Blog Notes and a Writing Exercise

I don't know about you, but for me, June passed in a flash. There were so many things I hoped to get accomplished this month, but my list is nowhere near complete. Ah well, there is always July. 

One of the big matters on my list was to get my subscriber list transferred over to a new email service since Google is terminating the one that goes with my blogspot.com service now. Why they have chosen to do this, I don't know. I do know that they have given a major headache to many a blogger. 

Most bloggers are not technology people, not unless they're writing about technology. But cooks, artists, moms, daycare providers, and writers are usually not well versed in what it takes to switch over to a new service, and that's after you figure out how to export your subscriber list. The second part for me is done. The first one is half-done.

I am planning to use Mailerlite as my new email service. I filled out pages of questions a few days ago, but it still was not enough. I'm working on getting the final pieces to the puzzle. If you do not get an email with my post tomorrow or Friday, it is because all is not completed yet. I may need to call (scream) for help from an IT person. 

Sadly, those IT people do not come running at your first call (scream) so I can't give you an "It's all done now." date. Writer Granny's World will be back in some form sooner or later. Sooner, I hope.

Meanwhile, how about a writing exercise today? Descriptive prose is something we all would like to master, whether we're writing fiction or a personal essay. We certainly need descriptive writing in poetry, as well. 

Exercise:  Select any word from the list below. (hopefully, you'll do several). Write a paragraph that describes the word. Don't overload on adjectives. Work on showing rather than telling whenever possible. The more you do this type of exercise, the more natural this kind of writing will be when you are writing on your own. 

1. firecrackers
2. trash can
3. football player
4. ballet dancer
5. old house
6. roses
7. lemonade
8. monkey
9. five-year-old
10. flag
11. tractor
12. umbrella
13. snow storm
14. flood
15. pizza
16. passenger train

 

Three Choices for Writers

 

Three choices in our poster today. As writers, we have the opportunity to select any one of them. It all depends on whether you are the pessimist, the optimist, or the realist. Or maybe you waver between the three.

In a perfect world, we'd all choose the realist. At least, I'd feel very much in charge. We all know, however, that we don't live in a perfect world. Let's look at these three possibilities and how we might handle each when writing a 1000 word short story.

If I'm the pessimist, I would delay starting to write the story. I'd complain that this wasn't the right day. I might tell myself my mood would be better tomorrow. Or I'd convince myself the story idea isn't fully formed yet. So, I'll wait until I feel everything is just right. The question is--will the time ever be right? Or will this writer keep putting off writing the story?

If I'm the optimist, I will get ready to write, but maybe everything is not exactly the way I'd planned. So, I'll sit here and hope a brilliant idea will come to me so I can start writing this story that has been haunting me for weeks. Eventually, this writer will get around to writing the story but not without delay.

If I'm the realist, I set things up so that I can sit down today and write that story I've been thinking about for a long time. If I run into problems, I'll work them out. Things can be changed. I know that from past experience. I'll get that story written right away.

You have a choice. Sit around and wait, hope things work out for this story, or make the changes needed so the story idea will come to fruition. 

Once again, it's up to you to make the choice that will work best, the one that works in your favor. The first two are easy. You tell yourself to sit and wait and see what happens. The third one will be more of  a challenge, and it will also help you create a good story. 

Subscriber Woes for this Blog

 

I have used Blogger for nearly twelve years, and all has been well. They sent emails to subscribers every time I posted via FeedBurner.  Recently, Google decided to ax FeedBurner which left me in a quandary. As of July 1st, no emails will be sent to subscribers by them,

I am currently trying to get a new email subscription service. I thought it was all set up until I received an email saying they could not approve my account. It seems I had marked one box with an incorrect answer. I wrote to them and have asked to have my answer corrected and my account approved. 

I'm a blogger and a writer, not a technology guru. Sometimes the questions asked were difficult for me to figure out. Sure hoping I can get this worked out.

Hooray! Mailerlite approved my account. I don't know what will happen today. You may still get this sent via Feedburner and also Mailerlite. Or one of them. Or none! This whole thing is making me nervous. Those who read my posts on facebook pages will have no problem.

Once things start working alright, we'll get back to posting about the writing world. 

