WRITERLY WISDOM: Darlene Foster

It's that time again!  Every Wednesday we will sneak a peek into the world of writing and publication.  Award winning author, Darlene Foster, is just another wonderful writer I have met while coordinating things for this series.  You can reach Darlene at her website 

(www.darlenefoster.ca)

, 
or on her blog 

(www.darlenefoster.wordpress.com).

  

Take it away Darlene...

Never Too Late To Become A Writer

Darlene Foster

A goal without a plan is just a dream.

Many of us dream of being a writer. After all we have tons of ideas. We spend years talking about it, fantasize signing our books, and envision people saying, “I read your book and loved it.” But there is always an excuse.  We are too busy working, raising kids, keeping a house, volunteering, looking after grandchildren or aging parents; the list goes on. Then one day there is a bit more time and we say, “Now I’m too old to write a book. If only I had started years ago. Its too late.” I have heard this many times.

I was one of those people. I had so many excuses for not sitting down and writing a book. I took writing courses and attended seminars, wrote a few short stories and submitted to the occasional contest, but the idea of writing a book was too daunting and I often felt I left it too late.

Then I went on a fabulous holiday to the United Arab Emirates and decided I needed to write about it. It worked best for me to write my story from the point of view of a twelve year old and target it to middle readers.  Although I was already in my fifth decade, I was still busy working a full-time job, tutoring part-time, volunteering and sitting on a few boards. How was I going to fit in the time to write a book?

I came up with a clever plan.  The plan was to write the book in three years; a realistic time frame for me. How was I going to do this? I planned to write one chapter a month by writing one hour a day. By breaking it down into doable steps, it was not so difficult. I simply eliminated watching television for one hour every evening.  Soon my friends and family understood that I could not be disturbed for that one hour. If I missed one day, I would write for two hours the next day.

My plan worked. At the end of three years I had Amanda in Arabia-The Perfume Flask completed and ready for submission. It took another 5 years to find a publisher, but I persevered. In those five years, between researching publishers and writing query letters, I continued to write and completed, Amanda in Spain-The Girl in the Painting. After all, I was used to writing at least one hour a day.

Now in my sixth decade I have three books published, I have organized numerous book signings and people of all ages have approached me saying, “I love your books. I hope you write more.”  I write two hours everyday now and managed to write my latest book, Amanda in England-The Missing Novel, in one year.  I am working on the fourth novel as we speak and have many more ideas. There is no stopping me now!

The lesson I learned is that it is never too late and you can never be too busy, to make your dream of writing come true – if you make a plan and stick to it. As a much wiser person than I once said, “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” -C. S. Lewis

Biography of Darlene Foster

dreamer of dreams, teller of tales

Darlene Foster is a writer of children’s stories, an employment counsellor, an ESL tutor, a wife, mother and grandmother. She loves travel, reading, shoes, cooking, sewing, music, chocolate, walking on the beach and making new friends.  Her grandson calls her “super-mega-woman-supreme”.  She was brought up on a ranch nearMedicine Hat, Alberta, where she dreamt of traveling the world and meeting interesting people.  She lives inTsawwassen, BC with her husband Paul and their black cat Monkey. 

Darlene has always had a desire to write. She has published three books for middle readers, Amanda in Arabia – The Perfume Flask, Amanda in Spain – The Girl in The Painting and Amanda in England – The Missing Novel,recently released.

She believes everyone is capable of making their dreams come true!

Her website is www.darlenefoster.ca

Her blog is www.darlenefoster.wordpress.com

The Art Of Simply Being

My weekdays can get pretty hectic.  With picking up kids, teaching classes, doing office work, and still trying to train for my Master Fifth Degree Black Belt, I sometimes find myself wishing Friday would hurry up and get here.  But even my Saturdays can get the better of me.  Running errands, doing housework, trying to catch up on emails and sometimes I find myself wishing Sunday would hurry and get here.  

Sunday is my ME day.  A time where I leave the everyday worries behind and concentrate on my writing.  It is a day when I can focus on the art of simply being.  The house is quiet while my cat purrs, curled by my side.  My mind drifts to worlds where my characters dance in the moonlight and my muse whispers stories in my ear.  I don't have to worry about grammar or story arc or even plot.  I write for the pure joy of it, for the chance to paint the world with my words in the hopes they might one day touch the hearts of others.  

The art of simply being.  A mystic place as perfect as you wish it to be.  Or is it simply a way to channel your art into being?  It's for you to decide...

