The Book, the Movie, and the Story of The Hunger Games

March 30, 2012July 25, 2013 Lex Gary Ross, Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen, Movies, Suzanne Collins, writing

Last weekend’s release of The Hunger Games movie has generated a lot of fan discussion about the differences between the book and the film. Some fans have expressed disappointment, even outrage, at various aspects of the book that were “left out” or “changed” in the movie. Other fans have praised the new material in the movie for expanding the story or increasing its impact compared to the book. And some, like a parent with two children, love them both just as much, but in different ways.

Fangirl SciFi Star Wars Storytelling and Writing

Star Wars, The Hunger Games, and the Storytelling Power of Thematic Resonance

March 19, 2012April 12, 2012 Fangirl Gary Ross, George Lucas, Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen, Luke Skywalker, Star Wars, Suzanne Collins, writing

Good stories always have great characters. The great stories always have something more. What sets them apart are themes that resonate deeply with the reader, viewer, or audience. Great stories don’t just entertain – they make us think, challenge our assumptions or beliefs, or inspire us to do great things ourselves.

Heroine's Journey SciFi Storytelling and Writing

Journey of a Strong Female Heroine: Katniss Everdeen

March 11, 2012September 19, 2015 Lex Heroine's Journey, Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen, Seeking Strong Female Heroines, Suzanne Collins, writing

What sets The Hunger Games apart from the rest of the field, though, is its lead character, Katniss Everdeen, and the skill with which Collins executes a novel trilogy centered around a young female lead. Where so many others have failed, or not even bothered to try, Collins not only creates a Strong Female Heroine, but also makes the story her Heroine’s Journey from impoverished nobody to national symbol. There are far too few stories of this kind in the genre – or anywhere else for that matter – even amid the prolific storytelling boom of recent years. For authors, screenwriters, and others struggling to figure out how to write better female characters and better female-centered stories, The Hunger Games has to be at the very top of the list to read, analyze, and learn from.

Heroine's Journey SciFi Storytelling and Writing

Team Katniss: Collaborative Success in The Hunger Games

March 4, 2012September 19, 2015 Lex Heroine's Journey, Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen, Suzanne Collins, writing

In The Hunger Games novel trilogy, Suzanne Collins created another fantastic example of an heroic story centered around one principal character, without losing touch with the role that teamwork and collaborative success play in human nature. In a very real sense, the trilogy is not the story of the rise and triumph of Katniss Everdeen, but rather the success of Team Katniss.

Fangirl Storytelling and Writing

Shaping a Heroine – A Daughter’s Mother

February 22, 2012April 2, 2012 Fangirl Upcoming Novel, writing, Wynde

In my first entry to Shaping a Heroine, a series of blogs discussing the design of my novel’s heroine, Vespa Wynde, I talked about her father. When I tried to identify a woman or women as character references for Vespa’s mother, Utara Fireheart, picking someone proved an impossible task.

Storytelling and Writing

Seeking SFH: Kate Beckett

February 6, 2012July 25, 2013 Lex Castle, heroine, Seeking Strong Female Heroines, television, writing

When seeking strong female heroines, a comedy-drama police-procedural television series like ABC’s Castle probably wouldn’t be at the top of most people’s list of places to start. Yet the show’s female lead – homicide detective Kate Beckett, played by Stana Katic – is a great example of a well-designed, successful character who also fits the bill as strong, female, and heroic.

Fangirl Storytelling and Writing

Getting to Know You – Introducing Characters to the Reader

December 27, 2011April 2, 2012 Fangirl Upcoming Novel, writing, Wynde, X-wing Series

Introducing characters to the audience is one of the hardest parts of writing a novel, and the fangirl is still reading, writing and learning as she goes.

Fangirl

Happy Holidays! I’ll be work–er, writing

December 24, 2011December 22, 2011 Fangirl EU, Holidays, Star Wars, Upcoming Novel, writing

Today is kind of exciting. For the first time in a long time, I’m working at an office that will close for the holidays.

Fangirl Heroine's Journey Storytelling and Writing

Shaping a Heroine – A Father’s Daughter

December 19, 2011September 19, 2015 Fangirl Heroine's Journey, Seeking Strong Female Heroines, Upcoming Novel, writing, Wynde

The more I write, the more I’ve come to the determination that writers really do write what they know, and if you really want to know who you are, it’s as simple as looking back at what you’ve written. Ultimately that requires being critical of your flaws and weaknesses. And it’s true, self-awareness can be a bitch sometimes. When I started creating my heroine, Vespa Wynde, I realized that she, like me, would be defined by her family. Most importantly her parents – Daemyn Wynde and Utara Fireheart.

Fangirl Heroine's Journey Storytelling and Writing Superheroes

REVIEW: Ink-Stained Amazons and Cinematic Warriors

October 26, 2011September 19, 2015 Fangirl feminism, GeekGirlCon, Heroine's Journey, Jennifer Stuller, Oh You Sexy Geek!, review, Storytelling, writing

As I prepared my review of Ink-Stained Amazons and Cinematic Warriors: Superwomen in Modern Mythology by Jennifer K. Stuller, I found myself jotting down some comments about fandom, feminism, and storytelling that I wanted to share in the introductory blog post. Some turned into more – then a lot, and I reconsidered how to present all the ideas the book had inspired for me. So I’m keeping today’s post short; I don’t want a voluminous blog with my own commentary to overshadow how important Stuller’s book is.