Monthly Archives: July 2012

Fast Track to Being a Writer

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Fast Track to Being a Writer

Does the sound of being a writer intrigue you? Have you ever expressed the desire to write, only to be told, “You can’t write.”

Perhaps deep down inside you have a gnawing interest, an unquenchable desire, but you keep telling yourself, “I could never be a writer.”

The first definition of a writer is “n. One who writes,” American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

The way to be a writer is to write. Start by writing about yourself or describe an object on your desk. What senses such as taste, touch, sight and sounds describe your perfect vacation getaway destination?

When you write, you become a writer. What are you waiting for? Grab a pen and sheet of paper or start typing on the computer keyboard. Be a WRITER!

Rory C. Keel

SHADE

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SHADE

by Sharon Stevens

I had a horrific nightmare the other night. The bad guys were after me and I was running and running, slower and slower. Terrified doesn’t begin to describe the feelings gripping my heart and soul. The cracks in the sidewalk disturbed by the roots of ancient trees kept coming up to trip me and slow me down. At first I looked for a place to hide, but nothing provided enough cover to make me invisible. In my dreams I finally gave up and just began looking simply for a place of shade. Maybe if f I could duck under the rustling leaves of a cottonwood, the awning of a small business, or the cool recesses of a front porch, I just might be able to make it for just another moment. And if there happened to be a field of wildflowers I knew I could be home free.

I love to take pictures of flowers, and not just of your manicured garden variety, but any weed will do. My camera will focus at any hour of the day, but what I love the most is to photograph from the backside as the sun’s rays filter through the petals. Time and again I witness as I download the photos is that most of the bugs cling to the underside, taking advantage of the shade. Who would have ever thought that insects needed moments out of the sun? They are only bugs after all.

So many times we face shadow and shade, darkness and peace in not only our lives but our writing. We keep running and running with the bad guys on our tales, petrified that if we don’t finish our story as we outlined it our whole being will be annihilated.

In all actuality all we needed was to find a place of shade. What would it hurt to take a moment to look up and glance at our family pictures sitting on the mantel, or the touches around our writing sanctuary that we chose to give our lives color and warmth? No matter how dark our story, what would we be missing if we dragged ourselves away to center our strength once again, to remind us of those who love us, outside the walls of our dungeons? And where do we live that we can’t take a few heartbeats to go outside and feel the breeze across our face under the shade of a few colorful clouds. And don’t forget about music. Just a few drops of our favorite songs can replenish the spring when our well runs dry.

You get the picture. As writers we so need our moments of shade. We don’t need to be afraid that we can’t get back into the mindset where our story dwells, or petrified that those interludes will lead our fabrication in another direction. We can return to anger, hurt, and decay without worry that the entire message turned to light and joy while we were away. Our original feelings will still be intact. We harbor the center of the story within our center after all. And if we are the writers we have worked so hard to be, taking a few moments of shade will not alter our ego at all.

Now back to the bugs languishing underneath the petals of the flower? Maybe they feel that the sun shining through filters the nightmares away from the hot blistering fire. Also it could be that its just cooler back there.

But maybe, just maybe the nectar is sweeter in the shade.

Sharon Stevens


Why It Failed

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Outtakes 50 Release

Why It Failed

I listen to writers complain about not getting an agent or editor; no one appreciates their style; the big houses are not interested in new writers. The answer may be the writer didn’t do his homework. That’s right. The writer did not take the time to investigate the genre, the agent or editor, or have his work reviewed by another writer or a professional editor. He relied on his gut and his baby sister to provide feedback.

A young writer approached me regarding her children’s picture book. “Please read my story. I spent a lot of time doing the illustrations and writing the story, but my lazy agent couldn’t seem to sell it. I had to self-publish the book.”

“How are your sales?” I asked.

“Well, I’m still working here, aren’t I?”

I learned quite a bit from this exchange. Her expectations were not reasonable; the failure was someone else’s fault; and she was too good to be working a menial job. Oh, well, I could read the story and give her an honest opinion.

The book had a number of problems.  The title had nothing to do with the story. The antagonist was addicted to drugs. She sold drugs to pay for her habit. She abuses her little dog. Not something I would want to read to a four or five year-old. The story did not flow from beginning to middle to end. The illustrations were not professional.

Were there any good points? Of course, there were. The elderly family member was perfectly portrayed and she loved the puppy. The journey home had good descriptions. Take out the drugs and animal abuse, tighten the structure, find a professional illustrator, and the story had potential. The writer refused to listen. This was her story and she was sticking with it.

Here’s my advice.

