by Jason Joyner | Feb 24, 2007 | Blog, CFBA, critique, writing craft
I am continuing a discussion brought on by the book of the week for the CFBA blog tour, Wedgewood Grey, and its prequel, Abiding Darkness. I am not the greatest writer or editor in the world, but I’ve been reading a lot of fiction lately, as well as trying to study the craft of fiction. I thought it could be informative to dissect a couple of passages from these books by John Aubrey Anderson.
There are three factors about these books that have drawn my focus over the last two weeks. One is the spiritual message that has greatly encouraged me, but that is a different discussion. The other two are 1) the delightful use of language to paint the setting of rural Mississippi and 2) the great characters that are brought to life by said language. I’ve enjoyed the story presented in his books, but I’ve also tried to pick out the aspects that fuel the entertainment.
I’ve chosen two passages, one from each book, to look at and see how it contributes to what I’ve mentioned above. I’ll quote them without context, and leave this post there. Tomorrow I’ll come back to them and present what I see out of them. If anyone has any comments regarding the passages, please share in the comments and I’ll bring that into the discussion.
From early in Abiding Darkness:
Every day for the rest of his life, he would recall that she had been grinning. She was turning away from him; the movement lifted the short-cut hair in seeming slow-motion, moving it up and away from her like strips of ribbon on a fast carousel. A halo of water droplets escaped the brown tendrils and caught the afternoon sun life dozens of transparent pearls. The pearls arced away from the girl and fell in a perfect circle. Water ran down brown legs from the rolled up overalls, her knobby little knees bent, her body leaned out slightly, tanned arms lifted, and her knees began to straighten. And he’d remember how fast the grin changed to something else.
From 2/3’s through in Wedgewood Grey:
Ceedie stepped close and took the jacket from him. “Put your arm in here, then stand still.” She got him jacketed by standing on her tiptoes. When he was dressed, she patted his good arm and momentarily set the stability of his knees back twenty-four hours when she locked eyes with him. “You stay calm, now, an’ be nice to the other children.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The special attention caused his cheeks to use blood he couldn’t spare.
See you tomorrow for the conclusion…
by Jason Joyner | Feb 24, 2007 | Blog, CFBA, critique, writing craft
I am continuing a discussion brought on by the book of the week for the CFBA blog tour, Wedgewood Grey, and its prequel, Abiding Darkness. I am not the greatest writer or editor in the world, but I’ve been reading a lot of fiction lately, as well as trying to study the craft of fiction. I thought it could be informative to dissect a couple of passages from these books by John Aubrey Anderson.
There are three factors about these books that have drawn my focus over the last two weeks. One is the spiritual message that has greatly encouraged me, but that is a different discussion. The other two are 1) the delightful use of language to paint the setting of rural Mississippi and 2) the great characters that are brought to life by said language. I’ve enjoyed the story presented in his books, but I’ve also tried to pick out the aspects that fuel the entertainment.
I’ve chosen two passages, one from each book, to look at and see how it contributes to what I’ve mentioned above. I’ll quote them without context, and leave this post there. Tomorrow I’ll come back to them and present what I see out of them. If anyone has any comments regarding the passages, please share in the comments and I’ll bring that into the discussion.
From early in Abiding Darkness:
Every day for the rest of his life, he would recall that she had been grinning. She was turning away from him; the movement lifted the short-cut hair in seeming slow-motion, moving it up and away from her like strips of ribbon on a fast carousel. A halo of water droplets escaped the brown tendrils and caught the afternoon sun life dozens of transparent pearls. The pearls arced away from the girl and fell in a perfect circle. Water ran down brown legs from the rolled up overalls, her knobby little knees bent, her body leaned out slightly, tanned arms lifted, and her knees began to straighten. And he’d remember how fast the grin changed to something else.
From 2/3’s through in Wedgewood Grey:
Ceedie stepped close and took the jacket from him. “Put your arm in here, then stand still.” She got him jacketed by standing on her tiptoes. When he was dressed, she patted his good arm and momentarily set the stability of his knees back twenty-four hours when she locked eyes with him. “You stay calm, now, an’ be nice to the other children.”
“Yes, ma’am.” The special attention caused his cheeks to use blood he couldn’t spare.
See you tomorrow for the conclusion…
by Jason Joyner | Feb 23, 2007 | Blog, CFBA, fiction, writing craft
In continuing to highlight Wedgewood Grey, the latest book from John Aubrey Anderson, he was gracious enough to give an interview to some young’n’ blogging up in Idaho.
