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My thoughts on writing and other random things as they come up. |
| This is a blog where I keep my thoughts and daily comments about writing and WDC. |
| Ack - trying to keep up with my memoir class assignments, my reading for the Woolgatherer's, and spend some quality time with the family is stressing me a bit. I wish I had a couple days to just read and write. My memoir teacher recommended "The Liars Club"  by Mary Karr. It's a great book so far. Very strong voice, very vivid writing.I can't believe my memoir class will be over in a week! I'm glad we're probably going to do "Memoir II" in October. I was lucky to have a couple wdc chatties help me with "Invalid Item" Memoir Assignment #2 (thank you Rich and Gary). It still needs work, but they made great suggestions.Assignment #3 is to due Monday. I'm hoping I can come up with a new scene, more "juicy" and interesting. Less sentimental. I have a feeling I'll spend all weekend thinking about what that might be, and not enough time writing. Isn't that the "Story of my life." Haha. Happy Thursday. Sil |
On my recent visit to OKC to listen to speakers on "Voice", I was lucky enough to travel with my mom and a new friend, Jewel Sample. Jewel is a published author of a children's book, "Flying Hugs and Kisses." .It was very interesting to listen to her publishing journey, as well as the background on how her book came to be. I also enjoyed listening to the stories of people that have been touched by the book. Jewel's book was one that "must be written." It has helped hundreds of families across the USA deal with grief. I was sharply struck by the difference between Jewel's journey and mine. Jewel's writing matters. It touches people and makes a difference. It's what I should aspire to do. Maybe some day I'll become a good enough writer to do just that. Best wishes, Sil |
I've been reading yet another book that talks about the writing life, and about how writers should only "write if they are unable to do anything else." Meaning - the need to write moves them so strongly, they can't help but write. They say that the writing costs outweigh the rewards so strongly that if you can find anything else to do you - you should do it instead of writing. I'm not fitting into that mold. I can do lots of other things. I choose to write. It feels almost - like a betrayal to the writing community to admit that. Maybe they are talking about writing for a living. Or writing exclusively. I don't know. Anyway - improving as a writer is a mountain of work. I'm still feeling the weight of what is 'left to do.' But I'm enjoying the journey - and I'm stubborn. Do you feel you "must" write? Best wishes and Happy Monday - Sil |
I'm headed to this event with friends tomorrow night, I'm pretty excited about it. Except that I have a new hairdo (more on that follows). I have been off on vacation yesterday and today, but I haven't met any of my writing goals. My time keeps getting sucked up by other things, like this terrible perm I just HAD to have. When will I learn I can't pull off a haircut that belongs on a 20 year old? I'm 40+! Anyway, it took two hours and didn't turn out anything like I wanted, which means I probably wasted 2 hours and a hundred dollars. Worst part - It looks AWFUL. I usually don't get tied up in appearances but..this is pretty bad. Friends looked down at the ground when I ran into them at Walmart. Oh well, at least maybe I gave them something to smile about. In any case, I'm not meeting my writing goals very well. I need to get busy! What are your plans related to writing for this weekend? Sil |
I am really enjoying my memoir class. It's very fun to be in a room full of a motivated, adult writers. We all want to learn, and have paid for this opportunity. It's very energizing. This might be the favorite part of my job (working with continuing ed opportunities). As for taking a class - I highly recommend it. What is your experience with continuing ed writing classes? Part of our assignment this week is to put additional conflict into our scenes. "Ramp it up." So I've been thinking about that. How do you 'add conflict' to real situation? I think it means explore the inner angst, and somehow show it. I always think of conflict as two people squaring off against each other. It's time for me to refine that. Do you have any advice about adding conflict to your 'real life' stories? Best wishes, Sil |
I don't understand why some people set up a contest, then abandon it. I sent a question to a person hosting a contest, and they never answered. I went ahead and made an assumption so I could get my entry in under the deadline and entered anyway. 11 days after the deadline, nothing. No winner announced, no new prompt. It made me worry for the host...but then I saw updates on his port after the contest deadline. The whole thing is very disappointing. :( Makes me wonder if entering "unknown" contests are worth it. Sil |
Sorry it's been a few days since my last posting. I've been pretty busy with work at home and working on assignments for my memoir class. I'm struggling a bit with remembering things, and putting 'the truth' on paper. I realize my truth is subjective and the best I can hope for is my best recollection. Luckily, I have family around that can help me shore up my memories. That's if their memory is any better than mine. Fiction is decidedly easier. In other news - I'm exhausted. The heat and drought is draining. I'm hoping for a little break of some time soon. Praying for rain here. What have your projects been lately? Sil |
