What to write… ?

February 17th, 2012

Coming up with a “novel” idea…but more than that…

Someone(s) once said that what you write is more important that how you write it.  But also what kind of books and what kinds of themes do you *want* to write. What themes truly resonate with you?

Here are some questions that might be worth exploring in pursuit of that answer:

First, when I wrote personal statements to apply to grad school, I was asked who had influenced me the most during my life and how had they influenced me?  Applying that to publishing…

Since what you write and your career in publishing is as important as getting into grad school, let’s apply that to writing — your writing percolates up from your life, from what you’ve experienced, from who you’ve become and therefore who and how you’ve been influenced, what you’re interested in, and how you’ve come to think about things.

So, in the interests of discovering what you should be writing, or more about what you should be writing–a game of nines:

What 9 people have influenced you the most during your life–not just the writing years or your adult years–and how did they influence you?

On those same lines, what are the 9 key things that have happened in your life that have influenced you…the most?

What are the 9 top books that you *absolutely* love (or scenes), and why? And movies, the same.

What 9 books or plots or kinds of stories or scenes would you like to see written or made into a film or have always wanted to write?

What are your top 9 interests and, of those, which are the interests that you devote the most time to?

What are your top 9 favorite characters in fiction and/or in history, and why? What do you like about them? Strong personality or character, place in history, approach to life, romantic adventures, ability to do the right thing, part of a legend, wisdom, and so on…

What are your  top 9 favorite TV shows in the past and currently, and why?

And finally, the last question (no nines), What do you like to read and what do you actually spend time reading? This is always a good question, except that many people love to read some kinds of books, say romance, but love to write and are best at writing, a different type of book, say mainstream, or thrillers, or young adult.

This is kind of a journey in self-discovery, of yourself and of you as a writer. So, I’d suggest letting the answers percolate, and then just see where this takes you. ;-D

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Inspirational Women Series

January 28th, 2012

Who could not be inspired by a 99-year-old woman,  a world-class physicist and a professor renowned for her research, with a 7-decade career in the field of electron microscope technology, who still visited her lab at age 99? 

Anyone, but especially writers. Not only in her accomplishments, and her longevity and productivity later in life, but also in her persistence, through some adversity, in doing what she loved, and for being ahead of her time in her thinking.

That describes Gertrude Rempfer, who died last October, but who did her most prolific work after she retired at age 65. Known as “Gert,” she pioneered in electron optics, and her body of work includes five patents, 36 publications, and her work in developing night-vision goggles. Her most notable contribution was said to be in the improvement of electron microscopes. Her other contributions were taking what were at the time, controversial stands on important issues in our history.

She was born in Seattle, Washington. As a young adult, she enrolled at a University during the Depression, took her first academic position at a prestigious women’s college, but was passed up for tenure when a man was hired. When WWII began, Gert worked at the Naval Research Laboratory.

She and her husband, the late Professor of Mathematics Robert Rempfer, met when she was at Russell Sage, and were wed in 1942. They were part of the team that developed the electron microscope.

After the war, husband and wife encountered backlash from our nations post-war problems, including McCarthyism. They were forced out of Antioch College (1950s) when they tried to prevent the execution of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, and then lost their teaching positions at a black institution, Fisk University, when the couple supported racial integration–this was before the Supreme Court ruled that segregation was illegal.

Then in 1961, she joined the Portland State University (Oregon) Physics department as faculty, and for 25 years, worked closely with University of Oregon biologist Hayes Griffith doing cutting-edge research and developing applications for photoelectron microscopy.  Her last collaboration was with physicist Rolf Koenenkamp and his research team, to build “the best microscope of its kind” based on her designs.

Described as soft-spoken, unassuming and brilliant, she was dedicated to helping graduate students, and sharing her knowledge.  She continued to work until the last year, taking the bus into Portland and then back in the evenings to her beloved farm in Forest Grove, Oregon, where she still did the heavy chores.

Who,  in history or currently, writer or otherwise, particularly inspires you?

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The New Year of Writing

January 21st, 2012

It’s the New Year, a time for resolutions, a time for renewal, and a time for renewed commitment to writing.

Here are some books that have inspired me or helped me:

One of the first books in my writing life that inspired me is Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brande. Chapters that may be particularly good are “Interlude: On Taking Advice,” “The Critic at Work on Himself,” and “The Source of Originality.”

