Suspense Technique #1: And the Winner is...

Wow, this was hard. So many cool story snippets to choose from. Many were artistic, displaying style and serious vocab chops. Most did indeed create suspense using Mystery as a tool. Having poured over the entries for Suspense Technique #1: Mystery, I did at last decide on a victor. And the winner is: Aravis! For this suspenseful entry:

Aravis said...

The wall was fairly unremarkable. It was stone; simple, gray stone. But there was something that the old man was interested in, for he ran his finger down the crack in front of him with a perusing gaze, trying to find something. There was not much to be heard; A mouse here and there, but whoever this man was, he was alone in a rather unsettling, dusty, narrow hallway.

He breathed in through his nose and tilted his back a little, causing his tweed cap to fall over his eyebrows. The man reached into a pocket inside his jacket and pulled out a small blue crystal, and then fitted it into a crack where four stone blocks met.

The crystal started to shine, reacting to the miasma in the air in the hallway, and then burst, breaking down the wall. The man brushed some dust out of his white mustache, and proceeded through.

Beyond the opening was not much, only some old copper pipes in a space the size of a small room. The man wasn’t too happy that he used one of his crystals to only make it to a maintenance room.

“Where are you…” he mumbled to himself, putting his hand to the stubble on his chin. He stood there, contemplating his situation, and then turned his back to explore further down the hall. Once his back was parallel with the wall he had just broken, a rush of air flew past him, with a sound like a giant breathing in. Light, too, drifted past him, and a shadow drifted forth from the room he had just left.

This man knew what was happening, and quickly turned around to see a figure of shadow.

“Johannes Wächter, not this time,” exhaled the figure of shadow, growing ever more solid, but it was still translucent, it was still the thing that Johannes had come here to find: a ghost.

The first three paragraphs here are electric. The old guy searching the wall for something the reader doesn't see or understand hooked me right away. The concrete description was perfectly visual. All the old man's motions spoke of his character. I felt I sort of knew him, though I hadn't a clue what he was looking for. And then the explosive blue crystal--very cool. Let's the reader know there's a supernatural bent in this story. All in all a very good hook. One constructive bit: the last line where you tell us it's a ghost...I don't think you need it. Your description tells us that. We're savvy readers, you know. lol We writers often are so determined to make sure that our readers "get us" that we tell them, when we should merely imply.

Aravis just email me your snail mail address, and I'll send you a signed copy of The Door Within Lost Chapters Edition. Oh, and let me know for whom I should sign it.

So many good entries…I want to recognize a few more just for unique features (no slight if I don't mention someone.)

Everlasting Scribe for the Best One-Liner "…noxious humans."

Eve for the Most Subtle suspense: the flight goggles and the disapproving father.

Gwenn for the best inner tension: What did Annek do? And what will happen when Maddie finds out?

Margaret for the "You piqued my interest award." Love the folksy feel to the characters, and I think you underplayed your hand a little. I think the library is going to be very interesting.

Josh for the "Oh, mannnn....someone is in a bad place award." Who is this sadistic "Mr. 9?" And what's going to happen to poor Cary?

If you're new to Enter The Door Within, definitely take some time and check out these entries! One of these folks could be on the bestseller list someday.

New Article on Speculative Faith

Hey, all! Not sure if you've read the article in Publisher's Weekly about the state of Fantasy and SciFi in the Christian Bookseller's Market. Let's just say the article paints a bleak picture. Pretty bleak, and in my humble opinion, pretty inaccurate. I've written an open letter response to PW over at Specualtive Faith Website.

You can read the PW article by clicking: HERE

You can read my SpecFaith article by clicking: HERE

That's right...do you want the red pill or the blue pill? ;-)

Fantasy Tour Banner Ad

Hey, all! No obligation, of course, but if you'd like to help spread the word about this Summer's Fantasy Four Fiction Tour with authors: Bryan Davis, Sharon Hinck, Christopher Hopper, and myself, I've pasted the lil' banner here on the sidebar. You can click on the ad itself and get the code.

Thanks!

WtB

Suspense Techniques Challenge: It's Winner Time!

For those of you who have been regulars around Enter the Door Within, you know that back in January, I wrote a little clinic series on how to add Suspense to your writing. I explained 7 Suspense Techniques that many authors use to keep their readers flipping the pages. The series culminated in a contest.

All writers had to do wastry the suspense technique and post their best {short} scene. Winners were due toreceive either a signed copy of The Door Within, Lost Chapters Edition or a signed copy of Isle of Swords.