  1. Make sure your themes are appropriate for your genre. Search the web for criteria and the guidelines and stick with them. At some point you will be able to break the rules, but you have to know and understand the rules before you can break them.
  2. Find a good critique group and listen to the comments. You don’t have to accept everything, but valid criticism can help you avoid costly mistakes.
  3. Write. Rewrite. And rewrite again. Once through is not enough. I do at least a rough draft in longhand and a rewrite as I enter the story into the computer. Finally, I take the critiques and do a final edit. Then I proof read the entire work. Other writers have different methods, but I don’t know one successful author that stops with a single version of the story.
  4. If you don’t want honest, constructive opinions, don’t ask someone to read the work.
  5. Yes, it’s your story, but a little help from friends could make all the difference.
  6. Don’t blame others for your lack of success. Agents and editors don’t survive if they don’t sell or acquire. Make sure you, the author, have done everything in your power to provide the best product possible.
  7. Market your product. You may find you have to do the advertising and marketing for your book. You don’t have to spend a ton of money, but you do need a website, social media account, and maybe a blog. Post cards, book marks, and business cards are good too.
  8. Remember, you have the final say in the story. Make sure your voice is heard in a positive manner.
  9. Readers remember. If your work is sloppy, they probably won’t buy the next book.

Cait Collins

BATTLING THE BEAST

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BATTLING THE BEAST

I gaze into the eyes of the beast searching to find its soul. I am caught in the childhood game of “the first one who blinks looses,” yet he shows no emotion, no rising of brow, no blinking or shedding of tears, just a long menacing stare.

The creature’s leering eye grows brighter with every passing moment, seemingly intent on seeing the space of my existence. My vision is full of his sight, yet I see nothing.

I study his unrelenting look, my mind searching the far corners and deep recesses, constantly swirling, struggling to find some strategy, or weapon or even one simple word that might defeat my enemy and win this mind-numbing battle.

The desire to close my eyes tugs at the lids. The moisture surrounding my orbs in their sockets has become dry and I struggle against the urge to rub them. The creature shows no signs of weakening and continues to counter every glance.

Without my consent, sudden darkness is all I see. I blink. I am immediately torn between two emotions. First, relief. Moist droplets flood my eyes like waters of the sea crashing onto the shore. The fetters that once restrained the rubbing of my eyelids have now been unfastened.

And second, In the darkness of my blink, dread fills my mind as I wait for the wrath of my opponent to be unleashed. Or perhaps he has already struck with such a swift penalty that I didn’t feel the pain. In the deafening silence I dare to open my eyes. To my surprise I find that it was not I who blinked first, but the computer screen upon which I placed these words.

Rory C. Keel

The Zone

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POST CARDS FROM THE MUSE

The Zone

 One of my favorite places to go for lunch every day is The Zone. I take my lunch and my computer and I sit listening to words without any distraction.

The Zone is not a quiet place; in fact, there’s a lot of commotion and conversation going on. There’s so much happening that sometimes I have to struggle to get it all down before it’s over. Emotions and feelings float around the room as well as thoughts and ideas. It’s a place I love dearly and always feel a little surprised when I get to go there.

The Zone is inside my head and it’s a place where the real world ceases to exist. I can listen to what my characters have to say and why they say it. I can watch what they do and why they do it. And I hear their thoughts and why they think it. When The Zone happens I feel as though I’m watching a movie in my mind and simply taking dictation. And usually, this is when I do my best writing.

I wish I could give you directions to get to The Zone. I will give you some, but it’s the kind of place that hides in shadows, like an island covered with mist. Sometimes your ship lands there with no problems, sometimes the island jumps around hiding from you. But there are some steps you can take that will help you find it.

First, take advantage of the time of day you are the most creative. Mine happens to be during the lunch hour. Sometimes I really don’t feel like writing anything until I boot up that computer and open up the word processor. Occasionally this is all it takes to get to The Zone.

Next, write a sentence. I’m not being contrite or snotty. Writing a sentence, not even necessarily a good one, but any sentence can be one of the hardest parts of starting a new story. You know the story, or at least you know some of it, but that first few words can be so intimidating. So show them who’s boss by writing them. If they aren’t the right ones, fix them later.

After you get a sentence written, close your eyes and listen to the character your story is about. If he/she is talking, the rest will fall into place.

Before you know it, you will discover that you only have thirty seconds left to clock back in to work. You’ll feel as if you just woke from a dream, only there will be pages and pages of words on your computer screen. That’s when you’ll know you’ve had lunch at The Zone.

Congratulations. You have just received a post card from the muse.

Nandy Ekle

THE KEEPER OF THE DREAM

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THE KEEPER OF THE DREAM

by Sharon Stevens

Barbara Brannon of Texas Tech University Press and I were just visiting about Andy Griffith and “The Lost Colony” this past week. Paul Green wrote this symphonic drama as well as our own musical drama “TEXAS.”  There is no doubt in my mind that Griffith probably returned as often as he could and sneaked backstage to join the magic circle with the cast and crew that gathered there before the show.

In our area William Moore, the director of “TEXAS” would do the same. I can’t tell you the times he attended performances of the Canyon High School musicals or dramas and you could hear his booming voice echo ‘bravo’ for the kids from his seat in the audience.

And I bet the Moore’s, the Harpers, the Brantley’s, the Hess’, and the Raillard’s may have seen him perform as they traveled to all Green’s dramas throughout the country learning everything they could so that our rendition in the Pioneer Amphitheatre in Palo Duro Canyon would be as strong as it could be. Most all are gone now, and may they all rest in peace after a job well done. But I will always wonder if it’s a coincidence that Griffith died on July 3rd and this is the same date on the letter Margaret Harper wrote to Paul Green asking him to consider coming to our area to see what he could do. The rest is truly history, just as “The Lost Colony” and its 75th year.

