Category Archives: Cait Collins

Reality

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Outtakes 217

Reality

by Cait Collins

I was working on the final edits of my memoir, First Love, Forever Love, when I realized the book was not finished. It needed something else. The last two chapters were entitled The Promise and the Dream. But what about the reality? There had to be a resolution; a return to Maine and the sea.

The problem with reality is the fear of disappointment, or the fear of the real thing not measuring up to the dream and the memories. .In the ten months of planning for the return trip I never lost a sense of foreboding. I refused to get too excited because I didn’t want something to happen that would derail my return north. I wanted to go, but what if it wasn’t everything I had hoped for?

I arrived to beautiful weather, but not fall color. A warm, dry summer delayed the turning of the leaves. Although disappointed, I had to admit the varying shades of green were beautiful. We had good sailing weather and good winds. The Mary Day cut the water like a champ. It was invigorating. And there were those spectacular sunrises and sunsets. Nothing could be more glorious. Disappointed? Not on your life. The reality was every bit as good as the dream.

And now I get to write the final chapter of the memoir. I just hope I do justice to reality.

Writing Muscles

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Outtakes 216

Writing Muscles

By Cait Collins

 

I learned a number of things during my vacation. I think the most telling was I don’t exercise enough. I did a lot of walking on less than level streets and climbed up and down ladders and stairs. By the end of the trip I was hurting. So I resolve to exercise more so that I don’t punish my body when I travel or have an adventure.

Just like our bodies deteriorate from a lack of exercise, our writing skills can suffer from a lack of use. Too often we use the same formula when we begin a new project? What if we changed the routine? Could the story be more exciting or could the different turn propel us to new avenues for our careers? Is the risk worth the potential results? Maybe the better question would be what if we never take a risk? Will the failure to explore possibilities actually be detrimental to success?

Work your voice. Not the one that verbally articulates your thoughts, but the voice that is uniquely you. Craig Johnson, author of the Longmire series has a style that advertises the author. You only have to read a few paragraphs to recognize the style and hand-picked word choices. That’s what we all need and want – – a voice that promotes our individual style and personality.

We must also exercise our basic skills of grammar, vocabulary, characterization, plot and description. We can not become lazy and complacent in these areas. When the primary elements become weak, the whole work suffers. For this reason, I play with lists, colors, unusual situations, and new characters. I recommend 642 Things to Write About and 712 More Things to Write About by the San Francisco Writers’ Grotto. The books provide fabulous exercises to stretch, mold, strengthen and sculpt our skills.

Just as flabby and weak muscles are not good for the body, underdeveloped skills do not make for good writing. Resolve now to work the skills that lead to better and more fulfilling work.

 

Lazy Day

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Outtakes 215

Lazy Day

By Cait Collins

 

This is one of those days when writing does not compute. I am relaxing on the deck of the Mary Day, a beautiful windjammer. We are sailing Penobscot Bay in Maine. The fall colors are glorious. No phones, radios, television sets, no computers interrupt my communing with nature. I am at peace. My only thought at this moment is the promise of a fresh lobster dinner.

I’ll write something tomorrow.

 

Lazy Day

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Outtakes 215

Lazy Day

By Cait Collins

 

This is one of those days when writing does not compute. I am relaxing on the deck of the Mary Day, a beautiful windjammer. We are sailing Penobscot Bay in Maine. The fall colors are glorious. No phones, radios, television sets, no computers interrupt my communing with nature. I am at peace. My only thought at this moment is the promise of a fresh lobster dinner.

I’ll write something tomorrow.

 

Lists

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Outtakes 214

Lists

By Cait Collins

 

I love lists. I can’t take a trip, plan a party, or shop for special occasions without making a least one list. Folks laugh at my purse-size notebooks, but I do stay organized and I don’t forget what I need to buy or pack. I even keep a mini-ledger to track my spending so that I stay on budget.

The question is, “What do my lists have to do with writing?” There are a couple of applications. While lists keep me organized in my personal life, I cannot write from outlines. I have writer friends who need the structure of an outline and detailed character sketches. I know others who write by the seat of their pants. Lack of structure could potentially create pitfalls for the author. On the other hand, too many details can stifle creativity. Personally, I enjoy the discussions I have with my characters. Their point of view has helped me rework scenes. Sometimes I win and sometimes I lose, but the conversations are fund.

