I attended the Seacoast Writers Association conference at Chester College.

08:30-09:00
I met several people at the breakfast table of Danish, bagels, OJ, and coffee. Tate joined us. I gave her my new "Kimee's Day" to read. A gal next to me took a copy too.

09:00-09:15
The Welcome Address and contest winners were introduced.

09:15-10:30
The winners, who were there, read their pieces... Tate's was great... about "Digger Dan's" in Mississippi.

10:30-11:00
Coffee break and more contacts.

11:00-12:00
The keynote speaker, Brendan Dubois, told us about his writing experiences, rejections, and 13 books he has published.
The main thing he stressed was "Writers Write." Do it every day. If not a page or 10, just a paragraph, or a sentence, or a word... but write something.

12:00-12:45
Lunch was salad, lasagna, bread stick, and a vegetable. Soup was also available. Desert (carrot cake) was offered but I didn't take any.

13:00-15:15
Tate said she will send me the handouts from the "Explore Your Characters and Add Depth" workshop on character development I couldn't attend (full). The presenter was Sue Wheeler, a retired fiction professor.
I attended the "Getting into Print" workshop with Peter R. Randall. Again, several people didn't have a query letter requested for the workshop. Those of us who did exchanged them and critiqued them. The group who read mine said, "It was unanimous, they all wanted to read this story when it comes out..." but the copy I gave the moderator was too long. I'll have to shorten it.
He is a publisher... he kept mine. I don't know what he will do with it.

15:15-15:30
After the workshop, Margaret King (a poet), told me that Tate talks about me at her other writing group in Exeter. I offered her "Renee's Song" to read... 10 minutes later she said it was great, thinks I should send it to JAMA or some one else to publish. I gave her my card and a copy of "Kimee's Day."
She was confused about 'Father.' She thought it was me. I will have to clarify that. Also, vial is the wrong word. It should have been vile.
Another gal talked to me and said she remembers Renee's story from ten years ago. She didn't know her name or that she was my daughter from the papers. She was surprised that Kimee was still alive.

I filled out the evaluation form after speaking to Tate. (Talking behind my back, Harrumph!) She is going back to NJ this week. Will return my book in the June meeting of RWX.
 

The SWA conference is at Chester College, NH, tomorrow. I registered late, and my first choice workshop selection , Character Development, was filled. I have been reserved a space in my second choice: Getting Into Print - Peter R. Randall.
I could have used the character development coaching. I'm usually too wordy when I describe my characters. I can't seem to shake the need to fill in every little detail about them. I know, I know, "Let the reader fill in details from their own experience." I'm bringing the workshop submission anyway, just in case they have an opening.
 

Sorry, I missed sending my blog for last Saturday.
2008/05/10 09:24-12:33 Saturday ["Irregular Writers"] We have an official name. Borders (Concord, NH) put a sign on our table reserving it for "Irregular Writers" from 10:00-12:00, 2nd Saturdays each month. Sounds good.
A new girl, Melissa, stopped by and wants to join us. Mary gave her three words to use on a 1000 word piece for next month.
Greg (one of our few published authors) returned and will be coming again.
I told the group about the "Inside Story" book and author from the Madison convention. Deb (our screenplay writer) was interested.
Marion was the dedicated reader this month. She read mine first. I presented "Kimee's Day." Mary suggested I watch my 'almost rhymes' and word locations (don't center).
Jonathan's piece continued with his dolphins mystery.
Jonathan's Dad gave us a Si-Fi spoof on ice cream.
M___'s dark mystery with the Grim Reaper's son is getting more intense.
Mary gave us another chapter in her children's book.
Deb gave us more Hawaiian scenes from her "Climate" screenplay. I suggested she tweak her agent about her "Coconut Grove" treatment since there was a major fire in a Hollywood Nightclub last month. Current events may help sell it.

Clint
 

I'm not so lonely anymore. The wife returned from Peru Wednesday. It was a tough trip. She was sick for a few days, but the views were spectacular. Her camera malfunctioned on day two. So, she became the journal writer and her friend took the pictures.
RWX met today. We're back to full strength at seven. Good feedback on my piece. One of our members, Tate, will read her 2nd place winning entry at the Seacoast Writers Association conference next Saturday.
Nothing favorable in my agent search yet. The one I presented to in March was away until last week. Her email said she will, maybe, get to read my pitch next week. The agent I sent the other pitch to seemed to be more interested in selling me ghostwriting services for $65/hr. (Maybe it's a subtle hint I can't write.) Unfortunately, that's $64/hr more than I can afford.
I'm astounded at the comments I'm getting for Kimee's Day (#1417965). The poetry is poor, but most comment the story is good.
 

Sorry I've been neglecting my blog lately. Been busy... and lonely.
Ferne is out of the country (Peru) for a few more days. I've been bachen' it for a week. Boy do I stink.
But, I've finally systemized my memoir. Made up an Excel spreadsheet with all the chapters, scenes and endnotes. And paginated the whole thing. Wow, 228956 words in 1395 pages. Am I crazy?
Probably.
But it's a starting place. Now for the first pass at real editing. Cut, cut, cut.
But, these are my babies!
Cut, cut, cut.