Kindred Verse by Julie Sellers is a Fine Read

 

If you're familiar with the Anne of Green Gables series of books, you'll be delighted to read Julie Seller's new book Kindred Verses, subtitled Poems Inspired by Anne of Green Gables. The cover illustration depicts Anne's bedroom at the house called Green Gables where the orphan girl found a home with two elderly siblings, Marilla and Matthew. The story takes place on Prince Edward Island in Canada and has delighted young women and others for many decades. 

Julie Sellers discovered Anne Shirley at age 14 when she read the first of many books about this young woman. In Anne, she found a 'kindred spirit' and a new friend. Ms Sellers knew there were others in the world who identified with Anne just as she did. More kindred spirits. She hopes that readers will renew their own relationship with the feisty young orphan girl or cultivate one if they do not already know her. 

There are several forms of poetry in the collection, including free verse, haiku, sexku and more. A quote from the books precedes many of the poems Ms. Sellers offers her readers. Long and short, all illustrate the art of putting words together in a masterful way that paint a clear picture. The poems are to be read again and again and to treasure. 

The illustrations, while lovely, do not detract from the poems. Instead, they enhance the poetry and bring the reader a vision of Anne's world on Prince Edward Island. 

This would be a wonderful book for pre-teens and young teens as well as adults who enjoyed reading the Anne of Green Gables series in their own young years. It is a book you will want to read more than once. One that you can curl up with on a winter night with a blanket and cup of hot chocolate or read on a porch swing on a hot summer day with a glass of lemonade.

Find a copy using your favorite search engine at Amazon, Blue Cedar Press, and other booksellers online. 

Writers--Change Can Be Difficult

Most of us find change difficult. Have you ever gone to a committee meeting and something new is proposed. Suddenly, someone sits straight up in his/her chair and says, "We've never done it that way before!" Add  a steely look in the eyes and mouth set firmly. Do I dare say that the odds are that the dissenter is an older person, well, maybe middle-aged to older. It seems that, the older we get, the harder it is to change. 

Our poster today says "If you change nothing, nothing will change." Wise words which we would we should give serious thought to. Maybe another way to say this would be that old adage Don't get stuck in a rut. 

As writers, we look for a comfort zone. If we have more fiction accepted than essays or non-fiction, we're likely to stay right where we are. Why knock success? But maybe a little change would be good for our writing life. You won't know unless you try it.

Think about your method of finding places where you want to submit your writing. Do you have a certain way that you make the search every time? Maybe you should try something different. You might find some new places that accept your kind of writing. If you don't find it beneficial, you can always go back to your old way. 

Look at the mechanics of your writing. Do you always, always use short choppy sentences? Do you use two or three adjectives? Do you use a lot of sentence fragments? All you have to do is try to put a few longer sentences into your writing. Try using one adjective for a stronger sentence. An occasional sentence fragment is acceptable, but not using them like pixie dust sprinkled throughout your story. These examples all require minor changes which can only make your writing stronger. 

Are you the writer who never attends writing groups, conferences, or workshops? There are many who do not, and it is by their choice. They feel they don't need that outside influence in their work. But what if you did attend an occasional workshop or conference? You might glean some good information and meet people who have the same interest you do. As for writing groups, if you visit one and don't like it, you never have to go back. If you join one and suddenly hate it, quit. 

The main thing here is to give change a try. If you do, nothing is set in cement. You are free to go back to what makes you comfortable. But don't be in a hurry to quit and head back to what makes you feel good. Give it a little time. It's quite possible that you will find change quite beneficial. Change can give us a fresh point of view and energize our writing.

 

Write in a Way That Feels Right For You

 

 

No two of us are alike, and that thought applies to writers as well as the general population. We may have the same physical parts, but the way we think and act are different. 

If writing a series of books is what Sam wants to do, then he should go for it. If Cynthia likes to write poetry and nothing else, she should pursue that line. If Zoe wants to write historical non-fiction, then she should concentrate on that. But, what if one of these writers wants to step outside their boundaries that they may have set for themselves? Go for it! I always encourage writers to try another form of writing than they are used to. It's perfectly alright. 

Because we are individuals, we should do what works for us. If it's staying within one genre of writing, fine. If it's to write in several genres, fine. If it's sit and think about writing, fine. Do what is comfortable for you. Not what your friends in your writing group are doing. Do what feels good for you and nobody else. 

