Six Steps To Help Writers Believe in Themselves

Yesterday's post was about persevering even when discouraged, about thinking over your status as a writer, and about what is needed to continue to reach for success. If you missed it, read it here. 

I heard from a friend this morning who also writes. She read yesterday's post and the earlier one about Chicken Soup guidelines, and she told me she had sent a story to that anthology some years ago. It was accepted, so with that bit of encouragement, she sent them many more only to be rejected each time. Sadly, it does happen. One of the results was that my friend gave up writing and turned back to another love--painting. She is a talented woman, both in writing and her art. Why those many stories were rejected by Chicken Soup I cannot even guess. Very discouraging, but I'm happy that she had another creative outlet to turn to. 

Today's quote is by Theodore Roosevelt, one of our more memorable presidents. I read a nonfiction book several years ago about his expedition on the Amazon River in Brazil when little was known about it. It was a daunting task to undertake, even with many men, equipment and Brazilian guides, but he 'believed' he could make the trip with outstanding results. Despite one roadblock after another, he pursued his desire to explore this amazing river and its surroundings. 

The first step in making any accomplishment has to be the belief that you can do it. Is it egotistical to do so? Some might say yes, but I think it is what spurs us to higher things. Too many writers end up putting themselves down when multiple rejections roll in. Their inner critic reminds them often that they aren't a very good writer. Negative thoughts crowd out all the others. How do you get around that? It's not a piece of cake to change from the negatives to the positives, but you can do it step by step.

1  Determination:  Push away those negative thoughts and the self-pity. (You know we have all held a pity party for ourself at one time or another. Problem with that is that you are the only guest. No one else shows up!) Make up your mind that you are going to work at this writring business as hard as possible and with positive thoughts. 

2.  Hard Work:  There is no doubt that to be successful in the writing world, it takes a lot of hard work. Many hours learning the craft, and many more pursuing it. 

3.  Goals:  Keep your goal in mind. Put up a sign near your computer to remind you of where you're heading. When you have some success, remind yourself in any way possible that you achieved a goal and will continue to do so. A simple thing for me is that I have a bookcase in my office that holds all the anthologies that my work has appeared in. No, I don't stand and admire it on a daily basis, but when I pass it or notice it, something positive happens. It reminds me that I've acheived some of my goals and spurs me onward. 

4.  Ego:  There's nothing wrong in being a bit egotistic about your work. I'm not suggesting you run up and down the street or aisles of the grocery store tooting your own horn about the good things in your writing life. No. But when an opportunity presents itself to let you share your successes with others, it's quite alright to do so. In fact, it is a way to market yourself and your published work. You won't be able to do this unless you either believe in yourself now or work toward believing in yourself. 

5.  Nix the Negatives:  I've encouraged writiers to do this many times. You can't climb high if you're mired in the mud of negativity.

6.  Good Attitude:  I'm a big believer in the power of having a good attitude. Of course, that is part of the 'nix the negative' point above. I've seen people who have really positive attitudes turn the corner in a medical situation. Granted, medicine itself had a big hand, but I firmly believe that attitude does, too.

Look again at the points above and rate yourself. I hope you came up with more good than bad, but if not, maybe you can work a little at a time on each one. Start today!

Some Thoughts for Writers

The last two days, I've talked about a submissions call for Chkicken Soup for the Soul and an explanation of their Story Guidelines. One of the points made was that this popular anthology receives thousands of stories for each new book title. Deflating! Or it could be.

When you know the competition is fierce, what do you do? Do you wilt? Or do you try even harder? As writers, we need to face the fact that we are only one in a sea of people who write stories, essays, articles, poetry and more. Part of your brain asks you why you think you can make it to publication. Then another part butts in with You can do this. Which one are you going to believe?

If you want to see your work published, you'll need to take a big dose of one of my keywords--perseverance. You can't submit once ot twice and call it quits because your work was rejected. You can't call it quits if your work was rejected multiple times. Not if you're serious about writing. Not if you're willing to work at growing in your writing. Not if you're passionate about the craft.

I've seen too many people give up too soon. Success does not come easily. It doesn't fall into your lap, all tied up with a pretty ribbon. You must work toward finding success and work hard. 

The next question is Are you willing to work long and hard to achieve your goal of publication? If you aren't, then you might as well give up and move on to another hobby or job. We have two kinds of writers, those who are trying to make a living, or at least supplement their income, and those who are hobbyist writers. Which one are you? Can you afford the time it takes to hone your skill? Is your passion for writing strong enough? 

