Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Welcome To Fashion Proffesion
Dear Visitors,
How to get a novel started: who says you have to write it in a linear fashion? Constructing it 'out of order' might be just the approach you need.(STEP by STEP)
HAVE YOU BEEN walking around with an idea for a novel in your head? Maybe you've even written some notes or a beautiful first sentence. Yet somehow, life has intervened, and the size of the project seems too daunting. You've put off the novel time after time, but now you're finally ready to get serious. You're ready to start.
You can begin with as little as a remembered face, a scrap of overheard dialogue, or that beautiful first sentence. Maybe you have a terrific plot idea. ... A bizarre murder has been committed at the Louvre. A well-dressed woman has thrown herself under a train, and you want to figure out why. You've imagined a little pig who makes friends with a spider. The wonderful thing about a novel is that you can start almost anywhere. There is, however, one sine qua non--one thing you'll never write a novel without. That thing is: sitting down to do it. Special computer software, beautiful, leatherbound blank books--they're all useless without the act of writing. You might write a poem when inspiration strikes you, but to write the sheer number of words required for a novel (generally at least 80,000), you're going to need to set aside some time. At the very least, it's a lot of typing. Whatever your idea, you have to begin with the time to do actual writing: not daydreaming, not doodling, not researching or outlining, but putting words on a computer screen or pad.
With that said, let me offer some steps to help you get under way.
1 To start your novel, set aside time during the next month or six weeks to do some substantial writing. Be realistic about your life--you don't need 12 hours a day. Some people discipline themselves by taking a writing class or meeting with other writers. An hour a day would be wonderful, but even if you can only set aside 6 to 8 a.m. on Sunday for the next month, you could still get 40 or 50 pages drafted. So think about your lifestyle and find a time when you can consistently sit down to write. Then make the commitment to yourself in writing--a contract with yourself--and when the hour arrives, sit down and try the following:
2 Write a scene in which the main character enters a new place. This works especially well if you haven't worked much on your character yet. As the character observes and learns about the new place, you'll learn things about your character. The place can be indoors or out, crowded with people or empty. It can be a hospital room, an elegant restaurant, a jewelry store the character is going to rob, a baseball field where she's about to try out for the softball team. Pick a place and have your character enter it and observe.
Here's the important thing: Use as many of your senses as possible. Have your character see the layout and the colors and objects, but also have her or him notice temperature, smells, the texture of the grass, the sound of glasses tinkling or breakers crashing on the rocks. It's not that description is good in itself, but that it is one of the chief ways we have to direct the reader's imagination. Perhaps even more important, in the process of describing you are forced to temporarily slow down your writing. As you observe the character's world in your imagination, new ideas can bubble up. Maybe there's a character across the room who could become important to the plot. Maybe the odor of frying onions triggers a memory.
In the following passage, the main character from my novel Oradell at Sea is a little girl from a West Virginia coal camp whose father has disappeared. A store manager's family is taking her in: Oradell cried herself out. It was windy
up on the West Side, and she started shivering
in her cotton dress. A street car
trundled past, and some boys were playing
an imaginary game of baseball with no
equipment outside the Trolley Stop hot
dog stand. A Ford roadster backfired,
and a dog was barking all the way over on
the baseball diamond on the East Side.
She picked out the Company store and
the Rialto movie theater. Behind everything,
hills, yellowish brown fields, reddish
tree tips.
"Daddy should of took me with him,"
she said. "I would of gone if he'd only
asked."
She climbed the rest of the steps, and
sat down on the stone porch, the cold
coming right through her dress and underpants.
She could hear Mrs. Talkington
on the phone inside, but she didn't go in.
After a while, Sarah Ellen came along
the side of the house. She didn't see Oradell,
so Oradell said "Boo," and Sarah
Ellen screamed, and Oradell laughed and
felt better.
Sarah Ellen took her inside and introduced
her to the new baby, no different
from any other baby Oradell had seen.
Oradell was much more interested in the
house: spacious with shiny wood floors
that smelled like lemon, carpets, big chairs
with fresh slipcovers for spring and lace
curtains and a new floor model Zenith
Radi-organ with a walnut finish cabinet.
Oradell got her own little room with a
lavender chenille bedspread. Between
Oradell's room and Sarah Ellen's was the
bathroom, which was probably Oradell's
favorite place in the whole house. It was as
big as a bedroom, with a free standing
lion-footed bathtub and a porcelain sink
that Oradell and Sarah Ellen needed a
stool to use, and a huge commode with a
wooden seat.
"I'd just sleep in here," said Oradell, not
really planning a joke, but when Sarah
Ellen laughed, she made the most of it and
climbed in the tub and pretended to snore.
Then Sarah Ellen climbed in too and they
pretended the tub was flying them to a
movie set in Hollywood, and they had a
long discussion about which movie and
which leading man.
All in all, getting adopted went pretty
well that afternoon.
When I started to write that passage, I meant to use a little of the research I'd done on life in the early 1940s, and I knew Oradell was going to feel bad about moving in with strangers, but I did not know about the bathtub and her joke, and how getting the other girl to laugh at her would make her feel more at home--and how entertaining people would become part of her personality throughout the book. Settings, then, are not just a backdrop for the action; they're part of the story, and they can also move your story forward.
3 Once you've got your character exploring a place, and you've perhaps learned a little more about him or her, bring in a minor character. The passage above introduced Sarah Ellen, Mrs. Talkington and the baby. Step 3 is to use the same techniques you used for describing a place to describe a minor character. Once again, observe through the main character's consciousness, using as many of the senses as you can.
The senses can also be useful in giving order to a physical description. For example, we often see someone first from a distance. We get an overall impression, notice general physical characteristics, how the person is dressed, maybe how they walk and their gestures. Then, as we come closer, we might hear the other person speaking and perhaps learn something from the tone of voice, from what they're saying, from their accent or speech quirks. Once the other is close enough, the senses of smell and touch come into play, as well: Does the character smell of cigarettes? Does a whiff of cold air cling to the clothes? An exotic cologne? If the people shake hands, what kind of handshake does the other person have? Is the skin of the hand rough or damp? The grip firm or hesitant? What about the texture of hair and clothing?
If you write a passage using the senses in this kind of detail, you may well find yourself overwriting, but overwriting at this stage can lead to interesting passages you might not otherwise have come up with, as well as insights into the major and minor character and even useful plot elements. What does it mean that the woman smells of cigarette smoke? If she's a smoker, will she cough at some inopportune moment? If the other's hand is damp, is he nervous? Why?
