Where Genres Collide Traci Dowe YA Author

Beauty and Its Limitations

Traci Kenworth

You can have all the beauty in the world and still find that beauty has its limitations. The fairest of all, after all, was hunted by her own stepmother simply because she was more beautiful than her. Beauty herself was trapped in a castle with servants that were dinnerware and a beast that she must discover a way to love and break the curse that binds them. Fairytale after fairytale proves beauty a hindrance to the female in question.

And what of the males? Well, the beast was basically cursed for being in love with his own beauty. Even Farquaad from Shrek cared more for his own supposed elitism than the princess. He sent Shrek to battle the dragon for him to win her hand in marriage. Beauty can be a deadly sword to any character if maneuvered right.

Let’s look outside fairytales for a moment. Beauty often gets you held hostage or used as a bargaining chip. It is the weakest role for any cast in it unless it comes to a horror movie. In them, it tends to make you stronger. Of course, there’s more layers added to that particular character to do so. Take Sydney Prescott.

She had already suffered a traumatic life before the movie began. Her mother was murdered, and she found the supposed murderer, Cotton Weary, over the body. So, when a serial killer stalks her town her senior year in high school its like the map points straight to her and her friends.

Then there’s I Know What You Did Last Summer wherein a group of beautiful people are tormented by the fisherman they hit the summer before and tried to cover up. One by one, they are taken down until the final two face the consequences. Never say the past doesn’t come back to haunt a character.

Beauty can be a spiky path to walk but it can also be a smooth path to the finish. Whichever is in your character’s future is up to you as the author. Marilyn Monroe was one of the most famous beauties of our times. Joan Collins, another. Both lived lives that included misery and pain and success beyond their wildest dreams.

Likewise, Scarlet O’Hara did a lot of questionable deeds in her time. She lost those she loved around her to an unfortunate war. Her selfishness knew no bounds. She was guilty of using those around her as well. Even as Tara crumbled, she fought for a man who belonged to another. Forsaking the man, she’d married and promised her future.

Another newer soap opera type book brought the beautiful people into the world of a perfume empire in Bare Essence. There was the mother who had everything except the daughter she left behind, Tyger. Tyger, meanwhile, tried to learn how to balance who she was versus the empire’s lies. A movie was put into the works and starred quite a few celebrities in the eighties.

It just goes to show you that stories can take place anywhere with a great cast of characters. Yes, beauty does have its limitations, but it also has its winners. Stories abound from fairytales to horror stories with different degrees on how beauty can affect them. Perhaps you’ve seen the same in some of your own writing.

Happenings: A chance conversation with my daughter’s coworker led us to a possible ranch home providing everything goes all right. It is part of an estate sale so we have to find out the details of that, if there’s any hidden fees, liens, or taxes owed and if we can swing them or if they’re too much. This is a three bedroom, two full bath with nine rooms in all including a sunroom which I’ve always wanted (and it’s heated!) and a breakfast nook. It has a backup generator which would be useful with how often electric tends to go off around these areas. Two car garage. A shed. Nice little town a bit outside where we live now. We may have to wait a bit depending on how far along the house is in the courts or if it’s clear, maybe not. So fingers crossed and prayers threaded. Lol.

Our real estate agent is going to film the house on Wed. and let us know what she finds.

On the health front, I found out that my harsh breathing may be due to my enlarged liver after all. Another doctor told me things tend to get pushed up and can affect breathing. Still waiting for appointment with GI for what to do about it.

Update on the house: The filming of the house got pushed back till Thurs. Everything looks good. We do have to put carpeting down but my daughter works at a flooring company so she can get a discount! On the other front, the property is clear of the courts as well. We put an offer in.

Update 2 on the house: They accepted our offer! I wasn’t expecting things to move as quickly as they did. We have to get this house ready to go and see if the park will take it back. If not, it’ll go on the market. Packing isn’t going to be fun but I’ll get through it. As of now, however, I’m going to be taking a hiatus from the blog. Not sure how long as I’ll need to unpack and set things up after move too. Hopefully, not too long though. This is my dream home! Take care and God bless!

Some things around the web you might be interested in:

