Meet Ken Goetz, Writer and Blogger

 

Ken Goetz and his granddaughter

I think you'll find today's post of interest. I've interviewed a fellow blogger whom I would like to introduce to you. His name is Ken Goetz, (also known as Dr. Kenneth Goetz) and he's quite an interesting fellow. After reading the interview, I hope you'll check out his blog.  www.https://writerken.com/.

Nancy:  What was your career path before you became a writer?

Ken:  My path was bizarrely complicated, yet each zigzag along the way seemed logical at the time. (It

would take long pages to describe the circumstances responsible for each twist in my path, some

of them admittedly embarrassing, so I’ll just list some key stages along the way):

Pre-law student in small South Dakota college

Weather observer with U.S. Air Force in Germany

Pre-journalism student, then pre-medical student and economics major, University of Wisconsin

Medical student (two years) and graduate student, University of Wisconsin (earned PhD)

Faculty member (+ part-time med student), University of Kansas Medical Center (earned MD)

Medical intern, Saint Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City

Head, Division of Experimental Medicine, Saint Luke’s Hospital (20 years)

Visiting Professor, University of Kuopio, Finland

Visiting Professor, University of Munich, Germany

Visiting Scientist, Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Cologne, Germany

Retired Guy who writes

Nancy:  When did you start writing?

Ken: I became serious about writing while taking news writing courses at Wisconsin. Following that academic year, I worked two summers for a small daily newspaper, the first as a local reporter, the second as state editor.

Nancy:  What inspired you to become a writer?

Ken:  I wish I could give a concrete reason. Maybe it was because I recognized quite early that the

ability to convert my thoughts and ideas into written words that accurately described what was

going on in my head, although difficult to achieve, would be a tremendous asset in whatever

profession I chose.

Nancy:  You've written a memoir. What inspired you to delve into a big project like that?

Ken:  I was 13, with three younger siblings, when our mother died. Our father was killed in a car crash a few years later. My younger sister and brother have no memories of our mother and only few of our father. I wrote my childhood memoir to give them a clearer picture of our parents and of earlier family stresses.

Soon afterward, Frank McCourt’s Angela’s Ashes burst upon the scene. I saw similarities between his memoir and my story, so I began searching for a publisher. Chicago Review Press and the University of Iowa press expressed interest, but ultimately both declined to publish it. So, I self-published the book as Bending the Twig. It sold a few thousand copies, generated excellent reviews, and, most impressive to me, generated hundreds of laudatory letters.

More recently, I came to realize that I had left significant information out of that memoir, so I recently revised and expanded the manuscript, increasing the word count from 58,000 to 78,000, and changing its working title. The revised manuscript is now under review by a major New York literary agency. No feedback as yet.

Nancy:  What else have you written?

Ken:  As a working physician-scientist, most of my output was published in scientific journals, with

nearly all of my papers written in typically dull, passive voice, the standard of academia. (But

occasionally, just for fun, I would throw in a zinger to break the mold.) Along the way, I wrote a

couple of popular pieces, one for the Kansas City Star about a doctor who voluntarily took a

lethal dose of the South American arrow poison, curare, and survived. That article was picked

up by the Associated Press and reprinted in major newspapers around the country. Last year, a

light personal essay of mine appeared in The Christian Science Monitor.

I also wrote a novel, The Colors of Medicine. That book was inspired by echoes from my

rebellious first year of medical school. While writing the novel, I felt some glee, even catharsis,

as I forced my protagonist to wade his way through the battered trail I had blazed in Madison.

The novel also was self-published and sold only a few hundred copies. Feedback indicated that

my characters were strong, even memorable, but my plot took a few uneven twists.

Nancy:  You have a blog. What prompted that?

Ken:  I don’t think I’ve told you this, but your blog was the inspiration for mine. When I discovered

Writer Granny's World, I was astonished by the quality and volume of your posts. I knew my

output would not begin to approach yours, but I thought maybe a grandfather could post a small

amount of what a grandmother was putting online so effectively. So, I did a bit of sleuthing about

how to set up a blog, and I jumped right in. Your readers can find my blog at www.https://writerken.com/.

Nancy: What kind of posts do you publish on your blog?

Ken: Unlike many other bloggers, I don’t focus on a single topic, so those who follow my blog never

know what to expect next. I see my posts as being somewhat akin to a weekly newspaper column,

one in which the columnist pens a piece on whatever interests him at the moment. Nothing is off

limits. Perhaps not surprisingly, I write about classic medical research, especially if I think the subject

is of general interest. For example, I’ve reported on the first man to catheterize the human heart

(a doctor who shoved a makeshift catheter into his own heart almost a hundred years ago). I’ve

also posted the story I mentioned above, the one about the man who voluntarily took a lethal

dose of South American arrow poison, and lived. Beyond that, health in general is another

common subject, especially when the topics lead to suggestions for maintaining our wellbeing.

At times I venture into more controversial opinion pieces, such as my take on the origin of

Covid-19, the costs of higher education, and Washington politics, the latter written from the

viewpoint of a Jack Kennedy Democrat, my solid personal anchor that has not wobbled since the

1960s. But, during that time the political spectrum has shifted decidedly leftward, so, with no

movement of my own, I now find myself surprisingly aligned a bit to the right of today’s political

middle. I also occasionally dip into literature, sports, travel, and whatnot. 

Finally, Nancy, I sincerely thank you for taking time to interview me and introduce me to your readers. Your blog has inspired me, and so many others.

Nancy:  It's been a pleasure to learn more about you. I've found your blog posts full of variety and most interesting. 

Loyalty Seems to Be Missing Lately

 All the things I read in the newspapers and hear on tv lately are disturbing. One more thing that bothers me is that there doesn't seem to be the loyalty and respect for others as much anymore. Some time ago, I wrote a personal essay about my dad and how I learned about loyalty of several kinds. It placed in a contest and was included in an anthology published by Women's Memoirs. I'm running it today in hopes that it might make others give consideration to what loyalty means. Respect is a big part of loyalty. 

