Will There Be Blood

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POST CARDS FROM THE MUSE

Will There Be Blood

By Nandy Ekle

Intense labor. Sweat pours out of my skin. My fingers fly as my character talks to me. A lot of work goes into writing a story.

Sometimes the work is putting my hands on the keyboard. Sometimes the work is typing it all before the story leaves. Sometimes the work is holding the idea while I get to a good writing place.

Today the idea that has been rolling in my head for two months grew legs and walked onto the page. I opened the computer, put my fingers on the keys and the character appeared on the screen. She spoke and told me her story and I wrote it exactly as she said it.

When I finish the story, more work waits for me. The proofreading, editing and polishing will begin. This is where the blood comes in. Cutting the unnecessary words from the manuscript is like surgery.

And yes, there will be blood.

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

MIRACULOUS

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MIRACULOUS

By Sharon Stevens

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MIRACLE

I had heard on the news about the anniversary of E.B. White’s, “Charlotte’s Web” and read the interview in Vice Magazine centered on Bryan Garner. In the article by Jesse Pearson, Garner mentioned how much he loved this book, but also touched on another book by White which is considered a bible for writers as “Strunk & White’s, Elements of Style.”

I dropped by the Canyon Public Library to pick up a copy of this beloved book, and visited with one of the librarians. She had several copies there of the “web” and asked me to choose which one. I chose the Collector’s Edition in larger print. The illustrations by Garth Williams were vivid and striking. After I got home I opened the book, and touched each of the pages in turn, reading every word and treasuring each picture. I came across the story of when Mrs. Arable went to visit Dr. Dorian on behalf of Fern. She was so worried about her daughter spending all her time in the cellar barn with Wilbur, the pig. The mother asked if the doctor understood how there could be any writing in a spider’s web.

“Oh, no,” said Dr. Dorian. “I don’t understand it. But for that matter I don’t understand how a spider learned to spin a web in the first place. When the words appeared, everyone said they were a miracle. But nobody pointed out that the web itself is a miracle.”

“Charlotte’s Web” brought up the most wonderful memories for me, and my husband, and our trip to Chicago in 2011 to the Follett Corporation. We needed to update the software for our business, the Buffalo Bookstore. We encountered so many wonderful treasures along our journey there, with each person and the life they shared. Southwest Airlines was our chariot there and back, but, every life held an open book of their family and home and community. To me THIS was truly the MIRACLE!

My blog today takes the words that Charlotte wove into her web to try to save Wilbur’s life, and connect them to everything wondrous we encountered.

HUMBLE

Bill Long, our Follett book salesman, picked us up at the airport and then took us to Maggiano’s for lunch. What a tremendous experience! Our server noticed the logo on Bill’s shirt, and mentioned she had gone to college, and bought the major bulk of her textbooks from a Follett bookstore. I explained that we were from Canyon Texas, and represented the off-campus, small local home-town business for our community, and that of our college, WTAMU.

I asked her what her degree was in and she told me that it was in business marketing, but that she had a family to support with small children, and this job worked better for her. I assured her she was using her degree every moment she served the public, and also for the business she represented. Her kindness and efficient attention to her customer’s needs meant so much to those of us she served, whether refilling our glasses or taking away our empty plates. We were travelers from miles away, petrified visiting the big city, on an adventure that would impact how WE would do future business. It only took a few moments for her to make us feel comfortable, to put us at ease. We found the same community we cherished at home, right then and there in Chicago! What a MIRACLE!

Bill then dropped us at our home for the week, the Hilton Garden Inn at Oakbrook Terrace at Drury Lane, next to the Drury Lane Theatre. Inside our room, I found in the drawer, a copy of the Bible placed there by the Gideon’s, but also of Conrad Hilton’s book, “Be My Guest” of his life building the Hilton hotel empire.

The whole time we were there I found an extension of all that community represented. Everyone worked hard to see our needs were met, but more than that, they greeted us with smiles, and truly cared that we stayed at their hotel and in their city. What a MIRACLE!