1. Nathan Bransford https://nathanbransford.com/blog/2023/07/more-details-on-the-smithsonians-canceled-asian-american-book-festival-this-week-in-books We’re getting into the summer publishing doldrums so not a huge amount of news, but I have some links to send your way. First up, I was negligent last week when I forgot to link to the really upsetting controversy about the Smithsonian abruptly canceling an upcoming Asian American Book Festival just weeks before it was to take place, my apologies. After the cancellation, a group of authors and poets subsequently wrote an open letter calling for the resignation of the acting director of the Smithsonian Institution’s Asian Pacific American Center, Yao-Fen You. News also emerged this week confirming what many suspected, which is that the organization had prepared a list of “potentially sensitive issues” prior to the cancelation. (The Smithsonian denies that the list factored in the cancellation). Particularly with so many older editors taking buyouts amid a generational change in publishing, it’s poignant to see editor Jonathan Galassi remember Robert Gottlieb, one of the greats of the previous era who recently passed away. News to be aware of.
2. Writers in the Storm https://writersinthestormblog.com/2023/07/edge-of-their-seats/ Whether you’re writing a coming-of-age story, a serial killer thriller, a quilting cozy, a paranormal epic, a historical romance, or a children’s bedtime story, you want there to be enough tension to keep readers eagerly turning pages. Donald Maass observed that people do this when they’re seeking relief from some kind of “apprehension, anxiety, worry, question, or uncertainty.” That means, even if you don’t want to make seven-year-olds feel uneasy before bedtime, you still want to make them curious. And you want to sustain that curiosity — that tension — throughout the entire story. This is the kind of curiosity that generates movie reviews about keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. These people can’t take a break because: They’ve gotta know what’ll happen! Will the Vikings prevail against the ocean’s fiercest storm? Will the jealous ex show up before the long-awaited kiss? Will the killer overhear the hostage signaling for help? As writers, we need to raise questions. Leaving those questions unanswered — whether they’re small ones that’ll be resolved in another few pages or big ones whose resolution will take until the end of the book — is guaranteed to create tension within your readers. And they’ll love you for it. (Oscar Wilde said of a story he was enjoying, “The suspense is terrible. I hope it will last.”) Of course, the amount of tension will vary depending on your audience. Readers of different genres have different expectations regarding how much is over-the-top, and how little is yawn-worthy. Keeping that tension going even if it’s a little thing like getting a glass of water can help turn those pages. Imagine not being able to get a drink in the middle of the night when you’re thirsty because the water’s out!
3. Charles French https://charlesfrenchonwordsreadingandwriting.wordpress.com/2023/07/27/a-few-quotations-on-books-4/ Like these!
4. Story Empire https://storyempire.com/2023/07/28/metaphysical-elements-in-fiction-writing-palmreading/ Palmistry is an ancient practice that can be traced all the way back to the days of Aristotle. From the number of hands painted on walls in prehistoric caves, it would seem the human hand has held an interest for humans since the stone age. Archaeological discoveries have discovered hands made from different mediums, such as stone, wood, or even clay, by ancient civilizations. Since our prehistoric ancestors left no written records, we can only speculate as to why they painted hands on the walls of their caves. Palmistry experienced a revival in 1839 with Captain Casimir Stanislas D’Arpentigny’s publication La Chirognomie. So, what is Palmistry? We all have lines on our hands that are unique and individual to us, just as our fingerprints are. Palmistry is the art or practice of reading a person’s character or possible future or past from the lines on their palms. There are eight basic lines and hundreds of little lines, mounds, and other points on the hand that are included in palm reading. And as with any form of divination, it is subject to the reader. However, there are some basics that carry forward across the board. Contrary to popular belief, a shortened life line does not predict an early death but instead signifies your level of independence. The head line can indicate intellectual curiosities and pursuits. The heart line is also known as the love line and governs all matters of the heart and relationships. The mounds on the hands also have meanings, as do the tips of the fingers and the shape of the hand. So, it is a rather detailed art. Interesting!
5. Rosie Amber https://rosieamber.wordpress.com/2023/07/29/%f0%9f%8c%bblast-saturday-in-july-sixonsaturday-from-my-hampshire-garden-gardeningtwitter-loveflowers/ Photo one is the first of the red sunflowers. I saved lots of seed from last year, I can tell by comparing this to photos of last year that this one is a cross breed, it is a lot more orange than the red of the Velvet Queen from last year. The second flower is one of the trailing mixed varieties of Nasturtium, it looks like the garden fairies have been out with their red paint brushes, making the yellow flower prettier. The third photo is of a happy bumble bee getting covered in pollen from the Hollyhocks. I love flowers so!
6. Roberta Writes https://roberta-writes.com/2023/07/28/roberta-writes-thursday-doors-vervet-monkeys-and-tanka-tuesday-pastoral-ambivalence-thursdaydoors-vervetmonkeys-poetry/ Welcome to Thursday Doors! This is a weekly challenge for people who love doors and architecture to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos, drawings, or other images or stories from around the world. If you’d like to join us, simply create your own Thursday Doors post each (or any) week and then share a link to your post in the comments below, anytime between 12:01 am Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time). If you like, you can add our badge to your post. You can join in Thursday Doors here: https://nofacilities.com/2023/07/27/paying-respects/ During our recent trip to St Lucia in South Africa, we saw a lot of vervet monkeys. These little creatures are so cute with their wizened faces and tiny fingers, but they are very naughty and can be a pest. On our first morning in town, the weather was lovely, and the vervet monkeys were having a smashing time raiding the dustbins and rushing through dining areas, grabbing an item, and making a fast get away. I never even saw the one that stole a yogurt off our table. I just saw the mummy monkey sitting on the wall, sharing it with her baby (it was very sweet). Aren’t they something?
