For books are more than books, they are the life, the very heart and core of ages past, the reason why men lived and worked and died, the essence and quintessence of their lives.
AMY LOWELL
Sunday Writings
1
The Eleventh Hour
POST CARDS FROM THE MUSE
The Eleventh Hour
By Nandy Ekle
As I sit looking from my keyboard to the clock and back to the keyboard, I notice the hands on the clock seem to be moving faster. This writing piece is due on the administrator’s desk before midnight. The clock giggles as the small hand is on the twelve and the long hand is on the nine. In my head I’m running around searching for words. Any word will do, big words, little words, even made up words. Just enough words I can string together to call my weekly blog finished.
A movement in one of the corners of my brain catches my eye and I see the final letters of a word as they disappear under a locked door. I glance at the clock on the wall and the second hand clicks off another moment. Desperate, I grab the handle of the door I saw the word run under. Pulling it down, the door slowly opens to the whispers of all the words I have been chasing. I grab about 250 of the and toss them on the open page of my computer screen and begin the task of setting them in order. As I get the final word in place and poke the “period button,” the three hands on the wall clock click into place on the twelve and the alarm rings. I click “send,” and my blog flies through cyberspace to the administrator’s computer.
The pressure of the eleventh hour has worked its magic once again.
What is it about last minute writing that kicks my creativity into hyper gear? As I mentioned last week, I’m an organized person in the rest of my life. I am the queen sorter, the president of filing, the czar of outlining down to a double “zz.” But when it comes to my writing life, I’m a confirmed “seat of the pantser.”
One time I got an idea and decided it would make a good story. I thought it through, knew my main idea, and had a general idea of the events. But I decided to be organized and do it the way I had been taught in school. I wrote a bona fide outline. Then I went on to the characterizations. I had all the names picked out, their appearances, and their personalities, speech patterns, even what they each wanted by the end of the story. I felt complete. I was ready to put it together. What happened was very interesting.
And the alarm has chimed. You’ll have to come back next Friday for the next installment of The Eleventh Hour. Until then,
Congratulations. You have just received a post card from the muse.
Writing in “Thunderball”
Writing in “Thunderball”
by Adam Huddleston
“Thunderball”, the fourth film in the James Bond franchise, stars Sean Connery in the protagonist’s role. The plot of this movie centers on Bond’s attempts to locate and secure a pair of atomic bombs stolen by the evil organization, S.P.E.C.T.R.E. It is eventually discovered that the main antagonist, Emilio Largo, has them stored under his yacht in the Bahamas and is threatening to drop them on an American city, most likely Miami, or somewhere in the United Kingdom. A climactic underwater battle between Bond, aided by the Coast Guard, and Largo’s henchmen ensues. One of the bombs is recaptured by the Coast Guard, and after Largo attempts to escape with the other, he is fatally impaled with a harpoon.
While not one of my personal favorites, “Thunderball” was still an enjoyable movie with decent dialogue and acting. One of my critiques, and one shared by some film critics, is that the underwater scenes seem to take a bit too long. It almost detracts from the flow of the picture. That being said, overall, I would recommend it.
Check It Out
Outtakes 230
Check It Out
by Cait Collins
I was rather upset by a comment made the other day regarding writers who do not check their facts. I was purchasing a number of books and magazines on gems, minerals, and jewelry making for more information on the career of one of my characters. The clerk commented I must be really into rocks and jewelry. I explained I was doing some research for my new book. Her response was “Thank you. I do some editing and I can’t believe how many writers expect the editor to do the fact-checking.”
Really? I can’t believe writers would put something on paper and not check the facts. I prefer to think that we take the time to learn what we don’t know. For example, would anyone start a story about a doctor and not know the basics of education, office set up and regulations regarding the practice of medicine? Would we be willing to tarnish our reputation just to get the book finished?
We are responsible for what we put on paper. I have a situation in a novel regarding the purchase of several tracts of land with the stipulation the former owners could buy the land back in five years. Only the buy-back did not include the water and mineral rights. Was this possible? Absolutely. How did I learn about this? Book and on-line research combined with discussions with experts in the field. And with on-line resources, it’s easy to do the research.
While we have more up-to-date information at hand, I still prefer books. I purchased a detailed book on gems, cuts, faceting, settings, and designs. While I have done some rock collecting and panning, I need details so that my character is real.
I also believe in experience. Writing a western? Go west. Sign on as a ranch hand, and if you don’t ride a horse, learn. Pick up the cowboy lingo.
Find a fee site and learn to pan for gold. (You get to keep what you find.)
Is your hero a rock climber? Find a beginner’s location and scale the cliff. Become familiar with the rigging and terminology.
Proper research builds better settings, richer dialog, and more exciting characters. By paying attention to details, we portray ourselves as true professionals who take responsibility for the words we put on the page. We make the editor’s job easier and we reduce the amount of editing needed to make a project press-ready. Good research permits the author to put one project to be and start a new work.
Stay Inspired
Stay Inspired
Rory C. Keel
When I began my journey as a writer, I jumped in head first with an attitude of seeking to learn. I started reading how-to books and any instruction manual I could find. I set out to follow all of the rules to the letter and hope for success. I made a considerable effort to attend and get involved in local writing groups and conferences. Over the years, I picked up valuable lessons from other authors and publishers.
Thinking back on my involvement in these things, it felt that writing came a little easier then than now.
What’s different?
Attitude is the difference. When I surrounded myself with writer-ly people and places, my mind stayed focused on writing.
While it may have felt like it took time away from putting words on the page, I actually wrote more.
I challenge you to write more by continuing to learn from others and stay inspired.
