Trends in Writing

✍️ Have you noticed the number of writing newsletters that are suggesting you write about the pandemic? It’s new. It’s a fresh topic. We are all experiencing it in one way or another. Perhaps it is the perfect choice for a writing subject.

Consider this, however. By the time you write the essay or story, and it goes throughout ugh the process of first draft, editing, submitting, and possible acceptance including re-editing, the pandemic could be long over. If you choose to write about what we are all experiencing right now, choose a place to submit to that has a fast turnaround. Websites and newspapers would be publications with a quicker turnaround than print magazines or anthologies. I have a feeling people will want to put corona virus topics behind them and move forward. But maybe an article like “How to Prepare for the  Next Pandemic” might work.

There are definite trends in the writing world. Even in fiction. For a while stories about women who are giants in the sports world are ‘in’ or bi-racial marriages or certain political situations. It’s not much different than the way fashion trends come and go.

You don’t want to have an editor respond with something like “Sorry, but this topic is so over.”  Or “We covered this last year.”

You wouldn’t send a holiday story days before the holiday itself. You would submit that kind of story many months ahead. It’s the same as sending a corona virus pandemic story in 2022. (Unless we are still dealing with it then, and I certainly hope not)

Sports writers concentrate on the sport of the season, not one that finished a couple weeks ago. Unless it’s a wrap-up story. Their focus is on what is current. What readers want to read about.

Pay attention to the trends in books. What kind of books are at the top of the charts? Mysteries, war stories, political fiction, romances? They’re all being written and read but some run hotter than others from time to time.

We live in a world of trends. It would be to your benefit to keep track of the trends of the moment.

Chicken Soup Deadlines

I visited the Chicken Soup for the Soul website to check on upcoming deadlines. I was glad I did as a few are quite close.

I’ll list the books and deadlines below. Visit www.chickensoup.com to read about each book, topic suggestions and deadline dates. The link above will take you to the home page. Scroll way down to the bottom and click on Submit Your Story. That page will show the books that have calls for submission. At the top of the page you can click on Story Guidelines and Submit Your Story. Please do study the guidelines carefully. Some excellent stories can be eliminated because the writer did not follow the guidelines.

Remember that poems can be submitted, too. They should tell a full story.

The books and deadlines;
1.  Listen to Your Dreams   May 4

2.  Age is Just a Number   June 15

3.  Christmas is in the Air   May 15

4.  Miracles and Divine Intervention   August 31

5.  Stories about Self-Care and Me Time (date did not show on my phone)

Remember that your story or poem cannot be accepted if you don’t Submit. 

Where are the Story Ideas?

Writers often say finding story ideas is the most difficult part of writing. By’story’ I am referring to all kinds of writing—essays, fiction, creative nonfiction, articles, poetry and more. Each one begins with an idea the writer has. 

Where do the ideas come from? Something we see often triggers a story idea. An activity or sport might be the place that offers us a thought on what to write. Riding a commuter train or bus is a great people watching/story idea place. Same with eating in a restaurant. 

Story possibilities are there, but it’s up to the writer to grab the idea and run with it. Sometimes, we witness a back and forth with a few people, and we think there is a great story idea but go home and never act on it.  If you’ve ever done that, you are not alone. Lots of writers neglect to follow up.  That’s one reason you should keep a small notebook with you to jot things down. 

Right now, during our stay at home situation, we have fewer places to find story ideas. But maybe not.  The pandemic itself can surely be rich in things we can write about—both positives and negatives.   Things like working from home, being with family 24/7, fear, tension and anxiety, gratitude and more. 

I’ve been going through old photos our mothers gave us plus our own. Sifting and sorting has triggered ideas for some family’s stories. 

There are story ideas everywhere. Be creative and use them to keep writing. When an idea presents itself, pounce on it!

Note:  I am going to see if using an emoji here on my phone will show up on the website or the post you receive by mail.✍️ 🦋

Advice for Young Writers

I’ve been asked to give a few words of advice to a teen writing group. I’ve spent quite a bit of time pondering what to say. Some teenagers are resistant to learning.  They have that ‘I dare you to teach me’ attitude. I’m hoping that kids in a writing group are there with the idea of learning as much as they can. 

I will give them my two keywords—patience and persistence. When you’re young and starting to write, you’re excited and anxious to get started in a high speed mode. You’re not willing to spend lots of time reading about the craft of writing or doing writing exercises. 

