The No-Name Sisters

On the Farm

We all have family stories that we hear around the holiday dinner table or at family reunions--the same ones often repeated every year. My husband's aunt was the youngest of eight children. Her parents had immigrated from Germany and farmed in central Illinois when she was born in the early 1900's. She and I were enjoying a nice lunch in a restaurant one day when she told me an amazing story about how she and her sister a couple years older were named. "We had no names until we went to school," she said.

Her sister she referred to was my husband's mother. She went on to tell me the full story and I, in turn, told it to my husband. "What?" was his response. No one else in the family had ever told the story but we both knew his aunt would never have made up such a thing. His mother was called Baby until his aunt came along. Then the entire family called them Big Baby and Little Baby. Their father finally gave them names when it was time to start school. The names he chose offered one more surprise. 

I thought about this for a long time and decided to write a fiction story based on the true facts I'd heard over lunch that day. I used what I knew about the family and the actual names and where Papa took the names from but wrote it as I thought it might have happened. I wrote it several years ago.

The story below is the result: 

The No-Name Sisters

By Nancy Julien Kopp

(Note:  This is a fictionalized version of a true story about my husband’s mother and her younger sister.)

Papa leaned forward and in his German-accented English said, “So Katie, have you found out about this word ‘perseverance?’ Can you tell us what it means?” Mama and the other children leaned forward in their chairs, the same way Papa had. All eyes turned to Katie, the oldest daughter, as they waited for her to enlighten them. “It means never giving up what you have set out to do.” Papa laughed heartily. “Then I think it is good for us all to have a little of this perseverance. Ja?” Every head nodded in agreement with Papa. None of them ever disagreed with him, not her five older brothers, not her mama, not even Big Baby or Little Baby, her no-name sisters. Katie wanted her sisters to have real names. Big Baby was six and Little Baby five, so they’d been without names for a long time. Once, Katie said to Papa, “In 1912 in America everyone has a name,” but he’d ignored her. Katie loved her handsome papa. In the parlor, there was a photograph taken when he lived in Germany. He wore his Prussian army uniform and sat straight and tall on a big white horse, looking like a prince.  During dessert, Katie asked a familiar question, “Papa, when are you going to name Big Baby and Little Baby?” He gave the same answer as always. “Sometime soon I will do that. There is no hurry, Katie.” He cut another bite of the fresh gooseberry pie Mama had made and popped the forkful into his mouth. “Good pie, Mama, good pie.” Katie took a deep breath and responded softly. “Oh yes there is, Papa. School will start soon, and they must have a real name to go there. Miss Taylor won’t let them stay without a name.” Tears were forming in her eyes, so she blinked hard to keep them from slipping down her cheeks. Why wouldn’t Papa name her sisters? Her brothers all laughed until Papa silenced them with a stern look. All five boys ducked their heads and continued eating to smother their laughter. Even though they remained quiet, their eyes twinkled. Koert leaned over and poked his finger in Big Baby’s cheek. “Sometime soon,” Papa said while he patted Katie’s arm. He pushed back his chair and placed his hands on the table. “Koert, finish your pie and go hitch Jennie and Fannie to the wagon. Mama and I are going for a little ride tonight. Jennie and Fannie whispered in my ear that they like to take long walks on a fine summer night like this.” His deep laughter rang across the kitchen. Little Baby laughed, too. “Horses can’t talk, Papa,” she said, clapping one jam-covered hand over her mouth. “Maybe they can, and maybe they can’t. But my horses are special treasures.” Papa twirled the ends of his mustache and winked at Mama.  That night Katie tossed and turned in her bed, unable to sleep. Why was she the only one in her family bothered by her sisters’ nameless state? Mama didn’t seem to mind, and her brothers were perfectly happy calling them Big Baby and Little Baby. Even the nameless girls never complained. Only Katie fretted. Katie turned over and fluffed her pillow. She glimpsed the silver moon out of her tiny window and pictured herself on the first day of school. In her mind, she saw herself so clearly. She held her sisters’ hands, one on each side of her, all of them with neatly braided hair. They wore clean pinafores over calico dresses, their high button shoes were polished, and their faces glowed from the morning scrubbing. She proudly presented her sisters to Miss Taylor. The pretty picture changed when she thought about Miss Taylor asking the girls’ names. Katie punched her pillow hard as she imagined the laughter from the other pupils. She pulled the light quilt over her shoulder and then her head. She would keep on asking Papa to give the girls names, even if he became angry with her. She’d use some of that perseverance with Papa. The next morning a tired Katie approached her father again while Mama set out brown sugar and jugs of cream for the oatmeal. “Please Papa,” Katie asked, “when are you going to give Big Baby and Little Baby a name?” She trembled inside but stood straight and tall as she waited for his answer. His fierce look kept Katie from repeating the question that day or the next, but inside she was still anxious. Life on the farm went on as always. The boys helped Papa outside, and the girls worked with Mama in the house. Only once did Mama mention the subject of names to Katie when they were alone. “Katie,” she said firmly, “you must not ask Papa about the names again. When he is ready, he will tell us. You must be a little bit patient and a lot quiet.” Katie smiled at Mama and nodded, but she knew she must never give up. She’d remind Papa whenever an opportunity presented itself. The morning before school was to begin, Papa harnessed Jennie and Fannie to the wagon so he could go to town. Mama and the girls stood on the porch waiting to wave goodbye. Papa was halfway into the wagon when he stopped, one foot in mid-air. He jumped down and headed to the porch looking serious. “Mama, I have decided on some names for these new schoolgirls,” he said, looking only at her. “Big Baby will be called Jennie, and Little Baby will be Fannie.” The two little girls giggled and jumped from one foot to the other. Mama folded her hands like she did in church and smiled at Papa. Papa folded his arms one over the other and smiled back at Mama. Katie blurted out, “But Papa, those are the horses’ names!” “Ja! They are good names,” Papa said. “Look at those two beautiful animals. See how proud and tall they stand, with heads held high. My girls will be like them and be fine people one day. Ja! They are good names, and tomorrow the girls will take their new names and go to school.” Mama patted Katie’s shoulder softly, and she leaned close and whispered, “You see, Katie, it all happens if you are a little bit patient and a lot quiet.” “And if you have perseverance, Mama,” Katie whispered back.

