My dad is having some outpatient surgery done today. So, my thoughts are with him. I'm wishing I could be there with him. I'm wishing I could be there with my mom and dad and help them like they have helped me so many times over the years. But my own family needs me as well. Unfortunately, we can only do so much at one time. It's just a matter of picking what exactly it is we do with that time.
I would like to pay tribute to my parents in regards to that. They have taught me, especially by example, how to make good use of time. They have shown me that we should always be engaged in a good cause. Neither of my parents are shrinking violets. They are both talented, intelligent people who have put their energies over the years into many good endeavors.
They and my husband have taught me to believe in myself, and that if I put my mind to it I can accomplish much with the time I have been given. If it weren't for the three of them I wouldn't be writing a book. I might still be penning a short story here or there, but I wouldn't have taken on the monumental task of writing a book.
So, thank you, the three of you, for helping me have the desire and gumption to write. It makes all the difference.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Writing Perks
Can I just say I love my job? I'm writing a magazine article about a bakery in our town. They are a regional bakery, providing products to our state and three other surrounding states. Along with their own bread labels, local grocery stores and even national brands contract with them to make their bread.
I got to tag along on a tour today (with a group of first graders) to see the operation. It's quite fascinating. Conveyor belts are EVERYWHERE! They are like model trains circling overhead and beside you and in circular carousels. Bread products move from machine to machine on conveyor belts, but they also need to cool once they are baked before they can be sliced, if needed, and bagged. They travel all around the plant for an hour just so they can cool.
Now, here's the best part. When the tour is done everyone gets a freshly baked (just this morning) loaf of Cinnabon bread! YUM!
While not every article I have done relates to food - far from it, I have enjoyed those that have. There was the restaurant review where I was given samples of probably a dozen dishes and, of course, the ice cream store where I just had to sample probably a dozen different flavors. I believe I have "lamented" these articles before, but the power of the pen on the author's side of things continues to amaze me. I really do love this job.
I got to tag along on a tour today (with a group of first graders) to see the operation. It's quite fascinating. Conveyor belts are EVERYWHERE! They are like model trains circling overhead and beside you and in circular carousels. Bread products move from machine to machine on conveyor belts, but they also need to cool once they are baked before they can be sliced, if needed, and bagged. They travel all around the plant for an hour just so they can cool.
Now, here's the best part. When the tour is done everyone gets a freshly baked (just this morning) loaf of Cinnabon bread! YUM!
While not every article I have done relates to food - far from it, I have enjoyed those that have. There was the restaurant review where I was given samples of probably a dozen dishes and, of course, the ice cream store where I just had to sample probably a dozen different flavors. I believe I have "lamented" these articles before, but the power of the pen on the author's side of things continues to amaze me. I really do love this job.
Monday, May 27, 2013
Memorial Day
I must admit Memorial Day, to me, is usually about the picnic. But this year is a little different. I was asked to write an article for Memorial Day for our community. I interviewed someone from the local VFW (Veteran's of Foreign Wars), read some local histories, checked out our local Veteran's Memorial and actually sorted through headstones from the two city cemeteries.
What I learned covered a lot more than what ended up in my article. I'm guessing you're thinking I'm going to talk about my appreciation for those who have gone to war to defend my freedoms. I am grateful for them, but I already felt that way. What was new to me started with something different. I live in Ohio, but I grew up in the West. So, it was unusual for me to find grave markers for those who fought in the Civil War.
One hundred and fifty years ago the Civil War was raging. And people who grew up in my little town jumped in to fight. Many didn't even think twice, just signed up as soon as the word went out. They left families and girlfriends and wives behind.