It appears that it is a lot easier to allow yourself to become discouraged than to soldier on. Even so, I urge you to continue writing and continue learning more about this craft you love. I've often asked you to look back at some of your very earliest efforts at writing and compare the quality to what you are writing today. Hopefully, you'll see some real progress. The more we write, the better we write. The more we read, the more we grow as writers. If your work has not changed one bit, then maybe this writing world is not for you. Unless you don't let yourself be discouraged and persevere in learning to be a better writer.

Some harsh words here today, but if we want to be a published writer, we need to face reality. We need to assess our work and our desire to continue. 

One more thought for today:  The more you submit, the greater your chances of being published will be. Keep the Ferris Wheel of submissions moving. 

Explaining Chicken Soup for the Soul Story Guidelines

Is a Chicken Soup for the Soul Publication in Your Future?

Yesterday, I posted a Call for Submissions for a new anthology from Chicken Soup on Divine Intervention. I also promised to expand on their Guidelines page, so today we'll go through that page, section by section. 

In a Communique they send to repeat authors in their books, the editors mentioned recently that one of the reasons stories are not accepted is that they do not follow the Guidelines. It seems so simple, but I've noted editors of other publications point out the same problem. When I send a submission, one of the things I do is to go through the Guidelines and check them off one by one. Did I do this or this or that? If I hadn't, I've still got time to correct my error. Chicken Soup publishers offer some of the lengthiest and detailed Guidelines of any publication I know. That's to your benefit but only if you do more than scan or even (Gasp!) skip reading them. 

Let's walk through the Guidelines page.  There are two paragraphs at the top. Read them! They tell you what kind of stories the editors are looking for. They include things like inspirational, true, ordinary people doing extraordinary things and more. Read the two paragraphs, then move on to the individually numbered guidelines. 

You might want to print the page, then underline the most significant parts. I'm not going to copy each one word for word, but summarize or try to illuminate them a bit. I want you to actually 'read' each one, then check my post for explanation. (I just noted that they used #5 twice, so I changed the 6 to a full 7. Surprised me!)

1.  They want a story that is exciting, heartwarming, or funny story that happened to you or someone you know. It should be written in first person. 

2.  This one tells you they want stories that have emotional response from the readers. It needs some ooomph!

3.  This one is telling you that they want you to begin with a hook. No introduction to the story, start with the story itself. Hook the reader! Nor do they want you to summarize the story at the end. End with a bang, something the reader can take away with them.

4.  Tell your story from your heart. It's going to be far more appealing that way.

5.  This one is about the tense you use to write the story. They recommend past tense, so take their advice and use it!

6.  1200 words maximum, And they mean it!

7.  This one is easy. The story must be true, no creative stuff to make it better.

The next section tells you what a Chicken Soup story is NOT. I won't give you a numbered list, you have it on that paper I hope you printed. But the story they are looking for is NOT a sermon, an essay, a journalistic piece, a term paper, as told to me by another, a letter,about politics or a testimonial. It must be a 'story' with a beginning, a middle and an ending. And a true story!

The next section gives guidance for submitting a poem for any of the books. An aside here:  I have seen relatively few poems in any of the books, so my guess is that if you send one that follows the guidelines, your odds are pretty good. Again, the poem must tell a full story (narrative poem), They say they don't want poems that are overly focused on rhyming (maybe those sing-song kind) or 'read like a greeting card.' I would focus on free verse, but if you can do rhyming well, give it a try.

The next section is about the submitting process. You must go through their website submission form. There is a webmaster who will answer general questions. A very important part of this section is that they want stories that have NOT been published previously UNLESS in a very small circulation publication, and then you can state that in the comments section on the submission form. Send them no book manuscripts or title ideas for new books. They will be immediatley discarded.

The final section is about what happens after you submit your work. There are several paragraphs with information that you should learn. If you choose to skip reading this section, or just scan it, you are going to miss answers to questions you are sure to have. Things about response time, rejection letters, email address changes, what you will receive if your story is selected for a book. 

My purpose today is to make you aware of the many points made in the lengthy Guidelines so that the stories you submit have a fighting chance. The rest is up to you! One more thing--recheck the Guidelines each time you submit a story to Chicken Soup. The more stories you send, the better you'll know those Guidelines, but it will be worthwhile to doublecheck each time. 

Another Call For Submissions

Chicken Soup for the Soul has a call for stories for a new book on Divine Intervention. They've already published several on miracles and angels, but because they are so very popular, there will be one more coming up.

Once again, the editors of this popular anthology series give specifics on the type of story they are seeking. One reason I like the list they provide is that it often triggers a memory and/or provides inspiration.

