Writing Prompts Week 2 *Mystery*

 Week 2

Genre: Mystery

How they work: Each week there is going to be a post completely dedicated to writing prompts. This will compliment the genre of the week, named every Saturday. Below three pictures are posted along with word prompts to go with them. Three options will be beneath each picture. All suggestions are welcome, and if you desire, please share your ideas. 

1.) Among the flowers and down a hallowed path she retraced the step of the victim. Young, brave, an inexperienced this was her first job. She never felt more alone. 

2.) "Dune was never supposed to come with me." 

    "That dog is going to mess up this whole case." 

    "Funny, I was just thinking the same thing about you." 

3.) From a young age she believed nature could talk. Her fingers dabbled in the grass beyond the well beaten trail. Her dog nudged his nose beneath the crook of her arm. At that moment, she knew her instinct was right and pushed further into the forest. 

1.) Her sister went missing a year ago. The police swore she was a runaway, but I knew different. I held the puzzle piece she gave me before she vanished and held it to the sunlight. If only I could find her. 

2.)  "Dazzle them," she said. 

    "Dazzle my sources?" 

    "Yes, or they will never give you the information." 

3.) Was she a ghost? No. I asked myself this question many times. She would appear only at night and quietly paddle down the hallways, but she never left the house. One day, I asked her. She was the missing girl, she was my twin sister. 

1.) She wandered before her flowers, hidden among their many pedals. No one could know my true identity. I needed to be a ghost among mere mortals. 

2.) "She is different." 

    "Yes." 

    "Will she blow this job?" 

    "No, she's perfect." 

3.) Rain never ceased. Her flowers only grew brighter as the days continued to dim. She bent over the front desk with a smile when the detectives finally game knocking at her door. 

Sources: Google Images, Kansas City Hiker (Photo 1), Pinterest (Photo 2), Twitter (Photo 3): @ta_ma_ky 

Famous Characters: A Mystery

 

 

Genre of the Week: Mystery

    Throughout the history of literature both authors and their characters have become famous. Well known, they take on a life of their own. Movies, television shows, and books breathe life into the words us authors creature. We will look at the most famous mystery characters and why they stand out in our mind. 

Today's Rundown: 

• Top 10 Characters of Mystery 
• Why are they compelling? 
• Why are we interested in them? 
• When do we loose interest in characters? 
• Why do we want to see these characters again? 

Top 10 Characters of Mystery

1.) Sherlock Holmes is one quite well known despite the age of the character. Holmes first appears in Sir Arthur Doyle's "A Study in Scarlet" in 1887. Since then many books, television series, and movies have been made based around the character and Doyle's works. 

    Sherlock is seen to be intelligent and logical. He constructs puzzles in a way that fascinate and keep others engaged. Although his forensic investigation in the beginning books may seem dated, he has aged well with society. This character can keep up with decades and centuries of change. His evolution grows with Watson at his side. Together they follow finger prints, cyphers, handwriting, and footprints from the late 1800s-2020s. Although he may look different in the mind and adaptation, the soul of his character is consistent.

2.) Nancy Drew entered bookstores in 1930. She appears in 175 novels, multiple movies, and PC games. These middle grade novels served as the female counterpart to the "Hardy Boys". She first appears Carolyn Keene's "The Secret of the Old Clock." 

    Nancy Drew, a young detective serves as an intelligent, independent role model who uses resourceful thinking to solve mysteries. The determined Nancy Drew servers as an inspiration to girls her age. The power of her character and the way she continues to embody the spirit of young girls create a timeless character. 

3.) C. Auguste Dupin first appears in Edgar Allen Poe's "The Murders in the Rue Morgan". Published in 1841, Poe is seen as a pioneer in the "detective" genre. Like those listed above, Dupin has history both on the page and the big screen. Although he is not as popular today, Dupin still holds high standings in the mystery world. Dupin has been known to inspire Doyle's Sherlock Holmes. 

    Poe created Dupin as an eccentric French man who helps the police solve crimes for his own amusement. He works by candlelight, and much like Sherlock, he has a sidekick that helps him solve crimes. Although, his sidekick is unnamed, this is a parallel he has with Sherlock. Perhaps Dupin and Sherlock could have been friends if they had ever met. 

