October 2012 - Dashes

"When you begin to think about what exactly you're trying to say, you become a writer." --Theodore A.  Rees Cheney, GETTING THE WORDS RIGHT

    If ellipses means to trail off (see September's THE SAMPLER), dashes flag "an abrupt switch or change." Sort of the yin and yang of dialogue, which includes both the spoken words or internalizations (thoughts) of characters.
    Like all punctuation marks, a dash has a "sound of silence" (a certain length of pause) that a reader "hears" as they read and which helps a reader understand what's going on.
    Let's look at common ways dashes are effective in dialogue passages and fiction:

    1) The dash sets aside, like: 

You know him–he's the guy who does the car commercials on TV–the one with three wives.

 Now compare this to:  You know him, he's the guy who does the car commercials on TV, the one with three wives. 

Or: You know him–he's the guy who does the car commercials on TV, the one with three wives. 

All are correct–but did you hear the difference in the delivery? There is a difference. A difference that results from the punctuation. (And if you didn't hear the differences?  Well take the time to start really listening to how your characters speak–and listen to how real people talk. Or even close your eyes while watching TV and listen to your favorite characters speak.)

    2) A dash can "show" stammering, hesitation, faltering by setting a string of words together like: I–I lost it. Or:  I–I–  I lost it.

    3) The dash can show an abrupt switch of thought: He loves me–he loves me not! Compare this to: He loves me, he loves me not. Or: He loves me. He loves me not.

    4) The dash also is used to show an abrupt interruption or cutting off, especially in spoken dialogue between two characters, like:

    "You can't be serious, my boss would never—"
    "Engage in an affair? Jeez, you're so naive!"
   
    5) A dash often inserts vital information or adds an explanation for clarification: She killed him–shot him six times.

    Keep in mind that a dash creates emphatic separation of words. It has a special forcefulness and should be used only when a deliberate effect is needed. Likely the most dash useage will be when a character is under stress, duress, or terrified. And dashes will be more prevalent with first-person and the deepest of third person narrative then any omniscient style of POV and Viewpoint.
    When is a good time to make a pass through a manuscript for dash use or misuse? When it's time to make the last pass for punctuation. You do have a "cheat sheet" for revising your fiction, don't you? If your list of "punctuation to check for" doesn't include the dash, make it so.

Stop back on November 1 for a few words on Colons and semicolons.

Note: for some reason this didn't stay posted during October so I'm reposting it - Catherine

September 2012 - Ellipses

    "Just because your notebook or computer screen will accept anything doesn't mean your readers will." --Paul Raymond Martin, GETTING PUBLISHED

    Reading is more than looking at a word and hearing the sound of it in your mind. Writing to be understood, to share an idea, or to create an image relies on how the words are strung together in sentences and, in particular, on the use of punctuation. It's said that punctuation marks are the road signs that help the reader perceive, understand, and make sense of what is written.
    One of the most misunderstood and misused punctuation marks is the ellipses—those three dots that are especially useful in dialogue (and dialogue includes both the spoken word and internalizations, which are actual thoughts of a character.
    Obviously peppering a page with ellipses is to be avoided because their effect is diminished or their effect is to make a character seem unbelievable. However, what's vital to remember is this: ellipses in genre fiction means only one thing, to trail off.
    In other words, when a character is talking or thinking or doing the narrating, their sentences or thoughts will likely, at certain points, dribble down to nothing, thus that "voice" the reader hears in their mind will trail off and that's the right place to insert an ellipses.
    One other way the ellipses is helpful in fiction writing is to "show" a character's timidity or shyness. Some of the young heroines of author Barbara Cortland were effectively portrayed because of the use of ellipses.
    Another way to think of the use of ellipses is to remember the ellipses, like all punctuation marks, has a specific "pause of silence" which a reader employs in order to comprehend the meaning and emotional aspect of a sentence or sentence fragment. For example, the following punctuation marks change the way the word is "heard" and the meaning (thus showing):

Stop—
Stop.
Stop!
Stop ...

    To make dialogue passages sound more realistic means making one pass during the manuscript's final polishing stage to verify that all ellipses being used actually do mean "to trail off." Your readers will appreciate that. So, add an ellipses check onto your revision to do list–you do have a revision "cheat sheet," don't you?

Stop back on October 1 for a few words on Dashes.

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August 2012 - Big and small

    "A stereotype is to characterization what a cliche is to description."

          -- Gary Provost GETTING THE WORDS RIGHT 

What's wrong with this picture: The big dog bit the little dog?

Right--you cannot visualize, cannot picture, how big or how small or even what kind of "dog" this writer is talking about.Now try this: The Great Dane nipped the tip of the Basset Hound's tail.

Let's face it, in the heat of drafting a lot of words are grabbed, especially words like:

big
enormous
giant
gigantic
huge
large
little
minuscule
short
small
tall
tiny

It is in revising that such words should be hunted down and the sentence revised so that there is imagery for the reader to grasp. In other words, seek nouns and verbs, ones that instantly provide a picture in a reader's mind. For example: It's not a little house, it's a log cabin or a bungalow or an igloo built for two. It's not a large car, it's a stretch limousine. It's not a dog, it's a Doberman.

Of course, sometimes it helps (and adds variety) to use a metaphor or simile, add a comparison, or even use opposites. The result means the reader won't stop to have to puzzle out what the writer actually meant. After all, readers are not mind readers. They only have the words on a page to go by.  So, to make your writing vivid, considering adding the above word list to your revision Cheat Sheet. You do have a check list for revising, don't you?

Stop back on September 1 for a few words on Ellipses.

