As Pat Holt said in his article on 10 Mistakes Writers Don't See, " Compound sentences, most modifying clauses and many phrases *require* commas."
Many writers omit commas simply because they don't know where to put them. I have always lived by one rule: If you don't know the rules you can't break them. And, if you don't know the rules about commas, it will become obvious very early in your manuscript. With all they have to read, your book will be consigned to the rejection pile of you don't know how to punctuate.
I am currently working with an author who absolutely does not know how to use commas. Because the publisher likes his story concept, I am working with him. But I dread every new draft. Even though I go through an correct the comma errors, he does not seem to have learned the lesson well. Even simple things, like nouns of address, need to be punctuated correctly:
Incorrect: "Hello Darling" he shouted above the music.
Correct: "Hello, Darling," he shouted above the music.
Such an error is an automatic flag to an editor that you have no idea what you are doing. She doesn't need to wast her valuable time on you.
Lots of writers think omitting commas gives their work a sense of urgency:
Incorrect: Fleeing the scene of the crime he stopped momentarily to catch is breath and hopefully decide on a course of action.
Correct: Fleeing the scene of the crime, he stopped momentarily to catch his breath and, hopefully, decide on a course of action.
What has happened in the first version is that the reader becomes bogged down in verbiage. Instead of conveying a sense of breathlesness by omitting the commas, the sentence becomes heavy and plods along.
Keep in mind, any time your reader has to stop, consider what you mean, and then plod on, you have lost your audience. The spell of the writing has stopped and the reader leaves the magic of your writing. Dare I even suggest your manuscript ends up in the rejection pile?
Entire books have been written about punctuation. Your high school English class should have taught it to you. There was a reason for all those boring grammar drills. If you don't know how to punctuate, use those commas, then learn. The Chicago Manual of Style is the standard in the writing world. All of "Chapter 6: Punctuation" is online for you to read and study.
Better, yet, buy a copy. It will be the best $35 you ever spend. What you don't know will be obvious.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
The benefits of Journaling
This week I ran across this article and thought it would be of benefit during the stress of the holidays. We can all use a little less stress right now.
The Multiplied Benefits of Journaling
Do you keep or have you kept a journal or diary? If so, you probably already know some of the benefits of journaling because you've experienced them. You know that your journal helps you make sense of the senseless side of your life. A journal can be an emotional lifesaver when you go through a hard time. But did you know that scientists believe journaling can even keep you physically healthy?This week I ran across this article and thought it would be of benefit during the stress of the holidays. We can all use a little less stress right now.
The Multiplied Benefits of Journaling
The release of pent-up emotions you pour into your journal every day actually helps reduce the symptoms of arthritis and asthma, and strengthens your immune system. This really makes sense if you consider that much illness is exacerbated by stress, and a journal is one of the best stress reducers out there.
Journaling gives you a record of your emotional growth like no other. While it can be useful at times to be able to look back and see just when your neighbor moved in or when you started suffering from headaches, the intangible changes in you can be even more fascinating to look back over.
When you take the time to face your feelings, you can make clearer, more well-informed choices. Take the time to list what you want and don't want in a career or a mate, and the choice will be easier to make when the time comes. Don't think that journaling is just about narrative prose, either. Lists, poems, jokes, things that strike you funny, and even sketches, all have a place in a journal.
A journal can help you work out problems in relationships. How? By constructively writing your feelings instead of tearing into that other person you can see the situation more clearly. You can see where perhaps you were somewhat in the wrong so that you can honestly offer an apology. You can also clarify just what the other person did that upset you. Sometimes in the heat of an argument, it is difficult to put your finger on the specific problem.
There is no better way to know your own values than writing honestly from the heart in your journal. It is really important that your journal is private and safe, that no one else will be seeing what you write. Get a locking diary if you have people around you who might pry. When you feel safe, you can honestly look at yourself and your feelings.
Journaling can be used in any way you need for your own particular situation. As stated above, if you are looking for a mate or trying to choose a career, you can record your honest feelings about those decisions in lists and free prose. If you wish to start a business of your own, a journal is a wonderful place to dream on paper. Don't worry if you look back over old writings and your ideas looked a little juvenile or unrealistic. The goal is growth, after all. You are simply growing.
Perhaps you are in a phase of life in which you have health goals. Your journal can be your greatest asset! Keep track of healthy meals you enjoy, or of types of exercise you master. By recording your goals, you will know when you have met them and are ready to move on to new ones. Do remember to make your goals bite-sized and objective. For instance, say, "I will do my Pilates video three times a week for a month" instead of "I will exercise more this month." At the end of the month, if you have kept a written record, you will know if you did the Pilates according to your goal.
This article is just scratching the surface when it comes to the benefits of keeping a journal. For stress reduction, goal setting, and understanding yourself, there is nothing like regular journaling.
Copyright © Shery Ma Belle Arrieta-Russ
=> My resource box: <=
About Shery: Shery is the creator of WriteSparks!™- a software that generates over 10 *million* Story Sparkers for Writers. Download WriteSparks!™ Lite for free at http://writesparks.com
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Sunday, October 14, 2007
Public Readings
So, now you have that book published. What are you going to do? Sit back and let it sell?
WRONG!
If you think your book is going to sell just because you got it published, you are in for a sad wakeup. You have to get out there and sell it yourself. I don't mean you have to go store to store to get booksellers to put it on their shelves, though that is not outside the realm of reality. You have to get out there and read to your audiences. It can be in a bookstore, a coffee shop, a library, a publication party put on by a friend. It doesn't matter where that reading takes place; it just has to happen.
Recently one of the lists I belong to had a rather lively discussion regarding publishers, what publishers expect of writers, and, horror, that a couple of the publishers included in their contract that the authors would go out and give public readings. One writer bemoaned the fact she had to give a reading and she got sick before every one she had to do. Unless you want to be F.A.D. (Famous After Death) like Emily Dickinson, get over it.
Last spring I attended a book reading for Water~Stone Review. A couple of the authors were there along with Patricia Francisco, one of the faculty editors of the annual magazine. After the formal reading, the writers and Francisco opened the floor to discussion. It was one of the liveliest readings I have ever attended and we got a look into how the writers actually went about crafting their works. I think there were more per capita sales from that reading than many of the others. So, in addition to being prepared to read from your manuscript, also prepare to have the audience ask you questions.
