Cloud cover. That’s all I’m going to say. Since I started working on my latest book, I’ve been thinking about my clients’ manuscripts that I’ve read over the years and the most common problems that occur. When writing fiction and memoir, it can be particularly tricky to depict emotions accurately and with enough nuance. For example, a writer will depict a character’s unease by his stammer, or blush, or hands trembling. Usually again and again. And usually to the exclusion of other emotions.
What seems important to remember is that emotions come in many shades and gradations. Most of us don’t immediately explode in fury without provocation—there are steps leading up to it. (now if you do, that’s a problem for a mental health professional, not a writing coach) Neither does everyone react the same way to loss, stress, infidelity, betrayal, or free plane tickets to Paris.
Go through life noticing how emotions flicker across people’s faces: anger, angst, arousal, bitter, boredom, confidence, confusion, contempt, determination, disappointment, disgust, distrust, embarrassment, envy, fear, hostility, irritation, melancholy, paralyzed, passivity, perplexed, playful, relaxed, reproach, restlessness, sadness, shy, serene, sorrow, stupefied, surprise, suspicion, thrilled, uncertain, vulnerable….
How can you put this into words or express in dialogue or action?
Then too make sure that you’re not using clichéd reactions such as a lump in the throat, heart pounding or racing,or a single tear glistening on a heroine’s cheek.
Know how far your character will go when pushed, angry, desperate, aroused, frightened.
Mix it up, make it real, make it in sync with each individual.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Dawn is cracking open the sky and spring still is enchanting here—flowers and flowering trees blooming everywhere, the air sweet smelling and soft and new. Even if you don’t live in Portland, you probably know that Portland is this ultra-cool place, this place of beauty, green and hopes like no other on the West coast. Minus the Hollywood scrabbling attitude and Botox stretching every other face. Portland is a place of gardens, parks, and more coffee shops and fabulous restaurants that you could shake a stick at, as my grandmother used to say. I’m so happy I live here, especially in the spring when the whole world is a gigantic, perfumed garden, so magical that I can hardly express it.
But back to Portland cool. This is also a writer’s town and it’s got Willamette Writers, The Oregon Writer’s Colony, Wordstock, Glimmertrain, Powells and a slew of other independent book stores, Portland Arts and Lecture series, famous cool writers like Chuck Palahniuk and Chelsea Cain and Ursula LeGuin. You cannot visit a coffee shop without tripping over writers huddled in corners tapping away on their laptops or swing a dead cat without hitting someone writing a memoir or publishing a chapbook. There’s a place in Portland called the Writers Dojo. It’s in a neighborhood called St. Johns in the northeast area of the city. St. Johns formerly a separate town and then a divey neighborhood, now a new venue of hipdom and arty types. There’s a magnificent bridge there spanning the Willamette River and a writer’s dojo located there now and they’ve started an online magazine called Write. Here’s the latest lead story from author Karen Karbo, Portland, resident called The Dining Room:
“You live with your parents in an apartment building called The Something Arms in Sherman Oaks, a sun-blasted suburb of Los Angeles. The building is standard Sun Belt issues, white stucco flecked with gold, a rectangular swimming pool with no diving board, a panel of mailboxes just inside the front gate. You live in an upstairs apartment overlooking the Dumpsters. Your dining room table is a card table, your dining room is the kitchen side of the living room. They are just starting out, your parents. It is 1962.
Every stuffy apartment has a kid or two in it. All you need to go swimming is one adult sitting poolside. It is usually a mother. It is usually your mother, who can’t swim herself, who is allergic to the sun but has an itch, always, to be out of the apartment. She is a woman with itches, your mother. Days before she dies she will admit as much. She will tell you she was born in the wrong time. She will tell you she should have been you.” The Dining Room” originally appeared in the anthology Home: American Writers Remember Rooms of Their Own published by Pantheon in 1995 and is reprinted here by permission of the author.
But back to Portland cool. This is also a writer’s town and it’s got Willamette Writers, The Oregon Writer’s Colony, Wordstock, Glimmertrain, Powells and a slew of other independent book stores, Portland Arts and Lecture series, famous cool writers like Chuck Palahniuk and Chelsea Cain and Ursula LeGuin. You cannot visit a coffee shop without tripping over writers huddled in corners tapping away on their laptops or swing a dead cat without hitting someone writing a memoir or publishing a chapbook. There’s a place in Portland called the Writers Dojo. It’s in a neighborhood called St. Johns in the northeast area of the city. St. Johns formerly a separate town and then a divey neighborhood, now a new venue of hipdom and arty types. There’s a magnificent bridge there spanning the Willamette River and a writer’s dojo located there now and they’ve started an online magazine called Write. Here’s the latest lead story from author Karen Karbo, Portland, resident called The Dining Room:
“You live with your parents in an apartment building called The Something Arms in Sherman Oaks, a sun-blasted suburb of Los Angeles. The building is standard Sun Belt issues, white stucco flecked with gold, a rectangular swimming pool with no diving board, a panel of mailboxes just inside the front gate. You live in an upstairs apartment overlooking the Dumpsters. Your dining room table is a card table, your dining room is the kitchen side of the living room. They are just starting out, your parents. It is 1962.
Every stuffy apartment has a kid or two in it. All you need to go swimming is one adult sitting poolside. It is usually a mother. It is usually your mother, who can’t swim herself, who is allergic to the sun but has an itch, always, to be out of the apartment. She is a woman with itches, your mother. Days before she dies she will admit as much. She will tell you she was born in the wrong time. She will tell you she should have been you.” The Dining Room” originally appeared in the anthology Home: American Writers Remember Rooms of Their Own published by Pantheon in 1995 and is reprinted here by permission of the author.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Clouds smeared across the morning sky.
When I talk with writers about the reality of writing I explain that in the beginning the words and scenes that exist in our imaginations often don’t translate onto the page. In fact there can be a gigantic gap between what we dream and what we write. The only way to shrink that gap is to keep writing, keep practicing. But most of all, we cannot postpone writing for that elusive some day.
Our fantasies about writing will never equal reality. It’s more tedium than glamour, more diligence than inspiration. Avoidance is a natural response to hard work, like Tom Sawyer conning his pals into painting Aunt Polly’s fence. But avoidance only brings immediate relief, not lasting satisfaction. Procrastination keeps us standing on the outside looking in at our work, our dreams. This is a painful stance. It is just a delaying tactic; imagining yourself writing, dreaming elaborate visions of success, but not doing the work. Once you begin you enter a whole new world. A world that is less glamorous than your fantasies, but much more satisfying.
When I talk with writers about the reality of writing I explain that in the beginning the words and scenes that exist in our imaginations often don’t translate onto the page. In fact there can be a gigantic gap between what we dream and what we write. The only way to shrink that gap is to keep writing, keep practicing. But most of all, we cannot postpone writing for that elusive some day.
Our fantasies about writing will never equal reality. It’s more tedium than glamour, more diligence than inspiration. Avoidance is a natural response to hard work, like Tom Sawyer conning his pals into painting Aunt Polly’s fence. But avoidance only brings immediate relief, not lasting satisfaction. Procrastination keeps us standing on the outside looking in at our work, our dreams. This is a painful stance. It is just a delaying tactic; imagining yourself writing, dreaming elaborate visions of success, but not doing the work. Once you begin you enter a whole new world. A world that is less glamorous than your fantasies, but much more satisfying.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Summer has left the building and large, low-hanging clouds have obliterated the formerly blue skies. Happy Earth Day to all.
A big congratulations to W.S. Merwin for winning his second Pulitzer for his latest poetry collection, The Shadow of Sirius. I was running errands yesterday—I’m looking for a balance board for my rehab program—when I heard Terry Gross replay her interview with Merwin, first taped in December. To close the program he read his poem Rain Light and I was mesmerized. This is my favorite first line of a poem. To hear the interview visit Fresh Air.
Rain Light ©W. S. Merwin
All day the stars watch from long ago
my mother said I am going now
when you are alone you will be all right
whether or not you know you will know
look at the old house in the dawn rain
all the flowers are forms of water
the sun reminds them through a white cloud
touches the patchwork spread on the hill
the washed colors of the afterlife
that lived there long before you were born
see how they wake without a question
even though the whole world is burning
And if Merwin comes to your town to speak, don’t miss the opportunity to see and hear him in person. He’s in his eighties now and a national treasure.
This year's winners also included Elizabeth Strout in the Fiction category for her short story collection Olive Kitteridge . Lynn Nottage carried away the prize in the Drama category for her play Ruined, set in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Las Vegas Sun and The New York Times staff were rewarded for Public Service and Breaking News Reporting respectively, while Lane DeGregory of the St. Petersburg Times won the Feature Writing award, and Eugene Robinson of The Washington Post walked away with the Commentary prize. For a complete list of winners, you can visit Pulitzer.org. A fleshed-out list of finalists is also included.