As his bio says, he was an airline pilot for many years. Doesn’t he just look like one here?
Either tomorrow or Saturday I want to post a couple of snippets from both of his books and talk a little about why the particular sections seemed to work, in my opinion. Please check back and add your comments to the discussion! And now, Mr. Anderson please:
1. How long did it take for the story of the Black or White Chronicles to formulate in your head? What was the process for putting it on the page?
There is no reason why anyone should believe this, but tracking the process behind the writing of these stories could not have been done with a Cray computer. But . . . My first and only effort regarding fiction was a two thousand word story I did for our girls twenty years ago . . . a little thing about choices.
In 1997, I pulled that little story out with plans to wrap it around the gospel. I had in mind using it as an evangelistic tool with a non-Christian friend of ours. I found myself “backstorying” in an effort to “set up” my little scene from the short story. Then, in November of 2002, I woke up to find myself surrounded by two or three hundred thousand words. . .and questions about how to get a novel published.
2. Are there any writing tips that you found valuable in writing WG and AD?
Absolutely. Go to a writers’ conference and learn how to get yourstory organized before you start.
And on a more serious note: Think less of being a writer and more of writing. From a time standpoint, this is the most demanding job I’ve ever job I’ve ever had; one person said, “It’s like having homework for the rest of your life.”
A writer does not have time to plan for future fame . . . he/she has to be writing and rewriting.
3. Are there any plans for a project after the release of Book 3 in The Black or White Chronicles?
God willing, this series will run for six books. After that I’d like to do a devotional book for men. Following the devotional . . . I just can’t say.
4. What type of feedback have you heard from readers regardingspiritual issues in the book?
What I’ve heard has been interesting to say the least. Mostly, I hear from readers who have encountered setbacks that were, in their eyes, obviously demonic in origin . . . usually having to do with interpersonal relationships.
5. What has been your favorite “author moment” so far in your career?
I went to my first-ever writers’ conference, with my first-everproposal, and made an appointment with my first-ever editor. I was carrying a 3-by-5 card and a cup of coffee when I arrived for our talk.
When I sat down, he smiled and said, “Brother, you’re way too laid back.”
I smiled back and told him what we both knew. “I’m not in charge of whether or not this book gets published, and frankly, neither are you. I just came to this conference hoping to trim the odds against me down to about ten-thousand to one.”
He said, “Well, I’ve read your stuff, and you’re sitting on about fifty-fifty.”
THE BLACK OR WHITE CHRONICLES were born right then, right there.
I had heard the words I needed to hear, and I was ready to go home. For the next three days of the conference, at each meal, I had to restrain myself from grabbing the PA away from the conference host and yelling, “Would y’all please vote me off this island.”
by Jason Joyner | Feb 23, 2007 | Blog, CFBA, fiction, writing craft
In continuing to highlight Wedgewood Grey, the latest book from John Aubrey Anderson, he was gracious enough to give an interview to some young’n’ blogging up in Idaho.
As his bio says, he was an airline pilot for many years. Doesn’t he just look like one here?
Either tomorrow or Saturday I want to post a couple of snippets from both of his books and talk a little about why the particular sections seemed to work, in my opinion. Please check back and add your comments to the discussion! And now, Mr. Anderson please:
1. How long did it take for the story of the Black or White Chronicles to formulate in your head? What was the process for putting it on the page?
There is no reason why anyone should believe this, but tracking the process behind the writing of these stories could not have been done with a Cray computer. But . . . My first and only effort regarding fiction was a two thousand word story I did for our girls twenty years ago . . . a little thing about choices.
In 1997, I pulled that little story out with plans to wrap it around the gospel. I had in mind using it as an evangelistic tool with a non-Christian friend of ours. I found myself “backstorying” in an effort to “set up” my little scene from the short story. Then, in November of 2002, I woke up to find myself surrounded by two or three hundred thousand words. . .and questions about how to get a novel published.
2. Are there any writing tips that you found valuable in writing WG and AD?
Absolutely. Go to a writers’ conference and learn how to get yourstory organized before you start.
And on a more serious note: Think less of being a writer and more of writing. From a time standpoint, this is the most demanding job I’ve ever job I’ve ever had; one person said, “It’s like having homework for the rest of your life.”
A writer does not have time to plan for future fame . . . he/she has to be writing and rewriting.