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July 2012 -- AND and BUT

    "Fluid, easy wording keeps attention on the story, not the writing.--John Long WRITERS LITTLE BOOK OF WISDOM

      One of the first writing no-nos drilled into a writer is to avoid starting sentences with "and" and "but." The second is to stop peppering a page or having "crops of" (i.e., clusters of) "and" and "but." Why? Because repetitions like these drone in a reader's mind and, after a while, on a subconscious level, keep a reader from enjoying the story.
    In drafting the first copy of a story, "and" is particularly used in by the "stream of story consciousness" and "writing by the seat of your pants" writer. This makes for sentences and clause being strung together into what's called a LS--a Long Sentence--or a RO--a Run On sentence. Thus in revision, it's  necessary to look at any sentence that takes up two full lines. Consider this: if a sentence is considered 20 words, two lines in Times New Roman, 12 point font, can run anywhere from 24 to as high as 39 words or more. Long sentences are devilishly awkward to understand because they contain too many elements (clauses and prepositional phrases) as well as too many ideas.
    As to the use of "but," the word has it's place now and then as a conjunction. However, if that conjunction joins two very long sentences, the whole may become overly complicated and require a reader to stop and reread to make sense of what's going on.  As most writers know, nothing a writer does should stop a reader from enjoying the tale.
    Since clarity is also paramount for a reader staying engrossed in the story, it's a wise storyteller who does a pass through their work for "and" and one for "but" and minimize their use. So, add "and" and "but" to your revision cheat sheet. You do have a check list for revising, don't you?
    The blog topic for August 1 will be a few words on Big and small.

Catherine
KARMA AND MAYHEM, a paranormal fantasy romance to be published soon by Soul Mate Publishing -  http://www.karmaandmayhem.blogspot.com

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June 2012 - Had is a Handicap

    "The most useful skill a wrier can acquire is the ability to edit one's work ruthlessly. --Paul Raymond Martin, GETTING PUBLISHED

While browsing Wikipedia, I came across:

1) Had is an alternative for Hadit, the Thelemic version of an Egyptian god.

2) HAD is the abbreviation for Hole Accumulation Diode, a technique for reducing electronic noise.

3) Had is the abbreviation for technology blog hackaday (usually written as HaD

Who knew? However, these oddities aside, for a writer and storyteller "had" is a verb, the simple past tense and past participle of the word "have."

Although had seems like such a little word, an inconsequential word, one to be skimmed over, failure to understand its impact on the reader leads many writers astray. And as useful as had can be when working with past tense, the danger is, of course, overuse either as unintentional "crops of" (repeated in a short space of paragraphs) or "peppering a page or pages."

The second red-flag danger is the "apostrophe D" dilemma. Does an "apostrophe D" mean: had or would? (I'd, He'd, She'd, They'd, etc.). Most people will read it as "had" so, if there will be any doubt--and for clarity's sake--write out "would" and the reader never has to be jarred out of the story to go back and translate.

Of course, had is especially useful when dropping into a bonafide flashback. However, once in the flashback, the idea is to stop peppering the segment with hads and make the flashback run as if it were a scene happening in the now. Then, when it's time, transition out of the flashback with a couple of hads and return to the present story world.

Lastly, there are passivity issues with using had because had is often accompanied by "been."  Such constructions as "had been gone" or "had been seen" should be double checked to see if one good, vivid, image provoking verb might work better or if the sentence needs to be recast.

Of course, a writer cannot eliminate every instance of had or had been but cutting down the frequency helps the reader continue reading (and they won't notice a writer at work). So, place "had" and "apostrophe D" on your revision cheat sheet so you do one pass for them. You do have a revision checklist, right?

Stop by July 1 for a look at "And and But."

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The Sampler - May 2012

To Paragraph or Not to Paragraph

    "A paragraph indentation cues the reader to pause and take a deep breath."  --WRITERS LITTLE BOOK OF WISDOM


Wall-to-wall words is a grey wall that turns readers off.  A manuscript page with four or fewer paragraphs is bordering on wall-to-wall words and so each paragraph should be looked at to see if too many "topics" or "ideas" or "actions" were run together.  Paragraphing is also used to achieve a balance and to control the story's pace.  Both result in the easy flow and enjoyment of reading a story.  Paragraphs also open up a page to white space.  That paragraph-generated white space is an important mechanical device to use judiciously and for effect.

However, an easier way for a writer to understand when to paragraph boils down to thinking of paragraphing like this: The reader is in a theater seat watching the story play out on a stage. Onto that stage comes Character A. The reader is fascinated by Character A and keeps their attention on Character A while he handles props, moves about, thinks, breathes, and speaks.

Now Character B comes on stage to interact with Character A. The instant that Character B entered, the reader immediately switches their attention to what Character B is doing and saying. When Character A replies or reacts to Character B, the reader must switch their attention back to Character A.   In other words, if you're writing genre fiction (not mainstream or literary) every switch of the reader's attention means a new paragraph.

Such switching also applies to a noise or other stage business happening either on stage (like a phone ringing) or a car backfiring on the street outside.  In a nutshell, any worthwhile distraction that the reader must pay attention to gets paragraphed.  For example:

    Marsha grabbed the revolver from under her purse.  She pointed the weapon at John. "Don't make me use this."
    John growled low in his throat and glared at Marsha. "You won't shoot me, I'm your husband!"

    The doorbell chimed.

It's not: 

    Marsha grabbed the revolver off the counter top.
    "Don't make me use this."
    John growled low in his throat.
    He glared at Marsha.
  "You won't shoot me, I'm your husband!" The doorbell chimed.

Another type of paragraphing is the "transition." That is, it's a word, phrase, or as many words as is necessary to alert the reader to a change of location or the passing of time, like: 

             Meanwhile back at the warehouse, Tom cursed his luck.
Or--
          Two hours later, Tom's plane landed at LAX.

What seem to confuse a lot of writers is paragraphing dialogue. Whenever possible, dialogue remains with the focal character who the reader is supposed to be paying attention to.  For example:

    Marsha glanced at the gun she'd laid her purse over. Then she looked at her husband and the hard expression in his eyes frightened her.  He was not about to leave. In as calm and controlled voice she could muster, she said, "Just leave, John.  I don't want any trouble."

Not--

  Marsha glanced at the gun she'd laid her purse over.

  Then she looked at her husband and the hard expression in his eyes frightened her.  

  He was not about to leave. 

  In as calm and controlled voice she could muster, she said, "Just leave, John.  I don't want any trouble."

Lastly, paragraphing helps set the story's pace--short paragraphs increase pace, long ones slow it down.  Short paragraphs with short sentences really speed up the read.  Long sentences in long paragraphs really slows the read to a crawl. Such paragraphs also govern if the material will be formal or informal (i.e., usually literary equals long paragraphs and genre equals short paragraphs). 