Also, folks the government does listen some times. If you want those crafty folks in the Bush administration who approved torture techniques as were outlined in the “torture memos” that have come to light, you can contact Attorney General Eric Holder’s office at 202-514-2001. I see Cheney’s fingerprints all over this policy don’t you? Is that why he’s flapping his jaws on Fox News and other conservative media outlets these days?
A big congratulations to W.S. Merwin for winning his second Pulitzer for his latest poetry collection, The Shadow of Sirius. I was running errands yesterday—I’m looking for a balance board for my rehab program—when I heard Terry Gross replay her interview with Merwin, first taped in December. To close the program he read his poem Rain Light and I was mesmerized. This is my favorite first line of a poem. To hear the interview visit Fresh Air.
Rain Light ©W. S. Merwin
All day the stars watch from long ago
my mother said I am going now
when you are alone you will be all right
whether or not you know you will know
look at the old house in the dawn rain
all the flowers are forms of water
the sun reminds them through a white cloud
touches the patchwork spread on the hill
the washed colors of the afterlife
that lived there long before you were born
see how they wake without a question
even though the whole world is burning
And if Merwin comes to your town to speak, don’t miss the opportunity to see and hear him in person. He’s in his eighties now and a national treasure.
This year's winners also included Elizabeth Strout in the Fiction category for her short story collection Olive Kitteridge . Lynn Nottage carried away the prize in the Drama category for her play Ruined, set in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Las Vegas Sun and The New York Times staff were rewarded for Public Service and Breaking News Reporting respectively, while Lane DeGregory of the St. Petersburg Times won the Feature Writing award, and Eugene Robinson of The Washington Post walked away with the Commentary prize. For a complete list of winners, you can visit Pulitzer.org. A fleshed-out list of finalists is also included.
Also, folks the government does listen some times. If you want those crafty folks in the Bush administration who approved torture techniques as were outlined in the “torture memos” that have come to light, you can contact Attorney General Eric Holder’s office at 202-514-2001. I see Cheney’s fingerprints all over this policy don’t you? Is that why he’s flapping his jaws on Fox News and other conservative media outlets these days?
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Morning sky is pale blue and we’re expecting temperatures in the 80s again. A few summers ago a bird took up residence on the phone wires near my place and sang all day, all night. With only a few pauses for breath, or whatever birds pause for. I swear he didn’t eat. Last summer he wasn’t around. This summer the same birdsong is coming from nearby treetops. I’m so amazed at the capacity of these tiny creatures to sing all day. I wonder what the human equivalent would be? Perhaps writing War and Peace longhand?
I’ve been falling behind in blogging lately—but have edited the copyedited draft of my manuscript from Tarcher. A few more steps and that baby is going to press.
So in the midst of my editing I forgot to post several notes. First, I read a review of Slang: The People's Poetry. by Michael Adam. According to the reviewer: “That "Slang" is so slim, concise and lively is proof of Adams' commitment to the idea of language as something that's living, breathing and constantly changing. If you've even been trapped at a dinner party or a lecture (depending on the guests, sometimes they're indistinguishable), listening to an alleged person of letters use as many of them as possible to express how much he or she "loves words," you'll be grateful for Adams' concision. "Slang" is a gem that Adams has taken great care in cutting and polishing. Unlike so many academics -- Adams is an assistant professor of English at Indiana University -- he doesn't feel the need to give us the whole damn diamond mine.”
Then there were two author’s birthdays last week: Novelist and essayist Cynthia Ozick, She is the author of The Messiah of Stockholm (1987) and The Puttermesser Papers (1997). She said: "The sentence is my primary element, my tool, goal, bliss. Each new sentence is a heart-in-the mouth experiment."
Another birthday person is Irish poet Brendan Kennelly, born in Ballylongford, County Kerry (1936). He's a literature professor at Trinity College in Dublin, and a very popular poet — he has published more than 20 books of poems. He said, "To be born in Ireland is to inherit not only one of the most beautiful little countries in the world, but also an entire legacy of prejudices, hatreds, clichés, and an impressive supply of apparently invincible ignorance." One of his best-known works is Cromwell (1983), a book-length poem about the English leader who invaded Ireland in the mid-1700s and sought to wipe-out Catholicism. Another of his books is The Book of Judas (1991), a 400-page epic poem from Judas's point of view. He said: "Poetry is, above all, a singing art of natural and magical connection because, though it is born out of one's person's solitude, it has the ability to reach out and touch in a humane and warmly illuminating way the solitude, even the loneliness, of others. That is why, to me, poetry is one of the most vital treasures that humanity possesses; it is a bridge between separated souls." (from the Writer’s Almanac)
Oh yes, and Charlie Huston's latest book, The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death is combustible, nonstop, blistering, cannot put it down thrill ride. That is if you can describe a story about cleaning up after dead people fun. I felt jacked up on life while reading it--as if I was living and cringing amid the story events. He writes the sassiest, wickedest, most true-life, damn-I-wish-I- would-have-said-that dialogue in the business. And if you're writing an anti-hero with a traumatic past, he's the boy to read.
Keep writing!
I’ve been falling behind in blogging lately—but have edited the copyedited draft of my manuscript from Tarcher. A few more steps and that baby is going to press.
So in the midst of my editing I forgot to post several notes. First, I read a review of Slang: The People's Poetry. by Michael Adam. According to the reviewer: “That "Slang" is so slim, concise and lively is proof of Adams' commitment to the idea of language as something that's living, breathing and constantly changing. If you've even been trapped at a dinner party or a lecture (depending on the guests, sometimes they're indistinguishable), listening to an alleged person of letters use as many of them as possible to express how much he or she "loves words," you'll be grateful for Adams' concision. "Slang" is a gem that Adams has taken great care in cutting and polishing. Unlike so many academics -- Adams is an assistant professor of English at Indiana University -- he doesn't feel the need to give us the whole damn diamond mine.”
Then there were two author’s birthdays last week: Novelist and essayist Cynthia Ozick, She is the author of The Messiah of Stockholm (1987) and The Puttermesser Papers (1997). She said: "The sentence is my primary element, my tool, goal, bliss. Each new sentence is a heart-in-the mouth experiment."
Another birthday person is Irish poet Brendan Kennelly, born in Ballylongford, County Kerry (1936). He's a literature professor at Trinity College in Dublin, and a very popular poet — he has published more than 20 books of poems. He said, "To be born in Ireland is to inherit not only one of the most beautiful little countries in the world, but also an entire legacy of prejudices, hatreds, clichés, and an impressive supply of apparently invincible ignorance." One of his best-known works is Cromwell (1983), a book-length poem about the English leader who invaded Ireland in the mid-1700s and sought to wipe-out Catholicism. Another of his books is The Book of Judas (1991), a 400-page epic poem from Judas's point of view. He said: "Poetry is, above all, a singing art of natural and magical connection because, though it is born out of one's person's solitude, it has the ability to reach out and touch in a humane and warmly illuminating way the solitude, even the loneliness, of others. That is why, to me, poetry is one of the most vital treasures that humanity possesses; it is a bridge between separated souls." (from the Writer’s Almanac)
Oh yes, and Charlie Huston's latest book, The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death is combustible, nonstop, blistering, cannot put it down thrill ride. That is if you can describe a story about cleaning up after dead people fun. I felt jacked up on life while reading it--as if I was living and cringing amid the story events. He writes the sassiest, wickedest, most true-life, damn-I-wish-I- would-have-said-that dialogue in the business. And if you're writing an anti-hero with a traumatic past, he's the boy to read.
Keep writing!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Happy Tax Day to all. I'm not part of tea bag protests, and I'm not so sure that anything sponsored by Fox News could be called "grassroots." But if you read this blog you know I protest here in my own way, especially about political stupidity and corruption. And then I write about writing, because that's what I do with my life.
Elie Wiesel, was freed from Buchenwald concentration camp and went on to write more than 50 books, including his memoir, Night (1958). In 1986, he won the Nobel Peace Prize. He said: "The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference." (from The Writer's Almanac)
Elie Wiesel, was freed from Buchenwald concentration camp and went on to write more than 50 books, including his memoir, Night (1958). In 1986, he won the Nobel Peace Prize. He said: "The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference." (from The Writer's Almanac)
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Just wanted to note that it's the birthday of one of my writing heroes, investigative journalist Seymour Hersh, born in Chicago, Illinois (1937). He has written for The New Yorker for many years. He said, "I don't make deals, I don't party and drink with sources, and I don't play a game of leaks. I read, I listen, I squirrel information. It's fun." (from The Writer's Almanac}
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Skies are a promising shade of blue and temperatures are going to be in the 70s again today. Woohoo!