There was a story of one soldier named Henry from our town who got lost on a scouting mission in the deep South. Hungry, he came across a cow, tied it to a tree and began to milk it into his mess kit. A confederate soldier came upon him, and attempted to take him prisoner. Henry responded by asking for help accomplishing the task at hand. Together they milked the cow, soaked hard tack in it and drank up. In the end, the Confederate soldier gave Henry directions back to his Union lines. (See Pioneers with Web Feet, pg. 43, by Nelson P. Bard)
I've never taken much to history in the sense of memorizing dates and places, but I appreciate learning about people and the lives they led. They may have lived in a different time, but they become real to me because of their personal experiences. They are just like you and me in so many ways.
Understanding that those who gave their lives to defend my country's freedom were individual people with likes and dislikes, with interesting personalities, not just names with birthdates, makes their sacrifice profound to me. I respect those who fought, both in modern times and before.
This year memorial day really is a time to remember - to remember the individual people who impacted all of our lives.
What I learned covered a lot more than what ended up in my article. I'm guessing you're thinking I'm going to talk about my appreciation for those who have gone to war to defend my freedoms. I am grateful for them, but I already felt that way. What was new to me started with something different. I live in Ohio, but I grew up in the West. So, it was unusual for me to find grave markers for those who fought in the Civil War.
One hundred and fifty years ago the Civil War was raging. And people who grew up in my little town jumped in to fight. Many didn't even think twice, just signed up as soon as the word went out. They left families and girlfriends and wives behind.
There was a story of one soldier named Henry from our town who got lost on a scouting mission in the deep South. Hungry, he came across a cow, tied it to a tree and began to milk it into his mess kit. A confederate soldier came upon him, and attempted to take him prisoner. Henry responded by asking for help accomplishing the task at hand. Together they milked the cow, soaked hard tack in it and drank up. In the end, the Confederate soldier gave Henry directions back to his Union lines. (See Pioneers with Web Feet, pg. 43, by Nelson P. Bard)
I've never taken much to history in the sense of memorizing dates and places, but I appreciate learning about people and the lives they led. They may have lived in a different time, but they become real to me because of their personal experiences. They are just like you and me in so many ways.
Understanding that those who gave their lives to defend my country's freedom were individual people with likes and dislikes, with interesting personalities, not just names with birthdates, makes their sacrifice profound to me. I respect those who fought, both in modern times and before.
This year memorial day really is a time to remember - to remember the individual people who impacted all of our lives.
Friday, May 24, 2013
1st grade story writing
Once a week I help out in my first grader's classroom. I enjoy getting to know the kids and learning what they capable of. This week I was helping with some year end writing assessments. First grade has sure come a long way.
The kids were given a prompt and told to write a story. They had a page for their pre-writing where they could list their characters, the setting, the problem their characters faced and then how that problem was resolved.
The first time I remember any story writing in school was fifth grade. Those of us that were interested in writing short stories met in the library after school to learn more about it. I don't even remember learning anything specific from that time. I'm pretty certain that we didn't learn in fifth grade then what first graders are taught now.
This is just one area where I've observed when we don't put limits on our kids they are capable of amazing things. It is fun to read my son's and his classmates' stories. I am at times jealous of the education they are getting and what I didn't, but mostly I just think it's pretty impressive what our kids can do and who they are becoming.
The kids were given a prompt and told to write a story. They had a page for their pre-writing where they could list their characters, the setting, the problem their characters faced and then how that problem was resolved.
The first time I remember any story writing in school was fifth grade. Those of us that were interested in writing short stories met in the library after school to learn more about it. I don't even remember learning anything specific from that time. I'm pretty certain that we didn't learn in fifth grade then what first graders are taught now.
This is just one area where I've observed when we don't put limits on our kids they are capable of amazing things. It is fun to read my son's and his classmates' stories. I am at times jealous of the education they are getting and what I didn't, but mostly I just think it's pretty impressive what our kids can do and who they are becoming.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Interesting Use of Adjectives
Adjectives are powerful weapons in the writer's arsenal. This is not a revelation. Adjectives bring a sunset to life or describe a smell such that you want to taste its source or run the other direction. These are the typical uses of adjectives. Used well, they make something ordinary extraordinary.
