Outtakes 280

Speech. Speech.

By Cait Collins

Tonight I listened to the President’s first speech before a joint session of Congress. Don’t worry; I’m not going to discuss politics. Truth is, I kept thinking about the person who wrote the speech. It’s not easy to match another person’s thoughts and emotions and dreams into words that will create a response in the listener. Word choice, examples, cites; and quotes used will incite a reaction in those in the audience. Some will be inspired. Others will be thoughtful. And others could be moved to hate and violence.

Think of the great speeches across the ages. Patrick Henry’s “Give me liberty or give me death” oration inspired rebels to demand their freedom from England. Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address…”Fourscore and seven years ago our father’s brought forth on this continent a new nation” sought to bring healing to a war weary nation. What about Hitler’s rantings that incited a nation to hate and murder.

Ministers are wonderful examples of speech writers. Every Sunday they present a message designed to encourage the congregation to seek a better life. Some preach love and forgiveness, and others spew hell fire and damnation. The audience responds to each speaker. Many with joyful acceptance, while others shrink in fear. And some with sit is self-righteous piety thinking they are better than the sinners.

Like writing a story or a novel, a speech has three parts…a beginning, a middle, and an end. The beginning is a call to inspire, inflame, or inform. The middle fleshes out the details. And the end is a call to action. It requires mastery of language arts skills, a deep understanding of human nature, and strong insights into the one who will be delivering the address. Above all it demands impeccable research in appropriate statistics, facts, and examples. Truly a speech writer is a master at his craft. And while some would not consider the speech writer as a professional writer, this craftsman does have a place in alongside novelists, tech writers, copy writers, and text book writers. After all, he earns his living by writing.

Outtakes 279

Inspire Me

By Cait Collins

Where do you find inspiration? There are times my mind is blank. I try looking at scenic photographs, or maybe old photos. Then there’s searching the internet under historic sites, heroes, kings and queens. I even pull out my journal jar or a topic assignment book and still can’t come up with an idea. It can be very frustrating.

So what are some alternatives? Go to the mall and people watch? It could work. You might find that perfect character. But what makes one person stand out over another? Is it hair color or the chiseled jaw? Maybe it’s the way he’s dressed or even the pace at which he walks. Whatever the attraction, can it be used to craft a character?

I like listening to music. I prefer the easy listening kind. Josh Grobin is one of my favorites and then I find inspiration in movie scores and musicals. The other night I was half listening to a TV show and heard pan flutes in the score. There’s something beautifully haunting about pan flute music. Two lovers face each other knowing the relationship is not working. They love but it’s not enough. The music fades. She leans her head to his chest. He kisses the top of her head   They separate, take a few steps and turn for one final look. So it’s kind of overly sentimental, but I can work with it. How did they meet? When did they know there were problems? What were the insurmountable issues? And there’s the beginning of a short story, a novel, or even a memoir.

Dreams are great inspiration. Just make sure you have a note pad handy to jot down the dream so you don’t forget the idea. Antique stores, museums, gardens can all be sources of inspiration when you’re stuck or even when you’re not looking for something to write. Some little something sparks the mind and the idea grows. Whatever triggers your thoughts and creativity should be explored.

Inspiration comes to each of us in its own special way. It may be as brash as a dream character beating you over the head and demanding “Write about me”. Or it appears as subtle as a spring breeze. However you find it, never reject it or ignore it. That spark or fleeting image may be a hint of something really big.

Outtakes 278

Write the Story

Cait Collins

You are leaving a restaurant one Sunday morning and spot an elderly lady sitting in a booth alone. She smiles and wishes you a good day as you pass. What would you do? Would you acknowledge her greeting and walk on by? Or maybe you ask for her ticket and pay it without the lady knowing of your kindness. Or do you walk by without acknowledging her greeting.

Who is the lady and how does she respond to your actions?

She is just as she appears to be. Our lady comes to the restaurant once a week and sits alone. Why? Maybe she doesn’t have friends or a family. She’s sitting in the booth just hoping someone will speak to her.

Maybe she’s like Hamilton Bedford Tipton, the wealthy philanthropist from the old The Millionaire television show who is looking for the worthy man. She’s hunts for a good man or woman to bring into her company. She wants to provide excellent employment to a good Samaritan.

Or perhaps Granny is a serial killer looking for her next victim. Snub her and she’ll make sure you’ve just enjoyed your last meal.

So do you greet her, treat her, or snub her? She’s Granny enjoying her Sunday breakfast, or a head hunter, or a killer. Which is it?

Now write the story. One more thing, her accomplice is out in the parking lot standing by an old pickup truck. The hood is up and the elderly gentleman is holding a set of jumper cables.

Outtakes 277

Same Song, Different Verse

By Cait Collins

I love to read, and the more I read the more I see how many ways there are to tell a story. Several years ago, I took a creative writing class taught by New York Times Best Selling Author, Jodi Thomas. I really enjoyed some of her writing assignments. For example, we were told to write a story about a shoe on the side of a highway. When the stories were read, we became aware of all the different themes and genres. One young man wrote about a guy trying to escape his girlfriend’s house before her husband got home. In his haste, he drops his cowboy boot. His story was so funny.

My serial killer mystery focused on the maniac’s calling card…the right shoe placed beside the open driver’s side door. Each car was parked along cliff road. The story was the basis for my first screenplay, Rhymes.