4.) Miss. Jane Marple first came to print in October 1930. Agatha Christie's well known series featuring such a unique character started with "The Murder at the Vicarage". She is described being an amateur sleuth and always knows what's going on. Christie created an innocent woman that collects information over tea. Although she is not the youngest on the block, Miss. Marple has a fearless nature that is carried off the page. Christie's character can be seen on the big and small screen. 

    I would say because of her age and her intelligence her character carries through into today's world. Although there haven't been any recent adaptations to the character, I would love to see her come back. She stands out not only because of her age and popularity, but her uniqueness. 

5.) Philip Marlowe debuted in "The Big Sleep" by Raymond Chandler (1939). Marlowe shows traits of honesty, integrity, and a desire of the truth. His nature is seen in many heroic characters with a charitable sense. For it is written that he only works for $25 a day. Marlowe is said to only show animation when there is a crime to catch his interest. He also follows in inspiration of Sherlock Holmes in his intelligence and genius. Many of Chandler's novels featuring Marlowe have become movies, mainly in the 1970s. However, there are rumors of a movie based on this character coming out in 2023. 

6.) Frank and Joe Hardy first came to life in "The Tower of Treasure" by Franklin W. Dixon (1927). Frank and Joe are teenage boys who are fearless and use their courage to solve crimes. They are set in a small American town, which many children in this region can relate. Together they play out as partners. Frank and Joe display how brothers can work together and create a bond with one another, even though that's not always easy. 

    Their popularity has not wavered in almost a century. Movies have been made and recently (2020) a television series has been published on Hulu. 

7.) Ezekiel (Easy) Rawlins appeared in Walter Mosley's "Devil in a Blue Dress". This novel hit the shelves in 1990. Easy Rawlins is a known detective that fights racial injustices in Los Angeles, California. Not only is he an unlicensed private investigator who turned into a detective, but he is also a World War II veteran. 

    Personally, I am intrigued by this character and how he comes across. He is a veteran and a well known character. Rawlins has earned his place on the big screen in a couple of adaptations. 

 

8.) Lisabeth Salander appears in Stieg Larsson's series beginning with "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo". Unlike many other characters on this list, the writer has focused on her antisocial nature. She has the ability to hack computers. She barely trusts authority figures either which most-likely comes from her rough past. Lisabeth stands out with her imperfections that others can relate. 

    There has been one movie adaption including Lisabeth Salander. 

9.) Phyrne Fisher made her debut in Kerry Greenwood's 1989 novel "Cocaine Blues". She is mainly referred to as Miss. Fisher is known to be independent, bold, aggressive, and charming. Fisher is grounded in Melbourne, Australia in-between World War I and II in the 1920s. Much like Sherlock she has an assistant who helps her with her detective work. 

    Miss. Fisher became a television show from 2012-2015. 

10.) Gideon Fell came to be in 1933 created by John Dickson Carr. Fell appears in 23 mystery novels. Carr created him to be a softer detective that more people could adore. He is known to lecture and recite things throughout his tales. Although this has shown to be a dynamic character, films and television adaptions have not been made including this character. 

    Most of these characters have a drive or a strong desire to find the missing piece to a large puzzle. Puzzles are key to a mystery, but if the character doesn't have the desire or the drive your story will fold. Each of these characters hold a timeless nature that compels them into the future. Although some of the characters listed above are more recent, they have still carried themselves into present times. 

    Create a character that stands out but your readers can relate to. For example, Miss. Marple is an elderly woman that knows everything that goes on in her neck of the woods. This is familiar, even in other parts of the world. However, Miss. Marple has a unique side to her. Same with Easy Rawlins, he is a WWII veteran that fights social injustices in the black community. He a relatable to readers but has a unique nature to him. 

Why are we interested in them? 

• Unique 
• Quirky 
• Intelligent 
• Stand-out personality 
• Understandable 
• Strong 
• Diverse 

    Every member of the top ten have these attributes that keep them in our memories. For example, Sherlock Holmes has an engaging nature that was inspired by C. Auguste Dupin and has inspired many other characters on this list. 

    The challenge is figuring out how to make your own character through inspiration of what works. Readers want characters that are similar but in a different package. Make your character an individual, but there is no shame in taking attributes from what works. 

When do we loose interest in characters? 

