A Christmas Memory--Magical Windows

Here it is--the first day of the last month of the year, and the gateway to all things festive and bright if you celebrate one of the December holidays. Whether it's Christmas, Hanukkah, or Kwanza, there will be some joy, some great food, some busyness, some pressure and some laughs. 

It's also a time to write holiday stories while the inspiration is here. Write them now and submit next summer for December magazine or ezine issues. When the lights and music and decor are all around you is when you are likely to write the best story. 

In keeping with the Christmas spirit this month, I plan to post some of the Christmas stories I have written over the years, maybe once a week. A lot of my Christmas stories are memories of Christmas past--a slice of life perhaps. Today, my memory is of the wonderful Christmas windows at the famed Marshall Field's store on State Street in Chicago. You are welcome to share the stories. Some of the ones I will post have been published, some have not. Maybe someday...

Magical Windows of Christmas

By Nancy Julien Kopp

At least once during the Christmas seasons of my 1940’s childhood, my mother and I rode the elevated train from suburban Oak Park to downtown Chicago, exiting at the Marshall Field’s station. Pigeons strutted on the wooden platform and railings, flapping soft gray wings now and then, drawing my attention, but Mother pulled me toward a long flight of steps to the street, leaving the pigeons far above us.

We headed to a special, magical place, the big department store’s Christmas windows. Often, the wind and cold air stung our cheeks. Sometimes snowflakes floated lazily over us, but it didn’t matter. A crowd formed close to the windows of Marshall Field’s, and Mother and I wiggled into the center, moving closer and closer to the front until we stood before Christmas Window #1.

 

There, before us was a wonderland that brought oohs and ahs from the crowd. “Look, Mommy!” could be heard off and on as well when excited children pointed out the obvious to their mothers.

 

Marshall Fields initiated the Christmas window display in 1897. During November, the windows were covered with brown paper and not unveiled until the day after Thanksgiving. For weeks, designers and their staff worked long hours to create a story told in eleven successive windows, using a fairy tale or child’s book theme. Animation came in later years, and the designs grew more and more lifelike.  Piles of snow and frost-covered trees looked real enough to touch. A tray of gingerbread men near an oven so perfect, I could almost smell the spicy aroma. A scroll or some other unique prop told part of the story, and the rest came with our imagination.

 

The earlier windows were toy displays, a marketing scheme that drew thousands of shoppers. Later, in the mid-40’s, the story windows began, and Uncle Mistletoe and Aunt Holly were introduced.

We moved from window to window enjoying the continuing tale. Stories like Snow White and Pinocchio came to life behind the giant windows. They were probably more exciting in the days prior to television, for we had nothing like this anywhere but the movie theaters. By the time we’d walked the entire route, our feet were tingling with the cold, and we headed into the store to warm up.

 

What better place to thaw out than in the line that ended with a short sit on Santa’s lap. By the time, we reached Santa, we’d shed gloves and hats and unbuttoned our heavy coats. I told Santa my dearest wishes, never doubting that he’d remember and bring at least one of the items I’d requested. 

When the 1950’s rolled around, I made the trip downtown to Marshall Field’s with my girlfriends. Even then, my excitement stayed at a high pitch. I noticed more details, and my friends and I giggled and chatted, and pointed things out to one another. With rosy cheeks and numbing toes by the time we’d gotten to the end, we headed into the store. Not to see Santa but to savor a cup of hot chocolate and then spend some time wandering through the massive place looking for Christmas gifts for our family members. We might finish the day with a Frango Mint, the candy made famous by Marshall Field’s.

 

Today, Field’s is no more. The sign in front now says Macy’s. It was a sad day for me when that happened. A piece of my childhood crumbled, never to be the same. But the memory of the Christmas windows and my visits to Santa remain even many decades later. 

 

Endings in Your Stories

I pretty much agree with our quote today by none other than Plato. I would add that the ending is a very important part of a book or short story, as well. 

Yesterday, the ladies in my Book Club were discussing a book we'd read and enjoyed, but every person said they were disappointed with the way it ended. The reader is kind of left hanging with many questions yet to be answered. 

I've read other books or stories that have a less than satisfying ending. I always feel like the author was really done with writing and wanted it to be finished. Get it over. I've had it! What a disappointment for readers who have stayed with the full reading only to be shaking their head at the ending or still filled with questions. We want the loose ends neatly tied up. 