Tracey Henry's Suburban Diva: From the Real Side of the Picket Fence (I'm proud to be the editor) has been a consistent seller for Ephemera Bound Publishing for one simple reason: Henry has hustled the book. She has done readings, signings, and interviews. An article in The St. Petersburg Times, her hometown newspaper, was picked up by The Chicago Tribune. This is a very good example of how a feature article in a home newspaper can lead to further exposure. Andrea Dean Van Scoyoc, author of Michael and A Man Of Two Worlds, both science fiction,attended the FX convention last January and within four hours sold out of her entire stock of books.
What's my point in giving these examples? If you want your book to be read, get out there and do those readings. They can often be more effective than a lot of the publicity your publisher generates. Readers like to see their authors. Readers will often take a chance with a new author if they get to see them.
Do yourself a favor, READ!
WRONG!
If you think your book is going to sell just because you got it published, you are in for a sad wakeup. You have to get out there and sell it yourself. I don't mean you have to go store to store to get booksellers to put it on their shelves, though that is not outside the realm of reality. You have to get out there and read to your audiences. It can be in a bookstore, a coffee shop, a library, a publication party put on by a friend. It doesn't matter where that reading takes place; it just has to happen.
Recently one of the lists I belong to had a rather lively discussion regarding publishers, what publishers expect of writers, and, horror, that a couple of the publishers included in their contract that the authors would go out and give public readings. One writer bemoaned the fact she had to give a reading and she got sick before every one she had to do. Unless you want to be F.A.D. (Famous After Death) like Emily Dickinson, get over it.
Last spring I attended a book reading for Water~Stone Review. A couple of the authors were there along with Patricia Francisco, one of the faculty editors of the annual magazine. After the formal reading, the writers and Francisco opened the floor to discussion. It was one of the liveliest readings I have ever attended and we got a look into how the writers actually went about crafting their works. I think there were more per capita sales from that reading than many of the others. So, in addition to being prepared to read from your manuscript, also prepare to have the audience ask you questions.
Tracey Henry's Suburban Diva: From the Real Side of the Picket Fence (I'm proud to be the editor) has been a consistent seller for Ephemera Bound Publishing for one simple reason: Henry has hustled the book. She has done readings, signings, and interviews. An article in The St. Petersburg Times, her hometown newspaper, was picked up by The Chicago Tribune. This is a very good example of how a feature article in a home newspaper can lead to further exposure. Andrea Dean Van Scoyoc, author of Michael and A Man Of Two Worlds, both science fiction,attended the FX convention last January and within four hours sold out of her entire stock of books.
What's my point in giving these examples? If you want your book to be read, get out there and do those readings. They can often be more effective than a lot of the publicity your publisher generates. Readers like to see their authors. Readers will often take a chance with a new author if they get to see them.
Do yourself a favor, READ!
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Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Getting That Book to Market
Let's face one fact: publishing is a business. You are a writer. You want to become a published author. Unfortunately, very few writers have even a basic knowledge of the publishing industry. If you want to become that published author, you have to make yourself familiar with the ins and outs of the publishing industry.
There are a few facts of life that we, as writers, have to understand. Publishing is an industry, and as such the "bottom line" is a driving force. And sales drive that bottom line. The major book publishers are located in New York City, though only one of the major six publishers is an American-owned company. Once this fact is grasped by the budding writer, the rest of the publishing process can be understood. If you expect the major book publisher to take over and treat you like a celebrity just because you have signed a contract with them, you will be sadly disappointed. This happens only with multi-million authors like Scott Turow, James Patterson, and John Grisham (I guess you just found out my favorite recreational reading). Unless you are an author or their stature, you are not going to have much contact with anyone other than the editor assigned to your book.
From the time you get an agent through the entire process of publishing your book, no matter the size of the publishing company, you have to be knowledgeable about the industry. You have communicate to the agent, editor and publisher you are willing to do everything you can do to help the book become a success. This will signal to all involved that you comprehend what is involved, that you wish have decision-making input, and you are willing to help sell books. You simply cannot turn over your manuscript and expect it to be released in a couple of weeks.
Know from the start that two years is not an unreasonable time line from the time you sign that contract to the time the book sees publication. I have just finished working with two authors at the opposite ends of the spectrum. One author is demanding, expecting the publisher to do everything. This author did not really want an editor, in the true sense of the word. This author wanted a copy editor. The structure of the book was perfect according to the author and the author refused to make any major changes that would help book sales (readability). This author expects the publisher to do everything and have the book on shelves in an incredibly short time. This author weekly contacts the publisher with demands on publication, sales promotion, type setting, etc. There is no indication the author is willing to help, only demand.The second author has indicated willingness to accept criticism, work with the editor and we expect this author to assist in sales promotion and have input as to potential markets. Can you guess which one I will want to work with in the future and which one I will avoid?
No, publishers don't want someone who is totally cowed by the publishing industry. They want someone who knows what happens to their book once that contract is signed and what it takes to successfully bring that book to the proper markets. If you have no knowledge of this process, I would suggest you get a copy of Jerry Simmons What Writers Need to Know About Publishing. It is available through his website at WritersReaders.com Even if you don't purchase the book, the website will give you a great resource as to what is expected from a budding author (published writer).
There are a few facts of life that we, as writers, have to understand. Publishing is an industry, and as such the "bottom line" is a driving force. And sales drive that bottom line. The major book publishers are located in New York City, though only one of the major six publishers is an American-owned company. Once this fact is grasped by the budding writer, the rest of the publishing process can be understood. If you expect the major book publisher to take over and treat you like a celebrity just because you have signed a contract with them, you will be sadly disappointed. This happens only with multi-million authors like Scott Turow, James Patterson, and John Grisham (I guess you just found out my favorite recreational reading). Unless you are an author or their stature, you are not going to have much contact with anyone other than the editor assigned to your book.
From the time you get an agent through the entire process of publishing your book, no matter the size of the publishing company, you have to be knowledgeable about the industry. You have communicate to the agent, editor and publisher you are willing to do everything you can do to help the book become a success. This will signal to all involved that you comprehend what is involved, that you wish have decision-making input, and you are willing to help sell books. You simply cannot turn over your manuscript and expect it to be released in a couple of weeks.
