Getting Started

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POST CARDS FROM THE MUSE

Getting Started

By Nandy Ekle

 

I had the itch all day. As fellow writers I know you understand what I’m talking about. New characters screamed in my head and scenes flashed through my mind like movies on the big screen. I knew what I wanted to write and I couldn’t wait to get to it.

As soon as I clocked out from my day job, I nearly skipped to my car. All the way home I sang with the radio, but I have no idea what songs played. I stopped at a red light and as I sat there the muse tickled my brain to the point where I almost didn’t realize the light had turned green. I pulled into the drive way and couldn’t get in the house fast enough. Change to comfy clothes, boot up the computer, watch while the screens open and the cursor blips on the white page. Giddiness threatened to take over my consciousness as I typed the title of my new greatest idea.

“Oh, this is going to be so great!” I whispered to my fingers. “I’ve got most of it in my head; the roadblocks will just dissolve as we type this up right quick.” I took a deep breath and put my fingers on home row.

And so, there I sat in my special writing space, hands on the keyboard, cursor blinking at me like a teenager who thinks I’m as dumb as a block of wood. And it seemed I may have been. I typed the title and the movie screen in my head went dark. No more action, no conversation, even the face of my character disappeared.

I blinked a few times and stared at the empty screen. “Hey. What’s going on?” I yelled these words to the hallways inside my head. Just a moment earlier these hallways had been full of words and music, sights and sounds. Now they looked like the cob-webby walls of a haunted house.

“You waited too long.” The voice came from behind me. I turned quickly and caught a glimpse of a sparkling fairy princess gown as the wearer darted out an open window. “You should have started writing it as I was giving it to you.”

“But, I have a job to do, a day job. Without that job, I don’t get to buy fun or food.” I know I sounded whiney, but I felt desperate. All day I had to force myself to stay focused on my duties instead of going into my little fantasy world.

“Sorry. I only have so much time I can give you.”

“I’m here now, bring it all back.” The fairy princess returned to stand behind me. “I remember some of it. Bring the rest of it back. Please help me write this story.” I typed a few words.

“Oh, that is the worst place in the world to start. And you need a better voice. Here, delete it all and start over.”

So I tried again and only earned more criticism. It seemed that every time I tried to write my story, the muse was meaner and more cruel until she finally rolled her eyes, stamped her foot, and huffed. Then she turned and vanished.

And this is usually how my writing times start.

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

 

 

A Wedge of Writing

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A room without books is like a body without a soul.

–Marcus T. Cicero

 

books_sale

 

Write Every Day

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Outtakes 181

Write Every Day

By Cait Collins

I’ve written often about writing something every day. I truly believe this is necessary. If an athlete does not train every day, he is not prepared for game day. So if a writer does not train or practice his craft every day, he is not prepared to endure the long days of production on his novel, story, or non-fiction work.

Let’s be honest, there are days when sitting down at the computer is a chore. There are so many interruptions. Our minds are clogged with the plumber ripping up the back yard to replace a section of pipe; a serious family problem; excessive over-time hours; or health problems. The book is not as important as dealing with life. And forcing words to appear on a computer screen is generally not productive. No matter what you write today, it will need to be rewritten tomorrow. Why not wait until your mind is clear to have that much need writing marathon? Believe me, allowing the opportunity to resolve some life issues before tackling the manuscript will make the writing better. There will be fewer mistakes to correct and a more polished piece to present to the critique group.

Instead of forcing work on a project, try a writing exercise. Here’s an example. Write a sentence. Begin the next sentence with the last word in the first sentence. The next line begins with the last word in the previous line. Continue along this line for five minutes. Write. Don’t think. Do not edit. Do not lift your pencil off the paper. You’ll be surprised at your creativity and imagery.

Another solution is to do research for your current work. Google that elusive fact you need for the next chapter. Or edit a section of your manuscript. Write a letter. Yes, write a good, old fashioned letter to a friend or relative. Address an envelope, slap a stamp in the corner and mail the letter.

The point is to write something every day.

It’s all in the execution

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A poor plan properly executed, will work. It’s all in the execution.

By Rory C. Keel

As you step out on the stage of becoming a writer, there are many unknowns. Writers groups and conferences are helpful in learning the in’s and out’s of writing and publishing. However, unless this knowledge is put into a plan and executed, it is useless.

Develop a plan

Set short-term goals and long-term goals for your writing and put together a plan to reach them. Write them on paper or log them on a computer where you can physically see them every day to remind you of what you want to achieve.

Finding a topic or story to write about this week is a good example of a short-term goal. Set a daily, weekly, monthly word count to reach and a time management schedule in order to meet them.

Develop long-term goals such as setting a date to finish the first draft of your story or novel, research agents or publishers to pitch your book to or determine to submit your story to multiple markets until someone buys it.

Now execute the plan

You must execute your plan! Good or bad, no plan will work unless you carry it out. When you plan a vacation you use the knowledge you have available and make a plan. If you never move forward, you will never reach your destination.

What if your knowledge is limited or you realize your plan is not perfect? Move forward – adjust. Often we need to reread the map or take a detour to get to our destination, but we continue to move forward. Even a poor plan that is properly executed, will work, but it must be executed to reach the goal.

Roryckeel.com

The Basics

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The Basics

By Natalie Bright

Noun – names a person, place, or thing.

Pronoun – takes the place of a noun, e.g. I, you, they.

Verb – shows action.

Adjective – modifies a noun or pronoun by telling how much, which one, what kind or describing it in other ways.