As Theodore Rees Cheney said in GETTING THE WORDS RIGHT: A paragraph, for example, might be unified in its subject, scope, tone, style, point of view, character, scene, and tense, but unless all the logical connections between sentences within a paragraph and all the logical connections between paragraphs are clear, the total piece is not coherent.

Cheney also said that no one knows the proper length for a paragraph . . . no one can give any very helpful guidelines for the length of an "average" paragraph.  This is so very true.  Unfortunately, paragraphing is something learned by trial and error and figuring out what works and what doesn't work for the individual style of narration being used and the story being written.  Yet, the more knowledge a writer has, the more educated choices they can make. So, on your revision "cheat sheet" make a note to look at your paragraphing.

And do stop back to this blog on June 1 for The Sampler's: "Had is a Handicap."


Catherine E. McLean
KARMA AND MAYHEM, a paranormal-fantasy-romance from www.soulmatepublishing.com will be published late this summer.   Http://karmaandmayhem.blogspot.com or go to my home web page 
Guest blogging May 1, 2012 on the NINE TYPES OF WRITERS a Strands of Pattern

The Sampler - April 2012 - NUMBERS

"Every writer must fashion an editor's hat and keep it close at hand." --GETTING PUBLISHED by Paul Raymond Martin

When writing fiction, the issue of numbers written out or spelled out can be mind-boggling.  In general when writing numbers for a piece of fiction:

1) All numbers are written out as words.
2) In dialogue, numbers are spoken as words.
3) In internalizations, numbers are thought of in words.

Why is this? Because a person is deeply engrossed in reading what's been written and hears a voice narrating in their head, and then, suddenly, a number appears on the page.  That number is like a red flag waving. Thus for that second the reader is jarred out of the reading enjoyment either consciously or subconsciously. For example, I was reading a Jim Butcher (Dresden Files) book and seven-eighths of the way through the book, my eyes stop on a 5--the number five. This was so unexpected that I stopped and stared at that 5. What was it doing on the page? Hadn't someone edited the book? 

Okay, let's not go there.  Most writers know the quality of manuscripts from the big publishers have deteriorated from what they used to be because editors are processing books, not editing them.  But what about the author?  Hadn't he seen that glitch?

Now, yes, there can be instances where numbers will appear in a manuscript or book, like military time or June 1, 1999, etc. but here's the thing--those numbers don't stop the reader nor do they draw attention to themselves. And that's the key--if you have numbers in your fiction manuscript, be sure they don't stop the reader from reading and enjoying the story.

That being said, I also have to admit that some publishers have their own in-house rules. And you won't know what those rules are until you get a piece accepted by them. Other publishers will state they use the Chicago Manual of Style or the Associate Press Stylebook. Here's the thing, those two texts are the bible for journalists and technical writers, who are nonfiction writers.  (FYI: Both say to write out single-digit numbers like the five.)  So, if you're writing fiction and have been using the journalistic method for writing numbers, it'll be hard to break that habit when writing short stories and novels.  Which means you might want to jot on your "Revision Cheat Sheet" that you should make one pass through your work to look for numbers that should be converted into words.

Stop back to this blog on May 1 for The Sampler's "Paragraphing."  Also check the author-interview that has just been posted at http://writingsfromthefruitcellar.wordpress.com

Catherine E. McLean
***KARMA & MAYHEM- This  paranormal-fantasy-romance will soon be published by www.soulmatepublishing.com
***All updates can be found at my home website -  www.writerscheatsheets.com
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There and There Was

    "Too many words clog the action and blunt the dramatic saber.--John Long, WRITERS LITTLE BOOK OF WISDOM.   
    Are you using a blunt saber by inadvertently employing expletives in your writing? 
    No, I'm not talking about profanity.  I'm talking about "a word or phrase that does not contribute any meaning but is added to fill out a sentence or which stands in place of and anticipates a following word or phrase."  Here are examples of such expletives:

    There was
    There was to be
    There were
    There were to be
    There are
    There is
    There will be
    There came to be
    There weren't
   
   
    The "expletive" is, of course, the word "there."  Like other red-flag words, "there" is overused in manuscripts.  Most often "there" appears at the beginning of a sentence or it will introduces a clause.  Needless to say, using "there" is ambiguous.  It's also passive writing, especially when linked with verbs like was, were, is, etc. 
    Not only does the use and overuse of "there" diminish clarity but it also tells or reports instead of showing through the Point of View and Viewpoint of the narrative.
    So, it's a good idea to add "there" to your Cheat Sheet To-Do List for revisions.  You do have such a personalized cheat sheet, don't you?

Catherine
   
***KARMA & MAYHEM, my fantasy-paranormal romance will soon be published by www.SoulMatePublishing.com
***Updates on my workshop schedule are at my website:  www.WritersCheatSheets.com
***Join me at Linked-In:   http://www.linkedin.com/pub/catherine-e-mclean/7/70b/372   or befriend me at Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002397950738
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Stop back to this blog on April 1 for The Sampler's: "Numbers."
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The Sampler - February 2012

    Between Christmas and New Years, I went online to download an e-book to see what one looked like on my e-reader.  After fifteen hours of searching, I didn't download any books.  I would find interesting teasers (back page blurbs and synopses) but, when I went to read the opening pages, the irritating overuse of WAS, WERE, and WAS/WERE-INGS (a WAS or WERE followed by an ING-ending word) made for blatantly boring, omniscient narratives that turned me off.  These e-books read like first drafts--not polished stories.
    As a writer and storyteller, it's been drilled into me that was is a wuss when it comes to action-active, imagery-provoking sentence structures.  But there's another problem with the overuse--the repetition of the sound of "wuz" which buzzes on a subconscious level.  At what point does the word become so irritating that the reader stops reading and throws the book against the wall?  Okay, in reality, I dare not throw my e-reader against anything because it's too costly to replace, but the urge was there.
    I sampled some of those first e-chapter pages for the overuse of WAS and found:  1 WAS every 15, 19, 21, 22, 35, 37, and 43 words.  That's approximately one per sentence!  Extrapolating that, WAS could appear (and buzz, buzz, buzz) anywhere from 6,633 to 2,325 times in a 100,000 word novel.  That's also a range of from 16 to 6 per page.  But, those may be conservative numbers because I came across sentences with doubled-up wases like:  "What she WAS THINKING WAS GIVING her a headache."
    More appalling to me is that one of those e-books had an author's acknowledgment to her critique partners thanking them for their expertise.  Did none of those people tell her about the repetition of WAS and WERE?  Or that she wrote passively?
    Then again, what would make a writer consistently use and overuse WAS and WERE?  Likely it stems from being educated to use the English language, grammar, and punctuation to communicate--to "report" and "tell, not show"--thus generating such passive constructions as The man was bitten by the dog.  No, this passive  sentence cannot be fixed simply by changing WAS BITTEN to the active verb "bite" because that would make no sense (The man bite by the dog.).  "Man" and "dog" are also generalities--they do not evoke a vivid image in a reader's mind.  Better is:  The Doberman bit Charlie, the mailman.  (Now we have a mental picture of what happened and to whom.) 
    Along with WAS and WERE are the "helpers"--those ING-ending words (which are verb-phrases) that should be axed in favor of action-active words.  Such exchanges include:

