Opening Lines of Your Writing and Other Writers

We all know that the opening lines of a fiction story are of great importance. So are the opening lines of a personal essay, a memoir, and even a nonfiction article. That handful of words should reach out and grab the reader, make him/her sit up and take notice and want to proceed. 

Let's take a look at a few opening lines in well-known or successful fiction. As you read each one, ask yourself if there is enough to make you want to read further. Does a question pop into your mind. Has the author planted the seeds of curiosity within you? 

1.  “It was a wrong number that started it, the telephone ringing three times in the dead of night, and the voice on the other end asking for someone he was not.”

—Paul Auster, City of Glass

2. “Her father would say years later that she had dreamed that part of it, that she had never gone out through the kitchen window at two or three in the morning to visit the birds.”
—Edward P. Jones, “The Girl Who Raised Pigeons”

3.  “When the blind man arrived in the city, he claimed that he had travelled across a desert of living sand.”
—Kevin Brockmeier, A Brief History of the Dead

4.  “Your father picks you up from prison in a stolen Dodge Neon, with an 8-ball of coke in the glove compartment and a hooker named Mandy in the back seat.”
—Dennis Lehane, “Until Gwen”

5.“It was raining in Richmond on Friday, June 6.”
—Patricia Cornwell, Postmortem 

6.   “The magician’s underwear has just been found in a cardboard suitcase floating in a stagnant pond on the outskirts of Miami.”
—Tom Robbins, Another Roadside Attraction

7. “On the morning the last Lisbon daughter took her turn at suicide—it was Mary this time, and sleeping pills—the two paramedics arrived at the house knowing exactly where the knife drawer was, and the gas oven, and the beam in the basement from which it was possible to tie a rope.”
—Jeffrey Eugenides, The Virgin Suicides 

8.  “In the town there were two mutes, and they were always together.”
—Carson McCullers, The Heart is a Lonely Hunter

Try ranking these eight openings from the one that grabbed you the most to the one that left you feeling so-so.

What about the opening lines in your own writing? Go to your files and choose eight of your stories, essays--any kind of your writing. Check the opening lines. If you put yourself in the shoes of the reader, how would you feel about those few words? Would you want to keep reading? Why or why not? 

Yes, we all know that those opening lines are important, but do we give them enough attention as we write, edit and revise? Something to ponder.

Writers--Keep Your Dream Number One

I've posted a lot recently about the fears that writers have. There are so many parts of our writing world that we allow to frighten us.

To name only a few, some of us fear: 

• making the first submission
• entering a contest
• not being good enough
• competing with other writers
• exposing our work to a critique group
• applying for membership in a critique group
• never being published
• not measuring up to other writers
• staying in one place; not growing as a writer
• what readers have to say about our writing
• taking a class; maybe it will be too difficult
• the editing process
• writing nothing but crummy stuff
• rejection
• and more...

Today's poster quote tells us to let our dream be bigger than our fears. Every writer has a dream; a dream that can run from the simplest accomplishment to the greatest. What we dream about our writing journey is ours alone. Dream small and move on to another dream, proceeding until you hit the big one. Or start with that giant dream right from the start. 

There are other words that we can substitute for the word dream. Use aim or goal if you'd rather, but do have a dream, aim, or goal. Pass right by those fears we all have now and then, and reach for the stars. 

Some of you are agreeing with that while maybe others are not. If you let the fears take precedence, you're going to have a hard time attaining that dream. Keep the dream at the top and push the fears to the bottom of the page. 

Center everything you do on your writing journey on that dream you have. Put it first and foremost, no matter what fears pop up. You can deal with those fears one at a time, but you can't bring the dream back if you let the fears take over. 

Once again, dear Readers, it's up to you to put things in the right order.

Writing About Signs of Summer

If your June sailed by as fast as mine, you're probably wondering how in the world July just landed on your doorstep.

Friday's post was headed with a photo depicting a sign of summer, a butterfly among some yellow flowers and greenery. 

