Music Monday

I spaced last week and forgot to post the playlist of the week, so to make up for that, you get two for the price of one today:  Modern Romance and We’re not Robots.

 

Modern Romance is just a little gather of love songs that feel a bit more like what love really is to me.  Some of the songs are quirky and sweet, and others are a little more deep. Some of the songs are about those first butterflies, and some are about working at it a little further down the line.  And maybe a little bit of heartbreak, of course.

Here’s the track list:

  1. Tell Her You Love Her – Echosmith
  2. Walk Through Hell – Say Anything
  3. If You Don’t Mind – Sam Behymer
  4. Between Me and You – Brandon Flowers
  5. What I Wouldn’t Do – Serena Ryder
  6. La Luna – Lucy Schwartz
  7. You Are Enough – Sleeping At Last
  8. Stolen Dance – Milky Chance
  9. Modern Romance – TV On The Radio (This is a cover, definitely check out the original by the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs.)
  10. 10,000 Emerald Pools

Here’s the link:

 

We are not Robots is inspired by a few things this week.  My husband is an engineer with a very scientific mind.  I made playlists about how opposite we were when we dated.  This week I had been listening to some Marina and the Diamonds around the house, and he happened to hear “I am not a Robot” later in the week on one of his podcasts.  It just reminded me of some of those songs and why I love them.

So it’s equal parts songs about technology, robots, songs sung by a robot and love in the technical age. Here you go:

  1. I am not a Robot – Marina and the Diamonds
  2. Science Vs. Romance – Rilo Kiley
  3. But She Beat My High Score – Say Hi (I do not condone dumping your awesome gamer girlfriend.  Just propose, she’ll game with you forever.)
  4. Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots – The Flaming Lips
  5. Still Alive – Aperture Science Psychoacoustic Laboratory
  6. Want You Gone – Apeture Science Psychoacoustic Laboratory

 

100 Word Story – King

I’ve once again joined the weekly challenge over at the 100 Word Stories Podcast blog.  This week the prompt was “King” and here is my story for this week:

I’ve met a lot of self-proclaimed kings and queens in my life. They wield their power and laud their achievements to anyone who will listen.

That’s how their power works, they tell you how important they are, why you should bow down. When you don’t, they gasp and act horribly offended. How dare you? Do you not see how exceptional I am? Hush, peasant.

Here’s the best way to deal with these sorts of people: Ignore them.

They only have the power people give them. Ignore it, and they start to melt like the witch in the Wizard of Oz.

Flash Fiction Friday

It’s Friday!  So that means it’s the day I muster up some courage and write some flash fiction.  If the prompt sparks inspiration for you, please share your flash fic with me!  I’d love to see it.

Today’s prompt is:

“It feels like letting go.”

Spite can be fuel.  It can be a fury buried deep within a person that pushes them to do more, to prove others wrong.

“You’re not good enough at this, you should quit.”

The words echoed in Karrie’s mind.  John had said them, nearly two years ago, but they still popped into her head now and then.  Despite his words, he had come to her numerous times before she ended the–Friendship?  She never really thought they were friends, more just acquaintances of a sort. He had come to her for advice on his writing, on his stories, even asked her to help and contribute through collaboration.

But the hammer always fell as soon as she pushed back against him.  If she explained to him that he really needed an editor, he would tell her she just didn’t understand his work.  Her work just wasn’t on par with his, according to John.  If she told him an idea did not work and required revision, he would tell her she just lacked vision.

Those words and what he had done stuck with Karrie for a long time, until one day they didn’t.  Spite and fury had become tools in her arsenal, mechanisms that pushed her to work harder and be better, if only to show John he was wrong about her.  That day she didn’t need them anymore, as she held her first publication in her hands.  It was no passive act, letting go of his poison, but it was certainly a gratifying one.

What Does Your Character Want?

When I was a teenager, I used to cut out pictures from magazines and comics and post them around my room.  Usually it was stuff like Batman or Wonder Woman or NSYNC, but occasionally it would just be an ad I liked.  One image in particular has stuck with me.  There’s a male model giving someone an incredulous look.  He sits on a box and the text above his head says “What’s my motivation here?” It wouldn’t be until many years later that I would understand that phrase, I just thought the model was good looking.