Another great book for writing, for setting goals and for achieving successful  as a writer in the publishing world, is Write it Forward: From Writer to Successful Author by Bob Mayer, NY Times best-selling author of over 50 books.  This is an excellent book. It takes you through a unique process of setting goals, a process he adapted to writers and writing from his experiences at West Point and in Special Forces as an A-Team leader, and then as a best-selling author.  He is also one of the top indie published authors in the country, and speaks at workshops and conferences around the world. This process works. His website is: www.bobmayer.org

A more general book about setting goals, but one that is also excellent is Work With Passion in Midlife and Beyond: Reach Your Full Potential & Make the Money You Need by Nancy Anderson. Nancy cofounded two career counseling firms and then established her private practice. She has hosted her own radio show, appeared in numerous television and radio programs, and spoken to civic, business and professional organizations.  Her website is: www.workwithpassion.com

One more very good book on creativity is Freeing Your Creativity: a Writer’s Guide by Marshall J. Cook.  Some especially very good chapters for getting yourself motivated are: “What’s Getting in Your Way?” “Creative Procrastination” and “Keeping That Writing Appointment.”

And of course, there’s Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way for artists of all kinds.

Are there books that have helped you as a writer or inspired you?

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Januarius — Looking back, looking forward

January 7th, 2012

Beginnings…

The month of January was called Januarius by the Romans, named after Janus, the god of doors and gates. Thus a god of Beginnings. Doors open both ways, implying leaving and coming, or looking backward and forward. In pictures, he’s represented with two heads, one looking backward and one looking forward.

So, here we are. At another beginning. Time to look backward, and time to look forward.

Looking back, what have we accomplished? Did we accomplish what we wanted? If we look back over the span of time that represents our life, what do we see? Have we written what we wanted to write? Have we become the writer that we wanted to be?

Where are we today? And what does that mean? Have we applied ourselves to what we wanted, toward things, and goals and abilities and dreams that are important to us?

If not, then now is the time. Time isn’t waiting. It plays in the background of our lives, but moves on, inexorably.

But our past doesn’t necessarily determine our future. To quote a recent commercial ad, “Live like there’s no yesterday.” We can still achieve those dreams and goals that are important to us. And in this case, what is your writing goal? Your dream?

And, what are the dreams we have yet to accomplish? Have we defined them, have we faced them? Have we achieved our fullest expression of ourselves in the world? Honed our skills, developed that wonderful inner potential that is only us?

Another way of looking at this is with the letter “I.” How do we define this “I”? A question that we all must answer, who am I? What am I becoming? This is the time of year to revisit that question. Where am I in the long stretch of time that defines this “me,” from my own beginnings to the present…and onward.

In the sense of time’s passage, I think the letter “I” also represents an interesting idea, one I had just recently. If we allow that the form of this letter could have meaning, and that the serifs in this letter could imply a sense of time, then the left one ” ] ” encompasses all of the past, all the time in ourselves that came before now, that stretches behind us. The right one ” [ “, all of the future, of what stretches in front of us. Of what could be. What might be. What there is potential to be.  And the center ” | ” represents the present time. The thin line that is the present. Now.

Who was it that said, there is only now. We have the most control over now, and how that “now,” the present, will create our future. If we think of our future as like a painting, then what will be represented on the canvas? What we do now paints the landscape of our future, painting over it, overwriting it. And as we gain control of our present, of ourselves, we gain control over our future.

The past is for reference, the future, for dreams. Today is for action. For becoming.  

The New Year. This is the door, the gate,  to the future. To your own becoming. You have the key to that door.  To the door that unlocks your potential. You are that key.  Here is the gateway.

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The Kindle Fire…What can I say?

December 30th, 2011

I received a Kindle Fire as a gift over the holidays, and while I’m new to this eformat technology–at least as a user–so far, I LOVE this machine. I think it will be a wonderful tool, both for work and for pleasure!

First, let me say that I wondered if it would be too small, wondered if (what I perceived would be) the smaller page and the amount of text-at-a-glance would be limiting, and thus, slow me down. Not the case. The screen/page on the Kindle Fire is about the same size as that of a paperback.

Here are some of the things I really like about it, and some of the great features:

It gives me the option of buying ebooks…and I love that. Options are good. :-)

The back-lighting is a great feature. I read a lot.

It’s very easy to set up and to use.

There are highlighting and comments/notes functions that allow the reader to easily highlight text  and add comments. And…Kindle Fire assembles all those notes and comments in one place for you, under the heading, “My Notes and Marks,” for each separate book. Easy reference.

I can send my own documents to the Kindle.

The New Oxford American Dictionary, a text that was part of the package, gives the reader an instant reference to word meanings, etc., with just a touch to the screen–the short or long version. The longer version can be more than two pages–for those who love words.

