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.

Extreme Talent

 

 

Have you ever known someone so talented that they did not know that what they did was special? I mean someone that did something so easily that they didn't know it was difficult.

 

Every now and then I meet someone that is so good at something that they do not know it is difficult. It could be any talent from tying knots, carving, drawing, speaking, writing, cooking, foreign languages, swimming, singing, hiking, shooting, tracking, gymnastics, .....

 

Sometimes they have been born with the talent and do not know that what they do is difficult because it never has been for them. Other times it is experience that makes them good at it, but they have been doing it so long they seem to have forgotten the struggles to get it right.

 

As writers we are always learning our craft. Students are often urged to extend their envelope, expand their horizons, try something new, different, difficult.  Good advice.

 

In school, teachers, perhaps with some justification, were always telling me to try harder. But the army taught me that sometimes you can try too hard and the effort becomes counterproductive. In advance training we were allowed off to go into town on Friday nights as long as we passed Saturday morning inspection. Our floor gathered together, decided what needed to be done and what needed to be doubled checked before inspection. We did it and went out Friday night. The sergeant on the floor below decided his men didn't deserve Friday night off until they earned it by passing inspection. Each inspection they failed, he had them clean later into the evening and roused them earlier and earlier in the morning to clean. They didn't pass very many inspections, if any. We passed all of ours.

 

Abraham Lincoln advised folks to always grab problems by the smooth handle. Why make things more difficult for yourself than need be?

 

Max Brand was probably the most well known of the twenty some names that Frederick Faust wrote under. He wanted to be a classical poet and worked very hard at that. For an extended period of time he published the equivalent of a book a month and a short story per week. His westerns and many of his characters like Dr. Kildare, Dr. Gillespie, and Horseman Destry have entered the fabric of American literature and culture.

 

Kate Braverman is an incredible talent. Fiction, non-fiction, you name it as long as it is experimental, she writes it. Her list of books and inclusions in anthologies is long (see www.katebraverman.com ).

 

I kept thinking what wonderful things she could write if she would relax.  Instead of writing for the ten most intelligent people she knows, write for the rest of us. Who did Shakespeare write for? Write what is easy for her and know that there is value in that too.

 

 

 

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.

What I did on my summer vacation.

Every year on the Memorial Day weekend Pima Writers' Workshop draws me for my summer vacation. While I haven't attended all years I attend most years and want to attend all years.

Over the next few posts I'll try to relate some of the things that I learned there this year. For me repetition, repetition, repetition is needed before I learn anything. The catch 22 here is that I get bored rapidly with repetition.  That's why the workshop is so valuable for me; it presents in a myriad of ways basic lessons and skills that are needed by every writer. It helps me develop the skills that I need as a writer.

And it takes time for me to make what I learn part of me. Knowing something doesn't mean that I will do it. It also doesn't mean that I fully understand it. Only time, effort, and failure yield results.

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.

Pima Writers' Workshop

PIMA WRITERS' WORKSHOP

Starting the evening of May 23, 2013 and running through the afternoon of May 26, 2013, Pima Writers' Workshop is a not to be missed event. It is in Tucson, Arizona at the Pima County Community College West Campus. For more information contact Meg Files at mfiles@pima.edu

Slowed Down

The novel is being untangled. Often one chapter would take a turn that didn't lead to the next very well. Also names and numbers would be changed. So am going back and grouping chapters together, putting two or three in one document so it is easier to fix on the computer.

The novel is moving forward, but more in the editing mode than in the creative mode.

Novel progress

Progress on the novel is getting more difficult. The story was divided into thirty 'chapters' and then each day I would tackle about 500 words. The following day I would move to the next chapter. I worked my way though to the end and then started again at one where I had left off. I'm back to chapter twenty on the second time around.

Until a couple of chapters ago this system worked well for me. With well defined start and finish, it slowed me down to look around. One of my greatest weaknesses is to rush through too fast and this really helped. In the chapters that I had written a lot more than a 500 word start, the story wants to  turn away from or around where it needs to go to meet the next chapter.

For now will just write and let it go where it wants. Later will delete, shuffle the chapter order, or unite.

Boulevard

St. Louis University in Richmond Heights, MO, publishes the Boulevard. Today after about three months, I received their rejection. It was a standard printed form, but someone (JR) added my name, the story name, and thanks.  Thanks, JR, touches like yours make it easy to have a positive attitude about rejection forms.

AGNI

 AGNI
Another rejection. This one from AGNI. On the back there is a subscription form with a discount. Good idea. Their web site is: www.agnimagazine.org
They are in Boston:   AGNI 236 Bay State Rd., Boston, MA 02215

Indiana Review

Seven months ago submitted to Indiana Review and today received their form rejection, hand trimmed to envelope size.

Work on the novel progresses well. Each day I write part of a specific chapter. Have worked through the thirty chapters once and am back to about number seven. Try it. It is a fun way to write.

A little each day

The novel is going well. Each day I sit down and open a log file. Sue Grafton wrote an article suggesting that. It works to get the writing mind set as to what I'm going to write on that day. She wrote it was good protection against writer's block. Log sounded so dull that I labeled mine Graftonite. After that I open a page on the chapter I'm working on. I never work on the same chapter for more than one day before going on to the next one. My plan is when I get to the last chapter to go back to chapter one and keep rotating through the chapters in order. Will it work? I have no idea, but so far it seems to work great.

Novel

Into a good daily writing habit now. It certainly makes writing easier. Not posting to blogs as much but the main reason for me to write a blog was to write. Now the novel has taken over.

After getting to know my main characters by putting them in various situations and seeing what happens, I am better able to see them and to answer questions about them. I have tried to fill out a page of questions about my characters when I had a story idea in mind but no characters formed although their function already in mind. It didn't work. But after writing a page or so about them and how they reacted in a given situation, I start to know them, to feel them, and to see them in my mind's eye.

After writing several possible scenes, the story idea took a more concrete form in my mind. I was able to make a list of thirty chapters that would get the story told. So each day I write as much as comfortable on one chapter. The next day, I take up the next chapter. Eventually I will come back to chapter one and link it up with chapter two. It seems to work so far. I expect that the final version of this story will be greatly different from this first one.

Tin House

After five and a half months Tin House has sent its rejection -- partial page xeroxed form letter.

Confrontation The Literary Magazine

Confrontation

The literary magazine of Long Island University has sent me a rejection. They have a full page form letter and enclosed subscription information. They beat their target response of three months by a month.

Getting a little discouraged on rejections, but it hasn't slowed my writing. Still writing daily. Working on a novel.