Here's the information on Summer In Words Conference at Manzanita, Oregon, June 19-21
Center for Contemplative Arts, Manzanita, Oregon
Passion for Words: Instruction, enlightenment, and a passion infusion.
Friday, June 19
9:00-9:30 Registration/Continental Breakfast
9:30-12 Writing a Book that Makes a Difference, Jessica Morrell
Write an important book that expresses the music of your heart or your deepest concerns or interests. We’ll discuss how your book can touch a reader’s imagination and life; how to choose a format, focus on themes, develop your voice, and leave a creative legacy.
12:30-2 Free Time
2-5:00 Writing With and From Your Passions, Jennie Shortridge
Forget the old adage, "Write what you know." Write what you are passionate about to enliven your prose, your characters, and your story. Session includes brainstorming, story modeling, and writing exercises to bring forth a breakthrough essay, novel or story.
6:30-9 p.m. Out Loud—an open forum for writers.
Saturday, June 20
9:00-10:00 Q & A: Getting Published and Staying Published, Jessica Morrell, Jennie Shortridge
10:15- 11:45 Unforgettable Characters, Jessica Morrell
After a fiction plot fades from a reader’s memory, the characters linger with a physical presence, a twinkle of personality, unforgettable actions, and their happy or sad fates. We’ll cover character roles, dominant traits, emotional needs, and character arc.
12-1 Lunch and Keynote by Gloria Kempton Chasing the Shadow: Finding the courage to stare down your writing demons
1:15-3:15 Creating Narrative Tension, Bill Johnson
When readers feel tension they’ll keep turning pages to experience the relief offered by a story's resolution. To create this tension, a crucial ingredient must be set in motion. This workshop will teach how to recognize how narrative tension is created in popular fiction.
3:30-5:00 Shadow Writing, Part 1, Gloria Kempton
Writing is so hard at times because we’re often only skimming the surface of the truth that lies beneath. We all have a shadow where the richest of writing material resides; our most authentic passions, obsessions, longings, desires, intentions, and dreams. Learn to unlock the most creative and honest part of your writing self and bring it into the open.
Sunday, June 21
9:45-11 Shadow Writing, Part 2, Gloria Kempton
11:15-12:15 Revising Without Losing It, Jessica Morrell
First comes the blank page and how to fill it, then comes the rough draft and how to fix it. Most often it is in the revision process that the real writing is accomplished. Learn how to whip a manuscript into shape so that it’s polished and ready for submission.
12:15 Closing remarks and raffle
Summer With Words: Details for Registration
Pricing: Friday workshops only: $70 / Out Loud only: $10
Saturday workshops only: $70 / Saturday sessions, lunch& keynote: $80
Saturday Lunch & Keynote Only: $20
Sunday workshops: $40
Cost for all 3 days, including keynote speaker, lunch, and Out Loud: $180
Manuscript evaluations are available.
Space is limited so we recommend that you sign up early. To reserve your space contact Summer in Words at jessicapage at spiritone.com to be sent a registration form. Please note a deposit is required to hold your place. A confirmation e-mail as well as a follow-up emails on lodging and other information including merchant discounts will be sent via email or snail mail. Manzanita, Oregon, is charming village located in Tillamook County on the Northern Oregon coast. Traveling to Manzanita from Portland takes about two hours, traveling west via Highway 26, then south on Hwy 101. It is located 13 miles south of Cannon Beach and 25 miles north of Tillamook.
Instructor Biographies
Bill Johnson is author of A Story is a Promise and Deep Characterization, a workbook; web master of Essays on the Craft of Dramatic Writing, (www.storyispromise.com); and host of Oregon Writers Speak, a site on YouTube with video clips of Oregon authors. Bill teaches writing workshops around the U.S., including the Southern California Writing Conference, Surrey Writing Conference, and the Expo Screenwriting Conference in L.A. Bill is a produced playwright, optioned screenwriter, and has read manuscript submissions for a literary agent.
Gloria Kempton is an author, writing coach and former magazine and book editor. She is the author of Love One Another, Forgive One Another, and The Passionate Edge, and two young adult novels, Jocelyn and Andrea. Write Great Fiction: Dialogue was published by Writer’s Digest Books in 2004. She’s a contributing editor to Writer’s Digest and an instructor with www.WritersOnlineWorkshops.com and www.writers.com. Kempton also conducts workshops at writer’s conferences across the country including the National Writer’s Association Conference, the Pacific Northwest Writer’s Conference, and the Maui Writer’s Conference. Contact her at www.writersrecharge.com
Jessica Page Morrell is the author of the upcoming Thanks, But This Isn’t For Us and Bullies, Bastards & Bitches: How to Write the Bad Guys in Fiction, The Writer’s I Ching: Wisdom for the Creative Life, Voices from the Street, Between the Lines: Master The Subtle Elements Of Fiction Writing, and Writing Out the Storm. She works as a developmental editor and teaches workshops in the Northwest, at writing conferences throughout North America, and at Evergreen College in Olympia, Washington. She was formerly the writing expert at iVillage.com, has contributed to The Writer and Writer’s Digest magazines, and hosts a Web site at www.writing-life.com.
Jennie Shortridge Bestselling author Jennie Shortridge has three published novels: Riding with the Queen, Eating Heaven, and Love and Biology at the Center of the Universe. Her fourth book, When She Flew, will be published November. 2009. Prior to writing novels, her nonfiction work appeared regularly in magazines and newspapers, including Glamour, Mademoiselle, Natural Home, and others.
Here's the information on Summer In Words Conference at Manzanita, Oregon, June 19-21
Center for Contemplative Arts, Manzanita, Oregon
Passion for Words: Instruction, enlightenment, and a passion infusion.
Friday, June 19
9:00-9:30 Registration/Continental Breakfast
9:30-12 Writing a Book that Makes a Difference, Jessica Morrell
Write an important book that expresses the music of your heart or your deepest concerns or interests. We’ll discuss how your book can touch a reader’s imagination and life; how to choose a format, focus on themes, develop your voice, and leave a creative legacy.
12:30-2 Free Time
2-5:00 Writing With and From Your Passions, Jennie Shortridge
Forget the old adage, "Write what you know." Write what you are passionate about to enliven your prose, your characters, and your story. Session includes brainstorming, story modeling, and writing exercises to bring forth a breakthrough essay, novel or story.
6:30-9 p.m. Out Loud—an open forum for writers.
Saturday, June 20
9:00-10:00 Q & A: Getting Published and Staying Published, Jessica Morrell, Jennie Shortridge
10:15- 11:45 Unforgettable Characters, Jessica Morrell
After a fiction plot fades from a reader’s memory, the characters linger with a physical presence, a twinkle of personality, unforgettable actions, and their happy or sad fates. We’ll cover character roles, dominant traits, emotional needs, and character arc.
12-1 Lunch and Keynote by Gloria Kempton Chasing the Shadow: Finding the courage to stare down your writing demons
1:15-3:15 Creating Narrative Tension, Bill Johnson
When readers feel tension they’ll keep turning pages to experience the relief offered by a story's resolution. To create this tension, a crucial ingredient must be set in motion. This workshop will teach how to recognize how narrative tension is created in popular fiction.
3:30-5:00 Shadow Writing, Part 1, Gloria Kempton
Writing is so hard at times because we’re often only skimming the surface of the truth that lies beneath. We all have a shadow where the richest of writing material resides; our most authentic passions, obsessions, longings, desires, intentions, and dreams. Learn to unlock the most creative and honest part of your writing self and bring it into the open.
Sunday, June 21
9:45-11 Shadow Writing, Part 2, Gloria Kempton
11:15-12:15 Revising Without Losing It, Jessica Morrell
First comes the blank page and how to fill it, then comes the rough draft and how to fix it. Most often it is in the revision process that the real writing is accomplished. Learn how to whip a manuscript into shape so that it’s polished and ready for submission.
12:15 Closing remarks and raffle
Summer With Words: Details for Registration
Pricing: Friday workshops only: $70 / Out Loud only: $10
Saturday workshops only: $70 / Saturday sessions, lunch& keynote: $80
Saturday Lunch & Keynote Only: $20
Sunday workshops: $40
Cost for all 3 days, including keynote speaker, lunch, and Out Loud: $180
Manuscript evaluations are available.