        Passive        To   Active

        was going             went (but better would be stating
                                        exactly HOW they went)
        were traveling       traveled
        was eating            ate
        were enjoying       enjoyed
        was gathering       gathered
        were generating    generated

    Now after saying how bad WAS and WERE are, I have to also admit they do have their uses and some passivity and telling have merit.  The difference boils down to a writer that writes and a storyteller who knows how to use verbs to create mental pictures for the reader and keeps the reader engrossed in a tale. 
    You might also go to http://pennwritersarea6.wordpress.com. I was their guest blogger talking about how writers sabotage their story.  This blog post included an exercise-challenge on "was."  Consider taking the challenge and see how you fare.
    I also urge you to make one of your self-editing mantras:  WAS is a wuss.  If you do, you'll be ahead of those "rough-draft quality" e-books I keep finding.

Catherine E. McLean
"The writer works hard so that the reader doesn't have to."--CRAFT & TECHNIQUE x Paul Raymond Martin
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Stop back to this blog on March 1 for The Sampler's: "There and There Was."
***Updates on my workshop schedule are at my website:  www.WritersCheatSheets.com
***Join me at Linked-In:   http://www.linkedin.com/pub/catherine-e-mclean/7/70b/372   or befriend me at Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002397950738 (and you'll receive notices of workshops and The Sampler topics)
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THE SAMPLER - January 2012 - Pronoun Reference Error: "It"

My American Heritage Dictionary defines a pronoun as: "One of a class of words that function as substitutes for nouns or noun phrases and designate persons or things asked for, previously specified, or understood from the context."  When writing fiction, that translates to the pronoun taking the place of the last noun, thing, or name used.  Why?  Because CLARITY ensures the reader doesn't stop reading to puzzle out what the pronoun refers to.  After all, nothing should ever stop a reader from reading.  Here is a correct example of pronoun usage: "Marsha loved ice cream.  It was her comfort food."  ("It" refers to the ice cream.)   Now consider my dictionary's definition of "it":

Noun. 1. Used to refer to that one previously mentioned. Used of a nonhuman entity; an animate being whose sex is unspecified, unknown, or irrelevant; a group of objects or individuals; or an abstraction. 
2. Used as the subject of an impersonal verb. 
3.a. Used as an anticipatory subject or object. b. Used as an anticipatory subject to emphasize a term that is not itself a subject. 
4. Used to refer to a general condition or state of affairs. 
5. Informal. Used to refer to something that is the best, the most desirable, or without equal. 
--it noun. 1. Games. A player, as in tag, who attempts to find or catch the other players. 2. An animal that has been neutered.

As you can see, using "it" can be mind-boggling.  An example of what can go wrong is:

He dropped the thermometer, securing it to the side of the boat so it dangled in the water.  The temperature held at forty-eight degrees.  It was cold enough to make him shudder.  

Now let's examine that passage for what it actually says:

He dropped the thermometer, securing the thermometer to the side of the boat so the boat dangled in the water.  The temperature held at forty-eight degrees.  Degrees was cold enough to make him shudder.  

The humorous image of the boat dangling is one a reader should not conjure in their mind.  And the last sentence makes no sense because "Degrees" is the subject.  This passage also has what's called a crop of "its."  Crops of are unnecessary repetitions and should be ruthlessly weeded out.  So, let's look at this passage for what was actually meant: 

Using string he'd attached to the top of the thermometer, John lowered the digital device over the side of the dingy.  When the thermometer was half submerged in the water, he secured the line to an oar mount.  Then he leaned over, watching, waiting.  The digits winked and held at 48. 

        Forty-eight degrees.  Would his wet suit keep him warm enough long enough? 

In your mind, you saw what happened as it happened.  You didn't stop and go back to puzzle anything out.  This re-edited passage shows (instead of tells).  Which brings me to: "it" often peppers a page because "it" is one of those "shorthand words" grabbed in the heat of drafting.  In revision, a writer needs to check every "it" and make sure what the last noun, thing, or name used was.

Many writers can discover an "it" problem by using their computer's Find feature.  Why not test your writing right now on five or ten pages?  All you have to do is use the Find feature and type in it, but be sure to put a space before and after the word so the computer doesn't find words with "it" as part of the word.  Each time the machine shows you an "it," highlight the word (or bold the word).  Once you're done, print a hard copy.  What do you see?  Did you pepper a page?  Do you have "crops of?"  Nothing beats a visual to actually see what's what.  Then consider this: if you have a problem in those few pages, it's likely there are hundreds more in the rest of the manuscript to weed out.

For those who don't seem to have a problem with "it," be sure to add a "pronoun reference error check" on your Revision To Do List when you get to the polishing stage for your story.  You want the best possible manuscript to present, so one "it" check may be all you need.

You do have such a checklist, a "cheat sheet" for revising, right?  If not, I urge you to start one now.  Your "cheat sheet" can be a master document created on your computer and then printed to check off as you revise.  Or, your list could be a notebook with a page that you photocopy and line out the items checked.

Why hard copy?  Because hard copy insures accuracy and allows your eyes and mind to focus on specifics.

Knowledge is power.  Always strive to write well and tell a story well--and keep "it" to a minimum.  

Catherine McLean

"Most people don't recognize opportunity because it comes disguised as hard work." -Salada Tea Tag Line

Stop back on February 1 for The Sampler's: "Was is a Wuss."