I've let the contest sit for a good long time, but now, I've {finally} received my author shipment of Door Within, Lost Chapter Editions. So, beginning June 1st, I will start announcing the winners of each Suspense Technique Contest. I will reveal one winner per week. Which means...

There's still time to Enter!

If you are new here and didn't know about the contest OR if you've entered some but not all OR even if you've entered all the contest but have not submitted TWO separate entries, you can still enter. Just visit the links below for details and then POST your suspenseful scenes.

Suspense Technique #7: The What if Twist

Suspense Technique #6: Mood and Atmosphere

Suspense Technique #5: The Trail of Breadcrumbs

Suspense Technique #4: Frustration

Suspense Technique #3: Peril

Suspense Technique #2: Intense Emotion

Suspense Technique #1: Mystery

I won't say "Good Luck" because I don't believe in it, but
I wish you well in the contest. Now, don't just sit there...
Get Writing!

Review: The Children of Hurin

Okay, last night I finished JRR Tolkien's novel, The Children of Hurin. And while, the chapter by chapter discussion is still very much alive and active, I wanted to post my review while
it was all still fresh in my mind.

Children of Hurin by. J.R.R. Tolkien

Review by Wayne Thomas Batson

If it weren’t for the works of Tolkien, I doubt very much that I would be a published author today. Twenty-six years ago, I first read The Hobbit, and I was absolutely mesmerized by Tolkien’s ability to draw me into the story, both through sympathetic characters and picturesque settings. And more than that, there was a sense of history to Tolkien’s writings that made me feel as a reader that I had stumbled onto a world that had long existed. Tolkien’s canon of writing was not a set of stories written to entertain me, but rather an incredibly entertaining chronicle of the events of an ancient civilization long forgotten by too many of our generation. Since that Summer of 1981, I’ve become something of a disciple of Tolkien’s. I’ve read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings about fourteen times. The Professor’s work has profoundly influenced my life and led, I think, to my books being published. So it was with electric anticipation that I awaited the release of The Children of Hurin. I present my review for your consideration. Keep in mind, as with any review, there will be some minor spoilers.

The story concerns the “greatest warrior” of mankind, Hurin and his offspring. During the Battle of Unnumbered Tears where many great warriors are killed, Hurin survives and even becomes a festering sore in Morgoth’s plans for world subjugation. Morgoth, by the way, is the black sheep of the Valar--less than gods, but more like to a powerful angelic beings. To put Morgoth’s evil in perspective, Sauron was one of Morgoth’s servants, described once by Gandalf as a “footstool” of Morgoth. That alone should tell you that Morgoth is seriously bad news.

At the end of the Battle of Unnumbered Tears, Morgoth captures Hurin and demands to know the secret location of Gondolin, the hidden Elvish city ruled by Morgoth’s last real threat, King Turgon. Hurin, with an inner power unfathomable to most of us, resists—even to the point of mocking Morgoth. But in his malice, Morgoth chooses not to kill Hurin. Instead, he levels a potent curse upon Hurin’s offspring and all those who love them and gives Hurin an everlasting front row seat to watch the misery unfold.

Here the story turns to Turin and eventually to Nienor, the children of Hurin and Morwen. Lalaith (Urwen) the third child gets barely a page to live. The events that unfold will take readers into Elvish Strongholds, Dwarven caves, and the nomadic bands of human outlaws. Readers will witness the machinations of Morgoth and see his clever war strategies in motion. And, (a highlight for me) readers will come face to face with Glaurung, a dragon so powerful and black-hearted that he makes Smaug look like a kitten. From this point, I’ll evaluate the book.

If having a story weigh on your heart long after you close its covers is any indication of quality, then The Children of Hurin (CoH) is a marvelous story. I found myself dwelling on Turin’s decisions and examining my own pride. I thought about how easy it is for loved ones to hurt one another even with simple words. And I was overcome by hatred for sin and the horrors that mankind inflicts upon itself. CoH is well-written, though you could tell in parts where transitions between scenes were abrupt or incomplete. But most marvelous of all, you could tell that this was indeed J.R.R. Tolkien’s language. Once again, I was transported into a vast and ancient land. I was a visitor to something old and magnificent, and felt privileged for the opportunity. I fell in love with the characters—even little Urwen whose stay was sadly so brief. In this tale I found creeping pestilence and dread. I found noble heroes—oh, how I wish Beleg Strongbow had whole books written about his adventures! And, of course, there were very cool swords and weapons—some cursed and some not. All to say, CoH is definitely worth of reading. It is definitely worth having on your “keep forever” shelf. And it is definitely worthy of Tolkien’s legacy. I am glad I lived to read Children of Hurin.

