Medicinal Plants

These are notes from my research for Winter Queen. Enjoy!

Routes of administration

See also: Drying of herbs and spices

The exact composition of a herbal product is influenced by the method of extraction. A tisane will be rich in polar components because water is a polar solvent. Oil on the other hand is a non-polar solvent and it will absorb non-polar compounds. Alcohol lies somewhere in between. There are many forms in which herbs can be administered, these include:

• Tinctures - Alcoholic extracts of herbs such as echinacea extract. Usually obtained by combining 100% pure ethanol (or a mixture of 100% ethanol with water) with the herb. A completed tincture has a ethanol percentage of at least 40-60% (sometimes up to 90%). ^[67]
• Herbal wine and elixirs - These are alcoholic extract of herbs; usually with an ethanol percentage of 12-38% ^[67] Herbal wine is a maceration of herbs in wine, while an elixir is a maceration of herbs in spirits (e.g., vodka, grappa, etc.)
• Tisanes - Hot water extracts of herb, such as chamomile.
• Decoctions - Long-term boiled extract of usually roots or bark.
• Macerates - Cold infusion of plants with high mucilage-content as sage, thyme, etc. Plants are chopped and added to cold water. They are then left to stand for 7 to 12 hours (depending on herb used). For most macerates 10 hours is used.^[67]
• Vinegars - Prepared at the same way as tinctures, except using a solution of acetic acid as the solvent.
• Topicals:
• Essential oils - Application of essential oil extracts, usually diluted in a carrier oil (many essential oils can burn the skin or are simply too high dose used straight – diluting in olive oil or another food grade oil can allow these to be used safely as a topical).^[68]
• Salves, oils, balms, creams and lotions - Most topical applications are oil extractions of herbs. Taking a food grade oil and soaking herbs in it for anywhere from weeks to months allows certain phytochemicals to be extracted into the oil. This oil can then be made into salves, creams, lotions, or simply used as an oil for topical application. Any massage oils, antibacterial salves and wound healing compounds are made this way.
• Poultices and compresses - One can also make a poultice or compress using whole herb (or the appropriate part of the plant) usually crushed or dried and re-hydrated with a small amount of water and then applied directly in a bandage, cloth or just as is.
• Whole herb consumption - This can occur in either dried form (herbal powder), or fresh juice, (fresh leaves and other plant parts). Just as Hippocrates said "Let food be thy medicine", it has become clear that eating vegetables also easily fits within this category of getting health through consumables (besides medicinal herbs). All of the vitamins, minerals and antioxidants are phytochemicals that we are accessing through our diet. There are clearly some whole herbs consumed that are more powerful than others. Shiitake mushrooms boost the immune system and are also tasty so they are enjoyed in soups or other food preparations for the cold and flu season. Alfalfa is also considered a health food.^[69]. Garlic lowers cholesterol, improves blood flow, fights bacteria, viruses and yeast.
• Syrups - Extracts of herbs made with syrup or honey. Sixty five parts of sugar are mixed with 35 parts of water and herb. The whole is then boiled and macerated for three weeks.^[67]
• Extracts - Include liquid extracts, dry extracts and nebulisates. Liquid extracts are liquids with a lower ethanol percentage than tinctures. They can (and are usually) made by vacuum distilling tinctures. Dry extracts are extracts of plant material which are evaporated into a dry mass. They can then be further refined to a capsule or tablet. ^[67] A nebulisate is a dry extract created by freeze-drying.
• Inhalation as in aromatherapy can be used as a mood changing treatment^[70][71] to fight a sinus infection or cough ^{[72][citation needed]}, or to cleanse the skin on a deeper level (steam rather than direct inhalation here)^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Examples of plants used as medicine

Main article: List of plants used as medicine

Few herbal remedies have conclusively demonstrated any positive effect on humans, mainly because of inadequate testing.^[73] Many of the studies cited refer to animal model investigations or in-vitro assays and therefore cannot provide more than weak supportive evidence.