The lighting, size of text, line spacing and margins can be changed.

Navigation is very easy.

And so far, customer support has been excellent.

You can also download music, videos, magazines, newspapers, blog feeds, and Apps.

When I received it, there were touchscreen icons available for 12 webpages, which are listed under the “Web” menu: Amazon, Twitter, FB, Google, Yahoo, YouTube, Wikipedia, Craigslist, LinkedIn, ESPN and IMDb.

The touchscreen keyboard appears and disappears as needed.

And I’m sure there are more great features yet to be discovered…

What a great machine. I think I’m in love. Will see if it’s an infatuation … or something more lasting. But if this is foreplay, Kindle Fire, then it was so easy to turn you on and Fire you up… with great books.  I’m so seduced.

Anyone like to share their experiences with the Kindle or Nook? Or share other great functions that I haven’t mentioned here?

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Using a Freelance Professional Editor

December 22nd, 2011

Today I’m only going to talk about copyediting through a professional freelance editor.  (See the definition below.)

Some of the things  a copy editor can do for you: we can check your grammar, usage, and punctuation, but also suggest ways to smooth the flow of your novel or nonfiction while still maintaining the author’s voice; we can suggest ways to make certain points clearer that may not be clear enough–pointing out and correcting any inconsistencies in content.

When you decide to work with an editor,  you’ll want to settle what the charges are, and how the charges will be paid. Many editors charge by the page or pages and many charge by the hour. Many editors will not confirm an estimate until they’ve seen the manuscript.

The professional freelance association–Editorial Freelancers Association–has the common editorial rates listed at their website. Some of those rates I’ll list here:

Type of work                         Estimated Pace       Range of Fees

Copyediting, basic               5-10 ms pgs/hr      $30-40/hr

Copyediting, heavy              2-5 ms pgs/hr        $40-50/hr

Developmental editing          1-5 pgs/hr             $60-80/hr

Substantive /Line editing      1-6 ms pgs/hr       $50-60/hr

Proofreading                         9-13 ms pgs/hr    $30-35/hr

Depending on the client and the editor, an editor may charge more or less than the fees listed here. Obviously this is something that would be worked out between the two of them. The charge varies according to whether the copyediting will be light, medium or heavy.

I usually charge by the pages–an example: for copyediting, the charge would be about $30 per 10 pages.  Many editors request an initial payment upfront for the work on a book, about half, and then a final payment upon completion, depending on the work to be done. I often work for authors before they submit proposals or manuscripts, whether to agents or to acquiring editors at a publishing house, or to editors at the Acceptance stage after the first Advance. 

When you submit pages that aren’t completely polished or are in rough draft form, then the editing would most likely be developmental editing, since at this stage of the manuscript, we don’t know what will be scrapped or expanded.

If an author submits chapters to be copyedited, then the editor will read the chapters through  several times–what we call “passes”–and when we’ve found all the mistakes and smoothed all the clunky sentences and so on, then we’ll send the chapters back to you. That would complete the editing for those chapters. We generally use the track changes function and the Comment function in MS Word to indicate or suggest changes that should be made. If there is a question about something, then the editor will query the author, probably by inserting a Comment in the manuscript.

 However, if you revise and add new material to those same pages, and then resubmit those same chapters, then that would be considered new material and the author would be charged again for those chapters–an author doesn’t get carte blanche on chapters and on reworking them forever. That would be like going to the doctor and only paying them one fee for all complaints. However, an author and editor can agree to have the editor only look at certain pages if there is new material, when it doesn’t involve most of the previous work. But if an editor must look through all the pages to do the work necessary then the editor should be paid for the time and effort needed to do that work. Otherwise the editor could be working on someone else’s chapters and getting paid for that time and work.

Here are some editing terms for reference:

Developmental Editing: to develop a manuscript from concept and/ or draft– working through subsequent drafts–suggesting changes in content, organization and presentation.

Substantive Editing: Fiction: evaluates the elements of the novel: plot, viewpoint, characterization, narrative style, pacing, and so on.    Nonfiction: improving presentation, organization, clarity, readability and flow, to create a new draft.

Copyediting: this is much more indepth than proofreading, and involves checking grammar, usage, capitalizations, punctuation, formating, and so on, yet preserving the voice & meaning of the original. Suggests ways to smooth the flow of the manuscript and checks for consistent style and format.

Proofreading: identifies typographical and punctuation errors, inconsistencies and misspellings. Checks for text discrepancies & problems with page layout. May compare two documents for uniformity.nges in content, organization and presentation.

