Flowers and Questions For Writers

 

Some time ago, I started sharing photos of flowers on my Facebook page. They were a big hit with my Facebook friends, and so I have continued adding one new floral picture every day. Why do people like them? 

I think the beauty alone of the various kinds is one reason. Another is that they remind us of spring and summer, seasons most of us enjoy. Flowers also represent kindness and love. They soothe the problems we all carry with us. They remind us of happy moments. Yes, there are many reasons to enjoy the flower photos.

How about in your writing life? Do any of the reasons listed above figure there, as well? When you are looking at your writing world, do you see kindness and love? Does writing take you away from other everyday cares? Do you think of the happy moments in your writing life?

Is your writing life a mixed bouquet or made up of all one thing like a dozen pink roses in a vase? Do you write in one genre only, or do you spread yourself into other areas giving yourself that mixed bouquet? 

There is beauty in flowers. Do you find anything beautiful on your writing journey path? 

If you assess your writing world with a positive attitude, I think you can find many of the same attributes the flowers have. Dwell on the negatives, and your writing life will look like a bunch of wilted daisies. 

Flowers lift us up and make us smile. Does your writing life do that for you? 

Perhaps a vase of flowers in your writing area, or several floral pictures on the walls will perk you up, make you ready to write each day, and find joy in putting words together for a story, essay, or poem.

Unfinished Pieces of Writing

 

I only like the first part of today's poster quote. Keep calm. That's good advice for almost any situation and definitely for writers. The second part--and let karma finish it--is passing the buck to someone else. It's you and me, the writers, who need to complete the tasks we have before us in our writing journey.

Once again, we're saying 'it's up to you.' I have a good many friends who are writers. I know I can call on them for an opinion or thoughts on how to solve a problem within a piece I'm writing, but there is no way I can ask them to finish my project. They might laugh or roll their eyes or give me an outright "What?" answer. I would never expect that another writer would finish what I've started, and I also would never ask. It's up to me to complete any writing project I've started.

How many unfinished pieces of writing are gathering dust in your files? You've probably put in a lot of time and thought to each one. Then something stopped you from finishing, or revising and then completing. It's often wise to set a piece of writing aside when you have reached a problem area. In fact, it is recommended, but beware of letting it sit far too long, of never going back to solve the problem. I find that the longer I let a draft sit, the easier it is to let it stay right in that file waiting for my attention. 

Why not spend a day looking over those unfinished projects in your files. Does one reach out to you more than the others? If so, that's the one you should work on, revising and polishing so it is ready for submission. Or ready to be included in your Family Stories book. Or ready to send to a contest. 

If you resurrect some of those languishing drafts, you'll feel a great sense of accomplishment. You'll also have something to submit to a publication or writing contest. Hooray! 

Some writers rarely finish. They would rather begin to write a brand new story, or essay, or poem. It's the idea of writing they like more than completing a project and then moving on to a new one. Fear also plays a small part. The subconscious mind can tell the writer she/he will have to submit if the story is finished, and who knows what might happen? Good grief, it might be rejected! Well, many of those submissions will be rejected, but some might find acceptance. You won't know unless you make the effort to finish and submit. 

Set a goal to work on at least one unfinished piece per week, or even one a month. January is known to be the month to clean up all kinds of things in our lives. Our writing life needs some cleaning out, too. 

Goals and Determination for the Writer

 

Our photo quote today brings to mind the fable of The Tortoise and the Hare. The outcome of the race they ran together is legendary. The tortoise never stopped, although he moved slowly. He had a destination and the determination to reach it. The flighty little hare thought he was so far ahead that he could stop and rest, and, well--you know the rest of the story. 

Shouldn't we writers be like the tortoise in that we have a destination and should use determination to get there? If we have no goals, we will most likely not drum up the determination needed. 

If you haven't set any goals in your writing life, pause and give some thought as to what it is you hope to accomplish on your writing journey. Do you want to eventually write a book? Is it in your mind to have a collection of many of the poems you've written? Maybe you want to write a memoir or enter X number of writing contests this year. 

One writer can have multiple goals, and they can be widely varied. Some might be as simple as marking off an hour each day to write, or as complicated as the intention to publish two books this year. My personal feeling is that we need to make sure that the goals we set are attainable. Better to move up in steps than to leap from step one to the top tier in a short time. That's an easy way to come tumbling down only to need to start all over again.

How about that determination?? Writing goals can often go the way of New Year's resolutions. We mean well when we make those promises to ourselves, but little by little they slip-slide away. One way to keep your determination strong is to write your goal on a paper or poster board, and place it in your writing area so that you see it on a daily basis. You might begin to feel like it is nagging at you, but just consider it as a fine reminder of where you want to go.

If you haven't already done so, set a few goals (not too many) for this year and perhaps a couple of long term goals, as well. Then pour yourself a cup of determination and start moving. Choose the speed that suits you best. The tortoise did, and look what he achieved!

Writing to a Theme For Contests

 

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NOTE:  This is a post from several years ago about writing to a theme. Many contests require that entries be theme centered. So, perhaps a reminder of what to keep in mind, as well as my own experience with this topic will be worthwhile. 

Many writing contests have a theme. It might be a quote, a phrase, or even one word which the entrant is  to consider in their entry. Sometimes, it's rather nice to have the path you're going to walk already selected for you, since we often find the beginning the most difficult steps. It also limits the writer, but only in a small way.

Hope Clark runs an annual themed contest connected with her marketing newsletters. This year the theme is one word--diligence. The word allows you to go in myriad directions, but which one will come up a winner? I've been mulling it over for weeks now and I haven't come up with an idea yet. There's still time left.