***Go to my redesigned website for my workshop schedule--www.WritersCheatSheets.com --or join me on Face Book or at Linked-In.

The Sampler - December

 Which writing technique should be mastered first when tackling fiction?  Over the years of editing and evaluating manuscripts, I'd have to say that Point of View (POV) and Viewpoint, which, by the way, are two separate entities are paramount.  Why?  Because 90% of the errors made with show-don't-tell, cause-effect sequences, dialogue (internal and spoken), and more stem from errors made in the choice and scope of POV and Viewpoint employed in storytelling. 

Website Changing

Push has come to shove.  Actually, things have stopped working on my original Website so I'm in the process of putting a new one together.  What that means is that "The Sampler" will become part of my blog. 

Catherine

Short Story Published

Usually around Thanksgiving time it seems editors are clearing their desks and I usually get rejection notices.  Not this Thanksgiving.  Instead I received payment for my lighthearted science fiction short story "Adrada's Knot" which has been published in the November 2011 Issue #28 of NOVA Science Fiction magazine!

Catherine

Changing Seasons

This summer has passed all too quickly but it has been a great summer of 4-H and fairs.  As a 4-H leader, I am especially proud of my Kitchen Magicians because three entered the Hershey's Cookie, Brownie, and Bar Baking Contest and at the Cochranton Community Fair they swept the awards by taking first, second, and third.  The first place went to an 8-year old boy who joined the club this February.  Second place went to a girl, her second year in the club, and the third place went to the brother of the first place winner who is a second year 4-Her.  This makes seven kids I've coached to win or take ribbons in a Hershey contest. 

At their 4-HProject Review, all the members of the club took blue ribbons so, for the second straight year, I have all blue-ribbon winning 4-Hers!  Yep, I'm proud of the kids.

However, even I had an astounding season of exhibiting my sewing and crafts at the local fairs.  Every project entered took a ribbon (the first place blue ribbons dominated the cache).   Even more astounding was that after 55 years of exhibiting, I won my first special award--for Best Creative Embellishment of a Garment.  When I saw that yellow checkered ribbon and place-card, I must have stared at it for five minutes before it hit me what I'd done.  This winning project was a Fancy Apron--a Christmas apron.  (See photo) The embellishment, besides the double row of lace, the bias binding, and the silver rickrack, was the elf-hat pocket that matched one of the elf-hats on the material.  I scanned a section of the fabric into my computer, enlarged it to pocket-size, and duplicated the elf-hat in satin, fur, felt, grosgrain ribbon, and added a little gold buckle.

What a great summer this has been.  Yet, summer has waned.  Here it is Labor Day Weekend and I realize I now have to get back to giving workshops for writers, drafting a new novel (a Fantasy Romance), and sewing for next year's fairs.

The Self-educated Writer

     Here's something interesting that I learned a long, long time ago at a conference:  There I was, recommending a book to a writer that dealt with a particular craft element she was trying to understand.  That writer then said something to the effect that she never used how-to books, she wanted to learn as she wrote.  Okay, I thought to myself, to each their own.  However, I would rather learn from those who know and who are willing to share their knowledge in a book (or workshop) that teaches (not preaches) because I, personally, don't have years to waste going around in circles.
      With the ever-changing publishing industry, now more than ever a writer must become a proficient self-editor and a savvy user of the devices and techniques of fiction and storytelling.  That means educating oneself by taking classes, going to workshops, going to conferences, and reading how-to books.  Correction--don't just read those how-to books, STUDY them so the learning curve goes from 5% to 85-95%.  It's a fact that when a person reads a book or attends a workshop, they walk away with only 5% of the knowledge given--unless they take copious notes.  Which means, to up the retention, note-taking is a must as is creating personalized "cheat sheets" to ensure the technique or device is learned and correctly used.  Not an easy task by any means because a lot of the craft elements require weeks, months, or even years to master. 
     After all, a person who has never jogged once around the block doesn't sign up for the Boston Marathon the day before the race.  

To Facebook or Not To Facebook

The question for me over the past couple of years had been: to join Facebook or not to join Facebook.  Oh, I'd listened to the pros and cons but decided it was one more hassle I didn't have time for.  And then I attended the May 2011 Pennwriters conference where just about everyone was abuzz about networking and setting up networks through Linked-In, Facebook, and Twitter.  There were also several workshops on the subject of Internet networking.  So, as of today, I caved and set up a Facebook page.  I even updated my existing Linked-In page.  My intent is to keep the Facebook page for "readers," family, and friends and the Linked-in for my "professional image" as a workshop instructor, speaker, and educator.  As to Twitter?  I'll tackle that one another day.  Now to get around to inviting folks to my Facebook network . . .

Workshops and more workshops

I just realized it was April.  That's how busy I've been with giving workshops, both online and in person.  I have two more workshops to do this spring, one this coming weekend and then the May 15 (Sunday morning) workshop at the Pennwriters Annual Conference in Pittsburgh (www.Pennwriters.com)--the topic is "Passivity, a Different Way to Look at Show-Don't-Tell."

I have also agreed to give an online workshop for the Young Voice Foundation.  "Questing for a Story" will deal with Developed Short Story, which has a beginning, a middle, and an ending. This workshop will be a first for me:  I've never coached kids on writing.  Sure, I've worked with and coached 4-Hers (I'm a 4-H leader, have been for a total of 14 years now), but that's always been face-to-face and hands-on, not online.  More information on this workshop will appear around the first of August at my website, www.WritersCheatSheets.com. 

Heidi's Pick 6 List

Go to http://heidirubymiller.blogspot.com/2011/01/heidis-pick-six-catherine-e-mclean.html and you'll find me on Heidi's Pick Six list!

Workshop Title Announced

"Passivity--A different look at what's meant by Show-Don't-Tell" will be the topic of my workshop at the May 13-15, 2011, Pennwriters Conference in Pittsburgh.  Information on the conference is available at www.Pennwriters.com

Flash Fiction Story Sold

Happy New Year to me!  I'm starting off 2011 with a light-hearted, flash fiction short story sale to "Golden Visions" -- an online quarterly for science fiction and fantasy.  "Just Desserts" will appear in the January-February-March edition, soon to be out at  www.goldenvisionsmagazine.biz
 

It's Amazing

Well, I am amazed.  Dumbfounded actually.  In my August 21 blog, I complained about having to manually remove the unwanted spammers putting links to their sites in the comments area of my blog entries.  Well, it's stopped.  And none have appeared for weeks now.  So, it looks like I won't be switching blog hosts after all.  