The Most Important Lines For Writers

         


Both pictures show lines. There are a variety of lines in our world--telephone lines, power lines, notebook lines, laser lines, clotheslines, architectural drawing lines, lines in triangles, squares and circles, lines on highways and more. For writers, the lines that we need to be concerned with are guidelines.

One of the biggest blocks to publication happens to be guidelines. Not what they tell us but the way writers often ignore them when they submit to a publication. When an editor receives a submission that does not fit the parameters, the message he receives from the writer is that the person who submitted doesn't read guidelines or just doesn't care. They give the appearance of knowing it all and even seem to be thumbing their nose at the editor.

Consider an editor who receives thousands of submissions in a year's time. If more than half of them do not fit the guidelines, how do you think he will react? Is it any wonder writers sometimes think that editors are grumpy guys or gals? If it were a child who had ignored the rules, we'd probably say I've told you and told you. Now listen! Instead, they toss your submission without even sending a rejection letter or they send you that form letter that starts out with how sorry they are but they can't accept your submission. Rarely do they tell us the reasons why.

Maybe it is the term that throws writers off. Guidelines are actually rules to help us know what the publication is seeking. They've done their part by giving them to us. It's up to each writer to read, not scan, but really read the guidelines from start to finish. There are no hard and fast rules to what the guidelines should tell us. Some are so short that they are of little help while others are so long you can barely digest them until reading several times.

Those guidelines are there to aid you in choosing markets. Chicken Soup for the Soul guidelines are lengthy but they also let you know if your submission might work for them or if it would be tossed out immediately. When they say 1200 word max, they aren't kidding. Send 1500 and out you go. Send an essay instead of a story and you're done.

I've had a few stories for children published in a magazine titled Knowonder! Their guidelines are even longer than Chicken Soup for the Soul. I was reading through them one day and was surprised and pleased to see they had used one of my stories as an example in their guidelines. This was a few years ago and that may have changed as I believe the publisher has changed.

You might prefer short guidelines but remember that those short ones tell you only bits and pieces whereas the longer ones lay it on the line. They're saying This is what we want and this is what we don't want. I much prefer the lengthy ones.

Again, you cannot just scan the guidelines. You must read them over several times. If you submit to the same place several times, you should still check the guidelines with every submission. Sometimes they change and sometimes we forget.

Yes, there are a lot of lines in your life but Writer Guidelines should be at the top of your list.

Using Your Writer's Eye

Yesterday, we had a Photo Prompt writing exercise. I asked you to study the picture, then write a description, a poem, a story or whatever you chose to do. I encouraged you to look at the main part of the photo, which really appeared to be a painting but to also consider the small details. 

Today, I'd like you to consider your Writer's Eye. Most people go about their daily life being quite unobservant. Writers need to develop a keen sense of sight from the time they rise in the morning until they fall into bed at night. 

As writers, we must see but also truly look around us. If you're a passenger on a bus, you often sit and think, maybe read a book or newspaper, maybe even close your eyes and have a rest. Writers who are observant will look at the ads that usually run around the top area inside the bus. One might be the inspiration for a writing project. They'll give their attention to the other riders. They might see a person who is perfect for a character in a story or book they are writing. They'll note anything of interest about the driver--his uniform, whether he shaved that day or not, is there a shine on his shoes or are they scuffed up, whether he needs a haircut or not. Most people get on the bus, pay their fare and walk down the aisle scarcely glancing at the driver. 

If you walk through a park on your lunch hour, do you pay attention to all that is happening around you? Do you see the kinds of trees and the many varieties of flowers? Do you notice two squirrels chasing up and down a tree? What about the nanny pushing a stroller with a small child? When you pass by, do you really look at her and note many little things? Every person you meet in your daily life could be someone in a story. 

Train yourself to notice if someone like the cashier in the grocery store looks happy, bored, sad or angry. Is her hair neat and clean or does it look like she just got out of bed? Are her nails chipped or nicely polished?

Noticing details around you is important but it's also possible that you will find a story to write. Something can happen right in front of you that most people will miss. Use your Writer's Eye and you may find a story to write.

The more you pay attention to these small details, the better Writer's Eye you will have. No writer has this ability as soon as he starts to write. He/she develops it little by little. All you need to do is pay attention to what is around you and what is happening around you. 

Some writers keep a small notebook on their person to jot down what they see that might be of use later. That's not necessary, of course, but it could be helpful. 

Work on training your Writer's Eye. There's a whole lot out there that you probably never noticed before! 

Try This Writing Exercise

Let's try a Photo Prompt exercise today. I love this picture with the softened colors, the girl on the horse, and the hazy details in the sky and the background as well as the grass she is riding through. 

For the uninitiated, to do this exercise you must first study the picture and then write a paragraph or a story or a poem using what you've seen to inspire you. You can write a paragraph of nothing but a description or make up a full story with a beginning, middle and ending. 

You could even create a story or paragraph about the person who painted the picture. 

Name the girl. Name the horse. Name the place. What about those birds in the sky? What is that in the far left background? 

An exercise like this gives your imagination free rein. It might even remind you of a family story that you've been meaning to write and never have. Use whatever inspiration it gives to do the exercise. 

NOTE:  There are many who scoff at writing exercises. I don't want to do exercises. I want to write something real, something I can submit to an editor.

First, no writing exercise is worthless. We gain something, big or small, from doing them. We're practicing our craft in bits and pieces with these exercises. 

Many finished pieces that are submitted to an editor in hopes of publication started out as a writing exercise. 

A Writer's Life Is No Bed of Roses

When things don't go as we hoped on our writing journey, we need to step back and figure out why and what we can do to fix it. 

In a perfect world, every piece we submit to an editor will get published and we'll receive accolades, as well as a nice check. If only!

Athletes go through slumps where they can't get a hit or make a tackle or find the basket. Difficult periods can last days or weeks. Most eventually pull themselves out of that down period and claim they learned something in the long run. 

Writers are the same. We go through down periods, too. Submission after submission comes bouncing back to us. It feels like we'll never be published again or ever, if a new writer. We know it's a part of the writing world but, doggone it, we feel hurt and defeated and maybe even a bit useless.

