Lessons from JK Rowling

I have always lived by the philosophy "Learn from what you love." JK Rowling's writing, therefore, encapsulates writing lessons that I desperately need to unveil. I love what she does and, for this, she is one of my distant teachers.

This past Spring I took the "Harry Potter for Writers" online workshop. It was an amazing experience, but I realized that, in one sense I was ill-equipped to fully grasp all the wonder held within the writing JK Rowling offered. You see, when asked what I gleaned from my own reading of Harry Potter as a writer I was always left perplexed. Before the course I had never read the books in that way. I allowed JKR to take me on a fantastic adventure and just hung on for the ride. When I look back on the text it is very difficult for me to separate the technique of JKR's presentation from my fanatical reception. It is not impossible, simply difficult.


However, I am well aware that there is much to be learned from the output of the authors I respect, so I do not want to miss any learning opportunities when they avail themselves. Which brings me to The Casual Vacancy.

I rushed to purchase my copy on day one. I set aside my day to be spent in Barnes and Noble reading until my husband came home. I knew that September 27, 2012 was going to be all about JKR's new book. I almost missed my lesson. Just as I picked my seat in the Barnes and Noble Cafe next to the window, looked down at the cover of my newly purchased book and was about to open to page one a thought occurred to me, I can't wait to see how she sweeps me away this time!

HOW

That was the key word. Anyone looking at me sitting there could have seen that I was struck by something: I couldn't hide my reaction. This is my chance! I thought, This time I can really look at HOW she does it, WHAT she does and I can see what I'M MISSING!

So began an incredibly slow read. It is now Sunday, four full days since I purchased the book, and I have only just passed page 150. This is because I am not only being taken away to another of JKR's worlds, but because I am also in JKR's course on writing well.

I've been stopping to take notes, to reflect upon WHY certain passages move me, why certain sentences are so clearly expressive and I've been thinking about what I haven't been doing in my own writing. I have already gleaned a number of basic lessons from JK, that I imagine one can gather from any author they admire, and I thought it might be nice to share the with my readers.

In short, what I have found is that JKR tells A story, she doesn't just tell THE story. This is really the "big lesson" I have gleaned from the experience so far. All the notes I have taken while reading contain all of the techniques required to make that simple distinction.

This lesson is so much clearer in The Casual Vacancy than in the Harry Potter books because, in this novel JKR is writing about ordinary people in an ordinary world. There is no magic or fantasy to spice things up - JKR is telling us about a town that is dealing with some drama, that's all. A man died which opened up an opportunity to shift the political climate in the town (I haven't finished yet, so I don't know how intense it becomes or what the conclusion is), that's THE story, but to tell A story about it, JKR puts on her storyteller hat and immerses us in the environment, the community, the emotions and the feel of the facts.

I plan to write more about this, but for now I just wanted to touch base with everyone, show that my fingers still beat on the keys as my heart beats in my chest, but I'm "in class" right now, so I hope to have lots to share with you soon!

Writing Prompt - Modeling Your Favorite Author

A couple of weeks a go I read a fantastic book called So, You Want to Be A Writer by Vicki Hambleton and Cathleen Greenwood (the review is on its way!). It is geared toward a young adult audience, but I, personally, think it is an invaluable resource to anyone thinking about jumping into the writing profession. Amongst a number of other resources and tips, there is one section of the book which provides writing prompts. I would like to attempt one that has captived my attention and share it with you. The suggestion/prompt is to "Use an Author as a Model" (p.67), here is a description from the authors of what it entails:

Try looking at the first few paragraphs of a favorite book. Choose three sentences and copy them, substituting new names and mostly new verbs, nouns, adjectives, and adverbs. Keep the basic sentence structure the same.[...] Keep going after you've written these first few sentences, using your author as a model whenever you'd like. [...] This technique is like learning to ride a bike: at first, you need someone to hold the back of your seat. But once you get going, you can do it all by yourself. Once you've gotten started, let go of the original author's plot and characters, and let your story go off on it's own adventure.