For this one, they note that the story can be either religious or non-religous which leaves the door wide open for all. Here are the suggestions they provide for possible stories:

We are looking for powerful, amazing stories about:

  • divine intervention and timing
  • miracles
  • angels
  • coincidences
  • unexplained happenings
  • answered prayers
  • miraculous healing
  • messages and signs from heaven


These true stories can be religious or non-religious. We just want them to make people say "wow" — stories that will give our readers chills, in a good way!

In addition to the topics listed above, here are some more that may help you recall that perfect story to share with our readers:

  • Angel visitations — messages from an angel
  • Everyday miracles and hope
  • Signs and wonder
  • Messages or guidance from those who have passed on
  • Dreams and premonitions
  • Miraculous healings or recoveries
  • Visions and revelations
  • When something, against all odds, worked out
  • Mysterious helpers
  • Unexplained happenings
  • Amazing coincidences
  • Near misses and astonishing luck
  • Answered prayers
  • Stories that make you say, "you're not going to believe what just happened..."
  • Stories that have people exclaiming "really?!" when they finish reading them

Go to this page to read the full call for submissions for this new book and find the deadline to submit.
Then, study this page for the detailed Guidelines provided. And I do mean 'study' because you will want to follow them carefully. When you have a story ready to submit, go to this page and fill in the form provided.

I've given you the particulars on the book, the kind of story they seek, the Guidelines and Submission form. That's only a part of the post for today. The second portion is about making the effort to write and submit a story for this book or one of the other books Chicken Soup has in the works.

When writers hear that each book receives a few thousand submissions, they may feel defeated before ever writing the story that they have in mind. Don't! I've been fortunate to have good luck with my stories sent to Chicken Soup. They have selected 23 of them for various books. That elates me, of course. But, guess what? I have also send many dozens more stories to them that were not chosen, not published.

You cannot get published in the Chicken Soup books unless you try multiple times. I hit it lucky when the first story I ever submitted was published, but that isn't always going to happen. And yes, it did give me incentive to continue, but each time I never heard about a submission, I didn't quit. I kept trying. Some made it, many did not.

Some writers might think that, if you have a story in one of their books, your name is recognized and they'll take anything you send. That is not the case at all. Your story is far more important than your name.

Is it disheartening when you send several stories and nothing happens? Of course, it is. \That does not mean you should quite trying. I think that the people whose stories show up in these anthologies time and again are ones who have learned the Guidelines well. They are totally in tune with them.

In tomorrow's post, I'll try to help YOU get in tune with those Guidelines. We'll look at them piece by piece. Meanwhile, start thinking about a story for this new book. You'll need time to write a first draft, let it sit, then revise and edit before sending.

Writers Must Grow in Their Craft

It doesn't matter what you have or have not accomplished on your writing journey. If you've been highly successful, there is still room to grow, and the same goes for the newbie writer who hits the wall with frustration. Room to grow. 

If I ever feel like I can learn no more about this craft of writing, I hope someone will sit me down and give me a good lecture. I don't ever want to stop improving my writing, and neither should you. 

We don't want to become complacent. We need those aims and objectives kept before us. When we accomplish one, add another. We need motivation. We need inspiration. Take a dose of each and you will grow as a writer.

One of Stephen King's quotes is repeated so often that it must be a very strong piece of advice. He said: “If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.”

He's telling you to leave room to grow as a writer. 

Writers sometimes feel like they're stuck in a rut. They seem to be writing the same old way, the same old topics, the same old methods. If you want to sit there and wallow in self-pity, you're not leaving yourself room to grow. It's time to open yourself to new vistas, to try new types of writing, to step outside the box. 

Aim for growth with every writing project you begin. Will it work? Sometimes, it will, and other times, you'll feel like you're being sucked down into the mud of sameness. The idea is to work at the growth, not give up. And yes, I'll repeat myself--it's up to you! 

The Thought Process of Writing

This humorous poster is more fact than fiction. We spend a great deal of time thinking about writing. There is seldom a time when the idea erupts like a fountain, we sit down immediatley and write that first draft. 

Instead, I find that a seed of an idea pops up, but I spend a lot of time letting that kernel take root in my mind. As it begins to grow leaves, I feel stronger about actually writing the story or essay or poem. My urge to begin typing that first draft is pushing me straight to my computer. 

What else does it take to get to the actual typing phase? Jotting down notes of the bits and pieces I've come up with while in the thought process. I don't want to lose any of those golden nuggets before the writing begins. 

If you give yourself some time for that all-important thinking process, you're going to find additions to what you thought about when the idea came to you in the first place. Your 'good idea' can very well become a better one. Instead of the center only, you'll find off-shoots that will make your writing better. 