Seasoned writers know that both the above are well worth pursuing. They know that doing all they can to learn about writing is the best way to finding success.  

Telling teenagers to take their time seems almost fruitless, but perhaps if they hear it often enough, they will try to practice patience. 

If they learn the patience part, the persistent half should be easier. Not always, of course. We all know that multiple rejections make a writer want to give up. And many do. It’s the determined ones who will stay the course. 

I will also tell them to start writing short pieces and work up to writing novels or epic poems. If a young writer has a dream of writing novels, it can be hard to make them believe that beginning with short stories is the wiser way to go.  Make novel writing the objective but work up to doing so gradually.  That’s where the patience part comes in. 

I might also suggest they sign up to receive a blog for writers.  One like Writer Granny’s World perhaps!

Don’t Overdo It

Have you ever met someone who overdoes things when with other people? When introduced to someone, they don’t only shake your hand and say “It’s nice to meet you.”  Instead, they grab your hand, pump it, and gush their greeting too long and too loud. Overkill!

Don’t practice overkill when you write. If one adjective is helpful, why not use two or even three?  If a declaration of love is made in a couple of sentences, why not stretch into two or three paragraphs? When writing description, why go on for multiple paragraphs or even pages? It’s too much. The story itself can get lost. 

A dress that has all kinds of extras added such as myriad ruffles, a sewed on chain necklace, and a belt with a big buckle is overdone.  A dress with simple lines is more elegant because of its simplicity. Writing is much the same. Stay with the basics, and you’ll have a better story or essay than if you decorated it with too many gew-gaws. 

I am not saying to ditch all adjectives or to never add a bit of fluff. Just don’t develop the habit. 

Margaret O’Brien was a child star when I was growing up. Even though I, too, was a child, I took note of the fact that she over-acted. She could have been so much better if she’d toned it down. Surprises me that a Director didn’t help her overcome that. Maybe it was the reason she didn’t do much acting as an adult. 

Another way ti look at overdoing it when you write is to consider a beef tenderloin with a Bernaise sauce. The rich sauce enhances the meat, but if you drown the meat with the sauce, you lose the main thing—that fine piece of tenderloin with its own superb flavor. 

When you proofread and edit, check for areas where you might have practiced a little overkill. You still have time to fix it. 

Three Quotes For Writers

I have been reading some quotes by Terry Pratchett, a UK author who was highly respected in his lifetime. Known for writing fantasy and humor, he was a fountain of great quotes regarding his craft. 

This quote fits perfectly with yesterday’s post on spelling. He said, “Let grammar, punctuation, and spelling into your life. Even the most energetic and wonderful mess has to be turned into sentences.” 

He was quite right. No matter how good your subject is, it’s not going to matter if you don’t master the mechanics.  It’s as simple as that. 

A second quote by Pratchett is quite well known in the writing world. He said, “The first draft is just you telling yourself the story.”  

You might also consider that first draft as a floor plan. An architect begins with a basic plan, then adds and refines, takes away, refines some more. A writer is a story architect and proceeds in much the same way.  

When you complete the first draft, you might ask yourself how you can make it better. Put the draft away for a few days or even longer. It may be resting quietly, but your mind is dwelling on what you wrote, trying to come up with ways to make it better. When you pull out the first draft, you’ll have some ideas on revision and be ready to proofread and edit mechanical things.  Many beginning writers finish a first draft and consider it a done deal, think they are ready to submit for publication.  It takes some a while to figure out what ‘first’ means in the term ‘first draft.’

The last of this wise author’s quotes for today is one that made me smile. He said, “Writing is the most fun you can have by yourself.”  That came from the heart of a true writer. 

Spelling Can Be Confusing

I noticed a typo in the title of yesterday’s post. I didn’t catch it when I proofread as I only checked the body, not the title. In my draft on my phone, the full title does not show. One demerit for me!

A typo is one reason for spelling words incorrectly. I don’t have my Grammarly program on my phone so was not alerted. It makes me realize the benefit of using it. Smart phones will show choices on some words, but you still need to be aware. 

Another reason people spell words incorrectly is that they mispronounce the word, then spell what they hear. As we speak fast, we tend to blur the distinct syllables and even do it in our minds. One example is the word ‘realize.’ Many say it as ‘re-lize’ which makes spelling it more difficult.  