• Aloe vera has traditionally been used for the healing of burns and wounds.^[74] A systematic review (from 1999) states that the efficacy of aloe vera in promoting wound healing is unclear, while a later review (from 2007) concludes that the cumulative evidence supports the use of aloe vera for the healing of first to second degree burns.^[75][76]
• Agaricus blazei mushrooms may prevent some types of cancer.^[77]
• Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus) may reduce production cholesterol levels according to in vitro studies ^[78] and a small clinical study.^[79]
• Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) leaf has drawn the attention of the cosmetology community because it interferes with the metalloproteinases that contribute to skin wrinkling.^[80]
• Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) may have a role in preventing oral cancer.^[81][82][83]
• Butterbur (Petasites hybridus)
• Calendula (Calendula officinalis) has been used traditionally for abdominal cramps and constipation.^[84] In animal research an aqueous-ethanol extract of Calendula officinalis flowers was shown to have both spasmolytic and spasmogenic effects, thus providing a scientific rationale for this traditional use.^[85] There is "limited evidence" that calendula cream or ointment is effective in treating radiation dermatitis.^[86][87]
• Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos) may be effective in treating urinary tract infections in women with recurrent symptoms.^[88]
• Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea pallida, Echinacea purpurea) extracts may limit the length and severity of rhinovirus colds; however, the appropriate dosage levels, which might be higher than is available over-the-counter, require further research.^[89][90]
• Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) may speed the recovery from type A and B influenza.^[91] However it is possibly risky in the case of avian influenza because the immunostimulatory effects may aggravate the cytokine cascade.^[92]
• Feverfew (Chrysanthemum parthenium) is sometimes used to treat migraine headaches.^[93] Although many reviews of Feverfew studies show no or unclear efficacy, a more recent RTC showed favorable results^[94][95][96] Feverfew is not recommended for pregnant women as it may be dangerous to the fetus.^[97][98]
• Gawo (Faidherbia albida), a traditional herbal medicine in West Africa, has shown promise in animal tests ^[99]
• Garlic (Allium sativum) may lower total cholesterol levels^[100]
• German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) has demonstrated antispasmodic, anxiolytic, antiinflammatory and some antimutagenic and cholesterol-lowering effects in animal research.^[101] In vitro chamomile has demonstrated moderate antimicrobial and antioxidant properties and significant antiplatelet activity, as well as preliminary results against cancer.^[102][103] Essential oil of chamomile was shown to be a promising antiviral agent against herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) in vitro. ^[104]
• Ginger (Zingiber officinale), administered in 250 mg capsules for four days, effectively decreased nausea and vomiting of pregnancy in a human clinical trial.^[105][106]
• Green tea (Camelia sinensis) components may inhibit growth of breast cancer cells^[107] and may heal scars faster.^[108]
• Purified extracts of the seeds of Hibiscus sabdariffa Roselle may have some antihypertensive, antifungal and antibacterial effect. Toxicity tested low except for an isolated case of damage to the testes of a rat after prolonged and excessive consumption.^[109]
• Honey may reduce cholesterol.^[110] May be useful in wound healing.^[111]
• Lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus), administered daily as an aqueous extract of the fresh leaf, has lowered total cholesterol and fasting plasma glucose levels in rats, as well as increasing HDL cholesterol levels. Lemon grass administration had no effect on triglyceride levels. ^[112]
• Magnolia
• Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) extracts have been recognized for many centuries as "liver tonics.".^[113] Research suggests that milk thistle extracts both prevent and repair damage to the liver from toxic chemicals and medications.^[114]
• Nigella sativa (Black cumin) coughing has demonstrated analgesic properties in mice. The mechanism for this effect, however, is unclear. In vitro studies support antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and immune modulating effects.^{[115][116][117][118][119][120][121][122][123][124][125][126]} However few randomized double blind studies have been published.
• Ocimum gratissimum^[127][128] and tea tree oil can be used to treat acne.
• Oregano (Origanum vulgare) may be effective against multi-drug resistant bacteria.^[129]
• Pawpaw can be used as insecticide (killing lice, worms).^[130],^[131]
• Peppermint oil may have benefits for individuals with irritable bowel syndrome.^[132][133]
• Phytolacca or Pokeweed is used as a homeopathic remedy to treat many ailments. It can be applied topically or taken internally. Topical treatments have been used for acne and other ailments. It is used to treatment tonsilitis, swollen glands and weight loss.^{[citation needed]}
• Pomegranate contains the highest percentage of ellagitannins of any commonly consumed juice. Punicalagin, an ellagitannin unique to pomegranate, is the highest molecular weight polyphenol known.^[134] Ellagitannins are metabolized into urolithins by gut flora, and have been shown to inhibit cancer cell growth in mice.^[135][136]
• Rauvolfia Serpentina, high risk of toxicity if improperly used^{[citation needed]}, used extensively in India for sleeplessness, anxiety, and high blood pressure.^[137]
• Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) contains a number of phenolic compounds, including flavanols, flavones, flavanones, flavonols, and dihydrochalcones.^[138] Rooibos has traditionally been used for skin ailments, allergies, asthma and colic in infants.^[139] In an animal study with diabetic mice, aspalathin, a rooibos constituent improved glucose homeostasis by stimulating insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells and glucose uptake in muscle tissue.^[140]
• Rose hips – Small scale studies indicate that hips from Rosa canina may provide benefits in the treatment of osteoarthritis.^{[141][142][143]} Rose hips show anti COX activity.^[144]
• Salvia lavandulaefolia may improve memory^[145]
• Saw Palmetto can be used for BPH. Supported in some studies,^[146] failed to confirm in others.^[147]
• Shiitake mushrooms (Lentinus edodes) are edible mushrooms that have been reported to have health benefits, including cancer-preventing properties.^[148] In laboratory research a shiitake extract has inhibited the growth of tumor cells through induction of apoptosis.^[149] Both a water extract and fresh juice of shiitake have demonstrated antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria and fungi in vitro.^[150][151]
• Soy and other plants that contain phytoestrogens (plant molecules with estrogen activity) (black cohosh probably has serotonin activity) have some benefits for treatment of symptoms resulting from menopause.^[152]
• St. John's wort, has yielded positive results, proving more effective than a placebo for the treatment of mild to moderate depression in some clinical trials^[153] A subsequent, large, controlled trial, however, found St. John's wort to be no better than a placebo in treating depression^[154] However, more recent trials have shown positive results^{[155][156][157]} or positive trends that failed significance.^[158] A 2004 meta-analysis concluded that the positive results can be explained by publication bias^[159] but later analyses have been more favorable.^[160][161] The Cochrane Database cautions that the data on St. John's wort for depression are conflicting and ambiguous.^[162]
• Stinging nettle In some clinical studies effective for enign prostatic hyperplasia^[163] and the pain associated with osteoarthritis.^[164] In-vitro tests show antiinflammatory action.^[165] In a rodent model, stinging nettle reduced LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol. ^[166] In another rodent study it reduced platelet aggregation.^[167]
• Valerian root can be used to treat insomnia. Clinical studies show mixed results and researchers note that many trials are of poor quality.^{[168][169][170]}