Saturday, Ken and I went downtown to our Farmer's Market. We strolled by the various tables, some with shade tent tops over them, some in the hot sun. Another sign of summer. 

Then we stopped in at our Dillard's Department Store to check out the extra 30% off of sale merchandise promotion. We didn't buy a thing, but it's one more sign of summer. 

Here's a list of signs of summer to help trigger some inspiration. Look at the list. Is there anything that stops you with a memory floating forth? A short memoir story might evolve from one of these prompts. Choose one and try freewriting or write a story.

SIGNS OF SUMMER:

• Farmer's Market
• Store sales
• watermelon feed
• vegetable garden
• beach
• swimming pool
• sand
• songbirds
• sandals
• shorts
• heat
• humidity
• homemade ice cream
• laundry hung outdoors
• lemonade stands
• baseball games
• cooking on the grill
• potato salad
• bathing suits
• 4th of July
• picnic
• library reading program
• Bible school
• salads
• sweat
• heat stroke
• heat rash
• fans
• canning produce
• garden seeds
• vacation
• boats
• fishing

To finish, here's a poem written long ago on a summer day when my heart was filled with the kind of joy summer brings: 

Summer’s Song

Sing to me of

marshmallow clouds

and rainbow skies,

of baseball games and

ice cream cones,

buttercups and

ladybugs.

Tell me about

white sand beaches

and clear blue lakes,

county fairs and

lemonade stands,

lightning bugs and

thunderstorms.

                                           ---Nancy Julien Kopp (c)2011

Bits and Pieces for Writers

A Sign of Summer

I have several bits and pieces to pass on to you today. Some have been on my mind for a while and some just popped in this morning. Most are not worthy of a full post but could be of interest to readers. So, on to the things flitting through my mind like lovely little butterflies.

1.  I recently subscribed to a monthly newsletter called Publishing and Other Forms of Insanity. The newsletter is chock full of calls for submissions and contests as well as articles on the writing craft. And I do mean 'chock full.' Take a look at this month's issue and see if it appeals to you enough to subscribe. I have to admit that there are times I can't find time to digest every bit of it. Read the June issue here.
2. The Write Spot by Marlene Cullen offers regular writing prompts. Her prompts are not mundane by any means. She offers inspiring, mind-triggering writing prompts on a regular basis. Her website offers other sections that would be appealing to a writer. You know that I am a big proponent of doing writing exercises. Even a five-minute exercise each morning will be of benefit to you. That old adage practice makes perfect seems to fit here.
3. If you have an interest in writing for children, the ICL(Institute of Children's Literature) Newsletter is filled with tips and places to submit to, contests and more. I have found many of the articles pertain to writing for all levels, kids, and adults. And do remember that the writing for children world is a big one. Consider that we're talking about infants who are read to, toddlers, grade school kids, teens and Young Adults. That's a wide range with myriad possibilities. Every so often, the newsletter lists a number of articles about writing. Many of these are all-encompassing, not just for children's writers. If you sign up and decide it's not for you, unsubscribe. Sign up here.
4. Feather  So, what in the world is this about? It's not the name of a book or magazine. Not the name of a club for writers. No. But it is a word that has been playing leapfrog in my head. Why? I have no sure answer, but I feel like it is leading me to write something new. But what? Story? Poem? Children's story? Memoir piece? At this point, I haven't a clue. Even so, I know that more will evolve from this one little word I keep seeing in my mind. Am I the only one this happens to? Or do some of you experience something like this? 
5. Photo Journal. I have a writer friend who is also a photographer and a blogger. Annette Gendler is also a world traveler, and she shares her photo journals with her readers. Check out one of them here. You don't have to travel to a foreign country to try this on your own. You could go to the town ten miles away and create one that would interest others. There is no absolutely set way to do this type of writing, and you need not be a professional photographer either. With our phones taking good pictures, we can all claim to be 'photographers,' even if of different levels. Check a search engine for tips on making your own photo journal. With summer travels, this is an appealing type of writing. You want to do more than label a photo, however. Make the writing as interesting as the picture.

