Categories
Fantasy-Sci-Fi

Fantasy and Maps—Does Your Story Need One?

 

What do “The Lord of the Rings,” “The Chronicles of Narnia,” and “The Land of Oz” all have in common?

Crack open any of these classic books and you’ll find a map of a fantasy world to go with the story. The inclusion of maps within works of fantasy was not uncommon in early literature, however, it was made more popular with J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings” saga.

There are multiple reasons to include a map in your fantasy work. A map can aid a reader to use their imagination and abandon their disbelief of the non-reality. This new world, although steeped in mystery, becomes real to the reader, bringing a deeper connection between the reader and the story. Just as the character of the story is on a journey through this fantasy world, having a visual of where that character treads can create a better understanding of his personality.

Among the more recent fantasy writers, a few authors prefer to avoid the inclusion of a map, as they consider it a distraction from the story. These authors would prefer for the reader to deeply connect with the words, and to avoid the urge to flip back to the map, thus breaking up the story in the reader’s mind.

But there are also writers who hold firm to the inclusion of maps, recognizing that every reader is different. Some readers love maps and might purchase a fantasy book simply because a map is included! Others are more visual and need a map to help them understand the movements within the story. Ultimately, if a reader isn’t a fan of maps, they will likely just skip right over it anyway.

So, should you include a map in your fantasy manuscript? Consider these thoughts to help you decide:

– It’s not a good idea to include it just because other fantasy authors do so. If a map is necessary for the reader to understand the story—particularly if there is quite a bit of travel within it—then by all means, include one!

– Can you keep it simple? It’s important to keep the reader in mind so you don’t bog the picture down with extraneous detail. There is a difference between “complicated” and “detailed.”

– How much research are you willing to put into it? There can be marked differences between a medieval design and a futuristic design. Study the maps of successful fantasy books and see what common theme you see between them.

If you’re still not sure if your book needs a map, then ask your beta readers or critique partners for their input. If you can write in a way so the reader doesn’t need to flip to a map to understand where your character’s journey takes them, then it’s likely you can leave out this extra element in your story.

Does your manuscript include a map? How has it improved the overall understanding of your fantasy world with your readers? I’d love to hear your thoughts below!

Laura L Zimmerman Laura L. Zimmerman is a homeschooling mom to three daughters, and a doting wife to one husband. Besides writing, she is passionate about loving Jesus, singing, drinking coffee and anything Star Wars. You can connect with her through Facebook and Twitter and at her website,www.lauralzimmerman.com

 

 

 

 

 

Featured photo courtesy of Upsplash & NASA

Categories
Uncategorized

Open That Door!

“Hello, this is Carlton your Doorman.”

The often-heard but never seen character was a staple of my childhood in the ‘70s thanks to the sitcom Rhoda. It was the first time I had ever shared my name with a popular character, and it made for interesting conversation. I even had an uncle who referred to me as “doorman” for years. To this day, when I hold the door for someone, I usually say, “this is Carlton your Doorman.” That shows my age, as not many people get the reference these days.

I always wondered what Rhoda’s Carlton looked like, and, being a country boy from Kentucky, I couldn’t believe someone’s actual job was holding the door open for people.

Lately I’ve been Carlton the Doorman, but I haven’t been opening doors for others—I’ve been waiting for doors to open for me. There’s a saying going around social media: when God closes a door, praise him in the hallway.

If you’re like me, you feel like a 4th grader in trouble because of all the time you have spent in the hallway. I have been in the hallway so much I could get a job as a hall monitor.

In writing and publication, I’ve gone through some dry periods, when no one seemed the least bit interested in what I had to say. Those periods can be painful, but, as bad as I hate it, waiting for a door to open is part of the deal.

Lately God has opened some doors for me in the writing world. My policy has always been, “If God offers and wants me to write it, I will write it.”

Keeping that in mind, I’ve written standardized test questions. Instructor’s manuals for textbooks. Articles about cross country running and tennis. Plays. Skits. I have even written a set of devotions about nature, even though I enjoy air conditioning and the indoors. I would write material for the back of the cereal box if God willed it.

I can’t begin to make sense of it, but, where God has opened doors, I’ve tried to walk through them as quickly and obediently as possible.

I may never work as a doorman in a fancy New York apartment building, but you can still call me Carlton the Doorman. I’ll just be waiting and then walking through those doors.

Categories
The Creative Tool Kit

5 Places to Stir Your Creative Senses, Part 2

The creative tool kit

{If you missed last month’s first installment on 5 Places to Stir Your Creative Senses, you may want to begin there.}

This month we’ll explore five places that I’ve not yet tried, but plan to visit in the coming months.

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Five More Places to Stir Your Creativity:

  1. In the kitchen. I don’t profess to be a great cook but I do plan to become more intentional in our new home. (Which I hope to be in by the time this is posted.) Consider the sensory opportunities as you shop, prepare, and serve a meal. Could this play into your current work-in-progress (WIP)?
  2. Music. I often play George Winston’s melodic sounds in the background when writing but let’s add a level of depth to this “place”. If writing a melancholy piece, place music that reflects as such. A children’s book? Perhaps a more playful tune will suffice. Match the music to the mood and see what happens.
  3. A museum. How can beautiful artwork not stir our own creativity within? Don’t rush the experience. Meander through the halls, taking in everything it has to offer. Marvel at the minute details, the mood, the skill, of the artist’s hand.
  4. Exercise. Ideas have sparked during times of exercising but I dare wonder what ideas would come if this was more routine. Routine exercise generates a healthy body and a healthy body generates healthy ideas. Also, once it becomes routine, we think less of the pain and technique, leaving more creative space in our minds for fresh ideas.
  5. A scene in your current WIP. Are you working on a scene in a park? In a coffee cafe? In a rural area? A police department? Find a location nearby that mirrors your scene to heighten your senses and knowledge.

If you have a go-to place, would you consider sharing it in the comment section?

 

Categories
A3 Contributor Book Release

A3 Contributor Book Release-Saratoga Letters by Elaine Marie Cooper

Open book.

Congratulations to A3 contributor Elaine Marie Cooper for the release of her new book Saratoga Letters. Elaine pens the column, Writer Encouragement for Almost an Author.  We are so proud of you Elaine.

Saratoga Letters-saratogalcover

 

It is 1777. The Battle of Saratoga, a turning point of the Revolutionary War, encourages the American Continental Army with their first great victory. But there seemed little to celebrate for one patriotic woman forced to nurse wounded British soldiers right in their war camp. Thrust into deception by a cruel Loyalist uncle, Abigail is forced to lie in order to survive, all the while dealing with fears that challenge her faith. Danger stalks her everywhere, yet her salvation springs from an unexpected source.

Then…

Two hundred years later, on the anniversary of the Battle of Saratoga, thousands arrive from Europe and the United States to celebrate the event—including descendants from the war. One young American, Abby, meets another offspring of a British soldier. When her life is threatened, Abby turns to the only person she knows at the event—her British ally. Can she trust him with her life? Or will he betray her in the same way Loyalist spies betrayed her ancestors? Perhaps letters from long ago will reveal the truth.

elainecooper

Award-winning author Elaine Marie Cooper is the author of Saratoga Letters, Fields of the Fatherless, Bethany’s Calendar and the historical trilogy called the Deer Run Saga. She has been captivated by the history of the American Revolution since she was young. She grew up in Massachusetts, the setting for many of her historical novels.

Her upcoming release is Legacy of Deer Run (CrossRiver Media, Dec, 2016), Book 3 in the Deer Run Saga.

Cooper has been writing since she penned her first short story at age eleven. She began researching for her first novel in 2007. Her writing has also appeared in Fighting Fear, Winning the War at Home by Edie Melson and the romance anthology, I Choose You. She has also written articles for Prayer Connect Magazine, Splickety Prime Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, and Life: Beautiful Magazine. She began her professional writing career as a newspaper freelancer.

 

You can read more at her website/ blog, www.elainemariecooper.com

 

 

Categories
Bestsellers

Best Selling Author-Liz Curtis Higgs

 Liz Head Shot 2016

WELCOME Liz,

Can you share a little about your recent book?

With joy! I asked more than a thousand women to share their favorite verse—the one that inspires, encourages, and strengthens them, day in and day out. The result is 31 Verses to Write on Your Heart, releasing October 18. It offers a deeper, richer understanding of thirty-one treasured verses, a fresh look at how these timeless truths can impact our lives, and thirty-one creative ways to keep them in our hearts forever. I’m beyond excited about this one!

 Why do you write? Do you have a theme, message, or goal for your books?

I write because I love the Lord and His Word and am compelled to share His beauty with women of all ages and at all stages of their Christian walk. God’s love for us and His gift of grace are at the heart of every book I write. Because He redeemed my life from the pit, I want women to know it’s never too late to turn back to the One who created them and loves them completely.

 How long have you been writing? And how long did it take you to get your first major book contract?

“One Size Fits All” and Other Fables, now long out-of-print, released in 1993 with Thomas Nelson. Before that, I spent a year or two reaching out to publishers with queries and sample chapters, but I didn’t move forward until a kind friend told an editor about my speaking platform (at the time I was speaking about 120 events a year). A 3-book contract followed shortly thereafter, and I’ve had multiple contracts ever since. (I seldom share this at writers conferences, or the whole audience groans!)

The truth is, all of the above has little to do with my efforts. God is the One who opens and closes doors. He calls us to do our part—to work at our craft, to hone our skills, to do our homework—but in the end, He alone writes our books and He alone gets the glory.

How long does it take you to write a book?

Too long! That’s what my editor would say for sure. I am not a fast writer. Each book takes about a year, from conception to research to writing to editing to typesetting.