Thoughts like Why do I bother? and I'm never going to write another word. or I'll never get published. roll through our mind. Let's face it. We'd all like a bit of sympathy. If you belong to a writing critique group, you might find a little of that from those who have gone through the same situation. More than sympathy, they are able to empathize. 

Once you get beyond the poor me feelings, take a step back and look at the problem that put you in a slump. It could be repeated rejections or lack of inspiration to write or first drafts looking like a toss-away piece of writing or starting a story and never being able to finish. Whatever it is, look for the lesson as our poster today tells us. The lesson is there but it may not be clear enough to smack you in the face immediately. You may have to search different paths to find what it is that you need to learn. 

If you don't see it one day, wait a day or two and try again. The one thing you need to do is be honest. Don't make excuses for yourself. If you are going to own up to what you've been doing that is working against you, you'll have to be a bit brave. No one likes to be criticized, nor do we like to put ourselves down. Even so, it's the only way you'll find the answer to your problem. 

Once you identify the problem, the lesson to learn emerges more clearly. After you figure out the lesson, then you need to take steps to correct what you'd been doing and pull yourself out of that slump. Then be grateful for the lesson learned.

I know this sounds like a lot of generalities but everyone has a different problem to solve. Finally, don't forget to be grateful when life is good to you. Never take the good times in your writing world for granted.

A Family Treasure and A Story

Grandma's Dish

Have you ever tried to write a story using something you have around the house to jump start you? Or in your yard, front porch, or even the garage? The small dish pictured here was a wedding gift given to my grandmother by the man who owned the general store in the little Iowa coal mining town where she and Grandpa lived. She had gone there to shop and he mentioned he'd heard she got married. Then he handed her the dish as his gift. She kept it for many years, then gave it to my mother, who gave it to me when she moved to a situation where she could not bring all her treasures. I love the scalloped edges, the colors and the painted roses. 

One day, I put the dish on the table where I was typing (that tells you how long ago it was!) and started to think about a story that might feature the pretty little dish. I set the story in the time period when my grandmother would have been a young woman, used a general store owner as a character and made up the rest. The story has been published in a children's magazine in the USA and one in China. 

Try it with something you have in your home. It could be a special tool that was handed down through the family, a quilt, an old sewing machine or an old tractor. You probably know the real story about whatever it is and you can write that. Or you can write a piece of fiction centered around the item you have chosen, as I did. All you need is a little imagination to go along with the object you select. The story I wrote is below. 

Just Plain Sarah Jane

by Nancy Julien Kopp

Sarah Jane gasped when she spied a dainty white china dish in the display window of Owensby’s General Store. How many times had she heard Ma wish for something beautiful for their cabin?

The dish was only big enough to hold a few morsels of Christmas candy, or perhaps Ma’s special pickles. Shaped like a leaf, the scalloped edges were painted blue with fine gold lines curving and swirling through the color. Three ruby red and pink roses with soft green vines graced the center. Ma had nothing this pretty.

Sarah Jane slipped her hand into her pinafore pocket and fingered the smooth metal and tiny ridges of the pennies lying there. She pressed her nose against the window to see the price tag propped beside the dish. In bold black print, it said “19 cents.” She rubbed the pennies once more and marched into the store.

“What do you want, Sarah Jane?” Mr. Owensby said.

He was tall and thin with a mouth that turned down and eyes that watched the merchandise in his shop like a hawk guarding its prey.

“Ma needs some white thread, Mr. Owensby. She said to put it on the bill.”

“I’ll bet she did,” the storekeeper mumbled. His mouth turned down even farther.

Sarah Jane ignored the comment. She stepped closer to the display window.

“You want something there?” Mr. Owensby asked.

“No, just looking. That little dish is the prettiest thing I ever did see.”

“Huh! May be pretty, but it isn’t practical. Folks ‘round here needs practical more than pretty. Don’t know why I let that city salesman talk me into it.”

Mr. Owensby clamped his lips together and handed Sarah Jane the thread.

“Thanks,” she called as she sailed out the door. She started down the wooden walkway but backtracked for one more peek at her treasure. One thought came to her--The roses look so real I can almost smell them. She took two quick hops and turned toward home.

She could see Pa unhitching the horses from the plow when she neared their barnyard.

Sarah Jane ran to her father. “Pa, Pa, will you give me a penny every Saturday like you promised? Will you?

Pa grabbed hold of the harness. “Said I would. One penny every Saturday if you help me hitch up and unhitch. Hope you’ll save it, Sarah Jane, not go buying candy at Owensby’s every week.”

“Oh, I’ll save it, Pa. I’ve put aside fourteen cents already, and I’ve my eye on something special.”

“Must be mighty special to make your eyes shine so and set your feet to dancing.”

Sarah Jane stopped by Owensby’s window on her way home from school every day. In only five weeks she’d have enough to buy the dish for Ma.

Finally, the day arrived when Pa gave her the last penny she needed. She tied them up in an old handkerchief and ran most of the way to town. Out of breath by the time she reached the store, she stopped to take in great gulps of air. The familiar excitement bubbled up once more, but when she turned to the window, the bubbles burst. The dish was gone. Cold fingers of fear clutched at her stomach.

She ran inside. “Mr. Owensby, where is the dish, the one with the roses?”

“Ha!” Mr. Owensby said, placing both hands on the counter and leaning forward. “Finally sold it. Lowered the price this morning, and Johnny Ripple snapped it up for Annabelle Nelson’s birthday.” His mouth turned upwards a bit, then he frowned. “Why?”

Sarah Jane’s voice trembled. “It was mine. I’ve been saving my money.” She held up the cloth bundle. “See. I have the nineteen cents here.”

“Nineteen cents! Now, look what you’ve done.” Mr. Owensby’s mouth turned down farther than ever before. “You should have told me you wanted it. I sold it to that boy for twelve cents.” He pounded his fist on the counter. “You made me sell that dish at a loss. Boy got himself a real bargain, and it’s your fault, Missy.”

Sarah Jane slipped out the door and headed straight for Annabelle’s house. All the boys liked Annabelle, but Sarah Jane knew none of the girls at school felt the same.

She bounded up the steps of Annabelle’s house and rapped on the door. Her thumping heart kept time with her knocking. When Annabelle answered, Sarah Jane lost no time in small talk. “Annabelle,” she said, “may I see the dish Johnny gave you?”