Driving With Dad

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Writing Exercise Using Color

 

C O L O R

We promote showing over telling, emphasize it, in fact. It's a lot easier to tell (or report) than it is to show what a character does or feels or what is occurring. Today's post should help you try to show more than tell. It's a bit of a challenge. I've done a sample of the exercise. Give it a try. You might even find the beginning of a new story or essay. 

I want you to choose a color.  Don’t make it tough for yourself, skip chartreuse and go with green.  Got that color in mind?  Okay, now I want you to write a scene that reflects that color.  What do I mean by that?   Well, take red. How about a man chopping brush at the edge of a forest fire with flame and glowing embers all around, maybe at twilight. Or think of an avalanche of cut-paper Valentine hearts as a surprise for someone’s sweetie.  A cold, sweating stone tomb on a misty day (gray, anyone?).  See what I mean?  

The thing is that you cannot mention the name of the color in this exercise. Show your reader what the color is without naming it. A challenge? Perhaps--but one with benefits. 

My sample exercise is below. The color I chose is 'purple'. You have a rainbow to choose from. Try the exercise using a different hue each time. Note that other colors are named, but not the one you are attempting to 'show'.

PURPLE: (285 words)

The heavy velvet cloak on the bed appeared to glow, its deep shade overpowering the white coverlet it lay upon. Elizabeth ran her hand over the soft fabric. “It reminds me of the grapes grown in the vineyards beyond the castle walls. So deep and rich, they call out for any passerby to pluck them off the vine and taste, the juice running down his chin.” Her silvery laughter echoed off the stone walls as she swept the rich-colored cloak from the bed. 

“Milady, please, it’s time to go. Let me help you with the cloak.”

Elizabeth released the garment when the servant girl grasped it. “Allright, let’s put it on and be on our way. But be careful with the cloak. It cost a king’s ransom!”

“And why wouldn’t it, Milady? Look at the gold threads around the collar and all across the hem, woven in and out to make a design that looks magical. The whole thing reminds me of ripe plums hanging low on those little ornamental trees in the courtyard.”

“Really? I’d not thought about that, but you’re right. Grapes. Plums. But neither of those has the depth of this fabric, nor the softness. My hand reaches out of its own accord, needing to touch it again and again. "Hurry Hester, put it on so I can look in the mirror.”

Elizabeth gathered the cloak close when Hester placed it on her shoulders. She gazed into the long mirror and gasped. “Look Hester, the cloak matches my eyes. Never did I think of them as glorious a color as this, but perhaps it is only a reflection.” She bent close to the mirror and studied herself, eyes opened wide. 

Experiences Help You Write the Personal Essay

Forget what hurt you in the past, But never forget what it taught you!

The quote for today is a great springboard for writing a personal essay. A personal essay is a piece of nonfiction writing that shares a personal experience and shows what the writer learned or illustrates a universal truth. Think about it. Your many life experiences leave the personal essay menu wide open. 

A couple days ago, I attended a zoom meeting with other writers. The host for the evening had us write about an argument we'd had with someone at some time in our life. The second part was to write the same story, or experience, from the other person's viewpoint. There might have been some guesswork in this part of the exercise. The third thing we did was to add sensory details, which made our writing more powerful. It was a good exercise, and it got me to thinking about writing the personal essay and the anonymous quote above. After all, if we argue with someone, there is going to be hurt involved. 

We hope that in whatever difficult times we've faced in life, we did learn something. Perhaps about ourselves and about other people. The quote also tells us to forget what hurt us in the past, but that's not always easy to do. Those hurts, big or little, tend to stay in our minds. Writing about them helps us understand the situation, helps us to move on, and helps us to add to our writing portfolio. I believe that writing about a hurtful situation can be a step in the healing process. 

It might also give some insight to those who read what we've written. The reader might be able to relate a similar experience to the one you've written about. 

It's not merely a report. This happened, then that happened, then this happened. You want to show the reader what you experienced and how it affected you, as well as what you learned. Remember that showing vs telling is always preferable. Adding sensory details brings your experience to life, so do spend some time adding those details.

Do you have to finish the personal essay with a paragraph that begins with...'I learned that....'? No, you do not. Of course, you can, but it's not mandatory. You can show the lesson without actually naming it or specifically saying I learned...

You might try the exercise I mentioned about recreating an argument you had with someone, in the three steps noted above. There are all kinds of arguments people have. Some are life turning while others are rather insignificant in the overall scheme of things.  

The Importance of Titles

What Shall I Call It?

Over and over, I hear writers say something like 'This is a working title. I can't think of anything better.' In my online critique group, I see multiple comments along the line of 'I don't like the title. Can you help find a better one?'  I also note those who critique sometimes saying they didn't think the title fit well, and perhaps suggesting a few others for the writer to consider.

It seems that most writers have trouble when it comes to selecting a title for an article, story, essay, poem or book they've spent hours working on. The title should be easy. Right? Not really. Everything you've put into the body of what you've written has to come through in your title in a mere smattering of words.

It's a no- brainer that a good title hooks the reader. It also suggests a mood or tone. It can startle a browser into looking farther. The title sometimes asks a question that can only be answered by reading farther. Curiosity might be aroused by those few words that top the whole piece of writing. Some titles depend on attention-getting words. Right now, the word terrorist is probably going to make you stop and take a second look.

Some writers like to use alliteration for the name of their story. It works especially well with stories for kids. Maybe something like Bumpy Bear's Beautiful Bridge would make a child giggle and want to look into the book. It works with adult titles, too. Maybe Bill Brown's Bummer Beach Babe. Every word doesn't have to begin with the same letter, but several should.

A title can also inform the browser that there is specific information to be gained here. Climate Change: Pros and Cons lets you know exactly what the topic is.

If all else fails, a writer can lift a significant line of dialogue or a phrase from the text to top the story. Readers enjoy seeing that bit of dialogue or phrase when they reach it within the text. It's an Aha! moment.

You can also promise the reader something via your title. Jane, The Time Traveler does that. The reader knows that the story is about a girl or woman who travels back in time (or ahead to the future).