 What’s your writing work schedule like?

For the first draft, I schedule about 80 full writing days—days on which nothing else happens. No haircuts, no lunches with friends, no doctor appointments. I start writing after breakfast and go more or less full-tilt until 9pm.

In the early stages of a book, I’m happy if I hit 1,000 polished words a day. Midway through, I need to be clocking 1,500 a day, and in the final chapters, more like 2,000 a day. My nonfiction books are roughly 50-70,000 words long, my historical novels are 130-160,000 words.

 Do you have an interesting writing quirk? If so, what is it?LIZcat2

I write better with cats. My two tabbies, Samson and Boaz, spend most of my writing days in my study, draped across my desk or curled up in a nearby chair.

 What has been your greatest joy in your writing career?

For me, receiving letters and emails from readers who’ve been drawn closer to God is the best part of being a writer. No glowing reviews, no awards, and certainly no royalty checks can compare to knowing that the words God poured into your heart have touched another person and impacted her life in some way. Pure joy.

What has been your darkest moment?

I’ve had a dark moment with every book I’ve written. Somewhere in the second half of the manuscript, I decide the whole things is horrid, and I lose all hope of finishing. I put aside the manuscript and pray like a madwoman until the Lord restores my joy in the project, shows me what needs fixing, and I dive back in.

 Which of your books is your favorite?

You know, of course, that’s like asking a mother which one of her children is her favorite! It’s even harder to choose now that I’ve just finished my thirty-fifth book.

Among my children’s books, The Pine Tree Parable is my favorite (don’t tell the other books in the series!). Of my nonfiction books, Embrace Grace and The Girl’s Still Got It are especially dear to my heart. And of my novels, Whence Came a Prince is the one that stretched me the farthest and taught me the most.

Who is your favorite author to read?

That’s an even harder question! Can I go by genre? Favorite children’s book is A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. Favorite nonfiction is Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis. And favorite Christian novel is Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. Their skill extends far beyond just those titles. Reading anything by L’Engle, Lewis, or Rivers is time well spent.

What advice can you give aspiring writers that you wished you would have listened to?

Be patient. A writing career takes time to grow, and most of it happens when no one is looking. Reach out to other writers to learn from them and to support them. Don’t be seduced by fame or money. Both elude most writers, and last for a very short time. Write because God has equipped you and compelled you.

What encouragement would you give an aspiring writer?

Read. Write. Listen. Refine.

Read the very best books, studying each writer’s style and letting the content seep into your soul. Read outside of your genre—fiction, nonfiction, poetry, children’s literature. Read time-tested classics as well as contemporary bestsellers. Read books about the craft of writing. Above all, read Scripture.

Write every day. Have several works in progress, so when you lose momentum with one, you can hop over to something else. Journal writing can help you discover your true voice, and may provide content for future projects. When you’re ready to share your words with others, a blog is the best way I know to hone your writing skills in a public setting. Write devotionals, articles, guest posts, short stories—whatever will keep your mind, heart, and hands engaged.

Listen to your heart and seek direction from God’s Word. It’s easy to be swayed by what the marketplace says will sell or what others think you should write. Dig down deep. Write about the things that are the hardest for you to write about. The places where you’ve been hurt, the wounds that are still healing, the questions for which you’re seeking answers. God will show you those places and offer words of comfort, encouragement, and direction for you and for your readers. Trust Him.

Refine your efforts by learning the fine art of rewriting and self-editing. Allow your writing projects to get cold, leaving them untouched for weeks. When you return to them, you’ll see your work through fresh eyes and know what needs changing. Working from a hard copy, cover each page with notes and ideas, then transfer the best corrections and additions to your electronic file. A week later, do it all again. Good writing is mostly about rewriting. Embrace the process.

Cover 31 Verses 1200
Release Oct. 18, 2016

Liz Curtis Higgs has one goal: to help women embrace the grace of God with joy and abandon. She’s the author of 35 books with 4.6 million copies in print, including Bad Girls of the Bible, It’s Good to Be Queen, and her Scottish historical novels, Here Burns My Candle and Mine Is the Night, a New York Times bestseller. Liz has spoken for 1,700 women’s conferences in all 50 states and 14 foreign countries, bringing messages that are biblical, encouraging, down-to-earth, and profoundly funny.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Liz-Curtis-Higgs/e/B001IOF77I/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1472657154&sr=8-1

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LizCurtisHiggs/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LizCurtisHiggs

Categories
Guest post archive

Defining the Dreaded Pros

Ah, comparisons. I hate them. And yet I fall prey to making them constantly in regards to my writing and writing habits. I’m probably the worst in the case of the terrifying, the unspeakably horrifying…professional writers.

Defining the Dreaded Pros

You might not know who I mean. As someone newer to writing communities and meeting other authors and editors, I’ve encountered this kind of writer a couple of times and been scared to death of them. Whether we’ve even interacted or not, it doesn’t matter; I occasionally get intimidated. They’re the writers who probably have published their work in some way and many-a-time, have a fancy blog that they manage to maintain, have entered and won many-a-contest, are amazing at networking, and with all of this, when you read their content, you’re floored at how natural their words sound. They’re fast, consistent, confident, and just really good at what they do.

I would find these guys a lot—on blogs, in Facebook groups, in writing podcasts, even at times in my writing partner and friend. And when I did, I’d then look at my writing, my workspace, my habits while writing, or just my life. It didn’t feel very encouraging to see people naturally write stuff so well, and then not even see them struggle much with editing. People tell me writers should make time to write, and the pros do it flawlessly, it appears. I end up losing sleep and sanity where the only space I’m really able to make time and find motivation (sometimes) in is during the later hours of the night. I end up sad and writing things I dislike while trying to mature and get more professional with what I’m doing and writing.

The Reality

We ought to confront this issue. I can’t be alone in struggling with the constant comparisons Satan encourages me to make with the writing experts. Let’s start by asking an important question: Are these professionals actually real? Perhaps that’s the mistake I (and possibly you, dear reader who might relate) am making here— assuming these flawless writers with amazing stories/blogs/whatever, healthy habits, and a well-managed life do exist. I’m not saying there aren’t skilled writers, or people more experienced in the field than I. Nor would I dare say there isn’t such a thing as brilliant, talented writers. But what I’m saying is that there’s no such thing as these perfect writers who have it all together. We’re all made by the same Creator in Heaven, and are imperfect humans who’ve all fallen before. This doesn’t make me feel better than pros at all. It just reminds me, we’re in the same difficult boat that is the writing biz. We all have our struggles (sometimes ones that we might not reveal). The only perfect writer I truly know is God with His word and plans for the world. So let’s get down to business and meet with these fellow imperfect writers, and face the fear of professionals.

Fear not; know God’s bigger

First, let’s remind ourselves again, they’re human, just like you and I, dear reader. They aren’t the almighty writing gods who have come to smite us for our lesser-than abilities. They are potential friends, partners, and of course, fellow writers. We can learn from them about what they might be more experienced in, as opposed to feeling too “not-enough” for conversation with them. We’re all imperfect, yet gifted in our own ways by a perfect God.

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Second, we forget that writing is an art as we seek to write the best story with the best characters and the best meaning. Best, best, best. We get caught up in things like it’s a contest. Art’s subjective, and to my fellow Christian authors, remember, your book is not the Bible. Only God can use your story by His will to impact someone…and even then! It’s nothing compared to His word. That’s not to say you should write whatever and just hope God uses it, though. Seek to honor Him in what you make, by consulting Him on it.

The best part is, because God is so perfect in our imperfection, He’s glorified. We can put our self-worth not in our own abilities, but in what God’s truth about us is. He wants us to glorify Him in all we do too, so if I try writing to seem more professional, and succeed, but have written something against all God’s called me to do, with complete disobedience to and disregard for Him, have I really succeeded in anything? Is it really about my own success? No! It’s about glorifying my Creator in all I do (Colossians 3:1-4). So know who the real God is, and don’t be scared of men, but seek what God’s calling you to do. He’ll give you the strength to do it, and if you don’t feel capable, that’s okay. I once heard a friend of mine say, “God doesn’t just call the prepared, but He prepares the called.” It’s about God’s ability in completing His will. Not yours (2 Corinth. 3:4-6).

Be led by God in what you write—not your fears of other people.

That’s why I say, have fun, be nice with the other writers, make friends, and remember to listen to God through it all.

How have you dealt with comparisons in the past (or in the present)? What are some ways you try to shift your focus back to God’s perfection and glory instead of what you’re doing in your writing by your abilities?

(Photo cred: Google Images (original source: imgur))

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heidimello

Heidi Melo is a human being that enjoys pizza and the idea of long walks on the beach (by herself. Maybe with pizza.). 12 years of her life consisted of being a missionary kid in Central Europe, but she now resides in the U.S., scribbling and playing keyboard and ukulele. Sometimes she does the writing thing, other times she does the drawing thing. She does a lot of things.Though she’s often not sure what she’s doing or where she’s headed, Jesus has saved and is teaching her imperfect, human self each day. Heidi has written multiple short stories, worked on a collaborative project in the past, and usually is found in penguin-print pajamas, with a mug of tea, scribbling people, places, things, and ideas to life.

Categories
Book Reviews

BOOK Review-It’s Good to Be Queen-Liz Curtis Higgs

Liz Curtis Higgs interview will post October 1, 2016

 

Exotic Woman

 

In It’s Good to Be Queen (2015, Waterbrook Press), author and award-winning speaker Liz Curtis Higgs turns her attention to the Queen of Sheba.

