Tag Archives: Cait Collins

The Music Man

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Outtakes 187

 

The Music Man

by Cait Collins

 

When someone says, “I’m a writer,” what is your immediate response? Perhaps you ask, “What do you write?” Meaning do you write poetry, science fiction, romance? But what if someone said, “I write songs?”

Song writers, or lyricists, are prolific writers. They pen some of the most beautiful works.

I can’t imagine not having musicals like Carousel. Camelot, Evita, Phantom of the Opera, Cats. And what about the songs of Neil Diamond, Enya, Gordon Lightfoot, Alan Jackson, Toby Keith, Simon and Garfunkel, and Taylor Swift.

Song writers are story tellers. Their works employ some of the same structure as a novelist or screenwriter would use. Think about it. A vocal piece has a beginning, middle, and an end. For example listen to a good old somebody -done –somebody-wrong song. It goes something like this. Boy meets girl, they fall in love, but along comes Mr. Heartbreak and the relationship starts to fall apart. Boy decides he loves the girl enough to let her go. Heartbroken, he watches her marry the other guy. In a three and a half minute song, you have a romantic story of love and loss.

Good song writing contains vivid images, scents, tastes, and touches. The Canadian Railroad Trilogy written by Gordon Lightfoot begins with images of majestic mountains, virgin forests, and builds to the laddies swinging hammers, and the first trains making their way across the country. Close your eyes when listening to a favorite song and “see” the words. View it like a movie short, and you will soon realize the enormous talent and craftsmanship of the writer.

Grizabella remembers a time knowing happiness in Memory from Cats. The Fiddler languishes If I Were a Rich Man. Evita begs Don’t Cry for Me Argentina. And the Phantom composes The Music of the Night. And we all remember the words. We sing or hum along with the singers remembering our own experiences and emotions. Long after the stage lights dim, we remember how lyrics touch us. The songs become a part of us. A tear slips down a cheek, or a smile softens features when we hear the opening notes of a beloved song. And the song writer takes his place among the select who call themselves “writers”.

Wedge of Writing

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“Snoopy, try this when you sit down to the typewriter: Just say to yourself “What if?” It all begins with “What if?”

–Clive Cussler Snoopy’s Guide to the Writing Life

Uncomplicated

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Outtakes 186

Uncomplicated

by Cait Collins

 

Think back to when you were a kid. You didn’t worry about where you would live, buying groceries, paying bills, or finding a doctor. Your parents took care of those things All you had to do was play and have fun. A child’s life is so uncomplicated until it gets mucked up. With too many activities, to manage, too much pressure to succeed, and not enough time to be just a kid, life becomes a complex maze. . And sometimes this’s the way we write.

Our stories get complicated when we over think and over write the piece. Even though we have a plot line, we know the beginning and the end, and we have an idea of how to go from point a to point z , we’ll still bury the characters in back story, stifle them with orations, and baffle them with details. When the story is completed we have a ton of complicated plots, unnecessary information and complex phrases. The story is tedious, the pace slow, and the characters made of cardboard. What happened? Simply put, we made a simple story complicated.

I don’t spend tons of time researching every detail I think I might need. I cannot force myself to outline each scene and stick to the plan even when the plan is falling apart. I’m a “pantser”. I fly by the seat of my pants, and so do many of my writer friends. Pantsers have character sketches, jotted notes, and maybe a brief time line. We tend to allow our characters to act independently of our control. Believe me when I say some of my best work comes when I let the characters take over and lead me down the road. It may not be the route I had in mind, but often it is better. By stifling the character’s need to play, I complicate the story. Planners, on the other hand, need defined structure to keep the plot moving. Both ways work as long as we discipline ourselves to allow our opposing characteristic to have a say in the process.

There are simple steps we can take to keep the work in our respective voices. Don’t over-do the description. Sorry, but two pages of an ode on the rising sun becomes boring in a narrative. Don’t allow technical jargon to over-power the story. Do permit your character to play. Bored children give birth to mischief and a ruined plot line. Do allow your imagination to blossom. Refuse to force ideas to make the plot follow your directions. Do be prepared for rewrites. Think like a child and act accordingly. A little temper tantrum may be the best thing for the story.

Writing the Memoir

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Outtakes 185

Writing the Memoir

by Cait Collins

What is the best way to prepare to write a memoir? Like any other genre, there are numerous approaches to researching and writing a personal story. The following are a few suggestions for getting started.

Write from memory. I began writing Tables and First Love Forever Love by drafting chapters based on my memories of events, places, and people. After completing the draft, I’d read and edit the piece, making notes of facts I needed to check. I’d research the missing information, make the necessary changes, and polish the chapter before presenting it to my critique group. I find getting the basics on paper and then filling in details works best for me.

Go through family photo albums to get inspiration. Sometimes there is a glimmer of an idea for a scene, but the memories just don’t click. A picture can jog the memory and spark your imagination. With the photograph nearby, the writing flows and soon you have a draft of the chapter.