 

• Boring
• Run of the mill
• Cliches used distastefully 
• Creating a character that cannot solve problems on their own (now having a partner isn't a bad thing, but the main character has to be the one to do everything, otherwise the reader will loose interest) 
• Lack of evolution

    The characters above do not display any of these attributes. Now, I'm not against using cliches, but nothing good ever comes from being boring or ordinary. Your characters, especially the main character, has to be extraordinary. Sure, they can start out average, but that starts to intertwines with certain cliches. 

    If there is a lack of evolution or growth happening with your character, readers will loose interest. 

Why do we want to see these characters again? 

    Other than the fact the characters hold a place in our hearts historically, the characters above have evolved with the times. There is continual room for growth and time for the their stories to expand. Even if they are killed off at the end of their series, they live on in our hearts and minds. There is something addicting about how they were crafted that makes us root for them. Keep this in mind for your own characters. What will carry over after your readers are hooked? How will you keep them engaged for the next century that surpasses your own life? 

    Think about it.  

    Happy writing! 

P.S Make sure to check out my sources at the bottom and if you have anything to add please comment. Remember to be kind and respectful to others. Thanks.

-C.Mack

Sources: closeup.de (Image 1), https://prowritingaid.com/best-mystery-characters, https://www.britannica.com/topic/C-Auguste-Dupin, penguinrandomhouse.com (Image 2), fanpop.com (Image 3), Miss-Marple, https://murder-mayhem.com/best-classic-mystery-characters, Murder-My-Sweet, Google, artofmanliness.com (Image 4), https://www.waltermosley.com, movieposter.com (Image 5), https://www.goodreads.com/characters/7800-lisbeth-salander, https://miss-fishers-murder-mysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Phryne_Fisher, https://www.worlds-best-detective-crime-and-murder-mystery-books.com/dr-gideon-fell.html, penguinrandomhouse.com (Image 6), Flickr.com Jay Scott Pike (Image 7), Oprah.com (Image 8) 

Writing Prompts Week 1 *Fantasy*

Week 1 

Genre Fantasy 

How they work: Each week there is going to be a post completely dedicated to writing prompts. This will compliment the genre of the week, named every Saturday. Below three pictures are posted along with word prompts to go with them. Three options will be beneath each picture. All suggestions are welcome, and if you desire, please share your ideas. 

1.) Silver rays of light followed her along the open floor. She had been her for decades, but she earned to find new creatures. Perhaps today she'll find a creature worth revealing herself to? 

2.) Trees wrapped around her body. She shuttered with every step to the new world's sanction. She was the last of her kind. 

3.)  "Shadows and darkness are my closest allies." 

    "But they don't have weapons." 

    "No," she agreed, "none that a human could understand." 

1.) A dragon threatening your kingdom. These items lie before you but you can only choose one to take with you. Which one do you choose and how will it press your plot forward? 

2.) The king is dead. His son paces his father's chamber. They were never close and he could not understand why. Besides the crown, an old beaten up sword, a leather book, and a blank map was left in the prince's care. Why? 

3.) "Do you have a plan?" 

    "Of course I have a plan." 

    "Winging it is not a plan." 

1.) They were young to the eye, but their souls had lived many lifetimes. 

2.) Above all, she was his princess. He was but a servant that would help her escape. 

3.) She lived to spend time with her halfling friend. He was different. His vast abilities peeked at the fact he could see into the future, and she herself could live many lifetimes without a worry of death. They were never to meet, yet fate was stronger than the laws. 

Sources: Google Images (Design and Illustration, Shuttershock, Wikipedia Princess and the Goblin) 

Fantastic Names and Where to Find Them

Genre of the Week: Fantasy

    Fantasy is one of my favorite genres. Creative names coupled with vastly different worlds breathe life into every page. There are many keys to writing successful fantasy, however, this post will focus on generating and inspiring names for your next character. 

Today's Rundown

• Hide and Seek Inspiration
• Strength, Pronunciation, and Meaning of Names
• Connection Between Personality and Name
• Popular Fantasy Names 

Hide and Seek Inspiration

    Much like writing a novel, finding a character's name takes inspiration. Firstly, what does your character look like, what is their race (elves, human, orc, etc.), what are their main attributes. Once you have a basic idea of your (main character) MC, then you can start to spit ball names. Keep in mind, fantasy names are extremely unique. There is no right or wrong way to spell/create a name.

