Bits and Pieces for Writers

A Sign of Summer

I have several bits and pieces to pass on to you today. Some have been on my mind for a while and some just popped in this morning. Most are not worthy of a full post but could be of interest to readers. So, on to the things flitting through my mind like lovely little butterflies.

1.  I recently subscribed to a monthly newsletter called Publishing and Other Forms of Insanity. The newsletter is chock full of calls for submissions and contests as well as articles on the writing craft. And I do mean 'chock full.' Take a look at this month's issue and see if it appeals to you enough to subscribe. I have to admit that there are times I can't find time to digest every bit of it. Read the June issue here.
2. The Write Spot by Marlene Cullen offers regular writing prompts. Her prompts are not mundane by any means. She offers inspiring, mind-triggering writing prompts on a regular basis. Her website offers other sections that would be appealing to a writer. You know that I am a big proponent of doing writing exercises. Even a five-minute exercise each morning will be of benefit to you. That old adage practice makes perfect seems to fit here.
3. If you have an interest in writing for children, the ICL(Institute of Children's Literature) Newsletter is filled with tips and places to submit to, contests and more. I have found many of the articles pertain to writing for all levels, kids, and adults. And do remember that the writing for children world is a big one. Consider that we're talking about infants who are read to, toddlers, grade school kids, teens and Young Adults. That's a wide range with myriad possibilities. Every so often, the newsletter lists a number of articles about writing. Many of these are all-encompassing, not just for children's writers. If you sign up and decide it's not for you, unsubscribe. Sign up here.
4. Feather  So, what in the world is this about? It's not the name of a book or magazine. Not the name of a club for writers. No. But it is a word that has been playing leapfrog in my head. Why? I have no sure answer, but I feel like it is leading me to write something new. But what? Story? Poem? Children's story? Memoir piece? At this point, I haven't a clue. Even so, I know that more will evolve from this one little word I keep seeing in my mind. Am I the only one this happens to? Or do some of you experience something like this? 
5. Photo Journal. I have a writer friend who is also a photographer and a blogger. Annette Gendler is also a world traveler, and she shares her photo journals with her readers. Check out one of them here. You don't have to travel to a foreign country to try this on your own. You could go to the town ten miles away and create one that would interest others. There is no absolutely set way to do this type of writing, and you need not be a professional photographer either. With our phones taking good pictures, we can all claim to be 'photographers,' even if of different levels. Check a search engine for tips on making your own photo journal. With summer travels, this is an appealing type of writing. You want to do more than label a photo, however. Make the writing as interesting as the picture.

I hope these bits and pieces have given you food for thought, some places to check over the weekend, and a wee bit of inspiration as we finish this month of June and get ready for July.

A Word Writers Should Avoid

I dare you to pronounce the word above without using the pronunciation guide. We can all learn to say the word, but I hope none of us could have the word applied to the person we are, the writer we are.

It's a very normal response to fear not being good enough. Every new writer has moments of feeling like they aren't good enough to get published. It's not only the new writers. Seasoned writers have those fingers of fear clutching at their insides, too. Maybe not as often, but it happens. 

Some writers feel very confident that what they've written is of some merit, that their story could stand up to any other. First draft, edit, revision, another edit, final polish--yep, this is a good story. The time to submit to an editor arrives and suddenly those doubts began to assail the writer. What to do? The best choice is to submit your story and wait to see what happens. If it is rejected, that doesn't mean you're a crummy writer. Don't ever feel that way. The longer we're in the writing world, the more we become aware that not every story (or other kinds of writing) is going to get accepted on the first submission. It may take several times, and it might never be accepted. It happens to all of us now and then. Statistics show that you'll have far more rejections than acceptances over the course of your writing life.

A man who led a writing group I once belonged to said that one study showed that a writer can expect to have 1 of every 12 submissions be accepted. That's a whole lot of rejections, isn't it? Somehow, that one acceptance shines above the ones that didn't make it. That's the one you'll remember.

Multiple rejections are no reason for feeling like a failure or telling yourself you aren't good enough to make it in the writing world. Multiple rejections can definitely be a downer if you let it. It's up to you to accentuate the positives rather than the negatives in your writing journey. You're probably thinking Oh right! How easy is that? I'll be the first to admit that it's not a 'smack the ball and make a home run' kind of thing. You have to work at having that positive attitude. 

You need to remind yourself of the pluses in your writing life and it's something we all need to do on a consistent basis, not just occasionally. Learn to have faith in your own abilities. When you write something that is satisfying to you, give yourself that proverbial pat on the back. Soak up any compliment you receive from a reader or editor. Look yourself in the mirror and think I am a writer and a good one. If you don't think it, then it's doubtful others will. 

When people discuss your writing with you, don't be demure if you're paid a compliment. Accept it with a smile and a hearty thank you. I've heard writers make excuses instead. That puts a damper on you and the person you're talking to. 

Have faith in your own abilities. You wouldn't be pursuing the writing life if you had no ability to write at all. Admit that you have learned a lot but there is always more to learn. 

I saw a great poster the other day. It said Let your faith be bigger than your fear. That advice works for us as writers, too. Two 'f' words. Which one will you let be your guide in your writing life? Will it be faith in yourself or fear that you'll never be a good writer? Once again, it's up to you.