I can't write like John Grisham, and you probably can't either. There is only one Grisham, and there is only one you. Be yourself. Write like yourself. Grisham has his own style. I do and so do you. We are single writers, not part of a herd or a bevy or a flock. 

Take a few minutes to make a personal assessment. Ask yourself the following questions:

• What do you like to write?
• What do readers know about your writing?
• Do you write as yourself or trying to mimic another writer?
• Are you willing to grow as a writer by continuing to learn about the craft?
• What background do you have that qualifies you to be a writer?
• What life experiences influence your writing?
• Are you willing to be an individual and write your way?

As our poster says, do what is right for you. Read and listen to other writers, but don't feel the need to be a copycat. What works for one writer doesn't always work for another. Don't be afraid to step outside the box if it works for you. 

This doesn't mean you needn't bother to read about the craft or you don't have to attend workshops and conferences for writers. Learn the basics, then adapt to your individual methods. 

Writers--Simply Begin!

 

How many times have you thought about writing a new story, poem, or essay, but somehow it stays in your mind, never making it to paper or screen? Admit it. It happens. I've done it, and I bet most of you have, as well.

Why do we walk around with the idea in our head but never do anything about it? That silly old 'fear' comes into play sometimes. We might be concerned that the idea isn't really that good, or we are afraid we can't do it justice. Let's face it--an idea is only an idea. It takes the writer to develop it fully and do it well. Than can be scary. 

We can get so busy in our everyday life that the 'great idea' we had never gets addressed, even though it is still floating around our inner self day after day. 

Another reason is that we doubt our own ability to turn an idea into a great project. Self-doubt is a beast to be met and conquered. If we don't try, we'll never know just how good our idea is. So, sweep away the fear, the doubt, and the too-busy excuses and begin.

Yes, that is what it takes. We must begin. Write a sentence, then another, and another. Walk away if you must but come back and write some more. Once we have those first sentences, we have something to build upon. 

So. let's pluck one of those ideas for a story, poem, or essay--even a book--out of our mind and begin!

Why Bother To Write?

 

One more post from the past. It was published in a writer's newsletter some years ago.

Does it sometimes appear that writing is meant to defeat a writer rather than buoy her to great heights? Do you ever wonder why in the world you're beating your head against the writing wall? Have you asked yourself “If it is this hard to become a widely published writer, why bother?”

We bother because we enjoy stringing words to make sentences, sentences to make paragraphs and paragraphs to create a story. We bother because there is something satisfying to our soul when we write. We bother because we are inspired by thoughts spinning through our minds, thoughts wanting to be sifted and sorted and put together coherently.

We bother, and I include myself here, because we love to write. We bother because we have something to say. We bother because we may want to prove something to ourselves. We bother because we know that the more we write, the more we grow as a writer.

We bother because we've had positive feedback from readers. We bother because we've had some encouraging rejections from editors. We bother because we've had enough acceptances to know that we are not a washout as a writer. We bother because we have something to offer to others. We bother because we’d miss writing too much if we stopped.

Now, aren't those enough reasons to stay on the writing journey? They are for me, and I hope you feel the same. Just keep in mind that there is no express elevator. You move up one step at a time.

Driving With Dad

 

One more story about me and my dad for this Father's Day weekend. We sometimes learn lessons long after they are taught.

During my growing-up years, my dad drove a 1936 Plymouth, moved on to a 40’s model Buick and then a 50’s era Chrysler that was his pride and joy. Every one of those vehicles was a used car, but Dad burst with pride over each one. He kept them washed and waxed, made sure the engine hummed, and brushed and vacuumed the upholstered seats regularly.

I learned many life lessons during conversations in those cars, usually when Dad and I drove somewhere without my mother and brothers. Both of us sitting in the front seat of the car, we bumped along the brick street in front of our apartment building, our words quaking as we passed over each new brick the tires hit. Finally, we’d come to a paved street, and our voices resounded normally again. An innocent remark from me as we rode along brought forth long orations from Dad on more than one occasion. 

My dad was a short, skinny guy, but his inner strength and street smarts created a powerful person. He steered with one hand and gestured to me with the other, citing one example after another to prove a point.