I hope these bits and pieces have given you food for thought, some places to check over the weekend, and a wee bit of inspiration as we finish this month of June and get ready for July.

A Word Writers Should Avoid

I dare you to pronounce the word above without using the pronunciation guide. We can all learn to say the word, but I hope none of us could have the word applied to the person we are, the writer we are.

It's a very normal response to fear not being good enough. Every new writer has moments of feeling like they aren't good enough to get published. It's not only the new writers. Seasoned writers have those fingers of fear clutching at their insides, too. Maybe not as often, but it happens. 

Some writers feel very confident that what they've written is of some merit, that their story could stand up to any other. First draft, edit, revision, another edit, final polish--yep, this is a good story. The time to submit to an editor arrives and suddenly those doubts began to assail the writer. What to do? The best choice is to submit your story and wait to see what happens. If it is rejected, that doesn't mean you're a crummy writer. Don't ever feel that way. The longer we're in the writing world, the more we become aware that not every story (or other kinds of writing) is going to get accepted on the first submission. It may take several times, and it might never be accepted. It happens to all of us now and then. Statistics show that you'll have far more rejections than acceptances over the course of your writing life.

A man who led a writing group I once belonged to said that one study showed that a writer can expect to have 1 of every 12 submissions be accepted. That's a whole lot of rejections, isn't it? Somehow, that one acceptance shines above the ones that didn't make it. That's the one you'll remember.

Multiple rejections are no reason for feeling like a failure or telling yourself you aren't good enough to make it in the writing world. Multiple rejections can definitely be a downer if you let it. It's up to you to accentuate the positives rather than the negatives in your writing journey. You're probably thinking Oh right! How easy is that? I'll be the first to admit that it's not a 'smack the ball and make a home run' kind of thing. You have to work at having that positive attitude. 

You need to remind yourself of the pluses in your writing life and it's something we all need to do on a consistent basis, not just occasionally. Learn to have faith in your own abilities. When you write something that is satisfying to you, give yourself that proverbial pat on the back. Soak up any compliment you receive from a reader or editor. Look yourself in the mirror and think I am a writer and a good one. If you don't think it, then it's doubtful others will. 

When people discuss your writing with you, don't be demure if you're paid a compliment. Accept it with a smile and a hearty thank you. I've heard writers make excuses instead. That puts a damper on you and the person you're talking to. 

Have faith in your own abilities. You wouldn't be pursuing the writing life if you had no ability to write at all. Admit that you have learned a lot but there is always more to learn. 

I saw a great poster the other day. It said Let your faith be bigger than your fear. That advice works for us as writers, too. Two 'f' words. Which one will you let be your guide in your writing life? Will it be faith in yourself or fear that you'll never be a good writer? Once again, it's up to you.

About that word, atychiphobia, don't worry about learning to pronounce it. I don't think you're going to need it.

Stories Needed for New Chicken Soup for the Soul Book

Amy Newmark

The lady holding a stack of books is Amy Newmark, best-selling author, editor-in-chief, and publisher of the Chicken Soup for the Soul anthology series. Not surprisingly, the books are from the popular inspirational books that are still popular after 26 years.

Ms. Newmark took the reins in 2008 and is responsible for publishing 133 titles since then. Overall, there have been about 250 titles since its inception. Topping that statistic is another that is almost mind-boggling. The number of books sold in these 26 years rounds out to 500 million. 

I have never met Amy Newmark, but I have had a few personal notes from her written on the tear-away section of the checks I've received for my stories in the anthologies. She cares enough to add that personal touch. She's a mother of four and grandmother to one. She's just like so many of the authors who send her stories. 