 I'm going to give this a shot with one of my favorite authors, J.K. Rowling, using Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone as my jumping off point. This might be a little awkward because the first paragraph has only two sentences, the third sentence will be in the next paragraph. Here's the model I am going to use:

Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. They were the last people you'd expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious, because they just didn't hold with such nonsense.

Mr. Dursley was the director of a firm called Grunnings, which made drills.

OK... here is my new version. I'll put all my changes in italics:

Mr. and Mrs. Roddington, of number one, Rodding Ranch, were proud to say that they were extremely important, thank you very much. They were the last people you'd expect to be involved in anything banal or mundane, because they just didn't hold with such simplicity.

Mr. Roddington was the director of a firm called Fulfillment, which made dreams come true for those who could afford his lofty price.

Wow. I told myself I was going to stop writing at the three sentences, but I can definitely see how this prompt works. I'm curious about the Roddingtons now! I want to write more. What is this "Fulfillment" firm all about? How lofty is Mr. Roddington's price? I have to be honest with you, I sat down in front of my computer with no idea of what the heck I was going to write today. That's why I pulled out the prompt section of the So, You Want to Be A Writer book in the first place and now, here I am, three sentences later, with some new characters lurking about in my brain. What fun!

Fellow writers, you have to try this out. It's fun and easy. If you do, share your link in the comments below! You don't have to use Harry Potter, go ahead and use whatever book you like.

What do you think of the Roddingtons?

Have you used a writing prompt like this one before?

Would you use a prompt like this one in the future?

What kind of writing prompts get your juices flowing? 

Learn to Write Like JK Rowling

JK Rowling is an amazing author. She not only wrote about magic in the Harry Potter series, but she somehow performed it. She reminded us all how magical writing can be. For anyone aspiring to be a published author, acquiring her magical skills is as precious as attaining the Philosopher's Stone itself.


How does one write in such a way to captivate their audience so completely and universally?

How does one build worlds that are as rich and as real as Harry's?

How does one create characters so believable, so enduring and so surprising with every turn of the page?

These are the questions we ask. Unfortunately, JK Rowling's plate is full with weaving her next tale, and perhaps she is even too close to her work to know how to answer these questions for a general audience. But don't despair, my friends! There is hope, there is one professor on loan from Hogwarts (at least I imagine that's where she must be teaching with all of her insight!). This woman has studied JKR's work so thoroughly, so deeply and with the unique perspective of a writer's eye.

This woman is Susan Sipal and I am ecstatic to say that, on Sunday, I completed her month long online writer's workshop named (so aptly) A Writer's Guide to Harry Potter. This course helped me grow in so many ways

• from the perspective of a Harry Potter fan, it added a new depth to the series I have already loved and researched, 
• as a reader, I have learned new skills to use to read all books with, not only for enjoyment, but more critically as an aspiring writer,
• as a writer with a current WIP (work in progress) I can now see such simple new ways to make my characters and their world more vivid
• as an aspiring writer (and a newbie, at that) I found a supportive group each with their own unique perspectives, projects and genres, and
• as a student to the craft I found an instructor who was very approachable, knowledgeable and understanding. 

Can all of this come from an examination of JK Rowling's current work, Harry Potter? Well, under the right lens, absolutely. To give you a taste for what Susan Sipal offers in the course, here is a list of the lesson titles we had over the course of one month:

First Week:
** Welcome and Introductions

** Introduction: Lessons with the Headmistress

** Characters with More Emotional Range than a Teaspoon (Characterization)

** Quidditch, A Prisoner of Azkaban, and Thestrals to MoM (Voice and Reader Fulfillment)

** Return to the Dursleys (Establishing and Breaking Story Patterns)

Second Week:
** Shrieking Shacks, Whomping Willows, and Moaning Myrtles -- or the Dark Lord's in the detail (World Building)

** Revealing Wormtail (Dropping Clues, Hiding Secrets)

** Put a Fidelius Charm on Your Godric's Hollow. (Backstory)

Third Week:
** Myth Connections (Mythic Structures, Archetypes, and Themes)

** His Royal Snivellus -- the Ambiguity of Snape (Themes and Borders)

** Of Grindelwald and Hitler (Real World Relevance)

Fourth Week:
** Keep it FUN (Engaging the Reader)!

