Writers--Get Rid of Self-Doubt

Last night, Ken and I were watching tv, and a character on the show we had turned on made a statement that made me sit up and pay attention. She said, "Doubt is the driver of failure." 

Six words with a strong message. Look at it again--

Doubt is the driver of failure.

Looking through my collection of poster quotes this morning, I found one that seemed to work quite well as it not only spoke about doubting yourself but gave a suggestion to help you overcome that problem. 

Doubting yourself as a writer definitely is a problem. You will have to work at ridding yourself of doubting your own abilities a little at a time.

What causes self-doubt in a writer? It's not any one element. If you're a person who has dealt with self-doubt in other phases of your life, it's fairly easy to see how it can spill over into your writing life if you let it. The 'letting it' part is key. 

If rejections come in one after the other, you probably have a reason for doubting yourself. Remember this when each rejection comes in--it is not 'you' the editor is rejecting, and it may not have been because your writing was not up to their standards. There are many other reasons editors reject your work. Among them are too many submissions on the same subject or they had recently published something of the same kind, and it was too soon to repeat. So, don't immediately lay the blame at your own feet. 

Do you ever work hard on a story, then after proofreading, editing, and revising, you read through, and have a sinking feeling? Thoughts like This is not very good. Janice writes so much better than I do. Who would want to read this drivel? go through your head. Try not to believe them. If you do, you're going to have a much bigger hole to climb out of. 

Let's look at the advice in the poster today: 

When you start doubting yourself, 

remember how far you have come.

Remember everything you have faced,

all the battles you have won,

and all the fears you have overcome.

In other words, start patting yourself on the back. Work at lifting yourself instead of becoming mired in doubt. For every negative thought you have, counter with a positive one. Remember the story about the little engine who talked himself into being able to do what the big engines did by repeating over and over I think I can, I think I can, I think... Pretty simple but it could help. The more we hear something the more apt we are to start believing it. 

Don't let doubt be the driver to failure in your writing journey. Instead, look at those rejections as a lesson to learn. Analyze each one and try rewriting or subbing somewhere else. Last but not least, don't compare yourself to other writers. We're all individuals; we all reach our peak in different ways and in different amounts of time. 

Is doing all the above going to make your writing life perfect? No, but it could make it a whole lot better.

Writer's Markets--Paying or Non-Paying?

Writer counting his money

I have a small rant today. It has to do with an age-old argument about submitting to paying markets vs ones that give you nothing but recognition. We'll deal with that argument a little later in the post. 

What bothers me, irks me, or rubs me the wrong way is when a market you find says that they are non-paying, but then they make it very clear that they want only the very best writing. Top-quality is all they propose to publish. A noble thought perhaps. Wouldn't everyone like to publish only the A-1 quality?

My feeling is that, if you want only the very best writers, then you should be willing to compensate them in some manner. I understand that they are fearful that every beginning writer in the USA is going to submit to them since they are non-paying, but they need to balance the scale a bit. No, I don't expect them to publish really poor writing, but to state that they want only the best is a little short-sighted. No matter what kind of submissions they receive, they still have to sort through and see which are worthy for their particular publication.

Now, on to the argument of paying vs non-paying markets. The first question is why would anyone submit to a non-paying market? If you have very few published pieces or none, you're hungry enough to have something published that you'll agree to write for free. That, of course, is what you're doing. Is it wrong? Certainly not. If this is a way to get your work recognized and to be able to build a resume of publications, it's fine. It's also alright to write for free when you're giving your work to a charitable cause. There should be no shame nor guilt involved.

Some writers submit their work to paying markets only. They feel they deserve monetary recognition for the hard work they've put in. Let's face it--we all feel we deserve to be paid, but some writers are adamant about it. They would rather have fewer publications but receive payment. That's perfectly understandable. I suppose there are writers who set a limit as to how much they are willing to accept. There are publications that pay $10. If that feels like an insult to you, move on to higher-paying markets. 

Writers who are making their living with the printed word must look at paying markets only, and high-paying ones most of the time. They are naturally going to have a different outlook than someone who is a part-time writer or a hobbyist writer.

This old argument of paying vs non-paying markets doesn't have a set answer or solution. It's a personal choice. Maybe it also depends on how stubborn you are. If you've set a goal and are working toward it, you're to be admired, but be willing to bend a bit now and then. 

An Easy Way To Record Family Stories

The Gift of Family Stories

Regular readers of this blog know that I am a great proponent of writing Family Stories to be given to the younger generations on your family tree. Our photo today sends a message about age and time. The years slip by so quickly, and you keep meaning to start writing your Family Stories, but...

Yesterday, a friend called, and during our conversation, he told me about a special Father's Day gift he received this month from his son. It's something called StoryWorth. My friend's son told him he would receive one question per week from this group. The questions would deal with past family history, people, and their stories. He is to write about each question as he receives them and then return. At the end of 52 weeks, with one question per week, his answers will be assembled into a book. The cost of the program is $99, and I'm not sure if that includes the book or not. I'm guessing it is for one book, and if you want more for additional children, you'd pay more. 

