Tag Archive for: writing

Planting the Seeds of Reading and Writing

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By Kimberly Jayne

When I was eight, I was a third-grade student at Desert View Elementary. My teacher was a tiny elderly woman in her eighties. Mrs. Hawkins was sweet and welcoming and, because of her, I looked forward to going to school. I adored her.

It was 1963, a year that changed America, and a year that Mrs. Hawkins changed me.

I remember to this day her announcement that she was going to teach us fractions, and we were going to absolutely love it because fractions are so much fun. Whether by the power of suggestion or her teaching methods, she was right. Fractions were fun. Multiplication tables were fun too. I digress and give her a C on division. Because of division I received the only “2” (B) in an entire year of report cards decorated in “1s”
(A’s).


Mrs. Hawkins holds a very special place in my heart for not only getting me to appreciate math and school in general, she taught me to love reading. She read to the class first from E.B. White’s Stuart Little and then from The Pink Motel by Carol Ryrie Brink, and then another book whose name I don’t recall. Every day we’d hear a chapter, and I couldn’t wait for reading time. When I was home, I would think about Mrs. Hawkins and what wonderful things might happen next in the story.

More than anything she read, it was The Pink Motel that transformed me from a kid who liked books into a kid
with an avid love of storytelling. Mrs. Hawkins kept me spellbound with a book that pulled me in and made me feel like I was right there with Kirby and Bitsy in that Pink Motel with a menagerie of quirky characters.

And from those stories, I became a storyteller in my own right.

At the end of the school year, I was happy for summer, but I missed Mrs. Hawkins. I went to say hello when I entered the fourth grade, but she wasn’t there. She didn’t return to teach because during the summer, she had passed away. Even now, I get a lump in my throat when I think of her and what a tremendous affect she had on me.

Do you have someone from your early life who instilled in you a love of reading and writing?

__________________________________________
Kimberly Jayne writes humor, romantic comedy, suspense, erotica, and dark fantasy. You can check her out on Amazon. Find out more about her at ReadKimberly.





Revision and Television

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Revision
and Television by Debra H. Goldstein

Lately, I’ve been fast
forwarding through a lot of television shows, avoiding the commercials. It
makes it possible for me to quickly get to the gist of each program, but also
makes me realize how much of normal program running time is taken up by ads.
Perhaps the most egregious one was a recent airing of Beaches.
Because I loved the Bette
Midler/Barbara Hershey version, I was a little leery about the remake, but having
been an Idina Menzel fan since seeing her in Rent and Wicked, I
decided to bite the bullet. Joel and I had other plans the night it was
telecast, so I taped it. When I finally sat down with my remote control to
watch the multi-hour presentation, I discovered that almost a third of it had
been commercials. Good for me, but a bummer for those who watched the original
broadcast.
For me, first drafts are
much like watching a show with its commercials intact. They are bloated and
often contain spots I can do without. Revision is comparable to using a remote
control. I can fast forward or edit through garbage, but slow down if there is
a passage (advertisement) that catches my eye or I’ve hit the spot where the
plot actually flows. Sometimes, I fast forward too quickly in terms of my
revisions, and must backtrack a bit; other times, it is a stop and start method
until I get the wording exactly like I want it. The key is to make my
manuscript as tight as a script must be to fit into its limited time. A thirty-minute
show must move the acts of its plot within twenty-two minutes. My work must be
equally concise or I will lose a reader’s attention.

That’s why I am going to
end this blog now. Or, perhaps I should insert a commercial – want to know more
about me? Check out my new website at www.DebraHGoldstein.com
and sign up there to follow my personal blog, It’s Not Always a Mystery, and, if you haven’t already done so,
follow The Stiletto Gang, https://www.thestilettogang.com/
(and like the gang’s facebook pageJ).