{For Writers} Guest Post on Crafting Cover Copies by Mark Penny

In the indie world, I'm kinda known for writing good cover copies (back synopsis). A big part of that is trial and error and hundreds of trashed attempts. The other part is Mark Penny. I first met Mark while struggling to write a cover copy for Witch Fall, and he taught me so much about how to write good back matter, that I ended up rewriting most of the cover copies for my other books. 

This first post is the base knowledge you'll need before you start writing your own cover copies. I'm not ashamed (blatant lie) to admit that I have to have a dictionary on hand when conversing with Mark (he's a professor), but I promise it's worth the intellectual squinting. 

How to Write a Peephole, Part One: Function and Qualities

Imagine you’re looking for a house. You’re interested in a new subdivision—

all empty houses and none of them sold yet. You call the agent and she says to help yourself, just walk up to any house you like the front of, take a look through the peephole, note the address if you like the view, and call her for a tour. You pick a few homes you think look promising and you start your round. You walk up onto the porch of the first house and put your eye to the lens. The lens must be in backward, because you’ve got a clear fisheye view of a front room and three doorways leading off it. Through the doorways you can make out the color and quality of the furnishings and décor. When you finish the loop, you’ve got a short list of homes you want to explore and you dial up the agent again.

That’s pretty much what happens when you browse for a book. You look at the title, the cover art, maybe the author’s name. If that all looks okay, you flip the book over to read the back. If the author’s famous, an award-winner, or in good with someone whose opinion you might care about, there’ll be some blurbs about that. But the thing you’re really looking for is that fisheye view of the contents—the cover copy. The question is why? What are we looking for in that tight little peek on the back of the book? What is its function?

All but the weirdest or most incompetent narratives (by which I mean instances of storytelling, as opposed to the stories from which they are drawn) divide nicely into three Acts, four Stages, eight Sequences and nine Milestones. I know this because I’ve read some good books on the subject, developed a Unified Paradigm of Narrative, and tested the Paradigm on scores of stories of various lengths in various genres, including litfic. I’ve also hand-typed around four hundred samples of back cover copy onto my hard drive, so I know another fact: Good BCC (back cover copy) sticks to the Setup.

In my Paradigm, the first quarter of the narrative is Act I, Stage 1, Sequences 1 and 2, and the first three Milestones. Act I I call Country. That’s because it’s where we learn everything we want to know about the story and the people in it before we decide whether to hang around for the parties and cultural displays. Stage 1 I call Setup, because its job is to set up the rest of the narrative by introducing the world, the genre, the characters and the kinds of disruptions the protagonist might have to deal with. Sequence 1 I call Initial State, because this is where we see the protagonist living life as usual. Sequence 2 I call Imminence, because this is where we experience anticipation for a specific predicament. The Hook, which begins on page one, lures us into the narrative with stuff we find cool. It varies with genre and the narrative’s particular focus (think MICE quotient), but its job is the same no matter what. The Inciting Incident, which occurs halfway through the Setup, signals to the reader (and maybe to the protagonist) that the antagonistic force is about to pounce. At Plot Turn 1, which occurs at (or just after) the end of the Setup, it pounces and the story really begins.