About that word, atychiphobia, don't worry about learning to pronounce it. I don't think you're going to need it.

Stories Needed for New Chicken Soup for the Soul Book

Amy Newmark

The lady holding a stack of books is Amy Newmark, best-selling author, editor-in-chief, and publisher of the Chicken Soup for the Soul anthology series. Not surprisingly, the books are from the popular inspirational books that are still popular after 26 years.

Ms. Newmark took the reins in 2008 and is responsible for publishing 133 titles since then. Overall, there have been about 250 titles since its inception. Topping that statistic is another that is almost mind-boggling. The number of books sold in these 26 years rounds out to 500 million. 

I have never met Amy Newmark, but I have had a few personal notes from her written on the tear-away section of the checks I've received for my stories in the anthologies. She cares enough to add that personal touch. She's a mother of four and grandmother to one. She's just like so many of the authors who send her stories. 

All this is leading to a recent announcement of the newest title. Stories about Self-care and Me Time. I have a feeling that the majority of the stories that make it into this book are going to be written by women. Before anyone's hackles rise up, I'm sure there will be some good stories penned by men, too. But, women are known for putting everyone and everything first, then grabbing what little time is left for themselves. Mothers, for sure, career women who are also running households, women who have a full plate, yet find time to care for elderly parents. The list could go on, but you get the drift.

So, what kinds of stories are they looking for? This is what is listed on the website: 

• When you realized you were NOT engaging in self-care, realized how important that is and what  that realization was like
 • How you turned the situation around and found your self-care and your me time
• The consequences of NOT taking care of yourself
• The benefits of proper self-care and me time
• The benefits of getting enough sleep
• The consequences of being sleep-deprived
• How do you handle your self-care and me time? Share your tips and examples.
• Have you made a difference to friends and family members too by encouraging them to take care of themselves?
• Your favorite ways to spend “me time”
• How do you relax and rejuvenate your mind, body and soul?
• Self-care for physical wellbeing, whether it’s proper nutrition, exercise, environment, making those doctor appointments, addressing addictions (including the legal ones)
• Self-care for emotional and mental wellbeing, whether it’s stress reduction, editing your calendar, changing who you spend time with, cutting back on obligations, seeing a therapist
• What’s your strategy for including self-care in your daily life?
• What have you added to your life?
• What have you eliminated from your life?
• WHO have you eliminated from your life? Self-care includes removing negativity and toxic people from your life, too!

You have plenty of time to send your stories as the deadline date is December 31, 2019. Read more about what they are seeking here. Don't forget that other all-important page to study--Guidelines for writing a Chicken Soup story. Whether you're a seasoned Chicken Soup for the Soul writer or have never sent them a story, it's important to follow the guidelines.

As I've been writing this post, thoughts about a possible story to send are swirling through my mind. How about you? No thought immediately? Ponder on it today as you go about your tasks.

Writers and Voice

The other day as Ken drove us home from vacation, I was reading an article about writing. I couldn't tell you much about the content except for one small bit that stood out like a star-filled night. The topic was using cliches in writing. The author of the article said (and I'm paraphrasing here) that 'If you use a lot of cliches when you write, you'll never find your own voice.' 

This eye-opening observation made me sit back and reflect a moment, then read it again. I wish I could reference the article, but it popped up on my phone and I passed on by when finished. Even so, I thought about that statement as we rolled by newly planted fields and small towns. 

Writers who overuse cliches (there is room for them in writing if only done very occasionally) are relying on the words of others instead of forming their own words which transform into their writing voice. Every writer needs to find his/her voice. It's not there when you first put words on paper or screen. It's something that a writer develops as she/he moves down the path in their writing journey. 

Susanna Kearsley, a best-selling Canadian historical fiction author, expands on the acquisition of voice in today's quote. She tells us, and rightly so, that we don't want to imitate others. While we all have writers whom we admire, we don't want to sound like them. We must sound like ourself in order to develop our writing voice, something distinctly us.

Ms. Kearsley also mentions that there is no need to attempt perfect sentences. If that is not how you talk, maybe you shouldn't write that way. It's possible that your writing would then come out far too formal, maybe even stilted. I'm not saying to write crummy, ungrammatical sentences. Not at all. Instead, I take her point that I (and you) should write sentences that sound like us, that use our own voice. 

One way to know what your writing voice is would be to equate voice to style. It's the way you write. Each writer should have his/her own voice, something unique to them 

Ms. Kearsley's first point in the poster quote is worth a second look. She advises that we learn to tell a story on paper the same way we might tell it out loud to a friend, perhaps over a cup of coffee. Take a moment to consider how you tell your best friend what happened to you in a terrible storm. Would you write about it in the same way, using the same phrases? Or would you think you needed to make it more formal since you're writing for others to read? If you do, it's possible you could lose something in the translation. 

Give some thought to your own writing voice today. Have you discovered it yet? Still working on it? Or have it working great for you?

Plan A, B, and C

Door County, Wisconsin        

                                                             Door County Harbor

I'm going to share a few things about our vacation last week, but have no fear. There is more than rambling and complaining; there is a connection to our writing world, as well. So hang on to the end.