It's a fine idea if you don't mind spending the money for the gift to your parents or grandparents. Anyone can write the answer to a question once a week. It might even turn out to be fun, something for the person answering to look forward to. 

If you don't want to spend the money for a program like this one, or others similar, you could devise your own program for your parents or grandparents. All you would need to do is make a list of 52 questions and send them one at a time on a weekly basis. Ask for the answers to be returned on a weekly basis, too. Let them pile up, and they can get lost pretty easily. 

Here's a shortlist of questions you might include. You can surely come up with others that are more detailed. 

• Where and when were you born?
• Can you tell me about the town you grew up in?
• Did you have any siblings? If yes, tell me about them. If no, how did it make you feel?
• What was grade school like for you?
• What was high school like for you?
• Did you go to college? Tell me how you felt about it--going or not going.
• What did you want to be when you grew up?
• Were your parents strict?
• Were your parents loving?
• What were your grandparents like?
• Did you move when you were growing up or stay in one place?
• Who was the first girl/boy you kissed?
• What was your favorite subject in school?
• What subject in school did you dislike most?
• Was there a school bully in your life?
• Where did your mother get your clothes? Buy? Make?
• Did you go to movie theaters in your childhood?
• What was your first job?
• Were you athletic?
• Did you have household chores?
• Who were your favorite movie stars?
• Did your family travel in your childhood?
• What was your favorite summer activity?
• How many girlfriends or boyfriends did you have before you met the one you married?

It will take some effort on your part to make up the list, and the person answering will need to make an effort, as well. If you think they are unable to write the answers, interview them once a week with one question and record the answer. Then you will have to be the one to so the writing. It depends on age and ability of the person you're working with.

If you're lucky enough to have both parents or grandparents living, have each one answer the questions. 

There are other programs or books to help with your Family Stories project. Find them with any search engine. I particularly liked the StoryWorth project as it is not overwhelming--one question, one answer once a week. You don't even have to gift it to someone else, sign up and do it on your own for your family.

When a Story Doesn't Work

Have you ever worked and reworked a story until you can hardly see straight? Until you're ready to explode with frustration? Until the words that fly from your mouth are not what your mother would appreciate? Until you just cannot carry on?

I am willing to bet that nearly every writer has had this kind of experience. I know I have and you most likely can say the same. Sometimes, the women in my online writing group will send a submission for critique writing something above it like "I have rewritten this over and over, and it still isn't right. Please help me fix it!" 

When we reach this stage, we can't see the errors any longer, or if we see them cannot come up with a solution. Our mind simply refuses to look at them in an objective way. If this happens to you, don't despair. All is not lost. You need to step away for a while. 

Not just hours, but maybe days. Let that story simmer on the back burner and move on to a new project, or even quit writing for a few days. I can almost guarantee that, even though you're not physically working on it, your mind is mulling it over. Be it consciously or subconsciously. You may find some answers to your problem by ignoring it. 

One more way out of the dilemma of being stuck in a story is to ask another writer to look at it. As I mentioned above, my writing group has been able to help writers who are struggling with a story. If you aren't in a writing group, ask a writer friend to look at your story. Someone else can look objectively while you cannot. Someone else might see the problem immediately while your vision is completely clouded on this particular story. 

When nothing works right in a story, know that it is time to step back and take a break. Be like the woman in our photo quote today. Find a beautiful place where you can be alone and let the answers come to you. 

Application for Writers and A Submission Experience

Today's quote, If you write one story, it may be bad; if you write a hundred, you have the odds in your favor. can be summed up in one word that writers should heed--application. 

Writers need to apply what they've learned every time they write a story, essay, article, or poem. Learning is pretty useless if we don't carry what we've learned into what it is we do. 

Every time you write something new, even that first draft, you must gather all the tools in your writing toolbox and use them. You acquire these tools over the years as you learn about your craft--things like sensory detail, telling vs showing, passive vs active verbs and more.

Learning through reading books about writing, talking with other writers, attending conferences, reading books by other authors, and gathering life's experiences all help you when you begin to write that next story. 

Some writers are prolific. They turn out story upon story, essay upon essay, myriad poems. Are all of them good, or even outstanding? Probably not. Are some of them? I would think so. Let's be honest. We don't approach every new writing project with the same degree of inspiration. When you're truly inspired, you put your heart and soul into your writing, and it will show when you have finished. 

The quote exaggerates a bit, but there is good advice to be absorbed. If you have dozens of stories, that one bad one can sink to the bottom of the pile, and it had better stay there. Like cream rising to the top of the old milk bottles, your better stories will be the richest and the best. 

I'm finishing today with a little experience I had yesterday. I found a magazine that sounded like a good fit for a children's story I have in my files. I dutifully read the writer's guidelines and was dismayed that they did not take email submissions or via Submittable. Instead, just as it was done many years ago, I had to print the story, after I had changed to double-spacing, numbered pages, and put personal info at the top. Next was the requested cover letter. Then I had to address the envelope to the editor along with a second envelope with my name and address and a postage stamp. That was to be included with the story and cover letter, so the outer envelope required two postage stamps. I felt like I'd been transported to the Dark Ages of Submissions. This is the way all submissions were done at one time. Bless he who first started allowing email submissions. 