It's my opinion that, in general, overwriting is more good than bad when you're beginning your draft. A long description can be broken up and used later. That is, you may want to have the initial description be all visual, someone seen from a distance, and later bring the character back talking and smelling of lavender.
4 Now have this same minor character reappear in the second half of the novel in a scene with dialogue. Many people come to novel writing with the mistaken impression that you start at the beginning and write straight through in linear fashion to the end. A good revision technique is to go over your manuscript in the order in which a reader encounters it, but, for your first draft, sometimes it's better to write out of order.
So for this step, pretend you've already written, say, the first 100 pages, and now this minor character reappears. You may want to use some of the leftover description from the first appearance, but the heart of this step is to have the main character and minor character talk. They may have casual, phatic conversation, or they may advance the plot in their conversation, or whatever comes to you. The main thing is to get them talking.
If, by chance, your minor character begins to seem more important than you had thought, that's fine. Go with it. Write some more scenes with him or her in them. At this stage in your writing, one of the best things you can do is to follow sidetracks and go off on tangents. You may be surprised by what you discover.
5 Choose some character other than the main character--someone you'd like to know more about. You may use the same minor character, or you may want to think about the villain of your novel or some other character. Write a monologue in which this character explores or explains himself or herself. Try to get inside that character's head, perhaps even draft the passage in first person as an internal monologue. One of the things novels do best is to offer nuanced portraits of people. Even terrorists and serial killers have explanations and excuses, hopes and disappointments. If your novel tells everyone's thoughts and feelings (the omniscient point of view), this monologue might be slipped into your work easily. It is more of a challenge, however, if your novel is in first person or if you are only telling the direct thoughts of the main character (third-person limited point of view).
After you've written the monologue, find a way to fit it, or at least parts of it, into your novel. Write a scene, perhaps, where the main character and the one with the monologue have a conversation. The monologist may blurt out loud what you had drafted as thoughts. The monologist could also write a letter or an e-mail or make a speech. In ordinary life, people do this all the time--give long monologues about themselves--and we listen. (See the Before and After sidebar, page 36, for an example of the process.)
6 Write a scene where your main character has a dream that in some way advances the story. That is, the dream might be a nightmare that frightens the main character into waking up and taking some action in the middle of the night. Or perhaps the dream explains something to the main character. In my novels, I often make up dreams as a way into a character's psyche. It's not that I think dreams predict the future or have some absolute set of meanings, but rather that they sometimes have an inner consistency that is worth exploring in fiction--and in real life, too. It's a way of letting the character learn or explain something to herself or himself. At the same time, of course, as with monologues, it is a way for me to explore my characters. In Oradell at Sea, Oradell, who has had many losses in her life and thinks that she has completely left the mining camp where she grew up, has a dream about a gigantic dead miner: When she thought of West Fork in
conscious memory, it was green and damp
or winter black with ice floes in the river.
But in her dream, the weather was yellow
and dry. In her dream a monstrous statue
called the Dead Miner had toppled, and it
filled the town like a Mount Rushmore
giant. The Dead Miner had something to
do with the Great West Fork Mine Explosion,
which had happened long before she
was born. In her dream,
the Dead Miner lay in the
middle of town. His heel
was shoved into the mine
portal, and one knee stuck
up into the sky. His enormous
face was downtown
near the Company Store,
turned towards the
dreamer. It was yellow-brown,
with dust on the
cheeks and chunks like
sleep matter in the corners
of the eyes. Out of his great
nostrils and eyes granules
of sand trickled and gathered
momentum as they
flowed. He grew larger as she watched, filling
her dream vision, threatening to choke
her with his crying sand.
She woke sucking for air and rearranged
her pillows. The Dead Miner was
her grandfather she never met. Or maybe
he was her father, frozen stiff behind the
Company Store. Or maybe he was her first
husband, Mike Brown. Maybe he was all of
the ones who died with no luck at all.
Oradell herself isn't sure what her dead miner stands for. He isn't a Symbol with a capital S, but rather something she is working on in her own mysterious way. The dream is meant to be significant within Oradell's worldview, as a different side of her--she has it early in the novel when she has appeared so far as somewhat inebriated and garrulous. It is also a way for her to explore her own feelings and situation, not as a way of explaining the novel's theme or meaning.
7 Write a group of crucial scenes. The final step is one that ought to give you enough material to write for many more of the sessions you've committed yourself to. Think of an archipelago--a little group of islands out in the ocean. They are really the tops of an under-ocean mountain range, usually not very far apart, and people used to use them as a way to make ocean voyages manageable by sailing or paddling from one to the next.
For this step, write an archipelago of scenes. Make a list, 1 to 5, and write what you think are five very important scenes for your novel. You may have already thought of them. (The moment she finally realizes who did it! The big struggle on the balcony. Their first kiss.) If you haven't, that's OK; make up a few anyhow, even if you have to push yourself. Keep in mind that this is all tentative--you can always cut, add to and change them at a later time.
These scenes will be spread throughout your book. The point of calling it an archipelago is to think of the scenes as high points but also as a way to take little voyages of background material, narration and some less dramatic scenes and to go from one to the next.
At this point, you will probably have from five to 40 pages drafted, plus a list of several more scenes to draft. Don't worry about your writing style too much at this point. Rather, draft as much as you can, as rapidly as you can, paying attention to new ideas that might pop up and new directions that might deepen and broaden your story.
Enjoy your strenuous but exciting journey in novel writing.
WORKOUT
A useful rule of thumb: Any time a minor character appears in a novel (a homeless man, an annoying waiter, a bratty little girl), use the same character at least once more to give extra closure and depth to your novel. Look over what you've written and find some character who has a "walk-on." Write a passage from the second half of your novel in which this character reappears. It doesn't have to be a dramatized scene--it can be a memory or even an appearance in a dream.
--M.S.W.
BEFORE AND AFTER
A point-of-view challenge.
Problem
In my novel Oradell at Sea, I had long sections set on a cruise ship, and the main character, Oradell, shared her table with a family neither she nor I liked very much. The father of the family was wealthy and rude; the daughter was pretty but sullen and rude; and the mother seemed like a complete stereotype of an affluent suburban matron who cared more about her diamond tennis bracelet than about her family. I eventually came to like the daughter, but I felt my writing about the mother was mean-spirited and thin.
I tried writing a monologue for this woman, to figure out what the world looked like to her. In writing the monologue, though, I got a new idea: The woman was on the cruise because she had been ill, but she felt her husband was taking her on the cruise instead of really trying to understand her.
This led me to ... a new problem: I now wanted to use the monologue material in my novel, but since the book sticks very closely to Oradell's point of view, I had to figure out how to get some of this material into the story.
