My Love Affair With The Lord of the Rings

When I was eleven years old my dad and sister dragged me to the theater to see The Lord of the Rings. And like all good love affairs that is how mine began.

I was a wayward child. I had many interests and few hobbies. I was a townie who rode her bike through main street. I played basketball with my brother at the local park. I hated reading books. I liked music but wasn’t a junky. I liked movies but didn’t have a passion.

Then, one fateful December day my dad and sister asked if I would like to join then in going to see The Lord of the Rings. I declined thinking that the movie looked weird and was not my thing. They insisted that I join them and seeing no way out of it I tagged along. We got our tickets, our popcorn and pop, and found our seats. And for the next two hours and fifty eight minutes I was glued to my seat sitting as still as a statue. I was enthralled by the picture before me. I was taken in by the world. I was awed by the characters. I was in love.

When Frodo and Sam reached that high rock and Frodo told Sam he was glad Sam was with him I truly didn’t want it to end. So when the credits rolled I was stymied. I was heartbroken. I felt sucked away from something that had claimed my soul. How could the movie be over when the fellowship had been disbanded? How could it end when Merry and Pippin were captured by the orcs? How could we be left hanging when Frodo had not delivered the ring to its demise in Mt. Doom?

But end it did. My dad, my sister, and I exited the theater and retreated to our vehicle. I was in an emotional state and I didn’t know what to do with myself. My feelings were rising in my chest and choking me. But I held myself together. There was no way I was walking through the mall with tears in my eyes. However, once we got to the vehicle was a whole other situation. Try as I might, I could no longer hold back the tears that were attacking me. So I sat in the front seat of our pickup truck and I began to cry. I tried so hard to cry silently. I did not want my sister or my dad to know that I was crying. But alas, I was discovered. My sister turned to me and asked why I was crying. I only had one response for her.

“It ended.”

Those words sealed my fate to The Lord of the Rings.

I think my dad and sister were so stunned they just stared at me. Until my dad chuckled and said, “There will be two more movies.” From then on I was a sucker for all things LotR. I bought the books and devoured them. I bought books about the movies. I bought action figures and toys and games and you name it if it pertained to LotR I bought it. I knew everything about everything. I knew the actors. I knew the characters inside and out. I’m not kidding you when I say I became a monster. I was addicted. Daily I searched the websites dedicated to LotR. I asked for anything and everything LotR for my birthday and Christmas. The VHS for the first movie came out right before my birthday and you best believe that is what I wanted. Now, my birthday falls August 5th, and school started approximately August 17th. I am not even lying a little when I tell you I watched that VHS tape three times a day every day until school started. My family was so sick of that movie by then. But I was in love. I still am to this day.

When each of the second and third films came out in theaters I saw each no less than three times. I had the third movie memorized the first time I watched it. In the likely hood I got my mom to join me in the theater I got so upset every time she tried to lean over and ask me a question. There was no way I was missing even a second of those movies, even if I had already seen it twice.

I can’t tell you exactly what it is or was about The Lord of the Rings that pulled me in. I can’t explain to you why I was so immediately and lastingly in love with this story. It may be the world. It may be the characters. It may be a sprinkling of everything to do with LotR. I can tell you that I have never been so utterly taken by something since then. I can tell you that I do love LotR above all else. I can tell you I’ve never seen a movie since that has so absolutely bewitched me. And I can tell you that I am so thankful to have been so moved by something like The Lord of the Rings because not everyone is lucky enough to be so deeply in love with something. But I am.

Twilight Vs. Harry Potter

The boy who lived.

The girl on fire.

The girl who did nothing.

Who cares?

I have recently joined Pinterest and have been experiencing fandoms like never before. But, never before have I found such hate and animosity between fandoms. And none so much as Harry Potter and Twilight fandoms. I’m not trying to call out the Harry Potter fans, because I am a HUGE Harry Potter fan, but I have seen too much Twilight hate from the HP fans for my liking. I don’t understand the hatred. I don’t understand why we can’t like what we like and not fear criticism for what we like. When has it ever been a bad thing to like a book? If we start hating on anyone who likes a certain book we don’t like we are going to turn those people off of reading for eternity because they will fear no matter what they like they will be criticized for it. Aren’t we supposed to be bringing readers to books, not turning them away?