 

This queen is not a major figure in the Bible or in any historical text. As a result, very little is known about her; her name cannot be determined, nor can her age, marital status, or other biographical information. Perhaps it is that lack of factual information that has caused more than a few authors and Hollywood scriptwriters to embellish her story, painting her as a temptress or even as a wife of Solomon.

 

Higgs does not fall into that trap, and rightfully so. Instead, she bases her discussion of the queen on 1 Kings 10:1-13, the only source of factual information about this mysterious and fascinating woman. Higgs mines these 13 verses to examine the life of the queen who is, according to the author, “the wise one [queen] . . . who traveled to Jerusalem to test the mind and heart” of King Solomon, and she uses that journey as the framework for this book.

 

Prefacing each chapter is a short fictional narrative written from the perspective of the Queen of Sheba. These accounts, which begin during the queen’s arduous journey across the Arabian Desert and draw to a close as she prepares to depart Israel and return home, draw in readers and allow them to experience the queen as real, living woman, not just a nameless, faceless, historical character. Lyrical and beautifully written, these fictional introductions are the thread that hold together this study.

 

From each of those 10 small pieces of the relatively larger story, Higgs draws one attribute such as boldness, honesty, or generosity; each of those 10 traits is the focus of one chapter. Using the Bible and historical fact gathered from reliable sources, the author clearly explains the customs and practices of the world in which the Queen of Sheba lived and how, given the context, each trait is exemplified in the queen. The author then provides her own personal experience and that of  her “online friends” to share why and how that same trait can and should be cultivated by Christian women today.

 

The tone of each chapter is warm and engaging, and touches of humor are sprinkled throughout this character study which reads like a conversation with a dear friend. It is easy to see why Higgs, author of over 30 books, is beloved by countless women and her books  popular for use both by individuals and small groups. To that end, she provides 2 study guides at the back of the book: the first contains 10 discussion questions for use after the book has been read in its entirety, and the other provides a chapter-by-chapter study guide with a more in-depth discussion of each chapter.

 

In It’s Good to Be Queen, beautifully-written fictional narratives and well-researched discussion are woven together to create an interesting character study of the Queen of Sheba. Fans of Liz Curtis Higgs will not be disappointed, and those who are new to her writing will no doubt find this book informative and intriguing.

 

pattimiinch

Book Review by Patti Miinch: Patti Miinch, a widow and mother of two adult children, lives in Southeast Missouri. Her lifelong passion — as both a writer and a reader

— for the written word led her to pursue a career as an English professor. Her hobbies include watching college and professional sports, spending time with her family, knitting, spending time outdoors, and traveling.

 

 

Categories
A3 Contributor Book Release

A3 Contributor Book Release-Jesus and the Beanstalk by Lori Roeleveld

Open book.

Congratulations to Lori Roeleveld on her new book release, Jesus and the Beanstalk- Overcoming Giants and Living a Fruitful Life.

jesusbeanstalk

“In a land of giants too often we spend so much time contemplating our opponents and weighing the odds, we defeat ourselves. Let me save you some time. The odds are always in favor of the giant-always-but odds don’t win battles. Ask David.” page 4

 

We live in unsettling, challenging times. Everywhere we look, we see giant problems: giant obstacles to sharing faith, giant barriers to peaceful lives, giant strongholds of fear. But what if you knew eight small secrets to unlocking a strength big enough to overcome whatever obstacle life may bring?
Using allegory and a bit of humor, Jesus and the Beanstalk explores a passage in 2 Peter 1 to uncover eight truths that will help you unleash a larger-than-life faith:
· Faith
· Goodness
· Knowledge
· Self-control
· Perseverance
· Godliness
· Affection for others
· Love

In this creative, refreshing perspective on spiritual growth, you will discover an unyielding strength when you tap the power of a God who is stronger than any beanstalk and bigger than your biggest giants.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2drePMl

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2dtfdK8

Abingdon Press: http://www.abingdonpress.com/product/9781501820045#.V-rbs_ArKM9

About the Author:

Lori Stanley Roeleveld is the author of Running from a Crazy Man (and other adventures traveling with Jesus) and Red Pen Redemption. Her blog, LoriRoeleveld.com, was voted Top 100 Christian Blogs by Redeeming God.com and has enjoyed over 2 million views. Lori lives in Hope Valley, Rhode Island. Visit her online at LoriRoeleveld.com.

Reviews

“Jesus and the Beanstalk is crafted to touch mind, heart, and soul. It has no lesser goal than to remind all believers that they are giant killers. In an age when there are many new and frightening affronts to people of faith there is no better time to be reminded that giants can be felled by faith and determination.”
~ Alton Gansky, Award winning author of over 35 books

“In a world that’s never been more crowded with noise, do you wonder if you’ll ever again find a fresh voice with a new idea, especially about personal spiritual growth? Tempted as I am to keep this discovery to myself and wish you good luck unearthing your own, I learned too much from this book to do that in good conscience. Lori Stanley Roeleveld’s Jesus and the Beanstalk: Overcoming Your Giants and Living a Fruitful Life is the antidote to the glut of drivel that masquerades as pious self-help books these days. Do yourself a favor and see how Lori deftly uses humor and uncommon sense to mine biblical truth from an unlikely fairytale and painlessly nurture you in the process.”
~ Jerry B. Jenkins, The New York Times Bestselling Author

Categories
Guest post archive

Elegy for the Oxford Comma-Carol Sparks

 

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It was a quieter time, a calmer day

When people didn’t have so much to say

When thoughtfulness reigned

And answers restrained

Until we’d had time to reflect.

 

Books made of paper and ink

Weren’t rare, but they caused you to think.

You might “sit a spell,”

Stare out the window and dwell

On a sentence that rolled ‘cross your tongue.

 

Sentences stretched in two spaces.

Commas lined up like shoelaces.

The author’s rhythm and tone

Made your breath match his own

And his ‘and’ was never confusing.

 

Some say Oxford comma’s superfluous,

Double spaces are nothing but vacuous

But in them we rest

And our thoughts find a nest

Oh, let characters line up with no counting!

 

I am not a poet (as you can tell). I wrote this tongue-in-cheek elegy after waxing philosophical on typographical changes in writing, not because I’m old and nostalgic. Okay, maybe I’m a little old.

 

What does it mean that we remove the Oxford comma and the spaces in ellipses, along with that second space between sentences and after colons? At a practical level, we save paper and reduce our character-count, but I wonder if it changes all readers’ experiences like it changes mine. John Piper recently observed, “Shaped by smartphones and soundbites, we are impatient with communication that forces us to slow down.”

 

In that milli-second of space, whether blank or occupied by punctuation, the reader breathes. In the seven—yes seven—spaces formerly necessary for an ellipsis, we could consider that which was omitted. Now that we don’t have built-in spacing, it’s up to the writer to create “breathing room” within the paragraphs.

 

How do we do that? Consider these three ways, then add your own suggestions in the comments at the bottom.

 

3 Ways to Create Breathing Room in Your Writing

 

  1. Dialogue Breaks

At least we still change paragraphs when we change speakers. Beyond that, we can insert speaker beats. (Check this post for how to do it well.) I have this one friend who never pauses when she talks, but most people naturally breath, blink, and/or wait for feedback from others. Those moments in the story give our readers time to catch up.

 

  1. Descriptive Moments

We all know, “Show, don’t tell.” Adjectives work naturally into that premise and—bonus!—contribute to the sensory experience. “Spending” the words necessary to say beige carpet or gray sky permits your reader to create a stronger image before moving forward. A few authors do this so well we want to stay in the description. Remember Steinbeck’s whole chapter on a turtle crossing the road in The Grapes of Wrath (ch. 3)? For the rest of us, a couple of descriptive words will suffice.

 

  1. Downbeats

Because we, the omniscient authors, know everything that’s happening, we can easily skip that second in which the character processes what he/she has learned, but when our characters take a moment to absorb something, our readers do the same. Let your character freeze mid-step, pause, raise an eyebrow, or exhale slowly. As a reader, I usually end up mimicking the character and understanding the story better because of it.

 

Use these 3 Ds to help your readers keep pace with your plot through your paragraphs and pages.

 

Now it’s your turn! What other ways can we manage the “spaces” in our writing? Your ideas don’t have to start with D.

 

Carole Sparks is a reader-turned-writer because she just couldn’t keep her hands off those delicious sentences! When she’s not writing, she’s running, reading, or raising her children. You can catch up with her on her blog, on Facebook, or on Twitter. (See what I did there? See that last comma?)

Categories
Write Justified

Idioms–Literary Shorthand

 

As if English with its homophones and irregular verbs weren’t confusing enough, how about those idioms? Oh sure, you and I know what’s meant when we explain past loss with “no use crying over spilt milk.” Though to be honest, haven’t there been times when shedding a few tears over a disappointing outcome really did make you feel better?

Idioms, along with similes and metaphors, hyperbole, alliteration, personification and more, are figurative expressions or literary devices that add color and creativity to our writing. English abounds with idioms–expressions in which individual words are not to be taken literally. With their origins in Scripture, folk tales and fables, and famous authors and story tellers, they can enliven your writing. But as with so many things in life, it’s a fine line between cliché and creativity. Idioms, because they are so common, often come across as trite or corny and ought to be used sparingly.

Here are some guidelines for using them well.

  • Create a Character

Since idioms are such a natural part of conversation, use them to create memorable characters in fiction writing. Add a mangled idiom (“it ain’t rocket surgery” or “brain science”) or a regional expression (“She’s so stuck up she’d drown in a rainstorm.”) to make characters colorful and memorable.

Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird employs a number of southern idioms or colloquialisms:

Uncle Jack Finch who yelled an annual Christmas proposal across the street to Miss Maddie was only trying to get her goat;

Miss Maudie’s acid tongue set her in contrast to Jem and Scout’s do-good neighbor Miss Stephanie Crawford, but endeared her to the children nevertheless.

Scout’s strategy for trapping her assailant Francis was to bide her time and sure as eggs he would be back.

  • Skip the clichés

Some idioms are so overused they no longer have the desired effect. Use them in unexpected ways or turn the phrase in an unexpected way and you may achieve your desired effect. You might even coin a new malapropism.

Recently, Iowa’s governor commenting about Ted Cruz’s refusal to endorse the Republican nominee for president said, “He just shot himself in his cowboy boot.” A deft way of saying he’s sabotaged his own presidential aspirations.

  • Encourage creative thinking

Idioms can be the converse of clichéd writing. They can help the reader think about something in a new, possibly clearer or more compelling way.

Instead of selling like hotcakes, you might try more popular than Pokemon Go.

Or in place of saying someone marches to the beat of a different drummer, you might describe them as a techno idiot in a social media world.

  • Remember your audience

This advice applies universally, but is an especially important reminder if your audience includes non-native English speakers. While every language has its peculiar expressions, it doesn’t take much imagination to understand how phrases such as “barking up the wrong tree,” or  “let the cat out of the bag” could leave English language learners scratching their heads in bewilderment.

 

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Pleasant Rosebud - Romantic Suspense

HOW I LOST ANN

The company’s policy was quite clear about office relationships. “Fraternising of any kind, especially romantic, is prohibited in this corporation.”

Ann and I were hell bent on adhering to this policy. We had finally scored our dream jobs in the best workplace in town and were determined to maintain it.

So, the plan was simple. From 8am to 5pm, Ann and I are total strangers at work. But after those hours, we return to being two consenting adults who are crazy in love and on the brink of marriage.

It was not easy for me to see Ann so much and keep away from her at work. It wasn’t easy for her too but Ann is a brilliant actress. One thing I enjoyed about our new form of relationship was the endless hours we spent at night, talking about office stuff and funny things our colleagues did.

From her side, it appeared her male colleagues ignored the office policy and constantly tried to flirt with her. Ann is a very pretty girl but I didn’t expect people to break the policy and I also didn’t like the way she responded to them. Ann refused to report their misconducts because she didn’t want to bring attention to herself at the office as a whistle blower. I thought that was crap but I remained silent.

As weeks rolled into months, I made friends within the office. Terry Thompson, precisely, was my closest friend. He was my opposite in every way.

Terry was loud, extroverted and an outright womanizer. I don’t know why Terry and I are friends, the only thing we had in common was the department we worked in and our love for cappuccino. Terry had a zest for life; he partied throughout the weekend and managed to appear at work in top shape. I guess these his traits were the cause of our standing relationship.

It didn’t take too long for Ann to become popular at work. Not for whistle blowing but because the ‘eye-candy’ and most eligible bachelor at work had taken a liking to her. Ironically, I hated the guy.

If Chris Evans (Captain America) had a brother, it would be him. According to all the ladies in the department, Kyle Ross was the most ambitious and devilishly handsome employee in the company. Basically, everyone loved him. The boss adored him, rumours say he occasionally plays golf with board of trustees members and provides organic milk to orphaned kittens. I mean, who is this guy?

Bottom line, Kyle was the golden boy in the office and he was after my girl. Christ! Even his name pisses me off but I remained silent.

It is important to note, policy or no policy, I was in love with Ann and no matter how hard I tried, it was difficult to ignore her at work. It didn’t take long for Terry to realise I had a ‘thing’ for Ann.

Obviously, he didn’t know she and I were actively involved. Terry, being Terry, tried to get met to ask the ‘hottie’ in the Accounting department out. I declined politely and gave him the excuses I had given my friends before I started dating Ann. “She is too good for me.”

But my innocent friend was relentless. He did all manner of crazy things to try and get me to ask Ann out. He often played the Kyle card, although that got me pissed I never acted. Ideally, there shouldn’t even be a ‘Kyle card’ to play.

Ann and I got our kicks from laughing at Terry’s effort. We never talked about Kyle’s efforts. I wanted too, only for the fun of laughing at him because he would be deemed as pathetic. But that didn’t happen.

One Monday morning was quite odd for me. Usually, I would share a couple of jokes with the receptionist on the ground floor and those on my department’s floor. Mary, the receptionist on my floor, would ask me if I had eaten breakfast or if I had asked Ann out yet (remember, Terry has a loud mouth). After my little chat with Mary, I would enjoy cappuccino with Terry and then bury myself in paperwork.

Everything was normal until I got to my floor.

Mary did not wittily greet me and Terry brought the wrong coffee. The office was somewhat gloomy and I later realised why. Terry told me Ann and Kyle had gone out on an “awesome and romantic date” over the weekend, according to Kyle’s WhatsApp profile picture and status. I now understood everybody’s awkwardness. Thanks to Terry, everyone on our floor knew about my ‘crush’ on Ann. I boiled.

Kyle did not allow me to ignore his date with my girlfriend. In Kyle’s defence, it wasn’t on purpose and he wasn’t trying to upset me. He was trying to upset all the male workers by boasting about how he had scored the hottest girl in the office. I was flabbergasted though about the news and it was in fact news to me because I was with Ann over the weekend. We spent Friday evening, Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning (in church) together. Ann never hinted or mentioned Kyle was getting serious or pressuring her. Besides, this was a clear breach of the company’s policy.

After work, I confronted Ann. At work, I couldn’t say anything because that would cause a scene. But in the comfort of Ann’s small apartment, I had the freedom to shout. Ann and I rarely fought but when we did, it would be swift and loud. How we resolve our fights, I never know. They always seem to dissolve over time. I didn’t give Ann a chance, I launched straight into the issue.

“When were you going to tell me Kyle was pressuring you?”

“Excuse me?” She looked puzzled as she poured green tea into my mug. I hate green tea.

“You know exactly what I mean, Ann. I mean, seriously. Kyle asks you out. First you don’t tell me, your fiancé, and then I hear you’re going out with him? Who does that?!” I ignored the steaming tea. She was clearly trying to upset me further by giving it to me.

“You’re not my boss, David. I’m not tied down to you. And what is this about being my fiancé? I don’t recall you asking me to marry you.” She spat.

My face contorted with rage and it translated into my words. “What about the company’s policy? How could you say that Ann?! We’ve been together for three years now. Hell! I gave you a ring!”

She hissed. “What ring? You stuttered through the whole proposal and the cheap band you got me is laughable. Didn’t you say you’ll get back to me on that?”

I exploded. “Ann—”

“Get out! Get out of my house! You can’t even get me a decent ring. Leave!”

I left Ann’s house feeling ashamed and defeated. Ann was right but we had already fought the fight about the ring. We agreed back then I was too poor to get a decent ring, also we agreed to invest a lot of money in a wedding ring and ignore the temporary engagement ring. I guess that fight did not dissolve properly.

A few hours after our fight, I got a text message from Ann.

I couldn’t have rejected Kyle’s offer because it would be weird. After all, he is the most eligible man at work.

Again, Ann was right and her text hurt but I did not reply.

Due to our fight, Ann and I stopped seeing each other after work and during the weekend. This was normal for us. We usually gave each other space after a fight and then managed to fall back into our normal routine when we missed each other or when the quarrel dissolved.

However, according to office gossip, Ann and Kyle were getting really close and serious. They were constantly going out, in fact, someone caught them smooching in the printing room once. Everything seemed to be working out for them. Kyle was in line for a promotion, and some other people and I were as well, but it seemed too clear Kyle would get it. My emotions drove me to report Kyle and Ann’s inappropriate office relationship.

Jared, my boss, was not pleased at all with my confession. At first, my meeting with him was going well. He was open to my concerns and listened attentively. He made the occasional grunts of approval at the right times. When I was done, I looked at him with expectance.

“Now, David, I am shocked at this revelation. I did not think something like this could thrive in this prestigious workplace.” He leaned on his mahogany desk.

“I totally agree sir, I was shocked myself. I mean, such an outright breach of—”

“You didn’t let me finish. I didn’t think you had it in you, David. You never stroke me as the jealous and conniving type. Without a doubt, this whole complaint of yours is out of spite for Mr. Ross.” He said matter-of-factly.

“Excuse me, I—” I was confused.

“Listen carefully, David. I don’t have time for this and such conduct, bad-mouthing of colleagues, is not acceptable. You only forged these stories so you can get Mr. Ross out of the way and attain the promotion.” Jared’s eyes had never been so cold to me before, I felt hopeless.

“David, leave my office. And listen carefully, next time you feel like spewing nonsense, follow office procedures. Write a letter about your concerns with relevant proof and evidence.” Jared stood and nodded toward his door. That was my cue to leave.

Terry was waiting for me outside the boss’s office.

“I told you, David. Kyle is untouchable, besides you’re the only one in this company that follows the policy.” He shrugged.

“You don’t get it, Terry. Ann was mine, is mine. I did all this for her because we’ve been together for three years now.” I sighed. I was ashamed of myself.

“Well, that’s original,” was all Terry said in his nonchalant way as he strolled back to his desk. For a best friend, he didn’t seem to care about my current emotional trauma. I mean, I had practically just embarrassed myself in front of the boss. Most likely, Jared now thinks I’m a terrible person.

The weeks after my encounter with Jared were awkward. I tried to remain professional but it was difficult. I hadn’t spoken to Ann in so long and Kyle got the promotion. I admit, I became very jealous and withdrawn. Terry kept his distance from me. I suspected he didn’t want to be around me, the office’s whistle-blower. Jared was also trying to be professional but working with him was difficult for me so I decided to quit.