I've noticed that more and more publications are using the Submittable form which is so simple, even more so than sending an email. As I was preparing the envelope to send yesterday, I wondered why I was doing it. But, it's a good magazine for children which also pays well, so I decided it was worth a try. It would be nice if the publisher would catch up to the 21st century.

Comparing Yourself to Other Writers

Today's quote--"Don't compare yourself to others"--is one for your everyday living but also for your writing journey. Each of us is a unique individual with different traits, habits, thoughts, and reactions.

One writer brushes off rejections like a piece of lint on a sleeve while another agonizes for days over each one they get.

Some writers spend hours and hours on one 1000 word essay while others dash it off, give it a quick edit and call it good.(Bad idea, by the way!)

There are writers who have carved an exact portion of the day as writing time, while others snatch bits and pieces of time to write whenever, however, and wherever they can.

All writers find story ideas but how they approach the writing itself can be quite different. One writer will get so inspired he/she sits down at the computer and types the first draft in record time. Another writer will let the idea do acrobatics in his/her mind for days before ever writing the first paragraph.

Writers submit their work in a different manner, too. Some will look for a market, and when they find one that looks like a fit, send the submission. Others will scour the markets, make a list, and rank them from the first choice to last before choosing one.

The point is that we are not all alike so there is no reason to compare your writing and method of writing to that of other writers. You should do what works for you. If my writer friend Willa Wannabe spends weeks and weeks on one piece of writing, that doesn't mean you have to. If your writing buddy, Sammy Sub, submits five pieces of writing a week, that's fine. You don't have to do the same.

If you spend too much time comparing your writing and your writing life to what others do, you'll only end up worrying that you're not doing what you should. Forget comparing yourself to some other writers.

Instead, set goals for your personal writing life. Work toward them. Rejoice when good things happen on your writing journey and learn from the ones that don't work out so well.

Writers--Don't Be a Last Minute Lucy

When we're into the last minute before something needs to be done, we move fast. Your phone rings--it's unexpected relatives--they'll be at your house in 15 minutes. What to do! When that kind of situation occurs. we do move fast. Pick things up, hide them in strange places. Consider what's in the pantry to offer your guests and put on a happy face when the doorbell rings. 

In our writing journey, we sometimes put things off until close to deadline, then hurry up and get something written, then submit with a sigh of relief. Did it! You may have made the deadline, but did you send one of your best pieces of writing? Possibly not.

To have a worthwhile submission time is involved. Quite a bit of it. Let's revisit this situation that I've written about more than once. The reason being that it is important and will benefit you in the long run. 

Let's say that you have a personal essay swirling in your head. It would be perfect for the state writing contest which closes in a month. Your best approach is the following:

• Write the first draft; read through it once, then put it in a file and leave it there.
• Work on something else for the next several days but think about that draft if you like.
• Wait several days to a week before you pull up the file and read the draft again.
• Now is the time to proofread. You will see things that you'd have missed completely had you tried to proofread immediately after writing the first draft.
• Consider places where you might add something or what can be deleted.
• What about word count? Too many? Room to add something?
• Look at the verbs in your essay. Too many passives? Or are they filled with life? Work on making them the best they can be.
• What about telling vs showing? Which dominates your essay? If it's all telling, you'd better be ready to almost completely rewrite that draft.
• After you've done the proofreading and revising, put the file away again for a couple days or even longer.
• Proofread again. Do you like the changes you made? Are there other revisions possible? Or is it the best it can be?
• Go ahead and submit it, or let it simmer for another few days before you do a final check and feel completely ready to submit.
• Don't fall into the trap of revising and proofreading so many times that you never get to the point of submitting. 

Looking at the list above, it's obvious that attaining a top-notch essay doesn't happen in one summer afternoon. Yes, you can write one in a short bit of time, but how far will it get in either a contest or for an editor to consider?

Don't be a Last Minute Lucy. Give yourself time to write, rewrite, and rewrite again to have the best essay possible.

A Rainy Day Writing Exercise

Rainy Day

We know that putting emotion and sensory details in a story bring it to life. We're not merely telling a story but showing the story to the reader, bringing him/her into the story. 

Take a look at today's photo. It's a woman with an umbrella standing on a street corner in the rain. How can we make it more interesting for the reader? How can we let them feel what the woman is feeling?

First, let's give her a name. Melanie popped into my head when I first looked at her. So, I dub thee Melanie. Having her name brings her a bit closer to us; she appears more human to us.

Melanie has her hand out, and it's probably getting wet. It might also be cold. The sense of touch comes into play here.

What does Melanie hear? Maybe there is thunder above, coming in rolling waves. She probably hears the swish of the cars' tires as they pass along the wet street. It looks like the rain is coming down in more than a sprinkle, so she might hear the soft patter of the raindrops as they hit the pavement.

Does Melanie smell anything? It's possible she could get the scent of the freshness to the air that rain brings. Subtle perhaps but still there. But wait--maybe she is in an area where a coffee company is located. The aroma of coffee permeates the air. 