This is a quick overview of the copyediting process. If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to input them here.

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Words Played in Harmony

November 11th, 2011

In my 2011 Writer’s Digest’s Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market article (whew, that’s a mouthful), “Which Arc Are We On?”  I compared the composer of music to the writer:

“And like the composer of music, who drafts the right notes, phrases, and movements for an orchestra, the writer creates the words, scenes and arcs to be played in the readers’ mind. There are many arcs in play, at any time in a novel…and they must all work together in harmony.”

In this case, writers are both the composers and the conductors. Writers, like composers, determine what parts are played by which “instruments,” by which elements of fiction–characters, setting, dialogue, opening, theme.  Both music and fiction are made to elicit emotions, and have a beginning, middle and end, themes, movements…

However, the conductor, once those elements are arranged, determines how those phrases, how that composition is interpreted for the audience–as does the writer. The writer, or conductor, determines how the composition unfolds, how it flows, & to some extent, what its voice will be–how dynamic, how loud, soft, passionate, exciting…for the audience.  The conductor brings all the elements together for the final “interpretation,” to be played for the audience, making certain that everything works together for the right effect.

But it is the audience who determines if that composer/conductor has “perfect pitch”–or in this case, the writer. And I see this being played out more and more now with epublishing. It is the readers who determine whether they will buy or read our books, who let us know how “on pitch”–or off key–we are, or if our works / words have that interest, beauty, excitement, passion that draws an audience.

As best-selling author and epublishing expert Bob Mayer has said on his blog, Write It Forward, it is really the writer who determines who will be in their audience, by the quality of their books, and thus,  it is the writer who is the ultimate gatekeeper. The writer must first create a quality product, must learn to compose and create that harmony, learn to master those elements and achieve that perfect pitch, so that readers will want to be in their audience.

And then we have to promote our books, but that is another story… and another kind of “pitch.”  ;-)

If you would like to add anything to this, please feel free to comment.

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Looking Back:the Plein-Air Write-Out

November 3rd, 2011

Now that the weather is turning colder, and winter is approaching, my thoughts have turned to my sojourns in August into the country and the summer weather.

In late August, I participated, for a second year, in the Columbia River Gorge’s Plein-Air Write-Out–now the 7th annual. About 20 artists and 12 writers gather together at one location, each day, and paint or write, in response to their surroundings. The submission deadline is that 5th day, Monday, for the writers, with an Opening Reception and a Public reading later and publication in the online anthology.

For the writer, the goal is to capture a moment of time, to paint a picture for others to “see.” A little about the Plein Air. It’s held in the Columbia River Gorge over 5 days, in 5 locations. This year we were guests at these 5 locations: (1) the Gorge White House, in Hood River, Oregon; (2) Pebble Beach, on the Stevenson, WA, waterfront which is across the Bridge of the Gods from Cascade Locks; (3) Moiser Plateau, owned by Friends of the Gorge; (4) Gorge Crest Vineyards, in Underwood, WA.; and (5) Downtown Hood River & Marina.

DAY 1, GORGE WHITE HOUSE, Hood River, Oregon.

I visited the Gorge White House on that first day. The House is a 1910 Dutch Colonial home situated 31 acres of fields and orchards along Highway 35, the Mount Hood Scenic Byway. It’s listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, and is a working farm with beautiful gardens of daffodils, tulips, gladiolas, lilies, zinnias and sunflowers, and so on (U-cut or they-cut) and a variety of fruit offerings, including an orchard of Bartlett, Golden Bosc, and Stark Crimson Pears, and a few heirloom apple varieties, blueberries, strawberries and table grapes.

They have other specialty items in their onsite store, like the superb Pear Walnut Sauce and the sinfully delicious Chocolate Merlot Coffee Truffle Sauce. There is wine-tasting in the House, and you can enjoy a glass of Columbia Gorge wine or microbrew with friends. From the large second-story balcony at the front of the house, you can clearly see both Mt. Adams & Mt Hood, and have a great view of the farm and surrounding area.

During the Plein Air, there are artists with canvasses and paints everywhere, and writers strolling among them or through the orchard. Or you may find the writers sitting on the porch with their laptops or at the garden tables with a glass of wine right outside the house.

The GWH is open April, May and October, from 10-6 Friday thru Monday, and by appointment Tuesday thru Thursday. And they’re open daily 10-6 June thru September.

Website: www.thegorgewhitehouse.com  Phone: 541-386-2828;    Address: 2265 Hwy 35, Hood River, Oregon, just 4 miles south of town.

