Category Archives: Cait Collins

Ye Old Antique Shoppe

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Outtakes #30

Ye Old Antique Shoppe

Researching can be really tedious. Locating and reading old documents may require cotton gloves, a note pad and pencil, and a box of allergy medication. Many old documents cannot be photocopied, so hours of note taking are part of the bargain. But when you find that first clue that leads to a more detailed item that takes you to the mother lode, you have that eureka moment. The ultimate results are worth the effort. Then again, research can be loads of fun.

HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW, my current work in progress, is set in a small Texas town. The town is fictional, but I fashioned Lucille Walker’s house after my grandmother’s home. I had no trouble duplicating the layout and some of the furniture, but the kitchenware, vintage jewelry, and some of the clothing required a bit of legwork. Fortunately, Amarillo is blessed with a number of good antique and consignment shops.

Route 66 runs through Amarillo’s 6th Street. This district is full of old buildings converted into antique shops. I’ve learned which ones are best for locating various items. For vintage jewelry, Depression Glass, and glass kitchenware, I like 6th Street Antique Mall. The shop has cases of costume jewelry and good quality semi-precious pieces. I found beautiful foil-back rhinestone broaches and matching earrings that reminded me of my grandmother’s jewelry. Grandma Fouts wore hats and used hat pins. While this shop does not carry much clothing, I did find a couple of nice hat pins. I purchased a string of matched jade beads for my own jewelry collection.

I was pleased to find original Fiestaware in one of the back rooms. The original Fiestaware may not be safe for serving food as some of the colors contained lead. The colors are more muted than the reproduction line. Still, the early pottery looks beautiful when displayed in glass-front cabinets. I also found Jadeite mugs, green Sandwich Glass bowls, saucers, juice glasses, and milk glasses, ruby glass vases, and 1950-1960 aluminum tumblers.

Red Door Antiques and The Village Antique Mall are south of Interstate 40 off Georgia Street.  Red Door Antiques not only carries Depression Glass, they also carried a line of older Disney collectables. These served as the inspiration for some of the collectables in Kate’s room at the Homestead. I found the Jadeite mother lode at the Village Antique Mall. They had the mugs plus the cake plates, cookie jars, bowls, salt and pepper shakers, and canisters. The original Fire King Jadeite is expensive, so I examined the items instead of buying. While I love the line, I cannot justify purchasing antiques I will not use. My best find at The Village Antique Mall was a Pyrex Dripolator. I had found pictures of the old coffee pot, but actually seeing the forerunner of Mr. Coffee was truly amazing.

Armed with my antique shop finds, I was able to furnish Miss Lucille’s kitchen, jewelry box, William Walker’s accessory case, and add accents to the house. Not only, did I enjoy my research, I was able to add to my personal collections. Antique stores, vintage book shops, consignment stores and antique shows can be valuable resources for the writer. Strolling through these shops provide inspiration for various period settings. Take a day, and visit your local shops. You might find your grade school lunch box or favorite toy on a shelf.  I did, and it brought back wonderful memories.

Cait Collins

Writers’ Resources

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Outtakes 29

Writers’ Resources

My published works are associated with broadcasting. I do have a few fiction pieces out there, but overall, the various television and radio stations I worked with own the rights to my commercials, documentaries, and news reports. Switching to fiction put me back in the newbie ranks. I never enjoyed being a beginner and not knowing all the ropes. I believed there were instructions out there, but where do you start looking for help? I must admit I got lucky when I attended my first conference. I found the direction I needed and met some great people along the way.

Kim Campbell helped me avoid mistakes with my first agent/editor pitch. No one mentioned the agent didn’t want my manuscript. I’d been toting that 400 page book for a day and a half. My shoulders ached from the extra weight. Kim let me know all I needed was my business card and a great pitch. I met with the agent; she requested a synopsis and the first thirty pages. It didn’t lead to a contract, but I did receive valuable information and encouragement from her. Kim began a screenwriting class on-line. She taught me how to format a screenplay, focus the action, and keep the story visual and moving. I’ve had some interest in that first screenplay, but no sale. The truth is that without Kim’s lessons and encouragement, RHYMES would not have been written.

