Link Line-up

Coming up on the end of the year and we've past the end of Nanowrimo so here are some links to keep you going right up until January 1, 2010!

Do you have to sacrifice a great deal if you want to be a great writer? John Scalzi says you just have to give up an hour of television a day and you'll be off to a great start. And you don't necessarily need to suffer for success, either.

Need some tips or just some motivation to keep going? Marelisa Fábrega give us 54 Tips for Writers, From Writers over on her Abundance blog. I love the quotes from Annie Dillard and I am totally going to go read that book.

I hate writing dialogue because I feel like it is never as witty or quick moving as the novels I read. Laura Cross lists 12 Characteristics of Great Dialogue that helped me see how to improve so I'm working on getting better. This post is geared toward screenwriting but I think it applies to any dialogue you're writing.

Writer's block, dare I even say it, haunts all of us. Dani Shapiro gives us her thoughts on writer's block and they definitely drove the rain cloud from my window! "If writing is, as I believe it to be, an act of courage--the daily triumph of faith over doubt, willingness over insecurity, hope over cynicism--then the inability to do so for days on end is a failure not of character, nor of biochemistry, but of nerve."

I know this time of year we are usually thinking about pie rather than cake, but these 17 Amazing Sci-fi Themed Cakes really take the... well... you know.

Stargate Addiction

I am addicted to Stargate. I had heard of the movie that originally came out in 1994 and I think I saw it on TV once or twice. So when I saw Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis listed on Hulu I thought I would see what it is all about.

The first season of Stargate SG-1 aired in 1997 but I was immediately impressed with the feel of the show because it didn't strike me as very dated. The TV series follows 4 main characters who comprise the team SG-1 on their exploration missions to other worlds through a wormhole device named the Stargate. Click here for a more comprehensive explanation.

There are several things I like about this show. First, the stories are great. Granted, they have a lot of possibilities with the setup - they can create any sort of world they want to and that opens up all sorts of opportunities for conflict and plot. But the writers have come up with some really creative stuff. There is some structure which provides continuity, however. They have a core group of characters that we see in each episode (SG-1 team). They also established a antagonist in the form of an alien race whose main goal is to see the end of the human race. So these things form a baseline for most of the episodes.

Second, the characters are so much fun! You might think that with so many seasons of SG-1 the characters would grow static and boring, but I haven't gotten bored yet. You really get attached to the members of the team which makes the stories even better.

I haven't started watching Stargate Atlantis yet, so I can't give an informed opinion about that offshoot series. But I have become a quick fan of the new Stargate Universe series that just barely started. I highly recommend you check out the pilot. They did a good job of giving the basics so you don't have to watch all the previous Stargate shows to know what's going on. But you should anyway...

Wanna know more? Here's the official site. Totally disagree with me? Leave a comment and tell me why. Agree with me? Leave me a comment and tell me why. Have a TV show recommendation? Bring it.

Dan Simmons: Hyperion

I added this book to my list of books to read after reading a review over on a blog I've just recently began following. Side note: I love this blog Only the Best Sci-fi/Fantasy because they write great reviews. So I found a copy at the library and started reading a few weeks ago.

I was immediately intrigued by the characters and drawn in by their stories. The book is setup in sections of flashbacks or stories while the characters travel and begin their journey. I was impressed by the back story that had to go into this and how Simmons ties them all together.

This is the first in a series and the end almost feels like the first chapter rather than the first book because nothing is concluded or resolved. Despite this huge cliffhanger and the overwhelming sense of being left hanging, I don't know if I'll continue the series.

There was a lot of violence and language in this one, almost too much for me. I'll be the first to admit that I'm a conservative reader, so feel free to disregard my complaints if this sort of thing doesn't bother you. And it's almost a shame, too, because I really got into the stories when the language wasn't distracting me. The futuristic society, technology, and science was interesting and felt unique to me, which was fun. Simmons handled the politics and ethics surrounding the characters in a way that wasn't overbearing and kept me entertained, too.

As I said, if you can handle this stuff you should definitely check this one out. But I won't be recommending it to my mother...

Neil Gaiman: Fragile Things

I've decided I need to read as much of Neil Gaiman's work as possible so I picked up a couple of his books at the library last month. This is a compilation of short stories and poems that he's written over the years. I was looking forward to a some short snippets of enjoyment but as I got into it more I realized that I was more in the mood for in depth characters and extended plots that kept me involved. So I set it aside for a few days while I read a full-length novel that satisfied that hunger. When I came back to it, I was able to enjoy the short stories more.

I'll be the first to admit that I'm more of a conservative reader - I don't like a lot of sex, violence, or language in my reading. So, I have to admit that I didn't read every single piece in this compilation. If I got to a point where it was a bit much I moved on to the next one. I tried to give each one a fair chance because I respect Mr. Gaiman and his writing. After following his blog and his tweets on Twitter, I have to say that I think he would totally understand my choices and if he didn't, he would at least respect them. And that is one of the things I really love about him; he put his work out there and then lets his readers think what they will. He's very easy-going and slow to take offense.