“How did you know about that?” Annabelle put her hands on her hips and stamped her foot. “He only gave it to me today.”

Sarah Jane eased by the other girl into the house. “Where is it? I want to buy it from you.”

She surveyed the room. “Annabelle, look at all the pretty things you have. You don’t need the dish, but I do. It’s for my ma. Please. I’ll pay you nineteen cents, exactly what Mr. Owensby wanted. ‘Course Johnny didn’t pay that much. He got a bargain, a big sale.”

While she talked, Sarah Jane moved toward Annabelle until she had the girl backed up against the flowered wall. 

When Annabelle could move no farther, she put her hands out. “Wait? You can have the dish. I don’t even like it.” She smiled and narrowed her eyes. “For twenty-five cents.”

“That’s not fair,” Sarah Jane shouted. “You can’t do that.”

“Oh, yes I can. It’s my dish.” Annabelle stuck her tongue out. “Well?”

Sarah Jane figured quickly in her head. “I can have the money for you in six more Saturdays.”

“Perhaps. I suppose I will. I’d rather have the money than the dish. Now go away and don’t bother me until you have the money.”

The weeks dragged for Sarah Jane. Annabelle tossed her curls and darted mean looks every day at school. Sarah Jane bit her lips, counted her pennies, and kept quiet.

Six Saturdays passed, and Sarah Jane presented herself at Annabelle’s door, the twenty-five pennies tied in the handkerchief in her pinafore pocket. She knocked firmly.

A smiling Annabelle answered the door. Her smile vanished. “Oh, it’s just plain Sarah Jane. Whatever do you want?”

Sarah Jane held up the clothbound pennies. “I have the twenty-five cents for the dish.”

Annabelle shrugged. “I don’t have the old dish anymore. I traded it this morning for something better. Besides, what does a plain person like you want with something so fancy?”

“But, who…what?” Sarah Jane could barely get the words out. She balled her hands into fists, her face turned red, and she shouted, “You are the meanest person I have ever met!”

She whirled around to leave, and her hand holding the pennies hit the railing so hard that the cloth tore, and the coins flew across the porch.

Annabelle laughed as Sarah Jane crawled on hands and knees picking up pennies. Annabelle slammed the door, still laughing.

Halfway home, she came across a horse, hitched to an empty wagon, standing in the road. The black horse shook its head and stomped its hooves.

“Are you alone, old boy?” She patted the horse’s nose, looked right and left but saw no sign of life among the trees, rocks, and wildflowers. Then a faint sound caught her attention. It came from beyond the stand of trees.

“Anybody there?” she hollered, walking past the wagon full of boxes and sacks.

“Help me! Help me!” The voice was weak but distinct.

“Where are you?” she called.

“Down here.”

Sarah Jane ran to the edge of a deep ravine, bent over and searched. Sitting on the ground, about halfway to the bottom, was an old man. His clothes and beard were covered with twigs and leaves.

He moaned and said, “My leg, I’ve hurt my leg. I fell down the ravine looking for firewood. I thought no one would ever come.” He put his hands over his face, and his shoulders shook.

Sarah Jane studied the injured man, then looked back at the horse and wagon still on the road. She cupped her hands around her mouth and called down to him. “I can’t pull you up, but maybe the horse can.”

She raced back to the horse and unhitched him as Pa had taught her. Sarah Jane walked around the wagon looking for something to use for a lifeline. She spotted a long piece of rope coiled on a nail.

She led the horse to the ravine and fastened the rope to the harness. Next, she threw the other end of the rope as far as she could. It landed only a short distance from the injured man.

The old man inched himself toward the rope. “That’s a smart thing to do,” he said breathing hard. He inched himself closer and grasped the rope with both hands, his leather gloves allowing him a firm hold.

Slowly, Sarah Jane led the horse away. Little by little, bump by bump, the old man moved up the ravine until he reached the top. She helped him try to walk back to the wagon. She found a fallen tree limb for him to lean on, and with her help, they made it halfway to the wagon.

“I can go no farther,” the old man said, weariness in his voice. “Let’s rest a little while.” He smiled at Sarah Jane, and his dark eyes brightened. “Who are you? A beautiful angel, perhaps?”

Warmth worked its way up to Sarah Jane’s cheeks, and she lowered her head. She studied her shoes. “No, I’m just plain Sarah Jane—not beautiful anything.”

“Ah, but to me you are very beautiful. Wait here.” The old man scooted to the wagon and pulled himself up. He searched among the many items it held until his hand grasped a burlap sack. “Ah, here it is. Something special. An old peddler like me comes across many beautiful things, but this I got only today.”

He removed his gloves and pulled something small out of the sack. “Here—here is something beautiful to help you remember your kindness to me.”

In his gnarled and dirty hands, he held the dish, Ma’s dish. The roses looked real enough to smell. Sarah Jane’s twenty-five pennies jingled in her pocket as she reached out to accept the gift from the peddler.

Writing On A Rainy Day

Rainy Day

It's pouring this morning here in Manhattan, Kansas. We've had a deficit of about 12 inches of rain for the year up to this past week. Last Sunday, we had around 5 inches in our area. What a blessing. Had a little more on Tuesday and this morning it is coming in buckets, as the saying goes. As of last night, our weather stats showed we were still down around 7 inches for the year. What we're getting now will put a dent in that.

Sunday afternoon, I dashed off a poem about the rain. A first draft but I'll post it here on this rainy day and then we'll have an exercise appropriate for the weather.

Sunday Rain

It’s blissful,

pounding the pavement,

feeding the flowers,

and thirsty grass.

Not gentle, this one

but a good, steady

rain, beating the ground

cooling the summer air.

Cloud covered sky,

holding yet more

moisture so needed,

yes, it’s blissful.

I close my eyes,

listen to a steady drumming

of raindrops outside

my wide office window.

Five full hours of rain,

and many more to come,

an all-day soaker, this one,

on drought-laden plains.

