Category: Michael D Young

October Blog Hop Entry Form

October 13th, 2011

Blogger is really giving me trouble. For some reason, it is showing the entry form from last month. Please enter the blog hop here. Don’t forget to follow and leave a comment and to scroll down to the next post to find the other blogs on the hop!Thanks for all those who entered and left comments!
Career Fair: Why Write?

October 4th, 2011
In presenting to a group of Utah high school students this week, I’m letting them know what it takes to be a writer and why its a great thing to go into. I could probably talk all day on the subject, but sadly, I was only given 30 minutes. As for the why, I narrowed it down to six.
You are limited only by your imagination.

It can be done almost anywhere and worked into a busy life.

It can bless the lives of others.

It can be a good source of income.

It’s fun to do and to share.

You don’t need a specific degree or license to do it. (Though it does require a lot of effort)
There are many other reasons. What are some of your reasons? What motivated you to start writing and what motivates you to keep writing?

For me, it all started with an overactive imagination. It was as if I just got to a point where it couldn’t all stay in my head anymore. I read so much growing up that I really wanted to try to make my own contribution. It has been disheartening at times, but for me all it takes is just one person telling me that they loved something that I have written to overcome all the rejections and critics that are part of writing life.

I’d love to hear all of your stories! Please comment below.

Writing Update: After knocking out that huge German translation project, I got back to the projects that are dearer to my heart. I’m up to 28,071 in Simon Says, my contemporary family drama, and up to 16,513 in my sequel to The Last Archangel. Xandir finds himself in Rome facing a demon who wants to be the second person to fiddle while the city burns.
September Blog Hop Winners

September 26th, 2011

Giveaway Winners: Congratulations to Leigh Ann Gregorie and Mary Reiss! They have won signed copies of “The Canticle Kingdom”. (Yes, I decided to choose two winners due to the number of entries.

Also congratulations to Debbie Davis who has won a three-chapter manuscript critique. I’m excited to see her work. If you did not win this time around, don’t worry. I’ll do another blog hope near the end of October with more chances to win. Thank you to you all for entering and I hope that you will continue to visit my blog. I’ll try to make it as interesting as possible!

Writing Update: I’ve been doing a crazy project that fell in my lap this week. A local law firm has tasked me with translating about 40 pages of German legal documents into English. If you’ve ever studied legal documents, you know how complex they can be. German legal documents take this even a step further. They love huge compound words that translate to five or six words when translated. Working on this has taken up most of my usual writing time this week, so sadly, I did not make much progress on anything.

The commission for this work, however, will be a large help to my family. I’ll just commit to work twice as hard this week in order to make progress on my works in progress. In the coming weeks, I’m going to introduce you all to the works I’m going to be submitting soon so you can get a better idea of what I’m working on.

Looking for Bookclubs: I’m looking for book clubs who are interesting in reading one or both of my books in their book club. If you live around Salt Lake City, I’d love to come visit in person, but if you live anywhere else, I’d love to participate through Skype. Leave me a comment if you are interested, or send me an email at thecanticlekingdom@gmail.com

September Blog Hop

September 22nd, 2011

Welcome to the September Blog Hop! Celebrate the beginning of fall with me and my blogger friends by hopping around, visiting our sites, and entering our contests! There are no limits – you can enter the contest on every blog. With over 40 blogs participating, that’s over 40 prizes you could win. Just click on the links below to move on to the next blog. On my blog, you can win one of two prizes. I’m giving away one for readers and one for authors. Readers can win a signed copy of “The Canticle Kingdom”Writers can win a free first three chapter’s critique from me. Would you like to win this prize? Enter on the widget below. In your comment, please let me know which of the prizes you are interested in. (Book, critique or both)

RafflecopterSettings = { raffleID: ‘ZGM1OTRjYmFhNjUwNGM1OWE3ZTQxMmE4NzQ5MTc3OjM=’};You need javascript enabled to see this giveaway.That’s it! You are now entered. The contest ends on Saturday night, September 24th, at midnight MST, and the winner will be contacted shortly thereafter. Please either leave your e-mail address in the comment trail or make sure it’s visible through your profile so I can contact you to tell you that you’re the lucky winner. Now go visit my other friends …

