Welcome to week twenty-nine of the #WritersQuick5 series - where we learn about writing from fellow writers.
This week brings you insights from Geralyn Hesslau Magrady, a poet, essayist and novelist. Gerayln’s first self-published book LINES, a story of Chicago historical fiction, made Geralyn the winner of the Soon to be Famous Illinois Author Project, an initiative sponsored by the Illinois Library Association (ILA) and Reaching Across Illinois Library Systems (RAILS). Geralyn is currently in the research and outline phase for a sequel to LINES. LINES and her chapbook, ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER are both currently available to purchase on Amazon. When Geralyn isn’t writing, she’s serving in one of the world’s most honorable professions… she’s a teacher! Let’s see what Geralyn has to say... Question #1 - Where do you write and why do you write there? Hands down, my writing "home" is a coffee house called the Friendly Coffee Lounge (Berwyn, IL). It's one of three services offered by the Friendly Music Community (the other services are a live-music venue/bar next to the coffee house and a music school upstairs). I'm proud to be one of the first coffee regulars, spending much of my summers in the back corner. I write here because it's a place where I can exist in the role of Writer instead of Mom or Teacher. There's a creative and welcoming vibe at Friendly, unlike sterile spaces I'd visited in the past. Words and images "happen" here for me, as they do for the local musicians who frequently grab a guitar off the wall and start strumming a tune. I owe a lot to this community because they support and inspire me every day. (http://www.friendlymusic.community) Question #2 - What is unique about writing for your particular genre? I love Chicago. Writing Chicago historical fiction allows me to explore the city's past and imagine what life could have been like for my main character, who, by the way, takes her name and background from my great-great grandmother. The real Livia Haas lived during the time periods in which I write, so even though the stories I pen are completely fabricated, I feel a personal connection to her with good reason. Question #3 - What are some of your grammar or punctuation pet peeves? As a high school English teacher, I still use the Oxford comma. Question #4 - At what point in your writing process do you start to bring other people in to review your work? Late. No one saw my first draft of LINES— until there was a complete story. Even then, after two or three readers, it took a couple more years and countless revisions before new eyes came in. However, once the final draft was nearing, I went through three more rounds of readers. I was shocked at how much I enjoyed this critique stage. I learned a lot about my story, my style, and my writing habits. (Notice the Oxford comma.) Question #5 - What advice would you give to a new writer about the writing process? Be an active, as well as avid, reader. Take notes, ask questions, analyze an author's tone or a character's dialogue. Highlight a moving passage or clever play on words. Notice detail. It's when I set time aside for reading that I find myself most productive in writing. Thank you Geralyn for these amazing answers. And I love the advice to be an avid reader. It’s so true. Reading can not only provide great examples for great writing, but can also spark creativity and serve as built in role models for all of us -- if they can do it, so can you! PS… the past couple years my friends and I have been doing a mini-competition of trying to each read 52 books a year. The past two years I’ve hit my goal (or gone over). This year I’m way behind. I have to get back to it! Please be sure to check out Geralyn’s website and books on Amazon. You can also follow her on Facebook and on Twitter. *** If you would like to be featured as a writer in the #WritersQuick5 series, please just reach out and let me know. I’d love to promote your work as well! For updates on #WritersQuick5 and other info from me, please follow me on Twitter or check back with this blog for all the latest.
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Welcome to week twenty-eight of the #WritersQuick5 series - where we learn about writing from fellow writers.