Is there any set rule to when you write the title? Definitely not. Write it when you think of it! It might be the very first words you put on the blank screen, or it could come to you halfway through the story. And even more likely is that the title is the very last thing you write, and it could be long after the story itself is finished if you wrestle with finding the best one.

So, why do we struggle with titles? Mostly because we know how important they are. It's your one chance to hook that browser that you want to draw in as a reader.

Some writers come up with a title quickly and go with it. Others make lists of titles and eliminate them one by one. Of the two, I prefer the second method. If you hit on one and go with it right away, you might be missing out on a better title. It's also possible that the first one ends up being the best one.

As an exercise on selecting titles, go to your local library or bookstore and spend some time browsing through titles of books. Note the ones that speak to you. Consider why those titles caught your eye more than others. What appeals most--longer or shorter titles?

For something that entails only a few words, titles are of great importance. Pick a good one!

Evoking Sensation In Your Reader

 Good writing is supposed to evoke sensation in the reader--not the fact that it is raining, but the feeling it is being rained on.

The quote above could be reduced to three words--Don't tell. Show. If you tell your readers that it is raining, they are not going to have any sensation of rain. Show it and their memory bank will be pricked and the thoughts of rainy days they've experienced will slip through.

If we've ever gotten caught in the rain without raincoat or umbrella, we know the feeling of raindrops on skin, the wind making us cold and wet and goosebumps rising on our arms and neck. We know the way our wet hair droops and falls over our forehead letting rain run in rivulets down our cheeks and nose. We remember how our wet clothes clung to our bodies and dripped down our legs onto our feet. We think about the way we splashed hurriedly through puddles to get home where it was warm and dry. 

Write that It was raining when Jill left the park. and all you think about is that it is raining, none of the above. 

Show me that a man named Jim has the flu and my own memories of times when I suffered through it are going to rise to the surface. Tell me that Jim had flu and felt awful and I will slide right by and not think about his feverish body, his runny nose, his throat that hurt so bad he kept rubbing his neck to make it better, that his eyes burned and watered and on and on. We all know how really crummy we feel when we have an illness like this. 

Yes, good writing should evoke sensation in the reader and good writing will almost always choose show over tell. Once in awhile, we can get away with telling but keep it minimal.

Why don't we forgo telling and choose showing in nearly every instance? That's not hard to figure out. It's ever so much easier to tell than to show. It's one more symptom of lazy writing. Your mind has to work harder to show but, create a habit to do so, and you'll soon find that you don't have to think about it, that you show as your way to write. It becomes automatic. 

No Fee, No Pay! Hmmm!

 H U H?

I was skimming through a lengthy list of journals whose closing dates were looming. Many were published at universities, some were in print, others online. As I scanned the list, something jumped out. So many said No Fee and No Pay. Others charged a fee to submit but also said No Pay. Very few in this long list offered payment, but a fair number charged a fee to submit. Most of those were also No Pay. 

As writers, we do want to pay to have our work published. Isn't it supposed to work the other way around? We write, we submit, they pay us. Not so much in the literary journal world today. 

I am fully aware that many publications charge a fee to help offset the expense of publishing, and many are fairly nominal. $3, $5, some even less. So, that shouldn't be a problem for writers wanting to submit, should it? Maybe it can be if they submit frequently. Those $3 and $5 fees begin to add up to a fair amount, especially when the writer receives No Pay and also stands a good chance of being rejected. On to another submission and another fee. 

There are two schools of thought when it comes to writing for No Pay. One group of writers swears they would never, ever write for No Pay. The other group is willing to write for No Pay to beef up their resume, to become a name that readers recognize, to be able to let other publishers know they have been published numerous times. It's a personal choice.

Paying an entry fee for writing contests is a completely different situation. The fees collected are often used for the prize money. That is a bit more acceptable, although there is a wide variation in the amount of the entry fee for contests. If you pay $25 to enter, and your chances of winning are pretty small, should you take the chance on spending that money? Is it like standing on a bridge and flipping one dollar bill after another into the swirling waters below? Some contests charge more minimal fees like $3, but if you enter six categories in one of those, you're spending $18. Again, there are two groups of people here. Those who want to take a chance, and the ones that are reluctant to spend money unless it is a sure thing. Nothing in the writing world is a sure thing, so those people are probably never going to win a contest since they refuse to enter.  

Starting with January 2024, keep a list of the fees you have paid for both submissions and contests. Below that, make another list of the money you have earned through those submissions and contests. How do they compare? Hopefully, money earned will be the greater amount. If it isn't, you may need to do a bit of soul searching. 

Paying a fee to submit when there is the promise of payment is one choice. Paying a fee to submit with No Pay is another. We each have to give thought to which direction we'll take. 

A Writing Exercise with Words

 

 It's been a while since I sent you a writing exercise. Today, I want to concentrate on replacing mundane words with ones that have a little pizzazz. Those 'to be' verbs like is, are, was make up the worst, but there are others we can also replace, those that show something but are a bit boring. Doing so will make your writing come alive and be more publishable, as well. 

Let's concentrate on what would appear to be active verbs instead of the passive ones mentioned above. These are perfectly good verbs, but they could be better. For each word, make a list of words that show more, give a better mental picture for the reader. I'll do the first one, and you can carry on with the rest. Use a thesaurus if you must, but do try to come up with as many as you can on your own.

A. walked: strolled, strode, sauntered, shuffled, trudged, meandered, ambled, hiked

B. laughed: 

C. cried: 

D. want:

E. love: 

F. made

After you have made your lists for the words, write a sentence using each one. Notice how the new words show more than the original

Writing exercises help us stretch those writerly muscles, make us more aware, and can enhance our writing. Give this one a try!

Writers' Past Hurts and Lessons Learned

 

So many past hurts haunt us for decades. A grade or middle school teacher's casual, unkind remark about a project you worked hard on might keep you from ever wanting to try again. I once interviewed several writers who started writing later in life. More than one mentioned 

a teacher squashing their desire to write. 