September Blog Hop Participants

1. Tristi Pinkston, LDS Author2. Joyce DiPastena3. I Am A Reader, Not A Writer4. Mandi Slack5. Michael D. Young6. Six Mixed Reviews7. Pam Williams8. Laurie Lewis9. Kristy Tate10. Marilyn Yarbrough11. Stacy Coles12. Kristie Ballard13. Lynn Parsons14. Pushing Past the Pounds15. Sheila Staley16. cindy Hogan

17. Jamie Thompson18. Jaclyn Weist19. Cathy Witbeck20. Secret Sisters Mysteries21. Tamera Westhoff22. Tina Scott23. Lynnea Mortensen24. Danyelle Ferguson aka Queen of the Clan25. Jeanette A. Fratto26. Bonnie Harris27. Melissa Lemon28. Mary Ann Dennis29. Stephanie Black30. Jane Still31. Janice 32. Laura Bastian

33. Tamara Bordon34. Betsy Love35. Maria Hoagland36. Amber Robertson37. Debbie Davis38. 39. Christy Monson40. Carolyn Frank41. Rebecca Birkin42. Melissa Cunningham43. Emily L. Moir44. Ronda Hinrichsen45. Lisa Asanuma46. Joan Sowards47. Jordan McCollum48. Diane Stringam Tolley

Learn more about September Blog Hop here.Get The Code

Move Over George Lucas…

September 19th, 2011

As a follow-up to my post a few weeks ago, I thought I’dgive an example of what I mean about objectionable content in the media. I have to admit that I find it hard to go tothe movies these days without being bombarded by stuff I just don’t want to seeand hear, and I don’t think I’m alone.

One series of movies in recent years in which I wasdisappointment because of the content was Transformers. For a series based onchildren’s toys, it was sure full of sexually charged content. Then if youthink of many movies which are considered classics, you will see that they havevery little swearing, sexual content or graphic violence. My favorite example is Star Wars, in whichall of these things are present very little. (Unless you consider ‘scruffy-lookingnerf herder’ offensive)

It got me thinking: what if Star Wars had been made todayand Michael Bay, the director of Transformers had been at the helm? I’m certainthere would be some changes. Here aresome I came up with:

All the Imperials, especially Darth Vader, woulddevelop a potty mouth, each trying to top each other.

·        The ewoks would talk in over-the-topstereotypical racial dialects. (which the director would deny)

·        The phrase “Who’s your daddy?” would becomeDarth Vader’s new catch phrase.

·        Princess Leia would wear her Jabba’s palaceoutfit all the time, even on Hoth.

·        The fading death of a Jedi would be replaced bya bloody “mortal combat” style death.

·        Han Solo would become the king of innuendo. Landowould become a close second.

And the movie would be ruined. Star Wars doesn’t shy away from toughissues. People are betrayed, fight, anddie horrible deaths, but it is also handled tactfully. The story, the characters,and the dialogue stand on their own without having to use gimmicks to get theaudience’s attention. I guess seeing R2-D2 turning into transformers would bepretty cool though.

What are your thoughts? How else might Star Wars bedifferent? What other great movie couldhave been ruined this way?

Writing Update: Despitemany hours spent in rehearsal and performance for the Berlioz Requiem, I wasstill able to get some significant writing done.

I’m up to 20,236 words in Simon Says, and just over 12,000words in the second Last Archangel Book. I decided to embark on a newnon-fiction title this week that has to deal with running a small church choir,especially those in LDS congregations. I’ve done this several times myself andI really wish someone would have given me a book to let me know what was goingon.

I’m also preparing to submit a parable to the Parables forToday contest which ends October 1^st. You can win prize money and publication in aprinted anthology. View the websitehere: http://www.parablesfortoday.com.

Myparable has to do with a TV star who uses dishonest methods to try to get hisTV series renewed for another season, but then realizes that he has his prioritiesall out whack. Here’s hoping!

