Science Fiction Books Make the Best Movies- Revisited: Hunger Games

Science fiction books are one of my favorite genres to read about.  I love to watch movies and read books that are in this genre.  They have some of the most exciting plots and action packed stories.  My favorite part is the creativity in these stories!  Science fiction books make some of the best movies out there!  One of these great science fiction books made into a movie is Hunger Games.  I watched the movie Hunger Games.  This is a really good movie!  I loved the creativity in it.  It will be impossible to forget this story anytime soon.  The movie Hunger Games is based on the novel by Suzanne Collins.  This is definitely a fun story and I am looking forward to watching the sequels of the Hunger Games.

The Power To Write- Get Inspired

     As writers, we all face many of the same challenges that vary in degree from time to time.  Writer's block: time, lack of inspiration, hesitation, life and other challenges outside of your writing career, are some of the most broadly known problems to us all.  If these dilemmas hit us it's hard to get back to writing.  Sometimes writing a little is better than writing a lot of material that does simply nothing but depress you.  If writing keeps you going from day to day, don't give it up!  Turning to your characters and your novel can comfort you more than anything.


     List what you like and dislike about your characters.  List what the reader might like or dislike about the characters.  Sometimes a nice look at your novel in this way can open up new possibilities for character developing and sharper ideas.

Writing Ideas- Activities For Your Book

     Being able to answer basic questions about your book and story line is essential for the novels sake.  It is in these basic questions that we sometimes assume to know already but don't, that every author should be able to answer, and the simplicity brings on a broader perspective as you go from one question to another or idea that develops into material used in your novel.  Ask yourself these basic questions, but go even further to ask character questions.

     For example, try thinking of basic questions that people ask themselves in the real world.  "What am I doing?"  "Who am I?"  "What now?"  All of these questions provide large range thinking and developing of character.  For instance, my favorite, "Who am I?", can help you expand on your characters, and know them better, by helping them answer the questions.  What does this character think of himself?

     You might even use some of the questions that you came up with in your book.  And when your character gets to a certain emotional point, one of these questions might arise.  You will relate to your character's feelings and help the reader to also.

The Writer And The Reader- The Author That Cares

     Can we have a moment?  Allow the reader to talk, "have a moment", with the character as he calls them aside.  Furthermore, allow the reader to "know" your character.  Let them be able to weigh the goods and the bads in each of the characters that are presented no matter the length of their part in the novel.  From a walk-by on the street to the one who owns the screen the reader should be able to see who's there and to make judgements if they wish.  Don't make the reader shy to judge.

Writing Ideas- Activities For Your Book

     Pay attention!  Have you told yourself that recently?  I have.  Sometimes I can't stay focused on what I'm writing on my novel and end up jumping around and saying "what if's".  Other times, I draw a blank, and go no where.  Every time I stall I kick myself mentally and talk to myself.  The times that hurt are when I don't and waste my time dreadfully.


     To help I began to make a list of the comments that I tell myself while writing.  I keep the list of quotes by my writing desk where it is very visible.  Each time before I write, I look at the list and I find it is easier for me to stay on track this way.  I do say, I never thought I'd be quoting myself.

My Book- A Movie?

     Just as a director decides on so many different aspects relating to the film making process, a writer must do the same in his/her book and can learn from the questions that are raised and the types of solutions that are offered.  Think of how the cameras are set in a scene, and the (mood) being captured in so many different ways.  The script should bring the point of view to life; providing more narrow and decisive camera options.  An author can do the same.


    Camera angles, for example, change numerously throughout a scene, but make no mistake; every angle has a purpose.  When thinking of this idea enough one can almost see the cinematic techniques within a novel.  Take some time to focus on these ideas.  When watching a movie or reading a book, do this also.