We'd been looking forward to our river cruise from Amsterdam to Vienna for many months. Unpacking once and cruising down the rivers of Europe, stopping somewhere to see the sights daily is our favorite way to travel. This trip had been Plan A since early February. We were to fly to Amsterdam on June 17th  Five days prior to that date, our travel company called with bad news. There had been a horrific accident with lives lost. The Danube River was closed to all traffic. Our river ship was docked in Vienna and could not travel to Amsterdam to pick up our group. We were given two options--to do the trip by land or to receive a full refund. Desperately disappointed but feeling the other option would have lost much of what we enjoy about river cruising, we selected the refund.

Ken declared that we were not going to stay home and pout for the 15 days we would have been gone, so, on to Plan B. In a matter of hours, we'd decided to go to Door County, WI, a place we have been many times but always enjoy. It's marked in red on the map above, a peninsula with several small villages. The next day, I got busy finding a place for us to stay, contacted friends whom we could visit on Monday night, more friends whom we'd have lunch with on Tuesday before heading on to Door County, known as the Cape Cod of the Midwest.

The plan worked until just prior to meeting our old friends for lunch just north of Milwaukee. We stopped at a rest area, and Ken noticed a bulge on the left front tire. We drove on, fingers crossed and a prayer said. After greeting our friends at the restaurant, we told them of our problem. Called AAA and they sent a man out to remove the bad tire, put the donut spare on. While we waited, we enjoyed catching up and having a nice lunch. The news from the man AAA sent was not good. Of course, we knew we had to have a new tire, but he said we'd have to spend the night in his town (10 miles farther) and wait for the tire to come in the next day. Seems we have a not so common tire. Got on my phone and made a reservation at a hotel--last one they had! Called the lodge and said we'd be delayed a full day. Plan C
had taken effect!

We had to wait til 1 o'clock the next day to have the new tire put on, so we whiled away the time at a lovely Wisconsin Art Museum, then had lunch at an Irish Pub. We were on our way early afternoon and spent three super days in Door County soaking up the scenery, the lovely shops and restaurants, and the great weather--68 to 72, no humidity. We ate at restaurants with great names like The Whistling Swan, Summer Place, Alexander's, The Chef's Hat, and The Cookery. I even found a few Christmas presents to purchase.

So how does all this relate to our writing world? Quite easily. How many times have you had a Plan A that hit a snag? You've had that story planned in your head until it should have been perfect. The memoir piece for a contest seemed to be a sure winner as you thought it out. Same with a poem that brought lines swirling in your mind for days. All you had to do was write the first draft, and you were home free.

Maybe that draft didn't turn out quite the same as it had when you thought about it mentally for days and days. It might sound flat, or you weren't able to get the emotion you felt into the words you wrote. After you read the memoir first draft over a few times, perhaps your thought about it being a contest contender wasn't right on the money. The poem may have seemed significant in your head, but reading the first draft makes you wonder what you were thinking.

What happens? You move on to Plan B after you've taken some time to consider what Plan B is. Rewriting, or revising, is a big part of writing. I'd say that most of us have to move to Plan B more often than not. We know that the first draft is seldom a finished piece.

There will be times when Plan C is needed, too. Do you consider yourself failing if you have to move on to Plan C? You shouldn't. It's all part of the writing world. Just as with our mishaps with our vacation plans, you need to take a deep breath and move on. Our last couple of weeks were pretty frustrating, but it turned out that we had a nice vacation break, despite the glitches. Don't let moving from one plan to another to another shower you with frustration. Take each thing as it comes and deal with it. In the end, you'll have a better piece of writing and maybe you can say you learned something.

This was our view when we had lunch at Summer Place. Note the upside-down cups. Every sandwich or salad comes with a cup of soup. The vegetation in Door County is just lush. The flowers looked larger than ours and so healthy. The photo below was what we saw as we stepped out our door at the lodge where we stayed. I had the perfect reading spot with the chairs provided along with this exquisite view.

Granny writer's World on Vacation

I WILL BE ON VACATION THIS WEEK. NEW POST ON JUNE 24TH. PERHAPS WITH TALES TO TELL! 

Flirt With Story Ideas, Then Give Them A Try

We flirt with ideas but hold back on taking the first step to fruition. We think about writing dozens of family stories but don't quite get to writing the first one. We have an idea for a short story or even a novel, and we let the ideas swirl around our mind for what is probably far too long. 

Thinking about a writing project is definitely step 1, but actually doing it can be a long haul. Step 2 is making the decision to TRY. Nothing happens if you don't. All those fine ideas began to grow mold in your head. 

What is going to happen if you decide to try one of those held-up writing projects? 

• You might end up with a winner
• Writing one family story can open the dam and let you keep writing new family stories
• Nothing may come of it, but you know you tried
• It feels good to work on a new project
• You could feel inspired to go on to other new projects
• Maybe you've always wanted to write but were fearful; trying opens doors to a new world
• Perhaps you've always written short things but wanted to try a novel; it could be a whole new world for you. 
• If you have the first two lines of poem swimming in your brain, try writing it and see what follows. Maybe a whole new poem!

What's so hard about making the decision to try?  It comes down to those old buddies we all know:

fear, doubt, lack of confidence. They might be words here, but in reality, they can haunt us. 

