Cycling Down the Writing Road

 

The advice in today's poster is meant for all, but writers can most certainly relate to it. If we dwell on the problems we encountered on our writing journey in the past, the view of what lies ahead becomes more and more cloudy. We can't see the future if we cling too strongly to the past. 

The road ahead will give us hope if we have 'faith in what can be' as the ending line of the poster tells us. We can achieve that by fostering a positive attitude and by leaving the past in the past. 

The more we write, the better writer we become. That's true in most cases, not every single one. There's always the unusual situation for a few writers. For the majority, writing something every day will help them become stronger writers, ones who have learned what the tools of our craft are and use them.

If you are busy writing every day and learning more about the art of writing, you should be able to put those unfortunate problems of the past behind you. Rejection is difficult to pass off as though it was no big deal. Anyone who has had their writing rejected once or a hundred times knows that it IS a big deal. No one enjoys being told they didn't measure up to what an editor is looking for. The key here is to let yourself be disappointed right at first, then move on. It's those who cannot move on who become dejected enough to dwell on the rejections. Not a good thing to do.

Anyone who wants to be a writer must know that rejection is a big part of this craft. Make the decision early on that it is going to happen and you will not let it get you down for more than a very short time. Also, make up your mind that a rejection is a learning experience. You should be able to take away something positive that you can apply to your next submissions.

Faith in yourself will take you a long way down the writing path. Self-confidence in your abilities is another way to phrase the same idea. Practice telling yourself all the positives in your writing life. Let the positives send you on a smoother road to your writing goals. 

Write Straight and Strong

 

Do you write overly long sentences? Do you tend to start describing something and find you go on and on, never seeming to find a stopping point? Do you add details that are unnecessary? Do you repeat information? Do you add unnecessary words?

If you do any and all of the above, you are driving on curves that you don't need. When writing a story, essay, or article, your job is to get straight to the point. No bends in the road. Let's take a look at each of the no-no points above.

Overly long sentences: Sentences that have an overabundance of words and turn into many parts connected by 'and, but, or' words can overwhelm your reader. By the time they reach the end of the sentence, they've possibly lost the beginning. If a person is reading aloud, those lengthy sentences are difficult to read as the reader must stop to take a breath one, two, or even three times. Sentences with those 'and, but, or' connectors can easily be broken into two shorter, more manageable sentences. 

Overly long descriptions:  Description is a real plus when writing a story, but some writers have a tendency to go on at great length to the point that the reader loses the train of thought that came prior to that description. The 'less is more' principle seems to fit this problem. 

Unnecessary details:  The classic example for this one is a person in a story, sitting at a kitchen table who makes a sandwich. All you need to tell your readers is that Jim made himself a ham sandwich. The overly-detail-oriented writer would write something like this: Jim slid his chair back, rose, and walked to the refrigerator. He opened the door and looked inside. He picked up the ham, the mayo, then the lettuce, and finally, the mustard. He closed the fridge door and walked to the counter. He removed the loaf of bread from the breadbox and opened the end. He removed two slices of .....You get the idea. All those tiny details have nothing to do with the actual story. All you need to say is that Jim made a ham sandwich. Your reader has probably made any of them, so they know the drill. Writers who put in myriad tiny details end up boring their readers. 

Repeating information:  Writers who do this don't give their readers enough credit. They fear that the reader might have missed the information the first time (or even the second) so they toss it in again. A very well-known writer, who shall remain nameless. does this to the point that it drives me crazy on the few occasions I read her books. There is no need to keep reminding the reader over and over again.

Unnecessary words:  This is a very common error. We toss in words like really, very, just, certainly, usually, and many others. Google for a list of unnecessary words in writing. Many of us use these words in our everyday conversation, but they only clutter up your writing. Some writers use these added words for emphasis, but all they do is add to your word count. When you edit and try to cut words, words like the ones I mentioned here are the first you should cut. 

When you write, the idea is to get straight to the point. Don't slow yourself down going around the many curves I pinpointed here. Your writing will also be stronger.

 

Chicken Soup for the Soul Needs Stories

 

Chicken Soup is Calling

I visited the Chicken Soup for the soul website today to check on some deadline dates. One is coming up in only two days from now, but another is the end of October. Many others are much farther away. Sometimes, writers see the deadline dates and think there's plenty of time before getting a story ready to submit. We all know that we get busy with many other things and that deadline might slip right on by.

I know that the earlier you send a story the better. As the stories come in, the early readers select ones they think would be good candidates. If they already have a pretty good number of those, and you send your glorious story in two days prior to deadline, it's going to have to be awfully good to make it. I'm not saying it's impossible, just that the sooner you submit, the greater your chances are.

A few titles that Chicken Soup for the Soul is seeking stories:

1.  Making Me Time and Taking Care of Yourself--Deadline date is September 30, 2020

2.  Tough Times--Deadline date is October 31, 2020

3.  Cats--Deadline date is  November 30, 2020

4.  Angels--Deadline date is  December 15, 2020

5.  Eldercare--Deadline date is  January 30, 2021

6.  Counting Your Blessings--Deadline date is  February 28, 2021

Go to the Submit a Story page to read more about each book's theme and to check a list of suggestions the editors have kindly offered. Maybe one of them will trigger a story idea for you. 