Space is limited so we recommend that you sign up early. To reserve your space contact Summer in Words at jessicapage at spiritone.com to be sent a registration form. Please note a deposit is required to hold your place. A confirmation e-mail as well as a follow-up emails on lodging and other information including merchant discounts will be sent via email or snail mail. Manzanita, Oregon, is charming village located in Tillamook County on the Northern Oregon coast. Traveling to Manzanita from Portland takes about two hours, traveling west via Highway 26, then south on Hwy 101. It is located 13 miles south of Cannon Beach and 25 miles north of Tillamook.
Instructor Biographies
Bill Johnson is author of A Story is a Promise and Deep Characterization, a workbook; web master of Essays on the Craft of Dramatic Writing, (www.storyispromise.com); and host of Oregon Writers Speak, a site on YouTube with video clips of Oregon authors. Bill teaches writing workshops around the U.S., including the Southern California Writing Conference, Surrey Writing Conference, and the Expo Screenwriting Conference in L.A. Bill is a produced playwright, optioned screenwriter, and has read manuscript submissions for a literary agent.
Gloria Kempton is an author, writing coach and former magazine and book editor. She is the author of Love One Another, Forgive One Another, and The Passionate Edge, and two young adult novels, Jocelyn and Andrea. Write Great Fiction: Dialogue was published by Writer’s Digest Books in 2004. She’s a contributing editor to Writer’s Digest and an instructor with www.WritersOnlineWorkshops.com and www.writers.com. Kempton also conducts workshops at writer’s conferences across the country including the National Writer’s Association Conference, the Pacific Northwest Writer’s Conference, and the Maui Writer’s Conference. Contact her at www.writersrecharge.com
Jessica Page Morrell is the author of the upcoming Thanks, But This Isn’t For Us and Bullies, Bastards & Bitches: How to Write the Bad Guys in Fiction, The Writer’s I Ching: Wisdom for the Creative Life, Voices from the Street, Between the Lines: Master The Subtle Elements Of Fiction Writing, and Writing Out the Storm. She works as a developmental editor and teaches workshops in the Northwest, at writing conferences throughout North America, and at Evergreen College in Olympia, Washington. She was formerly the writing expert at iVillage.com, has contributed to The Writer and Writer’s Digest magazines, and hosts a Web site at www.writing-life.com.
Jennie Shortridge Bestselling author Jennie Shortridge has three published novels: Riding with the Queen, Eating Heaven, and Love and Biology at the Center of the Universe. Her fourth book, When She Flew, will be published November. 2009. Prior to writing novels, her nonfiction work appeared regularly in magazines and newspapers, including Glamour, Mademoiselle, Natural Home, and others.
Monday, April 06, 2009
Sunday, April 05, 2009
There are pale lavender bands streaming across the sky this morning and the temperature is supposed to reach the 70s today. This blog is a mishmash of tidbits. I try not to bitch about politics too much here, but the Obama finance team is driving me crazy. Talk about the foxes watching the henhouse! Sometimes don’t you get the impression that many politicians think the American people are idiots. We need to speak up. For example, here is tidbit from Glen Greenwald’s column: Lawrence H. Summers, one of President Obama's top economic advisers, collected roughly $5.2 million in compensation from hedge fund D.E. Shaw over the past year and was paid more than $2.7 million in speaking fees by several troubled Wall Street firms and other organizations. . . .
Financial institutions including JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch paid Summers for speaking appearances in 2008. Fees ranged from $45,000 for a Nov. 12 Merrill Lynch appearance to $135,000 for an April 16 visit to Goldman Sachs, according to his disclosure form.
$135,000 is not onlya hefty pay check for a single visit, but what’s really disturbing is that in April either Clinton or Obama were likely winners in the election so Summers current position as a government big wig. Or, as Greenwald writes, “It’s basically an advanced bribe. And it’s paying off in spades.”
But if you don’t believe me, take a look at the transcript from Bill Moyer’s most recent show when Professor William Black outlined how Tim Geithner was involved in a massive fraud and how he and Summers were involved in blocking regulation. It’s positively chilling. Didn’t we have enough of this sort of corruption under the Bush administration? The interview can be seen here and the transcript is here. Read it or watch it and weep.
And speaking of Bill Moyers—he interviewed both Glen Greenwald and Amy Goodman for recently winning the I.F. Stone Award. Congratulations to both of these fine journalists. They were on the show to discuss the media’s role in this on-going corruption. It’s been a long time since I thought of I.F. Stone and it was lovely to remember a writer of such passion and integrity.
Here’s another tidbit from Jim Hightower explaining how to “too big to fail” really means too big to regulate: “A new report by Wallstreetwatch.org reveals that from 1998 to 2008, the finance industry made $1.7 billion in contributions to Washington politicians (55 percent to Repubs, 45 percent to Dems), spent $3.4 billion on lobbyists (3,000 of them on the industry payroll in 2007 alone) and won a dozen key deregulatory victories that led directly to today's financial meltdown.”
Financial institutions including JP Morgan Chase, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch paid Summers for speaking appearances in 2008. Fees ranged from $45,000 for a Nov. 12 Merrill Lynch appearance to $135,000 for an April 16 visit to Goldman Sachs, according to his disclosure form.
$135,000 is not onlya hefty pay check for a single visit, but what’s really disturbing is that in April either Clinton or Obama were likely winners in the election so Summers current position as a government big wig. Or, as Greenwald writes, “It’s basically an advanced bribe. And it’s paying off in spades.”
But if you don’t believe me, take a look at the transcript from Bill Moyer’s most recent show when Professor William Black outlined how Tim Geithner was involved in a massive fraud and how he and Summers were involved in blocking regulation. It’s positively chilling. Didn’t we have enough of this sort of corruption under the Bush administration? The interview can be seen here and the transcript is here. Read it or watch it and weep.
And speaking of Bill Moyers—he interviewed both Glen Greenwald and Amy Goodman for recently winning the I.F. Stone Award. Congratulations to both of these fine journalists. They were on the show to discuss the media’s role in this on-going corruption. It’s been a long time since I thought of I.F. Stone and it was lovely to remember a writer of such passion and integrity.
Here’s another tidbit from Jim Hightower explaining how to “too big to fail” really means too big to regulate: “A new report by Wallstreetwatch.org reveals that from 1998 to 2008, the finance industry made $1.7 billion in contributions to Washington politicians (55 percent to Repubs, 45 percent to Dems), spent $3.4 billion on lobbyists (3,000 of them on the industry payroll in 2007 alone) and won a dozen key deregulatory victories that led directly to today's financial meltdown.”
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Grey, grey skies here and this morning I woke at 6 and switched on CNN to check out the protestors at the G20 Summit in London. And was surprised to see the tens of thousands and their tents parked in the midst of busy London as bankers are camouflaged for the day in jeans and t-shirts. The people are shouting “shame on you” and calling today “Financial Fool’s Day”, smashing windows at the Royal Bank of Scotland which awarded a $1 million lifetime pension to its CEO. Meanwhile, in France workers at the Caterpillar plant have taken their bosses hostage after it was announced that 700 jobs were going to be cut. I wonder where all this populist outrage will lead us—in the 60s it led to better things. Is anyone listening?
I was talking to members of Oregon Press Women on Saturday on the demise of the newspapers. Many of the members are free lance journalists and their gigs have dried up or are dwindling. I posed the question--what will a democracy be like without a press—after all, the Founding Fathers thought freedom of speech so important that they rolled it into the First Amendment. We talked about Rupert Murdock's influence on the news and the death of the Rocky Mountain News and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. But now the Chicago Sun-Times has filed for bankruptcy protection, the San Francisco Chronicle is likely going down, and even the venerable The New York Times is on life support. What this world needs is more investigative reporters not more bloggers (myself included.)
And the corruption charges against former senator Ted Stevens have been dismissed. Sigh.
On to better news--it’s National Poetry Month, inaugurated in 1996—so happy April to all and you can visit poets.org to find a calendar about worldwide celebrations. Also, if like me you like poems arriving in your in box, beginning today, Poets.org sends one new poem to each day to celebrate National Poetry Month. The poems have been selected from new books published in the spring.
I was talking to members of Oregon Press Women on Saturday on the demise of the newspapers. Many of the members are free lance journalists and their gigs have dried up or are dwindling. I posed the question--what will a democracy be like without a press—after all, the Founding Fathers thought freedom of speech so important that they rolled it into the First Amendment. We talked about Rupert Murdock's influence on the news and the death of the Rocky Mountain News and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. But now the Chicago Sun-Times has filed for bankruptcy protection, the San Francisco Chronicle is likely going down, and even the venerable The New York Times is on life support. What this world needs is more investigative reporters not more bloggers (myself included.)
And the corruption charges against former senator Ted Stevens have been dismissed. Sigh.