Several times I have seen a quote from Steven King that says, “Harry Potter is about confronting fears, finding inner strength and doing what is right in the face of adversity. Twilight is about how important it is to have a boyfriend.” This quote sickens me. Especially because it comes from an author. I completely understand that it is his opinion. I also am a huge advocate of having our own opinions. However, when you start spouting off your opinions only to bring people down, that is not right. I have never been a fan of Steven King, merely because he doesn’t write stories that interest me, however, I’m not about to bash him or his fans for it. I’m not about to call him out for having a bad message in his books or for teaching people the wrong things.

Sure, Harry Potter is about all of those things, but as a writer who doesn’t put blatant messages in her books, I would like people to read my books and for people to not attack my readers for liking my books when they don’t have a message.

Harry Potter is my favorite series of all time and that will never change. But I also quite enjoyed the Twilight series. The Twilight series has gotten a lot of flak for teaching girls they need a man. For teaching girls that if their man leaves them, they must jump off a cliff. For encouraging teen sex and pregnancy. As much as I enjoyed the Twilight series, I never once felt the need to follow them as gospel.

When did reading change from doing something for enjoyment to doing something to learn a lesson and learn how we should live our lives? Now, I believe books can do that, but seriously, why can’t some of us read for enjoyment? Maybe some people are reading the Twilight series for enjoyment. Maybe some people are reading the Twilight series not because they want to learn how to find a man and how to live their lives, but because they like the story?

Tell me this, when did it ever become wrong to enjoy a book? Because I would like to know. I may be in the wrong profession if that is so.

Twilight may not be the best story in the world. They may not be the most well written books in the world. But its fans should not be harassed merely for enjoying the story. Please leave these people alone. Let them enjoy their stories without fearing they need to hide their enjoyment of them. No one should ever have to hide their love of a book. Twilight, or any book for that matter, may not be the best book in your opinion. It may teach people the wrong things. It may not mean anything to you. But please keep your opinion to yourself because it may mean something to others. It may mean the world to someone. It may have saved someone’s life. And when you attack that or try to bring it down, you are invalidating it to that person.

Books are to be loved, not bashed.

Extraordinary Means Tag

I would give up the internet for a month for a signed first edition of this book.

Easy, The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien.

I would give up pizza for a year to sit next to this author on a long plane ride.

Again, easy, JK Rowling. She always gets her best ideas when she is traveling.

I would sit through 1000 commercials if this book was made into a movie.

It is more than likely going to be a movie, the rights have been optioned, but for me that would be Red Rising by Pierce Brown.

I would never read a new book again if I could live inside this book.

This is the toughest question to answer but I think I will have to go with Narnia.

I would make my Google search history public if I could be besties with this author.

I’d say either Maggie Stiefvater or Rachel Higginson.

I would donate everything I own to goodwill if I could date this book character.

I think I have to go with Patch from the Hush Hush series. He was my first ever book boyfriend and will forever be my favorite. But Agustus Waters comes in a close second.

How and Why I Outline

 

Are you a plotter or a pantser? Do you outline? Do you think outlining is important? Do you think every writer should outline? How you do outline? What is the best way to outline? I’ve been asked all of these questions and more.

I have an answer for all of them. Answers I will go over with you.

However, besides the rudimentary questions, there are more craft questions that people ask. More critical questions. Questions like, why can’t you write without an outline? Is having an outline crippling? Does having an outline mean your writing lacks creativity? Could you write the story the same way if someone took away your outline?

For these questions I still have answers.

I began my writing venture as a pantser. I had never outlined anything in high school or any other time, not if I didn’t have to. I didn’t see the point in outlining if I knew where I was going with whatever I was writing, whether that be a story or a paper. So I pansted. That is, until I tried to outline and fell in love with the process. Or, many of them.

Yes, I outline. I’ll get into that more later.

Yes, I think outlining is important. More on that later.

No, I do not believe every writer should outline. George R. R. Martin doesn’t outline and his books are amazing. That man does not need an outline. Though I’m not sure how he keeps everything straight. More power to him.

I have tried several methods to outlining. I love to watch videos of other authors. I love to learn how they write, or their inspirations, or how they outline and so forth. I’ve learned many ways of outlining because of these videos. I’ve even tried a lot of their methods. Some of the methods I’ve tried using include using notecards, using post its on a giant marker board, an actual outline and so forth.

