Book Review: Lady Tan's Circle of Women

 

Lisa See's latest novel, Lady Tan's Circle of Women, kept me reading past my usual bedtime several evenings. Based on an actual person, this historical fiction novel centers on Tan Yunxian, who lived in 15th century China in a well-to-do family.

Yunxian lost her mother when she was a small child. Her father, who was seldom home because of his high government position, sent her to live with her paternal grandparents, both doctors. The grandmother sees promise in this small child and sets out to train her as a doctor. Female doctors in this time were far and few between. 

Yunxian learns about the Four Examinations which are looking, listening, touching, and asking. Isn't this what we hope doctors of today will do, as well? She also learns what the pulse reveals, but it takes many years to perfect this type of examination. 

A midwife and her daughter serve the household of many women. The young girl, Ming Lei, and Yunxian become girlhood friends vowing to never part, despite the difference in the level of society each one comes from. The theme of friendship is a major part of the story thorughout the book, as we follow both the girls through being young women on into middle age and beyond. 

Yunxian is betrothed as a young child and wed at age fifteen, as was common in that period. Even though she is already gifted in the field of medicine, her mothr-in-law forbids her to practice, even among the many females in the large household. She is to be wife, mother, and all that goes with it but no more.

The story continues through difficult times in Yunxian's life, her relationship with her mother-in-law, her husband, and her treasured friend, Mei Ling, as well as how she does practice medicine within the family and even, secretly, to outsiders. We see her as wife, mother, doctor, and friend. 

Lisa See is a fine storyteller, knows how to draw the reader in, and hold them right to the end of the book. She has written many other books, all of which deal with China in some way. She is part Chinese in heritage and has delved deeply into the lives of Chinese people in China and also in the United States as immigrants through fiction based on fact. 

I especially liked learning how medicine was practiced in ancient China, so different, and yet some similarites to doctors of today. 

Writers Must Learn To Cut Words

 

Let's play What if...? What if you have a wonderful story of around 1440 words? When you begin looking for a place to send it, you find that what you've written would be a perfect fit for a Chicken Soup for the Soul book. You are sure it will be a winner. You can almost see an image in your mind of what you've written in print in the book. But then you check the guidelines and note that the maximum number of words the editors will accept is 1200. 

Your heart falls right down to the soles of your feet. 1600 vs 1200! That means cutting 240 words. Not possible you think. You call a friend who has been published in that anthology several times. "How serious are they about word count?" you ask. You sink into a chair when your friend responds, "Very serious. I mean--they aren't kidding." 

What if you try to cut the extra 240 words? It would mean you can submit the story feeling confident because you followed the guidelines. It might also mean a lot of work. What if you lose something big in the story? What if you don't want to tackle the job? Not an option? Then, it's time to get to work.

Go through the text and highlight places where you have used more than one adjective to describe a noun. Choose one and toss the other. Now, check for adverbs. Do you really need to say '...he said angrily?' Drop the adverbs wherever possible. (You can also drop a few of dialogue tags in a conversation)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What if you follow all this advice for cutting 240 words from your personal essay? It just might allow you to cut that many words. I know because I've done it.

Submit Your Writing. Do it Now!

I had happy news yesterday. Several poems I submitted were accepted for a book about bedtime poems for children, coming out next month. The poems were ones that have been in my files for quite a long time. I'd subbed a couple of them to children's magazines earlier, but they were not accepted. So, back in the file folder they went. I was going to send just one or two to this new anthology but decided to send the lot. They might take a couple, I thought. What a surprise that they wanted all six, especially when I read that they had an overwhelming response and were not able to accept all the submissions received. 

If I'd left those poems in the file, they'd still be sitting there gathering dust or growing whiskers. The point here is 'If you don't submit, you cannot be published.' It's as simple as that. Conversely, it's not always a simple thing to submit your writing for publication. 

