  Short Stories
This week: That Which Does Not Kill Us Edited by: Shannon  
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Welcome to the Short Stories Newsletter. I am Shannon and I'm your editor this week. |
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In last month's Short Stories Newsletter I challenged readers with the following: "Now here's your chance to win a merit badge AND 25,000 gift points! What would YOU like to read about in my next edition of the Short Stories Newsletter? Send me your suggestions! I will accept ideas until 11:59 p.m. ET on Tuesday June 29, 2010, and the one that interests me the most will be the topic of the editorial on July 21, 2010 as well as the winner of a Creativity merit badge + 25,000 gift points."
The winner of the MB challenge is saraiv with this suggestion: "Interview a person on WDC. A person with a great story or many years of wisdom. Ask them about the journey necessary to write the story. Ask them about their lives and how that effects what they write. I don't really know, but I think I would be all ears."
Congratulations, Roxiie!
I received many wonderful editorial suggestions, but I chose Roxiie's idea because it's something I've toyed with for over a year now. I've always wanted to interview a fellow author, and Roxiie reminded me that I'm not the only one interested in other writers and their stories.
Now without further ado, please join me in welcoming this week's featured WDC author and interviewee, PENsive is Meemaw x 3!  .
Shannon: Good morning, Donna, and thank you for being here with us today.
Donna: Thank you for inviting me to talk to you! I am thrilled and very flattered!
Shannon: As I sifted through WDC's Author's In Print in search of an interview subject, your bio immediately spoke to me as a woman, a writer, and a nurse. It reads, "My stories are published in Chicken Soup and Guideposts series. They focus on the miracles in my life: family and friends who've helped me recover from spinal surgery 23 years ago. My injury doesn't define me. It's given me reason to examine how love heals." Can you tell us a little about that?
Donna: I have a spinal cord injury due to surgery that went awry. That was almost twenty-five years ago. When I woke up in the recovery room, all I could do was shrug my shoulders. Now, all these years later, I walk with a walker and use a wheelchair for longer distances. What happened to me in those intervening years is primarily what I write about. Many people congratulate me on overcoming, to a certain degree, that initial paralysis. I could not and did not achieve whatever level of success in my mobility by myself. It was really the love and support I received from my entire family and circle of friends that helped me all along the way. They are the miracles in my life; they are my guardian angels.
Ironically, it was the five months I spent in the rehab center that gave me the time and the motivation to look at my life, how it changed so quickly and how just as quickly, I had people by my side who encouraged and urged me to keep on working as hard as I could every day to regain what I had lost. They are the ones who should be congratulated and that is what I try to say in my stories.
Early on, when I was discharged from the rehab center and even later on when I returned to work, I was very self-conscious. I had to go back to work in a motorized wheelchair. Everyone stared at me and I was uncomfortable, not wanting to venture out and cause more stares. But my family and friends stuck by me and continued to urge me to go out of the house. I admit to still being self-conscious even today, but the difference is it doesn't stop me from going out as it did in the beginning. Love healed and continues to heal me.
Shannon: When did you first know you wanted to be a writer, and can you remember the first thing you ever wrote for the pure pleasure of writing it?
Donna: I was in seventh grade when I first attempted to write. Up until then I loved to read, especially Nancy Drew. I also love puns, so I mixed the two together and wrote spoofs of the series, including as many puns as I could into every story. I called it "Nancy Sketched." Readership was limited to my kind-hearted friends who couldn't say, "No, thanks!" I wish I had saved some of them. I think it would be an interesting look back at me, forty-something years later!
Shannon: Do you have a favorite author or book?
Donna: I don't think I have the name of a single author or book because I like to read a variety of things, from Harry Potter to the biography of John Adams.
I do have a favorite movie though, that reflects my writing philosophy. I love Frank Capra's It's A Wonderful Life because it explores how each life can touch many other lives in ways we may never know.
Shannon: Do you have a writing routine, and by that I mean do you have a special place or time of day when you feel your most creative?
Donna: Sorry to say, I don't really have a routine established for writing. I know I should and I know it's very much recommended, but I have to say I'm not very disciplined that way.
However, I am always looking for something that will trigger an idea for a story. I do make notes in my cell phone if something jogs a thought or idea. If I'm near the computer, I'll start the story or at least include enough notes to continue when I have more time.
I do know that, at my age, it's NOT a good idea to commit anything to memory!
Shannon: In your opinion, what are the three most important things every writer needs to be successful?
Donna: I'm not sure about fiction but for nonfiction, I would say write what you know and write from your heart. You can never go wrong if you hold to those principles. Also, no matter if you write fiction or nonfiction, if you love what you're doing it will shine through your work.
Shannon: If you could invite five people to a dinner party--and these people can be any five people throughout history, dead or alive--who would they be and why?
Donna: That's an excellent question.
My first choice would be Jesus. I want to hear about Heaven. I just lost my mom--I guess I want to make sure she is happy and is with my dad and my brother and that they are all at peace.
I would also like to invite George Washington. I love to learn about the American Revolution and I would love to talk to him about those early days when some of the battles of the war didn't look promising.
In the same vein, I would invite Benjamin Franklin. He was such an extraordinary man--writer, inventor, scientist. I imagine any conversation would be both interesting and educational!
