Stepping Up

In my last blog, I spoke about publishing my novel, Bellehaven, and reaching the final step in the process: marketing. Richard Morgan, a member of our Long Beach Island writers group and a wonderful poet, shared some great advice, telling me, “Just have fun with it.”

So, now I’m embracing the challenge, learning all I can about social media, publicity and stepping up to any potential opportunity.  Initially, however, I had some trepidation about doing the all-important author presentation. 

Although I’d done a lot of public speaking in my career, this was different. Speaking about my book seemed, well, more personal. Still my desire to share my story with readers gave me the impetus to do so. 

So, I forged ahead and learned some valuable lessons from my initial appearances.

Here's my five tips toward a successful author presentation:

1. Develop a theme in your talk, one that draws in  the audience.

2. Don’t read long passages, intersperse short    excerpts through your presentation.

3. Practice before a friend or family member, one  who will give you an honest critique.

4. Take note cards with keywords of what you want  to say.

5. Keep it short enough to hold their interest.  Twenty to twenty-five minutes is good.

Face your fears of public speaking. There’s nothing wrong with a little stage fright! It will keep you on your toes. And if all else fails, express your fear in writing. If you’re like me, you find that a very therapeutic approach. 

Here’s a poem I’d like to share with you that describes my initial feelings before doing my first author talk.

Battle Ready

The morning comes quickly.

Like mercury, the hours slip by.

I dress for battle, for the test

Of my strength.

I’m ready. I’ve rehearsed

Until my strategy is

Cemented squarely into the

Psyche of my soul.

The time has come. I clothe
Myself in a façade of calm

To go forth and show

The mettle I hope is within.

                                                      

Battle ready, I lift my chin,

Square my shoulders,

Paint a smile upon my face

And step up to the podium.

And yes, I am finding it’s fun although it takes energy, planning and courage, too. I’ve found real joy in sharing my book with others.

Happy Valentine's Day!

 Whether you’re with good friends or the love of your life, I hope you are all celebrating this day. Promise yourself all good things not only this month but always. And as is so often said, “follow your heart” in all you do and grow your passion for whatever and whoever you love.

One of my joys is sharing my writing with others so here is a poem I’ve written that speak to love and passion.

Passion

 Plump, juicy strawberries nestled on ice cream

A first dance dress with rhinestone buttons

Valentine from first time sweetheart. 

The sounds of love first discovered.

The whisper of taffeta

A rocket firing.

 Tart, sweet cherry pie

Salt of blood from cut finger

Twisted licorice stick

Lush velvet curtains shutting out the light

Sunset on a hot summer day

Love, pure love, life poured out for another.

 

 

 

 

Taking a Leap of Faith

It’s hard to hold onto hope sometimes, to continue to believe life is good when we see so much evidence to the contrary. War, unemployment, violence, and even the lack of common civility can wear us out. Yet this is the time in which we live so it’s important to look forward and not get dragged down by all the bad news we read on the Internet and see on the TV.

 Personally, I’ve always thought myself as an optimist, the possessor of the proverbial half full glass rather than the half empty, but I still sometimes find it hard to be upbeat. And with my winter goal of sending out query letters to literary agents, my usual cheerful view somehow became lost despite the warm Florida sun. Each polite rejection form letter seemed like another weight on my mood and I couldn’t wrap my psyche around enough positive energy to even write a blog entry. Instead, I resorted to sitting in the sun, scribbling some attempts at writing poetry and a mystery, and reading lots of novels.

My mood shift began when I chose a different route through downtown Fort Pierce and saw an amazing sculpture. A man high up on a diving board stood poised to dive into a tree filled with roses.

For the rest of the day I reflected on the significance of this lovely and intriguing piece of art. Such an optimistic image, I thought. Imagine viewing a lovely sight of flowers waiting for you while knowing those beautiful blooms would also hold thorns that might pierce your joy.

The figure is an average sort, a little thick in the waist, perhaps past his prime—an older man and one who wouldn’t jump as a younger person would. No, this man would definitely think before he takes a plunge.

Later, I research the sculpture and discover it’s entitled, “A Leap of Faith,” by a local artist, Pat Cochran. Commissioned in 2009, the statue illustrates the small quaint town’s determination to look forward with optimism rather than surrender to the downturned economy. It’s their symbol for taking a leap of faith by continuing to support the arts and add culture to the downtown and riverfront areas. 