Our state authors group has an annual contest which offers several categories a writer can enter. There is an overall theme each year which is a category all its own. It offers the greatest amount of prize money. The theme generally has something to do with writing, but occasionally it reflects our state heritage. Kansas has a rich history in the pioneer movement in the nineteenth century.

One year, the theme was"Pen Life As Art" and I thought and thought about it while I did household tasks, while I waited in line at the checkout counter and when TV was so boring I couldn't concentrate on it. I had a choice of entering either poetry or prose for this theme, or both, as they were separate categories. I ended up entering a poem and was pleased when it won third place. The poem is below, so you can judge for yourself if I wrote to the theme.

Artists All

Painting with oils,

watercolors brushed across canvas,

clay molded by loving hands,

marble chiseled to exquisite form

Artists ply their trade,

by the golden light of day

and velvet depths of night,

with passion and verve.

One more artist joins the rank.

The writer brushes words over paper,

molds a story bit by glittering bit,

chisels a novel to survive the ages.

The writer gathers life’s stories

from country roads to city streets,

written from the depths of a heart

bursting with intensity and rapture.

Artists all, masters of creation,

be they painters, sculptors or writers,

leaving footprints on canvas, marble and paper-- 

heartfelt tributes embraced by mankind.

Encouraged by placing, I entered a lengthy poem about the wild west the following year. It was so contrived, so terrible that I should not have even entered it. It may have been written to the theme, but it was just plain awful. Keep the theme in mind, but also concentrate on good writing.

If you can't come up with something related to the theme, move on to another contest. Not every theme given is going to inspire us. Our state contest theme this year is "Kansas:  Freedom Frontier For 150 Years"  This is our state's 150th birthday so it was a good choice. I never came up with anything to write for it, however. Rather than entering something awful, I skipped on to the other categories.

Writing to a theme can be interesting. If you haven't tried it, give it a whirl. Google writing contest with theme and see if you can find one that appeals to you.

You are in Charge of Your Writing World

 

On many posts, I end by saying something like 'It's up to you." I've repeated words like that or similar more times than I can count. We are the pilot of our writing journey. Not your writing class teacher, not your writer friends, not your family, not anyone else. We are in charge. 

It is up to us to make decisions regarding our journey. We can ask for advice from others. No doubt about that. The final decision, however, comes down to each of us.

What about motivation? We can be inspired by others, but it's up to us to act upon whatever inspired us. It's up to us to put our rear end in the chair and begin writing. It's up to us to act.

How about submitting to a contest or publication? We cannot ask someone else to do that for us. It's our responsibility to research the market and then make a submission. You--nobody else.

Will editing be entirely on your own, or can you hire someone to do that for you? Yes, you can find someone else to edit your work, but even so, you are the one who must make the move to do so. There are conflicting viewpoints on whether a writer should do their own editing or hire a knowledgeable person. Money is a factor here. Can you afford to hire someone? Do you want another person changing some of your writing? Do you feel the need of having other eyes on your work? In the end, that decision is up to you. You're still in charge.

We run into quandries about whether we should move from short stories to writing a novel. Or should we try longer poems than what we have been writing? Should we change genres if we've been having some success with what we're writing now? Yep, that's up to you. No one else can make that decision . They might give you their thoughts, or some advice, but you are the one who must decide.

Our photo quote today says "As one goes through life, one learns that if you don't paddle your own canoe, you don't move." It was actress, Katherine Hepburn who said this. In her long career, she surely learned this early on.

So, yes, it is up to each one of us to pick up that paddle and move our canoe through the writing waters. It is our choice whether to paddle slowly or go at breakneck speed. The point is to pick up your paddle and make headway into your writing world.

Fine Advice From Writers

 The woman in our photo today looks a bit frustrated. Haven't we all been there sometime along our writing journey? Today's post is a series of quotes by writers that might lift you from the doldrums if you're relating to our frustrated lady writer. Take some time to read the short quotes, each of which gives writers a tidbit of advice. Read them and then go back and read them again. Some may speak to you more than others. Copy the list and put it in your writing space to refer to now and then. 

"If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that."

--Stephen King

"We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect."

--Anaïs Nin

"Substitute 'damn' every time you're inclined to write 'very;' your editor will delete it and the writing will be just as it should be."

--Mark Twain

"If there's a book that you want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it."

--Toni Morrison

"One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple."

--Jack Kerouac, The Dharma Bums

"Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing."

--Benjamin Franklin

"You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write."

--Saul Bellow

"No tears in the writer, no tears in the reader. No surprise in the writer, no surprise in the reader."

--Robert Frost

"Read, read, read. Read everything -- trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You'll absorb it. Then write. If it's good, you'll find out. If it's not, throw it out of the window."

--William Faulkner

"You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you."

--Ray Bradbury, Zen in the Art of Writing

"Words can be like X-rays if you use them properly -- they'll go through anything. You read and you're pierced."

--Aldous Huxley, Brave New World

"How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live."

--Henry David Thoreau

"I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn."

--Anne Frank

"A writer is someone for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people."

--Thomas Mann, Essays of Three Decades

"Let me live, love, and say it well in good sentences."

--Sylvia Plath, The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath

7 Thoughts on Writing

 

Today, I'm going to post 7 thoughts on writing and the writing world. The weekend is here with some time to ponder on them. I chose 7 since there are that many days in a week, and it's always been known as a lucky number. 

1.  Writing is a skill that can be learned, but some people have an inborn gift of being able to relate a story in a way that readers will enjoy. These writers are the ones who bring a story, essay, or poem to life. They are the ones who stay with their craft even through rejections and other roadblocks. 

