Outtakes 141

All Grown Up
By Cait Collins

This past Sunday, I had the privilege of attending my nephew’s junior violin recital. A.J. is music major at West Texas A&M University and plays in the University’s symphony orchestra. I have attend his concerts, but this is the first time I’ve heard him play solo since he began playing the violin in grade school. His music brought tears to my eyes. Just watching him was a treat. There was magic in the play of his fingers over the strings at the instrument’s neck and in the changing angles of the bow’s movement across the body of violin. For about forty-five minutes, he welcomed us into his world. I was enchanted.

During the post recital reception I asked my brother-in-law if he ever thought Twinkle Little Star sounding like a dying cat would become so beautiful. He shook his head. Maybe we didn’t know, but A.J. did. He worked at his music, learning not only the violin, but also dabbling with the keyboard, cello, guitar, base, and French horn. He sacrificed play time to practice and learn music. He earned the accolades he received from family, friends, future in-laws, and fellow students.

A writer’s journey is similar to the musician’s. Our first stories are rough. Sometimes they make little sense. Yet, if we were lucky, we have a mom and dad who read scribbled messes and praise the efforts. They walk the path with us, encouraging and correcting until we can step out on our own. We have a support group as we hone our craft and submit our first works to agents and editors. They watch our documentaries and act as beta readers for our novels.

While loved ones support us, they cannot give us the passion required to continue the journey. That passion must come from inside us. We succeed because we want it, desire it, and work for it. Talent plays a role in success, but even talented writers must invest the time and discipline required to rise to the top. Sacrifice is required. Work ethic is a must. Our futures as writers are mainly in our hand. We must put the words on paper, write the query letters, and submit the work. Nobody will do the work for us.

I am definitely proud of my nephew. I celebrate his success. But I also applaud my writer friends who are on their way to successful careers. They have earned my respect and congratulations.

Outtakes 140

Windy

By Cait Collins

Spring tends to bring on the winds in the Texas Panhandle. We sometimes refer to blustery days as the wind driving down from the north with nary a fence to stop it. Yes, trees are scarce on the High Plains. While I get tired of bad hair days and red dirt on everything, I find the sounds and scents intriguing.

Think of the number of words used to describe the wind. Tornados, hurricane force, breezy, zephyr, blowing, howling, gusty, gentle, blizzard are among the descriptions. Each word helps to set a scene, evoke emotions, and create an atmosphere. How many romantic suspense stories are set in a blizzard? Trapped in a ski lodge, two strangers unite to survive a cat burglar and a serial killer. Their need to rely on each other to survive brings them closer together as the wind howls and the snow piles up. It may sound hokey, but a skilled writer makes it work.

Wind not only has sound, it touches, has a taste, and a scent. And while we cannot see the wind, we see the effect of its passing. We can open our arms to the gale, hide in the basement or a bathtub when the tornado blows through, or bask in the in the gentle breeze on a sunny afternoon. With all its properties, it is no wonder this weather element is often used as a secondary character in stories and books.  The wind takes on a personality when incorporated into our works.

Today the winds are battering. Even with my heavy purse, walking from the office to my car was difficult. The air temperature wasn’t bad, but the high wind made it feel much colder. My heavy sweater was not enough to keep me warm. So it was inconvenient, but it did make me think about writing Panhandle winds into my stories.

Outtakes 139

Planning for the Future

By Cait Collins

I’m a procrastinator to a certain extent. I find the things I don’t really enjoy are put off to the last minute. Unless unforeseen circumstances arise, I don’t miss deadlines nor am I late for appointments. But I’m learning there are some things that cannot be put dismissed. A writer should not avoid building his fan base.

It’s easy to think we have time to work on marketing ourselves. After all, the novel isn’t ready to publish. The magazine article hasn’t been sold. The research has hit a snag. So what if the work isn’t up for publication in the next few months. It’s never too soon to begin marketing and promoting your writing. You don’t have to break out the champagne or throw a catered party.  Start small, but remember to invest in a few essentials.

Business cards.  There are some really good computer programs that will help you design your cards, and good card stock for every printer type can be found at your local office supply store. Online services like VistaPrint offer a variety of designs at reasonable prices.

Promotional items.  Stationary stores, printing companies and office supply stores have printing services for post cards, stationery, and bookmarks. Imprinted pens, pencils, andnote pads are available through on-line services or local promotional ad sales

Handouts.  Copies of your magazine articles, book synopsis, and training materials are great to have for presentations.

