2011-12-31

Why did Edward's rebellion begin? The 5th chapter is up!
Summary: "There was a reason behind Edward's rebellious period – a reason that still holds true and brought him to Italy. His existence has been predicated on revenge for decades, to the point that forgiveness seems impossible. When Edward meets Bella, only a winter separates him from his last human prey and his own destruction." AU-Vampires.


Reviewers get a little gift (different for each chapter)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

The story is currently due to be updated every Friday.



This chapter's suggestion is represented by

Giuseppe Ungaretti's poems

Giuseppe Ungaretti (10 February 1888 – 2 June 1970) was an Italian modernist poet, journalist, essayist, critic and academic. He was one of the most prominent contributors to 20th century Italian literature. He joined World War I and debuted as a poet while fighting in the trenches.
On this site: http://allpoetry.com/Giuseppe_Ungaretti you can read some of his poems, in English translation.

I wish you a wonderful 2012!



2011-12-28

Everything comes to an end...including fictions. But is it always a good end? Story endings are hard to write - often much harder than beginnings.

I've experienced it with the last chapters of my first multichapter story, De Immortalitate (it's now complete!). My prereader, Camilla, got eleven (yep, eleven) different drafts of the 22th chapter, and to write the last one I needed a lot of help from all my (wonderful) betas and prereaders. A discussion with one of my favorite authors, Savage7289, provided great inspiration, too. On the contrary, I wrote the Epilogue when I was still drafting the first chapters of the story.

Here are some articles to help you to write an effective ending for your story.

Finding an Ending for a Story, by Doug Lipman, explains the difference between knowing and showing:
----------------------------
Finding a satisfying ending for a story involves twin processes that are important at all stages of story creation:
  1. The first process is what I call "knowing," or identifying the main thrust or transformation in the story.
  2. The second process is "showing": conveying meaning through concrete actions and images. 
----------------------------
Write a Story Ending That Will Satisfy Readers, by Marg McAlister, describes different endings, with their pros and cons (I usually prefer the one that leaves open questions, although I understand that many readers want their HEA at all costs).

According to Plot Development: Climax, Resolution, and Your Main Character, by Glen C. Strathy, based on two choices – outcome and judgment, the four possible endings of any novel plot are as follows.
  1. Comedy (happy ending): the protagonist achieves the goal or solves the problem, and his success turns out to be a good thing.
  2. Tragedy: the protagonist fails to achieve the goal, and his failure is a bad thing.
  3. Tragi-comedy (Personal Triumph): the protagonist fails to achieve the goal, but his failure turns out to be a good thing.
  4. Comi-tragedy (Personal Tragedy): the protagonist achieves his goal, but his success turns out to be a bad thing.

 -------------------------------------
On the Editor's Blog you can find many tips to "ensure that at the moment [the reader] reads the final page, (s)he feels the satisfaction that yes, this story could only end this way."

Tell me some of the best (or worst...) endings you found in the fics you've read.

- Raum

2011-12-25

Are you ready to meet Edward on a pier, at nighttime? The 4th chapter is up!
Summary: "There was a reason behind Edward's rebellious period – a reason that still holds true and brought him to Italy. His existence has been predicated on revenge for decades, to the point that forgiveness seems impossible. When Edward meets Bella, only a winter separates him from his last human prey and his own destruction." AU-Vampires.


Reviewers get a little gift (different for each chapter)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

This chapter's suggestion is:

Hans Christian Andersen, The Little Mermaid

At this link http://www.andersen.sdu.dk/vaerk/hersholt/TheLittleMermaid_e.html you can read the original version of the fairy tale, in its English translation.

2011-12-23

#Twilight #Fanfiction Romanward and Bella are happy to announce that

is now complete!

Summary: "The life of the Roman patrician Antonius is put at stake by his father, Felix. When Felix brings to his only son a new slave, Bella, more reasons arise for Antonius' concerns. Felix's secret can change Antonius' and Bella's destiny." ExB AU/vampires.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


Reviewers get a little gift (different for each chapter)

There is a Twilighted thread for the story! 


Announcement time...
  • An Italian Winter's next chapter is due on December 23 - reviewers get a little gift!
Stay tuned and enjoy your weekend!

2011-12-18

This is My Reading Lounge's 100th post. The blog is almost 1 year old! We're celebrating with Romanward. The 23th chapter is now available!


Summary: "The life of the Roman patrician Antonius is put at stake by his father, Felix. When Felix brings to his only son a new slave, Bella, more reasons arise for Antonius' concerns. Felix's secret can change Antonius' and Bella's destiny." ExB AU/vampires.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^



(Chapter 23, Immortals)


Reviewers get a little gift (different for each chapter)

 
There is a Twilighted thread for the story! 


Announcement time...
Stay tuned and enjoy your weekend!

