Learning the craft

cj Sez:  I’ve attended sooo many conferences in my writing lifetime and have learned that there is always more to learn about the craft. The weekend of July 15 I joined a diverse group of authors and poets in Birmingham, AL, for the 2016 Alabama Writers Conclave conference.

From Facebook

The AWC is a small conference in comparison to a Killer Nashville or Bouchercon, but it is chock full of information in workshops conducted by a really knowledgeable faculty. I attended presentations on building a website, the important beginnings and endings, and demystifying mystery (the demystifying presenter was the fabulous and multi-award winning fellow SinC /Guppy Kaye George, who writes three best-selling mystery series).

They offered poetry workshops with titles such as:  “Writing Historical Persona Poetry,” “Exploring imagery and Language in Poetry” (also useful for prose authors), and “Poets Without Borders.”

Barbara Kyle, who had a twenty-year acting career in television, film, and stage, AND is the author of seven internationally published historical novels, led a master’s class on “Secrets to Creating Powerful Scenes,” and spoke of “The Actor Inside the Writer” in her keynote address.

The AWC is a conference, run by a small group of dedicated volunteers (Thank you T.K. Thorne, Debra Goldstein, and all the others). I attend often, not only because of its proximity to my home, but also because of the variety and quality of the information it shares. . . . and I can afford it.

A few years ago, I decided to limit my conferences to those that I can drive to in less than a day, and the 2016 Alabama Writers Conclave is one of those. This year’s Bouchercon in New Orleans is the other that I will attend. That’s not to say I’m not continuing my writerly education. I invest time in critique partners, writers’ organizations, workshops, and online classes…especially those that are endorsed by Sisters-in-Crime and Guppies.

Practice makes perfect is an adage that definitely applies to writers. The nature of the craft requires that writers work alone, but we can’t work in a vacuum. We need the input and critique of others in order to improve our skills. I’ve told you what I do to improve…what is that you do?

Okay, you-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.

I’m traveling again this weekend and may not get back in time to put up a guest post on Wednesday, but please stop by anyway . . . just in case.

cj

cjpetterson@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor

Choosing Carter  -- Kindle  /  Nook  /  Kobo   /  iTunes/iBook

Deadly Star --  Kindle  / Nook  / Kobo

How to defeat summer writing doldrums

"Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go."

E. L. Doctorow in The New York Times (20 October 1985)

Dauphin Island Sunset (photo by Jeff D. Johnston)

cj Sez:  Are you suffering from the same hellacious heat and humidity as I am? As much as I don’t like cold weather, this long string of 90-plus temperatures and rainy days is making me a slug. And to say I’ve been neglecting my writing life would be an understatement. My writing life has been almost non-existent, so I’m having a go at trading perspiration for inspiration. How am I doing that, you ask? Read on.

From Facebook

The first thing was an attempt to restart the critique group. For most of this year, each of us has been busy with our civilian lives (as opposed to the writerly life). One of us became a first-time mother, another entertained beau coup family and traveled, a third faced medical issues, and I loitered around the house, yard, and computer games. One of our members dropped out, but the rest of us were able to meet again a couple of weeks ago, and boy, did that feel good. I immediately felt inspiration massaging away at the brain cramp.

I’ve started re-reading mystery books—some good, some bad…the bad ones are great because as H. G. Wells said, “No compulsion in the world is stronger than the urge to edit someone else’s document.” (Amen.) Plus, I recognize what I don’t like to read and pray that knowledge will improve my writing.

I attended the Alabama Writers Conclave conference in Birmingham, AL, took in several workshops (I'll comment more on those next week), and had ten pages of my languishing work-in-progress professionally critiqued. When the last word on the last page was “good,” I knew I was on the right track. Great feeling.

2016 Writers Police Academy
200-word contest prompt

On Friday, I had a relaxing lunch with two other writer friends. We had all attended the conference, and the lunch was a nice way to reinforce our learning experiences and enthuse about what we’re going to write next. Me? I think I’ll seek out some prompts and write a few flash fiction pieces, maybe 200 or 400 words.

Yesterday, I spent an hour describing in detail my protagonist’s office space. (Not to be used in active scene, but in my backup document.) Since she will be in the office several times during the story, I needed to get a visual of the layout firmly fixed in my mind.

I’ve also started editing an old short story. The word count needs to be doubled to make it eligible to submit for an anthology. THAT will be a task, because I naturally write very tight. I’m looking forward to it, though. 

The next thing I’m going to do is head for a change of scenery. It’s been several years since I visited family, friends, and old stomping grounds in Michigan, so I’m headed north, 1100 miles from the Alabama Gulf Coast for a whirlwind one-week (gasp) visit. I’m hoping that when I get home again, I’ll be able to set and meet some new writing deadlines.

That’s my plan. How about you? What do you do to escape the summer writing doldrums?

On Wednesday, lawyer and author Susan Spann has given me permission to reprint her post on the myths of copyrights for novels and other creative work. Super interesting and informative piece. Please stop by and let us know if you’ve found some helpful nuggets.

Okay, you-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.

cj

cjpetterson@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor

Choosing Carter  -- Kindle  /  Nook  /  Kobo   /  iTunes/iBook

Deadly Star --  Kindle  / Nook  / Kobo

Yes, Virginia. Romance stories have a format.

cj Sez:  The following format for a romance novel is a composite of information I’ve gleaned from various sources over the years. It’s a format I keep in front of me when I’m writing romantic suspense. By the way, there is no “magic formula” for writing in any genre, but you can usually find a format to follow.

('Toons are from Facebook)

A likable heroine

This character can’t be weak or dumb and must be actively involved in the plot. There will be some moments of angst in the story, but they should be fleeting. You want your reader to root for the lady rather than think she deserves what she gets because she’s too stupid to win.

A likable hero

This guy should be strong (might only be emotionally), irresistible, smart, and actively involved. He does not necessarily have to be stereotypically handsome to be appealing. His personality will carry him into your readers’ hearts.

Emotional tension

What’s keeping your heroine/hero apart? What threatens her/him? Making these decisions at the outset of your writing will help keep the plot on track.

A believable plot

Your twist on an oldie will work. According to some studies, there are only six (or maybe eight) possible plots in all of literature. One example: Cinderella can be construed as a variation of the Biblical story of Esther, who was an orphan being raised by her uncle and who so charmed a king that he crowned her his queen. Your unique “voice” is important in relating your interesting take on the familiar story.

A happily ever after ending

An absolute necessity for a romance novel. Love stories might not have to end happily, but romances MUST have a happily ever after or at least the promise of one.  

Three of those points are romance writing-specific, but at least two of them—emotional tension and believable plot—can be broadly applied to most genres. Even a memoir needs a bit of tension and a plot to make it an appealing read. But you can help me out here. Please let me know if you can think of a genre that wouldn't use those two points.   

 

I’m attending the 2016 Alabama Writers Conclave this weekend, so be sure to stop by next week for my review.

You-all guys keep on keeping on, and I’ll try to do the same.

cj

cjpetterson@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/CjPettersonAuthor

Choosing Carter  -- Kindle  /  Nook  /  Kobo   /  iTunes/iBook

Deadly Star --  Kindle  / Nook  / Kobo