I recommend searching both in person and online for inspiration: 

• Pinterest, make a board for your characters and the world you want to create. This will help your mind churn up names that are compelling. Pinterest also has unique names listed that you can add to your board. 
• Go to Twitter, if you already have some names in mind and want to run it by someone, use the #WritingCommunity and create a poll. Twitter's writing community is very welcoming and constructive, it is also a great resource for connecting with other writers. 
• Try your hand at generators, below I have listed some of my favorite sites, some of them provide more than just fantasy names: https://www.name-generator.org.uk, https://blog.reedsy.com/character-name-generator/fantasy/, https://thestoryshack.com/tools/fantasy-name-generators/
• Pick a random word that reminds you of the character and tweak it in a uniquely pleasing way. Below is an example of how to apply this method. 

Example 1 

1. Picture your character. 
2. Pick a letter ex. A 
3. Pick a word(s) that describes your character. ex. A war 
4. Pick a classic name that stands out to you. ex. Matilda, McKella
5. Mash the letters together.
6. Awntilda, Akelidaw, Awaralda 

Example 2 

1. Pick a letter ex. M 
2. Pick a word(s) that describes your character. ex. Patience 
3. Choose a main base for your name, this will serve as a jumping off point. ex. Martyr 
4. Mash letters together. 
5. Matiney, Myrtins, Myerchence, Matiettie 

    Keep in mind my examples above are used for first names, but this method can has a dual use for surnames as well. 

Strength, Pronunciation, and Meaning

    Names can become tricky depending on the personality of the character and the audience you are trying to attract. Just think, if you are writing a MG (middle grade) piece you would want to choose an name that resonates with their generation and pairs well with their reading level. In other words, survey your genre well before solidifying a name. Whether you are going for a strong and daring lead character to a caring supportive one, make sure it continues to hook your reader. If you rattle off extremely long names, it will be hard to remember and hard to pronounce. To keep your reader engaged make sure you connect the name with the character and weave them seamlessly into the plot. 

    Sometimes, it’s easier said than done. If you settle on an exotic/unique name it may be smart to put the pronunciation before the book. Perhaps after the map. If you are going the traditional publishing route, the placement of your pronunciation won’t be up to you. However,  if you choose to self publish, I encourage you to put a list of pronunciations. This will help your reader better visualize your character and not have to break away from the plot. 

    Meaning of the name is also important. If you choose a classic name mixed with your own flare it is important that or intent matches the meaning. Unless it’s the complete opposite, for example baking a character Blossom but her personality is gloomy, you may be able to get away with it. But if it’s not purposeful, then you can loose readers and it may not make sense for your character development.

    Key to writing in general: be thoughtful and mindful of your character and plot progression 

Connection Between Personality and Name  

    Your MC may not get to choose their name, but you do. As the writer it is your job to find a name that works with their personality. Fitting names can make or break a character, but your MC is most important. "The Witcher" series is a great example of this. Geralt of Rivia is an MC that has gone through h*ll and had been mutated into a killing machine. He has a small sense of humor and doesn't mind sleeping around, but his heart lies with Yennifer of Vengerberg. Yennifer is a fitting name for her because she is a powerful mage that tents to be ruthless but only for her heart's desire. Geralt is a rough name. Yennifer is unique but regal, relating to the "classic" name Jennifer. Lastly, there is Jaskier, in the books his name is Dandelion which fits his personality perfectly. He is funny, upbeat, sleeps around a lot, and speaks his mind. He compliments Geralt, as he serves as comic relief. These characters work together to push forward the plot as well as their individual evolutions. 

Popular Fantasy Names

    Below I have listed popular fantasy names that may give you inspiration. 

Male Names

1. Aldwin/Aldwyn (Willow)
2. Bastian (The Never Ending Story) 
3. Eddard (Game of Thrones) 
4. Legolas (Lord of the Rings) 
5. Gendry (Game of Thrones) 
6. Aragorn (Lord of the Rings) 
7. Draco (Harry Potter) 
8. Jareth (The Labyrinth) 
9. Oberyn (Game of Thrones) 
10. Sauron (Lord of the Rings) 

Female Names

1. Arwen (Lord of the Rings) *side not also the name of my daughter* 
2. Daenerys (Game of Thrones) 
3. Elora (Willow) 
4. Jadis (Chronicles of Narnia) 
5. Hermoine (Harry Potter) 
6. Kinsey (Lock & Key) 
7. Melisandre (Game of Thrones) 
8. Aravis (Chronicles of Narnia) 
9. Cherlindrea (Willow) 
10. Ornela (Game of Thrones) 

    Below are sources where I found fantasy names for my lists. If you want to look at more names to get your mind turning, please take a look. Also, don't be afraid of baby name websites. I use them all the time in my writing. They are very helpful when it comes to inspiration. 

