Posts Tagged ‘smart women’s fiction’
Fodder for Fiction Author Birthday Bash: JACK LONDON (January 12)
This week on the Fodder for Fiction Author Birthday Bash, we’re celebrating the birthday of Jack London (1876-1916). Spending the winter of 1897 in the Yukon provided the fodder for his first fiction in 1899. From then on, he produced over fifty volumes of stories, novels, and essays. His most famous novel is The Call of the Wild (1903). London’s passage (1907-09) across the Pacific in a small boat provided more fodder for fiction about Polynesian and Melanesian cultures. London’s writing on the subject helped to break the taboo over leprosy and popularized Hawaii as a tourist spot.
London wrote during a time when a new movie industry was born. And he was among the first novelists to see a number of his work made into films.
To celebrate the birthday of the great Jack London, I’ve chosen two quotes attributed to the him that attest to his way with words when it comes to the idea of aging and the fleeting nature of live.
“Darn the wheel of the world! Why must it continually turn over? Where is the reverse gear?” Jack London
“I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.” Jack London
Happy Birthday, Jack!
Until tomorrow, best to you,
Lisa Lipkind Leibow
Author of Smart Women’s Fiction
www.LLLeibow.com
FICTION AS FODDER FOR FICTION?
Is there a line from a movie you live by? Or a favorite television show you and your friends or spouse always quote? In my real life there are a few recurring imitations of fiction.
First, I often share that I can relate almost any situation to a Seinfeld episode—and will often take the opportunity to do so, quoting the Soup Nazi’s “No Soup for You,” or a random, “You’ve gotta see the baby!”
Another example of fiction creeping into real life happens at my house, if something goes wrong or someone makes a silly mistake, the exclamation most likely to ring through the air is a dead ringer for Homer Simpson’s “Doh!”
Finally, fiction influences my real life with a quote from the movie Manchurian Candidate. When my husband and I were dating back in the day, the Manchurian Candidate was re-released in theaters. We went to see it at the Uptown and in addition to the assassination plot haunting us so did this line, because it captures us perfectly: “There are two kinds of people in this world—those who walk into a room and turn the tv on, and those who walk into a room and turn the tv off. Unfortunately, they usually end up marrying each other.” And as a result, I borrow this line when I want to turn off the television.
You may think it silly for me to mention these things. What does it matter that fictional characters influence my vocabulary and reactions to the things around me? Well, this is one of the factors to consider when developing a fictional character. What favorite books, movies, and television shows will the character love so much that they permeate his or her life? Maybe he could quote Monte Python, break out into a Motown hit every time someone says something that reminds him of a lyric, or relate everything in life to a CSI episode.Maybe she quotes lines from Harry Potter, or changes her hairstyle to match the one in the latest Sandra Bullock movie. The possibilities are endless.
You see, fiction can be fodder for fiction!
Share some of your favorite “you-isms” taken from fiction in the comments. I’d love to hear them!
Until next time, best to you,
Lisa Lipkind Leibow
HAPPY BIRTHDAY PHILIPPA GREGORY!
This is the start of a new feature on Fodder For Fiction. Each week, on Wednesdays, we’ll honor the birthday of an author whose birthday falls during the current week. I’ll kick off the celebration by sharing an excerpt from the author’s work portraying a celebration, party, or festive occasion. I figure we should celebrate each of these great writers’ birthdays with a bash they created!
Our first honored author birthday of 2010, is Philippa Gregory, author so many great works of historical fiction, including The Virgin’s Lover, and The Other Boleyn Girl. I love Philippa Gregory’s ability to bring new readers into the historical fiction genre. What I mean by that is, she uses a delightful prose style and bawdy scenes to make her novels page turners – and the kind of historical fiction that even readers who don’t normally read historical fiction will enjoy.
Happy Birthday, Philippa Gregory! Enjoy the excerpt from a masquerade ball scene she wrote.
It was a great romp in the end, far more fun than I had expected, much more of a play-fight than a dance. George flung rose petals at me and I drenched him with a shower of rosewater. The choristers were just little boys and they got overexcited and attacked the knights and were swing off their feet and spun around and dumped, dizzy and giggly, on the ground. When we ladies came out from the castle and danced with the mystery knights it was the tallest knight who came to dance with me, the king himself, and I, still breathless from my battle with George, and with rose petals in my headdress and my hair, and sugared fruit tumbling out of the folds of my gown, found that I was laughing and giving my hand to him, and dancing with him as if he were an ordinary man and I little more than a kitchen maid at a country romp.
When the signal for the unmasking should have come the king cried out: “Play on! Let’s dance some more!” and instead of turning and taking another partner he led me out again, a country dance when we went had to hand and I could see his eyes gleaming at me through the slits in his golden mask. Reckless and laughing, I smiled back up at him and let that sunny approbation sink into my skin.
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Feel free to post your own warm wishes to Philippa on her special day.