Today I am pleased to bring you fellow Chicago Writing Association member and indie writer Sue Rovens. Sue writes suspense with slices of horror mixed in for good measure. Be sure to check out her old website, In A Corner Darkly, and her recently launched new website, SueRovens.com to learn all about her appearances, interviews, and availability to speak. All of her books -- Track 9, Badfish, and In A Corner, Darkly -- can be purchased on Amazon (or other places where books are sold) in either paperback or Kindle format. Let’s see what Sue has to say… Question #1 - Where do you write and why do you write there? I do most of my writing in our den at our house (that's where the computer is). I do have a laptop, and on occasion I will use it, but I am more comfortable at a desktop computer. Question #2 - What is unique about writing for your particular genre? Many people have a preconceived notion about horror, and, to a lesser degree, suspense. It's actually a hindrance and unfortunate that more readers won't give these genres a chance. I think that as soon as someone mentions horror, Stephen King (and all that his name implies) pops into their head. Instantly, a snap judgement is made - the person either loves him or hates him - and they base their feelings on my (or someone else's) suspense/horror book. So for me, writing in this particular genre is a bit of an uphill battle. As great as Stephen King and Jack Ketchum (just to mention a few) are, the incredible breadth of their work has set up a kind of "standard" or "expectation" when it comes to producing material in the horror genre. Although I write suspense/horror, my writing would probably come down closer to the side of Weird/Psychological Suspense than straight up horror. Question #3 - What are some of your grammar or punctuation pet peeves? I can't really say that I have either grammar or punctuation peeves. However, I don't like it when writers use "he said" or "she said" after every bit of dialogue. I find that very distracting. Question #4 - At what point in your writing process do you start to bring other people in to review your work? After the second complete draft. I need to finish the entire manuscript/short story before I even entertain the idea of other people eyeballing it. The second pass is when I revise passages and/or take out entire sections. I don't want anyone reading anything that's really "in process" because so much of it could change. I have to be somewhat satisfied with what's on the page before asking anyone else to like it/hate it/comment on it. Question #5 - What advice would you give to a new writer about the writing process? Aside from the usual - practice writing, read everything you can, go to classes and/or conferences about writing - I'm going to add a couple other pieces of advice. 1. Don't force it. Some people can write every day, but if that's not you, that's okay. Unless there is a deadline looming or you have a boss/editor/publisher who needs something immediately, don't pressure yourself to be creative. The whole idea of writing (for most folks) is to express yourself through your chosen words. Let it be a natural progression, not an obligatory penance. 2. Write about what interests you and not what you think will sell. Once again, unless you are writing as a job for a paycheck, I would suggest that new writers focus on what they enjoy. No one can predict what readers will want in 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years from now. So, if you are writing to the "current trend", by the time you actually get your book out there, the initial interest could have long passed. Thank you Sue for these great answers! They are actually very timely too. I need to hear the “don’t force it” message. I have found that the busier I am with work and as a mom, the more the writing does seem forced - and that’s NOT when my best writing happens. Focusing on what you enjoy is part of why we keep writing! Please be sure to check out Sue’s website and her books! *** If you would like to be featured as a writer in the #WritersQuick5 series, please just reach out and let me know. I’d love to promote your work as well! For updates on #WritersQuick5 and other info from me, please follow me on Twitter or check back with this blog for all the latest. Welcome to week twenty-seven of the #WritersQuick5 series - where we learn about writing from fellow writers.
This week it is my utter delight to bring you insights from Laura Alsum, without whom I would not be where I am today. In a rare treat, I’m going to start this intro with a pre-question… Laura, can you tell us a little bit about yourself? “I received an MFA in film/screenwriting from UCLA, so writing for film and television is my main passion, although I've also collaborated on works for the stage and am currently writing my first novel. Editing is something I'm becoming increasingly interested in, too, and I've been pleased to work as an editor for the lovely and talented Kelly Weiss (ahem). If anyone is looking for an editor, I'd love to hear from you!” YES! Please do use Laura! She’s amazing. If you’d like to reach out to Laura or know more about her services, please use the contact form on my website for an introduction. I cannot speak highly enough about her work - thoughtful, detailed, spot on. She’s the best. She’s also incredibly humble and did not say that she has won awards for her screenwriting and is quite accomplished in the field. Let’s see what Laura has to say… Question #1 - Where do you write and why do you write there? My cozy office is set up so that I can write in a recliner, because if I'm not 100% comfortable, nothing gets accomplished. I've also attempted to create a sort of (what I imagine to be) 19th century gentlemen's club/world traveler's den type of atmosphere complete with old maps, terrariums, glass bottles, and chess sets. I'd like to say this decor helps my creativity in some way, and maybe it does, but mostly I just think it's fun. Question #2 - What is unique about writing for your particular genre? Screenwriting is a whole different monster from novel writing. You use the present tense, you can't explain what people are thinking or feeling since film is ultimately a visual medium, and because the format is exact and precise, most people use particular software programs to make the job easier. Question #3 - What are some of your grammar or punctuation pet peeves? There are so (so) many, but number one for me is using an apostrophe s when trying to make something plural. This problem seems to be increasing at an alarming rate -- to the point I'm concerned for our society. "Try our delicious crepe's!" "The Smith's invite you to their 50th anniversary party!" Rumor has it this bothers me so much that I've taken it upon myself to cross out misused apostrophes on store signs. Question #4 - At what point in your writing process do you start to bring other people in to review your work? It depends on the project. For something larger or more complicated, I like to start right away, either in the outlining process or with the first act/first few chapters. If something central to my plot doesn't work, I want to know immediately. Question #5 - What advice would you give to a new writer about the writing process? Don't write in a cave. You may think you have written the most brilliant, beautiful thing ever, but for all you know, the story already exists somewhere, or you might need major help in restructuring your sentences. Conversely, if you're afraid to share your work with someone, you might never know how talented you are or how important it is to get your story out into the world. Thank you so much for these great answers. Readers, isn’t she the best? I love the last bit… “if you're afraid to share your work with someone, you might never know how talented you are or how important it is to get your story out into the world.” She’s been my cheerleader for years… take her advice and let her be yours too! Share. Your. Work. If you think it’s interesting, someone else will too. Please reach out if you’d like to get in touch with Laura and you can learn more about her on my collaborators page. There you can find links to several articles about her screenwriting and some of the awards that she has won. *** If you would like to be featured as a writer in the #WritersQuick5 series, please just reach out and let me know. I’d love to promote your work as well! For updates on #WritersQuick5 and other info from me, please follow me on Twitter or check back with this blog for all the latest.
