New Adventures for Writers

 

Today is the last day of February, our shortest month of the year. The gate to spring is beginning to slowly open as March arrives. How about resolving to do something different in March? Say yes to new adventures. That's what today's photo quote tells us. Why not put a little spice into your writing life? How can you do this?

If you've never attended a conference or workshop, make plans to try one sometime this year. Do a little research to see what might be offered in your local area, or somewhere not too far away. Or be really adventurous and go to a place you've never been before to take in a conference. I promise you will come home inspired to write and perhaps having a few new writing life friends.

If you're a poet, try writing prose for a new adventure. If you're a fiction writer, make an attempt at penning a personal essay, or a short memoir piece. If you only write essays, give poetry a try. No guarantee that you'll love trying to write in a new genre, but it's possible that you will. If you are a romance writer, give sci-fi a try, or mystery. It's not what you are going to write, but the fact that you are willing to say yes to a new adventure. 

Never entered a writing contest? Why not try one now? Take time to research writing contests and choose one that seems to fit your writing--memoir, poetry, fiction and others. Make it an adventure. There is no guarantee that you will end up a winner, but you've tried something new. And you might be willing to try more contests. And you might win something!

Maybe you've always wanted to write a novel, but you've never had the courage to give it a try. Say yes to this kind of new adventure. There is no guarantee here that you will be a raging success, but you will have tried something new, and most likely, will have some learning experiences, too. Most writers will tell you that their first novel was not very good, but to be a novelist, you have to write that first one. 

Trying something new will give you a real boost. You might also suddenly have a lot of respect for writers who write regularly in the genre you are trying out as your adventure. Getting out of the same old, same old venue can be exhilarating. Say yes to new adventures in March 2022. 

Write Your Way

 

Thousands and thousands of stories have been written. The same with essays, memoirs, and poems. Multi-thousands. How does a new writer compete with all that has come before? Our poster today tells us that new writers are too worried that it has all been done before, but not by that one new writer. Or even the writer who has been writing for a while. 

How many times have you heard that there are only seven plots in the world of fiction? Seven! And yet, there are those thousands of books and short stories, all using the basic plots. The ones you'll find listed are the following:

Overcoming the Monster, Rags to Riches, the Quest, Voyage and Return, Rebirth, Comedy, and Tragedy

Your story will be classified in one of the seven plots. Your story will still be different because you are an individual. You think on your own, you're not going to copy another writer word for word. That's plagiarism, and you don't want to go there. 

If you write a personal essay on grief and sorrow, your experience will be different than that of another writer. Your outlook on what happened will be yours and yours alone. 

You've probably read the advice of editors to write on a popular subject, but find a different angle. Use your personal perspective to create something new and fresh. 

If you have settled in with your own voice, whatever you write will distinguish you from another writer. Your voice, or your style of writing, should be unique. All yours. Yours alone. 

Consider a situation where a high school English teacher assigns an essay on College Ambitions. There are 28 students in her class. She is going to receive 28 essays all on the same topic, yet all quite different. Each student will put their own personal spin on the topic.

When you're told to find a different angle on a topic, it may take some effort on your part to come up with something new, but worth it if you come up with a fresh look on an old subject. No one has ever said writing is easy. It is not. But, there are great rewards in being published, in being satisfied with what you have written, and in growing as a writer. So, go for it!

Writers, Rejection, and Lessons to Learn

 

This morning, I read an outstanding article at the Brevity nonfiction blog regarding why essays are rejected. If you submit your work for publication, there's an excellent chance your piece will be rejected. In fact, the odds of rejection are far better than acceptance. It's a part of this writing game that none of us enjoys. The slim chance of being published still shines brightly for writers, so we go for it. 

If you wonder why your essay was rejected, maybe you would like to read the article. I found it full of common sense and some advice that we might all take seriously. You can read the article on the blog at https://brevity.wordpress.com/author/brevityallison/t  If the link does not show up in blue, copy and paste. The author of the article is Allison K. Williams, who is an editor at Brevity. 

The article deals with essays, but rejection comes to us in poetry, fiction, nonfiction articles, and memoir submissions, as well. Some of the reasons our work is rejected have nothing to do with our writing. The publication might be full or overflowing, so they step back for a while. That has nothing to do with what you sent them. 

Other rejections offer us a lesson. Admittedly, the lesson is sometimes hard to find when we are still feeling the disappointment or hurt over the rejection. Let a few days go by, then go back and try to look for the lesson. If you're among the fortunate few, the editor sent a note with the rejection helping you to understand why your work was rejected. It only happens occasionally, so you will most often need to figure out the lesson on your own. 

When I read something I've written weeks, months or longer than that, I often see areas that could have been done differently, places that needed enhancement or clarity. Also areas that could, or should, have been cut. This is why I always recommend that you let a draft simmer alone for a few days, or more, before you begin to edit. You will see it in a different light and end up doing a better editing job, which only makes your odds of acceptance better. 

I think someone could write an entire book on the topic of 'writers and rejection.' Please do read the article mentioned at the beginning of this post. It might help you look at some of your rejections in a different light. 

The Power of Ediitng Your Writing

 I often write about the importance of good editing. Our poster today tells us to write without fear and to edit without mercy. 

