Category Archives: Cait Collins

Who You Know

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Outtakes 40

Who You Know

I visited a dear friend in the hospital recently. He getting on in years and experiencing undiagnosed health problems. I didn’t stay long as he was tired and in pain, but we took a moment to remember how long we have been family. On the way home I thought about my association with this wonderful family. My number three sister married the oldest son. The other two boys were active in our youth group. Over the years we’ve stood by each other in good times and bad. The Mom, Lou, accompanied our minister to the hospital to support my mother when my dad died. While my husband fought cancer, they helped keep us fed. We were together when Lou passed and when my mom died. We’ve shared births, holidays, graduations, marriages. Our bond will always be strong.

I realize how blessed I am to have good friends. My life would be so lonely without my support group. I don’t know how I would have survived without their love and encouragement. They helped me grow to become the woman I am today. I only hope I have been as much of an asset to them as they are to me.  I treasure each one of them. In some cases, life has separated us, but we’re still there for each other. An email or phone call will unite us. We talk as if we saw each other yesterday.

Friendships play an important role in the lives of our characters. In HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW, Kate Walker is estranged from her childhood friends Travis Cooper and Mike Lofton. They were her heroes as a little girl who had lost her dad and was abandoned by a careless mother. When they are reunited, Kate and Travis are able to pick up as if there had been no separation. But Mike has a more difficult time connecting with his lost love. Still, when their “sister” needs support, both men are there for her. In turn, Kate befriends Mike’s son and Travis’s wife. They build the support system necessary to sustain them when revelations threaten to destroy Harley.

The trio took their relationship for granted, but like my friendship with the Hays family, the love and respect forms a bond that cannot be broken. In the end, the Three Musketeers find their strength and realize that separately or together, they will survive. Strangely, Kate, Travis and Mike have become my friends. In developing their relationship, they helped me grow as a writer and a teacher. I am so lucky I met them.

Cait Collins

The Storyteller

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Outtakes 39

The Storyteller

I saw the soldiers on horseback spread out along the ridge that cold November morning. My kinsmen and friends formed a village of about five hundred Southern Cheyenne and Northern Arapaho along Sand Creek. Our chiefs Black Kettle, White Antelope, Little Raven, and Left Hand negotiated with the soldiers at Fort Lyon for food, protection, and peace. We believed we were safe until the army rode into the camp, guns drawn. They used rifles and big guns called howitzers to drive my people out of the village. Most of the villagers were elderly, women, or children. The solders did not care. They slaughtered everyone in their path. When the battle ended many hours later, at least 150 members of the tribes were dead. The wounded and injured littered the ground. The next day, I watched from my hiding place as the soldiers returned to desecrate the dead. In my mind, I cried, “Why?”

When our guide and fellow writer, Jeff Campbell, finished the story, I looked down into the valley. The screams were silenced. Aspens swayed in the hot June breeze. Elk grazed on the lush grasses once soaked with the blood of Cheyenne and Arapaho. I was no longer a hunted Indian on November 29, 1864. It was early June in 2010. I gazed across the sacred land and wondered, “Why?”

Jeff is not only a good writer, he’s a storyteller; a member of a society of men and women who keep history and legends alive. No doubt his talent is derived from his Celtic ancestors. He has the knack of making the story live. Like the storytellers of old, Jeff uses his wit and the power of his words to bring the audience into the scene; to make them a part of the tale. Civilizations have revered their bards. Long before the written word was common place, the storyteller, the bards, relayed news, legends, and satire. The common folk loved and welcomed the tale tellers. The powerful despised and persecuted them. But they have survived despite books, television, movies, and the internet.

Jeff is a former teacher and coach. He served as a special investigator for the state of New Mexico. He dedicated himself to researching the Sand Creek Massacre and verifying the site. He viewed Sand Creek as a crime scene and followed the leads to a logical conclusion. You can hear Jeff Campbell speak at the Frontiers in Writing Let’s Write weekend June 29-30. His topics include researching, perfect crimes and police procedure for mystery writers. Visit panhandleprowriters.org for conference details and registration information. We look forward to seeing you in Amarillo.

