Readers Actually Do Some of the Work for Writers

It's true. I just realized this last night. I ain't kidding.

For the last few months I've been editing and revising. Mostly cutting. And for some reason, last night, it dawned on me I was cutting away the stuff that THE READER is willing and able to fill in the blanks all by himself. The Reader actually WANTS to fill in the blanks.

Similar to Madlibs...

Not quite that drastic. I'm certainly not asking the reader to add their own verbs or adjectives to my prose.

But for miscellaneous details... the reader is very well prepared to fill in those blanks. With that in mind, it became much easier to cut material from the book. Readers ain't stupid. They just ain't.I think the book I just finished spawned this idea in me... Soul Enchilada by David Macinnis Gill. thunderchikin

And I was sort of pissed at him. Turns out that I did a lot of the writing for him. For example... the characters... Bug, Pesto, Beals... David gave some brief physical description of them... but left the rest for me. And I came up with an image for each and every one of them. On my own. Then there was the food... Picadillo, Chilorio or Sopapillas (I'm not sure if these are the exact dishes mentioned), but he only had to give me a name and a little detail... I did the rest.

David knows exactly what to put in and what to leave up to the reader. I'd call him a genius... but then he'd get another nickel. I bet he's got $1.65 already.

So, from now on, when I revise/edit... I will imagine I'm the reader and cut out the parts that I can do without the author's interference. It really makes a difference.

Oh... and go pick up Soul Enchilada... you WILL LOVE IT. I haven't met David yet, but he seems very humble and smart. I like him already.

Some Stuff

1. This is The COOLEST optical illusion I've seen. Hnstly (tm). Try it. It ACTUALLY works. Wow!

http://www.coolopticalillusions.com/eye-tricks/love-test.htm

2. Remember the dude who does those outstanding chalk drawings on the sidewalk. I found a few more.

3. Is Borders REALLY going to expand their Children's Section! Really!!!! This HAS to mean they need more YA/MG books to fill the shelves. Right? I know a few brilliant authors (who's books I've read) that would be perfect for the expansion. Editors... get to it!

4. 12 days until I'm heading to the Big Apple. I'm FRICKIN' excited beyond belief! But I'll have ZERO computer access. None. But when I get back I'll have plenty of blogging material. Plenty.

5. Not sure if you get tired of my youngest daughter's antics... but, too bad.

We were on the way home from dance last night and she wanted to play the opposite game. She'd give me a word and I had to come up with the opposite.

She said, "Up."
Daddy said, "Down."
She said, "Right."
Daddy said, "Left."
She said, "Tree."
Daddy said, "Huh."
She said, "Wrong. It's No-Tree."
Daddy said, "That's not..."
She said, "Fence."
Daddy said, "Wait a..."
She said, "Wrong. It's No-Fence."
Daddy gave up.

Putting Your Dream to the Test

I saw a little blurb on Twitter yesterday that got me thinking. Yes... me... thinking. It happens. On occasion. Okay... so rarely. But that's not the point of this post. Get off me,
carriejones !!!

The blurb is from a brand new book about putting your dreams to the test. (Not your nocturnal dreams... your LIFE dreams.)

The book says:

"If your dream depends on luck, then you’re in trouble."

At first, this REALLY scared me. Could this be true?

Think about it. I've been told many, many times that, besides talent and persistance, getting published also involves "luck". If this is true (and I think it is) then what does that statement say about my dream of getting a book on the shelves.

I haven't read this book... but from what I'm gathering, if your dream involves luck... maybe you should find another dream. Depending on luck is like depending on your neighbor to actually return that battery charger.

I do have an opinion about this...

I disagree. I'm hard-pressed to think of a 'dream' that doesn't involve some luck.

Why I HATE being photographed

I hate to have my picture taken. I blame it on my parents. They loved to put their little children in strange outfits and in strange places and snap their photo. It was HORRIBLE.

For example.

Here is my oldest brother...

And then there was my other brother at Halloween...

Oddly, my brother LOVED wearing this pumpkin. He wore it

for like two weeks straight. Slept, played, pooped in it. And he cried like a baby when my mother finally took it off him and threw it out. Of course she took a picture of it.

Anyway... I think you get the point. Picture taking was like punishment to me. I realized this not long after my birth. But, even at 3 months old, I couldn't convince my parents NOT to take my picture. I DESPISED it! And I wouldn't smile. I protested as best I could.

Here's proof!

What's up with Home Depot?

I'm the worst handiman on the planet. Honestly. Go ahead... ask my wife... she'll tell you.

So... I'm watching what I'm certain is an infomercial for this really cool set of tools. I'm talking tools that will make me a hero in the house. Tools that will talk you through the job... or ACTUALLY do it for you. I'll be able to fix anything.

I went online and printed out a picture of them. Off I went to Home Depot. I showed the salesman the picture and he laughed at me. Laughed!!! The punk!

Here's the photo. What'd I do wrong?





















Then he told me to go to Toys R Us. What! I wanted TOOLS not TOYS.

Friday Five - The Update Addition

1. Okay. If you're looking for an agent... here is the contest for you. Over at
thefiverandoms a great bunch of authors.

http://thefiverandoms.livejournal.com/1458.html

A chance to hook my agent, Wendy Schmalz. And let me tell you, Wendy is awesome. Kind, smart, prompt (unbelievably prompt), and she knows the business like no other. Don't miss a chance to hook her. Srsly (tm). I'd be happy to share her with ONE more person. But that's it!!!


2. Music wise... I can't say enough about the new Jars of Clay CD called 'The Long Fall Back to Earth'. Wow! WoW! Every song is great! They're best effort yet. Just ask my newest, bested buddy learningtoread . We share an affinity for the band. Oh, lisa_schroeder ... I know you love Lifehouse (as do I)... I think you might like these guys too.


3. I"m in the market for a new bike helmet. Does anyone know where I can find this one?
















4. I've been reading my ass off. Hnstly (tm). Look.






(Please note: That's not me, but merely a representative of what my ass looks like after so much reading).







Right now I'm reading a totally cool manuscript by tlcadence (Tara Kelly)... Man, I love to read books that I know will hit the shelf before anyone else! Makes me feel special.

And I give the following books HUGE thumbs up. Go and get them.







by onegrapeshy






















by anywherebeyond





















by carrie_ryan











5. As far as movies go, I'm REALLY looking forward to Wolverine, Star Trek, Transformers2, Harry Potter and Up!. How about you?

I am the Dandelion

First of all... a round of applause for the dandelion. Honestly... this is NOT a weed... but a flower.

Let me be honest. I'm not the most positive person on the planet. No, no, no... it's true. I'm not ashamed to admit it.

But you, my Blogger friends, always stick with me while I go off to sulk and lick my wounds (only the ones I can reach. Srsly (tm)). I've not been the writer I wanted to be this year. Not even close. I was so fired up on January 1st. But that lasted about a day. Maybe two. I've disappointed myself.

So often I can't help but feel inadequate. Undeserving. Jealous. And those feelings just push down on me relentlessly.

Similar to the dandelion.

This little flower is pummeled by fertilizers... mowed down with lethal blades... trampled on by obnoxious kids playing outside instead of sitting in front of the TV... urinated on by dogs (and drunk men).

Yet... it will push forward and grow. It will NEVER give up!

Go ahead... try to pave over it!

Or better yet... try to construct a building on top of it!

It won't work. The Dandelion will flourish. I am the dandelion!!!!!

Okay. I won't kid myself. I'll be down again. I'll wither. I'll dry up. I'll want to float away. It's part of the process. It's natural.

But look...

Within those wisps is drive. Is persistence.

Is hope!