Flash Fiction Friday

Beverly stepped to the edge of the embankment.  Icicles loaded the trees, bending them close to the ground.   All around her came the sounds of snapping branches, cracking like whips as the weight of the ice tore them from tree trunks.  She knew it was not safe here but she had no choice.  Tommy had told her he threw the gun into the water right before the ice storm hit last night.  Beverly couldn't believe he had been that stupid.  That gun was the only thing that tied him to the murder and all it took was for one foolish hunter stumbling across it and they would lose everything.

Thirty feet downstream from the old homestead he had said.  Thirty feet to freedom if she could just find the darn thing.  The river was cluttered with ice chunks and debris.  Beverly could only hope the gun hadn't traveled too far downstream from where he threw it in.  She was getting awfully tired of cleaning up his messes.

Placing one boot gingerly on the partial trail leading down to the water's edge, Beverly strained to see if  she could figure out where the gun had gone.  She was just about to take another step when there came a thunderous roar of snapping branches immediately behind her.  Beverly's scream echoed into the cold morning air as her foot slipped on the muddy trail and she fell, tumbling faster and faster toward the water's edge.  If the mangled trees didn't break her decent, she would almost certainly drown in the river unless a miracle happened...

***Now it's your turn.  What happens next?  Do the trees stop Beverly from drowning in the river?  Or does the water seal her fate?  Maybe there is a miracle just around the bend.  Join in the fun with a sentence or a paragraph.  You don't have to run with my flash fiction...if someone else comments and you want to add to their story, then go for it.  Let's see where this picture prompt takes us!***

WRITERLY WISDOM: Steve DeWinter

It's time once again for WRITERLY WISDOM where every Wednesday we will sneak a peek into the world of writing and publication. I met Steve DeWinter while lining up authors and established writers to post on this new series.  

You can find Steve on his website, http://www.stevew.com, or follow him on his blog, http://steve-dewinter.blogspot.com, connect with him on Twitter at #%21/stevedw, or send him an email to writer@stevedw.com.  Take it away, Steve…

Pantsing or plotting?

By Steve DeWinter

Pantsing or plotting?

Which is better?

Which one is the right tool for the job of writing a story?

If you have been around for a while as a writer, you might already know what these two terms mean. If these are new to you, let me sum them up.

Pantsers write by the seat of their pants with little direction beyond the spark of an idea. The story grows organically and can take sudden twists and turns.

Plotters outline the story from the beginning to the end. They already know the story’s direction, and ending, before they write the first line of prose.

But which one is better? A quick Google search reveals many lively debates on this issue.

The pantsers main argument against plotting goes a little something like this: Plotting kills the muse. I want my characters to surprise me. I want to experience what my readers experience and not know how the story ends until I write it. If I plot out my story ahead of time, the characters will be one-dimensional and the story will be predictable. My story will be cookie-cutter garbage.

The plotters have just as strong an argument against pantsing that sounds a little like this: Pantsing results in a wandering mess that requires umpteen revisions to mold it into a cohesive story, usually resulting in tossing out large chunks of previous drafts as unusable during each rewrite. What a waste of time.

Looking at the graphic at the beginning of this post, you might think you know which side of the fence I land. If you think I am on the side of plotters, you would be half-right. If you think I am on the side of pantsers, you would still be half-right. I firmly straddle the fence on this issue because (drum roll please) both sides are right.

To be honest, I am not sure why anyone is debating these as two conflicting methods of writing. It is a little like debating whether the hammer or the screwdriver is the best tool for the job. For the repairperson staring into the toolbox, it would depend on the job as to which tool to use.

Plotting is your roadmap. It gives you direction and lets you know right away if a path strays too far from the main story. Plotting provides focus (i.e. the plot) for your story. If your story is unfocused, and is instead a rambling mess, you will lose and confuse your readers. That is the worst crime a writer can ever do. Life does not make sense, but our fiction has to.

Pantsing is the detailed experiences of that journey. Here is where you discover the sights, sounds and emotions in your story. Pantsing provides character for your story. It is the voice of your writing style.

Writing a book is not a singular activity. It is a collection of separate and distinct activities. Pantsing and plotting are two unique tools in the writer’s toolbox to be employed at different times during the writing process. Using both skills shapes your story in the most efficient and well-organized manner while still allowing for the thrill of discovery.

I urge everyone who wants to take writing as a serious business to look at every tool in your toolbox and see the benefits of using each one where necessary. Plumbers and engineers use a variety of tools in order to complete the different tasks of their job. The same is true for the writer.

Learn and practice every writing tool at your disposal and learn how to use the right one at the right time, every time.

Steve DeWinter is an American born adventure/thriller author whose evil twin writes science fiction under the pseudonym S.D. Stuart.   His latest novel “The Wizard of Oz: A Steampunk Adventure” is available now: 

Kindle 

http://amzn.to/TGJBhO

Trade paperback 

http://amzn.to/RCcwDP

The Vikings Are Coming!