In my childhood years, I considered his words as nothing but lectures. Never content to say a little about a subject, he’d begin with the important part of the lesson and continue on and on until I effectively tuned him out. My own silent rebellion. I must have had a mental file folder in which I saved those little lectures, for bits and pieces float through my mind even now, nearly 70 years later. They’ve helped to make me the strong person I am today.

Dad grew up in the Depression years. He lost his father at the age of fourteen and dropped out of high school after four months to search for work. He supported his mother and himself with one scrounged-up job after another, finally settling in permanently at International Harvester Co. when he turned eighteen. They hired him as a truck driver, and Dad moved on through the ranks of the parts department in a distribution center and finally to the General Office in downtown Chicago where he worked with men who, unlike himself, held college degrees. He supervised a department of men and women until his retirement, and never was a man more loyal to an employer than he.

As an adult, my dad’s words revisited me when I attended college, taught school, married, and became a mother. One of the things we often talked about in those old cars was loyalty. “Loyalty,” Dad told me, “will reap benefits beyond your wildest dreams.”  He repeatedly instructed me and my brothers to be loyal to our family, to our employer, and to our friends. Mixed within the admonition to show loyalty was respect and integrity as well as fidelity, subheadings for his favorite topic.

 As a child and especially in my teen years, I resented Dad’s lectures and did my best to ignore them. In my young adult years, Dad often grasped an opportunity to repeat those lectures. The same stories, the same words, the same lesson, and I’d think ‘oh no, not again.’ How many times could I listen to what International Harvester Co. did for him? That his loyalty to them was returned a thousand-fold over the years. And didn’t I already know that his loyalty to his best friend resulted in a lifelong friendship?

Dad died over twenty-five years ago, but the lessons he taught through words and example live on. The words I naively thought I had tuned out so long ago come back to me at the strangest moments. When I see examples of others’ loyalty, Dad’s words drift through my mind, and I wish I might thank him now for what he taught me all those years. I tried to be loyal to God, my employer, my family, and my friends exactly as he’d said while we drove all around Chicago in his treasured cars. And he was so right. I’ve reaped the benefits in the form of blessings from God, good working relationships, a wonderful family life, and the joy of many warm friendships.

He didn’t have a college degree, but he knew the values to instill in his children and he worked hard to ensure we learned the meaning of loyalty. The little lectures in the car and sometimes at the dining room table were re-enforced by the way he led his own life. I listened and observed, quite often subconsciously, and applied what I learned throughout my own life. Thanks a million, Dad. 

Dancing With Dad

 

In honor of Father's Day this weekend, this is a story about my dad. It was published in Reminisce magazine a few years ago.

Most girls remember their first dance with joy, but I had a dilemma when mine was only days away. Not a boy asks girl dance. Instead, all the girls in my eighth grade Girl Scout troop would go to the Valentine Dance with their fathers. Not only for a dance, but dinner, too. In the early fifties, that was heady stuff.

Oh, how I wanted to go, but would my dad be interested? Maybe he’d like the fact that we’d be eating and dancing in the basement of Ascension Church, the one he’d attended in his youth. Night after night went by, and I didn’t utter a word about the dance. Thirteen-year-old girls often lack confidence, and in my slightly warped early-teen thinking process, it occurred to me that if I didn’t invite him, Dad couldn’t say no. I lay awake a long time each night telling myself I had to ask. How could I go to the dance if I didn’t?  

My father disciplined my brothers and me with an iron hand, figuratively not literally. He believed in being strict, being consistent in punishments, but also fair. When he gave us a ‘No,’ he meant it, and no whining or pleading with him to change his mind was tolerated. But finally, my desire to go to the dance overcame my fear of a possible negative reaction.

At the dinner table one evening, I cleared my throat and everyone looked at me--Mom, Dad, and my two younger brothers. Heat radiated in my cheeks, and my hands shook a little when I picked up my fork and looked at my father.

“My scout troop is having a Father-Daughter Dinner Dance a week from Friday, and it’s at Ascension Church. I don’t suppose you… “  I took a deep breath. “Can we go?”

