My First Writers Conference

Last Saturday, I attended my first writers conference sponsored by the Writers Center of Indiana.  "The Gathering of Writers" at Indiana Landmarks Center proved to be well worth the money.   I enjoyed my chosen sessions -- all on fiction. 

Melissa Fraterrigo's session focused on effective openings that captured the reader's imagination.  Sarah Layden led us through exercises and discussions on "mapping fictional places and spaces."  And last, but not least, Ben Wintes gave "a fast-and-furious, down-and-dirty lesson" on plotting and structure.  I am still in awe of all three!

OK, this will sound very strange!  I learned nothing, but learned an amazing amount about writing.  Here's what I took away from listening to these three generous writers --

You are the producer, the director, the set-designer, the costumer, the actor, the actress, the screenwriter...  It's yours totally to own.  No one can take it away.

You take common (and not-so common) words turn them into any sized story you want.  Treat it like silly putty and stretch it any direction you want, into any space or time, and create characters who can be simple or complex.

You take your reader by the hand and say "Hey... Come with me and you'll be in a world of pure imagination."  (Thank you, Gene Wilder's Willie Wonka!)   Be it down the river, up the mountain, through the woods, under the earth, up to the moon or beyond.   Anywhere.

You have the ability to escape and take a few readers with you.

I just have to remember that it's a rough road filled with patience, perseverance, tough choices, tears, fears, laughter, and simple joy.

Now, when's the next conference?  I'm ready!

 

A Hard Road to Travel -- Part 8

April 9

Indianapolis

Dear sis,
Wow!  How about the dr fees!  We had the same thing here for a while.  They are now controlled by the Mayor and Council.  Lots of complaints by the drs, but way too many by the public.   Dr. Karkus, the one I work for, sat a fair system from the beginning, but others were gouging.  By the way, I found out they've got you a plot next to ours at the garden.
Now for the interesting news --  Harry took a field trip with a group of student engineers from IU.  They went west to the Mississippi lakes then down to the gulf.  He was gone for about 10 days.  They went to Memphis.   He said there's a lot of damage.  They were supposed to go on down to Winona in Mississippi, but they've blocked off the area, said the ground was too unstable.   He did bring back a new map showing what the country looks like from space.   If you've got a good road atlas, US 70 marks the north line for the most part, Interstate 65 for the east, and highway 83 to the west -- that whole area is now underwater.  Looks like Mexico got hit bad too.  He also found out the Panama Canal is gone and the continents are now separated by about 20 miles.
Gotta stop for now.  Will send more info later. Now it's off to community meeting.

Love Sal

*****

April

Keene, NH

Dear Sal

That's a lot of interesting stuff.  Did you hear about Hawaii?  Rumor has two of the islands now connection and they each have gotten bigger.    I also heard part of India is gone as well.   I find all of this fascinating.   Of course, it's not happening to us.   It would be different if it happened to us personally.  
We got our gas ration approved.  Now, we start planning.  Bert says we can ship most of our stuff on the train.   It will be cheaper and save on the gas.   Mama and the kids can take it as well.  Their fares are cheap and it would save them the long trip.   The train is a little quicker.   We have to do what we can to save gas.  Anyway, it's a short letter.   Will write more very soon.

Love ya
M

My Inner Critic

Without criticism, how does a writer grow?  

Critics may sting or bite or even snarl, but I believe they provide you with better insight into your writing.  Publishing houses can do the same.  Although, I do keep in mind that J. K. Rowling's first book was passed on by several publishers.  Gee, I wonder if they made as much money with their chosen books to publish as she did writing book seven?  

My fear spins around an unseen critic.   The one hiding deep inside my mind.  I hear the jerk's words...  "You're a nobody.  Who cares about your stupid book?  Or writing?  Or blog?"

Maybe it's doubt I hear and not the inner critic.

As for the exterior critic, the one who reads your book, dishes about the flat cardboard character, the thin plot, the poor structures.  Why should I care about them?   They may or may not help me improve my techniques, character development, fuller plot, better writing.  Or maybe, most of all, I want to hear from them because I'm a sadist.

Sometimes, I have the pleasure of sitting at the library's reference desk in the fiction area.   As I scan the great sea of fiction titles filling the shelves, I cannot help but think "I can do this."

I've learned it is important to practice, patience, and perseverance.  Putting words on paper, then edit, then edit again.   Read.   Read again.  Read as a writer.   Read as a reader.  Study the words, the structures, the plots, the characters.   How are they intertwined?   What is memorable?

No matter what, just keep writing.

CSM

Writing Space

From the "learn-it-the-hard-way" method, I discovered that writing spaces are important.   The area must be comfortable, clean, clear of clutter, and away from distractions.

As I look at mine, I can check off that my space is...  Well, none of the above.   I have an uncomfortable chair, a kid-sized desk from the 1930s, a nick-knacks from travels, wee piles of scrap paper with notes, and dust.

Yet, somehow I managed to fill a 127 pages (8 1/2 by 11) with a trifle over 47,000 words to form the first part of a larger story.

Often I longed for comfort.   So, I set myself a new goal.  Get a comfortable chair and a bigger desk, dust more frequently, and clear a portion of the clutter.  The nick-knacks have to stay.  Those momentos of my travels remind me of the more important things in life.  Keep traveling.  They also inspire me with ideas for plots, "what if" moments, and character development.

CSM