We are taught in writing classes and in writing manuals that there are a limited number of stories: man against nature, man against himself, man against man, and coming of age are among the themes. And yet book stores and libraries are full of books. So how do we manage to fill the shelves when there are so few stories? It is because we have unlimited imaginations and viewpoints. All it takes is applying our own twist or spin to the theme and we have a story. While I may see a mystery, my classmate saw comedy. Another found a memoir. And another wrote a romance. One story line…a shoe on the side of a road resulted in twenty different stories in different genres.

Amazing, isn’t it?

Outtakes 276

Dog’s Life

By Cait Collins

A co-worker of mine returned from her vacation to find her beloved cat is distress. I was sorry to hear that he did not survive. As she was telling me about her pet, I realized that I had never really bonded with an animal. When you’re in the military pets are not always convenient. Some military housing did not provide fenced and gated yards. And as housing was almost white-glove inspected before transfer, we could not risk a pet that would damage or destroy the property. It wasn’t until I married that I felt a bond with an animal. My husband’s German shepherd would lay his head in my lap and beg me to stop the brothers’ wrestling match. I remember how devastated we were when we lost Barron.

I also realized I’ve seldom featured animals in my novels. Ginger is the exception. Ginger, the Irish setter in my current work, recognized Creed immediately, but her master is suffering from amnesia and doesn’t know the dog. Yet when he’s sitting on the floor watching over Ginger’s mistress who fainted when she saw her long lost son, he absently scratches the dog’s ears and talks to her like they’re old pals.

Ginger is collects people, especially people who are hurting. When ten-year old Sara learns the man she’s called uncle is really her father, she is hurt and angry because he lied to her. Creed’s dog becomes her confidant. She provides whines of understanding and licks of sympathy.

Ginger also plays a role in Creed’s recovery. She is the calm, the constant in the trials and pain of reclaiming his life. While others are stressing and venting, she remains a steadying influence for everyone she considers family.

I don’t have a pet. Mostly because I’m not home enough to devote the time and energy an animal deserves. That doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the companionship and love a furry friend provides. Animal friends are as multi-faceted as humans. They are not color in a story, often they are the story. Old Yeller comes to mind.

Pinocchio had Jiminy Cricket. Cinderella befriended her mice. Beauty had her Beast. Nana cared for the Darling children. What about White Fang, Fury, and Flicka? And there’s Lassie, Spot, and Rin Tin Tin. As you can see, sometimes an animal…dog, cat, wolf, horse, or a cricket just might be the missing or the lead character in a story.

Outtakes 272

Just Before Christmas

By Cait Collins

This blog is going to be short. I want to take the time to wish each of you that follow

wordsmithsix.com the happiest of holiday seasons.

Take the time to be with friends and family.

If necessary mend fences.

Be jolly even if you are a Grinch.

Be thankful for the good in your life.

And if things are a little rocky, remember this is a season of miracles.

If you have snow, make a snow angel.

Sing a holiday song even if you can’t carry a tune.

Wish a stranger a happy holiday.

Thank a soldier or a first responder for their service.

Drink a cup of hot chocolate.

Pay it forward.

Listen to the silence.

Above all, be happy.

Happy holidays.

Outtakes 271

Make Time

By Cait Collins

I love the holiday season, but sometimes the hustle and bustle gets to me. My calendar is as full as a CEO’s and I don’t know how everything will get done in time. The other problem is I haven’t touched my novel in two weeks. That’s why next week is so important to me. By Monday, the Christmas cards will be mailed and the gifts will be wrapped and under the tree. I will be on vacation. Then I will have eight days to write.

Of course I have parties and family gatherings to attend, but that’s the evening. Mornings and early afternoons are my time to get the story in shape. I want to explore Sean’s new memory and how it impacts Tyler. And how will Sean handle knowing that Liz dated his friend Adam and it wasn’t a good ending? Tyler has his own news. And Sara learns she has a father instead of an uncle. The story is in my head. I just need to get it in the computer or at least on paper.

At this time of the year, it’s easy to make excuses for not writing. But it’s important to make the time to work on projects or meet deadlines. Waiting until the first of the year when all the madness is over will only put us further behind. Even if it’s one hour a day, sit down and put words on paper. I don’t mean indiscriminately put words on paper. I mean really write something. Or take the time to edit a few pages. Any writing activity that gets you closer to completing a writing project is worth the effort.

Outtakes 270

A Christmas Memoir

By Cait Collins

As I have been going through my father’s papers and notebooks, I’ve found some notes and stories he wrote. What a gift these writings are to my family and me. My dad died young and none of his grandchildren really knew him. The kids were infants and toddlers at the time he passed. Not only did they not know their grandfather, many of them never met my husband. So Uncle Bill is just a name they’ve heard.

I believe most of us have similar situations in our families. Names and pictures don’t really tell the family story. We can improve that situation by writing down stories about those who are no longer with us. What if we begin with a favorite story about a parent or grandparent? Then we move on to Uncle Jim and Aunt June. Add Cousin Fred and his kids, and soon we have a family history. Don’t forget holiday traditions. Try having family members contribute their stories. It may not be the great American novel, but it will be a history filled with voices and laughter.

A local printing firm might be able to print, compile and bind your memoir. Start now and you could have your book ready to present to your family next Christmas. Your Christmas memoir will be treasured for generations to come.