Learn from Every Possible Source. Good writing can be learned from many different venues, yet one of the keys to application of this principle is your attitude. Successful writers commit to a continual path of growth for their craft.
-W. Terry Whalin
POST CARDS FROM THE MUSE
Okay With Crazy
By Nandy Ekle
Writers are a special breed of people. We are the people who see worlds in a speck of dust. We hear voices in our heads and we dissect ideas and words looking for connections and meanings.
We even have our own jargon. We stay away from echoes and rabbit trails. We love conflict and critiques. Flawed heroes, lovable villains, inciting incidents, supporters, resolutions, arcs, macguffin, even white spaces are common topics when we all get together.
At a writing conference, meeting and connecting with other writers is one of the most satisfying things in the world, especially when the writers at the conference share interest in the same genre. Imagine a room full of people discussing how much blood they splash around in a year at the horror writers’ conference. Or a room of people discussing all the love affairs they orchestrate at the romance writers’ conference. At a mystery writers’ conference you might hear talk of secrets and clues, or you’ll probably hear conversations about UFO sightings and time travel at the science fiction writers’ conference.
It’s so satisfying to be able to open up and talk about ideas and scenes, style and word choice, even names and voices with other people and have them understand exactly what you mean. I invite you to discuss your writing life here with me. I love talking about words, topics, genres. Pour your heart out and I’ll listen and smile because I know exactly what you mean.
Congratulations. You have just received a post card from the muse.
We built a ship upon the stairs
All made of the back-bedroom chairs,
And filled it full of sofa pillows
To go a-sailing on the billows.
—Robert Louis Stevenson
Here’s to discovering your inner child of fun and writing more stories in the New Year!
Outtakes 180
FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD
By Cait Collins
I love the holidays. The hustle and bustle, social events, end-of-the-school-term concerts make me happy. But there is one thing I hate…food, glorious food.
I’m not officially on a diet, but I am trying to watch what and how much I eat. I definitely do not want to gain back the ten pounds I lost last fall. So what do you do when everywhere you look there is food?
It’s so unfair. Your co-workers bring goodies from their kitchens and let you know to help yourself. If you don’t partake, feelings are hurt. However, if I eat, my backside suffers. Is there no middle ground?
This is a sampling of the holiday feasting.
It started before Thanksgiving with a food day at work. I don’t remember the menu, but I do recall the table being overloaded and the team eating from the start of the day to the end of the shift.
Then there was family Thanksgiving at the church building. (The kitchen is bigger than at any of our homes and we can all sit together.) Let’s see, turkey, lots of turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, dressing, salad, pickles, olives, dinner rolls, candied yams, desserts; more food than any of us could or should eat. We all took leftovers home.
December rolled around and the parties started. My sister’s jewelry party provided chips, dips, crackers and cream cheese spread, apple slices, grapes, pineapple chunks.
A shopping trip ended in dinner out with two of my nephews. Shrimp was a great change of pace. The congregation’s holiday adult party was catered. I could not eat everything on my plate. Nor could I sample all the home cooked brunch fare the morning after the party. And we brown-bagged dinner the night we filled the holiday baskets for our shut-ins.
Family Christmas dinner was early so that we could all be together before kids left to spend the holiday with their dads. The scent of Mexican food filled the church fellowship hall as we scarffed enchiladas, tamales, queso and chips, fajitas, and desserts.
The day before my vacation began we celebrated our short association with co-workers from our Manila office. The tables in the conference room were loaded with Mexican food. Everything from queso to taco soup tempted the stomach.
My sisters and I celebrated December birthdays with Cheryl’s famous chicken salad sandwiches, chips, and ice cream. Then I joined my in-laws for filet minion on Christmas Eve. Janet made stew on Christmas day, and New Year’s Eve, we waited for the end of 2014 with snacks and desserts. New Year’s day, I spent quietly eating grilled chicken and black-eyed peas.
Man, was I glad to see the holidays end.
You’d think the New Year would bring an end to the obsession with food. Not so my friends. The food train continues to roll with homemade goodies making their way to the food cube at work. And on Friday, there is another food day.
Mexican food.
Again.
I raise my eyes heavenward. “Please, Lord, make it stop,” I beg. “I’ve had enough of food, glorious food.”
In the musical Oliver, Oliver and his friends sang of Food, Glorious Food because he and the other orphans were starving. I complain because there’s too much of a good thing. The point is anything you dream can be a story.
Writing Endorsements
By Rory C. Keel
Ask for endorsements from readers that enjoyed your writing. Simply say something like, “Would you provide me with a positive comment I could use as a testimonial for my book?”
Use the positive comments as headlines for your writing on your website and other promotional materials such as bookmarks and brochures.
