Category Archives: Writing

Active Writing cultivates new Material.

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Reasons to Write

by Rory C. Keel

Why do I write? Is it because throngs of fans demand it, anticipating every word of my next masterpiece? Is it because I honestly expect to make millions of dollars on a bestseller, or desire to be famous? No.

This week I will share with you reason number 2 of why I write.

Reason #2 – Active Writing cultivates new Material.

As a writer do you struggle to find new material to write?

For me, ideas often come to mind when I am actively writing, as if one idea sprouts from another. As my story moves along, writing one sentence after the next, a scene will unfold unlocking a previous thought. Occasionally a secret door in that scene will open showing me an object or a thought that feels out of place and doesn’t fit. These are what I call my story seeds, seedsfor another project.

 Story Seeds                                                           

Story seeds are small bits of information that emerge in your thoughts. They can be simple objects like a single red sock hung on a clothesline: why is it blowing in the wind as if forgotten, or was it intentional and a signal for someone? Maybe an animal such as a small brown dog runs through your thoughts while you write. Why is he alone? Does he have a master? These story seeds may be a specific place you’ve never been before or a mysterious person that suddenly emerges in your mind and then vanishes. When these items appear, I quickly record them to use in a future piece.

 Make a List

Make a list in a small pocket notebook or journal of story seeds when they happen. When you struggle to find something to write, use the list to spark a story. Ask when, where, who, what and how about each item on the list to generate the next story.

Make your list!

Rory C. Keel

 

 

It’s Called Networking

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It’s Called Networking

by Natalie Bright

Throughout the world of business, professionals network. Everyone does it, from skilled surgeons, teachers, CEO’s, office managers–you name it. At some point in their career, these workers will attend some type of meeting to learn more about that profession. When I worked in human resources, conferences were invaluable. It’s where I learned about the new labor laws and where I found a network of people who worked in the same industry that I did. People I could call on, if I needed information or help. People who were saavy as to the latest trends or tools that I needed to know to do my job effectively.

Writers are No Exception

In Economics and Finance 101, the first thing you learn is that every smart business owner has at least one year of working capital set aside to get through the bad times and the second thing you realize is that every successful business owner puts everything they make right back into their business. An owner’s priority is the facility, equipment, goods, and the people; everything it takes to make that business a success, and they network with others in their profession.

Writing is a business after all, and at some point in  your career, you’ll need to step into the business world of publishing. You need to know about social marketing, query letters, proposals, characterization, plotting techniques, and you need to network with people who understand what you do. Editors, agents, and writers all love stories. It’s what we do.

YOU the Man

So what have you done for yourself lately to advance your writing career? What have you put back into your business? As a professional writer, one of the best ways to make an investment in YOU is to attend a writer’s conference.

Here are two of my favorites, and they’re scheduled for the same weekend in 2013 (drat!) Whichever you might choose, they are both well worth your time and money.

OWFI 45: Revive! Strive! Thrive!

Sponsored by the Oklahoma Writer’s Federation, Inc. May 2-4, 2013 in Norman, Oklahoma. Conference topics generally includes a good representation of every genre. Fun and friendly group! http://www.owfi.org

DFWCon May 4-5, 2013

Dallas/Fort Worth area writer’s group sponsors this conference which features a ton of agents. Each attendee gets one free pitch session, so research those agents and agencies carefully. Don’t waste your time or theirs by pitching something they do not represent. This huge conference is well-run and organized, and I met so many serious writers who are firmly focused on learning everything they can about the publishing business. It’s a total brain overload for two days on everything writing and it’s wonderful. http://www.dfwcon.com

Network, learn, and keep writing!

http://www.nataliebright.com

Music to Write By

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POST CARDS FROM THE MUSE

Music to Write By

By Nandy Ekle

 I love all kinds of music and this time of year is rich with tunes. There are hymns to God as well as love to fellow man. There are songs about the magic of the season and joy of children learning about Christmas. And there are always love songs because this time of seems to inspire romance.

For the past few mornings I have woken up with a certain song in my head that I’ve heard on the Christmas radio station. It’s not necessarily a happy song, and that’s why it continues to play through my brain. I know there’s a story in that song.

When I hear the words, its’ easy to slide into that zone and visualize the confusion and torment the singer feels. I hear, see, and feel the whole thing play out. I can even smell the scents in the room where the holiday party is taking place. The character in my head picks up a nibble from a tray and I taste the morsel as he/she pops it into his/her mouth.