Okay, so that nagging little voice in the back of my head is laughing and saying something equally troublesome will take it's place because spammers and hackers live to frustrate ordinary blog-citizens like me.

Catherine

Numbers and Lines

This summer I've been getting comments to my blog posts--only the sender is a series of boxes with numbers in them followed by a line of underscored periods.  These links are not something I'd ever endorse or encourage.  Actually, I'm offended by these being on my blog site.  I've tried to contact Blogger.com about filtering out this sort of thing as unwanted spam, but they have this disclaimer about freedom of speech.  Since I was unable to find any way to rectify this situation, all I can do is delete the offending commentators from my blog--or maybe I should just discontinue having this blog.  If they can't find me, they can't post.

Oh, decisions, decisions . . .

Catherine-the-frustrated

An Award

There I sat, May 15, watching the announcer making her way to the lectern in the court area of the Best Western Eden Resort in Lancaster PA.  She would soon announce the Pennwriters 2010 Meritorious Service Award winner.  My name was among the candidates nominated and there were some awesome members on that list.  I didn't have my hopes set too high, after all, this was my third year of being nominated.

Maybe the third time is the charm because there was no doubt that with the speaker's opening line of "This year's Meritorious Service Award recipient has been a member of Pennwriters since 1995. . . . "  that I realized I'd won and I was wowed--then touched when the speaker said: "As an author who knows that publication is not always a writer's goal, but that writing well is, this year's Meritorious Service Award winner, strives to help her fellow Pennwriters learn and write from the heart." 

I had written those words for my first bio when I was running for my first term as Area 1 Representatives back in 2004.

Above this entry is a photo of the plaque-award.  A long time ago someone told me the clock was symbolic of all the time a volunteer has given.  The clock is now mounted on my office wall, but when I first installed it, I sat in my task chair looking up at its gleaming gold numerals and recalled the years and the volunteer minutes and hours given to Pennwriters. 

In 1998, I gave my very first workshop at the local library with a minuscule turnout.  Now the workshops I give in person draw more than 40 people to fill a conference room.  In 2009, I gave my first online workshops--and more are scheduled for this year and next.

Over the years I've served Pennwriters as contest coordinator (for four years) and then was Area Rep (two terms).  At conferences, I've been a regular volunteer.  Once I stepped in two days before the conference to run the Silent Auction because the auction coordinator couldn't make it.  I sold tickets and tickets--breaking the $1,000 mark for the first time.  Okay, I will confess, I had fun coming up with ideas why people should buy lots of tickets!

I've been a room moderator, Conference Penn Pal, and an agent/editor timekeeper.  I've even sat in corners listening to members practice their pitches and missed the workshops I had wanted to attend.  Periodically, I've relieved volunteers in the hospitality room or at registration so they could have a bathroom break. 

Just listing all the volunteering makes me realize how a little volunteering here and there have added up to years and hours of service until this year, I was honored with the Meritorious Service Award . . . 

Wow.

Self-editing

I would rather create a story than edit it.  That's likely the lament of every writer.  Creativity makes the heart sing and the blood pump joyously.  It's all about discovery and what-ifs.  Possibilities abound.

On the other hand, after the writing is done, self-editing is a must--and drudgery, the recalling of rules of punctuation and grammar, examining word combinations to avoid alliterations or finding you've created unintentional, erroneous imagery for the reader.  It's about double checking time lines and time frames, historic facts, spellings, et. al.  In other words:  self-editing is work.

Managing that "work" is a matter of trial and error until a "system" evolves that works for you--and likely only you.  After all, we don't all write in the same genre or choose the same subject matter. (Life would be very dull if we did.) So, embrace your individuality and creativity but sit down, have a conversation with yourself, and come to terms with self-editing.  And, yes, I dare to say it:  become creative in the method of how you systematically self-edit.  What you'll likely discover is that the negativity you associate with self-editing eases (as well as frustrations) and you turn out better copy in far less time.

Persevere and write on.

Plagiarizing Shakespeare

I volunteer at the local library by setting up their display case.  During this month of April, the theme is Shakespeare, more specifically: "The Play's the Thing."  In researching Shakespeare on the Internet for ideas of what to include in the display, I was astonished to learn that Shakespeare wrote 38 plays, 154 sonnets, and introduced some 3,000 words into the English language. 

Then I was doubly astounded to find numerous quotations are still being quoted from his works, like: neither a borrower nor a lender be, to thine own self be true, it was Greek to me, and the course of true love never did run smooth.  Centuries have come and gone, but The Bard's words endure.  I wonder if there is a statue of limitations on plagiarism . . .

March Madness

The five-week long online course for "Understanding & Using Dialogue" has ended and I am playing catch-up to clear my desk of the accumulated backlog necessitated by the hours of feedback for the students' assignments.  

Then I must switch gears and get ready for the March 20 mini-workshop I'm doing for the Shenango Valley Pennwriters group in Sharon PA.  This one will be "in person" and a much simpler format.

Spending time in front of the computer when the weather was typical, awful, rural Pennsylvania winter is one thing but, now that the sun is shining (like for five days in a row!), most of the snow is melted, and the snowdrop are blooming, I would rather be someplace other than in front of my computer.

Catherine

Honored Again

I have once again been nominated for the Pennwriters' Meritorious Service Award!  This makes the third year in a row that I have been nominated.  Voting by the Pennwriters membership is underway but the results won't be made known until May when the award is presented at the Pennwriters conference which is being held this year in Lancaster PA.  (Anyone interested in the conference can check out the workshops, agents, editors, and speakers at www.pennwriters.com.