On to better news--it’s National Poetry Month, inaugurated in 1996—so happy April to all and you can visit poets.org to find a calendar about worldwide celebrations. Also, if like me you like poems arriving in your in box, beginning today, Poets.org sends one new poem to each day to celebrate National Poetry Month. The poems have been selected from new books published in the spring.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
And here is another writing opportunity from Colleen Sell, the editor of the Cup of Comfort series:
In like a lion, out like a lamb! I, for one, am glad to be saying "so long" to March, because it means that, moving forward, the weather will become increasingly spring-like. Yet, I have only to glance at the front page of a newspaper to be reminded that, for many of us, just as the temperature rises, so, too, do our concerns about how we'll weather the storm of this shaky economy. Some days, it's enough to make even the sunniest person feel down.
The tenacity of the human spirit is never more apparent than in challenging times like these. And when the going gets tough, we often look to others whose tenacious spirits have enabled them to weather similar storms and whose living examples inspire us to persevere and to find a ray of hope behind even the darkest clouds. That's why we want to hear how you cope with, get through, and rise above your own challenges.
To that end, we are thrilled to announce the Silver Lining contest, brought to you by REDBOOK magazine and Adams Media!
In a 1,000 to 2,000-word personal essay, tell us how you've found the silver lining—what or who gave you inspiration, strength, hope, and comfort—during a personal challenge. If your story is selected as the grand-prize winner, it will inspire millions of others—and you'll win $1,000! Your story will also be excerpted in a future issue of REDBOOK and published in full on CupofComfort.com. Prizes will also be given to the authors of the three runner-up stories; these will be announced in REDBOOK and on CupOfComfort.com.
You must enter by May 15, 2009, and submissions will be accepted only through the online submission form. Make sure to select "Silver Lining Story Contest" on the pull-down menu of the form's "Select Cup of Comfort Book/Contest" field. To submit a story, you must be a CupOfComfort.com member (Register Now) and logged into the site (Login Now).
Please note that the Silver Lining submissions are for the contest only and not for publication consideration in a Cup of Comfort book. Please also note that I will not be involved in vetting stories or selecting winners for the Silver Lining contest. Instead, all entries will be reviewed by Meredith O'Hayre, the Cup of Comfort project editor at Adams Media, and REDBOOK editors will review the top 100 submissions and select the winning stories.
To learn more about the Silver Lining contest and for complete contest rules, click here.
Good luck with your Silver Lining submissions!
May the remainder of your March be as gentle as a lamb.
Colleen Sell
Writing Guidelines for Your Silver Lining Story:
* Create an anecdotal story about an event or series of event(s) that had a profound and positive impact on you or on the person(s) you are writing about.
* Write a personal story that embodies a universal truth.
* Show, don't tell. Color your story with action, imagery, dialog, and/or dramatic scenes.
* Write from the heart. Make each scene as real for the readers as it was for the person who lived or witnessed it.
* Begin with a strong lead that hooks the reader and that clearly and creatively introduces the main character(s), establishes the central theme of the story (plot), and sets the scene.
* Create a rich middle that depicts compelling life experiences and human emotions—in other words, dramatic action. The mid-section should include at least one compelling plot point (pivotal moment) as well as transitional scenes or other transitional devices that continually move the story forward and toward the conclusion.
* End with a satisfying conclusion that resolves the conflict/challenge in a positive way, leaves readers with an Aha! or Wow! or Yes! moment.
* Build your story around a distinctive, compelling, and believable premise that weaves together the story and drives the plot forward.
* Use lively, descriptive language that is appropriate for the time, place, and people depicted in the story as well as for A Cup of Comfort and REDBOOK readers
In like a lion, out like a lamb! I, for one, am glad to be saying "so long" to March, because it means that, moving forward, the weather will become increasingly spring-like. Yet, I have only to glance at the front page of a newspaper to be reminded that, for many of us, just as the temperature rises, so, too, do our concerns about how we'll weather the storm of this shaky economy. Some days, it's enough to make even the sunniest person feel down.
The tenacity of the human spirit is never more apparent than in challenging times like these. And when the going gets tough, we often look to others whose tenacious spirits have enabled them to weather similar storms and whose living examples inspire us to persevere and to find a ray of hope behind even the darkest clouds. That's why we want to hear how you cope with, get through, and rise above your own challenges.
To that end, we are thrilled to announce the Silver Lining contest, brought to you by REDBOOK magazine and Adams Media!
In a 1,000 to 2,000-word personal essay, tell us how you've found the silver lining—what or who gave you inspiration, strength, hope, and comfort—during a personal challenge. If your story is selected as the grand-prize winner, it will inspire millions of others—and you'll win $1,000! Your story will also be excerpted in a future issue of REDBOOK and published in full on CupofComfort.com. Prizes will also be given to the authors of the three runner-up stories; these will be announced in REDBOOK and on CupOfComfort.com.
You must enter by May 15, 2009, and submissions will be accepted only through the online submission form. Make sure to select "Silver Lining Story Contest" on the pull-down menu of the form's "Select Cup of Comfort Book/Contest" field. To submit a story, you must be a CupOfComfort.com member (Register Now) and logged into the site (Login Now).
Please note that the Silver Lining submissions are for the contest only and not for publication consideration in a Cup of Comfort book. Please also note that I will not be involved in vetting stories or selecting winners for the Silver Lining contest. Instead, all entries will be reviewed by Meredith O'Hayre, the Cup of Comfort project editor at Adams Media, and REDBOOK editors will review the top 100 submissions and select the winning stories.
To learn more about the Silver Lining contest and for complete contest rules, click here.
Good luck with your Silver Lining submissions!
May the remainder of your March be as gentle as a lamb.
Colleen Sell
Writing Guidelines for Your Silver Lining Story:
* Create an anecdotal story about an event or series of event(s) that had a profound and positive impact on you or on the person(s) you are writing about.
* Write a personal story that embodies a universal truth.
* Show, don't tell. Color your story with action, imagery, dialog, and/or dramatic scenes.
* Write from the heart. Make each scene as real for the readers as it was for the person who lived or witnessed it.
* Begin with a strong lead that hooks the reader and that clearly and creatively introduces the main character(s), establishes the central theme of the story (plot), and sets the scene.
* Create a rich middle that depicts compelling life experiences and human emotions—in other words, dramatic action. The mid-section should include at least one compelling plot point (pivotal moment) as well as transitional scenes or other transitional devices that continually move the story forward and toward the conclusion.
* End with a satisfying conclusion that resolves the conflict/challenge in a positive way, leaves readers with an Aha! or Wow! or Yes! moment.
* Build your story around a distinctive, compelling, and believable premise that weaves together the story and drives the plot forward.
* Use lively, descriptive language that is appropriate for the time, place, and people depicted in the story as well as for A Cup of Comfort and REDBOOK readers
Still raining here in Portland--although it seems like it does every year for spring break. I'm passing along information about a playwriting contest that has just appeared in my in box:
New Works of Merit Playwriting Contest is accepting scripts through June 30, 2009 for new works that:
1) Enhance self-realization
2) Support peace and social justice
3) Foster new understanding of minority issues that focus on racial, ethnic and gender discrimination both in the United States and abroad
4) Empower youth to build healthy inner foundations
5) Educate to gain further insight into healthy social/emotional living
6) Shed new light on religious, spiritual, and cultural differences and issues
7) Build respect for cultural expression and identity in a world that is experiencing rapid globalization
8) Explore the widening gap between the values this country was founded on and the values we present to the world today
For Guidelines and Application Form: PLAYWRITINGCONTEST (dot) CJB (dot) NET
As a direct result of the New Works of Merit Playwriting Contests:
* “Arkadelphia” by Brett Williams was published in Best American Short Plays by
Applause Books.
* “He Came Home One Day While I Was Washing Dishes” by Christine Rusch was
published in Best American Short Plays by Applause Books.
* 2004 contest winner, Rudy Gray, is now a Resident Playwright of 13th Street
Repertory Company-NYC
* “Conversation with a Kleagle” by Rudy Gray was produced twice in NYC Feb 16, 2006 – Apr 7, 2006 and also Feb 6, 2009 – Mar 29, 2009
* “Ruby's Story” by Ron Osborne was produced in NYC May 13, 2004 - July 3, 2004
and will be produced again June 12, 2009 – July 19, 2009.
* “Interview” by Valerie Killigrew, was produced in NYC Nov 2 – Dec 2, 2006.
* “Cry Wolf” by Deborah Mulhall was produced in NYC Oct 7 – Nov 27, 2004.
* “Shades” by Paula J. Caplan received a free development workshop
June 28-July 2, 2004.
* Eleven finalists and five scripts that were not finalists received a free reading.
