IMPROVE OUR FICTION

As you all know, I have been working on rewrites of a novella, "Trusting Strangers." In doing this, I have shared with my students the process, the trials and angst of attempting to make this manuscript the best I can make it. One of the things I tell them I have tried to do is use some dramatic techniques. make sure I "show" as much of the characters, the interaction, the setting as possible.

We have all heard that using dialogue is an excellent way to "show" what our characters are doing. But writers have to be careful when using dialogue or thoughts in this attempt. Yes, we can use both of these techniques, but not to the extent that we, the author, show up giving out information. You want to show the action, for the most part, as it happens and allow the reader to be a part of the story--the writer needs to butt out. You can do this well with dialogue but, for the most part, it should be a current event, not a "looking back" at the happening.

I went to some books at random to find examples of show and tell. I enjoy some narative but when I see the dialogue interspersed with this description, it livens up or dramatizes the passage. You can dramatize with lots of dialogue; we humans talk a lot, so that's acceptable. We are also picky readers; very often we read the dialogue and skip the narration. Make sure your dialogue gives the reader a true understanding of the characters and, if two or more are involved in the exchange, show the relationship between characters. Let's not give readers a chance to skip the best parts of our writing.

Don't always use "said" as a tag. Show the readers a gesture or some small action to reinforce the dialogue.

I spoke of some readers shipping the long passages of description. Some writers get carried away (I loved James Mitchner's books but skipped a lot of description), and others don't give us enough. Try to reach that happy middle ground--put in enough color for readers to see the scene, the setting, or the characters. It takes practice to know how much is sufficient.

Writers can't dramatize every scene in the book or they will create tomes no one will publish, or read. The more important a scene is to the plot, to moving the story along, the more you want to "show" directly everything in what is happening. It is also your choice if you feel some shorter scenes need to be "plumped" up in order for readers to pick up on something they need to know to enhance the story, figure out the mysery, or understand the endng. Just don't choose to do this with every scene as we said before.

Show, don't tell. Use dramatic techniques to bring your stories to life. Readers will love it.

FOUND STORY-CONTINUED

I feel in love that night. Not with a man, don't think I will ever fall for that line again. No, I found my cold heart, left that way after the messy dissolution of my five-year marriage, thawed out, warmed up, by Hazel and Lincoln. They were caring, genuine, the real thing, folks like my daddy had been. With him and grandpa gone maybe these people were a substitute. Whew, that came from nowhere. I guess I could finally admit I might need someone in my life--other than a mother who once again is trying to set me up with the son of some wealthy cronie of her family. Her matchmaking was another emotional disaster waiting to happen.

And those chicken and dumplings were the best I had ever tasted.

"What do you do, honey? To keep yourself up"

I somehow figured out Hazel was concerned about how I was going to pay the electric bill and such. "I have some money from the divorce and . . ."

Lincoln quickly interrupted, "Thought you shucked off the past."

"Well, I have. . ."

He shut me off. "Takin' money from an ex ain't exactly gettin' rid of him, is it?"

"Now, Lincoln, you sound like a wounded bull. What's wrong with a woman havin' a little nest egg?"

I blurted out. "Especially if that husband was having a hot affair with his office manager."

Hazel slapped Lincoln's arm. "See there, Lincoln, there's your reason."

The two carried on a conversation as if I wasn't there.

"She shouldn't have anything to do with that old boy, Hazel, that's all I'm sayin'."

"I don't." My voice rose, then fell as i went on to explain. "We were divorced three years ago; yes, I did receive a nice settlement--some money from him, half the sale of the house, other things. That came in handy when I found out Grandpa hadn't paid the taxes for the past five years, owed a hefty bill at the feed store, as well at the grocers. But I also had a job--something I can do here."

The couple looked stunned. "We didn't know about Jimmy."

"You know how he was," I reminded them. "Grandpa had too much pride for his own good."

Hazel was disturbed. "He could have lost the farm."

I agreed. "And he never let me, or my mother, know that he needed help."

Lincoln drew himself up straight in the chair. "A man doesn't want folks to know he's havin' troubles."

"False pride." Hazel shook her head, then smiled at me. "Well, that's all in the past now. You're here. Now we have to find you the right husband so you's can stay."

