literary whiplash

I’m closing in on the final draft of my first official non-fiction book proposal and I have a bad case of literary whiplash. What sounded good to me yesterday sounds awful today. What held me back before actually does the trick now. Back and forth. Up and down. 'Round and 'round I go.

So…this is the overview of my book, Ten Faces of Faith—The Extraordinary Faith of Ordinary People and What We Can Learn from Them:

“Ten Faces of Faith introduces the reader to ten men and women who have endured some of life’s darkest moments—a child’s death, a life-threatening diagnosis, and a tragic accident, among others. Yet, despite all these people have been through, they continue to defend their faith in God’s all-powerful goodness and mercy. They don’t blame Him for their bad luck. They don’t feel as though He has abandoned or betrayed them. Instead, their stories help us reconcile the contradictions between what we have been taught to believe about a kind and compassionate God with the defeats we experience in our own lives.

This book does not attempt to interpret scripture, nor does it rely on scientific theories that argue for or against the existence of God. Instead, the stories in Ten Faces of Faith suggest that we may fail to recognize the hand of God at work in our lives because we may be looking for the wrong thing. 

Ten Faces of Faith explores the extraordinary faith of ordinary people, and how the pain they experienced opened their eyes to God’s presence in their lives.”

If you were an agent who handled Christian non-fiction would you bite? Your comments are welcome.

jan

don't quit your daydream

This past week I started reading “Writing from the Heart” by Nancy Slonim Aronie for the third time.

This book is intended to encourage and inspire reluctant or disheartened writers to trust themselves, to take the risk of writing from the heart. But I think all of us can benefit from it.

I know the author's words ring true to my experience. My inner critic is always beating up on my inner child, discouraging the poor kid from trying new things, nit-picking every unintentional goof-up, bullying her until she’s ready to give up completely. First, it was the dream of going to med school:

“The competition to get in is fierce.”

“Maybe nursing would be a better choice.”

“They don’t take many women, you know.”

Even now, later in life, I have to turn a deaf ear to all those other voices, the self-appointed experts who claim to have my best interests at heart as they rattle off disparagement:

“Start writing at your age? Really??”

“But you’ve never written a thing in your life.”

“Why would anyone give up a career in medicine? Why now??”

It’s no wonder we get discouraged as children when our creativity, curiosity, and energy levels are at their highest. The problem is that these same voices stalk us into adulthood. They can stop us in our tracks.

Which is why we all need encouragement, not just to write, but to live from the heart. As I read this book again, it occurs to me that we can all benefit from Aronie’s words, especially when we start to think about beginning again, when we still cling to a dream we once abandoned because we were told it was unrealistic, or unproductive, or unattainable.

Maybe you’re thinking about going back to school, or taking up piano. Maybe you’d like to try sky diving or scuba diving. Perhaps you’re drawn to carpentry or improv theater, but something inside you is holding you back.

“It’ll take too long.”

“It costs too much money.”

“I’d just be wasting my time.”

It may just be time to raise your voice. Stand up to that inner critic. Stick up for the child who was bullied out of following his/her heart. Make sure the same thing isn’t happening to you now.

 *

Have a great week!

jan

the cure for sagging spirits

I did it. I admit it. It was impulsive, and self-indulgent, and expensive, but I registered for yet another writing conference. This one has nothing to do with the techniques of good writing, or how to build your platform, or how to get published. This is one of those inclusive, feel good, empowering workshops that is intended to bolster sagging spirits, and re-animate creative energy among a small group of like-minded souls.

Did I say sagging spirits?

I think I did. It happens to all of us from time to time. It’s the price we pay for loving others, for caring about them, and for dreaming about an uncertain future. It’s the burden of disappointment, frustration, and rejection that drags us down. Sometimes we just need a little “pick-me-up,” or a little something to “settle-me-down.” Or both.  Something to motivate or inspire us. Affirmation. Acceptance. Encouragement.

I have attended a number of excellent motivational and inspirational workshops since I started writing. “The Artist’s Way” with Julia Cameron was my favorite...

 but I also enjoyed “Do You Wish You Could Write?” with Lynda Barry... 

...as well as “What Is This, A Spiritual Quest?” with Sue Rumbaugh, and “Mindful Writing,” with Madhu Wangu, Ph.D. I came away from these sessions  ready to “begin again,” impatient with new ideas.

But it has been a while since I indulged myself this way. I haven’t felt the need to be encouraged or energized. That’s how feel every time I sit down to work. I can’t wait to get started in the morning, and I tend to have two or three projects in mind at all times. Writing is the easy part. But life itself?  Sometimes not so much.

So, I’m going off to my favorite place, Omega Institute (www.eOmega.org)...

...for five days in mid-October just about the time Mother Nature drapes herself in glorious shades of red and gold. The retreat is titled "Writing from the Heart,"

 and it will be led by Nancy Slonim Aronie, author of the book by the same name.

www.berkshirewomenwriters.org

I’m going for no better reason than to humor myself, to restore what is depleted, and to gather courage for the journey.