SOME PIG

Follett took us on a tour of their facilities and we got a behind-the-scene view of how our books came from the warehouse to our store and the process to make it all possible. We even got to meet the people (so many wonderful people dedicated to their passion and vision) The whole week my husband attended the training along with people from several other small colleges across the country. Carolyn Recker was one of the instructors and to this day will answer questions and help us with any concerns. We even witnessed the way trashed boxes were being recycled with turning them into packing materials to protect our books until we opened our boxes here at home in our store.

On that day while my husband was attending his final course I scouted out “RIF, Reading is Fundamental” which is housed in the same building. My daughters participated in RIF when they were in grade school and we have always cherished READING. What a true MIRACLE!!

I met the most amazing kids involved with this endeavor, as Follett is where it all began. They shared with me where their program reaches, and showed me the posters and thank you board they received from all over the country. RIF goes to ALL the schools, but also impacts the prisons, and juvenile centers. They gave me books printed down through the years that had been compiled by the students themselves filled with poetry and stories from the heart. This reminded me of Mark Williams and his North Heights students right here in Amarillo, and the books they have written and published, and the apps they did for tourism for the Amarillo Chamber of Commerce. The student-produced books “Voices of the Heights” and “Paintings on the Wall” are available for download on iBooks, iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

The photo above is of the two kids who were so kind in sharing their passion and that of the Follett Corporation and Higher Education. I wished I remembered where I put their names. They gave me so much more than books, so much more than from the past of the kids they represented. They centered my heart and reminded me of the MIRACLES that will always be books.

They presented me with a pocket-sized copy of Dr. Suess and I gave them a Buffalo Bookstore bag filled with Amarillo magazines, Canyon News, Jodi Thomas books, and pamphlets from around the panhandle area. But the true treasure I gave to them was a copy of “Every Buffalo Will Shine” written by Dr. Marty Kuhlman representing the 100 year history and heritage of our college, WTAMU.  I could think of no better gift to give them.

TERRIFIC

One of the most terrific experiences I treasured from this trip happened to connect closer to home. When we checked into our room I noticed the big sign advertising the performances for the Drury Theatre next to hotel. “Aida” was in the evenings, and ‘Charlotte’s Web” for the school kids. one morning after my husband left for his daily course I looked over at the theatre across the way. School buses had pulled up to the entrance and the kids were unloading. I knew what this meant! This was just like here at home when the school kids were going on a field trip to a show at the Varsity Theatre down the block, or over at the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum for a tour, or in the Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Theatre on campus at WTAMU for a student performance of a children’s play, or at Mary Moody Hall for a musical extravaganza. This was meant for me!

I walked right next door and asked if I could purchase a ticket for the live theatre performance. They looked at me quizzically, but didn’t question. Oh, to be in such a wondrous theatre!! Instantly I was immersed within. I listened to the kids and the parents surrounding me. After being involved in musicals and plays at Canyon schools for so many years and also our area being the home of the musical drama “TEXAS” I knew what it was to bring a performance to life. I witnessed the costumes, the sets, the music, the lights, the seats, the colors…I saw it all. I even heard the outbursts of a group of kids at the back of the theatre that must have been the special kids that had come to see the show. Since our daughter, Andrea Keller, teaches special kids I recognized what a wonderful treat this was. (She had also attended Follett’s Higher Education ISTE this past year. What an experience that was for her!)

I settled into my seat in this wonderful theatre and immersed myself from the first notes of the overture to the last bow of the cast and crew. My tears were near to the surface throughout it all but were spilled when I saw the image of the windmill projected on the backdrop of the farm. Oh, this so reminded me of home.

My blog probably sounds more like a travel log and a review for the hotels, and restaurants etc., but nothing could be any further from the truth. Think of how many books have been placed in our hands as well as our hearts that have come alive within our soul. Our imaginations have become tangible with inspiration and encouragement from books. I have no idea of the future of college textbooks or even books for that matter, but I know I will treasure the written word in any form until they are gone or I am transformed from this earth. You can’t tell me that God doesn’t have some sort of library in the Heavens above.

My 1890 Webster’s Dictionary gives the definition of a MIRACLE as, “to wonder, to marvel, to hold.” I consider each and every precious word as a true MIRACLE in itself. No one can convince me that it will ever be anything else.

“Wilbur never forgot Charlotte. Although he loved her children and grandchildren dearly, none of the new spiders ever quite took her place in his heart. She was in a class by herself. It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both.”