Everyone comes from somewhere.  My ancestors on my father's side came from Cajun stock.  My mother's ancestors hailed from Scots-Irish and Cherokee blood.  All my life I was made well aware of where I came from.  The only problem...I spent many years not quite knowing where I was going...

I kinda like the history of the Vikings.  Yeah, there is that whole bloody pillage thing, but when you get to know them a little bit better you find they were a vibrant people with a strong definition of both where they came from and even better, where they were going.  And where they were going was into the great unknown where they had the chance to change the course of history.

Kinda sounds like the life and times of writers, doesn't it?  I mean, if we truly want to call ourselves writers, we must be willing to step out into the unknown.  To step foot on that ship bound for publication and eagerly travel uncharted waters in search of a way to leave our mark on the world.  

The vikings encountered adversity and so will we.  It just comes in a different form.  Writer's block, insecurity, rejection letters, deadlines...the list can be endless and yet, so can our faith in ourselves.  Faith in our ability to charm the world with our words.  Faith there is indeed someone out there who believes in us as well.  Faith that one day we might do as the vikings did when they conquered new lands and step into our own new worlds as published authors.

Let's just not get too carried away...

Flash Fiction Friday

Tarzan Island

By Donna L Martin

Lucas looked at his compass again.  North by northeast the old man told him when Lucas stopped for supplies.  He had spent the past three weeks getting to know the locals.  They told him of a legend where the French pirate Jean Lafitte smuggled goods into Barataria Bay,  but they knew the real treasure lay buried somewhere on Tarzan Island.

His oars cut through the murky water as mosquitos searched for their prey.  It would have been easy to get lost in the swamps surrounding New Orleans, but Lucas didn't come this far to go the way of the gris-gris.  Glancing once more at his compass, Lucas guided his canoe round the next bend and there it was.  Tarzan Island.  Butterflies tickled his insides as he slowly made his way closer.   Now all he had to do was find the treasure and keep away from the Huntsman.

***Now it's your turn.  What happens next?  Does Lucas find Jean Lafitte's buried treasure?  Or does the Huntsman find him?  Join in the fun with a sentence or a paragraph.  You don't have to run with my flash fiction...if someone else comments and you want to add to their story, then go for it.  Let's see where this picture prompt takes us!***

WRITERLY WISDOM: Lori Crusin Degman

It's that time again!  Every Wednesday we will sneak a peek into the world of writing and publication.  Today's author is someone I met over the past year and have discovered to be a very warm and generous spirit.  You can find Lori Crusin Degman at her website (www.Loridegman.com) or her blog (www.Loridegman.blogspot.com).  Take it away, Lori...

A Genre By Any Other Name

By Lori Crusin Degman

In doing research for this post, I discovered the categories I had always thought of as “Genres”, were really “Formats”.  I figured, there must be a lot of other writers who thought the same thing.  So, I would like to share with you the different formats and genres and help you determine which are best suited for your style of writing.  

First, you need to determine in which format you prefer to write and then, within that format, which genre appeals to you (many genres cross formats).  Here is a list of the different formats in children’s literature:

Format	Typical Length	Age Range	Content
Picture Book	32 pages; less than 700 words	4 - 8	Text and illustrations used equally; main character is a child who solves his/her own problem; concepts or events common to children
Early Reader	48 - 64 pages; 2 - 3 page chapters; up to 1,500 words	6 - 9	Illustrations on every page but more “grownup” looking; events to which children can relate
Chapter Book	2 - 4 sentence paragraphs; 3 - 4 page chapters;  up to 10,000 words	7 - 10	lots of action and humor; events to which children can relate
Middle Grade	80 - 190 pages; longer chapters; 20,000 - 40,000 words	9 - 12	conflict driven;  main character pursues goals and faces obstacles
Young Adult	40,000 - 60,000 words	12 +	teenaged main characters; coming of age; multi-themed; authentic voice
Graphic Novel	48 - 64 pages	all ages	comic book format with more pictures than words
Novel in Verse	10,000 - 20,000 words	12+	similar to young adult novels but written in free-style verse; each poem should stand alone and capture a moment or scene

Once you’ve decided which format you prefer, you need to determine which genre in children’s literature best fits what you enjoy writing.  To help you do that, I’ve developed this short test.  

Which phrase would you most likely choose to complete this sentence:  

Yesterday, my friend and I . . .