On-line presence.  Create a website, start a blog, have a Facebook account. Remember social media sites, websites and blogs must be updated. Don’t load yourself down with so many online commitmenst you don’t have time to write.

Become a speaker. Prepare and present programs for schools, civic organizations, and writers groups.

Whatever you do, do not wait until three weeks before your work is published to try and establish a fan base. By starting your marketing plan at the beginning of your career, you will develop a list of contacts and fans who are already sold on you. They will be the first in line to buy that new book or attend a screening of your movie. They will promote your works and bring in potential fans. And a good writer always welcomes more fans.

Outtakes 137

I’d Vote for That

By Cait Collins

I do not consider it professional to use my social media sites or this blog to express my political views. Politics, in my experience, is an in-your-face dirty business. That said politicians, their missteps, and political events are perfect fodder for writers. Likewise, current events and the news makers work extremely well into our stories.

The LAW and ORDER franchises capitalized on major news and political events. However, the producers were careful to create characters that resembled the newsmakers but were different enough to be fictional. Video and audio disclaimers let viewers know the characters and events were make-believe. Yet the writers skillfully developed the episodes around reality. The audience was forced to examine their own beliefs and morals and decide the guilt or innocence based on the evidence and the law.

Tom Clancy was the master of the techno thriller with The Hunt for Red October, Patriot Games, and Clear and Present Danger.  Barry Eisler created political assassin John Rain. While one would think Rain would be a detestable character, he could be very likable. Unless, that is, you happen to be the bad guy. We can even go back to ancient times for heroes like Julius Caesar, the 300 Spartans, and Alexander the Great.

The use of the news and politics is not limited to drama. Saturday Night Live, The Cobert Report, and the late night talk shows are geniuses at satire. The point is, no matter how much we rave at the news and our politicians, we still buy the books and tune into TV and the movies. A smart writer will pay attention to the major news stations. We need our current events fixes to create characters and situations. We also need to stand in line with the voters on Election Day. Talk about characters! A writer might get some of his best lines by listening to voters as they wait to cast their ballots.

Outtakes 136

By Way to Go

Cait Collins

I must take a minute to brag about a member of Wordsmith Six, Joe Nichols. Joe has just completed the first draft of his first novel TRAILS END. That’s a real accomplishment. So many beginning writers get discouraged and never finish their projects. But Joe stuck with it and we were privileged to hear the final chapters at out last critique meeting.

I’m truly proud of his work. From the beginning we all recognized Joe’s unique voice. I am convinced I could read his work and know he authored it without seeing a title page or book cover. That in itself is a selling point. But this guy is a natural with dialogue. I love reading his dialogue. It’s so true and right to the times.

I think I’m most impressed with his desire to learn the craft of writing. He’d come to meeting after meeting and accept our critiques. The next meeting we could see how he had applied our suggestions to the next chapters. He improved with every reading, and he began to apply what he learned to critiquing our readings. His insight and suggestions were valid and helpful.

Joe now begins the rewrite of the novel. I look forward to reading the updated version. I believe it will be wonderful. So congratulations, Joe. You hit the first milestone. I look forward to much more from you.

Outtakes 135

642

By Cait Collins

Book stores are one of my secret pleasures. I could spend hours looking through the shelves for something to read. I try to find something different when my favorite authors don’t have new releases. This week I found a real gem.  The book is entitled 642 Things to Write About by the San Francisco Writers’ Grotto. I looked through the volume and there really are 642 things to write about.

This book contains some really challenging writing exercises designed to get the creative juices flowing. These are some samples.  Fix the plot of the worst movie you ever saw. You are a pirate describe your perfect day. Write a love letter to a person you really dislike. And there are exercises in writing the same scene from two different points of view. Having read through the various topics, I can guarantee I’ll have hours of fun testing my skills. I shall start with my favorite exercise.

Ode to an Onion

                                                How do I honor thee, savior mine?

Thy foul odor doth turn my breath so foul

It kills his amorous fog.

Blessed be thy kindness to my plight.

I might have kissed that frog.

Okay, I’m no poet, but I had to try.