All this is leading to a recent announcement of the newest title. Stories about Self-care and Me Time. I have a feeling that the majority of the stories that make it into this book are going to be written by women. Before anyone's hackles rise up, I'm sure there will be some good stories penned by men, too. But, women are known for putting everyone and everything first, then grabbing what little time is left for themselves. Mothers, for sure, career women who are also running households, women who have a full plate, yet find time to care for elderly parents. The list could go on, but you get the drift.

So, what kinds of stories are they looking for? This is what is listed on the website: 

• When you realized you were NOT engaging in self-care, realized how important that is and what  that realization was like
 • How you turned the situation around and found your self-care and your me time
• The consequences of NOT taking care of yourself
• The benefits of proper self-care and me time
• The benefits of getting enough sleep
• The consequences of being sleep-deprived
• How do you handle your self-care and me time? Share your tips and examples.
• Have you made a difference to friends and family members too by encouraging them to take care of themselves?
• Your favorite ways to spend “me time”
• How do you relax and rejuvenate your mind, body and soul?
• Self-care for physical wellbeing, whether it’s proper nutrition, exercise, environment, making those doctor appointments, addressing addictions (including the legal ones)
• Self-care for emotional and mental wellbeing, whether it’s stress reduction, editing your calendar, changing who you spend time with, cutting back on obligations, seeing a therapist
• What’s your strategy for including self-care in your daily life?
• What have you added to your life?
• What have you eliminated from your life?
• WHO have you eliminated from your life? Self-care includes removing negativity and toxic people from your life, too!

You have plenty of time to send your stories as the deadline date is December 31, 2019. Read more about what they are seeking here. Don't forget that other all-important page to study--Guidelines for writing a Chicken Soup story. Whether you're a seasoned Chicken Soup for the Soul writer or have never sent them a story, it's important to follow the guidelines.

As I've been writing this post, thoughts about a possible story to send are swirling through my mind. How about you? No thought immediately? Ponder on it today as you go about your tasks.

Writers and Voice

The other day as Ken drove us home from vacation, I was reading an article about writing. I couldn't tell you much about the content except for one small bit that stood out like a star-filled night. The topic was using cliches in writing. The author of the article said (and I'm paraphrasing here) that 'If you use a lot of cliches when you write, you'll never find your own voice.' 

This eye-opening observation made me sit back and reflect a moment, then read it again. I wish I could reference the article, but it popped up on my phone and I passed on by when finished. Even so, I thought about that statement as we rolled by newly planted fields and small towns. 

Writers who overuse cliches (there is room for them in writing if only done very occasionally) are relying on the words of others instead of forming their own words which transform into their writing voice. Every writer needs to find his/her voice. It's not there when you first put words on paper or screen. It's something that a writer develops as she/he moves down the path in their writing journey. 

Susanna Kearsley, a best-selling Canadian historical fiction author, expands on the acquisition of voice in today's quote. She tells us, and rightly so, that we don't want to imitate others. While we all have writers whom we admire, we don't want to sound like them. We must sound like ourself in order to develop our writing voice, something distinctly us.

Ms. Kearsley also mentions that there is no need to attempt perfect sentences. If that is not how you talk, maybe you shouldn't write that way. It's possible that your writing would then come out far too formal, maybe even stilted. I'm not saying to write crummy, ungrammatical sentences. Not at all. Instead, I take her point that I (and you) should write sentences that sound like us, that use our own voice. 

One way to know what your writing voice is would be to equate voice to style. It's the way you write. Each writer should have his/her own voice, something unique to them 

Ms. Kearsley's first point in the poster quote is worth a second look. She advises that we learn to tell a story on paper the same way we might tell it out loud to a friend, perhaps over a cup of coffee. Take a moment to consider how you tell your best friend what happened to you in a terrible storm. Would you write about it in the same way, using the same phrases? Or would you think you needed to make it more formal since you're writing for others to read? If you do, it's possible you could lose something in the translation. 

Give some thought to your own writing voice today. Have you discovered it yet? Still working on it? Or have it working great for you?