Dad looked across the table at my mother, and a smile spread across his thin face. I knew they were saying something to one another in that silent language all parents seemed to have. Then he spoke to me, and I noted a twinkle in his hazel eyes.

“I’d love to be your date to the dance” 

Relief washed over me and a flicker of excitement began to build. Suddenly, a week from Friday sounded all too far away. I checked off the days, one by one.

Mom made me a new dress, perfect for the fifties decade, a wide circle skirt in a satin peach fabric with black flocked flowers scattered over it.. The short-sleeved, scoop neck top was black, a color I’d never worn. It was the most grown-up dress I’d ever had. I wore black ballerina flats with it and a gold necklace of my mother’s. Dad looked so nice in a dark blue suit, a white shirt and a striped tie. He’d shined his shoes until he could see his own reflection in them. I thought he looked a little bit like Frank Sinatra and a little bit like Bing Crosby. My friend, Lois, was afraid her dad would come in his work clothes, the ones he wore driving his big truck all over Chicago. 

We drove the few blocks to the church on that cold February evening. The aroma of roasting meat met us as we started down the steps to the lower level of the church. In my eyes, that basement looked beautiful with twisted crepe paper ribbons and hearts to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Paper lace doilies adorned the tables and red cardboard cupids posed with bow and arrow on each one.  We sat with two of my friends and their fathers at a long table. The girls all giggled a lot, and the dads talked about sports, weather and politics. Lois and I exchanged grins which translated to our being proud of our dads who were both dressed-up. We ate well-done roast beef, mashed potatoes with a rich, dark gravy, and green beans. Rolls and butter traveled up and down the table more than once, and dessert turned out to be chocolate cake. Then, it was time to dance.

The lights were dimmed and the scout leader played record after record, while every girl danced with her father. Dad had given me a few instructions before we left home. Right there in our living room with my mother and my brothers giggling and making hilarious comments. But I managed to get the box step down well enough to be able to actually dance with my dad on that special evening. He whispered in my ear more than once to tell me to dance on my toes, not flat-footed, to let him lead. And he never said a word when I stepped on his well-shined shoes once or twice. I watched the other girls and their dads twirling around the dance floor. We were doing as well as any of them, and that flicker of excitement bubbled inside once again.

We danced and danced that evening. Nobody changed partners. Every girl stayed with her own father. When we got home, my mother wanted a full rundown on the dinner and the dancing. I have a feeling my report and my dad’s might have been somewhat different. I went to bed a happy girl.

I’ve never forgotten that the first time I went to a dance it was with my dad. That night, he treated me like an adult for the first time ever. I thought about it later at high school and college dances. Even now, when I dance at a wedding reception with my husband of many years, I think about the things Dad taught me, about the way he whispered in my ear so no one else would know. It’s one more thing I silently thank him for.

Writers Don't Always Write a Good Book

 

Another post from the past:

I read a wonderful book recently, which shall remain nameless for reasons apparent further into this post.

It was a real page turner and so well written that it grabbed me in the opening pages and held on until I closed the book after finishing it.

I decided I'd like to read something else by the same author, so I looked up her credits and found that the book I'd just read was her second published novel. I checked out her first book at our library and was eager to read it.

What a disappointment it was. It was a historical novel, like the other book, but set in an earlier time. It had all the elements of what should have been a good novel. There was a little romance, a mystery, a ghost, descriptive passages, an interesting setting. But I had to littering slog through it. There was an abundance of unnecessary material, and I got frustrated waiting for something important to the tale to happen. I kept plugging away at it thinking it was going to get better. It didn't. Finally, after going two-thirds of the way through the book, I flipped to the final chapter to see what happened to the characters. It was then that it hit me that I didn't really like any of these people, could not relate to any of them. The whole dreary thing disappointed me.

It made me wonder why an author cannot write a winning story every time. Maybe it's like a racehorse who cannot win the race every time they fly out of the starting gate. And maybe we shouldn't expect an author to write the same kind of story (an interesting one) every time. The ones who stay in our minds and who make lots of money writing have the ability to do that. Maybe we shouldn't expect it of every author.

I don't write novels,, but I do know that some of my essays and inspirational creative nonfiction is better than others. It would be wonderful to have a winner every time, but that might happen only in a perfect world.