                                             ...Nancy Julien Kopp

Today's writing exercixe:

Look at the phrases below.  Write a poem, a story or a paragraph using one, or more, of the phrases

• raining cats and dogs
• coming down in buckets
• pouring buckets
• drenched to the skin
• rainy days and Sundays
• pitter-patter of raindrops
• a cloudburst
• lightning, thunder, and rain

Book To Screenplay With Awards Aplenty

Writer, Terry Needham, lets no grass grow under his feet in his retirement years. He has written and self-published several books. He has also written a screenplay for the memoir book When I Was A Child. That is no small task.

My review of the books can be read here.

The Kansas Authors Club Spring/Summer 2018 State Newsletter featured Terry and another author who has written screenplays. Editor, Reaona Hemmingway, has graciously allowed me to share the interview with Terry here as written.

Reaona:  Your story about your uncle, Louis Pfeiffer, has won several awards since it was published in 2011. What inspired you to write the screenplay based on the book?
Terry: The very first reader who posted an Amazon review of my book...WHEN I WAS A CHILD...opened the review with the statement, ""Wow, this book would make a great movie!" That comment was the genesis of my notion that I could write a screenplay based on this book.

Reaona:  What process did you go through to turn the prose you already wrote into a screenplay?
Terry:  Honestly, this was the greatest challenge I have undertaken. I spent one-year reading books on screenplay writing and the industry in general. Then, it took two years to write and perfect my screenplay. That process continues even now as I obtain more professional feedback on my screenplay writing. I have read seven books on writing screenplays, as well as reading many actual screenplays, too. It is essential that you obtain a screenplay writing software to master the precise formal requirements. I use FINAL DRAFT in my screenplay writing and it is excellent.

Reaona:  In the wake of the book's success, the screenplay has won several awards in the past year. How did you go about deciding which contests to enter?
Terry:  Most film competitions are focused on independent film productions, with screenplays being secondary. And, most have only a few, fairly broad categories to enter your screenplay. So, the more broad the categories, the more general they are and thus, the greater number of screenplay competitors. For example, a competition may have only six categories and one is "drama"; another may have that plus "action and adventure" and another may have both of those plus the category "war"...The first is a catch-all, the second more specific. The screenplay competition I won, The West Field Screenplay Competiton [New York], was in the category of "war."

Reaona:  Now that the screenplay has received accolades nationally, do you plan to market it to movie producers?
Terry:  I have made determined attempts to market to film producers. But, they mainly ignore anyone who is not represented by an agent. So, it's absolutely imperative to find an agent, or manager, to represent the author and their work. I am working hard to get this done, too. But, it's a very tough nut to crack. I have read that there are about 30,000 screenplays written every year, and only about 300 films made, and even fewer gain notoriety. So, the odds are very tough. However, winning a top spot in film/screenplay competition is the first step to success in finding an agent/manager or film producer.

Reaona:  What advice would you give to an author wanting to write their first screenplay?
Terry:  Do their homework. Study the industry as well as the screenplay writing form. There is a path to success and many examples of writers breaking into the industry with great success. So, I would encourage any author to follow their dream, but to also work smart, and seek help wherever you can find it.

Reaona:  Feel free to make any further comments you'd like to have included in the article.
Terry:  I have devoted myself to the mission of reading and reviewing the work of other authors. I learn a lot about good writing this way, and also help those authors by writing reviews and posting them on Amazon and other websites. I have read the work of many Kansas authors and have been very impressed with the quality of work they produce. We may be a "flyover state"...but we are also the "Heartland" of this great nation, and we have many awesome stories to tell.

Terry's website is http://tlneedham.com/

My Amazon page, with reviews: https://www.amazon.com/author/tlneedham

My book—When I Was A Child, has received these awards:

GOLD MEDAL in GLOBAL EBOOK AWARDS and

HONORABLE MENTION, BEST COVER-GLOBAL EBOOK AWARDS;

FINALISTS in USA BOOK NEWS – BEST BOOKS Awards;

BRONZE MEDAL in READERS FAVORITE, a national book review/literary critic firm, and;

HONORABLE MENTION—WRITERS DIGEST SELF-PUBLISHED BOOK AWARDS.

My Screenplay—WHEN I WAS A CHILD has received these awards:

WON—Filmmatic Screenplay Awards—Season 3…2018, in the category of “HISTORICAL”!

WON—The 2018 “The West Field Screenwriting Awards” . . . in the category of “WAR” [The West Field Screenwriting Awards are based in New York.] 

Semi-Finalist in 2017 - THE CANNES GOLDEN PLUME INTERNATIONAL Screenwriting Competition. [Placed 6th overall!]

Semi-Finalists in the WriteMovies - Spring 2018 Screenwriting Contest

Semi-Finalists - Screenplay Festival, 2017 Movie Script – Action/Adventure

Quarter-Finalist in the WriteMovies Spring 2017 International Screenwriting Contest

Quarter-Finalist in the 2017 ScreenCraft Action/Thriller Screenplay Contest

 

Little Things Mean A Lot

Little Things

Frank Sinatra sang a song that had the lyric Little things mean a lot. Today's photo shows a coffee grinder with some little things around it. The miniature chef and muffins add a lot to the picture. 

When we write a story, a memoir, a poem, or an essay, little things can make a good piece shine. They can also make the difference between an editor accepting or rejecting a submission. 

There was a period when English teachers began giving a grade only for the content of a written assignment. The grammar, spelling, punctuation--the mechanics--didn't count toward the grade. The first time I heard of this, I was livid. Those mechanics, those many 'little' things make the difference in a good paper and a poor one. 

You might have a lot to say in whatever it is you write and that's good. If you don't pay attention to the little things, that's bad. What are the bits and pieces that will improve whatever you write? 

Passive Verbs:  Our first drafts are filled with passive verbs like was, is, are. When you edit, change as many passive verbs to action ones as possible. Action verbs are visual for the reader. Besides that, action verbs are more interesting. When you replace a passive verb, it's sometimes necessary to change the order of a sentence to make it work. You cannot always pluck the bad out and drop in the new one in the same spot. 

Length of Sentences:  One of the greatest problems for some writers is writing overly long sentences. I have noted that one sentence looks like a full paragraph. If you attempt to read it aloud, you'd be gasping for breath before the final punctuation mark. If you have a sentence like that, it's quite easy to break it into two, or even three, shorter sentences. We should also attempt to balance sentence length. If you have a long sentence, let the next one be short. No reader is going to count how many long or short sentences you have, but it gives a smoother flow to your work.