2011-12-14

The author of this review is Camilla, author of The Pilgrimage and of the shimmer-award-winning story The Parachutist.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Dukeward … how shall I live without him? He is wonderful. It is so good that Lissa Bryan is updating the story every few days. It is a supernatural fic, even if there are no vamps in it. Go read:

    Summary: Set during the reign of "Bloody Mary" Tudor. Bella is captured by Edward to raise his daughter. He promises to release her one day, but will he? Court intrigues and danger around every corner. Can they, and their new-found love, survive? Rated M/OOC/AU.
     
    Don't miss it because...
    The Selkie Wife is a historical novel with the magic Selkie legend thrown in. Selkie Bella is an acquatic creature, swims naked, eats kelp, and can make a father of a previously sterile man (provided the coupling happens in water). This very blueblooded Edward is a goner from the first moment he sees her. However, he also is not the predictable product of his upringing. Edward is open minded,  considerate and even capable of forgiveness, despite having been greviously offended by his own brother. The rules he tries to impose on his irrepressible wife are for her protection. He fears for her.
    Indeed, the times are dark, Queen Mary will persecute non Catholics, non conformists, heretics and witches. Therefore dark clouds are gathering over the head of the newly wedded human/non-human couple … Needless to say, the well researched historical details are wonderfully weaved into the plot.

    Thank you, Camilla!

    I've made a manip for Selkie Bella
     
    If you read this fanfic, tell the author that "My Reading Lounge sent you" :)


    2011-12-10

    What is Edward going to do to Bella while she's in his car? The 3rd chapter is up!
    Summary: "There was a reason behind Edward's rebellious period – a reason that still holds true and brought him to Italy. His existence has been predicated on revenge for decades, to the point that forgiveness seems impossible. When Edward meets Bella, only a winter separates him from his last human prey and his own destruction." AU-Vampires.


    Reviewers get a little gift (different for each chapter)
    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

    This chapter's suggestion is:

    Jostein Gaarder, The Orange Girl

    At this link http://aschehougagency.no/content/download/5313/30871/version/1/file/Gaarder_lett.pdf you can download a brochure about Jostein Gaarder's novels.

    2011-12-07

    Today's guest is Jmolly. For those who have enjoyed "I Hunger for Your Touch," or the other 23 stories by this amazing author, there's a big announcement: Jmolly's posting a new story, "Make Haste My Beloved". Let's discuss it with her. 

    Raum: You're posting a sequel for "I Hunger for Your Touch." Your new story's title is "Make Haste My Beloved." Would you like to tell us more about it?

    Jmolly: In the story, you will see Edward become a leader and a father, and you will see Bella become his equal, as she gets through her pregnancy, gives birth, and turns from a hybrid into a fully-fledged vampire.  Their lives will be exceedingly full.  They both now function as young adults, not adolescents.  However, they are planning to prank Emmett and Rosalie in retaliation for years of teasing Edward and giving him TMI, by pretending to be (in Ed’s words) ‘extroverted sexual deviants’. 

    There are college obligations and hijinks, Edward’s fledgling coven of rescued hybrid mothers and babies in the Amazon to look after, trouble from the villain, Caius, old emotional baggage to drop, impending parenthood and the birth of the baby.  One of those elements alone would be enough for a human to deal with, and this young couple must learn to cope with an overwhelming amount of ‘busy’.

    My stories are very detailed.  For example, this one will likely have characters speaking Italian, Ticuna, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, Russian and French, and take place in four countries.  My native language is English, but I also speak and write French, and I learned to write Ticuna.  Camilla10 helps me with any Italian past its pleasantries, and Sarahalliwell gives me the Portuguese.  This story costs me an average of 100 hours per month in research, drafting and revising.  It owns me.  Luckily for me, there’s likely to be more humour in this one than in “I Hunger”.  I’m looking forward to that immensely.

    R: Who is your favorite character in the saga and why?

    J:  Edward.  I suppose that’s because I can relate to his values.  Apart from his pessimism, my personality works much the same way.  I’m 43.  I spent a lot of time at my grandparents’ house as a child, while my mother went to work.  My Poppa was born in 1892, and my Grammie in 1902.  They were Victorian.  Manners and gentility were very important to them, as was modesty.  I can see them when I look at Edward.   I can hear them in his slang.  Edward is such a paradox.  He is partly a classy, elderly gentleman, and partly an emo, hot-blooded (cold-venomed) teen.  I find that a fun thing with which to work.  But in addition, there is something incredibly pure and selfless about him that is very beautiful, and he’s so self-deprecating that he can’t even see it.

    Truthfully, when I first read “Twilight”, I wasn’t that taken with it.  My daughter (ahem) coaxed me to see the movie, and when Pattinson came onscreen, with his stunning ability to convey emotion using only his eyes, I almost instantly fell in love with Edward.  After watching the movie, the book came alive for me, and I’ve been addicted ever since.

    R: In your story, you often use biblical references. For example, in "Make Haste My Beloved," you use a passage from the “Song of Solomon”. Would you like to tell us more about this choice?

    J: Faith is a constant, underlying element of my stories.  Living in faith, not preaching it.  As a Christian, it struck me immediately that a vampire who tried to keep ‘That Last Commandment’ and feared for the soul of his human mate, denying his base instincts in order to preserve his morals, was a person who must have formerly been a devout Judeo-Christian, who endlessly mourned his (perceived) separation from God.  It broke my heart. 