THE END

Gotta Love Electronics

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Outtakes 78

Gotta Love Electronics

By Cait Collins

 

Have you ever had one of those days when it seemed as if every piece of electronic equipment you touched hated you? The computer was slow. The fax machine chewed your master. Only half of your documents printed. The copy machine jammed. And last but definitely not least, one of your primary computer programs crashed. Okay only half of that happened today, but this war has been ongoing for the last week and a half.

I love the convenience of computers. The ability to type a document, save it, and edit later is wonderful. I remember the good old-days when I’d spend hours typing a research paper on my trusty manual typewriter. I tried to check every page for errors before ripping the sheet out of the typewriter. I always missed something, and I never mastered the art of inserting the page and realigning the paper to make corrections. I lost count of the number of times I had to retype every page from the point of the error forward because the correction forced the text onto the next page. I recall author/screenwriter Larry McMurtry bragging about writing all of his manuscripts and screenplays on a typewriter. I cannot imagine doing that. A 20-page research paper was intimidating enough.

While computers provide convenience, they do have a drawback. Programs crash. I had such an experience today at work. I had my proof file built for a letter I was preparing for a client. When I tried to save it, the program flashed an error message and my file disappeared into cyberspace. None of my quick fixes restored the program. And so I sat waiting for IT to come fix the problem. My hands were tied. I could not prepare correspondence, I could not research. I did not have very nice things to say about my computer at this point. Most of my muttering involved rather sexist remarks about the origin and nature of computers. Sorry, gentlemen, but you are to blame for the problem.

While electronics frustrate me at times, I admit I could not function without them. I still prefer grabbing a book to research a subject, but when in a bind, the internet is a life saver. I no longer rush to the library to look up missing information. Locating a book title, author, or event is a simple matter of typing key words. Working on multiple projects is easy. I have folders and files set up for each project on my systems. Paper files are no longer required. My external hard drive automatically backs up my files. Flash drives allow me to copy pages of a work in progress from my main system to my Netbook. The Netbook is light weight and easy to carry; therefore, I can spend my lunch hour working on my novel or short story. When I need multiple copies, I print them. No messy carbon paper or time wasted standing at the copy machine is necessary.

I will never be as computer savvy as my younger associates. They had the advantage of growing up with word processing, spreadsheets, and electronic media. I continue to learn more about the capabilities of my laptop and Netbook as I truly appreciate their advantages. That doesn’t mean I will refrain from referring to my misbehaving electronics in sexist terms.

Writers Need Readers

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Writers Need Readers

By Rory C. Keel

As an Author, I need readers. Whether I’m writing a novel, short story or an article for publication, the written word needs an audience.

Two things must merge at this point, your work and the reader. The question is how to get your writing and the reader together in order to achieve success?

Here are three things that will help to tie your read to your writing.

Something to write about

What interests you? Is it a major news event, an evil deed done by societies misfits or a heroic action? Research your target audience and then draw ideas from current events to create a plot or story line.

Good Title

While the title is not the story, a good story may never be read because of a bad title.

The title must be a calling card to your writing. When choosing a title, think about what would cause you to read this particular piece. Is the title colorful and exciting? Does it promise something without revealing the answer? Does it strike an emotional nerve?

Ending

Write an ending that moves people. As the reader struggles through each conflict of your story along with your characters, the reader needs relief. The main character may die at the end, but if the reader receives meaning from the end of your story,  you have written a successful ending.

Tracking Your Progress

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Middle Grade Mondays

Tracking Your Progress

by Natalie Bright

Some people are more visual than others. Actually ‘seeing’ the results of your work may inspire you to keep writing. I’ve asked several writer friends about how they track their progress and how they keep themselves motivated.

Visualizing

An author of 30 novels uses dry eraser boards to track deadlines and list goals for each month. Her novel in progress is posted on another board with character traits, pictures of houses where her characters live, and a timeline. All there readily available while she’s writing. Authors are utilizing Pinterest in much the same way. Whatever might inspire you about that work in progress is close at hand as you write.

I adapted this idea for my freelancing. A dry eraser board lists my WIP article ideas and titles along with contest deadline dates and possible markets for each article.