| I have to have an assignment for memoir class finished by Monday at 5:30. "Invalid Item" . So far I only have the free-writing done. I also have to finish baby girl's room. Hubby finished the floor, but we still have doors and trim to paint, a dresser to re-finish, and a new bed to buy and set up (bunk beds are apparently OUT when you are 13). Anyway - I'm finding my memoir class assignment to be a little intimidating. Why? Because it needs to be TRUE. First, I have a terrible memory. I only remember bits and pieces of things from my 'growing up' years. Who a I kidding. I only remember bits and pieces of yesterday. Second, I am a fiction writer. That means we make stuff up. And, it can be as sensory, dramatic, and conflict saturated as I want it. Not so much real life. Plus - real life is boring. And ...sharing it can be kind of scary. Hmmmmm. Maybe that's the point. Happy Saturday! Sil |
| Hello - Happy post July 4th. I hope everyone in the US has recovered from their late night fireworks and celebratory BBQs. I had a scaled down 4th, I used it to work on the remodel of my daughter's bedroom. Holidays around my house tend to be pretty blue. My husband usually has to work (like he did last night) and I don't like to fight the crowds and traffic without him. We live in the country, so sometimes the kids and I go out and watch the neighbor's fireworks. Setting off your own fireworks is practically a sport in Oklahoma. At least, during the years without drought. This year, the two oldest were out doing their thing with friends, and my youngest and I worked on the room and watched the fireworks on TV. It didn't feel much like a holiday. I got to feeling pretty sad until I remembered a discussion I had recently with a friend. At least I have my husband, and I get to see him every day. Families of service personnel stationed overseas, and families where a loved one have passed, don't have that opportunity. I have much to be thankful for. Holidays alone are a small sacrifice. |
Happy 4th to everyone in the US who chooses to celebrate! I will be painting...as in room painting not landscape painting - ugh! Memoir class was great - wish I had more time to chat about it but I had better get to working on my homework! Guess I won't be bogging down the blog today! Best wishes. Sil |
About eight years ago we built a new house. Eight years is exactly how long it took my youngest daughter to completely destroy a beautiful bedroom. So, we've decided to 'remodel' her bedroom. This involves taking everything out, removing the wallpaper border, washing walls in prep for paint, pulling up carpet...and so on. I'm so sore I can hardly lift my hands above my head. I'm out of shape! I am enjoying it though. It's nice to have some one-on-line time with my youngest, working on a project together. And here I thought my softball break was going to be relaxing, and that I would have lots of time to write! Ha! My memoir class starts this evening. I'm very excited! I have a fresh new notebook all ready to go. What did you do this weekend? Best wishes, Sil |
I have really wanted a way to connect with other writers on WDC who are in my state. Something like a state by state directory of members who were willing to self-identify. I was whining about it and Gary suggested I create a group. So I did! If you know any "Okies" Please direct them to my group? I know some folks want to keep a distance between their writing and their personal lives, and I do understand. But if you are not very shy - this might be the group for you. Even if you are shy - if you are interested in networking, either on line or in person, sign on up. No one stays shy around me for long. Gary also suggested we start a meetup group - but I haven't gotten up the courage to try and think that one through yet. This is my first WDC group so let me know how I am doing. I'm really glad I've already been introduced to a couple of people from my state. How exciting. Trying new things is so fun. Best wishes, Happy Thursday. Sil |
Lonesome George, the turtle, has died. He is reported to be the last of a species of ancient turtle, and had been kept at a sanctuary in the Galapagos Islands. An inspired poet penned this awesome poem . I was pointed to the link by Poets & Writers magazine (thank you).I liked how the poet (1) immortalized the turtle through this piece and (2) pointed out other things that were perhaps up next to become extinct. I do need to say however, that any form of writing (chiseled on stone, typed or written on paper, or passed along digitally), will live on, as long as it is written and preserved in some form. I myself prefer stone. It doesn't burn, mold, or loose it's hard drive. I'll have to look into having one of my poems etched into rock. The key is it must be written. Write on, today. Insure a place for your words in the future. Best wishes, Sil |
These days I am a lazy river, rolling along in a sultry summer haze. The words, when they come, are scrawled, smeared, sagging with heat. They snooze on the page. It's like my brain is snoring in the shade, rocking in a hammock swing. Maybe there is something to the summer dole drums. Best wishes, Sil |
Do you ever feel like all this analyzing and breaking things down into parts and studying - takes some of the magic and joy out of reading, and writing? Surely our works are more than the sum of their parts. ..... Sil |