That second piece of advice is golden. Slash! Cut! Revise! All the things we must do to those precious words we wrote in the first draft. Stephen King is oft quoted, and one of his that fits our topic today is “Kill your darlings, kill your darlings, even when it breaks your egocentric little scribbler's heart, kill your darlings.” This successful writer knows the importance of good editing. He also knows that it is a difficult thing to do.

What to change. What to cut. What to rework. All questions we must ask ourselves through the editing process. The reason we edit is to make what we have written stronger, more interesting, and more clear. 

We must check that we used the right tense throughout. We need to replace as many passive verbs with active ones as is possible. Sometimes, to do that, you must revise the order of your sentence rather than merely substitute one verb for another. 

We should check for overuse of adverbs which are often unnecessary. We must look for too many  adjectives. One or two works, adding more than that to describe a noun is overkill. 

When we edit, mechanical things like spelling and punctuation are important. No argument there.

Something else that is of prime importance is clarity. Be sure that your reader will understand what you've written. The writer knows what is happening, but she/he doesn't always write so that the reader is sure of what is occurring. 

When we edit, we must look for redundancy. Repeating words or even ideas does not make for strong writing. Some writers fear that the reader doesn't 'get it' the first time, so he/she repeats the thought, maybe using different words, but still the same thought. This is where we writers must give a little credit to our readers. Say it once, and they'll know what you're talking about. Say it again, and they may get a little bored. Repetition of words in a sentence or in two or three successive sentences also becomes boring for the reader. Watch for this problem when you edit. 

Maybe we should turn a well-known quote into one for writers. Editing isn't for sissies. It's a tough job. Do it well, and you're quite likely to find success. Skip through it or don't do it at all, and you'll probably receive a rejection. 

Don't ever underestimate the power of a good editing job. Do it once, twice, or three times--whatever it takes to turn your draft into a marketable piece of writing. 

Write About Your Travels

 

Me and a Rottweiler friend in Germany

Today's picture is one of me taken in southern Germany several years ago. Don't we all enjoy taking photos when we travel? Maybe put them in an album when we return home. Show them to our family and friends. And we keep them to refresh our memories when time has gone by. That's great, but...

You can capture all that happened during your travels by writing about the places you went, the people you met, the architecture, the markets, the food, your impressions and so much more. 

When we travel, I take a journal with me and make the effort to write something in it each evening. I can write more than what a mere photo shows, but the two together will be a lasting record of the trip. 

I often enlarge on a part of the trip as a travel essay. My journals are for me, but the travel essays are ones I hope to share with others. There are places to get published with this kind of an essay. The publications that accept this kind of writing want more than a mere report of where you went and what you saw, There has to be some meaning or feeling or something in how you were affected by what you saw. 

We've stayed in many hotels over the years, but one hotel outside of Munich left a real impression on me. So much so, that I wrote about it and the piece  was published on a travel website. I wrote another about visiting my husband's grandfather's hometown near the Black Forest. The facts are in it, but also the emotions that surfaced as we thought about him as a young man in this small industrial town. 

Visiting a WWII American cemetery in southern France left a lasting impression on me. A piece I wrote about that visit was published in a Memorial Day edition of a senior newspaper in Kansas City. We traveled from Nice to Paris on that trip, but I chose only the visit to the cemetery to write about.

I wrote another about food in pubs in the UK and Ireland. If you center on one phase instead of ALL the things you saw and did in California or Hawaii or Spain, you're more likely to find a publisher for your travel essay. 

Readers like to know about a foreign country, or an area of the USA, but they also enjoy the personal touch. Facts and figures are fine, but it's the personal and the emotion that will make the reader want to see that country or region on their own. Or let them be an armchair traveler. 

Don't wait until six months after you return home to write about your trip. The sooner you do so, the better. The details will be fresh in your mind. Much later, you might struggle to remember or decipher what's in your travel journal. 

Add Words for Emphasis

 

Monet's House in France

In the Garden section of our Sunday paper, there was a quote from Claude Monet, the artist. He said, "I must have flowers, always and always." What struck me was not what was said, but in the way he said it. 

Had he only said, "I must have flowers." I would know that he liked flowers--the 'must' tells me he liked them a lot. It is the 'always and always' at the end of the quote that lets me know that flowers are of great importance in Monet's life. 

When I read the quote, the 'always and always' made me stop and go back to read the full quote a couple more times. Simple words which conveyed the famed artist's deep love of flowers. Anyone visiting his home in Giverny, France would readily see his love of flowers in the extensive gardens around the home. And his quote gives proof of that fact. As do many of his paintings.

As much as I admire Monet, my point today is that the way you write a sentence conveys either a little or a great deal. When we write, we should choose our words with care. We often talk about those 'unnecessary' words that creep into what we write--the ones like very, really, that and more. Those we should eliminate. 

When you write a sentence, consider what might be added to let your reader know the importance of what you wrote. If you said, "I hate liver!" your reader knows that you dislike it a lot. But, if your teen-age character said, "I hate liver, bigtime!" you're putting emphasis on the dislike. 

Take a simple statement like "I love you."  You've conveyed the feeling to the reader, but if you write "I love you, today, tomorrow, and forever." your reader knows you are passionate about the person to whom it was said.

"The sky is gray." What if you added to that simple sentence, "The sky is gray, thunderclouds rolling and lightning striking." That gives the reader a fuller image, doesn't it? 

Changing a simple sentence by adding a few words is something you can do when you edit your work. Read with the idea of enlarging on what you have in your draft. Put some emphasis on the thought you were trying to convey. Those two or three additional words show the reader a lot and can make you a better writer.

