tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post772294254459035177..comments2024-03-28T23:05:51.705-04:00Comments on Jungle Red Writers: My One Square Inch of Alaska by Sharon ShortJungle Red Writershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16646429819267618412noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-59720034245091892002018-03-18T08:34:39.310-04:002018-03-18T08:34:39.310-04:00Great tips I have noted all in my diary I'll u...Great tips I have noted all in my diary I'll use your all tips as you mentioned I really like your article I was searching on this topic as I'm working on this topics too.you can see my work but yours is too good I personally appreciate you for this. Keep working like this.<a href="https://hitecmobile.com.sg/htc-u11-singapore" rel="nofollow">HTC U11+ Singapore</a>Julia Jhonsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12815493788365864469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-51372869469277968792018-01-21T09:16:44.821-05:002018-01-21T09:16:44.821-05:00Kite projects Is providing construction, engineeri...Kite projects Is providing construction, engineering and facilities management to provide edge protection, vertical home <a href="http://www.azaleahouse.eu/2016/index.html/" rel="nofollow">como hotel lake como italy</a> access and hand railing solutions to Industries in United Kingdom!Julia Jhonsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12815493788365864469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-66855927603170931302017-01-04T10:37:28.816-05:002017-01-04T10:37:28.816-05:00Want to know about Veterans Day,which is a day to ...Want to know about Veterans Day,which is a day to celebrate the great officers of the US army,just checkout my blog<a href="http://www.pdbattery.com/li-polymer-battery-cells-list.html" rel="nofollow">Lithium polymer battery</a><br />Lithium polymer batteryhttp://www.pdbattery.com/li-polymer-battery-cells-list.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-750528324328579042013-01-29T20:30:51.928-05:002013-01-29T20:30:51.928-05:00Thank you, Rebecca and Linda! I like that, too... ...Thank you, Rebecca and Linda! I like that, too... every novel is a mystery! "Story questions..." that's what really drives a novel (or short story).<br /><br />Reine, it <i>was</i> rather mystical. Which rather fits with mysterious. Hmmm....<br /><br />Denise Ann, it was fun to explore the sibling relationship, and see how Donna and Will related, and how that also drove the story!<br /><br />Sharon Shorthttp://www.sharonshort.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-20349547198393008682013-01-29T20:04:30.847-05:002013-01-29T20:04:30.847-05:00I actually ate puffed rice as a kid (with lots of ...I actually ate puffed rice as a kid (with lots of sugar) -- gag. But I don't remember the deeds. What a great idea, though -- for a book. I look forward to finding this one.<br /><br />I also love the brother and sister as main characters together -- such an important relationship.Denise Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02790883493798517829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-37621465235562577542013-01-29T19:51:50.299-05:002013-01-29T19:51:50.299-05:00Sharon… so mystical, the way you discovered your c...Sharon… so mystical, the way you discovered your characters. That sounds like the best part of writing, when it happens like that.<br /><br />And yes, I have a foggy memory of those deeds to 1 square inch of Alaska!Maureen Harringtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03499876353651763590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-89333370179489179692013-01-29T14:52:16.014-05:002013-01-29T14:52:16.014-05:00Welcome, Sharon! I, too, love your title. Like Deb...Welcome, Sharon! I, too, love your title. Like Debs, I see myself as writing novels that have mysteries in them, something I think all good novels do have--a question to be answered or mystery to be solved.<br /><br />I'm not a Project Runway fan because I don't watch TV, but I think I'd like a Tim Gunn bobblehead doll just for the affirmations when things look bleak! I look forward to reading your book.Linda Rodriguezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11913741596693442469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-41903114223891536892013-01-29T14:36:31.632-05:002013-01-29T14:36:31.632-05:00Beautiful, Sharon. I am trying to recall now who ...Beautiful, Sharon. I am trying to recall now who said (or wrote) that every novel is a mystery. I like that idea. Can't wait to read your book!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-87000273369897798612013-01-29T13:34:16.805-05:002013-01-29T13:34:16.805-05:00Leslie--thank you for the comment re: the title!