The notecard method is to write every scene you want to happen in the book on notecards. One scene per notecard. Then you can mark up the notecard with ideas and characters and dialogue and so forth. I really liked trying this method out, however it didn’t stick with me. I gave it a good effort, it just wasn’t the method for me. Then I tried writing scenes or chapters on post its and putting them on a giant marker board. While I didn’t have a giant marker board, I did use poster board. This method did not work for me, however, it is the idea that stemmed my current method of outlining, which I will get into. I’ve also tried the normal outline. As good as a normal outline it, it’s just not for me. I’m not that organized. I would have to make too many changes to it at a time and it would turn into a mess.

My current method of outlining, which I am in love with, uses post its, a binder, clear plastic paper protectors, printer paper, and a pen. I use one sheet of printer paper for each chapter. On the piece of paper I write the chapter, the narrator, and the approximate date the chapter takes place. The date is not exactly necessary, unless it is. One of my books is about a pregnancy, therefore I needed to know the date, or at least how many weeks into the pregnancy the character was in. Then, I use three different colored post it notes to make the outline. One color is for the overall plot of the chapter, one color for any specific scenes I want in the chapter, and one color for any specific dialogue I want in the chapter. Then I place the post it on the sheet of printer paper and slip the paper into the paper protector. That way, depending on what chapter I am writing, I can flip the pages in the binder to the sheet I need. It may sound like a lot of work and a little complicated. However, I love it, I find it super simple, and very easy to follow. It helps me to know where I am in the story.

I do not believe there is a best way to outline. I believe there is a best way to outline for every different writer. But I do not believe there is one best way for every writer.

Now, on to the more difficult questions.

Can you write without an outline? Or, why can’t you write with an outline? Now, I wrote my entire first novel without an outline. I wrote the first draft of my second novel without an outline. So yes, I can write without an outline. I just wrote a novella without an outline. However, now that I have been writing with an outline for so long, I feel like I can’t write as well or as quickly without an outline. The novella I wrote without an outline, took me forever. Like, I seriously didn’t think I was ever going to finish the darn thing. Here is how I feel when I write without an outline; I know where I am going, just not how I’m going to get there. I love having an outline. It helps me write more quickly, more fluidly, more efficiently. I’m not sitting in front of my computer for a long period of time trying to figure out what I’m going to write before I get any actual writing done. No, with my outline, I can open my computer and get write down to writing. So, yes, I can write without an outline, but I prefer not to.

Is having an outline crippling? NO. If you ask me, it’s freeing. For all the reasons I just listed. I already know what I want to write. I have an overview of where the story is going, I just need to fill in the gaps. My outline is my best friend.

Is having an outline a lack of creativity? There are some writers who believe that if you are a writer and you use an outline it means you are stifling your creativity and not opening your mind when you write. They are perfectly fine to believe that. Everyone can believe what they want. And they can write how they want. However, I do not personally believe that having an outline stifles creativity. I mean, seriously, when you outline you are creating the story as you write your outline. It is just larger bits of the story. Broader strokes of the story. I happen to believe that an outline is creativity. You still have to fill in the blanks as you write, which is being creative. So, no, I do not believe that.

Could I write my book without my outline? Short answer, yes. Long answer, yes. I wrote the outline, I remember everything I wrote on the outline. I could write the book without my outline, like I previously stated. I just find it is a smoother writing process when I can flip through different pages of my outline and use it as a reference. I don’t live by my outline. That’s why I use post it notes. They can be removed and repositioned. And trust me, I’ve done that a lot. And when I write, I don’t stare at my outline the whole time. I find where I am in the story, then get to writing. It is merely a reference, a guide, not a bible.

Now, yes, I love having my outline. I wouldn’t go back to pantsing unless I was forced to somehow. However, I am not telling you that you need to have an outline. I am not telling you that outlines are the only way to write. I just believe for me personally, I need an outline to write. I honestly don’t understand why some writers get so up in arms about having or not having an outline. If it helps you use one, if it doesn’t, then don’t. It is as simple as that. There are authors who will tell you you need one or writers who will tell you not to use one. Don’t listen to them. Listen to what you as a writer feels then do what you need to do.

The Importance of First Lines

 

How important are first lines in books anyway? Some say they are the most important because they are what pulls the reader into the story. Some say the first line is indicative to the writing of the rest of the book and therefore very important. And then some say you cannot judge a whole book on one sentence. So let us look at the true importance of a first line. Then I will share with you some of my most favorite first lines.

There are four main uses of a first line or ways a first line is used.