2.  Writers are never finished learning. One way we grow as writers is to keep learning our craft. Continue to read books on writing. Most of them are written by writers who have experience in the writing world. Who better to learn from? Go to workshops and conferences to keep learning with the added benefit of interacting with other writers.

3.  Before you tackle writing a novel or nonfiction book, write many, many short pieces. Try short stories before you attempt a full novel. Work on short essays, memoirs, inspirational pieces and some poetry first. Hone your skills before you delve into a big project.

4.  All writers should be readers. When you read the work of others, it's not only for enjoyment--although there is a good deal of that--you're looking at examples of how to do this or that when you write on your own. I think we even do some of that subconsciously when we read what others have written and had published. If it was good enough to be published, we should be able to glean something from it.

5.  One of the best gifts you can give yourself is to join a critique group, whether in-person or online, to get the opinions of other writers on your work. You must join with the attitude that these people who critique your work are there to help you, not hurt you. They can give you assistance in making what you wrote better. You can also learn a great deal by reading the critiques on other submissions within the group. 

6.  What you write is important. There is no doubt of that, but how you write it ranks high, as well. The mechanics of writing needs to be at the top of your list of 'how to be a writer' because, no matter what you are writing about, if you have poor grammar, bad punctuation,  and abysmal spelling, no editor is going to send an acceptance. 

7.  Learn to write to a specific word count. Most contests and many publications set a maximum word count for submitters. If you've written a wonderful inspirational essay that is 1654 words, but the publication you want to submit to caps the words at 1200, you have a lot of work to do. Cutting words is not difficult. When you cut your piece to the maximum allowed, you will most likely end up with a stronger piece. 

I've written full posts on each of the 7 points listed here. No doubt, I will hit each one in future posts, as well. Repetition is one way we learn, so I believe in repeating. Sometimes I'll repost a full article, or I'll write about the same subject with a different angle or emphasis. Master all the above, and you can call it your Lucky 7!

Little Things to Add in Family Stories

 

The photo today is probably familiar to most people. The Family Tree is of great interest to those who are students of Geneaology. They track all the 'begats as we've read in the Old Testament. Remember the section that tells who begat whom? The Family Tree shows us and our relatives who came before us along with birth and death dates, marriage dates, and more.

When you look at a Family Tree, there's a great deal more between those bars that we don't readily see. The family stories from the past could be added to the chart if there was room, but of course, that is not possible. Instead, your family stories must be written separately and kept together in some manner apart from your Family Tree chart. Putting that chart in the front section or on the cover might be a nice addition. 

When we write personal essays, we are supposed to include some universal truth or something we'd learned from the experience we wrote about. When you write a family story, you can do the same thing. Rather than only report what happened, add what you learned, even if it is nothing but a tidbit.

My Uncle Jimmy was a man who had lots of funny things happen to him. He'd drive to work, but forget and take the bus home. Many times. He hit a finger while putting up a cornice and bandaged the wrong finger,then wondered why his finger was still bleeding. The part that makes all the little slip-ups in his life interesting and funny is that he told the stories on himself, and then he'd laugh heartily, his eyes twinkling. For the sake of space, I won't go into all the tales he told on himself, but the important thing here is that I learned from him that it is alright to laugh at yourself, that there is no shame in making little mistakes. A valuable lesson. If I was writing about my Uncle Jimmy, I would surely want to add what he taught me. 

Add details that can bring your story to life. Sensory details are important in writing fiction. When the author treats us bits about smell, sight, taste, sound, and touch, we feel like we're right there with the character in the story. Do the same with your family stories. And no, you need not add all 5 senses in one short slice of life about someone in your family. Use whichever ones work in the story you're telling.

What about dialogue? How can we remember the exact words of something that happened years ago? We seldom remember word for word, but we do remember the gist of what was said, and it's alright to use dialogue of what we think was probably said. Dialogue helps bring the story to life just like those sensory details. Do it in moderation, however.

Use bits and pieces that give us a sense of the place where the story happened and the time period. You needn't write a lot about it, but something that will help the reader know when and where the story happened. 

Description helps your story, too. I don't mean to describe every little thing in detail, but if your grandfather's barn has a significant spot in your story, add a little description of that building. 

Verbs play a part in the story you write. If you use almost all passive verbs (is, are, were, was...), your story will sound passive, too. Action verbs show what is happening instead of telling like the passive ones do. Verbs like jump, ran, swiveled, galloped, and others give the reader a better picture of what is happening. 

The things I've pointed out in today's post will make a difference in your final result. But, if all you want to do is report what happened in the simplest terms, that is your choice. I would rather anyone do that than not write his/her family stories at all.

Thoughts On Writing Family Stories

 

One of my pet projects is encouraging others to write their family stories. It's been a trend for quite some time. A company called Storyworth (https://new.storyworth.com )makes it very easy. They send you one question each week; you answer the question delving back into your memories, send it back to them, and wait for the next week's question. At the end of a year, the company organizes your answers into book form along with photos you might want to provide. The book is a nice qulaity. It comes with the initial purchase of the program. Should you want additional books for family members, you will pay extra. The cost of the original program is $99, and additional books can be purchased, they say, for as low as $39. The 'low as' sends up a red flag for me. How the pricing is done, I'm not sure, but I imagine the number of extra books purchased has a bearing on the cost. I have heard several times of children who might give Storyworth as a gift to their parents., as well as people who do it on their own.

