The Writer’s New Shelf

 

              In the Aug. 19^th edition of the Six Rural Writers’ Newsletter, I wrote an article entitled “A Writer’s Shelf.” In the article, I told about taking inventory of my writing related books, both on the oak bookshelves and on my Kindle & Kindle Fire, and said I would post those books on our blog. This week’s post includes only the books on my Kindles and in the “cloud.” I’ll post more books next week.

Writing Fiction for All You’re Worth by James Scott Bell 

(Mr. Bell is one of my particularly favorite authors of writing books and articles. He is entertaining as well as educational, and his enthusiasm for writing comes through. I also enjoy the fiction he writes.)

Getting the Words Right by Theodore A Rees Cheney   

(This is a great book on revision. Enjoyable to read and useful when you are in the throes of agony and want to throw out the first draft. His guidance will ease the pain.)

Write That Book already! : The Tough Love You Need to Get Published Now

by Sam Barry & Kathi Kamen Goldmark - aka: the Author Enablers - editors of this collection of helps from some of today’s top writers                                          (The title caught me…and I’m glad.)

Write Poetry Now by  Robert Lee Brewer             

(I subscribe to his blog, and have enjoyed him immensely. He writes the “Poetic Asides” column for Writer’s Digest and is the editor of the current, and past years, Poet’s Market )

The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing: Everything you need to know about creating & selling your work by the editors of Writer’s Digest

New Oxford Dictionary – 2^nd edition                        (Of course, I have a dictionary on here!)

A Writer’s Book of Days by Judy Reeves               

(One thing I appreciate about Amazon is the fact that I can download a sample to read, then purchase the book later if I like it. From the preview, I will buy this book.)

Creating Characters by Howard Lauther                                   (Downloaded the sample on my Kindle)

The Giant Book of Poetry - edited by William H. Roetzheim         

(It not only inspires my poetic bent, but other parts of my writing)

Tolstoy and the Purple Chair by Nin Sankovitch                 

(The author’s year of reading a book a day, and has a complete list of the books she read)

Holy Bible: NASB                              

(not just for the soul, but also for the wonderful literature, beautiful poetry, riveting stories, and the moral compass we need for God to guide us)

      As you can imagine, carrying these books around would be rather cumbersome, so being able to have the inspiration, information, and the “get to it”prompting in a traveling form is a great boon to the writer. I hope this gives you a few ideas for your own library and, if you don’t already have an e-reader, helps you decide on whether one would be beneficial to you.

Happy reading…and writing!

Jerolyn Lockhart

 

I LOVE DEADLINES

When I have a deadline, I get it done.
At times I work ahead gathering research so I have plenty of material to work with
when I'm down to the wire. Sometimes I wait almost too long, then I have to put in
a marathon session to finish. After which, I go to bed to recuperate.

But, having a deadline means I will produce. I will finish. Is it my best work?
Usually, it is. Something in me loves the challenge. Others might despair or get a block the size of a mountain and cry, "I can't make it!" But I charge in all engines firing. (Now by the end of such a project, I am moving slower and drinking pots of coffee, and wishing I'd started earlier.) But next time I'll do it again. I don't know why my brain works that way, it just does.

Now if I have a really big project--a book--I have to start early. Do the research, gather correlating odds and ends that might fit the story. I'll write scenes and pages I like; devise daily, weekly, monthly deadlines for myself.
The problem with that is I don't always "obey" myself. I need a writing friend who will hold me accountable.

That's why I'm excited about our writing group's June project. We are going to write the first draft of a book in 30 days! We'll be using Karen S.Wiesner's book: First Draft in 30 Days.
Each of us has a fiction book idea. We will be accountable to each other. We
will have deadlines. We are all in some trepidation. Can we do it? Daunting, but four of us who write fiction, have each made the commitment.

Wish us success. Check back here in a month for an update.

Writer's Savings Time

                                       

Daylight Savings Time recently stole an hour of daylight in the morning. People

have had to adjust their body rhythms.

Writers also have seasonal deadlines to adjust to. Magazines work months ahead

on future issues. If you want to be in the Christmas issue, you might need to turn

in your material in March. Each magazine has its own preferred deadline. Find it

in their guidelines.