FIW lead me to another wonderful organization. Amarillo College has an excellent continuing education program. The instructor for my first creative writing class was New York Times and USA Today Best Selling Author, Jodi Thomas. We had a great group of writers in that class. We all wrote different genres, had different perspectives, and varying experiences. I truly enjoyed that class. Jodi was a fantastic instructor. A former high school, teacher, she knew how to instruct and encourage us. She was able to bring out the very best in each student. Jodi was the inspiration for the short story RHYMES. The assignment was to write a story about a lone shoe on the side of the road. I was the last to read my story. I sat and listened to hilarious pieces, thought provoking stories, and some sweet romances. Mine was different and I feared my audience would not like the offering. The room was deadly quiet as I read. When I finished, Jodi looked at me and stated, “I would not want to go to your house tonight. I’d be afraid of finding where the bodies were buried.” Wow! That felt great. I still look to Jodi as a mentor. She has befriended many a struggling writer as an honorary member of Panhandle Professional Writers and as the current Writer in Residence at West Texas A&M University.

That brings us to writers’ organizations. Panhandle Professional Writers is one of the oldest, continuing writers’ groups in the country. I’ve made good friends through this organization. I treasure their support and encouragement. Through PPW, I joined my first critique group; attended writers’ retreats in Taos, NM. My association with this organization has allowed me to test my abilities and receive correction and instruction. I’d be lost without PPW.

Bottom line is we have resources. Go on line and do a search of writers groups, contests, and conferences. You are sure to find a group or conference in your area. Try entering contests. The critiques are so valuable. Check out your local community college or university for continuing education classes. Read blogs. Attend book signings. As you can see the resources are unlimited.

Cait Collins

People Watching

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Outtakes 27

People Watching

My hair stylist ran late last Saturday.  He’s really good about keeping on schedule, so I didn’t mind the wait. I sat out in the lobby and read my book until a mom with a cute toddler entered the building. The little one jabbered and explored. She smiled at everyone. Mom gave her some space, but when the little one strayed too far, Mom brought her back to their chairs. I thought how wonderful. Here’s a happy little girl who is being taught about boundaries and limits, but she has enough freedom to test her wings. I really enjoyed watching the little one play.

People watching is a wonderful way for writers to pass time or conduct a little research. I love seeing an older couple walking hand-in-hand. I begin to imagine the progression of the relationship from courtship to the present day. I consider the day they met. Was it love at first sight or more of an I-don’t-think-I-like-you-but-I-want-to-give-you-a-chance situation? What about the wedding? Did they have a simple home ceremony or a lavish affair? What obstacles did they face? We all know relationships aren’t perfect. How did they weather the storms? Are they still in love? I watch him look down at the woman at his side. His eyes shine. He smiles. True, she’s not the girl he married. Her steps are slower. Wrinkles etch her face. But in his eyes, she is still beautiful, and she’s the light of his life.

Watch the young mother shopping for groceries. She consults her list; shuffles through her coupons to see if she can save a few cents on one brand over another. Her hand hovers over the name brand but she selects the store label because it is cheaper. The little one in the cart asks for a treat, but Mom shakes her head. It’s not in the budget. Her brow wrinkles. She checks her wallet; counts the money. It’s not enough to buy the healthy food her family should have, so she compromises.

Scenes like these offer opportunities for the writer to enhance his characterizations. By truly observing the people around him, he can recreate the expressions, mannerisms, and physical attributes to show the reader what is happening to the character instead of stating what is occurring. It brings the reader into the story and creates a bond between the reader and the character. Using his observations tightens the writing and keeps the plot moving. Learning to use what he sees eliminates excessive adverbs and adjectives and makes a cleaner, clearer story.  Give people watching a try and let your imagination soar. The results will be amazing.

Cait Collins

 

By the Book

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Outtakes 27

 By the Book

I admit to being a stickler for rules. If I’m told “no exceptions”, I don’t ask. If my manager says an hour of overtime per day, I rearrange my schedule. If my assignment is due on Friday, I’ll have it done by Thursday at the latest. I find I land in trouble when I don’t read and follow the rules. Case in point; I didn’t read the rules on a slot machine and cheated myself out of money.

I’m not a big gambler, but sometimes I enjoy playing the slots or a little Black Jack. Recently, three of my sisters and I drove to Wichita Falls, Texas, to celebrate our older sister’s birthday. Part of the celebration was a trip over the border to a small casino in Oklahoma. The place is not big enough for Craps, Black Jack, or Roulette. Their staple is slot machines. I sat down at a penny or nickel machine, loaded it with a twenty dollar bill, and hit spin. Had I read the “about this game” information, I would have realized I won a bonus round on my first spin. I kept racking up points until I did not make the minimum for the round. Instead of cashing out, I played off the bonus credits. I did have a nice sum when I cashed out, but had I read the information, I would have made more money.