Next, at the top of the same page, click on Story Guidelines. Read them, read them again, then study these guidelines. They will tell everything a Chicken Soup story is and everything it is not. If you have a story to submit for one of these books, go through the Guidelines again and make a checklist to see if your story qualifies. One of the biggest reasons editors reject a submission is because the writer did not follow the guidelines explicitly. Some fine stories can get knocked out for this simple reason. (This goes for other markets, as well.)

When writers ask me what makes a good story for the Chicken Soup anthologies, my suggestion is to read the books. After a while, you'll get a feel for what they are seeking. 

In addition, they like humorous stories and ones that bring emotion to the reader--a feel-good kind of story, even one that brings a lump to the reader's throat and a tear to the eye. They seem to like a bit of dialogue within the story. These tips are ones I've gleaned over the many years I have been submitting stories to Chicken Soup for the Soul.

Writers at a Crossroads

 

When you encounter bumps in the road on your writing journey, what do you do? The road sign pictured here today gives you two choices. It should be simple to choose one, but maybe it's more complicated for some writers. 

These two signs--hope and despair--each offer something. Let's start with despair. If you choose to go down the road of despair, you're asking for more problems than you already have. If you're wallowing in doubts or fears or self-pity, this road will only enhance each of those situations. You'll get mired down in the muck that road offers, and you could sink lower and lower as time goes on. It's easier to get into this situation than we might think. One rejection after another is bound to make us have some of these feelings. A story that meets a dead-end is frustrating. When you read what you've written and know in your heart that it is nothing but drivel, down, down, down you go. No matter how many good things we write, we've all written a bit of drivel now and then. The point is to not let it drag you down.

What about that other choice? Hope. The same writers who meet those bumps in the road can choose hope over despair. If they can put the problems behind them and look ahead to better days, they'll go down the Hope road. If they can deal with the rejections and other writing problems with an attitude of learning from them and/or fixing them, Hope is the road they will take. Will there be bumps on that road, too? Of course there will. That's part of the writing life. It's how we handle those bumps that becomes important. Does the writer who journeys down the road of Hope ever feel despair? I'm sure they do, but rather than let it get them down, they move on.

If you stand at the crossroads of Despair and Hope, consider what each one offers you. Consider which is the one that will head you to more success on your writing journey. Choose despair and you can sit and brood on that muddy road. Choose Hope and you may have a great deal of hard work ahead, but the benefit is more than worth it. 

Be a Determined Writer

Do you remember all the great 'Roses are red, Violets are blue...' poems that made the rounds in grade school years? I wonder if they still do or if our technology-centered world has pushed them aside. I believe the original at my school went like this:

Roses are red

Violets are blue

Sugar is sweet 

and so are you

Of course, kids being kids, they thought up many different versions, keeping the first two lines and trying various others for the final lines. Little did they know that they were writing poetry!

The poem derives from an English nursery rhyme which came from a French novel in the late 18th century. 

Let's look at the version we have here today. 

Roses are red

Violets are blue

You should be writing

and I should be too

During unsettling times like we are experiencing now, writing may be difficult for many. Oh sure, they think about it. They think about it a lot, but the rear end doesn't hit the chair, nor do the fingers fly across the keyboard. When we're under stress, and we certainly are right now, whatever is upsetting to us takes precedence over everything else in our lives. 

That's when determination must appear. You can say that writing is dear to your heart, that it is your life's desire, that it is what you live for. That's fine, but if you arent' determined to stay with your writing, it won't happen. The desire to write is important, but being filled with determination is more so.

If you're under stress of any kind, try to write. It needn't be hundreds of words per day as might be your normal count. If you write even a hundred words each day, it's an achievement. You might not be writing a novel or a memoir or a personal essay. Instead, you can write about what's bothering you. Doing that can be a release of all that has slowly built up inside. If you have an infected wound, the doctor might need to clean it out and/or give you antibiotics to clean up the infection. That small amount of writing you should aim for each day will serve the same purpose. 

Many writers find that, while writing, they can shut out all other parts of their life. You might be sitting at your kitchen table with your laptop but feel like you're in a hidden cabin in the woods. Just you and your words. 

Be a determined writer.

 

Put Emotion Into Your Writing

 

Emotion is an important element when writing fiction or creative nonfiction. Also in a poem. The dictionary definition of 'emotion' is:

a natural instinctive state of mind deriving from one's circumstances, mood, or relationships with others.

The color wheel in our photo today shows myriad words that describe emotions. Using emotion in your writing is not merely a matter of telling the reader that 'Sadie felt sad.' The reader is not going to experience Sadie's sadness by you merely telling her. Instead, the writer needs to show her sadness. Something like: Sadie sank onto the park bench, head down. She wiped tears from her cheeks with both hands balled into fists. She heaved a great sigh, then pulled out her phone and hit Message. 

If you want your reader to feel the emotion, you must feel it as you write. Dig deep and let it bubble forth. When writing creative nonfiction, you're telling a true story, an experience. It's all too easy to keep the emotion suppressed. Sometimes it's because it's painful to let it rise to the surface as if you are reliving the experience. If you want to write a piece that touches your reader, you must not cover the emotions you feel. 

It's not only sad things but also the joyful and the angry and frightened. Let yourself feel those emotions as you write. When I read a story about a man who is frightened, I want to feel the way his stomach clenches, his heart beats faster, the sweat that breaks out on his forehead, and more. Don't just tell me he is frightened. Show me, and I will care more about him/her.