The teacher who praises a child's writing boosts their ego and gives that child the desire to continue writing. The one who makes a cruel remark about the quality of a child's writing is sure to extinguish any flame for writing that child might have had. Sadly, those teachers whose remarks are hurtful might not ever realize what they had done. Encouragement is always better. Even if they say something like, "You've made a good start here, but perhaps you can add ..." 

Let's consider that you continued writing as an adult, and you've submitted multiple times with no luck in getting published. Your submissions are either lost somewhere in an editor's delete box or come back to you with a 'Sorry, but...' We all know rejection is a part of this writing game, but it doesn't mean we have to like it. It hurts and disappoints us.

We must learn to evaluate the rejection. Maybe not on the day it arrived, but a day or two later. If you're lucky, the editor added a note giving a reason for the rejection. Those added notes can help you learn something. What if you had an editor tell you that he/she liked your topic but felt you'd only skimmed the surface, that you needed to dig deeper? Your options are to send the piece as is to another publication or spend some time adding more depth to the article or essay or short story. Which way will benefit you the most? One is going to take more time and effort than the other but will also give you a better chance the next time you submit it. 

Even those rejections that don't come with any explanation or are never answered in any way can help you learn something. Once you get over the disappointment, take a step back and give an objective look to the submission that didn't make it. It's not always easy to be objective about your own work, but you can do it. Do try to submit to another publication.

Another way to make your submitted piece better is to ask a fellow writer to take a look at it. Perhaps someone in a writer's group you belong to, or a close writer friend. They can be objective more easily than you can. You do need to be willing to accept whatever criticism they give you. Keep in mind that they are trying to help you. 

We're humans who have feelings, and they get hurt sometimes. Writers need to work on pushing the hurt aside and concentrate on what was learned. No matter how many years we have worked in this craft of writing, we can continue to learn. 

Writers Who Do, Not Just Think

There's an ocean of difference between people who think about writing and those who actually do it. Myriad numbers of people have a desire to write, but the numbers dwindle when you count those who actually write a story, a poem, an essay or, unbelievably, a book! 

Many who want to be a writer start with that desire, but they aren't sure exactly how to begin. Maybe I'd better learn something about this craft, they think. And make no mistake, it IS a craft. So, they start reading books about writing. That's a great way to begin. One book leads to another, from books about general writing to ones that are specifically about one topic of writing, such as editing or dialogue, or using sensory details. 

Let's look at an imaginary wannabe writer, Her name is Olivia. She's always had the desire to write, but somehow never got around to it with her full time job, marriage and kids to juggle. One day, she thinks that maybe she could bring in a little extra money by writing and selling what she writes. She knows she can't start cold, she needs to learn a little more about the writing world.

Olivia goes to her local library and checks out a stack of books that will teach her all she needs to know about writing. She reads one after another. Then, she orders some newer books on the topic from her favorite online bookseller. She reads those and then finds articles about writing online that she reads. Wow! There's a lot of information about the writing world. 

One day Olivia notes a local writing workshop being presented in her community. She signs up and attends, eager to hear what the presenter has to say and to perhaps meet other writers. She knows that it's good to schmooze with other writers. She goes to the workshop and takes notes. But wait, she isn't a writer yet. Still a wannabe.

A month later, she hears of another writer's workshop in a town not too far way. She signs up and attends, notebook and pen in hand. 

A year goes by, and Olivia has not written one word. She tells herself time is a problem. That's why she can't get anything written. She convinces herself she needs to learn more about this writing world before she begins. What it all comes down to is that Olivia's desire is there, but she lacks the drive needed 'to put pen to paper, fingers to keyboard, and actually write'.

She's done everything she should except actually write something. She finds excuses--all legitimate in her estimation. Part of her reluctance to actually write is fear. It's Mr. Doubt who visits writers on a regular basis. He'll push back whenever and however he can. She should push him out of the way. Better yet, send him flying out the front door! Another reason Olivia doesn't do the actual writing is that she's become enamored of the idea of being a writer but is reluctant to do the heavy lifting it takes.

If you see yourself in any of the above, it's time to take a hard look at your hope to become a writer. Ask those tough questions of yourself. Am I willing to give up other things in order to write? Am I willing to do writing exercises? Am I willing to write and revise and rewrite? Am I willing to accept rejections and criticism? 

You'll never be a published writer if you don't sit down and write. Actually write something. Many somethings! Olivia's first efforts are sure to leave room for improvement. Practice makes perfect is a definite cliche, but believe me, there is merit to it. All I have to do to know that is to go through my files and read some of my earliest efforts. They make me cringe at times. But I know that my writing improved over time, over reading more about the craft, over attending workshops and conferences, and most of all, by writing as often as possible. 

 

Writers Need Determination, Passion, and a Tough Hide

There are many writing groups a writer can join online. The ones I'm thinking of are not for submitting and critiquing but rather for schmoozing with other writers, for soaking up info about writing and also entering contests the group runs. 

Some are for prose writers, others strictly for those who pen poetry, and still others consider a little of each. 

They're fine for beginners and some intermediate kinds of writers. The contests don't give a great deal of competition mainly because of the fewer numbers of entries than a national contest would have, so winning is a better possibility than if the writer submitted to a poetry magazine or a literary magazine that has a low rate of acceptance. Is it wrong to try to win these group contests? Of course not. They give you the experience of entering, and perhaps placing, in a contest. I look at them as a preparation place. Somewhere to help you be ready to submit to magazines and journals and websites that are more competitive. 

Many of the groups I am talking about here are membership only groups which means you must pay an annual fee to belong and to be able to enter the contests they run on a regular basis. Some writers join more than one of these groups, and that's fine. It's a personal choice. 

The one thing that concerns me is that it becomes a safe place for submitting your writing, be it prose or poetry. Perhaps too safe. It can be scary to start submitting in the big pond of magazines, journals, contests, and writers' websites. You're more likely to get a rejection than an acceptance. You feel like such a little fish in that big sea of hopeful writers. 