Welcome to week twenty-six of the #WritersQuick5 series - where we learn about writing from fellow writers.
This week it’s an honor to bring you insights from author, screenwriter, and poet, Dan Burns. Dan is a fellow Chicago Writers Association member and his fourth published book (third work of fiction) A Fine Line was released on June 6, 2017 by Chicago Arts Press.
Another highlight I want to mention is a short film that Dan wrote, Out of Touch. The film is absolutely worth watching and was named an “Official Selection” for the Chicago International REEL Shorts Film Festival and for the Los Angeles Lift-Off Film Festival.
You can find information his books, screenplays, and MUCH more on his website. Let’s see what Dan has to say… Question #1 - Where do you write and why do you write there? Every morning, I walk from my home to my office in downtown La Grange. I have this great, small office above a restaurant, like one of those private eye offices in old noir movies, that provides the quiet and secluded environment I need to be productive. When I'm at home, there are too many distractions and I have no self-discipline, so having a place to get away and get my work done is a necessity. In my office, I'm surrounded by my books and memories of my writing mentors and have no distractions. No phone. No Internet. Just writing. If you're interested, you can check out this short video of my office environment. Question #2 - What is unique about writing for your particular genre? For me, what is unique is that I'm not locked into a particular genre. I love the boundless flexibility of being able to write in a variety of forms and genres. My first novel was a contemporary family drama. My second book was a collection of short fiction that really pushed the boundaries of genre. My newest novel is a Chicago mystery. My hope is that every story I write pushes me out of my comfort zone to try and explore something different. Writing a mystery novel was my most challenging project to date. Research was a necessity to make the story believable, and I spent an extensive amount of time understanding Chicago politics and police procedure. My protagonist, Sebastian Drake is an expert marksman, and I had to spend dozens of hours at the gun range, shooting his gun, to fully understand what was possible. Plot also played a big role in my mystery novel, more so than my other stories. Nothing can be left out and every question must be answered. The writing process was quite fun and extremely challenging at the same time. Question #3 - What are some of your grammar or punctuation pet peeves? What drives me nuts are all the grammar and punctuation errors that I'm guilty of, and my first drafts are laced with them. The editing process is critical to get my story ready to publish, and I'm fortunate to have a number of editors and trusted readers who allow me to get the story down onto the page and then help me to make it perfect. I find that I just get too close to my work, so close that I can't see the errors. I can edit and revise a story a dozen times, and then my editors and readers help me to realize that I'm not a very good editor. But I'm learning. I find that the editing process is the most important step in helping me to become a better writer. I find that I'll often get stuck on a word, maybe like it too much, and then use it too often throughout a story. I have to cut the repeat offenders. Adverbs also seem to come easily (you see!) as I'm writing, and I have to go back through and search for all the "ly" words and cut them all. Adverbs seldom add value to the sentence. I don't think much of the word "got" and try to eliminate it from my writing. For dialogue attribution, I use "said" and "asked," nothing else, and I try not to use them only when necessary to maintain flow and understanding. Contractions and hyphenated words also seem to find their way into my stories, and I have to go back and review each one to make sure they're correct and appropriate. Spelling is a killer for the reader's flow of the story, so spell-check and people-check are critical steps. The most valuable aspect of the editing process for a book is the Advance Reading Copy. After I revise a manuscript a dozen times and go through several iterations of developmental editing and copyediting, it's important to print the book and get it into the hands of my trusted readers. They are the ones who let me know if it's ready to officially go out into the world. Question #4 - At what point in your writing process do you start to bring other people in to review your work? I bring people into the process when the story is finished. Often, there are so many potential roadblocks for completing the story, that I have to focus on that single goal. For me, "finished" is flushing out an idea fully and getting the words out of my head and the story down onto the page. Afterward, I let the story sit for a month before going through and revising to the best of my ability. Then it's time for a fresh look from different eyes and perspectives, from people I trust to tell me honestly about how to improve the story. Question #5 - What advice would you give to a new writer about the writing process? Sit down and write, as often and as much as you can. Many people talk about being a writer, but only by actually getting the words down onto the page can you actually be a writer. Read books by authors who you admire and who have been successful writing the stories you want to write. Develop your idea, write your story, and don't stop until you're finished. Don't edit or revise until the story is written, for those activities can develop into insurmountable distractions and roadblocks. Better to have a completed story that you can improve than to have an idea that you never fully act upon that fades away. And keep a journal of all your ideas. If I don't write down my ideas, they tend to vanish, never to return again, and that's a darn shame. Thank you Dan for these incredible answers. I also keep a journal of story ideas! I also love the advice, “Develop your idea, write your story, and don't stop until you're finished. Don't edit or revise until the story is written, for those activities can develop into insurmountable distractions and roadblocks.” I’m guilty of this all the time, pouring over a passage over and over again when I should move on. Very good to keep in mind! Please learn more about Dan and his books and works on his website. More importantly, go out and buy his new book A Fine Line. I have my copy! You can also follow him on Facebook, on Twitter, or you can subscribe to his YouTube channel. *** If you would like to be featured as a writer in the #WritersQuick5 series, please just reach out and let me know. I’d love to promote your work as well! For updates on #WritersQuick5 and other info from me, please follow me on Twitter or check back with this blog for all the latest. Welcome to week twenty-five of the #WritersQuick5 series - where we learn about writing from fellow writers.