Do you remember those spelling lists we all had in grade school? 10 or 20 words that we had to memorize. Then the teacher tested us by saying the word and often gave a sentence using that word.  

Did you know that the most misspelled word is ‘accommodate?’ That people have trouble with ‘ence’ and ‘ance’ endings? That you should remember that ‘embarrass’ has 2 r and 2 s letters? 

A few of the most commonly misspelled words are:

embarrass

environment

existence

Some words sound alike but have different spellings as well as meanings.  Many people confuse them. Words like:

to, too, two

lose, loose

there, their, they’re

your, you’re

Learning the difference is important. 

Notice one word I have used in this post several times—misspelled. Many forget to use the double ‘s’. Think of it as prefix and root word or mis-spell with ed added to create past tense.  

Much of learning to spell correctly comes down to memorizing. Personally, I believe that children who learn to read phonetically are usually better at spelling than those who learned sight reading.  

What Shall I Write Anout?

Here we are stuck at home with nothing but time on our hands. That excludes those who are working from home at their day job and write in spare time and also those of you who are home with one or more children. Even if you fall into one of the last two categories, you are finding some writing time,  I hope. 

The big question for all of us is what are we going to write about. We had that same thought even before the pandemic, but it seems highlighted now. Some suggestions below:

1.  How the pandemic has affected your everyday life

2.  Your emotional state during this period 

3.  Activities for children during this stay-at-home time

4.  Activities other than screen time for adults

5.  How to explain what is happening to children

6.  How grocery shopping during the pandemic has changed

7.  Poems dealing with various parts of life during the pandemic

8.  A humorous piece about disinfecting

Different topics unrelated to the pandemic:

1.  Memories of special trips you have taken

2.  Family stories—this is a perfect time to add to what you have or get started if you have not written any before.

3.  How-to articles

4.  Family history—facts and figures, different from family stories

5.  History of your community and local area

6.  Slice of life sketches of people you know

7.  Fiction—short stories or novel

8.  Personal essays

9.  Poetry of any kind

10. Inspirational essays or devotions

Almost all writers have writing topic possibilities swirling in their minds.  Sometimes, there are several swimming like goldfish in a glass bowl.  Now is the time to choose one and get started. 

Many writers are finding it hard to concentrate on writing in this unprecedented time. Try out one of the topics in the lists. I hope that, once you get started, you’ll want to or be able to carry on. 

Give Readers More

I was delayed in writing my post today as my large grocery order arrived. I needed to put it away, then disinfect the countertop. It’s getting to be routine. I put the order in Saturday afternoon, and they delivered today. Another big grocery store in town is a week between order and delivery. 

I did find more than I ordered in a few items. I ordered 1 package of chicken thighs, and I got 3. Ordered 1 lb of ground beef and received 2. I ordered flour, which has been impossible to get for weeks.  But they sent a 10 lb bag.  I ordered a 5 lb bag.  

All those extras are just fine.  I got more than I expected.  I froze the chicken, and I will use the extras. I found myself feeling rather pleased that I ended up with more than I expected.  Much nicer than getting less. 

It’s the same when you deliver a story or essay or poem. Give your readers more. The writers who do this are the ones who become successful and even become household names. 

You give more to your readers more by doing your very best writing. That includes planning including details.  It means taking time to edit and edit again. It means letting the piece simmer a few days before you edit.  It means not submitting until you, the author, is satisfied with what you wrote.  Very satisfied. 

NOTE:  I am still writing my posts on my phone which is why there are no photos or links.  I ordered a new laptop Saturday, but it won't arrive til May 7th.  

Poetry in a Pandemic

Since April is National Poetry Month, let’s give a little attention to reading, writing, and sharing poetry. 

If you want to slip away from the pandemic and the way it has changed our lives, read some poetry books, or go online and find poetry websites. Immerse yourself in the beauty of words written this way. Find humorous poems to bring a smile or a chuckle that always helps cheer us a bit. There’s a site called Poem A Day that emails you with one poem each day. I can’t give a link. Writing this post on my phone has limits, but you can use our old friend Google to find it. 

A lot of people, writers and no writers are penning poems about the pandemic. They write about how it affects their family life, work life, and personal life. Some are sad, some humorous, and others heartfelt visions of what we are living through. I have written many times about how writing can be a step in healing and a form of release for pent- up feelings. Writing a pandemic poem can do that for you. 

