Name Thyself, ye Witty Chapter!

In reading a blog post by Sierra Godfrey about 1star reviews, I got a little random in my commenting and mentioned trying to figure out “how to translate my ability to flip to the section I want in a paper book” to my Kindle. This then linked to the thought that people should use chapter names rather than chapter numbers.

I don’t know if naming my chapters this is something I would have done without having joined Protagonize. But, there’s something about having the Chapter title box, with the little saying “This is the title of your chapter. Make it catchy!” that makes me want to use words more than numbers.

And let me tell you, adding chapter titles with a hyperlinked table of contents and it’s pure magic! I have used my tables of contents many times A LOT. Most pf the time I”m looking up information to make sure I’ve remembered something correctly. Without those chapter titles I’d be lost. Even with them I’m sometimes a chapter or two off, still better than randomly guessing.

So now that I’ve exposed their value (to me at least) how does one come up with Chapter title? Sad to say they don’t name themselves, so why don’t I step through some my chapter titles, both good and mediocre, maybe some bad.

Firstly, some things to keep in mind: 

• Strike a balance between hinting and giving away what happens in the chapter.
• Stick to three words (not counting words like the, in, on, and, a, etc.).
• Make it catchy! Similar to bullet one, but now it’s purpose is to make readers keep reading.

Secondly, some examples, 2 from each book of my Phoenix Trilogy

• Scouting – As the title of the first chapter of the first book of the trilogy I feel it’s meh. It states what’s happening, but nothing really to pull us into the story.
• Ambush! – Book 1 is rife with titles like this one. It tells us exactly what’s going to happen in the chapter, and while it doesn’t give the outcome, it does spoil the surprise.
• Sarah and the Four Bears – I like this one because it gives reference to the story she ends up telling Bears children, maybe it could be better, but I liked it.
• Amber Waves of Pain – I like this one for many reasons. There’s lots of layers to it, though the simplest is that Sarah is in pain an ends up dreaming of the grain farm she grew up on. It’s a title that clicks about halfway through the chapter; just like a good book title. (Plus I love titles that make me think of songs) :}
• A Tour and More – Obviously there’s going to be some description in here, but what is going to be the more? Not a bad attempt at making the reader keep going. In fact I’m tempted to read the chapter because I’ve forgotten what the more is.
• Playing Telephone – I like this one for the juxtaposition of the modern invention in an archaic world. (That and it was one of the few decent titles I could find that weren’t song related, like Wheels on the Cart.)

So there you have it; some examples of chapter titles. I’ve given my opinions on them. What do you think about them?

:} Cathryn Leigh

P.s. There’s still a part of me that loves the Moomin Tolls chapters that also contain a summary, but I wouldn’t use those in something that wasn’t a kids book. Using them, while writing. to outline your next chapter however... Now that proved useful for writing my 2011NaNovel, The Nurie. :}

Strong Inspirations

Inspiration strikes in odd places. Today mine came from by Sierra Godfrey’s blog post on Woman’s History Month. She asked that we think about women in our lives and be thankful for them.

I’m going to be thankful for the strong women, who aren’t necessarily in my life, but they’ve influenced it beyond a doubt. I’m not talking fictional people, or authors.  Charley R. already posted what amounts to my Ode to Anne McCaffrey *grin* these are the women whose genes I have running in my system.

These are the women of my previous generations that have inspired my character to be the women they are. And they all funneled through my mother and into me. I’m sure my dad’s side of the family had its share, seeing as my Abuela was a Missionary down in South America. I just happen to know my mom’s family a bit better.

My Mom:

• It might have taken her a bit to get through the divorce and find a proper mate, but she did it. More than that she took up the back breaking work of cleaning houses to put food on the table and clothing on my back.
• She never gave up her dream of graduating college either. She beat me to it too. She walked down the aisle to get her Bachelors the week before I did.
• She’s my real life Cinderella, with a closet of ball gown to prove that finding your Frog Prince isn’t always that easy. (What? My step-father happens to be a French Swamp Yankee, and they both love my analogy).