When you receive this kind of gift, you're probably pretty likely to go through the question and answer period each week because you are doing it for the person who gifted you. If you purchase it on your own, I wonder if you would be as apt to go through the entire 52 weeks. I have a feeling that most people do finish the entire series of questions. Each prompt they send is sure to trigger memories. 

Storyworth is a good program for those who cannot seem to get started on writing their family stories. I prefer encouraging people to write on their own. Set a goal for yourself. Vow to write one a week, or one a month, and stick to it. It doesn't mean you're limited to one; write as many as you like but at least one. 

If you're in a muddle as where to start, google 'prompts for writing family stories'. You'll come up with several sites that give lists of prompts that will help you get started. Reading the prompts will trigger memories. 

Family history and family stories are two different things. Both are worth pursuing. Family history concerns dates of births, marriages, deaths,and places, while family stories are more personal and written in story style. 

My friend, Annette Gendler has written about the art and joy of writing family stories, and she teaches classes to help others do the same. Google 'Annette Gendler--family stories', and you'll find some very interesting information on this topic. You might consider taking a class to help you get started.

People have asked me how long each story should be. There is no minimum or maximum number of words. One day you might write 200 words about your Great Uncle Henry. Short and sweet, but if you can capture him in 200 words, that's great. Another story about your grandmother's lessons to her grandchildren could be 1000 words. That's fine. You're in charge. You decide.

I'm also asked if you should write the stories in chronological order. That's not necessary. Write whatever comes to mind. Later, you can assemble them in some kind of order. If not chronologically, then perhaps by family units within your larger family. 

Write conversationally. By that, I mean to write the story as though you were having coffee with a friend and telling him/her the story. 

Details add to your story. Include things like specific clothing, weather, personality traits. You're not giving a report, you're telling a story. The small things bring the story to life. 

All of the above is very general information, but perhaps it will get you to thinking about writing your family stories and how you're going to do it. The important thing is to capture your family within the stories and to have fun while you're doing it. Lastly, remember that this is something anyone can do. You do not need to be a professional writer. 

Heed Those Stories in Your Mind

 

Today's poster quote says "I'm always writing a story in my head." For a multitude of writers, this sentence rings true. 

If not a story swirling in your mind, it could be the first lines of a poem, or the bones of a personal essay. You might be recalling a family story that won't leave your mind. When this 'writing in your head' continues for more than a day, it's time you pay attention and start writing on paper or a screen. Wait too long, and the whole thing could disappear into the mist of everyday life. 

I sold a narrative poem to Boys' Quest magazine some years ago. The first two lines popped into my head while I was watching tv one evening. I don't remember if the show I was watching inspired the words or not. But the two lines kept repeating in my mind like an acrobat doing one somersault after another. I did nothing about it that night, but the next day, when the lines still bounced around in my head, I sat down and typed: 

     Ling Po had a ginger colored cat,

     not a very pretty one at that.

My fingers continued to hit the keys, and a lengthy narrative poem resulted. A first draft, of course. I worked on it for a few more days, off and on, then sent it to Boys' Quest magazine. They accepted it, much to my joy, but--and it was a big but--it would not be published in the magazine for 6 years. They told me that right up front. I accepted their terms, and sure enough, six years later "Chinatown Cat" appeared with lovely illustrations, and a check was sent to me. 

If I had not written that first draft the next day, those lines would have eventually become lost. A mind can hold only so much. That saying, 'out with the old, in with the new' could apply here. When you have the beginnings of a story or a couple lines of a poem running through your mind, pay attention and do something about it. Even if all you do is jot down some notes to act as a reminder when you're ready to write. 

Consider those story ideas, or first lines in your mind as a gift. You've been given a beginning, but it's up to you to open the gift and expand upon it. 

In case you would like to see the full poem that resulted from those initial lines that dipped and swayed in my mind, I have included it below. It was meant for middle-grade children. 

                                        Chinatown Cat

                                          Ling Po had a ginger-colored cat,

                                          not a very pretty one at that.

                                          Near a window he oft slept by day.

                                          Nights he went out and far away.

                                          Where in Chinatown did he go?

                                           Ling Po really wanted to know.

                                           Night after night Cat went

                                           as if on a mission he’d been sent.

                                          One warm and moonlit night,

                                           Ling Po followed on Cat’s right.

                                           Cat slid by cans for trash,

                                           then Ling Po padded softly past.

                                           He stayed a bit behind,

                                           while Cat continued down the line.

                                           Cat didn’t even seem to slow

                                            when sirens began to blow.

                                            On through dark and eerie streets,

                                            Master and pet moved on silent feet.

                                            Farther and farther, past store upon store.

                                            Ling Po could not take much more!

                                            Now, beyond temple and pagoda.

                                            This Chinatown boy needed a soda.

                                            Then, Cat stopped, looked all around

                                            and crouched down close to the ground.

                                            He lay there, green eyes peering

                                            at an ancient man now nearing.

                                            “There you are, my friend,” he fretted

                                            “Come close to be petted.

                                             Ling Po waited behind a car.

                                             Was this the reason they’d come so far?

                                              The Old One bent, pigtail swinging,

                                              from Cat’s throat, a purr like singing.

                                              Now Cat belonged to the pair,

                                              for Ling Po knew he would share.

                                              This cat who loved both young and old

                                              was surely worth his weight in gold.

                                              With patience, Ling Po watched the two,

                                               no more than that could he do

                                               until Cat turned to take his leave

                                               and Ling Po followed him home with relief.