What do you do to revive your sinking spirits? What are you waiting for?

*

“Good writing is not about good grammar.

Good writing is about Truth.”

~Nancy Slonim Aronie~

*

Last week I was grandson sitting...

Caleb

...this week I'm grand-dog sitting:

BK

although I'm not sure the word "sitting" actually applies here...

Have a great week!

jan

how to banish boredom for good

Stephen King put it nicely:

There's just one problem with that: making enough time for both reading and writing. Plus work (unless you're independently wealthy and don't have to earn a living, or, like me, you're lucky enough to be retired). Plus making time for family and friends. Plus keeping up with the house and yard work, and making time to exercise on a regular basis. Plus, plus, plus...

And, I don't know about you, but I usually have more than one writing project underway at a time, too. I'll work on a book-length manuscript, and then a start a short story or an essay to play with when my brain turns to mush. Right now I'm revising the book proposal for Ten Faces of Faith, while I play with an idea for a flash fiction piece. I journal daily. Plus, I write this blog every week. It all takes time.

Likewise, I find myself reading several books at a time. If one is deep enough to require concentration, I'll pick up something light or entertaining as a diversion. Right now I have three books underway:

I ordered the big, heavy book on the bottom of the pile after hearing Diane Rehm interview the author on NPR a couple of weeks ago. I thought it would be the perfect thing to read on my trip to Dallas--the neurophysiology of meditation and it's role in cultivating compassion. I didn't notice the page count when I ordered it, so it surprised me that it weighed in at 693 pages, much too heavy to lug around four different airports! Instead I packed up Anna Quindlen's Loud and Clear, a collection of engaging and humorous 2-3 page essays on life. The Workaholics book? Well, that's personal...

I also have a pile of books in my to-be-read pile, all of them clamoring for my attention:

And then there are a few books I want to re-read:

There should never be a dull moment in the life of a writer. If we make time for all we need to get done in a day, all we want to accomplish, and all we wish we had time for, like this "little guy"...

Caleb

...the word "boredom" will never be a part of our vocabulary.

What's a person to do??

*

"Nothing you do for children

is ever wasted."

~Garrison Keillor~

*

Have a great week!

jan

why you must read "The Far End of Happy" by Kathryn Craft

In the interest of fairness, I decided I should try reading a few things out of my usual comfort zone--literary fiction, memoir, creative nonfiction (you know, serious stuff)--and give something else a chance. So I picked up a mystery and a mystery-thriller by two well-known and multiple award-winning authors...who will remain anonymous.

I finished the first one and found it very well written with plenty of plot twists and authentic characters. Still, it left me feeling, meh...

I plunged into the second one, the thriller, with high expectations. It, too, was well-written. But, again, the multiple plot lines, intertwined characters, and rising tension left me feeling: so what? I got to within twenty pages of the ending...and I simply set it aside. I just didn't care how it ended after all that. Really??

Questioning my sanity, I then turned back to literary fiction with Kathryn Craft's newest release, "The Far End of Happy", a literary novel that fictionalizes a painful episode in her own life, a heartbreaking suicide standoff with her husband.

I know the real story behind it because she has shared it in several of her workshops. She wept when she talked about it, and we wept along with her. This book was a long time coming.

So, this is the thing. Craft nailed the experience of every woman who has ever struggled to maintain a semblance of normalcy for her children as the victim of an addicted spouse. In this story, the dreaded "dual diagnosis" was bipolar disorder complicated by alcohol addiction that proved to be a deadly combination. In real life, the reader can totally identify with the inner dialogue of the protagonist. Her courage and fortitude are enviable. The characters who interact with her during the crisis are believable, and the tension rises little by little all the way through the story until--BAM--it happens.

I ached as I read this book. Anyone who has attempted to distance herself from an abusive marriage, been manipulated by the threat of a spouse's suicide, or succumbed to the ill-informed advice of well-intentioned friends and family members should read this book. It tells the story of a memoir that would otherwise be too painful to put into words.

So what was missing for me in the mysteries? There was plenty of action and tension, good crisp dialogue, and rapid pacing, but what I missed was the inner dialogue expressing emotion and reaction--fear, confusion, grief (people were murdered, after all), and betrayal--emotions I might have identified with had they been expressed. As it was I couldn't identify with the characters. Nothing felt familiar.

The mysteries will soon go off to a book sale, while I re-read "The Far End of Happy."

A round of deep appreciation goes out to Kathryn Craft for her courage, perseverance, and verity. Thank you!

Kathryn Craft

*

"I am not what happened to me.

I am what I choose to become."

~Carl Jung~

*

Please excuse the appearance of this post. Blogger is being oppositional-defiant this week, and there's nothing I can do to fix it. Thanks.

jan

how to rule the world

I've been writing...or at least working at it...for a good seven years now. During that time I've amassed a small fortune worth of books on writing, covering everything from grammar and punctuation, to plotting and character development, to inspiration and motivation. A quick count today came to over 75 books on writing...at which point I gave up.

