REVIEW:CLEAR OUT THE STATIC IN YOUR ATTIC-REBECCA BRIDGE & ISLA MCKETTA

Confession time. I hate the blank page. As a writer, this poses a bit of a problem. Somewhere along the line I picked up the idea that I might write “the wrong thing”. That somehow, my inferior first few words would sully the pristine white of my page past the point of recognition and basically the world would end. Logically I know that a few terribly chosen adjectives will not end life as we know it, but somewhere in the back of my writer’s brain I believe if the words are awful enough…they just might.

Enter CLEAR OUT THE STATIC IN YOUR ATTIC: A Writer’s Guide For Turning Artifacts Into Art  (Write Bloody Publishing).

If the act of calling yourself “a writer” somehow magically meant that every word you typed was always the exact right word in the exact right place, all of your stories were miraculously resolved in the most fulfilling ways, every essay you produced made a very important observation in a very intuitive and breathtaking way, and each poem reverberated with the wisdom and the beauty of every wise and beautiful thing that’s ever existed, well, what fun would it be to call yourself that? Like King Midas, I think you’d soon discover that there’s a downside to having all you touch turn to gold.

That’s because truly great writing is born out of the struggle of producing it.

 

Author’s Rebecca Bridge and Isla McKetta have endeavored to create a collection of over forty different writing exercises designed to “help you develop a relationship with your inner muse.” For me, this translated into simply, a place to start. I decided it wasn’t enough to merely read this book. I would need to try it for myself. And I have to say, the blank page became a little less threatening. Not that has cured every insecurity I hold dear, but it offered an entry point onto the page. It has challenged me as a writer. Forcing me to take my writing in new directions.

While some prompts in this collection are familiar, all were presented in an original way. Each prompt begins with a short narrative, by one of the authors, giving us the context for the prompt. Then comes the actual writing exercise, followed by an example. This may have been one of the strongest components to CLEAR OUT THE STATIC IN YOUR ATTIC. The examples are creative and inspiring. But I think, if I’m honest, my favorite part is the short section, that follows the example, entitled: Books to Explore. Each prompt comes with its own set of references. More examples of great writing in the style you’re currently trying out.

This resource works. It works for the writer, to give new direction, and new insight for new material. As a reader, I appreciate the references to new and exciting texts. Thank you to Write Bloody Publishing for helping me clear out the static in my attic.

Grab your copy of Clear Out the Static in Your Attic from Write Bloody!

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Review: Amanda Maciel- Tease

The summer before Sara Wharton’s senior year was supposed to be filled with friends and parties. Instead, Sara finds herself immersed in a world that believes she’s responsible for the death of her classmate, Emma Putnam. Faced with charges of harassment and bullying, Sara has to learn to deal with the consequences of her choices. But is it really Sara’s fault? Sara’s not so sure.

In her debut novel, Tease, Amanda Maciel (Balzer + Bray)  deals with issues facing every high-school student, but she does it in a way we don’t often see.  The issues of bullying and harassment are on the forefront of every student and teacher. With violence in schools being reported on daily, the need to have an open dialogue is essential.  What I hadn’t recognized, until I read Tease, is that every Y.A. novel I have read, presents a similar story: a victim dealing with the, usually unprovoked, hideous mistreatment at the hands of the school bully. The bully falling into a cookie-cutter stereotype, and the innocent victim overcoming diversity to triumph in the end. All of this unfolding through the eyes of the victim. This is not that book.

What Amanda Maciel has done with Tease is the humanization of the bully. She has presented the idea that while yes, tormenting another person is absolutely wrong, the tormentor is in fact human. The issue has more than one side. The idea of black and white leaves out an important part of the narrative. This story is Sara’s story. And Sara isn’t all that sorry about what she’s done.

Everyone thought Emma Putnam was a pain in the ass. We didn’t kill her, but I’m sorry, that doesn’t mean we liked her. And now that everyone’s decided we did kill her, or at least sort of, I think I like her even less than I did when she was alive.

How could Sara not be sorry?  This question is asked throughout the novel. The answer is fairly straightforward. While Sara knows that she has done some things she shouldn’t have, Emma, the victim. isn’t an angel either.

The cold smacks me in the face as soon as I step outside, and I still have my shoes in my hand, so my feet go numb almost immediately. And then the wind is in my eyes, which fill with tears before I can even blink. So at first, I’m not actually sure that I’m seeing what I’m seeing. But I am, I’m seeing it. At the other end of the balcony, leaning against the wall and totally oblivious that they’re not alone, are Dylan and Emma. I blink. Once, twice, but they don’t disappear. And they don’t stop kissing.

This novel addresses a fundamental issue I think is often overlooked in the reality of bullying; the victim is not perfect. Perfection isn’t a prerequisite and the underlying problems are often complex. To confront the  realities of bullying we need to begin looking at the entire context.Tease does just that.   Amanda Maciel offers up a provocative novel that delves into a familiar subject with an honest voice .