But, once in a while, I find something really brilliant. Did I actually write that?
Yep.
Then I go back to my journals and relive the scene. And "re-live" is just what happens. I get angry and sad all over again.
Last month I presented the ambulance scene to my Concord Writers Group. Sprinkled in a few stanzas of "Renee's Song" for effect... and they liked it.
Next week I'll present the abortion dilemma scene to RWX. Actually, I just sent it off. I had to stop working on it, it was growing. Every time I try to rewrite my journal entries from ‘telling' to ‘showing' it doubles in size.
I think that's just my inexperience laughing at me.

Thank God for microwave meals. Ferne left me a pile of them. Had meatloaf for breakfast this morning. And there's a big Lasagna I have to eat by Thursday.

Clint

 

I have been asked many times about my granddaughter Kimee's health. So, to simplify my explanation, I've written a poem about her day. I hope you like it.

ID: 1417965   (Rated: 18+) Kimee's Day  Kimee's day in the nursing home. by Clint

Expanding notes into a story:

Here is an example of creating prose out of my journal. As I read the cryptic notes I left in the journal, I remember more of the scene and action at the time.

Courts
1998/12/22 16:20 [VM]

Ed Daley called to tell us the DNA tests were back and I was exonerated. He will be in his Boston office tomorrow and wants me to call him...

MI/Courts
1998/12/22 16:58 [Don]

Arrived at MI for visit with Renee. Waited in lobby for Maura. Nurse came to tell me I can visit w/o escort and to call Maura when I have a chance. Visited Renee until 18:04. Flexed her legs, feet, toes, arms, hands, wrists, fingers. Spoke at length to Nell.

Courts
1998/12/22 18:40 [Don]

Called Maura as she requested. She said she talked to the state police and the tests have come back clearing me as a suspect. I now have unrestricted access to Renee. She will have legal responsibility until Jan. 14th (court date) then she will probably be out of the picture.



Pages: 1
Words: 141


From which I created "A Christmas Present," the first scene in chapter seven.

As I mentioned on 2008/03/27 and 2008/03/30, the slowdown in the airlines is probably caused be the FAA.
Now, I am a pilot, and I don't want unsafe airplanes in the air. I also don't want over-congested airports and long delays waiting for flights... but, I think all these problems encountered by American and United have been around for some time. They are not new.
So, why has the FAA decided to implement draconian rules at this time? Why have they been complacent for so long?
Let me guess.
Some politically motivated bureaucrat, either in the FAA or Congress, has decided to make a name for himself. By waving the flag of ‘safety' he can cause a lot of disruption in the industry. The airlines dare not complain about the arbitrary clamp-down least they be accused of chasing profit and sacrificing safety.
More interference by Congress never helps (except to get votes). Why not just let the professionals do their job.
 

We reviewed what was submitted 2008/04/02. Nora, Tate and Dan were not here today. I didn’t submit a review piece, just my Madison trip report.
Melissa’s piece was from her novel and she says it is hard to break it up into small bites (1500 words maximum for any category) and retain the continuity. She would normally just do a short story, but lately she has to concentrate on her novel.
Ron’s was a rewrite of a short story he wants to submit to a mystery magazine. It’s getting better. I had only a few comments.
Connie’s was a political tirade about Democrats and Republicans. I didn’t comment; it would just stir animosities.
Melissa assigned me to send my proposal to two agents per month. Look up agents’ interests in Writing Digest’s “Agents and Publishers for 2008.”

I need to write something for the Pembroke Group meeting. (2008/04/12 10:00-12:00 Saturday [Pembroke Group] Meet at Boarders, Concord, NH.)
Mary will not be there because she is going to a conference. So, Kris and I will probably have to run the meeting.
 

My time is of no value.
My trip to Madison had hours of waiting, both going and returning. I followed their rules, showed up on time, went through all the security checks, then they told me to wait. They wouldn't tell us how long we might have to wait... just sit there and wait.
I was scheduled for a pitch to an agent Friday afternoon. I arrived on time, ready to talk, but... no agent (was waiting in New York for a plane that didn't come). I waited in the hall, well past my appointment time, until someone finally came and told me I was delayed to the next morning. It would have been nice to have told me that before I waited and missed other events.
The next morning I had my pitch appointment. I brought along the proposal and samples of my writing to give to the agent. "Oh, no. Too much to carry. Just email them." So, rather than a quick "yes" or "no," I'll have to wait for her to get back to New York and read her email.
The day I returned home, I emailed my book proposal, the same writing samples, the prologue and first chapter to the agent. Now all I can do is wait.
In the meantime, I planted two Hazelnut trees near the walk and four Mulberry bushes along the road. Just have to wait to see if they take.
My truck battery died during the winter. I waited too long to start up the engine to recharge it. I put the charger on it this morning... now waiting.
My daughter-in-law is interested in Astronomy. Last Christmas, I offered to make telescope mirrors with her, in the garage, when it warms up a bit. I wanted to order the kits last Wednesday, but the order form said email them to get an estimate of the shipping and handling costs before I order. I did.... now waiting for them to reply. They're coming from California. A simple chart should have been sufficient.

Why does life have to have so much waiting?