Writing Through the Chaos

post by Maggie

In an ideal world, peace, quiet, and creative thought would drop down on command and cover the writer like a soft veil of protection against the chaos of real life. Most often, however, it's: chaos 1, veil 0. What's a writer to do?

Finding the inspired-quiet-enough-time continuum can be a constant challenge. Many get up before the birds or stay awake in the dead of night to get their words down. Some write on computers with babies on their laps, toddlers clinging to their legs, typing with one hand and making a doctor appointment on their cell phone with the other. And dogs bark, trash trucks bang, road construction jackhammers on, as endless train whistles loudly and endlessly announce their presence. And the muse won't wait any better than the toilet over-flowing in the upstairs bathroom will.

An arranged time away from daily life can be the answer: to the library, to a coffee shop, to a quiet corner of the park. Northern Colorado Writers in Fort Collins has a wonderful studio open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., a great place for members to mind the muse, not to mention a writer retreat weekend at Sylvandale Ranch every fall. For more information, go to www.NorthernColoradoWriters.com.

However you can manage it, as a writer, you must write. Must. Be it through chaos, crisis, or certain block, you must deliver your words. The world awaits.

Painting the West

Posted by Linda
 

Stephie Morton, Creative Specialist, at Laurel Elementary School of Arts and Technology in Fort Collins, invited me to participate in the fourth grade art show, Painting the West.

She and the fourth grade teachers followed my PowerPoint program about my book, How the West Was Drawn: Cowboy Charlie’s Art with an expanded unit on the West. The classes read my book and read more historical books/stories about the Wild West.

The culminating activity required students to draw a western picture. They didn’t copy pictures from my book but drew from their imagination and applied what they had seen of Russell’s works. They wrote a short story to accompany each picture.

Stephie set up a museum setting to display the pictures and invited all classes on May 25^th to view the show from 1:15-3:15 pm. She invited parents between 4 & 6 pm. And, she invited me for both.  

 I contributed my posters and homemade period costumes. Students wanted to don the costumes but time limits prevented it. Instead, I held the outfits in front of several students and Stephie took their pictures. I talked about the artists, suggested students find the snake in the Russell cover picture and the riderless horse in the Remington cover picture. 

 

Stephie shared some of the stories that accompanied the paintings. They related cowboy and Indian fights, sad or interesting tales. One fourth grader’s work stood above the others. His six or seven sentences included active verbs which painted wonderful word pictures; he used no passive verbs. Writers could learn from him.

The teachers plan to repeat and possibly expand the unit next year. I enjoyed the day, students, and parents. Hopefully, next year more parents take part. Congratulations, Stephie, on a job well done.

Last Monday Book: Shimmering Images

Post by Jenny

This annual day of remembrance has me thinking about memories and the importance of preserving them through story. Shimmering Images – A Handy Little Guide to Writing Memoir, by Lisa Dale Norton, is exactly what the title says it is. (Little in this case meaning 116 pages, which worked out well for me as I only got around to picking it up last Friday. May is such a crazy busy month.)

I am a memoir novice. I’ve read a few good ones, but, other than my self-indulgent journaling years, have never considered writing in depth about myself and my life. And, while we’re on the general subject, what exactly is the difference between a memoir and an autobiography (which my journals also were not)? Norton differentiates in this way: memoir is a “slim section (of a life), full of power, that demands to be told.” An autobiography is a chronological overview of an entire life, from birth to present.

In helping aspiring memoirists find their footing, Norton also addresses another tricky issue: truth versus fact. Most writers want a story to be honest in the telling. But memory is fallible, and what if we’re not sure that events transpired the way we remember them? This is especially challenging when our truth might make for some awkward family get-togethers. “Writers of life stories,” Norton writes, “are not journalists….Facts over emotional truth is not the point.” In short, be accurate when possible, and write with compassion the truth of your life as you know it.

But what to write about? For some memoirists, that isn’t a problem. The aforementioned slice of life stands out like a billboard. For others, the process will be more like picking through a box of memorabilia. Go slow, Norton writes, go deep. And keep an eye out for the “shimmering images,” the memories that rise “in your consciousness like a photograph pulsing with meaning.” They won’t surface all at once or in the logical order of a novel’s plot outline, so take a lot of notes. Expect to wade through at least a couple of messy drafts, but that’s par for the course with writing in general, right?

This small book offers much wisdom and inspiration for beginning and experienced memoirists alike. I may not be ready to jump into that type of project, but I’m going to try to pay more attention to the shimmering images that appear before my mind’s eye.

Are you working on a memoir?

Writing Podcasts

Post by Dylan

Nowadays there are many different ways for information to be broadcast: blogs, newspapers, cell phones, television, etc. As writers it is our job to stay current with these different media, especially when writing modern day fiction. Now, I don’t know about you, but, as you can guess from my title, I enjoy listening to Podcasts while I write, specifically ones on writing or involving author interviews.

In recent years, there has been a huge wave of writing podcasts being broadcast on the internet. Trust me when I say that not all of them are keepers. However, there are definitely a few out there that stand supreme and I listen to constantly. The reason I find these podcasts so helpful is they not only entertain you and give you something stimulating to listen to while writing; they also can give you insightful information or news from your favorite authors.

I would definitely recommend writing podcasts to any writer who enjoys listening to something while they write, but just can’t find the right music. They are entertaining and on many occasions have related to something I was writing at that moment and have helped me break through a little bit of writers block. So, not only are they fun to listen to they are also very helpful. There is no reason not to try listening to a writing podcast. In fact, I will give you a list of a few just to get you guys started.