This week brings you answers from author and channillo.com writer Lucas C. Wheeler. Lucas’s first book, Star Dog Legacy, was published on Amazon and in KU and the second book in the trilogy, Star Dog Corruption just posted in May. The third book in the series, Star Dog Liberation is coming soon. Lucas also writes a Star Dog spin-off series called Star Dog: Earth’s Last Shield that posts a new chapter every Tuesday on Channillo. All of the proceeds from his Channillo stories are set up to go to the Humane Society via the Channillo for Charity program. Let’s see what Lucas has to say... Question #1 - Where do you write and why do you write there? Physically? Since my husband's giant fan has taken over my desk, I write either on the couch with my laptop on the coffee table, or I write in the de facto gaming room which is always either freezing, or a heat box. Neither are comfortable, but that's what's available to me. When NaNo rolls around, or whenever the adventurous mood strikes us, we go to a local coffee shop to write with our group or alone. I also either outline, write quick scenes as they come to me, or jot down notes while I'm out and about, either in a notebook I designate for that sort of thing, or in a memo app on my phone. In terms of writing software, I use Novel Factory software, which I wrote a review for on my website and Tumblr, and I pair it with 4thewords.com, a website that gamifies writing. It appeals to the nerd side of me, which, if I'm honest, is more than a side. It's pretty much both sides. Maybe even three sides. Those two digital places are where the bulk of my creative process happens and after that I edit and format in Word before publishing. Question #2 - What is unique about writing for your particular genre? I haven't written in many other genres to compare, but from my experiences I'd say is that I get to focus on world-building perhaps more than other genres. Speculative fiction as a whole lends to having to make your own worlds and the rules in which all the characters play. If we didn't have that aspect of it, I think we'd all just be writing in other genres that fit our sub-elements. Our diversity lies in our settings and the species of our characters and their made up cultures and, at least for me, the scientific principles that we play with and imagine under different circumstances. Question #3 - What are some of your grammar or punctuation pet peeves? My husband says I use commas too much, and there may be some truth to that. As for personal pet peeves, it's the little things that trip me up, mostly because I haven't seen a lot of (consistent) examples for what I want to convey in my work, whether my characters are stuttering or interrupting each other, or even interrupting themselves, and how I'm supposed to make that look on the page. Do I still use punctuation, or just a line? Where does the comma go? Why does it look weird next to the quotation mark? Why can't my computer get that clean, long dash line I've seen in books? These things have never broken a novel for me, but it is a pet peeve when I have to deal with it until it looks good in whatever scene I'm writing. Question #4 - At what point in your writing process do you start to bring other people in to review your work? It varies by work. For the four years it took to write Star Dog Legacy, I couldn't get anyone to review it, at least beyond the first chapter or so. I was insecure about my writing and just wanted to see if it had a shot, but most everyone that promised to read it didn't follow through. I joined critique sites and jumped through a lot of hoops for very little reward. I think I even critiqued others' works more than I ever got in return. I eventually got tired of waiting. I wanted to be finished and move on. In the end, the only people that read it all the way through (after it was all done, which was a condition) was my mother (not really a reader) and my husband (who is also a writer). Then I published. If I had more resources, I would have paid for beta readers and editing, but that's just not a possibility for me right now. For others who have read it after I published, I heard only good things. In conclusion for my main novels that get published to Amazon, the only review they get as of right now is when they're halfway done, and then all finished, if I'm lucky enough to get that. For my Channillo series, my work comes out too quickly to have someone review it, so it goes up as-is. The same goes for any flash fiction I post on my website. I tend to write clean though, and I always edit everything myself, and I always read my notes and outlines to make sure I didn't miss anything and everything's on track. I intend to do more formal editing later for when I bundle shorter works for Amazon publication. This process might change in the future though as I gain more resources and followers and adapt my processes. I'm open to starting an ARC Reader program and seeking more beta readers in the future, and some things will be available on my Patreon early, but everything is time sensitive. Creating new content is my main goal, and I have so many books in the pipeline I have to write, and sometimes I can't wait for someone to review it. Question #5 - What advice would you give to a new writer about the writing process? Write. Every. Single. Day. Even if it's a journal entry or an observation. Then, once you get an idea for a project, just do it. You can't wait for a muse, as it is popularized on TV or in movies. You have to sit down and make it happen, and it won't always be easy. Do some