Transformers picture by Nicolas Genin
Take flight with Rafflecopter

September 15th, 2011

Today I’m posting about an online resource that I think willgo big, especially for bloggers. It has many applications for authors, but alsofor anyone who wants to attract people to their blog. I’m talking about Rafflecopter. I ran a giveaway using it a few weeks ago,and I’ll never go back.

The first great thing about it is its versatility. You canuse it on blogs made with both Blogger and WordPress, and can even use it onFacebook using an iFrame app.

It provides your visitors one click options for them to earnraffle entries. Want them to follow your Facebook page? One click. Want them tofollow you on Twitter? One click. Want them to Recite the alphabet backwardswhile standing on their heads? One click marks the task as done. You can customize your raffle with as many oras few options as you wish, and can have different tasks marked as mandatoryand each task can be worth a different number of entries.

Not only does it let people enter your giveaway, but itkeeps track of who does, and automatically makes the giveaway open during aspecific timeframe. When the clock runs out, it shuts down and allows you topush the button to randomly select a winner from all those who entered.

In summary, it takes all of the stress out of running agiveaway. Everything is completely organized and fair, and it simplifieseverything for your readers.

Unfortunately, you have to be invited right now in order tobe allowed to use it. (I’m sure it will eventually open up to the generalpublic) You can put on the waiting listto get on board at http://www.rafflecopter.com/. They send out new invites every day, so headto their homepage and get your name on the list. With all the extra time you save, you’ll have moretime to focus on writing your blog.
Learning from 9/11

September 12th, 2011

Yesterday was a solemn day for me, full of muchintrospection. I had the privilege of performing in a 9/11 special with theMormon Tabernacle Choir and Tom Brokaw. A wonderful experience.

It’s hardto believe, but I was just heading to one of my high school classes during myjunior year of high school. Since then, I’ve become a husband, a father, acollege graduate and a published author. But I still feel the effects of thatday.

When hearing all the stories of people who were impacted by9/11 it made me think about how I can apply what they have taught me as awriter. I heard people say so many times that watching the news coverage was‘like watching a movie’. As writers, we are meant to mimic and comment onreality, and we can learn things, even from tragedy.

Here are some of mythoughts:

1. There is real evil in the world—people who willconvince themselves through twisted logic that hurting and killing others isjustified. That is the model of a trueantagonist.

2. There are real heroes in the world—people whowill put their own comfort and safety in front of others. They lay down their lives to save others.That is the model of a true protagonist.

3. People may be beaten down and lose many things,but can pick themselves up again, can rebuild, and can still findhappiness. That is a model of the humancondition. In real life that is how alot of stories go, not all happiness, not all sadness, but somewhere in betweenwith hope for the future.

My heart goes out to all those who lost someone on thatterrible day. I hope that our country and that each one of us can take a secondto remember how those events made us feel and that we can recommit to being ourbest selves.

Photo by Christopher Paulin

Writing Update:

Another great writing week! I’m up to 14,000 words in Simon Says and 10,300 in the second book of The Last Archangel series.(Still not sure what the title is going to be on that. I’d welcome somesuggestions) I’m turning in a short story to a Christmas anthology this weekcalled “Checkin’ It Twice”. In this story, Santa has to reevaluate his stanceabout his traditional lists.

I’ve got a very busy week coming up doing a major concertwith the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, but I hope to still get some good writingtime in.
1st Challenge for Platform Campaigners

September 8th, 2011

As part of the 1st Challenge for the Platform Campaigners. Here is how the challenge read:

Write a short story/flash fiction story in 200 words or less, excluding the title. It can be in any format, including a poem. Begin the story with the words, “The door swung open” These four words will be included in the word count.

If you want to give yourself an added challenge (optional), use the same beginning words and end with the words: “the door swung shut.” (also included in the word count)

For those who want an even greater challenge, make your story 200 words EXACTLY!

Here’s my story. Enjoy! (NOTE: I accidently left off the first part when I first posted this. Here is the full version)

Thedoor swung open admitting three knights into the wizard’s chambers. At thestart of a long journey, the three knights gathered to be given a gift by thecastle wizard. The wizard laid threedifferent-colored boxes on a table in front of him and pointed to each in turn.“You may each choose one box to aid you on your journey,” said the wizard. “Thefirst box is strength, the second cunning and the third compassion.”