My third suggestion is to share poetry with others.  Post on social media, send to a writing group,  email friends and family. It need not be a pandemic poem or even one you wrote. It could be a poem you especially liked. 

We can all use a bit of distraction right now. Maybe poetry can help. Give it a try.  

An Uplifting Writing Project

This morning, I was searching high and low for something related to my now dead computer.  Most of the search was in file drawers. You can guess, I’m sure, as to what happened. I didn’t find what I sought, but I did find folder upon folder of long-forgotten papers of all kinds. 

I had to take time to read through many, finding a few surprises and lots of memories. 

One folder held quite a few e-mails written to me from various members of my online writing group. They were sent in 2009 which is partly why they were such a surprise and gave a lift to me on this chilly, rainy stay-at-home day during the pandemic we are experiencing. 

One of the members had proposed a project for any who wanted to participate. The guidelines were to write to as many members of the group as you wanted to, telling them what you liked about their writing.  We were to include why we liked whatever it was. No negatives, all positives but honest. 

I read through the whole folder, and felt better than I have since our world changed so drastically several weeks ago. The things these writers told me meant even more because they were all writers whom I admired as people, but even more so as writers. 

Today, I am proposing a similar project for you. If you’re in a writing group, it works well. If you aren’t,  send a note or e-mail to writers whose work you admire. And tell them what it is that you like.  Mention specific pieces they wrote if you like. (I was amazed at the ones who wrote to me and mentioned certain personal essays and short memoir. ) Write several at a time or one a day for a few days. 

You could make their day, and you’ll have a sense of satisfaction, as well. 

I never did find what I was looking for. Instead, I something far nicer, something that will stay with me on these long days at home.

Find a Writer Friend(s)

One of the best friends a writer can have is one, or several, who will give him/her an honest critique. 

We are far too wrapped up in what we write to be able to step back and read objectively. It’s not a fault. Just the way it is. 

Find another writer who will give you honest feedback. One of the reasons I encourage joining writing associations is that you meet and make friends with other writers. Don’t just sit next to them. Talk to them; develop relationships. Offer to trade critiquing. 

Look for writing groups in your community or within 50 miles of where you live. I found one through my local library when we first moved to Kansas. Try checking with your library.  Use social media to look for a group. 

A third possibility is an online critique group. There are many of them.  Do a search, check their methods, check to see if all they do is praise one another’s writing. That makes you feel good, but it won’t help you grow as a writer. You may need to try a few groups before you find a good fit. Your aim in joining a critique group should be ‘help me become a better writer.’ 

A Suggestion for writers and Others

I have had more problems finding a place to write my draft and also getting a photo to use. 

I’ve been looking online on my phone at laptops. Have it narrowed to Dell or HP. I’ve had Dell in the past and had no complaints. But the reviews on the HP mid-price were good. If anyone has some input, I would appreciate hearing it.  

Meanwhile, have you gotten inspired yo do some writing yet, or is your muse still hiding under the sink, way back in the corner of the cabinet underneath? Haul her out of there, dust her off and get to work. 

During this pandemic, the perfect thing to work on is Family Stories. If you’re like me, you’re doing a lot of remembering right now. So why not write a story about your favorite uncle or the time you borrowed your sister’s favorite dress and ruined it or when you walked in fresh cement and ruined your new Easter shoes (I actually did that!).  

Try writing a character sketch of each of your relatives from parents to siblings to cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents.  

Take advantage of the extra money time you have now.  

Trouble for This Writer

Beautiful  coffee house high in the hills near Hamburg. We enjoyed an afternoon there having cake and coffee and enjoying the view of the Elbe River. About 3 years ago.

I am writing today’s post on my phone. So, had to select a photo saved on my phone. This weekend, my laptop came down with a terminal illness. My Samsung Notebook had not been used for some time so old passwords did not work on it. This morning, I pulled up my blog and found a message from Blogger saying there was no such blog. It’s been in existence for many years. This afternoon, I tried again, and it was back. Crazy but nice.

I will try to post something short each day, but if you don’t see it, the reason could be that my blog got lost in cyber space again. This is a difficult time to shop for a new computer and have someone retrieve and transfer everything from the old laptop (which served me well for almost 7 years) For a writer to be without writing tools is a travesty!