I will get this story and another story sent out again.

good newsletter

Here's a helpful and interesting newsletter that you can sign up for at http://www.newwritersinterface.com/

The Southern Review

The Southern Review after five months has sent a form rejection. They were one of the quickest in returning the post card. The rejection reads, "We thank you for your interest in The Southern Review. After careful consideration, we have decided we are unable to use your manuscript. We wish you the best in finding a home for it elsewhere.     The Editors "

The Paris Review

Another rejection. This one was from the Paris Review in New York. They were one of the quickest to confirm the submission with the self addressed stamped postcard in September. About four months plus a week for the rejection. It is a small printed form about half the size of a post card. It reads: Thank you for submitting your manuscript. We regret that we are unable to publish it, but we appreciate your interest in The Paris Review.  Yours sincerely, The Editors

Novel

Yesterday began writing a novel. First time. Actually started the preparation work -- considering some ideas and writing them up. Just the basics like the idea, the main character, possible complications, the setting, and who is the best person to tell the story.  I'll get lots of guidance as I am taking a course with a great teacher. Will write more about it when I complete the course.

Harper's Magazine

Another rejection. Harper's Magazine responded with a rejection sent by an Editorial Assistant. This took a little more than three weeks. It was dated January 10, 2013, stamped January 23, and arrived  today.

Writing Magic

Gail Carson Levine's Writing Magic -- Creating Stories that Fly

 

 

I'm buying this book and putting it next to The Elements of Style by Strunk and White on my bookshelf, close at hand.

 

Using only six cent words and a direct style Levine clearly explains the basics of writing and gets the reader started with fun exercises. Without foreign words or graduate school jargon she distills the concepts into simple words and concrete examples.

 

The last page of the book explains that the inspiration for the book has been her extensive experience teaching writing to children. Whatever the inspiration, this book is great for any beginner writer or any writer wanting to renew their focus on the basics.

 

Warnings: 

 

A. p65 contains a twenty-five cent word, 'omniscient'

 

B. Chapter 14 uses the jargon, POV

 

C.  Chapter 30 uses the dollar foreign word, 'exeunt'

 

Bottom Line

This is a fun easy read that left me marveling at her skill. It is well worth working through her exercises. Like The Elements of Style, it should be worked through at least once a year by all writers.

Zeotrope All-Story

Zeotrope All-Story so far holds the record for quickness in sending a response. This rejection came back in less than three weeks. It is a form rejection with my name and the name of the story written in.

I am not surprised at this rejection. They don't publish a lot of unpublished authors. I also felt that the my story didn't fit the style of the stories that they publish.

Their rejection reads:

Dear Jim:
Thank you for submitting your manuscript __________ to Zeotrope: All-Story.

We appreciate your interest in the magazine and regret that we're unable to use your story.
Best Wishes,
The Editors

Gail Carson Levine

I just started reading a book called: Writing Magic -- creating stories that fly.
The book seems really good so I googled the author and found she also has a interesting web site:
http://www.gailcarsonlevine.blogspot.com/

Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine

Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine

Another rejection. AHMM doesn't want simultaneous submissions. I sent this story only to them in September. They use a full page printed rejection form and they include the first page of the manuscript.

Now I need to get that story out to another magazine.

Georges Simenon

Georges Simenon

In one ten year span he wrote and published two hundred novels signing sixteen pseudonyms. After that he created Inspector Maigret and wrote one a month over the next two years.  It is estimated that he has written more than 350 books.

Submit Today

Today five more simultaneous submissions go out in the mail...................

Revise and try again

Trying again after revising the story. One rejection response had made a comment on how to improve the story. A week ago I revised the story according to my best understanding of the comment. After letting it alone for several days, the revision did seem to me to improve it. So am sending a second group of simultaneous submissions with the revised version to a totally new group of magazines. This group is smaller, just five. The story fit is also not as good with this group as it had been with the first wave of submissions.

The stories are all ready to be mailed. January 2, 2013 is the target mailing date.

Also starting research on a non-fiction article. The idea came to mind while playing with some of the new gadgets in the stores. Might not be interest in the topic nor a likely home for the article. I will have to research that but think I will write the article anyway because I found the topic so much fun. So many writers like Bradbury have advised writers to write from their interests and passion.

Gettysburg Review

Another rejection yesterday. This one from the Gettysburg review was on a printed form with the name of the story hand written at the bottom. It reads: Thank you for letting us consider your manuscript. We regret that it does not suit our present needs.

This story was sent to them on September 19, 2012 with a post card to acknowledge the manuscript was received by them and a self addressed stamped envelope for acceptance or rejection. Thoughtfully they enclosed the unused but stamped postcard in the envelope so I could use it again.

Snow

It has been a long time since the grass was white with snow. I had forgotten how bright the sun can get when reflected from the snow.

In paintings light is so important to give focus, mood, and color. Like painters, writers use the light and shadows of both to set the physical and emotional scene.

How does light affect our moods? Is it similar for all of us? Is bright light happy? Subdued light, contemplative?

Some people are yellow-blue, green-blue, or red-green color blind. Are their emotions affected differently by light?

I love looking at light shining through stained glass windows. My favorite colored glass is a dark blue with the sun shinning full through it.

Firelight and candle light have their own powers to warm the soul. Why is that?

It is bright and cold out today; challenging me to be alive and leave the house.

Enjoy the holidays!

Memories

Holidays often trigger memories. For some the memories just flow smooth and easy. For others a few tricks can help. Listen to the music of the holiday for the time period you want to recollect. Recreate the smells -- Christmas trees, baking cookies, clear crisp air, holiday foods cooking. Feel anew the cold on your cheek, the snow on your skin, the warmth of a holiday cup of chocolate, the fur of your coat, or the warmth of a fireplace. See the bright stars in the sky, the flicker of candles, the glow of light displays. Hear the quiet of snow covered ground at night. Enjoy the laughter of friends. For a writer a memory isn't enough until words distill it to its purist.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all. My wishes for a safe, happy, and healthy New Year.

Another rejection

In today's mail another rejection arrived. This one is from The Sun. It is a form letter essentially meaning to me that it wasn't a rejection, just a non-acceptance.

Always read the submit page

Another rejection today. This one comes from Inkwell which is not considering submissions because it is in  'a period of hiatus'. Always read the web site submission page. I read theirs and even printed it out. For Spring and Fall of 2012, their reading period was Aug. to November 2011. As it was September 2012 I just thought they had not updated the year on their website. The rejection says check the website in the spring.

Inkwell is from Manhattanville College which offers a graduate program in creative writing and an MFA.