Can you include the sense of taste for Melanie in this scene? You could if she is still tasting the sliced onion on her lunchtime burger. 

What about the sense of sight? Easy enough if you mention the sun being blocked by dark clouds. 

If you add some, or all, of the above, you'll have the beginning of an interesting story. Sprinkle in some nice adjectives to make it even better. 

For a weekend writing exercise, study the photo above. Then start writing a story about this young woman. Name her whatever you like. Add sensory details to the scene. Create a situation for her. Where is she going? Why? To meet someone? To go to work? To the courthouse? Your choice. Let us see and feel what the young woman experiences. 

It's easy enough to do this in a few paragraphs. The trickier thing is to write like this all the time. The more you write including much or all of the above-mentioned parts, the easier it becomes. You'll establish a habit of writing in this manner. 

Have fun with this writing exercise. 

Opulence--Kansas--A Book Review

I read a new YA book this week.  OPULENCE--KANSAS--by Julie Stielstra. The story pulled me in immediately, and I wanted to keep reading to find out what happens to Katie Myrdal, the 15-year-old girl who lives in a 19th-floor condo on Chicago's Gold Coast with her parents.

Katie's world turns upside down and spins round and round when her father is found dead in his Porsche. Words like suicide, fraud, investigation drift through the condo. At the funeral, Katie meets her Uncle Len and his wife, Maggie. They invite Katie to spend the summer with them on their farm outside Opulence, Kansas. She hardly knew these relatives existed but she grabs at the chance to get away from the situation and her distant mother.

Katie finds herself under the wide skies of the prairie in central Kansas. She lives with the loss and disappointment in her father brimming at the surface every day. Katie meets Travis Gibbs, a boy whose own recent loss is as bad or perhaps worse than her own. Their relationship has its ups and downs but remains steady.

Katie spends her summer getting to know and love Len and Maggie, learning to enjoy the Kansas prairie, taking myriad photos with her camera, and learning new skills. Opulence holds secrets and new-found knowledge she will need when it is time to go home.

Julie Stielstra has written a captivating story for young people and this adult. Her characters feel like real people, the descriptions of the land almost poetic, and she has created a story readers will enjoy.

The book particularly appealed to me because I grew up in the Chicago suburban area, so the names of the towns outside the city were quite familiar. Add the fact that I, too, moved to Kansas and grew to love its wide skies and prairie grasses just like Katie, and it scored with me again.

YA, or Young Adult, books are one step below adult books. They deal with the problems of teens but in a grown-up manner. There are many fine stories classified as YA. They usually are shorter and cost less than adult books. Consider buying this book as a gift for a teen or to read for yourself.

Purchase it at any of these places:  Meadowlark Books (the publisher) $10; Amazon (released June 23rd)$10; The Raven BookStore in Lawrence $11.94, Watermark Books in Wichita $9.95

Writer--It's Up to You

One of my favorite, old-time, movie stars seems to have been a wise woman. Her words in today's poster quote have her wry sense of humor but also tell us something important. 

So many times, I end my posts by saying that it is up to you, the writer, to accomplish whatever the topic had been. In life, we run across people who are always trying to get someone else to do what they probably could or should have been doing themselves. They're directors and usually good at it. As long as others agree to whatever was asked of them, the 'director' will keep right on. 

In our writing journey, that doesn't usually work. Yes, there are some writers who write the first draft, then cajole a friend or group to do all the editing and revising in a critique. It's fine, even recommended, that we have others critique our work, but it's best to ask to have your proofread, edited, and/or revised draft critiqued. Not the first effort. That is up to you.

It's up to you to acquire as much knowledge about the writing craft as you can. It's up to you to read about writing, to attend conferences to learn from speakers, and to learn from a one on one session with another writer. 

It's up to you to educate yourself about the submission process. Learn how to write a query or a cover letter as well as your short personal bio. In our techno world, this is not difficult. Use a search engine on any topic and you'll find myriad articles. 

It's up to you to write and rewrite and rewrite again until you have a piece that satisfies you. It takes time and effort, but the end result is almost always well worth it.

It's up to you to seek inspiration. Successful author, Jack London is often quoted on finding inspiration to write. He said, "You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club." Note the 'you' word. It's you who must work at being inspired. Put yourself in a place where you can find it.

It's up to you to submit your work. Aunt Gracie isn't going to do it for you. Cousin Fred isn't about to send your work to an editor. It's your story, your job to find a place and submit.

It's up to you to promote yourself as a writer. The more readers you engage in several ways, the more readers you'll keep and new ones you'll acquire. Let them know who you are by being active on social media, having a webpage and a blog, speaking at conferences, book signings, and more. Wherever you can get your name and your work in front of others will benefit you.

What it all comes to is that you are the one responsible for every step of your writing journey. I have a feeling that Katherine Hepburn did become a household name by sitting demurely at home hoping a Hollywood mogul would discover her. She knew it was up to her to 'paddle her own canoe.'