We don't always want to do this because, once we have an inspiration for a new writing project, we're itching to get started. Practice one of my keywords for writers--patience. In the long run, you'll have a better piece of writing. 

When you're at a writer's conference, look around you at your fellow-writiers. A good many of them are writing in their mind, just not typing. Some are jotting down notes to be used later in a new story. If you pass a writer in the grocery store aisle, they may be taking things off the shelf but writing mentally as they move from the cereal aisle to the soups on the next one. 

When you get that first ping! of an idea, let it simmer in your mind for days, even weeks, before you begin the typing phase. By the time you have covered all areas mentally, you'll be able to zip through that first draft. The material is all there in your head and your notepad. 

Am I suggesting you should never start typing as soon as you have an idea? No. You can do it, but after writing that first draft, let it sit, allow your mind to keep working on it so that you will have more to add when you do the first editing and revising. Don't ever write the first draft immediately and call it done. Keyword here is first! That's what brand new writers do. The more we write, the more we know that the writing process is one of many steps. It's not fast. It's not easy. It's not perfect. 

So, the little guy in the poster is right. He's writing, just not ready to type yet. 

NOTE:  Do I draw out the process like this when I write a blog post? No. It's a different kind of writing. If I used the process I am promoting above, there could never be a posting five days a week. There are exceptions to the rule in all things. This is only one of them!

Writers, Make Sure Your Facts Are Correct

Fact or Fiction?

Ken and I occasionally attend the Osher Learning for LIfe classes. This curent 3 consecutive Wednesday night session was on Bleeding Kansas--What Led to Our Part in the Civil War. One of the things the instructor, who is the curator at the Fr. Riley Museum on the army post just west of us, brought out was a movie called Santa Fe Trail, starring Errol Flynn, Olivia de Haviland, Raymond Massey and Ronald Reagan (who played General Custer!) The reason our instructor highlighted this movie, made in 1940, was that it was filled with errors. One simple one was that one of the men was dating the daughter of another military man in the movie. But, in real life, that 'daughter' was actually 4 years old at the time. That was only one of many 'untruths' in the movie.

In 1940, people accepted what was in a historyical movie as fact. Where were they going to go to check? And all they wanted was to be entertained, which I'm sure they were with the stars they got to see. If they picked up a bit of history, all the better. Even if it wasn't always the real deal. 

In today's world, fact-checking is a big thing. People check Facebook articles to see if they are true or not. They check politician's claims, newspaper articles, scams and more. What does that mean for writers?

It means that you had better have your facts straight, or you might be called out by a reader. There are many historical fiction books for children, young adults and the grown-ups. If you think you know a lot of history and don't bother to double-check, that's fine, but you could be called out on it. Wouldn't it be safer to make sure you have the real facts before you publish? 

You are probably answering yes to my last question, but making those checks takes a lot of time. In the end, you will benefit from taking that time and making sure what you are writing is the real deal. 

Dates can be a problem. If a historical fiction writer says her characters met on a Friday, naming the date, sh/'he better make sure that date was actually on a Friday. Your old friend, Google, can be a great help to check dates. If your character was born in 1855 and you say she celebrated her 21st birthday in 1865 (20 years) some reader will catch it. They most likely will not call you out personally on it, but in their mind, they are always going to wonder if the rest of what you wrote is correct. 

Do it right the first time, and you have no worries. Take the time, make the effort to make sure your facts are correct. 

Writers Are Individuals

School-age children like to copy their peers in what they wear, the slang they use, actions and more. It makes them one of the crowd. Or so their young minds tell them. Even as adults, we often try to copy a celebrity or someone we admire. It might not be as often or as strong an urge to do this as when we were kids, but we still do it. Little boys and grown men are copying the hairstyle of winning Super Bowl Quarterback, Patrick Mahomes.

When it comes to writing, we shouldn't attempt to copy the same style of writing as an author we admire. Nothing wrong in liking the way someone else writes. We just shouldn't want to be a carbon copy. We need to be ourselves.

All the books on the craft of writing mention something called a writer's voice. It's your style of writing, the way you write, and it should be different from every other writer. It's the tone, the word choice, even the subject matter. Hemingway developed his voice just as Charles Dickens and Louisa Mae Alcott did. The important thing is that you, as a writer, develop your own voice. Not a copy of theirs or some other writer you revere. 

The choice of subject matter when you write should also be yours (unless you're a freelancer who writes on assignment). Maybe you are an expert in some particular thing so you can write with authority. The genre you choose to write in should be your choice, not because it is wildly popular at the moment but because you feel comfortable with it. I could never write sci-fi or horror stories. That's just not me. It wouldn't be right for me, and I'd probably do a terrible job. I write in niches where I am comfortable and bring satisfaction to me. It's what is right for me.