Spelling:  No one should have a spelling error with today's technology.  Use a spell check program when writing on a computer or tablet. I signed up for Grammarly and have been very pleased with what it offers. I cannot link it here as it goes automatically to my personal account. Just go to grammarly.com to get started. They have a free version and an upgraded paid one. I have the free version and have been satisfied.

Punctuation:  Commas bring the most confusion in this category. Some writers grab a handful, toss them in the air, and let them land wherever. Not literally, but it sometimes appears as if that is the way the commas were inserted. Learn the rules--google to find sites for help. Grammarly is helpful in punctuation, too. Don't use too many exclamation marks or you lose the ooomph they are meant to give. It's worth learning the rules and using them.

Grammar:  Again, this is something that requires one to learn the rules and apply them when writing. There are all kinds of things to be concerned about--compound verbs, subjects and objects, using adjectives and adverbs properly, and more. Many writers had the benefit of a top-notch grade and high school education where they learned all these things. Many others either did not have the exposure to a highly credited program in school or didn't bother to pay much attention. Kids are like that, as we all know. If you struggle with grammar, work on it now to improve your writing skills.

Redundancy:  Repeating words too close together makes for boring reading. Repeating a thought by using different words in consecutive paragraphs doesn't fool anyone but many do this. Sometimes, a writer does it to ensure the reader 'gets the point' and sometimes they do it because they don't know what to say next so why not keep on with the same thought said in a different way. 

There are other little things that will make or break what you've written. This list is quite long enough. Go through your files, select one of your favorite pieces of writing and read through it looking for all of the above. I guarantee you'll find at least a few that qualify for the list above. I know that anything I pull from my files would have problems here and there. No one writes perfectly but we surely can strive to write as best we can. It will definitely show in the final product. 

Deadline Looming For Grandparent Stories

That's me a few years ago holding the Chicken Soup for the Soul book that had just arrived on my doorstep. It's pretty exciting when your story is included in those ten copies that arrive. They're yours to do with what you will. Sell them, give them away, run a contest with the books as the prize. Be sure to keep one for your personal collection of books.

It's not easy to have your story accepted by Chicken Soup but it's also quite possible. The biggest help you can give yourself is to study the guidelines that this anthology publisher kindly provides. They have given you a blueprint but it's up to you to write a story that fits. Note that I highlighted the word study. You cannot simply scan the lengthy page of guidelines and absorb it all. Multiple readings are worth your time. Send a story that does not fit the guidelines and it's never going to be accepted.

That said, there is a deadline coming up for the Grandparent book. Stories must be submitted by August 31st. You can read the call for submissions on this book here.  This only allows you ten days to submit the story. The submission page is here

You can write your story from the view of a grandparent about your grandchildren or about becoming a grandparent. Another viewpoint would be to write about one of your grandparents. The story can be humorous, heart-warming, or even a bit sad. Just remember that it must be a story, not a tribute to a grandparent or an essay about a grandparent. Take one incident and write the story with a beginning, a middle and an ending.

Poems that tell a story are also accepted and receive the same payment and number of books as full stories do.

A few questions to trigger some memories:

• When did you first truly feel that you were a grandparent? 
• Did anything happen at your grandchild's christening?
• Did your grandchild teach you something?
• Did you learn something about yourself from a grandchild?
• Did one of your grandparents do something that impressed you for life?
• Did one of your grandparents do something funny that still makes you laugh?
• What about shopping for a grandchild?
• Have you traveled with grandchildren?
• Have you established a tradition with a grandchild? 

No time to waste on this one. Study those guidelines and start writing!

Writers and Procrastination

We humans have perfected the art of procrastination. Writers practice it on a regular basis. 

We get a flash of an idea for a new book or essay or a children's story. That's right, it flashes in our mind. We can see it so clearly. We know we should start writing immediately but there are other things to be done. Time goes on. Idea fades until it finally gives up and expires. 

We have Chapter 1 finished and the outline completed for the rest of the book but we don't work on Chapter 2. We move on to something else. Maybe we come back, maybe we don't and Chapter 1 gives up and passes on.

We want to write a memoir about a personal situation. The desire to tell the story is strong but the ability to begin is so weak that the story never becomes reality. 

We're going to make a Family Stories book and give one to every family member we know. We'll write all those great stories our family tells around the holiday dinner table when so many gather. We think about writing those tales at every family get-together but we go home and decide to do it later. You know what happens to 'later.'  

We have good intentions and the writers in the examples above did, too. Instead of tackling the project right away, we put it off. Once you start putting it off, it rolls on like a snowball downhill. 

Why do we procrastinate? Fear of failure is one reason. Lack of confidence is another. Laziness. Yep, sorry to have to spell it out but it's true. Some writers decide the idea they had is just too much work to bother about. Habit. That's a bit scary because once you start procrastinating, it's all too easy to keep right on behaving that way. 

Look again at the list of reasons we procrastinate:

• Fear of failure
• 'Lack of confidence
• Laziness
• Habit

What's the cure? Do some thinking about the project you wanted to do but put off and put off. See if you can figure out why you never got going on something you truly wanted to do. Then take a big dose of writing! 

I like today's poster because it is so simple but says so much. It might be a good one to print and post near your computer as a reminder. If not now, when? If not you, who else is going to write the story?

Writers May Like A Cozy Nest Too Much

BREAK OUT OF THE COMFORT ZONE

As writers, we like to be warm and cozy, curled up in our nest. There are no cares or woes. Everything around us is familiar. We don't need to think too much or exert ourselves mentally in any way. Wonderful, isn't it? 

It may be comfortable but it's not going to help you grow as a writer if you keep writing what you've been writing for the last 'however' many years. But why move out of what has been successful for you? You sell a piece now and then, mostly to the same publications. They know you and your writing and you know the editor by now, so why bother with something different? 

It's a whole lot easier to stay in our comfy little nest. If you write only fiction, why in the world would you bother to try creative nonfiction?  Because it might be fun.

What if you have only written articles on farming in the USA? You've sold plenty of them so why bother to tackle a new subject? Well, why not? Venture only a little farther and write about farming in Africa or Eastern Europe.