Three Quotes To Help Writers

I love the photo/painting for today and the quote by Henry Ward Beecher, preacher and abolitionist during the mid-19th century. Just for fun, here are a few more of his quotes:

   Every artist dips his brush in his own soul and paints his own nature into his pictures.

  Hold yourself responsible for a higher standard than anybody expects of you. Never excuse yourself.

 A library is not a luxury but one of the necessities of life. 

The first quote should let you feel quite comfortable with writing in your own way, not as others have done. We've talked about 'voice' being the style in which you write. Beginning writers take time to establish that 'voice,' but I especially liked the words Beecher used to describe the same idea--the part about painting his own nature into his pictures. Or into your writing. You're an individual so you should present that individualism to your readers.

The second quote can also be applied to writers. In a nutshell, he's telling you to be the best writer you can be. How does one accomplish that? By continuing to learn your craft. Read about writing, listen to those who speak about it, practice by doing writing exercises, and never stop learning about writing.

Of course, being the avid reader I am, the third quote appealed to me. I truly feel that my local library is a necessity in my life, and never have I felt it more than in these many, many weeks when it has been closed due to the pandemic. My saving grace has been that I have been able to borrow books from a close neighbor who has her very own library. All writers should be voracious readers. We learn from reading what others have written. Not that we want to copy them. Heaven forbid! No, we read and absorb techniques, characterization, and much more. Then we apply it in our own way in our own writing.

These three simple quotes tell us a lot about writing. If you have time, you might use a search engine to look for quotes by writers. There's something to be gained by reading what successful writers have said.

Ending with a bit of trivia: 
1.  Henry Ward Beecher's sister was Harriet Beecher Stowe, the woman who wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin. 
2. The Beecher Bible and Rifle Church in Wabaunsee, KS is named for Henry Ward Beecher, a financial backer for the town who helped smuggle rifles past pro-slavery forces in crates marked Beecher's Bibles at a time when Kansas had entered the union as a free state.

Why We Write Family Stories

Successful author, Isabel Allende, tells us to write what should not be forgotten. Most things worth remembering are stored in the attic of our mind, and it's up to us to pull them out and put into words for others to read, or merely for ourselves.

Those few words of advice are powerful. We don't want to forget our extended family, our growing-up years, our ancestors, our friends, what life was like in our lifetime, and more. All those things made us the people we are today. In science class, we learned that each of us is the result of both genetics and environment. Family carries both.

I recently heard from a second cousin whom I had not seen since we were both small children. Our fathers were first cousins, and our paternal grandfathers were brothers. What a delight it has been to visit with him via email and to learn more about our common family history. There have been ancestory charts shared and a few family stories. No doubt there will be more of those to come.

Because my cousin needed some dates for the six-page family tree he has constructed, I ended up getting in touch with two of my first cousins and a niece. Family history and family stories are bringing our family closer than ever before. 

I have a chart that traces my paternal ancestors back to the 17th century in France and then Canada prior to emigration to the United States. That's wonderful, but what I treasure more are the family stories that both my parents, aunts, and uncles told through the years. I didn't have the joy of knowing two of my grandparents at all, and the other two died when I was quite young. I learned a great deal about all four from the family stories told around the dinner table. 

No one but me ever wrote those stories. Telling a story to family members is wonderful. It's a living testimony to what families are all about. That's only part of what needs to be done. Someone in the family must write the stories for posterity. If three people do so, all the better, but choose at least one person to take on the responsibility. It IS a responsibility for the immediate and future generations. 

Family stories touch on family history in bits and pieces. One important reason is that we should learn the medical history in our families as it may be important to our own health today. Another is to understand certain habits that seem to be passed on in families. It's also of interest to see what personality traits are repeated in generations from past to present. 

One great reason to write family stories is that they are entertaining. It's fun to learn what our grandparents and parents were like as kids or young adults. 

There are families who love to tell the family stories while in others, you have to literally pull the information from them. If you have younger family members who want to know about the past, share it eagerly. If you can't write the story, ask one of the younger ones to do it for you. The main thing is to have the stories written so they don't get lost. 

Some of those stories will be humorous, some sad, some shocking perhaps, and some dealing with trauma. None of it should be forgotten. All the stories of all your family members are a part of you. 

Writers Need Inspiration in Trying Times

Finding inspiration to write is far from easy in this troubled time we are experiencing. As if the threat of covid-19 and the sinking economy is not enough to deter you, we also have civil unrest across the country. Any one of them would put a damper on being inspired to write, but all three have probably taken a toll on your writing time and desire to write.

I've been struggling to find some inspiration myself. I write this blog five days a week because it is a commitment, and I know it's good that I am writing a little each day. In the last few days, I did find some inspiration to write quite by accident.

A friend in another country approached me with an idea that was way beyond what I'd ever want to do. Still, the basic premise was one that piqued my interest. I told her I needed a few days to think about her proposal. Three days have gone by, and my thoughts have been on the possible project. I knew I didn't want to do a webinar or a zoom meeting with a score or more of people, but doing something was still on the table. I came up with an idea, and I felt a bubble of excitement, and it began to build. I came up with a plan and sent my thoughts back to my friend. She liked it, so I suddenly have a brand new project to work on.

