Category Archives: Cait Collins

Kids and Books

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Outtakes 223

Kids and Books

By Cait Collins

I’ve really tried to keep causes out of my blogs, but I hope you will indulge me this week. I realize times have changed, but as we see academic scores dropping and kids having trouble excelling in school, I have come to believe we have an issue with reading. I see kids being held back in school because their reading skills are not where they should be. They are not dumb children; they simply can’t read well.

I grew up in an environment where reading was encouraged. My folks bought the Grolier Encyclopedia, Book of Knowledge, and ChildCraft for us. They bought the books on a payment plan because they wanted us to have easy access to information. I remember Mom or Dad gathering us in the big chair and reading to us. As I got older and could read on my own, I would spend hours reading and studying these volumes.

These days books are not always present in the home. Often the family budget does not stretch to purchasing books. And if parents are not readers, it could be difficult for a child to see the need to read. Unfortunately, the child suffers because the inability to read well slows the learning process. For this reason, I support efforts to get books into a child’s hands.

One of my favorite programs is Toys for Tots. Every Christmas, the Barnes and Noble Store in Amarillo selects books for kids of all ages. The titles are suggestions for customers who wish to purchase books for the toy drive. Or the patrons may prefer to browse the shelves for some of their childhood favorites. Book donations are also accepted by the Evelyn Richards Foundation, a local charitable group that works to provide coats and Christmas for children in our area. It may not seem like a big deal to those of us who grew up reading, but giving a child a book of his own may be the beginning of new adventures and better learning opportunities.

Why not volunteer for Story Hour at your local library or bookstore? Maybe we could mentor in the local schools. As writers, we should be at the forefront of supporting efforts to put books in the home and in schools. Maybe we can’t change the whole world, but at least we can make an inroad in our corner of it.

 

Customer Service

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Outtakes 236

Customer Service

By Cait Collins

 

I have worked in customer services industries most of my career. I believe in the concept of providing the very best service to clients. That’s why I appreciate businesses that focus on the customer. It’s the reason I enjoy shopping at Barnes and Noble. Every time I’m in the store, at least one bookseller approaches me and offers assistance. Not one associate is too busy to stop stocking shelves to help me find special titles. And if the book is not in stock, it will be ordered. Even during busy seasons when the store is packed, I’m still treated as if I’m the only customer in the store.

This type of service is, in part, due to excellent training. But I believe success is due to hiring people who love books. Their associates want to pass on their passion for reading. Enthusiasm breeds enthusiasm. And it shows when the customer purchases more than just one book. In fact, I often have to step back and edit my selections because my simple request results in multiple returns. Instead of one book or magazine dedicated to my subject, I have five or six publications.

Recently, I witnessed a member of the B&N management team work with a young man who wanted to know more about a well-known Western figure. There wasn’t much available, but the manager kept pulling books and checking indexes and tables of content for any references to the character. That’s service and that is why I keep going back. I like being made to feel important.

While I appreciate being provided good service when I patronize a business, I also enjoy authors who consistently provide a good read. I look forward to their next book and often pre-order to ensure I don’t miss out on a few hours of escape. These authors inspire me to do my very best so that one day, I will be in their company. After all, a good story is good customer service.

Strange Characters

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Outtakes 235

Strange Characters

By Cait Collins

 

I have decided the most unusual characters are automobiles, bureaucrats, and political candidates. Take automobiles for example. People name their cars! Why? It’s an inanimate object. But vehicles do have personalities. I had an Escort that had a tricky gear shift. If it got too cold, the shift would lock down. Replacing the senor wasn’t cheap, so what to name it? I’ll call it Gigolo. Now days cars have so many bells and whistles, something’s bound to go wrong. I think Unreliable fits well.

Then there are the bureaucrats who consider themselves above everyone else. Doesn’t matter how badly they mess up, or how their stupidity creates messes, it always some rank and file guy who is responsible. Instead of accepting responsibility for their actions, they threaten some hard working man’s job if demands are not met immediately. Mr. Irresponsible makes the headlines and looks like the jerk he is. I think I’ve met this guy more than once. He’s the antagonist in one of my novels.

My favorite of this group of misfits is politicians. Yeah, promise everything, deliver nothing. I think I watch the debates just to get a good laugh. Sadly, these fast talkers actually make people believe they can cure the ills of the world. When I vote, I have no illusions that my candidate is squeaky clean; he’s just the least objectionable person. I call this person Unforgiveable.

So what’s this got to do with writing? Try this, Irresponsible and Unforgiveable arrange a meeting in the parking lot of a neighborhood Big Box Store. Irresponsible suggests they take a ride in Gigolo, and discuss campaign strategy. Of course Irresponsible will support Unforgiveable if, here’s the rub, if Unforgiveable will guarantee a high level position in the administration. Remember the slogan, Promise everything, and deliver nothing. Unforgiveable promises Irresponsible he will be named the Director of the Treasury when the election is over. Unfortunately, Unforgiveable is battling scandals. Before the election Unforgiveable is in prison for murder and spying. Poor Irresponsible is left out in the cold having spent all his money on getting a corrupt politician elected. He winds up on the street homeless and begging for pennies. Sounds like a fitting end to me.