Catherine

Avatar

Thanks to the winter snows, I only last weekend got to see the movie Avatar.  Cinematographically it was a good movie, story-wise it was disappointing.  Of course, knowing story like I do, I'm a harsher judge than most.  For me there were too many cliches--along with stereotyping of the characters--until I realized that it was a plot driven story, one with a stereotyped theme no less, and not a character-driven one. And plot-driven stories are never as great as character-driven ones.  In my opinion, heroes should be heroic but, in the ending climax of Avatar, the soldier-hero was rescued/saved by the romantic lead.  Or was it the romantic lead was rescued by the heroine?  Then again, just who was supposed to be the protagonist?  That's rather murky.  I will say one thing, if anyone wants to know just how powerfully determined an antagonist should be, this movie's villain showcases it--and he now ranks second on my Villain's list - just under Hannibal Lecter.

February's Online Course: Dialogue

Registration is now open for my UNDERSTANDING & USING DIALOGUE: Intensive Online Writing Course. There is a discount for early registrations going on right now.  To register go to:  http://tinyurl.com/PennwritersCourse201002.  (Registration is limited, so act quickly.)

This is an intensive workshop with assignments and for those participating both a bonus and a free Cheat Sheet are offered.  If you have a questions, contact me.

Catherine

2010 A New Year and a New Decade

New Year's Eve morning came with 5" of wet snow, which changed over to rain, which then changed over--on New Year's morning--to snow. As I write this blog, big, light, puffy flakes of snow fall outside my window. The weather people predict 4" to 8" of the white stuff today--with more snow daily until Tuesday, so no one is driving to the family gathering, which got postponed because of the Christmas ice storm.

Yesterday evening, between watching weather forecasts, I cleared off my desk, cleaned out files, and filed items. As I looked at each piece of paper, I tried to convince the pack-rat in me that I did not really need to keep that piece another year, and most pieces did end up in the wastebasket.

But this is New Year's Day, the pork roast is in the crockpot stewing in a pineapple-orange brew. Pork is the meal choice for this day because it's insurance--considered lucky--and who doesn't want to insure good luck for a new year? Of course there are a lot of other "good luck" New Year's Day customs, but this one is ours.

Another new year custom involves resolutions.  Mine are the same as they have been since 1995: 1) read the comma section of my GREGG REFERENCE MANUAL (which helps me remember the "comma rules" for another year), 2) read William Zinsser's ON WRITING WELL (which reinforces that I do, sincerely, want to continue writing well), and 3) set my monthly and yearly writing goals.

Lastly, in the process of readying my office for 2010, I tackled the stack of photos (all are 35 mm photos of the flowers that had grown in my 2009 garden--I am a prize-winning amateur photographer when it comes to flowers). My goal today (and if need be, over the weekend), is to process the best photos into greeting cards for my personal use--and scan the nicest as backgrounds for my desktop.  With the dawning of both a new decade and a new year, I thought I'd share one flower from the stack, a new bloom for me this year--a Red Morning Glory (which is actually a very dark pink).

I wish those who read this blog a Happy New Year of mornings and days glorious with opportunity and promises for the best in all that you write.

Catherine

Interesting Topics as Guest Blogger

My first experience as a guest blogger at Polka Dot Banner (www.polkadotbanner) provided an interesting array of topics: beginning a story with a short flashback, ending a story narrated in first person, how to avoid the overuse of too many "she" pronouns, a "confessional" scene that needed to avoid overusing dialogue, and the overuse of the word "was" in a manuscript. This is also an amazing site for books and book authors. It was a pleasure to guest blog for the day.

Catherine

FOREST FOR THE TREES SYNDROME

I'll be guest blogging at Polka Dot Banner on Tuesday, December 8. The topic is the FOREST FOR THE TREES SYNDROME--spotting common problems in a manuscript. I'll be open to questions on any aspect of writing fiction, from craft elements to techniques and devices. Also included would be better ways to self-edit (tips and tricks); discussing what constitutes "a good read" in any fictional story (knowing story structure); how to spot Freudian slips, repetitions, and other aspects that subliminally turn a reader--or editor--off (listening with your inner ear); the value of critique groups and one-on-one partnerships (taking control of the feedback you get); and online versus hard-copy feedback (giving feedback). Anyone can participate by going to (www.polkadotbanner.com) and clicking on the menu tab.

Successful November Online Course

The November 2009 online course "Cause & Effect Sequences" has ended. It was a great group of intermediate and advanced writers to work with. Yet, what surprised me, but perhaps shouldn't have, was how far away some of the students lived: Australia, Canada, Texas, Utah, and California. Living in rural Pennsylvania has it's merits, but the Internet opens doors to others like none other. I also have to say that what brightened my days after the course ended were the kudos sent to me after the class. Not only did this course receive outstanding high marks on the Pennwriters' evaluation forms, but I received individual thank-you e-mails. One student went so far as to say: "I am so glad I took your course . . . You are too good a secret to keep!"

A 2010 Workshop

I may be giving another workshop for Pennwriters in 2010 (no date set yet) on the topic of Bloopers & Blunders--what every writer needs to know before submitting to editors and agents.

Announcing a 2011 workshop for FF&P

January 2011 may seem a long way off, but I've been asked to do a month-long, online workshop for FF&P (Futuristic, Fantasy, and Paranormal)--a chapter of RWA (Romance Writers of America). I'll be doing "Cause-Effect Sequences for Action Scenes." This is not the same comprehensive workshop I'm doing next month for Pennwriters (www.pennwriters.com). The one for the FF&P will be strictly about to look for and how to emply cause-effect to best advantage for action scenes.

November 2009-online workshop

Here are the details for my November online course:

CAUSE & EFFECT SEQUENCES: Intensive Online Writing Course

INSTRUCTOR: Catherine E. McLean
DATE: November 2-23, 2009 (4 weeks, 1 session per week)
COST: $30 Pennwriters members; $35 non-members

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Interesting stories that grab a reader's attention and keep them turning pages don't happen by accident. Those stories employ techniques and devices of Cause & Effect Sequences that you can learn. This intensive online course will teach you how to use Cause & Effect Sequences to:

* Add urgency, suspense, conflict, and drama to your scenes and plots
* Seamlessly enter or depart flashbacks or remembrances
* Enhance the flow of your story with ease
* Suspend reader disbelief
* Validate motivations for character's behavior, thinking, reactions, and decisions
* Develop characters & validate motivations for their behavior, thinking, reactions, and decisions
* Produce cleaner, more marketable copy

Participants will be required to submit the first 500 words from the opening of one of their stories. Excerpts from your story will be privately critiqued by the instructor for use of Cause & Effect Sequences; however, with your permission, some may be used as examples for the group. There will be weekly assignments.