We know we should have strong beginnings, but the endings need to be strong, as well. There are also different kinds of endings. Everybody is happy, a lesson learned, a surprise, a cliffhanger, and more. You might google 'writing endings' and read a few articles about the importance and how-to of bringing a story to a conclusion. 

Some authors use an epilogue to let the reader know a bit more as to how the characters fared after the ending of the story. As a reader, I like them since I often wonder what happens to the characters next. 

When writing a personal essay, the ending should offer the reader the universal truth or lesson learned from all that precedes the final paragraphs. It can also be written in another part of the essay, but most often, we find this universal truth or lesson in the last paragraph or two. It's the reason you wrote the essay in the first place. It's the golden nugget you're offering your readers. 

Nancy Kress is a science fiction writer who wrote a book for the Elements of Fiction series. The title is Beginnings, Middles, and Ends. I read it many years ago when I was a newbie writer. I found it to be a clear and concise reference book. The book is still in print, hardcover, paperback and ebook. It's lasted these many years because it is well done and still relevant for the writers of today. Your library might have it, or look at your favorite bookseller website to find it. It receives 4.5 stars. We're discussing endings today, but Ms, Kress has good advice for the beginning and the middle of your story, too.

For the writer, endings can be difficult. He/she has worked hard to bring a story to the readers in the best way they know. He/she doesn't want to let the reader down with a weak ending. When editing the final draft, ask yourself if the ending is of the same caliber as the rest of the book. Ask yourself if you hurried up and ended the story, or did you put a lot of thought and planning into it?

I don't write a lot of fiction, and when I do, it's usually a story for 9-12 year olds. I often have trouble when it comes to finding a satisfying ending for the story. I don't want it to be a dull thud kind of ending, but sometimes it feels that way to me. That's when I go back and do a rewrite, and maybe another one, until I  am satisfied.

Plato's point about beginnings should be heeded, but I'd like to think he would have put as much importance on the endings, as well. I hope you will, too.

 

Sorting Out Point of View

 

One of the most difficult things for new writers to learn is the Point of View in writing fiction. Today's post is a repeat with a few additions, but still important now. The importance of the point of view, or whose story is this, cannot be stressed enough. My article below:

 A no-no in fiction writing is changing the Point of View back and forth in one chapter. When you are writing a novel, you need to choose one person who will help the reader 'see' the story through his/her eyes. There are, of course, other characters who help move the story along and who are important to the story itself. If you change the Point of View back and forth between characters, you'll be doing what is often called 'head-hopping.' All it does is serve to confuse the reader and sometimes irritate them. If Jennie is your protagonist, let us see the story through her eyes. Let the readers know how she reacts, what she thinks, her relation to the other characters. 

Does that mean we can't ever know what the other characters are thinking and more? The writer can let the reader see these things in the other characters by the way they act, through dialogue, and showing rather than telling. Let your protagonist 'see' what is happening by showing what another character is doing or saying. 

There is a way to have more than one Point of View character, and that is to change that POV character chapter by chapter. One chapter could be all seen as Jennie sees what's happening. The next one might be Charlie's POV. It takes an experienced and talented writer to pull it off. Some even attempt to use three POV characters. 

POV is a complicated issue. If you're at all confused, google a more detailed article or a book on the topic.  Keep in mind that your Point of View is the way you see things. Just you. No one else.

Writers As Mountain Climbers

 

On our writing journey, we have one happy day after another. The sun always shines on our writing. We are gleeful day in and day out. 

If only all the above were true! Instead, our writing journey is filled with potholes and other roadblocks. Our poster today tells us that everything is going to be alright. That's soothing. But then, the little girl says '...maybe not today but eventually'  That's the hard part.

Our own common sense tells us that all those problems we run into when we write will be fixed or look better later, not necessarily today. What we must do is to remember that and not let what feels like an insurmountable problem knock us right off our writer's pedestal. 

Writer's pedestal--you know that place we put ourselves when we're feeling good, when everything is going well, or when we've just received an acceptance, or published a book. And why not? When life is positive, we should enjoy whatever is happening. We know we'll slip right off the pedestal when the next trouble spot arises.

The writer's world is one of ups and downs. If you drew a graph showing same, it would look like a series of mountains. Isn't that what we do as we write? Climb one mountain after another until the problem is solved. The successful writer is the one who keeps climbing after she/he has slid down from one of the peaks. The writer who gives up sits at the bottom and stops trying to climb to the top of the next mountain.

We sometimes need an attitude adjustment when writing woes get us down. Once again, determination is key to solving our writing problems. That and knowing that it is up to us to get through whatever trouble spot we're in. 

