ABC, E for Einzigartigkeit (uniqueness)

inzigartigkeit, uniqueness.
u-nique [yoo-neek], -adjective (Definition by dictionary.com)
1. existing as the only one or as the sole example; single; solitary in type or characteristics. 2. having no like or equal; unparalleled; incomparable. 3. limited in occurrence to a given class, situation, or area. 4. limited to a single outcome or result; without alternative possibilities. 5. not typical; unusual.

96.500 books were published in the year 2007, whereas 86.000 titles were new publications - only in Germany! (Source: http://www.boersenverein.de/, Buch und Buchhandel in Zahlen)

I read my lines, think of my plot and I get the feeling, that there is nothing unique in there. Everything has been here before in a similar way. It's like in that song of the German group 'Die Prinzen':

German refrain:	English translation:
Denn das ist alles nur geklaut, (eo!, eo!) das ist alles gar nicht meine. (eo!) Das ist alles nur geklaut, (eo!, eo!) doch das weiß ich nur ganz alleine. (eo!) Das ist alles nur geklaut und gestohlen, nur gezogen und geraubt. 'Tschuldigung das hab 'ich mir erlaubt.	Because it's all just stolen, none of it's mine. It's all just stolen, but I'm the only one who knows. It's all just stolen and lifted, just copied and robbed. Sorry, I took the liberty.

Karin's cuisine offers as current specialty a young 'Jane Austen' woman going on a ship, doing the 'Robinson Crusoe' on a 'Pirates of the Caribbean' island. Then becoming a female 'Indiana Jones' with a touch of 'Lara Croft' and spiced up with a touch of a mysterious curse.

Who should want to taste this, if the ingredients are already known? Just because the recipe is new? Or the way of flourishing and spicing up the dish? Is that the key to uniqueness? To find an unusual, solitary way to combine the familiar?

Do you concern about that topic? What makes your writing unique?

read more

Wreck This Journal: Infuse This Page With A Smell Of Your Choosing.

This page is dedicated to my most favorite smell 'In Love' by Betty Barclay.

Well, pink isn't necessarily my most favorite color, but that little bottle simply challenged it. But honestly, what's love without rose-colored glasses, right?

That sculpture is called 'Eternal Spring' by Auguste Rodin. I got a postcard of it hanging above my desk. So, I see 'love' every time I look up!

read more

ABC, D for Drehbuch (screenplay)

rehbuecher/screenplays ... movies were made of books. In 99% my disappointment wins over my excitement to see one of my favorite books on the big screen, because nothing's better than the movie in your head.


I dare to say, every writer has that great movie in his/her head. (Btw: Let me know, if there's another method!) My first go transferring a brain movie to paper ends up with something between 6 and 40 pages. Which is okay until I judge one story could have the potential of a full grown 400 pages book. I regularly panic then! How could I ever reach that number, when my whole plot is already told in 10% of the needed pages? From where should I only get the other 90%? Of course I know better, those few pages are just a very, very basic plot line.

In the following time I consider myself as a director, only my two media are exchanged. And I use the very same aspects a screenplay has:

• Act & scene
• Action: description of what the viewer sees.
• Camera: instructions for the camera.
• Cut: instructions for cutting.
• Sound/music: noises and music instructions.
• Character: name of the person, who's going to speak.
• Dialogue: spoken text of the character.
• Additional information for the character, of how to speak the text.

I would even go one step further and consult the other film departments, too:

• Costumes, hair and make-up to emphasize the character's personality.
• Props, used by the characters.
• Set design, how does the set improve, influence, give atmosphere during the scene.
• Etc.

This screenplay technique works pretty well for me by asking just one question: "What can these film departments do to enlarge and enrich my scene?" I'm the director and when I do my work well, my readers can read the vision of my brain movie.

P.S. That 1% exception, where the movie is better than the book, I have to grand Mr. Peter Jackson. What he did with 'Lord of the Rings' was simply outstanding!

read more

ABC, C for Checklists

haracter, cliffhanger, checklists - my Top 3 C's.
According to my own rule not to collide with one of my other serials, character has to step aside for one of the others. Well, cliffhangers are intriguing, but...

So, today let's talk about checklists. Various lists cross my every day life. I check the bestseller lists for new book inspirations. I check my grocery list to bring home really every needed item. The blogger in me lately discovered '30 days of lists' as potential summer month blog challenge. But what does the writer in me?

You know, I do my novel writing on the computer. The file is covered with virtual post-its and the only thing close to a checklist is my short list of editing aspects:

• All 5 senses used?
• Logic?
• Number/frequency of dialogues?
• My voice vs. Cathryn's voice (my heroine)?
• Metaphors?

But I've never given much thought on using any other writing checklist ... until I made a little research for this post! Have you ever registered how many writing related checklists are available? There are checklists for conventions, fluency, organization, word choice, ideas, story structure, good writing, technical writing, creative writing, revision, ... some air please ... and so on and on and on. It's mind-boggling!