I hung a second board for my middle grade novel listing main plot line notes for four novels featuring the same character. If anything comes to mind concerning this character, I scribble a note on the board. As I dig deeper and deeper into the development of my characters, I discovered a sense of having a bigger picture of their world. As I develop and learn more about their history, the people they interact with, the time period, and the setting, my mind is constantly thinking about possible scenes and adventures. I don’t want to forget anything that might become a story element.

Now I’m working on two more novel ideas, both in completely different time periods so I’m wondering if I should have a separate board for each one or one gigantic board covering an entire wall.  I’ll let you know how that works.

The Year at a Glance

Another friend uses a yearly wall calendar to mark productivity. Different colored markers can be used for specific things. For example, a red pen for submissions would be title, name of publication, and editor on the date submitted.  Follow-up is noted in blue. If published, I highlight the entry in yellow.  Rejections are noted next to the submission with the response date. I usually write a “No” with an X over the entry. Daily words counts are listed in bright neon pink.

One of my critique group members suggested I turn the letter O in every “no”  into a smiley face.  Seeing lots of colored entries gives me a visual that I’m moving forward. Even the smileys makes me feel productive. At lease I’m getting my work out there.

Social Media Tracking

For another friend, the wall calendar seemed cumbersome to her.  She tracks her word count, submissions, and responses on a spreadsheet, which she keeps in a brightly colored folder.

The spreadsheet idea was just what I needed to track social media posts. When I switched gears from WIP to blogs, I could never remember which ones were polished and ready, which ones were to be posted on my own website as an article, or which ones I’d forwarded to the WordsmithSix blog administrator. Plus I needed to tweet and Facebook links to the articles and I didn’t want to bombard followers with the same information over and over. A spreadsheet seemed to be the answer.

For consistency, our group assigned specific days to each member of the WordsmithSix writers. I blog every Monday, and I decided to post articles on my website on Fridays. My spreadsheet is printed on legal paper and covers about three months of Mondays and Fridays.

Date

Twitter

Author Page

Facebook

Nat’s Site

WordsmithSix

To Admin
Fri Jan. 4    “title”
Mon Jan 7         “Title”       12/20

The twitter and facebook columns are for recording the dates and times of links that have been tweeted. I like using Hootsuite which allows me to pre-schedule and cover all of the social media outlets I’m participating in. Based on the interests of my followers, I can choose whichever groups to link to. For example, an article about writing would probably not be of interest to my cousins and friends on my personal Facebook. Target markets are important to keep in mind.

Word Count

It’s all about the word count. If you keep cranking out those words, then you know you’re making progress. Even if that piece holds a future rejection, you’re still learning about story craft while you write.

How do you stay organized?

There are so many ways to stay organized. I hope this article inspires you to take control. Happy writing!

www.nataliebright.com

Focus – Chicago 1986

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A Pinch of Rodeo

By Joe R. Nichols

 

Focus – Chicago 1986

My rookie year of professional rodeo had not gone well. Most of the winter stock show rodeos were over, and I hadn’t won a dime. I planned to change my luck at Chicago.

Candy was a big stout mare that had been to the National Finals several times and I always craved getting on her. I knew she would fit me, and now it was going to be my turn to cash in.

It was a nice sunny day, and we were there plenty early for that final afternoon performance. My traveling partners and I loitered out in the parking lot for a good while, visiting and watching the planes coming in. The coliseum was real close to O’Hara Airport. Those big jets were stacked up in the sky for as far as you could see. Everyone was in a good mood, relaxed, and ready to win. Especially me.

Behind the bucking chutes as we prepared to ride, one of the top bronc riders gave me some advice. “Remember, she gets stronger right at the end.”

I always finished strong myself, so I wasn’t too concerned.

With everything going perfect, I only had one and a half seconds to go. Shoulders square, under my rein, in rhythm, getting a good holt with my spurs. No way she could buck me off. I definitely was going to win first. I started to wonder how many points the judges would mark me. I thought about all that money and how it would spend. I could already hear the crowd cheering.

She got me. I lost focus for a blink, and she got me.

A person has to finish each job at hand without getting distracted.