Stay well and keep writing.

5 Ways To Help You Write During the Pandemic

I wanted you to know I am following the stay-at-home and social distance recommendations we have all been given. I think the majority of people are following the new rules. Those few who refuse to do so are the ones that will make the wait to go back to a more normal life longer for everyone as well as putting themselves in harm's way.  I feel a lot of anger toward them, and I hope they will wake up and see the seriousness of this pandemic. Alright, that is my rant for the day. And the hug in a heart is straight from my heart.

It seems that a good many writers are finding it difficult to write during this uncertain time. There are worries about our families (near and far), health, the economy, our own financial situation, and more. It's no wonder we aren't terribly inspired to write. For me, I'm a little disgusted with myself because I have more time than ever to write, and I really don't have the desire. I know I'm not alone. 

I started thinking about what I could do to give myself a swift kick in the rear and start writing more than my blog posts. Here are a few suggestions for you and for me: 

1. Go through your files and choose something that is either not finished or needs revision. Make it your project for today. Just one. Read through the piece as objectively as you can, and that's not always easy when reading our own work. Make a list of the things you found that might be redone or enhanced. Then, start working. You needn't do two or three today. Only one. 
2. Take some time to breathe. Sounds silly? Maybe not. A woman in my writing group suggested we try sitting quietly, then breathe in; exhale slowly. Breathe in, breathe out. Do this several times. I tried it and found that it worked best for me if I closed my eyes. I felt much calmer and ready to do a chore or watch tv or read a book. Try it today, and see if you might feel ready to write something. It doesn't have to be 1,000 or 2,000 words. Write a paragraph and keep going if you feel like you want to. Or just leave it at the one paragraph.
3. Do a freewrite exercise by opening a book, pointing with eyes closed, then use the word your finger rests on for your freewrite springboard. Write for 10 minutes without stopping; let the thoughts run from mind to fingers. Whatever comes to mind from your word. Some may end up being nonsense while some might be the beginning of a story or an essay. 
4. Try a photo prompt writing exercise. Find a photo or painting, maybe one on the wall in your own home, and study it. Then, start writing about what you see. Write as little or as much as you would like. 
5. Most writers have books that deal with the craft of writing. Go through your collection and choose one. Sure, you've probably already read it, but read it again. It's like seeing a movie for the second time--you notice things you didn't on the first viewing. If you don't have one, google some articles on writing and read them online. The purpose is to get your mind wrapped around the art of writing and perhaps find some inspiration. 

If you do any or all of the above, you can say at the end of the day that you have written something or you have read about writing and felt inspired to write tomorrow. Or today! I feel like, once our lives get back to something more normal, our desire to write will return, as well. So, just breathe in, breathe out. 

Starting To Write Poetry

Lily of the Valley

Yesterday's post was about April being National Poetry Month and the mixture of people who like poetry and those who shun it. Today, let's explore writing poetry. This is not an in-depth piece on that subject, but rather an introduction to help you try your hand at penning a poem. 

I have written quite a bit of poetry, but I am still in the amateur category. I have never taken a class on how to write a poem, nor have I studied books on my own on the subject. Instead, I dived into the deep end of the poetry pool and tried to keep my head above water. 

When I  wrote a couple of poems, I found it to be quite satisfying, and I wanted to continue. I started reading a few blogs about the subject, paid close attention to the poems the women in my online writing group submitted and subbed a few of my own. 

I learned that the key ingredient in a poem is emotion. It doesn't matter what kind of poem it is, you should be able to feel joy, happiness, sadness, grief, silliness, love, laughter and more emotions. I found that to write poetry, you must write from the heart. The writer needs to feel the emotion in order to convey it to the reader. 

I noticed that poets used literary devices like similes, metaphors, alliteration, onomatopoeia, and melodic phrases that appeal to readers. If you're not sure what each of these words means, google and learn a little more. They are all used in prose, as well. There is a fine article on literary devices and more about writing poetry. Read it here.

There are myriad forms of poetry. To name just a few:  free verse, narrative, quatrain, haiku, sonnet, and limerick. The article mentioned above lists and defines many more.