                                                                                             --Nancy Julien Kopp

             Note:  This narrative poem was published in Boys’ Quest magazine in June 2004

     

     

                                       

Last Minute Writers

 

Our poster today says "Nothing makes me more productive than the  last minute."  We can all relate to those witty words. We all know that Christmas is December 25th every year, but how many of us put off getting ready for too long? We know that a wedding is a certain date, so why do some women wait until two days before to find a dress to wear to that event? We wait til the last minute on lots of things.

And yes, writers do it, too. Contest deadlines are often in our minds, and we mean to get something ready to enter, but this and that delay us, and suddenly it's the day before the deadline. Yikes! What do we do now? You have two choices:  either write something fast, give it a quick edit and send it in. Or pass on entering this time and spend more time getting your entry ready for another contest. When we send something to a contest that is done hurriedly, we know it is probably not going to be our best work, and doing so, makes the odds of winning far lower. When we use shortcuts and don't give enough time to a project, it will show in what we produce.

There are many publications that limit submission periods. Have you ever planned to send something but suddenly the end date looms above you, and you haven't even started the writing yet? Sure, you have the story mapped out in your mind, but you haven't put it on paper or a screen. But you'd really like to send the story to this particular place, so you write the first draft in the morning, edit in the afternoon, and submit it that evening. The end date for submissions is the next day, so you feel good that you wrote the story and sent it in all in one day. Pat yourself on the back time, isn't it? Well, not really. If you'd started the first draft a week earlier, then let it sit for two or three days, then edit, then let it sit another day, then send it in, you'll probably have a stronger submission than the one you did all in one day. 

If you have a great Valentine story to send to a magazine, on February 1st, you'll be rejected immediately. Magazines work months ahead. Holiday stories need to be sent around 6 months prior to the time it is celebrated. So, no tardy writing here.

The word for waiting to the last minute, of course, is procrastination. It's a common ailment. How many college students wait to cram the night before for a big exam? How many mothers don't start working on a child's birthday party soon enough and end up frazzled? How many kids don't do homework until the last minute? It's so easy to put things off. The longer you delay, the easier it seems to be able to do so. 

Yes, waiting until the last minute makes us shift into high gear, and we usually get whatever it is accomplished, but how much better might the end result be if we'd planned ahead or started earlier? 

Encouragement for Writers

 

Those of you who are subscribers here know that under the title of the blog, it says: My writing world with tips and encouragement for writers. That sentence covers everything this blog is. I'm here to talk about my writing world, to give tips to other writers, and also to encourage other writers. That last part is what today's topic covers.

ENCOURAGEMENT  

My aim is to encourage other writers to grow as writers, to publish more often if that is a goal for them, and to let them know they aren't alone in this wild world of writing. Don't we all like to have a friend back us up in whatever we choose to do? 

Writers have emotional ups and downs on a regular basis. That goes for the beginners, middle level and those who are old pros. It's human nature and also a part of the creative craft we pursue.  Usually, artists, sculptors, musicians, and writers are by nature emotional people. It's that emotion that comes through in what we create. 

When our emotions and our writing world pulls us on a downward spiral, we need the encouragement of others. Parents, siblings, and friends can offer that needed lift, but when it comes from another writer, it might mean a bit more. Why? Because only another writer knows what we're going through. They've been there, done that! They understand how rejections feel, how frustrating it is when a story doesn't work right, or how time constraints hinder our progress. 

One of the reasons I started this blog was to encourage other writers as they move along on their writing journey. It helps to have someone in your corner urging you on just like the boxers we see in movies. Between rounds, someone is there to encourage them to get up and go back to fighting even though they may feel like crawling home. 

Should writers actively seek encouragement from other writers? I see no problem in doing that. Joining a critique group, whether in person or online, is one way to find encouragement from other writers. Yes, they are going to show you where you need to improve, but they should also give you a boost by pointing out the good things in whatever you have subbed for critique.

Should all writers give encouragement to other writers? I think it is a great thing to do, Many of the 'how-to' books on writing are written by veteran writers. They give the rest of us encouragement by sharing their knowledge in a book we can read. Some writers agree to mentor other writers, and what is that but encouragement? Christina Hamlett, yesterday's Guest Blogger, is a perfect example of an experienced writer doing what she can to encourage other writers.

We all like to be encouraged, but it's just as important to pass it on to other writers, as well. 

The Pitch-Perfect Query

 

Christina Hamlett

My Guest Blogger today is Christina Hamlett whose long experience in the writing world brings us some good advice about the art of querying. 

THE PITCH-PERFECT QUERY

By Christina Hamlett

As we ease into a new year, thoughts often turn to dusting off pitch letters or composing fresh ones to agents and publishers. How can you make yours stand out from the competition and garner a green light to submit your work? Consider the following tips.

PRELIMINARIES

Is your book actually finished? When agents and editors get excited about the promise of your pitch, the last thing they want to hear is that you haven’t finished writing it. Their needs and interests may change six months from now. Don’t give them a teaser you’re not prepared to deliver now. 

Do you have a website? It’s not too early to start thinking about one. It demonstrates you’re not just a hobbyist but that you take your writing career seriously. Your website should contain a professional headshot, brief bio, links to published writing samples, mention of any awards you’ve won, an excerpt from your book and—if you feel especially ambitious—a weekly/monthly blog reflecting your interests and expertise.

Do you have a professional email address? Hottie247, willworkforchocolate, myexesregret may work fine for your personal account but is this really how you want to be known in the business world?

What is your marketing platform? This is a question you can expect to be asked prior to being offered a contract. Do you plan to do interviews, book speaking engagements, participate in writers conferences, offer workshops, have a social media presence?