A Place To Go

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POST CARDS FROM THE MUSE

A Place To Go

By Nandy Ekle

Now that you have a creation ready for the world to love, where do you send it? Here is an excellent suggestion.

 Announcing

2013 Frontiers in Writing Contest

Now Open For Entries 

For one low entry fee you can now enter multiple categories

Cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in EVERY CATEGORY. 

Go to:

www.Panhandleprowriters.org

Entry rules, procedures and format regulations are listed on the

FiW Writing Contest Page 

Download FiW entry application and mail with your entry.

Entry fees can be check, money order, or pay online using “Payments” on the PPW website.

Sponsored by the Panhandle Professional Writers

KEYNOTE

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KEYNOTE

 “A newspaper may be forgiven for lack of wisdom,

But never for lack of courage.” – Gene Howe

By Sharon Stevens

In memory of Don Teague

 

What an amazing day that was!

For starters we began the day by opening our doors to kids buying their college textbooks for the beginning of the spring semester for WTAMU. Next, I spoke with the University Study Club at the First United Bank about the life of Gene Howe, founder of the Amarillo Globe News. Before I returned to the Buffalo Bookstore I dropped off an article I had found for Natalie Bright, a fellow Wordsmith Six blogger, connecting with the story she was working on.

And then I received a call from our daughter, Andrea Keller, about the focus for her presentation this next week with, “Making Your Mark-Using Technology to Level the Playing Field.” She had been so excited to have been connecting with Peter Reynolds, who is the author of “The Dot” and founder of International Dot Day.

Also on this day I received the news of the tragic death of A. J. Swope and Melissa Flores. What pain to mar so many glorious moments!

If I was told I would have to divide up my day and choose what events, on this particular day that touched my life above all others I couldn’t do it. Each second, and every encounter made their mark on my heart and touched something very deep in my soul. Every woman in the University Study Club, past and present, had made their mark with their family within their community. Our college students buying textbooks represented the future of this generation into the next. Natalie Bright linked the legacy of writers far and wide. And even though I didn’t know of the life of Melissa Flores, I knew that A.J. had made his mark not only as a mentor, a husband, father, musician, and a friend, but that he was such a gifted man working hard with wind energy across the panhandle.

At our writing critique group recently the question was asked about the content of our blogs and what they should contain. We all threw out our thoughts and ideas about the focus of Wordsmith Six and how it pertained to writing. Each of us had different opinions, and each valued for their merit. This reminded me of the conversation I had with Andrea the night before I was to give my presentation for the study club. She wished me luck and her advice was to stay on topic and to focus on the subject at hand. She knew for me that was an impossible task, but she threw it out anyway. My fellow bloggers also knew full well the hurdles I faced each week as I tried to pull my thoughts together in a disciplined fashion. Craig Keel, bless his heart, set up our blog in the very beginning and keeps us up and running. He is helping all of us to make our mark.

Andrea will stand next week before fellow teachers imploring them to remember that, “As educators we have an important role in reminding students that they are important and even the smallest mark can make a difference in the world.”

As writers we are treasured for our flexibility. Our words are our marks, but more importantly they represent every connection we can link together. We realize we are not only putting words into the hands of the reader, but every moment of every day we are constantly sharing our imprints with those around us in whatever way we can. I personally feel my greatest gift is to find a quote, or an article and to pass it on to the person, without even knowing, who may need this thought to add to their own. I don’t do this to complete their project, but hopefully to enrich the story itself. I know that my purpose in life is not to be the keynote speaker, but to share with those who will speak FOR not only me, but for those who have no voice. And also for those who have the courage to stand and share my voice with others. What a gift!

We will each grieve in our own way for A.J. Swope from now until the time we see him again. I wish his friends and family peace as they move forward in a life empty of his spirit here on earth. His life cannot be measured in a focused way of only one topic.

I know that future generations will come across his mark and remember. And that is what I wish for us all.

Please remember to attend the Panhandle Professional Writers bi-monthly meeting at the Amarillo Senior Citizens, January 19, 2013. Linda Castillo will be speaking on “Writing the Thriller” for the morning session, and Jennifer Archer’s topic will be “Channeling Your Inner Teen, Is Writing for the YA Market For Me?” These two women are our own and are marking their mark in a big way. This will be a fantastic event to celebrate writing in the panhandle!! Every writer, no matter the genre, will be able to glean something that will help in their writing.

