All By My Shelf

Connect with me: Facebook . Twitter . InstagramVisit ABMS.BLOG Join The Writers’ SocietyBecome a Member and Get Access to More (or follow me for free but get less) RedBubble Bookshop.org Find ABMS on Podbean Let's talk about objects and how they can enhance your writing! Creating objects can help bring your characters off the page and help to create stories for them. Look at the objects you have nearby. You probably have at least one of the following: a family heirloom photos of family, friends, holidays, festivals, and vacations posters and or other images hanging on your walls special clothes for special occasions books ornaments everyday useful things like mugs or silverware Every item has a history-including that plastic fork you have yet to throw out. They help paint a story of their surroundings. Wherever you can create an object in your writing, you build the world out a little more. Here's a few ways to use objects in literature: as a plot device: sometimes the plot can revolve around finding or destroying an object (see Lord of the Rings) to represent a character: sometimes, personal items say more about the character than the character's actions. Think of the wands in Harry Potter and how crooked Bellatrix's is. as a symbol representing something larger than itself: for this the most famous example I could think of is the green light in The Great Gatsby, and how it represents Gatsby's hopes, dreams, and his connection to Daisy. as a clue: maybe you're writing a mystery or detective fiction. Objects can be used to reveal all sorts of significant things. Channel your inner Sherlock and consider how people use objects every day to really drive this home. to foreshadow something: sometimes a gun hanging on the wall will come up later. to trigger a memory or flashback: sometimes things just look too familiar and they spark something within us. as a device connecting characters' separate stories: maybe your object, magical or otherwise, has been around for significant moments in history, sitting in the corner and lifelessly observing things as life happens around it. Objects are useful because characters can find them, lose them, receive them, gift them, steal or have them stolen, search for them, treasure them, neglect them, lock them up, and even destroy them or toss them aside. And the symbolism of their actions can add to your story. Now for the exercise: Pick an object in your home that has some meaning for you. Study it for a moment and describe it in as much detail as you can. Now construct a scene around it. Was the object stolen or found? Was it a gift? Was it inherited? Make sure the object triggers a significant event for your character (or you, if you're writing about yourself). Let the object help them make a decision, understand something that happened, or turn their life in a different direction.

Connect with me: Facebook . Twitter . InstagramVisit ABMS.BLOG Join The Writers’ SocietyBecome a Member and Get Access to More (or follow me for free but get less) RedBubble Bookshop.org Find ABMS on Podbean Let's take a brief tour of fairy tale techniques, all of which can help any writer if given the chance: Intuitive logic: fairy tales don't conform to the rules of our world, but it does have rules. They will not be explained by insistence. Furniture will sing and dance. Paths will appear when you need them. Children can outsmart ancient witches. Disarticulated limbs will turn silver and you can sell them to save yourself later. Resist the urge to explain the logic and let your readers just accept what's happening. Remove transitions like "therefore" and "because." Flatness: In fairy tales, characters aren't deep, psychologically anyway. Snow White doesn't have depression or PTSD after getting hunted by her stepmother, Belle doesn't have a psychotic break after the candelabra and clock talks to her, and little red riding hood doesn't have a panic disorder after finding her grandmother had been eaten by a wolf. But they all had reactions. Now, there's nothing wrong with adding psychological depth to fairy tales (in fact, this is beneficial if you're going for a longer piece). But flat characters leave space to exceed limitations surrounding individuality, uniqueness, and self. Happy endings: J.R.R Tolkien once defended happy endings as a vital technique in literature, because joy can be as poignant as grief. Creating poetic joy in your prose is okay. A lot of fairy tales end with dark, terrible lessons, but you can let the sunset on a girl in a white dress smiling at the tide. Happy endings aren't bad. Fairy tales are some of the first stories we read and often the first kind we attempt to write. So now, go find an old fairy tale or myth and look for instances of intuitive logic, flatness, and happy endings in it. Then look at your own new stories and look for examples of explained logic, character depth, and tragedy. Remove efforts to explain logic, tighten character depth, but do not remove the tragedy. Instead, quickly add a unique and strangely blissful image afterward, your own Grimm gesture to emote through your setting.

Connect with me: Facebook . Twitter . InstagramVisit ABMS.BLOG Join The Writers’ SocietyBecome a Member and Get Access to More (or follow me for free but get less) RedBubble Bookshop.org Find ABMS on Podbean Map out a set of characters for your piece so you can play with who your characters will meet, love, hate, rescue, or fight. Write the full name of your main character in the middle of the page. Add in any nicknames or pet names they have. Insert all the people in the main character's life around the name in the center and connect them to the protagonist with bold lines. Include names and details for family, friends, work colleagues, neighbors, lovers, and such. Add people who the main character doesn't know but who might play a part in the story. Don't connect them to the main character just yet. Just come up with a supporting cast. Draw connections between the other characters but leave your main character out of it for now. Try color-coding them so you know which connections your main character knows and which they are in the dark about. Identify potential enemies among the characters in these groups. Underline the characters with potential for evil in a different color so you can find them easily. As you begin to define the relationship your main character has to the rest of the cast, consider writing it down along the lines you've drawn. As the map develops, you may begin to get a much more complete and complex picture of your main character. And the plot of your novel will begin to reveal itself as you find possibilities for connections and further development.