A.    climbed on our zongos and rode to the edge of floxium.

B.    ate a steak and kidney pie.

C.    helped Paul Bunyon find his ox.

D.    spoke on the telephone for the first time,” Thomas Edison announced.

E.    landed on the planet Neptune.

F.    began this personal journal.

G.    signed up to fight against the Yankees.

H.    pulled out our iphones to take pics of the cutest boy in school.

I.     looked for clues at the murder scene.

J.      climbed off our horses and mosied over to the saloon.

K.     realized we have been madly in love for years!

Match your choice above to the genres below:

A.    Fantasy

B.    Poetry

C.    Folklore

D.    Nonfiction

E.    Science Fiction

F.    Biography

G.    Historical Fiction

H.    Contemporary Fiction

I.     Mystery

J.    Western

K.    Romance

No matter in which format or genre you write, there are basic rules that apply to writing for children - though rules are made to be broken so don’t feel compelled to follow them to the letter:

• Your story needs an arc - a clear beginning that sets up a problem for the main character, a middle in which the main character makes attempts to solve the problem (usually three attempts), and a satisfying ending in which the main character finally solves the problem.

• Create genuine characters to whom your readers can relate and feel some kind of emotional connection - love, hate, fear, admiration . . .

• Read as many books as you can in your genre - not to imitate, but to learn what types of things work well and what things you should avoid doing - based on your reactions to the books you’ve read.

• Be ready to rewrite, reword, revise!

Lori Degman is a teacher of Deaf/Hard of Hearing students by day and a writer of picture books by night, weekend and school holidays.  She lives in a northern suburb of Chicago with her husband and two dogs.  Her picture book, 1 Zany Zoo was the winner of the Cheerios New Author Contest and a mini version was distributed inside 2.2 million boxes of Cheerios.  The hardcover was published by Simon & Schuster in 2010. 1 Zany Zoo won the Mother's Choice Award - Gold Level for Picture Book Humor in 2012 and has been nominated for the 2012-2013 South Carolina Picture Book Award.

www.Loridegman.com     www.Loridegman.blogspot.com

A Better Definition...

There are many definitions of the word writer in the world.  Webster says a writer is "one who writes". Oh how bland a description for who and what a writer actually is.  I kind of like the definition above.  It gives a lighthearted look at one part of a writer's life, but still, even this definition doesn't quite cover what I see a writer is, so I decided to make up my own definition:

W...wordy.  We live by the word, live FOR the word and try our best to arrange those words in such a captivating way they are not forgotten.

R...reader.  Those pesky words tempt us at every turn.  We know what it is like to gather words around us, to drown in them until we are taken to another place and time.  We as writers cherish the spoken word and try our best to share that love with others.

I...inspired.  The lives of others captivate our interest.  The world around us fascinate and challenge us to present it's stories so others feel inspired as well.

T...talented.  There is an inherited gift every writer has.  The gift to string words together to tell a story. Some come by this talent naturally and others through hard work but all have it.  

E...entertainer.  We live to entertain with our words.  Some stories are infused with humor while others may bear our pain, but all show a part of our innermost spirit to the world.

R...ready.  No matter the obstacles, no matter the challenges, a true writer is always ready to test themselves.  To reach for that spark of creativity within, to draw words close to them and mold them into something no one else could create.

What type of writer are you?  The Webster kind or something more?  

Flash Fiction Friday

The Lost City of Alcavez

by Donna L Martin

One...two...three...the steps seemed to go on and on,  running into each other until he couldn't see them any more. Where did they lead?  As Sean shifted the backpack higher on his shoulder he felt a sharp stabbing pain shoot through his leg.  Looking down, he saw blood seeping again through the bandage on his upper thigh.  At this pace, he would lose too much blood before he reached the summit.  Pausing to catch his breath, Sean closed his eyes and slid to the ground.  

When he woke this morning, he was confident the unmarked trail he stumbled upon yesterday lead to the lost city of Alcavez.  He barely contained his excitement when he found a dusty map wedged in the corner of that old desk. Could that ancient map lead to the lost city of wonder he had heard so much about?  Careful to make sure no one was following him, Sean set out with just a small pack and a two liter bottle of water.  To take more would have drawn suspicion.

Too late he realized someone had followed him, stayed just outside his range and now the bullet in his leg slowed him down.  What Sean left on the trail behind him only gave him an hour, maybe two, to find what lay hidden at the top of those steps.  Leaning on a makeshift staff,  Sean forced himself to his feet and stared at the steps ahead of him. One...two...three...he just put one foot in front of the other and kept climbing...

***Now it's your turn.  What happens next?  Does Sean make it to the summit?  Does he find the lost city of Alcavez?  Are there others tracking him?  Join in the fun with a sentence or a paragraph.  You don't have to run with my flash fiction...if someone else comments and you want to add to their story, then go for it.  Let's see where this picture prompt takes us!***