Outtakes 134

Best Friends

By Cait Collins

Recently a dear family friend fell and broke his hip. My sisters and I went to the hospital to check on him. He was in surgery, but the family was in the waiting room. We entered the room and there were the friends from our youth. After a round of hugs and “how are yous”, we settled in for a reunion. Other friends joined us. Even though we had lost touch over the years, being together was like old times. It was as if we had not been separated.

Writers need to have such close friends and associates. Our profession is a lonely one. We spend hours at our computers researching, writing, and editing. That is the nature of our business. But we desperately need that core group of companions we can rely on in all phases of our careers. These are the folks who celebrate our successes. Share Irish Coffee with us when we receive a harsh rejection. They praise our well written work, but will be kindly critical when we fall short.

I am fortunate to have people who encourage and support my efforts. They are honest in their critiques because they care. I have the best critique partners, wonderful Beta readers, and a family who reads my manuscripts and wish me good luck with the submissions. I could not continue in this business without them.

I hope all dedicated writers will find their own caring group. Look for folks who can honestly judge the effort, see the errors, assist with the corrections, and praise the good parts. Find writers who are not jealous; who want your success as much as they desire their own. Cultivate the relationship by taking a break from the job and sharing a meal or a cup of coffee.  Surround yourself with positive thinkers. Reject the pessimists who will drag you down. Avoid those who tell you not to quit your day job. Their opinions don’t count. Hold fast to your core group. They are the ones who will not let you down.

Outtakes 133

Music and Pictures

By Cait Collins

I enjoy looking through old photo albums especially when I do not know the persons or places involved. It provides me with the opportunity to draft a story idea based on the photo. A snapshot of a meadow leading into an aspen forest might bring thoughts of a mystery. The protagonist finds a backpack on a hike through the meadow. Blood spatters stain the pack and the surrounding plants. As he follows the blood trail, he finds a hiking boot. Entering the forest he notes a fabric scrap clinging to a branch. Should he hike deeper into the woods? Or would it be more prudent to back off and call for help?

The story could take a different turn. Our man follows a trail into the forest. Birds sing and small woodland creatures scamper out of his sight. He steps into a clearing. A blanket is spread on the leaf-covered ground. A picnic basket rests on the edge of the blanket. His wife emerges from the trees. She smiles and holds out her hand.

One photograph; two story ideas.

Music is equally thought provoking. A song can help set the mood for a scene. Certain songs can set a romantic mood or be the contrast to a horrific scene. Imagine a thunder storm. The power has been knocked out by a lightning strike. The house is dark. No candle light softens the blackness. Strains of a romantic aria can be heard from a car radio. A bolt of lightning splits the night. From the picture window, we see the shadow of a knife plunging into a human form. The music rises and falls with the slashes of the blade. As the music dies, so does the woman.

Or the aria might be the background for a really erotic love scene. Either way, a good selection of tunes can get the creative juices flowing.

Outtakes 132

Stormy Nights

By Cait Collins

Let’s face it. Sometimes we get stuck. No new ideas are screaming, “Write about me.” These are the times when I look for inspiration anywhere I can find it. And I seem to find ideas in some unusual places.

A couple of weeks ago, I was shopping for a birthday card in a local Hallmark store. There was a big sale in progress, so I roamed the displays looking for bargains. Bam! There he was, one of my favorite characters, good old Snoopy. Snoops was sitting atop his dog house, his typewriter in front of him, and a piece of paper feed into the machine. He was ready to begin his next installment of “It was a dark and stormy night.”  On the front of the dog house are two open spaces. One holds two cubes with numbers carved in the blocks. The second space houses blocks with the months carved in the sides. My Snoopy is a perpetual calendar. I grabbed that statue and headed for the cash wrap. Thank goodness I remembered my discount coupon.

I think I’m drawn to Snoopy because he is the embodiment of many characters. Some days he is writer Snoopy. Tomorrow he might be Joe Cool or the World War I flying ace. He’s also a stalking jungle animal creeping up on Lucy. Snoopy is a scout master for Woodstock and his friends. He’s loyal, a true friend, and a great listener. He even decorates a mean dog house for Christmas. He has such unlimited imagination. Snoopy is great inspiration when my mind is blank.

The Snoopy calendar sits on my desk at work. It is a sweet reminder that each day is a good day to write. After all “Happiness is a new day.” Now back to my project.

“It was a dark and stormy night. Rain fell in sheets, saturating the hillside and spilling water, mud, tree limbs, and a body into the swollen stream.”