Writing Ideas- Activities For Your Book

     Poems based on books enlighten the world around us.  If you need a writing exercise or even some inspiration pull out your favorite book and write a poem describing it.  Since songs are so much like poems, I like to pick a song that reminds me of the story and listen to it before I begin my poem.  This is so fun!  While writing you remember all the memories of reading this book and now you are describing that joy in writing.  Don't worry about not doing justice to the novel, just go with it.  It actually brings more popularity to the novel, and it puts you in writing mode.  Think of it as a book review.

Writing Ideas- Activities For Your Book

     Find out how books or movies are balanced.  Think of all the climatic points and weigh their importance.  You can think of good versus bad outcomes.  If you do this enough you'll notice trends relating to certain genres.  Sometimes it begs the question, "Is their an ideal pattern to genres?"

     A story usually satisfies both needs for problems and solutions so that there is a clear and defined ending.  On occasion, horror books or movies have one bad thing happen after another and leave the conclusion with another bad happening.  Some movies and books end on a happier note and seem to lean the total balance that way also.  Others are equal in presenting both life's trials and satisfying outcomes.  Can you feel the balance in your own book?  As you add things on both sides of the scale, eventually you have picked apart your novel and the weight is either equal on both sides or leaning toward one.

Novella Books Make the Best Movies

Novellas are special in that they give the reader a good book to read that is a little longer than the normal short story.  I love it because if I want to carry out the story a little more, I have time to finish the extra bit at the end because it is shorter than a novel.  It is exciting to see this carried out into a movie.  Some popular movies that have been based on novellas are A Christmas Carol based on the book by Charles Dickens, The Invisible Man based on the book by H.G. Wells, and The Mist based on the book by Stephen King.  Some of my favorites are I Am Legend based on the book by Richard Matheson, The Time Machine based on the book written by H.G. Wells, and Apocalypse Now based on the book Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad.  These books make a great break to sit down and enjoy.    

What Inspires the Writer In Me- Short Stories

How do we know whether we are going to write a short story, novella, or a novel?  As writers I think we get a feeling.  Something inspires us.  I like to write short stories.  What inspires me to write them are situations that I could put myself in for a moment.  Kind of like a short break.  Maybe a moment to drink a cup of coffee, or a walk in the park.  A story that centers on something like this that gives the reader a break is my idea of a short story.  I also get inspired when I think of situations that center on emotion.  I focus on a specific emotion of anger, sadness, happiness, or fear.  These are situations that I can put myself in as well.  Writing about a happy situation would be a kid that lost a tooth, or  winning a sports game.  I would use a sick person and a dying pet for a sad situation.  No matter what genre the story, I like to think of these things to start with.  That is what works for me!

What Inspires the Writer In Me- Short Stories Continued...

Most Recent:

• Books Galore

• Books Galore    

The Power To Write- Get Inspired

     The writer's experience is a novel in itself!  We go through so many adventures and trials both in our books and in real life.  Every author's experience is different!  How fun is that?  Our readers only get to go through half the fun that we do.  It's like some of those movies where people leave on a quest, go through and learn so much, and actually have a great, unforgettable time.  But once they're back home - they never want to do it again - they don't want to leave.  If people who don't write could go through what we do, without the hassle of writing, I'm sure they wouldn't forget it either.  It's fun, self-fulfilling, and it makes you full - as if to say, " the cake was the best cake I've ever had and my stomach's so full there isn't room for any more." -  Ha, ha - it's kind of like kids when they're worn out.  Give them time and they'll go at it again.

Writing Ideas- Activities For Your Book

     Sometimes writing a poem for your story can help bring out the details you must focus on.  What I call a "writer's block" poem takes apart what you know of your novel and the keys that your character holds to it all.  Find the most important set back that a character experiences and his/her adoration and link the two together.  Basically, tell the characters story in summary, focusing on key details, and let it be in their psychological world, if you will.  For example, a problem should be symbolized  by something, or by the setting (dark, gloomy, etc.).  The long term goal or happiness that the character experiences everyday can be symbolized by many things; usually it's best to have it go along with the setting and other symbols.