I'm joined today by Carly Heath, debut author of THE RECKLESS KIND.  A genre-defying debut, this queer historical YA centers a wild and reckless trio who fly in the face of small-town tradition—full of compassion, love, and determination to live the lives of their choosing. BUY THE RECKLESS KIND ON BOOKSHOP Become a member today and listen to the full interview (all 9 questions and 2 games), commercial-free.  Connect with me: Facebook . Twitter . InstagramVisit ABMS.BLOG Join The Writers’ SocietyBecome a Member and Get Access to More (or follow me for free but get less) RedBubble Bookshop.org Find ABMS on Podbean

Connect with me: Facebook . Twitter . InstagramVisit ABMS.BLOG Join The Writers’ SocietyBecome a Member and Get Access to More (or follow me for free but get less) RedBubble Bookshop.org Genre is hard to pin down these days. Are you telling a contemporary story or a romance? An adventure or a fantasy? Scifi, clifi, or horror? A good writer will you tell that the labels have shifted and blurred and it's hard to tell which one best describes the work most succinctly. But it is the blurring and blending of these genres that creates new, interesting work. Despite there only being two, or seven, or thirty-six fundamental plots, we as writers, can still satisfy the need for something new with the combinations of ideas and strong emotional cores for our characters. It is important to have well-formed characters that your readers can empathize with--or viciously despise. It doesn't matter if your character is a child or a giant bug, characterization is characterization. But the ideas are what make great fiction, especially speculative fiction. And no, I don't mean "Harry Potter, but in space! You're a martian, Harry!" No, the best stories take aspects of the genre and make them integral to the story--not just parts of the proverbial stage. Coming up with ideas that no one has seen before is tricky. At the very least, you need a fresh take on an old idea (again, not Harry Potter in space). Once you find that core idea, you can begin writing from there.

CW: tics, suicidal ideation, self-harm. I'm joined today by Halli Gomez, award-winning author of THE LIST OF TEN. You can connect with Halli via her website: halligomez.com.  LIST OF TEN A harrowing yet hopeful account of a teen living with Tourette Syndrome and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder . . . and contemplating his own mortality.Ten: three little letters, one ordinary number. No big deal, right? But for Troy Hayes, a 16-year-old suffering from Tourette Syndrome and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, the number ten dictates his life, forcing him to do everything by its exacting rhythm. Finally, fed up with the daily humiliation, loneliness, and physical pain he endures, Troy writes a list of ten things to do by the tenth anniversary of his diagnosis—culminating in suicide on the actual day. But the process of working his way through the list changes Troy’s life: he becomes friends with Khory, a smart, beautiful classmate who has her own troubled history. Khory unwittingly helps Troy cross off items on his list, moving him ever closer to his grand finale, even as she shows him that life may have more possibilities than he imagined. This is a dark, intense story, but it’s also realistic, hopeful, and deeply authentic. BUY IT ON BOOKSHOP.ORG Connect with me: Facebook . Twitter . InstagramVisit ABMS.BLOG Join The Writers’ SocietyBecome a Member and Get Access to More (or follow me for free but get less) RedBubble Bookshop.org Find ABMS on Podbean

Want to listen to the whole interview? Become a member of All By My Shelf today at BuyMeACoffee.com/jmtuckerman to listen to Lisa Riddiough play games, answer questions about her favorite books, and talk about her writing habits. Buy ELVIS AND THE WORLD AS IT STANDS Connect with Lisa Frenkel Riddiough Connect with Jessica Tuckerman Visit the All By My Shelf Store Buy Me A Coffee --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/abms/message

Want to listen to the whole interview? Become a member of All By My Shelf today at BuyMeACoffee.com/jmtuckerman to listen to Hayley Kirscher play games, answer questions about her favorite books, and talk about her writing habits. Buy THE FALLING GIRLS Connect with Hayley Krischer Connect with Jessica Tuckerman Visit the All By My Shelf Store Buy Me A Coffee --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/abms/message

Buy Beasts & Beauty: Dangerous Tales Here Connect with Soman Chainani Connect with Jessica Tuckerman Visit the All By My Shelf Store Buy Me A Coffee You think you know these stories, don't you? You are wrong. You don't know them at all. Twelve tales, twelve dangerous tales of mystery, magic, and rebellious hearts. Each twists like a spindle to reveal truths full of warning and triumph, truths that free hearts long kept tame, truths that explore life . . . and death. A prince has a surprising awakening . . . A beauty fights like a beast . . . A boy refuses to become prey . . . A path to happiness is lost. . . . then found again. New York Times bestselling author Soman Chainani respins old stories into fresh fairy tales for a new era and creates a world like no other. These stories know you. They understand you. They reflect you. They are tales for our times. So read on, if you dare. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/abms/message

