2018 challenge observations

Another year is over. Wait... give it back. I haven't finished my WIP, holiday projects, crafts, baking apple pie, decorating Christmas cookies, and a million other things I still need to do. Oh well, someone flipped the calendar so I'm stuck with it. Here's a few reflections on the MFRW author 2018 challenge. Some topics were easy. Either they didn't require much thought or they were a repeat (or near repeat) of a topic from last year.

Worst Writing Advice - two main themes arose. A number of posts explained why the advice, "Don't edit while writing," didn't work for them. A close second as far as advice that the poster did not agree with was "Write what you know."

Week 11 topic was to reveal a task we would never want to do again. Vastly personal experiences were revealed varied from watching the Twin Towers fall, to telling someone a dear friend or loved one had passed to another plane of existence, or insight into a toxic job. You could tell who had lived in snow country at some point in time as shoveling large amounts of the white stuff made quite a few lists.

However, two tasks competed head to head with no clear winner. Cleaning, whether of the house or dishes, was one of the disliked tasks. The other was cooking which got even more votes when you add in the corollary carrying in groceries. Which has to be done so that there is something to cook. No comment as to whether or not the most disliked had something to do with the fact most of those participating were women.

Week 12 was another topic where a common response was achieved. Regardless of their experience levels, most of the authors stated either they don't enter contests or tried a few and don't any longer.

Mid-year, at week 24 two items topped the majority of the lists of things we couldn't live without. Books held sway as one item. Not surprising since those writing the list make their living creating them and the majority started out as book lovers before they became book writers. Communicating with loved ones helped phones vie for the next spot. Another electronic device that was once only found in climate-controlled rooms with raised floors for miles and miles of cables, but that is now ubiquitous, was also in second slot.

Favorite indulgence was week 26 topic. Time alone, either to read or just to be alone, was a popular item. Pampering by facial, pedicure, or long soaks in a tub received the most votes.

Not all the topics were enjoyable. Irrational and greatest fears evoked some strong responses. Fear of failure, of losing our eyesight, or being trapped in a body we can't control were among the fears revealed. A piece of advice I've decided to take to heart came in one of the comments. "Not all fears need to be faced." 

Week 39 provided unexpected insight. Although the number of participants was fairly small, a common theme was that they don't have intricate writing rituals. In fact there was a lack of writing rituals such as favorite pen, favorite clothes, or special sequence of things to do to prepare to write.

The prompt, "Grateful for," generated two distinct sets of answers: Friends, family, and health formed one group. In tribute to the writing profession, their readers formed another popular answer.

An unusual question was "my wedding disaster." I took the opportunity to mention the handfasting ceremony from one of my novels. It was a difficult choice between the glittering sword arch for Lady Ellspeth and Lord Dal, or the high-mountain event that celebrated the official joining of Glynnes and Talann. 

The year ended with dream journeys. The Scottish highlands and the British Isles remained popular. 

If these topics and their accompanying reveals intrigues you, (or if you need an interview question or an idea for your own blog,) here's a link listing the posts in the 2018 challenge.


~till next time, Helen

Where's the Ending? #mfrwauthor

This week's topic for the MFRW 2018 challenge is whether to have an epilogue or not?

The first question that came to my mind is what is a epilogue. A common definition is a piece of writing at the end of a work of literature. The stated purpose is to bring closure to the work, to help flesh out what happens after the story is done. It's high noon and the gunshots just rang out, the bodies fall. You turn the page and there is nothing. You sit there wondering. What happened to the main characters? How did things work out after the main story ended? That's the purpose of an epilogue - to help flesh out what happens after the story is done. Another reason for an epilogue is after a traumatic or violent climax.