So back to the reading. For every one I skipped there were two more that I completely enjoyed. His poems are fantastic! He has an amazing way of portraying so much magic and joy so quickly and in just a few lines. I just had to smile. Several of the stories really stuck with me, too. There's one he wrote Matrix-style that was just awesome and another that was the basis for his most recent Graveyard Book that I loved reading.

The other really great part about this book is that Gaiman includes a sort of preface for each piece that explains why he wrote it and some of the thinking that created the work. I like having that little behind-the-scenes view.

I recommend you pick this one up at the library and don't feel bad if you feel the need to skip one or two. No one can please everyone all the time.

Chillin'

So I've totally been slacking on the whole post thing but I'm sitting here at home by myself watching a chick flick and felt like jotting some things down.

I'm watching Twilight for the second time, and I like it better this time, too. It's been cloudy today and it made me realize how much I miss that kind of weather. I like a cold rain every once in a while because it makes me reflective and cozy. I'm more prone to feel like writing when I feel cozy and thoughtful.

I've been slacking a bit on reading recently. I read a novel on WEbook.com by Rob Hansen called Sonnet Harbor. I finally finished it last night and it was really good. I'm hoping it gets selected for publishing because I think it was really well done. The characters are sincere and I liked the story a lot. Check it out and let me know what you think.

I've also been spending some time watching Stargate SG-1 on hulu.com. They have season 1 and season 2 posted right now so I got to start from the beginning. I love the stories - they are such great sci-fi plots. And the characters are growing on me now, too, although I thought they were a little cheesy at first.

So now I think maybe I'll do some writing and then get back to the book I've been reading on and off the last little while. The Chronicles of Amber have been highly recommended so I thought I'd give them a try. I'm only a little way in but I'm intrigued.

What have you been reading recently? Find anything fun to read or watch?

Stephenie Meyer: A Fast Favorite

Author of Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn, and The Host Stephenie Meyer is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Every one I know has read the Twilight books and I'm recommending them to everyone else I don't know.

My little sister actually got me started on Twilight a couple years ago after she heard Meyer speak at an afternoon seminar at BYU where she is attending school. I read the first book in about 2 days and didn't get much sleep. What struck me most about this book is Meyer's writing style. Unlike some other fantasy and science fiction authors, she doesn't use really elaborate and overwhelming words. Her writing is simple but efficient. I loved how real the story seemed because of this writing style. Bella seemed like a girl I knew at school - she had characteristics I enjoyed and disliked just like normal people. Yet I was drawn to her and her story. Just brilliant and I'm not the only one who thinks so. Although her Twilight series ending with Breaking Dawn, which was released just a couple months ago, is geared to young adults they are still entertaining and engaging for adults.

The Host is Meyer's first adult targeted novel that came out earlier this year. Once again, this is a fantastic novel that I just could not put down. Not only did I devour it, but I keep thinking about it months later. I love the characters and the whole premise of the plot is just fantastic. This is definitely one I want on my shelf for future enjoyment.

The common thread through all of Meyer's book so far is the fundamental dynamic of good vs. evil. No story is complete without it and Meyer has done a wonderful job exploring this eternal battle in all of her novels. What makes something, or someone, good or evil? I love the way she illustrates this topic and I also love that she does it in a way that so many can be comfortable with. Her novels are clean - little violence, no sex, reserved language (I think there was one explitive in The Host), and strong in morality and the importance of values.

If you can't tell by now, I'm a big fan of Stephenie Meyer. I think part of it is that I feel we have a lot in common and it inspires hope that I might one day publish some of my work.

If you're not on the Meyer bandwagon yet, read these books, check out the website and the article below then hop on while the wagon is in town!

Stephenie Meyer Website
Article

Various Tidbits

For all those who love 'Science fiction. Fantasy. The Universe. And related subjects' Tor.com is live. I glanced at it quickly this evening and it seems worthy of my bookmarks list.

Also, I enjoyed this post on the AbeBooks Reading Copy blog about Bad Writing.

I can't even express how much I enjoy reading Neil Gaiman's Journal. This brought a smile to my face (this after he has been feeling overwhelmed with all he has to do):

I was convinced that all was doom and despair and hopeless and I would never write my way out of this and there weren't enough hours in the day or days in the week or anything when I finally got out of the house and went down to the bottom of the garden to write, and discovered, on the way, masses of late and forgotten raspberries on the raspberry canes. So I stopped and ate raspberries, and you can't be properly miserable or grumpy eating sun-warmed raspberries you're picking and eating yourself.

I'm just saying. You can't.

Ironman Movie

My husband and I went to see Ironman in the theater a few weeks ago with some friends. He wasn't too excited to see it and mostly went along for the social aspect, but I was looking forward to seeing it because I like the sci-fi fantasy stuff, if you couldn't already tell. I was thoroughly satisfied - Robert Downey Jr. did a great job and the plot was rather interesting. Not to mention the action scenes were way entertaining. I like this un-likely hero type that's a little rough around the edges. I never read the comics, so I can't say how the movie compared, but I am excited to see it again when it comes out on DVD.