All of that is what we want to get a glimpse of through the back cover copy.

In order to fulfill its function, back cover copy has four important qualities: honesty, accuracy, brevity and restraint.

Honesty. Tell the truth about your book. Don’t try to make it look good. Make it look like itself. If that’s not good enough, fix the book and try again.

Accuracy. Know what you’ve really written. The book you’ve run off the printer may not be the one you had in your heard—even if you wrote an outline.

Brevity. Keep it short, sibling. The ratio of words in the BCC to pages in the book is always in favor of the pages.

Restraint. The Setup, the pertinent elements of the Setup, and nothing but the pertinent elements of the Setup—unless it’s for kids or for college. The only reason to give more than the guts of the Setup is to reassure people that the story will or won’t corrupt their minds or damage their psyches. Or that it will do them some kind of good, like teach them correct morals or make them erudite.

Here’s a peephole I threw together for the bedtime story I’ve been telling my children—ages eight, ten and twelve. So far there are seventeen episodes, each about seven minutes long. The word count is in parentheses. In my next post, we’ll see whether this specimen has the four qualities and serves its function. Then we’ll talk about The 11 Ps of Narrative and how this specimen has them all.

When Neb tells his parents he's taking the bus to a neighboring city to attend church with his friend Steven (so he can sneak off to go camping with the beautiful, mysterious Rukalala and her family), he thinks he's only being a little bit deceitful and disobedient. But when Rukalala takes him for a moonlit walk, transforms into a werewolf and bites his neck, Neb knows he's gotten himself in far greater trouble than he'd ever imagined possible. And when Rukalala and her werewolf troops start killing Neb's family to force him to help with a werewolf invasion, he realizes that seemingly harmless errors in judgment can have very harmful consequences. (111)

Mark Penny is the author of one novel in revision, a dozen novels in prewriting, a bunch of short stories and a lot of poems. His poetry has appeared in Sunstone Magazine and Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought and on Wilderness Interface Zone and Everyday Mormon Writer. His short fiction has appeared on Everyday Mormon Writer and Lowly Seraphim. He is currently working on a collection of his own Mormon literary speculative fiction and three stories for the 2014 Mormon Lit Blitz, which he intends to win with no survivors.

*Layman's translation: you need to pull plot points from your book and deposit them in your cover copy. Got it (And yes, I really do translate our conversations in my head).

Thanks so much for the information, Mark!

Final Thoughts on Witch Fall

I always like to do a post on my soon-to-be released books. How I'm feeling about the book and the process. Each book is different, but none of mine have ever been easy. I usually get stuck somewhere in each book and have to scramble to figure out what to do (why does plotting always fail me? Why?!). Sometimes that scrambling last longer than others.

Witch Fall was a bugger. After flying through the beginning, I became stuck between 1/2 and 2/3 of the way through the book. I knew how it needed to end--I'd even wrote the ending. But I couldn't figure out how to connect those dots (one of my biggest pitfalls as a writer). I struggled with it for MONTHS. Writing, rewriting. Stopping and writing the prequel. Swearing. Glaring. Eating lots of chocolate.

And in the process, I learned something that will help me with all of my future books: if you get stuck in the middlish, it's because your villain isn't fully devoloped. The villain is what drives the middle of the story toward the conclusion.

Light-freakin'-bulb.

Seriously, I learn so much with each book. I'll never know it all--there's simply too much to learn--but it does get easier.

And now it's FINALLY done. Such a relief. Like no longer being pregnant relief. And now I'm already turning toward my next project (Summer Queen--finally a book that doesn't start with a "W"!).

And now on to my feelings about it's reception.

Witch Fall is a fast paced, though perhaps not as much as my other books. I like it though, because it gives the reader a chance to breath and have a little fun. I think you guys will like it too.

I'm really excited about Jolin. She's such a character. She was inspired by Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory. She's scary brilliant and self centered and all sorts of socially awkward. Each chapter starts off with a little quote from her. I think her comments are hilarious and surprisingly telling, but I know some readers might not like it. I think the payoff is worth the risk.

I love the romance between Lilette and Han. For some of my books, I pick an avatar for the characters. Lilette's avatar is a falling star. Han is the darkness around the star that lets her shine. It's beautiful and perfect.

Without getting too spoilery, my favorite scene from the book involves a love potion. It's hilarious and a little steamy. I still giggle every time I read it.