Like many writers, I dabbled in high school theater.  I wouldn’t say I was a particularly great actor.  I could sing and I’ve always loved to pretend I was other people, but my interest in acting was more about loving characters than being on stage.  Motivation is something that’s talked about a lot in when you act.  Your character needs motivation to cross a room, to pick up the phone, to say something.  They don’t do anything without motivation.

And that?  Has helped me a lot as I realized I preferred creating the characters over acting them out.

Every character in your story has to want something.  That’s art imitating reality, every person you meets want something.  It might be something small, like a turkey sandwich, or something big, like taking over the world.  They have to want it and as the author, it’s your job to put things in their way as they try to get it.  It’s often good to have a character with an internal motivation that is completely at odds with an external motivation.

For example:

Ally wants to be loved, but Ally lives in a dystopian society where love gets you killed.  Ally also wants to survive.

And tada!  Conflict.

If you don’t know what your character wants, just ask them.  Have a dialogue in your head, or on a piece of paper, and ask them what they want.  You can take small needs and find ways to make them bigger and put other needs in direct opposition of them.

This also may help as you are revising a story.  If something feels off, or if the character feels off, look at what the characters in that scene want.  You might find that what they are doing in the scene doesn’t actually match their motivations.  It’s a lot easier to fix something once you know why it’s broken.

What about you?  Do you have any tips and tricks for figuring out what your characters want?  Let me know in the comments!  I’d love to hear from you.

Flash Fiction Friday

This week’s prompt for Flash Fiction Friday:

“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.”
-Robert Frost

Today’s post is a little bit more narrative non-fiction than fiction, but it was what I felt inspired to write today.  I hope you enjoy it, and share your own Friday flash fiction with me.

Never Break The Chain

More often than not, I wait a little while before telling people that I lost my dad to cancer. It’s one of those things that is very defining and very personal all at the same time. And for some reason, when you have to mention it on conversation, strangers tell you how sorry they are.

They mean well. I know that. But I don’t go back to that place of loss all the time, even when I mention it. I miss him, everyday, sure.

I miss him more when I see my nieces and nephew smile and I see a glimmer of him in their eyes. I miss him when I listen to 80s music, or hear Fleetwood Mac on the radio.

But I don’t always want to share that pain, that loss, with everyone I meet.

I still feel him sometimes. Mostly through music, but other times not. Some days I feel his hand on my shoulder, pushing me to be brave. In June it’ll be ten years since we lost him, and though he is never forgotten, we keep going. We build in his honor and we heal in his honor. We find joy in the things he taught us and the things he cherished. We know that everything will be okay and the best is yet to come. Life goes on, so we must go on too.

 

Attending Your First Comic Con

For me, the convention season is just about to start.  As comic conventions get more popular, more and more people are attending each year that have never been to a comic convention before.  I’ll be heading to Salt Lake Comic Con’s FanXperience later this month, and have plans to attend Denver Comic Con and SLCC’s main convention in September, later this year.

Here’s what to expect:

There will probably be some lines.  Get there early if you can, or arrive later and stay into the evening.

I’ve been to a couple smaller cons where there was nearly no wait time, but when you’re attending a convention that has over 100,000 attendees, there’s gonna be some down time.  If you want to avoid these lines, order your tickets early (Most conventions will send out your badges in advance, if you order early enough.) or register early if you can.  If you don’t, you may have to wait in line to register and then wait in line to get it.  Save yourself the headache and have your badge ready.

SLCC’s events also have a wrist band that you register, which made things really easy last year.  Once the doors opened, I was in almost instantly.

Look at the kinds of passes they offer

Most conventions offer daily passes, an multi-days pass, and a VIP pass.  SLCC does their passes a little differently, where they have daily passes, a multipass that gets you in all 3 days, a “gold” pass which gets you in all 3 days and provides some added perks, and the VIP passes.

Personally, I get a gold pass. I don’t usually see a lot of celebrities, so a VIP pass wouldn’t be utilized by me.  If you want  lots of autographs and pictures with celebs, a VIP pass is worth it, because you’ll be in the VIP line, which tends to have a shorter wait time.

It’s best to look for a pass that fits what you want to do best, and make the decision based on that.

The different areas of comic cons

Artist Alley – An area where independent artists, writers, crafters and small publishing companies generally have booths.  Most of these creators paid for their booths out of pocket, so consider supporting them if you can.  You’ll find some really stunning art, new reading materials and other fun stuff here.