    The first story I wrote was ‘Redemption’, in which Edward (holding his newborn daughter) finally accepts that he is not beyond God’s reach, that God still loves him, and that he can live in a state of grace.  An HEA for Edward was my main objective in starting to write, and to me, the character would never be happy while not belonging to God.

    My choice of the “Song of Solomon” -which every person on the planet ought to read for its beauty alone, incidentally- is complicated.  What else is new!  The verses pertaining to the story are very key.  I don’t want to give the plot away, but I’ll say that the title refers to both Bella and Renesmee, and that the important elements include venom, burning, survival and endurance, jealousy, anger, devotion, love, commitment, enthusiasm and joy.

    R: Would you describe the relationship you established with your readers?

    J: I love them.  Up until some real life setbacks this year, I answered every review, and I am now trying to get back to that.  A thoughtful review costs someone time, and I pay them for that.  I’m grateful when a reviewer pays me for my time.  In two years I’ve had perhaps five reviews that upset me, and only one could be called a flame.  My readers seem to be a kind, intelligent, wonderful bunch.

    I have some extremely young readers, and I have a reader who is 88.  I have mothers (and fathers) who read with their daughters.  A lot of men read me (and admit to it -lol).  I have readers of all faiths, nationalities and persuasions, and I adore communicating with them through pm’s.  I let them know some stuff about me, and often they let me into their lives.  Yes, I really care.  Many readers have become friends who know my real identity.  Some of my best real-life friends began as readers who reviewed me on here.  I met one in Toronto last year, and plan to go to Boston next year to meet another.  And you bet I’m coming to Italy one day to meet two special friends.  After that?  England, to see my pals there. Will I make it to New Zealand and Australia?  Oh, man, I need to win the lottery! Lol. Or actually finish my independent novel and get it published.  Soon (that’s what my husband says).

    My relationship with my readers is based on affection, respect, acceptance, kindness and trust.  Yeah, I love my readers.

    R: Would you like to describe your writing process? How did it change during the time you have spent in this fandom?


    J: Hah, a very good question… The biggest change is probably that (beginning with “I Hunger”) I keep chapter notes and backstory. Continuity is a bear but it’s essential to good writing. The other change is that I have learned how to write longer pieces, and how to pace them. This entire universe, which presently has a timeline from 1640 to 2070, lives only inside my head.  I’m indebted to Room340C, who has many times looked up a reference for me in one of the older fics.  I never outline, and rarely do I write chapters and let them sit unposted.  My writing process, let’s see…  These little people are crowded inside my skull and my brain has not exploded. Yet. I know all their stories from conception ‘til death.  One of their experiences speaks to me, and I say, ‘suppose this happened’, and suddenly there’s an idea for a book. 

    I know how it ends before I start writing it. That’s vital.  I know the key points in the story, too.  Next, I go on Youtube and listen to a whole lot of music.  I spend hours picking out playlists.  I have playlists for stories that might not be written five years from now. I brainstorm for a title, check by ‘Searching’ that nobody else has used it, and often decide how I’m going to name chapters.  Then I pick a sentence out of the air: a pertinent sentence with movement and sometimes emotion, and that becomes the first sentence of the book.  If I need research I try to find all my sources before I begin each chapter.  I write quickly (typing 90 wpm) while listening to my playlist, and on a good evening I can get 5-6 pages in four hours.  Smaller stories have one or two scenes per chapter, and big stories have three to five. Rarely, if ever, has a chapter covered more than 24 hours in a timeline.   I write every day.  I’m miserable if I don’t. My kids (aged 16, 13, 11 and 8) support my writing, and so does my husband. 

    Thank you, Jmolly!

    In this interview, Jmolly mentioned her story "Redemption." I enjoyed it very, very much. Here's a blinkie for it.


    If you read these fanfics, please don't forget to tell the author that "Raum sent you" and say "Ciao!" from me! Thanks!

    2011-12-06

    Savage is posting a new story, updated every day. I guess it's Savage's sweetest story, at least so far, it's the one set in the most ancient time -- Ehd is called Caveward for a reason --, and it's my new "daily cup of coffee." 

    If you aren't already in love with Ehd, don't miss the opportunity to fall in his pit trap. Just click on the link below to explore a very different time!
    Summary: "Ehd doesn't know how the woman ended up in his pit trap, he just knows he wants to protect her and provide for her in any way he can. She sure does make a lot of noises with her mouth, though. Caveward is born!"
    This is the way I imagine Ehd.


    If you read this fic, please say "Ciao!" to the author from Raum! Thanks! 