I was the one left with my mouth hanging open.
***

FOUND STORY

I belong to a snail mail/Yahoo group of writers who are extraordinary women writers. Tracy Johnson is our fearless leader/coordinator; she does an outstanding job each month to keep us all connected. This month she asked us to write a piece about organization. It brought to mind the new office I have and all the care that went into putting everything in place again. It also made me spend some time in several of those boxes of clippings, ideas, research--ones I haven't gone through yet.

We never know what gems we have if we are unorganized. Or what ideas we've had in the past that might be usuable--if only we knew where to lay our hands on them. I was tossing out here and there, saving this and that, and then I came across the beginning of a story I just might be able to use. See what you think with this first offering (more tomorrow).

Untitled Beginning

I guess I made a friend on the first day I moved into the old doublewide on grandpa's farm. All it took was asking Lincoln Skaines, he's my neighbor across the road, to haul off all the junk filling up the yard. But I'm thinking what really did it was telling him the deal included the Old John Deere tractor perched on blocks in the barn.

Lincoln spat a gob of thick dark tobacco juice near my hot-pink-painted toenails peeking out of Italian leather sandals. "Won't your husband be a little put out when he finds his tractor missin'?"

Doesn't it frost you when men, especially Southern men over sixty, figure there has to be a man in every woman's life--or she couldn't survive? Right!

"I'm not married. Well, not anymore. Divorced." I watched the word sink in. "James Clayborne left me the farm." I offered my hand. "I'm his granddaughter, Abby Clayborne."

He ignored the hand. "Thought you was married." Then he pulled up short. "Once upon a time you were married?" He gave a snort, sort of a sound of disbelief.

Who did Lincoln Skaines think he was--God of these parts?

I stood my ground. "Yes, I was married. I took back my maiden name--no reason to keep any connection with a loser, is there?"

He surprised me by laughing, slapping me on the back, almost knocking me over. "I like strong women. My Hazel's like that--you'll have to meet her. How 'bout comin' over for supper--we're havin' chicken 'n dumplins."

My mouth watered. But I had been raised in the city by a mother who wouldn't even go to the apartment manager's office without a written notice--never would she accept a verbal invitation to share the table with a cook who didn't even know you were coming. But it sure sounded good.

"Won't she. . .won't Hazel be a little upset with an uninvited guest for dinner?"

"Guest? You're a neighbor--and old Jimmy's kin. That makes you almost family."
***

Comments welcome.

THOU SHALT WRITE MORE

I've had family visiting this week. It has played havoc with the goals I set for myself to write more this year. I did manage, however, to edit quite a few pages of my novella, and add some needed scenes to the same manuscript. But between playing tour guide, cooking and entertaining, I found no more time to be productive.

Becoming more organized would certainly assist me in finding time to write now that my family is but a happy memory of a good visit. I know I need to address the issues that keep me away from my writing at other times, set some definite priorities, and make 2009 the year-of-the-writer at my house.

My mind tends to wander when I set aside time at the keyboard. There are so many things I want to check into on the Internet, not just emails but also research--too often for a project I have not begun, and may never start. I have far too many projects that need tweaking or editing or those added scenes and, though I always say I will get another book or two published in any given year, I have failed to do so these past two years. It is time for me to sit butt in chair and work on those manuscripts that have a chance to appear before readers. I must learn to forget the bathrooms that need cleaning, the flowers that need deadheading, and the menu for dinner.

I need to focus on my writing life.

Focus. I know I teach classes on Wednesday and Friday. Time must be spent on lesson plans and flyers for these classes; handouts need to be printed off. But the other weekdays (and a few hours on each day of the weekend) can be organized into writing time, research, mailings, supply purchases, copying, filing--still leaving time for the role of wife, housewife, gardener, church volunteer and (whenever possible) traveler. When I see this in print, I remember what mama often said is so true: "There's not enough hours in a day."

I know this can be done. I've done it in the past, actually did a better job of it when I had a full-time job. I'm not getting any younger and have only an alloted number of years left to get the word out. I need to make this the year I change old habits and write--for my own self, my own joy, and maybe for others to read.

Join me in this quest--let's allow ourselves time to write more.