You don't need to name the emotion if you show how the character feels. The reader will 'get it.' 

The way you show character traits can also bring emotion to your story and to your reader. When a character is a nasty person, show me enough about him/her that I will feel angry at him/her. Or give a character traits that will make me feel joy. How you build your character will influence the way the reader feels about him/her.

A story without emotion is like a pancake without syrup. You know something is missing. 

A Case for Rejection

 

Oh no! Not again.

Today I'm repeating a wonderful post from a Guest Blogger, Molly Samuels. Molly is both writer and artist so she has faced rejection in two of the creative art worlds. She has an interesting angle about rejection. Molly's words are ones you will ponder on long after reading them.

Here is Molly's original post:

Rejection hurts. Your insides shrivel, your brain shrinks, your eyes burn and maybe tears spill over. Rejection might even make you feel like you want to die. In fact, you do die a little, because everything seems to shut down. So why do we writers, and other creatives, set ourselves up for rejection every time we submit our gorgeous words for publication? I am also an artist, and as an artist, I continue to court rejection each time I submit an art quilt for an exhibit. When the inevitable rejection letter comes back, I tell myself I will never, ever go though this pain again -- until the next time.

But rejection doesn’t have to be a negative. I’m a firm believer in the adage, “The Universe will provide what you need, not what you want.” What we need and what we want are totally different outcomes. We might WANT to gain acceptance to a certain exhibit, or to sell an article, or even to wear a Size 10 again, but do we NEED those things? Not necessarily. When faced with rejection, ask yourself what you really need.  

During my quest as a new writer to find an agent, I eventually came to expect The Dreaded Rejection Letter. I’d shrug off the disappointment and file the letter away. One more rejection ticked off on the way to the limit I set for myself before giving up. How many rejections can you handle at any one time? One? Two? Twenty? I racked up over forty rejections on my first novel before I decided to move on to a different project. 

Luckier with my second novel, I found a publisher before the Fateful Fortieth rejection arrived. He said I only had to make certain changes, and he’d publish my novel. Unfortunately, those changes meant a major rewrite. Since I didn’t even like my main character, I decided not to go through the hassle, and moved on. My choice. I thought I wanted that novel published, but it turned out I didn’t need it. What I NEEDED was validation. That’s what the publisher gave me, and that made me happy. 

J.K. Rowling collected many more than forty rejections. I forget how many. A  thousand? Whatever. She believed in Harry Potter and needed for her dream to be published, so she kept going. Just look at her reward! Nancy Julien Kopp will tell you to persevere in the face of rejection, to never give up -- and she’s right. But consider, too, the Want vs Need angle. 

If your work is continually rejected, that can be a good thing. Why is it being rejected? Take a long, hard look at your product and then decide if putting it out there for public consumption will give you what you want or what you desperately need. If the reward is merely something you want, you may decide to forget it and move on to something that appeals to you more. However, if it’s something you need, you’ll learn from those rejections, make the proper adjustments (even a major rewrite!) and send your work out again and again. Eventually, that rejection stream will end in a sale.

Questions on Writing Family Stories

 

Crisp fall mornings will soon be here.

One of the questions I am always asked when I give a program on writing your family stories is this: Do I have to start at the beginning and write the stories chronologically? Maybe not those exact words but close enough. 

The answer is a great big NO! If you're writing a biography or autobiography, you would begin with the very beginning--when and where the person was born and to whom.

When writing stories about your family, the immediate and extended, you can begin with a story about your Uncle Jim that happened when he was 36 and you were a child. Then write a story about your grandmother and something that happened during WWII followed by one about you and your siblings during your teen years. There does not need to be any specific order when you write them.

That said, when you're putting your stories into a 3-ring binder, you can arrange them by the people or by the time or leave it helter-skelter. That's up to you. Notice that I mentioned a 3-ring binder to use for keeping your stories. I like them because you can easily add and rearrange your stories. You can also add dividers, although it's not necessary. 

Write the stories as the memories come to you. Maybe you hear a story at a family gathering that is new to you or one that has been repeated on a regular basis. Listening and enjoying is fine, but writing those stories soon after you hear them is better. 

Another question is: How long do the stories need to be? You can write one that is 100 words or 1000 words or more. There are no rules for this kind of story. You're the author. You decide.

Some who are beginning on the family story project might wonder if there are any rules for the actual writing. No, not a set of rules, but it would be helpful to keep a few things in mind as you write. If you do some of the following, your story will be more interesting.

1. Use active verbs--overuse of passive verbs like was, is, are, won't make for a rather ho-hum or boring story. When you use active verbs, you're showing what the person did rather than just stating or reporting. 
2. Use sensory details--show the five senses--hearing, sight, smell, touch, and taste
3. Give an idea of the place where the story happened. Instead of saying, 'It happened in Grandpa's barn, try something like I remember where it happened. Right in the middle of Grandpa Jones' big, red barn. That barn smelled of hay and cows and....  
4. Mix up the length of your sentences. A few short ones, a few longer. Watch out for overly long sentences.
5. Description helps bring your reader into the story. 
6. Put your name after the title so those in generations ahead will know who wrote the story.
7. Try to include the general time the story happened--'just before Dad left for Vietnam' or 'Elvis had died that day, and Aunt Ellen was beside herself with grief.' 
8. Don't be afraid to use some humor or emotions like sadness, anger or great joy.
9. Including a few personality traits will also bring your story to life.