Reading vs. Writing

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by Bethany Maines

On Monday night fellow Stiletto
author J.M. Phillippe (visiting from Brooklyn) and I attended the local open
mic night from Creative Colloquy.  The
evening celebrated Creative Colloquy’s third anniversary and featured the
Washington State poet laureate Dr. Tod Marshall. Creative Colloquy’s mission is
to connect writers with their community and celebrate their works. And in
keeping with that mission, Dr. Marshall reminded us in the audience to both
battle for the arts and to rejoice in our creative communities. 
As with every time I
go to a reading event I’m struck by what different skills reading and writing
are. It’s difficult to differentiate the presentation from the work being
presented. For every rushed reading, there’s one that gives space for the
audience to savor the moment. For every mumbled poem, there’s one that echoes
from the rafters.  For every awkward and
misplaced laugh in the middle of a story, there’s one that ought to be a comedy
special.  Delivery, timing, and pronunciation,
all take a reading from blah to amazing. 
Or at least important enough to make people stop talking to their
friends at the table.  Are the amazing
readings better?  Or just benefitting
from better delivery?
It makes me wonder: what
could I be doing to present my own work better in live readings? Should we authors all be forced
to take public speaking classes? Improv classes? Should we be forced to listen
to recordings of ourselves (God nooooooooooo!!!)?  Is there a secret trick that I could be
using?  What if I just I hire an actor to
read for me?  In all probability I shall
simply have to rely on the very exclusive, top secret trick of practice and
repetition.  As long as no one makes me
watch a recording of it, that will probably be fine.

***

Bethany Maines is the author of the Carrie
Mae Mysteries, Wild Waters, Tales
from the City of Destiny and An
Unseen Current.  You can also view the Carrie Mae youtube video
or catch up with her on Twitter and Facebook.

Clicking Our Heels – As Writers, What’s Difficult or Easy to Address

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Clicking
Our Heels – As Writers, What’s Difficult or Easy to Address

Jennae Phillippe – Lately I’ve been
thinking a lot about representation in fiction; while I want to be inclusive in
my writing, I am terrified of being insulting or stereotyping, and yet I want
to write about people other than cisgendered straight white women. I tend to
rely heavily on my friends and their experiences, but I also feel a bit like a
story vampire, sucking their experiences from them to make my own characters
live. I am fortunate enough to have friends that are willing to share with me.

Bethany Maines – As in life, in
writing addressing emotions and complex moral decisions are the hardest things
for me to address. The easiest is action – getting from point A to point B is
so much easier to consider than grief or justice.

Paula Gail Benson – The most
difficult is writing onstage, in front of the readers’ eyes violence. The
easiest, happiest, and most wonderful is thanking fellow writers and readers
for their support and kindness.

Kay Kendall – The hardest thing I do
is to write the first draft of a manuscript. The easiest is to write the
conclusion. I also love working with an editor and perfecting things. Pulling
out the first draft, thought…UGH. Major ughs.

Paffi S. Flood – The most difficult
thing I address as a writer is slowing down a scene to allow the reader to
become fully engrossed in the emotional aspects of it. The easiest for me is
coming up with a premise. I have tons of them.

Kimberly Jayne – The biggest
challenge I face as a writer is time; I don’t have enough of it. So many

things
need to be done when you’re a writer, and most of those things are not even
about writing. They’re about marketing. For the writing, itself, the challenge
is keeping at it (butt in chair) even when you’re too beat to type another
word. Distractions and stressors from all aspects of my life can create general
fatigue that wears you down over time, and making myself go into my writing
space and do the work is sometimes asking too much. So, finding ways to
re-motivate, re-inspire, and re-energize is key. I guess the easiest thing is
editing. I do it enough, all day every day, that it’s quick and easy for me. I
also enjoy plotting with story boards – that’s pretty fun and easy to
brainstorm.

Linda Rodriguez – The most difficult
thing for me in writing is plotting – that’s why I had to research and teach
myself a way of plotting that worked with my strong points. The easiest thing
for me in writing is character development. I can hear a name or see a stranger
in a coffee shop and begin developing an entire life, personality, and
background. I love to go deeper and deeper into characters.