Know from the start that two years is not an unreasonable time line from the time you sign that contract to the time the book sees publication. I have just finished working with two authors at the opposite ends of the spectrum. One author is demanding, expecting the publisher to do everything. This author did not really want an editor, in the true sense of the word. This author wanted a copy editor. The structure of the book was perfect according to the author and the author refused to make any major changes that would help book sales (readability). This author expects the publisher to do everything and have the book on shelves in an incredibly short time. This author weekly contacts the publisher with demands on publication, sales promotion, type setting, etc. There is no indication the author is willing to help, only demand.The second author has indicated willingness to accept criticism, work with the editor and we expect this author to assist in sales promotion and have input as to potential markets. Can you guess which one I will want to work with in the future and which one I will avoid?
No, publishers don't want someone who is totally cowed by the publishing industry. They want someone who knows what happens to their book once that contract is signed and what it takes to successfully bring that book to the proper markets. If you have no knowledge of this process, I would suggest you get a copy of Jerry Simmons What Writers Need to Know About Publishing. It is available through his website at WritersReaders.com Even if you don't purchase the book, the website will give you a great resource as to what is expected from a budding author (published writer).
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Saturday, September 29, 2007
The Critique of the Editor
I have learned one thing in my writing life: don't ask for criticism unless you are willing to get it. The second caveat is "don't ask for criticism from close friends or family."
Well, you could find a professional "Book Doctor." But for me, it is not an option at this point in development. Once I'm to the point when I am ready to start shopping my book or story around to publishers, I might consider this option. So, what am I looking for in someone I trust with my manuscript to look at with a critical eye?
First of all, I am looking for someone who realizes this is my manuscript, not his/hers. I am looking for someone who will look at my story or poem and make "suggestions." I look for criticism that couches the critique in terms like, "what would happen if..." or "I am not sure what you are trying to say here." The critic is, first of all, owning his/her criticism. S/he is not telling me what I should do. S/he is looking at the entire poem or manuscript with an eye for clarity. After all, I am trying to communicate with my reader and want to know if that communication is successful.
The next thing I am looking for is someone who recognizes both my strengths and weaknesses. I learn not only from what needs to be improved but also from what I do well. By couching criticism in these terms, the critic lets me know what is working and how I can use this success in other places. Besides, all negative comments tends to shut me down. No, I don't want all pats on the head. That is as bad as all negative. I learn nothing from this, either.
I also want someone who is capable of commenting on my craft...how I handle character, place, setting, structure, etc.
My next problem is where to find such a critic. For those of us in larger communities we can generally find a writer's group. But what if you are in the middle of Alaska or on top of a mountain in Colorado? Well, if you are reading this online, you have a computer connection. Use that computer. There are all kinds of groups all over the Internet. Go ahead and subscribe to a few. Watch the critiques that appear in the posts. If that is the kind of criticism you are looking for, post something you would like to have looked at critically. Give it more than one or two tries. Keep in mind, if you don't get the kind of feedback from one group, you can find a hundred others. Ask others where they have found good critics for their works. Don't give up.
Finally, when you have your manuscript to the point you are ready to start shopping it around, now it is time to hire a good editor. This can save you months of time and disappointment. I can guarantee that editors will automatically toss out that manuscript that is poorly written and presented. Yes, spelling and grammar do count. If I have to spend hours as an editor making high school type corrections to a manuscript, I am very unlikely to spend the time needed to do that. If the story has more holes than swiss cheese, I will reject it out of hand. This is what the final edits by either a Book Doctor and/or editor are for. Get that manuscript in pristine condition to impress the editor, who will then impress the publisher, who will then sign a contract (hopefully) with you.
Well, you could find a professional "Book Doctor." But for me, it is not an option at this point in development. Once I'm to the point when I am ready to start shopping my book or story around to publishers, I might consider this option. So, what am I looking for in someone I trust with my manuscript to look at with a critical eye?
First of all, I am looking for someone who realizes this is my manuscript, not his/hers. I am looking for someone who will look at my story or poem and make "suggestions." I look for criticism that couches the critique in terms like, "what would happen if..." or "I am not sure what you are trying to say here." The critic is, first of all, owning his/her criticism. S/he is not telling me what I should do. S/he is looking at the entire poem or manuscript with an eye for clarity. After all, I am trying to communicate with my reader and want to know if that communication is successful.
The next thing I am looking for is someone who recognizes both my strengths and weaknesses. I learn not only from what needs to be improved but also from what I do well. By couching criticism in these terms, the critic lets me know what is working and how I can use this success in other places. Besides, all negative comments tends to shut me down. No, I don't want all pats on the head. That is as bad as all negative. I learn nothing from this, either.
I also want someone who is capable of commenting on my craft...how I handle character, place, setting, structure, etc.
My next problem is where to find such a critic. For those of us in larger communities we can generally find a writer's group. But what if you are in the middle of Alaska or on top of a mountain in Colorado? Well, if you are reading this online, you have a computer connection. Use that computer. There are all kinds of groups all over the Internet. Go ahead and subscribe to a few. Watch the critiques that appear in the posts. If that is the kind of criticism you are looking for, post something you would like to have looked at critically. Give it more than one or two tries. Keep in mind, if you don't get the kind of feedback from one group, you can find a hundred others. Ask others where they have found good critics for their works. Don't give up.
Finally, when you have your manuscript to the point you are ready to start shopping it around, now it is time to hire a good editor. This can save you months of time and disappointment. I can guarantee that editors will automatically toss out that manuscript that is poorly written and presented. Yes, spelling and grammar do count. If I have to spend hours as an editor making high school type corrections to a manuscript, I am very unlikely to spend the time needed to do that. If the story has more holes than swiss cheese, I will reject it out of hand. This is what the final edits by either a Book Doctor and/or editor are for. Get that manuscript in pristine condition to impress the editor, who will then impress the publisher, who will then sign a contract (hopefully) with you.
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Monday, September 17, 2007
Point of View
Whether you are writing fiction, non-fiction, or poetry, sometimes finding the right point of view is hard. If you find yourself in this situation, try telling the story from different POV. Not only can you change people, you can change age. If you are telling your own story and are having trouble getting it out, tell the story from the child or whatever age you were at the time.
I was having trouble getting a handle on my grandmother. She was there, she was supportive. But as an adult I just cannot write about her without cliche. As a child I can write about her with the sincerity only a child can have. Also, when I change that story from past tense to present tense it takes on a whole new vitality. Now, as an 8 year old child I can tell the story I remember of grandma.