My advice today is to find a new writing project to work on. Even the planning will give you a whiff of inspiration. We all like to have something to look forward to--a wedding, a graduation, a date with a special person, a family get-together. We count the days and get through whatever we must knowing that a happy time lies ahead.

Give yourself something to look forward to in your writing life. Is there a project that has been slipping in and out of your mind for a long time, one that you never got around to pursuing? There's no better time than now to start working on it. These past few days, my attitude on everything has improved. Not that it was terrible before, but thinking about how I'm going to work on my new project has been a real shot of adrenalin.

If you don't have a long-put-off project to work on, dream up something brand new and get started. I once heard someone say that 'writers are dreamers, they don't go through the world like other people.' I think there's nothing better for writers to be than a dreamer. It's how we come up with new stories, essays, and poems.

Make Your Verbs Sparkle

When we write a first draft, we're so busy getting the 'important stuff' down that we don't pay close attention to the kinds of verbs we use. When we go back to proofread and edit, we skip right over the blah verbs because we're still looking at the 'important stuff.'

Those blah verbs I am referring to are the passive ones that are driven from the 'to be' verb. Words like is, are, were, was, went connect the first part of a sentence to the last, but they have no sparkle, no pizzazz, no life.

When you do your first proofreading, mark all the passive verbs, either highlight with color if you're working on your computer, or circle if you are using a pencil to mark that first draft. Many programs like Word have ways to automatically find those words for you. Each one is a little different, so if you're not familiar with the one you have, use a search engine for help.

Verbs that show action will bring life to your writing. They also help you to 'show' rather than 'tell' which livens your prose, as well. Look at a few examples below where A. has the passive verb and B. has an active one:

A.  Marilee went to the store for her mother every day after school.
B.  Marilee strolled to the store for her mother every day after school--the verb here shows you how she went to the store.

A.  The boys are in the corn crib.
B.  The boys hid in the corn crib.  --hid lets us know what they are doing in the corn crib.

A.  Susan's stomach was empty so she took a handful of chips.
B.  Susan's stomach growled and rumbled so she scooped up a handful of chips.--much livelier than 'was' and 'took'

Sometimes you might have to rearrange the order of a sentence to work in an active verb. Too much effort? Do it because your sentence will read better and be more interesting. Don't forget that individual sentences grouped together into paragraphs make your story. It's your job to make them sparkle.

For a lengthy list of action verbs, check this helpful list.

A Sense of Place in Writing

Where in the world is...?

This morning a friend who lives and writes in Australia made a comment on a Facebook post citing a question she'd been asked. The person wanted to know whether my friend thought the plot more important than the characters or vice-versa. She replied that, after thinking about it, she would put a sense of place before either plot or characters. She said she needed that first before the others. It grounded her.

It made me think about the importance that place has in our writing. We have the entire world to choose from, and sci-fi writers can even create a whole new world in their stories. 

Place in writing includes the physical environment, culture, social, and even time. To give a reader a feeling for where what you're writing about occurs, you need strong description. To strengthen description, use sensory details. Remember to show rather than tell if you want your reader to feel the place. 

When do you do this? There are fiction writers who spend the first few pages describing the setting with no character involved, no problem appearing. If they write beautiful prose, a reader might enjoy that. My personal reaction would be let's get on with the story. This kind of opening might not hook a great number of readers, some yes, but many would get impatient. 

Instead, weave the sense of place within the plot and the characters. Bits and pieces of place add up to the reader knowing exactly where the story happens. Readers are wanting to know whether it is urban or rural or a wild, uninhabited area. They need to be able to pinpoint the time the story starts--present, past, or future. The area culture and social mores come into play when working on giving a sense of place.

At one of the writing conferences my critique group held, we had a session on creating a sense of place. The presenter gave us ten minutes to write about anything we wanted but to give a distinct sense of place. Several read their offerings aloud, and each one had brought us to somewhere different. In only a few paragraphs, we learned a great deal. That was because we all concentrated on including place as the number one element, but when we went back home, did we all give it the same importance? 

Even so, her presentation made us very aware of the significance of place in our writing. You might google sense of place in writing to read further on this topic. 

Writing the First Words of a Story

Yesterday's post highlighted developing your writer's eye. It helps you see stories everywhere, but seeing and writing them can be quite different. 

Beatrix Potter's quote--There is something delicious about writing the first words of a story. You never quite know where they'll take you.--is one that can especially apply to those writers who classify themself as a 'panster,' meaning one who writes by the seat of their pants. No detailed outline made before beginning. They do have an idea, but these writers are ones who write those first words and then sail with them. 

I am that kind of writer. When I wrote the first draft of my juvenile novel, I had an idea of where to begin, but I didn't have a clue as to what was going to happen to my protagonist, Will. I wrote chapter after chapter allowing Will and his best friend, Emily, to lead me through the rest of the story. When I was in the middle of the book, I had no idea how the story would end, but I found the ending with their help.

Some writers cannot write those 'delicious' beginning words until they have an outline, character sketch charts, and more finished. I do understand that this is an excellent approach with many complicated, detailed novels, but I wonder if these writers also make an outline when they write a short story. Comments would be welcome. If it is what works for them, then it's fine.