Debra H. Goldstein – My biggest
difficulty is writing if I don’t have anything to say. Until an idea crystallizes,
I’m not inclined to sit down at my computer. Once I have the triggering idea or
phrase, words flow. They might not end up in the final manuscript because
they’re dull, were written to get through a moment of blockage, or are
repetitive, but there is an ease and joy as they fill the page.

Cathy Perkins – Right now, the
hardest thing for me is time management, which rather baffles me since I’ve
always been the “get ‘er done!” person. Rocking the exploding day job and
building a custom house might be a factor in that J. The easiest? I love
making up new characters and seeing what kind of trouble I can get them in –
and out – of.

Sparkle Abbey – The most difficult
is time management. It seems like there are simply never enough hours in the
day! As far as the writing itself, we both plot out our stories before we write
them and although we love that process, we’d have to say it never seems to get
any easier. The most fun part for us is the revision/layering part once a first
draft is complete. And, of course, meeting readers. Meeting readers is awesome!

The Long and Short of It

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by Bethany Maines

I watched Buffy the Vampire
Slayer when it was first on television. It was the first time I’d watched a
show that combined the episodic weekly tale with a long-form, season long story
arc. Whether or not you enjoy fantasy and teenagers killing things, the inclusion
of a “big bad” (Buffy slang for the seasons main villain) made Buffy
a tremendous innovator on TV.  

It was an innovation that impressed, and continues to impress, me. The ability of the writers to maintain the critical pacing of the weeks
mystery, while at the same time building a seasonal arc that culminates at the
right point is a difficult writing feat. Most stories require that a character
to fulfill a certain role to advance the story. But with multiple stories
playing out at the same time the characters actions must serve several
different purposes at once. Accomplishing these goals at all, let alone well,
is something I aspire to. And while I have experimented with this type of
writing before in my Tales from the City of Destiny, I have never tried to do a
true over-arcing long form story across multiple novels. That is until now.
Starting last December, I have gone headlong into plotting
and writing a new five book crime series. I’ll be excited when I can finally
share more details about the series. But until then, I’m asking for inspiration
to help keep my creative juices flowing. What TV shows do you love that combine
short and long form elements and crime or action?
***
Bethany Maines is the author of the Carrie
Mae Mysteries, Wild Waters, Tales
from the City of Destiny and An
Unseen Current.  You can also view the Carrie Mae youtube video
or catch up with her on Twitter and Facebook.

Working Through It: Motivation in Backstory

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By Kimberly Jayne

The last three
months, I’ve felt like I’ve been stuck on Survivor.
I don’t know about you, but from my perspective, with the election won by the
most disagreeable guy on the island (who should have been easily voted off)—and
a death in my family—I’ve been grieving. And it’s affected my writing.

But like everything
else that tests my sanity, I’m confident this too shall pass. It’s worth noting,
though, that when the Fates point our heads in one direction, their sleights of
hand point us in another without our recognizing it until after the fact.

Case in point…
Instead of actually writing, I’ve had a lot of time to think—some of it even
deliberately. While I’m not able to boast productivity in word counts, I am
able to count lots of behind-the-scenes progress on premise, backstory,
character motivation, truths, lies, and arc.
 
In my dark fantasy, the mystery
aspect of the plot concerns where the protagonist comes from and the secret nature
of her existence, which informs the trajectory of her arc and will ultimately
make an enormous impact on her world. Shocking, actually. Some of this was
already sketched out but just vague enough to roadblock my forward momentum.

So, back to thinking,
or rather, creative hashing out. For the story engine, the “why”
aspect of the character’s motivation is the jet fuel that can turn a book into
a page-turner—or a disorganized snoozefest, if you’re always running on empty.
It’s also the kind of epic behind-the-scenes battle that writers frequently
avoid because it’s just not easy. And until writers resolve these “why”
elements, they’ll torture themselves with “how it should all go—this way,
not that way—wait, that other way, because what if…” until it’s perfect. Until
it’s perfect, procrastination is the well-spring of writer’s block.