Where is Manhattanville College?  Purchase, NY 10577

WordPad

Just found WordPad on my computer. It has all the word power I need. It is simple and easy to use; has the fonts I like; and has the other needs like spell check. Perfect for me.

But there is a problem. Now I have no more excuses for not getting those submissions out. I have a long way to go to meet my five hundred goal.

Another Rejection

Today another rejection arrived. This is a very special rejection. It is a hand printed note and signed. It has some nice comments and a suggestion for improvement. These are very rare and I am encouraged and thankful to The Fiddlehead in Canada.

In Today's Mail

It feels good to get something even if it is a rejection. One came today from AQR, Alaska Quarterly Review. Their form, on a little piece of paper maybe four by five and a half inches, reads: We thank you for the opportunity to read your manuscript. Unfortunately, your work does not meet our needs at this time. Because we know how much effort went into this submission, we regret the use of this form. But the volume of manuscripts we receive makes a personal reply impossible.
The Editors.

In hand printing they added the name of my short story and wrote in "many thanks". I think it nice that someone took the time to personalize their note like that.

That note has put my day on an upbeat. So any editors out there who are feeling bad about sending rejections, know that there are rejections that lift the spirits of us wannabes. Thank you for your efforts and time.

Still Nothing

Still no more rejections or even the post cards that indicate that it was received. Nothing is required but to put the card in the mail yet most of the places to which the manuscript was sent haven't even done that!

I should be making more submissions but haven't. My excuse is really just an excuse. Word 2010 is driving me nuts going from Word in Windows XP. For me it is new. I never went to Vista or Word 2007 so the change seems radical. I don't want to 'personalize' my set up. I just want to write like I did with my old system with simple easy choices that are readily available without a lot of searching and reading of manuals, help screens, or books.

I am seriously thinking of buying another word processor because the threshold seems too great to get to the basic level of use in Word 2010. Blog word processors are all I need for short stories so maybe I should just open a private blog and then copy those pages for electronic submissions.

Spent last weekend with a couple of books about Facebook. I have decided from the feed back from friends who had a difficult time while on Facebook and had a difficult time getting off of Facebook that Facebook is not for me.

My first computer was in 1979. An Apple II with 64k memory was just about the hottest personal computer going. The ipads and iphones now are wonderful. The laptops have better screens and do so much more. The World Wide Web is great. I guess I need to do some work catching up to all of that.

Year Review

Starting early this year to review the year, set goals for next year, and to make my budget for the year. Tossing old financial records. It sure takes a long time to shred records and to decide which to shred. Found some old records from 1989. Before www, I was on Comp-U-Serv and was charged by minutes used. Progress and time keep marching on.

Writing goals are the hardest to set. Each has to be what I value doing, measurable, and under my control. While I may say, "My goal is to get published or to get a short story published." That would not be a good goal because, unless I self publish, it is the editor's decision on whether I get published or not. What would be good goals would be to determine the actions that lead to getting published and to set them as my goals. Writing well, submitting, and doing my homework on what each publisher wants will increase my odds. That's what I can do. Submitting and doing publisher homework can be easily measured in numbers of submissions or publishers researched. Writing well is difficult to measure. Perhaps it would be better to determine those things that I do that will improve my writing like writing regularly, joining a group to get feedback, going to a conference, or taking a writing course. And when I get done deciding what to set for goals, I need to go back and ask myself, "Are these the things I want to be doing?"

Values determine our lives. Goals and budgets should always bend to principles and values because the plans are only helps not the reality. Sometimes in my enthusiasm to stick to my plan I place too much importance on straying from it. Well, back to planning. How much weight should I lose this year? Oops, only God determines how much weight I'll lose; I can only determine how much food I eat, what type of food, and how much exercise to do. Maybe writing goals aren't the hardest to set.

Red-Green Friday

Red-Green Friday

That's my name for what the media now calls 'black Friday'.  So often in the stock market a severe market fall is referred to as 'black' as in 'black Tuesday' that black Friday just doesn't seem to get the picture. But retail stores going from the Red to the Green on this huge day of sales keeps with the holiday colors and uplifting feel. So I think we should call it Red-Green Friday.

But whatever you call it, enjoy the holidays. The gifts and giving are fun but only because of the love they express.

Wishing you the best, now  and always!

Physics

One of the laws of physics is an object in motion tends to stay in motion. It seems to apply to my writer's pen too. When I write regularly it is easier to write. I am amazed at how a few days off puts me out of my writer's mind. A few days and it seems so difficult to write.

One of the local short courses in writing promoted a writing warm up each day. Either a free write just letting a stream of whatever pops into your head come out on paper or a directed write where a topic is chosen. About a page of writing seemed to be enough for most people to switch to their author mode.

Other courses have suggested using word association. Pick a word for your topic and put it in a circle in the middle of the page. Then draw a line from that to another circle into which you put a word or phrase that is about the first idea. Fill up a page of these circles with phrases and ideas that relate to the circles connected by lines. Many people actually feel a mind shift in the middle of this. When that happens or after filling one page, start to write on your topic.

Whether it is at the start of the day's writing or after a few days off, try doing some sort of writing exercise for a couple of minutes before starting your serious writing effort. It may make that getting back into your author's mind easier.

Story Roughs

Right now I am in the middle of about six stories. What I'm doing is just writing for fun trying to get down as many story roughs as possible. By story roughs I mean just what comes to mind for a story from beginning to end as far as I can go. Sometimes a description or an action scene is written sometimes just outlined. But I am pushing through as far as I can go, usually to an end. None of these stories will remain the same. Most will have different endings and beginnings.

At one point I ran out of story ideas and started writing scenes that might be useful. Before I finished the first scene, a story rough had popped out from it.

For all of these I'm using a basic set of my characters throwing in new ones as needed. It is fun. For me, writing these for-my-eyes-only stories has broken down the barrier to daily writing.

Another Rejection

Glimmer Train

Another post card arrived today and a rejection letter. Both from Glimmer Train.  For unpublished authors Glimmer Train is a good place offering great pay, good exposure, and a fair chance to get published.

At the top of the rejection letter is a quote from Melanie Bishop (presumably the one at Prescott College who started Alligator Juniper Magazine as opposed to the one who published "Effect of ascorbic acid on hydraluronidase inhibitor" in Nature in 1975):
          "Each rejection puts you that much closer to an acceptance. I read somewhere that Steinbeck received seventy six rejection letters before his first acceptance."

Rejection

Rejection is just another step on the road to success.