Look yourself in the mirror and make yourself a promise to TRY one of those projects you want to do but just haven't gotten started. Write that first family story or the sixteenth. Write that personal essay that you've thought about for a long time. Add to those first two lines of poetry. Write the first draft, then decide if it's worth pursuing further. You don't want to look in the mirror another day and say I wish I had...

NOTE; I WILL BE ON VACATION NEXT WEEK. NEW POSTS BEGIN MONDAY, JUNE 24

Writers, Weeds, and Wishes

Our poster for today is all about perspective. The way we look at various parts of our lives means the difference between enjoying it or grumbling about it. What about your writing journey? The view we take is important in the way that journey progresses.

If you see a weed as you move down your writing path, you're likely to be the writer that doesn't show a great deal of growth in your writing. You have more negative thoughts about your writing and yourself as a writer than you should. 

There are a lot of writers who spend too much time putting themselves down. What goes across their mind might sound like this:  I'm never going to make it in top magazines. What publisher is going to pick up my book? It's really not that good. I don't want to self-publish because it's too much work. I'll never be a successful writer. The more you think those kinds of thoughts, the deeper you'll sink in despair. And that's not a very nice place. You don't want to go there. If you do, your feet will be stuck in the mud on your writing path.

Those writers who look at the little weed and immediately think of making a wish--they're the kind who will look for the positives in their writing life. They'll have thoughts like:  I'm ready to move to bigger and better publications. I know I've grown as a writer and can keep right on. I know I need to keep learning, and I will. If I choose the best places to submit, I have a better chance. I'd consider self-publishing my book because I believe in it, and I'm willing to work at it. Writers like this will move down that writing path at a more rapid pace than the ones who only see the weeds. 

So what's it going to be for you? Weed or Wish? Negatives or positives? I can promise you that life is a lot more pleasant for the Wish side writers. Sure, they have little blips now and then, but they know how to deal with them. They don't sit around having a pity party. You are the one in control of your writing journey. 

No writer is going to be 100% on either side. We might move back and forth, depending on the day and the situation. If we strive to stay on the Wishes side more often, we should be just fine. Note that I use 'we' because I'm including myself here, too.

Finding The Lesson When Writng Goes Wrong

Six words in the poster above. Six words that hold a book's worth of advice. When things don't go right in your writing life, look for the lesson. 

I could stop right there and still feel as though I'd offered you something today. But let's explore this a bit more. 

When we face rejections, we need to do a bit of analyzing. We should look at the submission with an objective eye. Ask questions like What is lacking? What are the positives that I can repeat? Why would this piece be rejected more than once? Are the mechanics as perfect as I can make them? Are the opening or concluding paragraphs weak? Did I follow the guidelines? 

If you belong to a critique group, you're there to find out what's wrong (and what's right) about your writing. When you receive criticism in the same spots from more than one person, take it as a good lesson. If 3 out of 4 of your submissions come back with comments like This was well done until the ending. It felt flat. Or Your sentences are far too long. Break them into two, or even three.  Or Your basic story is good, but you have done far more telling than showing. Maybe your first reaction is as negative as you felt the comments were. Take a second look and glean the lessons you can learn from these critiques. 

In my critique group, many rewrite the piece and submit it for critique a second time. (Twice is maximum). If the writer has learned from the critiques of the first sub, she'll produce a much-improved piece the second time. Having others point out our problem areas is actually a blessing. If we heed the advice, we're going to become better writers. 

If you receive five critiques and only one is mostly negative, don't take it as a reason to toss the piece. Remember that every critique is the opinion of one person. Just as a rejection is the opinion of one editor or one editorial board. If the majority of the critiques you get are negative, then you should be gracious enough to know that you have something to correct, something to learn. If a submission is rejected by half a dozen editors, you know you have some work to do to resurrect whatever you had sent multiple times.

Here's another situation. You've worked on a short story for weeks--writing the first draft, revising and editing a few times. You're fed up with working on it and want to call it finished. You put it away for a few days, then pull it up and read it with fresh eyes. As much as you want to say it is complete, you can't do it. You see several places that need clarification, need more emotion, tell too much instead of showing. Do you go ahead and start submitting it to editors, or do you keep working on it? It failed your reading, so shouldn't you admit that you learned something about your writing? Admit that you still have certain areas where you need to improve? If you give up and start the submission Ferris wheel going, that story may keep bouncing back. Better to learn early on and do one more rewrite before starting the submission process.

Failing hurts. No doubt about that. Instead of falling into the doldrums, do what our poster says. Consider it a lesson, not a failure. If we don't learn something from defeat, we're lost.

Help Your Writing Life By Quitting These 5 Things

If you've been looking over what you did or didn't do, in your writing world this past year, you might be feeling a bit down. 

Some questions you are asking yourself could be:  Why the heck didn't more of my stuff sell? Why is my rejection pile so much higher than the acceptance stack? Why don't I have more readers for my blog? Why do my contest submissions seldom place? Why do I continue writing?

Instead of giving up, let's take a look at today's poster, one by one. The poster urges us to quit these five things. And to do it 'right now!'