So while I’ve been
alternately moping and becoming a better activist, my brain has been
percolating on “why” story elements that are making my book
better—far better. I didn’t realize the extent of this percolation until a
series of light-bulb moments culminated in giddy, hand-rubbing, Mr. Hyde-like
epiphanies.
 
And all it took was staring off in deep thought, scribbling notes
on napkins, texting plot fragments to myself, talking it out with my cats, and forcing
a series of writing sessions where my progress was measured by how many minutes
my butt stayed in my chair. Of course, it helps to have writing buddies who
will brainstorm and pro-and-con ideas with me.

What all this means
is that I’ve created a stronger spine on which to hang my story. I know the
truths, and I know the lies. And now I have to wield them with precision. I’m
beginning to enjoy the writing again and celebrate the return of a terrific
adventure I enjoy diving into in each day—in a place where I can ignore all the
hijinks happening on the island.

__________________________________________

Kimberly Jayne writes humor, romantic comedy, suspense, erotica, and dark fantasy. Her latest foray into a dark fantasy released in episodes is as much an adventure as the writing itself. You can check her out on Amazon. Find out more about her at ReadKimberly.

Books by Kimberly Jayne:

Take My Husband, Please: An Unconventional Romantic ComedyDemonesse: Avarus, Episode 1
Demonesse: Avarus, Episode 2
Demonesse: Avarus, Episode 3
All the Innuendo, Half the Fact: Reflections of a Fragrant Liar

 

Resolution Failure

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by Bethany Maines

I don’t believe in New Year’s Resolutions.
Resolutions always seem to be negative statements.  They pit the resolver against something.  I resolve to lose weight, spend less, give up
every fun thing ever, etc.
I much prefer to make goals. Goals take aim and move toward
a change. I want to write more, be more healthy, learn French, wake up
later.  I don’t think that last one’s
going to happen, but it’s more of a lifelong goal.
And then there’s the artificial time construct of the New
Year’s that tricks people into waiting to start a change until January first
actually rolls on the calendar.  Of
course, if I were resolving to do something horrible, I’d put it off as long as
possible too.  But if I want to change my
life for the better, then why would I wait? Now is always the perfect time to
start.
Which is not to say that the turn of the year doesn’t cause
me to reflect and take stock of how things are and how I would like them to go.
Like a lot of people, I like to assess, predict, and then I make goals.  At the end of December, I jotted down some
notes, made some plans and felt good about myself.  I’m usually pretty good at sticking to my
plans and I didn’t expect this year to be any different.  But then I didn’t expect to be struck by
inspiration that would send me furiously typing down the rabbit hole of a new
story.
And now here it is the end of January and I feel like one of
those people who’ve managed to blow up their diet and their resolution two
weeks after starting.  I mean, I feel
guilty about not sticking to the plan, but not really that bad as a shove another
chapter in.  In fact, that chapter was
delicious and really would it really hurt if I had another? 
I can always get back on the plan later, right?
***
Bethany Maines is the author of the Carrie
Mae Mysteries, Wild Waters, Tales
from the City of Destiny and An
Unseen Current.  You can also view the Carrie Mae youtube video
or catch up with her on Twitter and Facebook.

Retreating

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Retreating by Cathy Perkins


What
is it about a writing retreat that makes us so productive?


Is it the creative energy in the house? 

Knowing other people are writing away (and you should be too)? 

Or is it because you left behind ____ (fill in your own blank) and you better
make use of the time?

Way back in 2008, a group of
women from the Pacific Northwest finalled in the Golden Heart—and formed a bond
based first on writing and then on friendship. Every year since then, we’re
gotten together over the long Martin Luther King weekend for a writing retreat.
While there’s tons of writing, there’s also laughter and stories, Courtney
Milan’s lessons on branding, Rebecca Clark’s yoga sessions and Rachel Grant’s
chocolate martinis.


I’m halfway through a new
story, with most of the remaining scenes blocked out. I haven’t a clue about
the title or cover. Hmm… wonder what the women are doing this weekend?


