Preparing for NaNo Mo

Character Shopping

With NaNoMo fast approaching, those of us who are planning to take the challenge have characters knocking on our brains asking to be included in our stories. While some writers have meticulously outlined their stories anxiously awaiting November first to start, others, known as pansters, go with whatever enters their head when they sit down to type.

Whichever type of writer you are, you still need characters. So where do you get them? 

I’ve been busy critiquing this week and I’ve read about every type of character from a hedgehog to an alien, to an Egyptian princess. 

WARNING: Characters that we make up in our head are usually flat. They’re one dimensional, the way we see them as we write. The trouble with dreaming up characters is that they’re NOT original.

Example. This past spring I was involved in a YA critique group at an SCBWI conference. Seven people made up our group.

Two wrote historical fiction.

One wrote paranormal.

One wrote high fantasy.

One rewrote of a fairy tale in a historical fantasy setting.

And, two wrote contemporary fiction.

I mentioned to the group that as I read their pages I was taken aback at how similar our main characters were, even though our genres were different.

Among our MC’s we had a female pirate, an Irish laundress, an evil Queen, an angel, a high school student, a mysterious girl, and a theater manager. They sound different enough, don’t they?

Well first off, only one was a male.

Six of the seven had red hair.

All of them had a stubborn streak.

And they all welcomed controversy.

And here we thought we all had different stories.

Since then I’ve taken to people watching. I always have a paper or pad with me and whether I’m sitting in the car waiting for my husband to come out of a store, or I’m sitting in a food court waiting for my order to be up, I jot down possibilities, describing them in as much detail as I can discover by watching their actions or hearing their conversations. I strongly suggest using real people as models for your characters.

Sometimes seeing is believing.

Places to find your characters:

1. In a shopping mall.
2. In a restaurant
3. In the movies
4. In a classroom
5. On the beach.
6. On a hike.
7. In a grocery store.
8. And lastly, if you live out in the country, where it becomes difficult to get to a mall or a restaurant, check out your mail. Yes, catalog models, retail store coupons, even charity flyers can offer you a picture of a character you might not have thought of on your own.

One thing is for sure. They won’t all have red hair. By the way, an editor at that same conference stated that she is tired of seeing red-headed protagonists. Do you think she read all of our first pages? J

Where do you find your characters?

Halloween Poetry Contest

Announcing the "2nd Annual Halloween Poetry Contest" at The Storyteller's Scroll

Vie for a chance to win a complete rhyming picture book critique from

“First Peek Critique”

You will get a chance to create an EYEBALL poem of your own to celebrate

“An Eyeball in My Garden.” Winner will be announced on Halloween.

So get that icky eyeball rollin’…..

See the putrid possibilities of persnickety poems.

View a vampire’s voracious verse.

Glimpse inside a goofy ghost’s ghazal

Look for Jack O’Lantern’s loquacious limericks.

To enter “The Great Eyeball” Poetry Contest:

1. Become a follower of The Storyteller’s Scroll.

2. Create an original Halloween poem, suitable for children, on the topic “EYEBALL,” and submit below.

Sample EYEBALL poem:

Searching…

There’s an eyeball in my garden.

It lies beneath a bean.

I don’t know how it views the world

or what it’s ever seen.

It doesn’t have an eyelid.

It doesn’t blink or cry.

It rolls around just searching

for its empty, hollow eye.

“An Eyeball in My Garden.” is awesome! Buy it... right now by clicking HERE!!! 

 1st Place - A Full Picture Book Critique

2nd Place - The Monster in My Closet by Eric Klug

3rd place - Chocolate Peanutbutter "Eyeballs"

 GOOD LUCK TO ALL YOU MONSTROUS POETS OUT THERE

Visit www.gayleckrause.com for more information about “First Peek Critique.” 

Interview with Christy Critchfield - "An Eyeball in My Garden" Poet

Read at Your Own Risk is Christy Critchfield's poem. It's the last poem in the book, and so too, she is the last of our "Eyeball" poets to visit The Storyteller's Scroll.

Yeah Gayle! Thanks for this opportunity!

#1. What is your “favorite” spooky poem from the collection?

 I have always been drawn to the humorous; therefore I am a big fan of William Shakesperry’s poems. I love Rise and Shine, and Ghost Fish. I also adore Debra Leith’s Winking Wot Warning and M. Sullivan’s The Giant’s Pocket. Then… I will read a poem such as Laura Wynkoop’s The Highland Train and I think to myself “Man, I wish I could write like that.” But, if I had to choose a fave it would be Shakesperry’s Haunted. I have read it so many times I can recite it from memory. My kids have all assured me that if they had known Greta Lynn, they would have been nice to her… thank goodness!

#2. Where did your inspiration come from for your particular poems?

  I am not really sure where the inspiration for Mad Scientist or Read at Your Own Risk came from. I have five really goofy kids, so ideas come easily. As far as Monster in My Bathroom goes… inspiration came easily. This poem pretty much describes me on any given morning!

#3. How does feedback from the other poets affect your final decision?

I would say about 90% of the time I take into consideration what my group has to say and make corrections accordingly. Of the other 10% of the time (when I don’t listen to my group)… 90% of that time I will come to regret it. But… then there is that glorious 1% of time, when I completely ignore what the others have to say, and my poem is better for it… HA!

#4. How long have you been a rhymer?