outlines, make some goals (daily word count goals, scene goals, chapter goals, or whatever else), and then stick to them, at least about 80% of what you promised yourself. If you have a story to tell, get it out there however you can. If you love writing and it's your passion, then that's all that matters. Most importantly, don't languish for years like me and worry about every little thing. I became much happier when I finally decided I didn't need a golden stamp of approval. It was my first book, and it's not perfect, but it's far from my last. I mentally got rid of my internal perfectionist, at least long enough to hit the publish button. No matter how much you edit and prepare (which you should do a reasonable amount anyways because you do care about quality in the first place), you're eventually going to have to wrap it up and say goodbye. Then you work on the next book, and it'll be easier, and you'll be better. Thank you Lucas for the time you took in preparing these answers. I agree, “If you have a story to tell, get it out there however you can. If you love writing and it's your passion, then that's all that matters.” Great advice! If you want to learn more about Lucas, check out his website. Everything he posts there gets pushed to his Twitter feed. He also has a Tumblr feed to follow. And, of course, check him out on Amazon and on Channillo.com. *** If you would like to be featured as a writer in the #WritersQuick5 series, please just reach out and let me know. I’d love to promote your work as well! For updates on #WritersQuick5 and other info from me, please follow me on Twitter or check back with this blog for all the latest. Welcome to week twenty-four of the #WritersQuick5 series - where we learn about writing from fellow writers.
This week I am thrilled to bring you insights from fellow Chicago Writers Association member Danielle E. Shipley. Danielle is a prolific author, with a focus on YA fantasy novels/novellas that put a new spin on old fairytales and folklore. She is the author of the Wilderhark novellas and the novel Inspired. Her latest release: Book 2 of the Outlaws of Avalon trilogy -- a contemporary fantasy take on the legend of Robin Hood -- is now out! Danielle’s books are self-published and available on her website and on Amazon, and several of her short stories have appeared in small press anthologies. She has spent most of her life in the Chicago area and increasing amounts of time in Germany. She hopes to ultimately retire to a private immortal forest but first, as she puts it, “there are stories to make.” Let’s see what Danielle has to say… Question #1 - Where do you write and why do you write there? Hunched over on my bed, because it’s where I’m least likely to be disturbed by a parent or my toddler nephew or (horrors!) unexpected visitors. I work best when I can feel semi-secure in my solitude. Question #2 - What is unique about writing for your particular genre? The beauty of fantasy is: Anything goes! A handful of medieval heroes, low-key living in a modern-day Renaissance Faire? Valid. Witches with anarchist tendencies, bespelling royalty into animals, statuary, and the occasional singing harp? Par for the course. I like being able to leave realism at the door and just go wherever a story wants to take me, no matter how impossible. Question #3 - What are some of your grammar or punctuation pet peeves? Ugh, so many. I’m a diehard nitpick. But what gets me the worst is (cue visual example!) “Dialogue that looks like this.” She said. That full stop at quote’s end where a comma should be hurts my feelings; ditto the wrongful capitalization of ‘she.’ I don’t understand why this kind of mistake is so rampant, but I would pay money to see it die forever. Question #4 - At what point in your writing process do you start to bring other people in to review your work? Once I’ve got a finished first draft, I’ll read it aloud to my BFF, fellow author Tirzah Duncan – partly just because I’m itching to share what I’ve been working on, but also because if there’s stuff that needs clarifying, expanding, or some other kind of rework, I prefer to learn of that sooner rather than later. Yeah, the critique will probably make me cranky (sorry, Tirzah!), but I can’t fix what I’m unaware is broken. Question #5 - What advice would you give to a new writer about the writing process? Just now while scrolling on Twitter, I saw somebody say, “Don’t worry about making good art, make art that’s good for you.” And y’know what? That is great advice for the newbies. Getting good at writing will come with practice, practice, practice. So get your practice in with whatever it gives you joy to write. Feed your soul, lest you faint from hunger on the long, bumpy road toward your goals. Thank you Danielle for these incredible answers. I will never forget the advice, “Feed your soul, lest you faint from hunger on the long, bumpy road toward your goals.” What an amazing way to put it and so true. I need that on a t-shirt or a poster, something where I can look at it every day and remember how true that is! For more from Danielle, please check out her website, buy her books, and follow her on Facebook and on Twitter. *** If you would like to be featured as a writer in the #WritersQuick5 series, please just reach out and let me know. I’d love to promote your work as well! For updates on #WritersQuick5 and other info from me, please follow me on Twitter or check back with this blog for all the latest. Welcome to week twenty three of the #WritersQuick5 series - where we learn about writing from fellow writers.