When I was eighteen, my summer job was selling Fuller Brush as a door-to-door salesperson. At that time a reorganization of their selling structure in the area meant that I had the wonderful opportunity to sell in many different areas of the city.

On one particularly disappointing day when all I seemed to get was rejection, my manager told me, "Remember: You're going to sell something every three houses. Count them and see. Each 'no' is just a step closer to a sale."

All that summer I kept count and found out that he was right. And throughout my life I found that lots of things are like that. Often success is just trying long enough or being at bat enough to get that hit and succeed.

I did ask my manager what is the difference between a good salesman and an excellent one. His answer: the size of the sale.

For writing submissions the number I'm guessing is five hundred rejections. That's why I'm celebrating. For these two stories, I'm already one step, one rejection closer to getting published. Maybe only a baby step, but I'll be running soon.

Celebrating a Rejection

Nov. 1, 2012 the first rejection for this submission arrived from The Iowa Review. It was printed on a three and half by five and a half inch sheet of paper and even had what appears to be a form number on the bottom. Ashley Clark signed it which I thought was nice.

It read: Dear Writer, Thank you for allowing us to consider your work. Though we find we are unable to use it, we consider it a privilege that you thought of us and regret that the volume of submissions precludes a more personal reply. Sincerely, The Editors

Having Fun

While waiting, I started to write some rough stories for fun. Using my favorite couple as detective helpers, I tried to write a story from his view, then another from her view, then another from the view of the detective that they are helping. Then it evolved not just into who is telling the story but how and in what time. It really has gotten out of hand but it is fun so I'm running with it. Just roughs, skipping parts with put-in-here notes, for my eyes only. I know teachers have assigned things like this and it always seemed like a chore, but now I find it loads of fun.

Still writing and waiting

The Wait


Still writing and waiting. Working on another short story and trying to get into a habit of at least five hundred words per day. I can see it makes a difference for the better in my writing.

In a couple of weeks will send out a second wave of simultaneous submissions to a completely different list of places. The second list will be appropriate paper publications that only accept e-submissions.

Postcard

One more postcard came back today. And the submission to Glimmer Train was returned by the post office. I just doubled checked to see if I sent it to the right place and their web site confirms it. Will send it to the address at the bottom of their web page that matches the expired forward that the post office stuck on the envelope. Off to the post office now.

Still Waiting

Still waiting on postcards to come back. But did send out one October first to one more magazine.
In the meantime I am starting on another story and keeping up frequent freewrites.

Everyday when there are no new postcards in the mail box, I ask myself, "Why can't they just drop the pre-addressed, pre-written post card in the mail to let me know at least it has arrived?"

It really shouldn't matter since even after they all get the story, it'll still be six weeks or more for the rejections/ acceptance to arrive. I hate to wait.

Postcards

The postcards have started to return letting me know the submissions have arrived.
So far three out of the dozen or so have arrived.

I feel like just waiting, but a writer writes. That's what I'm doing -- starting another story.

Poor Odds

Sent off a couple of stories. One story to one spot and another story to a dozen places that accept simultaneous submissions.

Looking at the the number of stories that each magazine publishes each year and the number of submissions they get each year is interesting. Then I look at the percentage of the published stories that are from unpublished authors. If I figure that all stories are equal which they are not, some writers just stand out, then I get a 'feel' for what my best chances are. I say best chances because I am certainly not one of those writers whose stories set the world on fire.

Anyway, at best the sum of all twelve submissions give me, as an unpublished writer, one chance in three hundred and fifty.

Of course this isn't very scientific. Maybe most of the submissions are by very poor unpublished writers.

But for me it helps set a goal. My goal now is five hundred submissions before I put down my pen and take up brush.

Writing and rewriting

Not blogging much but I am writing and rewriting. Even starting to send the stories out into the world to find a home. The wait seems so long -- three to five months for each turn around.

Revisiting an old story

Short Stories

Ben Nyberg's ONE GREAT WAY TO WRITE SHORT STORIES could be a help to many. It has lots of advice on technique. 

He writes, ".....writing a story requires knowing technique. If you don't have that, no amount of heart or mind will make your stories work. If you do, you can write effective, even publishable stories, even if your creative gift is not huge."

#

I recently set about to polish up one of my favorite short stories that I wrote several years ago. What a surprise to me! The story needed more than just a tweak here or there. And it needed more than just a revision. About a third of it was dumped including a major premise. The starting, the end, and several scenes were kept. The rest had to be rewritten.

Was it because I learned more technique, developed a better  critical eye and ear, or because with time I could be more objective?

Going back to one of your older stories might be as helpful to you as it was for me. 

Pima Writers' Workshop

PIMA WRITERS' WORKSHOP

May 24 -- 27, 2012

A wonderful workshop is held every year the last weekend in May at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona.


Meg Files (520/206-6084 or mfiles@pima.edu) creates a blend of fiction and non-fiction writers, agents, and poets that is magical. The participants select the lectures, readings, and writing exercises that fit their personal interests.

I wouldn't miss it.

This workshop would be a bargain at any price. It can be taken for credit or non-credit. The non-credit cost is $130 (and that includes a manuscript consultation if you get it in before May 10).

Easy does it!

Go easy with yourself as you write for these fifteen days. It doesn't matter if it is good or not. Just plunge ahead and write. Don't correct, except the things you normally catch that don't slow you down. Often you'll see this advice not to correct because many people use that as an excuse to stop writing and switch their mind from creative to functional. Corrections can be okay as you go along if they are quick corrections that you usually do when you write, but not if they slow you down or are an excuse to stop and ponder grammar, spelling, or best phrasing.

In my case, other work drew me away for awhile and upon returning was pleasantly surprised to find that there was some good stuff (stuff that I liked and was satisfied with) upon which a story could be constructed.

The story continues and a first draft is almost done. Not the world's best story nor even my best story, but something I like and can build on.

Go easy with the critical mind. Write freely, regularly, and often.

Taking a break.

Taking a break!

Taking a break from blogging for a while. Still writing everyday -- at least something!

So expect a couple of months to go by before I post on this blog again.

Not Blogging until next year

Not blogging until next year.
I'm writing but just not blogging until the new year.
Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!
jim

Distraction

Sometimes I wonder if I am cut out to be a writer. Everything and anything seems to distract me from writing. This time it is other writing and revision work. At least it is other writing. But it is also the phone, painting, politics, the car, the yard, the laundry, the dishes, shopping, reading, the stock market, and, yes, even reviewing calculus. I like writing --- really I like the results of writing more than the writing. Sitting down and getting started seems to be my block. I believe that establishing a regular time (not that I can't write at other times) is what I need to do, but my core personality rebels against the regular, the routine, the repetitious. This blog was an attempt to get myself in a pattern, a writing routine. I think it helps but it hasn't been a sure cure.