As I reflect about what it means to take a leap of faith, I realize it’s something we face often in our daily lives—both big and small decisions require us to do so. Writing and sharing our  thoughts with others involves taking a leap of faith, a trust that requires moving out of our comfort zone. We sit down at the keyboard or take a pencil in hand and believe the words will come. We write our synopsis and query letter and send it off with hope that just maybe this time, this will be the one that clicks. 

Like the man on the diving board, looking out at all the beautiful albeit possibly hurtful outcomes, without taking that risk, we remain trapped looking at all the possibilities in our lives. The man stands on the edge, but somehow, I have no doubt that he intends to “take the plunge.” And like him, taking that leap of faith doesn’t mean jumping blindly; we, too, must recognize our choices will entail some lovely flowers, but possibly some painful outcomes as well.     

Here’s a few things that you might find helpful when you consider taking a leap of faith:

1.     Listen to your inner voice.

2.     Believe in yourself and your choices.

3.     Seek people who support you.

4.     Face your fears.

5.     Trust you will learn, whatever the outcome.

Most of all, stay upbeat and when in doubt, repeat the encouraging words of John Burroughs, “Leap and the net will appear.”

                                                                                      

 

Breaking the Blog Block

For the last several months, I’ve been feeling rather empty, at least as far as coming up with what to write on my blog. Writing, just like all the writing experts constantly remind me, is not at all like riding a bicycle or swimming—you can’t just start pedaling or jump into the pool. Writing is much harder and the longer you are away from it, the more difficult it is to start again.

So I search to get past this obstacle called “writer’s block," to get back up on that proverbial seat or take the plunge, but with no success. So I go to Google. Everything you ever want can be found on Google, right? I print out some suggestions from the myriad ones I see displayed. Topics like “How to Get an Idea for a Blog Topic,” or “20 Ideas for Writing a Blog Post,” or “25 Blog Post Ideas and Stimulators to get You Unstuck.” All websites filled with starters and great ideas. I tell myself: Pick one, any one and start.

And the winner is: Consider taking a blog tour and highlight some of your favorite blogs. That makes a lot of sense since whenever I need inspiration, I often turn to fellow bloggers who seem not only to have it together, but write great blogs.

Here’s a list of six that I visit often:
1. Society for Creative Sustainability:  Sandy’s writing is full of joy and optimism and centers on all aspects of creativity, from music, art, or simply looking at life and its accoutrements with a different slant. It's hard to pick a favorite but one that spoke loudly to me recently was "Surviving the Mercury Retrograde."

2. Beth's Urban Tales of Wonder and Decay: Beth has a natural ability to put herself out there on the printed page with courage and authenticity. I'm inspired every time I visit her site! At a recent Open Mic, she read a wonderful piece entitled, "Thanks for Finding My Dead Father Peg." Like me, many who listened were touched to tears.

3. Navigating Through Life: What I like about this site is the author’s focus and ability to relate all things in life and nature, however the small the detail, to her Christian faith. She infuses her writing with grace and humor, yet never wavers from her mission. Check out "Sea Glass 101."

4. Healing Through Writing: A professional writer and writing coach, the author shares her life journey in her postings. Her writing is concise and offers the reader the example of how effective it is when each word counts. One of her recent offerings, "Facing Mortality: A Challenge," takes on a topic that we all will face.

5. Eclosion: Whether she chooses to post poetry or prose, her lyrical way of expressing herself reminds me of the power and sheer beauty words can hold when laced together well. One of her poems, "Bee," shows her mastery of what we all hope to achieve.

6. Poet's Pizza: This blogger is a purist, a man of few words of prose. Instead, he lets his poetry do the talking. His postings speak to the human experience, some humorous, some sad, but all, like "Book," will please and stay with you long after you read them.

Now, that I've taken a walk through some of my favorite blogs, I return here feeling ready to blog once more. And definitely inspired by all these gifted writers.

Thanks, one and all, for helping me find my way back! And keep writing. 

 

A Writers’ Conference for All the Write Reasons

"I'm going to write because I cannot help it." Charlotte Bronte  

At the Philadelphia Writer's Conference this past weekend (June 11 – 13), Loretta Barrett, of Loretta Barrett Books, used almost the same words in describing writers she represents. She and Charlotte are right. Writing is what we do because we must. We love it and yet, sometimes resent it when we think of all the other things we could be doing like going to the beach, shopping, or just hanging out. Sometimes, we ask ourselves why we choose to do something that can be so frustrating, but then, we have one of those moments when the words come easy or when we're able to pull exactly what we need from our gut. Those moments are rare for me, so I often have to slog through. Still, I can't not write.