I was having trouble getting a handle on my grandmother. She was there, she was supportive. But as an adult I just cannot write about her without cliche. As a child I can write about her with the sincerity only a child can have. Also, when I change that story from past tense to present tense it takes on a whole new vitality. Now, as an 8 year old child I can tell the story I remember of grandma.
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Friday, September 14, 2007
Truth or Fiction?
The official census tells me that Great-Aunt Minnie was born in Canada. Family history and legend tell me she was born in Minnesota. Family stories also tell me the family traveled back and forth in cattle cars because the fares were too high in passenger cars. It was a common practice at the turn of the last century. So, can I imagine?
The family is headed back from visiting relatives in Michigan. Great-Grandma Elizabeth is about to give birth in 1906 to Minnie. They are traveling back to Canada and her time comes. Is Minnie born in the cattle car? Do they stop along the tracks to allow Elizabeth to give birth?
Can I use the same imagination to develop a story about Grandpa Will? I found him in the 1891 census in England living with his uncle. Why was this one child living with an uncle rather than the rest of the family? He was 8 years old. What had happened that this one child was separated from the rest of the family? Then I find him again in Canada in 1906. He tells the census takers he immigrated in 1892. He was at most 10 years old! What happened to make him, all alone, immigrate to Canada? How did he get along on his own? What makes the story more intriguing is by 1906 he was a preacher. How did he come to this path? He never told. In fact, we know precious little about how he made his way to America.
If I use these facts as starting points, does it become fiction or creative non-fiction? Just how much do I have to create. How much can be based on general history of the time? How much can be representational? These are questions I will have to answer...or not, as the case may be.
The family is headed back from visiting relatives in Michigan. Great-Grandma Elizabeth is about to give birth in 1906 to Minnie. They are traveling back to Canada and her time comes. Is Minnie born in the cattle car? Do they stop along the tracks to allow Elizabeth to give birth?
Can I use the same imagination to develop a story about Grandpa Will? I found him in the 1891 census in England living with his uncle. Why was this one child living with an uncle rather than the rest of the family? He was 8 years old. What had happened that this one child was separated from the rest of the family? Then I find him again in Canada in 1906. He tells the census takers he immigrated in 1892. He was at most 10 years old! What happened to make him, all alone, immigrate to Canada? How did he get along on his own? What makes the story more intriguing is by 1906 he was a preacher. How did he come to this path? He never told. In fact, we know precious little about how he made his way to America.
If I use these facts as starting points, does it become fiction or creative non-fiction? Just how much do I have to create. How much can be based on general history of the time? How much can be representational? These are questions I will have to answer...or not, as the case may be.
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Sunday, September 9, 2007
Writing Creative Non-Fiction
No, it's not a memoir, but that falls into that classification. I have spent the last two days reading and writing. The first writing assignment is due Wednesday and I think I have a piece written for it. It's supposed to be in rough draft form. Something happened when I was in high school that reminds me of how closely we are connected to each other. 6 Degrees of Separation. So I'm taking something from my past and making that point. I think I have the idea.
The new column will be up at IPS. That one could also go into the memoir class. My boss' grandson died of SIDS last Monday. It took me back 25 years ago when the same happened to my neighbor's child. It is nothing a parent should have to live through. It seems writing about those things helps me get a handle on the incomprehensible.
Back to reading.
The new column will be up at IPS. That one could also go into the memoir class. My boss' grandson died of SIDS last Monday. It took me back 25 years ago when the same happened to my neighbor's child. It is nothing a parent should have to live through. It seems writing about those things helps me get a handle on the incomprehensible.
Back to reading.
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Saturday, September 8, 2007
Nothing Is Where You Think It Is
Here's a little interesting bit of fluff for a Saturday morning. This comes from one of my favorite shows that no longer exists: The West Wing:
I'm In for a Rough Semester
Wednesday was the first day of class. I'm taking a Creative Non-fiction class. Don't ask me to define the term. I'm not exactly sure what it is. In fact, I don't think those who write it have come to a definitive agreement. But my hope is that it will help me write some of my columns with more insight. I have an idea I have been writing creative non-fiction for a while and just didn't know it. So, for those of you I know, be prepared to have my memories of our times together dissected and examined through my myopic vision of us.
The final project has to be about 3,000 words. I don't write that much in any given column. My longest ones average 750 words. That's a long, long way from 3,000. Along the way I have a couple of shorter papers of about 300. That's another problem, getting the word count that low. Well, I guess the revision skills will be put to the test on both ends of the spectrum. I have an idea for this week's writing. I may post it after I get it down to the 300 limit.
In the meantime, I am recovering from some bad news for the week. My boss' grandson died of SIDS this week. That flipped me back to about 25 years ago when another friend's daughter died. Added to that was the news that one of my former students died on a hunting trip to Wyoming this week. People younger than I am should not be passing away.
I have found a couple of new writing sites this week and added them to the links on this page. For writers they might be of help. I think a couple of them will be useful to me, especially this semester. I'm still looking for more poetry sites. They seem to be in the minority.
The final project has to be about 3,000 words. I don't write that much in any given column. My longest ones average 750 words. That's a long, long way from 3,000. Along the way I have a couple of shorter papers of about 300. That's another problem, getting the word count that low. Well, I guess the revision skills will be put to the test on both ends of the spectrum. I have an idea for this week's writing. I may post it after I get it down to the 300 limit.
In the meantime, I am recovering from some bad news for the week. My boss' grandson died of SIDS this week. That flipped me back to about 25 years ago when another friend's daughter died. Added to that was the news that one of my former students died on a hunting trip to Wyoming this week. People younger than I am should not be passing away.
I have found a couple of new writing sites this week and added them to the links on this page. For writers they might be of help. I think a couple of them will be useful to me, especially this semester. I'm still looking for more poetry sites. They seem to be in the minority.
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Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Bad Day at Black Rock
The day itself wasn't all that bad. It was what happened after the work day was over. Well, maybe it started last night with the bizarre dreams I had. Then, when I tried to call a friend after acupuncture I found my cell had been cut off. After 7 years of never missing a payment, it seems one was missed in the switch over to online payments. Did they call me? Noooooooo. I just started to use the phone tonight and was connected, instead, to the bill pay department. Can we say not happy? This is not the way to treat a customer. With a history like that, can we stop and think maybe something happened? All the bills were paid before May and all the ones after were paid. No contact. No questions. Just cut off. It should be back on by tomorrow, but I may be cutting THEM off soon.