My job now is to write down what my character tells me through the song. I need to let go of the reins and let the zone overtake me completely to get my own words on paper.

Listen to one of your favorite Christmas songs and let your senses take over. Let the magic of the season write the story for you.

Congratulations. You have just received a post card from the muse.

ADDRESS UNKNOWN

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ADDRESS UNKNOWN

By Sharon Stevens

I was putting the finishing touches on my husband’s Santa coat for his performance as Cowboy Santa for The Hide Out. Earlier in the day I had read the Canyon News article about Gene Vaughn Morrison and Bill Anderson and the musical drama TEXAS. This instantly brought me back to another time and place years ago.

The Canyon High School drama department was performing “Becket” as their one-act play, and Kathy Gist and I were working on the costumes. The art teacher, Charlotte Brantley, had bought all the material and we were sewing the final pieces. I will never forget Gene standing beside me while I hand stitched the final button on his cape for his role as the Bishop.

On the spur of the moment Kathy and I decided to take the opportunity to ride the Greyhound bus to see their performance in Odessa. We got off the bus and caught a cab and gave the cab driver the address of where we needed to go at the college where the one-acts were being performed. This driver meandered through the campus and drove into this entrance and that, taking the scenic tour on our dime. We had no clue where we were going, but we thought he did. He truly knew where he was headed, but was hesitant about getting us there.

When we finally pulled up to the theatre entrance he told us the charge was twenty dollars. In 1971 this was good money, especially for me as I was living on my own, paying all my expenses while working part time at the nursing home. This money represented probably a week’s worth, no maybe a month’s worth of groceries for me. We had no choice. Kathy and I divvied up our dollars and gave it to the cabbie. Even worse than losing so much money was that we were so late we missed the performance, which meant we didn’t get to see all our hard work come to life onstage.

Kathy Gist sat beside me again at the Panhandle Professional Writers Frontiers in Writing Conference as she won Best of Show for her story. The judges stood in front of all of us gathered and excitedly told Kathy to send her story to several different magazines. They even listed the addresses of where to write for writer’s guidelines as well as where to submit her stories. Kathy went on to have this story published with Guidepost Magazine and her award was to attend the Guidepost Short Story conference in New York.

As writers we have so many opportunities to send out our stories. And with the Internet the possibilities are absolutely endless. But we can never forget to research our destination to make sure we go in the right direction. We may think we know EXACTLY where our thoughts need to go, but in all honesty we ourselves are missing the point. This is not saying we shouldn’t stray from our intended path now and again, but it is very important for us to weigh our options before embarking down what appears to be a promising road. At all times we have to be mindful of the correct address in case our bread crumbs are eaten before we can retrace our steps. We can’t expect the post office to deliver our message if we don’t have the write destination. They are not Santa whose only address is the North Pole!

I came across “The 1941 Reader’s Digest 20th Anniversary Anthology” at our Buffalo Bookstore. In it was the most wonderful story called, “ADDRESS UNKNOWN” by Kathleen Kressmann Taylor. The story involves a time before World War II and the rise of Nazi power. This powerful message revolves around both sides of the horror and tragedy of this time, and totally reverses the meaning of the address of the soul.

I will always miss Kathy. She was so kind to me over the last several years with our heritage project in Canyon, and our storytelling at The Fountain on the courthouse square. I don’t have her correct address in Heaven, but I have no doubt this message will be delivered without any problems. I was very careful as I wrote where I thought my words needed to go.

Read the Contract

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Outtakes 71

Read the Contract

by Cait Collins

I am appalled by the number of people who will affix their signatures to contracts and documents without reading them. Or if they read them, they do not understand all the terms. Instead of asking questions or requesting an attorney review the contract, they scribble their names on the dotted line. Bad move for anyone, but how does this impact a writer?

While I prefer to believe most people are honest in their business dealings, I know this is not always true. Think back a few years when writers would see an ad in a writers’ magazine representing a publisher. “Get your novel published today.” A friend of mine saw such an ad and gave me a copy. I followed the instructions and submitted my first novel. Several weeks passed before I received a letter of acceptance with the contract to follow. I was in heaven until I received the contract. Not only did I lose all my rights, I would be required to give first right of refusal to the publisher for all future works.  If I was unwilling to do the changes they requested, they would hire someone to do the rewrites. The real kicker was the “publisher” required me to pay $3,ooo.oo for the privilege of seeing my book in print. What a wake-up call! I keep that contract in my files to remind me to read the fine print.