TEN YEARS FROM NOW
TEN YEARS FROM NOW
Natalie Bright
“In ten years, do you see yourself as a middle grade author?” An editor posed this question to me at my very first pitch session. I was terrified, so of course I squeaked out a ‘yes’.
Many, many years later I’m older and wiser, toughened by rejection, and ever hopeful, which is why I can honestly say ‘No.’ I see myself as a productive, published author who is not afraid to write the ideas that are in my head.
This past weekend I heard a speaker who is a retired rodeo, bull rider. Chimp Robertson has written a family memoir, two volumes of rodeo tales, short stories, freelanced for magazines, and is currently working on a western fiction series. Also, he happened to know someone who knew the country singer Chris LeDoux. Long story short, LeDoux recorded two of his songs. Chimp Robertson is a former rodeo cowboy who writes.
His program at the Texas High Plains Writers meeting inspired me to think about a memoir I wrote about a devastating loss. I published it on Smashwords as an eBook, but have had numerous requests for a hardcover edition. It’s time to explore all of the possibilities that this book might become. (Stay tuned.)
I understand now that, if you let them, words can take you on a journey to places you’ve never thought possible. I know that a jumble of sentences can become a short story. I’m rethinking an unmarketable middle grade idea that might work better as a picture book. Your family memoir could lend material for a fictional series. As writers, do we have to be labeled?
Author. Songwriter. Poet. Creative. Playwright. Published. Freelancer. Wordsmith.
Happy. Successful. Writer.
In 2016, I hope you write and realize all of the labels you can ever imagine.
Natalie
Sunday Writings
The best of a book is not the thought which it contains, but the thought which it suggests; just as the charm of music dwells not in the tones but in the echoes of our hearts.
OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES
Just A Few Words Before Bed
POST CARDS FROM THE MUSE
Just A Few Words Before Bed
By Nandy Ekle
Yes, I have waited until the last minute to write my blog. Why? Because it’s what I do. I am a “pantser,” and I write my best in the eleventh hour, literally. The clock proudly says we have two minutes before eleven o’clock p.m.
I really can’t tell you why that works for me. It’s really strange because all the other parts of my life are filled with routines. I wake up, get dressed for my day job. When I arrive at my cozy little cubicle, I have another set of routines. Boot the computer, sign on to all the apps – and this must be done in the correct order – get my pad of paper from the drawer. Get my coffee, heat my breakfast, check my email . . . I even have routines for the work I do. Open the request, write the account number on my paper pad, look at notes, look at documents, find the letterhead for the letter . . .
When I get home in the evening, another set of routines begins. Change clothes, prepare a meal, eat said meal, open computer, email, Facebook, shopping sites, Pinterest, Facebook, game – or yarn – or cross stitch . . . Then I go to bed.
But my writing life is completely different. I sit in front of the computer tapping my feet on the floor, chewing on the inside of my mouth, pretending I’m not really watching television. Writing? Who knows anything about writing? There ain’t no writers here.
However, the minute my head hits the pillow, characters begin to talk to me. In fact they talk so loud that sometimes I’m nearly convinced they are standing right next to me. Or when I get in my bath in the morning, a though will come to me about a story I’ve he bouncing around in my head. Or driving down the road. Or as I sit in my cubicle at 2:30 in the after noon, wondering how to put my correspondence into a nice, formal, understandable letter.
It’s at times like these I feel the most lost. I have a brilliant idea of how to get the dog to stay out of the kids’ way. These are also the times when the muse is absolutely not in touching range.
I’ve had a paper and pencil next to my side of the bed for years. I’ve had it next to my bathtub, I’ve had it close by in my purse. So why do I never find any ideas written down to remind me of my stroke of genius, and then the idea is gone.
According to books about writing written by writers, one of the main reasons we do this is because we are not used to writing something every day. The ability to write is like exercising. Use it, or lose it.
And so, my dear writer and reader fans out there. Write something every day, even if it’s something that does nothing to keep you above water.
Congratulations. You have just received a postcard from the muse.
Writing in “From Russia with Love”
Writing in “From Russia with Love”
by Adam Huddleston
In a continuation of last week’s blog, this week we will be looking at the writing in the second James Bond movie, “From Russia with Love.” Much like the first installment in the series, this film contains good dialogue, action, and performances.
The plot concerns a trap to lure 007 to steal a Soviet encryption device. The plan was for Bond to be strung along by a blonde secret agent until he could be assassinated. Of course, our favorite protagonist foils their plans and ends up with the girl.
“From Russia with Love” contains the usual British slang but not near as much as “Dr. No.” Connery’s lines are sharp and his timing is great. Although generally not considered one of the top Bond films, this picture was still an enjoyable experience.
Balancing Act
Outtakes 229
Balancing Act
by Cait Collins
I’m having an issue with balancing my writing tasks. I start working on the edits for one novel, and realize I’m behind on writing new chapters for the current work. I can’t decide if my memoir is complete as is or does it need one more chapter. And what about that idea for another work? Sometime I feel as if I’m creatively tapped out. So how do I balance career, my creative side, and my editor side?
Maybe I can clone myself into three or four personas and get the work done. Only I’m not sure I’d get much more done. You see clones might have personalities that war with the other clones. Perhaps the editor clone wants to become the romantic suspense writer. And then the romantic suspense writer wants to write memoirs. And then the memoir writer clone wants to quit writing completely.
Time for plan B. Set up a schedule. Write on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Work edits on Tuesday and Thursday. Saturday and Sunday are reserved for cleaning house, worship, and family. The solution isn’t perfect and will probably need adjustments along the way, but it’s a start toward reducing the stress I often feel when trying to juggle too many tasks.
Wordsmith Six 