Cait Collins

The End

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Outtakes 38

The End

The novel is almost done. I’m down to the last chapter, and I’m finding it difficult to say goodbye. I wonder if readers realize how close the writer is to his characters. Do they know how we have nurtured them, helped them grow, listened to their sorrows, shed tears over their heartbreaks? I carry on conversations with Kate, Dalton, Chad, and Travis. They are the children of my creation and I am proud of the results.

Recently, Kate visited me as I got ready for work. “You think you’re through with us? Chad’s growing up. What are you going to do with him? He can’t be fifteen forever. Does Mike ever find happiness? What happens to King and Scott?”

Before I can respond, Dalton appears. “Will you allow Kate and me to have a real relationship, or will it always be a maybe? Frankly, I want more than a couple of hot kisses.”

“Hey, cowboy, you haven’t asked my opinion on that idea.”

“Not asking you, Kate. I’m asking the other Cait.”

My head is spinning. Yes, Chad has a story. So does Mike. But can I write them all and remain true to the people introduced in HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW?”

Dalton whispers in my ear. “Just one word, Cait – E-books. Think about it.”

Let me see. I’m not ready to say goodbye to Harley and its citizens. I do have stories. E-books? Yeah, Dalton, I’ll definitely think about it.

Cait Collins

Consider It

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Outtakes 37

Consider It

I have spent many hours training others to do a job. The process can be very rewarding. It’s so much fun to see someone “get it”. There’s the bright eyes, the grin, the high five. That’s the joy of being a trainer. Unfortunately, there have been some disasters. No matter what I tried, or how many time we went over the information, the trainee just couldn’t or wouldn’t catch on. Often they blamed me or their fellow employees for their failures. I really hated the angry scenes, the bitter accusations. In the early days, I blamed myself for a trainee not making the grade. Over the years, I’ve realized it’s not always the teacher’s fault. If the student does not pay attention, does not take notes, doesn’t care, then there is little the trainer can do to change the situation.

Writers need training. There are few naturals out there. Most of us struggle with the craft, hoping there comes a time when the work is easier. I’m not sure that happens. Several years ago, I met author, Nicholas Sparks, at a book signing in Amarillo. He made a statement that floored me. When asked if each new book was easier to write, he told the young writer, “No, in fact it gets harder.” He went on to explain that the expectations were higher with each novel and keeping up the standard became more challenging. He even admitted he was struggling with his new novel. It made me feel hopeful; less alone. I was working on my second novel and often felt as if I hit a wall. This best-selling novelist made me think I could succeed.

The road to success is paved by the writer’s attitude. I’ve been in critique groups with writers who would not listen to honest suggestions. The author would read his chapter; look around the table. You could feel the resentment before the first word was spoken. Reviewer number one starts by complementing elements of the setting or a character. Then he gets down to the problems. The interaction between the antagonist and his son is off. In fact, there’s little chemistry between the two. The scene lacks emotion. Instead of listening and asking for suggestions, the writer hotly defends his work. We’ll understand it all in chapter ten. Sadly, I won’t be around for chapter ten. If I’m not hooked in the first twenty or thirty pages, you will find the unread book in my box to donate to the library.

Even experienced, successful authors have readers. These trusted souls take on the task of reviewing the work, catching mistakes and inconsistencies. The smart author listens and corrects the scenes. Let’s be honest, no one likes criticism. But if you don’t want help, why join a group or work with readers? If you don’t plan to take the advice, don’t waste your time or someone else’s evening.

I’m thankful I have a good critique group. We respect each other and want every member of the group to be successful. We would never intentionally lead another member of the group astray. In turn, we listen, accept the critique, choose what makes good sense and use it to build a better story. A good writer will always be a student. After all, the more we learn and understand, the more exciting the work we will produce.