My biggest worry for the book is that I broke a big rule. A very BIG RULE. I can't tell you what it is, because that would ruin the entire story, but it's a little intimidating to take on something so huge. Still, you can break the rules if you know them well enough. I believe I pulled it off. I'm excited (and a little nervous) to know what you guys think.

You can enter to win a copy on Goodreads (below). Also *whispers* some sites already have Witch Fall up for sale (I'd love to see your reviews!). I hope you all love Witch Fall as much as I do!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Witch Fall

by Amber Argyle

Giveaway ends April 05, 2014.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

You want an apology? You aren't getting one.

I've noticed a few posts (I won't say where, this isn't about bashing someone--it's showing my side of the story) that come down to the same thing: "How can you be so arrogant?" All because I said my books were "phenomenal" and deserved 5 stars. That sometimes I was in awe of the fact that I wrote what I did.

Yes. My books are amazing. I make no apologies for that statement. I spend a year or more on each book. I spend a lot of money/time/marketing into making my books as perfect as humanely possible.

But let's back up. Before I ever published my first novel, I spent years perfecting my craft (reading books, college degree in English, practicing by putting Butt In Chair every. single. day., and more conferences and workshops than I can count). I faced HUNDREDS of rejections and rallied to keep trying. Keep working. I spent years struggling to move from "writer" to "author".

You can't forge through those kinds of disappointments, face the kinds of setbacks I have faced without a certain amount of confidence--something deep inside you that says (despite the seemingly overwhelming evidence to the contrary): I will get there. I am already there. My time is coming.

I wouldn't publish a book that I hadn't given 110% to. I wouldn't put my name on something I wasn't proud of. I wouldn't be an author if I didn't believe in myself.

And I make no apologies.

Witch Fall might make it after all . . .

You guys have no IDEA how stressed I've been. The first half and last quarter of Witch Fall are done and I love it. The latter part of the middle doesn't exist. And the bleeping thing is due out in October. I've been wracking my brain and struggling with it for months. Finally, I just decided to start with a character rewrite and hope for the best. And then I read this article. Here's the short of it:

"The antagonist is the beating heart of the story. He/She/It creates the crisis and the crucible that forces our protagonist to become a hero. If we don’t know the endgame, we have no idea how to insert roadblocks, create misdirection, setbacks, or drama. So if you keep getting stuck? It might not be you are lazy or fearful (I wasn’t either). It might be your foundation (the antagonist/core story problem) either isn’t there or it’s weak and unable to support the bulk of 65-100,000 words."
~Kristen Lamb

Light-freakin'-bulb! My problem is I have two villains with dual purposes, which makes a mess out of the middle and undermines the beginning and the end (because one villain appears at the beginning, the other at the end).

The two need to be collaborators! This changes everything. Why didn't I see it before? It's so simple and so perfect and I missed it!

But really, who cares, because now I can finish the bleeping thing, and maybe, just maybe, I'll make my deadline. Pray my kids cooperate.

No really. Pray. It's gonna take a miracle.

Pintrest Love and He Knows My Name!

So I discovered Pintrest recently. It's this fabulous site where you can add pictures--kind of like a giant all purpose filing cabinet for stuff on the web. I love it! I've found lots of DIY projects for my hubby (he's thrilled-imagine a grown man dancing around the house while singing the lyrics from Westside Story with a twist, "I'm so happy. Oh so happy!"). Clothing and hair ideas. I even found a recipe for making your own laundry detergent--a year of detergent for 20 bucks! Made it this morning, in fact. I'll let you know how it goes.

And now you're wondering what this has to do with writing? Hang on, Mr/Mrs Impatience. I'm getting there.

I've created a folder for character ideas, cover ideas (see above), world building ideas. I've been saving images to a Doc folder for years for my reference, but this way they're all together and I can share them! Fantastic, right? If you want to see all the fun things I've found, here's my page: http://pinterest.com/amberargyle/

And now for the other bit of randomness. When you finally have a book published, you keep hitting these milestones that remind you that you're a real author-when you meet your first squealing fan, when you get your first paycheck . . . stuff like that.

Well I had another one . At a writer's conference this weekend, all these people I've looked up to for years kept passing me in the halls and saying, "Hey, Amber." "I like your shirt, Amber." "You have a bit of fry sauce on your chin, Amber." I kept thinking, "They know my name!" and "I didn't have fry sauce with lunch?"

So freakin' cool!

Anyway, who's on Pintrest? Do you love it? If not, WHY?

So, you wanna be an author?