Then, about 10 PM I start to have a bowl of cereal. My temporary crown, put in last week, broke...on soggy corn flakes.
I'm going to bed.
Then, about 10 PM I start to have a bowl of cereal. My temporary crown, put in last week, broke...on soggy corn flakes.
I'm going to bed.
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Sunday, September 2, 2007
Searching My Roots
Vacation time was time for me to do some things I have been putting off for months. I am an amateur genealogist…at least for my own family. I am not all that good at it, but I do like the research. And I found my grandfather and great-grandfather! It was an exciting discovery. I have been looking for them for over 15 years.
Thanks to distant cousins and older siblings I had some basic information. I knew the year and where in England my father’s father had been born. I knew my grandfather had lived in Canada. I even got copies of his marriage invitations. He and grandma were married in Alberta in 1906. We knew that they moved to Washington state shortly after that because both my Uncle Ted and my father were born there. I also know that as a child my grandfather had lived with his uncle as a child. Last weekend I found him in the 1891 English census living with his uncle. He was 8. I also found his father and mother. Working backward I also found his father and mother in the 1881 English census. It seems there were two children who did not survive childhood. Why? Using the census records, I was able to follow Grandpa Will’s movements.
My father had told me a story of being attacked by a gang of young men while he was living in Las Vegas. I was able to locate the family in the 1920 census in Vegas! But I also had a few surprises. Grandpa Will stated in the 1906 Alberta census that the immigrated in 1892. Oops! He was about 10 years old! That raised a lot of questions for me. Was he a run-away? I know no other family members immigrated. How did a 10-year-old child get from England to Canada alone? And what did he do to get across the Atlantic? and how did he survive? This raises lots of questions and answers why he was not really willing to talk about family history.
Grandpa Will married Mamie in 1906. Her father was another family member I was looking for 15 years. I found Great Grandpa Harrison! I had heard stories of the family traveling across the prairies in cattle cars because they couldn’t afford the fares for the passenger cars. I had been looking in all the prairie states. Finally last week I found Great Grandpa in Nebraska with seven of the nine children! And I found them again in Alberta with all nine children. Great Aunt Minnie was only 3 months old, but they were all there. This family brought out all the problems of doing research. Great Grandpa had different spellings of his first name in all but one census. And Grandma Mamie was known variously as Mary and Marnie.
Why had these people moved around the country and into Canada? I have the facts they were there. I know where Grandma Mamie and Grandpa Will moved over the next fifty years. But now I want to know why. And I may never know that answer. But, the information I have gives me lots of material for some creative non-fiction. Maybe I can satisfy myself with some imagining and writing about their travels. I now have a connection with the westward movement and settlement of the vast prairies. OK, I can imagine the reasons. And I was simply excited to locate these people in my history. It was a high last weekend, and I may do some more research this weekend before I return to the day job.
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Thanks to distant cousins and older siblings I had some basic information. I knew the year and where in England my father’s father had been born. I knew my grandfather had lived in Canada. I even got copies of his marriage invitations. He and grandma were married in Alberta in 1906. We knew that they moved to Washington state shortly after that because both my Uncle Ted and my father were born there. I also know that as a child my grandfather had lived with his uncle as a child. Last weekend I found him in the 1891 English census living with his uncle. He was 8. I also found his father and mother. Working backward I also found his father and mother in the 1881 English census. It seems there were two children who did not survive childhood. Why? Using the census records, I was able to follow Grandpa Will’s movements.
My father had told me a story of being attacked by a gang of young men while he was living in Las Vegas. I was able to locate the family in the 1920 census in Vegas! But I also had a few surprises. Grandpa Will stated in the 1906 Alberta census that the immigrated in 1892. Oops! He was about 10 years old! That raised a lot of questions for me. Was he a run-away? I know no other family members immigrated. How did a 10-year-old child get from England to Canada alone? And what did he do to get across the Atlantic? and how did he survive? This raises lots of questions and answers why he was not really willing to talk about family history.
Grandpa Will married Mamie in 1906. Her father was another family member I was looking for 15 years. I found Great Grandpa Harrison! I had heard stories of the family traveling across the prairies in cattle cars because they couldn’t afford the fares for the passenger cars. I had been looking in all the prairie states. Finally last week I found Great Grandpa in Nebraska with seven of the nine children! And I found them again in Alberta with all nine children. Great Aunt Minnie was only 3 months old, but they were all there. This family brought out all the problems of doing research. Great Grandpa had different spellings of his first name in all but one census. And Grandma Mamie was known variously as Mary and Marnie.
Why had these people moved around the country and into Canada? I have the facts they were there. I know where Grandma Mamie and Grandpa Will moved over the next fifty years. But now I want to know why. And I may never know that answer. But, the information I have gives me lots of material for some creative non-fiction. Maybe I can satisfy myself with some imagining and writing about their travels. I now have a connection with the westward movement and settlement of the vast prairies. OK, I can imagine the reasons. And I was simply excited to locate these people in my history. It was a high last weekend, and I may do some more research this weekend before I return to the day job.
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Saturday, September 1, 2007
Friday, August 31, 2007
A New Poetry Exercise
I was browsing possible places for submitting some of my poetry recently and found an interesting poetry exercise at 21 Stars Review. It is called a cento: the poem is composed entirely of lines borrowed from other sources. This is an exercise that could yield some interesting writing.
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Saturday, August 25, 2007
My Nephew's Birthday
Yesterday I got a message from my brother; my nephew turns 40 today. It brought back a flood of memories.I guess I'm getting old when the birthday of a nephew triggers nostalgia.
I was just about my nephew's age the year I went to Texas and spent six weeks with my brother and his wife and took a class at UT-Austin. My own aunt thought I was crazy because I drove out there from Nevada all by myself. She thought it was reckless and a bit unsafe to be traveling all that way alone. But my theory was if I waited for anyone to go with me I would be waiting for years to do things. I had waited long enough.