I found that free verse is the easiest form for a beginner. There are no hard and fast rules in writing this form. One thing I did learn is that it is best not to end a line with a word like 'to' or 'by.' Instead, let those little linking words start the next line. Otherwise, start writing and let your mind be free to choose where you end one line and start another. Below is a sample of one of my free verse poems:

Artists All

Painting with oils,
watercolors brushed across paper,
clay molded by loving hands,
marble chiseled to exquisite form.

Artists ply their trade
by the golden light of day,
by the velvet depths of night
with passion and joy.

One more artist joins the ranks.
The writer brushes words over paper,
molds a story bit by glittering bit,
chisels a novel to survive the ages.

Life stories are gathered
from country roads to city streets,
written from the depths of a heart
bursting with intensity and rapture.

Artists all, masters of creation,
be they painters, sculptors or writers,
leaving footprints on canvas, marble, and paper--
heartfelt tributes embraced by mankind.
                                     --Nancy Julien Kopp  (placed in a KS Authors Club Contest)


I wrote it one day as I started considering that there were many forms of art. I divided the poem into verses with space between. I also used punctuation as if I were writing a prose paragraph. I did not capitalize each line as you see in some poems. Again, I wrote it as though I was writing a prose paragraph. That doesn't mean you must do it that way. Free verse is done as you choose.

At one of my writing conferences, a poet did a presentation that included learning how to write haiku, the popular Japanese form that is three lines, with 5 syllables in the first line, 7 in the second, and 5 in the third. They have no title, and they are usually about something in nature. Sometimes, people have turned to other subjects for their haiku, but a true haiku will concentrate on something in nature. I found that they are fun to write, a challenge to figure out that 5-7-5 syllable part. Here are a couple examples below:

tall grass brushes sky,
prairie flowers, gold and flame
a painting by God


rolling thunder hums
within dark, ominous clouds   (won 1st place in haiku category in KS Authors Club contest)
melody of spring

If I can write poetry, so can you. Maybe the photo of the Lily of the Valley will inspire you. One good hint is to always read the poem aloud, and you'll catch many little snags. Start with free verse. Write what is on your mind, write it from your heart, and have fun. Poets with vast experience all started out as an amateur. If you have a real interest in writing poetry, do check the link above and read/study that article. (for those reading this on a Facebook page, use this link https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/article-poetic-forms )

April is National Poetry Month

You knew I couldn't let this month slip by without recognizing National Poetry Month. Many people turn their nose up at the thought of reading poetry or even attempting to write it. Others find it soothing, fulfilling, and delightful.

We've been noting it every April since 1996 when the Academy of American Poets organized the celebration to help Americans be more aware of and appreciate poetry. 

Our first introduction to poetry came in the form of the nursery rhymes that parents read to and taught to their small children. Children are attracted to the sing-song rhythm of those rhymes. They ended up in picture books as well as told. They were short and easy to memorize. The history of those rhymes is not as directed to little ones but often depicted political thoughts of the times. Imagine writing a few rhymes about our politics today. Might be pretty stormy. 

When we were in the early grades at school, the teacher read poems about the falling leaves, or springtime, or clouds and other simple subjects. The early readers occasionally had short poems as did the magazines for children. They still do. 

By the time we got to high school, poetry was not much fun anymore. Mostly because we had to do two things--memorize and figure out what it was about. Neither one was much fun. I think it would have been better if the high school teachers had let the students read and enjoy a poem, then perhaps point out the beauty of the words and phrases instead of asking "What did Keats mean when he wrote....?" I've always felt that we don't necessarily know what the poet was referring to, why he/she wrote or what they really meant when they used metaphors that felt like a blank wall to a high school student. I also didn't care a twit about meter and rhyme and whether it was a sonnet or something else when I was a teen-ager.

So, it is little wonder that many people were turned off by poetry. Even so, others enjoyed it and continued reading and also writing it which is what has kept it alive today. I developed a love for reading poetry even though I didn't always understand it. The more I read, the more it appealed to me. Even now, I don't always 'get' what the poet is trying to tell me. But that's alright. I love the flow of the words, the rhythm, the lilt, the images the words bring to me and the thoughts within the poem. 

What do you especially like or dislike about poetry? If you have not liked it in the past, why not give it another try? As we mature, we see many things in a different light. 

Tomorrow's post will deal with writing poetry.