I got overwhelmed by the mass of results and like an addict I was greedy for more. After that first rush my brain restarted and became clear enough for some logic: What's the real worth of checklists?

In my opinion it's good to have them ... as additional support. But the main aspect - and I'm sure all writers out there will agree with me - is writing. Writing and writing again, delete and rewriting, experimenting with words, collecting your own experiences and finding your own style. To quote freely from the movie 'Matrix': Checklists might help you to find the way, but you have to walk through the written world's door only by your own feet! If you do, you can put a 'Done!' on that point of your checklist!

P.S. Character, cliffhanger and checklists are wonderful examples of English words integrating in the German vocabulary.

P.P.S. If you like to know some of my thoughts about characters, you might like these blogposts:
Writing Exercise 06: Developing Characters
WQ-02: Number Of Characters
WQ-05: Youngest & Oldest Character
WQ-09: Creating Characters
WQ-11: Most & Least Favorite Character

read more

ABC, B for Blockade

link, blink, blink.

Nothing is more inspiring
than a blank sheet of paper.

Bullshit! That damn blinking cursor on the screen is mocking me! Always!

I love beginnings, but I hate blank pages. See the crux of the matter, where the dog chases his own tail? You have to fill that empty page to get a beginning, but at the same time that very same blank page is blocking you!

Well, one method that works for me to break the vicious circle, I simply leave that blank paper and find myself a comfortable place. I close my eyes and imagine, that topic/theme I have in mind is a dark night sky. I know, the stars are already there, but I can't see them yet. I let my mind relax and allow my thoughts fly free. Some stars began slowly to sparkle, they appear and some vanish again. I let them. No pressure. No expectations. After a while the sparkles became more visible, more tangible, and I can begin to search for the right group of stars. This might take some time, but in the end I have wonderful constellation. Back to my blank page I can fill it with the perfect first sentence, the perfect first little paragraph. From now on it's much easier to continue. The curse of the blank page is broken.

I also use that technique on every other part of the text, but it only works, when I already have a theme/topic in mind. I'm still searching for creativity techniques, when my mind is also blank. Every tip is welcome!

P.S. Blockade is the same word in German and in English, only differently pronounced.

read more

ABC, A for Anfang (start)

revealed quite a lot of intersting prompts, that would be all interesting to write about ... but for today it could be only one. It's the start of April and the start of the challenge, so what's better than to write about beginnings.


Oh, btw: My ABC list is written in German and I'm going to use the German words!

A for Anfang = start/beginning!

If you belong to that species of book lovers then you'll might know that wonderful feeling holding a brand new book in your hands. The excitement, the expectations. You know, the moment you open the book is like opening a magical door, then you begin to read the first lines and you enter a world filled with unknown places, different times and new friends. I love beginnings ... as a reader!

From a writer's point of view the perspective changes a little bit. Now it's on you to create exactly that kind of magic, that draws your reader into your story.

I'd like to ask you: How many pages do you read before you buy a book? Does that influence you, if you buy the book or not? And later on: Do you always finish a book? How many pages do you grant the author before you finally decide to stop?

I ask for two reasons:
First of all: I belong to that category of readers, who always finish a book. And according to my motto 'Always give a second chance, but no third.', even if I don't like a book, I would try another book from the same author.
Second, and more important: There are many advices for openings, like Amie Kaufman's What Does Your First Page Say About You? And Judy Hedlund writes in her article Potential First Chapter Problems, that the first 15 pages are essential. Your first chapter should start with kind of a bang, else you run the risk to lose your readers (or even get rebuffed by an agent).

I was wondering: Is that so? With really every book? Every story? Every genre?

What about romance or comedy? Even horror delivers a great example: Stephen King. He's known as the Master of Horror, but if you know his books, he's also very talented for lengthily descriptions and procrastination. Very often there's no big bang at the beginning, instead you have to turn patiently 50, 100, 200 or even many more pages until the final showdown.

I totally agree, it's advantageous to have a grand opening, but I would also say, that's no a general rule! It's said, don't judge a book by its cover. I would also say, don't judge a book by its first 15 pages!

All right, that was my start ... no 15 pages, but hopefully good enough for you to come back?!? See you then tomorrow with the letter B!

read more

Friday-Fill-In: 2011-13

1. I can't believe I didn't get fooled today! (Not yet, the day isn't over!)
2. Happy 1st April for everyone.
3. How can I cheer myself doing housework joyfully?
4. 'Schinkennudeln' (noodles with onions, egg, cream and ham) was the last thing I cooked.
5. Six of one ... No! Her name was Seven of Nine!
6. Do you remember that scene in 'Singing in the rain' after the song 'Good Morning'? Yesyesyes; nonono!
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to the rest of my 'Schinkennudeln', tomorrow my plans include ah, well, no concrete plans at the moment and Sunday, I want to prepare and maybe even write some of my articles for the April ABC Challenge!

Not my best! As excuse, my whole mind is busy with the April ABC Challenge!

read more