I figured if I quit, I would be able to focus on wooing Ann back and starting afresh. A new work environment was all I needed.

Telling Ann about my unemployed status was a little dramatic than Terry’s reaction. You would think the girl I had been crazy in love with for three years would show some empathy. All I got from Ann was a broken heart.

“You never fight for anything, David. You didn’t fight against the company’s policy, you didn’t fight for me and you didn’t fight for your job. I mean, didn’t you know that the CEO married his secretary?” Ann rolled her eyes and flipped her hair.

It was the last time I saw her, as an unmarried lady. Ann became Mrs. Ross a few months after we officially broke up.

I later realized I lost Ann to a corrupted policy.

 

 

 Photo: https://pixabay.com/en/autumn-lonely-leaves-ground-965117/ 

HOW I LOST ANN is used by permission of the original author, Ifeoluwa Ogúnyinka

Author bio:

Sinmisola Ogúnyinka is a pastor’s wife, mother, writer and movie producer. She has a university degree in Economics, and is a Craftsman of Christian Writers’ Guild. She lives with her family in Pretoria, South Africa.

Blog: www.sinmisolao.wordpress.com

Twitter: @sinmisolaog

 

Categories
The Efficiency Addict

Problem Solve POV with Color

Use colored text to help you problem solve POV issues.

Welcome to The Efficiency Addict column, helping writers work more effectively every single day. For the next few months, I’ll be taking a break from posting here, but until I return, I’ve lined up some great guest bloggers to share their best writing tips with you!

This month we’ll hear from Kathleen Neely, a retired educator who wrote and sold her first book in just 9 months. To read about her experience from start to sold, visit her website at KathleenNeelyAuthor.com, but first see below where Kathleen shares a simple method to problem solve POV with color.

Happy Writing! ~ Cynthia Owens, The Efficiency Addict

****

Point of view (POV) problems have a way of sneaking into my writing. I begin a solid scene, identify my character, and write the action through his or her mind. Then when I re-read the passage, I discover POV gone amuck.

Types of POV Problems

First there are the omniscient POV errors.

  • She can’t know he was thinking about baseball.
  • He couldn’t know that she was deliberately tuning him out.

POV characters can observe another character’s demeanor, body language, or expression. POV characters can make inferences, but they can’t know.

Then there is the issue of author intrusion. My opinion on the beauty of a floral arrangement is irrelevant and interrupts the flow. Everything must be told through the eyes and ears of the character.

Another POV fault is found by allowing your POV character to narrate. When we speak, we don’t announce that we think, we feel, we said, we asked or we wondered. Remove dialogue tags and telling words. Turn this sentence – “He felt the pain when the baseball bounced off his shoulder.” Into this sentence – “Pain shot through his shoulder when the baseball made contact.”

How to Problem Solve POV

As a former teacher, I coached my students to be problem solvers.

“Mrs. Neely, I don’t have a pencil.”
“That’s a problem. Be a problem solver. “

“I forgot to write down the pages we need to read.”
“That’s a problem. Be a problem solver.”

(A little author intrusion right now—parents and teachers, never stop doing that. It moves dependent students to become independent thinkers.)

So now, faced with a dilemma, I needed to be a problem solver. I created a visual memory aide to help me keep on track – Color Coded POV’s.

The idea is simple. I choose a color for each of my POV characters. When I write a scene from his or her point of view, I turn my font into their designated color.

Will this technique avoid POV problems? Definitely not. They’ll still squirrel their way into your writing. But now they’ll be easier to locate. They should shout, jump, and wave their arms at you, begging to be seen. No longer will you have to wonder whose POV you’re supposed to be in.

Making Your Colors Count

Color coding not only provides a visual reminder, it can also reflect the nature of your character.

Red – power, energy, passion, intensity

Green – nature, outdoors, generosity

Yellow – joy, optimism, idealism, hope

Blue – loyalty, truthful, security

Purple – royalty, wisdom, noble

Orange – enthusiasm, flamboyant, warmth

Gray – age, maturity, grief

White – reverence, virginity, cleanliness

Black – formal, elegant, sophisticated

When you change scenes and font colors, stop to re-read what was just written. Do all elements of the scene match the correct POV? When you log-off for the day, let the words rest, but revisit them fresh when you log on the next day. Reviewing them will help you catch intrusions as well as prepare your mind to pick up where you left off. And when you finally say “The End,” a simple click, click, click will change the brilliant, colorful text back to its automatic boring black. Now all the brilliance will be in your story not the font.

Sharables – Because sharing is fun!

[bctt tweet=”Problem solve your POV issues with color-coded characters. #HowTo” username=”EfficiencyADict”]

[bctt tweet=”A simple trick to write in deep POV. #WritersLife #AmWriting” username=”EfficiencyADict”]

Bio: Kathleen Neely is an award winning author, receiving first place for her debut novel, The Least of These, in the Almost an Author Fresh Voices Contest. She won second place in a short story contest through the Virginia Chapter of the American Christian Fiction Writers . You can read two of her short stories in A Bit of Christmas – 6 Christian Short Stories Celebrating the Season, available on Amazon. Along with numerous guest blog appearances, Kathleen is a regular contributor to ChristianDevotions.us. She lives in Greenville, SC with her husband, Vaughn, and enjoys time with family, reading, and traveling.

You can contact Kathleen through:
KathleenNeelyAuthor.com
@NeelyKNeely3628

Categories
Craft Writing with Humor

5 Easy Steps To Make Readers Laugh Using The Absurd

Click to read 5 Easy Steps To Make Readers Laugh Using The Absurd

Ever laughed in an absurd situation or at an absurd time?

Sure you have. We’ve all done it.

Our friend trips over his feet, falls flat on his face, and instead of helping him up, we fall over laughing, lamenting we didn’t get it on video.

America’s Funniest Home Videos makes a living on our laughing when we “shouldn’t.”

They knew we’d laugh — and we do.

Why do we laugh at the absurd?

The absurd is unexpected, and the unexpected is funny. It’s that simple.

You can find more scientific answers to explain it, but that’s the bottom line.

We’ll laugh at the absurd as long as it doesn’t offend our sensibilities, such as laughing about 911. Not funny. Period.

But even in the midst of turmoil, we like to laugh. We need to laugh.

Comic relief eases pain and sadness.

The absurd makes for great humor material when done right.

Imagine laughing at a funeral. Who would do that?

The writers of the 1970’s TV series The Mary Tyler Moore Show thought it was a great idea. And it was because they did it right.

Using five easy steps, they reaped reruns of laughter even from a funeral.

5 Easy Steps to Make Your Reader Laugh Using the Absurd:

Let’s look at how the writers of The Mary Tyler Moore Show incorporated the five steps into their heralded episode Chuckles Bites the Dust.

1. Know Your Audience.

What’s funny to some may be offensive to others.

The writers of The Mary Tyler Moore Show knew their audience tuned in to watch comedy and expected absurd situations, but they never crossed the line into callousness.

Had their audience been a group of grieving parents, it would’ve fallen flat, even with a clown for a character.

2. Think of an Absurd Situation.

Absurd situations make us laugh. The more common to humanity the situation is, the wider the audience you’ll reach and the more they’ll relate, leading to bigger laughs.

A humorous situation about parenting may be funny to all, but they strike a parent’s funny bone harder.

Find a situation that’s common to the vast majority.

Death.

Then find a way to make it absurd.

The death of a clown named Chuckles, who was dressed as a peanut when an elephant tried to shell it.

You now know the premise of the Chuckles Bites the Dust episode. And you see how a common situation can suddenly become uncommon and absurd.

3. Add ridiculous timing.

Ridiculous timing can raise the absurdity to a higher level.

This step is similar to the idea in writing of building tension by thinking of the worst thing that can happen to your main character and then making it worse.

Without conflict there’s no story. Ridiculous timing increases conflict and laughter.

The writers of The Mary Tyler Moore Show raised the stakes and the laughter by placing the climax of the episode in the middle of Chuckles the clown’s funeral.

4. Place your characters smack in the middle of it.

Place your main characters into the middle of the absurdity and let them react.

If they react opposite of how the audience would expect, even better. That’s called juxtaposition, and it’s a great humor technique.

The main characters of this episode sit together at Chuckles the Clown’s funeral. Once the pastor begins the eulogy, Mary–the only character to have shown respect throughout the episode–suddenly finds the situation unbearably humorous. Despite her best efforts, she can’t contain her laughter.

5. Have fun, but don’t cross the line.

Even if some audience will laugh at anything, writers should behave with decency.

Some subjects should remain off limits as objects of humor. (Child pornography for instance.)

Other subjects need only be handled with care. (Sickness and death.)

Throughout the episode, various characters respond with appropriate sadness by the news of Chuckles the Clown’s death.

Mary consistently responds in the most appropriate manner. Thus when she loses self-control at the funeral, the audiences’ sensitivities aren’t offended.

If she’d been known to be a callous jerk, the audience wouldn’t have been surprised by her laughter and again wouldn’t have been unduly offended.

Chuckles Bites the Dust

The entire Chuckles Bites the Dust episode is a fun lesson for writers on how to use absurd situations and timing without crossing the line. The fabulous twist at the end (the juxtaposition I mentioned earlier) pulls it all together.

Watch the full episode by clicking the link above, or watch the short clip below: Laugh for Chuckles

Notice how the writers incorporated these five easy steps and made their audience laugh using absurd timing and situations:

Continue reading “5 Easy Steps To Make Readers Laugh Using The Absurd”

Categories
Guest post archive

LAST DAY TO REGISTER-A Writers Retreat at your Fingertips-Jerry’s Guild

13241420_10207371772557850_6120281336896645534_nDon’t have the money or time to attend a conference?