1.  Trying to please everyone:  Our hearts want to please all but our heads know this is an impossibility. There is no way we can reach all people in a completely positive way. Writers have opinions and they come through in our stories, essays, and poems. Not all people are going to agree with your opinion. So be it. Of course, there are those who do not agree and are completely rude about it. Feel sorry for them, then move on. Instead of pleasing all readers, make sure what you write pleases you.

2.  Fearing change:  It's a human failing to fear change. It's so much easier to stay in our comfort zone. It's a warm, cozy nest of our own making and we like it. Make an effort to try something different, to change your method of some phase of your writing. You could be surprised that it is actually an okay thing, that you've learned something new. We grow as writers when we make some changes and try new things.

3.  Living in the past:  Older writers are probably the guilty ones here. I have done it this way for decades and it works for me. Maybe so, but perhaps you can also learn new ways to please new and younger readers. The past is comfortable, the future (or changing your ways) is rather scary at times. We've been in the 21st century for a full sixteen years now. Make sure you're in it.

4.  Putting yourself down:  Of all people, writers are ones who must build themselves up, not put themselves down. A writer has to sell him/herself to editors and to readers. Toot your own horn; don't tell others why you are not such a good writer. The more you put yourself down to others, the more you're going to believe it yourself. We try to encourage our writer friends and that's fine. Now, it's time to encourage yourself. Give yourself a pep talk every day.

5.  Overthinking:  Maybe we spend too much time doing this when we should go with our gut feeling or first thoughts. Especially on a first draft. Let the words flow and do the thinking part when you start revising and editing what you've written. We can dig ourselves into a hole if we 'overthink' a simple situation.

These five things cannot be changed overnight. Work on them a little at a time. Maybe choose one of the five and work on it for a month, then try another. Trying to do it all at once can be pretty overwhelming and then we might throw up our hands and use that awful word again--quit!

 Note:  This is a repeat of a post from January 2017. 

Using Songs To Inspire Writing

Songs and Writing

All things that serve as memory triggers are definitely a writer's friend. We see something that brings us back to our mom's kitchen. We hear a noise that suddenly makes us think of Dad's workshop. We taste a piece of cake that shouts "Grandma!" to us. Those memories give us story ideas, fuel for memoir pieces, and inspiration to write many things.

Songs are one of the greatest memory triggers. Maybe even a few lines of the lyrics of a song that meant something to you or returns your thoughts to a certain era of your life. Even the title of a song can give us the inspiration to write. 

For a writing exercise today, choose any of the song titles below and start freewriting. It could be just words in the title that inspire you, or it might be what experience or time of your life that the song title triggers. You may be a fan of the composer or lyricist, or know the history of the song. What about the Happy Birthday song pictured above? Do you know who wrote it? When? Why? 

The List of Songs:

• Body and Soul
• Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
• Greensleeves
• We Are The Champions
• Little Yellow Submarine
• Crazy In Love
• Eye of the Tiger
• Mack the Knife
• You Always Hurt The One You Love
• Stairway To Heaven
• Happy Birthday
• Stormy Weather

Where Are All The Stories?

As I watched the coverage of the commemoration of D-Day this past week, I couldn't help but marvel at the many, many story possibilities that were given to writers. The range went from veterans, diplomats, news media, the crowds of people witnessing the ceremonies, and even protestors. Yes, some use any means to show their dislike of someone or something whenever they find an opportunity, so they were a part of the commemoration, too.

As a writer have you ever said, or heard another writer say, something like I don't know what to write about. I'm out of ideas. We've probably all felt that way at one time or another. What we need to do is open our eyes and look. The stories are there. It's up to us to find them. 

Think about the people you know as friends and family. They are a treasure trove of story material. These people are not going to knock on your door and tell you they have a story you could write. Uh-uh! It's up to you to talk to them and write their story.

When you see something happening in your town that people are talking about, jump on it. There's a story waiting to be written. Whether it's a contested election, a letdown in infrastructure within the city, or a controversial high school football coach, it's a story for you to write.

When you sit at an airport gate waiting to board your plane, you have little to do other than watch the people around you. Stories there? You bet. You might witness a small incident between a couple or a mother and child that you can use to open an essay, or even write a piece of fiction using what occurred as the base. 

Go to the grocery store, and you'll hear bits of conversation as you traverse the aisles. Perk up your ears--there are story ideas to be heard. Not from all that you hear, of course, but some of them might be worthy of a story. 

Play the what if....? game as you go about your daily routine. As you're driving to the library, ask yourself things like what if all drivers suddenly began to ignore the signs at a 4-way stop? what if a small plane landed in the middle of Main St.? what if every tree in City Park suddenly toppled over? It's a great way to come up with story possibilities. 

The stories are all around us. I can't find them for you. Your best buddy can't find them for you. It's you who must see the possibilities and seize the moment.

If you still cannot find any story ideas, maybe you need a break from writing. There's nothing wrong in taking some time out. Don't make it too long, however, or you might not get back to writing.

D-Day Thoughts and Memories

Today is the 75th anniversary of D-Day, a monumental day in the history of WWII. It was the turning point, the beginning of the end when thousands of Allied troops stormed the beaches as German soldiers in bunkers shot and killed unfathomable numbers of these brave men. We have been privileged to see much of the 75th-anniversary ceremonies and tributes on television and in newspapers this week. 