Have you seen it? What did you think?

Douglas Adams Remembered

I absolutely love Neil Gaiman's blog and I've been reading it a lot the last couple of days. This is an introduction he did for a biography on Douglas Adams that really touched me. Hitchhiker's really is becoming a classic and I enjoyed learning about Adams through Gaiman's eyes. I was visiting the Book and Read Forums today and read a thread about influential sci-fi novels. Adams was mentioned several times and it made me realize that his Hitchhikers books are making history.

Ursula K. Le Guin

I read the Earthsea series last year and was impressed with Le Guin's artistry. As I've said earlier, we're moving in a few months and in an effort to reduce the amount of stuff we have we're trying to cut down on our library. I had a book of short stories by Ursula Le Guin called The Wind's Twelve Quarters that was put in the 'to be decided' pile. I'm happy to say it has been decided - I'm keeping it for further enjoyment. And Ursula Le Guin is now among my favorite authors. I love her imagery and the magic of her stories. I definitely need to read more of her work.

Your thoughts on Le Guin or her Earthsea books?

Why Read Fiction?

I was discussing this with some of my family in Kentucky last weekend, that there are some people who think reading fiction is a waste of time. "It's not real," they argue. "Why should I spend my time on something that's not true?"

My answer to this question is that although the characters and events may be fabricated, there is still truth to be found in fiction. We learn truths about human nature and the effects our actions can have on others. Not only that, but there is a beauty and artistry in the novel that one should learn to respect, even if one cannot enjoy it because the story may be imaginary.

"But what about fantasy and science fiction?" they continue. "Why read anything from that genre when so many aspects are so far-fetched?" Even if someone can come to accept the merits of fiction, many don't enjoy these genres because they seem so removed from reality. To this I say, open your mind and let your imagination out for some fresh air. I will admit and accept that fantasy and science fiction are not for everybody, but that's okay - that just means the books I want at the library are always available.

Now, go read some good fiction and let me know how it goes.

Ray Bradbury: Fahrenheit 451

This was the last book I read in the year 2007 and I can say it was a good pick to end the year on. I have never read this before - I somehow missed it during all my years of High School and college. But since it's considered one of the classic science fiction books around, I thought I better have it under my belt.

This book is fantastic. I loved it and I really want to add it to my personal library some day soon. It's a short read, which was good for me because I was reading it during one of the busiest times of the year. But I can now see why so many people say it is a must for anyone even remotely interested in reading, and especially those into science fiction. If you haven't yet, if you're like me and somehow missed getting this during your educational years, please go get it at the library, bookstore, or your friend up the street. It won't take long to read and it is worth every minute.

Bradbury drew me right in with his simple descriptions and ordinary tone for a futuristic world, one where owning a book is illegal. The characters are so interesting because they are so conflicted and confused about right, wrong, good, and bad. The life Bradbury created in this book is scary, but he makes it seem so possible. And the ending totally shocked me, which I loved. I find it amazing that there was so much packed into just a little book.

Read it, today. That's all I can say.

And your thoughts? What did you think?

Orson Scott Card: Empire

I have read several of Orson Scott Card's previous books so I was interested when I read on a forum that Empire was a good read and slightly different from what he has done in the past. I expected more science fiction but was pleasantly surprised when there was hardly any science. I do like Card's sci-fi, but I also really liked this novel which was more politically geared.

I started listening to this book on audio last year but wasn't able to finish it before it 'expired.' So after Christmas I got a hard copy from my library. It was intriguing enough for me to make the effort to request it and then pick it up rather than listen to the rest.

I don't usually go for the political novels because I'm not all that enthusiastic about politics in general. But I have enjoyed Card's work in the past and this book came highly recommended. I was almost instantly hooked by the main character and intrigued with the possibilities of where the story was going. This book is right on par with Card's other work.

I will admit that the ending was a little unsatisfying for me, but looking back I'm still please with the book as a whole. If you have read it, what did you think?

I know I write a lot about fantasy and other girly books, but I can recommend this one to anyone with confidence... even you, milkcrate!

Gerald N. Lund: The Alliance

I love this book. I just finished it for the third time and it only took me 2 days. Juberry gave me this novel as a birthday gift and I'm glad I have my own copy now.

The story takes place in a post-apocalyptic America and follows Eric Lloyd in the discovery of a 'Utopian' civilization where crime, anger, and hate have been eliminated. The Alliance, as it is called, implants everyone with a computer chip that regulates their emotions. Appalled at this practice, Eric vows to destroy the Alliance and set the people free.

This novel is a great science fiction read - lots of action and entertaining plot twists. Lund does a fantastic job portraying the horror of this civilization and the reader is instantly supporting the main character. The characters are good, but they don't really stand out in my memory as being exceptionally unique. But they serve their purpose to tell the story.

It's a little hard to find this book because Gerald N. Lund is only well-known in a specific niche. But if you can find it, I highly recommend you read The Alliance.