Look for letters, journals, school memorabilia, and yearbooks that might lend insight into your project. My father’s military papers and his notes and writings have been as valuable as I write Tables.

Music is a good trigger. Download some of the songs from your youth and listen to them while you work. If you are describing how you met your spouse, sit back and enjoy “your song” or the music played at your prom.

If you think you would like to write a memoir for your children and grandchildren, try journaling. I’m not suggesting you write about putting carrots in the crock pot on a daily basis; however, keeping notes about vacations, holidays, and special events will help you when you begin to write your story.

Getting started may be the hard part, but once you determine your theme and the events you want to record, the project will move along quickly. The memories will flow and you’ll find yourself laughing and crying as you write. That’s good because those emotions will translate to the writing. Just remember to focus on the reason you are working on the memoir, and let that be your guide.

Why Write a Memoir?

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Outtakes 184

Why Write a Memoir?

By Cait Collins

 

The quick answer to the question is, why not? We all have something to say about our lives or periods of our lives. That said, a memoir can be an effective communication tool. Sometimes we might want to just tell a story, but some memoirs have a distinct purpose. The reasons to write a memoir include: to inspire, to inform, and to persuade.

Everyone has experienced tragedy or challenges. How did you overcome the problem?

Did you fall into a deep depression? What made you decide to work your way back? Have you ever watched a child struggle to excel despite learning disabilities? What made the effort so memorable and what affect did it have on you? Mapping the journey from tragedy to triumph may inspire someone else to find a path to recovery. Your words may be the spark for one person to determine to overcome the problems in his life. We all need inspiration to smooth out the rough edges of our experiences. I wrote First Love; Forever Love as a means to let others know there is hope.

“What kind of computer games did you play when you were a kid?” This question came from a student in my Sunday morning Bible class. “My childhood was long before the computer age. I didn’t touch a computer until I was in my 30’s.” His eyes bulged. “No computers? What did you do for fun?”Obviously my young friend did not know it was possible to enjoy life without staring at a computer screen. Tables, a work in progress, tells of growing up a military brat in the 50’s and 60’s. We had a blast back then. Kids today don’t know what they missed, but I hope they will learn from the stories.

Former Arkansas Governor, Mike Huckabee, uses reminences of growing up in the South to portray life in the heartland or the “fly-over zone.” His commentary offers a contrast in the culture between the .east and west coasts and Middle America. God, Guns, Grits and Gravy explains how and why we are so different. Sweetened with humor, spiced with down-home sayings, and peppered with sarcasm, Governor Huckabee makes a strong case for the simpler way of life. He has convinced me my momma and daddy and his parents must have known each other well, because my folks didn’t tolerate disrespect and disobedience any more the Governor’s did. I normally speed read a book, but I’m slowing down so that I can savor the narrative. It is a good read and very persuasive.

Memoirs should not be relegated to the lives of the rich and famous. History is not just the deeds of great men and women; it is also the stories of everyday folks who lived their lives quietly, doing their best to make a living, raise their children, and get along with their fellow man. The stories of all races, nationalities, cultures, and backgrounds weave the fabric of the human experience. All stories are necessary to complete the pattern of history. So why write a memoir?

Why not write a memoir?

From Memory

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Outtakes 183

From Memory

By Cait Collins

 

I never thought I would write a memoir, but I have to admit it’s a real kick. I have enjoyed every minute of the time I’ve spent working on this project. It all began when I started sorting through the paperwork associated with my father’s military career. My mother kept every scrap of paper accumulated from his time in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in the late 1930’s until Dad’s retirement in 1969.

Sorting through the boxes of documents brought back memories. I found shipping instructions, in triplicate, DD2-14’s, transfer orders, pay stubs, and old income tax filings. There were orders for inoculations. I found my dog tags and my sister’s dog tags. My father was a highly praised Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO). The boxes were full of plaques, citations, medals and ribbons. For some reason, the Bill of Sale for that blue Nash Rambler station wagon struck a chord in me. I had vivid memories of that car, and learning Dad sold it for $50.00 in 1957 hurt. Surely the car was worth more than that. I began writing stories of the road trip we took in the Nash from San Antonio, Texas to Halifax, Nova Scotia. I never thought these snippets of military life would be well received. They were just stories of my memories of those wonderful days when I was a kid.

The stories of growing up a military brat in the 50’s and 60’s are part of a memoir with the working title Tables. In those days, a great part of our lives centered around the dining room table. Some are funny; others nostalgic; some painful. But they are a picture of our lives in an era of discovery, invention, and social change.

Why write about it? Think of all the kids out there who never played marbles or jacks. Children who eat dinner in front of a TV set or computer screen instead of meeting family over dinner have missed developing strong family ties. What about family reunions or your first two-wheeler? Think about playing outside after school and staying out until dinner time. The simple stories of our lives give insight into the history of a time period. They provide glimpse of who we were and the values we held dear. They note the accomplishments of the time and how these baby steps led to the exploding technology of today.