Have you ever been on a
writing retreat? What do you think is the best part?

Cathy
Perkins is currently working on an as-yet-untitled story in the So About…
series.  She started writing when
recurring characters and dialogue populated her day job commuting daydreams.  Fortunately, that first novel lives under the
bed, but she was hooked on the joy of creating stories.  When not writing, she can be found doing
battle with the beavers over the pond height or setting off on another travel
adventure.  Born and raised in South
Carolina, she now lives in Washington with her husband, children, several dogs
and the resident deer herd. 


The Merits of Spider Solitaire and Writing

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The Merits of Spider
Solitaire and Writing by Debra H. Goldstein

When my writing isn’t
going well or I’m simply bored, I play Spider Solitaire.  In the old days, before I bought my latest
computers, my game of choice was Solitaire. 
Occasionally, even now, I’ll play a hand of Solitaire, but usually I
devote my energies to Spider Solitaire. I find it more of a challenge, plus it
wastes more time.

Let me be a bit more
specific. The merits of the game are simple – it is a challenge (I’m still at
the mid-level of play), it’s fun, and more important it distracts me from the
project at hand for 3-5 minutes.  If I
play enough games of Spider Solitaire, an hour can easily fly by.  That’s something that doesn’t always happen
with my writing.  When I’m drawing a
blank or the words coming out can best be defined as trash, time moves
slowly.  In fact, it crawls at a pace
that the fastest thing I can do is hit delete and realize the dead feeling I
have is despair.

That’s not the case when I
play Spider Solitaire.  The hand may not
work out, but a message flashes that lets me know I played a good game.  I smile and begin another game.  There is no gap thinking I’ll never find my
way.  A click and I’m there.  Not bad, but not good, either.  Because instinctively, I know that if I click
away all the hours, in the end I’ll feel worse for not having tried to find a
way to communicate my thoughts. 

I write to express myself.
I play Spider Solitaire as a means of avoidance.  Both have a complimentary place – the key is
to find a balance between the two.  Those
who do, write.  Those who don’t, mourn
what could have been.

I Swear…

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by Bethany Maines

The title of today’s blog is not facetious.  I do swear. 
Kind of a lot.
I try not to in public. 
Much like public displays of affection, I find it inelegant to be
assaulted by profanity that I’m not participating in.  I think keeping a lid on my foul mouthed habit
is only polite and try to reserve it for private situations and friends who
have known me long enough to not take offense. 
As a result, a few of my acquaintances have been surprised to find
themselves on the receiving end of a periodic f-bomb.  (Yes, I’m the person who should receive this paperweight
as a gift.) In the past curbing my tongue has not particularly onerous, but
since my child has moved into speaking and comprehending, you know, actual
words, life as a purveyor of profanity has become more difficult.  Now I can’t even swear in my own home?!  Word swaps and humming the Star Spangled
Banner do not really help.  (Son of a
goat monkey, keeping my swearing on the inside is hard!)
In most of my books, I’ve minimized the swearing to a solid “hell”
or “damn” because well, my grandmother likes to read my books.   But recently, I’ve begun working on a story
that moves my swearing habit to the forefront. 
Rather than really “messing some stuff up”, I am straight  “f***ing some s*** up” for a change.  And ooooh, does it feel good.  Ah profanity, how dost though trip lightly
off my off my keyboard and onto the page?  Very lightly indeed. 
Many comments on profanity seem to insist that profanity is
the crutch of mind unable to think of something else to say.  I completely disagree.  To correctly use profanity one must have an
understanding of language that allows you to use the f-word as a verb, a noun,
and an adjective. (Yes, it really can – see examples here). 

Will my completed manuscript stay chock full of profane
goodness?  I don’t know, but I’m sure as f*** interested to find out.
***
Bethany Maines is the author of the Carrie
Mae Mysteries, Wild Waters, Tales
from the City of Destiny and An
Unseen Current.  You can also view the Carrie Mae youtube video
or catch up with her on Twitter and Facebook.