So what is the difference between an epilogue and the final chapter? The final chapter is necessary for the story, the epilogue isn't. An epilogue can also be used when the information it contains is too disjointed from the main plot. The storyline is wrapped up, but there isn't necessarily a clear insight into the future. I'm thinking of the time travel romance, you know the heroine tried to shift back to be with the one she truly loved. But did she make it? The epilogue shows the discovery of a portrait in the attic of the heroine. She's dressed for a different time period and she is happily standing arm-in-arm with the man she went back to be with.

Now as a rule I don't do epilogues. I prefer to have a final ending. And I particularly don't like cliff-hangers. That said, I am breaking both rules with my latest release, Windmaster Legend  from BWL Publishing.

We end with the hero and heroine trapped with no escape.

“I’m sorry, Iol,” Pelra said. “It’s my fault you lost your ship, your crew. Now when those of Pirri arrive, they’ll put both of us on the pyre.”

A tilt of his head indicated the waves below. “Trust me?”

“Of course, my love.”

She stepped into his arms. He pulled her close. One finger tilted her head up, he lowered his. His lips met hers. The world fell away, time suspended. For long moments, not even the baying of the hounds broke through.

A deep sigh and Iol broke the embrace. “Ready?”

“Yes.” Taking her hand he walked to edge of the cliff. A narrow path wound its way partway down the cliff. “We’ll climb down as far as we can. If we make the beach, we head north. If we can’t, we’ll jump. That ledge mid-way down the cliff juts out beyond the rocks. It will be like the cliff divers of Tarekus.”

At the flash of fear in her eyes, he squeezed her hand. “It’s no higher than the leap from the yardarm every novice has to make.”

“I never made the leap,” Pelra confessed. “My test was from the bowsprit.”

“Just jump out as far as you can and cross your arms across your chest. After you hit the water, kick towards the light. I’ll come over and get you.”
He kissed her again as if it was for the last time. “After all, it wouldn’t do for the bearer of gold bracelets to let someone drown on their watch.”

“Then let’s go, captain. I have the urge to swim,” Pelra answered.
 
Down the pair climbed. Each step took them closer to the lower ledge and the tentative safety.

All too soon, it became clear. They would never reach the beach. They would have to jump from the ledge.

Iol stopped and turned. Pelra moved into his embrace. They held the position, lovers frozen in time and space. A loud, “There they are,” and they broke apart. “On three,” Iol said. “One… two…I love you, Pel.” A deep breath and, “Three.”

But I wanted to allow a reader to have their own vision of what happened to the star-crossed lovers as well as tying the work to the other books in the series so I wrote an epilogue. The final scene takes place decades later on a ship not far from where the lovers leaped. A child (whose ancestors are featured in the earlier books) asks her grandfather about two bright stars in the sky. Presented is the legend of what happened, the local story, and the official record. She decides the ending she wants and so can the reader.

Rima watched the clouds overhead for several moments. “So they [Iol and Pelra] could have survived the jump. Iol was a skilled swimmer.” Her face pinched in contemplation “A fisherman from the Isle of Mages found them on a floating log far north and took them to sanctuary with Dewin and the other wizards. Or the seidhern tracked them down and took them to Dewin.” Happiness danced in her eyes. “I like that. Pelra and Iol deserved to be with each other. They did nothing wrong, brought no dishonor to their house. And their families changed the records because they regretted their mistake.”

His expression neutral, her grandfather said, “That is one way it could have happened, ramkin.”

“Ok, grandpa, what is the legend.”

“Because of Iol and Pelra’s devotion to each other and to the water gods, the gods brought up a storm to protect the lovers. Then they transformed Iol and Pelra into shipfish. Legend has it they swam together to the end of the world.” He pointed to a pair of stars so bright they were visible despite the shimmering curtain of green lights. “One powerful leap carried them into the night sky.”

Rima studied the sky as the lights gradually faded until only the stars appeared.

This is a blog hop. Visit the other authors in the challenge to see whether they use epilogues or not. And a vote in the comment section as to whether the final scene should be titled epilogue or by chapter number would be appreciated.

~till next time, Helen