Happy writing everyone! 

Sources: Google Images and Reddit (for images), https://www.scarymommy.com/pregnancy/fantasy-names (male&female name list), https://www.mamaoffive.com/fantasy-boy-names/ (male name list) 

Review Labs: The Last Wish *No Spoilers*

 

Reading Review: The Last Wish 

Stats: 

• Author: Andrzej Sapkowski 
• Fantasy, Adventure 
• Published 1993
• The Witcher Series (Introduction) 
• Page Count: 359 (2007 Orbit Translation)  
• Netflix Series Released in 2020 
• First Video Game Released in 2007
• Original Language: Polish 
• Following book "Sword of Destiny" 

Fun Fact: "The Last Wish" is a compilation of short stories of the Witcher. These act as crucial backstories to the main series starting with "Blood Elves". This book gives detailed events of Geralt, Dandelion (Jaskier), and Yennifer. 

Disclaimer: I am a big fan of the Witcher series. I have watched the Netflix series 1 & 2. However, I am not reviewing nor comparing the Netflix series with the book. I have not played the video games (although I want to in the future). This review is purely on the artistry of Sapkowski, character evolution, plotting, and overall entertainment value of the novel. This review does not have any spoilers. 

    Although I am in love with the book, I find the structure fairly confusing. As a stand alone book there are many breaks from the main storyline. This is how the writer has chosen to progress the storyline. However, in "The Last Wish" there is not a true storyline or plot. There are many tiny plots with one novel that is a testament of the compilation of short stories. Looking back on the breaks of Geralt's stops, I can see this a clever connector. Not going to lie, in the beginning it is fairly confusing and a turn off for a lot of readers. 

    Despite the hick-up in the beginning I adored the use of dialogue throughout the novel. I always questioned how action should be portrayed and how fight scenes and the written word play out. Sapkowski does an amazing job progressing the action through dialogue and descriptive words. 

    Unlike other fantasy novels, Sapkowski doesn't spend much time describing the scenery. This is being compared to the greats like J.R.R Tolkien. This does not take away from Sapokowski's writing but only enhances the action and the backstory of Geralt. With each page I craved more our of pure curiosity of where I would be taken next. Between the well crafted writing and strong character building I was taken into Geralt's world and brought through a whirl wind adventure. 

    Dandelion (aka Jaskier) is a good buffer through many of the chapters. His light hearted nature pared with Geralt's darkness is like a breath of fresh air. I feel as though is an affective use of comic relief. I enjoy seeing how their relationship started and was eager to see how they interacted with one another. 

    I recommend this book to adults, since there are some sexual innuendos (not erotic in any way) and quite a bit of violence. If you desire to be taken on a trip with Geralt and Dandelion through a world of fantasy this is the book for you. This is a great precursor to an exciting fantasy series. 

Overall Rating: 9/10 

Romance Blast

 Genre of the Week: Romance (Non-Erotic) 

Calling all romance writers! This post is ALL about you and your genre. I have to admit, I have gained appreciation for the romance genre, mainly because of the raw emotion and physical aspect. Below I strive to give do a basic walkthrough to start up your new romance short story, novella, or novel. 

Today's Rundown

• Attributes of a successful romance piece 
• Hook Your Readers 
• Character Building Plan-it-out template
• The Physical Side (Non-Erotic)

Attributes of a Successful Romance Piece: 

    Like all written pieces the reader craves a compelling character. Ask yourself these questions. 

• How does your character stand out?
• What does your character desire most? 
• Who stands in their way of what they desire?
• Do they desire love or have they given up on love? 

    Once you've asked yourself these question think of the audience you are writing for. Romance novels aren't always erotic. Although to some readers cutting out of a sex scene early is aggravating, it is your story and you control what happens. One of my first "romantic" novels that I read was "The Last Song" by Nicholas Sparks. This is more of a love story, but he answers all of these questions in his novel. 

