Blog by Degrees (or Blog Frog)

I used to play Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon. I was horrible at it. Absolutely awful. And not because I haven’t seen Kevin Bacon films, but because I could never remember actors’ (or actresses’) names when under pressure. You definitely wanted to play against me. You’d win.

So what does this have to do with anything? Nothing really (I know- annoying!) but I was thinking about how I see a lot of the blogs I read linking up to each other. It got me wondering where I would end up if I followed the degrees of writer’s blogs- or as I prefer to say it- playing Blog Frog.

Well, here we go:

Archetype Writing Blog

http://archetypewriting.blogspot.com/2009/03/showing-vs-telling-cross-post.html

Post: Showing vs. Telling (Cross-Post)

Are you tired of hearing people tell you “show, don’t tell” over and over? I know I am. This was a great post about the difference. I’m including an excerpt below- but you really must go check out the entire thing!

Time to stop and ask questions about all five senses, using the most descriptive verbs you can find.

* What do your characters see? Does the SUV spin out of control, making the scenery whirl by as if the good guys were on a carousel? If your character is a racecar driver who’s lost control of a speeding car on multiple occasions, his impressions are going to be different from those of someone who just learned to drive.

* What do your characters feel? Does the SUV jolt to a halt? Does the SUV drop closer to the ground? Does the SUV slam into a curb? Do the airbags marshmallow out of the dash, crushing your characters into their seats?

* What do your characters smell and taste? Can they smell rubber burning as it’s dragged across the asphalt? Can they taste their own fear? What does that taste like?

* What do your characters hear? Having blown a tire, I can tell you that the explosion of one bursting is as loud and startling as gunfire. But what else do your characters hear? Other cars screeching to a halt around them?

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The Innocent Flower by Lady Glamis

http://theinnocentflower.blogspot.com/2009/03/what-is-with-all-zombies.html

Post: What Is With All The Zombies?

First of all, there is a really cool picture of a makeup artist creating a zombie look. Secondly- Pride and Prejudice and Zombies- need I say more? I’m not totally into the zombie thing, so let’s just continue on.

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DEFCON Whiskey

http://defconwhiskey.blogspot.com/2009/03/secret-project-is-secret-no-more.html

Post: The Secret Project is Secret No More

This post really caught my eye because it was unique. A full-on blinkie hinting at a small project tied to a big novel ….I’ve got to click on it right away!

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I Woke Up in Pittsburgh

http://iwokeupinpittsburgh.blogspot.com/2009/03/today-is-my-birthday.html

Post: Today is My Birthday

This whole blog is written from the characters POV. While there were more swear words than I personally enjoy reading, I cannot but be in awe of this idea. What a great way to get readers interested in your book. And it would force you get to know your Main Character inside and out.

In four degrees we managed to connect a Rorschach Inkblot Test to a 2^nd Birthday of an MC. I feel good about it.

Please share- what is your favorite blog and where has it led you lately?

Joyce

Joyce Wolfley began to write/edit/edit/edit/edit her young adult paranormal romance, Illusions in August 2008. It is currently still in one of those many edit stages.  Joyce graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Arizona State University thinking writing was a chore. Since writing her first novel she’s learned to appreciate the art and creativity of writing.

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