Solution
I decided to let the two women have a drink together and start telling each other their life stories: Oradell said, "I like pouring drinks
for people. I should have gone to bartending
school. That's another one of
those missed opportunities.
When I was first in New
York, when Lance was just a
little kid, there was a restaurant
where I was working,
and they needed a bartender,
and they would have sent me
to school at their expense. I
don't remember why I
wouldn't go. I didn't want to
be away from Lance the
extra hours and women
didn't mix drinks so much
back then." She glanced at
Cathy, who had knocked back another
and extended her glass for more.
Cathy said, "Our family's dysfunctional."
She took a big suck of breath
and leaned her head back against the
plate glass. "I had cancer. I've done well,
extremely well, remarkably well. I didn't
even have to have the whole operation.
Just a lumpectomy."
Oradell blinked and held onto her
drink. Conversations about breast cancer
always made her want to leave the
room. "That's tough, all right."
Cathy tapped a long finger down on
the table. "But just the same, it was still
cancer! It was an operation!
And they didn't even notice."
This time she poured her
own drink, eyes brimming
tears and flashing at the same
time. "Did you see how Bill
marched off when I started
to cry in there? Like he didn't
even see me? That's what
they're both like--father and
daughter. We're all alike, I
suppose. But the day after I
got home from the hospital,
Bill asked me if we could still
host his partner's wedding supper. It
was the man's fourth marriage!"
"I hope you told him to go to hell."
"I don't know why I'm telling you
this. You don't know Bill. I wasn't surprised.
Not a bit."
--M.S.W
RESOURCES
* No Plot? No Problem by Chris Baty, founder of National Novel Writing Month. Also, look for National Novel Writing Month online every November at www.nanowrimo.org.
* Resources for Writers, my Web page full of resources for writers, is at www.meredithsuewillis.com/ resources.html.
* Two novels that demonstrate many of the techniques discussed in this article are Appearances by Joanne Greenberg (read a sample at www. montemayorpress.com/appearances. htm) and View to the North by Edith Konecky (read a sample at www.hamiltonstone.org/hsr4fiction. html#konecky).
Meredith Sue Willis
You can begin with as little as a remembered face, a scrap of overheard dialogue, or that beautiful first sentence. Maybe you have a terrific plot idea. ... A bizarre murder has been committed at the Louvre. A well-dressed woman has thrown herself under a train, and you want to figure out why. You've imagined a little pig who makes friends with a spider. The wonderful thing about a novel is that you can start almost anywhere. There is, however, one sine qua non--one thing you'll never write a novel without. That thing is: sitting down to do it. Special computer software, beautiful, leatherbound blank books--they're all useless without the act of writing. You might write a poem when inspiration strikes you, but to write the sheer number of words required for a novel (generally at least 80,000), you're going to need to set aside some time. At the very least, it's a lot of typing. Whatever your idea, you have to begin with the time to do actual writing: not daydreaming, not doodling, not researching or outlining, but putting words on a computer screen or pad.
With that said, let me offer some steps to help you get under way.
1 To start your novel, set aside time during the next month or six weeks to do some substantial writing. Be realistic about your life--you don't need 12 hours a day. Some people discipline themselves by taking a writing class or meeting with other writers. An hour a day would be wonderful, but even if you can only set aside 6 to 8 a.m. on Sunday for the next month, you could still get 40 or 50 pages drafted. So think about your lifestyle and find a time when you can consistently sit down to write. Then make the commitment to yourself in writing--a contract with yourself--and when the hour arrives, sit down and try the following:
2 Write a scene in which the main character enters a new place. This works especially well if you haven't worked much on your character yet. As the character observes and learns about the new place, you'll learn things about your character. The place can be indoors or out, crowded with people or empty. It can be a hospital room, an elegant restaurant, a jewelry store the character is going to rob, a baseball field where she's about to try out for the softball team. Pick a place and have your character enter it and observe.
Here's the important thing: Use as many of your senses as possible. Have your character see the layout and the colors and objects, but also have her or him notice temperature, smells, the texture of the grass, the sound of glasses tinkling or breakers crashing on the rocks. It's not that description is good in itself, but that it is one of the chief ways we have to direct the reader's imagination. Perhaps even more important, in the process of describing you are forced to temporarily slow down your writing. As you observe the character's world in your imagination, new ideas can bubble up. Maybe there's a character across the room who could become important to the plot. Maybe the odor of frying onions triggers a memory.
In the following passage, the main character from my novel Oradell at Sea is a little girl from a West Virginia coal camp whose father has disappeared. A store manager's family is taking her in: Oradell cried herself out. It was windy
up on the West Side, and she started shivering
in her cotton dress. A street car
trundled past, and some boys were playing
an imaginary game of baseball with no
equipment outside the Trolley Stop hot
dog stand. A Ford roadster backfired,
and a dog was barking all the way over on
the baseball diamond on the East Side.
She picked out the Company store and
the Rialto movie theater. Behind everything,
hills, yellowish brown fields, reddish
tree tips.
"Daddy should of took me with him,"
she said. "I would of gone if he'd only
asked."
She climbed the rest of the steps, and
sat down on the stone porch, the cold
coming right through her dress and underpants.
She could hear Mrs. Talkington
on the phone inside, but she didn't go in.
After a while, Sarah Ellen came along
the side of the house. She didn't see Oradell,
so Oradell said "Boo," and Sarah
Ellen screamed, and Oradell laughed and
felt better.
Sarah Ellen took her inside and introduced
her to the new baby, no different
from any other baby Oradell had seen.
Oradell was much more interested in the
house: spacious with shiny wood floors
that smelled like lemon, carpets, big chairs
with fresh slipcovers for spring and lace
curtains and a new floor model Zenith
Radi-organ with a walnut finish cabinet.
Oradell got her own little room with a
lavender chenille bedspread. Between
Oradell's room and Sarah Ellen's was the
bathroom, which was probably Oradell's
favorite place in the whole house. It was as
big as a bedroom, with a free standing
lion-footed bathtub and a porcelain sink
that Oradell and Sarah Ellen needed a
stool to use, and a huge commode with a
wooden seat.
"I'd just sleep in here," said Oradell, not
really planning a joke, but when Sarah
Ellen laughed, she made the most of it and
climbed in the tub and pretended to snore.
Then Sarah Ellen climbed in too and they
pretended the tub was flying them to a
movie set in Hollywood, and they had a
long discussion about which movie and
which leading man.
All in all, getting adopted went pretty
well that afternoon.