POST INAGURATION

Are you enjoying the politics of the times? Or wish all the hoopla of a new president would settle down, allowing you to whine about what hasn't been corrected, cured, defeated, won or blasted away in the first days of the new administration?

I, as a writer, look forward, seek the words to write about the hope for change, the smile on people's faces, the good that has been, and will be, accomplished. I can find stories in all of these.

Writers are in a unique position this year. We have the chance to put history into words. Whether we write fiction, personal essays, opinion pieces, or factual articles, we have the opportunity to put it all down in black and white for generations to come. Whether or not our creations are published or not, no matter how much or how little monetary value we receive, or if we merely write our true feelings about this change in our world, we must do so. We people, who have a "way with words" as my grandfather once told me, have an obligation to leave our imprint on this time in history.

I encourage you to take the time this week to capture your thoughts on this event, your feelings of hope(or forboding), your dreams for our country's future; put those into words, paragraphs, letters, articles, books--for the young people who will follow us in these lives. We have a duty to leave behind something of ourselves, to allow others to understand how we, Citizen Americans, view these days.

Please write, friends.

NO MORE BIRTHDAYS

Today's my birthday--whether I like it or not. In recent years, I've said I'm not having them anymore but someone always remembers. Ray's children did--though they couldn't be here on the day, they came in for five days--through yesterday (the reason I haven't been online!). There are twelve cards sitting atop my entertainment unit and several small gifts (body wash and lotion, a lovely necklace with matching earrings, and a large loaf of pumpkin bread)arrived on my back doorstep. My children called. Ray presented me with flowers and a new tiny teddy bear.

No one will allow me to forget this day.

Mama told me she worked on the farm all day that January day--gathering eggs, washing clothes (by hand in a washtub with rub board), and hung them out to dry on the line. She went into labor about an hour before Daddy arrived home from one of his three part-time jobs, and by the time Dr. Barnes was called to Grandmother's home to deliver me, it was beginning to snow. It seldom snowed in that part of East Texas--but it welcomed my birth on that day.

January is named for the Roman God Janus. He was two-faced--one looking backward (don't we all do that from time to time?), and the other facing forward (the way we should look ahead). The Anglo Saxons called it the month of the wolf because back then packs of wild wolves attacked their villages.

No wolves around here. Only our loan coyote who saunters down the street and up the ice-plant covered slopes when he sees the opporunity to flush out breakfast. I like coyotes, always have. If I had seen her/him today I would have counted it as good luck.

Weather gal predicted rain. We got a mist but just enough to cancel my request--train ride to the beach for lunch and shopping. Ray gave me a rain (what a pun!) check for the next sunny day.

My birthday parade was rained on. That gives me another just cause to cancel future birthdays. Agree?

MAKING GOOD WRITING BETTER

Today I presented a "pep talk" sort of lecture to a room filled with twelve year olds. Their teacher, a friend of mine, wants them to become better at writing essays, stories, even poetry. These are bascially good students but, like so many young people in America today, they lack storytelling skills. She thought I might be able to help.

I began with the same story I use at my book signings/lectures; how I began to write at the age of ten, hiding from chores up a mulberry tree, and thinking I could write stories as good as the ones I read in textbooks. I told these students how important my fifth grade teacher was who encouraged me to read (and write) beyond the classroom requirements, and my tenth grade teacher who urged me to enter contests and always told me I was a writer.

The questions flowed both ways: what were they interested in reading? If their teacher gave them an assignment, what would they like to write about? They asked me what I liked to write most, had I had books published (to kids if you haven't had a book published-I showed them my two-, or an article in some hip-hop magazine, you aren't a REAL writer), and what "rules" did I use? And, of course, where do I get ideas?

Hmm, let's see . . .

Your title and opening paragraph (if not opening line) should be a WOW thing. It should be the best thing you've written or read. You should write to entertain your readers, let them laugh, or cry, or teach them something they don't know. Your story is more important than (I didn't dare say grammar, did I?) how perfect your writing is.

Ideas are everywhere. Look around you. If I tell you to write about the color red, what do you see? A blouse, the border on a poster, the dictionary on the shelf, and much more. Did your grandmother share family stories with you? Write that story. Go outside, look and listen to nature; sit in a mall and watch/listen to people. There are stories or articles or personal essays all around you.