    2011-12-04

    You're invited to a meeting with Aro...don't make him wait! "Freedom" - chapter images and update - the 22th chapter is now available!
      Summary: "The life of the Roman patrician Antonius is put at stake by his father, Felix. When Felix brings to his only son a new slave, Bella, more reasons arise for Antonius' concerns. Felix's secret can change Antonius' and Bella's destiny." ExB AU/vampires.
      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
       (Chapter 22, Freedom  


        Reviewers get a little gift (different for each chapter)

      There is a Twilighted thread for the story! 
      http://www.twilighted.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=17195

      Announcement time...
      • De Immortalitate's next chapter is due on December 17
      • An Italian Winter's next chapter is due on December 9 - reviewers get a little gift!
      Stay tuned and enjoy your weekend!

      Jmolly is posting a new story!

      Summary: "Sequel to 'I Hunger'. Read it first. Edward and Bella's lives are changing so fast: College, impending parenthood, leadership & trouble from Caius are daunting. And can they make housemates Em/R think they're perverts? BD-DS themes."

      Don't miss it because...
      Since the first chapter of this new story I appreciated very much the way Jmolly creates realistic dialogues between Edward and Bella, their playfulness, their nicknames. The authors really makes us readers feel as if we were there! I've made a banner for this story, but I'm not telling you more...let the author introduce it! Stay tuned :)

      2011-11-26

      Who would you like to meet on a rainy day? The 2nd chapter is up!
      Summary: "There was a reason behind Edward's rebellious period – a reason that still holds true and brought him to Italy. His existence has been predicated on revenge for decades, to the point that forgiveness seems impossible. When Edward meets Bella, only a winter separates him from his last human prey and his own destruction." AU-Vampires.



      Reviewers get a little gift (different for each chapter)
      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

      This chapter's suggestion is:

      Michael Ende, The Neverending Story

      The poem quoted in the chapter is
      I love you, by Nazim Hikmet
      I love you
      like dipping bread into salt and eating
      Like waking up at night with high fever
      and drinking water, with the tap in my mouth
      Like unwrapping the heavy box from the postman
      with no clue what it is
      fluttering, happy, doubtful
      I love you
      like flying over the sea in a plane for the first time
      Like something moves inside me
      when it gets dark softly in Istanbul
      I love you
      Like thanking God that we live.

      2011-11-21

      "You've given that path meaning."
      What's Edward talking about?

      Read "Fountain of Time" -- my entry for the Canon Tour -- and you'll discover it! The edited version is now available!

      http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7566557/1/Fountain_of_Time

      Here's the banner:


      Reviewers get a little gift

      SummaryOnly Bella can surprise a mindreader. "I'll need your speed, your perfect memory, and your beautiful handwriting." O/S.

      Enjoy!

      - Raum

      2011-11-20

      Antonius and Bella are waiting for you...and Aro is waiting for them."Faith" - chapter images and update - the 21th chapter is now available!
        Summary: "The life of the Roman patrician Antonius is put at stake by his father, Felix. When Felix brings to his only son a new slave, Bella, more reasons arise for Antonius' concerns. Felix's secret can change Antonius' and Bella's destiny." ExB AU/vampires.
        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

        (Chapter 21, Faith 


          Reviewers get a little gift (different for each chapter)

         There is a Twilighted thread for the story! 
        http://www.twilighted.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=17195

        Announcement time...
        • De Immortalitate's next chapter is due on December 3
        • An Italian Winter's next chapter is due on November 25 - thank you to those who already checked my new multichapter story...and to those who are going to check it, sooner or later :)!
        Stay tuned and enjoy your weekend!

        2011-11-16

        How can being a Beta reader and discussing with other writers influence your writing process and your stories? Today we talk about it with jmolly. She's the amazing author of I Hunger for Your Touch, a long (over 600,000 word) story, which is the 6th book in the “Unforeseen Events Series”.  Her 23 stories are complicated, and very much appreciated (by 6-9000 readers a month). She's also great beta-reader.

        Did your experience as a Beta influence your writing process and your stories?
         
        jmolly: Hmm… I don’t know if it’s influenced the process, because I’m very stubborn, although I’ve certainly picked up stylistic and technical elements my authors use.  It likely makes me appreciate my own beta more.  It certainly expands my mind to include other styles.  I beta touttoi, and in her present story, I liked the First Person Present tense so much that I tried it myself in “Heaven Help My Heart”.  Through reading other fics, I decided to try Third Person Past for “Dartmouth Halloween”.  I think that’s the biggest impact on style that has come from beta reading.  I prefer to write First Person Past.  I suppose being a beta also opened my mind to letting someone beta for me.  When I first started out, I was very territorial about my writing.  But a knowledgeable and kind-hearted beta can give you enormous growth as a writer.

        FF writing is a wonderful opportunity to train as a writer for free.  I don’t pick a beta for myself out of a pool, and I don’t beta just anyone.  You have to be able to relate to, and work with, the other party.  I’ve sometimes beta’d authors who haven’t worked well with me.  That’s stressful for both people.  Overall, I adore seeing how writers tick.  I love teaching, as well, and watching an author I beta evolve and get popular makes me very happy.

        When you talk to other writers you tend to pick up story ideas.  That’s elementary to any art.  And what could possibly be more fun?
        x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

        Thank you, jmolly!

        As usual, your comments are welcome!
         

