The Social Porcupine

I stumbled across this awesome blog recently - and I decided to join in on a movement of the author's. /It's called Rebellious Writing  / And, no, this isn't some bratty, stupid, immature, dramatic , pleasure, hateful link-up. This is about writing good fiction. Just check out some of the posts: Join the Rebellion: The fight against dirty YA Writing  Objectification  What we write matters. Just like what we do or say matters. Words are huge, people. Whether we speak or read them, they impact EVERYONE. And that is why I am calling out all writers and readers. What are you writing? Are you filling a need, or spilling words to please and bring money? What are you reading? Are you causing your mind to grow or destroy? Words matter. And anyone who says otherwise is lying. (That hurt? Well, those were simply words I wrote. Point.) Fiction is ideas and beliefs hidden behind art.  Fiction influences {brainwashes}. People, what a...

I recently had the honor to review read a copy of Jack's book Brothers-in-Arms. Amazon Goodreads My review on Goodreads Back Cover: Franz Kappel and Japhet Buchanan never expected their friendship to be tested by the Third Reich.  Friends from early childhood, the boys form an inseparable, brotherly bond. Growing up in a little German village, they escape most of the struggles of war until the day Japhet is banished from school for being a Jew, and later has a rib broken when other village boys beat him up. Franz learns he is putting himself in danger for spending so much time with Japhet but continues to stand up for his Jewish friend even at the risk to himself. Then one day their lives are shattered when they see first-hand that the price of being a Jew is dangerously high.  With the war now on their doorsteps, Franz and Japhet come up with a desperate plan to save their families and get them out of Germany alive. Leaving behind the lives they've alwa...

After attending the writer's conference I had the opportunity to spend a week with my dad in Las Vegas (we went to federal court trials). I don't usually speak much of his work as I'm not sure all what to say about it. He keeps the public updated with what's happening in court, with all the many men locked up that he's trying to help out. I think he said there are like 19 guys right now that he is specifically trying to help release.  {If any of you have heard of the Bundy Ranch Stand Off, you'll know a little of what he is doing} I won't go into too much detail with his work. I will say if you want to know more of how to help out and learn what's going on just do some googling - my dad's name is John Lamb. You should be able to find plenty on him ;p Anyways, I was quite shocked the first day. Security didn't surprise me at all. Very much like an airport ;p  Except, most of the security was actually nicer ;) I was very p...

End of July I went to my first writer's conference, Realm Makers , in Nevada. It was a great experience! I loved being surrounded by so many writers ;0  The best part was meeting people and having conversations . Some of which were about story , some of which were not ;)  I'd like to share some highlights from the weekend :) Faces I met, some of which I had previously seen only by picture:  Met these two on the first day - Tracey and Lisa . Found out later on that they are good friends of one of my best friend's older sisters :D  A bunch of awesome go teen writer teens!! Spent a lot of time with the two behind me, Audrey and Jonathan .  Ted Dekker was the keynote speaker.  Two more fun girls - Jessi and Charissa .  One of the first people I met, Carla Hoch. I had a lovely appointment with her in which she gave me some amazing advice for my stories. She is big into fighting accuracy in stories and has ...

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When the answers you receive continue on this vicious cycle of creating more questions, it may be time to stop.  Just stop asking. Not every thing needs to be understood. We don't have to know everything, have all our ducks lined up, see the big picture. It's OK to be in the dark. To let go. To trust with blind faith. It's OK to be clueless. When the advice you receive is so drastically different...some of it is wrong, some of it is clouded in mystery, and some of it might be right...and all the opposing people are smart and decent and trustworthy people...it might be good to know this: Advice is the personal opinion of others based on their own perceptions of their own experiences and ideas.  Past that, it really isn't much. You listen to the advice, take what you need (not just what you like) and discard the rest. Yes, it is OK to discard advice . Large amounts of advice. Don't be afraid to take it and hear it. ...