I would invite J.K. Rowling because it would be fascinating to talk with someone who could write a series that interested children, teens, and adults as well.
I would love to speak Frank Capra as well since he helped to write and directed my favorite movie It's A Wonderful Life. He had a special insight into life that was evident in all of his films. I'd love to hear how he was able to reflect that so well in his work.
Shannon: Of everything you've written, which is your favorite?
Donna: My favorite story is "Jeffrey's Gift." It's the story of my first Christmas at home, just a year after my surgery. I was extremely grateful for being home with my family to celebrate, but at the same time I was deeply disappointed that I had not made more progress with my physical therapy. I had set goals for myself that I didn't meet. Jeffrey helped me put things in their proper perspective in ways only a five-year-old boy can do.
Shannon: There are hundreds, if not thousands of aspiring writers reading this interview right now. What would you like to say to them?
Donna: I'd like to say to everyone to keep writing, but read, too. Reading different types of books and literature can only help improve your own writing.
Also, I hope everyone has enjoyed this as much as I have. Thank you so much for this opportunity!
Shannon: You are very welcome! Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today. Before we go, is there anything we haven't covered that you'd like to talk about or something you'd like everyone to know about you?
Donna: You've asked very interesting and thought-provoking questions. I guess the one thing I would add is that I'm a new grandma! My son Jeff and his wife Katie became parents to a beautiful little girl, Karaleen, eight weeks ago yesterday! I believe she will provide many wonderful memories for all of us. I know that as she grows I won't be able to hold her as I can now, but there will be other activities that we will do together. I want to read to her, and maybe when she's older she will want to write too! I am going to enjoy writing about her!
Shannon: One more question. If you could be a superhero, which one would you be and why?
Donna: I would choose Superman. I think he has some interesting super powers: flying without the benefit of a plane and punching through a brick wall are pretty cool ways to handle crime.
More importantly, though, Superman was played by Christopher Reeve who became a super man in his own right. After his spinal cord injury in 1995, he dedicated his life to increasing interest in spinal cord research. (P.S. I now work for the Christopher Reeve Foundation as an information specialist).
Shannon: Can you elaborate on that a little bit?
Donna: Sure. The Foundation raises money for spinal cord injury research. In 2002, they opened the Paralysis Resource Center to help answer questions and provide information and resources to the families and friends of those who are spinal cord injured as well as those who suffer from other diseases that result in paralysis--such as stroke, ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), and Multiple Sclerosis.
I have been there since 2002. I answer email and phone calls. I love my job because it gives me the opportunity to help others get the information they need so they won't feel so overwhelmed with everything else going on in their lives.
Shannon: Thank you again for taking the time to answer my questions today, Donna. You are truly an inspiration, and I know your story has touched hundreds of hearts and lives today. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Donna: Thank you, Shannon!
To support PENsive is Meemaw x 3! , please check out her works in print:
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Let's start with a few stories penned by my interviewee, PENsive is Meemaw x 3! .
Please show your support of this week's featured authors by reading and reviewing their work.
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Feedback
The following is in response to "Short Stories Newsletter (June 23, 2010)" :
Shanachie  says, "I have something similar but geared specifically towards fantasy characters "Invalid Item" " Thanks for sharing, Medie!
Adriana Noir  says, "Excellent NL, Shannon! I loved your list for character profiling. This will come in very handy! Fantastic job.  " Aw, thank you, Adriana! 
Christine Cassello says, "This is a really good profile sheet. It is more detailed than the one I got with my courses from Institute of Children's Literature. I guess it is not as necessary to know children characters in such detail since they have lived less, don't have jobs, etc., but understanding their parents will make a difference even if they are not featured in the story." You're welcome, Christine. And thank you for taking the time to read and comment! 
Coolhand says, "Spot-on job, Shannon. I also use character profiles. Your list is thorough and gave me several intersting ideas." Thank you, Coolhand! You'll have to email me those stories once you get them written.
lazymarionette says, "Thank you so much for the merit badge and the 5,000 gift points! However, I couldn't wait to share my quote, it truly inspired me. I, also, thoroughly enjoyed this newsletter because of the topic of characters. My favorite part of writing my stories is meeting new people through my characters. Thank you for the new Character Profile and I can't wait to use it in my own writing!" You're welcome, Ella! Thank YOU! 
atwhatcost says, "Since I started writing short stories, it's always been about the character. I had a mental profile list that even included political affiliation, knowing that info would never make it into the story. Recently, I was stymied with how to clarify another need-to-tell story. I've come full circle back to needing to understand the character more fully, and I've bought books on how to do just that. Thanks for the character profile list. It seems we can never know too much about our character, but we sure get stuck when we know too little." You are so right, Lynn! Thanks for the feedback.
Kate - Writing & Reading  says, "More than mere interview questions, your newsletter offers a way to gain insight into the life of a character, as if perhaps you'd grown up together. I can see this as a splendid way to stay in character when writing, and your advice to write side stories I envision a fun diversion when the muse creative stutters in the writing of the story. Thanks for a 'keeper' newsletter ~ and I look forward to some good reads in your stories you've selected this week. Write On!" Thank YOU, Kate! 
Please see "Newsletter Archives" [E] for all my editorials.
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Short Stories: July 21, 2010 Issue [#3849]
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