Chaos Theory Thursday

Diverting from our normal linear pattern of writing prompts, suggestions, and inspirations to kick that writer brain in gear, I've decided to explore the world of Chaos.

Is chaos really chaotic or is it just nature's way of reorganizing, growing, and pushing us beyond ourselves? I don't have an answer, but I'll start a discussion and see where you go with it pertaining to our writing lives.

Imagery used on source site
to show chaos

Over the past three and a half months, one thing after another has been thrown at my family. Now, I'm not a complainer; that would just be a waste of time. But when life tosses you about like a leaf fighting for its last, lonely breath in the Fall breeze, it's hard to keep a positive view of your world. These 'things' have clogged my writer brain and kept me from writing creatively. I've still been keeping up with my freelance work and even moving forward with my plans to start designing book covers. But forging ahead with the sequel to Marked Beauty - which will hopefully be out this year - hasn't happened.

I recently found this on, believe it or not, a Chaos Theory website. Yes. This is an actual study. Go figure.

Chaos Theory - Study of nonlinear systems; Chaos theory studies pattern and organization within nonlinear systems. Nonlinear systems are typically characterized by unpredictability (weather, populations, stock market, etc.) Chaos theory is about discovering how simple predictable functions can create unpredictable results. Through the discoveries of chaos theory, we are able to understand how systems which were once thought to be completely chaotic actually have predictable patterns. Chaos theory originated in the 1960s. One of the early pioneers was a professor at M.I.T. named Edward Lorenz, who designed computer models of the weather. (Source: Fractals and Chaos Theory.)

There is loads more information, ponderers, and discussions on this site as well as others about this topic. What really struck me was this statement: Through the discoveries of chaos theory, we are able to understand how systems which were once thought to be completely chaotic actually have predictable patterns. 

So, does chaos really exist, or, as I questioned at the beginning of this post, is it nature's way of moving forward? Have you find after chaotic periods in your personal life that your writing life has been enhanced or dulled? 

Writer Wednesday: The Middle Book Syndrome

Let me preface this by saying I have not yet written a sequel to any of my manuscripts.  A couple of earlier my WIPs were created with the intention (hopefully) of being a trilogy. But lately, I'm not so sure I want to go that route. Sure, there's something to be said for having an established world, a built-in audience ... but as a reader? I can honestly say there are very very VERY few books where I buy and read the third book of the trilogy.  Why is that?

Usually the second book falls short.

Here are some common themes/issues I have seen with the middle book of a series (and something as a writer you should be conscious of):

• The Love Triangle. You know ... where the main character suddenly falls head over heels for that other person. It's an easy  way to build tension in the relationship ... but it seems to be way overdone IMO.
• The Breakup.  Or what I'll call the Twilight syndrome. This can be the love interest breaking up with your MC ... or the MC thinking the love interest is better off without her, so she does the breaking up. Either way ... lots of angst.
• The Paranoia. And yet another (annoying) way to add tension between your couple ... the MC thinks the love interest is constantly cheating on him/her. Every move, every word is over-analyzed. 
• Book 1, Take Two.  My latest example of this is Unravel Me (which I know isn't out yet, but I got the ARC at BEA over the summer and I feel like that was eons ago!)  I don't want to spoil it, other than to say that I feel like the character growth was exactly the same as Shatter Me. Juliette somehow went from being this strong character, no longer self-editing her thoughts ... right back to square one.  
• The Tangent. You've established a world in the first book. And then BAM your characters are off somewhere completely different with different rules, settings, and you are practically starting over.  It seems a bit of a cop out to me. And it doesn't make me want to keep reading. If I liked your first book enough to pick up the sequel, I kind of want to stay in that world. 
• The Cliffhanger. This isn't so much an issue with the plot, and it it can appear in the first book too ... but I despise the cliffhangers.  May be a personal thing, but goodness do I hate them!

So there you have it. My issues with sequels and trilogies. Sure, there are some authors I love enough that I'll pick up all their books, no matter what.  But they are few and far between.

And just in case you're interested - one of my favorite sequels of all time (and it was a surprising one, because I didn't so much like the first) was A Million Suns. Beth Revis managed to continue the same romance (without much drama between the two characters) keep us in the same world, and yet throw a new spin at us. It was a great plot, and a great bridge (hopefully) between the first and last book! 

TBR Tuesday: Dangerous Boy

I'm a bit behind on this one, but I just bought it because I'm going to a conference where Mandy Hubbard is speaking.

From Goodreads:

A modern-day retelling of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with a chilling twist

Harper has never been worried about falling in love, something she is skeptical even exists. But everything changes when Logan moves to town, and to Harper's shock, the two tumble into an intense romance. It's everything she never thought she wanted.

Then she meets Logan's twin brother, Caleb, who was expelled from his last school. True, he's a bad boy, but Harper can't shake the feeling that there's something deeply sinister about him--something dangerous. When Logan starts pulling away, Harper is convinced that Caleb's shadowy past is the wedge being driven between them. But by the time she uncovers the truth, it may be too late.

The author of Prada & Prejudice, You Wish, and Ripple delivers a modern-day retelling of a famously gothic tale, full of suspense, lies, and romance.

So, has anyone read this? What did you think?

Sidenote 1: There is a fun and exciting announcement coming out tomorrow. So keep an eye out! (I'll be announcing on my personal blog.)

Sidenote 2: I always do conference wrap ups with giveaways of signed books after I attend a conference, so stay tuned for those, as well!