I've had a lot of emails lately from people who want to be authors (also from attendees at the writer's conference I attended this weekend, see below for pics). Here's my advice:

1. Write three manuscripts--if this sounds daunting, it is. But only at the begining. You'll learn so much from those three manuscripts. Plus, now you have three manuscripts to query, and when one of them is accepted, you have two more sitting in the drawer, ready to go. You'll be far enough ahead that you can concentrate on marketing and there won't be so much pressure sitting on your shoulders. Plus, you'll know if this is really something you want to do.
2. While your writing your manuscripts, learn from professionals: follow at least 1 agent's blog. I recommend Rachelle Gardner. One blog on the business of writing. I recommend Katherine Rusch. Sign up for David Farland's daily kick in the pants to learn about the craft of writing.
3. Join a critique group.
4. Read at least 5 books on the art of writing. I'll recommend three: The Elements of Style by Strunk and White, How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy by Orson Scott Card, On Writing by Steven King (skip the first part by of both Card and King's books).
5. Attend a writer's convention or writer's workshop to learn about the craft.
6. Develop a group of trusted alpha and beta readers.
7. After all of this work, start querying.

This will probably take you a few years. Getting your work to a point where it's publishable is equivalent to a master's degree. Unless you're a genius. It took me four manuscripts and five years of hard work to get published, and that's a pretty normal situation.

I don't mean this to be discouraging. Being published is totally doable if you're willing to put in the work and you have a little natural talent for it.

Q4U: For those of you who have been at this a while, what's your advice for beginning writers?

*I'll be signing this Saturday the 24th at the Layton Utah Barnes and Noble from 3-5 (thanks to Carrie for setting it up!). Address: Layton Market Center, 1780 North Woodland Park Drive, Layton, UT 84041, 801-773-9973

I hope to see you there!

 Amber and David King

Amber and Lisa Mangum

Answers to Your Buring Questions Pt 2

Continued from last week . . .

4. When real world obligations mount, how do you keep your excitement for writing and whatever project you're working on?


Take a break. I'm so tired of the advice, "You must write every day. No matter what."

You know what? Not everyone can do that. Not everyone wants to do that. There are no rules in writing. There are guidelines. And while this is a good one, it doesn't apply to everyone all the time.

If you need a break, take one. I got to the point where I was so bitter I couldn't stand writing anymore. I took six months off. And I have no guilt about it. Seriously, if you're unpublished, you have no deadlines. No commitments. You're free. Enjoy it.

5. What do you do if you find yourself stalled on a project? What do you study to get your creative juices flowing on a new project, or to twist an old project and re-invigorate it?

This is a fun one.

To get the creative juices going: Watch a good movie. Read a good book. Listen to inspiring music. Take a break.

If you're stalled: usually it's because I've got my editor hat on instead of my writer hat. The first draft is messy. It's doesn't make sense, it's chubby, and cluttered. I find myself constant reminding myself, "I'll fix it later."

6. How do you keep your personal momentum for a project before you're a "discovered" author?

I give myself deadlines. I want to have book X ready for conference Y. I'm going to have this one ready to query by X.

Having a regular meeting writers group helps too. You have to have something to share, and it's fun.

7. How do you work toward getting to the point where you're prepared to be seen as professional?

I have no idea. I'll let you know if I ever figure it out.

What rules do you break?

Answers to Your Buring Questions Pt 1

I had a writerly acquaintance, Mike Shaffer, ask me a boat load of questions. Hoping the rest of you might benefit, I've posted them here.

1. I need help pre-writing and world building. I haven't figured out a strategy that works. What's yours?

I could give a whole discourse on this subject. Honestly, it's really not a question with a quick answer. The best, brief advice I can offer: Outline. As a budding writer, I hated it. I thought it was constrictive and intimidating. It's not.

There's lots of different methods. Check some books out from the library, google it, pick different ones and try them until one fits. Honestly, I work best when I can sit down with my husband and we hash out an idea together (usually when we have a long drive). Honestly, I do 3/4 of the talking. For some reason, saying it out loud makes it click in my head.

2. How do you either write an ending, or plot a good one out if you come up with scenes that feel like a middle or just beyond the beginning?

Sometime plotting intimidates writers because they feel like they have to know everything. You don't. It's like going on a vacation. You plan out your destination, some stops along the way, some of the big things you'll see, etc. The rest you fill in as you go along. Sometimes you know your ending from the start of the book. Sometimes you change it. Sometimes you don't figure out the ending until you write it.

And that's okay. Say it to yourself, "It's okay. It's okay."

3. Can you pre-plan a series?

Absolutely. Although I recommend you write stand alones or stand alones with sequel potential until you find a publisher. Why? Because no one's going to buy books 2, 3, 4, or 5 if 1 doesn't sell. Don't ever become so entrenched in a book that you're unwilling to let it go.

Continued next week . . .