When I started to write that passage, I meant to use a little of the research I'd done on life in the early 1940s, and I knew Oradell was going to feel bad about moving in with strangers, but I did not know about the bathtub and her joke, and how getting the other girl to laugh at her would make her feel more at home--and how entertaining people would become part of her personality throughout the book. Settings, then, are not just a backdrop for the action; they're part of the story, and they can also move your story forward.
3 Once you've got your character exploring a place, and you've perhaps learned a little more about him or her, bring in a minor character. The passage above introduced Sarah Ellen, Mrs. Talkington and the baby. Step 3 is to use the same techniques you used for describing a place to describe a minor character. Once again, observe through the main character's consciousness, using as many of the senses as you can.
The senses can also be useful in giving order to a physical description. For example, we often see someone first from a distance. We get an overall impression, notice general physical characteristics, how the person is dressed, maybe how they walk and their gestures. Then, as we come closer, we might hear the other person speaking and perhaps learn something from the tone of voice, from what they're saying, from their accent or speech quirks. Once the other is close enough, the senses of smell and touch come into play, as well: Does the character smell of cigarettes? Does a whiff of cold air cling to the clothes? An exotic cologne? If the people shake hands, what kind of handshake does the other person have? Is the skin of the hand rough or damp? The grip firm or hesitant? What about the texture of hair and clothing?
If you write a passage using the senses in this kind of detail, you may well find yourself overwriting, but overwriting at this stage can lead to interesting passages you might not otherwise have come up with, as well as insights into the major and minor character and even useful plot elements. What does it mean that the woman smells of cigarette smoke? If she's a smoker, will she cough at some inopportune moment? If the other's hand is damp, is he nervous? Why?
It's my opinion that, in general, overwriting is more good than bad when you're beginning your draft. A long description can be broken up and used later. That is, you may want to have the initial description be all visual, someone seen from a distance, and later bring the character back talking and smelling of lavender.
4 Now have this same minor character reappear in the second half of the novel in a scene with dialogue. Many people come to novel writing with the mistaken impression that you start at the beginning and write straight through in linear fashion to the end. A good revision technique is to go over your manuscript in the order in which a reader encounters it, but, for your first draft, sometimes it's better to write out of order.
So for this step, pretend you've already written, say, the first 100 pages, and now this minor character reappears. You may want to use some of the leftover description from the first appearance, but the heart of this step is to have the main character and minor character talk. They may have casual, phatic conversation, or they may advance the plot in their conversation, or whatever comes to you. The main thing is to get them talking.
If, by chance, your minor character begins to seem more important than you had thought, that's fine. Go with it. Write some more scenes with him or her in them. At this stage in your writing, one of the best things you can do is to follow sidetracks and go off on tangents. You may be surprised by what you discover.
5 Choose some character other than the main character--someone you'd like to know more about. You may use the same minor character, or you may want to think about the villain of your novel or some other character. Write a monologue in which this character explores or explains himself or herself. Try to get inside that character's head, perhaps even draft the passage in first person as an internal monologue. One of the things novels do best is to offer nuanced portraits of people. Even terrorists and serial killers have explanations and excuses, hopes and disappointments. If your novel tells everyone's thoughts and feelings (the omniscient point of view), this monologue might be slipped into your work easily. It is more of a challenge, however, if your novel is in first person or if you are only telling the direct thoughts of the main character (third-person limited point of view).
After you've written the monologue, find a way to fit it, or at least parts of it, into your novel. Write a scene, perhaps, where the main character and the one with the monologue have a conversation. The monologist may blurt out loud what you had drafted as thoughts. The monologist could also write a letter or an e-mail or make a speech. In ordinary life, people do this all the time--give long monologues about themselves--and we listen. (See the Before and After sidebar, page 36, for an example of the process.)
6 Write a scene where your main character has a dream that in some way advances the story. That is, the dream might be a nightmare that frightens the main character into waking up and taking some action in the middle of the night. Or perhaps the dream explains something to the main character. In my novels, I often make up dreams as a way into a character's psyche. It's not that I think dreams predict the future or have some absolute set of meanings, but rather that they sometimes have an inner consistency that is worth exploring in fiction--and in real life, too. It's a way of letting the character learn or explain something to herself or himself. At the same time, of course, as with monologues, it is a way for me to explore my characters. In Oradell at Sea, Oradell, who has had many losses in her life and thinks that she has completely left the mining camp where she grew up, has a dream about a gigantic dead miner: When she thought of West Fork in
conscious memory, it was green and damp
or winter black with ice floes in the river.
But in her dream, the weather was yellow
and dry. In her dream a monstrous statue
called the Dead Miner had toppled, and it
filled the town like a Mount Rushmore
giant. The Dead Miner had something to
do with the Great West Fork Mine Explosion,
which had happened long before she
was born. In her dream,
the Dead Miner lay in the
middle of town. His heel
was shoved into the mine
portal, and one knee stuck
up into the sky. His enormous
face was downtown
near the Company Store,
turned towards the
dreamer. It was yellow-brown,
with dust on the
cheeks and chunks like
sleep matter in the corners
of the eyes. Out of his great
nostrils and eyes granules
of sand trickled and gathered
momentum as they
flowed. He grew larger as she watched, filling
her dream vision, threatening to choke
her with his crying sand.
She woke sucking for air and rearranged
her pillows. The Dead Miner was
her grandfather she never met. Or maybe
he was her father, frozen stiff behind the
Company Store. Or maybe he was her first
husband, Mike Brown. Maybe he was all of
the ones who died with no luck at all.
Oradell herself isn't sure what her dead miner stands for. He isn't a Symbol with a capital S, but rather something she is working on in her own mysterious way. The dream is meant to be significant within Oradell's worldview, as a different side of her--she has it early in the novel when she has appeared so far as somewhat inebriated and garrulous. It is also a way for her to explore her own feelings and situation, not as a way of explaining the novel's theme or meaning.
7 Write a group of crucial scenes. The final step is one that ought to give you enough material to write for many more of the sessions you've committed yourself to. Think of an archipelago--a little group of islands out in the ocean. They are really the tops of an under-ocean mountain range, usually not very far apart, and people used to use them as a way to make ocean voyages manageable by sailing or paddling from one to the next.
For this step, write an archipelago of scenes. Make a list, 1 to 5, and write what you think are five very important scenes for your novel. You may have already thought of them. (The moment she finally realizes who did it! The big struggle on the balcony. Their first kiss.) If you haven't, that's OK; make up a few anyhow, even if you have to push yourself. Keep in mind that this is all tentative--you can always cut, add to and change them at a later time.