7. Angel Messages https://annetterochelleaben.wordpress.com/2023/07/29/angel-messages-jul-29-2023/ You bet!
8. Books and Such https://teripolen.com/2023/07/28/blogtour-house-of-roots-and-ruin-by-erin-a-craig-bookreview-ya-gothic-fantasy-thriller/ A modern masterpiece, this is a classic Gothic thriller-fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Erin A. Craig, about doomed love, menacing ambition, and the ghosts that haunt us forever. In a manor by the sea, one sister is still cursed. Despite dreams of adventures far beyond the Salann shores, seventeen-year-old Verity Thaumas has remained at her family’s estate, Highmoor, with her older sister Camille, while their sisters have scattered across Arcannia. When their sister Mercy sends word that the Duchess of Bloem—wife of a celebrated botanist—is interested in having Verity paint a portrait of her son, Alexander, Verity jumps at the chance, but Camille won’t allow it. Forced to reveal the secret she’s kept for years, Camille tells Verity the truth one day: Verity is still seeing ghosts, she just doesn’t know it. Stunned, Verity flees Highmoor that night and—with nowhere else to turn—makes her way to Bloem. At first, she is captivated by the lush, luxurious landscape and is quickly drawn to charming, witty, and impossibly handsome Alexander Laurent. And soon, to her surprise, a romance . . . blossoms. On TBR pile!
9. Smorgasbord Magazine https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2023/07/30/smorgasbord-blog-magazine-podcast-tales-from-the-garden-the-last-summer-ball-and-the-winter-fairy-part-one-by-sally-cronin-2/ Tales from the garden is a collection I wrote in tribute to our home in the mountains to the north of Madrid where we lived from 1999 to 2016. We inherited a number of statues from the previous owners that were too big to take with them, and I also found some discarded around the garden. Perfect characters for stories, some of whom moved on with us to Ireland and appeared in Tales from the Irish Garden. Simply an enchanting tale as read by Sally! Come take a listen!
10. Chris the Story Reading Ape https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2023/07/30/whats-the-best-way-to-learn-to-be-a-writer-by-anne-r-allen/ I’m often approached by parents or grandparents of children who’ve shown a talent for writing. They ask how a child can learn to be a writer. Or sometimes a person going through a mid-life job change will ask my advice about going back to college to pursue a long-deferred writing dream. I have to tell them the truth: learning to write is hard — and earning money from writing is way harder. I’m not saying certain types of writing can’t be immediately lucrative — “content providers” can find careers in advertising and various tech fields — but that’s usually not what the doting grand/parents or career-changers are thinking. They might be imagining plays or screenplays, or even journalism — a fast-fading profession too — but mostly they’re thinking memoir and novels. But writing book-length narrative is one of the toughest ways to earn a living — and it’s getting tougher all the time. The average book advance from a traditional publisher is less than half of what it was twenty years ago. And even though some self-publishers make a good living, almost all writers need day jobs. The savage truth. Sigh.
11. Entertaining Stories https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2023/07/29/some-days-it-all-works-out/ I’m still fighting this cold, even though I returned to work on Thursday. It forced me out of bed around 6:00 to blow my nose and that signaled the dogs it was time for breakfast. I sequestered myself in my office room, with a humidifier, and went to work. I’m into it an honest 3500 words today. I really lunged the story forward, and the WIP is at 37,800 right now. It would be easy to keep going, but I have other things to attend to. This is the scene where all the mystery boxes find answers, and that poses a new problem. I’m going to have to shift gears from learning about the mystery to figuring out what to do with the answers. Jenny wanted to be an investigative reporter, and her story is in front of her. There are are a couple of other characters who need to wrap some things up. I still have not accounted for the stalkers, and I will for the most part, but the story has to shift gears now. It stops being about what’s going on, and shifts to what to do about it, and how to protect themselves from those who want the answers for another reason.I just love his gift of connecting with his audience even when discussing the story on his blog. It’s the sign of a good writer!
12. Life in the Realm of Fantasy https://conniejjasperson.com/2023/07/26/cover-letters-and-queries-amwriting/ Every author who wants to sell their work will find themselves crafting a query or cover letter at some point in their career. This is frequently a requirement for submission to a magazine or contest. Some authors despise that process so much that they go indie, thinking they won’t have to leap that hurdle. But there is no escaping it. The difference between queries and cover letters is this: while both are letters of introduction, cover letters assume the editor will read the attached work. Editors ask for them when they have open calls for short stories. Queries are letters requesting permission to submit unsolicited work to an agent or publisher. They have not requested it, so don’t assume the attached synopsis and first chapter will be read—your query must convince the editor to look at your work. Writing these kinds of personal introductions is a pain—but only because we don’t know what is expected or what we should include. I’ve attended several seminars on queries and cover letters. While I no longer query agents, I have written many cover letters. Submissions to anthologies, contests, and magazines all require cover letters. The best place I have found with a simple description of what your query letter should look like is at the NY Book Editors website. Very helpful!
13. Fiction Favorites https://johnwhowell.com/2023/07/20/thursday-a-little-personal-twiggy-discusses-some-time-off/ “So I have something to tell you.” “Don’t give me that stuff about going for a ride in the car, which ends up at the vet.” Ironic that I’m going on hiatus now, lol.
14. Story Empire https://storyempire.com/2023/07/21/homonyms-with-harmony-part-5-commonly-misused-b-words/ The English language has many homonyms, but some of the most common mistakes people make with homonyms beginning with the letter ‘B’ are easily avoidable. A lot more than I realized!