Following is a general idea when to think, write and submit seasonal material:

JANUARY:  Father’s Day, graduation, June weddings, Children’s Day

FEBRUARY: Think summer, vacations, travel

MARCH: 4^th of July, Independence Day, Patriotism, Christmas material

APRIL: First day of school, 9/11, Labor Day

MAY: Halloween, Harvest, Fall themes, Columbus Day

JUNE: Thanksgiving, Veterans Day, Elections, Daylight Savings ends

JULY:  Pearl Harbor Day, Hanukkah, Winter begins, Christmas

AUGUST: New Year, Resolutions, snow, floods

SEPTEMBER: Valentine’s Day, Groundhog Day

OCTOBER: St Patrick’s Day, kites, Daylight Savings Time begins

                     Easter (some years)

NOVEMBER: April Fool’s Day, Tax Day, Easter (some years)

DECEMBER: Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, May Day

I find it difficult to write some seasonal material at the wrong time of year.

So, in December when I’ve got the Christmas spirit, I jot down ideas, events,

feelings, etc. When July comes I have a file full of possible articles, stories,

and poems.

Rather than a list, make a dial. Cut out a circle (5 inches). Mark off 12 “pie-shaped

slices.”  Fill in each pie slice with the appropriate info. Make it as colorful as you want.

Stick a tack through the center and hang it up. Simply turn the dial to the month

you’re working on and go to work.

 Pat Zabriskie

A Writer’s Bookshelf

Title: Word Magic for Writers

Author: Cindy Rogers

Publisher: Writers Institute Publishers

Date: 2004     272 pages   $19.95

www.writersbookstore.com

Mark Twain said: “The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter—it’s the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.”

Every writer, experienced or just beginning wants to use that “right word.” In Word Magic for Writers, Cindy Rogers will show you how to make your writing better. Easy to read, clearly explained with exercises to practice each language device, the book is both instructive and delightful.

Like a baker “who knows the importance of ingredients and how to 

use them,” writers need to know their “ingredients,” i.e., words 

and how to use them in order to produce not only palatable reading,

but the spicy zest, the flavor that takes their books beyond 

good to gourmet.

Chapter titles to pique your interest:

Language Devices from Alliteration to Zeugma

Sound Devices to Tickle A Title and Snap Up A Sentence

Nothing Like A Simile

Excessively Extravagant Exaggeration

Vibrant Words and Vivid Images

Attention Grabbers: Titles and Headlines.

From the familiar tongue twister and simile to synecdoche and 
metonymy, you will be treated to clear explanations and glittering
examples of each language device.

Word Magic for Writers is a resource you need on your bookshelf.

                                                                                                 Pat Zabriskie

Full to the Brim: the Life of a Rural Writer

“Solitude is as needful for the imagination as society is wholesome for the character.”

- James Russell Lowell

So I step into the “Love Mug” to have a frappe with a writer friend, and instead of the records playing (yes, records…as in LPs, platters, those big flat-round-black discs that were played in the 20^th century), the barista is singing and playing the ukulele and her sister is singing harmony. Very nice, especially since they have a good sound. Nothing like live music in a coffee shop while conversing with a friend; and in a small town in Southeast Colorado to boot! Hold that thought…I’ve got to sing along!

     This is just one of the joys of rural living; good friends (expected), good coffee, and unexpected entertainment.

     As my friends mentioned in the earlier blogs (which made me scramble to think of a different approach) we have the fusion of quietude and busyness that makes for a great life. We scramble with deadlines and family, we yearn for peace on our most hectic days - then long for interruption when it’s too silent. We explore the mixed bag of life, just like any other writer, and have the world at our fingertips. On the internet we can educate ourselves and network with other writers; we search out markets and agents, then send our queries and manuscripts. At our desks we create new worlds, or explore the past of our ancestors. We live in the minds of our characters and our fingers follow them through their stories. Outside of our walls, we go into the world to feel the weather on our skin, to interact with others, or just “people watch” and absorb the local flavor - just like any other writer. But in many ways we have so much more. Instead of the smog and rush of the city, we have the freedom of wide blue skies, soaring hawks, quiet lakes and walks along the river. For us, we have the best mix of solitude and friends.
                                                                                       Jerolyn Lockhart