But what about unusual uses? If you refer to a "polite teenager" or a "patient toddler" you are either making it clear this is a work of fiction, this is an amazing child or you are being rather sarcastic. How delightful that a single word can carry so much meaning.
The above examples are oxymorons, but there are other ways a single adjective can convey a unique meaning. Think about a "talkative apple" or a "marble stare." What image comes to mind with a "withered porch" or the "luminescent sparrow"? I like the thoughts of a "cranky Cadillac" and an "impatient piano." Does it pique your curiosity to know how a piano could be impatient? Or maybe you've already thought of a few ways.
Whatever your thinking, hopefully you'll leave this blog and have a delicious day.
But what about unusual uses? If you refer to a "polite teenager" or a "patient toddler" you are either making it clear this is a work of fiction, this is an amazing child or you are being rather sarcastic. How delightful that a single word can carry so much meaning.
The above examples are oxymorons, but there are other ways a single adjective can convey a unique meaning. Think about a "talkative apple" or a "marble stare." What image comes to mind with a "withered porch" or the "luminescent sparrow"? I like the thoughts of a "cranky Cadillac" and an "impatient piano." Does it pique your curiosity to know how a piano could be impatient? Or maybe you've already thought of a few ways.
Whatever your thinking, hopefully you'll leave this blog and have a delicious day.
Friday, May 17, 2013
Computer Scientist/Writer
I have to admit that here I am devoting my time to writing, but that is not what I studied in school. It feels like a disadvantage at times, needing to learn my craft on my own. And if I had things to do over again, who knows if I would have done it differently.
What I did study was computer science. But when I think about it, that training is actually helpful when crafting a novel. Let me explain.
When writing a program you have several things you need to keep in mind. First, you need to declare variables. In a novel you have to introduce characters. Some of them are not revealed to the reader until later in the novel, but the author has to have figured them into the whole equation right from the start. Many computer variables may not be used until later on, but they have to be initiated up front.
Another consideration in a structured programming language is that for every begin you need an end. Nothing annoys me more as a reader than an author who doesn't tie up loose ends. As an author the trick is keeping track of all the loose ends so you make sure to tie them up, much like the diligence needed when programming.
In programming, you often make function calls, meaning the function is written somewhere else and then called or used when needed. The equivalent in novels would be the flashback.
I could obviously go on. The bottom line is this: maybe I didn't receive training in writing, but that doesn't mean I didn't receive training for what I'm doing. I just have to be a little creative in my thinking to see how it applies.
What I did study was computer science. But when I think about it, that training is actually helpful when crafting a novel. Let me explain.
When writing a program you have several things you need to keep in mind. First, you need to declare variables. In a novel you have to introduce characters. Some of them are not revealed to the reader until later in the novel, but the author has to have figured them into the whole equation right from the start. Many computer variables may not be used until later on, but they have to be initiated up front.
Another consideration in a structured programming language is that for every begin you need an end. Nothing annoys me more as a reader than an author who doesn't tie up loose ends. As an author the trick is keeping track of all the loose ends so you make sure to tie them up, much like the diligence needed when programming.
In programming, you often make function calls, meaning the function is written somewhere else and then called or used when needed. The equivalent in novels would be the flashback.
I could obviously go on. The bottom line is this: maybe I didn't receive training in writing, but that doesn't mean I didn't receive training for what I'm doing. I just have to be a little creative in my thinking to see how it applies.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Potato Salad
I love summertime barbeques with all the fixings, including potato salad. And it seems everyone makes potato salad their own way. The only kind I don't like is the store bought variety, other than that I love them in all their forms.
Making potato salad over the years we have noticed that it is better made ahead of time so the flavors can truly marry. Nothing like a few hours of sitting to bring out the best in all the ingredients.
I think the same is true of good writing. That's why we rarely publish first drafts. With time, our characters percolate in our minds. They take shape or even change shape. Their motives and histories become apparent in our imaginations. And it's not so much that we create these things as it is that they reveal themselves. It can just take time for these things to come out of hiding.