Take note of unsolicited positive comments and remarks about your writing in e-mails and personal conversations. If individuals say something positive about your writing, ask to quote them.
Collect testimonials in a notebook and you will have them readily available when promoting your writing, stories and books.
Realize that testimonials from your readers will generate excitement and create interest in your work and draw more readers for your material.
One Writer Lifting Others
By Natalie Bright
Towards the end of the year, I attended the funeral of a bestselling author from Amarillo. Guided by an obsession for the written word, she not only wrote novels and short stories, but worked as a school librarian, taught writing at the community college, and edited stories for those blessed to cross her path.
Her desire to help others was immeasurable and boundless. I was fortunate enough to have heard her speak several times, and her ability to inspire others is unforgettable. On occasion, I’d receive an email or note card from this lady with just the right message that propelled me onward. My bulletin board is dotted with her little pearls of kindness. Seeing myself through her eyes, I could reach my dreams. She not only motivated us, she made us braver.
In addition to the usual eulogy and music, a dear friend and critique partner of 35 years shared the story of her writing journey. Following that, her son-in-law spoke, and that’s when I realized there was much that I didn’t know about this woman. This young man told us about his “white mama”. As a black man married to her only daughter, he shared how his mother-in-law’s love for him had no limits. During one of the lowest points in his life, he treasures their talks about life and how her faith and belief in him made him a better man.
This remarkable young man’s mother spoke next. She shared how grateful she was to this family for accepting and loving her son during a troubling time in his life. She spoke of having a special bond with this white family that can never be broken and had no color boundaries.
Both testimonies were heart wrenching. She was living proof that the power of one loving heart can accept and affect others. The resolve of one writer to keep writing can guide others to do the same. Remembering the life of this talented lady makes me proud to be a part of a special writing community, and to have the ability to live and work in the Texas Panhandle.
Rest in Peace dear Dewanna.
In addition to a lengthy career in education, DeWanna Pace also penned twenty books and six anthologies. One of her life-long dreams was to write for HARLEQUIN. At the time of her sudden passing, she was working on a new series for Harlequin Love Inspired.
Update: A book launch will be held in Dewanna’s honor to introduce her most recent book published by Harlequin; THE DADDY LIST. Please join local authors and friends for a life celebration on March 7, 2:00 to 4:00 PM, at Barnes and Noble Booksellers, 2415 Soncy Road, Amarillo.
POST CARDS FROM THE MUSE
Look Around
By Nandy Ekle
Last night was critique night. We sat around the conference table and presented our stories to the group, then we gave some constructive ideas of how to make the stories better. My dear friend’s story reminded me of something I guess I had forgotten during the chaotic days of what I call “Hallowthanksmas” (which I’m stealing from a greeting card I once read). My friend’s story was a humorous piece about all the eating we do during that period of time.
Her story was charming, well written, timely and very enjoyable. But the thing I got from the story was the reminder that every moment of every day is something to write about. There are stories in successes and frustrations, no matter how trivial they may seem. There are histories of objects around you. There are adventures of even getting out of your chair to walk to the trash can.
One day, back when I was an office manager for two businesses, there was a minor crisis with the fax machine and the postage machine. The whole entire episode lasted about 30 minutes, but when it was resolved, a cute picture came in my head where the postage machine gained a personality and hijacked the fax machine to enjoy a day of freedom on the phone lines and cyberspace.
I also wrote a short essay one time describing the shrieking blizzard taking place outside the window. I’ve written deep explicit descriptions of a room while waiting for an appointment. I’ve even written stories about how my inspiration to write something shriveled up and died on the floor in front of me like a pet.
So I’m passing my reminder on to you, my readers. The challenge is to find one moment today that makes you say, “There’s a story there.” Go ahead and post your story in the comments below and share it with the rest of us. Who knows, it could be the start of something bigger.
Congratulations. You have just received a post card from the muse.
Outtakes 178
Into the Woods
By Cait Collins
I enjoy movies and stage plays. The ingenuity of set designers for the two mediums, special effects, and costume designer along with the actors’ interpretations of the characters and the directors’ visions make for interesting entertainment. When a story is presented as both a play and a movie, you can have a real treat.
I saw Into the Woods on stage several years ago at the Amarillo Little Theater. ALT has a reputation for presenting both family friendly and more adventurous plays. I have never been disappointed in a production by the ALT team. Into the Woods falls into the more adult realm. It is a fractured fairy tale with themes not necessarily suitable for young children. The director and his cast broke the darkness with humor. In one scene, the two princes were a bit over the top in their duet, which was fine. That fit the directors’ interpretation of the playwright’s words.