You get the picture...

Here are a few things I've learned:

• According to Stephen King:

www.pinerest.com

To which I would add, read like a writer. Pay attention to what draws you into a story and keeps you there. Take note when you have to turn back a few pages to check on a fact or to recall a character. Then avoid anything that takes your readers out of the story when you write. If you have a question about punctuation or dialogue, study how it's handled in the book you're reading. Scribble in the margins. Takes notes. Then apply what you've learned to your own writing.

• From Toni Morrison I learned: 

www,teralynnchilds.tumblr.com

Meaning, write like a reader. First and foremost, write the truth as you know it. Learn what makes a good book cover and title--the reader's first encounter with your writing. Then give your intended audience what it wants to read. Do whatever it takes to engage the bookstore browser in as few words as possible. Write what you want to read and compel your audience to read it, too.

• At some point you must begin.

www.theslaingod.tumblr.com

• Get all the feedback you can. Join a critique group or two or three. Get thee to a good writing conference at least once or twice a year. Connect with other writers. Embrace revision.

• Keep at it until you finish. According to Neil Gaiman:

www.pinterest.com

Sounds simple enough.

• Put it out there. Don't even think about slipping your manuscript into a drawer somewhere. Remember:

www.pinterest.com

So, there you have it--all you need to know to get started in writing. Enjoy the journey!

*

"It ain't whatcha write.

It's the way atcha write it."

~Jack Kerouac~

*

I'm off to Dallas this week. Hoping to make some big-time progress on my WIP. Research more than writing. Asking more than telling.

jan

heresy, mutiny, treason for writers

I don't get it. Maybe I'm an indiscriminate reader, or perhaps, because I prefer to read and to write literary fiction, my tastes run counter to what is popular in the general population...the horror-thriller-fantasy lovers, and romance and mystery fans.

At the risk of coming off as a whiner, or ingrate, or worse, an uninitiated beginner at this, I have to question some of the conventional wisdom that is popular among today's literary agents, editors and publishers. No offense intended.

God knows writing a novel is hard enough without having to navigate an obstacle course in the process. Let's take a look at three of those obstacles, a.k.a. conventions of writing:

www.affordableagility.com

• Rule #1-The opening scene of the novel: We are told never, and I do mean never, open a novel with a description of the weather, with a funeral, a dream sequence, or a character waking up to an alarm, among others. Frankly, I don't see the problem. As long as the writing is beautiful and engaging, and leads the reader into the story, what does it matter? I don't need to be frightened or mystified or left breathless by an opening scene. Remember, some of us have been on our feet all day. When we sit down to read at night the perfect opening might just be snow falling gently on a calm, moonless night.

www.twincities.com

 Ah-h-h...

I understand that weather can be important to a novel if it serves as an obstacle to the protagonist's goal, or if it foils the enemy's escape, but it also creates setting and mood. One of my novels opens: 

"The North Atlantic seaboard in February is reminiscent of a Soviet gulag except that here people endure the torment by choice—the gusty wind, the perpetual gull-gray haze, and snow that freezes into a sooty crust. It’s enough to keep a person under the covers all day long. Sadly this isn’t an option for me today. I have to be on my feet before daybreak and out the door before rush hour, before hospital rounds. Before all hell breaks loose."

My bad.

• Rule #2-Never use cliches. Personally, I love an occasional cliche. It tells you so much in so few words. For  a example in the passage above, I use, "Before all hell breaks loose," to describe what my character expects is going to be a terrible day. I could have said, "Before I get hopelessly behind schedule," or "Before the emergencies start pouring in," but all hell breaking loose encompasses every imaginable disaster. Bam! The worst day ever.

www.quotehd.com

• Rule #3-Avoid words like very, really, even, suddenly, that, awesome, amazing, and actually. The list goes on. Eliminate adjectives, adverbs, and exclamation points. Limit dialogue tags to "said" and "asked." It almost makes you wonder what you have left to work with. Frankly, I don't have huge issues with any of those constructs, used in moderation. I love the image of the macho bad guy blubbering, "I give up." A "hideous" face leaves us to conjure up all kinds of blemishes and deformities. The writer doesn't have to describe every pimple, wart, and scar to get the point across. And, I think it's occasionally OK to...

The problem for aspiring writers is that violation of these rules may be cause for knee-jerk rejection...unless, of course, you're a NY Times best-selling author in which case, the rules don't always apply. You can get away with some of this because you write so well. Case in point.

What do you think? Should we--both the reader and the writer--be tethered to these rules? Do they go too far? Should some of the insurmountable obstacles to acceptance be lifted?

*

*

Last week I was in Nazareth, PA. This week it's Pittsburgh. Next week I'll be in Dallas. I love catching up with my family!

jan