It can be hard to be patient. When I am writing fast and furiously on a book, I want to keep going until I finish. But my characters have a different idea. They want to enjoy the ride, and even rest from time to time. My characters drive me on, but they also put on the brakes from time to time, reminding me to stop and let their "flavors" mature and come together.
It may be hard to be patient, but it is usually worth the wait.
Making potato salad over the years we have noticed that it is better made ahead of time so the flavors can truly marry. Nothing like a few hours of sitting to bring out the best in all the ingredients.
I think the same is true of good writing. That's why we rarely publish first drafts. With time, our characters percolate in our minds. They take shape or even change shape. Their motives and histories become apparent in our imaginations. And it's not so much that we create these things as it is that they reveal themselves. It can just take time for these things to come out of hiding.
It can be hard to be patient. When I am writing fast and furiously on a book, I want to keep going until I finish. But my characters have a different idea. They want to enjoy the ride, and even rest from time to time. My characters drive me on, but they also put on the brakes from time to time, reminding me to stop and let their "flavors" mature and come together.
It may be hard to be patient, but it is usually worth the wait.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Post Mother's Day
Mother's Day was yesterday, if you hadn't noticed. I don't know about you, but my mother taught me a lot of things. Some of them good common sense, some of them quite profound. I talked to my mother yesterday, as well as my kids. My kids said some nice things to me. All of it makes one stop and think.
It makes me stop and think about the advice I give to my kids. Do I live it? Do I do my homework first and play later? Do I eat more good food than sweets? Do I finish what I start? Do I know that even though I may not want to do something (like a homework assignment or piano practicing) I just have to do it anyway?
I suppose I do okay with most of those things, most of the time. However, there are days . . . like Friday, when I couldn't think of what to blog about, so I didn't. That's not the approach I would have suggested to my children.
Am I more likely to mimic the expectations I have for my kids when I know they are watching? The answer is yes. But the real character of a person is what they do when no one is watching. Hmmm. It does give one pause to think, at least if you are being honest with yourself. So, if nothing else, I blogged today, even though most of my kids don't read it.
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Being Politically Correct
As a writer, one must always be aware of being politically correct or at least expect possible back lash if one is not. But let me get on my soap box just a little about one of the politically correct buzz words these days, bullying.
Hold the back lash. Wait until I share my thoughts. I do believe bullying is a terrible problem. I recently wrote an article about our school district and some of the preventative measures they are utilizing. Did you know that bullying statistics from 2010 show that one in seven students in kindergarten through 12th grade has either been a victim of bullying or been a bully themselves? Fourth thru eighth grades show the worst incidents of bullying, with 90% of students reporting being victims of some form of bullying, mostly at school. (See www.bullyingstatistics.org)
Okay, now that I've established that bullying is a real problem, let me get on my soap box. We talk about bullying with kids so much that it can be too easy to pull out the "I'm being bullied" card. There is a fine line here, no doubt. But it seems the pendulum has swung the other way in elementary school. I don't think this is the case with older kids. They still seem to under report bullying, and that compounds the problem. (This seems inconsistent with my above statement about 90% of kids report being bullied, however, one must ask who are they reporting this to? Is it to the survey only or have they talked to their parents and teachers?)
So, how can I say it's overused in the younger grades? The answer is my son and other kids around him. For an example, he's reported to me about being bullied by an older child. The upshot is this other kid teases him from time to time. I don't condone it. It isn't right. I have talked to the school about it, and they've been working on fixing it, and near as I can tell they have. But . . . my son also needs to learn to have a bit of a thick skin. People of all ages aren't always nice. They don't always say the nicest things. Sometimes they're downright mean! It is difficult to change other people, but we can change ourselves. That means not calling ourselves victims. It means shrugging things off, and not letting them bother us. It also means forgiving.
Again, I am all for protecting our children and helping them. I just believe that if we stop at trying to change the bully without building up the one being bullied, we've only done half our job. I'm not saying anything negative about the kids who are bullied, so don't think I am. What I am saying is that as a parent or an educator or an interested adult there's more we can do.