If you write children's picture books, is there any reason you cannot try writing a YA novel? Never done it? Not to worry.

Even if what you've been writing is comfortable, is it inspiring? Do you get up in the morning looking forward to what you will write? Have you challenged yourself on this writing journey or have you stopped at the Comfort Zone Hotel and stayed there? 

If you have found your niche in writing the same kind of thing over and over and are satisfied, that's fine. Even so, if you venture out of that zone, you could find something new that satisfies you as much or more. I'm not suggesting you quit what you've been doing. Stay with it but venture a little farther and attempt something different at times, as well. Variety is kind of nice.

If you've only written prose, why not give poetry a try? Poets, give prose a try by starting with a prose poem. It's not such a big leap. 

If you've never written a short memoir piece, do it soon. You might find a whole new section of the writing world opening up for you. Conversely, you may not like writing the memoir story at all. No problem. You don't have to do it again but at least you tested the waters. You'll never know what you like to write and what you don't unless you move away from your comfort zone. 

The worst thing that can happen is that you hate what you attempted. It's alright. You can jump back to your cozy nest and keep writing what you like. The point is that you'll never know if you like a new kind of writing unless you try it. So, break out of the comfort zone if even for a short time.

New Writers Need To Believe--Memoirs and Family Stories

Ever hear naysayers in the world of those who want to write a memoir or family stories who utter things like:

I'm not a professional writer.

I can't write like some people do.

I want to write the story but I wouldn't know where to start.

My grammar is not good enough to write.

My writing is boring.

All of the above can be overcome. But the first thing you must do is believe that you can write a memoir or a book of family stories. Sounds easy? Maybe. Possible? Yes.

It takes some courage to do something new. Look at the people who zipline. Looks like fun but maybe a bit scary, too. Those who try to zip from one end of a line to the other have to believe they can do it or they'd never take step 1. 

An athletic kid who tries out for a sport has to believe in him/herself enough to make that effort. They know success is not ensured but they believe they can make it so they try. They're brave enough to give it a whirl. 

If you have a little bit of courage and a small dose of bravery, you can do many things you never thought you could. 

Believing in yourself is only part of being able to overcome the problems listed above. Another part is having the courage to try. Still another is working hard to be a better writer. How?

• Read--If you want to write a memoir, read as many as you can find. You'll see the various methods used.
• Read books on the topic of general writing--not just memoir or family stories.
• Attend conferences to learn more about writing methods.
• Do writing exercises--I pound and pound about this and too many writers want to skip it. Don't! Many books on writing have exercises at the end of each chapter. They are to help you. Try them!
• Sign up for a writing class--either locally or online. Don't be embarrassed to tell the others you're new at this game and here to learn. They'll admire you for that.
• Don't start out attempting to write a full book. Try short snippets that can be put together later. Taking on too much at the onset is overwhelming and sometimes defeating. A quick way to stop believing in yourself.

Becoming a better writer doesn't happen overnight or in a week or two. Time and hard work and writing on a regular basis all help you achieve that goal. 

Beginning A New Writing Project

Recently, I encouraged writers to look into their files for unfinished stories, poems, essays and more and to start working on them again. It's a good idea because too many get left long enough that we don't even know they exist.

But beginning a whole new project is something special. Maybe you've thought about it for a long time, spent your walking time making mental notes as to what you want to include and how to proceed.  A new project deserves some careful thought and perhaps even a bit of research. It doesn't always happen that way, however. 

The day arrives when you know you're ready to put yourself at the keyboard and begin writing. It's new. It's fresh. It's exciting. As the poster above says, there is a bit of magic in beginning a new story. 

Maybe part of the magic is that you have a blank piece of paper or screen in front of you and you can go in any direction. You are the magician who waves the wand and directs the writing. It's not, of course, as simple as waving a wand. If only! 

You are in charge of this new piece of writing. You choose which direction it takes. That's what makes it exciting although there are moments where we get stuck and don't know what direction to go. I'm there now on a story for kids. I have a boy who is terrified to cross bridges and he has to do it in a horrible storm. He sees an apparition of his dead grandmother at the far end of the narrow bridge. My problem is that once he gets across the bridge, I don't know what will happen next. He's actually running away from a welfare worker so he has to keep running but.... I'll figure it out. What I do know is that it was fun to begin a new story for kids, something I haven't written in a long time.

I hadn't given a lot of thought to the story I'm writing. The beginning popped into my head one day and I started writing. That proves I'm a pantster, not a planner. I often write without an outline, or by the seat of my pants--creating as I go. Either way is fine. We do whatever works best for us. 

How about you? Do you have the idea for a new writing project? Are you ready to begin? Do you need that extra nudge or will you suddenly know when the time is right? Will you trust in the magic of beginnings?

Friends In Your Writing World

Have you ever made a list of the friends in your writing life? I know one writer who loves lists. I have a feeling she has assembled her group of writer friends in just that way. 

In our technological world, we have opportunities to meet other writers online whom we have never met in person and possibly never will. I know writers in our country and several others whom I will never meet in the flesh but I consider them real friends. I met many through Facebook pages.

We meet other writers through critique groups we join, whether they are the face to face kind or an online gathering of writers who help one another. When you interact with other writers on a regular basis, you have a good base for forming friendships.

When you attend a state writing conference regularly, it's easy to become friends with those you see again and again. After all, they are there for the same reason you are--to learn more about this writing world. We have much in common and are drawn to one another for that reason. And maybe it's because we just plain like them as people. 

Does this mean that you like every writer you meet and consider all of them friends? Not necessarily. We gravitate to some people more than others in all walks of life, and our writing world is much the same. 

Take a few minutes and make a list, whether mentally, or in print,, of the friends in your writing world. You might be surprised at how many there are. 

I'm Convention Planning Chairman for my state authors organization. We're a small district in a large state so we are creating a convention with a very few people working on the planning. I have had a number of other members offer to assist in any way needed. Those are the friends who warm your heart. 

I am so grateful for the many friends in my writing world. If I have a question or need help, I know that lots of them will step up and answer my call. 

One Tool Writers Should Use

Writer's Tools

The writer's toolbox above shows lots of pencils and one pair of scissors. We know we'll use those pencils when we write something in longhand but why the scissors? They cut, don't they?