1. Ronnie does not want to spend the summer with her father and younger brother. She dresses differently than others around her. She stands out.
2. The character loves music and desires independence. She does not want to be near her parents. Deep down she most-likely wanted love from her parents that divorced as well. Underneath I'm sure she seeks relationships with others and yearns to find a connection. 
3. Her anger stands in her way. There is no shame allowing your main character's emotions to be one of their biggest enemies. This makes for a compelling story to overcome and work through their feelings. This also helps the reader relate to your main character and see them as a person and not just words on a page. 
4. Ronnie ends up falling in love with her music and a young man, Will. She does not originally set out looking for love. This trope can be found in many novels with a romantic twist. 

Hook Your Readers

    Many romance pieces follow this prospective to keep the readers engaged. Other ways to engage the reader include the setting of your choice, how the character evolves, and how the character gets their desires. Number 1 rule in writing, always-always-always let your main character be the one to solve their own problems and harness their own desires. No one can do it for them, they must do it themselves. Yes, they can have help, but they have to show strength or your will lose your readers. 

    Keep your readers engaged with your stories. Make sure you incorporate a unique voice of your characters and press forward with high stakes. What does your character have to loose? As a writer, you should say EVERYTHING. Create emotions that match the situation they are in. Your characters aren't robotic (unless you are writing a sci-fi AI novel then disregard this sentence). 

    Compel your readers to root for and be sympathetic toward your main character. There is a great display of this in "Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens. She makes you feel sorry for her main character, Kya. Soon you find yourself rooting for her the entire story. 

Character Building Template

Character Name:

Nickname:

Date of Birth/Age:

Current Residence: 

Job:

Height:

Body Type:

Hair Color:

Eye Color:

Parents:

Siblings:

Desires:

Obstacles: 

Interests: 

Love Interest Name:

Do they stay together:

Their Main Problems:

Do they mesh well together: 

Do they compliment each other:

Struggles in their relationship to overcome: 

Descriptions of Scenes/Scene Building:

Name:

State/Country/Province: 

Founded When:

Economy:

Housing:

Terrain: 

Population:

Highways/Freeways/Interstates:

Water Source:

Power:

House Type:

Population (How well known is this place): 

Note: I highly recommend using a character building app. Characterfolio is one of my favorite apps to use. They have so many details to fill out. The only downsides: it cost $10 and seems to be a set program. I've had it for three years and it hasn't updated. 

The Physical Side (Non-Erotic) 

    Romance novels almost require the act of physical touch. In some cases touch cannot be accomplished, but there has to be some kind of connection. In this case, we are talking about physical touch and how far you feel comfortable writing about it. This is mentioned in a non-erotic sense. 

    Physical touch is a great part of romance. Strong emotion of your characters should act like a magnet. Something that is bound to touch and be together. When writing physical scenes keep in mind all of your senses. Touch, taste, smell, sound, and sight. Become your character in the moment and relax into your writing like any other style. For some this may come easy, for others like me, not so much. 

In closing, I appreciate and respect the genre of romance. I have come to see that the genre has a wider range than the shirtless men on books sold at drug stores. I can see the attraction to them and I strive to help strengthen your writing in the genre. Keep in mind, I'm still a practicing writer myself and I always will be. Please comment below if you have any incite or questions about the genre of romance. 

Happy writing! 

Source: https://www.writersdigest.com/improve-my-writing/10-ways-to-improve-your-romance-novel

Google Images 

Review Labs: Where the Crawdads Sing *No Spoilers*

 Reading Review (No Spoilers) 

Stats:

• Author: Delia Owens
• Literary Fiction (Love Story and Murder Mystery set in the 1950s-late 1960s
• Published August 14, 2018
• Page Count: 368 (my copy had recipes and such in the back, you'll know why once you read it) 
• Movie Release Date: July 15, 2022 

Disclaimer: I have only read the book. I have not watched the movie, so this review is purely on the writing style and nature of the written word. I strive to have no spoilers in this review and if you are compelled to comment below please be thoughtful. 