Whether you agree with my soap box or not, it's something to contemplate, isn't it?
Hold the back lash. Wait until I share my thoughts. I do believe bullying is a terrible problem. I recently wrote an article about our school district and some of the preventative measures they are utilizing. Did you know that bullying statistics from 2010 show that one in seven students in kindergarten through 12th grade has either been a victim of bullying or been a bully themselves? Fourth thru eighth grades show the worst incidents of bullying, with 90% of students reporting being victims of some form of bullying, mostly at school. (See www.bullyingstatistics.org)
Okay, now that I've established that bullying is a real problem, let me get on my soap box. We talk about bullying with kids so much that it can be too easy to pull out the "I'm being bullied" card. There is a fine line here, no doubt. But it seems the pendulum has swung the other way in elementary school. I don't think this is the case with older kids. They still seem to under report bullying, and that compounds the problem. (This seems inconsistent with my above statement about 90% of kids report being bullied, however, one must ask who are they reporting this to? Is it to the survey only or have they talked to their parents and teachers?)
So, how can I say it's overused in the younger grades? The answer is my son and other kids around him. For an example, he's reported to me about being bullied by an older child. The upshot is this other kid teases him from time to time. I don't condone it. It isn't right. I have talked to the school about it, and they've been working on fixing it, and near as I can tell they have. But . . . my son also needs to learn to have a bit of a thick skin. People of all ages aren't always nice. They don't always say the nicest things. Sometimes they're downright mean! It is difficult to change other people, but we can change ourselves. That means not calling ourselves victims. It means shrugging things off, and not letting them bother us. It also means forgiving.
Again, I am all for protecting our children and helping them. I just believe that if we stop at trying to change the bully without building up the one being bullied, we've only done half our job. I'm not saying anything negative about the kids who are bullied, so don't think I am. What I am saying is that as a parent or an educator or an interested adult there's more we can do.
Whether you agree with my soap box or not, it's something to contemplate, isn't it?
Monday, May 6, 2013
Trees in Spring
The best model for novels, I believe, is the world around us. I've blogged before about trees and rain and sudden changes in the weather. We write what we know, and whether we recognize its influence or not, we know about the physical world around us.
I'm not saying you need to be a botanist or a geologist. I'm saying we all know about seasons and the changes they bring. We know the basics of birds and rain, of dirt and wind.
Let me give you an example. I walk my son to school each morning. The street we walk is lined with flowering trees of various kinds. I could use this simple walk as a framework for a story in any of a number of ways. My son noticed the blossom petals on the sidewalk. In front of one house they were pink, but in front of the next they were white, only to return to the pink. Is life cyclical? Only in a dozen different ways. Or what about the trees themselves. Only last week, they were greening up with no hint of blossoms. Now they are bursting with color. The trees are the same trees, but given some warmth, they burst forth into beauty. It's not hard to see how that metaphor could translate into a plot.
These are just two small examples of the myriad ways that nature is a metaphor for everything else! (Okay, so maybe this is a bit of hyperbole, but I'm having a difficult time coming up with exceptions.)
Whether you are a writer or not, don't you find great lessons for life from the world around us? Isn't it a glorious place?!
I'm not saying you need to be a botanist or a geologist. I'm saying we all know about seasons and the changes they bring. We know the basics of birds and rain, of dirt and wind.
Let me give you an example. I walk my son to school each morning. The street we walk is lined with flowering trees of various kinds. I could use this simple walk as a framework for a story in any of a number of ways. My son noticed the blossom petals on the sidewalk. In front of one house they were pink, but in front of the next they were white, only to return to the pink. Is life cyclical? Only in a dozen different ways. Or what about the trees themselves. Only last week, they were greening up with no hint of blossoms. Now they are bursting with color. The trees are the same trees, but given some warmth, they burst forth into beauty. It's not hard to see how that metaphor could translate into a plot.