We also must keep in mind that eventually, everything's going to be alright.

Write about Sad Times, Too

 Amongst all the enjoyable early fall activities this weekend, we mark the 20th anniversary of 9-11. Certainly the most somber part of our weekend and a tragedy we must never forget. Yet, today, I saw college students being interviewed saying they didn't want to hear the gruesome details nor did they want to be told who was responsible. Have the children today been so protected that they cannot stand to learn of tragic happenings in our history? If so, that's sad. All the tragedies America has experienced through the years have a bearing on what our life is like today. I feel strongly that children, at a proper age, need to learn what happened.

In that same respect, today[s post is centered on writing about the sad or tragic happenings in your life. Many memoirs center on sad lives and how certain experiences influenced the rest of a person's life. These memoirs sell. Readers seem drawn to reading about the difficult times in a person's life. Maybe because they can relate to it, or maybe to learn from what was written. 

As my regular readers know, I am a big proponent of writing family stories. Many who take up this task write about the happy times, the laughing times, the warm family gatherings. That's great, but every family has sad happenings, too. Some are even tragic. We need to write about them, as well.

Maybe an uncle went to jail for theft. His situation affects the other people in the family. Some will be angry while others may be sympathetic. Some may want to cover it up, keep the incarceration a secret, which is pretty hard to accomplish. Some family members will be heartbroken, some will feel ashamed. It's a part of your family history so don't hesitate to write about it. Write about it, but don't judge. 

Perhaps, a member of your family died in battle in the military. Definitely nothing to be ashamed of but not easy to write about either. Gold Star families take great pride in the service their loved one gave. Again, write about it and how it affected different family members. 

There are many other tragic happenings in our lives--a jilted bride or groom, the loss of an infant or a small child, the loss of a teen, loss of a spouse, dealing with dementia.. Writing about these sad times can be one step in the healing process. Not a cure, but one step in healing. People who live with issues like this have so much hurt welled up inside. Writing about what happened or is still happening is a kind of release. Even a little of that can be helpful.

Chicken Soup for the Soul has a call for stories for a new book on grieving and how a person overcame it or found some peace. I am working on a story for that book. The deadline to submit is September 30th. Read the guidelines and tips here. You might have a story to write and submit for this book. Or you may write the story to include in your family stories. You can also write it only for yourself, and that is perfectly fine. We're all different people and have various feelings on this subject. 

Mark the 9-11 anniversary in whatever way feels right to you--on your own or with your family. I wish those young people who didn't want to hear about the gruesome details or hear who did it will be willing to listen. Most of all, I'd like them to learn of the tremendous outpouring of love people gave to the families of the victims. I'd like them to know how our country pulled together. We were all Americans, not of one political party or the other, not of this religion or that one, nor of any specific racial group. We grieved together. That, too, is an important part of our history.

Book Review--Never Waste Dreams

 

Gloria Zachgo's newest book is a sequel to her award winning Never Waste Tears, historical fiction at its best. The sequel is titled Never Waste Dreams. It continues the story of the Carters and Taylors who homesteaded on the Kansas prairie in the 1870s. 

Though a sequel, Never Waste Dreams can stand on its own as the author does a fine job in bringing in information from the story in the first book. Once you read the second book, you may be moved to backtrack and read the first one. 

It is obvious that Ms Zachgo did a great deal of research to make her book authentic to the time period. Nathan and Sarah live in a sod hut, commonly called a 'soddy' quite close to Carl and Hannah. The women are twin sisters, alike in looks but not necessarily in temperament. Even so, there is a strong bond between them. When one or the other needs help, they bang on a washtub to alert the other sister. 

The reader experiences the joys and the heartbreaks of each couple as they work to achieve their dreams of owning the land they farm, of building a real house, and of creating a good life in this place so different from their homes back east. 

Nathan's brother, Will, and his wife, Martha, move to the area bringing Will and Nathan's mother with them. Unlike his brother, Will settles in Lincoln, the nearest town. Anna, his mother, makes her home with Will's family, but spends time with Nathan and Sarah, too. Happy to be with her sons and their family, she continues to worry about her husband back east who deserted her. 

Carl and Hannah have no children, but Carl finds a young boy alone on the prairie, abandoned by his mother. Carl and his wife offer a home to the boy who is scarred, frightened and unable to speak. The marred child becomes a normal boy as he responds to family life with Carl and Hannah.