Unfortunately there are unscrupulous agents, editors, publishers who prey on writers desperate to be published. They promise the moon, get the signed contract, but never follow through on the promises. How many promising authors have been burned and give up?  Trust your instincts. If you are uncomfortable with the submission requirements such as reader’s fees, or unreasonable time frames for response, back off. If after meeting an agent or editor, you have that funny feeling something’s not right, or you don’t click personality wise, make no promises. Request a business card and check out the agent or editor on predator websites or read references from other writers.

Reputable agents, editors, and publishers may present you with a good offer, but can you negotiate a better deal? What’s the harm in investigating the possibilities? And remember to ask questions. If you don’t understand clauses in the contract, have an intellectual properties, copyright, or literary attorney review the document. Remember this is a business. A few extra steps just might save you disappointment and problems in the long run.

Reasons to Write

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Reasons to Write

Rory C. Keel 

Why do I write? Is it because throngs of fans demand it anticipating every word of my next masterpiece? Is it because I honestly expect to make millions of dollars on a bestseller, or desire to be famous? No.

Over the next few weeks I will share with you a few of the reasons I write.

Reason #1

I write to tell a story. Everyone loves a good story. Children drift off to sleep with their heads cradled gently in downy pillows, and their minds full of colorful images from fairytales. Young adults turn the pages of books filled with adventure, loyalty, and sometimes tragedy. They experience a spectrum of emotions as they learn the meaning of dedication, true love, and even loss. Adults feel alive with the thrill of a great suspense novel. As we grow older, we can gain a sense of who we are, and where we came from by reading of our youthful yesterdays.

For a few brief moments in time, a story affords the reader the opportunity to escape reality. Traveling through time into other dimensions, we can explore the far reaches of the future, or a place in history. A story allows the reader to become someone else, able to triumph over evil, or transform into the bad guy. The words of a story can inspire us to overcome the odds stacked against us, and we can experience the exhilaration of victory.

Everyone has a story–write yours.

Rory C. Keel        

NOVEMBER IS DONE! YOU HAVE A NOVEL! Now What?

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NOVEMBER IS DONE! YOU HAVE A NOVEL!

Now What?

by Natalie Bright

November is done, and what a great month it is for writers: National Novel Writing Month. It’s a thrilling time to be a writer because of the endless opportunities.

Switching Gears

Did you participate this year? I tried, but had to stop mid-way and switch projects because I could not stay focused on the time period at hand. Another character popped into my head and I just had to give her some attention. That’s when the word count flew. I got more done in the last part of the month than I’ve ever thought possible.

Yay for You!

Many of you blogged about or shared your progress on Facebook and Twitter. Thanks for that, and cheers to those of you who stuck with the work at hand. It’s so hard to power through that first draft and you should congratulate yourself. Writing an entire book is an amazing accomplishment.

One post, however, gave me pause for concern. The word count was impressive for this author’s NaNo November 2012, and it was followed by a listed publishing date of ‘December 2012’.  My heart hurts for this person.

You want your book out there more than anything in the world. I understand. Don’t do it.  Don’t jeopardize your writing career. That first power draft is not ready for publication. You need to make several more passes through your novel, and I’ve found it’s impossible to analyze these key components at the same time. Each aspect must be looked at separately.

You’re Not Done Yet!

Here’s your editing checklist.

Add sensory elements. The rule is you want at least two to three (or more) senses in every scene. Show me what your character hears, tastes, smells, feels, and can see. And then there’s the whole list of internal senses to consider.

Dialogue. Does the dialogue ring true for each character? Are there plot elements or information the reader needs which can be clarified through dialogue?

Helping Verbs. Best advice I’ve ever had is to search and highlight the word ‘was’. As you power through the first draft, it’s easy to type ‘was’ and keep going. Sometimes when you stop to consider a better word, you might loose the image of that scene. Press on, but always replace those helping verbs with active verbs later.

Chapter Hooks. It’s so important to end each chapter with a hook. Give the reader a reason to keep turning those pages. Make a pass through your novel, reading out loud the first sentence and the last sentence of every chapter.

Critique Groups are next. You need an unbiased opinion from a group or a reader who understand story craft. Even though your mother is proud as punch that you’re holding 60,000 words which you typed all by yourself, she might not be the best one to give you a valuable critique.

Leave it alone. You read this right; shove your baby in a drawer. Go back to your life for a few days, weeks, even months, and then come back to that novel with refreshed eyes.