Day 12

Day 12
Free write was on people walking. For five minutes it was a good warm up for the next twenty minutes continuing the story. At this point I wonder about the quality of the writing. Sheer stubbornness and determination makes me stumble ahead.

Day #11

Day 11
Fell out of the routine and tried to force myself to write late at night and just fell asleep writing. I guess for me maybe writing something daily is needed even if that something is just a scribble somewhere on a slip of paper.

The five minute free write inspiration was staring at purple for about a minute. It is amazing that I didn't fall asleep then for, as with the other colors, my mind was easily blanked. The five minutes free write did not go well.

Day 11 regular write was to continue with the story. It just wasn't coming but I hadn't written in so long that I pushed ahead maybe writing for six or seven minutes before falling asleep. If the writer falls asleep while writing it, how can the reader be expected to stay awake while reading it?

Day 10

Day 10

Free write for Day 10 was five minutes of writing whatever came to mind when eyes were mentioned.


Day 10 for the twenty minute write was start the story. A short story of about 2500 words or about ten pages is the target.

Before you do that it is essential that you know your character. I suggest now using one of many character question lists out there. A very good one is in Lynette Rees' Crafting the Romance Story. In fact from her book you'll learn more than you would ever learn from this blog. Those serious about writing should get her book.

Now I run into a math problem. In twenty minutes, I can write about 300 to 400 words. That means a story of 2500 words will take at least six days. But I have my first three hundred words down just by starting to write. If the words don't come just starting writing about what you want to write and soon you'll probably just shift into the story. Some days writing just doesn't come easily even after a five minute warm up of free writing. Doesn't matter. Write for your twenty minutes without stopping, correcting, or going back.

My start doesn't feel very good. But it does feel good to have something down.

Day 9

Day 9
At halfway took a break and went on a really great vacation. It was difficult picking up the threads of my character. Perhaps I should have taken Jacob along on the trip.

For Day #9 free write, yellow was the inspiration or starter. As before with colors I found that staring at yellow paper wrapped close to the face was a very good way to blank my mind. After staring at the other colors and quieting my mind, I had found it difficult to start the free write. With yellow the five minutes of free write flowed quickly and easily. Was it the yellow or the vacation, I don't know.

The Day #9 twenty minute writing session direction was to put my character in a situation and see how he responds. Since Jake lives in old Tucson, the situation that popped to mind was: accidentally walking into the street between two men who were about to shoot it out. The twenty minutes flew by although the number of words written was considerably less than usual.

Still haven't written a story. The process here might be called getting to know my character. Like meeting a new friend, it takes a while to learn about him/her. It is not an instantaneous process. But it is more complicated than that as it is also the process of creating that character. Like our knowledge of friends, what we know about our character may change in the middle of a story. For instance, in the middle of a story we may find his fear or his failure. That's ok, but we must be aware that then we must go back after we finish to make any changes needed to make the character consistent.

Try putting your character in a situation. You may be surprised by his or her reactions. You'll also know the character better.

Back from trip

Falling Water in Pennsylvania is certainly an interesting house set in a wonderfully beautiful location. Worth a visit.

Life intervened and I didn't keep up my writing. In the past I found it difficult to get back to writing after stopping for any period of time. Probably better to write something daily even if only a few notes, descriptions, or just key words.

Also stopped at Lew Wallace's study in Indiana. There's something about visiting the locations of famous writers that is very encouraging to me.

Today will relax and get caught up on the demands of daily life and Sunday or later today continue with my fifteen day plan.

Day 8

Day 8

Halfway through the fifteen days and haven’t yet written a story.

Free write of five minutes was about smells. It was a quick five minutes and I could have written much much more.

The twenty minute write had a focus on events in Jacob’s life. Much like a listing, this was much more difficult than it sounds. Jacob is becoming clearer to me now as I looked at important events in his life and how they changed him.

Day 7

Day 7

Free write today from the random list came up voices. For five minutes wrote about voices and what about them shows emotion. These random-topic-free-writes focus my thoughts on things that I will probably use later. I also feel more comfortable writing with a topic before me than I do when the free write is color inspired. The random selection from a group of topics is also good as I do not waste time trying to decide what to write on. Again I should point out that the topics are not chains and I do not feel restrained to stay on topic in the free writes.

The twenty minute writing period in this fifteen day plan for Day 7 is to write about the main character from his pet’s point of view. This is interesting as a lot is discovered about the character like how empathetic he or she is.

Days 5 and 6

Days 5 and 6 are posted out of order but it doesn't make much difference except that Day 5 is posted late.

Day 5

Day 5

Day 5 free write was on ears for five minutes. These free writes are short and they often are not very clear but they seem to do the job of getting the brain in thinking mode.

Day 5 twenty minute focus write was a friend’s view of an event in our character’s life. Sort of a third person look at our character. For Jacob I choose Henry, the guy who shares a room with him.

Day 6

Day 6



The free write was after looking at neon orange for a minute. I am amazed at how easy color makes it to blank the mind; however, it isn’t inspiring my free write. The free write seems to work as stretching exercises work -- just something to warm up the muscles up before using them.



The twenty minute write took the viewpoint of one of his school teachers. Starting to spot some inconsistencies from one write to another. For example Jacob was raised by his father and his mother died in childbirth was determined in the first write but in choosing an event the event was his parents leaving him and not returning. But those are easily changed. The point of all this so far was to get familiar with our character and the way he thinks and acts.



Try writing for twenty minutes about your character from the view point of his teacher.

Wisconsin Fall

Took a break and drove around Lake Winnebago looking at the fall colors on this wonderful, bright, sunny day. My route took me near Holy Hill where the colors were especially great.

Any plan needs to have discipline. Any plan needs to be flexible. Writing plans should always be trumped by matters of the heart.

Day 4

Day 4
Today’s draw of the free write was clouds. I listed words and phrases about clouds. Clouds have a real impact on peoples emotions but my list didn’t make it that far before the five minutes was up. Making the list for me was a stop-and-go process. Thinking back it probably would have been better to write how I reacted to different clouds.

Day # 4 on my fifteen day plan was to write about an ‘event’ in my character’s life for twenty minutes. A story starts to form here without the problem of it being a good story. I started with “the event that was the most life changing for Jake Riley was..” without having any idea how the sentence would end. Out popped “his parents left him and never came back..”. After twenty minutes of writing, I knew a lot of Jacob’s back story and something about the way he acts and thinks things through. Getting to know Jake is just like getting to know a co-worker, a little at a time by his speech, actions, and stories.