It took me almost a week to get to Austin. I spent a night with some friends who had moved to Las Vegas. From there I went to the Grand Canyon. Since I was driving I figured I needed to take in a few sights along the way. This was probably the only time in my life I would do something like this, and I was right. My only regret was I did not spend enough time at the Grand Canyon. I can remember rounding the bend in the road and my first sight of it. The road leading up to the Canyon was nothing remarkable. I was getting a bit discouraged and thought I might be in for a big disappointment. I was wrong. As I rounded that last bend there was a feeling in my stomach like someone had hit me there. The sight was so magnificent. I spent the day and watched the sun go down from the rim of the Canyon. I had made plans to be in Phoenix that night and it was well past midnight when I got there. I had spent so much time in the Canyon, burning up over half a dozen rolls of film that I really didn't get much of a chance to see the Painted Desert.
The 4th of July was spent in Phoenix. There were a couple of days there. That was where I got my love of botanical gardens. It was one of the few attractions in the city open that day. All day I took photos in the garden in Phoenix. It was so hot the camera in my hands actually got too hot to hold and I had to go inside one of the buildings. It was that weekend I went to the Mormon Temple in the Phoenix area. The one thing that made a great impression on me was the trees in the garden of the Temple and the huge grapefruit growing on them. I was tempted to take one, but didn't give in. I'm sure not every one resists that temptation.
But it wasn't until the next day that I got to see the true magnificence of the Sonora Desert. For the first time in my life I saw saguaro cactus growing in the wild. I took a turn off the road and went through the desert museum there. I was so enthralled with the cactus and how truly majestic they are I nearly ran off the road and came close to puncturing my tires with the cactus needles. It was just outside of Deming, New Mexico that I came in contact with my first Midwestern storm. I had been told rainstorms were different there, but did not truly appreciate the fury of them until that night. I had been in bad rain storm in northern California, but I had never been in something like this. Instead of drops it was sheets. Lightning was coming down just feet from the car. I pulled off and sat out the storm in a Pizza Hut. A lot of us were doing the same thing.
Finally I got to El Paso. About 6:30 AM I started off from there headed for Austin. It took me all day and I still wasn't all the way across Texas. But the trip was worth it. It was the first time my brother and I had time to get to know each other. With our age differences and the fact we were raised in different families, we really didn't know much about the other. We spent hours that summer talking. And I remember his wife most fondly. It was from Jean I learn a lot of thing about family life, relationships and living I had never learned from my own mother. I came to think of her as a special friend and mother figure.
My nephew was around that summer, but I didn't see much of him. He was out doing what teen aged boys do during summers. I hate to tell you, Nephew, life isn't over at 40. Heck, it's just beginning. I remember it as though it was yesterday, but it also seems so far away at the same time. But more than 20 years after that summer we are still all making our way through life. Lots has happened to all of us, but the adventure only continues.
Happy birthday, Kid. See what remembering your birthday did?
I was just about my nephew's age the year I went to Texas and spent six weeks with my brother and his wife and took a class at UT-Austin. My own aunt thought I was crazy because I drove out there from Nevada all by myself. She thought it was reckless and a bit unsafe to be traveling all that way alone. But my theory was if I waited for anyone to go with me I would be waiting for years to do things. I had waited long enough.
It took me almost a week to get to Austin. I spent a night with some friends who had moved to Las Vegas. From there I went to the Grand Canyon. Since I was driving I figured I needed to take in a few sights along the way. This was probably the only time in my life I would do something like this, and I was right. My only regret was I did not spend enough time at the Grand Canyon. I can remember rounding the bend in the road and my first sight of it. The road leading up to the Canyon was nothing remarkable. I was getting a bit discouraged and thought I might be in for a big disappointment. I was wrong. As I rounded that last bend there was a feeling in my stomach like someone had hit me there. The sight was so magnificent. I spent the day and watched the sun go down from the rim of the Canyon. I had made plans to be in Phoenix that night and it was well past midnight when I got there. I had spent so much time in the Canyon, burning up over half a dozen rolls of film that I really didn't get much of a chance to see the Painted Desert.
The 4th of July was spent in Phoenix. There were a couple of days there. That was where I got my love of botanical gardens. It was one of the few attractions in the city open that day. All day I took photos in the garden in Phoenix. It was so hot the camera in my hands actually got too hot to hold and I had to go inside one of the buildings. It was that weekend I went to the Mormon Temple in the Phoenix area. The one thing that made a great impression on me was the trees in the garden of the Temple and the huge grapefruit growing on them. I was tempted to take one, but didn't give in. I'm sure not every one resists that temptation.
But it wasn't until the next day that I got to see the true magnificence of the Sonora Desert. For the first time in my life I saw saguaro cactus growing in the wild. I took a turn off the road and went through the desert museum there. I was so enthralled with the cactus and how truly majestic they are I nearly ran off the road and came close to puncturing my tires with the cactus needles. It was just outside of Deming, New Mexico that I came in contact with my first Midwestern storm. I had been told rainstorms were different there, but did not truly appreciate the fury of them until that night. I had been in bad rain storm in northern California, but I had never been in something like this. Instead of drops it was sheets. Lightning was coming down just feet from the car. I pulled off and sat out the storm in a Pizza Hut. A lot of us were doing the same thing.
Finally I got to El Paso. About 6:30 AM I started off from there headed for Austin. It took me all day and I still wasn't all the way across Texas. But the trip was worth it. It was the first time my brother and I had time to get to know each other. With our age differences and the fact we were raised in different families, we really didn't know much about the other. We spent hours that summer talking. And I remember his wife most fondly. It was from Jean I learn a lot of thing about family life, relationships and living I had never learned from my own mother. I came to think of her as a special friend and mother figure.
My nephew was around that summer, but I didn't see much of him. He was out doing what teen aged boys do during summers. I hate to tell you, Nephew, life isn't over at 40. Heck, it's just beginning. I remember it as though it was yesterday, but it also seems so far away at the same time. But more than 20 years after that summer we are still all making our way through life. Lots has happened to all of us, but the adventure only continues.
Happy birthday, Kid. See what remembering your birthday did?
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Friday, August 24, 2007
Was it George & Martha, a drunk, or...?
Well, I did it tonight on the way home. First, you have to have the picture. I live around a lake. Now, if you don't know lakes, you might get a good idea with a winding mountain road...just without the hills. I haven't seen so many squiggly road signs since I moved away from northern California coastlines. The speed limit ranges from 35-50. There is one hairpin turn that is posted at 20. So, you have the picture, right?