  My first words (just moments after exiting my mothers womb) were… “Dark inside… what a ride!”

Seriously though, I came across this poem recently that I wrote as a child. It appears I have always had a love for rhyme (and a slightly warped sense of humor).

My Body (by Christy age 9)

My nose is sort of overgrown.

My head is kind of shaped like a cone.

My hair is bright green.

My stomach is very lean.

My knees are hairy.

My face is scary.

My feet are stinky.

My hands are inky.

My eyes are blurry,

But don’t you worry –

Cuz I’ll be worse when I’m grown!

#5. Do you write varied forms of poetry for children?

My poetic brain only seems to work in rhyme. I love to play around with different forms and rhyme schemes, but if I attempt to lose the rhyme altogether it just feels weird and wrong somehow! (Besides... if I were a poem, I think I would be sad if I didn't rhyme.)

  

#6. How are you personally promoting your group’s debut book?

I have had a strong show of support from great friends. At last count I had over 80 of my own friends who are fans on Facebook’s Eyeball in My Garden fan page. “Thanks y’all… now if you are really my friends, you will go buy the book!”

Also… this year trick-or-treaters who come to my house will be getting a promotional “eyeball” bookmark. I figure I will probably hand out candy as well so no one tries to eat the bookmark.  

  

#7. Do you plan to do any book signings? If so, where can fans find you?

I am an introvert, I prefer to keep to myself - so if you try to find me… you may find yourself face to face with my shiny new Shrinking Ray-Gun! (See Mad Scientist)

Actually... it seems that higher powers are attempting to trick me into doing a book reading at my local bookstore soon. If so, I promise to leave the Shrinking Ray-Gun home, but unfortunately I can’t guarantee you won’t leave the event as a toad! (See Read at Your Own Risk)

 Although this concludes our interviews with the fabulous "Eyeball" poets, it doesn't mean it's the end of the "Eyeball" blogs.

The Second Annual Rhyme Time Halloween poetry contest will be starting TOMORROW.

Come on back for details.

You may win a free picture book critique, a "monster" picture book, or CHOCOLATE eyeballs.

Halloween Monstermania - A Glossary of Monsters

Monstermania - Day 9

vampire - a corpse with large incisors, who rises from slumber at sunset to seek blood. Once bitten, the victim also becomes a vampire. Most noted vampires, Dracula, Lestat, Edward.

sorceress - a woman who studies black magic and casts spells. She communicates with demons and evil spirits to provide desirable outcomes. She uses natural items for her spells. She may or may not be a witch. Sorceresses prefer to work alone to conjure their charms. Sorcerer is the male counterpart.

Halloween Monstermania - A Glossary of Monsters

Halloween Monstermania - Day 8

shapeshifter - one who can change shaoe or identity at will; may assume an animal form. The change can be voluntary, caused by magic or being bitten by the  animal form of another shapeshifter (werewolf, werecat etc...)

werewolf/werecat - half human, half wolf or cat. Shapeshifts on full moon nights. Once bitten, the victim also becomes a werewolf. Most noted werewolves: Jacob (Twilight) Sam (Shiver)

Interview with WIlliam Shakespeery - "An Eyeball in My Garden" Poet

Stopping by to visit us today is William "Bill" Shakespeery, the genius behind the Poets' Garage. Without him there would be no "Eyeball in my Garden," literally!

#1. What is your “favorite” spooky poem from the collection?

I have a number of favs, but if I must be nailed down to one, tonight it would be The Goblin Parade, written by Jennifer Cole Judd.  The image of goblins marching down the block is horrifically fabulous.

#2. Where did your inspiration come from for your particular poems?

Before writing for this anthology began, I sought out to read spooky poetry. My inspiration often comes by seeing what others have done.  One book in particular was written by Jack Prelutsky titled, Nightmares.

#3. How does feedback from the other poets affect your final decision? 

Peer feedback is critical to my writing and absolutely plays a role in my decision making process.  I am only able see a poem from my biased point of view.  But feedback allows me to see the work through another’s eyes.   The feedback I have received not only directs me to things I may have overlooked, but has also pushed me to dig deeper—to ultimately make each poem more compelling.

#4. How long have you been a rhymer?

Inspired by the late Shel Silverstein, I wrote my first children’s poem in 1996, and have been writing ever since.   I can’t seem to get enough of it.

#5. Do you write varied forms of poetry for children?

I typically write rhyming, narrative poetry.  It’s my favorite form to read and what I have the most fun in creating.  I really should branch out more.

#6. How are you personally promoting your group’s debut book?

By word of mouth, passing out bookmarks (when I get a hold of them), my website, Facebook, and readings at local stores when it’s closer to Halloween…if I’m feeling brave enough.

#7. Do you plan to do any book signings? If so, where can fans find you?

No signing dates have been inked as of yet, but info will be posted on the 'An Eyeball in my Garden' Facebook fan page in the future.

And last, but not least, the next poet to visit The Storyteller's Scroll will be Christy Critchfield

Halloween Monstermania - A Glossary of Monsters

MONSTERMANIA - DAY - DAY 7

genie - a giant magic spirit believed to take human form and serve the person who calls it. In certain cultures a genie is believed to control the weather. Their food preferences are fingers, noses and ears. Some are cruel. Some are good.

wraith – the ghost of a dead person. Sometimes is believed to be a vision of a person still alive as a premonition of that person’s death.