Try writing about an event in your character's life. It doesn't matter what event. Just let it happen and you'll learn a lot about your character.

Day 3

Day # 3
Storms was the topic of my free write of five minutes. Easy to stay on topic because many images and feeling of storms passed through my memory. It was difficult to capture the feelings, fear, and exhilaration that storms stir in me. Five minutes were gone instantly.


Day # 3 of the fifteen day plan is to write for twenty minutes about where my character lives. Jake Riley is starting to come alive to me. In Tucson, Arizona in the 1880’s at Emily’s boarding house, Jake shares a small room with a bank clerk, Henry.

Day #2

Day #2 Fifteen Day Plan

My free write today was after viewing a neon pink sheet for thirty seconds. Today I tried wrapping it around my face and looking at it with a light behind it. Again it was an easy thing to blank my mind. And again the free write wasn't much just five minutes struggling to put anything down on paper (in my computer file). I have never been good at meditating as I have never been able to blank my mind. Use of colored pieces of paper may be a help to meditate but doesn't seem like much of a free write inspiration for me.

Day #2 Choose a last name for the character whose first name was chosen yesterday. After reading what I wrote about Jacob yesterday, I chose Riley as a last name for him. Then I spent twenty minutes writing about his last name, his parents, his physical description, and some of his emotional aspects.

After your free write of five minutes, read what you wrote yesterday about your character's first name, and try choosing a last name for your character. Then write about it for twenty minutes.

Choose a Name

Choose a name. Any first name that you like the sound and feel of. It can be changed later to be better fit the story, but for now it is the story.

My free write was the neon lime green. Ever since I read that some drunk tanks are painted Pepto pink because it quiets the drunks, I wanted to try this experiment using different colors to start out out a free write. I stared at the sheet of green, trying to blank my mind which turned out to an easy task. My blank mind didn't give much of a free write just babble about the book I had just put down.

The name I chose was Jacob. Then I wrote about Jacob for twenty minutes. That led interesting places and my writing went beyond the twenty minutes but that's ok too.

FIFTEEN DAY PLAN -- DAY #1

Fifteen Day Plan

FOR THE NEXT FIFTEEN DAYS I AM GOING TO WRITE EVERY DAY STARTING WITH A FIVE MINUTE FREE WRITE PERIOD. FOR THE FREE WRITE I WILL WRITE WHATEVER COMES INTO MY HEAD WITHOUT STOPPING FOR FIVE MINUTES.

TOPICS FOR THE FREE WRITE WILL BE AT RANDOM DRAWING FROM THIS LIST: orange, yellow, purple, dark neon pink, bright neon green, clouds, storms, smells, eyes, silence, ears, my favorite, irritations, the way people walk, and voices. I will write whatever comes into my mind whether it is on topic or not. For the colors I will look at a sheet of paper in that color for thirty seconds before starting to write.

OVER THE FIFTEEN DAYS MY HOPE IS TO CREATE A NEW CHARACTER, GET TO KNOW HIM OR HER, AND WRITE ONE OF HIS OR HER STORIES.

Just do it.

JUST DO IT!

That's what I keep telling myself as the planning for a project gets more and more detailed. Just do it! Background and planning are wonderful but doing is better. One planning workshop twenty years ago told me to "Swiss cheese" projects into little sections. Then grab one of the sections and do it. As a few of these bite sized pieces are finished, a more organized plan will usually fall into place. Planning a lot and writing little? Here's a plan: 1. free write for five minutes just to get the brain in gear 2. grab one of your Swiss cheese pieces and write yourself an email telling yourself what you want to say 3. then write a page saying what you want to say.

Halloween

Trick or treat time is coming up and many may have started working on Halloween stories. A great blog to check out for help on putting suspense in any of your writing is: www.nettiesramblings.blogspot.com It is also a good place for help with lots of other writing questions. Don't miss her ezine links!

Pro............

For the last week have been trying to finish a short story. The story itself is already written. Actually a couple of versions are completed. My next step is to merge the two, keeping the best. After that will have to rewrite so the sound and the flow of the merged parts are similar. And then rewrite, cut, and rewrite.

This is the time that getting down to write is the most difficult for me. The story is done. I am happy with it. The re-writing is even fun but everything in the world becomes an excuse not to do the polishing, trimming, and presenting.

Today I am going to do it ........after returning some books to Kenosha (the Nina is at the harbour --can't miss that), calling the shop about my car's power window, and those boxes from the storage garage need to be unpacked, and the recently unpacked flatware needs to be washed. Today those two versions will be sewn together and trimmed...... I see that on yesterday's to-do list at the top. I wonder why I didn't get to it Tuesday?

Junk

Keeping Junk

Today I am going to a storage locker and move some junk and probably toss some. To some people I keep too much junk, too many broken useless things, and things that I will never use. It is true, I do. They also claim that I have no idea what is kept. Also true.

Today is a treasure hunt. Not a treasure of gold or silver or incredible antique value, but of smiles and memories. Photo albums and scrapbooks are fun but somehow they do not evoke the same powerful memories for me as holding a broken vase, a tin box of old feathers, or a gum ball machine prize. Each box is a surprise journey of memories.

Of course, the junk isn't needed for the memories. So available space determines just how much useless, never to be used junk can be kept for my journeys back in time. Today I start to clean out the storage garage. It won't be done quickly as I am going to savor every minute.

There are just as many excuses to write as not to. The trick is using the excuses to write. My journal is going along with me to the garage. Maybe a chair, a thermos of coffee, and some food too.

Saturday

Today is one of those lazy enjoyable Saturdays with little on my to-do list and little ambition to do it. The weather is sunny with a breeze and cool-- just wonderful. Finding words isn't coming easy. Working on a short story but would rather find a hammock under a tree. Busy or lazy, excuses for not writing are always at hand. My goal today is to write something for the short story. It doesn't have to be a lot. Even a paragraph is ok. Usually after a paragraph or even after a sentence, even a bad sentence, the inertia is overcome. Once started it is difficult for me to stop writing until I have completed my thought. Try it. Aim to write one sentence each day for a week.

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.

Get down to work

Get down to work

From Adams' FPA's Book of Quotations:

"I don't wait for moods. You accomplish nothing if you do that. Your mind must know it has got to get down to work." -- Pearl Buck Reader's Digest April 1950

"There ain't nothing more to write about, and I am rotten glad of it, because if I'd a knowed what a trouble it was to make a book I wouldn't a tackled it, and I ain't a-going to no more." --Mark Twain (1835-1910) Huckleberry Finn Ch. xliii

Rainbow round my shoulder

"Rainbow round my shoulder, wings on my on my feet."