Cait Collins

The Wind Howled

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Outtakes 36

The Wind Howled

My father spent time in Amarillo during his early military training. Learning he would again be stationed here did not rank high on his bases of choice list. He remembered the wind, the dust, the heat, and the bitter cold, and he was not anxious to brave the elements a second time. Everything I’d been told about Amarillo’s climate is true. It can be sunny and cloudless, and in a matter of hours, the temperature drops and a freezing rain falls.

Weather plays an important role in our lives. Folks spend their summers in the north but winter in Arizona or Florida. We plan vacation time around the seasons. For those of us in the Panhandle, commitments are often tempered with “weather permitting.” We use Daylight Savings Time to prolong warm, summer days so that we can enjoy the outdoors. Don’t you just love those fall foliage tours?

The weather has its place in our writing. “The sky wept as the mourners gathered around the grave,” enhances the somber setting. “Bright late spring sunlight filtered through the stained glass windows. The dance of colored lights clashed with hushed strains of the funeral dirge,” provides a contrast of the weather and the occasion. Howling winds often signal something frightening.  Falling snow contrasts the warmth of a house or the desperation of the poor.

Are you looking for an antagonist for your story? Try weather. Did you see the movie The Day After Tomorrow? Dennis Quaid played a researcher who predicted an ice age in the future. Unfortunately, the future was now. With little time to prepare, the inhabitants of the library struggled to survive the deadly cold.  As a writer, could you burn books to keep warm? Would you think to line your clothes with newspaper or pages from books to add insulation? Could you brave the elements to search a marooned ship for food and medicine? The non-human antagonist threw every imaginable curve at the survivors and I believed it.

A good writer uses every means at his disposal to craft the story. Since the weather is a primary topic of everyday conversation, why not employ it to enhance and define your story. Imagine the difference rain, snow, sleet, and the dead of night could make in your current work. Enjoy.

Cait Collins

Your Taste Buds

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Outtakes 35 

Your Taste Buds

I wouldn’t call myself a picky eater. I’ll try most anything once as long as it sounds appetizing. I’ll even try a few things that sound crazy. For example, my co-worker loves bacon. When we asked if she had a theme for her office birthday celebration, she requested bacon. Imagine how many things are made with bacon. There are bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches, loaded baked potatoes with bacon, bacon bits in a green salad, scrambled eggs and bacon breakfast burritos, baked beans with bacon. I could write a cook book on bacon recipes. Did you can even buy chocolate and bacon candy bars, and beef jerky flavored chocolate bars.

I like peanut butter and chocolate, mint and chocolate, chocolate covered cherries, chocolate and caramel. Well, you get the idea. But chocolate and bacon is a little out there. So is beef jerky flavored chocolate. But when samples of my friend’s birthday gift were offered, it bit. Literally. The chocolate shell was pretty good, but when the bacon crunchies landed on my tongue, I swallowed hard. My lips curled and my nose wrinkled. I got it down, but I never again want that flavor combination in my mouth.

Then I took a bite of the beef jerky flavored chocolate. My taste buds revolted. I grabbed a piece of paper off my desk and spit out the offensive candy. I can’t really describe the flavor. It’s a cross between scorched chocolate and under cooked beef. A whole bag of Hershey’s crème de menthe kisses could not erase that taste from my tongue.

Let’s face it, some flavor combinations work and some don’t. Same goes with our characters.  A woman defined as classy dropping the F-bomb every other sentence is too jarring. However, that same character with racist tendencies is believable. An explorer who hates to travel and experience new cultures might not ring true. On the other hand, if the character travels in search of a lost child or the cure for a terrible disease, it works. It’s all in how the writer develops the character. How are the situations set up? Is there sufficient background to grab the reader? Are the characteristics consistent beginning to end? Well-crafted characters with outrageous flaws could make for interesting reading. It’s all in the mixing and blending.

The Journal Jar

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Outtakes #34

 The Journal Jar

I believe writers should write something every day. I do have an advantage as my job requires me to write. That does not mean it’s always easy to be creative in my commercial endeavors. Unfortunately, sitting at the computer forcing words on to the screen does not always provide useable material. That’s when I look for alternative inspiration.