Going to a writers' conference is a wonderful way to refresh, renew, and share your passion for your craft. It's especially nice to talk to other writers and get some of their advice. For example, the first morning I was sitting in the hotel lobby, a woman sat down near me and asked, "Are you working on your pitch?"
"Yes," I said.
She smiled, and said, "Want to try it out on me? I've done this before – successfully."
Her advice included the following:

1. Describe your story in one sentence that includes the character, her goal, and the conflict that prevents her achieving that goal.
2. Tell what makes it different from other books.
3. Take a note card with a few key points.
4. Show enthusiasm and belief in your book.

One of my main goals in attending was to try to sell my novel, Bellehaven. Armed with the advice of my lobby angel, I was ready, though nervous, to speak to an agent. The process at a conference is a lot like speed dating (although I've never experienced that first hand!). It offers an all too brief opportunity to make a favorable impression and hopefully hear an agent say the magic words, "Send me 60 pages and your synopsis. I'd like to take a look at it."
This year, success! I was able to pitch my book well enough to have an agent and a publisher ask to see a portion of my novel. Now all I have to do is write a letter, review and refine my first 60 pages, polish my synopsis, and get it all in the mail. It's a wonderful, but scary prospect.

The greatest thing about a writers' conference, besides the energy the gathering garners and the knowledgeable workshop presenters (all successful writers), is the pleasure of talking to fellow writers. Take business cards and use the time between workshops to meet as many writers as you can. You'll find lots of people have knowledge they can share, whether it be about the art of writing or the business side.

Participate in everything offered. Register early enough to send manuscripts for professional critiquing by workshop leaders, as well as, entries for the contests in your category. Consider trying another genre, too, like writing a poem or an essay if you normally write fiction. Check out the Wall contests if the conference offers them. These are all one page submissions that you pin to the wall. Flash fiction, nonfiction, and poetry are the three categories. If you're like me, you'll be tired and ready to rest just about the time of night when the rap sessions begin. Fortunately for me, I had a friend who insisted that I "go for just a little while." Once there, the process energized me enough to stay for the whole session.

The keynote speaker, Larry Kane, Philadelphia TV anchor, opened the conference by telling us his writing journey, one that included traveling with the Beatles on their first American tour. At the time, he was 21 and reluctant to go. He thought it was more important to stay at home to report on the Cuban crisis than to go "off with a band no one would remember three months later." His editor's insistence that he go on the tour changed the trajectory of his career. What direction would his life had taken if he had skipped that experience? Sitting there listening, I thought how his story sounded more like fiction than real life. I guess John Lennon said it best in one of his songs: "Life is just what happens when you're busy making other plans."

What Larry Kane experienced was unusual. Most of us don't have something that amazing come along to help propel us toward success. We have to make our own breaks. Going to a writers' conference can be a tool to help us.

Lyric from Beautiful Boy by John Lennon. Available at: http://www.beatles.ws/songa-e.htm.

Becoming a poet

It was our writers group Christmas party, and time to read the poems each of us was challenged to write and share with the group. We could write anything we wanted, but we were encouraged to write about ourselves.

There were so many good poems and so many different approaches to the writing of a poem. Some were profound, some funny, while some rhymed and some did not. We had epic poems and even haiku.

Like so many things in life, stepping outside our comfort zone can result in a wonderful experience, one full of discovery. Writing a poem was such an experience for me. I've shied away from this genre ever since a professor told me several of the "poems" I'd written for a class assignment were "interesting thoughts, but hardly poetry."

Some of the things I learned about writing poetry

• It's a thought provoking process. I found myself thinking often about the theme I wanted to explore, and as a result, how I saw my life.


• Words are so beautiful. And there were so many to choose from!


• Lacing words together is fun. It helped me to write down a list of words that related to my theme which was that of my life as an unfinished quilt.


• I want to try it again. Soon, very soon.


• The person most important to please is yourself. That is, unless you are planning to publish. Otherwise, there's great satisfaction in expressing your thoughts and emotions in poetry rather than prose


• It's surprisingly freeing. Knowing I can shape the words into any type of rhythm or spatial arrangement that holds meaning for me allows me to play in a way I hadn't expected.


