Lynn Cook Henriksen writes: When “TellTale Souls Writing the Mother Memoir…” was setup on the Amazon site, they characterized it as Volume I. I felt someone was trying to tell me Volume II would need follow, so now’s the time to start writing the story only you can write and send it to me for possible inclusion. Volume II will be mainly filled with TellTale Souls’ bio-vignettes, not as a guide to writing, since I covered that well throughout the Five Acts making up Volume I. For the publication of your non-fiction, telling-tale on the TellTale Souls/The Story Woman blog or possible inclusion in a future memoir collection, please follow these guidelines. Look over the The Story Woman Blog carefully and you will gain insight into what we would like to see in your story (your bio-vignette). Need help? Consider reading TellTale Souls Writing the Mother Memoir: How to Tap…
Due Dates — Making Friends with Deadlines by Michelle Wing
Guest Blogger Michelle Wing writes: I have always been rather envious of writers who say they sit down at their desks each day at, say, 9 a.m., and write for three or four hours. In other words, writers who have a pattern and a discipline to their output. That is simply not how I am wired. I can’t do anything that way – exercise regimens, meals, study sessions – nope, I fail at every attempt to adhere to a strict schedule. Instead of berating myself over this, I have learned to look at what does work for me. What are my ideal conditions for writing productivity? I thrive under deadlines. Having spent over 15 years of my life working as a journalist, I am very familiar with the feeling of having to get a story out – now – just under the wire. It is its own particular type of…
Listen to the world around you — Jörgen Elofsson
“If you want to write about a ‘broken heart,’ it’s good to know what a broken heart feels like. I also believe you need to take the time and not rush things, keep it playful . . . and listen to the world around [you].” — Jörgen Elofsson, songwriter for Kelly Clarkson, excerpt from the May 2014 issue of The Writer Magazine. Photo: Jorgen
Write about a character and music. Prompt #67
Today’s prompt is inspired from the May 2014 issue of The Writer magazine. Write about a character (real or fictional) surrounded by music. What instruments? What songs? Describe the soundtrack to the character’s story. How does music affect his or her actions, and what role does it play in the narrative? More from this issue: “Write the way people actually talk. You can use imagery and be poetic, of course, but the best lyrics sound like something people might actually say.” — Murray Horwitz, co-writer of the musical Ain’t Misbehavin’
How do you handle rejection?
First, don’t take rejection personally. When you submit your writing for inclusion in an anthology, magazine. . . to an editor, publisher, agent. . . and you receive a “no, thanks” letter, or worse, you never hear back . . . don’t take it personally. It may or may not be the quality of writing, but it’s definitely not a rejection of you personally. My Submission Philosophy You won’t receive rejection notices unless you submit your writing. And if you submit your writing . . . you will probably receive a rejection note, or two, or more. Welcome to The Club I wrote a story about pesky gophers around 2007. Shopped it around. Submitted to a little contest. Won second place. I was thrilled. But really, this was a miniscule contest. Probably two entries. So I shopped it some more. Got accepted. But the editor said since it was seasonal,…
Which is more valuable, inspiration or discipline? Prompt #66
Today’s prompt is inspired from Susan Bono’s July 15, 2005 Searchlights and Signal Flares, from Tiny Lights online, A Journal of Personal Narrative — an oldie and goodie I have saved all these years! To read what writers Rebecca Lawton, Charlene Bunas, Jodi Hottel, Betty Winslow, Susan Winters and Susan Bono, have to say on this prompt, click here. Prompt: Which is more valuable, inspiration or discipline?
Voices of Lincoln Poetry Contest
Voices of Lincoln 10th Annual Poetry Contest has five categories: *Once Upon A Time *Ten Years From Now *It’s A Miracle *A Journey Worth Taking *People Are Funny You may submit a maximum of three poems, no more than one in each of three of the five contest categories. Everyone is encouraged to enter the contest. You do not have to live in Lincoln to be eligible. All poems must be received no later than Saturday, July 26, 2014. Mail entries (with the entry form) to: Voices of Lincoln Poetry Contest c/o Alan Lowe, Coordinator 1235 Picket Fence Lane Lincoln, CA 95648 If you need additional information or an entry form, please email or phone Alan Lowe at (916-408-1274). slolowe -at- icloud.com You can access Entry Form by clicking here. Scroll down to entry form: highlight, copy, print just the entry form. Good Luck!
Guest blogger Carol Cassara serves grammar on plates . . .
. . . and offers prizes. This contest has ended. Thanks for everyone who participated. Excerpted from Carol’s January 16, 2014 Blog Post . Carol’s Grammar Plates I’m not a perfect grammarian but I do have most of the basics down. And so should anyone who calls him- or her–self a writer, or you lose credibility. For this complete blog post (where the plate photos are clearer), please go to Carol Cassara’s blog post, Grammar Served On A Plate. I’m not a perfect grammarian, but I do have most of the basics down. And so should anyone who calls him- or her–self a writer. – See more at: http://carolcassara.com/?s=grammar+on+a+plate#sthash.VHOqzU5K.dpuf I’m not a perfect grammarian, but I do have most of the basics down. And so should anyone who calls him- or her–self a writer. – See more at: http://carolcassara.com/?s=grammar+on+a+plate#sthash.VHOqzU5K.dpuf No one wants to use the word “me” any more. I…
Sometimes writing badly leads to something better.
Do you ever have writer’s block? Anna Quindlen was asked this question. She answers: Some days I fear writing dreadfully, but I do it anyway. I’ve discovered that sometimes writing badly can eventually lead to something better. Not writing at all leads to nothing. — April 20, 2014 Parade magazine. The Writer’s Block, 786 Ideas To Jump-Start Your Imagination by Jason Relulak.
Tell just one small story . . .Prompt #65
If you could tell just one small story that would capture your mother’s character and keep her spirit alive into the future, what would it be? — Lynn Cook Henriksen, Writing The Mother Memoir Variations on theme of The Mother Memoir: The Mother Figure Write the single story you could tell about the person who is your mother figure. Write one vignette about a woman in your life. Lynn Henriksen keeps spirits alive at Telltales Souls: “I’m always looking for good stories for TellTale Souls for Volume Two.” Click here for submission guidelines. Lynn will post your story on her blog. Email your story to Lynn Henriksen at: lynn(at)telltalesouls.com. Prompt: Tell just one small story about your mother or mother figure.