        2011-11-11

        The first chapter is up!
        Summary: "There was a reason behind Edward's rebellious period – a reason that still holds true and brought him to Italy. His existence has been predicated on revenge for decades, to the point that forgiveness seems impossible. When Edward meets Bella, only a winter separates him from his last human prey and his own destruction." AU-Vampires.




        Reviewers get a little gift (different for each chapter)
        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

        This chapter's suggestion is:


        you can read it here:

        2011-11-06

        Announcement! Next week I'll begin to post a new multichapter story! Here's the banner!


        To get a message when the first chapter will be posted, put me on author alert, please!

        The next chapter of De Immortalitate is due to be posted on 19 November. Romanward hopes that, in the meantime, you'll check An Italian Winter.

        The 20th chapter of De Immortalitate, "Avenger," is now available!
          Summary: "The life of the Roman patrician Antonius is put at stake by his father, Felix. When Felix brings to his only son a new slave, Bella, more reasons arise for Antonius' concerns. Felix's secret can change Antonius' and Bella's destiny." ExB AU/vampires.
          ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

          (Chapter 20, Avenger 


            Reviewers get a little gift (different for each chapter)

           There is a Twilighted thread for the story! 

          2011-10-30

          Where is Bella gone? What's happening to her? "Prey" - chapter images and update - the 19th chapter is now available!
            Summary: "The life of the Roman patrician Antonius is put at stake by his father, Felix. When Felix brings to his only son a new slave, Bella, more reasons arise for Antonius' concerns. Felix's secret can change Antonius' and Bella's destiny." ExB AU/vampires.
            ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

            (Chapter 19, Prey 

              Reviewers get a little gift (different for each chapter)
            thanks to Camilla for this pic!

             There is a Twilighted thread for the story! 

            2011-10-23

            What happened to Antonius? "Shadows" - chapter images and update - the 18th chapter is now available!
              Summary: "The life of the Roman patrician Antonius is put at stake by his father, Felix. When Felix brings to his only son a new slave, Bella, more reasons arise for Antonius' concerns. Felix's secret can change Antonius' and Bella's destiny." ExB AU/vampires.

              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

                (Chapter 18, Shadows)
               There is a Twilighted thread for the story! 
                Reviewers get a little gift (different for each chapter)

              2011-10-19


              Review by Camilla

              I am very grateful to Miaokuancha, who alerted me to this amazing story.
              -x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

              Renesmee is on the run. The Cullen’s jewel is troubled. She is unsure of herself, unsure of Jacob’s feelings for her and jealous of her “perfect” mother. Learning that the Quileute loved Bella before she was born is the last straw.

              "How long?" she said, her voice low and deadly.
              Jacob was wiping blood off his torso with the back of his hand, staring at her like he'd never seen her before. "What?" he finally asked. She couldn't tell if his confusion was feigned or genuine.
              "How long? How long have you been in love with my mother?"
              His mouth fell open and his hand stilled above his stomach. "What are you talking about?"
              "Don't lie! Don't you dare lie! Charlie told me, Jacob. He told me everything and you're still lying to me..."

              Now, a troubled teenager might sulk. A troubled half vampire kills. Due to a fit of temper an innocent passerby dies under her sharp teeth.
              Ashamed by what she has done, she leaves her home and ends up in Paris, penniless and with no documents she can use.

              Befriended by a Muslim book seller and his lovely daughter, Fatima, Nessie finds hospitality in the popular Saint Denis neighborhood, where social strife is brewing among the mostly North African inhabitants. Some of the ire, however, is directed to liberated women.

              After a while, guilt eating her up. Renesmee thinks she can atone for her sin by becoming a vigilante like her dad. Without killing the evil people she thwarts and manhandles, to be sure.

              She crawled forward like a cat and leaned over the edge. Below her, all the way down by the dumpster, was a woman. Her face was pressed into the outer wall of the building, and a huge man stood behind her with one hand against her head and one hand...
              She had no time to think. She hopped onto the ledge that lined the roof and dropped like a stone, landing right beside them and knocking the man unconscious with one blow to the side of the head. As soon as he went down she sprang away again, but she couldn't quite jump high enough and had to scramble the last few stories of the opposite building, where she hid and watched the woman's chest rise and fall too quickly as her head turned left, right, looking for her invisible savior. Finding nothing, she stared down at the inert man for a moment and then ran, holding her torn dress together as she stumbled down the street. 

              Only, the most evil among the criminals in Paris’ underbelly, seem to have an inhuman leader: Felix of the Volturi.

              There was no way they didn't know to whom this property belonged. She had just implicated her whole family in what she was doing. That one little excuse the Volturi had been waiting for... she had just handed it over. Felix was probably back in Volterra already, palm open for his master to share everything he'd seen—the Cullens, sabotaging their financial operations. Demetri could find them in Scotland in a matter of hours.
              Her family was going to be obliterated.