| I've noticed I'm using the wrong words a lot, both in writing and in speech. This is not like me. Throw instead of threw. Taught instead of taut. Worse - I frequently don't recognize the errors. It gets worse. I've been using the (completely) wrong words in speech as well. For example, I told my daughter to put the stew on the sink when I meant the stove and put it in the trunk came out as "put it in the truck." (Then I get mad when I can't find it in the trunk! Go figure!) I make probably 5 (verbal) similar mistakes a week. Probably 2-3 a day in writing or in chat. The words I toss out incorrectly tend to be the same symbolic families (appliances or things in the kitchen, things that involve transportation) just the wrong thing, or completely wrong spelling. It's like my retriever is broken. It's picking up things from the wrong slot. My family has been putting this off to me just not paying attention when I'm in a hurry, but I'm beginning to wonder. Maybe I'm just getting old. I don't think I would have noticed it as a problem if I wasn't paying "hyper" attention to words and language. Or maybe - this might just be me looking for a scapegoat for what I see as a lack of improvement. I don't know. But it's bothering me. So I posted it to my blog as a way of getting it out. Maybe my acknowledgement of the problem will make it go away. Be Banished Wrong Word Genie! Best wishes, Sil |
| Sometimes I can't find a contest to enter. This month, I want to enter too many. The ones I want to enter are: short shots , The Sins of the Poet: Lust , and if I'm brave enough,and have enough time, Last Pen Standing. .Short shots scared me at first, my idea was going to require some crafting and some deep soul searching. But my first draft is done and many times revised, and it's falling short of the mark. I'm either not the writer I need to be, or I'm unwilling to do the soul searching and unearth emotions better left buried. I like the poem because it tells an interesting story, and it leaves something up to the reader's imagination, kind of like Kooser's Abandonded Farmhouse . Sins sounds like fun, and probably won't tax me too much. LPS on the other hand - REALLY scares me. First, because like Short Shots, I'm not certain I'm willing to fully open myself up and explore my story idea. Two, because the competition is outstanding. Three, I'm pretty sure I'm still not the writer I need to be to pull off this story. There are only 10 days left and I haven't done anything but think about this idea and spin it around in my mind. I'm too scared to put it on paper. What if I can't pull it off? Which means, I'll probably wait, just let the idea sit, and never enter. So...I think I'll probably spend today getting LUST off my table...and avoiding both Short Shots and LPS. I wonder what we will find I have done in 10 days...my bet? I only deal with Lust. What about you? Best Wishes, Sil |
I've spent the last two weekends at softball fields. Last weekend we were at Derby Kansas, and we stayed at a Hampton Inn that was literally - in the middle of a wheat field. There was wheat field on either side of the hotel. The hotel was so new the paint still smelled fresh. It was such a strange thing. Today, we were at the Ballfields at Firelake, Shawnee. The ballfield was right across from a corn field. The Sonic was on the corner of the cornfield. I took a picture of my husband up against an 8' corn stalk. It was wild. Just a half a block down was the casino. Just a year ago we were battling 100 degrees and drought. This year, we have 8' tall corn. Craziness! On the way to Shawnee, we drove through an intersection outside of Perkins. On the side of the road there was a big hand painted sign that read "Jealousy Junction." No explanation. I haven't been able to find any information yet on where that came from. But I'm sure there is a story in it. What unusual things have you seen recently? Best wishes, Sil |
| One should never write about mermaids. Or zombies. Especially both at the same time. Just say'n. Today I worked on writing something not in first person. It was a horrible disaster. It had a lot more wrong with it than voice. So, what do you do? You get up dust yourself off and go back at it. In other news - I got two books today: The Productive Writer and Writing the Life Poetic. . I'm going to the Library later to get Card's book on characters and viewpoints. Even so I feel like it's an exercise in futility. Busy weekend ahead - I hope to get some reading done, but writing, well.... Hope you are having a great Friday! Sil |
I started a new book here: http://www.writing.com/main/books/item_id/1873451-Poems-In-Progress The same pass key should work for those interested. I'm still wrestling with the whole "make me care" part of poetry. So I've decided that for a while, I'm going to write poems about dogs. We'll see if that works. That way I can just work on the poetry, not worry about the who cares part. And I finally wrote something new yesterday. It's pretty rough. But it was inspired by a friend who posted on FB that her dog had passed away. Her comment was "My yard is haunted by lonely tennis balls." i thought it was an outstanding comment. I think one of the great things about dogs is that they sort of give us permission to feel. Does that make sense? Headed to the city for the day, so I won't be around much. Sil |
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