Oneknight snatched up the first box and bounded out the door, “Surely strength ismost important on a long road.”

Thenext night, ran to the table and snatched the second box. “Surely cunning willuphold me long after strength fails.”

Thefinal knight took the box of compassion, and thanking the wizard, took hisleave of the castle.

Onhis way, the knight of compassion came across the knight of strength,hopelessly caught in a hidden snare. At great risk to himself, he freed theother knight from the trap.

Fartherdown the road, they found the knight of cunning, encircled by ruthless bandits.Together, his companions chased the bandits away.

Rejoicing,they set off together, never again to walk apart.
Depicting Immorality vs. Amorality

September 5th, 2011

Happy Labor Day everyone. Many of us might have a day off, but there’s nothing that says you can’t still make it a good writing day.

I came across this great article in the Deseret News not to long ago, and I’d like to share a snippet from it with all of you. It concerns the difference between depicting Immorality in the media vs. depicting Amorality. It was written by Linda and Richard Eyre and though it is specifically talking about movies, I think what they says applies to literature as well.

Here is the problem: We are failing to distinguish betweensomething that depicts immorality and something that depicts amorality.Immorality means the breaking or violation of moral codes, of religiouscommandments and often of basic decency. Immorality, where it is accuratelyportrayed, complete with consequences, is a good literary device and anessential part of most stories. Scripture is filled with accurate,consequence-included depictions of immorality.

Amorality is something very different. It is theignoring of moral questions altogether. It is the complete disregard and thefailure to even acknowledge the question of right and wrong. It portrays thingsas “normal” even when they are not, and it ignores consequences orpretends they do not exist.

Whether dealing with issues of honesty, sexualmorality or character in general, attempts to portray real mistakes orcharacter flaws or any kind of indiscretion or bad judgment or moral violationaccurately and honestly can be great elements of movies or of any form ofstorytelling, particularly when those portrayals are done with discretion andtaste.

You can view the entire article here:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700171774/PG-13-movies-are-getting-worse.html

This gave me serious food for thought. I think to have a good book, you need to depict someone or something showing immoral behavior. Without a villain, most stories fall flat. You probably even need to even show most of your characters doing things that are wrong. The clincher is that as a good writer, you need to depict truth. If your characters mess up, it is your duty to depict realistic consequences. Even if you are writing fantasy or science fiction, readers still expect realistic consequences.

I believe that depicting amorality is not only bad writing, but a dangerous precedent to set. Especially when writing fiction targeted at teens and young people, I feel the responsibly not to depict amorality. If you are what you eat, to some degree you are also what you read, watch, or otherwise consume. I will not be the purveyor of moral junk food.

What are your thoughts on the matter? How do you see the difference between depicting immorality and amorality?

Writing Update:

I had a wonderful writing week. I submitted my latest work “The Lost Barge” to an interested publisher and I’m crossing my fingers. I wrote over 15,000 words, spread out between my two works in progress, one of which is the sequel to The Last Archangel and the other I would still like to keep under wraps for a bit. I’m hoping for another great writing week.

For a chance to win the Last Archangel, there is a giveaway on the Fire and Ice blog:

http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com/2011/09/last-archangel-book-giveaway.html
Winners All Around

September 1st, 2011

First thing’s first: a big thank you to all those who participated in the Awesome August Blog Hop. There were many entries, but the lucky winner is: Donna Smith! She will receive a signed copy of “The Canticle Kingdom”.

I’d also like to announce the winner of the Angel Trivia Contest. Congratulations to Alyssa Ranee Clark! She will get to help me name a character in the second installment of “The Last Archangel”, which I am currently writing.

I’ve got other great links to share. The first is an interview on B.K. Bostick’s blog. Go read it here: http://bkbostick.blogspot.com/2011/09/interview-with-author-michael-young.html

The second is a feature on Lorhainne Eckhart’s blog where I talk about archangels. You can go read it here: http://lorhainneeckhart.blogspot.com/ (The blog says that it might have adult content when you click on it. I can’t speak for the rest of the blog, but my post is squeaky clean.)