Get Some Character Sparkle

No, not like Edward Cullen sparkle-in-the-sunlight sparkle.

I'm talking about how do you take your characters from flat to three dimensional and dynamic?

First of all, look at writers who are great at characterization. Stephanie Meyer immediately comes to mind. Now you can say what you like about Twilight, but there are very few authors whose books inspire the debate that her characters do ("Are you Team Edward or Team Jacob?"). Her characters had personalities that run the board from shy to overt and everything in between.

Have you ever noticed that Stephanie compares her characters to animals? If you think about it at all, you'll quickly realize that Edward is the powerful, sleek cougar who's trying not to eat the shy, wide-eyed doe (Bella).

The best writers use simple methods. This is one of them. Pick an animal avatar for your character. Is your hero a small, cunning fox? A powerful, roaring bear? A delicate and flighty bird?

Another method is to use personality colors. There are lots of different systems out there. I use Hartman. In a nutshell:

Red (the power wielders)
Blue (the do-gooders)
White (the peacekeepers)
Yellow (the fun lovers)

Everyone has one dominate and one or more passive traits.

In Witch Song:
Senna is a white blue
Joshen is a yellow blue

Senna is naturally shy and fearful. Her avatar is an abused dog. She longs to bond with someone, but she's been maltreated to much to trust. Joshen loves people and food . . . and well everything. He's the optimist of the two of them. He's always seeing adventure in and excitement in even mundane things.

Any guesses as to what his avatar is?

A monkey. *giggle*

See how much fun it is when you know a few tricks?

What tricks do you use?

LDStorymakers Writer's Conference

Writer's conferences are a fantastic way to network with authors/agents/editors/fellow writers. I've been to numerous conferences. IMO, the best one in Utah is the LDStorymakers Conference (whether you're LDS or not).

They also have a fun contest going on. Two winners will receive reserved seating at the 7th Annual LDStorymakers Writers Conference for Friday night dinner and entertainment at a special table with: James Dashner, Jessica Day George, Krista Marino (Editor for Delacorte Press), and David Wolverton/Farland. These are BIG name writers/editor. We're talking best seller authors. Krista Marino has done some amazing projects. Don't believe me? Google them.

Winning would be an amazing opportunity. Regardless, this is a fantastic conference. It's the best run with the most helpful classes and the best line up of editors/agents.

And if you haven't guessed, yes, I'll be there.

10 Steps to Unblock Your Writer's Block

1. Read a good book.

2. Listen to soundtracks or other music that gets you in a creative mood without distracting you(Josh Groban does it for me) .

3. Turn off your internal editor . Repeat after me: The first draft is crap. And that's okay.

4. Get enough sleep. Eat well. Exercise. A strong body makes for a strong mind.

5. Don't argue with your characters. If they refuse to do a scene a certain way, change it. Even if that means rewriting the story.

6. Discuss the problem with someone. I've found that when I'm stuck, if I talk it out, it allows me to see it from a different angle and I can usually fix it--even if the other person doesn't say a word.

7. Reevaluate the project. Drop it if necessary. That's only happened to me once. 100 pages in I realized it wasn't working. I needed to completely rework the story. I put it away and started a newer, stronger story. Since then, I've been playing with plot ideas for the older one. I'm going to start it soon. It's going to be much stronger.

8. Take a break from writing. Instead, read a dozen novels. By the end, the creative side of your brain will be tingling.

9. Don't overextend yourself. I can't create the depth necessary if I'm trying to move between two projects. Nor can I switch back and forth between editing and creating. Creative writing and editing do not play well with one another. When I'm writing, I DO NOT EDIT. They're two different mindsets. It takes weeks to completely engross myself in one or the other.

10. Write, edit, read. Do one of these daily.

Q4U: What do you do to overcome writer's block?

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Where Did I Put Those Notes!

I've tried many different methods for taking notes on my MS. A notebook--the kind with sections. In each section, I'd try to keep my notes for a particular MS. Things like maps (I write fantasy), names, locations, descriptions, character sketches, common phrases, etc.

Problem with this method is my kids. More than once, I 'lost' a notebook, only to find it later with colorful sketches all over the pages. (Of course, I never lose a notebook).

I switched to the post it note method. It was a disaster. Not only was my work space cluttered, so where the notes. I'd look through dozens of them trying to find the right one. They ended up disappearing even more frequently than the notebooks.

After years of frustration, I finally figured it out. I now keep my notes in a word document. It's a lot harder for my kids to steal my tower, and I back it up on my thumb drive. I also copy and paste pictures--pictures of locations, people, even random things like tattoos.

Q4U: What methods have you used to keep notes? What's worked best for you?