My Grandmother (mother’s side):

• Oh Nellie, where to begin with her? Anyone who has read my collaborative story, Faerie Bound, on Protagonize, will know Haddie. Haddie pretty much is my grandmother. She was vocal in town hall in her day, she raised six boys with my mom’s help and raised hell with anyone who might cross her.
• Case in point – She became a Court Advocate for abused women, taking up a position in the court that served the town she raised her boys in. Sometimes the abusers would try to approach her desk (located in a hallway mind you) to harass ‘their woman’. Well the moment my grandmother caught their eye they’d be all ‘yes ma’am’ no ma’am’ ‘I’ll just be going now Mrs. B.’
• In fact I could give you all sorts of anecdotes about her. Some good some bad. Maybe on another day.

My great-grandmother, (mother’s, mother’s side):

• I actually got to know her as the little old lady who made yummy donuts and collected bells.
• She sang in the choir and held faith fast, despite an abusive husband.
• She stayed independent in her own home, up until the last few years.
• As I love telling people, she camped out with the girl scouts until she was 76 at which point she declared sleeping on the ground wasn’t good for her back.

My great-grandmother (mother’s father’s side):

• I’ve only heard stories about her, but she sounds pretty amazing.
• For one she was a trolley car conductor in Maine. We’re talking turn of the last century people (1920s/30s)! That’s a pretty amazing job for a woman to have back then.
• When she separated from her husband, whom she never divorced, she bought the house across the street from his and cleaned houses to support herself and her boys and a couple nieces and nephews.

How can I not write strong female protagonists when these women are in my blood? What about you, is there someone, or a group of someones who have influenced you?

:} Cathryn Leigh

A Bull in the China

Now Mythbusters actually busted the whole bull in a china shop but that’s not stopping me. No Sir-ee...

Actually this topic came up via one of the other blogs I visit, Sierra Godfrey’s  and she proposed a wedding china blog fest, since lots of people made comments about their china when she remarked she’d seen hers on TV. Crazy I know, but it meant I didn’t have to think of a topic today.

I don’t know where our wedding china is right now, but I assure it’s safely packed away in the boxes it came in. But thanks to the internet, here’s a picture of it: Noritake’s Silver Palace pattern in platinum.  We’ve used our two place setting (two more than I thought we’d get) once; seriously.

It was Thanksgiving for two at the new Mullen household out in California. We’d used all of our vacation time for the wedding, none of our parents could come out and visit up, but that didn’t stop me from making a nice meal. We had Cornish Game Hens, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and green beans amandine. It’s my apparently my go to fancy family meal as that’s what we had for our intimate Christmas dinner this past December (well as intimate as you can be when your kids are 34 and 6).

Anyway, I didn’t even want to put formal china on the list, but my fiancé (now hubby of course) insisted. He also insisted we get married in a real church and have a real wedding, when I would have been fine with a ceremony in the woods and a BBQ reception. He’s got an old fashioned streak, bless the man, and a goofy romantic one two *heart*. Sorry, where was I? Right I didn’t want formal china. I knew no one on my side of the family would buy it for us and I was used to using the everyday stuff for every, single, day.

Amazingly we did get two sets, from his Aunt, but that was it. So we had our romantic thanksgiving for two and then, well we haven’t used it since. It got packed up and moved twice. I’m not even sure I know where it is in the boxes that still haven’t been unpack. Not that it matters. I’m not using fine china for holidays until the kids get older. Then we’ll have to unpack one of the sets we’ve inherited from his grandparents.

Till then we’ve got our Pfaltzgraff, Rio dishes (place setting for twelve) that serve us well.

:} Cathryn Leigh

Oh and in other news...

I received my sighed copy of “Walter’s Purple Heart” by Catherine Ryan Hyde, which I’ll be reading this month (woot)

And that current first chapter of Sarah’s Phoenix is up on Saffina Desforge’s blog!