And one or two things about the packaging of CoH: Alan Lee has done the cover for the book, as well as, several breathtaking illustrations throughout. For long time Tolkien fans, that alone will prove worth the price of the book. But for any reader who loves fantasy art, you will drool (and perhaps, cry) over these images. Lee somehow manages to capture the emotion of Tolkien’s story over and over again. And, unlike so many other books with illustrations, CoH manages to put every picture in just the right place. You’ll never find yourself thinking, “Now what’s this picture of?” Just as you read a marvelous scene, boom, the art hits you in the heart and the overall weight of the scene triples.

All this said, there are some negatives I want to point out. But seriously, do not read on unless you want spoilers of a major variety. I’m not kidding. DO NOT read any more of this review if you don’t want to find out what happens in the end.

I said above that I was glad that I read CoH, but I don’t think I’ll ever read it again. That must sound strange. But you have to understand, I’m a sucker for a happy ending. No, I’m not a sap who unrealistically wants everything to turn out rosy. I absolutely love how in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien presents heroic victories, but they all come at tremendous cost. Sacrifice, death and suffering—okay, but I still want the victory. CoH is a tragedy and an intimate, penetrating tragedy at that. Anyone and everyone you will come to love in this story will die and usually in the most gut-wrenching ways. You will be yelling at Morwen, Turin, and Nienor in your mind, saying, “No, don’t do that! Don’t say that! Don’t fall for that!” And of course, they’ll do just what you feared they would. Time after time, characters will ignore the sage advice of friends who love them, and peril will result.

And after reading Children of Hurin, I am convinced there are things far worse than death. Watching every tragedy known to humankind befall your offspring—being chief among them. Morgoth’s curse so utterly devastated Hurin’s kin that it makes me wonder why he didn’t just throw a curse on ALL of his enemies and then, sit back and watch the mayhem unfold. And about Morgoth: there’s nothing better than having a really bad villain get what’s coming to him. But not in CoH. Morgoth escapes virtually unscathed. I guess I knew that going in, as Earendil and the Valar take care of Morgoth much later in the history of Middle Earth. Still, I wanted to smack Morgoth with a big war hammer, but it never happens. CoH struck me much like Mystic River, Schindler’s List, Saving Private Ryan, and The Departed. These are all extremely well-told stories. Well designed, well-directed, well-cast, well-acted, and well-shot—but dreadfully depressing. The Children of Hurin ended and left me with a vacant sense of dread, but no hope. I am glad to have visited with my old friend, Professor Tolkien. I am reminded of the power of the story. And I am left wanting more.

Who Will be #10,000???

I'm a little amazed at how much traffic has blown through here since I got a counter and opened this blog for real back in January. I have to tell you all that I've really been challenged and encouraged by so many who visit here. I've made quite a few new friends and have sharpened up friendships with others. I know that there are plenty of hideously evil applications for the Internet, but it's great to be able to connect with other Christians and other Christian Fantasy fans. Not that you have to be a Christian to hang out here. It's not that kind of place. But thanks to all who have made this a homey community.

Now who will be the 10,000th visitor? We're almost there.

Changing Christian Attitudes about Fantasy Part 2

Changing Christian Attitudes about Fantasy Part 2 is now posted at Speculative Faith. Check it out if you have a chance.

Random facts continued...

There was a little speculation about random fact #1 and #7. Here's the proof. Lol

8 Random Facts…

Okay, so Becky Miller from "A Christian Worldview of Fiction" has tagged me. Yup, my first thought too. What does that mean? I was beginning to think I'd need to recommend some sound Christian counseling for Becky. After all, pyramid schemes are not very Biblical. But…turns out, this "tagging business" is not so sinister. Here are the rules:

The first rule of the game, however, is to post the rules of the game. Here they are:

Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.

People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules.

At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.

Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

My only problem is that I don't know enough bloggers who haven't already been tagged. lol

Anyway, here are my 8 Random Facts:

#1 I used to play lead guitar in an 80's Heavy Metal Band.

#2 I was introduced to Jesus in a strawberry field.

#3 I collect hot sauces.

#4 My favorite recent movie was LOTR (duh)

#5 My favorite movie prior to that was The Matrix (not the sequels).

#6 My favorite movie in high school was The Breakfast Club.

#7 I used to have blond hair down to my shoulders (see #1).

#8 I dream of having a medieval-themed basement.