Grammar check. Read your novel out loud. Not just some parts, the whole thing. Awkward sentences and grammatical errors and strange word substitutions compliments of your computer will be revealed during this pass. Typos are a no brainer–don’t have any.  Also consider over-used clichés, point of view, shifts in verb tense, word echoes, and varied sentence length. No one ever said this writing business is easy. This is hard work people so get back to it.

Finally, publish away!

It took me forever to realize that our creative brains don’t work in a linear manner –1, 2, 3.  I think our subconscious muse is always working on our stories but the images may come in fragments, never in perfect chapter order and sometimes not even on the work in progress. Don’t stress over it. Just make notes of the scene as it comes to you. You can fix everything during the editing process – that’s when the real work begins.

It’s a thrilling time to be a reader. There are so many great stories out there–keep up the good work everybody!

http://www.nataliebright.com

PSYCHO

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PSYCHO

by Sharon Stevens
In honor, memory and celebration of
Jerry Williams and Ruth Holladay
Who on this earth hasn’t heard the “screech” in the Alfred Hitchcock movie “Psycho” without knowing what comes next. I ask you, who doesn’t know what follows? This is one vision that remains blistered in the movie-going psyche from past generations, and are now revived with the new movie coming out. Shadows, knife blades, shower curtains…they all play a part in making the story come to life. But they are all simply “Macguffins”.
Take my hat for example. I have a hat, the most wonderful chapeau you could ever imagine, made special for me to celebrate a Kentucky Derby event at my mother’s church. I had Nikki Sams at Stevens Flowers transform two cowboy hats for this. I felt like Julia Roberts in “Pretty Woman” when I entered their magical world on the courthouse square in Canyon. With outstretched arms I begged them to help me with an idea for my mother and me to celebrate together. Mother’s needed to be respectable while I wanted mine to represent everything patchwork. What they came up with was nothing short of miraculous. Mother’s hat was black sparkly crochet on a gold background with pearls hanging down the back. Mine was every color of the rainbow, interwoven together, connecting each hue to the next. It was covered in crochet, lace, and bright expressions of “bling.” I have never had anything with “bling” before.
We were a hit wearing our hats and had more fun. After the event my mother put hers away and I hung mine on the longhorn horns at our bookstore, and this has been a real conversation starter for anyone who comes in.
At the bookstore I wear many hats, but none more special than this one. I take it down and wear it on story-telling occasions in memory of “Patchwork.” It is my way of honoring Ruth Holladay and Jerry Williams. Both true storytellers inside and out. Jerry would wear a silk patchwork top hat while Ruth donned a patchwork vest with pockets galore. Ruth never knew what story she would tell until she got up before her audience and put her hand in her pocket. Whatever object she pulled out would determine the story she would weave.
I can’t wear my hat without being reminded of all the wonderful stories that surround all of us to be written and shared. Also, when this is perched brightly on my head it brings me courage and inspiration. Downright silly in the wrong setting, it fits perfectly for all ages with its sparkle and bling in the right one. And its not that I’m invisible underneath, but it helps to hide my sheer terror while the audience gushes over the designs and colors woven intricately together.
To me this object represents a MacGuffin. When Harrison Ford promoted “Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull” he mentioned that the skulls were a “MacGuffin,” a storied item worth seeking, such as the Ark of the Covenant. This was a phrase first coined by Alfred Hitchcock in 1939 and picked up by Steven Spielburg and George Lucas. Hitchcock describes the meaning as “whatever impels the villains and virtuous characters in a movie to pursue each other through the convoluted plots. The mechanical element that usually crops up in any story…the object around which the plot revolves.” Lucas further strengthened the idea. “A MacGuffin should be powerful and the audience should care about it almost as much as the dueling heroes and villains on-screen.”
I can’t wait to see the Alfred Hitchcock movie, “Psycho” to see the Macguffins placed in the film. To hear the story behind the “screech” and see the knife blades slice in the shower without the special effects we have today will have special meaning.
My hat, my MacGuffin, signifies thousands upon millions of precious stories I can connect together at a drop of a hat. Nikki Sams created and crafted my jewels with the artistry of her grandmother, Montene Stevens who taught her to crochet. Nikki’s mother, Debbie Stevens and grandmother Shirley White shared their passion and the heritage of beauty not just in flowers. Stevens Flowers is also a family business which will be celebrating 75 years this year in the community.
Every time I come into their store I am inspired and linked to another story and memory, and not only because of my hat. When I leave I am renewed in my faith to set my thoughts down in some form or fashion to share with generations to come. Even though those gifted in the flower shop are not milliners, I can only imagine that Stevens continues the tradition of our prairie foremothers (as opposed to forefathers) who must have fashioned bonnets with bits of ribbon and lace, fabric and scraps to renew that which adorns our heart and soul.
As writers we can weave a story together, but you have to have a tangible object to connect it to. Tonight I will have a special occasion to display my special “lid,” my precious chapeau, at the storytelling at Winterfest at the library at Dimmitt Texas.
I will be reading excerpts from the book “One Christmas in Old Tascosa” by Casandra Firman about the pencil. Each person that settles on the patchwork quilt at the library to hear my story will be given a little pencil and a childrens note pad to bring the story together. This precious book was written with stories about Casandra’s mother, Qunitelle Speck Firman Garmany during the days of the dust bowl and Depression in 1931, and I will also try to link and connect Ken Burns PBS series on the dust bowl.
Isn’t that what a Macguffin does? They bring together all the wonderful memories together of hardship and simple joys to celebrate family together.
I will probably keep my hat on display at the table covered with a quilt and surrounded by cloth dolls from my heritage. And the kids will probably have a blast trying the hat on and holding the dolls. My clothes are my role player costume from my storytelling days at the museum and celebrate Mrs. Claus.  My husband will be there in his “duds” with the imagination of a “cowboy Santa”. He has a great STETSON to wear just for the occasion and my colorful cowboy hat will fit right in, a mixture of our western heritage and silly celebration. The Stetson came from the West Texas Western Store and his clothes came from the Scully Company with the help of the Hide Out.
All of these are Macguffins coming together to share past and present, I wonder what visions will dance in their heads when they go to sleep tonight. I only hope I can help their dreams to be filled with color and “bling” and not with any “Psycho” running through their hearts.I truly don’t want the kids to think I am some crazy lady who will go bonkers at the drop of a hat. Actually I am quite harmless and I don’t live or work at the Bates Hotel. But on second thought, I do keep my hat speared on the skull of our longhorn mounted on the wall at the Buffalo Bookstore. Hmmm.