Still, you'll never know if your work is good enough to be published by some of the better publications unless you try. You must try and try again. We know that many rejections are for reasons other than you sent a boring piece. Some places close for submissions on a temporary basis. The editors may have recently published something very close to what you sent. They take only a very small percent of the submissions received. There's also the possibility that your idea was good, but the mechanics of writing was poor. There are multiple reasons for receiving rejections. Getting rejections is all a part of this writing world.

One thing you need in submitting your work is determination. You shouldn't give up after a few rejections. You'll also need a passion for writing, as well as a tough hide. 

It's fine to start with smaller publications or to submit only to the groups you've joined, but you do need to climb to the next rung of the ladder now and then. 

A Different Kind of Writing Exercise

 

Oh, look! There's a story here, but what are all these people saying or thinking? We can't tell according to the picture, but we might get a clue by looking at the way they are standing. I see four with their arms crossed. Is it with impatience? Anger? Or something else? 

I see two with hands folded in front of them. One with hands in his pockets. Three carrying some sort of bag. Two with arms at their sides. But, I still don't know what the story is or what they are saying. Maybe even what they are thinking. 

So, how about using this picture as a writing exercise. Do one, or more, of the following:

A. Write a few words that each person is saying or thinking that would go in the cloud above their head.

B. Create a situation to show why these people are standing together.

C. Address the group as though you were a teacher, a boss, or a Dorm Assistant.

D. Write a complete story showing why these people are standing in a group and what they are waiting for.

E. Using the picture, write using as many sensory details as possible. 

Take time to study the picture and the way each person is standing. That might give you some inspiration. 

Rules For Writers

 I ran across today's poster this morning, and it made me stop and think about my writing life. And yours! Rules for Life can be applied to anyone, but today, let's consider them for writers. One by one.

See Failure As A Beginning, Not An End:  What about all those rejections you've received over the years? Have you considered leaving the writing world because of them? Ever beat yourself up by telling yourself you're not a very good writer? Easy enough to do. Instead, put all that behind you and move on. Make this day the beginning of your writing career. 

If You Don't Go After It, You Won't Have It:  I definitely agree with this. You can't merely sit at your desk and vegetate. You need to be proactive. Don't sit and wait for good things to happen in your writing life. Get out there and help those good things to happen. Go to a workshop. Attend a conference. Read and read some more about writing. And, spend some time writing every day. As little or as much as you can find.

Always Do More Than Is Expected Of You:  Remember teachers giving extra credit work? If you did that extra assignment, you got more points, upped your grade. The same goes for your writing. Don't do just enough to get by. Put in some extra effort. If you're taking a writing class, do the assignment but put a little more into than only trying to finish. It pays off in the long run.

Teach Others What You Know: If the opportunity comes up for you to teach a workshop or serve on a panel at a writing conference, don't shy away from it. Share what you've learned with others. If you're not asked, volunteer your services. Let someone in charge know you're willing to help. I've gained as much as I've given in leading workshops.

Assume Nothing And Question Everything:  Isn't this how we learn? If you're stuck on a writing project, there's no shame in asking another writer for some help. They can be more objective than you. 

Make Peace With The Past Or You'll Pay For It:  We've all had difficult times in our writing lives. Don't let it become that nasty little voice whispering in your ear about your failures. Move on, or dwelling on past problems will drag you down.

Stop Thinking So Much And Start Acting: What good advice this is! How often do you get a story idea and mull it over in your mind. And over, and over, and... Stop thinking about it and start on that first draft. 

Never Compare Yourself To Others:  This may be the last in the list but certainly not the least. I am me. Kristin Hannah is herself. John Grisham is himself. YOU must be yourself, not like any other writer. 

I like lists, and this is a great one for writers. 

Writers and Discouragement

 

We love to post our successes on social media. It allows us to share with others and perhaps give them a link to reading our newest publication, be it a book, short story, personal essay or any other kind of writing. Letting others know about our successes is part of building a writer's platform. 

But what about the rejections we get and the frustrations we often face as writers? Do we want to share those on social media? I don't, and you don't either. That part of our writing life we generally keep private. Who wants to blow their horn about the twenty rejections received on one story? 

We often get discouraged when a writing project doesn't go well. We saw it in our mind so clearly. Knew what we wanted to accomplish. Then, the actual writing doesn't go as well. What do we do? Our choices run from scratching the project altogether to spending a great deal of time revising and editing until the piece becomes what we'd envisioned in the first place. 

If we want to find some success in our writing life, we need to keep working until we are satisfied enough to be ready to submit to a publisher. 

Years ago, I made a lot of my daughter's clothes. Every pattern comes with step-by-step directions. Occasionally, something didn't go right, and I knew I couldn't continue to the next step until I figured it out. I'd become frustrated. What to do? I found that if I walked away for a day or two, then came back, the answer was there, and I could move on with the project. We can do the same when our writing isn't working out to our satisfaction. Walk away for at least a day, maybe longer. What seemed so complex earlier might suddenly look easier.

That old adage 'If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.' comes into play when we get discouraged in our writing life. One other way you can try again is to visit with a writing friend. There's no shame in asking for help. Another person can see the problem what the writer cannot. They are objective, while we, as writers, are often not. 

Our poster today tells us that it is often the last key that opens the lock. We have to keep trying until we find the key that makes our writing projects ready for submission. 

Read and Study the Writer Guidelines!

 

The writing, revising and editing are done. What a relief! Now, it's time to find a place to submit your latest story, essay, article, or poem for publication. More steps to take in the marketing process. Today, I'm going to concentrate on one of those steps. Guidelines! 

I can't stress enough how important it is to read and study the guidelines of whatever publication you plan to submit to. Note those two words--read and study.

Before you can do that, you must find the guidelines. You'll find a wide array of the way publications give guidelines. Some give none at all. They do themselves and you a disservice. They probably get many submissions that don't fit their template. You waste time and effort by submitting without knowing what the guidelines are. 