...Leslie--thank you for the comment re: the title!<br /><br />Deb--I like that view of your novels containing a mystery, and what a perfect summary of fiction: "characters the reader cares about who have goals." I believe I will be quoting you tonight in the fiction class I teach!<br /><br />Thank you Hank; it is quite a fun moment when an idea become THE idea.<br /><br />Jan--glad to be of any help at all!Sharon Shorthttp://www.sharonshort.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-19849013276774984902013-01-29T12:49:40.820-05:002013-01-29T12:49:40.820-05:00Hi Sharon,
I read this post with great excitement....Hi Sharon,<br />I read this post with great excitement. I am doing the same thing, only from mystery to historical, but it's basically the same problem - and I love your answer to Roberta here.. And the way you think about it.<br /><br />Thanks for the tips and the inspiration.<br /><br />Jan Jan Broganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11323983086318138814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-15489594686531587412013-01-29T12:31:23.217-05:002013-01-29T12:31:23.217-05:00Oh, this is wonderful..one of the magical things a...Oh, this is wonderful..one of the magical things about writing is when you realize that one little moment in your life has become the IDEA. ANd we know when it happens, right?<br /><br />Hurray for your lovely story.. ANd yes, Leslie, you are so right!Hank Phillippi Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17420701704169428286noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-17246626044991147812013-01-29T12:18:54.803-05:002013-01-29T12:18:54.803-05:00Hi Sharon! Seconding Leslie here. I'd love the...Hi Sharon! Seconding Leslie here. I'd love the book just for the title. And don't you love it when an idea just smacks you upside the head?<br /><br />I haven't written a novel that wasn't a mystery, but then I tend to think of my books as novels "containing" a mystery, and the things that move the plot are the same in any novel--characters the reader cares about who have goals.<br /><br />I seldom read mysteries for the solution to the puzzle, although I do like it to be believable when I get there.<br /><br />And I agree with you about teenagers and middle-agers. I like writing, and reading, from teenager's viewpoints. Looking forward to your book!Debhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11519514786198185277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-73407310008173502802013-01-29T11:48:50.578-05:002013-01-29T11:48:50.578-05:00Love it for the title alone! Congratulations!Love it for the title alone! Congratulations!Leslie Budewitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11942314846112875042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-17881973014597410652013-01-29T09:51:29.827-05:002013-01-29T09:51:29.827-05:00Good morning, Hallie! Yes, you must, must get a Ti...Good morning, Hallie! Yes, you must, must get a Tim Gunn bobblehead for your work desk. Nothing like hitting a snag, and hearing Tim Gunn's voice cheerily say, "Carry on!"<br /><br />Thank you for your great comments! <br /><br />Marvel Puffs are made up... but they are based on the actual Quaker Puffed Rice cereal that had the Yukon square inch giveaway, the basis for the contest in my novel. I just thought Marvel Puffs were a more humorous name. Marvelous? Hah! I remember the 'puffed' cereals of later decades! And yet, Will is determined to munch away on the cereal to reach his goal. (Making the fictional cereal tasty or nutritious wouldn't have been as poignant or as much fun.)<br /><br />As far as writing teenagers... it was actually easier than I would have guessed. For one thing, I didn't try to have a 'teenage' voice; I thought that would come off as patronizing. I remember quite clearly being a teen (although it has been, ahem, a <i>few</i> years) and so I tapped into the emotion of having big dreams... and at the same time, big doubts... for Donna's voice.<br /><br />In addition, it helped to have teen daughters at home as I started writing my novel to remind me of how that felt.<br /><br />And, I have to say, I think teenagers and "middle-agers" have a lot in common... both are transitional times in life, times of wondering, well, what do I want now? Can I do it? How will I do it? <br /><br />And simultaneously having dreams and doubts seems to be part of being a writer! Well, it's part of being human, but writers seem particularly aware of having both emotions at once. So, it wasn't a stretch to tap into that.