A horrific tragedy of nature affects everyone in the area, farmers and town folk alike. It left this reader impressed with the strength of humans who can pick up and go on with faith and strength, their dreams feeding on both.

One of the things I especially liked is that the author kept true to the dialect of the people in that era. I also admired the method in which Ms Zachgo told her story. We see the story unfold through each of the main character's point of view. There is a section headed Nathan or Sarah, Carl or Hannah, and Martha. Their names are in bold so you know who is continuing to tell the story. Each one adds to the story as they see it. It's a more unique way to relate a tale than to have an omniscient narrator 'tell' the story. 

One of the things I enjoy about historical fiction is that I am learning history in such a pleasant way, and this book teaches a great deal about the area and the time frame in which the story takes place.

I highly recommend you read Never Waste Dreams, especially if you have read the first book. I'm hoping for a third one in the future. 

Musing About September

Today is Labor Day which honors the achievements and contributions of the American worker. Individual states started celebrating a day to recognize those who worked in the late 19th century. President Cleveland signed a law passed by congress in 1894 to make Labor Day a federal holiday. Today, most people consider it a time to have one extra day on a weekend, a time for picnics and barbecues. It's also considered the official end of summer, even if you live in a state that has hot temps all through September. There was once an unwritten rule that no one was to wear white shoes after Labor Day. 

The photo today shows our Kansas sunflowers. Lots of other states have them, but the sunflower is the official flower of the state of Kansas. They go well with the Meadowlark, our official state bird. 

I've been on a reading binge lately. Reading is one of the most relaxing things I do. How about you? Does curling up with a book with a favorite beverage by your side help you forget about everyday cares and chores? We know they will be there when we finish the chapter or the whole book, but we've still managed a bit of escape for a while. Kids do more reading during the school year than in the summer, so a family trip to the library might be just the thing this month.

This first weekend of September brought a multitude of college football games to watch in person or on tv. My husband and I are football fans. I keep telling him how lucky he is that I like football because many women do not. The men in their lives watch with other men or alone. I grew up with a dad and three brothers who watched the game, so it was either fight it or join them. Both my mother and I joined them and became fans. 

I've noticed that several neighbors have put a fall-themed wreath on their front door. I suspect several have also done a bit of fall decorating inside their homes, too. Time for me to get with it and switch the summer wreath to fall on our door. 

Does September affect your writing life? Maybe those writers who have children back in school now find more time to write. Sometimes, a change of seasons gives us inspiration to write. When I walked for exercise, I found the fall walks stimulating and came home filled with thoughts about what I had been writing or ideas for a new piece of writing. 

Enjoy this holiday Monday and a shorter work week for many. Not all have the blessing of a day off today. Farmers have chores seven days a week. I wonder if we shouldn't have a special holiday to honor our farmers. We too often take them for granted. 

 

Rainbows and Writers

Our quote for today has some strong advice. No holding your hand here. The quote is: If you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain. 

In our writing world, the rainbow is any success, and the rain is all the little, miserable things writers must deal with. But you knew that, didn't you?

Wanting to be a writer and continuing to be a writer are different games altogether. It's the wannabe writer who lets the problems that must be dealt with discourage him/her. They are the ones who throw up their hands in defeat and quit. 

The writers who meet the problems head-on and work them out are the ones who continue to stay on their writing journey. They're the ones whose passion for the craft overrides the problems they encounter. Even if they end up gnashing their teeth or pulling their hair occasionally.

What problems are there? Take a look at the list below:

A.  Time constraints

B.  Minimal knowledge of the craft

C.  Isolating yourself and not being with other writers

D.  Poor mechanics

E.  Overwriting

F.  Underwriting

G.  Putting enough emotion in writing

H.  Weak openings and/or endings

I.  Ignoring sensory details

J.  Trouble marketing finished pieces

J.  Cover letters and queries

K.  Clarity for the reader

L.  Paragraphs or chapters that don't seem to work

M.  Handling rejections

The list above is not a complete one. You could probably add other problems writers face. Some writers deal well with many in the list above. I think we all have a few in the list that create trouble for us. 

It's our rain before the rainbow. Sometimes, it feels like a slight drizzle. Then there are days when we feel drenched in a torrential downpour. 

We need to learn to meet those problems and work them out, one by one, a never-ending process. One problem gets solved, and another pops up. It's part of the writing world, and those who continue to write are the ones who handle the rain so they can see a rainbow later. 