The same goes for submitting your work to an agent or editor. Agents and editors are truly busy people. They cannot read every manuscript, so an author must do their homework and make the submission shine. Check the website for submission guidelines. Keep in mind, these are not suggestions, they are actual rules to follow when sending your work. Some agents or editors will request a cover letter, synopsis, and the first three chapters. Check for the length for the synopsis. The agent may want a maximum of three pages, or perhaps one page. Please do not send ten pages. You will not be read. If the guidelines say three chapters, do not send the entire manuscript.  Make sure you spell the name correctly. Check for the genres the agency represents. Whatever you do, do not submit your erotica to a Christian publishing house.

There are some basics to follow. Standard font and type style is Times New Roman or Courier New 12 pt. Script is impossible to read, and fancy fonts are not professional. Use a good quality bond paper. White only! I’ve disqualified contest entries because the submission was received on gray or baby blue paper. Margins should be one inch all around, and the type should be on one side only. Use black ink. Pink or purple may be your favorite colors, but editors will not appreciate your creativity.  Double space your manuscript. Do not include your photograph, your child’s picture, or a puppy photo. The agent will not be impressed. Proof read. Proof read. Proof read.  Ask a friend to proof read the submission for you.

Remember, writing is a business, and rules must be followed. Want to know more about writing for the editor? Check out the Panhandle Professional Writers’ website at pandhandleprowriters.org for information regarding the Frontiers in Writing Let’s Write Weekend, June 29-30, 2012 in Amarillo, Texas. Hilary Sares, former acquiring editor for a New York publishing house, will present workshops on meeting editors’ expectations. Y’all come. We’d sure like to meet you.

Cait Collins

Three Lawyers and a Judge

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Outtakes 26

 Three Lawyers and a Judge

I just spent four days on jury duty. Now don’t misunderstand me. I don’t enjoy jury duty. I have issues with the hurry-up-and-wait situations. I read James Patterson’s 10TH ANNIVERSARY on the first day. That gives you an idea how much idle time we had. I also hate being away from the office. It just takes so long to catch up. That said we should be thankful for our jury system. Not many countries allow trial by jury.  Most defendants or respondents will never know what it’s like to be judged by their peers instead of magistrates. As inconvenient as jury duty is, it is the best system around. It also provides some spectacular inspiration for a novel.

Take this case as an example. We were not hearing a criminal case. Ours was a civil matter, and the rules were different. The jury was comprised of 6 jurors and an alternate, all novices except me. In fact, my experience as a foreperson is what landed me on the panel. Instead of a reasonable doubt, we judged on the preponderance of the evidence. We did not determine guilt or innocence, but answered yes or no to the questions on the charge. A yes response was in favor of the State of Texas; a no vote favored the respondent.

While there were some characters on the jury, the real players were the judge and the three attorneys. The attorney for the state was knowledgeable but arrogant. He felt we did not need medical reports and tons of pictures; we should believe the witnesses because they were professionals from law enforcement, vets, and accomplished dog trainers. Never mind the fact the humane society left the property with all the pictures and the sheriff hadn’t seen any of them until closer to trial. We just had to believe the state’s case.

In contrast, the respondents’ attorneys offered expert testimony, but they had photos released on the internet, medical records, invoices, and pictures of all those lovely registered dogs. They were more low keyed, soft spoken and respectful. They appealed to our common sense and logic over emotions. It was only when the State’s attorney tried to introduce a statement from the respondent that I saw the fire from the lead counsel for the respondents. He and his attractive co-counsel demanded, “May we approach, Your Honor?” They covered the distance between the counsels’ tables and the bench quickly. The word mistrial was whispered before the judge asked the jurors to take a break.

Finally, the judge acted as moderator between the opposing sides. He smiled a lot,  spoke softly, and continually thanked the jurors. He didn’t take sides, but effectively ruled on the objections,  never favoring one side or the other. His judgments were based on the law. I respected him.

Now, let’s put the characters together in a totally different situation. In place of a quiet civil action we are in the middle of a high profile multi-count criminal trial. The defendant is the son of a mob boss. The state’s attorneys maintain their soft-spoken demeanor. The defense attorney hammers away at the state’s DNA expert. And then…

Now you finish it.

