Monica Drake

Still doing my homework for the Pima Writers' Workshop 2015.

Kenosha Public Library has Monica Drake's 2013 novel, The Stud Book.

As usual I get a book by the author, check out their web site, and check out Amazon.com (read the reviews, look at the ratings, visit the author page).  www.monicadrake.com

Read the first page of The Stud Book, you'll probably read the whole novel.
 

What does it take?

I can't resist library book sales or any group's used book sale. Recently I bought FREELANCE WRITING FOR MAGAZINES AND NEWSPAPERS --BREAKING IN WITHOUT SELLING OUT -- BY MARCIA YUDKIN. This is a 1988 copyright.

Checking on Amazon.com you will find Marcia Yudkin has pages of books, many of them recent releases.

The book I bought has lots of good insights and advice for all writers, not just freelance ones.
In the chapter called  'Succeeding as a Writer', she says:
     "I have a short and a long answer to the question what it takes to break
      into print and keep on getting published. Briefly, it takes humility,
      confidence and persistence.  Humility, so that you can accept
      criticism and improve your writing to a professional level and beyond;
      confidence, so you don't crumple at rejection letters as proof of
      stupidity or ineptitude; and persistence, so you keep on sending out
      queries and submissions that eventually result in publications."

Editing

For a great posting on editing go to www.nettiesramblings.blogspot.com to see Putting Those Pesky Edits to Bed.

Lynette Rees wrote  It Happened One Summer, Return to Winter, A Taste of Honey, and Watching You. She has written numerous articles and an excellent ebook Crafting the Romance Story. You can find out more about her at her blog or at the web site www.lynetterees.com .

Ilie Ruby

Pima Writers' Workshop 2013

 

Saturday afternoon after a heavy lunch and when my eyes wanted sleep, I struggled with Ilie Ruby's writing exercise. She instructed us to go from distant to closer finishing the phrase: "If I loved you, I would tell you this...."

 

After a few minutes she told us to stop. A few students read theirs. Something in that prompt had touched something vital in them. They had written in a few minutes, powerful, emotion filled scenes.

 

Ilie Ruby (www.ilieruby.com) wrote The Salt God's Daughter and The Language of Trees.

 

On Friday morning her excellent presentation was: 'The Voice of Your Book: How to Create a Compelling Narrative Voice in Fiction'.

 

This presentation covered a lot from what voice is and how to distinguish it to how to choose it and use it. She gave solid examples. She had us writing first and other person for the prompt, "On the day everything changed ...."

 

She went from the basic to the advanced, from the theoretical to the practical -- a great presentation with something for all

Gabrielle Burton

GABRIELLE BURTON

 

 

Another big plus of the Pima Writers' Workshop is the availability of the presenters. Usually after their talk they go to the bookstore where they sign books and talk to the attendees. Often they are around at breaks and lunch time.

 

This year one of my highlights was a brief conversation with Gabrielle Burton in the lunch line. She is so positive, enthusiastic, and encouraging.

 

Her talk, "The Long and Winding Road", started the day on Friday. She warned us that it may be a long difficult road, but not to become discouraged. She encouraged us to take everything positively and to enjoy every success along the way.

 

Perhaps the most quoted line of the conference was hers: "Cream doesn't always rise to the top."  

 

Some of her advice that I took away was:

     1.  Don't settle for nearly the right word.

     2.  Write as if your reader is dying or in prison.

     3.  Put your time in writing. Even if difficult, get something down.

     4.  Read.

     5.  Develop a tough skin, but be gentle to others.

     6.  Try not to be competitive.

     7.  In the long haul, we want to help each other be all we can be.

 

 

Gabrielle Burton's latest book is Impatient with Desire: The Lost Journal of Tamsen Donner.

 

For more on her see:  www.gabrielleburton.com

Giong

One of the benefits of Pima Writers' Workshop is meeting the other attendees. Most of them are writers or poets.

 

Larry Bramblett served in many of the same places I had been in Vietnam -- II Corps, An Khe, Pleiku, Nha Trang, Qui Nhon.

 

Giong by Larry Bramblett is available from Amazon.com .

 

I'm sure any Vietnam vet will see in Larry's lead character, Craig, a little of themselves and a lot of the person they would like to be. They'll also find a very believable landscape of war and a great story.

Kate Braverman

KATE BRAVERMAN

 

One of Kate Braverman's presentations was 'Writing with Criminal Intent'. Some of the things that stand out from that for me are:     

            1. Find out what you can do and do it until you drop.

            2. Writing is a sequence of illusions.

            3. Write for the ten most intelligent people you know.

            4.  There is no one sunset; be specific.

            5.  Make good use of time travel words.

            6.  Landscapes are the fetal cells of writing.

            7.  Write with attitude.

            8.  The reader needs authority and consistency.

            9.  Use the reverse play -- the opposite of expectation.

           10. Rhythm and cadence; read it aloud.

 

In the afternoon she also presented a writing exercise. Pima Writers' Workshop has so many good choices that I missed it, but a published friend told me that it made the whole conference for him.