Fingers of Fear and Hands of Hope

Listening to friends via phone calls, reading what my online writing group pals are writing every day for our "Pen-demic" exercise, and reading what many are posting on Facebook makes me sit up and take notice. There is a pandemic that we are all aware of. Along with awareness comes uncertainty, fear, and depression.

Some are voicing their thoughts about this trying time, while others are most likely thinking about it but holding it in. It seems to me that nearly all adults have had a sense of fear over this unprecedented time of illness and death, quarantining and self-isolation. It may not be all-consuming, stopping you from living life all day every day. Instead, the feeling of fear may come in bits and pieces, off and on through the day and night. Yes, night because lying in bed thinking about the problem can bring Mr. Fear right to your bedside.

Personally, I had one night when I woke at 3 a.m. and felt very afraid for my children and grandchildren, for my friends, for our world, and also for my husband and myself. When we walk in unknown territory, it's quite easy to have fearful thoughts. I've had small moments of fear since then but nothing like those fearful thoughts in the dark of night

I am a great proponent of writing to heal. I believe that writing about past traumas in your life is a step in healing. Not a cure but a step in the healing process. Writing your thoughts and feelings about what you are living through now can be helpful. You can release those inner fears. It may not make them disappear completely, but I think it can help. I write about my thoughts and feelings every day with my online writing group. Most of the members do. They run from fear to hope to living the best way we can right now. I think it has been helpful to all our members who are participating. Some right several paragraphs while others write poignant poems.

I've noticed several blogs, newsletters and websites in my writing world have suggested keeping a daily journal while the pandemic is going on all over the world. It's a way to record your thoughts and feelings about your personal life in this worldwide crisis. That's what my online writing group is doing by writing our daily Pen-demic. I have noted fear in many but also a great deal of hope. I've seen many who are trying to keep life as normal as possible right now. The hands of hope can stifle the fingers of fear.

Dwell on hope as often as you can. This situation cannot last forever. Someday, it is going to end, and we are going to know a lot about living through a crisis. We'll know about our own strength and endurance as well as our ability to continue chasing hope and pushing fear away.

Your own writing does not have to be anything you share with others. If it gives you some release, that's beneficial. If you do choose to share what you wrote with other family members or friends, that's fine, too. Parents can suggest to children of an age who can write to start their own journal or just write once or draw a picture to show what they are feeling. Maybe they are afraid, too, but haven't expressed it to their parents. Help them release their thoughts and talk with them afterward.

It must be difficult for parents of small children to know how much to tell them. They don't want to frighten the kids unnecessarily, but they need to make them aware of the rules of self-isolation and why we are doing it.

Please know that to have a little fear right now is pretty normal. You can help yourself and your family by turning to dwelling on hope, prayer if you a believer, and living as normally as possible in this troubled time. And try writing about your thoughts and feelings. Do it as a letter to yourself or one to share with others. When you write, get angry if you want to do that. Tell about your fears but also write about hope. 

Passive vs Active Verbs

Exercising is Action

I noted a comment on Facebook yesterday that made me stop and ponder for a moment. A memoir writer, new to writing I'm guessing, asked a question about verb tense usage and then added that she noticed an awful lot of the word was in her writing. Let's take a look at verbs like was.

The use of the passive verb was and others like is, was, are were is pretty common while writing a first draft. When we're trying to get the main idea down in an initial draft, we aren't thinking about the kind of verbs we use. The very experienced writer will automatically steer to the more active verbs because--well, because of long experience. More of us have to give serious thought to the kind of verbs we use, and it's a very good reason why we must, must, must proofread and edit those beginning efforts.

In our clipart above, we take note of a person performing a series of exercises. He is active. Consider some of the verbs you might use to describe his exercising:  bend, tilt, stretch, rise, pull.  The man is active and your verbs should follow his example. 

In Gary Provost's boo 100 Ways to Improver Your Writing, he says "Generally speaking, verbs are weak when they are not specific, are not active, or are unnecessarily dependent on adverbs for their meaning."  In this instance, he was discussing strong verbs vs weak ones. 

Take a look at these examples:

                      Weak                                                                Strong

There was a curio cabinet in the corner.                    A curio cabinet towered in the corner.

There are two men on the curb.                                Two men sit near one another on the curb.

In the first example, using the verb towered in place of was gave a much better picture. It tells us the size of the cabinet. Note in the second example that the stronger sentence tells us exactly what they are doing, sitting not standing. In order to use a different verb in this sentence, I had to change the order of the sentence a bit, and I added a little more.  