While I don’t outline or track turning points, I do keep some lists and notes. Pulitzer Prize winning author, Michael Cunningham, taught an advanced writing group the importance of lists. One exercise was to make a list of 20 physical characteristics of our hero. The characteristics were to employ the five senses. When the list was complete, we were to write the opening paragraph to our story and use six of those items in the opening. I was amazed at how alive the hero became. When having problems creating vibrant characters, I employ this method and it does help me rework the scenes around the characters.

Different writing personalities must find an organization method that works for them. There is really no right or wrong way to structure a story. A rough draft might be an outline. Or a timeline can keep the author focused. The most important thing is to write the story.

 

A Dream

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Outtakes 213

A Dream

by Cait Collins

When I was a kid, I had this dream of being a great actress. I created some great characters in my mind, and I dreamed of walking up the aisle at the Oscars to accept my Best Actress award. I did some acting in junior high and high school. In college I won my Best Actress award for portraying a crazy woman.

So why did I let go of my dream? Because the sacrifices were too great. You see, I don’t like to exercise. I love good food, so I would be dieting all the time. Acting is hard work. You must learn the lines. For me that wasn’t just my lines. I memorized the entire script. I don’t like being tired. And I was constantly exhausted during rehearsals. But the bottom line is it was just not important enough to give up so much of my private time. Besides, I would not be nice to the guy invading my personal life just so he could make me look bad in the tabloids.

But I do want to be a writer. Writing is hard work. It requires me to avoid social gatherings, miss favorite TV shows, or leave books by my favorite authors unread. I must bare my soul and my work to my critique group and pray they are gentle in their comments. It means growing a thick skin when my work is rejected. The whole point is I have stories to tell, communities to create, and characters to nurture. I love to write. I get excited when a story comes together, and I cry when I must cut a character because he makes no real contribution to the story.

I am a writer. I have supported myself by being a good researcher and writer. Even if I never make the Best Seller List, I can take pride in my numerous accomplishments in broadcasting. So tomorrow I will get out of bed, dress, and fire up my computer, and make adjustments in my current work.

I am a writer.

Thinking Too Much

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Outtakes 212

Thinking Too Much

by Cait Collins

I believe certain aspects of a work should be researched. Historical facts need to be checked, and laws, procedures, and medical information must be accurate. However, too much technical jargon can slow the story and frustrate the reader. Barry Eisler writes some of the best thrillers. He uses a perfect marriage of a fast action story, memorable characters and spy-speak. He relies on good story telling instead of clocking the action in technicalities. There are other very popular writers who overwhelm me with their expert knowledge.

It’s not just technical over-thinking that can hinder a project. Back story and excessive description are also enemies of good story telling. The reader does not need nor does he want to know the whole story up front. And who wants to wade through three pages describing the sunrise or fly fishing in a mountain stream.

The old KISS philosophy works well when planning a story. Keep It Simple, Stupid. (Stupid references the writer, not the reader.) By adhering to good plot, dynamic characters, and proper setting, the story can be told well. Those fascinating details will season and spice the work when they are properly and sparingly sprinkled into the mix.

 

Getting Unstuck

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Outtakes 211

Getting Unstuck

by Cait Collins

So you’re getting ready to write your very first love scene. The problem is your characters don’t know each other that well. The young lady is not very experienced, and while the gentleman portrays himself as worldly, it’s all a bluff. He is very principled and truly believes in love. You’re having problems writing the scene.

Maybe the answer to your problem is in your past.

Think back to your first make-out session. Or your first real encounter. How nervous were you? What about the first kiss. Were your palms sweaty? Was the experience a pleasant memory or a disaster? Relive the grins, the groans, and the giggles. Gather every memory of event and write your scene. Remember, the first time probably wasn’t all that romantic and sexy, but did it stop you from trying to make it better the next time?

Last Will and Testament

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Outtakes 110

Last Will and Testament

by Cait Collins

 

I hate downsizing. I have boxes that I must go through and decide if the items are keepers, to be recycled, donated, or trashed. I started with a box of personal papers. Most of it was bagged to take to the shredding service. But I found my insurance policies, the deed for my cemetery plot, and my Will. I need to check with the insurance carriers to make sure beneficiaries are up-to-date. And I must redo my will. As I read through the list of who gets what, I started thinking about what I would leave my writer friends. So I wrote a Last Will and Testament to my writer family.