Pima Writers' Workshop

Just back from Pima Writers' Workshop. Another great workshop giving me a lot of ideas and tools to help with my writing. Every year on Memorial Day weekend, Thursday night through Sunday afternoon, the workshop happens. It is a great mix of lectures, writing exercises, and readings. It is a wonderful chance to meet the authors, poets, and agents. You can also find writing groups interested in new members.

It is a great place to find understanding, help, and inspiration for your writing.

Author's Advice

Braude's Treasury of Wit and Humor
by Jacob M. Beaude @1964 Prentice-Hall, Inc.
is the source of this story:

Novelist Sinclair Lewis was to lecture a group of college students who planned literary careers. Lewis opened his talk by saying:
"How many of you really intend to be writers?"
All hands went up.
"In that case," said Lewis, returning his notes to his pocket, "my
advice to you is to go home and write."
With that he left the room.

Targeted Writing

Let’s Write Short Stories

Let’s Write Short Stories by Ralph M. McInerny is great. When it was originally issued it was a course with a workbook and several cassettes and the buyer could send in his work to be critiqued. It had been a marvelous opportunity. This course is now difficult or impossible to find. Even without the critique service, it is a treasure.

Looking on the net for these tapes, I was unsuccessful. However Let’s Write a Mystery, Let’s Write a Novel, and Let’s Write Fiction-- 8 practical lessons were found at prices over a hundred dollars and one at almost two hundred dollars.

In Let’s Write Short Stories, McInerny leads the writer through the process of writing a short story, actually having the writer write along with him. If the writer follows diligently, he’ll have a short story.

McInerny defines the short story as: “The narration of a character’s attempts to extricate himself from a problem.” He also reminds the writer of his obligation to engage the reader because “no one owes you a reading.” Let’s hope that soon Ralph M. McInerny makes his practical approach available again.

Crafting the Romance Story - ebook 2009 by Lynette Rees

For romance writers, practical advice and guidance is here and now in Crafting the Romance Story - ebook 2009 by Lynette Rees. I call this a workbook because if you take your time and work through it, do the exercises, and read the linked articles, you’ll be rewarded with your own self written romance. You may even say, “Well, that was easy. What’s so hard about that?” Trust me, it’s a lot more difficult when someone isn’t holding your hand, guiding you along the way. Rees sheds light along a path to writing the romance story. Take your time, do the work, and you’ll be glad you did. She also details how to go about getting it sold.

Buy this ebook and carefully work through the exercises and read the linked articles. Here’s the link to buy:
https://www.lulu.com/commerce/index.php?fBuyContent=7300519

Let me know what you think of it. I give it my highest rating -- buy it for your writer’s library.

You can find the romances of Lynette Rees at any of the major book sites like amazon.com, borders.com, bn.com, or abebooks.com. Or find them out at:
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/it-happened-one-summer-paperback-p-3081.html

Experience

EXPERIENCE

“Quantity gives experience. From experience alone can quality come.” Ray Bradbury, ZEN IN THE ART OF WRITING.

Bradbury’s essays on creativity are a series of pep talks for writers. Few of us will have his talent, but we all can learn from his insightful advice.

He wrote at least a thousand words everyday from the age of twelve. Expect to do a lot of writing before you get published. I’ve heard several novelists say that it takes about three novels before one gets accepted. That’s a lot of work, a lot of words written and revised.

Back to work, writing. For now we’re focusing in on quantity. Writing a journal, stream of consciousness, family stories, short story attempts, descriptions, essays, or anything is good. Just write regularly and often. Make the habit; train the brain. Write, write, right now!

Still Writing

Still Writing

You have to hit a lot of balls to be a good golfer, tennis player, or baseball player. To be good, writers must write, write, write. This may sound obvious, just another “duh”, but it is the key to success.

Epictetus wrote almost nineteen hundred years ago, “If you wish to be a writer, write.”

ZEN IN THE ART OF WRITING

Zen in the Art of Writing--Essays on Creativity by Ray Bradbury @1989 is a wonderfully inspiring book that aspiring writers need to read, not just once, but often. His enthusiasm leaps off the page and catches you. His practical tips and advice help immediately. Get this book, read it. It’s great.

One of Bradbury’s tips: “You will have to write …. a lot of material before you are comfortable… You might as well start now and get the necessary work done.”

Write! Write! Right Now!

Write! Write! Right Now!

I want to be an author, a writer of short stories and novels. This is my journey. Along the way I will seek out and pass along to you the best advice. I will also ask you what works for you so that that too can be passed along.

To be an author:

write
write regularly and often
don’t wait; start right now.

Writing regularly not only hones your craft and develops your voice but also tunes you into your creative self. It does not even matter much if what you write is good or not. Even the bad stuff is taking you along the road. You will improve.

For me setting a goal to write something, anything, even one sentence, most days every week helped to develop the habit without it feeling like an onerous burden. Once the habit was established, daily time goals or word count goals were set. I found it was easier to aim for a minimum of five or ten minutes per day than two or three hundred words.

I found the biggest hurdle was the first word. Put one down now, any one, and just start writing.
---Jim 6-04-2009