Need training or a tune up on your schedule?

Want to learn from established writers?

Almost an Author is honored to partner with Jerry B. Jenkins to educate, equip, and encourage writers. Jerry is personable and cares for writers of every genre, age, and ability. This is evident when you  join the writing community at Jerry’s Guild .

Jerry’s Guild is an on-line writers forum that gives daily contact with fellow members—writers just like you—for wisdom, encouragement, and motivation. Jerry responds to  questions and gives some writers an opportunity to be critiqued by him.

“If you want to gain serious confidence as a writer, finish your book, and get your message into more hands—I want to be your writing coach.” Jerry B. Jenkins

I believed him and now I’ve learned Ferocious self-editing, Nailing your first 5 pages, Show Don’t Tell, and more.  I am amazed at all the phenomenal teaching.

Jerry interviews Best Selling authors so Guild members receive the best training.  These Master Classes include James Scott Bell, DiAnn Mills, Steven Laube, Brandilyn Collins, Randy Ingermanson, Doc Hensley and more.   The interviews are personal and informative. Many of these writers struggle with the same things we do.

The best part of being a member of Jerry’s Guild, I can go back and watch the videos again and again, Wherever I want, whenever I want.

The demand for membership is high.  Jerry opens the Guild for membership just a few times per year so he can give attention to each member.

The Guild closed TODAY

http://firstimage.trknw.com/?a=8&c=19&s1=

There is a money back guarantee.  The monthly cost is minimal.

The Guild is like having a writers conference at your fingertips, but at a fraction of the cost.

Membership would make a great gift for you or your writing friends.

Click on the link above and join a group of like-minded individuals while receiving the best, up to date training.

I am off to listen to Master Class #1 again with Chris Fabry,  award-winning host of the Chris Fabry Live! syndicated radio show (Moody Radio Network) and now an award-winning author as well.

Guess who trained him?

 

jerrysguild

Categories
Create. Motivate. Inspire. Support

Check Your Writer’s Pulse!

It’s time for a check-up. Take a deep breath and consider this:

What do you love most about writing?

Answer A – Where do I begin? Losing myself in a story? The feeling of my fingers on the keyboard, the cursor flying across the screen? Disappearing for hours in imaginary worlds, knowing that God and I are on this incredible adventure together? Realizing I’ve been called to write for His glory and that my words will make a difference? Conquering the blank page? Brainstorming new ideas? Learning and growing with other writers? (Stop me, I’m on a roll…)

Answer B – Seriously? Do you know how many rejections I received this month? Do you have any idea the deadlines I’m under? Have you seen my blog numbers? If my mom didn’t check in once in a while, I wouldn’t have any consistent followers. My writer friends are getting published and building their platforms. I haven’t hammered the first nail in the first sheet of plywood. (Stop me, I’m on a roll…)

Maybe your answer falls somewhere between the two. You have days of I-really-love-this and days of what-in-the-world-am-I-doing?

We have highs and lows in any career field, but have we lost our joy in writing? If we’re filled with anxiety and dread at the thought of putting pen to paper, it’s time to pause for a reality check.

In our writing lives, do we:

Watch the numbers?

Do we check our “likes” and “shares” every few minutes after we send a post into the world? Do we measure success by the digits? Have our readers become faceless statistics? Have we forgotten that God measures victory by obedience and changed lives?

Play the comparison game?

Are we excited or frustrated when others succeed? Do we share the work of other writers or just our own? Do we feel resentment when another writer enjoys the spotlight? Do we regularly pray for our writer friends?

Focus on the climb?

Is our goal to suffer through writing the free stuff so we can get to the “real” paying jobs? Have we become too “talented” to help an aspiring writer? Are we being still before the Lord, seeking His heart and purpose for our work?

 

The stakes are too high to trudge through a mediocre writing life. Taking the time to check our writing pulse will identify areas of concern and breathe new life into our work.

We are writers on a mission.

Let’s get busy!

 

How do you keep your writer’s pulse strong and healthy?

 

[bctt tweet=”The stakes are too high to trudge through a mediocre writing life” username=”@A3forMe @cyleyoung @lthomaswrites”]

[bctt tweet=”What do you love most about writing?” username=”@A3forMe @clyleyoung @lthomaswrites”]

 

 

 

Categories
The Writer's PenCase

Seamless Self-Editing—Part III

The Writer's PenCase

Writer's PenCase-2Let’s get our manuscript “publish-ready.” Refer to last month’s post for my definition. This time, we’ll look at basic proofreading. [bctt tweet=”Spell check in Microsoft Word or whatever word processing program you use—is simply not good enough.” username=”@donnalhsmith @a3forme”]. #amwriting #publishready #selfediting

Catching Typos

Use spell-check, but don’t rely on it: heals vs. heels, etc.

Read it out loud: our eyes skip over things too quickly. When we read it aloud, we slow down, reading every word.

Print it out: Even though a computer simulates the printed page quite well, there’s just something about actually seeing it on real paper.

Proofread backward: I’ve never tried this, but it sounds interesting.

seamless edit-2ACatching Inconsistencies

Chapter Titles and Numbers: Especially when adding or deleting chapter, make sure they’re in proper order. Use your search or find function on your word processor.

Paragraph Indents: Generally, most manuscripts ask for a half-inch indent. When you end a scene with either a # (hashtag) or * (asterisk), make sure you’ve taken out the indent for that paragraph alone.

Hyphens, dashes, and ellipses: I always consult a grammar website or the text listed here. Here are a few pointers to help you discern. An ellipses (…) is used for fragmented speech, i.e. confusion, insecurity, or uncertainty. An em dash (—) is for a break in thought or interruption. An en dash (–) is used for consecutive numbers such as 1–10.

Apostrophes and quotation marks: usually font-controlled. Any fonts associated with old typewriter styles usually has the straight marks, such as “ when most publishers would like them curved, like “. One note: if you’re using an em dash at the end of dialogue, put the end quotes in first or it will look like this: “Hello. Are you––“ Quotation marks are backwards. “Hello. Are you––”

[bctt tweet=”If we learn to catch these simple things ourselves, the overall appearance of our manuscript will improve, and give us a better chance. ” username=”@donnalhsmith @a3forme”]#amwriting #selfediting

How about you? What proofreading secret has helped you the most? Leave a comment and let me know.

Categories
Child's Craft

Keeping it Fresh

I recently read these words written by an editor:

“Also, do not be contended with the cut and dried problems which writers have tried to solve since time began. Break fresh ground. Strike new chords. You need not create a problem new to life, that in fact, would be impossible, but treat a situation which has not formed the foundation for many stories. Remember, the story must not center entirely about the characters and their words and emotions. There must also be action, complication and some unusual happening. Make the editor take notice because you have given him something he did not expect, something fresh, stimulating, unusual…” Q.S Kimball, The Editor, Oct 10, 1914.

Did you catch the date that notation was written? 1914! This was written to my great grandmother in response to a manuscript she had submitted in a 12-lesson writing course. I discovered it recently while digging through a box I saved from my mother’s basement. That paragraph blew me away. Can you believe that editors were looking for fresh ideas back in 1914! I thought all stories were fresh back then!

Aren’t editors still saying the same thing today? How can we possibly submit fresh stories that haven’t been written yet? How many books have been published since 1914? How can they all be fresh, new, different, never done before?

I wonder if God says the same thing when He creates a new human being? “How can I possibly create someone new with all the gazillions of people I’ve already created?” But, yet, He does. He gives each of us a new way of looking at life, different points of view, varying passions and longings, a variety of talents and skill sets. He created us with diversified interests and things that make us laugh, that captivate us or bore us. And aren’t you glad for that? We could probably all view the same sunset but yet, see it differently.

I remember in art class in middle school, we learned to paint a still life picture. The teacher positioned an array of objects together and left them in the same position for that entire lesson. We each painted the exact same still life collection but every picture turned out completely different. We all saw it from a different point of view and position in the room. Some were drawn more to certain items than others and emphasized those, whereas others cast the same items in a totally different light.

Your view of the world is going to be different from another person’s. Your gift in writing is going to be different from another person’s. It is our job as writers to present our view, show a different glimpse into a situation, point out the humor, the nuances, the cleverness in circumstances. Isn’t that why we read and why children read– to be drawn into another’s world?

Why are you writing what you are writing? How is it different from what’s already out there? How can you make it stronger, more enchanting, quirkier? Learn what is already published by spending time in bookstores. Does there need to be another book out there like one that’s already there? Why? What enlightenment can yours bring to readers?

This is part of the fun of writing, making it your own. It is still our job, as writers, to create new slants to old situations, pepper stories with fresh ideas, and delight readers with the unexpected! After all, editors have been looking for fresh ideas since time began, or at least, since 1914! Let’s give the world something fresh, stimulating, unusual.

Categories
History in the Making

What I Learned from the Author of Charlotte’s Web – Part 2

by Sandra Merville Hart

 

Last month we talked about the author of Charlotte’s Web, E.B. White, and the influence of his writing professor, William Strunk Jr.

Strunk devised and White revised twenty-two Elementary Rules of Usage. The whole list deserves an author’s attention but this article focuses on three rules that most altered my writing.

A writer must first select a design for the piece and adhere to it. I had written several books (unpublished) and many articles before reading this advice. According to White, effective writing follows the author’s thoughts but perhaps not in the same order. Deliberate planning precedes writing.