Where would we be without all those who touched our lives and inspired our hearts? They are truly keepers of our dreams. And their legacy reminds us to be keepers as well.

Bravo Andy Griffith!

Sharon Stevens

The Five

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Outtakes 49

 The Five

The 2012 Frontiers in Writing conference was a success. Maybe the numbers were down, but the attendees received more one-on-one time with the speakers. We had a number of first time conference attendees, and that’s always good. Seasoned writers need to encourage and support the new blood. I was blessed to have the opportunity to renew acquaintances and catch up with friends. I also picked up some good advice from award winning writers.

  1.  Writing is a business; treat it as such. Most of us have full time jobs, families, personal commitments; yet we manage to get the kids to school on time and clock in by 8. The same rules apply to our writing jobs. Dress for your writing hours. Go into your office and shut the door. Answer your writing email and ignore all other messages. Write until quitting time, and then go home.
  2. Set your writing goals. Not every writer wants to be widely published. If your goal is to write your family history, that’s great. Are stories for your children and grandchildren your dream? Go for it! Just write it correctly. Learn proper grammar and punctuation. Read books on style, structure, and characterization. But if you want to see your books on the shelves, you must work toward that goal. Spend time educating yourself on publishing law, publishing trends, and genres. Find a writer’s group, a critique group, and attend a conference. Write and rewrite to make your work the best it can be. Do your homework before submitting to agents and editors.
  3. Accept the possibility you will be rejected. I hate being negative, but there’s a lot of competition out there. Agents and editors are looking for sales and acquisitions, and there are just not that many spots. DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED. Listen to multi-published authors regarding rejection. They’ve been there and can sympathize. Just remember that you are in good, talented company.
  4. Know when to say no. I listened to John Erickson talk about his HANK THE COWDOG series. He recently released the 59th book in the franchise. With HANK, he has created a character that appeals to children and adults. He will not allow his character to be trashed or turned into something less than it is now. He has turned down good money in order to protect his creation. I applaud his integrity. As a writer, you must decide whether the financial gain is worth compromising your work. You must be sure you can live with the consequences of your choice.
  5. This lesson comes from a bubbly, witty, lady. Talk about someone who juggles writing, her entertainment journalism job, family, and commitments! Candace Havens has more deadlines than I could manage. She’s well qualified to make this statement. “No excuses. Put your butt in the chair, your fingers on the keyboard, and write.” Enough said.

Cait Collins

WRITING CONTESTS BENEFITS

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Writing Contests Benefits

It cost money; why should I enter? What benefit will a contest be for my writing and me? I’m not good enough so I’ll never win.

Those who are looking at entering writing contests frequently express these statements and questions. I know, I’ve asked most of them myself.

Having entered my share of writing contests, let me offer some positive benefits from my personal experience.

  1. Training for working with deadlines – Writing contests give a writer the opportunity to work under a deadline. Most contests will have strict dates for submitting an entry. This is good conditioning for working with agents, editors, and publishers who will place deadlines on your writing.
  2. Provides automatic platform – A platform is your audience, those who will read your writing. While your mother and “BFF” will gladly volunteer readership, contest judges can provide you with an unbiased and anonymous audience for your writing. And who knows, the judge may be an agent, editor or publisher.
  3. Gain feedback – One of the most valuable benefits of a writing contest is the critique. To have the judge’s comments noting any mistakes, suggestions for improvement and yes, even praise can help improve your writing.
  4. Build your portfolio – Writing contests are a perfect why to build your portfolio. When seeking an agent or publisher, a few writing clips, accomplishments and certificates may be the edge you need to sell the deal.
  5. Increase your confidence – Entering a contest gives a writer the opportunity to gain confidence in their writing. Have you ever written something only to tear it up or hide it in a drawer? Have you ever said, “I could never write good enough to be published!” A writing contest provides an inexpensive way to test the waters of being an author.
  6. Avoid scam contests – As with most everything, there are people who take advantage of others. Before entering a contest, research the person or organization holding the contest and make sure they are legitimate. There are a few contests that are no more than book selling scams. When your entry wins, it is accepted for publication in an anthology, with all of the other first place winners, then you must pay an outrageous price to obtain a copy. Winningwriters.com lists a few of these writing contests to avoid. To help find your next contest check out www.placesforwriters.com or www.fundsforwriters.com
Rory C. Keel

Frontiers in Writing 2012

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2012 Frontiers in Writing Conference

By Natalie Bright

Ladies and gentlemen,

The 2012 Frontiers in Writing Conference is finished, wrapped up, sealed in a box. And what a conference it was! We were graced by such huge names as Phyliss Miranda, Hilary Sares, Candace Havens and Jodi Thomas, as well as local PPW talents such as Jeff Campbell, Joe Trent, and Mary Lou Cheatham. If you missed it, you missed a treasure trove of information, support and inspiration.

It is with great pleasure that we declare the 2012 FiW Conference an absolute success.

Watch panhandleprowriters.org for more information.