On Synop...si...siss? Summaries

First of all, you finished a book! Take a day to celebrate. As an unpublished writer, you're going to have to reward yourself for all your hard work. No one else has recognized your brilliance . . . yet.

Now go back and rewrite/edit/murder your MS. If this is your first book, you're going to be doing this A LOT. Take a hard look at it. Is it worth all those rewrites? If not, start a new story. My first MS, I bet I rewrote/edited 80 times (I'm much better/faster now). At one time, I had the whole first page memorized.

At some point in this process, you need to start thinking about writing a query letter and a synopsis. I suggest that you write your synopsis first, as it's actually a good editing tool, helping you spot plot holes like sagging plot, etc.

"But Amber, how do I write a synopsis?"

Well, let me tell you.

To write a synopsis, Condense your entire novel into two single spaced pages (with a hard return in between paragraphs).

I'll cringe in the corner while you scream in horror.

Done?

Alrighty then.

Capitalize the names the first time you use them. DO NOT leave out the ending of the story. This is not a hook. This is a plot summary. That includes the ending.

Example:

Synopsis of Daughter of Winter
Fantasy in 75,000 words
By Amber Argyle Smith

Seventeen-year old ILYENNA and her family find a neighboring ARGON near death on their border. They discover that his clan had been attacked. And theirs could be next. After mustering their warriors, the men leave the village. They return days later with what remains of the sacked Argon clan.

Ilyenna goes about caring for sick and injured Argons. While on a trip to gather supplies at a isolated home, she hears a band of Argons coming. She hides, but DARRIEN and his brother find her. While trying to take her captive, Ilyenna kills Darrien’s brother. In retribution, Darrien wounds her and leaves her for dead.

I don't claim to be an expert at writing a synopsis. In fact, I'm probably pretty bad at it, but you can get a general idea from my draft above. Don't be too hard on yourself about this. I've never read a synopsis that didn't make the story sound contrived. It sounds contrived because it is.

If you're really struggling, write a synopsis for each chapter and then weave those together. In order to keep it under two pages (some will want it shorter, some longer, but I've found that 2 pages is the norm), leave out minor characters and all but the most important subplots . In my synopsis, I only named eight characters/clans.

I know this sounds overwhelming. That's because it is. Taking ~80,000 word story and condensing it to 1,000 is HARD. I've been working on it for years, and I still struggle.

Q4U: Does anyone have any other synopsis tips they'd like to share?

Effectively Integrating Backstory

In my current WIP, I've been struggling with what to do with an important backstory scene. I felt it was integral to the story--something my readers would benefit from knowing. It set up the relationship between my characters, my MC motivation and weaknesses, sets up a strong undercurrent as it mirrors whats happening now, and sets up an ironic ending.

In short, including it would make the story stronger.

And yet weaker at the same time. Anytime you interrupt the forward momentum of the story by flashbacks, sometimes with prologues (as prologues set the reader up for A, then chapter one gives them A mixed with B, or even worse, straight B) you risk losing your readers.

So I was really struggling with what to do with this really important, life changing moment for my character. I toyed with using it as a prologue. I also toyed with splitting it into small chunks and delivering them as dreams.

Both of these methods seemed like I gave up as much or more that I gained. So I did some research. I studied out what some of my favorite books did with backstory information that the author considered integral to the plot.

One of the strongest influences was Catching Fire and Hunger Games (also Harry Potter). The MC father dies in a mine accident and the mother slips into depression, leaving the MC solely responsible for providing for her family at a very young age.

This moment was huge for all the same reasons my moment was. So how did Suzanne Collins integrate this information? She delivered it in small chunks, a paragraph or so at a time, when the character encountered experiences that drudged it up.

And it worked. It gave the character depth that couldn't have been achieved any other way.

So here's what I did. I wrote out the scene and saved it for later (when my book is a bestseller, I'll give it away for free on my website). Then I've delivered it in bits and pieces by way of memories. That way, my reader gets to piece together my character and her story one step at a time. This technique actually strengthened the story like a shot of steroids.

Here's a brief example from Daughter of Winter. My main character has just been beaten with a strap soaked in poison oak:

"The river felt so deliciously cool, soothing the itch and swelling . But only Rone's tight hold kept Ilyenna from bolting. She couldn’t swim, and anything deeper than her knees brought up memories. Memories of water bouncing her along the riverbed like a child with a new ball. She remembered seeing the sky through a window of ice. Ice she'd clawed at until each and every one of her fingernails had ripped off. "

Not only is the reader moving along with your character, they're learning a backstory that keeps them reading.

You probably all knew this already, but it really was a lightbulb moment for me!

Q4U: How to you incorporate backstory into your storyline?