I didn't dwell on voice but I told them the way they write, the words they use, the characters they create, are all things that make up what adult writers call style.

And, I reminded them that they have to come up with a final WOW--the ending has to be great. No fair to just run up to the finish and stop, or jump off into nothing land, or throw in a fairy or magician who performs a miracle. The ending has to be believable and it has to be the right one for your story.

I wanted to encourage them to write so I was careful not to talk about the discoragement they would face when attempting to become a published writer. But I did thell them before they turned their papers in, or shared them with classmates, they should read them over for mistakes and then read them again, aloud; practice the words, add some emotion, and WOW their audience.

Most of the things I pointed out to them are to be heeded by all writers, no matter what our age or experience. And maybe we need a pep talk now and then, someone to tell us we can write for fun, share our words with friends, not be perfect--and still call ourselves writers.

DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS

I've probably moaned and preached about the necessity for details in your stories before. Well, I'm at it again, because I'm into those edits/rewrites of my novella and am attempting to add more description, scenes and dialogue--the details that will make the difference in whether or not I will see this published.

The right details breathe life into the story, making the plot believable and give characters that boost that prodces the idea that these people are real. Those details also create the mood of the piece.

In order to make the story appear real, writers should conjure up description and mood filled with graphic details. I hope I have done this with the following paragraph from "Trusting Strangers." Jane Crowley is in her car in the company parking lot when she hears gunshots. She sees a man heading her way. Before she can leave, he taps on the passenger window.

"Somewhere in his mid-thirties, handsome even with the paleness accenting his face, and big--over six feet tall, broad shoulders in a jacket fast becoming dark with his own blood. He'd lost the black hat that previously shielded his eyes. It was this absence that allowed her to meet his look, and hesitate. His eyes were pleading without words, fear filling the deep gray, then clouding with unchecked pain. And then Jana heard the moan."

I want my descriptions to give the reader a glimpse into the character, to possibly make them feel better (or the opposite) about a charcter. These two characters are thrown together by circumstances beyond their control and with details I attempt to show how these two can learn to depend on each other, to solve a crime and to fall in love. In this next example, Jana and Cameron are on the run, not knowing who the good or bad people are, and they make a quick trip to Cameron's apartment.

"Cameron's apartment wasn't at all what Jana expected. Her idea of a single cop's living space didn't include soft adobe colored walls, bright Navajo rugs on both walls and floor, and shelves of books mixed with collections of baskets and pottery. She found the look was carried from the kitchen/dining area into the living room where touches of the same decor were accented by rustic wood and comfortable stuffed leather. Paintings were everywhere in this room--the desert, mountains, images of life in an Indian village. Jana felt the warmth surround her."

Fear and action details may seem like little things in the large scheme of a novel but they add punch, honesty and a connection to these characters lives. The villian has been unmasked and Jana and Cameron face death.

"He again pressed the gun to Jana's temple. Larry's eyes were filled with the same bravado and belief Cam had seen there years ago when they were rooky cops together in Santa Fe. And Larry had killed a man that didn't need to die on one of those nights long ago.

"No!" Cam roared the one word and rushed forward.

Jana lashed out with her foot, connecting with the officer's leg. At the same time, as the grip on her lessened, she twisted away from her captor, reaching up to run long nails down his neck, leaving a trail of marks.

Then all hell broke loose."

Adding details, in mood, in character sketches, or in action, hopefully, offer a vivid look at the story world your characters inhabit. Hopefully, we writers do well enough with the details to create avid readers of our work.

PRAYERS, PLEASE

These past few posts have been about my friends and family of writers. As you have seen, I am very fortunate to have these people in my life. One of my family is in need of our prayers.

My sweet friend, supurb poet, great leader of the Escondido group for seventeen years, Sylvia, has been diagnosed with colon cancer. Her family (both blood relatives and her writer family) is in shock; Slyvia's daughter, Jennifer, recently lost her battle with cancer and the family has not recovered from that loss. Now, they are facing the fear again.

Sylvia and I talked for an hour tonight. We spoke of survivors of colon cancer we both know, and I promised her I would keep her in my prayers for a quick surgery and a great outcome. I am asking my readers to place her on your prayer list, or to at least think good thoughts for her, as she faces decisions to be made this week. I will keep you posted as I learn more.