One use or way a first line is used is narrative. An author may use narrative to open the book. This is also a way to introduce the narrative. A line of narrative is a good way to introduce a character; their attitude, the way they feel about the certain situation, ect. I feel like narrative is a good way to get to know a character. Narrative gives you quick insight into the character. Narrative may not even be used to introduce a character, it may be used to introduce the scenario that the character is going through. Narrative may also be used as foreshadowing as to what will happen in the first page, first chapter, or sometimes the entire book. It may also be used as a way to set the tone of the story and that can be very important. Now, there are different ways in which you can use narrative. Really, there are only two, but they are still different and important in their own right. And those two different ways are using a statement or using a question. Most authors use a statement. Some daring authors use questions. Using a question to open your book can be a big surprise to your read. It is a way to pull them into the story and make them an active reader, make them engage in the story, versus a passive reader. Sometimes the question is not always aimed at the reader. Sometimes it is more of a philosophical question. Sometimes a question is actually aimed at or used to introduce your character and their motives. More often than not, an author will use narrative as the way they open their book.

A second way to open a book is the opposite of narrative and that is dialogue. Using dialogue to introduce your entire book can be tricky. I believe that if you are going to use dialogue you have to use it very carefully and make sure it is necessary. Using dialogue instead of narrative may throw the reader off the book completely. But at the same time, it may intrigue the reader and give them something they are not used to or expecting. If you are to use dialogue, make sure it is necessary and will still pull the reader into the story. Dialogue is a good way to set the tone  as well. Really, when you are writing a first line you want to set the tone of the story. Often the tone of a story can and does change. However, the first line should set the tone in which you want to work with immediately. Along with narrative, dialogue is a good way to introduce the character. While it may not lead you to learn about their feelings, attitude, or ambitions, it can teach you other things about the character, whether or not they are sarcastic or dry, or witty and so forth. While using dialogue as the first line can be tricky, it can also be a big payoff, so never rule it out.

The last two uses of a first line, and the most important ones, are for shock value and to pull you into the story. Now, you may say that the two go hand in hand, but not necessarily. You may say you need one for the other, but not necessarily. Using a first line for shock value may not always lead to pulling the reader into the story. They may be so shocked and revolted that they may not want to finish the story. Now, that being said, shock value can be very important. You want the reader to be caught off guard. If they are caught off guard they will more than likely want to continue reading to see if the author can keep up with their first line. This can also be tricky. Using the first line as shock value can make the reader want to continue but if the author can’t keep that shock value going or veers off into a different direction, or the story dulls right after the shocking first line, it could throw the reader off the story entirely and you do not want this.

The most important thing you want your first line to do is to pull the reader into the story. This is generally called a hook. You want your first line to grab ahold of the reader and take them into a whole other world. You want your first line to take hold of the reader and not let go until the story is completed. Of course, all authors want this, but it does not always happen. So make sure your first line is a good one, whether that is using narrative or dialogue, whether it is shocking or not so much. Make sure it is necessary to the story and stays true to the rest of the story. First lines are powerful, make them count.

Now, having said all that, I suck at writing first lines. It sometimes takes me forever to come up with a good line. And once I’ve done that, and I think it is a great first line, I’ll go back once I’ve completed the whole story and think my first line is shit, or too cliche, or dumb, or that it won’t pull the reader into the story. I have a love, hate relationship with first lines. I wish I could write better first lines. But, since I suck at them, I will share with you my favorite first lines from authors who don’t suck at them. Starting with probably my very favorite.

In a while in the ground there lived a hobbit. - The Hobbit, by JRR Tolkien

It is the first day of November and so today someone will die. - The Scorpio Races, by Maggie Stiefvater

What if Shakespeare had it wrong? - Just One Day, by Gayle Foremann

You stop fearing the Devil when you’re holding his hand. - Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, by April Genevieve Tucholke

The thing is, all memory is fiction. - Heading Out to Wonderful, by Robert Goolrick

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. - A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens

Mr. and Mrs. Dursley of number four Privet Drive were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, by JK Rowling

Each of these first lines provoke something in me that make me want to continue reading that story. As you see, all of them are narrative, I haven’t read many books with very strong dialogue as the first sentence. But as you all see, they are used in different ways. There is a question in there. There are powerful statements meant to shock the reader, but there are also low lying statements that do their own part to pull the reader in.

Remember, first lines are powerful and should be used as such. Use them wisely.