Your September Writing Life

 

A brand new month

Did you turn your calendar page this morning? It's always a good feeling when I do that. The month is fresh and waiting for me to fill it with numerous things. Lots of groups that took the summer off will start up again. Fall sports will beckon those who like watching them in person or on tv. The grocery stores will have fall decorations and fall foods featured. And yes, Halloween decorations will be for sale, a full two months prior to the date. 

What about your writing life this month of September? Will it stay the same or might there be some changes? If you check that list of goals you made last January (you did do that, didn't you?), which ones did you fulfill and which are you still working on? Maybe it's time to set a few goals for this month only. Make your list short so you aren't overwhelmed. 

Will your writing be fall oriented? Or will you continue with whatever writing projects you have been working on? When the weather changes and leaves begin to change color or even float softly to the grouond, you might be inspired to write something that matches. Do anything you can outside, for soon it will be chilly, then cold and wintery, and your outside activities will be limited. While you're out walking this month or watching a high school football or soccer game, use your writer's eye to find new story ideas. New season breeds new ideas. 

This month we start to ponder fall foods. Apples, pumpkins, and squash come to mind. Soups and stews sound more appealing than they did in the beach and sun bathing months. Have you ever written about the foods you prepare and eat in this early fall month> There would be a market for them in food magazines or ones that feature remembrances. 

Even if the 21st is the official beginning of this season, most of us think of it as soon as we see that September calendar page. So shift gear into fall starting today. Labor Day weekend is right round the corner. Most of us consider that holiday weekend as the end of summer, the onset of fall. 

Turn your calendar page today and celebrate the beginning of our fall season in as many ways as you can, but please do consider your writing world, too.

Building Self-Confidence As a Writer

 

Do you have confidence in yourself as a writer? It's a very important quality for writers to have on a regular basis. If you don't believe in yourself as a writer, can you expect your readers to believe in you? 

Writers in movies are often portrayed as people whose confidence level is quite low. They are poor souls who have not and cannot believe in themselves. Overcoming that problem is what creates the story line for the movie. In films, things usually turn out well in the end. But is real life like that?

If you don't believe in yourself as a writer, you'll probably do some shaky writing or none at all. The all-famous 'writer's block' is partly a lack of confidence in yourself as a writer. Since you don't believe that you're a capable writer, let's just stop writing--that's the thought process. You can say you're experiencing writer's block, and suddenly you have no guilt. You also have no writing accomplished. 

How do you learn to trust yourself as a writer? Once you've dug the hole of no self-confidence, it is not easy to climb out and be a person who believes in him/herself. It doesn't happen by snapping your fingers. It's a process that must be ongoing. 

Here are a few suggestions:

• Look in the mirror at least once a day and say out loud:  I am a writer. Say it with emphasis. Do it every day, and you might start believing what you are saying. When you don't believe in yourself as a writer, you are actually saying, I can't write.
• Make a list of the pieces you've written that satisfied you. You probably felt good about them because you felt you had accomplished some good writing.
• Make a second list of your publications. You would not have become a published writer if you were no good. An editor or publisher believed in you. It's time you believed in your own capabilities. 
• Dwell on the positives in each day. Ditch the negatives. They only serve to drag you down. 
• Make a list of the parts of writing in which you do well. Keep the list where you can see it and read it every day.
• Push yourself to do more than you have been. When you're successful, it is a natural confidence builder.
• Set realistic goals. If your goals are high in the sky and unreachable, it's a definite way to punch a hole in self-confidence. 
• Step out of your comfort zone now and then. It helps you grow and breeds self-confidence.
• Try journaling on a daily basis. Write about the positives in your writing life. At the end of each week, go back and read your Positives in Writing Journal. 

Don't ever use the fact that you don't believe in yourself as an excuse for poor writing or for not writing at all. Do that, and you'll dig a deeper hole. Today's poster gives the writer who has trouble believing in him/herself some good advice. A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking because her trust is not on the branch but on its own wings. Always believe in yourself.

The final sentence, Always believe in yourself, is one you can use as a mantra.Or make a sign with those four words, and put it where you see it every time you sit down to write. Then believe it.

Submitting Your Writing for Publication

 

The Old-Fashioned Way to Submit Your Writing

Learning the ins and outs of writing is important. There is a great deal of information to absorb as we begin our writing journey and continue down its path. We must become proficient in the tools of writing before we can submit what we write to an editor. 

There are writers who finish a first draft and submit to an editor immediately. Then, they are despondent when that submission lands with a dull thud and brings a rejection. Submitting is important, but not until you have done everything you can to make your submission stronger and better and of interest. 