When it comes to writing, don't be only one of a crowd. Be yourself. Write from your point of view, from your experiences, not from that of some other author. Be an individual. 

Writer--Don't Be So Hard on Yourself

You may have seen that the most popular posts are noted on the right-hand side of this blog. Today, I'm posting one of them for those who have not read it before, and for some to read it a second time. I always seem to find more when I read something more than once. The post is about writing, but the poster advice works for everyone in all phases of life. 

For those who are regular readers of this blog, you've heard me say that lots of negatives in our writing life are good lessons for us. The one thing they are not is a life without a pardon kind of sentence. Go ahead--make mistakes, learn from them and move on.

We learn from rejections, especially multiple rejections on the same submission. At least, we hope we learn something and we will if we give it a few days to rest and then go through whatever was written with an objective eye. Pick out the parts you think did not appeal to an editor. Maybe it was a lot of mechanical errors. Or perhaps the clarity factor was pretty low. It might have been a dull report without any emotion or sensory detail.

Consider yourself fortunate if the editor returns your work with a note telling you why it was rejected. There is no question then as to what you must correct but not all editors take the time

or are kind enough. to do that. Don't let it be the end of your writing world. Move on!

What if you received a brutal critique from another writer? Ouch! It does hurt and any good critiquer will be fair and honest and deliver with a dash of kindness. However, not everyone is like that. You don't have to like what the person told you but you can learn from it. There is no need to back into a corner and put your hands over your eyes and let forth with a piercing scream while you contemplate your next step in life. Sadly, there are writers who have given up writing after an experience like this. Today's quote is perfect for them. It was one person's opinion and perhaps a good lesson. But you should never feel that you must quit over a singular incident such as this.

Did you ever have a teacher who scribbled cruel words across your essay or poem that you slaved over for your English class? I know people who have a mental block when it comes to writing because of just such an experience. Again, it's a lesson, not a life sentence. As a teen, it was probably hard for us to take that objective look and figure out what was wrong, what lesson was learned. But, now as an adult, it something like this still haunts you, put it in perspective. Don't let one person keep you from being the writer you wanted to be. An attitude of I'll show them! will serve you best here.

It's much harder to look at problems like these as a lesson to be learned than it is to give up. Giving up is easy; working at the lesson is a tough job but, oh, so beneficial.

The Writing Life is Not for Sissies

Do you sometimes feel like nothing in your writing world is going right? Are you running into one roadblock after another on your writing journey? Does every editor appear to have horns and a tail, pitchfork in hand? Are you piling up enough rejections to paper a wall? 

You're not alone. Lots of writers have these thoughts and feelings. If you're in a face-to-face critique group, some of the writers there will tell you about all the things going wrong in their writing world, but some of them will smile and act like all is well with their writing, but they could be churning inside with the very same feelings as the vociferous ones. We all react differently. Some want to spill out their complaints, worries, and fears, while others bottle it inside. Which is the better way? Probably whichever one makes you feel better. 

All writers run into problems with writing, submitting, editing, marketing and more. It's part of the journey. I think that all those irritating things make the good times seem like Christmas and all the joy it brings. 

Those troublesome parts of our writing world are going to work out, if not today, maybe tomorrow or next week. As the little girl in the photo today tells us--Everything is going to be alright...maybe not today but eventually. It's one more way of telling us to have patience and perseverance. You've heard those words from me many times. They're my keywords for my writing world. When I get antsy and irritated when things don't go right, I step back and remind myself of those two important words. 

Do you have keywords that help you through the rough times? You can share in the comments section below. 

No matter how much goes wrong, it's never 100%. Some days, we feel like we're getting very close to that percentage, but other times, we would put it at a very low number. As a writer, we learn very quickly that we have ups and downs. It's always going to be that way. I try to concentrate on the 'ups' because it makes me feel a lot better than the other side. 

Musing ABout Writing and More on Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is not just for madly in love couples, although they do seem to be the prime subject on this day in mid-February. It's also a day to show your love to others like your children, close friends, and more. 

What better way to let people know you care than to send a card, a small gift, or write a story just for them. Write about the time you met or the time that you realized how special the person was. Write the memories you both hold in your heart. Add it to that box of chocolates or the flowers you give them or slip it into the Valentine card you send. The flowers will wilt, and the chocolates will get eaten, but what you write will be a forever gift. 