The Power To Write- Get Inspired

     It's never too late to write your book!  If you enjoy writing, keep it that way.  Writing is a gift you've been given.  The awesome part to this gift is that it is one meant to be shared with others.  It starts as your own inspiration and then grows to inspire many more hearts.  But the only way it can come out of your pocket is if you write for yourself and no one else.

     Relax when you write.  A lot of the time, if you think about writing as an art, you become patient and keen for detail like an artist, painting a portrait.  If writing in your pajamas makes you relax, then do just that.  If drinking a cup of coffee, etc. will help, then have a cup.  Maybe you're thinking about writing a scene where a character from your novel is in his/her pajamas, or a small impression of a cup of coffee; if so, this might bring you into character as well.

What Inspires the Writer in Me- Fantasy Genres

Fantasy books tend to inspire many people, including those who make it a movie!  To be inspired to write a fantasy book, I am first thinking of inspiring many others from an unforgettable story.  That is the first start for me.  One of the main things that inspires me to write a fantasy book is to take a look at some of the normal things around me: nature, people, technology, science, etc.  Next I think of something way out there with my imagination, like a tree floating in the air.  That is a wild imagination, but it is something nice to have in a fantasy novel.

Writing Ideas- Activities For Your Book

     It's never too late to get to know your character.  If you're having trouble writing, your time could be better spent catching up with these guys.  That's why I say, I love it when I have writer's block, because it gives me an excuse to slack off, in a good way.  One comical way to do this, is to put the characters in a group.  I choose a plain room, with dim lights and a circle of chairs, with one chair for you.


     Record what order everyone is sitting in and have everyone introduce themselves, starting with you.  Think about what everyone's body language looks like, what they are feeling; thinking, and what they think of you.  Ask yourself, who knows each other already, when is this taking place in respect to my novel, did some of them have to change their schedule to be here, and depending on the time it takes place, would meeting each other today somehow change their relationships and the outcomes that are featured in the book?

The Power to Write- Get Inspired

     Authors that put their time into their work and love what they write should be proud.  Not everyone can say they wrote it to their liking.  If you start to feel uneasy about the quality of your novel, i.e. its selling potential, just look at some of your works that you were happy with.

     Every author is filled with emotions when they write something they're happy with.  Think about how you felt when you wrote that piece.  What inspired you to write that book?  Or- think about a part of your book that you are particularly fond of.  I like to capture that feeling, even write about it.  It's inspiration.

Writing Ideas- Activities For Your Book

     I like poetry because I like singing.  I like singing; because I like poetry.  A song is like poetry.  Some are written for the performance standpoint and others are written for the idea, the challenge.  Thinking this way helps me, when I am writing a poem.

     This can help your novel as well.  Books can have a poetic sense to them.  A rhythm and a pace.  I think that is what I love so much about poetry, it allows for prestige development; beyond limitations, bringing readers into a plan with a purpose, imagining at the precise moment in time, the order and sequence of events.

     Poetry, a pace maker.

Writing Ideas- Activities For Your Book

     Next, of course, is the brainstorm bubble.  I learned this in middle school.  It is really a great idea and there is a reason that people still use it.  It works.


     Brainstorm bubbles simply start out with a word written in the middle of a page.  This word can be a characters name, an event, a chapter, and anything else you can think of.  Once you have written that word, draw lines extending from it to anything that pops into mind when you hear that center word.  If you create a new idea off of the word extending from the center word, then make this word another center of another bubble.  Simply put, write all the words or questions you can think of and don't stop.  I have many pages of bubbles per novel.  Go crazy!

Welcome to My Blog on My Favorite Books and Genres

Hi everyone!  I love to write and read.  I love science fiction, horror, and action genres; you name it!  I have written a couple of science fiction novels, but am in the process of getting them published.  Before now I had stopped my attempts to get these novels published because of a run in with a "bad" agent.  But now I am back on track thanks to writers beware.  Now I know that the road I will ride in order to get my books published will be a smooth one.

Besides writing, I am a full time college student majoring in pre-med.  I enjoy the outdoors, art and tennis.