Ms. Potter's quote shows us that we need to find some pleasure in those first words in a story. It's a beginning to something new. It is often not known where those words will take you. I sense, too, that she was a woman who found joy in her writing. Do you? It's no fun to trudge through a story and not like what you're doing. I think you have to like your story for the characters to come to life for the reader. 

The opening line of Beatrix Potter's famous children's story is “Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were – Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail and Peter….” Did the author know which rabbit would get in trouble? Did she already know what the problem would be? Or did Peter lead her straight into Mr. MacGregor's garden? Whatever the case was, she no doubt enjoyed writing that opening, what to her were 'delicious' words. 

How about you? Do you have some delicious words to write today?

Develop A Writer's Eye

I think this is a rather fascinating photo, no words, just the hand holding a rose and what look like cloud formations. Do you ever raise your head to the sky and note that some clouds appear to be objects, animals, etc? Perhaps we all did it as children and continue as adults. 

The clouds here reminded me that we writers need to gaze with a writer's eye. Just by the nature of who we are, we should see more than the average person. Creative minds will be more imaginative when observing clouds. Or anything else.

What do you see in today's photo? I see a slender, feminine hand holding a beautiful red rose. Who, I wonder, presented it to her and for what reason. Why is she in the clouds? I see the North Wind wearing sunglasses ready to blow a chill across the Midwestern Plains. I see another face, but only the eyes, the rest of the face being masked. I see the bottom half of a nude woman's backside. I see a bat peering down to earth. I see mountains. Could  I write a story about all those images that my mind perceived? Probably. 

How about you? After you study the photo for a while, what do you see? What is the significance of the hand holding the rose? In the clouds. Or, are they clouds? Might they be something else? This is a marvelous photo to use for a writing exercise. 

Do you work at using your writer's eye as you go about your daily tasks? If you don't, you should. We've all heard that there is a story everywhere. True, but you have to be able to see it.

Try looking at and studying the people you see in the grocery store. Each one of them has a story, but you can use your writer's eye and create one. Take note of the little actions they make, things that might be habitual. Does that woman always brush her hair off her forehead? Why? What about the man who constantly clears his throat? Sick, allergies, or just a habit? Observing people can be a great help in creating characters in fiction writing. 

Driving down a busy street is another good place to use your writer's eye. Observe the many different cars and the people who drive them, as well as the way they drive. Do this only if you can do so and pay attention to your own driving. 

You can work on training your writer's eye at sporting events, a concert, or a parade. The important thing is to work on it consistently. 

Perfectly Positive Writers

I missed posting yesterday because my one month old laptop offers nothing but a blank screen. I googled the problem on my phone and found more than one solution. It seems this is a fairly common problem but one totally new to me. I was not able to correct the problem so called our IT guy and am still waiting for a call back. Frustrating? Absolutely! But I am trying to be positive and hope all will be solved later today. 

Which brings me to today’s topic. Perfectly positive writers. 

It’s far from easy to push the positive button day in and day out.  Writers need to work at doing that, need to develop the habit. 

When a rejection arrives, we feel disappointed, hurt, maybe angry. Give yourself a short time to get through that and search for the positives. Was it a lesson? Can you put it behind you and move on? 

Do you start a new writing project with a positive attitude? More importantly, can you maintain that positive outlook as you progress? If you begin thinking negative thoughts about the outcome, you’ll think yourself right into failure.  

A while back, I suggested you look in the mirror and practice saying ‘I am a writer.’ Do it again but this time day ‘I am a good writer.’  Do it often enough, an you’ll start to believe it. 

If you start believing in yourself, you might become that perfectly positive writer. 

Writers Need Writer Friends

We all like to have friends. Being that we're different kinds of people, some of us are happy to count their good friends on one hand. Others have dozens of friends. A friend is someone you enjoy being around, a person you can count on to help you when needed, or even someone you admire and hope to emulate. 

Writers need writer friends. Who understands a writer and the writing life problems better than another writer? We can cry on the shoulder of a friend who writes, even if only virtually. Friends in the writing world can critique your work, point out things you never saw when you proofread a dozen times or find a sticky spot that needs clarification. You can consult these other writers for a place to submit--the good ones and the ones to avoid. Writers share expertise and experiences with one another. At least, they should. I'm sure there are some who are not willing to help those who are considered 'competition.' I'm guessing these are the minority in the great pool of writers.

In that great pool, you should be able to find and make friends with many other writers. Where? There are many places. 

Look for a local writer's group and join it. I'm not going to tell you that everyone in the group will end up your bosom buddy. We're drawn to one person more than another for who knows what reason? The reason the people in the group are there is that they seek the company of other writers and other writers' eyes on their work. The longer a group is together, the more friendships strengthen. I can hear a reader saying to me But there's one woman in my writing group that I just cannot stand. She hogs the attention and more. My answer to that is that she/he is one person, and there are lots of others that you can enjoy. In a case like that, I would hope that the moderator would talk to the person privately about the concern others. 