** Draco loves Hermione! At least in fan fiction. (Fan Involvement)

** Making a Magical Impression in the Muggle World Or a Few Tips on Building a Public Presence

I am still decompressing all of the information!

So now it's your turn to begin to learn to write like JK Rowling! Here are the different ways to making that happen:

1. SIGN UP FOR THE WORKSHOP: Follow Harry Potter for Writers This is Susan Sipal's blog and it is where she will announce her next workshop. When she does that, SIGN UP! (It will cost you less than $20. She is ridiculously magnanimous with her pricing! Which is, after all, why I was able to take advantage of this opportunity.)
2. LEARN FROM THE BLOG: Spend A LOT of time on Harry Potter for Writers All of the lessons began as blog posts for the site, so you can find it all for free. This is a free option, so, for some, it may be the only option, but just keep in mind that Susan is not a stagnant teacher - she did not just feed us the same old blog posts from whenever they were originally published. She updated them, and adapted them based on the changing world of Harry Potter and JK Rowling. In fact, JK's new novel release happened in the middle of our course - Susan was all over it and we discussed all of the implications of what was released to the media and how.
3. GET THE EBOOK(S): You can BUY A Writer's Guide to Harry Potterfrom Amazon This is an eBook that has all of the lessons compiled in it (again, without updates, though). Susan also has two other eBooks on Amazon The Boy Who Lived Comes to Life: A Literary Analysis of the First Chapter of Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone
   and The Boy Who Lived Comes to Die: A Literary Analysis of the Final Chapter of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallowsthat are supplements as well, but she explained that in the workshop we got all of these things.

I highly recommend getting to know Susan Sipal if you are a writer, or even if you are a Harry Potter fan with no intention to write. She simply has so much to offer. If you are on Twitter, check her out @HP4Writers.

Today's post was merely to let you know about this wonderful online resource. What comes of it now, only time will tell, but I can assure you that in the future of this blog, Rivera Runs Through It, you will be sure to find posts filled with a knowledge that was gained from this experience!

Have you ever studied Harry Potter on a deeper level looking at myth, alchemy and The Hero's Journey?

What are your experiences with online learning and online workshops?

Do you have any online learning experiences for writers you can share (I'm hungry for knowledge!)?

My February in Review: Books

I did not get to read all the books I had lined up for this month, but that, in no means, should be interpreted as a month bereft of reading for me. First and foremost I am enrolled in a writing workshop with the wonderful Susan Spinal of Harry Potter for Writers that had lots of writing in it. Secondly, with my work over at Word of the Nerd, I have gotten lots of new assignments that were equally enjoyable and distracting. So, reading happened. Not all of the books could be logged into the Goodreads challenge, because not all were there, but here, for your own reading pleasure is a rundown of all the reading I did last month.

Cinder: Book One in the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer

Once I realized how much my regular reading time was going to be taken up by my writing workshop this month, I decided to hook myself up with a new audiobook to listen to in between lessons. I found the YA novel Cinder: Book One of the Lunar Chronicles that had an intriguing title, cool looking cover design and a description discussing cyborgs, androids and Cinderella - my curiosity was piqued.

My husband quickly got used to hearing my "robot book" while I was cooking dinner, cleaning house and folding laundry. Every minute I wasn't reading or writing I was wrapped up in Cinder. And now I am anxiously awaiting the continuation of the tale. Cinder  is a truly unique re-imagining of the Cinderella fairy tale and re-imaginings are just about my favorite things when done correctly!

Think of what you know about Cinderella. She is a poor mistreated girl left to live with her step-mother and step-sisters after her father's untimely death. She is beautiful, but due to her stature and position in a world where class matters, no one really seems to notice. Through it all Cinderella finds happiness in her world trying desperately not to be brought down by those who constantly belittle her. In the fairy tale, Cinderella magically finds her way to the prince of the kingdom who notices her, falls in love with her and after a quest of his own sweeps her out of her world into a happily ever after.