Thank you, dear readers, and writer friends.

CREATE YOUR OWN DEADLINES

I've been working on revisions of a novella. I don't have a publisher in mind, though I have been checking into some traditional and POD publishers. So, at this point, there is no deadline for my work. That means it can fall by the wayside, or I can work day and night on it. It's a loose way of writing.

As writers we should all work to deadlines. If we freelance for others, or are writing a book under contract, we definitely have deadlines. I do a column for The Storyteller Magazine and have deadlines for each column. I set a deadline for myself as I attempt to write all four columns (after a proposal has been sent to, and approved by, the editor) by a certain time before the first column due date. I have my personal deadline in place. That keeps me on course.

It's imperative that we have deadlines with editors and publishers, but what if we aren't selling? What if we're writing a book we always wanted to produce? We don't have an agent or publisher breathing down our neck, so we don't have an official deadline.

Listen to what I am going to tell you: If you want to be more productive and efficient in how you/we work, you should also be setting some deadlines of your own.

Let's take my column as an example. Let's say that I haven't written the next column and I need to get it into the mail (or emailed) by Wednesday noon. Since I've left it for the last minute without a deadline of my own, I am going to spend tomorrow writing, editing, proofreading. I've left myself no time for letting it "sit" for a week or so in order to go back to it with a fresh eye for mistakes/content. I have not set a proper deadline for my work.

Instead of waiting until the last minute, we need to get tough with ourselves. Set time aside for our next article, or the chapter of that book. Write a first draft. We then put it aside for a week or so, or go on to write on another subject, or the next chapter. Several weeks later, we will reread, edit, change, do whatever it takes to complete a finished product. We've set a deadline, given ourselves time for corrections/rewrites, and then are ready to set the next deadline.

Some writers set a certain number of words or pages to write each day. Some of us have so much else going on, we grab the bits and pieces of time we find and run with it. We can still set a deadline for the end of the week or month to have a certain amount of work done. We need a time frame to produce.

There are benefits to being tough on ourselves. We certainly get more done. It will probably be better work than we normally do. We also feel better, more positive about seeing our work progress. And we'll feel a greater sense of accomplishment after meeting not only an editors/publishers deadline but our own.

MY WRITER FAMILY

Yesterday I wrote about writer friends. Today I led/taught the Word Weavers, my creative writing group at the Joslyn Senior Center in Escondido, California. This group makes up my writing family.

You've read about my diverse students before. Individually, they write in every genre, and write well. They read their work each Wednesday; some ask for critiques but many merely want to share their work with their fellow writers. Each time we meet, I am impressed by the great stories, the variety of writing--short stories, poems, memoirs, and articles--written by these special attendees. This sharing of our work and snippets of life is what makes us a family, a writing family.

Angie writes funny, quirky pieces, loves to dance and waltzed down the aisle with Peter since becoming a member. Sylvia led the group for seventeen years, writes great stories with "twisty" endings and lovely poetry published in Cappers Magazine. We offered our love and prayers and shoulders to lean on over the last months as she lost her lovely daughter after a long battle with cancer. Gwenn tap dances through our lives, belly dances for a lark, writes histories of her possessions and odes to a clock-making class while keeping that great smile for us all. Joanie writes memoirs, offers tales of raising six children all over the world and, along with Gwenn and I, share a history of breast cancer. We are a family of survivors.

Charlotte, our 90+ matriarch, gives us delightful children's mysteries and life-learning stories, and keeps us all on our toes with her zest for life. Arlene, with her infectious laugh and charming Teddy Bear stories became a first-time published writer early in her membership in this family; we all celebrated with her. Shirley shares her lovely "histories" of Escondido and its people, and the seasons which appeared in the local newspaper, and gives us a glimpse of her childhood in Canada. Bernice is our plant lady and the finder of good nutritional information on the Interent, plus the writer of sweet children's stories and retold Korean folktales. Rose has chosen to share her family as the nine of them grew up, and other tales of travels with her dear Bill. Eileen, with her wonderful laugh and beaming smile, is a much-published author of memories read in "Good Old Days Magazine." Fran has taught us what it means to run a horse stable and bakes the best rye bread in town. They all are dear sisters.