I am so pleased to bring you the work and responses of Joyce Burns Zeiss. Joyce is a fellow Chicago Writers Association member and the author of Out of the Dragon’s Mouth, a young adult fiction novel about a fourteen year old girl who escapes Vietnam in the hold of a fishing trawler after the fall of Saigon. Published in 2015, this novel was a passion project for Joyce and is fueled by her experiences resettling a Chinese Cambodian refugee family in 1979 and her subsequent trips to work in refugee camps in Africa. All of the royalties from her book are donated to Refugee Relief. Let’s see what Joyce has to say… Question #1 - Where do you write and why do you write there? I write on a laptop in my living room, a bright sunny place, sitting in a maroon colored easy chair. I tried writing upstairs at a desk, but this is much more comfortable and I can sit here for longer periods of time. Without children in the house anymore, this spot has become much more private so fewer interruptions except for my husband who will often sit and work on his computer too. Question #2 - What is unique about writing for your particular genre? Historical fiction demands research so I spend a lot of time reading about the period and fact-checking. And writing for young adults requires a certain pacing that keeps the younger reader interested. Unlike literary fiction, I try not to dwell in my character's minds too long or describe a lot. But no matter what the genre, good writing is essential. Question #3 - What are some of your grammar or punctuation pet peeves? As a former English teacher, I have many pet peeves, but the biggest is using its and it's incorrectly. When I see this on a large sign outside a store, I want to sneak back at night and correct it. Question #4 - At what point in your writing process do you start to bring other people in to review your work? I am in a couple of critique groups so my writing is reviewed as I go. When I wrote my first novel, I didn't really know what I was doing, so being in a novel group where we studied writers and critiqued each other's writing with the guidance of a professional moderator was very helpful. Now I am writing the sequel to Out of the Dragon's Mouth, and I find it very helpful to be critiqued every couple of chapters even though the temptation is to polish rather than plunge ahead and get the novel done. Maybe that's why it takes me so long. Question #5 - What advice would you give to a new writer about the writing process? The first thing I had to develop was a thick skin. I was terrified to have my writing read aloud and critiqued. I'm way over that now. The most important advice I would give a new writer is to join a writing community. Writing is a lonely occupation and you will find great support and help from other writers. I would not have written my novel or sold my book if I hadn't had those contacts. And writers are very nice people. We all know how difficult it can be to write. Joyce, thank you for these lovely answers. When you said, “Writing is a lonely occupation and you will find great support and help from other writers,” that really resonated with me. It has been so important for me to collaborate with fellow writers throughout my writing processes as well. Please check out Joyce’s website and buy her book. Thank you Joyce for all that you do! *** If you would like to be featured as a writer in the #WritersQuick5 series, please just reach out and let me know. I’d love to promote your work as well! For updates on #WritersQuick5 and other info from me, please follow me on Twitter or check back with this blog for all the latest. Welcome to week twenty-two of the #WritersQuick5 series - where we learn about writing from fellow writers. This week I am honored to bring you the insights of award winning author David W. Berner. I know David through the Chicago Writers Association and was recently privileged to attend the book launch of his latest memoir, October Song: A Memoir of Music and the Journey of Time, at the Book Cellar (one of my all-time favorite bookstores: win-win!). David has had an impressive career as a long-time Chicago journalist and broadcaster, working mainly for WBBM/WXRT Radio. His broadcast reporting and audio documentaries have been aired on the CBS Radio Network, NPR’s Weekend Edition, and public radio stations across America. David’s first book, Accidental Lessons was awarded the Royal Dragonfly Grand Prize for Literature and he was recently the Writer-in-Residence at the Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Home in Oak Park, Illinois. In the summer of 2011, David was awarded the position of Writer-in-Residence at the Jack Kerouac Project in Orlando, Florida. David’s memoir, Any Road Will Take You There was completed at the Kerouac House and in 2013, the Chicago Writers Association awarded it Book of the Year for nontraditional nonfiction. His latest book, October Song: A Memoir of Music and the Journey of Time, was called "beautifully authentic" by Windy City Reviews. David’s writing has also appeared in