It’s All in How You Look at It

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Outtakes 70

It’s All in How You Look at It

By Cait Collins

I’ve developed a fondness for seek-and-find puzzles. I’m a wiz at find the word and hidden pictures as well as find the differences. I tell myself I work these to exercise my brain, but the truth is I enjoy the challenge. My favorite is hidden pictures. You have a large scene and a list of items hidden within the picture. Sometimes the search is easy, but then I hit a wall. I’ve checked the obvious portions of the frame, but do not find any of the hidden items. But when I rotate the page, I get a new perspective and am able to locate more of the objects.

Writing is similar to searching for the hidden objects. We come to a point in crafting a scene where the words don’t come. We write a sentence, delete it, and stare at the screen. Nothing comes. Maybe it’s time to rotate the scene.

Consider changing the point of view. The heroine reached her lowest point at the end of the previous chapter. She’s on her knees, and … And what? Instead of inserting the hero into the scene to save the day, relate the chapter from the eyes of the antagonist. What does he see? How does he react? Is there any sympathy for her suffering? What part has he played in bringing her to her knees? How can he use it to further his cause? The new perspective may bring out new insight into the characters and lead to different paths for the story.

What if the setting changed?  When I began writing HOW DO YOU LIKE ME NOW, I had not planned for the original Walker homestead to play a role in Kate’s story beyond the property being the location of the infamous pond. But when she returned to her childhood home, she remembered the good times. Up to this point, her focus was on the bad. The location change set up a turning point I had not anticipated. The chapter is one of my favorite parts of the story.

Think about other ways to rotate the page to punch up the tale. Introduce a character from the past. Throw in a surprise find. Unearth a secret. Even a minor change could be the very thing to propel the work to a higher plateau.

STYLE

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STYLE

By Rory C. Keel

Style is the quality that makes your writing easy to understand and pleasant to read. Style is different from punctuation and grammar which rarely factor in a writer’s style because they are generally standardized. For example, you could write a grammatically correct piece of work using large amounts of passive verbs with few active verbs and have poor style.

Practice

Good writing style is developed with practice. The more you write the better your style gets. Here are a few helpful suggestions to work on:

  1. Save the most interesting or important words for the end of the sentence.
  2. Use parallel structure in your writing. In other words, use consistency in sentence structure.
  3. Avoid echoes. This is a repetition of a word multiple times in a sentence or paragraph.

As you write and revise, your own personal style will develop over time.