Some give a few requirements and others offer extensive guidelines for the writer. Those who do help the writer and themselves, as well. They aren't going to receive submissions that don't fit their publication. Oh, maybe a few from writers who don't pay attention to guidelines, but they won't be inundated by submissions that will get an automatic rejection because the writers did not 'read and study' very well. 

Two publications that I have found with the lengthiest and most detailed guidelines are Knowonder! magazine for children. I don't believe they are still publishing, but when they did, the writer knew exactly what they were looking for. They even gave writing examples to illustrate their requirements. 

The other publication that offers a long list of guidelines is Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies. When I want to submit to one of their books, I read the guidelines, even though I have had many stories published by them. I read them to refresh my mind and to check to see if my story fits within the parameters they set. These editors not only tell you what they want but also what they do not want. 

Sadly, many writers do not bother with reading the guidelines. Yes, it takes a little time but will help you decide whether to submit to that publication or move on. 

One thing I always look for is whether the publication takes reprints. It's great to be able to sell a piece more than once. Often, the pay is less, or even no pay, but it is one more publication for you. If they don't specify, it's probably not a good idea to submit an already published piece. Some will say 'no previously published work' while a few others will state 'reprints accepted'. 

Take the time to read and study those guidelines. It will be of great benefit for you to do so. 

Writing Brings Blessings

Today's poster tells us to look for the blessings of each day. We can relate that advice to our writing life, as well.

For some reason, we seem to allow the more difficult times of our writing world to take precedence over the good parts. Why do we want to drag ourselves down with wallowing in our problems? Perhaps it's one of the human failings we all must deal with. 

Wouldn't it be better to remind ourselves of the many pluses in our writing life? How about making a list of the blessings, or good things? I've made a list below. Check the ones that apply to you and add any others I may have missed. 

A. The many people my words have reached

B. The people I have met through my writing, both writers and readers

C. The knowledge I have gained through reading about writing

D. All I've gleaned from the workshops and conferences I've attended

E. The growth I've seen in my writing over the years

F.  The joy I feel when my writing is published

G. The satisfaction I get when a writing project is completed

Isn't it better to dwell on the components of this list rather than the late hours you've used to write, or the multiple rejections, or the problem of making a story work and so many more negative parts of our writing life. 

Today, dwell on the blessings in your writing life. Doing so might give you a lift, make you smile, and encourage you to write something new. 

Write about Mardi Gras!

 Shrove Tuesday is coming up in a couple days. Mardi Gras celebrations are going on in many places in our country. The final days of fun and frivolity before Ash Wednesday, which happens to fall on Valentine's Day this year. The most well-known Mardi Gras celebration takes place in New Orleans, but many other cities have their own, albeit smaller, celebrations.

For a writing exercise, try writing a paragraph or more highlighting the Mardi Gras celebration. Consider the colors that represent this time. Purple, Green, and Gold. What about traditions, the parades, the foods. And more? Do a little research about this celebratory time. Check your favorite search engine for facts and customs.

Instead of writing nonfiction about Mardi Gras, try writing a short story with Mardi Gras as the setting for your characters. The possibilities here are endless. A mystery perhaps with a body falling from one of the famed balconies in the French Quarter. A poisoning in one of the famed restaurants in New Orleans. A love affair gone wrong. A new love. A dog getting lost in the French Quarter. Get creative!

Write about the foods connected with Mardi Gras time. Do a bit of research, then start writing. Researching first makes sure you're accurate in what you write. 

How about the many masks worn by revelers? They range from plain to fancy to amazing. Check a website for more information on the masks. 

Laissez le bon temps rouler! It's the common greeting during Mardi Gras. Translated to English, it is: Let the good times roll! Incorporate this phrase into your writing exercise. 

In this exercise, you will do some research, learn a few things you might not have known before, tried to write interesting, detailed paragraphs about the many facets of Mardi Gras, or write a short story. Don't forget to use sensory details, show instead of tell, and other good mechanics of writing. You might have a little fun along the way!

Try Writing a Wee Bit of Memoir

 

This post was published on Kathy Pooler's memoir website several years ago. It's still pertinent today. 

How About Only a Wee Bit of Memoir?

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 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. The story 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 us 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 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. 

 

How To Tell A Story

Sometimes, it's the simple things that help us become better writers. Our poster today makes a good point. Susanna Kearsley, author of several novels, tells us we should learn to put a story on paper in the same way we'd tell it to a friend. Perhaps over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine. 

We'd tell our friend the story using the same voice we always do in conversation. Writers too often consider writing the story with every i dotted and t crossed, or in other words, in perfect grammar. We don't talk the way grammar gurus tell us we should write, do we? When you and I are having a conversation, we use contractions. A lot! We use a bit of slang now and then. We use fragments of a sentence once in a while. It's our everyday way of speaking. In writing a story, putting it in print the way we talk will make your reader comfortable. It will take away some of the stilted language we use when writing with perfect grammar and word usage. 

Don't get me wrong. I am not telling you to never write the way the textbooks tell you. We should to a certain extent. We should also try for a familiar use of words and sentences, as well. Where do you draw the line? That's up to the writer. 

Ms. Kearsley goes on to say we shouldn't 'imitate' others. Louise Penny has her voice, or style of writing. John Grisham has his. Charlotte Bronte doesn't sound like Ernest Hemingway. They each tell a story in their own style. The worst thing a writer, especially a newbie writer, can do is to try to sound like an already well-known author. Instead, aim to sound like yourself. Like you'd talk to a friend during an in-person chat. 

Make it a goal to tell your stories like yourself. Use the kind of sentences you would use when talking to someone. It's a small point when you consider all the other points we're told are very important when we write. Even so, it will add a great deal to the story you are writing. 



 

Believe You Can Write

 Ever hear naysayers in the world of those who want to write a memoir or family stories or fiction who utter things like:

I'm not a professional writer.

I can't write like some people do.

I want to write the story, but I wouldn't know where to start.

My grammar is not good enough to write.

My writing is boring.