_________________________________________

DAY 5, HOOD RIVER, OREGON.

On the fifth day,  I visited the town of  Hood River, on the Columbia River, where I wandered thru the many, many specialty shops (not to shop but to get a sense of the place–at least this time around)–the town is almost like a small resort town, though there is a focus on the arts and on wind-surfing, kayaking, and other water and snow sports, with a number of upscale shops catering to this and the arts.  (John Kerry windsurfs here, on occasion.)

To write, I stopped at several of the coffee shops–one with open outside seating in the sun–joining other writers from the local area, the Write-Out and elsewhere.

There are a number of great restaurants too. I spent a long lunch on the outside deck of one of the big hotels there, directly on the river, with a great view and fabulous food. Bliss.

It’s a great experience, lovely locations, friendly people. But it’s also the sense of all that bursting creativity, and that is what keeps me going back. It’s a great place to get ideas.

In this years anthology, my short, short story, “Ghost of a Chance.” The link is here:  http://t.co/fz8BVSGn

In last years anthology, my essay, “The Harvest From Earth’s Palette.” The link:  http://bit.ly/d2J6D3

For more info: Columbia Center for the Arts. www.columbiaarts.org

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Fair Use — a copyright question

September 22nd, 2011

In a previous blog, I covered the topic of how Copyright protects an author from having all or most of their work, the major gist of it, reproduced without their permission, without being paid. While many authors will write because they want to write, most of us also have to earn a living and copyright allows for that.

Associated with copyright is Fair Use, which means someone can quote from the author’s work, but only a comparatively small amount of the work, and not the essence of the work. Fair Use is part of the Copyright Act of 1976, Section 107. 

So, how much is Fair Use when quoting material for a book review or criticism, or when we’re using research in a novel?

As I’ve indicated above, Fair Use is determined by several things, which should be considered  all together:

Is it the author’s expression that is in consideration, or is it just facts or ideas. If it’s not the author’s expression, then you don’t need permission.  (See my previous post on Copyright, for clarification on what is considered the author’s expression, and what may be copyrighted.)

If the work isn’t protected by copyright, then you don’t need permission.

However, if the part of the work in question is the author’s expression and is copyrighted, then the question becomes, is it fair use of the work? If it’s Fair Use, then you might not need permission.

Is the use for criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research? Generally it’s okay if it’s for nonprofit educational purposes, rather than for commercial purposes. (There are some other stipulations here, but it’s too complicated to address in the space here.) If it’s for commercial purposes, but you’ve taken these other factors into consideration, then you’re probably okay.

Another factor is the amount that will be used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole. Further, under consideration is also the importance of what is used in relation to the total work.

The final factor is how the use will effect the potential market or value of the copyrighted work. If the use reduces that work’s market or value, then it is infringement.

For further reading and details on copyright and Fair Use, I would suggest The Copyright Handbook: How to Protect & Use Written Works by Attorney Stephen Fishman.

(I hope this helps to clarify Fair Use, and I promise to offer something less “dry” next week.)

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Epublishing or querying, a checklist

September 16th, 2011

Several years ago–emphasis on “several”–I was reading queries, among other things, for a Literary Agent. Piles and stacks of queries, synopses, and manuscripts. It was fun but often frustrating too. After a few months, there seemed to be some basic reasons why many of the manuscripts were rejected–a general trend, you could say. Some of these things were easily remediable (like the first one on the upcoming list). Most are things that authors should be aware of, whether they’re sending queries to an agent or choosing to epublish.

What were the most recurring reasons that many of the manuscripts were rejected? I’ll list them here:

(And this was one of the major reasons.) The author sent the wrong type of book to the agent, something she didn’t represent. And this information was available on her website.

The novel was too similar to another book or books she was already representing.

Inappropriate length.

There was no plot or the plot was too thin. The novel seemed to be episodic or simply lacked a full plot.

Too much backstory at the beginning of the novel.

The character was not inextricably bound to the conflict–he or she could just walk away.

POV was not consistent.

The writer was telling instead of showing.

The synopsis didn’t tell the ending. How will the agent know if the book is something she could represent if the ending isn’t included?

The synopsis didn’t indicate when the actual story for the novel begins, and thus, the agent doesn’t know if the novel will start somewhere in the backstory or elsewhere.

There are certainly other reasons, but these were the most prevalent.

Anyone have a story about initial rejections and then later, with or without subsequent revisions, their novel was published. I’d love to hear about it.

Copyright © 2011, Document Driven.

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