Rocks

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Outtakes 234

Rocks

By Cait Collins

I love rocks, minerals, crystals, and gemstones. Each one has its own beauty. Even river-tumbled stones possess color, texture, and properties. My interest in rocks began with a good earth science teacher who believed in practical application of classroom lectures. I began searching roadsides and riverbeds for quartz, feldspar, granite, marble, and gold. Never found the gold, but I did have a collection going. One of my favorite pieces was a goods sized rock with varying shades of quartz growing up one side. I carried that rock from Maine to Louisiana to Amarillo, Texas. Over the years, my interest in collecting waned. I developed other interests and rocks fell by the wayside.

I recently began working on a new story with a hero who designs jewelry and his best friend who is a prospector and gem broker. My interest in collecting has reawakened. I’m not referring to gems and jewelry as much as to the science and history of rocks and gems.

Gems are a part of history. The Bible in the book of Exodus describes the breastplate of the High Priest as being set with four rows of stones with three stones in each row. Among the gems are diamond, emerald, sapphire, agate, amethyst, beryl, onyx, and jasper. Zircon is one of the oldest recorded minerals. The diamond mines of South Africa are legendary not only for the quality and size of the stones, but also for the violent history. Faberge eggs are still sought after. The deep blue Hope Diamond is cursed. Opals are bad luck unless they happen to be your birthstone. Columbian emeralds smuggled aboard the Atocha were recovered by Mel Fisher’s crew in the late 20th century.

Crystals and minerals are reported to have healing properties. Verities’ of quartz are said to be beneficial for depression, migraine, insomnia, lupus, blood pressure, and vision. Blue opal is good for panic, phobias, vision, and fatigue. Moonstones help vision, sleepwalking, internal organs, veins, and arteries.

So, if your heroine is Wician, it’s important to know her Zodiac sign and the associated minerals, gems, and rocks. A religious historian would be familiar with gem use in worship ceremonies. The characters will look beyond the origins and science to find a relationship to his namesake. He sees the romance and not just the monetary value.

 

Characters and Careers

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Outtakes 232

Characters and Careers

by Cait Collins

Characters don’t just sit around all day shooting the breeze. They have jobs, careers, and education. But where do you start in researching careers? If you know someone in the profession, make an appointment to discuss the job description, education, salary, perks, lingo, attire and so forth. But if you don’t have access to an expert in the field, there are other sources to help you out.

When I first began writing fiction, I knew I would need handy resources. Writer’s Digest released Careers for Your Characters by Raymond Obstfeld and Franz Neumann a number of years ago. It’s one of the first books I purchased for my library. The volume covers 101 professions providing good information on common careers and some not so common ones. It’s has helped me better define some of my characters. Unfortunately, it doesn’t provide information on jewelry design and gemology. So it’s time to punt.

I started with pulling information from my college geology classes and labs. What equipment did I need for my hero? What would he have in his kit? Would he do some prospecting on his own? What is the process for filing a claim? And as the writer, what did I need to learn to create this character?

My local Barnes and Noble Booksellers provided a number of books for my research. Tom Jackson’s What’s that ROCK or MINERAL? guided me in rock and mineral identification. Smithsonian Nature Guide Rocks and Minerals by Ronald Louis Bonewitz provided information on gem properties and locations. Gemstone Settings by Anastasia Young gave me insight on the types of settings and lingo. I began comparing some of my personal jewelry with the designs in the book so that I could describe the various pieces in my hero’s line.

I then hit the internet to learn what gems one could find in Colorado. I also found fee sights where I could go to pan for gold and sluice for gems and minerals. I may need to make a trip to the state to put my book knowledge to work so that I can accurately describe the panning process.

What do I hope to gain from this research? I will be able to create more dynamic characters, settings and description. And in turn I will hopefully give the reader a really great story.

 

Valentine’s Day

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Outtakes 233

Valentine’s Day

by Cait Collins

 

I write romantic suspense and women’s fiction, so I assumed I could write a great love story. Guess again. Writing a love story is not easy. It’s difficult to find the balance between cheesy and trashy. In some ways, I prefer the old days when romance didn’t mean falling into bed on the first date. Love is more than sex. It’s the development of a relationship from the first, sometimes awkward, meeting to the first date. Falling into like and then choosing to love someone. It’s committing to the love and allowing it to grow until the needs and dreams of one become a part of the partner’s needs and dreams. It’s walking into life’s sunset hand in hand and holding on until, as the vows say, death do us part.

But love lives on and the surviving partner opens the heart to new horizons and to new possibilities knowing the comforts and blessings of commitment. So, how does the writer approach writing a real love story? With respect and caution. One cannot be jaded or cynical. The writer has to look at the good and the bad in a relationship and honestly interweave them into the tale. The high points of the relationship must be celebrated and the lows must be faced and resolved. The telling must be truthful and explore the human side of the relationship.

So, I will never write a real love story. Not because I feel incapable of the task, but because I’m a romantic. I believe in romance. I like the idea of being cherished and appreciated. I believe in creating a haven for the one I love. He deserves a shelter from the pressures of life. Yes, I believe in happily ever after. And I know my view, my dream is not realistic.