The new Disney version is equally interesting. The cast is top notch, the music fantastic, the scene and set design amazing, and the photography out of this world. While special effects were involved, they did not overwhelm the production. I enjoyed the movie version every bit as much as the stage play.
The Disney Studios are masters of animation and live action entertainment. As a child I cheered when Cinderella married the prince. Both characters were perfect. They had no flaws. On the other hand, the stepmother and stepsisters had no redeeming qualities. Into the Woods also presents the stepsisters and stepmother as void of good. However, both the Prince and Cinderella are allowed flaws. In so doing, they are more believable. Even Red Riding Hood is more than a cardboard character. While the animated version is great for kids, it’s not satisfying for adults. Grown-ups know people have both good and bad qualities.
Writers must use this knowledge to craft characters that are real and multi-dimensional. Even the most evil character has at least one redeeming quality. Maybe he loves and cares for his kids. Perhaps it’s a soft spot for his mother. The author must employ all the character’s traits to make him or her grounded and alive. As I learned from Into the Woods, even Prince Charming had his weakness. And I liked him better for the flaw.
Write The Book
By Rory C. Keel
With the New Year off to a blazing fast start, many people who have made their New Year’s resolutions are now on their way to succeeding while others have already thought about throwing in the towel of quitting. This year my goal is to complete my Novel UNLAWFUL WORDS without quitting.
You’re a Quitter!
I consulted my dictionary for the meaning of the word quitter. When I turned the page and looked at the definition I saw the outline of my face beginning to form beside the word, metaphorically speaking. It read, “A quitter is a person who gives up easily and does not have the determination to finish the task before him.”
I think about how many times in the past I’ve wanted to finish my book and haven’t. This year I need to finish my book.
The need to write the book
Is it a passing fad or a one-time flash-in-the-pan idea? Does the story touch the heart and mind, or carry a message that would inform, change or move mankind in a positive direction? The answers to these questions can make a difference in the motivation or need of a writer to finish a project, or it can stop them completely.
Driving me to write this book is a personal need to share the story of an honest man who finds himself on the wrong side of right. When the truth is revealed, he faces severe persecution and death itself while seeking redemption.
Lets be real.
What makes this year different than last year? If the world continues to turn, this year will have the same amount of time as the last, but the difference is having a plan. With organization, scheduling of writing time, and other distractions eliminated or minimized, I can visualize success this year.
Nothing comes without a cost
To write a book is not free. There will be a sacrifice of time, a must have in order to write. There may even be certain individuals who need to be weeded out, or places avoided and distractions to the writing mind need to be removed. This will be a conscious effort to de-clutter and streamline everyday life, shall we say, “spring-cleaning” the closet of life.
With determination not to be found in the dictionary beside the word quitter, the proper motivation, plan and willingness to pay the price, let’s do this!
Book Review: Writing Down the Bones
By Natalie Bright
Over the holidays I read Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg, poet, painter, book author, and creative writing instructor on the Zen practice of writing. I’m so thankful that I did not read this as a newbie writer; it wouldn’t have meant so much way back then.
The Why isn’t Important
Presented in short chapters covering varied topics, Goldberg makes the point to dig deep into your writing. It’s an intense process where the writer has to step outside of themselves and just write, and it’s enough that we want to. Just do it. Psychologists can sort out the why—wow! Thank you, thank you Ms. Goldberg. Isn’t that a relief to know? And she gives us this great Hemingway quote: “Not the why, but the what.”
Don’t be a Goody Two-Shoes
One paragraph in particular really made me rethink this crazy process. In the section titled “The Goody Two-Shoes Nature” Goldberg talks about the age old rule of writing every day. She points out that some people go through the motions and follow this rule religiously, but does their writing improve? Is this a waste of time and energy if you stress yourself over staring at a blank screen? Instead, Goldberg suggests you are allowed to stay away, if your heart’s not into writing. Come back when you’re on fire for that WIP, when you’re “hungry to say something.” Don’t just put in the time, but put some heart into your effort as well.
Finding the Fire
I’ve been working on a picture book idea, which isn’t many words but every single word must be the absolute right word. I’ve read it a zillion times. Instead of staring at the manuscript every day during the holidays, I watched movies, cooked, re-arranged Christmas decorations more than once, and made a huge dent in my TBR pile of books. When I finally got a quiet morning to sit down at the keyboard, I was on fire for that story. It had been simmering in my head for several weeks and I stayed with it most of that day. That was a productive writing session and wow, what a great feeling. Writing is fun! I can hardly wait for critique meeting, so I can get everyone’s opinion.
If you read any story craft book in the new year, this is the one. You MUST add this to your writing reference library in 2015 and ASAP.
Hope you have a happy and productive 2015, and thanks for following us on WordsmithSix!
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