I reminded myself that even though this author had written one excellent book and one not so hot, she did get two novels published which is more than a good many writers can claim.

- September 12, 2014 (original post date)  

Thinking About Theme

Summer Flowers

Today's post is another from the past. It addresses the subject of 'theme' which can be confusing.

Writing is a gift given by God to only a few people.

The craft of writing can be learned by anyone with a desire to write.

Some truth rings in each of these statements. There are definitely people who seem to have a natural ability to write prose that sings, but with study and practice, along with a desire to learn the craft, anyone can write prose that is worthy.

It does not necessarily follow that because you can speak, you can write. Good writing comes down to identifying what tools you need to learn the craft and putting them to use.

An understanding of theme is one of those basic tools.

Theme is often misunderstood or even ignored by the beginning writer and also by some who claim experience in the writing world. In her book Write Away, Elizabeth George says “…most novels are unified around their theme. This—the theme—is the basic truth about which you are writing, the idea you’re playing with..., or the point you are attempting to make.” This internationally best selling novelist goes on to say that even if the theme isn’t addressed directly, the unification of the subplots will make it clear to the reader.

The theme in fiction and nonfiction is the central idea, or focus, that runs through the entire story.  For instance, most fairy tales use the theme of good vs. evil. We select a theme from both good and bad principles of life—guilt, greed, revenge, kindness, service to others, and unconditional love are all possible subjects for a theme in a story. Try making a list of conceivable themes for future stories.

The story you write should illustrate the theme without preaching to the reader. Few readers want to be told what the theme is. It’s much more fun to figure it out as you read. The theme should come through in subtle ways. If it doesn’t, it’s time to go back, rethink and revise. Ask yourself what message you want the reader to take away.

Some people confuse theme and plot. An author friend who writes historical fiction says that what your characters do in a story is your plot, but what they learn is the theme. The plot should illustrate your theme and leave a lasting impression on the reader.

Do you select a theme and write a story around it? Or should you write a story and see a theme emerge little by little? There is no set rule. Either way works, but you must be careful that you don’t scatter too many themes throughout the story. All that it does is to confuse the reader who might think: What in the world is she trying to tell me? Pick a theme and stay with it.

When you pick up a book for your own pleasure, read with a critical eye. Look for theme in every piece you read. Search for the message the author sends and ask yourself if the plot of the story brought out the theme. With practice, you’ll find it easier to mentally critique the stories you read, and writing your own stories with a theme in mind won’t be nearly so difficult.

Some Points To Remember

1. Theme is the central idea, or focus, that runs through the entire story.

2. The story should illustrate the theme.

3. What characters do is a plot, but what they learn is the theme.

4.  Let the theme come through the story in subtle ways; don’t preach.

- October 18, 2018 (original publication date)  

 

Waiting Reaps Dollars for this Writer

 

Several years ago, I posted a personal essay on a website for writers where anyone could post whatever they’d written. Some were very amateur in substance and execution while others were well done. I received an email from an editor who had read the piece at Our Echo (www.ourecho.com). She invited me to submit my essay to a Guideposts anthology. This was a paying market, whereas the other was not. They accepted my personal essay and sent me $50.

In midsummer of 2019, I happened to notice a listing for a magazine called Kaleidoscope published by the United Disability Services. Their guidelines at https://www.udsakron.org/kaleidoscope-magazine/submit-article/ stated that they liked stories written by people who had a disability, but would accept stories about disabilities from other writers, too. I pondered a while and then decided to submit “The Perfect Grandchild” since it appeared to be a fit for the magazine, and their website indicated they accepted reprints. 

Months passed with no response so I placed a big NO next to the listing in my Submissions Chart and moved on. More than a year later, an editor from Kaleidoscope contacted me with the news that they ‘might’ want to publish “The Perfect Grandchild.” If interested, I was to fill out a long form with information about me. Again, they restated that publication was only a possibility. 

What was there to lose? Nothing. I returned the completed form and then waited several more weeks. With no word from them, I figured it was a no-go deal. Not long after I had crossed the possibility off my list, I heard from the editor who said he would like to publish my work in the next issue. Again, came the statement inferring it might be pulled at the last minute. 

I felt a little like that donkey and the carrot dangling in front of its nose only to be unreachable. Another lesson in frustration.