I had seen the trailers and the pictures of Kya everywhere, even in Sam's Club of all places. Although the image above is not one of my favorites, I adore the cover with where the is the darkness of the marshes that blends into her face. I believe the cover I mentioned before portrays the tone of the story. Although you may not know her name at the beginning of the book, you will surely know it by the end. 

The story begins with a murder of a local ex-football star, Chase Andrews. I'm not impressed by this beginning but if you can push forward passed the first chapter you won't regret it. The resilience and breathtaking sense of Kya stands out far more than the description of her beauty. Owens does an amazing job building her main character's personality through the struggles she faces. 

But what makes her struggles special and stand out from anyone else's? What is so intriguing? I found this to be the marshes. I had never once thought of the marsh lands in North Carolina and who lived in them. Land almost forgotten but brought forward in this story through description can only attest to the knowledge and experience of the author. 

For me the murder mystery took a back seat and only became more intriguing at the end of the story. There was not a disconnect in the story line, but the description of Kya's life was far more superior than the story of the detectives trying to find Chase Andrew's killer. 

Innocence, love, and sex (not explicit) plays a part in Owen's story as well. I appreciate the thought behind each move Kya made and those she interacted with. From Jumpin' to the people in town each movement the main character had gave purpose to progressing the plot. As a writer, I strive for plot movement such as this. As a reader, I am in love with her talented story telling. 

In closing, "Where the Crawdads Sing" by Delia Owens is an engaging read that will leave you speechless from beginning to end. I highly recommend reading this book and devouring it without haste. 

Overall Rating: 9.5/10 

 Google Images (for image) and Google (for Stats)

Basics of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

 Genre of the Week: Science Fiction

Artificial Intelligence: AI

Artificial intelligence has become a hot topic in science fiction. But how can we truly understand what AI is? For writers that don't have a science background but love writing science fiction, this topic can be hard. Surely you can write a futuristic novel without a form of vast technology. However, this normally propels the reader into the dystopian genre. 

You would think in the future we would have some for of grasp on AI. Perhaps there will be an advancement in technology? 

When writing a story that includes/centralized around AI you will need some basic understandings of the principle. 

Today's Rundown 

• Basics of AI 
• Common AI Questions
• Books to read if you are interested in AI

Basics of AI

Artificial intelligence describes human behavior in man made machinery. 

AI is categorized in 2 different ways: functionality and capability. 

Functionality--> 

1. Reactive Machine--> lacks to ability to remember past actions 
2. Limited Theory--> has memory that allows it to learn from past information, therefore giving it the ability to make better decisions
3. Theory of Mind--> a continuous growth of mind that is parallel to the human thought 
4. Self-aware AI--> hypothetically this AI can understand and evoke human emotion

Capability--> 

1. Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI)--> system that can conduct basic tasks, this AI has a limited memory and is reactive 
2. Artificial General Intelligence (AGI)--> able to learn, train, understand, and conduct human-like tasks
3. Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI)--> real world examples have yet to be created, but this refers to when AI can perform tasks better than humans

Fun fact: AI is currently utilized in businesses and organizations. 

AI is constantly learning, evolving, and improving. 

Some of the most used AI tasks include: 

• Computer vision--> where they take information from photos 
• Speech and Natural Language Processing 
• Understanding Natural Language 
• Robotics
• Learning other machines

AI is rule based and example based. 

• Rule based uses algorithms to instruct the computer on the steps to create an end goal.
• Example based utilizes data to create models. 

Common AI Questions

Q. What is the future of AI?

A. Artificial intelligence greatly impacts today's world. From holding and understanding massive amounts of data to cancer research AI has assisted with innovation. AI has even helped with space exploration. 

Space exploration and AI tend to go hand-in-hand in the sci-fi genre. However, the daily availability AI will serve as a better grounding for us to understand its potential in more current writing. 

Q. What is the difference between 

Sources for Information: 

https://www.hpe.com/us/en/what-is/artificial-intelligence.html?jumpid=ps_8m6wvisfq7_aid-520061736&ef_id=Cj0KCQjw1ZeUBhDyARIsAOzAqQLn93oD62T14mrULVU7SzjFDHKEAJ1bLF9tTfuoPujntCyPDk7VyCgaAmoVEALw_wcB:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!13472!3!558204189304!e!!g!!learn%20about%20ai!13236197162!129170842076&) 

https://www.ibm.com/design/ai/basics/ai/

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