Blizzard--A Photo Prompt Writing Exercise

 

Heavy snow blew across parts of Kansas yesterday. Our town, Manhattan, is in the north central part of the state. We were predicted to get 1-2 inches, since we were on the edge of the storm. My daughter lives two hours east and south of us. She had freezing rain, thundersnow, ice, and around 5 inches of snow on Thursday. Towns around her had up to ten inches. And for us? Zip! None! Nary a flake!

We, of course, have had our share of snow and blizzard conditions in the past, but this time we were fortunate. Our roads were dry and our sky clear. If you live in an area where snowstorms are the norm, you can relate to the photo I selected for a writing exercise today. 

It's the perfect one for a photo prompt. Either write a descriptive paragraph using sensory details and super adjectives, or write a full story. Remember to spend some time studying the photo before you start writing. Take time to absorb everything you see. Besides the main focus, check the small details. You might make a list of words that describe a scene like this. Put some emotion into what you write. 

These exercises are often scoffed at by some writers, but others find they are great practice and some have even come up with a story to finish and submit to a publication. Most of all, have fun with this exercise. Unlike the freewrite  exercise, this one has no time limit. 

Chicken Soup for the Soul Needs Stories

                                                                                       
          

I checked the Chicken Soup for the Soul Possible Book Topics page this morning. They are seeking stories for a whopping ten books. Surely you can come up with a story for one, or maybe more. When you go to their website (www.chickensoup.com), scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on Submit your story. You will find the books they are working on with suggestions as to what topics fit under each one. On the left side of the page, near the top, you will see a menu consisting of Story Guidelines, Submission FAQ, and Submit Your Story. It would be to your advantage to check each page. Don't skim through it. Read it!

Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies give the most detailed guidelines of any publication I have seen. And yet, writers send in stories that obviously do not follow the guidelines. Save yourself time and disappointment by studying those guidelines carefully. Click on the Submission FAQ page for some worthwhile information. 

The following titles and deadlines are listed on the Possible Book Topics page. Do visit the page and read the material under each title to get a clear picture of what kind of stories they would like to see. Take note of the deadline date for submission on each book.

Angels--April 15, 2022

Cats--May 30, 2022

Counting Your Blessings/attitude of gratitude--February 28, 2022

Crazy, eccentric, wacky, lovable, fun families--April 30, 2022

Dogs--May 30, 2022

Messages from Heaven--April,15, 2022

Miracles--April 15, 2022

Preteens--March 30, 2022

Teenagers--March 30, 2022

Thanksgiving, Xmas, Hanukkah, & New Year's--May 1, 2022

One last bit of advice. The sooner you send the story, the better chance you have to be accepted. If you send your story two days prior to the deadline, it's possible that they have already selected the majority of the stories for the book. Yours would need to be exceptional to be selected at that time. 

 

Writers' Rules for Life

 Today's poster offers 8 Rules for Life. I read through them and thought that we could use the same rules for those who write, whether a hobbyist writer, a newbie, or a very experienced one. Let's take them one by one.

See failure as a beginning, not an end. This one tells me that we should not sink into depression when a rejection arrives. It's not the end of the world. Instead, look at it as a learning moment. Once you get past the hurt or anger, or both, look carefully at that rejected piece of writing. Learn from it. What should you have done differently? What parts are good? 

If you don't go after it, you won't have it. This one is pretty clear. You can't sit and wait for success to arrive at your doorstep. You have to make some effort, often a great deal of effort. No one ever said being a writer was a cinch job. Hard work is involved as is the desire to achieve. 

Always do more than is expected of you. It never hurts to give more than expected. If an editor gives you a deadline, submit your work ahead of time. It will be appreciated. Editors work on deadlines, too. Each extra step you take will work to your advantage. 

Teach others what you know.  This is the reason I started this blog. I wanted to share what I knew with others, and in doing so, I have sometimes been the recipient of the sharing of other writers' knowledge. It's a two-way street. If you're asked to teach a workshop at a conference, do it willingly to help others.

Assume nothing and question everything. This one makes me think about the importance of checking facts and doing research. Never write about something you merely heard. Get it verified. It could come back and bite you if you're not careful.

Make peace with the past or you'll pay for it. Writers hold a mixed bag when it comes to the good things that happen on their journey and the ones they'd like to erase entirely. Don't let those negatives rule your writing life. Dwelling on the misery can only get worse. Make peace with whatever it was and move on.

Stop thinking so much and start acting. Have you ever known someone in a writers group who spends all his/her time talking about writing but never actually doing it? They love the idea of writing but are either afraid to pursue the act or prefer to dream about being a writer. Thinking is fine up to a point, then it is time to act.

Never compare yourself to others. This one is pretty clear. You are an individual. There is no other writer exactly like you. Admire other writers, but don't compare yourself to them. You're the only you there is. You're the only one who writes your way. 

These 8 rules are advice for writers in a nutshell. A full article could be written on each one. Instead, I've only added a very few thoughts on these rules for life (for writers). 

Take Advantage of Writing World Opportunities

Today's poster gives us some good advice. We attain success in our writing world one step at a time. There is no button that says 'push me and reach the peak.'  If only!

There are logical steps to reaching the status of professional writer. Again, one step at a time. We read about writing, we take classes on our craft, we do writing exercises, we write drafts, then edit and revise and on and on. We know what we need to do. 