A year and a half after I had originally submitted to Kaleidoscope, I received a link to the new issue of the magazine, including my story, and a check for $75 arrived shortly after. The quality of the magazine and the stories published in it pleased me. 

Even though it took some time and a lot of wondering on my part, “The Perfect Grandchild” found a home once again. We know very little happens in a quick 1-2-3 fashion in our writing journey. My two keywords as I have traversed my writing path are ‘patience and perseverance.’ I had to use a measure of both when submitting to Kaleidoscope. Would I do it again? Absolutely. 

Recently, I had a letter of acceptance from Chicken Soup for the Soul for a story I submitted in November of 2019 for a dog-themed book. I had long since considered it a NO. Yet, here was the letter saying “The Four-Legged Nanny” would be in a new book titled My Heroic, Hilarious, Human Dog to be published this coming September with a $200 check to follow. 

Perhaps it was put in a list of stories possible for later or an editor remembered it. I have been published 23 times in Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies, so my name is familiar to the editors. Another positive for submitting to the same publication over and over. Their guidelines at https://www.chickensoup.com/story-submissions/story-guidelines are detailed but clear. 

I learned two lessons through these experiences:  Reprints work and never count a submission out even when more than a year has passed since submitting.

 

Cutting Words in Your Writing

 

NOTE:  I have missed posting here the past few weeks. I am doing better with the health issues that kept me from posting, but still have a way to go. I'm going to post on days I feel up to doing so and may be repeating posts from the past at times. Today, an older post about cutting words came to mind when I recently needed to cut well over 400 words from a story. Impossible? No. Difficult? Yes It can be done. Read below about some of the way you can cut words without losing your story. Sometimes, those cuts make for a stronger piece in the end. 

Let's play What if...? What if you have a wonderful personal essay of around 1600 words. When you begin looking for a place to send it, you find that what you've written would be a perfect fit for a Chicken Soup for the Soul book. You are sure your essay will be a winner. You can almost see an image in your mind of what you've written in print in the book. But then you check the guidelines and note that the maximum number of words the editors will accept is 1200. 

Your heart falls right down to the soles of your feet. 1600 vs 1200! That means cutting 400 words. Not possible you think. You call a friend who has been published in that anthology several times. "How serious are they about word count?" you ask. You sink into a chair when your friend responds, "Very serious. I mean--they aren't kidding." 

What if you try to cut the extra 400 words? It would mean you can submit the essay feeling confident because you followed the guidelines. It might also mean a lot of work. What if you lose something big in the story by cutting 400 words? What if you don't want to tackle the job? Not an option? Then, it's time to get to work.

Go through the text and highlight places where you have used more than one adjective to describe a noun. Choose one and toss the other. Now, check for adverbs. Do you really need to say '...he said angrily?' Drop the adverbs wherever possible. 

Go back to the beginning and look for overly long sentences. Ask yourself how you can condense what you've said into a shorter sentence. Sometimes reversing the order of a sentence will allow you to cut some of the words. 

There are many unnecessary words that we unconsciously use when we write. Words like really, very, just, rather, certainly don't add to what you're saying. They only add fluff. The sentence is usually stronger without them. 

You can hyphenate some words and also use contractions instead of two words. Say I'd instead of I would. Try he'll instead of he will.

You can turn some nouns into verbs. Say I decided instead of I came to the decision. In this example, you have used two words instead of five. Do that in many places and you can cut a lot of words.

Watch for redundancy. We can make a point, then tend to repeat the same point in other words in the next paragraph. Cut one of the sentences. It might even be a paragraph. It's a common mistake--repeating the same idea in different words. As writers, we don't always give our readers enough credit for 'getting it' the first time we make the point. 

Next, go through the text again and ask yourself if there are sections that can be taken out that wouldn't affect the story itself. More often than not, you can find whole paragraphs that are not crucial. You might like them, but when cutting, be ruthless. 

Stephen King's advice for cutting words is worth reading and heeding. He said: “Kill your darlings, kill your darlings, even when it breaks your egocentric little scribbler's heart, kill your darlings.”

What if you follow all this advice for cutting 400 words from your personal essay? It just might allow you to cut those 400 words. I know because I've done it.

January 17, 2019 (original post date)