Read, Read, and Reread

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Outtakes 77

Read, Read, and Reread

By Cait Collins

 

A well-edited document has no value if the writer does not take the time and effort to proofread the work prior to submission. Proofreading involves the mechanics of writing such as grammar, spelling, punctuation, and word usage. While the computer’s spelling and grammar check will catch some errors, it is not the final authority. Nothing replaces human eyes on the paper. Here are a few tips I have learned from the experts.

  1. Read from the bottom to the top.
  2. Add paragraph breaks after each sentence.
  3. Read with a “cover”—one line at a time.
  4. Read slowly and read every word.
  5. If you work best from a printed copy, print the document on tinted paper.  Tinted paper tricks the eyes.
  6. Keep a dictionary, a thesaurus, and a grammar guide handy.

Check your spelling. Remember Spell Check does not read context. If you type “to” when you meant “too”, the error could be missed.

Have you used the correct word? They’re – their — there, you’re – your, it’s (It is) – its (possessive), affect – effect are among common misused words.

Incorrect punctuation can change the meaning of a sentence. If you are unsure of the rule, look it up. The Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. and E. B. White and Punc-tu-a-tion for Writers by Harvey Stanbrough are excellent references. There are other good references available, but these are the ones I turn to when I need a quick answer.

Don’t overlook grammar errors. Are the pronouns correct? Have you properly used the subjective or objective forms of the pronoun? Determine whether the subject is singular or plural. Does the verb match the subject? Are proper nouns capitalized? Are modifiers properly placed? These are just examples of common errors. When proofreading the best advice is when in doubt, check it out.

There is one final bit of advice. Whenever possible, get a second pair of eyes on the work. Even the most thorough proofreader might miss a mistake. Another reader could catch an oversight. My critique group points out some misspellings, punctuation errors, and word usage problems. That said we focus more on content, story, and context. I have a good friend who reads my novels after I have edited and proofread the manuscript. She has saved me on numerous occasions.

I’ve heard some younger teachers say teaching young people the rules of grammar and punctuation is not as important now as students text and email. I can’t agree with that. Written communication may not be as formal now as in my youth, but the ability to write a good business letter, college application essay, or a resume is essential.  Good written communication skills will always be needed. Companies look for prospective employees with good writing skills to process correspondence for clients. The news media needs writers. Job opportunities are available for people who can craft training manuals, human resources documents, and procedure consistencies. In order for the positions to be filled, candidates must be trained not only to draft the required documents, but also to edit and proofread the text to provide a finished product. How will job openings be filled if written communication skills are not taught?

Banging My Head Against a Tree

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Banging My Head Against a Tree

By Rory C. Keel 

“What a dumb animal!” I said. And I said it loud enough for the bird to hear it. There I stood, on the side of the road with my head turned up into the sky, watching a woodpecker banging his beaked face against a branch of an old dead tree.

Focus

When I spoke he briefly paused, turned his head sideways and gazed down to see where the insult came from. He ignored me and continued his noisy rapping.

Persistent

The bird was unrelenting in his pounding, sounding like a machine gun in a war zone. I wondered if the woodpecker ever got a headache. Questions like, “Does he ever hit a tree so hard his beak shatters? Does he get frustrated after chipping a hole in the tree, only to find nothing? Why can’t the woodpecker be like all the other birds and just eat a bug crawling around in the open?”

I looked to find other feathered feasters and noticed there were none. He was the only bird within view of this barren tree.

The big worms

As he hopped from branch to branch, I watched the red tuft of feathers atop his head bob like a sewing machine needle. Suddenly silence filled the air. One of the biggest grubs I had ever seen wiggled in the very beak that had pounded the dead tree.

Success

There are times in my writing when I feel like I’m banging my head against a tree and it hurts. Sometimes I pound on the computer keyboard until I think it will break only to be disappointed in the results. Occasionally I feel all alone, ready to give up and be like everyone else. When this happens I think about that woodpecker, and how his focus and persistent work helped him get beneath the surface where the big grubs are.