New Directions... No, I don't mean the boy band.

With the changing of my blog address, I already feel like I am now on my way down a whole new path.   I have lived with The Fingerprint of Jack for two and half years.   Now, I near completion of the last round of editing.  The cover will be unveiled hopefully next week.

It's been a two year project.   It's time to move onto the next one.

Cleo and Edgar:  A Time Savers Club Adventure is the title of book two.   I had no issue finding names for the first two books, but book three of the trilogy has yet to provide me with its name.

Keep watching for more chapters, materials from The Time Savers Club archives, and who knows what else on my other blog.

Watch this blog for my shameless self-promotion, short stories, and who knows what else.

Also, I just found a sci-fi writer by the name Christopher Marshall who lives in Ohio.  Guess I'll have to go by Christopher S. Marshall.   Sorry other Christopher Marshall -- I would prefer the credit for my book.  I suspect that you would prefer your credits as well.
CSM

Official Notice

Hey everyone

I am officially changing the web address of this blog from -- http://fingerprintofjack.blogspot.com/ -- to http://christophermarshallwriter.blogspot.com.

Since I am now moving onto other projects, like book two and three, plus other short stories, and then there's that other novel unrelated to anything I've scratched out so far...

So many words, plots, ideas, characters all jumping around in my head!  I may go crazy!

Yours

CSM

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

A Hard Road to Travel -- Part 7

Back to short story writing.  Being in between books allows me to rest from the big story and focus on little stories.

As you may recall, the last letter from the last letter from Marianne to her sister Sally in Keene, New Hampshire left us hanging...  Here it is to help you get caught up and a couple of new letters.

March 25

Keene, New Hampshire

Dear Sal

Good to hear all is well.  Snow is melting here.   The temps have gotten up into the 50s and plenty of sunshine.   Great news -- we heard about our applications.  They have been approved for us to move there.   It will not be until May.   We broke the news to Mama and she is very excited.   She will be glad to be back in Indy.   Let us know about the apartment situation there.  Our next hoop will be applying for gas.  I wished we would have bought one of the electric cars when we had the chance.  Oh well.

Anyway, gotta go. 

Love Marianne


*****

April 2

Indianapolis

Dear Marianne

Great news to hear!   We will scout out an apartment for you. The one we had here was rented.  There's a nice apt. building on the next street over.  Very reasonable and secure.  Will keep in touch about it.   Bert knows the landlord well.  For the most part, the landlords live in the buildings anymore.  Bert talked to the coop head and they will plot a spot for you in the community garden as soon as we know you will be here.  We can go ahead and plant some stuff for you.   You can stay with us for a few days when you arrive, so don't fret.  I know you will.    We continue to have gas rationing.   Bert says we may have to break down and get some more solar panels made.   The supplier just got more materials for self-building.   Let Mama know we will have a room for her if she wants to live with us awhile.

Keep in touch.
Love
Sal

*****

April 5

Keene

Dear Sal,

Mama says she'd like to live with you a while.  She's started packing and we just submitted our request for gas.   Do you remember our neighbor Judy with the broken wrist?  The doctor charged her $20 and two years of house-keeping.  Well, as it turns out, he died last week -- so no housekeeping for him.   She asked if she had to pay the rest to the estate.  The doctor's lawyer said no.  Well, during that conversation, he mentioned the state was reviewing all the medical system and were studying Canada's.   From last I heard, they are organizing something similar.   Doctors here are throwing a fit.  Serve em right.  Sorry, I know you're a nurse, but I just can't imagine.  Apparently, there's been doctors charging up to $4000 to do simple stuff.

Well, gotta go.
Love
M