So, what's the problem? There are many reasons writers do not submit their work. Take a look at the following thoughts followed by one suggestion: 

 1.  It takes time:  First, you need to do some searching to find a place where what you have written fits. You should send an article on knitting to a handicraft magazine just as you would only submit a gardening essay to a  publication that deals with that subject. Once you find a market, you had better spend time checking and rechecking the submission guidelines. I cannot emphasize that step enough. Many submissions get tossed because they simply did not follow the guidelines. Next, you need to get the submission ready to send, whether by e-mail or snail mail. Guidelines often give how-to on this part of submitting, too. And finally, you need to record (somewhere, anywhere) what you sent, where you sent it, and when. So, yes--it takes time.

2.  Success is not guaranteed:  Darned little in this life is a sure thing, and submitting your writing to objective eyes is definitely a gamble. The odds are that more of your work will be rejected than accepted, especially in the early stages of your writing life. Convince yourself that you're not alone in this. We all know misery loves company, but your own misery after a rejection always runs higher. Take a chance. One of the submissions will eventually be accepted. Who knows, you might even have beginners luck and hit the jackpot on the first one. A nice dream you say? Well, it does happen occasionally.

3. Discipline is needed:  We all need discipline in many aspects of our lives. You had to learn to discipline yourself doing homework from grade school on. Submitting your writing is no different. It, too, requires discipline. Your spouse can't do it for you. Your kids can't do it for you, and neither can I. You know who must be the responsible one.

4.  No time like the present:  Don't promise yourself you'll submit your work next month or next week. Do it now. When we set the time line too far ahead, it's pretty easy to slide right on by. Do it now. And don't stop with one submission. I have numerous submissions out. All publications have different response times, so you need to keep the submissions going.

5. Watch for Calls for Submissions:  Make a habit of looking for calls for submissions. You'll find them in many writing newsletters and in groups on Facebook and other media platforms. 

6.  Start writing a new story:  This is a biggie. Once you send a completed piece of your writing to an editor, get started writing a new story right away. Keep the wheel turning and before you know it, you've established a habit.

You're a writer! You're special! Believe it!

Finding Friends in the Writing World

 

Today's photo (silhouette) shows two women having coffee or tea and conversing. It makes me wonder what they are discussing. If they are writers, I'm quite certain that topic will be a good part of their conversation. 

That's a positive. Some writers tend to be a bit reclusive. They prefer to stay at home and write. Writing is a solitary task. No doubt about that. When a writer gets involved in a project, they don't need anyone else around. They're totally immersed. But, when they have free time, it would be beneficial to seek the company of another writer.

Only another wrter understands the ups and downs of the writing world. Your best friend who is a nurse might be sympathetic when you tell her about your latest problem in the piece you're writing. If it's a writer friend, they will actually be able to empathize. They've been there, know the hurdles you're facng, really understand what you're talking about. 

How do you find writer friends? One way is to attend writing conventions or conferences on a regular basis. The first time, you are in a sea of strangers, but by going year after year, you are bound to make some friends. Friends who live in he writing world just like you, Friends who understand your ups and downs.

Another way is to join a critique group. It can be an in-person one in your local area or online. I have been in both kinds. The people in the online group I belong to have become close friends. We critique one another's work, but there is also chit-chat, and  Random Word exercises in which many write about their personal life. If I have a problem in something I am writing, I know I can go to any one of them for help or just to 'talk it out'. 

If you have local writer friends, make a point of getting together now and then. If you don't, maybe it's time to look for some. One way is to join your state writers organization. Most of them will have districts or local chapters. Attend the meetings regularly. Foster friendships there. You seldom become instant friends with anyone. It takes some time to develop a friendship. And, you must work at it. 

Having friends in your writing world will be of great benefit. Give it a try.

Book Review: A Little Tumble in Tintagel

 

Book 5 in Christina Hamlett's cozy mystery series has just been released. A Little Tumble in Tintagel whisks the reader off to the cliffs of Cornwall in England to a village called Tintagel. 