My husband and I visited the site in Normandy and the cemetery in 2013. I feel privileged to have had that opportunity when we traveled from Paris to Normandy with a tour group. It is a place, once visited, that you will never forget. The travel essay below was published after we returned home. Early this morning, Ken put our flag outside to commemorate this day. 

Remembering D-Day On The Normandy Beaches

By Nancy Julien Kopp

As we approach the 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy, our visit there in the spring of 2013 keeps coming to mind.

My husband and I were nearing the end of a river cruise in France which brought us from Paris to Normandy, famed for its Norman cows and fine dairy products as well as being the place where the Allied Invasion began during WWII. Our river ship docked at the final port--Honfleur, a picture postcard kind of town. Now, we were close to the highlight of the two-week cruise that had begun in Paris. We’d spend a full day at the D-Day beaches of Normandy, something Ken and I had looked forward to since booking months earlier.

At breakfast in the ship’s dining room that next morning, we sensed an air of anticipation that had not been evident in our other sightseeing tours on this trip. We were not the only ones looking forward to this day when we would view the beaches where the landing took place on June 6, 1944. The ensuing

battle resulted in the Allied Forces turning the tide of the long-fought war that threatened so many, not only in France but other countries as well.

     

Being mostly senior citizens, the people in our tour group knew the history of the battle well. One man had even been there with the British navy shortly after the initial invasion. Only 16, he lied about his age to join the navy and was among the first who arrived after the beaches were taken. This now-elderly gentleman had spoken about his experience one evening on the river ship. That morning, as the bus took us from ship to the beaches, I watched this man who sat silently while we rode through the Normandy countryside. What thoughts were going through his mind, what memories were returning one by one? I wanted to ask but out of respect for what must have been an emotional time for him, I kept my silence.   

We filed quietly off the bus on that cold, wet March morning. There was none of the usual chatter and good-natured teasing on this day. We were a solemn, respectful group as we were introduced to our local tour guide. Her scarf whipped wildly in the strong wind, and like us, she wore hat, gloves and a warm coat. The skies were gray which somehow seemed fitting for this place where the remnants of battle and death remained even these 69 years after the fact.

The pillboxes where the German artillery faced the beaches remain today. I slipped and slid down a muddy incline to see inside one where parts of the big guns remained. Looking out to the beaches, I was immediately struck by the incongruity of those in the pillboxes versus the men on the open beaches on that summer morning so long ago. An old cliché seemed most fitting. They were “sitting ducks.” I shivered with both the thought and the sharp wind that found its way through my warm jacket.

The Allied Forces came to liberate France from German occupation, to push the German forces back to their own country. The Canadians landed at Juno Beach, the British at Sword and Gold Beach. Our American troops came ashore at both Omaha and Utah Beach. Paratroopers landed first followed by amphibious landing craft manned by Navy and Coast Guard personnel. Thousands of men with one goal—take the beaches and move on.

Gnawing fear must have been in the belly of each man but they surged forward with many falling on the beach. More than a thousand died on Omaha Beach alone. Others continued to dodge the constant gunfire and scaled precarious cliffs to reach the German strongholds. 

As the tour guide talked, I thought of the men I knew who had fought in this war of so long ago—my uncle who had been an Air Force pilot, my best friend’s uncle who had endured the hardships of a prison camp, and my dad’s cousin whose plane blew to pieces before he could escape. I thought of my father-in-law who served in Paris after the liberation and came home safely thanks to the courage of the men who fought on D-Day, those who carried General Eisenhower’s order with them. “Full victory. Nothing else.” 

Our tour guide told us of a U.S. Army veteran who had been on another of her tours. On the morning of the invasion, he was in a landing craft that held 32 men. 31 of them were violently seasick. By the time they landed, they were covered in vomit with no choice but to rush the beach and dodge the artillery fire. That was only one of nearly 7,000 boats that hit the five beaches early that morning. I shivered yet again but didn’t know if it was because of the cold misty rain or the stories she related.

Our next stop was the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, located not far from the beaches. In gratitude, the government of France granted use of the land, in perpetuity, as a permanent burial ground. We walked through the immaculate grounds, viewing the choppy waters of the English Channel just beyond. Nearly 10,000 American soldiers are buried here, a Latin cross or a Star of David marking each grave.

We gathered in the light rain at the Memorial area which features a 22-foot statue called “The Spirit of American Youth Rising From the Waves.” A representative from the cemetery addressed our group before leading a short ceremony to honor those who had sacrificed so much in this place. Everyone faced the wildly waving American flag, hand on hearts. Cold raindrops mixed with the warm tears that fell as I listened to a recording of our national anthem followed by a volley of gunshots and finally the playing of “Taps.” The lump in my throat would allow me no words, nor were any needed. 

As the group dispersed, Ken and I walked to the edge of the cemetery close to the sea. The rain had finally ceased. We gazed at the gray sky and the gray water, empty now save for the ghosts of 69 years earlier. We have heard about the Normandy Beaches and D-Day for most of our lives. We’ve seen pictures, watched movies depicting that day. But being there and hearing the personal stories brought reality like nothing else. What struck me as we walked silently back through the cemetery was that we humans didn’t learn from the horrors of WWII. We’ve continued to send our young men and women to fight in multiple wars since. 