              In this amazing story – 11 chapters so far – the background is both realistic and captivating – No rainbows and bunnies: life in Saint Denis is harsh, particularly for women who, like Nessie’s friend, are "not whores nor subservient." All the psychological details are right on spot (we see also Edward’s despair and Alice trying to come to the rescue of the errant girl), and the action is unrelenting. 
              Don’t miss it.
              --------------------------------------------------------
              Thank you, Camilla!
              If you read these fanfics, please don't forget to tell the authors that "My Reading Lounge sent you" and say "Ciao!" from me! Thanks!  

              2011-10-16

              "Prisoners" - chapter images and update - the 17th chapter is now available!
                Summary: "The life of the Roman patrician Antonius is put at stake by his father, Felix. When Felix btrings to his only son a new slave, Bella, more reasons arise for Antonius' concerns. Felix's secret can change Antonius' and Bella's destiny." ExB AU/vampires.

                ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


                  (Chapter 17, Prisoners
                 
                  Reviewers get a little gift (different for each chapter)


                 There is a Twilighted thread for the story! 

                2011-10-12

                Who says that an article about grammar can't be ironic and pleasant to read?
                Miaokuancha and Camilla found a very useful article about some word cousins that are "confusing, confused, and too much intermingled without regard to proper application."

                You can also join the discussion on the website where the article is posted.
                To learn everything you always wanted to know about Lay, Lie, Sit, and Set, go read:


                Have you seen these verbs misplaced in a fic?
                Have you ever had troubles using them properly in a story?

                2011-10-09

                "Fate" - chapter images and update - the 16th chapter is now available!
                  Summary: "The life of the Roman patrician Antonius is put at stake by his father, Felix. When Felix btrings to his only son a new slave, Bella, more reasons arise for Antonius' concerns. Felix's secret can change Antonius' and Bella's destiny." ExB AU/vampires.

                  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


                    (Chapter 16, Fate

                   Reviewers get a little gift (different for each chapter)


                   There is a Twilighted thread for the story! 

                  2011-10-05

                  Today's Writing Lab is brought to you by the awesome Nayarit! She's contributing every month to the Writing Lab (woot!). The subject for today's discussion is:

                  Creative use of Timelines in Writing (by Nayarit)
                  --------------------------------------

                  I was recently reading EAC: TheJournal of Edward Cullen by Katmom, which was the first place winner of The Canon Tour’s pre-Twilight round. A contest that both Raum and I support, as we both had entries in it and love canon & canon/au writing.

                  Well, it was the layout to the story that gave me the idea for this week’s post. It’s one of the few stories where the timeline isn’t just a foundation to the writing, but it becomes an element of the plot. Because the story is told in journal entries, in chronological order, engaging a reader, and allowing them to live the moments through time.

                  In the post I wrote about Multiple POV’s in narrative, I used Audrey Niffenegger’s The Time Traveler’s Wife as an example. And I’m going to use it again, only this time we’ll be discussing creative use of timelines in writing.

                  When a writer first sets out to write their story, they have an idea—a brainstorm—that they will build upon. The first step to that is outlining, whether it’s done by bullets, graphs, notes, summaries, charts, or even in the author’s head, a mapping-out process begins. That’s the writing timeline.

                  The timeline to a story is the events that take place within the plot. Now most timelines to stories will only serve the purpose of a foundation to the writing, a way of keeping events and plot in order. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Some stories have a timeline of three days. Some three hundred years. And it’s the timeline’s job to keep track of all of that.
                  But there are other instances in writing where the timeline’s job evolves, and it’s no longer behind the scenes. That’s what I call creative use of the timeline. It’s almost as if the timeline becomes a character in the story itself, because it’s used in a way that without it the story wouldn’t have the same impact.
                  And here we’re going to talk about the four ways to creatively use a timeline.

                  With the example of EAC: The Journals of Edward Cullen, we have a timeline that is forefront and chronological. With The Time Traveler’s Wife, we have a timeline that is forefront and warped, it jumps from points in the past, to the present, and even to the future. Now these are two examples on the complete opposite ends of the spectrum of using a timeline creatively in writing. There are other tools of using a timeline creatively in writing that include flashbacks and the switching of tense in the narrative.
                  By using a timeline creatively a writer is able to capture a new and unique way of storytelling, often enhancing mystery and intrigue and keeping readers engrossed in the story.

                  So let’s jump right into the thick of it!

                  Get started

                  The first thing, regardless of how you’re going to use your timeline, is to create it. It is, after all, a foundation in any writing. Each writer attacks the foundation of their writing in many different ways. Use the one that best works for you. If you’re a visual writer, map it out! Chart it! If you’re and “in your head writer” then imagine all the scenes, how they’d come together in order to tell the plot of the story, each event and when it occurs. If notes work best for you, do it that way! The key is to do what works best for you in writing. Always. 

                  Choose which creative tool will work best

                  Now that you’ve mapped out your story, it’s time to decide how you want to use your creative timeline. I’ve narrowed it down to four possible ways: Chronological, Warped, Flashbacks, and Tense Shifts.
                  We’ll get into each of those tools separately. But I thought it would be best to go over some key rules to each tool first. 

