Sticky's birth parents, Reynie's former teacher and her mother, Kate's long-lost father, and, for four-year-old cranky genius Constance Contraire, Mr. Benedict himself) and each other, and the whole arrangement is rather cozy. To me, anyway. But not to these kids, who thrive on adventure, have the unique gifts to handle it, and are getting mighty tired of confinement. When evidence arises that Mr. Curtain is plotting to regain control of the Whisperer, they go to work puzzling out his plan only to fall right into his kidnapping scheme. Both the mental and physical feats are original and daring, but as they battle, the kids never lose sight of the personal element: If they defeat Mr. Curtain and his evil minions once and for all, will they have to move back to their separate lives and never see each other again?

Perhaps my favorite aspect of this series is that, though we'd expect it to be plot-driven, the characterization is just as strong. The foursome keep learning more about themselves and each other, exploring strengths, weaknesses, and figuring out how to get along now that they spend at least as much time together as siblings do. For example, someone notices that one of Sticky's nervous habits is to polish his glasses. When the remark gets back to him, Sticky spends the rest of the book checking himself whenever he reaches for the polishing cloth. It creates sympathy for him, and respect for his willingness to overcome a habit. The book also strikes a good balance between explaining as little as possible yet providing enough backstory that readers can start here without having read the first two. There are many funny moments, and though all the kids are likable and distinct, Constance is always a howl.

Yet, I didn't love the book as much as I wanted to. Part of that, I think, is simply that the children's spectacular gifts are no longer as startling as they were in book one. That's just one of the conditions of being a sequel. But the real reason, I believe, is that once the plot got going, there was a lot of running around and not as much puzzling. It's the brain teasers and the fun of matching wits with the characters that make these books unique, and that was lacking a bit in this volume.

A heartwarming ending to this book prepares readers for the series to end at this point. If there are more Mysterious Benedict Society books, though, I'll gladly pick them up.

Monday, March 22, 2010

March Critique Giveaway Winners!

The winners of this month's critique giveaway are: Mary Witzl and Miriam!

Here's the procedure. Email me at marcia at marciahoehne dot com:
  • The first 1000 words of your magazine story, chapter book, mid-grade novel, or YA novel pasted into the body of the email.
  • Be sure to tell me the genre of the material (one of the above four).
  • Put "March critique winner" in the subject line.
  • The deadline to submit your ms. for critique is the DAY BEFORE the next month's critique contest begins. Critique contests always begin on the third Thursday. Therefore I must hear from the March winners by April 14.
  • When I receive your email, I'll acknowledge receipt and let you know when you can expect my response.
Congratulations to Mary and Miriam, thank you all so much for stopping by and entering, and by all means enter again next month! Wishing you all a great day in the world of books...

Thursday, March 18, 2010

March Critique Giveaway

It's critique time. Enter to win! Here are the rules and caveats:
  • I will critique TWO manuscripts each month. By "manuscript" I mean the first 1000 words of a children's magazine story, chapter book, mid-grade novel, or YA novel. Please, fiction only. No picture books or easy readers. No poetry.
  • Enter the drawing by commenting on this post AND stating that you wish to enter. This frees you up to comment, ask a question, or just say hey WITHOUT throwing your name in the hat.
  • For an additional entry, become a follower, and tell me so (or that you already are one) in the comment.
  • For an additional entry, post a link to this contest and give the URL in either the same or a separate comment. In this category, you can enter as many times as you have cyber-places to post the contest.
  • You may enter one ms. per month. While the above rules allow you to enter multiple times, those entries are for ONE manuscript. If the #2 name drawn is a duplicate of #1, drawing will continue until a new name is drawn. This way, two people are assured of a critique each month.
  • Enter anytime on March 18, 19 or 20.
  • Any story that you plan to enter in an ICL contest is ineligible. Since I am an ICL instructor, I cannot edit stories that you intend to enter in an Institute contest.
  • The level of detail I offer in a critique will vary based on my impression of the caliber of the writing. Whenever possible, I will make both "big picture" comments and zero in on more specific areas.
  • My critique is only one opinion. This business is SO subjective. Any suggestions I make that resonate with you are yours for the taking. Compare mine with those from other beta readers, critique partners, writing teachers, etc. Even if specific suggestions vary, when two or more critiquers pinpoint a certain passage or aspect, there's probably a need for revision there. Yet don't feel you must take advice you don't agree with. In the end, it's your story.
  • Winners will be announced on Monday, March 22.
So if the above sounds good to you, let the entering begin!

Monday, March 15, 2010

Every Blog has a Silver Lining

I received this pretty blue and pink award from Anne Spollen, in honor of spring coming soon. Which of course, seals the deal: spring IS coming soon, right?