At home, we fly our American flag with pride every June 6th to honor those who fought and those who didn’t come home. After visiting Normandy, that day will take on even greater significance. Veterans of the D-Day battle dwindle year by year. Before long, there will be none left, so it will be up to the next generation and the next to keep the memory alive. It is my great hope that this year’s 70th Anniversary will spark some interest among all ages for this commemorated day.

©2014

Note: On Memorial Day weekend I posted a piece about our visit to a WWII American cemetery in the south of France. The southern invasion was less publicized but just as important.  

     

Learning To Accept Criticism of Your Writing

It's a given that writers get discouraged from time to time. We work hard on what we write, sometimes revising and editing multiple times before submitting to a critique group or an editor or a contest. It's then that we can be shot down as easily as a paratrooper behind enemy lines.

When criticism of what we've written comes, we probably feel angry, hurt, discouraged and more. Is it normal? Of course, it is. What are you going to do about it? Sulk? Pout? Rage? That's fine at first, but then you need to step back and look at the criticism with an objective eye. Granted, that's not always easy to do. You might feel like you do when that Monopoly card that tells you to return to start and do not collect $200. Who wants to backtrack?

When a critique group sends you multiple crits on your submission, and most of them point out the same problem areas, then you can be pretty sure that you need to work on that part of the story, or whatever it is. You don't have to like it, but you sure better take it seriously and see what you can do to fix the trouble area. Some critiquers will do more than tell you a place needs work; they'll also give suggestions. I love those who do.

Remember that other people reading your work see with different eyes. They don't know what you were thinking when you wrote it. Only what they read. You know the background of what you wrote; they do not. Only what they read. They can help you find spots that need clarification.

If you're fortunate enough to receive a note from an editor saying why he/she rejected your submission, get over the anger and hurt in a hurry and pay close attention to what the editor tells you. It's key to preparing the same piece for the next submission.

Don't even consider joining a critique group unless you can do so with the attitude that the people critiquing your work are not intent on hurting you. Accept the fact that they are working to help you get your submission ready to send to an editor, publisher or contest. If you're hoping for nothing but praise, you already set yourself up for disappointment. I don't ever remember one of my submissions in my online writing group coming back saying something like This is perfect. I would not change a thing. If only! No matter how well a story is written, there are almost always changes, even little ones, that can make it better.

Isn't that what we strive for? To make our writing the best it can be, even with the help of other writers. Learning from criticism comes down to attitude. Look at criticism of your writing as a learning situation. If all you get is angry, then you've defeated the purpose of asking others to give a critical eye to your work. 

Word Count--Snip, Cut, Slash!

One of the most difficult tasks a writer has is to cut words from a story, personal essay, article--whatever he/she might be writing. In the first place, you've written those words, so you have a personal interest in them. Think of the toddler picking up a toy and bellowing "Mine!" That's how some writers feel about words written.

To be realistic, there are many times when we must cut those first drafts, or even fully finished pieces to meet a word count specified by an editor or contest guidelines. That's what happened to me this week.

I noticed a category in my state writing contest guidelines that I had never entered in past years. An old story came to mind, and I thought it might work. I pulled up the story from my files and read it. Yep. It would work. Then I read the guidelines again. Maximum of 1000 words. Clicked back to the story, looked at the word count and deflated pretty fast. It was 1312 words. 312 words over the limit. In a contest, when they say 1000 words, they mean it. Anything over would be disqualified. 

So, what to do? I didn't need to snip a few words or cut quite a lot. It would require slashing. Would I lose something in the story if I did that? Was it even possible? I decided to give it a try, so I spent a good part of an afternoon slashing through the story, keeping my eye on the lower left-hand corner where the word count appeared. As I worked on the story, the number went down a little at a time. 

Even so, it seemed I'd never hit that magic number.

I worked paragraph by paragraph the first time; then I went back and continued cutting and rearranging. Not just once but a few times. By the time I finished, my word count was 993. Sitting back, feeling satisfied, I wondered why I'd written those extra words in the first place. The real test was about to come.

I read the edited story from start to finish. The main story was still there. The important pieces had not changed. The best part turned out to be that my story appeared stronger than it had when it took me 1312 words to tell it. 

What did I cut out? 

• unnecessary words or phrases (just, really, very etc)
• information that seemed to be repetitious
• cut adjectives in some places from two to one
• less description
• some of the sensory details (not all, however)
• rearranged some sentences so it took fewer words to convey the meaning
• dropped a few dialogue tags where it was obvious who was speaking

The next time you are in a position where you must cut words. Don't fret. It can be done. You can snip, cut, and slash until you reach the number you've set as your goal.

Write About School Memories

When you write your family stories or memoir pieces, what better treasure box to peer into than the one that holds your school days memories? If there was such a box, it would need a myriad number of compartments for each grade level from kindergarten days through college and graduate work.

Some of you went to school in the same town for many years. Others grew up in families who moved frequently. Still others were home schooled which brings an entirely different set of memories.