THE SUBMISSION

Agents and publishers are quite specific in how much or little they want to see in an unsolicited inquiry. Follow these instructions to the letter. If they request only the first 10 pages, do not send them 11…or the entire manuscript. The sample size isn’t just to assess your skill as a storyteller; it’s also to test how well you can follow instructions.

A query letter should be no more than a single page and preferably comprised of three paragraphs. The first paragraph is the hook to entice them to read on. (If written well, it could easily be the back cover blurbage to persuade someone in a bookstore to buy it.) The second paragraph addresses the commercial appeal of the book and why you believe it’s a smart fit for their agency or house. (You’ve done your homework on this, right?) The third paragraph focuses on why you’re the best qualified person to have written this book. If, for example, the setting of your story is Alexandria, Virginia and your family has lived there for five generations, you’re pretty likely to know what you’re talking about. Likewise if your protagonist is a nurse, a prison warden, a horticulturist, a model, an attorney or a cruise ship director and you have personal experience with these professions, a rep will appreciate you didn’t glean all your research from watching bad television.

If a separate synopsis is requested, it should be a through-line which demonstrates how the theme is carried out from start to finish, identifies all of the main characters, and highlights the major plot points.

Be sure to include your contact information along with your phone number. Add your website as part of your signature.

RED FLAGS

While many reps and publishers now utilize email as part of their submission process, this should never translate to sloppiness or informality on your part. Not only should your email be as thoroughly proofread as the manuscript you plan to submit but you must also eschew the temptation to address anyone by their first name unless/until you’re invited to do so. And please leave off the smiley faces and LOLs.

If you’re younger than 20 or older than 65, do not admit your age. For that matter, why is your age relevant at all? Ageism is alive and well in today’s publishing industry. Unless you have several projects already in the works, agents and publishers are reluctant to take on a newbie they perceive (however wrongly) to be past their prime. Conversely, an aspiring author who declares, “I may only be a teenager but—” is broadcasting his/her fledgling work needn’t be taken as seriously as someone "mature.” If a business relationship subsequently develops, let them find out all in good time how young/old you are.

Never reveal how long it took to write your novel; i.e., “I started this back when I was in college but, well, life got in the way.” There seems to be an inverse expectation that the more time one has invested in a project, the quicker it should be grabbed up. Nope. A book which has been in gestation for decades carries a likelihood of already being stale. Secondly, if it has taken this long to complete the project being pitched, how long would an agent or publisher have to wait for the next one? It’s hard to successfully “grow” an author’s career if s/he has only one book that was years in development.

Unless you’re already well known, have acquired the rights to someone else’s story, or have survived an experience which can be profoundly inspirational to others, do not boast that your book is based on true events. Just because something actually happened doesn’t automatically make it commercially viable. Some of the worst offenders are first-time novelists who allude to their plots being “semi-autobiographical.” Catharsis may be good for the soul in these passion projects but if there’s not a sustainable storyline and excellent writing, agents and editors can’t be guilted into reading it, much less getting it published.

Do not disclose this is your first book. Why? If literary reps are impressed with your wordsmithing, they can easily look you up to see what else you’ve done. Informing them outright that this is your first effort is akin to someone on an operating table being told by the doctor, “This is my first brain surgery but, hey, I’m feeling optimistic.”

Bio:  Former actress and director Christina Hamlett is an award-winning author whose credits to date include 44 books, 256 stage plays and squillions of articles. She is also a script consultant for stage and screen and a professional ghostwriter. www.authorhamlett.com.

A Blank Page Calls For Freewrite Exercise

 Our photo today is of a book, maybe a journal, opened to a blank page. The blank page can be a blessing or a bane. Your attitude is what determines which of those you are looking at. 

Those who feel the blank page (or screen) is a blessing probably produce more stories, essays, and poems than the ones who consider it a bane. They are the ones who look at the blank page and sigh, change positions, keep looking at the blank page, change positions again, sigh and.... Obviously, that blank page does not motivate them. 

When confronted with a blank page, and you have no story idea, the freewrite exercise can be of help. I can see a few of you rolling your eyes at me like a teen-age girl who can't handle something her mother has said. 

A few days ago, my online writing group received the word for the week to do the freewrite exercise. We call it a Random Word exercise, but it's the same thing. The how to:  Open a book, close your eyes and put your finger on the page. Whatever word your finger is on will be the word you use. The word given in our exercise last week was 'lost.' Set a timer for at least ten minutes, 15 or 20, if you like. Use the word and start writing about whatever comes to your mind. Don't stop and think, just keep writing. It doesn't need to make sense; it doesn't need to stay on one thought; it doesn't need to be grammatically correct. Just write! 

When you read your effort at the end of the set time, you might find some gibberish, or you could see something that makes you want to continue. An idea for a story, or an essay, or a poem is often within those words you pounded out in ten minutes, all relating to the word given. You can write something about the word and keep going with another thought altogether. Whatever that word brings to the forefront of your mind. Your subconscious will be at work with this exercise, too.

Case in point:  A few days ago, I was reading the week's freewrite exercise of several people in my online writing group. I found one especially good. I replied to that person who is basically a poet. I told her how much I enjoyed her exercise and that I thought she had the bones of a fine essay or poem. She wrote back to me saying I was a mind reader because she'd been considering turning what she'd written into a poem. No blank page for her!

Not every freewrite exercise will end up being worthy of continuing, but many will. Sometimes, one or two lines can be lifted and enlarged upon; occasionally the entire thing. 

What I especially like is that, when a group of people use the same word, they all write something different. It can be whatever the word triggers, or the word itself. 