I have been fortunate to have them as listeners, observers, and able critiquers of my work. They have been so supportive of my attempts at keeping the group moving along, and of my writing. They boost me up, make me think I can get this book and novella I have shared with them published one day. They offer their friendship and love and I know they will be here for me whenever I need to lean on them in the ups and downs of life, both personal and creative.

It's not just the writing that makes this a great family. It's the feeling and compassion and love that goes into the connections we have with each other. We have faced life and death, illness and happiness together, attended funerals and weddings, laughed over the injustices of old age, and cried over the illnesses that have prevented some members to continue attending. We reach out to each other in times of need, and in times of joy. We are close knit, and I am proud to be allowed to be a member of this writer family.

I hope you are blessed with such a family.

MAKE AND KEEP WRITER FRIENDS

The greatest asset to my writing pursuits/successes is writer friends. When I began to write seriously for publication over twenty years ago, I lived in a small mountain town. There were no writing groups and, at that time, my self-confidence didn't include the nerve to begin one on my own. It was a rather lonely writing life, although I did manage to write and market well enough that first year to sell and see published, fifteen articles.

Living in North San Diego County has been good for me. I signed up for a creative writing class when I first moved here because I had started a downward slide in my output and enthusiasm for writing. I had to write to an assignment each week, share that writing and seek comments. It was there that I made four writer friends--three are still in my life (the fourth opted out of the writing foursome). Linda S. is now working, not writing too much, but remains my favorite copywriter. Elva moved to Hawaii, is still writing (and dancing the hula), and we share the same publisher for books. Eileen belongs to Romance Writers of America and often invites me to hear authors in that genre offer workshops that, along with the writing tips, offer support for their fellow writers. Through these many years, these writer friends have helped me immensely--as I hope I have been able to do for them. First friendships are the greatest.

Several years ago I joined a group of writers and we became charter members of an expanded group (by invitation only). We share our work, newfound publishers, writing and life experiences, and any other writing information we run across. We often critique each others work, in groups and as individuals, via email and/or snail mail. We support each other through our walk in the writing life, as well as our personal worlds. This "society", with Tracy as leader, has writers I am very proud to call friends. I love you all, gals.

Patricia is a good old Texas gal--we Texans have to stick together in many things, including writing. She is a serious writer, animal lover, environment protector, innovative business woman, and answerer of my many questions regarding computers and the electronic world. She was the designer of my very first (and so far, only) website. Due to illness and other business obligations. she has had to cease hosting my site but has graciously recommended another expert designer/host. She will always be the loveliest flower in my favorite bouquet; so it sounds corny but she and I also share a love for everything "nature." Thanks for your friendship, Patricia.

Central Florida is home to my daughter, grandchildren and writer friend, Sharlott. I met her through an online magazine we both once wrote for. She is the author of the most beautiful inspirational poetry, and outstanding on-the-mark slice-of-life pieces published by her local newspaper. She is a writer friend who shares her love for writing, boosts me up with her positive attitude, comments on my writing efforts, and supports the craft we both love. Sharlott, thanks for being there for me.

Gaye Walton, formerly of Arizona, now residing in my favorite Western state, New Mexico, is author of more books (mostly romances set in the Southwest showing the depths of human nature) than I can count, and the host/originator/keeper of the gate) of a Yahoo.com group of writers. Gaye, you and all the ladies there make me strive to write better. You are a passionate group about your writing--and compassionate with each other. I have learned so much from you all. You all have a place in my heart.

I am blessed by these friends.

People who don't write have a difficult time understanding us. We talk about our craft, and our stories. We often make notes in a restaurant, lost to the talk at our table, engrossed by the conversation at another. Or maybe we are scribbling down the ideas our tablemates give us while telling the saga of an event in their life. We carry a laptop on our travels, or while visiting relatives--and seek a hiding place to work on our latest project when we can. The non-writers around us shake their heads. The writers among us nod.

We need to make, and keep, those writer friends, to reach out to them, and to cultivate those lasting friendships with those who understand us. Count yourself lucky if you already have many of those writer friends in your life.