                  --Always be clear on the shift

                  No matter which tool you use, whenever you’re changing time in a story, you want to make that very clear to the reader. This can be achieved many ways. Labeling the shift with the time: February, 10, 1987. Being sure to use italics when employing a flashback. Even beginning a new paragraph when switching tense. 

                  --Make sure the choice to use a creative timeline enhances the story, and doesn’t detract from it

                  There are hundreds of different ways to tell a story. And when choosing to play around with a creative timeline, it should be because it can bring a new element to the story. It becomes a new facet, like a character, something that is welcomed with the readers. Something to be enjoyed. If it leaves readers confused or aggravated, then it might be best to leave the timeline in its foundation where it started, because it should never detract from the plot or voice of a story, otherwise it’s not serving its purpose.

                  Chronological

                  This fun tool can be perfect for enhancing stories like our above example, EAC: The Journal of Edward Cullen, or stories of intense action. In stories where a the writer accounts a life, like in journal entries or even autobiographies, chronological creative timelines help the reader feel as if they themselves were there, living the life as it happened, with the writer. And in stories of intense action, it serves as a reminder of just how intense that action could be.

                  Friday, June 12th 20:00. 
                   
                  The weathered detective stood next to his desk, packing up for the night, when the clerk from in front told him he had a call. He looked at his watch and figured he still had enough time, as he picked up his phone and yelled to the clerk to put the call through.

                  “Mary Cunningham is going to go to work tomorrow night, “ the raspy, masked voice began, “and it’s up to you if she and more than thirty other people survive.” The officer dove for his pencil and began writing down everything: the time of the call, the background noises on the phone, the pitch, the tone, any accent, anything he could think of. He opened his mouth to ask a question and keep the caller on the line but the caller cut in, “You’ve got twenty-four hours, Detective Reilly.”
                  The dial tone blazed in the Detective Reilly’s ears. 

                  Friday, June 12th 20:30.

                  The entire squad was crapped into the office looking at the board. There were six Mary Cunningham’s in the city. And there was now less than twenty-four hours to find the right one.
                  Every minute of the detective’s life from that point on is crucial. The writer will want to annotate every hour that passes, because it brings the readers one page closer to the climax. This tool is the easiest to master because it sticks closest to its founding version. And by keeping the chronological timeline forefront it serves to help the readers countdown with the officer, building the suspense of the writing. 

                  Warped

                  Like with the example of The Time Traveler’s Wife, a warped timeline jumps around quite a bit. A story that employs a creative warped timeline uses it to keep mystery at the forefront of a readers mind. By giving the readers elements of the past, the present, and the future to piece together the entire arc of the plot becomes a puzzle that the reader must solve. It’s one of the most inventive ways of involving a reader in a story. It’s not just for time-traveling stories either, though those logically would make the most sense. Any mystery can benefit from the tool.

                  June 12th, 2005. 
                   
                  The weathered detective stood next to his desk, packing up for the night, when the clerk from in front told him he had a call. He looked at his watch and figured he still had enough time, as he picked up his phone and yelled to the clerk to put the call through.
                  “When are you coming home, “ his wife asked on the other line. His deep sigh was answer enough.
                  “We haven’t seen you in three days. It’s getting ridiculous. Noah, come home.”
                  “I’m on my way.”
                  Detective Noah Reilly put the phone back as he pushed the files into his desk, promising that he wouldn’t take the file home with him. The last thing he saw before slamming the drawer closed was her face.

                  January 2nd, 1993.

                  “Jenny, come inside it’s time to eat.”
                  A blonde little girl waved her mom off from across the street where she was jumping rope with her best friend, their laughs and hair bouncing in the air. Jenny’s pink sneakers scraped against the concrete on each of her turns.
                  “Jennifer!”
                  Jenny looked back to her friend with a pout. Her friend knew just as well as Jenny did what it meant when a mother used that tone and her full given name. With a shrug, Jenny waved goodbye to her friend as she began to run across the street. She was so caught up in saying goodbye to her friend that she didn’t see the van come barreling down the street, directly at her, with the sliding door open.

                  September 29th, 2001.

                  Noah looked at his wife. Her face was covered in sweat and exhaustion, but a serene smile firmly in place. She was holding his daughter, their daughter. And he felt his heart swell, even if it was bittersweet that her namesake couldn’t be there.

                  June 9th, 2005.

                  Noah hated waking up first thing in the morning to a call of his presence being requested at the scene of a crime. But for him it was far worse this time. A discovery of bones. An a pair of pink sneakers. Ones that looked entirely too familiar.

                  December 25th, 1992.

                  “I love them!” Jenny said as she flew into her brother’s arms. Noah smiled. It had taken a week’s worth of work, but he was finally able to buy his sister those pink sneakers she’d been asking for for months.
                  Warped is one of the hardest tools in creative timelines. It requires having a firm view of the entire plot arc, even a mapping out of the events in chronological order. Once the events are understood as they fall, then the process of jumbling them up, dispersing the puzzle pieces, becomes easier. Just remember that even though you’ve mixed the puzzle up, it should always fit back to create that original picture. And no matter where you choose to end in a warped timeline, the puzzle should be complete. Don’t leave plot elements hanging.
                  When working with a warped creative timeline, a writer has the ability to keep the intrigue to a story fresh, and get the readers to become a part of the action themselves. 