One of the steps in our journey is taking advantage of opportunities to widen our scope in the writing world. With the advent of zoom meetings, we can attend writing classes and workshops, or listen to experienced writers share their expertise with us. Many of them are free. They are also done in the comfort of your own home. They can whisk us to another state in a flash. They allow us to meet more writers than we once did.

These are wonderful opportunities, but it is up to us to take advantage of them. 

Because of the pandemic, my state authors convention has been broadcast on zoom for the past two years. We were sent a schedule of the workshops, and we could attend any of them that appealed to us. Occasionally, two that I was interested in were scheduled at the same time. Not a problem, because the recordings were saved and could be watched at a later time. The convention worked well in this manner, but we are all hoping to have an in-person convention next fall. 

The opportunity to attend the convention via zoom was given to us, but each member had to take advantage of this gift. Yes, we had to pay a fee, just as we do for the in-person conventions. Even so, we had a chance to enlarge our writing world by tuning in to listen to accomplished writers.

Many state writing organizations are divided into districts. My group had 7 districts. Many are using zoom for meetings with some all zoom and others a hybrid--attend in person or at home on zoom. Because of traveling distances involved, the zoom option allows many who would not drive two hours to a meeting to still be in attendance. It's a great solution. The important thing is to take advantage of the opportunity, up to you to attend.

Maybe you have a critique group that meets in person. The group is there, but how often do you show up? Time out from writing is well spent at a meeting like this. We gain a great deal by listening to other writers, by asking questions. Take advantage of this time spent with other writers. 

Do you belong to an online writing group? If so, do you take advantage of all it has to offer? My online group allows me to submit my work for critique, gives me an opportunity to read and critique the writing of other members, offers me writing exercises on a regular basis, and allows me to chat with people who have the same interest in writing that I do. To be in a group like this is a golden opportunity to help us grow as a writer, but we must take advantage of what is there for the taking. 

What if you're asked to give a program or be interviewed online, radio, or tv? Do you say yes to the invitation? No doubt, it takes time to prepare, but it's a golden opportunity to increase your reading audience. Say yes.

Take a few minutes today to consider opportunities in your writing world. Which have you taken advantage of? Which ones have you skimmed past? The question that follows on each of these is 'why?' There are always some valid reasons for not using these opportunities--like a schedule conflict. But, if you are not attending because you didn't get around to it, you need to give thought to how these opportunities might be of help to you. Then, make a point of attending.

Valentine Memories--Can You Write Some?

Happy Valentine's Day to you. It's one of my favorite holidays and always has been. In grade school, we brought a valentine card to everyone in our class and slipped them into decorated boxes with a slot in the top--a special Valentine mailbox. The Room Mothers brought red punch, heart cookies and conversation heart candy to our classroom for the party we'd all been anticipating for days. The boxes were opened while we sipped and munched on the goodies. I remember that day being a lot of fun, and I was happy to carry my Valentine box home and look at the cards again. My second grade Valentine's Day party was the one I remember so clearly that I wrote about it.

Many years later, I made old-fashioned valentine cards from construction paper, lace hearts and other things for the trim for each one of the 36 students I taught my 3rd grade classroom. They oohed and aahed over the cards, but my project also allowed us to have a short history lesson about Valentine's Day and its traditions. 

We equate this holiday with love, but it doesn't always have to be romantic love. There are many other kinds--the love of friends or parents' love for their children, and children's love for parents. I have shared my Valentine story that was published in Chicken Soup for the Soul several times, and I'm doing the same today. It was the first story I had published in the popular anthology series, so it's special to me for that reason, as well. It's also been translated into Chinese and read in that country, as well as appearing in other publications over the years, thanks to the Chicken Soup editors.

Have you written a story or poem that is Valentine themed? If not, why not? Give it a try. My Valentine story is below for those who may not have read it before.

Love In A Box

By Nancy Julien Kopp

When I was a little girl, I found love in a box all because of a class assignment. On a Friday night I made an announcement at the dinner table. The words bubbled out in a torrent of excitement I could no longer contain. "My teacher said we have to bring a box for our valentines on Monday. But it has to be a special box all decorated."

Mother said, "We'll see," and she continued eating.

I wilted faster than a flower with no water. What did "We'll see" mean? I had to have that box, or there would be no valentines for me. My second grade Valentine's Day would be a disaster. Maybe they didn't love me enough to help me with my project.

All day Saturday I waited, and I worried, but there was no mention of a valentine box. Sunday arrived, and my concern increased, but I knew an inquiry about the box might trigger anger and loud voices. I kept an anxious eye on both my parents all day. In 1947, children only asked once. More than that invited punitive measures; at least in my house it did.

Late Sunday afternoon, my father called me into the tiny kitchen of our apartment. The table was covered with an assortment of white crepe paper, red construction paper, and bits and pieces of lace and ribbon from my mother's sewing basket. An empty shoebox rested on top of the paper. Relief flooded through me when Daddy said, "Let's get started on your project." 

In the next hour, my father transformed the empty shoebox into a valentine box I would never forget. Crepe paper covered the ugly cardboard. My father fashioned a ruffled piece of the pliable paper and glued it around the middle. He cut a slot in the lid and covered it with more of the white paper. Next came red hearts attached in what I considered all the right places. He hummed a tune while he worked, and I kneeled on my chair witnessing the magical conversion of the shoebox and handing him the glue when he needed it. When he finished, my father's eyes sparkled, and a smile stretched across his thin face. "What do you think of that?"