For instance, certain forms of poetry follow a predetermined frame, but most writings are flexible. Considering the shape of the finished work allows greater chances for success. The intended audience and the message affect this decision.

Make positive statements. This second rule underscored one of my weaknesses that I’ve worked to correct. Avoid indefinite language. Commit to your descriptions.

[bctt tweet=”E.B. White advises #authors to make positive statements and avoid indefinite language when #writing an article or novel. ” username=”@Sandra_M_Hart”]

Writing not very often hesitant to speak is wordy and better stated as usually spoke his mind.

Another part of this second rule is to express negatives positively. Did not go becomes stayed. Not happy is sad. Is your character a little mad or is he frustrated?

A third rule from White deals with loose sentences. These are two clauses joined by a conjunction, common in unskilled writers. His advice is to avoid a string of this type of sentence.

Connectors such as and, but, or which occasionally are fine. A paragraph filled with loose sentences grows monotonous.

Rework these paragraphs. White suggests rewriting enough sentences to relieve the repetitive feel. Replace them with simple sentences. Rewrite entire sentences. Join two clauses with a semicolon. Choose the best way to remain true to the thought.

When I originally read this book about five years ago, I began to apply as many of White’s rules as feasible to a recently completed draft. I discovered the best way to utilize the rules was to take them one at a time.

I hate to mention how many loose sentences were in my manuscript. For someone so unfamiliar with the term I certainly excelled at writing them. Realizing that using too many connectives was considered easy, unskilled writing, I rewrote many sentences to improve the work.

Then I went on to another rule that exposed my weaknesses and began the process all over again.

Though the continuous editing required more time and effort than anticipated, working through each rule solidified the learning impact. Whether or not my manuscript was good at the end of this process, hard work improved it.

This introduction of three of the rules simply scratched the surface of the gems found in The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White. Next month we will talk about other helpful writing tips from this book. Stay tuned!


Categories
Talking Character

Body Language: What Your Character Is Really Saying-Lisa Betz

If actions speak louder than words then a character’s body language is an important part of dialogue. And yet writers often waste the potential, using body language merely to reinforce what is already evident, such as a character who both nods and says, “Yes.”

Studies show that body language, including gestures and facial expressions, make up over fifty percent of communication. (Tone of voice makes up another thirty-five percent or so.) That means our characters can give away all kinds of information without saying a word.

When harnessed effectively, body language can be a powerful tool—because it tells us what’s really going on inside a character’s head.

4 ways body language can add useful information

  1. Revealing an emotion the character wants to conceal. The heroine is facing her nemesis in a meeting. She wants to appear calm and in control, but under the table her leg is bouncing or her hands are clenched in her lap. Although her dialogue and tone may give the appearance of complete confidence, the body language tells the reader the whole truth.
  2. Indicating the character is lying. Fictional characters don’t always tell the truth, but without a non-verbal clue, the reader may not realize when a character is being less than forthright. A bit of body language can show the reader what’s really going on, for example: a character refusing to meet someone’s gaze, rapid breathing, or covering the mouth while speaking. If the POV character notices these telltale signs, the reader will get the hint.
  3. Showing that all is not as it seems. In a scene where both reader and character expect a certain response, body language can tell a potent tale. For example, a husband arrives home from work on the day he was to get a long-awaited promotion. When he walks in the door and slumps on the couch, the wife realizes something is very wrong. And the more the husband claims everything is fine, the more out of kilter things obviously are. In a similar fashion, when the felon under interrogation acts smug, we begin to suspect he knows something the police don’t.
  4. Hinting at a character’s motives. When a hostess greets a guest with a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes, we suspect there is something between them. Perhaps the hostess is merely acting polite, or perhaps she has ulterior motives for treating the guest with a kindness she doesn’t feel. Of course, the POV character may misinterpret the clues, reading ulterior motives into a situation where there are none—which might be exactly what the plot requires.

Are you using body language to the full potential?

[bctt tweet=”How can your characters’ non-verbal cues help the reader read between the lines? #writetips #bodylanguage” username=””]

Categories
Grammar and Grace

Misheard, Misused, Misspelled Words

This month’s post is all about words you might be hearing and saying and, consequently, writing improperly. We’re not talking about homophones this time. We’re talking about misheard, misused, and misspelled words.

The idea occurred to me when I received a message from whom—before this ill-typed group of sentences appeared in my inbox—I considered an educated, real adult.

Here’s the problem. She used prolly instead of probably. This construction is not a typo. It’s a made up, wrong word. Maybe that’s how she pronounces it, but it’s still wrong, wrong, wrong. And the little red squiggly line that shows up underneath—even in Facebook messages—indicates a warning people—especially writers—should heed. (I apologize if my old English teacher, persnickety self is shining through here.) (A little bit.)

What about should of? NO! The correct use is should have. The problem probably stems from the contraction, should’ve. I agree. It sounds like should of when we speak. When writing, however, use should have or should’ve. Have is a helping verb: I should have paid attention in English class.

Suppose/supposed has a couple of problems. Here are the correct usages:
I suppose I can cook dinner tonight if you wash the dishes.

I am supposed to cook dinner tonight if I have time. (Don’t forget the d on the end.)

Supposedly, I am a good cook. Not, not, not supposably. Supposably is not correct—even if you hear everyone you know say it this way.

All of a sudden is correct. Years ago when I was teaching, a student wrote, “all of the sudden.” I stopped reading. I shook my head. I’d never heard that phrase before. I marked it as wrong. The student was irritated. A wiser colleague mentioned that all of the sudden was a colloquialism. At its worst, it’s wrong. At its best, it’s informal. Use the accepted all of a sudden in your writing.

Finally, here’s one just for fun. One of my students wrote chester drawers in an essay. I don’t believe she capitalized the C either. Again, even if in quick, slurred speech, the words sound like chester, they really should be written chest of drawers.

Now that I’m thinking about it, chester drawers could make for some interesting dialog in my next work in progress.

Happy writing!

Categories
Grammar and Grace

Confusing Words…Again!

 

Yes, we’re continuing to visit confusing words because the English language abounds with them. Here are a few more examples to look for when you’re proofing your writing. Some are homophones while others are confusing because of their close spellings.

       1. Sensuous/Sensual

Sensuous means relating to the five senses, strong sensory appeal. If used correctly, the word does not have a sexual connotation.

The chocolate and hint of chili pepper combined to make a sensuous experience.

Sensual means relating to gratification of senses or the indulgence of the appetite, physically pleasing, and it comes with a hint of sex.

Many advertisements today rely on sensual images instead of clever copy.

      2. Pallet/Palate/Palette

A pallet is a temporary bed or a portable platform.

My grandmother used to make a pallet of quilts for me on her floor.

A palate is the roof of the mouth.

The hot soup scorched my palate.

A palette is an artist’s board of paint.

All the colors mingled on the artist’s palette.

      3. Carat/Karat

A carat is the unit of measure for precious stones.

Her engagement ring is a 2-carat diamond.

A karat is used to measure gold.

Her wedding band is comprised of 24 karat gold.

      4. Homey/Homely           

Homey relates to the home.

The abundance of candid photos and plump throw pillows added to the room’s homey ambiance.

Homely is used to describe things that are thought to be unattractive or simple.

The homely hound licked his spotted paw.

Take time to check on suspect words—the spelling as well as the definition.

Happy writing!

Categories
Tour

Blog Tour- Ben Wolf

benw

Welcome, Ben.

Tell us about your latest book.  I’d Punch a Lion in His Eye for You
I’d Punch a Lion in His Eye for You follows the imaginary exploits of a father and son to adventurous locations. At each location, they encounter an alpha predator that attacks the son, but the father intervenes and saves him every time because the father loves his son.

Why do you write what you do?: I write action/adventure speculative fiction because it most resonates with who I am as a person. I love sci-fi and fantasy, and I’m developing a taste for horror as well. It’s the most fun set of genres there is.

What are you currently working on?: Currently, I’m working on a Christmas novella in which Santa has to save Christmas from Father Time. I can’t go into much more detail than that for the time being, I’m afraid.

How does your work differ from other work in its genre?: My work differs from other work in its genre in a variety of ways:

1. I usually try to buck conventions of whatever genre I happen to be working in.

2. I write with a unique voice.

3. I routinely try to twist the reader’s expectations of what my work should be.

How does your writing process work?: Generally, I get an idea and write down the idea. I write as much of that idea down as I can. When the idea is written down, then I try to give it some structure. I typically write stories that adhere to the three-act structure, so I pinpoint the key moments in my story where they’d be with the three-act structure.
After that, I begin outlining in more detail, usually on a chapter-by-chapter level. Then I save the outline separately and create a new document with the outline in it, and I begin writing. As I write the content of the outline in story form, I delete the outline notes in the manuscript. By the time I’m done, there is no outline left, but I have a story.
From there, I begin the editing process. I start by whittling down the writing by cutting unnecessary words and tightening up the prose. Then I have someone else look at it to check my writing for areas in which I’m weak (usually character stuff). I perhaps do some additions and tweaks, and before long, I’ve got a solid manuscript ready for pitching or publication.

Ben Wolf founded Splickety Publishing Group (SPG) http://splickety.com/

The goal of SPG is to meet the needs of busy folks like him: people who appreciate great fiction but lack the time to read. SPG offers three quarterly flash fiction magazines: Splickety (multi-genre), Havok (speculative), and Splickety Love (romance).
Ben’s novel Blood for Blood won the 2015 Cascade Award and is characterized as “bold…with nonstop tension” and “hard to put down.” It asks, “What if a vampire got saved?”

His debut children’s book, I’d Punch a Lion in His Eye for You, is a 2016 Cascade Award finalist.