Sleepless Nights

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Outtakes 231

Sleepless Nights

by Cait Collins

Have you ever had one of those nights when you just couldn’t fall asleep? Or do you wake up at odd hours and can’t go back to sleep? Instead of tossing and turning, try writing. It’s strange how easily details appear when you’re in that state between sleep and fully awake.

This morning I finally met the older brother, one of the secondary characters in my new novel Three x Three. I knew Ben had to make at least an appearance, but was he a good guy or a resentful jerk? I discovered his true nature in the scene where he is reunited with his younger brother Sean. A part of me thought he would be a jerk, but instead he’s really a nice guy, He’s the kind of man you’d want your sister to meet and love.

At times we tend to force our characters into the rolls we think they should have. Unfortunately, we put them into the wrong role. Instead, we should let the role develop on its own. By allowing the character to evolve in to his own person, we build a better character and a better story.

Now if I can only keep my antagonist in line.

Check It Out

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Outtakes 230

Check It Out

by Cait Collins

I was rather upset by a comment made the other day regarding writers who do not check their facts. I was purchasing a number of books and magazines on gems, minerals, and jewelry making for more information on the career of one of my characters. The clerk commented I must be really into rocks and jewelry. I explained I was doing some research for my new book. Her response was “Thank you. I do some editing and I can’t believe how many writers expect the editor to do the fact-checking.”

Really? I can’t believe writers would put something on paper and not check the facts. I prefer to think that we take the time to learn what we don’t know. For example, would anyone start a story about a doctor and not know the basics of education, office set up and regulations regarding the practice of medicine? Would we be willing to tarnish our reputation just to get the book finished?

We are responsible for what we put on paper. I have a situation in a novel regarding the purchase of several tracts of land with the stipulation the former owners could buy the land back in five years. Only the buy-back did not include the water and mineral rights. Was this possible? Absolutely. How did I learn about this? Book and on-line research combined with discussions with experts in the field. And with on-line resources, it’s easy to do the research.

While we have more up-to-date information at hand, I still prefer books. I purchased a detailed book on gems, cuts, faceting, settings, and designs. While I have done some rock collecting and panning, I need details so that my character is real.

I also believe in experience. Writing a western? Go west. Sign on as a ranch hand, and if you don’t ride a horse, learn. Pick up the cowboy lingo.

Find a fee site and learn to pan for gold. (You get to keep what you find.)

Is your hero a rock climber? Find a beginner’s location and scale the cliff. Become familiar with the rigging and terminology.

Proper research builds better settings, richer dialog, and more exciting characters. By paying attention to details, we portray ourselves as true professionals who take responsibility for the words we put on the page. We make the editor’s job easier and we reduce the amount of editing needed to make a project press-ready. Good research permits the author to put one project to be and start a new work.

 

Balancing Act

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Outtakes 229

Balancing Act

by Cait Collins

I’m having an issue with balancing my writing tasks. I start working on the edits for one novel, and realize I’m behind on writing new chapters for the current work. I can’t decide if my memoir is complete as is or does it need one more chapter. And what about that idea for another work? Sometime I feel as if I’m creatively tapped out. So how do I balance career, my creative side, and my editor side?

Maybe I can clone myself into three or four personas and get the work done. Only I’m not sure I’d get much more done. You see clones might have personalities that war with the other clones. Perhaps the editor clone wants to become the romantic suspense writer. And then the romantic suspense writer wants to write memoirs. And then the memoir writer clone wants to quit writing completely.

Time for plan B. Set up a schedule. Write on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Work edits on Tuesday and Thursday. Saturday and Sunday are reserved for cleaning house, worship, and family. The solution isn’t perfect and will probably need adjustments along the way, but it’s a start toward reducing the stress I often feel when trying to juggle too many tasks.

Please Proofread

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Outtakes 228

Please Proofread

by Cait Collins

Whatever happened to proofreading? I get emails from business associates that are full of errors. Business letters are conversational instead of professional. Even books contain typo’s. Be honest, social media has contributed to the sloppy presentations. I might send a text message to a sister asking “R u going…”, but I would never text my manager saying “Flat tire. B in when fixed.” Poor grammar and casual conversation is not the image I want to portray in my business communications. A few extra minutes to confirm my correspondence is grammatically correct and in the proper business style will protect my image. I will also ask a co-worker to “snark check”on emails written when I’m upset. Again, protect the image.

By the same token, I would not send a manuscript to an agent or editor without careful proofreading. Because I’m close to the work I might not catch every misspelling or misused punctuation mark. So I rely on my critique group and beta readers to check me so that the final product is the best I can provide. Failure to properly proof the submission could result in rejection of the manuscript. But worse, in my opinion, would be acquiring a reputation for being lazy and careless.

When we complete the edits on a chapter or an article, why not take a few minutes to print the pages and read the work out loud to check for errors? Often it’s easier to hear the mistake than to see it. The writer should employ the proofreading method that works best for him in order to develop a reputation for being both accurate and professional. While a clean submission is no guarantee of a contract, it will up the odds in your favor.