Sunday, July 17, 2011

Quirk Update - Hiatus

I would love to be one of those bloggers who, through every peak and valley of life, is able to consistently post quality content.

But I'm not.

So, my dear quirks, I am taking a hiatus.  My wedding and honeymoon are next month, so I will busy with all of that and it will be a weight off my mind having one less item on my proverbial plate - even though it is one that I love doing and will miss over these next several weeks.

I have something special planned for the stateside release of a ridiculously awesome novel that I read recently, so my return will coincide with that at the end of August/beginning of September.

As always, thanks for being amazing and I will see you all before we know it!  ^_^

~Shalena

Friday, July 15, 2011

Book Blogger Hop & Follow Friday! [10]

Welcome blog hoppers!
I hope you enjoy your visit here at Writer Quirk!
^_^

Book Blogger Hop 



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Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Working Writer Wednesday [9]

Working Writer Wednesday is a weekly meme based on the Wannabe Writer meme hosted by Sarah at Confessions of the Un-Published. This meme is what prompted me to start Writer Quirk, so I am thankful to Sarah for creating it and allowing ANYONE (even a quirkster like me) to join up. So go visit her site and the others who participate. Do it.

Where I am in the writing process:  Still not anywhere I haven't been for a while.  I've determined I won't be able to really focus on my novel until after the wedding.

My current problem(s):   Wedding
                                    Church
                                    Family
                                    Wedding
                                    Friends
                                    Summer
                                    Wedding
                                    Work
                                    Harry Potter
                                    Blog
                                 + Wedding                   
                                  What do you think?

Sarah's ???: Drugs and sex and language. How much is too much in Young Adult?

My answer:  Oh boy. *takes deep breath and jumps off the high dive*

I personally feel overtly explicit writing (detailed descriptions of sex, how to make or use drugs, and the foulest of words) should not be used.  It is not that I don't want YA to be realistic, I just believe it can be realistic without having to delve into the dirty details.  If I was that age again, it wouldn't matter what I was doing in my own life, reading these things in a book would either not interest me or make me blush furiously.  I don't remember knowing anyone in high school who cussed like a sailor all the time or spoke in detail about their sex lives or drug use.  I'm also from The South, so that probably is a factor.

I understand mentioning these things, especially when these things have bearing on the story or the characters.  Also, if something is only mentioned once, like a detailed scene of sexual violence, however difficult it would be to actually read it (I probably couldn't - I can't watch Law & Order: SVU) that is not as objectionable as continued and prolonged exposure within a novel to overtly explicit material.  Drugs don't bother me so much unless the lifestyle is being glamorized, and the curses don't much either, as long as they are sparing or in a context that makes sense (i.e. not just cursing to be "edgy").  But even the most graceful depictions of sex (I'm thinking along the lines of Graceling by Kristin Cashore) make me uncomfortable as an adult.  I feel like sex is private, even between fictional beings, so I'm not into hearing all that stuff, especially if the act is between teenagers (kid porn much???)  I'm all for talking about sex in the right context or in vague or "fade to black" terms, but the nitty-gritty I don't need.  This may be due to how, IMHO, television sort of sets the standard for "normal" in the US.  Sex is only truly graphic on stations like HBO, but language and drug stuff show up on every cable and network channel at one point or another.

Another factor that ties in to my view is that I'm a firm believer in "garbage-in, garbage-out," mainly because I have seen it in my own life.  I don't feel that teens need to see an f-bomb in every paragraph to know that people curse.  What you see every day can cause you to create habits that are not part of you naturally (think of all the beautiful = skinny garbage we are fed on nearly every TV commercial) so I'm not really comfortable with giving an age group of people who are growing into their bodies and minds (and won't fully develop physically at least until late teens and mentally/emotionally until sometime in their twenties - blame it on my educational psychology class) excesses of anything, no matter what media (books, TV, etc.) it may appear in.

But, as my dad pointed out to me once when we were almost hit by a semi-truck and he spouted a couple curses of his own, in certain intense or horrifying or shocking situations, intense expletives fit and can come out of even the cleanest of mouths.  I've seen used needles on a city street and know people who have used various narcotics (and seen what they were like under the influence), so I know drugs do happen, and it is likely most teens will encounter them.  Sex also happens more than most parents would be happy about.  But if a teen or tween (since most book stores categorize YA as between 12-18) is really interested in reading about that stuff, or learning about it or seeing it, they don't have to get it from the YA book section.  I would prefer them not to.  Novels are about stories, about characters, and if drugs or explicit language or sex happens in those stories like it happens in real life, then fine.  Life and people aren't perfect so neither will the lives and personalities of characters in novels.  But it is not necessary in YA lit to be explicit.