Look at the many categories of school memories you can choose from:

• learning to read
• playground activities
• favorite teachers
• least favorite teachers
• memorable field trips
• school assemblies
• school programs
• principals
• school parties
• graduation
• school nurse
• favorite subjects
• least favorite subjects
• school library
• school custodian
•  lunch ladies
• getting to and from school
• size of your school
• rural vs urban school
• hands-on learning
• school sports
• school choirs
• school newspapers
• school safety patrol 
• you as the teacher
• school romances
• writing theses
• taking tests

I taught 3rd and 4th grade and a class for emotionally disturbed children. The story below is a favorite memory from those years. See what stories you can write from your own school memories, either as a student or a teacher. 

Going Fishing

By Nancy Julien Kopp

Near the end of a wild ride during my first year of teaching, I announced a Field Trip to my 4th-grade students. “We are going to take a bus to downtown Chicago where we will visit the Shedd Aquarium and then have a boat ride on Lake Michigan.” 

Whoops and hollers greeted the announcement. My experimental class of 21 emotionally troubled kids liked field trips as much as any other students did. It would be a day off school and maybe they’d learn something, too. 

I’d been tested by the 10 very aggressive students and the 11 seriously withdrawn throughout the school year. “New Math” was really new that year of 1961. It presented a whole different way of grasping the traditional facts and figures these kids had learned in the first three grades. We struggled together as I, too, had to learn the new methods.

. 

When I told the class about the field trip, I noticed that Donnie stopped doodling in his notebook. He sat up straighter in his desk and gave me full attention. Rather unusual for this intelligent boy who had a major problem with reading. Unless the reading material had to do with Africa or anything African. Then, he could read perfectly. As a result, I scoured the library and magazines at home for Africa-related material for his reading work. I tried in vain to figure out why he could read so well about this most-loved subject but had trouble with any other type of reading. It had to be more than just interest.

Later that morning when the class was busy doing multiplication worksheets, Donnie strolled up to me. He shoved the shock of hair always on his forehead back, then leaned both elbows on the edge of the desk, hands under his chin. Eyes twinkling, he said, “When we go to the aquarium, I’m going fishing.” Then silence.

“No Donnie, we don’t fish at the aquarium; we look at fish and learn about the many kinds they house there.” 

He sauntered back to his desk and started on his math worksheet. I noted a little smile on his face as he worked.

At least once every day prior to the field trip, Donnie repeated his “I’m going fishing.” statement to me. No more, no less. And each time, I repeated my answer. He’d lope back to his desk, grin a bit wider each day.

Excitement reigned on Field Trip day as my class filed out the big double doors of our suburban school and boarded the bus. After an hour’s ride, we reached the famed Shedd Aquarium on the Chicago lakefront. Two of my students’ mothers had volunteered to help out on this special day. One led the children from the bus to the entryway and the other stayed about mid-way through the group. I brought up the rear. 

Donnie had been in the middle of the group but he let the others go by until he was near the end of the line. Suited me fine as I could keep an eye on him. As we neared the entryway, a fellow-teacher from one of the other fourth grades hailed me. I went over to see what she wanted, then hurried after the rapidly disappearing line of my students.

I was the last one to go through the revolving door into the lobby area of the aquarium. The first thing that caught my eye was a lovely, large pond and garden area filled with lush vegetation. A waist-high wrought-iron fence circled the area. Fish of all kinds were darting through the water. The second thing I noted was Donnie, feet on the bottom rung of the fence. He was leaning over with a long string that ended in a fish hook. As his arm went back above his head, ready to spin his line right into the pond, two things happened.

My heart did a double-dip lurch, and I ran toward him. An aquarium guard hollered and ran toward the fisherman from the opposite side. We reached him at the same moment, stopping the fishing expedition. Donnie looked up at me and quite calmly stated, “I told you I was going to go fishing here.” 

The guard kept the fishing line and I assured him I’d keep my student next to me during our visit. Donnie was right. He had told me he was going to fish on our field trip. He’d been perfectly honest and I’d been just plain stupid to think my answer about only looking and learning had been enough to squelch the plan. We’d caught him before he’d hauled in any fish.

Donnie stayed near me for the entire visit at my bidding. If he strayed even a bit, I held his hand—mortifying to a fourth grader. I breathed a sigh of relief as we left the aquarium to eat lunch and board the boats. Silly me.

Mr. Fisherman tried again on the boat ride. I spent my time counting heads off and on. On about the third count, one head suddenly turned into a small behind instead. There was my boy, leaning over the far side of the boat, another string and hook dangling in Lake Michigan. Why hadn’t I checked his pockets?

I lunged and grabbed the waist of his shorts and hauled him back onto the seat. “I told you…” He got no farther as I hissed at him. “Don’t say it!”

This time, I searched all his pockets. No more fishing lines but the darned kid smirked at me all the way home. He’d warned me multiple times and he’d carried out his plan. It stinks when a little kid wins out over a grown woman.

Much later, when I didn’t have to worry about being tossed out of the Shedd Aquarium or losing a child overboard on a boat, I laughed about the way Donnie had fooled me. Oddly enough, we established a bond that day and he proved to be a model student the rest of the school year. Teachers regularly charge their students to listen. After my experience with the would-be fisherman, I learned that I also needed to listen more carefully to my students.