I love quotes and have found a great book of quotes, FPA's Book of Quotations by Franklin Pierce Adams @ 1952 by the Funk & Wagnalls Company, New York.

Writing makes me feel like there is a 'rainbow round my shoulder, wings on my feet' because with my imagination and a pen I can go anywhere, see anything, and do anything.

Adams cites the author "unknown" and the source as "American Negro Song" for :
"Oh, Lord, I want to be free, want to be free;
Rainbow round my shoulder, wings on my feet."

Summer

This summer has been one of heat and humidity. Here in Wisconsin where weather is usually a major topic of conversation, politics and nine recall elections have provided some variety. I haven't posted here much as I am posting on two highly political blogs.

August 9 and August 16 are elections dates for the recalls. At least for a couple of months the politics will cool off a bit.

Whether you are right or not, write about it. Think twice though before publishing inflammatory rhetoric.

Pima Writers' Workshop

Pima Writers’ Workshop



At the end of May every year in Tucson, Meg Files puts on a great workshop at Pima County Community College. The first time I went there in trepidation as the week before Tucson hadn’t broken a hundred, on the down side. The days had been one hundred and ten. But for the conference the weather had broken--only one hundred and four during the day and ninety for a low. But for writers, the hottest thing in Tucson is not the weather, it is the conference -- on fire with ideas, techniques, enthusiasm, and writers looking to improve their craft. It is a workshop that I would not miss.


Being from Wisconsin, letting the Arizona heat thoroughly bake the winter from my bones rates high on my list of reasons to go to Tucson. But a workshop at a “community” college left me skeptical. My hesitancy came from two directions. First, what did a “community” college have to offer? Certainly a University would offer more, I thought. Second, wouldn’t the attendees be just a bunch of young local students? I might not fit in well.


I was wrong on both counts. The Pima Writers Workshop’s excellence shines. It is first class. I doubt if there is a better three day program anywhere. The conference draws a lot of youth who add an excitement and vitality to the sessions. But it also draws a full range of other writers covering all ages, interests, and skills. This group sizzles with motivation and boils with enthusiasm.

There is no one more enthusiastic than Meg Files as she brings her recipe for a successful workshop to life. I divine her recipe to be:

Ingredients
(use only the best and freshest)

1. A dozen award winning authors of novels, short stories, children’s books, memoirs,
plays, and non-fiction
2. A couple of agents looking for talent
3. Two or three outstanding poets
Mix together in a reception for participants. Separate into lectures, readings, writing
exercises, question and answer periods, and individual manuscript consultations. Add choice for the participants. Let everything meld over three days in the cool auditoriums and meeting rooms of Pima Community College’s West Campus in Tucson.

There is no doubt that Meg Files knows how to cook. Her books include: Meridian 144 (a novel), Home is the Hunter and Other Stories, Turning Your Personal Experiences into Compelling Stories, The Love Hunter and other Poems, and Galapagos Triptych: Three Ways of Seeing the Galapagos Islands. She teaches creative writing and chairs the English and Journalism Department at Pima Community College.

You need to know that to schedule a manuscript consultation, you must register, submit one manuscript, and pay the fee (around $100 for non-credit) by the first week in May. If you are not having a manuscript reviewed, you can register at the reception. The manuscript consultations are done by most of the session leaders. They try and match you up with your manuscript reader preference. This manuscript consultation is a great opportunity and motivation. Not only do they make notations on your work but they talk with you one on one about it.

One year Bob Mayer ( http://www.bobmayer.org/ ) reviewed my short story. He writes under Robert Doherty (Area 51, Atlantis, and Psychic Warrior series plus Bodyguard of Lies) and under Bob Mayer for his non-fiction books. He is a best selling author with millions of books in print. I was so over awed that I couldn’t even think of an intelligent question to ask.

Another year Frank X. Gaspar reviewed my work. I’m still working on his suggestions to slow down, take time to develop the scene, paint your images. Frank is a poet, novelist, and professor whose works include: Leaving Pico ( a novel), A Field Guide to Heaven (a collection of poems), and Night of a Thousand Blossoms (a collection of poems). For more on Frank see: http://www.frankgaspar.com/ .

Journalist turned novelist, Masha Hamilton, urged me to get into the people and the whys of their actions. The Camel Bookmobile, Staircase of a Thousand Steps, and The Distance Between Us are three of her novels. More can be found at: http://www.mashahamilton.com/ .

This year Jo-Ann Mapson ( http://www.joannmapson.com/ ), author of Solomon’s Oak, looked at one of my short stories. She is very strong on layering and on crafting stories to catch the emotions of the reader.

Leaving the lonely solitary work of writing and getting out to a writers conference where you can meet and talk to other writers, hear their difficulties, inspirations, and solutions, can energize your writing. This one will set it on fire.

Pima Writers’ Workshop at the end of May is hot, a white hot crucible of ideas and inspiration. Don’t miss it. Don’t forget the suntan lotion. This year the weather was perfect -- sunny, dry, and mostly in the eighties.

MORE INFORMATION

Pima Community College
West Campus
2202 W. Anklam Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85709-0200
www.pima.edu
telephone 520/206-4500

Meg Files
http://www.megfiles.com/
520/206-6084
mfiles@pima.edu

The Writer's Almanac

The Writer's Almanac with Garrison Keillor has a great daily newsletter that can be subscribed to for free at: http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/

It starts with a poem, has interesting tidbits about writers, and ends with a wonderful expression. It is also neat that if you wish you can hear the newsletter in Garrison's voice.

A Private Journal

It is summer. It is hot and muggy. That's the political climate in Wisconsin. The weather is much the same. Frankly the heat feels good after the winter.

While the contentious political scene is raising a lot of people's blood pressure, it has been great for writing. Ray Bradbury urged writers to write from passion and Wisconsin's political happenings have created a lot of that. Not much of that is suitable for this blog except to mention that writing a journal is a great way to vent feelings and say what you would never say to anyone. So whether you're angry at the arrogant, high-handed actions of an ignorant governor and his cronies or you think all he needs is a robe to be JC, write it down, but write it in a journal, a private journal. What you learn from writing your feelings in private will help your public writing in the future. Write something -- write, right now!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!

WISHING YOU ALL PEACE, HOPE, HAPPINESS, ADVENTURE, FUN, TRANQUILITY, FAITH, AND LOVE.