I got the first inkling that it would be a slow ride around the lake when we pulled off the highway. There is construction going on and it is posted 45. Well, this Toyota Corolla two cars in front of me slows down well before the 45 mph sign to 35. "OK," I thought, "we have George and Martha heading home after an early dinner." It was, after all, still light. However, as we took the offramp, a slow curve to the left, this Toyota starts weaving in the lane and slowing down. By the time we were hitting the 50 mph straight away it was going about 25 mph. There are absolutely no places to pass on this ten-mile stretch. The red cloth top guns it and crosses the double line to go around. A few minutes later, just before the first real curve the next car, an SUV, does the same. I am now behind the Toyota. It slows even more. I'm starting to think it's going to turn into the Country Club. But no, it continues on.
Going around the lake there were times when the Toyota slowed to less than 20 mph and was all over the lane. I really thought I had a drunk in front of me. Come on, more than 10 miles below the posteds and all over the lanes. After all, it was Friday night, after work, time enough to get royally inebriated. And it is the weekend before Labor Day. Then there was the conga line of cars behind me. I could just see one of them trying to pull a passing trick. There are no passing lanes. All the way from the highway to the town it is a double line...no passing. This could be dangerous.
So, I did what any responsible driver should do; I whipped out my trusty cell phone and called 911. I described the situation and the woman on the other end told me that when we approached the intersection of two county roads to flash my lights. An officer would be waiting there. That would alert him that this was the call he got. As we approached the stop light at the intersection I put on my flashers and let the patrol car pull out in front of me. Now, by this time we are on a straight stretch and the driver was pretty much holding it on a straight line and the speed limit through there is only 30 mph. But, I guess the officer saw enough he pulled over the car. I had been instructed to stop after he had made the stop.
The officer was smiling as he came back to my car. He got my full name, address, and phone and asked me just how bad it got out there. I told him about the swerving and slow speeds and the two cars that passed the Toyota. He did thank me for calling and then told me it was a learner. I saw the permit, not long enough to see the name, but to see it was a permit and he did tell me there was another person in the car instructing her. He did say that if she was that timid driving he would make the other person in the car drive home.
Oh, my Gawd! I do remember driving that badly. But Dad took me out on a stretch of highway that was virtually deserted. There were no other cars for miles. The curves were smooth and there was plenty of room if someone came up behind me they could pass. The two worst classes of drivers, besides drunks, have got to be learners and the George and Martha set. No wonder insurance rates for these two groups are so high. (Which reminds me I have to do the Senior Citizens driving course to get the rates down more.) I have already threatened the kids they have got to wrestle the driver's license from my clenched fist if I ever get so bad I'm a menace. I hope I'm like Aunt Bessie was; driving with the best of them on the LA freeways at 80. But if I'm not, get me off the road!
I guess I scared the daylights out of a new driver. Imagine with your learner's permit and being pulled over. But I'm not ashamed I did it. Maybe she (and her instructor) learned a lesson. Maybe they should get out of the metro area and look for some straighter roads until she gets over being so timid. Let's hope she's not planning on driving to school next week.
I got the first inkling that it would be a slow ride around the lake when we pulled off the highway. There is construction going on and it is posted 45. Well, this Toyota Corolla two cars in front of me slows down well before the 45 mph sign to 35. "OK," I thought, "we have George and Martha heading home after an early dinner." It was, after all, still light. However, as we took the offramp, a slow curve to the left, this Toyota starts weaving in the lane and slowing down. By the time we were hitting the 50 mph straight away it was going about 25 mph. There are absolutely no places to pass on this ten-mile stretch. The red cloth top guns it and crosses the double line to go around. A few minutes later, just before the first real curve the next car, an SUV, does the same. I am now behind the Toyota. It slows even more. I'm starting to think it's going to turn into the Country Club. But no, it continues on.
Going around the lake there were times when the Toyota slowed to less than 20 mph and was all over the lane. I really thought I had a drunk in front of me. Come on, more than 10 miles below the posteds and all over the lanes. After all, it was Friday night, after work, time enough to get royally inebriated. And it is the weekend before Labor Day. Then there was the conga line of cars behind me. I could just see one of them trying to pull a passing trick. There are no passing lanes. All the way from the highway to the town it is a double line...no passing. This could be dangerous.
So, I did what any responsible driver should do; I whipped out my trusty cell phone and called 911. I described the situation and the woman on the other end told me that when we approached the intersection of two county roads to flash my lights. An officer would be waiting there. That would alert him that this was the call he got. As we approached the stop light at the intersection I put on my flashers and let the patrol car pull out in front of me. Now, by this time we are on a straight stretch and the driver was pretty much holding it on a straight line and the speed limit through there is only 30 mph. But, I guess the officer saw enough he pulled over the car. I had been instructed to stop after he had made the stop.
The officer was smiling as he came back to my car. He got my full name, address, and phone and asked me just how bad it got out there. I told him about the swerving and slow speeds and the two cars that passed the Toyota. He did thank me for calling and then told me it was a learner. I saw the permit, not long enough to see the name, but to see it was a permit and he did tell me there was another person in the car instructing her. He did say that if she was that timid driving he would make the other person in the car drive home.
Oh, my Gawd! I do remember driving that badly. But Dad took me out on a stretch of highway that was virtually deserted. There were no other cars for miles. The curves were smooth and there was plenty of room if someone came up behind me they could pass. The two worst classes of drivers, besides drunks, have got to be learners and the George and Martha set. No wonder insurance rates for these two groups are so high. (Which reminds me I have to do the Senior Citizens driving course to get the rates down more.) I have already threatened the kids they have got to wrestle the driver's license from my clenched fist if I ever get so bad I'm a menace. I hope I'm like Aunt Bessie was; driving with the best of them on the LA freeways at 80. But if I'm not, get me off the road!
I guess I scared the daylights out of a new driver. Imagine with your learner's permit and being pulled over. But I'm not ashamed I did it. Maybe she (and her instructor) learned a lesson. Maybe they should get out of the metro area and look for some straighter roads until she gets over being so timid. Let's hope she's not planning on driving to school next week.
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Thursday, August 23, 2007
A Rose by Any Other Name....
I have decided to kill off all my other blogs and just do one. Maybe this is something I should have done long ago. OK, so it takes me a while to get a handle on life. But here I can post writings, ramblings, thoughts,and whatever I feel like at the moment. I can even post some of my columns from IPS or rants about the workplace or frustrations about the day job. So, let's go on a ride all in one place.