Since January 2002, Sandra Nordgren, the founder of the contest, has been responsible for the offering of over 150 readings, 36 productions, 16 development workshops, and two theater playwriting residencies, all in New York City at no cost to the playwright.
As writers, we have been given a precious gift. Let us use that gift to create powerful, heartfelt new works that not only entertain, but also educate, enlighten and uplift humanity.
You were recommended for this group by either requesting to be a member or through a recommendation from a colleague or industry professional.
Please note that your information and email address will not be shared with anyone and that you will receive no more than 4 emails a year. If you wish to be removed from this list, simply write Unsubscribe in the Subject line and upon receipt, your email address will be promptly deleted.
We look forward to receiving your script!
Sincerely,
Merit Theater and Film Group, Inc.
The Literary Staff
New Works of Merit Playwriting Contest
PLAYWRITINGCONTEST (dot) CJB (dot) NE
There is also an open casting call happening in Portland this Sunday, March 29 for a Harrison Ford movie being filmed here.
New Works of Merit Playwriting Contest is accepting scripts through June 30, 2009 for new works that:
1) Enhance self-realization
2) Support peace and social justice
3) Foster new understanding of minority issues that focus on racial, ethnic and gender discrimination both in the United States and abroad
4) Empower youth to build healthy inner foundations
5) Educate to gain further insight into healthy social/emotional living
6) Shed new light on religious, spiritual, and cultural differences and issues
7) Build respect for cultural expression and identity in a world that is experiencing rapid globalization
8) Explore the widening gap between the values this country was founded on and the values we present to the world today
For Guidelines and Application Form: PLAYWRITINGCONTEST (dot) CJB (dot) NET
As a direct result of the New Works of Merit Playwriting Contests:
* “Arkadelphia” by Brett Williams was published in Best American Short Plays by
Applause Books.
* “He Came Home One Day While I Was Washing Dishes” by Christine Rusch was
published in Best American Short Plays by Applause Books.
* 2004 contest winner, Rudy Gray, is now a Resident Playwright of 13th Street
Repertory Company-NYC
* “Conversation with a Kleagle” by Rudy Gray was produced twice in NYC Feb 16, 2006 – Apr 7, 2006 and also Feb 6, 2009 – Mar 29, 2009
* “Ruby's Story” by Ron Osborne was produced in NYC May 13, 2004 - July 3, 2004
and will be produced again June 12, 2009 – July 19, 2009.
* “Interview” by Valerie Killigrew, was produced in NYC Nov 2 – Dec 2, 2006.
* “Cry Wolf” by Deborah Mulhall was produced in NYC Oct 7 – Nov 27, 2004.
* “Shades” by Paula J. Caplan received a free development workshop
June 28-July 2, 2004.
* Eleven finalists and five scripts that were not finalists received a free reading.
Since January 2002, Sandra Nordgren, the founder of the contest, has been responsible for the offering of over 150 readings, 36 productions, 16 development workshops, and two theater playwriting residencies, all in New York City at no cost to the playwright.
As writers, we have been given a precious gift. Let us use that gift to create powerful, heartfelt new works that not only entertain, but also educate, enlighten and uplift humanity.
You were recommended for this group by either requesting to be a member or through a recommendation from a colleague or industry professional.
Please note that your information and email address will not be shared with anyone and that you will receive no more than 4 emails a year. If you wish to be removed from this list, simply write Unsubscribe in the Subject line and upon receipt, your email address will be promptly deleted.
We look forward to receiving your script!
Sincerely,
Merit Theater and Film Group, Inc.
The Literary Staff
New Works of Merit Playwriting Contest
PLAYWRITINGCONTEST (dot) CJB (dot) NE
There is also an open casting call happening in Portland this Sunday, March 29 for a Harrison Ford movie being filmed here.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Clouds everywhere and more rain in the forecast. Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all. And did you know that blue, not green is the official color of St. Patrick?
On Sunday night my book club was here and we were talking about some of the good dramatic series on television. I started the conversation because I’m crazy about Breaking Bad on AMC. Its amazing writing and acting. Now, I don’t watch a lot of series now that I don’t have HBO any more, but compared BB to Deadwood—also an amazing drama. And one of the club members said she’s never wasted time watching television, implying that it was beneath her. I have missed entire decades of television, and don’t watch sit coms or anything with a laugh track. I’ve never seen Will and Grace, or Desperate Housewives, or St. Elsewhere, or for that matter Seinfeld or Friends. But good storytelling can come in many forms, including television, and Breaking Bad is fabulous storytelling.
A confession: I don’t text, I don’t tweet or twitter, or have a profile on Facebook. Don’t have the time or interest. And although I’m not a Facebook gal, here are 25 short things I know about writing.
1. Writing while artful, it is a craft and can be learned.
2. Keep a writer’s notebook where you capture the world around you.
3. Gather metaphors from great writers to inspire your own.
4. When you’re writing your final draft and the writing seems flat keep asking yourself, what does that remind me of.
5. As Strunk & White proclaimed “Omit needless words.”
6. Make sure your beginnings grab a reader. Use an anecdote, dialogue, action, raise a question, slip in a potent description.
7. Use a variety of sentence lengths and structures.
8. Verbs are the most important parts of the sentence—collect vivid verbs.
9. Use onomatopoeia—it brings language to life.
10. Prepositions are the carbohydrates of language—comb your writing and trim prepositional phrases that clutter your sentences, burying nouns and verbs.
11. Justify every modifier—they should only modify what the noun cannot and should always surprise or jolt the reader. Arthur Plotnik’s example is don’t use yellow daffodils because daffodils are yellow, instead describe them as gaudy. As Mark Twain said about adjectives, when it doubt, strike it out.
12. Adverbs are usually clutter, especially those with an -ly ending as when you write walk slowly instead of plod.
13. Write in the active voice.
14. Use short sentences for emphasis but don’t overdo because a series of short sentences actually slow the pacing—sort of like driving over speed bumps.
15. Use words of mostly Anglo Saxon origin.
16. Learn all you can about narrative structure, including the structure of individual scenes.
17. Read critically analyzing authors’ techniques.
18. Avoid using qualifiers (sort of, kind of, pretty much, a bit, etc.) and intensifiers (very, quite, really, awfully, deeply, truly, etc.)
19. Write your first draft as fast you can while the idea burns bright within you.
20. Learn the rules of punctuation as a courtesy to readers and avoid using exclamation marks because they make you look like you’re 8 years old!!
21. Don’t wait for the muse or mood to arrive—you’ll be waiting most of your life. Write despite your tiredness, bad back, low self esteem, worry about your mother’s health, or despair over your kid’s addiction. Just write. Every day.
22. Editing can feel like you’re wandering through the seven circles of hell. Do it anyway.
23. Don’t talk too much about your writing—it dissipates its power. Spend your energy on the actual writing.
24. In the beginning, before you have developed the discernment to understand if your writing has power, find readers to give you honest feedback. This is likely not your spouse, best friend, or mother.
25. Accept that rejection is part of your job description.
And if you’re having a bad writing day: Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand. (George Orwell, "Why I Write," 1947.)
On Sunday night my book club was here and we were talking about some of the good dramatic series on television. I started the conversation because I’m crazy about Breaking Bad on AMC. Its amazing writing and acting. Now, I don’t watch a lot of series now that I don’t have HBO any more, but compared BB to Deadwood—also an amazing drama. And one of the club members said she’s never wasted time watching television, implying that it was beneath her. I have missed entire decades of television, and don’t watch sit coms or anything with a laugh track. I’ve never seen Will and Grace, or Desperate Housewives, or St. Elsewhere, or for that matter Seinfeld or Friends. But good storytelling can come in many forms, including television, and Breaking Bad is fabulous storytelling.
A confession: I don’t text, I don’t tweet or twitter, or have a profile on Facebook. Don’t have the time or interest. And although I’m not a Facebook gal, here are 25 short things I know about writing.
1. Writing while artful, it is a craft and can be learned.
2. Keep a writer’s notebook where you capture the world around you.
3. Gather metaphors from great writers to inspire your own.
4. When you’re writing your final draft and the writing seems flat keep asking yourself, what does that remind me of.
5. As Strunk & White proclaimed “Omit needless words.”
6. Make sure your beginnings grab a reader. Use an anecdote, dialogue, action, raise a question, slip in a potent description.
7. Use a variety of sentence lengths and structures.
8. Verbs are the most important parts of the sentence—collect vivid verbs.
9. Use onomatopoeia—it brings language to life.
10. Prepositions are the carbohydrates of language—comb your writing and trim prepositional phrases that clutter your sentences, burying nouns and verbs.