I'dpunch

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Punch-Lion-His-Eye-You-ebook/dp/B0185N6R3W/ref=sr_1_5?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1471548030&sr=1-5

Social Media and Blog:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=110400056

Twitter: http://twitter.com/1BenWolf

Instagram: @1benwolf

Website: www.benwolf.com

 

Categories
Flash Fiction-Splickety

Emotion in Flash Fiction: How to Pack a Punch in 1,000 Words or Less

TeddiDeppner
“Find the key emotion; this may be all you need know to find your short story.”
– F. Scott Fitzgerald

In astronomy, a singularity is a black hole. It’s a powerful gravitational well that sucks in everything around it — planets, moons, asteroids, dust clouds, stars, even light itself.

What does this concept have to do with flash fiction?

Emotion is the singularity that sucks your reader in and devours them whole. Emotion is also the singular focus of the short story writer: it is the only thing that leaves a mark and creates a lasting memory in a reader. Flash fiction is generally under 1,000 words in length. So how do you generate the sort of emotional gravity force that will grab hold of your reader in such a short time?

It doesn’t happen by accident. You do it with intention.

FIRST IDENTIFY

Ideas for short stories come to us in many forms. Sometimes a striking scene pops into your head. Sometimes a character stuck in a tough situation grabs your empathy. Sometimes a fascinating “what if?” scenario or scientific fact tugs at your imagination.

These are all good starting points, but before you jump on the keyboard and begin merrily typing away, do this one vital thing: identify the emotion your story is best suited to evoke in your reader.

THEN INTENSIFY

“A short story must have a single mood and every sentence must build towards it.” – Edgar Allan Poe

Good flash fiction requires the same basic elements needed for any good story: setting, character, desire, an obstacle or conflict and a resolution — all working together to form a powerful emotional experience for the reader. Each element should be written towards that singular focus, and every word must pull its weight. In fact, as you gain experience with flash fiction, everything should pull double — or triple — duty.

The description of the setting should add to the mood, imply something about the character, and hint at the story’s climax. The dialogue should provoke an emotional reaction, as well as illustrating who the characters are and what they want.

Even if your story is under 1,000 words, you can still give the reader enough information to connect with the main character. Skip across the timeline of your character’s life, zooming in to show key moments that enhance the target emotion.

Be careful, though. If you are targeting the emotion of regret, that doesn’t mean every sentence will be sad or regretful. Not at all. The impact of the target emotion is a result of engaging the reader in a vicarious experience, so that they want to see the character get what they desire, so that they are disappointed when the character fails, they are hurt when the character is in pain, and ultimately, they feel the target emotion when the character’s story is finished. For example, the story might be full of wonder and delight, and the hope of a happy ending. The regret is then achieved at the end when something hinted at throughout the story comes to fruition and sabotages the hoped-for happiness.

THE READER IS PART OF THE EQUATION

Readers themselves bring memories and emotions to the table. Leverage those. It’s not always about describing your character’s pain in order for the reader to feel pain. Your character may feel something very different than the emotion you’re evoking in your reader.

When you write, imagine the age of your target audience, the things they may have experienced before, the movies and books already popular in your story’s genre. Make them think your story is headed one way, similar to other stories they’ve seen, and then give them a delightful surprise. Paint details from significant events that trigger memories of their own first love, first funeral, first pet, first fear.

Flash fiction is about packing a punch with just a few words. When you pick every detail of your story with a single powerful emotion in mind, your readers are more likely to be sucked into your story and have an experience they’ll remember for a long time.

EXAMPLES

DailyScienceFiction.com has an impressive collection of good quality short stories in the speculative genres. Here are a few stories that packed an emotional punch:

• Voidrunner – This story covers decades of a life in 823 words. It also uses setting and repeated imagery to enhance the emotional impact.
• The Circle of Life – This story contains the familiar emotions of a sibling helpless in the face of her sister’s selfishness and then turns it upside down in the last sentence.
• Sparg – I first read this story in 2013, and will never forget it. So sad!

 

[bctt tweet=”Generating emotional gravity in 1000 words or less doesn’t happen by accident.” username=”@A3forme @Splickety”]

A short story must have a single mood and every sentence must build towards it. – Edgar Allan Poe

[bctt tweet=”Find the key emotion; this may be all you need know to find your short story. – F. Scott Fitzgerald” username=”@A3forme @Splickety”]

AUTHOR BIO:
Teddi Deppner is an indie author, founder of the #SpecFicCollective and Associate Acquisitions Editor at Splickety Pub Group. She’s also a homeschool mom, artist and an avid toy and nature photographer. Hear more about her projects at http://www.teddideppner.com/ or connect on Twitter or Facebook.

Categories
Writing for Transformation: Bible Studies and Devotions

10 Places to Find Life-Changing Illustrations-Leigh Powers

Good teachers are also good storytellers. Stories capture our attention and imagination. They make us laugh, relieving tension. They create empathy, connecting us to our readers. They help us understand abstract concepts and figure out how to apply truth to our life. If we’re going to write life-changing Bible studies and devotions, we need to sharpen our storytelling skills. But in order to tell a story well, we need to have a good story to share. Here are ten places to find life-changing illustrations:

  1. Personal experience. Writing means planting your bottom in the chair, but it can also mean putting your feet on the sidewalk. Go for a walk. Volunteer. People watch. Take the scenic route. Get outside and live, and write about what happens to you. Personal stories give readers a window into your life, and sharing personal experiences helps build credibility and trust with your readers
  2. Nature. God reveals himself to us in creation. Harnessing stories from nature helps us reveal God’s fingerprints on the world he has made.
  3. Literature and films. One of my favorite examples of faith is the moment from Indian Jones and the Last Crusade when Indy steps out onto a path he believes is there but cannot see. Aslan’s sacrifice, Sam’s loyalty to Frodo, Anne Shirley’s firm belief in the power of friendship—these stories resonate with us. While we need to handle them carefully, using illustrations from books and movies can help form points of connection between our readers’ interests and biblical truths.
  4. Christian classics. We are blessed by the number and variety of books available today for Christian readers. But there is great value in also taking the time to read words that have stood the test of time. The thoughts and words of classic Christian authors can help us find fresh ways to express timeless truths.
  5. History and biographies. While history is not my favorite genre, I discipline myself to read history and biographies on a regular basis. History helps us find touchstones from the past that still resonate today, and these stories can add interest and depth to your Bible studies.
  6. Science and statistics. This is an area in which we need to be careful and be certain to cite our sources. Many frequently quoted statistics are not as reliable as people sometimes believe. It’s not true that 50 percent of all marriages end in divorce, no matter how many times you’ve heard it. Still, good information from science and statistical research can also provide good illustrations for your readers.
  7. Family and friends. Tread carefully here and decide what the best boundaries for your family are. While I mention my children in my writing, I don’t share specific stories about them without their permission. Similarly, I recognize that my friends’ stories are their own and that they haven’t asked to have their lives splashed across the internet. Still, a good story is a good story, but I always ask for permission before sharing it in my writing and often change identifying details.
  8. Current events. As I read the news, I’m always on the lookout for good stories that show everyday people doing amazing things. The news can be a great source for stories of compassion, humor, strength, and triumph. I find Evernote is a good tool for keeping track of news clippings.
  9. Write your own parables. Take a cue from Jesus and write your own parables. Make sure that your audience knows it is a story and not a factual experience, but creating a parable can be a powerful way to convey truth.
  10. Scripture. Sometimes Scripture is the best tool to illustrate Scripture. David’s victory over Goliath is an example of courage. Barnabas’s gift to the church at Jerusalem demonstrates sacrificial generosity, and Ruth’s care for Naomi is a perfect picture of loyalty, compassion, and grace. The stories of how God worked through people’s lives in Scripture can show us how God desires to work in our lives as well.

What are your favorite sources for illustrations?

Categories
A Pinch of Poetry

What is Poetry- Darlo O. Gemeinhardt

darlo

The term poetry comes from the medieval Latin poetia, from Latin  poeta ‘poet’. It usually refers to the written expression of feelings and ideas using distinctive styles and rhythms. Poetry has been enjoyed by millions of people through oral and written traditions. What makes it so popular? Poetry says more and says it more intensely than ordinarily language.

Poetry gives us information, clarifying our thoughts and emotions. It has been used for persuasion—advertisements, propaganda, sermons, and political speeches.

Poetry doesn’t just tell us about an experience but it allows us to participate in it through our imaginations. We fill in the blanks the poet leaves out. We build our own images based on the information in the poem.

 

For instance, you can be surrounded by a roomful of people but not a single one may really know you—the real you, inside where your true self is hidden. Maybe you observe the person sitting on the row next to you.What do you really know about them? Let’s say they are female, early twenties, brown hair, casual dress, etc. But what do you really know? Poetry can take you further. It can even show you things about yourself. Maybe this girl is like the person in the poem below.

On Being Invisible

With each line I write

I feel a little more of

myself is being grafted onto

the body of my soul.

Some of the grafts are rejected

but those few that do take

root grow and increase

my knowledge of myself.

Who knows, someday I may

recognize myself formed

in the words on a plain

sheet of paper.

 

Perhaps I am even now

hidden on this page.

I am here if only

you will look.

© 1976, Darlo Gemeinhardt

 

Poetry is a multidimensional language covering intellectual, sensuous, emotional, and imaginative areas of life. Try it.

Darlo Gemeinhardt  writes MG novels and the occasional poem.

She spends a good portion if each day taking care

of twenty-five dogs. That’s why she believes, “There’s

a Story in Every Dog.”

www.fromthedogpen.com