Cait Collins

Snowy Woods and Frozen Lakes

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Outtakes 25

 

Snowy Woods and Frozen Lakes

I was in the sixth grade when my dad received orders for Dow Air Force Base in Bangor, Maine. I hated the thought of leaving my friends, and my boy friend, Johnny Vaughan, but the moves were part of military life. So once again, we packed up and headed north. As we drove the three thousand miles from Louisiana to Maine, I focused more on what I was losing than what I would gain. (Hey, I was a kid.) This change of station shaped so much of my life. Even now, some fifty years later, I can close my eyes and see Maine, the friends I made, and recall the lessons I learned.

I was fortunate to have an English teacher who made creative writing and appreciation of literature a part of the curriculum. You see, Mr. Jordan was a student of four-time Pulitzer Prize winning poet, Robert Frost. This teacher helped me to appreciate the poetry of Frost, Sandburg, T.S. Elliott, Poe, and the older masters. But to this day, Robert Frost remains my favorite poet. Frost had the ability to paint a portrait of New England life. Birches, The Road Not Taken, Mending Wall, Death of the Hired Man, Fire and Ice, and Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening bring back such vivid memories of an area of the country I came to love. The words are beautiful on the surface, but they also require thought and introspection. By reading and rereading Frost’s poems, I was able to see beyond the beauty of New England and find simple wisdom beneath the words.

The point of this Outtake is Mr. Jordan’s character. Mr. Jordan was not a writer; he was a Junior High School teacher. He was wise enough to understand each student’s limitations, and base expectations on talent and ability. At the same time, he expected each of us to reach higher and do better. In my opinion, this is the essence of a good teacher. He instructed and then gave us our wings. Sometimes we flew, and at times we fell. But we all tried.

As I was an honors student, he never let me get away with sloppy work. I didn’t appreciate that at the time, but now I realize he had my best interests in mind. I thank him for caring so much. I also thank him for not trying to make a poet of me. I don’t have that talent. I can write simple verse to do little songs for my Sunday school class, but I’ve never been able to capture the intricacies of rhyme, meter, and imagery needed to write good poetry. I envy those who have this talent.

Not only did he teach English, he made me realize I am obligated to give back to others.  You see, Mr. Jordan learned from a master and passed his knowledge on to the next generation. I think Robert Frost said it best in the closing lines of Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.

…But I have promises to keep

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

Whatever talent we possess, we have in essence, an I.O.U. or a promise to teach others. It’s not enough to leave behind  just our written words. It’s more important to reach out to instruct and inspire others to be their best. Talent is a use it or lose gift, and we need to pay back the loan. No writer should be satisfied to rest on his laurels. He should have the desire to, like Mr. Jordan; pass his knowledge to future generations. I’ve been blessed to come into contact with writers who shared their gifts with me. I only hope I do as good a job for others as they have done for me.

Cait Collins

Will I or Won’t I?

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Outtakes #24

 

Will I or Won’t I?

There’s a gentleman in our congregation who prays beautiful prayers. He doesn’t use fancy language, or perfect oration. He prays simply and from the heart. And he is deaf. Instead of focusing on what he is not able to do, hear, he explores what he can and will do. He takes part in most of the congregation’s activities; he always smiles, and is perpetually upbeat. He serves as an example and encouragement to me because he is optimistic.

Many times as writers and as humans, we tend to view life in the negative instead of looking for the positive. We think in terms of “I can’t” instead of “I can”. Often the real problem is in what we will do or will not do. It is essential to take stock of our attitudes and determine to focus on the positive.

Look at it this way. I cannot write poetry, but I can write an inspirational article. I choose to write popular fiction instead of the Great American novel. While I’m inept with writing horror, I can do humor. Have I determined I cannot craft a specific genre without making an attempt in the category? Am I willing to experiment with different styles and techniques? Will I risk rejection?

By assessing attitudes we are better able to determine the difference in ability and in self limitation. This year, resolve to challenge yourself. Attempt to write the Great American novel. If you’re a guy, write a romantic short story. Ladies, write a football or auto racing piece. Submit your work to an objective reader or editor. Better yet, search the web for an agent or publisher, and send a proposal. You are the only person able to take control of your writing career and make a publishing contract your goal for 2012.

Cait Collins

Inspiration

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Outtakes 23

Inspiration

I work in the complaints and correspondence department of a major annuities company. I’m often required to review old documents to verify names, dates of birth, contract ownership and so on. Clients have provided wonderful glimpses into their lives by the materials they send. I’ve received French Canadian birth certificates, Mexican marriage licenses, hand-written records, legal documents that appear to have been typed on old onionskin paper. But the most interesting was entitled Non-Relative Affidavit.