My answer was a hug and a "Thank you, Daddy." 

But inside, joy danced all the way to my heart. It was the first time that my father devoted so much time to me. His world consisted of working hard to support his family, adoring my mother, disciplining my brother and me, and listening to every sports event broadcast on the radio. Suddenly, a new door opened in my life. My father loved me. 

Monday morning, my mother found a brown grocery sack to protect the beautiful box while I carried it to school. I barely felt the bitter cold of the February day as I held the precious treasure close to me. I would let no harm come to my beautiful valentine box.

My teacher cleared a space on a long, wide windowsill where the decorated boxes would stay until Valentine's Day. I studied each one as it was placed on the sill, and none compared with mine. Every time I peeked at my valentine box, I felt my father's love. My pride knew no bounds. There were moments when the box actually glowed in a spotlight all its own. No doubt the only one who witnessed that glow was me. 

Every day some of my classmates brought valentine cards to school and slipped them into the slots of the special boxes. The holiday party arrived, and we brought our boxes to our desks to open the valentines. Frosted heart cookies, red punch, valentines and giggles filled our classroom. Chaos reigned until dismissal time arrived.

I carried my valentine box home proudly. It wasn't hidden in a grocery sack, but held out for the world to admire. I showed it to the policeman who guided us across a busy city street. He patted me on the head and exclaimed over the box. I made sure everyone along the way took note of my valentine box. My father had made it for me, and the love that filled the box meant more to me than all the valentines nestled inside.

From that time on, I never doubted my father's feelings for me. The valentine box became a symbol of his love that lasted through decades of other Valentine Days. He gave me other gifts through the years, but none ever compared with the tender love I felt within the confines of the old, empty shoe box.

My Dad
 

 

Photo Prompt Writing Exercise

My husband and I had the great good fortune of visiting South Africa twice. We were guests of friends who were born and raised there. We visited Kruger National Park while there and saw animals normally seen in the zoo in their natural habitat. Another place we visited was our friends' daughter's home called Glen Afric, where the animals roam free. The site of many movies, Glen Afric is also a lodge for guests with a lovely restaurant. These photos were taken as we drove through the many acres to view the animals. After Sunday lunch at the Lodge, we were delighted to partake in the Sunday tradition of feeding the elephants with scraps and leftovers from the lodge kitchen. 

For a photo prompt exercise this weekend, write a paragraph or more using the pictures above as your prompt. Create a full story if you are inspired to do so. 

Things to include when doing a photo prompt:

Sensory details--sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch 

Strong description

A sense of place

A possible story

Active verbs

Show, don't tell

Doing photo prompt exercises help you become a stronger writer. Some of the exercises can be expanded into a full story, poem, or essay. 

The photo below will show you the rondavel huts where we lived for the three days we spent at Kruger National Park. Electricity, air-conditioning, a kitchen on the covered porch--all the comforts of home, as well as monkeys screeching in the trees.  Maybe you can use this photo for your writing exercise, as well as the ones above. 

 

Writers Friendship Quiz

 The program at a meeting I attended earlier this week highlighted Friendship. It was light and sometimes humorous, but had a definite message about the place of friends in our lives. On the way home, I started thinking about the writing friends I have. Looking at the handout we were given, I used it to consider the friends I have met on my writing journey. Because of the technology we have in today's world, our writing friends can be in our town, in another state, or overseas. 

We meet our writing friends by being active in writers' organizations, joining critique groups in person or online, other writing groups, via social media, even wandering through a bookstore. As with all friends, some are closer to us than others.

Give some thought to your writing friends. The ones you have met in person and also the ones whom you know only through social media or a workshop online or some way other than in person. Your answers here are only for you, not to be shared with the world. 

Among your writer friends, who is:

...your best friend, one that is a friend of the heart?

...your far away friend?

...your friend who makes you laugh?

...the one that has done the nicest thing for you?

...your friend that you can borrow from?

...your friend who can boost your spirits?

...your most intellectual friend who stimulates your mind?

...your friend to travel with (maybe to a convention)?

...the friend you would like for a closer friend?

...your intergenerational friend?

...your newest friend?

After you take the quiz above, you might have a deeper appreciation for your writing friends. We have the craft of writing in common, but these friends can be of great support, often boost your spirits, and can give aid in solving a writing problem. Besides all that, they can be a lot of fun. 

I consider the friends in my writing world as golden nuggets as I wend my way down the path of my writing journey. They are often like the brilliant stars that shine in the night sky. They are a gift that I treasure. I have learned from them, been encouraged by them, and value all of them. 

...

Open Mouth, Insert Keyboard

 

Christina Hamlett is my Guest Blogger today. She has some valuable information that all writers who either are, or hope to be, published should heed. I am most grateful that Christina chooses to share her knowledge with us. 

OPEN MOUTH, INSERT KEYBOARD

By Christina Hamlett

Are Social Media Missteps Secretly Hurting You?

Prior to the internet, the only thing agents and publishers knew about us was what we disclosed in cover letters, CVs and clips of our work. Such inquires required a laser-beam focus. To make a smart impression, it was as crucial to not waste words as it was to keep to the code of professional relevance. It was also a time when many people kept diaries and locked away their most private thoughts from prying eyes. Fast forward to the electronic Age of TMI (too much information) and the fact on any given day we’re providing strangers with keys to learn everything about us, sometimes without our even knowing it.