These scenes will be spread throughout your book. The point of calling it an archipelago is to think of the scenes as high points but also as a way to take little voyages of background material, narration and some less dramatic scenes and to go from one to the next.
At this point, you will probably have from five to 40 pages drafted, plus a list of several more scenes to draft. Don't worry about your writing style too much at this point. Rather, draft as much as you can, as rapidly as you can, paying attention to new ideas that might pop up and new directions that might deepen and broaden your story.
Enjoy your strenuous but exciting journey in novel writing.
WORKOUT
A useful rule of thumb: Any time a minor character appears in a novel (a homeless man, an annoying waiter, a bratty little girl), use the same character at least once more to give extra closure and depth to your novel. Look over what you've written and find some character who has a "walk-on." Write a passage from the second half of your novel in which this character reappears. It doesn't have to be a dramatized scene--it can be a memory or even an appearance in a dream.
--M.S.W.
BEFORE AND AFTER
A point-of-view challenge.
Problem
In my novel Oradell at Sea, I had long sections set on a cruise ship, and the main character, Oradell, shared her table with a family neither she nor I liked very much. The father of the family was wealthy and rude; the daughter was pretty but sullen and rude; and the mother seemed like a complete stereotype of an affluent suburban matron who cared more about her diamond tennis bracelet than about her family. I eventually came to like the daughter, but I felt my writing about the mother was mean-spirited and thin.
I tried writing a monologue for this woman, to figure out what the world looked like to her. In writing the monologue, though, I got a new idea: The woman was on the cruise because she had been ill, but she felt her husband was taking her on the cruise instead of really trying to understand her.
This led me to ... a new problem: I now wanted to use the monologue material in my novel, but since the book sticks very closely to Oradell's point of view, I had to figure out how to get some of this material into the story.
Solution
I decided to let the two women have a drink together and start telling each other their life stories: Oradell said, "I like pouring drinks
for people. I should have gone to bartending
school. That's another one of
those missed opportunities.
When I was first in New
York, when Lance was just a
little kid, there was a restaurant
where I was working,
and they needed a bartender,
and they would have sent me
to school at their expense. I
don't remember why I
wouldn't go. I didn't want to
be away from Lance the
extra hours and women
didn't mix drinks so much
back then." She glanced at
Cathy, who had knocked back another
and extended her glass for more.
Cathy said, "Our family's dysfunctional."
She took a big suck of breath
and leaned her head back against the
plate glass. "I had cancer. I've done well,
extremely well, remarkably well. I didn't
even have to have the whole operation.
Just a lumpectomy."
Oradell blinked and held onto her
drink. Conversations about breast cancer
always made her want to leave the
room. "That's tough, all right."
Cathy tapped a long finger down on
the table. "But just the same, it was still
cancer! It was an operation!
And they didn't even notice."
This time she poured her
own drink, eyes brimming
tears and flashing at the same
time. "Did you see how Bill
marched off when I started
to cry in there? Like he didn't
even see me? That's what
they're both like--father and
daughter. We're all alike, I
suppose. But the day after I
got home from the hospital,
Bill asked me if we could still
host his partner's wedding supper. It
was the man's fourth marriage!"
"I hope you told him to go to hell."
"I don't know why I'm telling you
this. You don't know Bill. I wasn't surprised.
Not a bit."
--M.S.W
RESOURCES
* No Plot? No Problem by Chris Baty, founder of National Novel Writing Month. Also, look for National Novel Writing Month online every November at www.nanowrimo.org.
* Resources for Writers, my Web page full of resources for writers, is at www.meredithsuewillis.com/ resources.html.
* Two novels that demonstrate many of the techniques discussed in this article are Appearances by Joanne Greenberg (read a sample at www. montemayorpress.com/appearances. htm) and View to the North by Edith Konecky (read a sample at www.hamiltonstone.org/hsr4fiction. html#konecky).
Meredith Sue Willis
Imitation jewellery continues to shine bright.(Fashion / Cosmetics/Jewellery)
RAJKOT: Lalabhai looks happy earning more than Rs 300-400 per day by making imitation jewellery. He, who has been making gold jewellery a year back, has joined an imitation jewellery unit. Thanks to the surging demand of imitation jewellery in the country and few overseas customers.
Like him, a large section of workers working at gold and silver jewellery units, have shifted their focus towards imitation jewellery. The fancy items have not only facilitated better wages for the workers, but also invited more family members into the growing business.
Most of the 300-odd units of imitation jewellery, based at Ranchodnagar in Rajkot have found new business opportunities to display their creativity in making various kinds of products like necklace, bangles, chains, bracelets and other regular items. The daily wages for a worker has gone up significantly and has been decided on the basis of the day's output. On an average, a worker earns Rs 10,000-20,000 per month against their regular income of around Rs 5,000.
Nearly 5,000 workers, including family members, are involved in making fancy items for their regular customers in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and other northern parts of India. More than 40 per cent of the total workforce comprises of women and the number is growing. The workers have been coming from various parts of the country, especially from West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.
Narendra Mehta of Mahavir Jewellers said: "The product goes through five to six stages of manufacturing which is bound to give employment to as many units".
Like him, a large section of workers working at gold and silver jewellery units, have shifted their focus towards imitation jewellery. The fancy items have not only facilitated better wages for the workers, but also invited more family members into the growing business.
Most of the 300-odd units of imitation jewellery, based at Ranchodnagar in Rajkot have found new business opportunities to display their creativity in making various kinds of products like necklace, bangles, chains, bracelets and other regular items. The daily wages for a worker has gone up significantly and has been decided on the basis of the day's output. On an average, a worker earns Rs 10,000-20,000 per month against their regular income of around Rs 5,000.
Nearly 5,000 workers, including family members, are involved in making fancy items for their regular customers in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and other northern parts of India. More than 40 per cent of the total workforce comprises of women and the number is growing. The workers have been coming from various parts of the country, especially from West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.
Narendra Mehta of Mahavir Jewellers said: "The product goes through five to six stages of manufacturing which is bound to give employment to as many units".