Though I must confess I don't hate winter. I don't hate it because I'm spoiled; I work at home and seldom have to go out in it if that is not convenient. I don't suffer from cabin fever or SAD. I wear my bathrobe or pj pants if I feel like it (and I usually do), write, teach, hang out online, brew a pot of soup or a cup of tea and say "Let it snow." Although summer is still my favorite season, because the child in me still equates it to time off; I have to be ready in summer. Really, I enjoy all the seasonal changes and am glad I live where they happen. Thanks, Anne.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

The Single Biggest Mistake Writers Make

There are so many holes, big and small, that a writer of fiction can fall into that naming one as THE worst is a pretty tall order. Yet Les Edgerton, in his book Hooked: Write Fiction that Grabs Readers at Page One and Never Lets Them Go, does just that. It may help narrow our guesses a smidgen to know that Edgerton is talking about story beginnings. So, what's the biggest, the very biggest, mistake one can make in a story's beginning?

He says it's this: Not trusting the reader to get it. As in, too much set-up, too much backstory, too much explanation.

I think he's right.

But to say that writing such material is itself the Biggest Mistake is to fail to dig deeply enough. Why do we pile this stuff in? Maybe, to some degree, it's because we simply like the material. We made it up, and we're bound and determined to cork it into the narrative. But this reason pales beside the Biggest Reason: We don't think readers can follow the story unless we include it. We don't trust their intelligence. We don't trust them to get it. We're writing down to them.

If we really think we can't trust them to get it, remembering the last movie, play, or TV show we watched should change that thinking. Through these media, stories unfold before us in visible and audible scenes, and we simply have to process what's going on and fill in our own holes. "A long time ago in a galaxy, far, far, away" notwithstanding, movies don't give us backstory before they get rolling. They just roll. And most audiences get it. Because other entertainment media compete with written fiction like never before, more and more movie techniques are used by the story writer or novelist. We can't overload a story's beginning with material meant to "orient" the reader any more than a movie maker or playwright can. Not even if we disguise it as a prologue. We must provide what is needed for the reader to understand, yes. But these are carefully chosen details, actions, and bits of dialogue that work within a present, ongoing scene. Not an info dump.

Edgerton posed the question "What's the single biggest mistake writers make in their story beginnings?" to several editors and agents. Here are the replies he got:
  • Thinking it's okay that the story starts slow because it "gets better later on."
  • Writing a beginning that's all backstory.
  • Baiting and switching -- writing an exciting beginning that doesn't relate to the story.
  • Assuming they don't have to earn the reader's interest.
  • Beginning with a dream, the weather, or background info.
  • "Front-loading information."
  • Starting with backstory or character descriptions.
All of these responses say the same thing: The single biggest mistake we can make is to NOT launch into the story immediately. We can, and must, start with a scene that kicks off the story's conflict, and trust the reader to get it.

Monday, March 8, 2010

March Book Giveaway Winner!

The winner of When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead is: Serenissima!

You have 30 days to claim your prize, Serenissima. No later than April 8, email me at marcia at marciahoehne dot com, giving me your postal address, and I'll acknowledge receipt and get that right out to you!

Sunday, March 7, 2010

How I Lied and What I Gave Away

So that you can see the five truths and one lie from my March 1 post, here they are again:
  1. My first book was rejected47 times before it sold. And when it sold, it was to the publisher that had seen it first.
  2. I once aced a college chemistry test in the following manner: I answered the 7 questions I knew, and wild-guessed the 13 I didn't. Results -- ALL 7 answers I "knew" were WRONG. ALL 13 I guessed were right. Highest grade in the class.
  3. I'm a synesthete. In synesthesia, stimulation of one of the five senses evokes response in other senses as well. Some see sounds, smell colors, hear smells, or feel sights. The most common form is seeing letters or numbers in color. I see some letters and numbers in color, but my main form of synesthesia is a little weirder: I taste words.
  4. It took me four tries to pass my driver's test. Right after finally doing so, I backed out of the driveway and ran over the garbage can.
  5. I had rheumatic fever, measles AND chicken pox in first grade. Not to mention colds (with what was then called "croup") and flu. My teacher wrote in my Christmas card, "I hope you have a healthy vacation so we'll see you again in January.” I lost so many weeks of school that I had to repeat.
  6. I sing in a band. In 2009 we put out our first CD, and on one track I can be heard doing something I hadn't done in years -- hitting high G. Twice.
So which is the clinker? Number 5. I've never had rheumatic fever. I didn't repeat first grade. I didn't have chicken pox in first grade either. I may have had measles then. The bit about the teacher writing me a card is true, but that happened in kindergarten and only because I was the oldest child in the family in school for the first time and picked up every virus in existence. The other 5 points are, so help me, true. Disclaimer: Lest you be afraid to encounter me on the road, I should point out that my driving record since the garbage can's demise (I was 17) is spotless. Truly.