Marlene Cullen moderates The Write Spot Blog. She has a good explanation of freewrites. On the right side of the page, you'll find a menu. Click on Prompts for some samples. She uses more than one word for the prompts, but it's basically the same idea. 

Check this list of words, choose one, or more, to try the freewrite exercise:

shovel

trigger

duck

patriot

pet

blue

gullible

Did you notice that some of the words could be either noun or verb? 

Titles--Tough, Tricky, and Troublesome

 

Note:  This is a repeat post

Wouldn't it be fun to have scads of bookshelves in your house, where you could remove one book at a time, read it, and replace? On to the next one! What we see on the bookshelf are titles.

Titles are a very important tool for the writer. I think that many writers give little thought to the title of the story, book, essay, or poem they spent eons of time writing. Finished. Need a title? Grab one and plunk it above the piece I labored over. A title is important enough to give it some thought before you bestow it on whatever you've written. 

A title is the first impression; it's what draws the reader to look further. A title takes some real thought on the writer's part. The title, or name, can be tough, tricky, and troublesome. Let's look at those three T words a little closer. 

Tough  It's not easy to lure a reader with a mere spattering of words, even one word, in a title. That's exactly what that title is supposed to accomplish. You want to give a hint as to what is in the body of the story, book, essay that you've written. Keep it merely a hint as you don't want to give too much away. Think of a title as the movies term Preview of Coming Attractions. As a child, teen, and young adult, I adored movies and spent part of every weekend in a theater. I loved the previews which told me just enough to make sure I'd be back the following week. The few movies I've seen recently tell way too much in the previews. You may notice that the books in the stairway in today's photo sometimes use a person's name as the title. It doesn't tell you much about the story itself, but you know you're going to learn something about Huckleberry Finn, Peter Pan, and Pippi Longstocking. And don't you want to pick up that last one to see what in the world someone with a name like Pippi Longstocking is like? 

Tricky  If you're writing a tragic story, you don't want to use a fluffy, humorous type of title. Match the mood of the title to what you've written. In reverse, if the story is filled with humor, then don't use a generic, somber kind of title. Put a bit of humor into the title, too. The length can be tricky, too. Those proper name titles are nice and short, but if you choose to use a very lengthy title, it won't be easy to choose the right words, the ones that make the reader pull your book off the shelf to look at. You might use some unnecessary words, ones that add nothing to the meaning of the title. Cut them.

Most poetry stays with shorter titles. The poet doesn't want the title to overwhelm the poem. 

Troublesome  Yes, titles can be troublesome because you have to play around with several before you settle on the best one. One of my Chicken Soup for the Soul stories was accepted, but the editors had completely changed the title. At first, I was a bit miffed, but then I read through the story and realized the title they had selected was preferable. The editor had used a line toward the end of the story to use. I understood then why she had changed it. At least, she didn't send it back and tell me to choose another title. An editor can do that, too. 

When choosing a title, ask yourself if it tells too much or does it not give a real inkling of what the whole thing is about. I have been reworking an old story for children, and the title is what is giving me the most trouble. I had one, but then decided it sounded like an adult story. I tried another and thought that no one would rush to read the story with this title. I'm spending almost as much time deciding on a title as I did writing my story. 

Titles may be tough, tricky, or troublesome, but they are also of major importance to whatever you have written. Don't snatch one out of the air and call it quits. Spend some time trying several, even when one comes to you quickly. That may be the one you use in the end, but try others to make sure the first one is the best. I wonder how long it took the author to come up with a title like The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. 

  

Writers Must Make Choices

Siri gives us choices when we’re using our phones. We must decide which of the options given that we will choose  Most of us do it in a flash.  

What about the choices we must make in our writing world? There are many. 

Should I give up some social time so I can write more?

Should I take a writing class that is expensive?

Should I use violence, sexual encounters, or cursing in my stories or books?

Should I name people in my memoir?

Should I attend a writers’ conference?

Should I take time to edit my writing or use my first draft as the completed project?

The questions above are only a few of the choices a writer makes. There are many others that pop up on a regular basis  

Some writers are able to make the decision rather quickly when choices arise. They mentally sift and sort the situation or the information, then choose what they feel works best for them. 

Others agonize over the choices the writing world offers. They fret; they fuss; they fume. They stall. They sometimes ask others for help in making the choice. 

Most choices put before a writer are not earth shattering  They are not life-changing. Instead, they can either help you grow as a writer, or they can keep your writing life stalled. 

When faced with a choice in your writing life, ask yourself what the result could be. Consider whether the odds are favorable to make you a better writer. Ask if the choice you make is more than you know you can handle. Most of the choices we make as writers are not going to ruin our writing life. If we choose something that doesn’t work out, we can backtrack and do something different  

 

Writers—I Believe in You

 I borrowed today’s photo from a Facebook post. The simple sentence is powerful. It says ‘I believe in you.’ Words that comfort, build confidence, and inspire. 

If I could, I would visit each writer who reads this blog and say “I believe in you.” What would your reaction be? Maybe you’d smile and stand a little straighter. Perhaps inspiration to write something would enter your mind. You might want to express your thanks. 

Every time one of your submissions receives an acceptance, an editor or editorial team is saying “I believe in you as a writer.” 

If you enroll in a writing class and the leader writes a compliment on one of your assignments, he/she is saying “I believe in you.” 

Even more important than others believing in you, the writer, is you believing in yourself. To find success in the writing craft, you need confidence in your ability to write publishable material. A positive attitude will help build your confidence. The act of submitting your work to a contest or publication shows self-confidence. It may not guarantee a winner or an acceptance, but it does mean you do believe in your ability as a writer. 