I loved Valentine's Day as a child, and it's still one of my favorite days of the year. Yesterday we received a Valentine Heart Sugar Cookie with a thank you note attached to it from the Hospice House in our community. When the Good Shepherd Hospice House was only a dream, my husband served on their board and helped with the planning and overseeing the building project. That was a good many years ago, but they still thank us with that special cookie every Valentine's Day. It's a small gesture but greatly appreciated, and what better day of the year to deliver it? 

In grade school, we always had a party the afternoon of February 14th, or whatever Friday was closest if it fell on a weekend. Our classroom bulletin board and windows displayed hearts and cupids with bow and arrow all month, often sharing space with silhouettes and/or photos of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln as we celebrated their birthdays individually, not having President's Day then. The party offered a time to share valentines with our classmates, eat heart-shaped cookies, drink red punch and play games. And miss some schoolwork! 

I've posted the only Valentine's story I ever wrote many times. If you haven't read it, you can peruse Love In A Box here.  Yesterday, fellow writer and friend featured one of my posts on her blog. It's titled Listen To Your Heart and is about how I came to submit the Love In A Box story to Chicken Soup even though I was a newbie writer and faced uncertainty and fears. If you've ever felt that way before submitting, you might want to read the post.

If you have an idea for a Valentine's story, write it now and send it in a few months to a magazine or website. Writing at the time of the holiday is the best time to do so. You're filled with inspiration then, maybe not so much if you write a Valentine's story in June. 

My husband has never forgotten to give me a Valentine's card and/or gift on this special day over the many years we've been married. I do the same for him. But, I've never written a memory or story for him on this day. Maybe that should be my afternoon project today. 

On this Valentine's Day, let me close by saying I care about all my readers every day. I would send you each a Valentine in the mail if I could. 

Write About Your Family and Your Roots

The quote on today's poster is by Alex Haley, the man who wrote the novel that became a mini-series for tv called Roots. The eight-part show broke records for the number of viewers, but it had an even longer-lasting effect. The story of Kunta Kinte, a black slave, inspired millions to start tracing their own roots. Genealogy became a hobby for untold numbers. 

With that, another thing evolved. Telling and writing family stories. Of course, it had been done by many previously, but usually, the stories were told rather than written. When families gathered at a holiday meal or a Sunday dinner, someone told a story that triggered more stories. Children learned about family history. My parents were great storytellers. It was at the dinner table that I learned a great deal of my own family history. I am grateful that Mom and Dad taught us about our ancestors, but I wish they had also written the stories so that they could be read for generations to come.

Recently, I mentioned something in a Facebook post about my grandmother owning a small neighborhood bakery in the 1930s and early'40s. I got a reply from a nephew saying that he didn't know that. Had my brother never mentioned it? Apparently not. I told my nephew that I'd send him some family history, which I did. I asked him to share it with his three school-age children. 

Someone in every family needs to take responsibility to write the history and the stories of the family. In my family, it has fallen to me to take on this job. I found it interesting, fulfilling, and fun to write my family stories. Often, I am transported to the past years, or I feel like I am having a visit with whatever relative is featured in the story. 

There are many genealogy sites where you can find many historical facts about the people in your family. I have learned a great deal about my family at the Mormon website, which gives information for free. Check it here. I found dates, places of birth, death, etc, but there were no family stories. Still, it is a good place to start finding some of your family histories.

Just yesterday, I sent a story to an editor of a website who had requested that I submit a story for his site. I read over Driving With Dad to make sure it needed no small edits. I was transported back to the days when my dad and I drove somewhere together, just the two of us, and Dad lectured me on so many values of life. Hated it then, am eternally grateful now for his wise words. As I read the words I'd written, I could feel my Dad next to me. It was a small thing, but when my children and grandchildren read it, they had an idea of the kind of man my dad was. 

As Haley wrote ...the family is the link to our past and the bridge to our future. Note the word 'our' in both parts of that sentence. It makes it very personal, doesn't it? He could have said:  ...the family is the link to the past and the bridge to the future. It's not nearly as meaningful.

Your family history is a part of who you are. The stories about your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and back further generations are all a real part of you, the individual. I cannot stress enough the importance of writing your family stories. I've done it many times before and will continue to do so. It's why I have given programs to different groups about writing family stories. 

Many of my family stories ended up being published. Not everyone is going to submit their work for publication, but it's certainly a possibility. You can assemble your stories in a 3 ring loose-leaf binder so that they are all in one place and more can be added very easily. 

Use the facts, but also add some description of the people, the place, the time period, feelings of the people and more to make the story more interesting. Even if all you do is list the facts, it's still worth something for future generations. By doing more, you'll make the story more interesting. 