A Secret Sister gave me the best gift for a writer—a Journal Jar. The jar is full of slips of paper with writing assignments. Subjects include music, art, family, friends, school days, holidays, and dreams. I have a special journal I keep with the jar. When I get stuck or don’t have hours to sit at my computer, I pull a slip out of the jar, paste it to the top of a blank page, and begin to work on the request.

There’s true liberation in this type of journaling. The writer is not confined to reciting historic events in a who, what, where, when, why format. Instead he is permitted, encouraged to relive an event. Recall the sights, scents, sounds of the occasion. What about creating your dream job? What would you do? How do you envision your day? What kind of education would you need? In a few minutes, a couple of pages are filled with creative details.

Not only does the Journal Jar provide a creative outlet for the writer, it is a record of the times. It may also give your children and grandchildren a chuckle when they read about your youthful exploits.

So where do you find Journal Jar strips? My Secret Sister found mine on-line. Fire up your favorite search engine and browse the web for journaling supplies. Don’t forget a book or notebook to record your assignments. Oh, yes, you’ll need a pen. I like gel pens in different colors. Open your journal and your mind. It’s fun.

Cait Collins

Getting Out the News

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Outtakes 33

Getting Out the News

At one time or another, we volunteer to help with an organization’s fund raiser or special event. Once the committee learns we are writers, we are appointed to serve on the publicity committee. One would think writing press releases or commercial copy would come easily to a writer.  And of course we’re naturals for appearing on TV and radio. Not necessarily so. Even the experts have problems preparing quality announcements.

One only has to watch television ads to realize good spots are scarce. I’ve watched commercials that did not sell the product or service. Sometimes I didn’t even know the point of the advertisement. If the viewer is scratching his head at the end of the spot, the copy writer has failed his client. I’ve written copy over the years, some good, some not so great. This is what I’ve learned about writing ads and press releases. Simply approach the release as a story.

That’s it. Give it a beginning, middle, and an end. Ad classes say we should create the need (beginning), provide a solution (middle), and seal the deal (end). Keep it simple. Don’t leave out the details. You’d be surprised how many times I’ve had to call a client to get event dates, location, times, or contact information. Omit this vital information, and the reader or listener is still in the dark. Proof read your copy for typo’s and transposed numbers. Phone numbers, email addresses, website information, street addresses and dates are easy targets for errors. Finally, make sure you submit the information at least 48 hours prior to the media’s deadline. Early submission gives the media reps the opportunity to verify information before the ad hits the air or newspaper.

Radio and television stations often provide slots on morning shows or talk news for non-profits and community organizations to promote events. Seize the opportunity! It’s not as frightening as you might think. Send a press release to the station so the producer has enough information to properly schedule your appearance. Make a few notes on index cards and keep them with you during the interviews. Arrive early so that the producer or interviewer can review the press release with you before going on the air. Relax. Be open and friendly. Listen to the interviewer’s questions before responding. Thank the interviewer for their time, and write a thank you note afterward.

One of the things I’m slowly learning is the value of social media. Press releases may be posted on Face Book or any of the numerous social media sites. If you send the message out to all of your friends, one of your contacts might share with their friends, who will share with their contacts. The potential is amazing. Linking to friends’ websites provides another avenue to promote the activity. Above all, it’s free publicity.

Good promotion takes time to prepare. It can make or break your event so don’t wait to the last minute to get started. Now if you will excuse me, I have a PSA and press release to write for Frontiers in Writing’s Let’s Write Weekend to be held June 29-30, 2012 at the Amarillo College Washington Street campus in Amarillo, Texas. Additional information may be found on our website, panhandleprowriters.org.

Cait Collins

The Perfect Host

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Outtakes 32

The Perfect Host

Moving to Amarillo, Texas, meant a third high school in three years. I had issues with the high school in Bossier City, Louisiana, because they threatened to withhold my fall semester credits from Maine as I had not taken mid-term exams. My Air Force seargent father had received emergency orders to Thailand after the TET Offensive, and we were forced to make a quick move.  There was no opportunity to take the tests. I had all A’s and some of the classes I took in Maine as a freshman were senior classes in Louisiana. Fear I would face the same issues in Amarillo dampened my outlook concerning the move. Fortunately, my concerns never materialized. As a student at Amarillo High School, I found acceptance and a quality education. Two and a half years later, I graduated in the top ten percent of a class of over 500 students. I looked forward to college.