Adverb – modifies a verb similar to how an adjective it in other ways.

Preposition – shows a relationship between nouns or pronouns and is often used at the beginning descriptive phrase.

Conjunction – connects two words, phrases, clauses. The most common; and, but, or.

Interjection – often just one word injected into the sentence to show emotion, such as yea, uh-oh, or alas.

A Wedge of Writing

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Learn from Every Possible Source. Good writing can be learned from many different venues, yet one of the keys to application of this principle is your attitude. Successful writers commit to a continual path of growth for their craft.

                  -W. Terry Whalin

Okay With Crazy

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POST CARDS FROM THE MUSE

Okay With Crazy

By Nandy Ekle

 

Writers are a special breed of people. We are the people who see worlds in a speck of dust. We hear voices in our heads and we dissect ideas and words looking for connections and meanings.

We even have our own jargon. We stay away from echoes and rabbit trails. We love conflict and critiques. Flawed heroes, lovable villains, inciting incidents, supporters, resolutions, arcs, macguffin, even white spaces are common topics when we all get together.

At a writing conference, meeting and connecting with other writers is one of the most satisfying things in the world, especially when the writers at the conference share interest in the same genre. Imagine a room full of people discussing how much blood they splash around in a year at the horror writers’ conference. Or a room of people discussing all the love affairs they orchestrate at the romance writers’ conference. At a mystery writers’ conference you might hear talk of secrets and clues, or you’ll probably hear conversations about UFO sightings and time travel at the science fiction writers’ conference.

It’s so satisfying to be able to open up and talk about ideas and scenes, style and word choice, even names and voices with other people and have them understand exactly what you mean. I invite you to discuss your writing life here with me. I love talking about words, topics, genres. Pour your heart out and I’ll listen and smile because I know exactly what you mean.

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

A Wedge of Writing

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We built a ship upon the stairs

All made of the back-bedroom chairs,

And filled it full of sofa pillows

To go a-sailing on the billows.

                              —Robert Louis Stevenson

 

Here’s to discovering your inner child of fun and writing more stories in the New Year!

FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD

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Outtakes 180

 

FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD

By Cait Collins

 

I love the holidays. The hustle and bustle, social events, end-of-the-school-term concerts make me happy. But there is one thing I hate…food, glorious food.

I’m not officially on a diet, but I am trying to watch what and how much I eat. I definitely do not want to gain back the ten pounds I lost last fall. So what do you do when everywhere you look there is food?

It’s so unfair. Your co-workers bring goodies from their kitchens and let you know to help yourself. If you don’t partake, feelings are hurt. However, if I eat, my backside suffers. Is there no middle ground?

This is a sampling of the holiday feasting.

It started before Thanksgiving with a food day at work. I don’t remember the menu, but I do recall the table being overloaded and the team eating from the start of the day to the end of the shift.

Then there was family Thanksgiving at the church building. (The kitchen is bigger than at any of our homes and we can all sit together.) Let’s see, turkey, lots of turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, dressing, salad, pickles, olives, dinner rolls, candied yams, desserts; more food than any of us could or should eat. We all took leftovers home.

December rolled around and the parties started. My sister’s jewelry party provided chips, dips, crackers and cream cheese spread, apple slices, grapes, pineapple chunks.

A shopping trip ended in dinner out with two of my nephews. Shrimp was a great change of pace. The congregation’s holiday adult party was catered. I could not eat everything on my plate. Nor could I sample all the home cooked brunch fare the morning after the party. And we brown-bagged dinner the night we filled the holiday baskets for our shut-ins.

Family Christmas dinner was early so that we could all be together before kids left to spend the holiday with their dads. The scent of Mexican food filled the church fellowship hall as we scarffed enchiladas, tamales, queso and chips, fajitas, and desserts.

The day before my vacation began we celebrated our short association with co-workers from our Manila office. The tables in the conference room were loaded with Mexican food. Everything from queso to taco soup tempted the stomach.

My sisters and I celebrated December birthdays with Cheryl’s famous chicken salad sandwiches, chips, and ice cream. Then I joined my in-laws for filet minion on Christmas Eve. Janet made stew on Christmas day, and New Year’s Eve, we waited for the end of 2014 with snacks and desserts. New Year’s day, I spent quietly eating grilled chicken and black-eyed peas.

Man, was I glad to see the holidays end.

You’d think the New Year would bring an end to the obsession with food. Not so my friends. The food train continues to roll with homemade goodies making their way to the food cube at work. And on Friday, there is another food day.

Mexican food.

Again.

I raise my eyes heavenward. “Please, Lord, make it stop,” I beg. “I’ve had enough of food, glorious food.”

In the musical Oliver, Oliver and his friends sang of Food, Glorious Food because he and the other orphans were starving. I complain because there’s too much of a good thing. The point is anything you dream can be a story.

 

Writing Endorsements

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Writing Endorsements

By Rory C. Keel

Ask for endorsements from readers that enjoyed your writing. Simply say something like, “Would you provide me with a positive comment I could use as a testimonial for my book?”

Use the positive comments as headlines for your writing on your website and other promotional materials such as bookmarks and brochures.

Take note of unsolicited positive comments and remarks about your writing in e-mails and personal conversations. If individuals say something positive about your writing, ask to quote them.

Collect testimonials in a notebook and you will have them readily available when promoting your writing, stories and books.

Realize that testimonials from your readers will generate excitement and create interest in your work and draw more readers for your material.