One final thought:  Of the many YA books I have read, most are not explicit enough to comment on.  But one series always sticks in my mind when it comes to this issue, and that is the House of Night series by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast.  In several places I've seen it shelved with adult books.  I think this is telling because some in the bookselling and library industries recognize that even though there are teenage characters in the books, the story within goes beyond what I would consider reasonable for YA.  I would not at all want this series near a shelf where a twelve or thirteen or fourteen or really even a fifteen year old person could expect to find novels.  I actually liked the story and was highly interested in it, but I quit reading because I felt like I was having to wade through a sea of muck to reach an entertaining story.  And I was 21 and just past my crazy college days. Maybe I'm just more sensitive, but I think there are more constructive, meaningful ways a teen or tween can learn about sex and drugs and the other crazy things that people get up to.  I probably could go on, but I'm going to stop there.  ^_^


My ???:  Have you ever not been able to finish a series or book because it was too explicit?  Do you think overly explicit books that are normally considered YA should be shelved elsewhere?  Let me know your thoughts!


That's it for this time!

Thanks for visiting!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

AWESOME TOUR *and* GIVEAWAY!

When I heard about this tour, featuring some fellow Tennessee authors whose books I'm desperately wanting to read, I freaked a little.  Jazz hands and jumping around and all.  Then I checked the dates and times and I am so going!!! 

These fabulous people are also hosting a ridiculous giveaway (ridiculous in a very very good way) so go check it out and if you happen to be in the area, go see them on tour!  I know from Myra McEntire's blog she is hilarious and both she and Victoria Schwab have big hearts (seeing as they helped raise money for flood victims last year with Do the Write Thing for Nasvhille) and their books are also some of the most anticipated of 2011.

Why are you still reading this???  Go check it out!  ^_^


Friday, July 8, 2011

Book Blogger Hop & Follow Friday! [9]

Welcome blog hoppers!
I hope you enjoy your visit here at Writer Quirk!
^_^

Book Blogger Hop 
Today is Captain Italian's birthday so I may be a little invisible this weekend.  
But don't worry, I will catch up with you guys later!


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WQA:  ????


If you enjoy what you see enough to follow, please also 
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Thanks for visiting!

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Working Writer Wednesday [8]

Working Writer Wednesday is a weekly meme based on the Wannabe Writer meme hosted by Sarah at Confessions of the Un-Published. This meme is what prompted me to start Writer Quirk, so I am thankful to Sarah for creating it and allowing ANYONE (even a quirkster like me) to join up. So go visit her site and the others who participate. Do it.

Where I am in the writing process:  Still not much of anywhere.  Life is getting in the way.  >.<

My current problem(s):  I haven't felt like writing.  I've been thinking about, planning stuff out in my head, but with so much going on, I honestly just don't want to.  I think I'm scared to go back and look at the mess I left for myself and I'm so zapped I just don't have the brain power to deal.  I've been coming up with a lot of great scenes/conversations for the next book in the series, like that helps me any right now.

Sarah's ???: How do I get back my motivation?

My answer:  I understand this dilemma all too well.  The only thing I can think, if you are really wanting to push yourself on through this slump, is to set goals and give yourself rewards.  The National Novel Writing Month spinoff, Camp NaNoWriMo, is finally open.  So now you can have the same benefits of NaNoWriMo any month you want.  Part of that is the knowledge you have a deadline to meet.  Also, have rewards mapped out for yourself for when you reach certain goals.  If it is buying a new book, going shopping, taking a nap, watching TV, whatever, just give yourself something for all the effort.

Word wars are another great thing you can do.  Find someone, whether in person or online, you can compete with to see who can write the most words in a given amount of time.  Set up a word war session and get typing, even if it is against your own personal best record.  Once you are doing these things, the true motivation should return.  I found NaNoWriMo to be exhilarating and word wars super-productive, and getting so much accomplished made me just want to do more.

My ???:  Have you ever thought about entering into National Novel Writing Month?  Have you participated in the past?

That's it for this time!

Thanks for visiting!

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Giveaway Highlight: Wildefire ARC Giveaway

Carolina Valdez Miller has posted a great review of Wildefire by Karsten Knight 
and is giving away a Wildefire ARC!  
Enter here!



Giveaway Highlight: Summer of Paranormal Giveaway

Ashley over at Books Obsession is giving away some awesome reads during her
Summer of Paranormal Giveaway!
It ends August 3rd.  Enter here!