All of the above can be overcome. But the first thing you must do is believe that you can write. Sounds easy? Maybe. Possible? Yes. Scary? Probably

It takes some courage to do something new. Look at the people who zipline. Looks like fun but maybe a bit scary, too. Those who try to zip from one end of a line to the other have to believe they can do it or they'd never take step 1. 

An athletic kid who tries out for a sport has to believe in him/herself enough to make that effort. They know success is not ensured but they believe they can make it so they try. They're brave enough to give it a whirl. 

If you have a little bit of courage and a small dose of bravery, you can do many things you never thought you could. 

Believing in yourself is only part of being able to overcome the problems listed above. Another part is having the courage to try. Still another is working hard to be a better writer. How?

A. Read--If you want to write a memoir, read as many as you can find. You'll see the various methods used. Short Stories? Read lots of them.

B. Read books on the topic of general writing--not just memoir or family stories or history.

C. Attend conferences to learn more about writing methods.

D. Do writing exercises--I pound and pound about this and too many writers want to skip it. Don't! Many books on writing have exercises at the end of each chapter. They are to help you. Try them!

E. Sign up for a writing class--either locally or online. Don't be embarrassed to tell the others you're new at this game and here to learn. They'll admire you for that.

F. Don't start out attempting to write a full book. Try short snippets that can be put together later. Taking on too much at the onset is overwhelming and sometimes defeating. A quick way to stop believing in yourself.

Becoming a better writer doesn't happen overnight or in a week or two. Time and hard work and writing on a regular basis all help you achieve that goal. 

Cut Words For Stronger Writing

All writers need to learn how to cut words. We often need to write to a maximum word count for our submissions and for contests. There are numerous ways to cut. Cutting words should be a part of your editing process. I am repeating an earlier post on this topic.  

The women in my online writing group request help in cutting words almost more than anything else. Many are writing toward a publication or a contest that sets a specific word count. When you are 100- 200 or more words over that number, something must be done.

Stephen King tells us to get rid of every ounce of excess fat. He knows from experience that this is not easy, that it hurts. 

Does cutting 200 words from your story or essay sound impossible? At first, it might seem so, but it's surprisingly easy to slash and slice when you do an edit. I've done it so I know others can, too.

One thing we writers often do is to add unnecessary words--ones like really, usually, even so, and others. There are lists of those unnecessary words. Look for them with a search engine. Many are words we often 'toss in' when we are speaking to someone. When writing, get rid of them.

Another way to cut is to look for sentences with something like this:  I came to a decision... Change it to I decided... Four words gone! That doesn't sound like very many, but take away four here, four there, and it adds up. 

Limit adjectives. Some writers use two or three for one noun. That's a lot for one little noun to bear. One works fine, and that one may make a bigger impression than if you used two or three. You could begin to sound gushy. 

Get rid of adverbs. They describe verbs and, if used, you end up telling rather than showing. Writers often use them to make passive verbs look better. I believe Stephen King also said something about the road to Hell being paved with adverbs. That's not a word for word for word quote. If you find a list of unnecessary words to cut, you'll discover that many are adverbs. 

Long, convoluted sentences can almost always be cut in some way. When a sentence is too long, it can overwhelm the reader to the point that they miss the message in the sentence. Cut as much as possible without losing the meaning. I often find it better to divide those long sentences into two separate ones It doesn't help you cut words but does help with clarity.

'He jumps over the fence that borders the park grounds.' What word can you do without in this sentence? Remove 'that' and change 'borders' to 'bordering' and 'that' is gone. Write 'The poem that I wrote won first prize.' Change it to 'The poem I wrote won first.' I cut 'that' and also 'prize' because 'that' is unnecessary to the meaning of the sentence, and saying 'first' indicates 'first prize.' Try going through a story in your files and circle all the 'that' words. Then go back and see how many of them can be cut without losing the meaning of the sentence. 

Don't introduce a sentence with phrases like:  Instead of, With the possible exception of, The reason why. Those are added words. Without them, the meaning of the sentence is still the same. Some writers use them for emphasis or to help clarify what the main part of the sentence tells us. They are not necessary in most cases.

In sentences where you begin with 'I think' 'I feel' or, 'I believe', those introductory words to the sentence are not needed. If you say 'I believe that cows are the sweetest farm animal.' and change to 'Cows are the sweetest farm animal.' nothing is lost except those two words at the beginning. 

Use active verb forms instead of ones like: Tommy was running to catch his buddies. Say: Tommy ran to his buddies. You've cut three words.

You can cut more words here and there with thought. Oops! I could have eliminated 'here and there' and maybe even 'with thought.' 

One big way to reduce your word count is to look for sections where you have repeated the same thought twice, even if using different words. Some writers do it to make sure their reader understands the point. We need to give our readers credit for being able to decipher what point we are making. Say it once, then cut the rest. You can delete whole paragraphs if one is redundant. 

You will find many ways to cut words when you edit. What seems a near-impossible job turns out to be easier than feared. The benefit comes in the form of stronger writing. 

Writing Travel Essays

Today's photos are of a lovely, small hotel we stayed in when traveling in the southern part of Germany several years ago. We stayed there at both the beginning and end of our trip. I had searched online for a hotel near Munich, and there were multiple choices. I kept returning to the website of Hotel Zur Linde which was located in Hohenlinden, a small village twenty minutes from Munich. 

Our stay there was wonderful, and somehow, it seemed we were supposed to stay in this particular hotel. When we arrived back home, I felt compelled to write about our experience in this small, charming inn which turned out to be run by a Hungarian woman. I wrote about the hotel, the manager, the dining room, the beer garden, and the bells in the church across the road. My travel essay was personal, not a factual travel piece. There is a definite difference between these two kinds of travel essays/articles. This one was published at Dave's Travel Corner if you would like to read it.

I feel certain the editor selected my piece to publish as it added a human element to an essay that featured a small village in Germany, something more personal than the usual travel piece that mentions only the highlights, the costs, and needed information for travel. 

I have been moved to write several travel essays, and once a poem about Blarney Castle in Ireland. When traveling in foreign lands or in your own country, there are often sights or experiences that touch you in some way. Jot down your thoughts and feelings while there. When you are back home, write about what you saw, how it made you feel, and why you will always remember the place. 