How to buy quality cheap perfume
Each of us, women or men, dream of buying cheap but best quality, famous brand perfumes, either for ourselves or as a gift for one of our friends or family members. Since online perfume sale has appeared, this has become easier to accomplish. In addition, a business opportunity such as online perfume wholesale purchasing of cheap perfume can bring you a reasonable profit.Modern society has many requirements to ask from its members. In many circumstances, the general expectation is for us to be presentable and neat. In many cases, we should also wear a pleasant perfume. It is quite difficult to choose a fragrance that will represent you every day. It should be pleasant discreet and, of course, not very expensive. It is difficult enough to choose a fragrance for ourselves, but it is even more difficult to choose one that will be appropriate as a gift for a loved friend or family member. The financial issue is again a barrier for most of us. Most people find it challenging to make that financial compromise necessary for purchasing a quality, popular brand perfume. In addition, buying cheap perfume may involve a risk: a disturbingly strident smell that turns the entire gift attempt into an uninspired alternative that few of us assume. Since the appearance of online perfume distributors, a window has opened for those who do not normally afford to buy expensive fragrances.One of the ways to get a good price for your favorite perfume is to buy online discount perfumes. These are perfumes which are taken off the shelves because of small imperfections in the product or packaging, products that have not sold very well and replaced by new products or perfumes designed for special occasions such as Christmas, for instance.Another way is to undertake perfume wholesaling. In this manner, you will buy a large number of perfume bottles, which you can then share with many friends who wish to purchase the same fragrance, or you can further sell the products and yet keep one for yourself. Wholesale of any product is a profitable business opportunity. Perfumes, so desired by many women and men, will surely guaranty a terrific investment of your money.Before you decide to take up perfume wholesale, make sure you have the right to sell such amounts of fragrances. Sometimes you may need to purchase a certificate that will certify your intention to resell the products. Other than that, there is no other barrier, you can sit back at your comfortable home desk and browse sites of perfume wholesale. You have huge lists of popular brand products at your disposal. To start, you should find the necessary time to search among the many wholesale perfume providers available online. You should be careful to choose the one that offers the best quality perfumes at lowest prices. We will make sure to be one such provider. Be aware that cheap perfume may be sometimes just mimicry of the original brand. You can obtain amazing prices for some of the most popular designer perfumes, so if you feel well prepared and willing to take the risk, you can find a very good business opportunity.Therefore, here are some of the ways to get your hands on good quality but cheap perfume. You can do it by buying discounted products or purchasing bulk perfumes from perfume wholesale distributors. You can now have the fragrance you desire so much at a much lower price. You will feel more confident and you will receive proper appreciation at work, at school or anywhere you decide to wear your perfume. If you decide to go into perfume wholesaling, you will conclude that you have made a good decision and a smart investment.
Each of us, women or men, dream of buying cheap but best quality, famous brand perfumes, either for ourselves or as a gift for one of our friends or family members. Since online perfume sale has appeared, this has become easier to accomplish. In addition, a business opportunity such as online perfume wholesale purchasing of cheap perfume can bring you a reasonable profit.Modern society has many requirements to ask from its members. In many circumstances, the general expectation is for us to be presentable and neat. In many cases, we should also wear a pleasant perfume. It is quite difficult to choose a fragrance that will represent you every day. It should be pleasant discreet and, of course, not very expensive. It is difficult enough to choose a fragrance for ourselves, but it is even more difficult to choose one that will be appropriate as a gift for a loved friend or family member. The financial issue is again a barrier for most of us. Most people find it challenging to make that financial compromise necessary for purchasing a quality, popular brand perfume. In addition, buying cheap perfume may involve a risk: a disturbingly strident smell that turns the entire gift attempt into an uninspired alternative that few of us assume. Since the appearance of online perfume distributors, a window has opened for those who do not normally afford to buy expensive fragrances.One of the ways to get a good price for your favorite perfume is to buy online discount perfumes. These are perfumes which are taken off the shelves because of small imperfections in the product or packaging, products that have not sold very well and replaced by new products or perfumes designed for special occasions such as Christmas, for instance.Another way is to undertake perfume wholesaling. In this manner, you will buy a large number of perfume bottles, which you can then share with many friends who wish to purchase the same fragrance, or you can further sell the products and yet keep one for yourself. Wholesale of any product is a profitable business opportunity. Perfumes, so desired by many women and men, will surely guaranty a terrific investment of your money.Before you decide to take up perfume wholesale, make sure you have the right to sell such amounts of fragrances. Sometimes you may need to purchase a certificate that will certify your intention to resell the products. Other than that, there is no other barrier, you can sit back at your comfortable home desk and browse sites of perfume wholesale. You have huge lists of popular brand products at your disposal. To start, you should find the necessary time to search among the many wholesale perfume providers available online. You should be careful to choose the one that offers the best quality perfumes at lowest prices. We will make sure to be one such provider. Be aware that cheap perfume may be sometimes just mimicry of the original brand. You can obtain amazing prices for some of the most popular designer perfumes, so if you feel well prepared and willing to take the risk, you can find a very good business opportunity.Therefore, here are some of the ways to get your hands on good quality but cheap perfume. You can do it by buying discounted products or purchasing bulk perfumes from perfume wholesale distributors. You can now have the fragrance you desire so much at a much lower price. You will feel more confident and you will receive proper appreciation at work, at school or anywhere you decide to wear your perfume. If you decide to go into perfume wholesaling, you will conclude that you have made a good decision and a smart investment.
5 Tips on How to Find the Best Wholesale Jewelry
Whether you're a fashion retailer, an e-tailer, an eBay seller, or you simply want to earn some extra income selling costume jewelry, the key to success is finding great wholesale jewelry from a costume jewelry supplier. Finding high quality wholesale fashion jewelry can be an elusive quest, though, so here are five tips to get you started.
1. When it comes to wholesale jewelry, import is king.
Almost all fashion jewelry is imported, so you need to find a costume jewelry supplier that obtains jewelry from around the globe. The more sources of jewelry the supplier has, the more likely it is that you'll be able to find the variety of pieces you need at bargain prices. In addition, you'll be assured of a steady stream of new pieces and your ability to obtain the wholesale jewelry you need won't be hampered by world events that negatively impact those wholesalers with only one supply chain.
2. Find a jewelry trend spotter.
Unless you're steeped in the world of fashion, you won't be exposed to the nuances of seasonal jewelry trends. A good wholesale jewelry store will do your homework for you, and offer pieces that reflect the latest trends in jewelry design. You don't want to be stuck with chunky necklaces when fine filigree is in fashion, but you want to make sure you have enough hoop earrings when they hit the fashion runways.
3. Don't forget the classics
Although it's important to have a variety of trendy pieces, a good wholesale costume jewelry supplier will also carry the classics, like sterling silver, cubic zirconia, Swarovski crystal, and semi-precious stone jewelry. Unless you specialize in being fashion forward, more traditional pieces are staples that will sell year-round.