We also see writers who write and write, revise and edit, write some more and file the story or essay or poem. They might be very happy with the way their piece of writing turned out, but even so, they file it and move on to a new writing project. And they never, ever submit their work for publication. Is the thinking If I don't submit it, I won't have to deal with rejection or is it fear that they are not good enough? It could be either one of those possibilities. Or perhaps the writer has no desire for publication; they write for their own pleasure, not to share with others. Is that being selfish? Perhaps, but it's also a choice that some writers make. It's not wrong, merely their choice.

If you do want to be published, the one and only way is to submit your work to a publishing house or an editor of a magazine or anthology. I had a writing friend years ago who always said, "Send it in! No one is going to climb in your bedroom and take your manuscript from your top dresser drawer1" His mantra to our writing group became "Send it in!" It was good advice. If you don't send it, you cannot possibly become a published writer. 

Years ago, writers had to send via snail mail, often with a SASE (Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope) for the return answer. It was a lot of busy work getting that submission ready to send. Then the big wait until the SASE you enclosed came back to you with either an acceptance or rejection. If the latter, you sent it to the next editor on your list. And then you waited again. You used postage on the envelope you sent and the one you enclosed for the return answer. Do that often, and the cost adds up.

Now, submitting is so easy as we can do it by email or by filling out a form in Submittable or a form on an individual website. There is still the antsy waiting period, but eventually, something pops up in your email letting you know the result. The rejection is not any less painful, nor is an acceptance any more joyous. It's just a lot easier to submit today than years ago. Every now and then, I run across a place that still asks for a snail mail submission with that SASE, but it's rare. I usually pass right on by when I see their request.

There are still a few places that do not respond to a submission unless it is with an acceptance. One of the places where I have been published many times never sends a rejection. Instead, the writer is left hanging. After a long period of waiting and no acceptance, the writer grudgingly knows he/she has been rejected. Personally, I would rather have a definite rejection so I can move on. 

One of the important parts of submitting your writing is to read and study the Writer Guidelines and then follow them. Some publications give detailed guidelines, and others give few to none. The latter, I think, do themselves no favor, as they must receive scads of submissions that are not right for their publication. I much prefer a set of guidelines I can follow and also to know if what I am sending is alright for the publication. 

Once you submit a piece, don't sit around and wait for an answer. Get to work on a new project. Once you have a finished piece that you are satisfied with, send it in. Keep the submission Ferris Wheel moving all the time. 

Make a record of what you send, to whom, and when you sent it. When you get an answer, record the result, as well. You might think you'll remember, but if you submit often, it's likely you will forget the details.

To quote my friend once again: "Send it in! "Send it in!" Send it in!" You'll never be published if you don't do so.

About Those Adjectives We Use

 

The man in the poster is a writer at work. Let's suppose that he is revising and editing a first draft. He knows something is missing in the story he's written. But what?

It could be that his descriptions are pretty generic, that his adjectives don't give a clear picture to the reader. Or that he rarely uses adjectives. 

Conversely, he might be guilty of adjective overload. He thinks that one adjective looks a little lonely, so let's add a few more. What does he have in the end? An overly done piece of work. 

Let's look at a few examples where A is pretty generic and B gives a better picture:

A.  The woman sat in a chair at the ball game.

B.   The old woman sat in a folding chair at the baseball game. 

In A, we have the basics, but B let's us see the woman more clearly. We know her age category, the kind of chair she is sitting in, and what kind of game she is watching.

A.  The kitten lapped the milk in the bowl.

B.  The black and white kitten lapped the warm milk in the blue pottery bowl.

We see much more in B than we do in A. 

A.  The tree faced the mountain, and Jem placed her hand on the trunk as she gazed into the distance.

B.  The huge tree faced the snow-capped mountain, and Jem placed her wrinkled hand on the rough trunk as she gazed into the distance.

B tells us the size of the tree, the age group of Jem, a bit about the mountaun, and something about the tree's trunk. A tells us none of that. 

A.  Jimmy ran into the forest, determined to find his pet before dark.

B.  Jimmy ran into the dense forest, determined to find his faithful dog before the scary dark approached.

Again, B gives us a picture that is more clear and adds some interest, as well.

Now, look at these sentences. Which ones would you add something or take away words? Are there any you would leave as is?

A. Glenna rode the white stallion along the deeply rutted road, hoping he would not stumble and throw her into the deep canyon to her right. 

B.  George put on his very most favorite tie and then slipped into the navy plaid skinny fit sport coat as he got ready for the beautiful, exciting, wonderful dance in the park pavilion.