All of the suggestions above are exactly that--suggestions. You write your family stories the way that is best for you. 

Book Review: Writing as a Path to Healing

 

In reference to The Write Spot:  Writing as a Path to Healing, author, Elizabeth Beechwood, said“The contributing writers delve into the pain of their past, reveal their vulnerabilities, and share the lessons they’ve learned with all of us. Their courage is written on every page of this collection.” 

After reading my contributor’s copy of editor, Marlene Cullen’s newest anthology, I am in full agreement with Ms. Beechwood. Especially the last sentence regarding courage written on every page. It is not easy to write about traumatic events, but twenty-one people have done so and were willing to share stories and poems with readers.

The writers come from various walks of life and offer readers a look into difficult times they experienced at some point. These writers all used writing as a step on their path to healing and to offer support to others. Some who write about troubled parts of their life are not willing to share what they write with others. We are fortunate that the writers in Ms. Cullen's anthology are willing to do so. 

Each writer added a writing prompt that fits with their story or poem, a short bio, and an answer to this question posed by the editor:  What scares you about writing? I found their answers interesting, revealing, and comforting.

A Resources section is a second part of the book. Those several pages were of interest to me as a writer, but anyone wanting to write about a difficult time in their life would benefit from reading this section. The sections include Freewrites, Self-Care when Writing about Difficult Situations, Seven Calming Techniques, and a group of Activities to Recharge and Refresh. 

The final section is titled Recommended Books—ones the editor found helpful on her own ‘healing journey.’ 

This is a book that I know I will read more than once, parts of it or the entire anthology. People who are on their own ‘healing journey’ or know someone who is will find this book of great interest and a guide to how writing can be real assistance—perhaps enough to spur their own writing. 

The book is the sixth in a series and can be purchased at Amazon. 

Writers and Dream Projects

 

"All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them." You probably are not surprised to learn that this quote was from Walt Disney, the top dream maker ever. 

If you have a dream about a project in your writing world, what do you do? Keep dreaming about it? Talk yourself out of it? Plunge ahead and make it happen?

When we have a big project like a book or a series of books or a series of anthologies as our goal, it can seem overwhelming. Different people will approach their dream in various ways. 

Let me tell you about a writer I knew several years ago. She came up with the idea of having a conference for writers from all over the country here in our town of about 50,000 people. Her dream was to call it "Small Town Mystery Conference." When she tossed out her idea to a small group of writers, our jaws dropped and we stared at her. The quieter we were, the more vocal she became about how it would work. She had an answer for every objection she voiced.

Lo and behold, Marilyn's dream became a reality. We did have the conference with top name mystery writers as speakers. People did come from around the country, and the whole thing was such a success that we repeated it for another two years. 

It was Marilyn's dream, but it took a village to make it happen. It took a Treasurer who kept putting the clamps on spending and a group of writers working hard for over a year. Her enthusiasm for the project rubbed off on the rest of the committee. The whole episode reminded me of the movie "Field of Dreams." 'Build it and they will come.' Marilyn engineered the building of the conference and they definitely 'did come.' More than once, committee members thought she was crazy to think we could make this happen. How wrong we all were.

That experience taught me that no dream is too big to pursue if you truly believe in what you're going after. You might need some help to achieve it, but that's alright. There are dreams that are strictly individual projects, while others require a group of people to achieve. 

Do the dreams of all writers come true? Of course not. Some end up in total disaster or a huge disappointment. There's nothing wrong with that. You know you tried. Consider people who are inventors. We all know they invent myriad numbers of gadgets before they hit on the one that is a success. 

If your dream project doesn't work the first time, try again with a different angle. I have a feeling that Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen dreamed about starting the Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies for a long time. They probably hit some brick walls before their dream became a reality. Even though they are no longer the publishers, that series is still very popular. Their dream lived on.

If you're passionate about this dream project you have, you'll persevere and have the patience to keep working until you see it to fruition. Reach for the stars, grab one, and hold on. 

Deadline Dates and Planning Ahead

 

Were you one of those students in high school and college who procrastinated until the last minute? You got your assignment done and handed in, then breathed a sigh of relief. Some of our writers today operate in the same way. 

If they're writing for a contest, there is a deadline. Writing for specific anthologies or magazines, again there is usually a deadline. They know way ahead what the date for the submission is, and they think about it, but two days prior to the date, they finally write the first draft. Which leaves little to no time to let that first draft sit and simmer, edit and revise. 

Consequently, what these writers submit will probably not be their best writing. When those end dates grow close, we want to write something but tend to hurry, Hurrying through the process isn't your best choice.

Changing your ways is a difficult process because procrastination becomes a habit. It's like people who are always late when they are invited to a dinner party. It's not that they want to create a problem for others; instead, it's a habit. Even so, habits can be broken. Time and determination are needed. 

Give yourself enough time for a writing project to get through the process of writing the first draft, letting it sit, then more time for revisions, and some final editing. Do that, and you'll be able to feel confident about what you submit.

Some Writers Fear Submitting

 

I read an essay yesterday which started with the author saying he never finished his writing projects for one good reason. He said he knew, if he completed a piece of writing, then he'd have to do something about submitting to an editor. Hey, wait! Isn't that the whole idea. Story inspiration--first draft--edit and revise--submit. That's the process we are told to follow.