4. Look for breadth and depth.
Accessories consist of more than earrings, bracelets, and necklaces, so your wholesale jewelry supplier should carry a wide variety of pieces. Anklets and toe rings are must-haves, but so are body jewelry, cell phone jewelry, hair accessories, key chain charms, and bejeweled belts.
5. Look for minimums, shipping, and customer satisfaction.
When you're shopping for wholesale jewelry, find a costume jewelry supplier that has a reasonable minimum purchase. You may not be able to - or want to - commit to investing a significant sum of money in fashion jewelry. An online wholesale jewelry store, for example, may only have a fifty-dollar minimum order, which is a perfect place to start.
In addition, it's important that the supplier you select has the merchandise in stock, rather than forcing you to wait until they receive their jewelry import. Look for a company that ships on the same business day or by the next business day at the latest.
Finally, one of the best ways to judge a wholesale jewelry supplier is by their commitment to customer satisfaction. The supplier should be able to provide you with testimonials, and attest to the importance of customer satisfaction to their business.
Blue Diamond Jewelry, A New Trend in Diamond Jewelry
The majority of all diamonds that are bough are usually clear or white colored diamonds. Now there is a new choice and that is blue diamonds. If you are looking for something that will stand out more than the usual clear diamonds, you might want to consider taking a look at blue diamond jewelry.
Blue Diamond Jewelry, A New Trend in Diamond Jewelry
The majority of all diamonds that are bough are usually clear or white colored diamonds. Now there is a new choice and that is blue diamonds. If you are looking for something that will stand out more than the usual clear diamonds, you might want to consider taking a look at blue diamond jewelry.
What are blue diamonds?
Blue diamonds are very rare and have a blue color to them. Blue diamonds are not new and they have actually been around for quite awhile, but they are extremely hard to find. Due to their scarcity, the price for blue diamonds has risen. But if you are able to locate a piece of blue diamond jewelry for a reasonable price, it is sure to make a wonderful addition to your jewelry collection.
Where do blue diamonds come from?
Traditionally, blue diamonds came from India, where they have been worn for many years. However, many blue diamonds now come from South Africa and blue diamond jewelry can be bought in countries across the world in various settings and styles.
What types of blue diamond jewelry can be purchased?
Earrings
The most popular type of blue diamond jewelry is earrings. Blue diamond earrings have a very unique and beautiful look to them and after a little research online; you can easily find a pair for under $100.
Rings
Another popular choice is blue diamond rings. Rings that feature a blue diamond in the middle of two white diamonds can produce a very eye-catching piece of jewelry. These rings are often priced very reasonably in the $300 to $800 range. This is only one type of ring design and there are many more that produce a striking look.
Bracelets
One of the most popular bracelet designs is a white gold bracelet with blue diamonds in it. These diamond bracelets have an elegant and sophisticated look due to their delicacy. A light colored setting of platinum or white gold is, in most cases, one of the best settings to go with because of the piercing look that blue diamonds gives them. Of course, platinum will raise the price considerably and a white gold setting will be lower in price.
Necklaces
Blue diamond necklaces are another trendy selection. They come in a large variety of styles, but a few of the popular choices are a flower shape of blue diamonds and also a heart shaped with blue diamonds in the middle or around the edges. Blue diamond necklaces range in price from $100 all the way up to $1,000s.
If you want to purchase a piece of diamond jewelry that stands out from the others, you may consider buying a blue diamond bracelet, necklace, earrings or ring. They are sure to garner attention from anyone who notices them
Cut from the same cloth – A brief history of the t-shirt
T-shirts are a proven way to make a provocative statement - but which are the most iconic - and what do they say about the humble wearer? It's not often that a whole new piece of clothing appears, which is what happened with the t-shirt 40 years ago. When James Dean and Marlon Brando sported T-shirts as outerwear, it was a faux par and seen as bad as wearing underpants over trousers. Iconic photos of the American GI during WWII filtered back and in an instant, Hollywood transformed how the garment was worn and attitudes towards the T-shirt changed. Over the years the t-shirt was approximated as a walking billboard, advertising the wearer’s affiliations or views, or simply what was the latest fashion.Nowadays the t-shirt is used in many provocative, innovative and controversial ways, whether it's a social statement or boosting a rock bands merchandise sales - its uses are endless. But what do different t-shirts say about the people who wear them? Frankie Say Relax T-shirtAnother 80s phenomenon, originally designed by Katharine Hamnett but appropriated by Frankie Goes To Hollywood they became ubiquitous in the UK during the summer of 1984, mainly because the BBC banned the song on radio and the ‘terribly rude’ video on TV. This just increased the bands sales and their bad boy credentials. People buy these t-shirts less for the original political reason, more to get dressed up like 80s freaks for fancy dress parties.What it says about the wearer: Hey, I remember the 80s, its all about being ironic mmm’kay? Great t-shirt though. Currently the latest celebrity fad, with one of the Olsen twins ‘spotted!’ wearing one in the celeb mags.Hitler European Tour T-shirtA mock up with colour map of Hitler’s European Tour 1939-45, or as its better known, World War 2, with dates in England cancelled. Is this a bit close to the bone, considering the horror of the Holocaust? I guess this all depends on the nature of the person wearing it, as people wear t-shirts with some mighty strange designs - but may be it could be appropriated by Nazi scum who may mis-understand the message, which ultimately is of Hitler’s failure to beat the civilised world.What it says about the wearer: Hey, I’m controversial! Brigade Rosse T-shirtThe Red Army Faction, a Marxist-Leninist group whose aim was to separate Italy from the Western Alliance. An ultra-leftist group the Red Brigades left its mark on the Italian political scene of the 1970s and 1980s, rising from the student protest movement of the late 1960s advocated violence in the service of class warfare and revolution and the group's attacks targeted symbols of "the establishment" such as unionists, politicians and businessmen. Phew, heavy stuff, but not too much for The Clash’s Joe Strummer who was a staunch supporter, and thus was seen wearing the tee on stage.What it says about the wearer: I like The Clash. Its one of those tees that has a hidden ‘layer’, in that the wearer wears it on the understanding that only true Clash fans will recognise the depth of their fandom. I’m pretty sure they don’t support The Red Army Faction.Wham Choose Life T-shirtAnother 80s retro tee designed by Katharine Hamnett originally the slogan came from a Buddhist exhibition, but was used in the early 80s and directed towards suicide and drug addiction, but nicked by Wham for their uber-camp “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” video.What it says about the wearer: Originally I guess its all about positivity, but again these days it’s all about the fancy dress party. GO-GO!So there you are, a snapshot of some of the t-shirts doing the rounds on the internet, if there’s one thing you can say about t-shirt wearers it’s that they are always individual, and nothing is taboo if it’s on the front of your chest!