Adding the personal touch is what makes these kinds of travel essays entertaining for the reader. It's not necessarily the historic value of a place you've been, but the memories you have and the reason that you'll always remember the spot. 

Peggy's Cove in Nova Scotia touched my heart and left an indelible memory. So did the American Cemetery in Normandy. The colonial part of the United States meant a lot to me, being where our country began. You have been to places that have stayed in your memory bank, too. Take advantage of it and write a travel essay. The book, A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle., is actually an expanded travel essay, covering an entire year. It's a delightful read.

Write from a personal viewpoint, but also include interesting historical facts. You want to make this kind of essay more than just facts, though. What happened or how did you feel when you visited the Vietnam Memorial? The how and why of that memorial are of importance, but your reaction or something that occurred while you were there will make your essay live and breathe. 

If you go to Dave's Travel Corner, you can read a great many travel essays. They might spur you into writing one of your own. Do remember to jot down notes while you're traveling, then write using them once you return home. 

 

Need A Good Book for a Cold Day?

 

It appears that most of us are living ion extremely cold temps, even our southern states are much colder than normal. It was 10 below zero when I got up this morning. It's a good time to stay in and read. Recently, I was describing a book by Kate Reynolds to a friend, one that I found fascinating and thought my friend would, as well. When 'Ernestine' was published in 2020, I wrote a review on this blog. 

Today, I am reposting the review. The book is still available on Amazon and other booksellers. Curl up with this book and a cup of hot tea, while you cuddle up with your favorite coverlet. You'll become engrossed in this wonderful tale. 

My earlier review:

Historical fiction brings the reader into another time period and can also tell a special story. Ernestine is Kate Reynolds's debut novel, but she is no amateur when it comes to crafting a fascinating story that draws readers quickly and holds them right up to the end using beautiful and descriptive prose.

When only a child in the early 1500s, Ernestine learned how to cheat at betting games and became a fine bunco artist at her father's tutelage. Once a young woman, she marries the man she loves, helps him run an inn in France, and is happy being nothing more than a loving wife. When Sebastian dies, she flees with documents he and his brother had hidden, documents that could be world-changing. 

Ernestine takes the vows of a Clarissa nun and finds her way to an abbey in Spain near Granada. She knows she is being followed by a man who wants the documents she carried away. Hoping for safety in the abbey, she hides the documents but finds one problem after another amongst the 90 nuns. The Abbess is a kindly woman whose greatest love is caring for the olive groves the abbey owns. Keeping the accounts book is beyond her, and when she learns that Ernestine can work with figures, she begs the new nun to take over the Accounts Book. Reluctant to do so because of a problem with an account book in her past that might have led to her husband's death Ernestine demurs but is finally persuaded. 

Add to the story a priest who plays a betting game with Mother Faviola every week, always winning, a young novitiate who is hopelessly in love with a young man, a festival and parade, which the Abbey has always won but is suddenly in peril, and Ernestine mixed up in all of it, and you have a very fine novel.

Taking place at the time of the Great Trials, or Inquisition, we see the effect on the everyday world of those whose vocation was often riddled with fear. 

The supporting characters in the novel are realistic and also of interest to the reader. In particular, Luz, the oldest nun who is blind, draws Ernestine's story from her as they work together in the cellary bit by bit and relates many of her own. As they work with the abbey's foodstuffs in a series of caves, Luz tells Ernestine the Spanish term 'pundonor' which means 'point of honor' and is an integral part of Ernestine's story.

I enjoyed learning more about this period in history where no nun or priest was protected from the Inquisition. I found the nuns' language of the fans fascinating as well as the beauty of the Alhambra surrounding the nuns who toiled in the olive groves and merely subsisted rather than thrived. 

This is a many-faceted tale that has much more than what I have written here. Peel the many layers as you read. Find it on Amazon with both a Kindle edition and a paperback. I look forward to reading more novels by Kate Reynolds.

Time Management for Writers

I haven't written a post on goals this year, nor one on cleaning your writing workspace. Today, I'll give you a few thoughts on one goal we should all strive to achieve. Time Management. 

Some writers are full-time professionals who write for a living. Most are pretty good at setting work-writing hours, as it's a necessity.                 

Many others are part-time writers or hobbyist writers. It seems more difficult for them to set times to write. Some are moms still raising their children. I don't need to list all the tasks they must do on a daily basis, or the interruptions they deal with. If you've been there, you understand. Others have full-time jobs and must fit writing time around that big responsibility. 

Sometimes, writers think about writing more than they actually sit down and pump out the words. The ideal situation might be the retired person who suddenly has lots of time to write. Or do they? Most retired people I know end up with a full schedule between exercise classes, daily runs or walk, an increased social life, medical appointment and more. Suddenly, they realize there is not as much time for writing as they'd hoped. 

One key to finding time to write is to make it a priority, rather than squeeze it in around all the other things in your life. If writing is important to you, don't look for the time to pursue this love of yours, create time to write, make it a habit. To do that, you'll need to decide just how important writing is to you.   

One way to find a time when you're not pressured is to get up an hour earlier or go to bed an hour later. That would give you some quiet time. Yes, it would also cut your sleeping time, but an hour might not be really detrimental. 

Set aside a certain time of the day that is to be your writing time, a time when you are not otherwise always occupied with something important. 

Take a notebook with you on your daily commute. Sitting on a bus or train is empty time. Why not use it to write? Do a writing exercise or observe those around you and describe them. Or start a piece and continue working on it with every commuter time. 

One hard truth we might all need to own up to is that we waste a whole lot of time in our day. You do it. I do it. We all do it. Not purposely, but we might be filling the dishwasher and hear something on tv that interests us, so we go sit down and watch. Who knows for how long? This is only one example. No doubt, you can think of others. 

If you are a determined writer, you'll make time to pursue your writing. Rather than grab snatches of time here and there, try to create a set time. You might need to give up something to be able to find that time, but again, if you are passionate about writing, you can do it.