These are just two small examples of the myriad ways that nature is a metaphor for everything else! (Okay, so maybe this is a bit of hyperbole, but I'm having a difficult time coming up with exceptions.)
Whether you are a writer or not, don't you find great lessons for life from the world around us? Isn't it a glorious place?!
Friday, May 3, 2013
Ambiguity
Have you ever read a book that hints at something but doesn't come out and say it? Or what about a book that says something that could mean two different things? There is also the instance where a single word, such as "dead," could be literal or figurative. Sometimes authors don't make it clear which meaning is correct.
I will admit that I'm not fond of writers who do that. I want to know what they were thinking and meaning. I usually resolve this by picking what I believe they meant, and hoping and assuming I am right.
Now that I am on the other side of things, I'm beginning to view it differently. I see an alternative viewpoint. Sometimes there really is no one "correct" meaning. I admit that I have intentionally left some things ambiguous. I leave the interpretation up to the reader. The reader, being an intelligent creature, can decide for him or herself which viewpoint is most comfortable and logical (to him or her). I will not compel someone to go out of their comfort zone for an interpretation, if they don't want to. So, multiple meanings are "correct." And I'm okay with that.
I may be the writer, but I don't have all of the answers either.
I will admit that I'm not fond of writers who do that. I want to know what they were thinking and meaning. I usually resolve this by picking what I believe they meant, and hoping and assuming I am right.
Now that I am on the other side of things, I'm beginning to view it differently. I see an alternative viewpoint. Sometimes there really is no one "correct" meaning. I admit that I have intentionally left some things ambiguous. I leave the interpretation up to the reader. The reader, being an intelligent creature, can decide for him or herself which viewpoint is most comfortable and logical (to him or her). I will not compel someone to go out of their comfort zone for an interpretation, if they don't want to. So, multiple meanings are "correct." And I'm okay with that.
I may be the writer, but I don't have all of the answers either.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Curling Up With A Good Book
Finding Forrester is one of my favorite movies. One of the main characters, William Forrester, is an author. He states, "Writers write so readers can read." That is a delightfully simplistic view of writing, but it is also true.
I am enjoying the early responses of those reading my book drafts. I look for feedback both positive and negative, so that I can change what needs to be changed and keep what should stay. I am curious about my plot twists. Did I telegraph them too much? Did they surprise and delight? Is the book readable; in other words, do my readers want to keep reading?
I also love being on the other side. I love getting lost in a good book. In the last two days, my six-year-old has discovered that same love. Granted, he has in the past quickly read books, enjoying the tales, but this time is different. He picked up a book that is longer than he usually reads, and he is devouring every word!
Last night this son sat in a chair for an hour, completely absorbed and lost in his book. When he got dressed for school this morning his book sat beside him, open, so he could snack on a few more words. He talks about the book and he makes suppositions about how long it will take him to read it. He's thinking a couple of weeks, but in reality at his current pace he will finish it in two days. I'm sure they will be two wonderful days, because it is a great feeling - getting lost in a book!
I am enjoying the early responses of those reading my book drafts. I look for feedback both positive and negative, so that I can change what needs to be changed and keep what should stay. I am curious about my plot twists. Did I telegraph them too much? Did they surprise and delight? Is the book readable; in other words, do my readers want to keep reading?
I also love being on the other side. I love getting lost in a good book. In the last two days, my six-year-old has discovered that same love. Granted, he has in the past quickly read books, enjoying the tales, but this time is different. He picked up a book that is longer than he usually reads, and he is devouring every word!
Last night this son sat in a chair for an hour, completely absorbed and lost in his book. When he got dressed for school this morning his book sat beside him, open, so he could snack on a few more words. He talks about the book and he makes suppositions about how long it will take him to read it. He's thinking a couple of weeks, but in reality at his current pace he will finish it in two days. I'm sure they will be two wonderful days, because it is a great feeling - getting lost in a book!
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