Antique Engagement Rings
Although the most common type of engagement ring is considered to be the diamond solitaire brides today are becoming more unique wanting something a little different to show of their individuality. What could be better than giving your future wife an antique engagement ring.
Nit only do antique engagement rings hold memories from the past they are also considered a huge investment accumulating value over time. If you are looking to purchase a ring for engagement then now is the time to stretch your budget just a little more.
When it comes to antique engagement rings your options are endless, they are not specific to one gem stone, antique engagement rings can have diamonds, rubies, sapphires or any type of stone giving you much larger choice.
Nit only do antique engagement rings hold memories from the past they are also considered a huge investment accumulating value over time. If you are looking to purchase a ring for engagement then now is the time to stretch your budget just a little more.
When it comes to antique engagement rings your options are endless, they are not specific to one gem stone, antique engagement rings can have diamonds, rubies, sapphires or any type of stone giving you much larger choice.
An antique engagement ring may prove to be expensive or you may be lucky enough to have had one handed down to you from a previous generation. Getting married is all about families and presenting your loved one with a beautiful and treasured heirloom is a wonderful way to show how much you love them.
The antique engagement ring will look stunning on any bride's finger. Often this older style of ring will have more intricate detail giving it a beautiful and unique look.
If you are not lucky enough to have been handed down an antique engagement ring then you will need to set yourself a budget and have some basic knowledge before parting with huge amounts of money.
If you are not lucky enough to have been handed down an antique engagement ring then you will need to set yourself a budget and have some basic knowledge before parting with huge amounts of money.
Consider how the stone in the ring will age, softer stones such as opals or pearls may not hold up to damage as well as a diamond would. Consider what the wearer does on a daily basis to determine a stone that will suit her. Because these rings were not designed for much wear and tear your ring may become more delicate over time.
I would recommend you ask your jeweler for a gemologists report to ensure the ring is authentic and not a replica you. Having a qualified jeweler look at the ring can also determine if it will need any repairs or stones re set.
Antique engagement rings are enchanting and it is easy to go way over your budget so be sure to have something in mind before you shop.
Consider insuring your antique engagement ring, although you will never be able to replace the sentimental value of a ring covering your financial loss should it be stolen or lost should help to soften the blow. Check with your insurance company if the ring will automatically be covered on your house insurance as many companies will need a ring to be specifically listed on a policy.
There is nothing more romantic than giving or receiving a ring or any sort however an antique engagement ring will hold memories and will really show your love for someone.
Fashion.(Style & Design)
JEWELRY
Four jewelry designers, four boldly different looks. Since Taher Chemirik's eponymous collection launched two years ago, word of his strong, artistic designs has spread among the fashion cognoscenti like wildfire and has garnered the young line a loyal following. Faraone Mennella, founded by friends Roberto Faraone Mennella and Amedeo Scognamiglio, has inspired legions of copycats with its glamorous hand-twisted gold links, a must-have for the socialite set. Jacqueline Rabun's flowing work for Georg Jensen offers a modern and refined take on the organic style the brand is known for. Taffin's James de Givenchy has been compared to design greats like Fulco di Verdura and Jean Schlumberger. His opulent, often one-of-a-kind pieces stand out thanks to a generous use of unusual semiprecious stones like spinels and mandarin garnets.
A Stitch of Technology
SWAROVSKI
It may be just glass, but the crystal bling from Austrian maker Swarovski always looks like so much more. Transparent, LED-assisted versions of Swarovski stones showed up in a jaw-dropping series of high-tech designs by Hussein Chalayan at his fall show, right. And if these concoctions are too out-there for you, get in on the crystal craze with a shimmery dash from Sisley's Swarovski-bejeweled eye pencils.
SPLENDID T SHIRT
T shirts may be a dime a dozen, but that didn't stop Splendid founder and lawyer-by-training Moise Emquies from trying to come up with an innovative twist to the wardrobe staple. By starting with the yarn, and after 10 years of trial and error, Emquies hit upon the Splendid solution--an even mix of Supima cotton and micro Modal, a buttery rayon that drinks in dyes for a rich look. This season, he debuts Splendid Girls, for tweens who can't wait to grow up to wear his Ts.
COLE HAAN
Under creative director Gordon Thompson's guidance, innovation has become a key ingredient of Cole Haan's success. Thompson's suggestion in 2000 to incorporate Nike Air technology into Cole Haan loafers was radical--and very popular. So much so that last fall the company launched the 4-in. State of the Art high heel with Air cushioning. Now you can really kick up your heels.
Four jewelry designers, four boldly different looks. Since Taher Chemirik's eponymous collection launched two years ago, word of his strong, artistic designs has spread among the fashion cognoscenti like wildfire and has garnered the young line a loyal following. Faraone Mennella, founded by friends Roberto Faraone Mennella and Amedeo Scognamiglio, has inspired legions of copycats with its glamorous hand-twisted gold links, a must-have for the socialite set. Jacqueline Rabun's flowing work for Georg Jensen offers a modern and refined take on the organic style the brand is known for. Taffin's James de Givenchy has been compared to design greats like Fulco di Verdura and Jean Schlumberger. His opulent, often one-of-a-kind pieces stand out thanks to a generous use of unusual semiprecious stones like spinels and mandarin garnets.
A Stitch of Technology
SWAROVSKI
It may be just glass, but the crystal bling from Austrian maker Swarovski always looks like so much more. Transparent, LED-assisted versions of Swarovski stones showed up in a jaw-dropping series of high-tech designs by Hussein Chalayan at his fall show, right. And if these concoctions are too out-there for you, get in on the crystal craze with a shimmery dash from Sisley's Swarovski-bejeweled eye pencils.
SPLENDID T SHIRT
T shirts may be a dime a dozen, but that didn't stop Splendid founder and lawyer-by-training Moise Emquies from trying to come up with an innovative twist to the wardrobe staple. By starting with the yarn, and after 10 years of trial and error, Emquies hit upon the Splendid solution--an even mix of Supima cotton and micro Modal, a buttery rayon that drinks in dyes for a rich look. This season, he debuts Splendid Girls, for tweens who can't wait to grow up to wear his Ts.
COLE HAAN
Under creative director Gordon Thompson's guidance, innovation has become a key ingredient of Cole Haan's success. Thompson's suggestion in 2000 to incorporate Nike Air technology into Cole Haan loafers was radical--and very popular. So much so that last fall the company launched the 4-in. State of the Art high heel with Air cushioning. Now you can really kick up your heels.
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