Some writers have such a strong fear of failure that they cannot allow themselves to call a piece of writing completed. If they do, the next step is submission, and that step in the process terrifies some writers, while others don't give it any thought at all. They just do it. 

What is so terrifying about submitting a story or essay or poem that you wrote? There's the fear of having your submission rejected. Some writers have a hard time accepting criticism which is how they view an editor's rejection. It's not you they are rejecting. Instead, it was what you sent them and for any number of reasons. Maybe they had recently published a similar piece. Maybe you hadn't read the guidelines carefully, and you missed one or two. Maybe there were too many mechanical errors. No matter how good a story is, if it is filled with spelling and punctuation mistakes, typos, and lacks clarity, an editor will reject it. Maybe, the magazine wanted submissions on a certain theme, and yours didn't follow it.

If you can overcome the thought that the editor is criticizing you, then you can learn from the rejections you receive. Look at what was wrong and work at correcting that situation in your next submission. 

Some writers feel that submitting what they've written is akin to baring their soul to the world. They are concerned with letting editors and readers see deep inside to who they are. If that's the case, maybe writing is not for you. There are writers who write merely for the pleasure of writing and are happy to keep it for themselves. If that's the case, you're fine. No one ever said you absolutely must submit for publication. 

Another kind of writer wants to be published, has the courage to submit his/her work but fears what readers will think if he/she is fortunate enough to get published. Not all readers will love what you write, and that's okay. We are different people with a variety of likes and dislikes. If half your readers like what you write, consider yourself a success. 

If you work up the courage to submit a story or personal essay, do it with the attitude that it may or may not be accepted. If it is, do the happy dance. If it isn't, promise yourself you'll learn from the rejection and try again. Do a search for 'writer's rejections' and you'll find myriad articles addressing the topic. Read them, if for no other reason than realizing you have a great deal of company in the rejection field.

If you receive a rejection, don't stop there. Submit somewhere else. Again and again. I have a personal essay that I was pleased with when I finished it. And I still like it even though it's been rejected time and again. I put it away for a while, then try again when I run across a market I think would be a good fit. 

Fear of rejection, fear of not being good enough, fear of readers not liking your work--all of those are not unusual. They are common fears of lots of writers. Some writers have those fears only occasionally while others live with the stomach-wrenching fright on a regular basis. 

Talking with other writers about their fears and yours can be helpful. You can commiserate with humor, maybe occasional bitterness, but doing so will let you know you're not alone on a mountaintop with no way to get down. Any writer who has a fear of any kind on their writing journey has lots of company. 

If you want to be a writer, you'll need to learn to deal with and overcome your fears about this world you've chosen.

10 Little Things for Writers to Savor

 

Today's poster is made up with only four words--Enjoy the little things. We sometimes dwell on the big moments in life and in our writing world. It's easy to pass over the little things that are worth savoring.

Some little things in your writing world to enjoy:

1.  Do you appreciate the fact that you continue to get story ideas? It may be small in comparison to selling a book, but it's still a blessing, and you should be grateful.

2.  What about your ability to sit down and start typing, putting words together that create a story or poem or essay? Not everyone can do that. 

3.  Being able to write using correct spelling and punctuation. It's not a given for all.

4.  Writing with clarity. There are writers who leave readers in a muddle. The ability to let readers see clearly is a worthy trait.

5.  Having a safe, warm place to pursue your writing. Not everyone does.

6.  The ability to write a good opening. Some writers cannot master that.

7.  Having the good sense to know when to cut words, phrases, or even paragraphs. Those who do become stronger writers.

8.  Spending time with other writers. Doing so is very beneficial.

9.  Reading your published work. This brings satisfaction.

10.  The joy you derive from the writing process

Take a bit of time to ponder and enjoy the little things in your writing world. 

The Saddest Birthday

 

We mark today as the 19th anniversary since the 9-11 tragedy. No matter how many years go by, our hearts still hurt for the lives lost, and those who loved them still here to relive that infamous day. 

Today is also my husband's birthday. Each year I share an essay I wrote about the tragedy and Ken's birthday. You can read it below. 

The Saddest Birthday

Birthdays are special in our family, celebrated and recognized all the waking hours of the specific day. Not only a cake and gaily wrapped gifts mark the occasion. Extra smiles and hugs come the way of the birthday person, as well. Treasured memories of other birthdays seem to pop up during dinner table conversation. Daily chores might be canceled for the honoree. In short, the birthday person reigns as the star of the day.

But in recent years, my husband’s birthday has been clouded over with a sense of sadness and grief. His special day happens to be September 11th. Never again will we celebrate without remembering that ill-fated day in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. 

That morning I’d greeted the birthday boy with a kiss and a hug and presented him with a card and gift. He smiled broadly as he fingered the purple and white shirt with the Kansas State logo gracing its front, and I knew thoughts of wearing it to Saturday’s football game ran through his head.

After the gift-giving, we settled into our usual routine. Since Ken had retired, we spent our early mornings reading the newspaper from front to back and keeping an occasional eye on the Today show on TV. We both looked up from the newspaper at the urgent sound in the broadcaster’s voice as she narrated film showing a plane flying into a skyscraper in New York City. In less time than it takes to sneeze, the tragedy repeated itself. And we knew immediately that it was no accident.

The remainder of the day found us tuned into further reports of the devastating occurrences which are seared into the memories and hearts of all American citizens. I never made the cake I’d planned on. The birthday greeting calls our children made to their dad were not filled with good wishes and teasing remarks. Instead, these adult children of ours were as overwhelmed with the day’s happenings as we were.