3. Are there any plans for a project after the release of Book 3 in The Black or White Chronicles?
God willing, this series will run for six books. After that I’d like to do a devotional book for men. Following the devotional . . . I just can’t say.
4. What type of feedback have you heard from readers regardingspiritual issues in the book?
What I’ve heard has been interesting to say the least. Mostly, I hear from readers who have encountered setbacks that were, in their eyes, obviously demonic in origin . . . usually having to do with interpersonal relationships.
5. What has been your favorite “author moment” so far in your career?
I went to my first-ever writers’ conference, with my first-everproposal, and made an appointment with my first-ever editor. I was carrying a 3-by-5 card and a cup of coffee when I arrived for our talk.
When I sat down, he smiled and said, “Brother, you’re way too laid back.”
I smiled back and told him what we both knew. “I’m not in charge of whether or not this book gets published, and frankly, neither are you. I just came to this conference hoping to trim the odds against me down to about ten-thousand to one.”
He said, “Well, I’ve read your stuff, and you’re sitting on about fifty-fifty.”
THE BLACK OR WHITE CHRONICLES were born right then, right there.
I had heard the words I needed to hear, and I was ready to go home. For the next three days of the conference, at each meal, I had to restrain myself from grabbing the PA away from the conference host and yelling, “Would y’all please vote me off this island.”
by Jason Joyner | Feb 20, 2007 | Blog, CSFF, resources, writing craft
WheretheMapEnds is the focus of the CSFF tour this week, and being a blog interested in writing, it is appropriate to highlight the Tools for Writers section of the site.
The following links are the breakdown of this section of WtME:
Books and Conferences for Improving Your Writing
Getting Your Novel Published—A large and detailed article on the entire process of publication, with several subtopic pages that spin off from the main article (see the full list of subtopics below)
Tip of the Week—Read these tips from beginning to end for a great education on the craft of fiction
Editorial Services—Sometimes it just helps to get professional help with your novel; read this page to learn about the WhereTheMapEnds editorial services
Idea Starters and World Builders [New This Month!]—To help spark your creativity and build your amazing worlds (don’t miss the Random Story Generator)
I am always excited to find more resources for the budding writer types. I appreciate the effort of people like Jeff provide for those of us just feeling out way in the murky waters of the publishing world. It’s not like Jeff is a stranger to this. Aside from being an editor for 3 different publishers, he is a published author in his own right under the pen name Jefferson Scott.
I invite you to check out others in the blog tour. Some highlights that I’ve found:
Mirathon – The Mir has a special contest! Also wish her a very happy birthday today!
Rachel Marks – Her very lovely site has a interview with Jeff.
Speculative Faith – See Becky Miller’s post for an exciting opportunity.
Sharon Hinck – She also has an interview with Jeff as well.
I haven’t made it to all my tourmates, so make sure to check out others in the tour as well. See yesterday’s posts for all the participants. I’ll have a little more tomorrow.
by Jason Joyner | Feb 20, 2007 | Blog, CSFF, resources, writing craft
WheretheMapEnds is the focus of the CSFF tour this week, and being a blog interested in writing, it is appropriate to highlight the Tools for Writers section of the site.
The following links are the breakdown of this section of WtME:
Books and Conferences for Improving Your Writing
Getting Your Novel Published—A large and detailed article on the entire process of publication, with several subtopic pages that spin off from the main article (see the full list of subtopics below)
Tip of the Week—Read these tips from beginning to end for a great education on the craft of fiction
Editorial Services—Sometimes it just helps to get professional help with your novel; read this page to learn about the WhereTheMapEnds editorial services
Idea Starters and World Builders [New This Month!]—To help spark your creativity and build your amazing worlds (don’t miss the Random Story Generator)
I am always excited to find more resources for the budding writer types. I appreciate the effort of people like Jeff provide for those of us just feeling out way in the murky waters of the publishing world. It’s not like Jeff is a stranger to this. Aside from being an editor for 3 different publishers, he is a published author in his own right under the pen name Jefferson Scott.
I invite you to check out others in the blog tour. Some highlights that I’ve found:
Mirathon – The Mir has a special contest! Also wish her a very happy birthday today!
Rachel Marks – Her very lovely site has a interview with Jeff.
Speculative Faith – See Becky Miller’s post for an exciting opportunity.
Sharon Hinck – She also has an interview with Jeff as well.
I haven’t made it to all my tourmates, so make sure to check out others in the tour as well. See yesterday’s posts for all the participants. I’ll have a little more tomorrow.