11. Justify every modifier—they should only modify what the noun cannot and should always surprise or jolt the reader. Arthur Plotnik’s example is don’t use yellow daffodils because daffodils are yellow, instead describe them as gaudy. As Mark Twain said about adjectives, when it doubt, strike it out.
12. Adverbs are usually clutter, especially those with an -ly ending as when you write walk slowly instead of plod.
13. Write in the active voice.
14. Use short sentences for emphasis but don’t overdo because a series of short sentences actually slow the pacing—sort of like driving over speed bumps.
15. Use words of mostly Anglo Saxon origin.
16. Learn all you can about narrative structure, including the structure of individual scenes.
17. Read critically analyzing authors’ techniques.
18. Avoid using qualifiers (sort of, kind of, pretty much, a bit, etc.) and intensifiers (very, quite, really, awfully, deeply, truly, etc.)
19. Write your first draft as fast you can while the idea burns bright within you.
20. Learn the rules of punctuation as a courtesy to readers and avoid using exclamation marks because they make you look like you’re 8 years old!!
21. Don’t wait for the muse or mood to arrive—you’ll be waiting most of your life. Write despite your tiredness, bad back, low self esteem, worry about your mother’s health, or despair over your kid’s addiction. Just write. Every day.
22. Editing can feel like you’re wandering through the seven circles of hell. Do it anyway.
23. Don’t talk too much about your writing—it dissipates its power. Spend your energy on the actual writing.
24. In the beginning, before you have developed the discernment to understand if your writing has power, find readers to give you honest feedback. This is likely not your spouse, best friend, or mother.
25. Accept that rejection is part of your job description.
And if you’re having a bad writing day: Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand. (George Orwell, "Why I Write," 1947.)
Friday, March 13, 2009
Pale blue skies this morning and another day of sunshine on the way here—it’s been so lovely lately it's ridiculous and yesterday I spotted buds on a cherry tree.
Well, another big book deal just came down. From the Daily Beast: “Yes, it’s official: The book world has gone crazy. Here we are, a few weeks after some of the darkest days in publishing—both in layoffs and in actual sales—and along comes the newly revamped HarperCollins imprint William Morrow to give more than $3 million to Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the admittedly genius pilot who saved 155 lives by landing USAirways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River in January. Yes, Sully’s a bona fide hero, and after hearing his testimony in Washington about the conditions pilots work under, I believe a grateful nation owes him a big payday.
But wait: The crazy part is that the Sullenberger deal was for two books. The first will be a memoir, and the second is a collection of Sully’s inspirational poems. Who knew that next to the heart of a hero lurked the soul of a poet? …..”
So on one hand, we hear about the demise of the publishing industry, on the other hand, these crazy mega deals are still going on for celeb writers.
Here’s more from the article: “But the rest of BookLand doesn’t have this pandering rationale to blame for some of the nutty deals that have gone down in the last few weeks. $2.5 million to comedian Kathy Griffin? (Who, with that advance, goes from Hollywood’s D-List to publishing’s A-list.) And a staggering $4.8 million to Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler’s Wife? That, too, was a hot auction—the first book was a phenomenon—run by New York’s Joe Regal. At one point more than ten publishers were in the mix, some within Random House bidding against each other (as is their wont). Last night the rumor was that Reagan Arthur of Little, Brown had “won” the privilege of publishing Her Fearful Symmetry in fall 2009, but at least one wag, who rightly insisted the auction wasn’t settled yet, was willing to believe it. “It figures. They’re buying up everything all over town.” In fact, the book went to Scribner, leaving all that money in the Hachette coffers (left over from Twilight goddess Stephenie Meyer) with which to overpay another day.”
Well, another big book deal just came down. From the Daily Beast: “Yes, it’s official: The book world has gone crazy. Here we are, a few weeks after some of the darkest days in publishing—both in layoffs and in actual sales—and along comes the newly revamped HarperCollins imprint William Morrow to give more than $3 million to Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the admittedly genius pilot who saved 155 lives by landing USAirways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River in January. Yes, Sully’s a bona fide hero, and after hearing his testimony in Washington about the conditions pilots work under, I believe a grateful nation owes him a big payday.
But wait: The crazy part is that the Sullenberger deal was for two books. The first will be a memoir, and the second is a collection of Sully’s inspirational poems. Who knew that next to the heart of a hero lurked the soul of a poet? …..”
So on one hand, we hear about the demise of the publishing industry, on the other hand, these crazy mega deals are still going on for celeb writers.
Here’s more from the article: “But the rest of BookLand doesn’t have this pandering rationale to blame for some of the nutty deals that have gone down in the last few weeks. $2.5 million to comedian Kathy Griffin? (Who, with that advance, goes from Hollywood’s D-List to publishing’s A-list.) And a staggering $4.8 million to Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler’s Wife? That, too, was a hot auction—the first book was a phenomenon—run by New York’s Joe Regal. At one point more than ten publishers were in the mix, some within Random House bidding against each other (as is their wont). Last night the rumor was that Reagan Arthur of Little, Brown had “won” the privilege of publishing Her Fearful Symmetry in fall 2009, but at least one wag, who rightly insisted the auction wasn’t settled yet, was willing to believe it. “It figures. They’re buying up everything all over town.” In fact, the book went to Scribner, leaving all that money in the Hachette coffers (left over from Twilight goddess Stephenie Meyer) with which to overpay another day.”
Thursday, March 12, 2009
I just wanted to pass this tidbit along from www.powellsblog.com. The folks at SMITH magazine have been compiling tiny memoirs for a while now, first published in print as Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure. Contributors range from ordinary people who submitted their six words online to not-so-regular folks like Amy Sedaris ("Mushrooms. Clowns. Wands. Five. Wig. Thatched.") and Chuck Klosterman ("Nobody cared, then they did. Why?").
Now, they've followed up with Six-Word Memoirs on Love and Heartbreak: By Writers Famous and Obscure, being released just in time for the most polarizing of saint-based holidays. Some of our favorites include Elizabeth Minkel's "Silently suffered his facial hair experiments" and Jaynel Attolini's "Among your sexiest attributes: health insurance."
Simply post a comment containing your six-word autobiography below — a general summation, not limited to love or heartbreak. (But really, is it ever about anything else? Sigh.) We'll pick 10 finalists, to be featured on our blog, and submit them to the HarperCollins panel of judges, who will choose the soon-to-be-published author.
Deadline for submitting is 12:00 midnight (PST), April 15, 2009. Click here for official contest rules.
How about: You too young, me too wise? Or am I giving too much away?
Now, they've followed up with Six-Word Memoirs on Love and Heartbreak: By Writers Famous and Obscure, being released just in time for the most polarizing of saint-based holidays. Some of our favorites include Elizabeth Minkel's "Silently suffered his facial hair experiments" and Jaynel Attolini's "Among your sexiest attributes: health insurance."
Simply post a comment containing your six-word autobiography below — a general summation, not limited to love or heartbreak. (But really, is it ever about anything else? Sigh.) We'll pick 10 finalists, to be featured on our blog, and submit them to the HarperCollins panel of judges, who will choose the soon-to-be-published author.
Deadline for submitting is 12:00 midnight (PST), April 15, 2009. Click here for official contest rules.
How about: You too young, me too wise? Or am I giving too much away?
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Gorgeous layers of clouds this morning. I’ve mentioned before in this blog that writing practice—writing just for fun with no expectation of getting published— is a terrific means to keep your skills sharp and your voice fresh. Practice can open up new possibilities for your writing life, can be used as a warm-up exercise, and can invigorate daily routines. It’s one of the reasons why I include writing prompts in my newsletters. So I was combing through old emails yesterday looking for some contact information and ran across this email from one of my students who lives in British Columbia that I want to pass along. In case you haven’t seen this before:
http://www.lifeformz.com/cgi-bin/idea/idea.cgi
It’s a sometimes funny, automatic situation generator that might be useful in your writing – enjoy! Here are a few examples.
A bank teller meets an one-armed restaurant owner.
A race car driver engages in pointless banter with a hot-shot outlaw in a cave.
Also, did you know that March is National Sauce Month? How fun is that? Sauces were likely originally invented to hide the flavors of spoiled meats, but these days are, of course, flavor enhancers. A sauce is liquid or sometimes semi-solid food served on or used in preparing other foods. Sauces are not consumed by themselves; they add flavor, moisture, and visual appeal to another dish. Sauce is a French word taken from the Latin salsus, meaning salted. Sauces need a liquid component, but with dishes such as pasta can contain more solid elements than liquid? I like any sauce with ginger in it, but then there’s adobe or chipotle chilies, lime, garlic, shallots, wine, and, of course, bacon. Gotta stop, I’m getting hungry and I need to get back to working on my manuscript. After you’ve concocted your sauce, just keep writing.
http://www.lifeformz.com/cgi-bin/idea/idea.cgi
It’s a sometimes funny, automatic situation generator that might be useful in your writing – enjoy! Here are a few examples.