Vendors – This is usually next to where Artist Alley is, but instead of independent artists, it’s more likely you will find companies/stores.  You’ll find just about everything from T-shirts to costume supplies in this area.  And of course, comics.  Lots of comic stores.

Special Displays – These tend to be super fun places to get pictures.  Things like Star Wars sets, famous cars from different movies, the Iron Throne and other awesome displays have been at some of the comic conventions I’ve attended.  Salt Lake Comic Con also tends to have the costuming groups near these displays, so you can get a picture with a Jedi, a Mandolorian Merc (Like Boba Fett) or with a superhero.  Many of these groups do charity work, so keep that in mind when you visit them.

Celebrities – Each celebrity has a booth where they do signings.  Prices vary, so be sure to check your convention site to find out how much an autograph will be.  Some conventions allow you to pay in cash at the convention, while others do online only autographs.

Photo Ops – The Photo Op area tends to be the most mysterious part of a comic convention, since it’s all curtained off.  There is an area for people to line up who have purchased photo ops, and usually a customer service table where you can buy a photo op or buy additional prints  There’s usually an area where the celebrity is, and you are shuffled into that part of the booth, a shot is snapped, and then you’re done.  It’s a very quick process, so keep that in mind.

Panels – There are usually lots of panels to go to about a range of subjects.  Be sure to check out the convention’s programming guide, so that you can find out which ones you want to go to.

What about those folks in costume?  I just saw Batman and I’d love a picture!

Most of the people you see in costume at a convention are fans just like you. They are called “Cosplayers” and most of them would LOVE to have their photograph taken.  Here’s a few things to remember about approaching cosplayers:

  1. Ask before taking a photo.  I’ve had it happen a few times, a shy person likes my costume but doesn’t ask me to take a picture.  They hold up their phone and snap a shot as I walk by, which probably results in a picture that doesn’t look great.  I usually stop and ask if they want a picture, or if they’d like to take a picture with me. One of my FAVORITE parts of wearing a costume is posing with other fans.  Unless I’m in a super hurry, I will stop and pose for/with you, as long as you ask politely.  Cosplayers want the photos you take to look awesome!  Don’t be afraid to ask for a picture.  
  2. Ask before touching their costume, or hugging them.  My husband wears a Captain America costume and he’s had more than one fan want to hug him in it.  He’s fine with a hug and the hug isn’t going to damage his costume, so it isn’t usually a problem.  If he were wearing foam armor, or something more elaborate than fabric, it might be a bit more of an issue.  It’s a total bummer for a cosplayer when something breaks, so be polite and careful, and respect the work the cosplayer has put into building their costume.  Again, just ask, most cosplayers want to share how they made something and will either let you touch it, or tell you how they made it.
  3. If they are eating, resting, or look like they are taking a break, considering waiting to ask them for a picture.  I’ve been approached before and usually I’ll still get up/ stop eating to pose for a picture, but it’s also nice when people are respectful of break time.  Conventions are usually filled with a lot of walking and not all costumes are comfortable.
  4. Cosplayers dress up because they love the character.  They usually aren’t paid. Except for a few professional cosplayers, most people dressed up at a convention did not get paid to be there.  They likely bought a pass just like you did.  So keep that in mind when you interact with them.

And that gives you the basics!  If you have a question, feel free to leave it in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer it.

Warrior Princess – Music Monday

I’m the first to admit I love Disney Princesses.  I also grew up loving shows like Buffy, Dark Angel, Charmed and of course, Lynda Carter as Wonder Woman.  That love for Wonder Woman has followed me most of my life, so I always wanted to stand up for the innocent and defend the defenseless.

Gail Simone has a quote about Wonder Woman that I love:

“If you need to stop an asteroid, you call Superman. If you need to solve a mystery, you call Batman. But if you need to end a war, you call Wonder Woman.”

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I think in recent years, due to lack of representation and lack of toys, girls haven’t gotten the message they can be both a Princess and Warrior.  I’m hopeful that’s about to change, since there’s been so much public outcry.

“What makes a good leader?” has also been on my mind a lot this week.  In the past, I’ve deal with “Queen Bees” and “Kings” who think they lead because of superiority.  They lead because they’ve got the crown, but I think a real warrior princess doesn’t use her crown as a status symbol.  She gets in the mud, puts her shoulder to the wheel, and helps her people move forward.