Sometimes, you need to change the order of a sentence when changing to a more active verb. And that's fine. You can't always pluck the weak verb from the sentence and plop a better one in the same spot.  Did you notice that was is often accompanied by the word there? Some writers get in the habit of using There was, There are, There is, There were and it becomes habitual. 

Some writers might say Who cares about passive verbs. I use them all the time. No big deal. You can use them; we have no law that says you're forbidden to use passive verbs. However, if you change as many as possible to active verbs, your writing will be stronger and more interesting. We're always advising writers to show rather than tell. Those active verbs will help you do more showing.

Just for fun, get one of your stories, essays etc out of your files and go through it, marking all the passive verbs. Underline each one with a color that will stand out. You might be surprised at how many you find. Then, as a writing exercise, replace as many as possible with active verbs.                                            

Where Has My Muse Gone?

My Muse

As if the pandemic and all it involves isn't enough to deal with, I have been having major computer problems. Add the disappearance of my muse, and I am not a happy person. Dealing with the pandemic is a day by day situation, and I've been coping fairly well by staying home and practicing all the things we have been urged to do. 

The computer is a real problem because where can I go right now to get it cleaned up, fixed, or replaced? I'm assuming most of the stores like Best Buy and Staples are closed. Or are they considered essential? I will have to check that out.

The third problem--my muse disappearing--is something I'm not sure how to deal with. Where did that little imp go? Here I am with lots of time to write, and all I manage to do is write a blog post five days a week. The rest is not happening. I did write a letter the other day, but that doesn't count as 'writerly writing.' 

How many times have you said If I just had more time to write, I'd be so happy. The time has been given through the self-isolating I've been doing, but the desire to write is around 3 on a scale of 1-10. I'm not alone with this problem. My online writing group has been writing their thoughts and feelings each day of the pandemic, but we have titled our efforts pendemic. I've noticed that many are saying that, as much as they'd like to write, they don't seem to have the desire to do so. Those stories and poems and essays are stuck in our heads, not happening in print.

Perhaps their muses are off on a desert island with mine, somewhere safe and pleasant. Are they going to stay there until life returns to something resembling normal? It's possible. 

How about you? Are you writing like mad? Or has your muse sauntered off somewhere leaving you feeling uninspired? 

I usually try to give a solution to a problem or a way to approach one. My only suggestion today is to sit down and start writing. Maybe, if you begin, you'll want to keep going. Any comments or suggestions are most welcome. And if you see my muse, send her home immediately, please.

Point of View in Writing

April Fool For Ducks

The photo today has nothing to do with the topic, but I thought we might enjoy something light-hearted on April 1st, better known as Apil Fool's Day. Like me, you are probably glad to see March behind us with the pandemic situation worsening by the week. I hope you are all heeding the advice of the experts and staying home and social distancing when you must go out. Those few people who refuse to adhere to the frequently changing guidelines are making it tough on the rest of us. And themselves in the long run. It's an unprecedented time for most of us and a very serious one.

We've turned the page on the calendar today, so let's turn the page on this blog, too. Yesterday, I wrote about a real no-no when writing fiction. The Information Dump. If you are prone to doing this, work hard to break the habit. 

Another no-no in fiction writing is changing the Point of View back and forth in one chapter. When you are writing a novel, you need to choose one person who will help the reader 'see' the story through his/her eyes. There are, of course, other characters who help move the story along and who are important to the story itself. If you change the Point of View back and forth between characters, you'll be doing what is often called 'head-hopping.' All it does is serve to confuse the reader and sometimes irritate them. If Jennie is your protagonist, let us see the story through her eyes. Let the readers know how she reacts, what she thinks, her relation to the other characters. 

Does that mean we can't ever know what the other characters are thinking and more? The writer can let the reader see these things in the other characters by the way they act, through dialogue, and showing rather than telling. 

There is a way to have more than one Point of View character, and that is to change that POV character chapter by chapter. One chapter could be all seen as Jennie sees what's happening. The next one might be Charlie's POV. It takes an experienced and talented writer to pull it off. Some even attempt to use three POV characters. 

POV is a complicated issue. If you're at all confused, google a more detailed article or a book on the topic.  Keep in mind that your Point of View is the way you see things. Just you. No one else.