So all of you have won an entry in the When You Reach Me giveaway. And because ONE person correctly guessed the lie, that's TWO entries for Amber Lough! Bright and early tomorrow morning, I'll post the winner of the book.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

March Book Giveaway

I'm careful about the books I buy. Peculiar in my buying habits too, I guess. I'll buy adult nonfiction online on the basis of a blurb or review, at a brick-and-mortar store while browsing, or because it's a required text for a class or seminar. With fiction, though, I behave quite differently. Any novel I buy I've already borrowed from the library, read, loved, and declared, "I've gotta own this." It happens, but it's infrequent.

Another event that "happens, but it's really infrequent" is my correct prediction of the Newbery winner. I did it the first time in 1994, when I knew as I was reading it that The Giver by Lois Lowry would win. And this year, I did it for the second time, with When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. (I should've known about Holes, too, but oh well.) This novel is, all at once, mystery, time travel, and historical (1970s). It's about friendship, family, self-sacrifice, intelligence, and at its center, a really cool puzzle. And if I think it's a must-own, maybe YOU'D like to have it too.

To be entered in the drawing:
  • Comment on this post anytime on March 4, 5, or 6.
  • For an additional entry, become a follower of this blog and mention that in the comment. Ditto if you already are a follower.
  • For an additional entry, post a link to this contest and give the URL in either the same or a separate comment. In this category, you can enter as many times as you have cyber-places to post the contest.
  • Special for this month: If you haven't already, for an additional entry, backtrack to the previous post and take a guess which one of the six "stories" about me is the lie. For TWO additional entries, guess right!
I'll tally the number of entries per person, put 'em all in the hat, draw one, and announce the winner bright and early on Monday, March 8.

So, come one, come all--and meanwhile have a great day in the world of books.

Monday, March 1, 2010

In Which I Accept an Award and Spring a True-or-False Quiz

It's always nice to win awards, dubious though some of them may be. This pinocchio guy was bestowed on me by Katie L. Carroll, whose writing blog, Observation Deck, may be found here. Thank you, Katie! :) Following is the list of things to do are the perks of this honor. I must:

*Thank the person who gave me the award and link to her.
*Add the award to my blog.
*Tell six outrageous lies about myself and One Truth.
*Nominate six creative liars...er, writers, and link to them.
*Let my nominees know they have been nominated.

Numbers 1 and 2, check. Now for point 3. What can I say; lying makes me squirm, and I always cringe when writers, seeming serious, say that fiction equal lies. I prefer a different adage that says "nonfiction is fact; fiction is truth." Even my Keirsey temperament type (which is INFJ, the counselor idealist, if you're into that stuff) reveals the esteem in which I hold Truth. Now combine this with the fact that I don't follow directions as well as I did Once Upon a Child, and it will be no surprise that I changed the rules some. Here are, then, five truths about me, and one lie. Can you spot the lie? All those who successfully rat me out will win TWO entries in my March book giveaway, which is a BIG NAME mid-grade title that will be announced on Thursday, March 4. These are, of course, in addition to any normal entries by said winners. Those who comment here, guess wrong, and like surprises, earn one entry. (If you'd rather not be entered, just say so. If you want to wait till the 4th and see what the book is, that's cool.) The deadline for your guesses will be the same as the deadline for the book drawing: midnight, Saturday March 6. On Sunday the 7th, I'll 'fess up and reveal who won two (or two MORE) entries, and the winner of the book is announced March 8. Okay -- TMI? Let's cut the chatter and dish the dirt. Truth, or lie?

  1. My first book was rejected47 times before it sold. And when it sold, it was to the publisher that had seen it first.
  2. I once aced a college chemistry test in the following manner: I answered the 7 questions I knew, and wild-guessed the 13 I didn't. Results -- ALL 7 answers I "knew" were WRONG. ALL 13 I guessed were right. Highest grade in the class.
  3. I'm a synesthete. In synesthesia, stimulation of one of the five senses evokes response in other senses as well. Some see sounds, smell colors, hear smells, or feel sights. The most common form is seeing letters or numbers in color. I see some letters and numbers in color, but my main form of synesthesia is a little weirder: I taste words.
  4. It took me four tries to pass my driver's test. Right after finally doing so, I backed out of the driveway and ran over the garbage can.
  5. I had rheumatic fever, measles AND chicken pox in first grade. Not to mention colds (with what was then called "croup") and flu. My teacher wrote in my Christmas card, "I hope you have a healthy vacation so we'll see you again in January.” I lost so many weeks of school that I had to repeat.
  6. I sing in a band. In 2009 we put out our first CD, and on one track I can be heard doing something I hadn't done in years -- hitting high G. Twice.
Number 3 requirement, check. Here are six nominees and links, with apologies if you've already been nominated:

Nora MacFarlane at Lemons for Lemonade.
Terry Lynn Johnson at TerryLynnJohnson.
Larissa at Larissa's World.
Amber Lough at Amber Lough.
PJ Hoover at Roots in Myth.
Mary Whitsell at Resident Alien.

Number 4 requirement, check. Number 5 I have to fulfill at the above lovely blogs. So -- which of the above six stories is the lie? I'm lying, er, dying, to hear your guesses.