Are you using Facebook as a way to share news and photos with friends or as a way to promote your projects and published works? Unless you want to maintain two separate pages to distinguish personal vs. business, there’s frequently an overlap in content and agents per se don’t have a problem with this. As more and more of them request links to websites and social media as a virtual snapshot of who you are, their curiosity is primarily driven by (1) are you an interesting person doing interesting things, (2) do you know how to market yourself, and (3) do your passions embrace a watchable work/life balance.

HAVE I SAID TOO MUCH?

Unfortunately, not all passions are ready for prime time. A case in point is a referral I did a few months ago for an author whose novel had themes I believed would resonate with a particular agent. Although the latter liked the writing, she ultimately declined. As a professional courtesy she circled back to tell me why she felt uncomfortable offering representation. A review of the author’s Facebook pages revealed she has been venting her political spleen for the past two years with cartoons, vitriolic posts, conspiracy theories and links to Fox News broadcasts. While it’s hard not to get caught up in today’s divisive headlines, the agent felt that readers who might potentially become fans of the author’s work would be turned off by the rabid content she posts and that none of it reveals anything about her hobbies, interests or how she even approaches the craft of writing.

In concert with this are authors who share a tad too much about their struggles with mental health, substance abuse and addictions, failed relationships, etc. Catharsis may be good for the soul but unless the filters you set are only reaching a select handful of trusted friends, that messaging is going out globally to people you don’t even know along with those who could use that same intel against you; i.e., “Why should I hire this person when s/he engages in risky behaviors, admits to being a flake and has a history of bad decision-making?”

WHAT KIND OF POTATO ARE YOU?

Who among us hasn’t enjoyed occasional bits of brain floss with Facebook quizzes such as, “What would you look like as a gnome?” “Who is your celebrity double?” “What traits do people most admire about you?” “What will you look like at 75?” They all seem harmless enough except for two things: (1) Those which ask for a headshot to manipulate can subsequently use it for facial recognition platforms that could violate your privacy rights and jeopardize personal data; (2) Many of them include the oft-not-read small print that participating in the game is granting your permission for access to your Facebook page and Friends list.

Another popular phishing scheme is seemingly innocent and puts forth “fun” questions such as: “What was the top song the month and year you were born?” “What’s the name of your first grade teacher?” “What was your first car?” “How far do you live from where you were born?” “What was your first pet’s name?” “What elementary school did you attend?” The answers to many of these come easily to most people because they’re frequently used as their own security questions for banking, credit cards and online accounts. Questions pertaining to geography and timelines help narrow down a profile of where you hail from and your age—useful data for future identity theft.

YOUR MONEY IS NO ONE’S BUSINESS BUT YOURS

When friends and clients win a writing competition, sell a new play or sign a publishing contract, I thoroughly encourage them to toot their own horns in social media. What I don’t encourage them to do is scan the acceptance letter or, worse, the check itself and post it on Facebook. It’s a “Look at me! Look at me!” moment which not only demonstrates the author is needy for attention (the amounts are usually under $50) but—unless it’s redacted—also gives away information such as the recipient’s home address. Simply share the gist of your success story and let everyone congratulate you.

AUTHOR, PROMOTE THYSELF

Lastly, let’s not forget that a truly positive aspect of social media for today’s authors is being able to hype new projects before they’re officially on the market. Teasers and excerpts are a great way to whet the appetites of your future readers. Along with this are anecdotes about what inspired the work, what you’ve learned along the way and insights on your process for bringing characters and settings to life. Many authors going the self-publishing route are also using Facebook to conduct surveys on which cover designs are the most appealing and intriguing. Likewise, it can be a smart tool to provide links to your interviews and to published articles which demonstrate your scope of knowledge and affirm your qualifications to create those books and scripts in the first place!

Former actress and director Christina Hamlett is an award-winning author whose credits to date include 44 books, 257 stage plays and squillions of articles. She is also a script consultant for stage and screen and a professional ghostwriter. www.authorhamlett.com.

Mental Manipulation for Writers

 

I'm often asked the question "How do you find time to write?" When we lead busy lives with household and family responsibilities and maintain a social life, finding that time to write is not always easy. 

There are ways, however, that we can write without applying fingers to keyboard or pencil to paper. Writers can use what I call Mental Manipulation. One meaning of manipulation is 'to utilize or manage skillfully.' When I am doing household tasks, I am often writing in my head. So you see, I am utilizing or managing my writing time in that mode.

Take ironing, for instance. It is a mindless task that we do by rote. I can hear many of you saying 'Iron! I haven't done that for years!' Consider this merely an illustration. I do iron some things, nowhere near as many as I did years ago. Still, my mind is free when I iron, and I put that freedom to good use. I start plotting a story or considering what I will write about on this blog. The smart thing to do when the ironing is finished is to jot down notes of the thoughts I had. Admittedly, I don't always take the time to make notes, and I often wish that I had. It's an important step.

There are many other places where you can use that Mental Manipulation to help in planning what you are going to write. A few are listed below

A. waiting in a doctor's office

'B. riding a commuter train or bus

C. loading or unloading the dishwasher

D. watching a tv show that bores you

E. folding laundry

F. raking leaves

G. intermission at a concert or play

H. waiting your turn at a beauty salon or barber shop

I  sitting in the passenger seat on a driving trip

J. sunbathing

There are more, of course. The point is to take advantage of those times to do a little Mental Manipulation, so that you can 'utilize or manage skillfully' your writing time. 