You can read a short story I wrote for the Our Echo website about finding my Irish roots here.

Stories Needed For New Chicken Soup for the Soul book

Chicken Soup for the Soul has a special call for submissions to the Listen to You Dreams book. When they send a call out to authors that appeared in other books, it seems to me that they are not getting the amount and/or the quality of stories they are seeking. 

So, here's your chance to get in this popular anthology series since the odds will be more in your favor that for a book that has garnered lots of good submissions. I sent a story for this book a few weeks ago. 

They are not talking about your dreams that are hopes or aspirations. They mean real dreams that come while you're asleep. Note the two last ones offer another possibility. The guidelines give the following list as possibilities or suggestions:

 • Dreams about finding love

  • Dreams that saved you or a loved one from danger/death
  • Dreams that helped you face your fears
  • Dreams that changed the direction of your life
  • Dreams in which you communicated with a loved one, either dead or alive
  • Dreams that caused epiphanies
  • Dreams that changed your behavior
  • Dreams that made you more adventurous
  • Dreams that contained important warnings or medical information
  • Dreams that gave you comfort or helped you forgive someone
  • Dreams that made you more optimistic/happier
  • Dream journaling and how-to-use your dreams more effectively
  • Premonitions that came true or saved you from something bad
  • Learning to trust your inner guidance [we may do a chapter about inner guidance even if it occurs during your waking hours]
  • Amazing coincidences and synchronicity [again, we may do a chapter about this even if these things occurred during your waking hours]

Remember that the stories must be true, a maximum of 1200 words, and should be a real 'story' with a beginning, middle and ending. The dream is only going to be a part of that story. 

The deadline is February 28, 2020, so you'd better get started on that first draft if you have a story to submit for this book. 

Go to the Possible Book Topics page to check the other books that are still open to accepting stories. This anthology sends each story author 10 free copies of the book and $200 per story or poem. 

What's Magic in Writing?

I love this poster quote. Especially the last part that says You create something out of nothing. That's powerful. It is a kind of magic, except that there is no magic wand. It's you writers who are the creators. I wrote a post last March on this same theme, which is often the case. Same theme, different perspective.

Consider that you begin with a blank page, whether it is in a notebook, a journal, or on your computer screen. Blank! Waiting for you to create the magic by putting words together to form paragraphs, then paragraphs one after the other, and finally a full story, essay or whatever. Those who are poets do the same by in a different order--words into phrases, phrases into verses until the page is filled with a brand new poem.

It sounds so easy, but we all know it is not. Even so, when we do create a finished piece of writing, it feels a bit magical. It gives us satisfaction, some pride, and incentive to keep writing another and another.

When what we write tosses out one stumbling block after another, we can't feel much magic. Instead, we are frustrated, disgusted, and perhaps angry. Nothing magical about that! If we keep working around those stumbling blocks and finally reach a point where we are satisfied with what we've written, then the magic floats over us like the magician's swirling cape.

Is every piece of writing going to be magical? Probably not, but if we work hard and practice writing on a daily(or almost daily) basis, we're going to have some of those magic moments. Each time we do, we're inspired to start a new writing project. We like that good feeling, and we would like to have it again and again.

Ponder on that final sentence in the quote: You create something out of nothing. Not everyone can say that, but many writers can. Step 1 is to believe you can do it.

Writers Have Dreams

Walt Disney was an architect of dreams and a wise man. No doubt that people thought he was mad when he envisioned Disneyland, his first theme park in California. He followed his dream and look what happened. Disneyworld was next, then their counterparts in Paris, Shanghai, and Beijing. Wow! 

What about you and me, writers who also have dreams? What are some of your dreams in your writing world? Check the list below to see which ones you relate to:

• writing a novel
• getting your novel published
• editing an anthology
• being published in a major magazine
• being published in a top newspaper
• having a book signing
• finishing your first short story
• having a poem published
• writing a novel for YA or Middle-Grade kids
• writing poetic prose
• having a following of readers
• writing a regular blog
• going to a national writing conference
• joining a good critique group
• writing a memoir
• teaching a writing workshop
• having name recognition in the writing world
• as much time as you want to write
• never running out of story ideas
• going on a book tour for your published novel
• writing lyrics for a song
• putting together a book of your poetry
• winning an award for your writing
• being interviewed on tv about your writing

How many have you accomplished? How many more would you like to realize? What others would you add to this list? Let us know in the Comments section.

I dreamed of being a writer for many years before it finally happened. It took a lot for me to begin in my 50s, but I had the courage to do it and the great desire. And yes, it does take some courage to get started, maybe even courage to keep going when you have received multiple rejections. Down, but not out! 