C.  Susan walked in the garden.

D.  The house leaned a little.

E.  Her ragged dress stood out among the girls who wore ruffles and lace. 

F.  Buildings crowded together in the downtown area of the city. 

Some of the sentences have too many adjectives, while others are pretty generic, telling the reader very little. Any one of the sentences can be changed or left alone. That is the writer's choice, but look at them again. Which ones do you prefer? 

Remember that one adjective per noun is generally enough. Make it two or three, and you may be heading for overkill.  Use none, and your reader is left with some questions in their mind. Adjectives help describe; they help show, but they should be used sparingly. 

Dialogue Makes or Breaks a Story

 

A post from my files of the past. I noted that I had written numerous times on the topic of writing dialogue. That only shows that I feel it an important topic. Dialogue can make or break a story. Read more below...

Dialogue in stories is simply communication. You and I have been communicating ever since we uttered our first word--probably 'mama.' We do it so naturally when going through our everyday world, but when writing a story, there are a few things to keep in mind about dialogue. 

Let me preface my remarks by saying that Chicken Soup for the Soul editors like submissions that use dialogue. And they are not alone. Why? What does dialogue do for a story, either fiction or a true tale?

It helps move the story

It helps define the characters and their relationships

It illustrates the emotions of the characters

It makes a nice break in the narrative

It helps show rather than tell

It helps to create tension

It adds the human element

The Bits and Pieces of Dialogue:

Make it natural  There is nothing worse than stiff, stilted dialogue. If you're writing a story about kids who live in a blighted area of a large city, you better not use the language of a college professor. The way your character speaks helps to paint a picture of who they are. Using slang is fine if your character would most likely use it. Using vocabulary that only a word freak would use for these kids would be totally inappropriate. 

It's fine to use contractions because that is the way we speak to one another. I don't care if you can't go. It doesn't matter to me. That sounds more natural than I do not care if you cannot go. It does not matter to me. 

Tags  Beginning writers use various tags to show who spoke and how they said the words or how they felt. Some of the tags most used are uttered, yelled, whispered. Using said is the method of choice. That said becomes a word readers slide by. It's there but not noticed. Some will ask how do you show the way in which the words were spoken if all you use is said. Put an action or defining sentence before the dialogue. Pete slammed his hand on the table. "What do you think you're doing?" That preceding sentence lets the reader know that Pete is mad so he is probably going to yell, isn't he? It also does a good job of showing rather than telling as in this example. What do you think you're doing? screamed Pete. 

You don't need to use a tag after every piece of dialogue. If two people are in a lengthy conversation, use the tag after some but not all. The reader can usually keep track of who is speaking. Use a tag every now and then to keep things straight. 

How much dialogue A few writers have attempted to write an entire story using nothing but dialogue. A noble experiment, but it might be overkill for readers. I prefer to see a healthy balance between narrative and dialogue. What about using it in memoir  Memoir writers are depicting happenings of years prior to the time they are writing. They are writing true stories, so how are they going to remember the exact words someone spoke 25 years ago? It's almost impossible for them to remember word for word, but they do remember the gist of what was said. It's alright to create dialogue as long as it stays true to what the writer is remembering. 

Beware of adverbs  If you use adverbs with your tags, you're taking the lazy writer's way out. As stated in the section on tags, it's far better to use an action to show how the person is saying the words or is feeling than tossing up an adverb and letting it flutter down behind the said. You could say You've made me a laughing stock in this town, Susan said angrily. Instead, try something like Susan clenched her teeth and both fists. "You've made me a laughing stock in this town. The second sentence shows that Susan is angry while the first one tells the reader she's angry. 

There are many things to consider when writing dialogue. When you're reading for pleasure, be aware of the way dialogue is used. Note what you like or don't like. Then put it to good use when you write your own stories or memoirs.

By Nancy Julien Kopp Nancy - April 25, 2019  (original posting)

Telling Stories and Making Memories

 

Telling Stories

Making Memories

Yesterday's holiday reminded me of this past post. 

We've talked many times about writing your family stories, putting your memories into print form. It's wonderful to tell stories like the photo that shows an elderly woman with her family at the dinner table. Is she quietly listening to their conversation, or is she entering into the chatter and offering stories about her younger years? The young family out on a cold day creating a snowman is making memories for their children.

Telling stories and making memories should be a goal we all strive for. Let's look at telling stories first.