If you have a writer friend whom you admire, tell them. Don’t merely think it. Give them the gift of letting them know you think a lot of their writing. By doing so, you’re saying “I believe in you.”  

By Nancy Julien Kopp. January 7, 2022

Writers Are Artists

The photo today is a lovely wreath that could be used to brighten a winter day or to highlight Valentine’s Day. The artist who created this beauty began with a frame of some kind, then started placing different floral pieces together in a pleasing pattern. Maybe he/she pulled some out and added others. Maybe the artist changed the whole idea he/she had in the beginning. The artist worked on the wreath until it satisfied him/her enough to call it finished. 

The next time you’re at a florist or home decor shop, have a deeper appreciation for what artist created when making a floral wreath.

Writers go through the same process as the person who put the wreath together. We start with an idea—the frame for that wreath. We put words together, then change some of them. We work at arranging those words in the best way we can. We leave our project for a while, then return to edit and revise once more  

The wreath maker is an artist, and so are we. The process is much the same. Both aim for the best product he/she can produce. Writers can feel a real sense of accomplishment with each finished writing project  

 

Writers and Goal Settings

 

You knew this was going to be a topic this week, didn’t you? We talk about setting goals every year in early January. Why?

We’re at a new beginning, the entire year stretches out in front of us. It’s the perfect time to give thought to our writing world. It’s a great time to ponder where we are in our writing journey and to give consideration to where we want to go and how to get there. 

The goals a beginning writer has will differ from the ones a veteran sets. The longer you write, the more complex the goals become. It doesn’t really matter ‘what’ your goals are. Instead, how you work toward achieving them is what should be most important. 

We all know how quickly New Year’s resolutions slip away and are forgotten. Your writing goals for 2022 should stay front and center each and every month of the year. One way that helps is to make a list of your goals and post it where you will see it quite often. Somewhere in the vicinity where you write is ideal. Having those goals in front of you on a daily basis can serve as inspiration.

Be cautious in the number of goals you set  Too many, and it can become overwhelming or even depressing. Also, don’t set unrealistic goals. A beginning writer should not set a goal of receiving a Pulitzer Prize this year. The odds are against it.

Spend some time setting a few writing goals this week. If there were some 2021 goals you didn’t achieve, go ahead and add them to this year’s list  a goal is something to aim at. Nothing says you absolutely must be successful, but it’s so very nice when it happens  

January Clean-up for Writers

 The Christmas wreath in today’s photo is still on my front door, but for all practical purposes, Christmas is over. It’s time for January things. 

I usually advise writers to spend some time the first week of January cleaning up their writing world. In phases. 

First, attack that pile of papers in your writing space. You might find notes you wrote yourself last summer. Or story idea notes you jotted down so you wouldn’t forget. 

Next, do some physical cleaning of your writing space. A good dusting, wiping off keyboard keys, maybe mopping the floor or vacuuming the carpet. How about the window closest to the place where you write? Could it use a little windex? At least the inside if the weather is too cold to clean the outside. 

Now, it’s time to move in to the files on your computer that pertain to writing. Delete duplicates. Then check the projects that are unfinished or need revision. Make a list so you can check them off as they are completed. 

Do you keep a record of your submissions? I hope you do. If not, 2022 is a good time to start. It doesn’t have to be elaborate or something an accountant would set up. Mine is pretty simple. I start a list at the beginning of the year with the year stated at the top. Every time I submit my writing somewhere, I put the date, title of the submission, and the name of the publication or contest sent to. I occasionally add a note like ‘will hear within six weeks.’ I keep each year’s list to refer back to if needed. 

If you make hard copies of what you have written, now is a good time to check and see what you need to print from the past year. It’s easier to do it as you move through the year, but time gets tight, and we don’t always get to it. I keep large three ring binders with hard copies in sections like poetry, family stories, essays, fiction etc. 

If you are a writer who journals, this is a perfect time to begin a brand new journal. If you journal on your computer, start a new section for this new year. Did you receive a new journal for Christmas? This is the week to open it and write in longhand. Don’t forget to date it. 

Now that your writing area is neat and organized, your files cleaned up, and hard copies organized, you’re all set to begin your next writing project. 

For Readers and Writers

 I had a real treat this past weekend. I discovered a book in the New Fiction section at our public library called A Place Like Home by Rosamunde Pilcher. She is a favorite of mine. I knew she had passed away, so was delighted to find this book of her short stories. None of these warm, romantic tales had been published in book form before. 

This very popular UK writer is best known for her novels, and in particular, the one titled The Shell Seekers. One of my all-time favorites  

As I read the short stories this weekend, I once again admired Ms Pilcher for her storytelling but also for the wonderful way she used words  I started pondering the way she set a scene or described a place using a smattering of words that managed to transport this reader into the story. 

I copied a few sentences or phrases from the book and put a very plain sentence first to show the difference  

A.  There was a bridge over the river.

B.  A bridge curved over a ribbon of water  

A.  It smelled clean.

B.  There was a cool, scrubbed smell, rather like we’ll-kept dairies.

A.  She looked up at the sky.

B.  She looked up through the leafy boughs of the trees, to the infinite misty arc of the evening sky. 

A.  It was a nice morning.

B. The morning air was sweet and cold and smelled of the sea.

Notice that the A sentences tell us something, but the B sentences, written by Ms Pilcher, show the reader so much more. Her sentences bring the reader a clear picture. 

When we write our stories, we should strive to write the kinds of sentences that Rosamunde Pilcher offered her readers  

I finished reading the last story yesterday, and I closed the book with regret that I had come to the end. Wouldn’t we all like our readers to feel the same?