Thursday, June 30, 2011

Book Review-The Hunger Games

Today I'm going to be doing a book review on the widely known first book to a trilogy-The Hunger Games.
First off I'll start you with some reviews from others.

"[The Hunger Games] is a violent, jarring, speed-rap of a novel that generates nearly constant suspense...I couldn't stop reading."
--Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly Review

"I was so obsessed with this book I had to take it with me out to dinner and hide it under the edge of the table so I wouldn't have to stop reading. The story kept me up for several nights in a row, because even after I was finished, I just lay in bed wide awake thinking about it...The Hunger Games is amazing."
--Stephenie Meyer, www.stepheniemeyer.com
 
"The Hunger Games is as close to perfect an adventure novel as I've ever read. I could not put it down. Collins has transformed the ancient Labyrinth myth into a terrifyingly believable tale of future America. Readers will be hungry for more.
--Rick Riordan, author of The Percy Jackson Series and The 39 Clues
 
Now for a little tidbit of the book.....
 
Once I'm on my feet, I realize escape might not be so simple. Panic begins to set in. I can't stay here. Flight is essential. But I can't let my fear show.
 
Sounds like a good book right? Wrong! It's a great book!
 
My mom tried to get me to read them for WEEKS but I wouldn't touch 'em. Then, I opened The Hunger Games up one day and started reading. It took a few chapters to really get into it but once I had started I couldn't stop!
 
 What Katniss does for her sister Prim in the beginning is lovely, and sets the stage for the whole book. Also, Katniss and Peeta's relationship is very comical but sweet. I wish Collins would've added more of that to the last book.
 
I wish I had time to tell you more, but I don't. If you'd like you can google The Hunger Games, or better yet, read it!
 
Best of all, there's nothing inappropriate about it. Not much cussing, nothing sexual, you get it. And that's wonderful 'cause I can't read books that have stuff like that in them!
 
Hope you enjoy the book everyone! And make sure to read the other two once you're done!
-Owner's Don't Knock

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Wednesday Questions, Announcements, & Reminders

Hey everybody! So sorry I didn't post this earlier today. I've been so busy! And with Shayla gone I gotta take care of the blog (plus my own) (plus others that I help with) by myself. We're a little late on the questions but they'll be up soon. Shayla forgot to email me her answer before she left so we've got a little wait on it. But, by next Wednesday I promise they'll be up! So, if you're new here, this is how it goes. **Every Wednesday (until Saturday at noon) you can send us any writing related question to our email shayla.danielson@gmail.com We'll talk, research, and email you the answer we came up with. Then we'll post the most FAQ on the Question page. (And the really good ones that apply to anyone!) The question could be about the books we're writing, books your writing, about publishing, about good writing tips, etc.** I hope we get some good ones! (The ones we got last week were really good!)

ANNOUNCEMENTS
*Tomorrow I'll be doing a book review. I don't even know what it'll be yet. (Long sigh and starts to think)
*We've got a guest blogger for Saturday to! Please make sure to give a hand to one of my good blogger buddy's Bree!
*If you'd like to see last Saturday's guest blogger click here!
*Thank you to our newest follower Petunia!
*Please enter my 100 follower giveaway-it ends tomorrow!


REMINDERS
-If you'd like to guest post on our blog any Saturday please contact us at shayla.danielson@gmail.com (Remember to put Guest Blogger as the subject!)
-If you have any writing related questions that you'd like answered send 'em in before Saturday at noon to our email! (Make sure to put Wednesday's Question as the subject!)
-If you'd like to enter our writing prompt (held every Monday) please read through the post and have it sent in by midnight Friday for us to go over! We'll post the winner each Monday when we talk about the new prompt. (Remember to put Writing Prompt as the subject!)

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Tuesday's Tips

Hello everyone! I'm going to be taking over for Shayla the next few days because she's doing something with our church. Today I got these tips from an article online. Here it is if you'd like to see it! I'm just going to take what the author said and put it into my own words, and make it shorter.
-Owner's Don't Knock
  1. Becoming an author is not easy. There's many bumpy roads and different paths to explore. Start everything out by reading. It's that simple! Just read. I suggest reading books in the genre you would like to write in. Read well-written books for a good idea of what you should be going for.
  2. Join a writers group. This is what Shayla and I did. Being able to bounce ideas of each other really helps to get the creative juices flowing! My Aunt also said that her writing improved tremendously when she started attending her writing group!
  3. Take classes. It helps getting a different point of view from different people who have tried different things. Attend workshops in your area.
  4. When you're done writing hire (or in my case ask) someone to clean up your manuscript before sending it to a publisher. It's definitely worth it!
  5. Read books on writing. They are chalked full of amazing information! All of them have something new, different, and exciting to offer. If you check out my Aunt's blog on one of the posts a few pages back there's a book review for my favorite so far! It's called Becoming A Writer (but I forgot the author so she her blog for more info)
The most important tip of all time is to just keep writing! Do it everyday, don't let anyone stop you. Even if it's just a sentence or two. JUST WRITE! I can't say it enough.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Writing Prompts

Hey all!

Here is next weeks writing prompt. We ended up only having one prompt turned in last week, please turn in prompts! We love reading the different thoughts and the way other people perceive these plot ideas. Abbi and I will post our prompts for last week this week.
We will e-mail our thoughts and advice about your prompt to you, and then the one that we determine 'the winner' we'll post on the Writing Prompts page. The winner will be decided by if you fill the requirements in the prompt, and how well it is written, like grammar and spelling, as well as how well the story is told (not confusing etc.).

Here is today's writing prompt: First off, they say that if you think in pictures, you should be a writer, and if you think in words, you should be a painter, so write me a scene using the picture I've attached for inspiration. Or, if you don't like the picture I've chosen for you, choose your own, but be sure to include it when you send your completed scene to me.



Good luck guys! I'm excited about this one I think it's going to be fun!
Again check the prompts page for last weeks prompt winner!

-Stoss Cue

Today's Tip:

Carry a notebook with you wherever you go. We all get those aha moments, and if you have a notebook you can quickly write it down before you forget. Lots of my best ideas have happened when I've heard conversations from other people, or seen quirky things. The key to writing a good book is making it as real as possible. We all like those little moments that come in life; a kid on a swing, ice cream dripping on a hot day, a weird incident you saw at school, there's so much out there. Keep your eyes open and your notebook handy!