My parents were wonderful storytellers. When we finished eating Mom and Dad enjoyed their after-dinner coffee, and we kids were subjected to many stories about their childhoods, their parents who had died before we got to know them, and their friends. Sometimes, we kids got a bit tired of those stories, but we heard them often enough to remember them as adults. And now that our parents passed on many years ago, those stories are precious gems. I've incorporated many into my writing and have also made a book of family stories. I duplicated it for each of my three brothers and mailed it to the various parts of the country where they lived. It was probably the most appreciated gift I ever gave them. 

Seniors enjoy looking back and relating stories from a lifetime. Some of them won't do so until questioned. If you have older family members, ask them to tell you what life was like when they were growing up, about their siblings and parents, aunts and uncles, their chores, school, dating, and more. If they are past the point of writing the stories, do it yourself or pick another family member, but please have them written somewhere. Those stories are part of your family history.

The picture of the young family out in the snow shows us how memories are created. The little boy will most likely remember the time, or times, his family built a snowman on a cold day in the snow. Someday, he will tell his own children about the fun he had with Mom, Dad, and little sister.

When we attend a wedding or even a funeral, we are making family memories. When we look back, we should tell younger family members about the event. The same with picnics, fishing trips, road trips with a whole family cooped up in the family car, flying to an island resort with the family, the vacation when it rained the entire time, and more. Those memories are the stuff from which family stories are made. Don't waste them. Don't let them sink into your mind so deep that you forget them. 

I really should tell my grandchildren about the time a painter left his paint cans and brushes where a little girl could easily see them and try them out. The painter had finished all the railings and steps on the three floors of the building where the little girl lived. The paint he''d left was for another project and a different color. That little girl pried open a paint can, dipped a brush, and proceeded to paint over the steps in a lovely color instead of the dull gray he'd used. The little girl got in a whale of trouble after the painter yelled at her mother. The little girl never touched paint cans again, and the painter never spoke to her when he saw her.

So, tell the stories and create memories. Share them with other family members. And please write those stories. 

Tuesday, January 29, 2019 Original 

July 5, 2021

Are You a Last Minute Lucy?

 

Today's post is a repeat from last year. Still worthy of a look.

When we're into the last minute before something needs to be done, we move fast. Your phone rings--it's unexpected relatives--they'll be at your house in 15 minutes. What to do! When that kind of situation occurs. we do move fast. Pick things up, hide them in strange places. Consider what's in the pantry to offer your guests and put on a happy face when the doorbell rings. 

In our writing journey, we sometimes put things off until close to deadline, then hurry up and get something written, then submit with a sigh of relief. Did it! You may have made the deadline, but did you send one of your best pieces of writing? Possibly not.

To have a worthwhile submission time is involved. Quite a bit of it. Let's revisit this situation that I've written about more than once. The reason being that it is important and will benefit you in the long run. 

Let's say that you have a personal essay swirling in your head. It would be perfect for the state writing contest which closes in a month. Your best approach is the following:

• Write the first draft; read through it once, then put it in a file and leave it there.
• Work on something else for the next several days, but think about that draft if you like.
• Wait several days to a week before you pull up the file and read the draft again.
• Now is the time to proofread. You will see things that you'd have missed completely had you tried to proofread immediately after writing the first draft.
• Consider places where you might add something or what can be deleted.
• What about word count? Too many? Room to add something?
• Look at the verbs in your essay. Too many passives? Or are they filled with life? Work on making them the best they can be.
• What about telling vs showing? Which dominates your essay? If it's all telling, you'd better be ready to almost completely rewrite that draft.
• After you've done the proofreading and revising, put the file away again for a couple days or even longer.
• Proofread again. Do you like the changes you made? Are there other revisions possible? Or is it the best it can be?
• Go ahead and submit it, or let it simmer for another few days before you do a final check and feel completely ready to submit.
• Don't fall into the trap of revising and proofreading so many times that you never get to the point of submitting. 

Looking at the list above, it's obvious that attaining a top-notch essay doesn't happen in one summer afternoon. Yes, you can write one in a short bit of time, but how far will it get in either a contest or for an editor to consider?

Don't be a Last Minute Lucy. Give yourself time to write, rewrite, and rewrite again to have the best essay possible.

By Nancy Julien Kopp Nancy - June 22, 2020 2   original posting

July 2, 2021

Blog Notes and a Writing Exercise

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Three Choices for Writers

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Writers--Change Can Be Difficult

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Write in a Way That Feels Right For You

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Writers--Simply Begin!

 

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

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

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

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

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

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