I've made many writing friends by attending my state authors convention once a year. We live in different parts of our state, but the group has an active website and the 7 districts meet several times throughout the year. If you're at a conference and you see someone looking very much alone, approach him/her and introduce yourself, start a conversation. You may find that you have a lot in common, but if not, you will have at least one thing that you both like--writing.

Social media is a wonderful way for writers to connect with other writers. There are dozens and dozens of writing groups on Facebook. Join one, two, three--as many as you can handle. You don't have to visit each group every day. Check in weekly. You'll soon come to recognize those who are the most active in the group. Their names will become familiar. Follow writers on Twitter, reply to their comments. You cannot just be a lurker, scrolling all the time and offering nothing in return. That's not the way to look for friendship or help yourself in your writing world.

Join a critique group online and participate regularly. Most groups will politely ask you to leave if you do not. I've mentioned my online group many times. We are an International Women's Writing Group, running around 25 members on average. Yes, they come and go, but the core group remains strong. I have had the joy of meeting some of the women in person at our every other year in-person conferences. There are many I have never met, but I consider them good friends. These women are honest but fair in their critiques and want to help the other writers, not tear them down. There is any number of them that I can contact for help any time I feel the need. And yes, some of us are close enough friends that we chat online outside the group. 

I have had an advantage in making many writer friends because of this blog. Other writers who have blogs ask me to do a guest post for them, and I often return the favor. Some writers who self-publish or have a book published will contact me to ask for a review. Several of those people are now my writer friends.

You can't make writer friends if you do not participate in groups or places where there are other writers. I know I've said it dozens of times, but it's is all up to you. 

Opening Sentences In Stories

We've been told time and again that the opening lines in a story are of great importance. In our own reading, we know which openings grabbed us right away and which ones left us floundering, still wondering what it's all about. The chart pictured today gives us seven kinds of openings. Each one is from a well-known published book. 

Let's look at the various ways we can open a story. 

An Action:  If you begin with an action, you're very likely to pique your reader's attention. If a girl is running down a darkened passage on a rainy night, you want to know why. You'll go on to see if something happens to here--good or bad. You have questions that need to be answered. 

A Character:  Harper Lee opened her famed novel To Kill A Mockingbird by letting the narrator tell the reader about her brother, Jem. She says that Jem had a badly broken arm. You want to know why. You want to know more about Jem. Is he the youngest of the two or the eldest? 

A Setting:  If you begin with a setting, you might not capture your reader quite as quickly as with the first two openings discussed above. Especially if you go on and on describing the place. Some readers like a story opening with a setting. It grounds them, lets them know where this story will be happening. Others want to move into the 'real' story. Different openings appeal to different readers. 

Dialogue:  There are two or more people speaking, so we're introduced immediately to at least two characters. As a reader, I would want to know more about the people and more about what they are discussing. The author has me with him/her right away.

A thought:  In this kind of opening, we have a narrator who lets us in on his/her inner thoughts. In the example given in the chart, we know that the person has been to the movies and is on the way home. Our guess is that the narrator is a female since Paul Newman seems to be a central thought. Do we want to read more? Probably. We want to see how she gets home and what further significance the movie star plays in the story.

A Statement:  The example used in the chart is from Pride and Prejudice. Usually, when a story opens with a statement, we can expect that the entire story will either prove or disprove it. 

World Building:  Here we learn immediately that this story is going to be perhaps a bit of fantasy or something other than the world we live in now. 

We accede that A. Opening lines are important and B. Opening lines can be of several types. How do we choose which way to begin? I think much of the choice is an inner feeling that the writer has. What so I want to emphasize to my reader? What will make them want to read more? What is important to me, the writer? 

Even though there are multiple types of openings, the words in each are what hooks your reader. Make them count.

Write About Weddings

June was once the number one month for weddings. I was married in June and so were both our children. Why June? It's warm. It's the end of school. Coats aren't needed. Grass is green and flowers are abundant. So why not June?

Have you written about your wedding or someone else's wedding? There are so many different kinds of weddings--lavish extravaganzas, small with family only, destination, elopements, courthouse, Justice of the Peace, outdoor, church, and perhaps a Zoom wedding this year. 

Weddings offer so many sub-headings that you can write about. Here's a partial list:

• humorous happenings
• selecting the wedding dress
• choosing attendants
• finding a venue for ceremony and reception
• ordering the wedding cake
• shoes to go with the special dress
• veil
• wedding photographer and photographs
• rehearsal dinner
• wedding day jitters
• tears at weddings
• sad happenings
• disastrous happenings
• father of the bride
• mother of the bride
• the groom and his attendants
• the reception--flowers, food, drinks, musicians
• the honeymoon
• weddings you attended as a guest
• weather on the wedding day

Write about any one of the above or incorporate several into one memorable family story. Wedding stories are also publishable. Weddings draw readers, especially the female ones. If you are writing a wedding story to submit somewhere, be sure you don't just describe what happened. Add feelings and a universal truth or something you learned. You want it to be more than a (wedding) slice of life. 

You can also write an article as a how-to for people planning weddings.