Cutting is as much a part of writing as putting the words down for that first draft. Many Writer Guidelines specify a word count. You'd better stick to what they recommend or your submission will be tossed like an empty milk carton. 

Let's face it. Writers hate to cut any of the precious words they have written. Take another look at the preceding sentence. It's 12 words. I could have written it this way: Writers hate to cut precious words they've written. The meaning is the same but it's now 8 words. Do that with enough sentences and you can cut a good number of words.

You can do away with the word the in many instances. The dancers dipped and swayed across the stage. It loses nothing if you write the sentence this way:  Dancers dipped and swayed across the stage. Sure, it's only one word but cutting a word here and there throughout a full piece of writing can make a difference. A faucet may drip one drop at a time but the amount of water adds up fairly fast. Don't belittle one drip or that one word.

Another way to cut is to use contractions. Instead of have not, use haven't. Only one word cut but you can use a lot of contractions in a 1000 word piece. I'll, I'd, He'd, can't, won't and many more.

How about using also instead of in addition to? Or use conversely instead of on the other hand. You get rid of 2 words in the first example and 3 in the second one. 

We all use too many of those unnecessary words like really, very, up, down and many others. Google a list of unnecessary words. You'll be amazed at how many there are. 

Another way to cut is to make sure you have not made the same point but using different words twice. It's so easy to make a point in an essay and in the very next paragraph say it again. Different words may mask it but why repeat the same thing? Get rid of the second sentence, or even paragraph, and you've cut a lot of words and not bored your reader by being redundant.  

When you read through your first draft, make sure the points you have made are necessary, that they pertain to the topic. It's all too easy to toss in something that sounds nice but is off-topic. Cut it!

One more way to cut words is to be stingy with adjectives. One or two is just fine. There are writers who persist in using a handful. You can cut a good many adverbs, too. They get you in enough trouble by telling rather than showing.

Ther are many small ways to cut words. The more you practice, the better you will become at recognizing how to do it. One of the big benefits of cutting words is that you will end with a piece with stronger writing. 

Photos To Inspire Writers

Photos To Inspire

Today, I am going to post several photos. It's not the usual 10 minute Free Write exercise. Instead, spend some time viewing the photos and see which, if any, inspire you to write something. It might be a poem, an essay, a fiction story, or a piece of creative nonfiction. It could be an article with facts and figures about a subject dear to your heart. 

I spent some time at a website with free-to-use images and got inspired by several of them. I chose a variety for you. Writers are always, always looking for inspiration to write. Open your eyes, your mind and your heart as you study the pictures.

Writing About Difficult Times In Your Life

When life hands us situations that hurt, we sometimes want to push it away, hide it in a closet. It's too hard to bring it forth and try to deal with the misfortune. There are so many events in our life that create deep wounds and leave scars--the death of a spouse, losing a child, being in a terrible accident, losing a home to fire or a tornado, a difficult romance and break-up. The list could go on and on.

I believe that writing about whatever happened has benefits. It is cathartic for the writer and can be a help to readers who have gone through a similar situation. You're a double winner if you aid both yourself and those readers who have been through something similar. 

It's definitely not easy to write about a tragedy in your life. It cannot always be done immediately after the event. For me, it took almost 30 years before I could write about the loss of two infants born three years apart. I wanted to but the time was not right for me to do that. When I finally was able to write about those two difficult times in my life, and my husband's, it seemed that a dam opened and I wrote one story after another. Did it help me? I think it finally brought the peace I had sought and not found all those earlier years. It also made me feel good that I brought something to others who had gone through a similar tragedy. I would not advise waiting such a long time to write, however. 

Hemingway's advice in our poster today is pretty direct but also wise. When you're writing about something that has hurt you deeply, it's best to address it head first. Some writers will tip-toe around whatever happened and perhaps infer but not really explain. That's not fair to you or your readers. If you decide to write about that deep hurt, do it the way the quote says--write hard and clear. 

Give the facts of what occurred but also reach into your mind for your feelings, your attitude, the way you dealt with it. This kind of writing is filled with emotion and should be. For you, the writer, it can be a blessed release. Occasionally, what you write will surprise you. You're not aware of some the buried thoughts you have.

There are writers who can't or won't write about a hard time they experienced because they feel it is too personal to share with others. That's showing the difference in people and personalities. If you can't write about a hard time to share with others, do it for yourself. Write the story and how it affected you and put it away in a drawer or a safe deposit box or a computer file--somewhere that is just for you to see and read. There's nothing wrong in not sharing with others. The main thing is that writing about whatever hurt you will be of some help to you. If nothing else, you can realize exactly how the situation did affect you or how it may have changed you,

Whether you write about tragedies in your life for yourself only or for others, as well, do write. It can't hurt and it certainly might help. 

Assess Your Bookshelves

Might this be a topic for a thesis? Probably not.  Fact or fiction? Based on my husband's book choices and mine, I'd say it's bunk. We have a few similarities in what we read but only a few. I do know couples who both love sci-fi or fantasy. So, it does happen but I think those people are in the minority. 

What I'm going to write about today is not the finding the one you love according to what is on their bookshelf. Instead, let's consider what is on your bookshelf and mine. I would hope that you have a nice variety of books. Most writers are readers so I would expect to see shelves laden with many books. Ask any browser in a bookstore and they'll tell you There's always room for another book.

NOTE:  In this techie world we live in, we can include books we have on a Kindle or similar reader. 

Here's a list of the kinds of books I have:

• Cookbooks
• Poetry
• Writing 
• Books in which I have stories and poems published
• Fiction
• Travel journals
• Books friends have written
• Pictorial books about other countries and the USA
• Nonfiction--how we live life
• Christmas books
• Photo albums of family and travels
• Children's 

You can probably tell a lot about me from the kinds of books I own. If I could put the percentage of each type I have or the genres of fiction, you would get an even clearer picture of me. 

How about you? Make a list of the kinds of books on your bookshelf. Then take some time to assess what you have listed. Do you see a wide variety? Or do you concentrate on just a few? Which categories are the heaviest, which ones do you have only one or two? What does your list say about you as a person? About you as a writer? 

Now, consider the poster again. Do you and your significant other like the same kinds of books? Or are you radically different in reading taste? There will most likely be some genres you both like but not all.