<br /><br />And finally, I just made sure that Donna was the one making her own decisions and following up on them--no fair having a kindly adult make things OK for her and Will (although, thankfully, she has a few kindly adults giving an occasional helping hand.)Sharon Shorthttp://www.sharonshort.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-6545080064805146622013-01-29T09:39:53.466-05:002013-01-29T09:39:53.466-05:00Lucy a.k.a. Roberta--Well, I was certainly daunted...Lucy a.k.a. Roberta--Well, I was certainly daunted, too! As both a reader and a writer, I love mysteries and the mystery structure and, while I love character driven books, I also want a plot that keeps beckoning... follow me, follow me!<br /><br />I decided to apply what I understand about plotting from my mystery writing experience. I thought about turning points in the characters' lives (e.g., Will wants that deed; Donna needs that job) and asked myself what are the five or six next choices they could possibly make? And then, frankly, I choice the ones that interested me the most. I plunged ahead until my characters reached another set of choices. <br /><br />It did help that I knew, from the very beginning, where they needed to end up, both physically and emotionally. I guess that's rather like knowing the detective must solve the crime at the end of the mystery!Sharon Shorthttp://www.sharonshort.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-80554422872475683962013-01-29T09:19:20.915-05:002013-01-29T09:19:20.915-05:00Hullo, Sharon! I want a talking Tim Gunn, too - I&...Hullo, Sharon! I want a talking Tim Gunn, too - I'm a HUGE fan of Project Runway.<br /><br />I LOVE this book so much, the characters are fabulous, and I'm so happy you're here to talk about it. Can you tell us what it was like writing teenagers as your main characters? (Teenagers and a great dog.)<br /><br />Deeds to "one square inch of Alaska" reminds me of those offers to get a star named after you. But Marvel Puffs are made up, aren't they?Hallie Ephronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04759439029582054503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-53590812572733398912013-01-29T09:10:41.736-05:002013-01-29T09:10:41.736-05:00I meant to ask you, Sharon, to tell us more about ...I meant to ask you, Sharon, to tell us more about how you plotted a book that didn't have the mystery structure--I'd love to try sometime but it seems daunting...Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-63039352443327278312013-01-29T09:04:54.566-05:002013-01-29T09:04:54.566-05:00I think it’s fascinating to explore how one little...I think it’s fascinating to explore how one little snippet of an idea becomes a whole book . . . exciting for sure!Joan Emersonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-79718813428502021202013-01-29T08:26:50.925-05:002013-01-29T08:26:50.925-05:00Good morning Sharon! And congrats on the book laun...Good morning Sharon! And congrats on the book launch! I was just going to email you and invite you over--but glad to see you're here already:).<br /><br />Joan, isn't it fun to hear where a story got started? And there's a long haul after that first spark, but so exciting to get the idea...Lucy Burdette aka Roberta Isleibhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04660402177299546055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-27980387376963179882013-01-29T07:33:09.502-05:002013-01-29T07:33:09.502-05:00Hi Joan! Usually my stories do begin with snippets...Hi Joan! Usually my stories do begin with snippets of ideas or hazy images that just grab me and make me think, "I MUST explore this!" These 'snippets' can be anything from a random sentence or line of dialog that floats into my brain, a sound that strikes me a certain way, an image, a hazily defined character... and off I go in my imagination and to my computer/notebook. Broader concepts such as theme reveal themselves to me as I delve into the work. However, I think whatever motivates a writer to start delving into a story is fantastic! Thank you for your comments and question!Sharon Shorthttp://www.sharonshort.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1001156153899984046.post-15910053694986001472013-01-29T00:57:33.624-05:002013-01-29T00:57:33.624-05:00What a great idea for a story! Do your stories al...What a great idea for a story! Do your stories always begin with “snippets” of ideas that grab your interest [like the square inch deeds to Alaska territory] or do you sometimes have a broader picture of what and who the story is about when you sit down to write? I look forward to reading your book . . . .Joan Emersonnoreply@blogger.com