• It helps to brainstorm a list of rhyming and related words. If you want to rhyme as I did, first list words that relate to the theme, topic, or emotion you want to express, then see if there's any words that relate or rhyme. *A list of the words I came up while brainstorming my poem are below

I write these thoughts as a complete poetry writing novice, but like that old cliche: "Every journey begins with the first step," I hope to write some more poems.Maybe even try one that doesn't rhyme.

Here's the poem I wrote for our Christmas party. I hope you like it even a fraction as much as I enjoyed writing it.

An Unfinished Quilt

Initial colors chosen by Another
Soft and gentle, pieced by my mother
Joined by greens, yellows, and blues
Fields and forests, nature’s hues.

More squares are added, some dark, some bright.
Deep reds, passionate purples, not always right
Stitched together now more as if by chance
But was it all planned or happenstance?

Dominated now by pink profusion
Whilst I stitch in dazed confusion
So many more patches to sew
I baste in haste to see it grow.

Unexpected stripes and patterns emerge
textures, values, shades, and facets converge
Yet it comes together, in joyous blend
Into a unique balance that will not end

Muted green, lavender, and lemon driven
Quieter tones are now a given.
Yet scarlets, cobalts, still fight for place
Oh, how long can they interface?

Now time to match and link
To ponder its pattern and think.
Examine it all for its symmetry of design
I stand back to view it as a whole, what made it mine?

*worn and warm, frayed around the edges
warmth and comfort, light and easy
color of the sun, border and stripes
symmetry of design, stained glass, mosiac
Interspersed shapes and colors
washed clean and new
viewed as a whole, yet distinct
seen from a distance
A burst of joy when cohesive and ends meet
texture/facets/value/fiber/blend
growing always, imperfect but yielding
a balance of colors, sizes, and shapes
new squares are added, the quilt grows larger
rip out the discordant parts
patch/match
swatch, scotch, botch, watch
lace, interface/interlace/place/grace/base/retrace/embrace/trace
slate/wait/abate/rate/dominate/placate

To Rhyme or not. That is the question

At our last writers’ group meeting, we were discussing our upcoming Christmas party and one of our leaders, Laura, suggested we each write a poem to read at the holiday gathering. I countered with an idea that had been brewing in my mind, “I thought maybe we could tell something about ourselves that no one here knows.”

“Great idea,” Laura said, “We can write a poem about ourselves.” So, now I must wrestle with writing a poem. Being the analytical person I like to think I am, I first looked through my filing cabinet for poems I had written long ago as part of a writing course. Maybe I shouldn’t have. The hope these poetic attempts might help evaporated like a drop of water on a hot stove. The professor had written on most of my offerings, “interesting thoughts, but I’m not sure it qualifies as a poem.”

From there, I went to the Internet figuring I could get an answer to anything I needed. I tried some good websites and here’s some of the advice I found.

Start with an idea, an inspiration, or a strong emotion:

This is the easy part, I thought, the poem is supposed to be about me. Not so easy, what about me? My torrid love life? My solitary childhood? My nursing career? Or perhaps, my philosophy? Definitely, not politics

Use descriptive words:

Easy one. I love words! I’m comfortable here.

Brainstorm:

Still feeling confident here. Let’s see, sum of my parts, life’s stages. Life as an optimist? Seasons of my life? Maybe not so easy, after all.

Remember rhythm and meter:

This is getting harder now. I’ll definitely have to visit the Internet again to ensure I know the difference.

Decide if you want it to rhyme or not:

Now I’m really getting nervous. What would Shakespeare do? Then again, I’m no Shakespeare and never will be. I return to my dusty file. I have some in rhyme and some in not. Since I’m an inveterate cryptogram devotee, I think I’ll opt for rhyme and try to match the words that rhyme to the thought I’m trying to convey.

In my Google search, I find this sage advice:

*What is a good poem?
A good poem is a slip-of-a-thing
That celebrates language, that takes
you on a short journey and touches your heart,
turns on your imagination, or tickles you funny-
bone somewhere along the way.

I am ready now to take my pen and paper in hand and start. I tell myself it will be character forming and stretch my horizons, in the same way as eating vegetables are good for us, and prune juice serves as a cathartic. But first I think I’ll do some more research, maybe read some Emily Dickinson or Robert Frost. The one thing I’ve learned is I WILL rhyme.



*Nikki Grimes. A Pocketful of Poems. Clarion, 2001. Danitra Brown Leaves Town. HarperCollins, 2002