I'm starting a new book... all I have is that little nugget of an idea and a few notes scratched here and there. It's a very exciting time, beginning a new manuscript, so many creative things to do, so much freedom... it's great!
Which got the rusted gears in my mind turning. What's my favorite part of starting the new novel? Making up my own setting? Researching cool stuff? Looking for the perfect music? Buying that new notebook? Picking out a fancy pen?
How about creating creepy characters from scratch?
(This guy's mine... don't steal him!!!)
For me, I think, my favorite part is the mapping. Drawing maps is sort of what I do for a living, so I have lots of experience in the area. But it's fun making it up, the names, the features, the contours and vegetation. Of course, none of this mapping is written in stone, I can guarantee lots of surprises will pop up. I guess I just enjoy playing God!
How about you? What's your favorite part about starting a new novel?
For me, writing a really great book takes lots of practice. Practice, practice, practice. Did I mention practice? I did? Several times, you say. And now I'm losing my readers by being redundant. And I'm losing more readers by repeating my redundancy. Fine!!!
Anyway, let's compare writing a really great book to the Olympic Track and Field event... the Long Jump!!!!
To attempt the LONG JUMP: an athelete must combine speed, strength, and agility in an attempt to leap as far from the take-off point as possible.
To write a REALLY GREAT BOOK: a writer must combine a mastery of language, an interesting plot and memorable characters to reach the ending point.
Here's an example of someone unprepared, undeciplined and uninformed trying to write that first really great book:
Since I posted last Friday regarding the Publishing House that only accepts 'series for girls', I've found a few other articles and blogs on the topic of Men, Boys and Books.
1.) There are more women working in publishing than men. Approximately 75% women to 25% men. (I have no issues with this at all.)
But some people are stating that generates more books for women which leads to...
2.). Women read more than men.
In his Huffington Post article, Jason Pinter states: Men read. Tons of them do. But they are not marketed to, not targeted, and often totally dismissed. Later on he says: Publish more books for men and boys.Trust editors who try to buy these books, and work on the marketing campaigns to hit those audiences. The readers are there, waiting, eager just under the surface. And I promise, if publishing makes an effort to tap it, they'll come out in droves.
I bolded that piece of text because that would surely help me in my quest for publication. Yeah... the bottomline is it's all about ME!!!
However, Ian McEwan wrote in The Guardian newspaper: "When women stop reading, the novel will be dead."
And, as a male author who writes YA fiction geared toward boys, this next statistic frightens me: When it comes to fiction, the gender gap is at its widest. Men account for only 20 percent of the fiction market, according to surveys conducted in the U.S., Canada and Britain.
In the NPR article linked to above, there's a theory that men/boys can sit still long enough to read a book. I hope that's not true. Look at movies. I would suspect that just as many men/boys go to the movies as women. And they both can sit still the whole time. But think about this, and it's just my observation, there's an age where movies become gender specific. Look at the movies rated 'G'. Toy Story, Monsters Incorporated, the Disney movies, or movies like Cats and Dogs... these movies are almost unisex.
Now, look at movies rated PG-13, you have Meangirls and Transformers, or (and these are 'now showing') Easy A and Devil. I'm not saying that women didn't go to Transformers or Devil, but I'm guessing not many men went to Meangirls or Easy A.
Do today's bookshelves reflect the same choices for both genders?
So all of that to ask the question:
What Would It Take To Get More Boys To Read?
More books to choose from More non-fiction and sports books More male authors Books with cars, blood and hot girls Books with wild/inappropriate characters More humorous books Books without the 'Happily Ever After' Books with non-stop action Dumb-downed books Intelligent books that reflect the real life of boys Other (see my reply)
I always enjoy those funny Motivational Posters. So I thought I’d try to make up a few of my own. Just for gits and shiggles.
The first two go together, sort of a two-fer.
DEATH – At least things can’t get any worse
ZOMBIES – Never trust a DEATH motivational poster
BALLS – It's hard to see without a pair
BALLS – They’re attracted to their own kind
WAITING – It’s just like… hold on a second, I’ll be right back
(This guy's mine... don't steal him!!!)