Think about Walt Disney and others like him who pursued their dreams, even when they seemed impossible. You must follow your dreams as you move along your writing journey.

The Pinocchio Factor in Writing

Who are these people? They could be characters in your next fiction story or novel. We don't know much about them yet. We know a few physical characteristics such as size and skin color, but no facial features or expression on any of these people. Nor do we know what they are feeling. 

Several years ago, I wrote an article for a writing website regarding bringing your fiction characters to life. That article is posted below. Think about some of the characters you have created. Do they measure up with the examples given in the article?

The Pinocchio Factor

An intriguing plot that piques the reader's interest and holds it throughout the story might be at the top of a list of goals for writing good fiction. As important as plot looms in creating memorable fiction, however, characters that show emotion and carry out the plot may surpass it in importance. No matter how good the storyline, stiff and unfeeling characters will deflate a story faster than a pin pops a balloon.

In the classic tale, Pinocchio, a woodcarver named Geppetto creates a puppet boy made of wood. Geppetto's fondest wish is to turn his inanimate creation into a live boy who can love and cry and be a son to him. Pinocchio's adventures and misadventures fill the pages of this beloved children's story. We're writers, not woodcarvers. We don't want to create lifeless characters that might drag a story into oblivion.

We've all read work with characters that move the reader from Point A to Point B, but if they are wooden and show little or no emotion, we lose interest quickly. Emotion drives us, identifies us, and creates feelings of one kind or another for the characters in a story.

Readers want to see emotions in the characters they read about. Let them feel the anger, fear, or sadness in a character. More important than a physical description is to show what that character feels within. Show is the keyword here. 

Consider the following two passages:

A. Jennifer felt angry.

B. Jennifer stormed into the kitchen, picked up a bowl of gravy and threw it against the wall. Body shaking, she clenched her hands into fists and searched wildly for another missile to hurl.

Passage A is short and sweet and tells the reader what the emotion is, while B shows the emotion through Jennifer's actions. The reader can relate to and feel the emotion in B. Depending on the situation in which Jennifer vents her anger, the reader may be angry and empathize with her, or the reader might be in total disagreement and feel no sympathy at all for her. The important thing is that Passage B not only shows emotion in the character, it creates emotion in the reader.

Have you ever read a novel where lengthy physical descriptions of the characters filled page after page? In the end all you have is the outer layer of the character. You still don't know what they are like emotionally. Let the reader be moved by the character's jealousy, deep love, or sorrow. Naming the emotion the character experiences isn't enough. The writer must make the reader feel what the character feels.

In Lois Lowry's Newberry Award novel, Number The Stars, a girl living in Nazi-occupied Denmark during WWII runs into two German soldiers on her way home from school. Ms. Lowry did not say "Annemarie was frightened by the soldiers." Instead, she wrote the following passage:

Annemarie stared up. There were two of them. That meant two helmets, two sets of cold eyes glaring at her, and four tall shiny boots planted firmly on the sidewalk, blocking her path to home. And it meant two rifles, gripped in the hands of the soldiers.

When a reader comes to this passage, her heart might beat a little faster. She’ll feel the same fear that Annemarie must be experiencing by seeing the soldiers through her child eyes.

In her book, Skylark, Patricia MacLachlan created characters that let us know their feelings through their actions. Consider this passage in which Anna describes a reunion with her father, whom she and Caleb have not seen in many months:

"Papa!" Caleb ran into Papa's arms, and Papa held him close. Papa picked me up, too, and my hat fell off, and I buried my face in his neck.

Instead of Anna saying "I was happy to see Papa," Ms. McLachlan shows us that joy in all three characters with a simple description.

In Pinocchio, Carlo Collodi brings Geppetto the woodcarver to life through his words and actions. When Geppetto carves his wooden puppet, strange things begin to happen, and we see his fear and frustration in the following passage:

In a few minutes, it had become an immense nose that seemed to never end. Poor Geppetto tired himself out with cutting it off. The mouth was not even completed when it began to laugh and deride him. "Stop laughing I say," he roared in a threatening tone.

In real life, we often hold back our emotions. When writing, we must learn to do exactly the opposite. If you want to create memorable characters that inspire deep feelings in the reader, release the passion in you and allow the emotion to rise to the top. It's the perfect place to give your own emotions the outlet you might not have in your everyday existence. Make your characters laugh and cry, shout and stomp.

Pinocchio spent an entire book trying to become a real boy. You can create a real person in a paragraph with the right words. Let yourself go. Who knows? It could be a lot of fun!