Marissa Meyer takes this well-known tale and brings it to a world that mixes the advancement of technology and space travel with the decimation of a plague that is destroying the people of New Bejing. Cinder, our protagonist is a cyborg, which is considered "less than" in her society and, just like Cinderella, is stuck living with her step-family which uses her for nothing more than a handyman and income (Cinder is a mechanic). While the methods in which Cinder meets her prince, makes it to her ball and her true beauty is recognized are completely different than that of the original tale, they are all apparent and written in such a way that makes Cinder an adventurous, fantastic tale all its own.

I don't want to give away too much about Meyer's plot. The world she built for Cinder is completely new and the characters that populate it are full of life. Of course I would be remiss if I did not give the narrator of the audiobook, Rebecca Soler, some credit for this as well. She swept me away with her robotic voices and reading of some really fun girly-glee (the prince is a heart throb!).

Here's a sample of the audiobook, provided by Macmillan Audio, just so you can hear for yourself how quickly you can get swept away...

I guess it is sort of obvious that I recommend this book to any YA fans out there. However, one other cool Cinder-related note is that this Monday's Book Love post will be a guest post from the author of this great book! After reading it I became so curious about her inspiration, I asked her what her first book love was, so be sure to hop back to Rivera Runs Through It on Monday to see her response!

The Lorax by Dr. Suess

I promise you this isn't cheating. I have never read this book before and when I got really sick early on in the month my husband sat with me and read it in bed to me. (Is this too ridiculous for you to handle?) Of course I wanted to read the book before I saw the movie and when I did I was overcome with joy. I'm wondering how I have never read this before - especially in all the time while I wrote for my blog Searching for Sustenance!

I am now, of course, terrified by what Hollywood is going to do to this story. Will the message be upheld or will there be such an effort to bring the laughs (and the money) that it will all be lost. After knowing now what the story is about I am actually unsure I want to see the movie at all. I simply don't want my heart to be broken. 

The Rest of February's Reads

Wow. I didn't realize it, but all of my other reads have been documented already in some form or another! Here is a list of links to their reviews if you missed them:

• Broetry: Poetry for Dudes This book from Quirk books seemed like the perfect type of book for the Word of the Nerd crowd, so I write up a review for that site and also linked it up here on Rivera Runs Through It.
• Between Gears This was a great find during last week's trip to the comic book shop. I loved it so much I wrote a review shortly after having read it. I couldn't really wait for my month-end review.
• Benaroya Publishing books I read a bunch of books by Benaroya publishing this month for the Word of the Nerd site. I wrote reviews for each of them getting ready for their March releases. The first I read was Samurai's Blood which I thoroughly enjoyed. Then there was Marksmen which reminded me of GI-Joe mixed with some dystopian tale, and finally Red Spike a super soldier story that left me asking, "WHY do these scientists keep trying to make super soldiers?!"
• Stick City This was a preview of a first issue of an independent comic coming out in limited release this April. It was also my first assignment for Word of the Nerd and my first read of February. I really, really liked it, but I tend to like very bizarre, funky stories when it comes to my comics. Here's the review so you can get a taste for it and see if you want to pre-order it.

Well, that's it. To be honest, before I sat down to write this post I thought there were more book reviews that actually needed to be included in this post. I guess you can see now why my Goodreads book counter hasn't budged too much this month even though I've done a good share of reading (remember all of my lessons for my super cool workshop are not on this list either!), but maybe I'll make more of a move toward my magic 52 in March!

What were your reads in February?

Are you a part of the Goodreads 2012 Reading Challenge as well? If so, how are you doing?

Do you have any recommendations for me to read in the month of March? 

 

If you are interested in buying any of these books through Amazon, it would be super-cool if you followed one of these links to do so, then I would get a commission from the sale at no extra cost to you!