                  Flashbacks

                  Unlike Chronological and Warped, Flashbacks don’t require an obvious annotation of time. The most common way that writers distinguish between this change in time is by having present day in regular font and the flashback in italics.
                  The benefit of Flashbacks is that it takes a reader into the action as if they were there, keeping every element of the effects of a present timeline available in the past, without directly halting the events and action of the present.
                  With Flashbacks, as opposed to Warped and Chronological, the reason for using the tool can be more character oriented, instead of plot. Flashbacks can be used to showcase reasoning to a specific behavior of a character; or a memory of a time in their lives that was impacting. Flashbacks serve to round out the mood and tone of a story and its characters.
                  Flashbacks are the perfect tool in the constant battle of showing a reader vs. telling them. By employing flashbacks you can bring an event, action, and dialog to the forefront of the story instead of having a character recap the event with a couple sentences.
                  Let’s use the following as an example:
                  You have a character that has anger management issues, and want to showcase the reason for this in your writing. 

                  Without Flashbacks:

                  When I was ten my dad used to hit me. It used to make me so mad because I couldn’t do anything about it. I couldn’t fight back. And it built and built inside of me until it boiled over.

                  With Flashbacks:

                  When I was ten my dad used to hit me.

                  What are you doing,” he asked, towering over me, kicking my toys to the side. It was late at night and he just got home. He always got home late at night, and he always smelled nasty, like smoke and beer.
                  I was just playing.” Before I was able to look at him, he dragged me up by my shirt, the seam choking me as he used it to fling me across the room. My elbow slammed into the wall and my foot was twisted under me. It hurt so badly. I tried crawling up but he came over and kicked me once in my stomach and I doubled over.
                  What time does your mom put you to sleep?”
                  I dooon—”
                  Aren’t you supposed to be sleeping?”
                  Tears built in my eyes at his voice and the pain in my chest. “Yeah.”
                  Then get your ass in bed!”
                  When I wasn’t fast enough he kicked me again, sending me across the floor and my teeth biting into my lip. Blood filled my mouth, and the swallowed tears tried to wash it away.. I hurried up and crawled into the bed, just in time to hear him mutter “stupid kid” as he turned the light off and left.
                  In between the cold sheets and dead night, I cried and screamed and punched into the pillow.
                  He always did that. And I didn’t do anything wrong.

                  When choosing to use Flashbacks as a tool to creative timelines you’re able to enhance emotions, motivations, and events in a story in a vivid way that captures readers, more than if you hadn’t employed Flashbacks.

                  Tense Shifts

                  Like with Flashbacks, Tense Shifts doesn’t require annotation of time. And unlike with Flashbacks it doesn’t require italics. In some cases, it doesn’t even require starting a new paragraph. Tense Shifts occur commonly in all writing; if one sentence wishes to compare a behavior of the present to the past, that can happen within an entirely present paragraph.
                  But for the creative timeline I’m discussing, it would require a new paragraph as the shifts are used as a tool to change a large lump of time.
                  Here is an example from my writing:
                  And so one day, I gave in; I didn't use my beauty to get what I wanted. I just laid my cards out for him to see.
                  I had gone up to him while he studied in the school library.
                  "Okay, I'm superficial. I don't have anything going for me other than a gorgeous rack and set of lick-worthy legs. But what the hell do you expect, Marie god damn Curie?" And he had laughed; it was genuine and it was music to my ears. I hadn't even seen him laugh with his friend Jasper back then; he was always brooding.
                  "Your face isn't too bad either, Tanya."
                  "Right, well, I didn't want to sound conceited." And he had laughed even more that his green eyes actually held a bit of light in them. I gasped at how utterly beautiful happiness made him.
                  "I don't know how anybody could ever think that of you." There was an actual playfulness to his words.
                  "Nor I, Edward." And his lips curved into a delicious smirk. "May I sit?" I motioned to the empty chair at the small table he was studying at.
                  Shifting tense around, from present, to past, to past perfect and anywhere in between, is similar to Flashbacks in that it can enhance characterizations, but it can also serve to give life to a story. To place the action, even past action, in front. And when action shifts to the present it takes the reader along with them. But also, like with Flashbacks, Tense Shifts don’t have to detract from the original action and events in a story, but serve to round it out and add emotion, dialog, characterization, and even plot all while maintaining fluidity.
                  Whether you choose to keep the timeline of a story behind the scenes or in the forefront, it’s an essential element of writing. And when you add a little creativity you’re able to use your timeline in ways that breathe life into your writing, for both you and your readers. Enhancing anything from plot to characterization to emotions to mystery to suspense. Just like time, the options are infinite.

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                  Thank you, Nayarit!

                  And now, feel free to leave your comment. You're very welcome to check Naya's stories!





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