Rochelle Reid, also known as Rocky, leaves London for a few days to visit her friend, Clive, on a movie set. Clive, also a former M15 agent, has a small part in the movie about King Arthur and the legends surrounding him. Clive will be Merlin, with few lines, merely a scowl which he can do quite well. 

Clive's son, Harry, drives Rochelle to Tintagel where they find many of the hotels and other buildings are fashioned after parts of the Arthurian legend. They are looking forward to watching Clive's part being filmed outdoors, even though it is February and cold.

Death seems to follow Rochelle wherever she goes, and this trip proves no different. The director of the film is found dead at the bottom of a long stairway leading from the cliffs to the beach below. An accidental fall? Or murder? Rochelle had promised her steady boyfriend, Jon, that she wouldn't get involved in anything on this trip other than watching a movie being made. 

But being the woman she is, Rocky feels compelled to watch the cast and crew, as her suspicions grow. Getting more deeply involved almost costs her life before the murder is solved. 

Once again, Ms. Hamlett gives a true sense of place, fills her story with intriguing characters, some we've met in the previous books in this series, and keeps the reader engaged while trying to figure out the mystery. In addition, she highlights many of the meals Rocky and her friends have in the hotels and restaurants, so if you're a foodie, this is one more reason to read the book.

Cozy mysteries like this do not deal in violence, or cursing, or explicit sex. The reader never witnesses the actual death in the story. 

With each of the books in this series, I feel as though I've been on an overseas trip myself, so they are perfect for the armchair traveler. Each book can stand alone, but you can check out the earlier books in the series at Amazon or Barnes & Noble, as well.

Book 1:  A Little Larceny in Lynmouth

Book 2:  A Little Scandal in St. Andrews

Book 3:  A Little Drama in Dunster

'Book 4:  A Little Poison in Paisley

Book 5:  A Little Tumble in Tintagel

Book Review: Pheemie's War

 We learn so much from reading Historical Fiction, especially when the author does enough research to be sure he/she writes with authenticity. Kate Reynolds' newest book, Pheemie's War--Coming of Age in WWII gives a realistic picture of what life was like during the early years of WWII in the desert town of Phoenix, Arizona. 

Pheemie and her twin sister, Zella, are sixteen when the U.S. enters the war in 1941. They've been raised in a comfortable family along with younger brother, Tom. The girls' father was in the National Guard and is immediately called up and shipped out to the Pacific theater. The twins attend a Catholic Girls' School. Sister Mary Matthew, their teacher, cannot understand how twins can be so different, yet look so much alike. Pheemie is the scholar and in great hope of winning a schlarship to college, while Zella's aim is to have a good time in life. 

Once war is declared the girls and most everyone they know immerse themselves int the War effort--selling war bonds, collecting rubber and newspapers, meeting troop trains offering coffee and doughnuts and a smile to the military men on their way overseas and learning to do without many things they once took for granted. 

Shy Pheemie loves Rafe, the son of their Mexican housekeeper, Quinta, but in the Arizona of the 1940s, a racially mixed relationship was not done. Pheemie's father gives her a stern warning before he leaves for overseas duty. Quinta also lets Pheemie know there can be nothing between her son and Pheemie. Like most adolescents, Pheemie and Rafe's relationship has many ups and downs, leaving childhood moving on. Pheemie vows to love Rafe forever.

Zella, however, falls in love with numerous soldiers, nor has she ever turned down a dare. 

The story takes the reader through the adventures and the changes in the two sisters as they meet life head-on. Pheemie, in particular, moves from being a young girl to becoming a woman. She struggles with questions of right and wrong.

The novel brings the reader right into the times with so many small details that mark the early 1940s era. Ms. Reynolds also paints a perfect picture of Phoenix when it was still a small town, not the city of today. She weaves all this into the story seamlessly. 

The novel flows well, and the characters are well-drawn, and it is a fine story. What more could you ask? 

Note the car on the cover. The Pierce-Arrow plays a definite role in the story. Imagine it filled with nuns. Imagine it filled with twins on a very difficult mission.