Late in the day, we received word that a baby boy had been born to one of our daughter’s childhood friends. Shadows of grief surrounded the joy we felt for Jen and James and their new son. As evening fell, it occurred to me that the birth of this baby and all the other babies born on this day might be taken as a sign from God that no matter what had happened, life would go on. These new lives became seeds of hope sown in sadness.

The American people banded together on that tragic September 11th. They picked up the shards of their lives and soldiered on. Hearts shattered, but prayerful resolve pieced them together again.

This year we celebrate another birthday for my husband on September 11th. We’re back to those special celebrations once again. I’ve been mulling over cake possibilities and worrying about what to give him to commemorate the day. Even so, we’ll take time to remember the saddest birthday he ever experienced and to honor those who’ll not have an earthly birthday anymore.

2002

Writing and Pandemic Anxiety

 

Have you been dealing with a little anxiety off and on the past six months of the pandemic? Do you sometimes look like this sad doggie? I think we have all had periods of being anxious over how long this is going to go on, how we are dealing with work, school, even shopping.

We humans like things to go the way they should, and right now, they aren't. There are a lot of 'what if....?' in our lives. All this uncertainty affects pretty nearly all parts of our everyday living.

This means that our writing world can be affected, too. Back in March, when the lockdown began, I thought that being forced to stay home would give me lots of time to write. Before too long, I suddenly had no inspiration. I thought about writing, but many days that is as far as I got. Thinking about it!

I did manage to write a blog post five days a week mainly because that was a commitment I had made and felt obligated. Actually, it was good for me to have that commitment as it made me write something every day. When it came to writing a new story or essay or poem, I found that I did a lot more thinking than actual writing. I didn't stop writing, just wasn't making use of all that extra time. 

I know that many of you have gone through the same situation in your writing world. Those of you who are working from home spend so much time on a computer that you probably could care less about your writing life by the time your work day is over. Understandably so. 

Is there a solution? Is there a way to make you excited about writing something new? The first thing to do is to work on those anxious feelings. Breathing exercises help. Meditation helps. Counting your blessings helps. Staying in touch with family and friends with Facetime, phone calls, and emails help. I've been attending a writers' meeting via zoom once a week for the past several weeks. Hearing about writing and being with other writers has helped give me some desire to write more than the blog. 

I had days where I felt anxious for no solid reason, and then days when I had no anxious feelings at all. I found that when things started opening up again, and I could go to the hair salon and even have lunch outside at a restaurant, my mood improved tremendously, and yes, I wanted to write. Maybe those anxious days are fading away because I've gotten used to a new way of life. I'll be very happy to go back to the old life whenever it happens.

Someone sent me a small slip of paper, about 3 x 5 that had a pretty floral border on it. Inside that border were these words: Today I will not stress over things I cannot control. I put that paper on my fridge so that I'd see it every day. Very good advice. Remind yourself, too, that there will be an end to this virus. We all hope sooner than later, but meanwhile, we have to do all we can to keep our spirits up. 

For a writing exercise, try a freewrite with any of the following words. It, too, might help those anxious feelings. 

peace

serenity

happiness

blessings

positives

If you're a writer who has not lost inspiration and has continued to write the same amount and with the same enthusiasm, you're a very fortunate person. 

I've been feeling inspired to write lately, and it feels good. 

Writers--Age Doesn't Matter

 

When people retire, they often seek new outlets with the extra time they have. Some take up art, or making pottery, or intensive gardening. Others may have had a yen to write for many years, and now they can pursue becoming a hobbyist writer or one who writes to publish. Or even the family historian.

The desire is there, but there's also some fear that maybe this is trying something that's too difficult at the 'mature' stage of life. Maybe it's only a pipe dream. Maybe I should have pursued it in my younger years. Maybe my brain isn't working well enough to be a writer. All reasonable thoughts but also ones that will only help you talk yourself out of trying something.

There is no set age when a person should start writing. There is also no set age when it is time to quit. 

I wanted to write from the time I was in grade school, but I allowed life to get in the way and kept putting it off until suddenly I hit my mid-fifties. A situation in life left me at loose ends, being in a different community with little to do. It proved to be the perfect time for me to begin writing. It didn't frighten me because I had wanted to pursue the writing world for so very long. I plunged in headfirst and have kept on to this very day. 

If you're wondering if I could write well enough to be published right away, the answer is an emphatic No! Whether you're 20 or 50 or 70 when you begin, you're exactly that--a beginner. It's great when people do start writing with no other thought than writing itself. But, as time goes on, you begin to realize that you need to learn a little more about this craft. 

That's when you must start reading about writing, mingle with other writers in groups or one-on-one, start doing writing exercises, learning all you can about the editing process. In addition, you must train yourself to write something every day. Short or long does not matter. Just the fact of practicing your craft every day will help you become a better writer. 

Don't ever let age stop you from pursuing a dream. A big plus for those who begin writing later in life is that they have a great many life experiences to draw from. 

Stop questioning your self and start writing!

Your Own Writing Style

 

Today's quote says "I think new writers are too worried that it has all been said before. Sure it has, but not by you."  I agree, but I also feel that experienced writers can have the same kind of feeling. 