publications and online journals such as Eunoia Review, Under the Gum Tree, PERIGEE, Tiny Lights Journal, Shaking Like a Mountain, Clef Notes Journal, and Write City Magazine. He currently teaches at Columbia College Chicago. Let’s see what David has to say… Question #1 - Where do you write and why do you write there? Physically, I write in coffee houses and inside a writer's shed built on my property. It's an 8x10 garden shed converted into a writing studio. There's a desk, a few of my favorite books, a fan, a space heater, a comfy chair. I love coffee houses because, well, I love coffee and I like the noise sometimes, the whir of espresso machines and the conversations. But my shed is quiet, and it permits solace and space from all the other temptations. It is my little writing world. Question #2 - What is unique about writing for your particular genre? I write mostly memoir and creative nonfiction. Although I have written a book of fiction, Night Radio, that some who know me say is autobiographical. It's not. But some of it is definitely based on my experiences as a broadcaster. What's unique about memoir? Good memoir must be honest. And I mean REALLY honest. The reader will know when you are holding back. There are so many great stories within our own lives and memoir is vehicle to tell them. I'm not a big fan of what's been called ""dystopian memoir""—personal stories about the tragically dysfunctional family, abuse, or disease. There is a place for that; it's just not my style. I write memoir about relationships, about people and their influences on us, about our inner demons and struggles to belong, accepting our lives, personal redemption, or personal journey. To write this kind of memoir one must be ready to be personally vulnerable. Question #3 - What are some of your grammar or punctuation pet peeves? Less and fewer. People get this wrong ALL THE TIME. I am far from a grammar Nazi. I make plenty of mistakes. But the less/fewer thing? It makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Also, the overuse of commas. I find myself doing it and I have to cut them out constantly. But grammar is a tool. Story is a completely different thing. Focus on story. Question #4 - At what point in your writing process do you start to bring other people in to review your work? I share work often. Friends, colleagues. Please read, I tell them. What do you think? I also submit pieces of larger projects to literary magazines, etc., to see if they get accepted, roundly rejected, or looked at indifferently. It signals something for me about the larger work. I'm working on a project now about the idea of "home" and writing a lot about growing up, leaving my hometown, and then coming back to it briefly after deaths in the family. It's a memoir-in-essays approach, so the "chapters" can stand alone. I've shared a number of those pieces and one has been published in Eunoia Review. The Consequence of Stars is an essay about my parents' connection to their hometown. Question #5 - What advice would you give to a new writer about the writing process? Reject writer’s block. There is no such thing. It's does not exist. Writer's block is an excuse. Go to work; perform your craft. Sit down and get to it. Make time, set a particular time to write. it doesn't have to be every single day, but it should be on some regular basis. Even if it's just fifteen minutes on a commuter train each morning or every other morning. Get down words. They don't have to be good words but write anyway. Writers do not wait for the muse; real writers capture the muse and get to work. If you are going to be a writer you have to write. There is no waiting around for inspiration. I'm also not a big fan of writing conferences. They have their place. But for me, keep your money and use it to find a hotel room somewhere where you can be alone to write. The work is the thing. You can only talk about writing so much before you actually must do it. Read great works; works you would have liked to have written. Learn from it, learn the craft, and then get on with it. Thank you David for these incredible answers. I learned so much and aspire to have a writer’s shed; sounds perfect! I also really love the idea of “writer’s block is an excuse.” There’s so much truth to that. If you’re feeling tired - write about feeling tired. Use it. Just as you said, “Writers do not wait for the muse; real writers capture the muse and get to work.” SO TRUE. If you want to follow David, please check out his website, his blog 'The Constant Story,' and find him on Twitter and Facebook. Also be sure purchase his new book, October Song, available on Amazon and wherever books are sold. *** If you would like to be featured as a writer in the #WritersQuick5 series, please just reach out and let me know. I’d love to promote your work as well! For updates on #WritersQuick5 and other info from me, please follow me on Twitter or check back with this blog for all the latest. Welcome to week twenty-one of the #WritersQuick5 series - where we learn about writing from fellow writers.