“But they are just my memories,” you might say. “No one will care about my life.” Maybe that’s true from a broad view, but the stories you tell might mean something to your children and your grandchildren. In my mother’s hoarded paperwork, I found some of my dad’s writings. He was an Air Force NCO, but he was also a story teller. In one notebook, I read the story of losing his father. I can picture a young man walking across the fields and checking the crops knowing if he failed as a farmer, his family would face difficult times. I learned so much about my dad in those pages, and I’m thankful my mom saved them. That little notebook means more to me than a financial windfall because I was able to know my father from an adult view point. Don’t you think your children would treasure finding you in the pages of your work?

 

The People Surrounding You

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The People Surrounding You

Rory C. Keel

For a writing exercise, take a few moments and make a list of your closest friends, relatives, your boss and co-workers.

Choose the person you like the most and the least; the person who has had the most positive and most negative influence on you; the person who has changed the most and the least since you’ve known them; and then write a write a brief paragraph on each of them explaining why you feel this way.

Notice any quirks they may exhibit such as, do they constantly jerk their head back to flip their the hair out of their eyes, or do they run their hand throughout their hair?

Do they chew their food quietly, or smack their lips loudly?

These are the kind of details that add life to your story characters.

roryckeel.com

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.

 

Into the Woods

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Outtakes 178

Into the Woods

By Cait Collins

 

I enjoy movies and stage plays. The ingenuity of set designers for the two mediums, special effects, and costume designer along with the actors’ interpretations of the characters and the directors’ visions make for interesting entertainment. When a story is presented as both a play and a movie, you can have a real treat.

I saw Into the Woods on stage several years ago at the Amarillo Little Theater. ALT has a reputation for presenting both family friendly and more adventurous plays. I have never been disappointed in a production by the ALT team. Into the Woods falls into the more adult realm. It is a fractured fairy tale with themes not necessarily suitable for young children. The director and his cast broke the darkness with humor. In one scene, the two princes were a bit over the top in their duet, which was fine. That fit the directors’ interpretation of the playwright’s words.

The new Disney version is equally interesting. The cast is top notch, the music fantastic, the scene and set design amazing, and the photography out of this world. While special effects were involved, they did not overwhelm the production. I enjoyed the movie version every bit as much as the stage play.

The Disney Studios are masters of animation and live action entertainment. As a child I cheered when Cinderella married the prince. Both characters were perfect. They had no flaws. On the other hand, the stepmother and stepsisters had no redeeming qualities. Into the Woods also presents the stepsisters and stepmother as void of good. However, both the Prince and Cinderella are allowed flaws. In so doing, they are more believable. Even Red Riding Hood is more than a cardboard character. While the animated version is great for kids, it’s not satisfying for adults. Grown-ups know people have both good and bad qualities.

Writers must use this knowledge to craft characters that are real and multi-dimensional. Even the most evil character has at least one redeeming quality. Maybe he loves and cares for his kids. Perhaps it’s a soft spot for his mother. The author must employ all the character’s traits to make him or her grounded and alive. As I learned from Into the Woods, even Prince Charming had his weakness. And I liked him better for the flaw.

Into the Woods

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Outtakes 178

Into the Woods

By Cait Collins

 

I enjoy movies and stage plays. The ingenuity of set designers for the two mediums, special effects, and costume designer along with the actors’ interpretations of the characters and the directors’ visions make for interesting entertainment. When a story is presented as both a play and a movie, you can have a real treat.

I saw Into the Woods on stage several years ago at the Amarillo Little Theater. ALT has a reputation for presenting both family friendly and more adventurous plays. I have never been disappointed in a production by the ALT team. Into the Woods falls into the more adult realm. It is a fractured fairy tale with themes not necessarily suitable for young children. The director and his cast broke the darkness with humor. In one scene, the two princes were a bit over the top in their duet, which was fine. That fit the directors’ interpretation of the playwright’s words.

The new Disney version is equally interesting. The cast is top notch, the music fantastic, the scene and set design amazing, and the photography out of this world. While special effects were involved, they did not overwhelm the production. I enjoyed the movie version every bit as much as the stage play.

The Disney Studios are masters of animation and live action entertainment. As a child I cheered when Cinderella married the prince. Both characters were perfect. They had no flaws. On the other hand, the stepmother and stepsisters had no redeeming qualities. Into the Woods also presents the stepsisters and stepmother as void of good. However, both the Prince and Cinderella are allowed flaws. In so doing, they are more believable. Even Red Riding Hood is more than a cardboard character. While the animated version is great for kids, it’s not satisfying for adults. Grown-ups know people have both good and bad qualities.

Writers must use this knowledge to craft characters that are real and multi-dimensional. Even the most evil character has at least one redeeming quality. Maybe he loves and cares for his kids. Perhaps it’s a soft spot for his mother. The author must employ all the character’s traits to make him or her grounded and alive. As I learned from Into the Woods, even Prince Charming had his weakness. And I liked him better for the flaw.