Create a Character Sketch

 

Marlene Cullen offers writers writing prompts and exercises through her blog at The Write Spot . One that I particularly liked helps short story and novel writers build the characters they are writing about. Ms Cullen graciously gave me permission to use the exercise on my blog. Visit her blog to find the menu of the many things offered to writers. 

The photo today shows someone sketching a person. You can do a written sketch of characters with Ms. Cullen's exercise. 

THE EXERCISE TO SKETCH YOUR CHARACTERS

Finish sentences as your fictional character would.

OR: Write your responses, as author/writer.

My full name is (include maiden name and middle name):

I live at or near . . .

I live with . . .

I usually wear . . .

I want . . .

I hope . . .

People would be surprised to know that I . . .

I am happiest when . . .

I daydream about . . .

If I had my way . . .

I don’t understand . . .

I get angry when . . .

People wouldn’t like it if they knew . . .

I never told anyone that I . . .

If I were in charge . . .

My hobbies are . . .

My favorite breakfast . . .

My pet peeves . . .

My favorite drink . . .

My favorite place to hang out . . .

I don’t like it when . . .

My best friend . . .

I like to . . .

Find out more about Marlene Cullen's The Write Spot website, which includes her blog, at  https://www.thewritespot.us/ 

 

One Way to Solve Your Writing Problems

 

Ever had a day in your writing world that makes you feel like walking away, never to return? We've all experienced those times when nothing goes right and we become frustrated and dejected, maybe even angry.

Negative thoughts rumble through our minds. Why did I ever think I could write? Who is going to read this drivel of mine? Will I ever get an acceptance after submitting? Why won't this story work right? And many more. 

Before the day is over, we decide we are quitting. No more struggling along our writing journey. No more searching for ideas and inspiration to write. No more getting stalled in the middle of a story. No more searching for markets. No more worrying that what I write is drivel. No more...

The list can go on and on. Days like those cited above are the times when we are on the verge of quitting this writing game. If it's happened to you, you are not alone. When things go right, we're happy to be a writer, but when they don't, why not just give up? 

Our poster today gives us some good advice to use when we are in that 'I quit' mode. It says 'When you feel like quitting, think about why you started.' That's a WOW! 

Step away from writing for a few days and give thought to the reasons you started writing. Maybe it was only months ago, more likely years. Think about what led you to the writing world, what excited you about the craft, what made you want to continue. What, or who, inspired you? Why were you willing to give up part of your social life to write? 

After some thinking time, make a list of the positives and negatives of your writing life, or maybe title your list Pros and Cons of My Writing World. I hope the positive, or pro, side is the longer list. 

Maybe your memories of why you started writing in the first place will inspire you to keep going. Attitude plays a role here, too. If you are willing to work on the problem areas with the thought that things will improve, you're halfway there. If you dwell on the dark areas, you could sink deeper. 

Don't only consider the way you started writing, but also where you want to go. To get there, you'll need to work on the areas that have been problems for you. They aren't going to magically correct themselves. You are the one who has to do that. When we start writing, we're a little scared, but also excited. Recapture some of that excitement and keep moving ahead. 

Writers--Creativity Takes Courage

 

Today's photo poster offers advice in a mere three words. 'Creativity takes courage' You bet it does.

When we take the plunge headfirst into the writing world, we have to be strong and have the courage to learn the ins and outs of this craft of writing, to put ourself up for criticism from both editors and readers. It's not easy.

There is no perfectly right or absolutely wrong way to write a story, essay, or poem. There are guidelines writers need to learn and follow, but it's alright to veer off course--if he/she has the courage to do so. Make no mistake. You must be brave to write 'your' way instead of the way all the writing reference books tell you. More power to you if you can do it.

I have noticed that some of the publications seeking admissions state that they don't want the normal, run of the mill writers but someone who is not afraid to choose a new method to write. A perfect invitation for the courageous. Especially for those whose work some editors have turned away as too off the normal path. These writers need to find editors with the same outlook they have about the method of writing they use.  Editors who like experimental writing. Finding them will take some research and market studying. 

New writers must find the courage to make that first submission. It's frightening to put your work out for criticism or rejection when all you want is an acceptance. If you write and write and write and never work up the courage to submit, you'll miss a lot and stay right where you are on your writing path. To move, you must start making submissions. One way to learn to handle the criticism that might come, or those nasty rejections, is to join a critique group where writers will read your work, offer suggestions and help you turn your work into a marketable piece. Once you get accustomed to these critiques, it might be easier to actually submit your work to an editor. 

To have the courage to move ahead on your writing journey, you have to be a bit of an egotist. Once you believe in your writing ability, it will be easier to submit, to join critique groups, and to continue writing. Remember the exercise I once suggested where you stand in front of a mirror and repeat "I am a writer." until you actually believe it? It will also help you have the courage needed to move ahead in your writing journey. There is a line, however, that you don't want to cross. You don't want readers or editors to think you are the biggest egotist ever. Use it to pump yourself up, not to overwhelm others.

Another part of being a writer that takes courage is public speaking. Some writers cringe at the thought of presenting their work in a public forum. It also takes practice. The more often you speak about your writing world or your latest book, the easier ti becomes. There are writers who have no problem speaking to a group. Aren't they the lucky ones? All writers who are published should learn to present themselves and their work in a public situation. Yes, it takes courage, but it can be done.