A bank teller meets an one-armed restaurant owner.
A race car driver engages in pointless banter with a hot-shot outlaw in a cave.
Also, did you know that March is National Sauce Month? How fun is that? Sauces were likely originally invented to hide the flavors of spoiled meats, but these days are, of course, flavor enhancers. A sauce is liquid or sometimes semi-solid food served on or used in preparing other foods. Sauces are not consumed by themselves; they add flavor, moisture, and visual appeal to another dish. Sauce is a French word taken from the Latin salsus, meaning salted. Sauces need a liquid component, but with dishes such as pasta can contain more solid elements than liquid? I like any sauce with ginger in it, but then there’s adobe or chipotle chilies, lime, garlic, shallots, wine, and, of course, bacon. Gotta stop, I’m getting hungry and I need to get back to working on my manuscript. After you’ve concocted your sauce, just keep writing.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Clouds this morning after rain in the night. Yesterday was so soft and lovely and spring-like that it's difficult to describe in words. Well Blagojevich got his six-figure book deal. His publicist Glenn Selig says that it’s going to be a tell-all about “the dark side of politics.” Doesn’t he personify the dark side of politics? The deal is with Phoenix Books, “run by maverick publisher Michael Viner.” Hhmm...there’s that word maverick again, code for a**hole. The working title is The Governor.
“The governor chose to go with a large independent company because he wanted to tell his story without any restrictions over content that might’ve come with a major publishing house,” Selig said in the release. “He simply did not want to accept constraints or conditions on what he could say in this book.”
Anyway, read between the lines about why he isn’t with a major publisher, but I’m sure he’s raring to be out on a book tour, proclaiming his innocence. Except there’s a small hitch. The Illinois legislature doesn’t want him to cash in on his notoriety if he’s convicted of federal charges. “Corrupt Illinois politicians, for example Rod Blagojevich, are looking to cash in by telling their stories after the fact,” Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock) said. “They should not be allowed to benefit from their actions in any way, most of all financially.”
Yikes, the more we learn about the Bush Crime Family, the more they sound like, well, a crime family. The Huffington Post is running links to the released the memos from the Obama administration. They are previously inaccessible memos written by Bush administration officials outlining their reasons for why the military had the right to warrantless wiretaps and warrantless search and seizures of people in the U.S. they deemed to be terrorist suspects.
This just in from the Associated Press: "New documents show the CIA destroyed nearly 100 tapes of terror interrogations." Confirmation of the destroyed videotapes came in a government letter filed in a New York court today as a result of a lawsuit filed by the ACLU "seeking records of the treatment of prisoners in U.S. custody abroad."
Is it just me, or are you feeling like we’ve just lived through the Stalin administration?
One more bit of depressing news. Salon is starting a new blog—The Brand Graveyard about the American businesses that are folding in our bottomed out economy. One of first entries is about the death of Rocky Mountain News. R.I.P.
“The governor chose to go with a large independent company because he wanted to tell his story without any restrictions over content that might’ve come with a major publishing house,” Selig said in the release. “He simply did not want to accept constraints or conditions on what he could say in this book.”
Anyway, read between the lines about why he isn’t with a major publisher, but I’m sure he’s raring to be out on a book tour, proclaiming his innocence. Except there’s a small hitch. The Illinois legislature doesn’t want him to cash in on his notoriety if he’s convicted of federal charges. “Corrupt Illinois politicians, for example Rod Blagojevich, are looking to cash in by telling their stories after the fact,” Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock) said. “They should not be allowed to benefit from their actions in any way, most of all financially.”
Yikes, the more we learn about the Bush Crime Family, the more they sound like, well, a crime family. The Huffington Post is running links to the released the memos from the Obama administration. They are previously inaccessible memos written by Bush administration officials outlining their reasons for why the military had the right to warrantless wiretaps and warrantless search and seizures of people in the U.S. they deemed to be terrorist suspects.
This just in from the Associated Press: "New documents show the CIA destroyed nearly 100 tapes of terror interrogations." Confirmation of the destroyed videotapes came in a government letter filed in a New York court today as a result of a lawsuit filed by the ACLU "seeking records of the treatment of prisoners in U.S. custody abroad."
Is it just me, or are you feeling like we’ve just lived through the Stalin administration?
One more bit of depressing news. Salon is starting a new blog—The Brand Graveyard about the American businesses that are folding in our bottomed out economy. One of first entries is about the death of Rocky Mountain News. R.I.P.
Monday, March 02, 2009
This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today. This great Nation will endure as it has endured,will revive and will prosper.
In such a spirit on my part and on yours we face our common difficulties. They concern, thank God, only material things. Values have shrunken to fantastic levels; taxes have risen; our ability to pay has fallen; government of all kinds is faced by serious curtailment of income; the means of exchange are frozen in the currents of trade; the withered leaves of industrial enterprise lie on every side; farmers find no markets for their produce; the savings of many years in thousands of families are gone.
More important, a host of unemployed citizens face the grim problem of existence, and an equally great number toil with little return. Only a foolish optimist can deny the dark realities of the moment. Yet our distress comes from no failure of substance. We are stricken by no plague of locusts. Compared with the perils which our forefathers conquered because they believed and were not afraid, we have still much to be thankful for. Nature still offers her bounty and human efforts have multiplied it. Plenty is at our doorstep, but a generous use of it languishes in the very sight of the supply. Primarily this is because the rulers of the exchange of mankind’s goods have failed, through their own stubbornness and their own incompetence, have admitted their failure, and abdicated. Practices of the unscrupulous money changers stand indicted in the court of public opinion, rejected by the hearts and minds of men.
Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. The joy and moral stimulation of work no longer must be forgotten in the mad chase of temporary profits. These dark days will be worth all they cost us if they teach us that our true destiny is not to be ministered unto but to minister to ourselves and to our fellow men.
Recognition of the falsity of material wealth as the standard of success goes hand in hand with the abandonment of the false belief that public office and high political position are to be valued only by the standards of pride of place and personal profit; and there must be an end to a conduct in banking and in business which too often has given to a sacred trust the likeness of callous and selfish wrongdoing.
Our greatest primary task is to put people to work. This is no unsolvable problem if we face it wisely and courageously. It can be accomplished in part by direct recruiting by the Government itself,treating the task as we would treat the emergency of a war, but at the same time, through this employment, accomplishing greatly needed projects to stimulate and reorganize the use of our natural resources.
This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
first inaugural address, January, 1933 (edited for brevity)
In such a spirit on my part and on yours we face our common difficulties. They concern, thank God, only material things. Values have shrunken to fantastic levels; taxes have risen; our ability to pay has fallen; government of all kinds is faced by serious curtailment of income; the means of exchange are frozen in the currents of trade; the withered leaves of industrial enterprise lie on every side; farmers find no markets for their produce; the savings of many years in thousands of families are gone.
More important, a host of unemployed citizens face the grim problem of existence, and an equally great number toil with little return. Only a foolish optimist can deny the dark realities of the moment. Yet our distress comes from no failure of substance. We are stricken by no plague of locusts. Compared with the perils which our forefathers conquered because they believed and were not afraid, we have still much to be thankful for. Nature still offers her bounty and human efforts have multiplied it. Plenty is at our doorstep, but a generous use of it languishes in the very sight of the supply. Primarily this is because the rulers of the exchange of mankind’s goods have failed, through their own stubbornness and their own incompetence, have admitted their failure, and abdicated. Practices of the unscrupulous money changers stand indicted in the court of public opinion, rejected by the hearts and minds of men.
Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort. The joy and moral stimulation of work no longer must be forgotten in the mad chase of temporary profits. These dark days will be worth all they cost us if they teach us that our true destiny is not to be ministered unto but to minister to ourselves and to our fellow men.
Recognition of the falsity of material wealth as the standard of success goes hand in hand with the abandonment of the false belief that public office and high political position are to be valued only by the standards of pride of place and personal profit; and there must be an end to a conduct in banking and in business which too often has given to a sacred trust the likeness of callous and selfish wrongdoing.
Our greatest primary task is to put people to work. This is no unsolvable problem if we face it wisely and courageously. It can be accomplished in part by direct recruiting by the Government itself,treating the task as we would treat the emergency of a war, but at the same time, through this employment, accomplishing greatly needed projects to stimulate and reorganize the use of our natural resources.
This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper. So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
first inaugural address, January, 1933 (edited for brevity)
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