You come up with a story idea, and before long realize that someone else has already used that idea. According to many experts, there are only seven plots for stories, so, considering that, you are bound to be writing something similar to someone else. Use a search engine to find more about story plots. There are numerous articles addressing this topic and are well worth reading.

Even with a limited number of story plots, no one else will write it exactly as you do. Each one of those plots has variations. If you put each story plot in the middle of a circle, then started drawing lines from it showing where the idea can go, you'd have a great many lines to draw. 

Consider a grandmother in a story. Many times a writer will create a character based on a person they actually know. If you were fortunate enough to grow up with access to two grandmothers, you might take the best traits of each to form the one you are writing about. In the same manner, you could use the things you disliked about either or both and develop your character. Not all grandmothers are the stereotypical soft, kind, and loving person we want them to be. The point is that no one but you will create a character like yours because those other writers didn't have your grandmothers. 

Moving to nonfiction--personal essays allow you a great deal of room to be an individual in what you write. You're writing an essay based on something that happened to you, but your aim is to let readers know what you learned or to illustrate some universal truth. It's all yours.

The way you use words, or your style, is most likely going to be all yours, as well. Your writer's voice belongs to you alone. It shouldn't sound like mine or six other writers. The longer you write, the sooner your voice will be apparent. Don't ever try to write like someone else. Be yourself.

Many writing contests are divided into categories. Quite often, there will be a theme category. It might be the theme of a convention or of a certain year in a conference. If the theme category gets hundreds of entries, they are all going to be like in that the writers are all starting out with the same idea, but each one will veer onto different paths. If the theme is Wilderness Trails, what you write and what others write will be all yours. No two will be exactly alike. 

The worst thing you can do is to copy another writer's style, even if you admire that person a great deal. Be an individual with your own way of writing. Lots of people write on the same topic but they do it in their own way. Even if a topic has been written about over and over, don't shy away from it. Give the readers a different viewpoint--yours.

Write About Holidays

 

Today is Labor Day which honors workers in our country. It's also become known as the last hurrah of summer which leads to family gatherings and outings with friends. 

Many writers say they can't find story ideas. I think one of the best sources for story ideas is the numerous holidays we celebrate in the USA. There's a history behind nearly every one. There are traditions, as well, ones that are nationwide, and others in individual families. 

What can you write? 

A fiction story with a holiday as either background or part of the plot

A history of the holiday

Your family traditions for the holiday

National celebrations

A personal essay involving a holiday

A memoir piece that includes a holiday

A photo essay of a holiday

A family story about a holiday

An article on holiday parades

A children's story or picture book about a holiday

A poem highlighting a holiday

What holidays can you write about?

New Year's Day

Martin Luther King's Birthday

President's Day

Groundhog Day

Valentine's Day

St. Patrick's Day

Passover

Easter

April Fool's Day

May Day

Mother's Day

Father's Day

Graduation Day

Fourth of July

Labor Day

Halloween

Veteran's Day

Thanksgiving

Hanukkah

Christmas

New Year's Eve

For those looking for story ideas, I've given you numerous choices. It's up to you to decide what holiday to write about and what type of writing it will be--fiction, essay, poem, or something else. Remember, if you hope to submit a holiday story for publication, you should send it to editors or publishers at least six months prior to the holiday. 

Writers--Edit Without Mercy

 

Beginning writers often give a cursory overlook to what they've written and are satisfied. Big mistake. The longer we write, the more we realize the importance of careful and merciless editing. 

I've written about this topic several times. Why? Because editing is one of the top items in a writer's toolbox. 

Today's poster tells us to 'write without fear' 'edit without mercy' so when editing, we have to steel ourselves to cut words and even whole sections. We must remove the overabundance of adjectives and slash adverbs ruthlessly. 

We should replace as may passive verbs as possible. There are always going to be some passive verbs, but don't be a lazy writer who relies heavily on them instead of looking for the active ones that are far more interesting and help you show rather than tell.

We must have the patience to edit once, then let the piece sit and simmer for a few days. I guarantee that, when you read it again, you'll see more places that need attention. 

We should read our work aloud alone in a quiet place. Hearing your words spoken helps you to catch places that need help. You'll find over-long sentences when you have to stop in the middle of a sentence to catch your breath. You'll find words that you stumble over--so will a reader. You'll notice the repetition of words too close together. And many more little problems that you passed right over when you read your work silently.

Punctuation is important. Are you using commas correctly? Did you remember to use question marks when needed? Have you been consistent? When I critique the work of others, I often notice that they use two different methods of commas in a series. One way is to say--red, blue, and yellow. Another is to say--red, blue and yellow. It's a small thing, but choose the method you'll use and stay with it. Learn how to use colons and semi-colons properly. Don't overuse exclamation marks. Learn the proper way to punctuate within quote marks. 

Look for clarity. The writer knows exactly what the scene looks like or what person did what and when, but the reader may not see it unless the writer is very clear in writing the scene. The same problem can occur when readers come across pronouns that don't make clear which noun they refer to. Again, the writer knows, but the reader might not. 

You should look for places where you can use more sensory details. Again, the writer senses them as he/she writes, but the reader doesn't have a clue. The writer needs to help the reader 'see, hear, taste, feel, and smell' by what they write. Do it with showing rather than telling. 

When a writer edits, he/she must look for emotion. Does whatever emotion is indicated come through to the reader. Ask yourself if what you wrote will make the reader feel just as you did when you wrote it. If not, rewrite.

