Scratching the Ghost

Scratching the Ghost by Dexter Booth will be coming out in November from Graywolf Press.  (www.amazon.com)

 

On Saturday of Pima Writers' Workshop 2013, his writing exercise, 'From Image to Poem', was great for writers as well as poets.

 

Describe one member of set. Why does that member stand out?

 

Write down any five words in one column. Then write down next to it the images that it brings to your mind. Then write using all the images.

 

Make a list with a body part, an animal, a fruit, an object, plus an image and an action. Write something using them all. Try to work in the size, shape, color, texture of each.

 

Now write something using one shape, color, and absence.

 

These are three methods of making images: set differentiaiton, abstraction, and parameter building.

 

Writing exercises are very dynamic with the participants writing, sometimes reading their work, and always questions are flying. My poor notes don't capture any them adequately.

 

His Sunday morning presentation was: 'From Slam to Crush: An Argument for 21st Century Poetics'. My intent was to attend it, but ended up in the wrong room at another good presentation. Can't see everything, but there are no wrong choices as all the presentations are valuable.

 

Also enjoyed his Saturday night reading. At lunch on Saturday, we  shared a courtyard picnic table. Wonderful experience!

Orlando White

Orlando White  www.orlandowhite.com

 

I only talked with Orlando White for a few moments outside of a classroom before class, but this meeting will stay with me. He is a man of presence.

 

He is the author of Bone Light , a teacher at Dine` College, and a recognized poet. He holds a BFA from the Institute of American Indian Arts and an MFA from Brown University.

 

I missed both of his presentations:  'Functional White' and 'Poetics of Misspelling'.  If there were a prize for humor in presentation naming, I think he would win it.

 

I enjoyed his poetry reading on Friday night of the Pima Writers Workshop 2013.

 

The poet W. H. Auden is quoted to the effect that to understand your country, live in a foreign country, better still, live in two. Perhaps because I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay, my wish for Orlando is that he visits Paraguay. Not only Paraguay, but I hope he travels widely in Central and South America especially in Guatemala, Peru, Bolivia. Perhaps even living in one of those countries for awhile. Then I would suggest extended stays in Japan and Indonesia.

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

Malin Alegria Ramirez

Malin Alegria Ramirez  ( www.malinalegria.com )

 

At the Thursday night reception for the Pima Writers' Workshop, Malin Alegria Ramirez read some of her work. She writes for the YA (Young Adult) market.

Writing aimed at teenage girls is not my interest. I had not planned on attending any of her presentations. Her reading was so full of energy and humor that Thursday night I changed my plans.

On Friday she gave a writing exercise: First Kiss -- Cultivating Your Young Adult Voice.
 
Some of my notes on that are:
 

Why do you write? Be clear to yourself why.

 

What drew you into your favorite books?

 

Readers look for strong characters that speak to them. Writers need just to speak to their own truth.

 

Get to know your characters. At first superficially like what they look like. Then take a walk in the park with them until you learn more, like their astrological sign, birth order, fears, schooling, friends, and favorite foods, colors, music, and activities.

 

To starting writers she advises us: to tell everyone you're a writer, reviews (good or bad) aren't too important, enjoy the ride (it's about the journey not the destination),  and turn off the ego.

 

On Saturday afternoon she gave a presentation called: Voz -My Journey as a YA Author.

This was aimed mainly at YA writers and like everything else she did was full of energy, encouragement, and inspiration. She found helpful the Society of YA & Children's Authors. She advised us: to know what we want and to own it; to remember authors are normal people; to remember life is a daring adventure or nothing at 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.

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?