Our poster tells us that 'Creativity takes courage." I am in full agreement, and I wish a giant cupful of courage for each one of you today.

Try Writing a Wee Bit of Memoir

 

Ready to begin

(This was a Guest Post I did for Michelle Monet's Memoir site in January of 2019)

You've been through a traumatic period in your life or an event that just won't stop invading your heart and mind. You decide to write a memoir. Big decision. Big story. Big job.

You begin the first chapter with the enthusiasm of an athlete who knows she’s at the top of her game. Confident with a goal of reaching the trophy at the end. And then, the idea of writing an entire book about what occurred somewhere in your life becomes a bit frightening, even overwhelming. I’ve noted memoir writers who confess that they have never written before but felt the story needed to be told. How to do it can be a big stumbling block.

If you’re a newbie writer, it stands to reason that this great undertaking might be too much to handle. Even if you have some writing background, a whole book can be daunting. What to do?

Try writing short memoir pieces. A lot of personal essays and stories in anthologies like Chicken Soup for the Soul can be classified as memoir. I’ve written dozens of them, and let me tell you, a 1200 word memoir story for an anthology is a lot easier to write than a 300-page book.

If you’re thinking that you couldn’t possibly get all that happened into 1,000 to 2,000 words, you’re right. The short memoir is merely a snippet of what you’d include in a full book.

Think about the meaning of the word memoir—a memory or reminiscence. The first short memoir I had published was about my dad making a valentine box for me to take to school when I was in the second grade. Making the valentine box wasn’t the important part. That came when I, only 7 years old, realized that my daddy, who had little spare time to devote to me, loved me. We take things like this for granted but this particular day, the fact settled over me like a warm comforter and left a definite impression. You can read the story here. The tale is a mere sliver of memoir. I couldn’t write an entire book about that valentine box, but I could include the story within a lengthy memoir about the love/hate relationship that developed between my dad and me as the years slid by.

Many a personal essay begins with a memory and finishes with a universal truth or a lesson learned. Basically, it is a short form memoir, but for some reason, we tend to think of memoir only as a full book. If you want to write short memoir pieces, you’ll need to change your mindset. Once you do, there’ll be no problem in continuing to write these wee little bits of your life.

Consider this. Once you have a file filled with these short stories, you can piece them together like a quilt top and create a full-length memoir. In addition, if you can publish some of these short memoirs, you might still use them in your full book, as long as you retain the rights to the stories.

There are writing contests that use Memoir as a category. My state authors' group has found this contest category to be one that receives the most submissions. The word count varies from year to year—sometimes 1500 words or less, but never over 2,000.

When writing the short memoir, remember to give the facts but also your feelings and what you may have learned. Use all the writing tools in your kit, such as sensory details, similes and metaphors, active verbs and more exactly as you would with any other type of writing.

Give short memoir a try. That wee bit could lead to something much bigger.

February and Writing Memories Exercise

 

Here we are at the front end of the shortest month of the year. Even so, it is chock full of special days. Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day, Abraham Lincoln's birthday, George Washington's birthday, and also designated as Black History Month. 

In our family, we celebrate two birthdays--my son and our oldest granddaughter. His on the 5th and hers on the 16th. I remember the day each one was born. Special days. 

When we write family stories, memories connected with the events or celebrations of a particular month roll through our minds. In December, we think about so many parts of Christmas in our growing up years, then in the years we were raising our own families. The same for November when Thanksgiving happenings come to mind. 

Many of those memories are revisited around the dining table. Some small comment might trigger a special family story, and one person tells the tale while the others nod in agreement if they, too, remember it, or with looks of amazement if they had no inkling of that particular happening. When families are gathered together with food as the centerpiece, the memories seem to appear easily. 

It's not convenient to write them down as you are seated at the table, and when everyone disperses for other places, no one thinks to make a written record of what was said at the table. The story drifts away and future generations don't have the joy of hearing it. 

That is why I urge you to write your family stories. You're not doing it for those generations behind you, the ones who have left life on earth. Or not necessarily for yourself. You're doing it for future generations in your family, so that they will learn about their ancestors. Maybe twenty year old Joe reads a story about his great-grandfather. In that story, Great-grandfather Sam's habit of eating a certain way is noted. Maybe Joe eats the same way. A small habit suddenly unites him with that great-grandfather. If no one had written the story, Joe would never have known about his real connection with an ancestor. This is just one small example. There can be so many others.

My husband's paternal grandfather left Germany at the age of 20. He had a much younger brother who was only a toddler at the time. Grandpa told of standing at the rail of the ship, looking down and waving at his mother who was holding his little brother, wondering if he would ever see them again. Many, many years later, my husband and I visited the town where this grandfather grew up--Lahr, Germany. I wrote a travel essay about our visit there titled "Grandpa's Town." I didn't include that story about his departure on the ship, but in retrospect, I should have. 

Sometimes, the small things of long ago turn into more important moments as time goes on. They deserve to be written down for future generations to read. 

For an exercise today, start writing with the following words:  In February, I remember...

Your memories could be about what you did that month in school, the weather, foods your mother made only in February, and more. Maybe you have a birthday in February, so your memories could center around that. I find if I write those opening words of the exercise, then close my eyes for a minute, I am ready to write. Give it a try. You might be surprised at what memories you bring forth.