My guest today is Jessica Vitalis, debut author of The Wolfs Curse. Buy The Wolf's Curse Here Connect with Jessica Vitalis Connect with Jessica Tuckerman Visit the All By My Shelf Store "I am obsessed with this story!"--Erin Entrada Kelly, author of the Newbery Honor book We Dream of Space "Boldly tells readers to take a closer look at the stories they're told--not to mention at the wolves that might be lurking in the shadows. A clear-eyed, big-hearted fable of compassion, friendship, and love."--Anne Ursu, author of The Real Boy "A lyrical tale of loss and survival, tradition and belief, in which tension and secrets build like a towering wave."--Diane Magras, author of The Mad Wolf's Daughter "A fable as polished and timeless as a fine wooden toy."--Catherine Gilbert Murdock, author of the Newbery Honor book The Book of Boy Shunned by his fearful village, a twelve-year-old apprentice embarks on a surprising quest to clear his name, with a mythic--and dangerous--wolf following closely at his heels. Jessica Vitalis's debut is a gorgeous, voice-driven literary fantasy about family, fate, and long-held traditions. The Wolf's Curse will engross readers of The Girl Who Drank the Moon and A Wish in the Dark. Gauge's life has been cursed since the day he cried Wolf and was accused of witchcraft. The Great White Wolf brings only death, Gauge's superstitious village believes. If Gauge can see the Wolf, then he must be in league with it. So instead of playing with friends in the streets or becoming his grandpapa's partner in the carpentry shop, Gauge must hide and pretend he doesn't exist. But then the Wolf comes for his grandpapa. And for the first time, Gauge is left all alone, with a bounty on his head and the Wolf at his heels. A young feather collector named Roux offers Gauge assistance, and he is eager for the help. But soon the two--both recently orphaned--are questioning everything they have ever believed about their village, about the Wolf, and about death itself. Narrated by the sly, crafty Wolf, Jessica Vitalis's debut novel is a vivid and literary tale about family, friendship, belonging, and grief. The Wolf's Curse will captivate readers of Laurel Snyder's Orphan Island and Molly Knox Ostertag's The Witch Boy. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/abms/message

My guest for this episode is Michelle Mason, debut author of Your Life Has Been Delayed. We talked about 90s fashion, technology, and adapting your work to a changing world. In between questions, we played The Book Stops Here and Never Have I Ever Spoiled My Own Book. Buy Your Life Has Been Delayed Visit My Store Visit All-By-My-Shelf.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/abms/message

I could say this with a single sentence but I plan to go on a tangent. Young Adult and Middle Grade are not genres of children’s literature. But they have their own sections at the bookstore. No kidding. Kids have their own sections at the department store too, but it’s not meant to do anything other than dictate what sizes the pants are. Visit the store Buy Me a Coffee View this episode as a post on All-By-My-Shelf.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/abms/message

It honestly doesn’t matter if you’re a writer or not, self-care is important. There are some myths about it being self-indulgent, a waste of time, and expensive. Not to mention the idea that all artists are supposed to suffer (queue my eye roll here). Visit the store Buy Me a Coffee This episode is also available as a post at All-By-My-Shelf.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/abms/message

Buy Me A Coffee TeeSpring Purchase BFF OR NRF from my Bookshop See other books on my lists or buy one of your own to support the show Members and supporters of this podcast get to add their questions to my interviews so support this show today! In the future, members will get exclusives like extra episodes and exclusive videos of authors playing games. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/abms/message

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://all-by-my-shelf.com/2021/07/23/100-awful-writing-advice/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/abms/message

Buy Me a Coffee Visit the blog for more! Visit the store! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/abms/message

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://all-by-my-shelf.com/2021/07/08/outlining-your-kidlit-novel/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/abms/message

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://all-by-my-shelf.com/2021/07/05/writing-through-your-lack-of-motivation/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/abms/message

This episode is also available as a blog post: http://all-by-my-shelf.com/2021/06/29/finding-your-voice/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/abms/message

My first guest on ALL BY MY SHELF is debut YA author Brandie June! Gold Spun is already out on shelves so you can make your purchase through the Bookshop link here in the show notes. BUY GOLD SPUN FROM BOOKSHOP Connect with Brandie June Visit All By My Shelf Buy Me a Coffee Buy Yourself a Tee Shirt "June shines in this retelling of Rumpelstiltskin . . . with memorable characters that will appeal to a broad range of fantasy readers." -School Library Journal If Nor can't spin gold, she can always spin lies. When seventeen-year-old Nor rescues a captured faerie in the woods, he gifts her with a magical golden thread she can use to summon him for a favor. Instead, Nor uses it for a con-to convince villagers to buy straw that can be transformed into gold. Her trick works a little too well, attracting the suspicion of Prince Casper, who hates nobody more than a liar. Intent on punishing Nor, he demands that she spin a room of straw into gold and as her reward, he will marry her. Should she refuse or fail, the consequences will be dire. Desperate for help, Nor summons the faerie's aid, launching a complicated dance as she must navigate between her growing feelings for both the prince and faerie boy and who she herself wishes to become. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/abms/message