This week I’m thrilled to bring to you a new area of writing: the perspective of a pastor. Sermon writing, religious writing, devotionals, all have their own unique niche and voice and may have an even wider reach than any book on a shelf. (Personally, from all my years of going to church, I can attest that the power of what is said at the lecturn is drastically impacted by the quality of the writing of the preacher.) And, whether you are religious or not, as writers, we can all appreciate the craft. So today I bring you insights from Pastor Tim Brown. Full disclosure: Pastor Tim, or PT as many of us call him, was my pastor for several years before he moved from Chicago to Raleigh, North Carolina. I have personally turned to his words many times over the years, in times of joy and in times of crisis, and appreciate the craft it takes to go into the kinds of messages he conveys. Back to PT now. PT is a prolific writer. He writes devotionals, humor, editorials and book reviews. His articles have been published in The Cresset, Living Lutheran, and The Christian Century. You can find his works, including all of his sermons across his two blogs: Endless Falling and Reluctanxtian. Let’s see what PT has to say… Question #1 - Where do you write and why do you write there? Usually early morning or late at night, in my office or study. I need to be surrounded by words to write for some reason. I need to enter "the house where words dwell," as I like to say regarding my writing process. I don't need a distraction free environment, but prefer one where resources are close at hand (water/beer, books, pens, paper). Question #2 - What is unique about writing for your particular genre? I write a lot about the intersection of faith and doubt, even in my devotional writing. Religious people can be finicky, so have you to present yourself with bare honesty or else you end up with something trite. Question #3 - What are some of your grammar or punctuation pet peeves? I am in love with the Oxford comma. I am in love with run-on sentences. I am in love with winding prose, but also equally in love with short quips. Brevity is not my friend. Question #4 - At what point in your writing process do you start to bring other people in to review your work? Beta versions of articles. Let the editor slosh through the punctuation. Question #5 - What advice would you give to a new writer about the writing process? Write. A lot. Every day. Crappy writing is good writing. Thank you PT for your insights and advice. I think, no matter what genre we are writing in, we can all follow the advice that we need to “present yourself with bare honesty or else you end up with something trite.” Honestly in writing is always the way to go! Please check out PT’s two blogs Endless Falling and the Reluctanxtian. From there you can read all of his sermons and he links to any articles he has published. You can also follow him on Twitter. *** If you would like to be featured as a writer in the #WritersQuick5 series, please just reach out and let me know. I’d love to promote your work as well! For updates on #WritersQuick5 and other info from me, please follow me on Twitter or check back with this blog for all the latest. Welcome to week twenty of the #WritersQuick5 series - where we learn about writing from fellow writers.
This week we bring you insights from Shawn C. Adams, a writer that explores multiple genres - fantasy, horror, YA fiction - in multiple formats - including short stories and a novel in progress. You can find Shawn’s work on Amazon/Kindle Unlimited, including his short story Ma & The Boys with more to be posted this summer. You can also learn more about Shawn on his website and via a Facebook group he started for writers to work on helping each other with writing, publishing, and writing as business. Let’s here what Shawn has to say… Question #1 - Where do you write and why do you write there? Any place I can get free time and use a computer. Mostly on the couch in my living room at the end of the day, or on a plane flying out to a client location. I will admit that sometimes the stories force themselves into my consciousness strong enough that I am unable to do anything else - even my day job. Question #2 - What is unique about writing for your particular genre? For me, I am particularly fond of the fantasy genre. I love that it provided a safe place to write about the issues that plague our world in new ways. The way the Drizzt books (by R.A Salvatore) tackle race and acceptance based on the individual, or the DragonLance books (by Weiss and Hickman) represent the ability of humanity to redeem itself against all odds. These central concepts are beautiful, and are more easily digestible when viewed in the fantasy setting. Everyone can find some piece of any fantasy setting to identify with as they read through them. For me, I tend to be writing stories with a strong female lead and/or a central male lead that doesn't take himself too seriously. Most likely motivated by how I view myself and the influence of my wife and my my mother. Question #3 - What are some of your grammar or punctuation pet peeves? As silly as it sounds, my two biggest pet peeves are: 1) Lack of punctuation (seriously WTH?) and 2) People that only put a single space between sentences. I know it is acceptable, but how about ask yourself if you should, instead of if you could once in awhile? Question #4 - At what point in your writing process do you start to bring other people in to review your work? Usually I bounce ideas off my wife and kids before I start writing. I don't expect much feedback at this point, and am probably just doing it so I can hear the ideas out loud. For actual review of my work, I won't let others read anything that hasn't been through at least two revisions. Even then I am VERY picky about who reads my work, prior to publication. Question #5 - What advice would you give to a new writer about the writing process? Writers write. I have heard people say, "you must write every day". Telling you now that is nonsense. My best advice would be to write as often as you can. If you feel a story nagging at you, don't fight it because you are working on something else, go with where you are being pulled. If real life gets busy and you can't find time to write on some days/weeks, don't worry about it. Feeling guilty and forcing the process won't make your writing better. And finally, if what you are writing feels terrible, keep writing. Get it out of your brain and onto paper/word document/etc., then fix it through the revision process. NO ONE writes so well that they are ready to go to print without revising their work. The better the writer, the more times you can be certain they have revised their work. Thanks Shawn for these great answers!
Please remember to check out Shawn’s work on Amazon and on his website. You can also follow him on Twitter and join his writing group on Facebook. *** If you would like to be featured as a writer in the #WritersQuick5 series, please just reach out and let me know. I’d love to promote your work as well! For updates on #WritersQuick5 and other info from me, please follow me on Twitter or check back with this blog for all the latest. |
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