This playlist is about all of that.  Being a warrior, being a princess (or a queen), being a leader.

Be strong.  Be sweet.  Be diplomatic.  Be whatever you need to be, and want to be, to get the job done.  Go forth, lead and conquer.

Here’s the playlist:

  1. Castle – Halsey
  2. Warrior – Kimbra, A-Trak, Mark Foster
  3. Yellow Flicker Beat – Lorde
  4. I Know What I Am – Band of Skulls
  5. Crown on the Ground – Sleigh Bells
  6. Heavy is the Head – Zac Brown Band featuring Chris Cornell
  7. Demons – Sleigh Bells
  8. Go! – Santigold featuring Karen O
  9. Coming Home II – Skylar Grey
  10. New Bohemia – Transviolet

Here’s the link:

Ring

After a few weeks away, I’m back to doing the weekly challenge over at the 100 Word Stories Podcast blog.  Please check out the link to see the other stories, or to join the challenge yourself.

Ring

We live in an age where everyone is expected to be available at the drop of a hat, but I try not to take that for granted.

I mean, I get it. I do. We’re self absorbed beings that care more about Candy Crush than the person across the table from us.  Sometimes, at least.

But 30 years ago, my mom lived thousands of miles from her family, it took several steps and a couple weeks to send a picture of her newborn baby.  Now, the phone rings and she can instantly see her granddaughter, thanks to that soul-sucking technology.  

Flash Fiction Friday

So, I wanted to introduce a new recurring feature on my blog.  Each week, I’ll provide a prompt and a bit of flash fiction.  If you want to join in on the fun, please feel free to post your flash fiction in the comments or link me to it via the comments.

I’m a really big fan of quotes or music lyrics as prompts, so a lot of mine will be in that form.  For today, I chose:

“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.”
-Dr. Seuss

And here is my flash fiction, based on the prompt:

The Answer
Jane tended to hold on to people that aren’t very good for here. It was as if she curated a collection of former friends like a crafter would a pinterest board. For the longest time, they were all there, images of them in her mind that tied in memories. The times they had lied, manipulated and cheated their way through their friendship, and of course the few moments that felt like they were real friends.

Jane held onto that collection a lot longer than she should have, worrying about how she could leave the pain behind. And sometimes she worried maybe she was broken, maybe if she would have just bent over backward a little more, given a little bit more, maybe she could have made things work.

It was a lie though, and somewhere deep down, she started to realize that.

That was when she started to wonder about moving on. How could she leave the past in the past? It felt like chains, holding her down.

That was the problem, though. The mind held on to things longer than the body did. It was easy to throw pictures in a trash bag, to delete texts and block emails. Jane found it a lot harder to let go of the good times, than the bad, but eventually realized the answer was simple.

Leaving them behind was as easy as looking forward. Stay in the present and the past is just the past.

Write What You Know… Or Don’t

I tend to write a lot of fantasy, sci-fi and superhero stories.  Sadly, I have never been given super powers by a science experiment go wrong, nor have I ever been a werewolf or been to space.

But, some days I fake it pretty well.  Or at least, my characters do.

“Write what you know” tends to be a confusing and limiting piece of advice.  People assume it means you can only write from your perspective about things you’ve experienced first hand.  While I do think research and experience are important, the stories I dream often outside of my area of experience.

It also comes back to writing the emotions you know, because that is what will resonate with your audience.  You may not know what it’s like to be an alien princess, but you probably know what it’s like to have your heartbroken.  Most of us, at some point in our life, have felt pain, loss, joy, exhaustion, anger.  If you think about the books you’ve read, even those with some mistakes about setting or details that research could have helped, you may still love them despite their flaws, because they made you feel something.

If you want to write a story about a mental illness, but you have never had one and don’t know someone who does, that is what research is for.  Many people want to share their story, so the best way to learn more, is to ask them.  I’d suggest this for any subject you don’t “know” but especially real places, real people, and real conditions that exist.  Readers will forgive small errors in these factual things, but too many will pull them out of the book.

In the end, it is all about balance.  Share what you do know about life, feelings, emotions and research what you don’t.  Try to remember the kinds of inaccuracies that pulled you completely out of a story, and the things that kept you in the story despite them.