I, Cait Collins, being of sound mind do hereby declare this as my Last Will and Testament. This instrument supersedes and voids any and all previous declarations of my final wishes.

I designate as my primary beneficiaries Wordsmith six, my ninth grade English teacher, Mr. Jennings, Mr. Sweat, author, Michael Cunningham, all my creative writing instructors, the agents and editors who kindly rejected my work and then told me how to do it better; the established writers who offered friendship, and the young ones who will follow. You will share equally in my estate.

I bequeath you the surprise of a blank page. Do not fear the empty white space. Instead, embrace it and fill it with your dreams, your observations, your life, and your stories.

I leave you courage. Step out from the shadows and proclaim “I am a writer.” Then go write. Courage comes from knowing who you are. Once you have declared your identity, you can begin the journey.

To all young men and women who want to be writers, I leave you a teacher like          Mr. Jennings. He expected the best from me and would never let me get away with less than my absolute best effort. He taught me to love poetry and the imagery of the genre.

As you begin your career, I bequeath you a mentor like Michael Cunningham. He overheard a group of students discussing the reactions of friends and family who think your new book is about them. He offered this advice. “Never let anyone dissuade you from writing your story. People may think they are the subject, but remember it is your story. Write it.” When the book was finished, I emailed Mr. Cunningham to thank him for his encouragement. He responded to the news and wished me success in placing the book.

I leave you the joy of discovery. Writing is an adventure. You will meet many characters along the way and you will travel to many locales. Embrace the thrill of the discovery. Along the way, you may even find yourself.

I give you a librarian like Mr. Sweat. His affinity for the written word made me realize that a book is a living being. The words on the page may not change, but in the appreciation of generations of readers I realize the story has evolved and brought a new understanding of life, and history, and man’s relationship to his home, his occupation, and to his fellow man. Long after electronic readers are replaced by new gadgets, books, real books, will remain.

I leave you success. You may never get rich from your works, but you succeed each time you complete a project, polish it, and submit it. Success comes from passing on what you have learned. Success is knowing you have done your best. Do not downplay each achievement. Remember success breeds success.

I bequeath to you gratitude. Be thankful for your achievements and for those who have supported you in your writer’s journey. Never fail to express your gratitude to those who have been part of your success. Never fail to be thankful for the gift you have received. Honor the gift by nurturing and fueling it. Do not hide your talent. It is a sin to waste a gift.

I leave you love and appreciation. Your friendship and fellowship have inspired me and warmed me. You have been with me in good times and bad. I honor our relationships. Thank you for being a fellow writer and sharing your talents with me. I pray we have many more years of friendship ahead of us.

This will is not intended to be a sad thing. It is not something you have to wait until my death to receive the benefit. It’s yours now. Claim it and use it. Thank you for walking the road with me.

 

 

Professionalism

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Outtakes 209

Professionalism

by Cait Collins

 

The outdoor musical drama, TEXAS, is a seasonal event in the Texas Panhandle. The show is spectacular and is loaded with special effects and fireworks. A couple of weeks ago, the young stage manager, Peyton Trueblood, was killed in a tragic accident at the amphitheater in Palo Duro Canyon. Performances were cancelled for Friday and Saturday, but the cast and crew chose to start again on Sunday.

I was privileged to be in the audience for the second performance following the accident. The average age of cast and crew could be considered young. Many of them are students pursuing their educations at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas or at another area college or university. The actors, singers, dancers, musicians, and crew bond as a family. No doubt they were still grieving the loss of their friend, but they performed. From the opening number to the close, I did not see a missed dance step, no lines were dropped, no voices faltered. Even as they opened the second act with the beautiful song “West Texas Rain”, they remained strong, and in perfect harmony. These young men and women along with the older members of the company showed true professionalism from the appearance of the Rider on the Rim to greeting guests after the performance. I was impressed by their courage; by their dedication to their craft and to the audience. They taught a valuable lesson just by keeping on keeping on.

Sometimes I get discouraged when my writing does not go the way I think it should. I wonder if I will ever make it in the business. I make excuses for not getting out my computer and working on my current project. I am not always living up to my personal standards. I have no reason to sluff-off on my commitments. I’m sure I’m not alone in this. So I am rededicating myself to my writing. No more failing to have my blog ready to post. I will have something new to read every critique meeting. No more hiding accomplishments. I will put my name on everything I write. I am a professional writer. And the emphasis will be on “professional”.