All this editing takes time and some patience, but if you make time and have the patience, you'll end up with a far better piece of writing. You'll increase your chances of being published. 

Don't Be a Sometimes Writer

 

Successful writers are not 'sometime' writers. They don't decide to make April and October the months that they give writing their full attention. They don't write for three days in a row and then not again for three months.

Your goal should be to write something every day. It doesn't need to be 1200 words a day. Even two paragraphs will help you attain that goal. Of course, we will all have days when circumstances make it impossible to write. We hope to have very few days like that.

Today's poster says: 'WRITE until it BECOMES as natural as BREATHING. WRITE until  NOT WRITING makes you ANXIOUS.' 

By writing every day, the process will likely become natural or a real part of you. Writing every day will allow you to say 'It's who I am.' 

I like the last part of the quote that says we should write until not writing makes us anxious. Nobody likes the feeling of tension or anxiety, so strive for that writing every day to feel more peaceful.

How do you manage to write every day? For starters, you need to develop discipline. Making a goal and reaching it are different things altogether. You might start out writing every day for two weeks, and then you miss a day or two. Guess what happens? It's very easy to miss that third day. 

Some writers will need to create time to write. You've heard it said before. Get up an hour, or even half-hour earlier, and write when the house is quiet. Or stay up half an hour later than normal. The one problem I find with that is my mind doesn't want to turn off when I do go to bed. My body wants to go to sleep, my mind wants to keep writing. 

Create other small snippets of time to write. Think of all the places you end up sitting in a chair waiting for someone or something. With a notebook at your side, you can snatch a little more writing time. 

Desire is necessary for you to write on a daily basis. If you don't have the urge, the passion, the desire to write, you are not going to be able to meet your goal. When it becomes drudgery instead of a natural instinct, it's time to evaluate your writing life.

Try to develop these three:  Discipline  Time Management   Desire

Write Poetry Using Colors

 

I recently heard a children's author and illustrator suggest a writing exercise that might be fun. 

She said to visit your local paint store, or department within a larger store, and gather as many paint chip samples as your conscience will allow. 

Take them home, spread them out, and start working on a poem using the paint chip color names. You'll want to play around with them to see what different places they can take you. You're not locked into these names only, but use them as a base for the poem you write. See how many names you can incorporate.

Here are a few that I found at a Sherwin Williams website:

• Repose Gray
• Pink Shadow
• Gauntlet Gray
• Reflection
• Crushed Ice
• Rosedust
• White Hyacinth
• Queen Anne Lilac
• Cajun Red
• Sea Salt
• Passive

These are only a few samples. You'll find many more to your own liking when you visit a place with myriad paint chips. While you're choosing, remember that someone had to come up with these interesting names. One more kind of writing.

I think you could do this with prose as well, although the exercise seems to lend itself to poetry very well. 

Writing exercises can be very simple but productive. You might have fun picking out those paint chips at the store. Take them home, sort them out, slip them around and see what comes of it. 

A Book Review--A Unique Travel Memoir

  

I first learned about author Carole Bumpus when she was a Guest Blogger on Kathy Pooler's blog. Carole was promoting her latest book which is a travel memoir filled with family stories and foods of the northern regions of France. I was intrigued for two reasons. I am half French in heritage, and I have traveled that region in the past. Maybe reason number three is that I enjoy learning about ethnic foods, and tasting them and cooking them. 

I ordered "Searching for Family and Traditions at the French Table" which is actually Book 2. Book 1 is the same format but centered on the southern part of France. I love family stories, and this book is chock full of them. 

Carole, an American, is guided through a three-week tour of regions like Brittany, Normandy, Auvergne, and the Loire Valley by a French friend named of Josianne. It is through Josianne that Carole is able to visit everyday homes of the French people to hear about their traditions and family stories, especially memories of what life was like during WWII when they were under German occupancy. Even though both WWI and WWII happened many years earlier, they still influence these families.

On a few nights, they stayed in B&Bs and even a castle, all of which were filled with local color and more good food. Otherwise, the two women were guests in the homes of Josianne's friends and family.

The author is treated to numerous delightful meals, many of which stemmed from peasant foods, called 'cuisine pauvre' in French. She and Josianne also ate some meals in restaurants in small villages that served excellent meals allowing for interviews with the chefs.

One reason Carole and Josianne set out on the trip was to trace the places where Josianne's mother had lived, to learn about her family heritage which was a bit of a mystery, and to visit her gravesite. Marcelle had been a mother to Josianne but a friend to Carole. Her story is woven through many of the stories of the people Josianne introduces to Carole.

The author has the ability to bring you with her into the homes she visited. I felt as if I were meeting these same people and hearing their family stories first-hand. I longed to taste the foods described.

There is a section of recipes if you'd care to try your hand at some French peasant cooking. 

The book received the Silver Medal Europe for Best Regional Non-Fiction, 2020 IPPY Awards. 

For those who have traveled to France and those who have not, this culinary adventure would be of interest. Many of the family stories stayed with me days after I finished reading the book. Foodies will revel in the descriptions of the meals. If you're looking for something entertaining and informative, give this book a try. Find it at Amazon or by doing a search on the title and author. It is a large size paperback. 

Note:  Carole made recordings and took copious notes with the help of Josianne interpreting for the people they visited. She used much of the information to write a novel based on Marcelle's life. Her book is titled "A Cup of Redemption."