Best to you,
Lisa Lipkind Leibow
Author of Smart Women’s Fiction
"How’s the Weather?" Precipitation and Chit Chat as Fodder for Fiction
One might think it cliché. Cliché or not, the weather sets the tone, mood, and can foreshadow what is to come. Even children know this. The other night while watching a movie with my family, I commented that the setting was Southern California and that it never rains in California, my son, Thing 1, pointed to the character on the screen and said, “Yes, but he’s sad now, it has to be raining.”
I guess I learned this at a young age, too. My days of reading the Sunday comics assisted with my education on the matter. When Charles Schultz’s Snoopy sat atop of his doghouse typing, “It was a dark and stormy night,” I knew something bad would happen next in the story he was writing.
The weather over the past two weeks has made me think of trying to use the change in weather as the framework for a story – only the opposite way I normally would. Often I think of the storm occurring during the greatest trouble – the story’s climax. However, two weeks ago, we had a blizzard – buried in 20 inches of snow. A few days later it warmed up and the rain fell, leaving us with nothing. This has my wheels turning. I’m not sure if the storm makes us start the story with trouble, or whether the snow will symbolize something clean, new, or abundant. But clearly, I could craft a plot that follows the fate of the snow. The protagonist will get played with, trampled on, pushed around, muddied, and then washed away to nothingness. It’s beginning to sound like a bleak tale.
Perhaps, instead, the blanket of snow can symbolize something hidden – a mystery, or a quest. As the frigid weather warms, our hero could discover additional clues or get closer to finding his treasure. The mud and dirty snow that the traffic, snow plows, and salt trucks carry can be in the background during some major obstacle the hero encounters while trying to solve his mystery or discover his fortune. Against the backdrop of snow all melted, roads and sidewalks clear of ice and slush, and bare ground revealed once again, our hero will solve the mystery or complete his quest.
As you see, I strive for ways to build a structure. I love to daydream, to ponder the world around me. There are ideas everywhere. So next time someone makes small talk and asks, “How’s the weather?” I’ll take special note of the current meteorological status. That rising barometric pressure could be the spark I need to write something great!
Best to you,
Lisa Lipkind Leibow
Author of Smart Women’s Fiction
http://www.llleibow.com/
FODDER FOR FICTION ANNOUNCES NEW LINE-UP!
I’m turning over a new leaf! In 2010, instead of posting whenever I feel a whim, my readers should be prepared for a fantastic new line-up of programming at Fodder for Fiction! Look for new features, great guests, monthly writing contests, and chances to win prizes!
Mondays
Fodder For Fiction Feature: I’ll share some of the strange and quirky things I notice around me that contribute to my craft.
Tuesdays
Author Guest Spots: If you are a published author and would like to be a guest on Lisa Leibow’s Fodder for Fiction, please contact Lisa@LLLeibow.com
Wednesdays
Celebrate Author Birthdays with me!
Thursdays
Author Guest Spots: If you are a published author and would like to be a guest on Lisa Leibow’s Fodder for Fiction, please contact Lisa@LLLeibow.com
First Friday
Monthly Writing Exercise – I’m going to post a writing prompt or exercise on the first Friday of every month. Anyone who completes the assignment and sends it to me by midnight EST, the 3rd Friday of the month has a chance to win a prize. With the author’s permission, I’ll choose my favorite entries to post on the blog the following month.
Second Friday
What I’m Reading: I have set a goal to read at least 50 books in 2010. I hope you’ll enjoy following my progress and share what you’re reading, too.
Third Friday
Monthly Rant: Sometimes I think if people couldn’t complain, people would have nothing to talk about! I’ll share some of my venting with you. I hope it will make you laugh and make me feel better, too!
Fourth Friday
Update on Goals for the Year: Many of you may have read my New Year’s Resolutions for 2010. I hope you’ll help me stay on track by indulging me once a month in sharing what action I’ve taken toward achieving my goals. I hope you’ll comment, too, and share your progress. We can be a New Year’s Resolution support group.
Fifth Fridays
Contest – Every month that has five Fridays is extra special! Why, you ask? It’s extra special because during those months, every comment at Fodder For Fiction is a chance to win a goodie bag full of great prizes! Don’t worry. I won’t make you check the calendar. Watch for the Fifth Friday Contests during April, July, October, and December
Weekends
Special Announcement, News & Appearances
I’m looking forward to a great year!
OPERATION eBOOK DROP
What is it?
It was originally conceived when an author on the Kindleboards saw a message from a deployed troop member saying that Amazon’s Whispernet for Kindle doesn’t work overseas. The author sent the troop his book for free by email and the idea was born, and grew. He now collects names of deployed troops who would like to receive eBooks and he has shared his list to any author who would like to donate eBooks.
What I’m going to do.
I’m going to donate Double Out and Back eBooks to military personnel by sending them prepaid ebook coupons from All Romance eBooks.
It’s my way of thanking those who serve our country overseas – and in a way, it makes me feel like a member of the USO because I’m doing my part to entertain the troops!