And now, who to tag:

• Michelle Black
• Mark Goodyear
• Kevin Lucia
• Chris D
• SolShine7
• Gene Curtis
• Leathel Grody
• Jim Black

Children of Hurin Ch. 8

Children of Hurin Ch. 7

Children of Hurin Ch. 6

Children of Hurin Ch. 5

I'll be out of town from Thurs to Sun. So I'll just post a bunch of chapters, and anyone who wishes to can just post away about Children of Hurin.

Children of Hurin, Chapter Four

Children of Hurin, Ch. 4 Dialogue begins here.

Children of Hurin Chapter 3

Children of Hurin Chapter 3 dialogue begins here.

Children of Hurin Chapter 2

Chapter 2 dialogue begins here.

Children of Hurin, Chapter 1

Okay, folks, I've officially opened chatter on Tolkien's Children of Hurin, Chapter 1!

Changing Christian Attitudes Toward Fantasy

Hey all, short post just to let you know, I have a new Article up at Speculative Faith. If you haven't visited there, click over there. It's worth your while. At least a dozen Fantasy authors write articles for SpecFaith. There are also writer resources, interviews, reviews, and much more. My article today is:

Changing Christian Attitudes Toward Fantasy

Hope you like it, and hope it encourages you to take action.

Proposition to all concerning JRR Tolkien's new book: The Children of Hurin

As most of you know, I am a fantasy author because first, I was a fantasy reader. And JRR Tolkien's books were the books that drew me into the genre. Other than the Bible, I have never been impacted by a book more than The Lord of the Rings (The Hobbit as well). Now, these wonderful stories are my old friends, and I visit them often. So often that I am beginning to grow tufts of fuzzy hair on the tops of my feet.

Well, amazingly enough, Professor Tolkien wrote another novel that was never quite finished and certainly not published until now. It's called The Children of Hurin. Prof. Tolkien's son Christopher (now in his 70's) spent 30 years filling in the gaps of the narrative from his father's notes. Christopher Tolkien claims that the language in the books is all his father's. I sure hope so.

My copy of Children of Hurin just arrived today. And I wanted to throw out a proposition to any who visit this blog. How would you like to read Children of Hurin together? I'm thinking shared experience is always more fun than alone. As we read through the book we could discuss the story, what we like, where we think it's going, Tolkien's craft, etc.

I'd like to create a dedicated page/or post on this blog so that those of you who join me can post in and chat about Tolkien's new book.

Anyone up for it?

I'll wait a week to hear (today being 4/20), and I promise not to read until I know who's in. Well…I might actually read a little, but just a little.

It's CSFF Blog Tour Day Two/Three: Karen Hancock's Return of The Guardian King

Read this excerpt from
Karen Hancock's
Return of the Guardian King

(Click on the page for larger size)

I know, I'm a little behind the time, but I'm celebrating Day 2 and Day 3 of the CSFF Blog Tour Today! My focus for day two is the Written Craft. Karen writes beautifully. It's no wonder she's won four Christy Awards ( a fifth on the way?). Her vocabulary is not just huge, but accurate and evocative. Her sentences are fluid. Her verbs active and driving. As an author myself, I read Karen's work, and it inspires me to learn more about the craft.

Several things strike me about this all-important opening page of the novel. First, note the use of italics. This tells the reader there's something different about this text. Either it's someone's thoughts, a supernatural voice, or a memory. Or, as Karen uses it, it shows us Maddie's song.

Then, notice the phrase bell-toned voice, sunlight, open meadow, yellow butterfly, patch of rippling grass, bloom-laden stalks, etc. Gorgeous, lyrical writing to be sure, but it's also very purposeful. Karen's setting you up by building mood through word choice. I mean how serene and comfortable would this scene be? You feel like you want to leap into the book and sprawl onto your back in the tall grass. But then, WHAM!! Karen just hits you with a 2 X 4. Look at the words on the next page.

(Click on the page for larger size)

Look at how the vocabulary changes to words that not only describe but evoke negative, uncomfortable feelings. Cold, misery, screamed, pelting, slivers, snow-caked, dangling, frozen, numb, squinted, shuddering, etc. For the writers who visit Enter the Door Within, take note of Karen's expertise. Every word counts. Eliminate vague or overused descriptors and use precise language that carves not only an image into the reader's mind, but also an emotion. You touch the emotions, the heart, the soul of your readers, and they will read you forever.


If this first segment was enough to hook you, you can buy Karen's book by clicking the link below. I've also listed the first three books in Karen's awesome series.

Return of the Guardian King

#1: Light of Eidon

#2 Shadow Over Kiriath

#3 The Shadow Within

*All excerpts of text are from Return of the Guardian King by Karen Hancock, Bethany House Publishing, 2007, used by permission.