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Sunday, August 19, 2007
Identity Crisis
Pretty much the animals in my front yard have divided the areas among themselves. The squirrels have claimed the open areas of the lawn and the trees. The chipmunks skitter along the flowerbeds and under the plants. But today there was a chipmunk with an identity crisis. As I was watching this one little critter decided to pretend he was a squirrel and tried to climb the tree. He actually got about three feet up the tree trunk.
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I could go on and develop this as a story. I might yet do that, but the object of the few paragraphs is that by observing what is around you a variety of stories open themselves up. A lot of materials I gather come from observing either people or things.
One of my favorite tactics is to take myself out to dinner and take my notebook. Not long ago I overheard snippets of conversation about a cruise, how they got seasick, the people they traveled with and the snobbishness of one of those returning. She was telling her fellow diners how she had been to their destination before and how she had made sure her traveling companions went to all the right places and saw the right sights.
Not long ago I went up to the discount mall a few miles from home. I got there a bit early and sat in my car and watched the potential shoppers. From watching how they waited, patiently or not, I got a poem from the situation.
Even if you don't know the entire story, you can develop one for any given scenario. I might take the story of the chipmunk from its point of view and talk about his frustration about being confined to the ground. It might become a story of aspiration or futility...I don't know, yet. But I have observed and noted an anomaly that will work its way into a story.
Observing what is around you is a great way to gather inspiration for writing.
I could go on and develop this as a story. I might yet do that, but the object of the few paragraphs is that by observing what is around you a variety of stories open themselves up. A lot of materials I gather come from observing either people or things.
One of my favorite tactics is to take myself out to dinner and take my notebook. Not long ago I overheard snippets of conversation about a cruise, how they got seasick, the people they traveled with and the snobbishness of one of those returning. She was telling her fellow diners how she had been to their destination before and how she had made sure her traveling companions went to all the right places and saw the right sights.
Not long ago I went up to the discount mall a few miles from home. I got there a bit early and sat in my car and watched the potential shoppers. From watching how they waited, patiently or not, I got a poem from the situation.
Even if you don't know the entire story, you can develop one for any given scenario. I might take the story of the chipmunk from its point of view and talk about his frustration about being confined to the ground. It might become a story of aspiration or futility...I don't know, yet. But I have observed and noted an anomaly that will work its way into a story.
Observing what is around you is a great way to gather inspiration for writing.
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Saturday, July 7, 2007
Writing Prompts
One of the most valuable tools I have found are a few pages on the web of writing prompts. When the well runs dry, these are places you can go to find some inspiration. One of my favorite, for all kinds of writing is Creative Writing Prompts. Find a few pages and keep them handy for those times when the inspiration fairy refuses to light on your shoulder.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Focus on the Senses: All of Them
We are blessed with five senses: Sight, Taste, Sound, Touch, and Smell (STSTS). Well, at least most of us are; I am smell impaired because of allergies. If we are writing, we need to make use of all these senses (I have to work hard on that last one). I am continually amazed with Elizabeth Bishop's poetry. If you take a look at her "At the Fishouses" you will find she makes use of all five senses in that single poem.
I got the following idea from Tell It Slant by Brenda Miller and Suanne Paola. Use all five of your senses to tell about your favorite dinner. I am working on my favorite dinner. It is an Armenian feast and I am working hard on describing a meal that not many people would be familiar with: keyma, basturma, sou bourge, sarma, dolma, kufta, pilaf, shishkebob, peda, lamajoon, and paklava. My task is to describe a 4-hour meal in terms that everyone -- anyone -- can understand. How do these foods look? My task is to describe exotic tastes in terms that someone from Kansas can understand. Foods do have sounds and how they feel to your fingers (some foods are meant to be eaten with fingers) and in your mouth are important. Finally, with food there is always the smell. I can walk into a Middle Eastern restaurant and the smells immediately take me back to childhood.
So, the task is to describe a meal using all the senses. Take your time and go back to what you write several times. This exercise will help you transfer use of all senses to other situations, like Bishop's Fishouses.
I got the following idea from Tell It Slant by Brenda Miller and Suanne Paola. Use all five of your senses to tell about your favorite dinner. I am working on my favorite dinner. It is an Armenian feast and I am working hard on describing a meal that not many people would be familiar with: keyma, basturma, sou bourge, sarma, dolma, kufta, pilaf, shishkebob, peda, lamajoon, and paklava. My task is to describe a 4-hour meal in terms that everyone -- anyone -- can understand. How do these foods look? My task is to describe exotic tastes in terms that someone from Kansas can understand. Foods do have sounds and how they feel to your fingers (some foods are meant to be eaten with fingers) and in your mouth are important. Finally, with food there is always the smell. I can walk into a Middle Eastern restaurant and the smells immediately take me back to childhood.
So, the task is to describe a meal using all the senses. Take your time and go back to what you write several times. This exercise will help you transfer use of all senses to other situations, like Bishop's Fishouses.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
HOLIDAYS
Today is the 4th of July. Traditionally families will gather for picnics and watch fireworks. A family gathering is a great source of inspiration. There are other events where families gather: Christmas Chanukah, Thanksgiving, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.
Focus on the members of the family and not on the occasion. Thornton Wilder wrote The Long Christmas Dinner that does just that. The play takes place at the Bayard family's Christmas dinner table over the course of ninety years. The play's action follows the family through four generations in accelerated action.
Take a look at the members of your own family. How do they react at family gatherings? Are there genuine characters in your family? like the aunt who collects cats? What family tensions always come to the surface during these get-togethers? In my friend's family, sibling rivalry always rears its ugly head no matter what the event.
It doesn't matter whether you write poetry, fiction, or creative non-fiction, this exercise will give you some material to use. Try it.
Focus on the members of the family and not on the occasion. Thornton Wilder wrote The Long Christmas Dinner that does just that. The play takes place at the Bayard family's Christmas dinner table over the course of ninety years. The play's action follows the family through four generations in accelerated action.
Take a look at the members of your own family. How do they react at family gatherings? Are there genuine characters in your family? like the aunt who collects cats? What family tensions always come to the surface during these get-togethers? In my friend's family, sibling rivalry always rears its ugly head no matter what the event.
It doesn't matter whether you write poetry, fiction, or creative non-fiction, this exercise will give you some material to use. Try it.
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