Mental Fog

Mental fog, sleep pattern disrupted, and just adjusting to being home has taken longer than I ever thought it would despite the formula at one web site that calculated about twelve days to adjust for a trip like mine. I'm functioning now although my sleep pattern hasn't yet returned to regular.

In Bali at a restaurant with tables set up on the beach, we watched the tide roll in under the full moon. Bali is a special place. That's probably why every year they have the Ubud International Writers and Readers Conference. Conferences can be good places to meet other writers, learn some writing tips, and be inspired by other writers and by the location.

Right now is a good time to write. Write on anything for any length.

Jet Lag

Jet Lag

Back from Bali and Java. Now recovering from the long trip and jet lag. Wonderful trip full of sights, sounds, tastes, experiences, and the people that make travel worthwhile.

Vacation

Starting on vacation today. Some travel and rest but will keep notes for my Hillerman "shopping cart". It'll be about a month before I post here again.

It hasn't been as easy as it sounds to write often. But the key remains that if you want to be a writer, write. While I'm enjoying the sun, the ocean, other cultures, and seeing beautiful places, can you write every day for a month? Write anything, any number of words, any focus or no focus, just as long as it is everyday.

Writing more than anything else is a matter of doing.

Have fun. Enjoy the journey. jim

Writing Groups

Writing Groups

Writers’ groups can be lots of help, inspiration, and encouragement. Finding the right group for you may not be easy. The only way I know is by trial and error. Even in groups that may be more social than intense writing, you meet other writers and wannabes. There is always the possibility of connecting with a kindred spirit apart from the group to read each other’s work.

If you have a university near you, they often have short courses or enrichment courses, or community outreach courses in beginning writing. This can be a great way to start with a moderated critique group and to get some teacher feedback too.

Finding and choosing writing buddies or readers is a real art that depends a lot on different personalities and luck. Joining local writing groups, taking community enrichment courses at the local university, or even joining an on-line group are all possible ways to find other writers. Going to seminars and writing conferences can help connect you. A caution here to go slowly. If the group or writing buddy isn’t making you feel good about your writing, then keep looking. You’re not looking for false praise, but your group or writing buddy should energize you.

RUNNING NAKED IN THE FOURTH OF JULY PARADE

As you start to critique others, you learn more about how people read and look at your work. After you grow out of writer’s adolescence and the sensitivity to criticism and the need for validation subsides, you will find another very real problem.

Just as we are proud of ourselves to be able to let the praise and the criticism stay in perspective, we realize that our work reveals more about ourselves than we ever imagined, like running naked in the Fourth of July parade. Why would anyone want to do that? I sure don’t.

Maybe there is no solution to that. Perhaps it’s like getting a medical exam, just something you endure. Perhaps it’s more like a fan dancer, just keep moving the fans fast enough, nobody will notice or know what really is being revealed. Perhaps it’s like being in the Garden of Eden, everyone accepts it for what it is. Public writing is not like private writing and it may not be for everyone.

Writers, write. Write, right now.

Feedback

CRITIQUE

Critique, criticism, feedback, reading partners, and writing groups challenge the writer to view her work in new ways. Other new writers may find this part of the process as I did, difficult. Looking more for validation than improvement, any comment tends to be taken negatively. Signs that this was happening included feeling like the person missed the point of my story, didn’t understand the technique, or was just jealous. I found myself trying to explain my work or defending it; I had some growing to do. But just like the teenager, oversensitive to every pimple and dismissing all the positive comments, I grew out it, but not without pain.

This period of writer adolescence can be soften by joining a moderated group or an introductory writers enrichment short course at a local university. Find one that does group critiques. The teacher or moderator usually sets down guidelines to critiquing that try to eliminate comments that may be too destructive and can help sooth wounds when comments seem to strike at one’s core.

Writers need perspective on their work because usually they are too close to it to properly evaluate it. It is only through critique that perspective is obtained. This is an important part of the polishing of the writing.

Critique became more useful to me after I made up my mind to three things:

1. I would believe and enjoy the positive comments.
2. Never over react to negative criticism.
3. Keep an open mind.

Rejoice in favorable comments. These are easy to ignore because they don’t seem to tell us how we can improve. Really they are very important. After all aren’t we trying to reach an audience. How better to reach that audience than to write what they respond to and like?

Critiques are about the work not about you or your aspirations to be a writer. When negative comments result in us feeling self doubt, wondering why we continue to write when we have so little talent, we are over reacting. When we totally ignore negative comments, we are over reacting.

The balance point is to study the comments. Try to understand what they are saying and calmly evaluate what you can do to solve the stated problem. Rewrite the work to solve the problem even if you think it not worth the ink to print it. Of course, save the original. Then after a few days go back and read the two versions and keep the one that is best. Keeping an open mind will in the long run be easier on you the writer and will improve your writing.

I love all comments because they give me what I can not have by myself, perspective. You will probably find that the best parts of your best works draw the most comments, good and bad. Remember this and don’t be too ready to throw out a phrase or paragraph that draws a lot of negative attention. Often it seems to me that the very reason that some people find trouble reading a paragraph is the same reason why some people love it. Keep an open mind. Write a cure for each problem, then wait, review, and keep those that you the writer feel are best.

Really hurt or burned or angry with a critique? Wonderful! Write about it! Write with passion. Do it right now!

Lynette Rees

Lynette Rees

I’ve already recommended buying Lynette Rees’ e-book, CRAFTING THE ROMANCE STORY. This e-book is a great buy. It is directed at the romance writer, but all writers will benefit from it. It is clear, practical, and sound. Use it as a workbook carefully doing the exercises and reading the links. It will save you time and focus your effort. Your writing will improve.

For fun and relaxation or for a model to base your writing, you may also want to get her romances and mysteries. They sweep you up into them. Look for these: WATCHING YOU, A TASTE OF HONEY, IT HAPPENED ONE SUMMER, and RETURN TO WINTER. They are packed with romance, mystery, and good humor.

Following her blog is interesting and worthwhile for any writer. http://www.nettiesramblings.blogspot.com/

Right now on her blog site are links to some of the ezine articles she has written like Develop a Killer Plot, Setting as a Character, Seven Ways to Inject Suspense into Your Novel, and Seven Ways to Keep Your Editor Happy. After reading her articles you may want to stay on the ezine site and browse awhile. It appears to have many many articles for writers.

All these things can maximize your progress, make the end result more certain, and make the journey more fun, but the bottom line remains that to be a writer, you have to write. Write something. Write anything. Right now!