Even though it was scanned into our files, the age and fragility of the document was obvious. The shading indicated the page had yellowed over the years. Wrinkles and tears marred the submission and made reading the information difficult. The affidavit verified a birth in 1929, but the verification was not entered into the county records until some fourteen years after the birth. The age and unique format fueled possible reasons for the delay in filing the birth of this child.

My speculation went along these lines. This was a point in our history when home births were more common than hospital births. Perhaps a doctor did not attend the birth and record it. If the parents were not married, the event might not have been registered in an attempt to spare the mother and child embarrassment and ridicule. Was the child of minority origins? In the Old South, were minority births always registered? Some folks did not trust the government; therefore they might not want to have the birth registered. With this in mind, I realized I had the beginnings of a possible short story. I have not filled in many details;  so for now, this sketch will go into my story ideas notebook.

The point is that our story inspiration comes in many forms. Why not take a few minutes to go through boxes of old paperwork molding in the attic. Or maybe visit the archives in your local library or museum. A name or a place or a piece of paper might just trigger the next best seller.

Cait Collins

Home Stretch

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Outtakes 22

Home Stretch

As a child, I could not wait for the big experiences. Christmas seemed so far away. I thought I’d never get my driver’s license. Would I ever reach sixteen and be allowed to wear makeup and get to date? Would I ever graduate high school? Marriage was a dream. Like most young people, patience was not a sterling quality. My mother and father warned me to slow down and enjoy the stages of life. Didn’t make sense at the time, but now I wish I had listened. As I get older, life seems to move at an Indy 500 pace. I feel I have missed so much because I was impatient.

It can be that way when I write. I’m so anxious to finish one project and start another that I miss out on the pleasure of creating something special. As I prepare the final pages of HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW for my critique group to review, I realize I’ve sped through Kate and Dalton’s journey. I’ve overlooked some of their special moments and maybe I’ve glossed over the intensity of their struggles; downplayed their doubts; left unsaid their most intimate thoughts. That is why the final editing process is so important to me.

At this stage, I pull out the critiques, read the notes I’ve made and the comments my friends have written. I weigh the ideas, incorporate those I like, discard the ones I don’t need, and even flag some for further consideration. I carefully rework scenes and dialogue to improve the story I already love. I do not rush through this process. Instead, I invest time in conversing with my characters. At some point, I will probably ask King Phillips if he has a redeeming quality. And, I will listen for his response. I will read aloud to be sure the dialogue flows. When I complete the final rewrite, I will do one more proof-read and put the novel to bed. I’ll let it cook for a few days and then will send the first thirty pages to a potential agent.

I’ve been asked how I know it’s finished. I don’t really know how to answer that. There’s a line between working toward perfection and over-working the novel. I’ve known authors who worry about dotting every “I” and crossing every “T”, they destroy the soul of the work. At some point, my internal editor will say, “Let go,” and then I will say it’s done. Will I ever be one hundred percent satisfied with writing? I doubt it, but I will be happy with my creation.

Cait Collins

Resolved

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Outtakes 21

Resolved

January 1, 2012 is closing in fast. I can’t believe there are only thirteen days until the New Year begins. I’m not much for New Year’s resolutions as I break them within 48 hours. However, I am setting my writing goals for next year. Here they are; short and simple, and I hope my critique partners hold me to them.

  1. Get organized. Since starting the blog, I realize I need a good system for tracking topics and making sure they are done on time. I also need to keep better records for submissions and Frontiers in Writing conference details.
  2. Write and mail the checks for my Panhandle Professional Writers and Oklahoma Writers’ Federation Inc. dues. I keep forgetting to do that.
  3. Follow-up on Fall 2011 submissions.
  4. Complete the publicity plans for Frontiers in Writing.
  5. Complete the final edits for my novel HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW.
  6. Submit the first thirty pages of the novel to a potential editor.
  7. Write down the lyrics to the songs I’ve written for my Sunday School class. Other teachers are asking for them.
  8. Learn more about using social media to promote my work.
  9. Start a new project.
  10. Lose another fifteen pounds. Okay, that doesn’t have much to do with writing. But getting a little more weight off will help my blood pressure, increase my stamina, and make me more productive.

If you haven’t set your writing goals for 2012, now’s the time to get to work on them. Goals are good for us. They provide a path to improving our productivity and better our chances for publication. If you are a beginner, start small. Keep track of your progress, and mark accomplishments as “Done”. You’ll enjoy seeing the list get smaller.

I wish you all a happy and productive 2012.

Cait Collins