Science Fiction/ Fantasy specific podcasts:

- SF Signal
- Adventures in SciFi Publishing
- Speculate ( This podcast has featured Colorado authors Carol Berg and Courtney Schaffer)
- The Author Hour (Has also featured Carol Berg)

General Writing podcasts:

- Writing Excuses
- Writing for YA ( Hosted by Colorado author Victoria Hanley)

Do you guys have any podcasts you listen to? Let me know in the comments below.

A Writing Break

Posted by Linda 

Over the last month, I wrote eight articles for various sources and finished/submitted my third in the How the West Was Drawn series. I needed a writing break.

A fellow Dixieland Jazz enthusiast invited my husband and me to share his very large timeshare in Cabo San Lucas. I checked the safety of the area, Googled the resort (Playa Grande), and decided it might be a fun trip although we wouldn’t know two of the other three couples sharing the four bedroom condo. 

I wondered if I could really keep from writing for a week. Would I return re-energized? We accepted the trip and I vowed to have fun and refrain from writing.

I loaded my laptop into my carry on. Not to write. I only planned to check my emails and download pictures.

Our resort oasis sported plush vegetation with beautiful flowers in the unexpected desert of the southern tip of Baja California. Our host promised we could sleep late, read, relax, and bash politicians. I was ready.

The first day we shopped at Costco and WalMart for supplies. Throughout the week, each couple took turns cooking meals. Most everyone retired early to their private bedroom suites (larger than my master bedroom at home). I only turned on the TV twice for a half-hour bit of news. I checked emails but didn't write.

The first night I took pictures of the wedding in the little gazebo below our deck. I told myself the pictures could help write an article once we returned home.

I walked the beach and watched the skim boarders ride the high waves that broke against the sand. I hurried to the room and grabbed my camera. I wondered if I should take notes - nah! 

The rest of the week included a walk to town to haggle with vendors at the Flea Market. I read two books. Each evening I mentally noted how the grounds keepers raked the sand or cleaned the area around the gazebo. We watched two more weddings, listened to outdoor music performances, witnessed a fireworks show, and enjoyed the nightly breezes. The week ended.

The first day at home I received three writing assignments. My mental notes and Cabo pictures offer plenty of fodder. I succeeded in taking a break from writing for a week. Now I'm re-energized and have caught the Writing Bug again.  

All That's Fit to Print

Post by Jenny

Writers and printers have worked together since Johannes Gutenberg invented the movable type printing press  in 1440. I had the chance last week to join Kerrie and some other NCW folks for a tour of Citizen Printing, a local company that has been committing words to paper since 1906.

Digital printing has changed the business almost as much as Gutenberg did. It’s faster and greener than typesetting, which makes the process easier for both the print shop and the author. But there are still factors that writers must take into consideration. For instance, for all of us plugging along in Word, well, it’s not a professional print production format. PDF files are easier to manipulate and correct, and Adobe and Publisher are even better. Don’t want to learn those? A good print shop will have a pre-press department with a patient guru who can make a document look polished and professional without subjecting the author to those hair-pulling, head-banging, ‘why isn’t this working?’ moments.

A good print shop will also have a variety of papers, sizes, and covers from which to choose. They will provide plenty of proofs, colors, and stay within budget. They will offer advice and guidance to help a client arrive at a pleasing end product.

And then what?

I hate to use the “m” word, but here it comes: marketing. Authors, before you have any materials printed in a quantity larger than whatever will comfortably fit in, say, your microwave, you must have an idea of where they will end up. (Hint: not your garage.) And guess what? The internet is not a marketing plan. Neither is dropping books off an overpass, sneaking them in mailboxes under cover of darkness, or stuffing them into Girl Scout cookie boxes.

A print shop can be a great way for an author to self-publish, but—and this is the biggest lesson I learned—don’t put the cart before the horse. Know ahead of time why you’re publishing, who will read what you’ve done, and how you’ll get it into their hands. And then, when you’re ready to go for it, find a reputable printer who will help make your dream come true.

Thanks to Rick, Mike, and Ben at Citizen for sharing their time and expertise with us. And for the pizza. Mmmm, pizza.

Have you ever published using a print shop?

The Big Wait

NCW Member,  Maggie Goins will be taking the place of Laney and blogging for The Writing Bug every other Friday. Welcome Maggie!

Writers write, of course, but we also wait. We wait a lot, especially if we’re among the Great Unpublished submitting our work to agents and editors. It’s what we must do. No other choice here.

After a while, the Big Wait becomes a part of us. It’s on our mind, an annoying companion always there, one who whispers things like, “See that guy over there in line? The one with the red face and steam coming out of his ears? No way he could be a writer. He’d never survive me. How’re you holding up?”

The Big Wait can be tough. Really, we’re waiting to find out if our submission is right for someone’s list, if they love it and think it will sell, if working with us on the project will be worth their time and effort. What if the response is none of the above? Unfortunately, that’s most often the case. But we keep trying because our writing success is that important to us. It. Just. Is.

So, how do we writers keep from: giving up, melting down, throwing our computers out the window, punching out the next person who asks if we’ve heard yet? Not sure, but we manage. Most of the time. Since we all have to deal with the Big Wait, let’s think about ways to deal with it. Wait, here’s some now:

• Start a new project that isn’t writing related. 
•  Get caught up on all the life stuff we left hanging when this writing project became all there was. 
• Spend time with someone who will be able to talk us down off the I-can’t-do-this-anymore ledge. 
•  Try not to think about it. I know. Sorry. 
•  Research a topic we’d love to write a story or an article about. 
• Read. Always a good decision. 
• Make a list of Big Wait busters and share it with waiting writers everywhere.