I enrolled at Amarillo College in the Spring of 1970. Founded on July 16, 1929, Amarillo College was the first junior college district in the state organized independent of a school district. The first classes were held in September 1929. The college moved to its present location in 1937.  Originally, the college offered primarily arts and sciences programs. In 1942, the offerings expanded to include vocational courses. Allied health, occupational and technical programs were added in the 1960’s. AC serves the Panhandle through four campuses in Amarillo, and locations in Hereford and Dumas. The college continues to grow under the leadership of the Board of Regents and a dedicated staff and faculty.

I am a proud graduate of Amarillo College. AC provided me with the skills I needed to begin a 30-year broadcasting career. I directed, ran audio, produced, ran cameras, hauled cable for broadcasting basketball games. I even did some announcing and campus newscasts. Toward the end of my time at Amarillo College, AC became the home for KACV radio, and KACV-TV, the PBS station for the Texas Panhandle. The college also provided employment through the student work program. I worked approximately twenty hours per week split between the TV station and the college library. I graduated with an Associate in Arts Degree, with an emphasis in communications. I am a member of Delta Psi Omega, an honorary acting fraternity.

Over the years, I continued my relationship with Amarillo College by attending continuing education classes in computer programs, interior decorating, and creative writing. More recently, my association has been through Frontiers in Writing, an annual writers’ weekend sponsored by Panhandle Professional Writers, and hosted by Amarillo College. This will be the fourth year AC has opened the College Union Building to FiW attendees. The English Department serves as a sponsor for FiW as part of their efforts to support education in the written word.

We could not ask for a better host. When registrants arrive for the conference, they will find a parking lot close to the CUB reserved for attendees. Audio/video needs are provided by the staff. A member of the physical plant staff is available throughout the two-day event to ensure the facility is open, clean, and comfortable. The meeting rooms are spacious and provide a quality learning environment. The Commons offers a place for attendees to relax, visit, or write. This year’s conference promises to be an exciting event. Friday the focus will center on the business of writing.  Saturday we write. We look forward to seeing old friends and making new friends June 29-30, 2012 at the Frontiers in Writing Let’s Write Weekend on the Amarillo College Washington Street Campus.

Cait Collins

Time Out

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Outtakes 31

Time Out

It’s tax season in my business. We’re working long days plus Saturdays and never seem to make much of a dent in the work load. By the time I get home from the office I’m so tired I don’t want to read my personal email or work on my novel. I’m sure many writers who have full time jobs face the same issue. We realize there are times when life interferes with our creative endeavors.  It’s at this time, we must “knuckle-down, buckle-down and do it, do it, do it”.  Quitting or taking a break isn’t in the vocabulary. Then again there are times my characters won’t let me stop.

Just yesterday morning, my antagonist, King Phillips, visited me while I applied my make-up. “They won’t get away with it, you know. Does that stuffed-shirt of a bank manager think he’ll foreclose on my property? I keep saying I have leverage, and I do. I can’t wait to see the look on the man’s face when I walk in, hand him the certified check, and pay off the loans. Then, I’ll close my accounts. What do you think of that, writer lady?”

“Hmm, good question. But, Phillips you haven’t found out about the federal investigation into the loans. Nor do you know what Kate read in the journal and the documents Chad found. So when you demand to close your accounts, you’ll get hit with a major curve. Your assets are frozen. What do you think of that, King?”

“No way! Who planned that little zinger? My money is my property, and no one can have it.”

“Oh, guess again, Phillips. I have plans for your money and property. You may hold four queens, but someone else has four aces and a joker. Joker’s wild. You lose.”

“Wait a minute, writer lady. You can’t…”

“Sorry, King, I have to run or I’ll be late for work.”

Darn, reality. I was on a roll.

Cait Collins