POETRY JAMMIN' AGAIN

Yesterday, Sunday, found me once again joining poets from all over North San Diego County. I have been absent for many months due to the move, life, etc. but one of my resolutions included meeting with this group each first Sunday of the month as I've done for several years. I was greeted by the leaders like a long-lost friend and, as other familiar poets arrived, I felt like I had come home.

I've discussed writing poetry here before. But the importance of doing this for any and all writers was brought home yesterday. Writing poetry, good, bad, shared or not, is comforting; doing so allows us to pour our those feelings/thoughts/ideas without deadlines, perfectionism rearing its ugly head, or pressures regarding publication. I am reminded of how many times I have found myself weary from hours at the computer (I tend to NOT take breaks because my alloted time at the computer is haphazard to say the least and I want to use every moment of it) and decide to stop, get a drink of something cool (or hot if weather warrants), and jot down a few lines of poetry.

Doing so relieves some of the tension or stress of creation. Sometimes I only write those few lines. Other times I am caught up in the moment and continue to complete the first draft of a longer poem. Having taken this break and writen my poetry, I can once again hit the computer at a different pace, refreshed and ready to continue with my major task.

Participating in these poetry readings also prepares us to speak/read our published work in front of an audience. I will have to admit that poets are great audiences. They give you more than you can expect from every group you speak/read before. They acknowledge you as a writer. They applaude your work. They laugh at the right parts. And they always support each other.

I also make notes at these readings. Listen closely to the poet's work. Many times there are glimpses of storylines in their poetry, or ideas for an article. One man writes about places of history and/or beauty in our county. He would make a wonderful travel writer but since he is basically a poet, I can certainly make note of the spots he's touched on that would be of interest to travel magazines.

Write poetry. Find a group that has guest speakers and offers Open Mike/readings. If you don't want to share your own poetry at the beginning of your attendance, listen closely to the others. Watch and critique how they handle these readings. Practice at home. Get on that stage. Your poetry will be accepted by true poets at heart.

THE JOY OF REVISION

I've begun this New Year revising a romantic-suspense novella some of my readers are very familiar with. They heard this story, a creation from a class, when I joined the challenge of my students to write from that one-line prompt. As they, and readers of this blog, remember it, I was only going to create a short story to be shared in that one class. Instead, it took on a life of its own and became a novella.

I wrote a chapter a week--albeit a rough showing in my estimation. I produced 25,000 words, a work that now needs revising, additional scenes written (including more intimate romantic ones), and a bit of "plumping" up of descriptions.

Beginning this New Year writing, even revising, is just the way I want to begin 2009.
Due to life getting in the way so often last year, the goals I set for my creative side did not play out. I plan for this year to be different, much different. So, on January 1, and for these days since, I have done some serious work.

What did I do first? I took out that story and read it thoroughly for grammatical errors and typos. Never depend on your Microsoft/cumputer programs to do this for you. While doing this, I also attempted to "tighten" up my manuscript, looked for excess words, and adjusted my tenses (that passive/active problem often haunts my work).

When I began writing, as I said, I thought this was a short story. That's before the characters and the plot and the puzzle took over. I've never believed a story can write itself but that first draft poured out onto the screen, week after week. But it wasn't complete.

We all know such things as character descriptions must be kept to a minimum in a short story, but when turned into a novella or book, it's a different way with words. My characters now have to be properly, and thoroughly, introduced. I reaffirm my characters names; Jana Crowley and Cameron Walker, do not have similar-sounding names. I was amazed this week while reading the review of a new romance where the main characters names were Jerrod and Jennifer. I commented to myself that the author had broken one of the first rules of character creation. And still sold the novel and saw it published!

Today, I've managed a few pages of revisions. As I said, I need to add the "filler" stuff so I'm working on that, chapter by chapter. When I've done with revisions, I will once again do a grammatical/typo check, and repeat the rest of the self-editing process. Finally, my writer-friend, Diana, has offered to give that final critique. If you don't have someone to share work with, both of you offering critiques and suggestions, and especially support, find someone. They (and you) are an invaluable asset.

Will there be more rewrites? Maybe. More corrections? Definitely. This is what we all have to go through to offer our best to a publisher or editor, and finally to the reading world.