(NOTE: This course is for writers familiar with story structure, writing and story terms, and who have completed fictional short stories and novels.)

FREE bonus with this course: "Bloopers & Blunders"--a list of 46 common mistakes made in writing fiction.

Discover how to write engaging stories readers and publishers love.

Enroll Now. REGISTER: http://tinyurl.com/PennwritersCourse200911
- OR -
http://www.pennwriters.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=172&Itemid=72

# # #

Guest Blogging at Polka Dot Banner

Just a quick announcement: I'll be guest blogging at the Polka Dot Banner (www.polkadotbanner.com) on December 8.

Announcing November Workshop

***ANNOUNCING***November 2, 2009 I'm giving a month-long online workshop for "Cause & Effect Sequences." The cost is $30 for Pennwriters members, $35 for non-members. For information and details, go to--http://tinyurl.com/PennwritersCourse200911

Comment on comments

I received a couple comments to my blog entry on "Where did the time go?" regarding there didn't seem to be a place to reply or add comments to something I wrote. Well, I'm not a computer person. I assumed, and rightly so, that there was a way for folks to reply to something I said. Turns out it's that little word "comments" at the very end of my post. Clicking on it brings up a screen with a reply box. Of course, to post also means filling out that "membership" stuff if not already a member with Google. Whether or not I see those comments depends on time, which tends to flee me regularly--and being regular at checking posts or posting to my blog is, well, hit or miss despite my best intentions. Actually, I'd rather write novels and short stories than blog--and currently I'm drafting a 100,000 sci-fi, so time for it trumps blogging.

August and fair time

How do I know summer is waning? Because it's fair time. I've been competing for ribbons and prize money at my local fair' s home show for 24 years. That's a long time as evidenced by the collection of ribbons hanging on my sewing room wall like a trophy pelt. Some years there are lots of projects that get entered and others, like this year, that I have very few to enter. Sometimes there are rare surprises--like winning a grand championship of a division. My first fair ribbons were as a 4-Her in a sewing club. As an adult, I competed in open divisions with my sewing. Then I branched out into crafts, floral, and finally baking. I'm a cook--baking isn't easy. This year I entered my cranberry-almond scones, bacon-biscuits, and chocolate chip cookies--and all three took first place ribbons! Writing is like baking, you start simple and work up to complex recipes (more complex stories). Publishing is like entering a fair with a "project"--there's competition, the judging is subjective, and you may not end up with a ribbon even if you have tried your very best. But you learn by doing, by baking (or writing) and striving to, as the 4-H motto says, "to make the best better."

Where did the time go?

When I checked my blog tonight, I realized the last posting was in March. I sat back in my task chair, staring at the computer screen asking myself, "where did the time go?" Okay, April was my first online course for writers ("The Project Bible"). I spent the days in front of my computer turning a workshop speech into understandable text, sometimes for eight to ten hours a day. It was an exhausting experience but rewarding helping 27 writers understand how to create a guide that would enable them to produce better stories in less time. Then it was May and 14 hectic days preparing for the Pennwriters' conference in Pittsburgh PA, where I gave a workshop, "The Character Onion." Some 45 people crowded into the room to get the nitty-gritty on characterization. June had family obligations, planting flowers, volunteering to tend the Walker's Garden at nearby Lake Wilhem, and 4-H meetings (I have a cooking 4-H club). At our last baking session, I ended up with an egg facial and a watermelon bath :)) Now I'm making preparations to go on vacation. Which means, I won't be sending out the June edition for the Writers Cheat Sheet "Sampler." Hmm. Looks like my time has been well spent so I think I shall relax and enjoy my holiday. After all, I've got a full summer schedule ahead!

Fear of pushing buttons

It's 12 days until my first online course for writers, "The Project Bible," starts. So, I decide to test that feature on my Web site, the one where I can send an e-mail to those who signed onto the site. I found the "form," wrote my e-mail, moved the cursor to the "send" button, and paused, finger on hold as, flashing before my eyes were all the times I hit the button and glitches sprang up. The warning menues. The bleeps-- and -- anxiety squeezed my throat with a death grip. How can a person like me allow me, who began computing with a Commodore 64, be cowed by a modern computer? Easy. Fear of the unknown. Does it every time. Okay, add to that the fact that my computer guru, who has the answer to just about everything when it comes to websites, is on vacation until mid-April. If something does go haywire, I've got no help to fix it.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I took a deep breath and with a trembling index finger hit the send button.

Nothing happened. No warnings. No bleeps. Then the words scrolled into view: "Email sent."

Whew! I can breathe again.

Honored Again

To my surprize, I have again been honored by being selected for the Pennwriters Meritorius Service Award. The first time I was selected was in 2008. Of course there are three other candidates with impressive records of service to the organization. But, as I said last year, win or lose, it truly is an honor to be considered for this award.

The Project Bible Online Course

I am excited to announce that I will be giving my very first online course for writers, "The Project Bible," hosted by Pennwriters Inc.

What is a Project Bible? It is an individualized and customized guide for developing and creating short stories, novellas, and novels from start to finish, regardless of genre. It allows a writer to be more creative, generate cleaner copy, and stay on track to consistently complete marketable fiction. It does not require outlining or following a method or system. Having and using a Project Bible means:

* no more false starts
* no more going off on tangents
* no more losing control of the plot
* no more dead-ending half way through the project
* no more mistakes or confusion that result in endless revisions and rewrites

This eight-session course is based on the workshop I have done at writers' conferences. The course runs April 1 through April 29, 2009 and the cost is $25 for Pennwriters members and $30 for non-members. As an added bonus, those taking the course receive three FREE "Cheat Sheets."

Details of the course and how to sign up for it can be found at:
http://tinyurl.com/PennwritersCourse200904

Catherine McLean
www.WritersCheatSheets.com

Online Courses for 2009

I'm giving the following online courses in 2009:

April 1 through 29 - "The Project Bible" Creating a unique-to-the-writer reference and resources to enhance creativity and provide essential information for generating any type of fiction (short story, novella, novels--even creative nonfiction).

September 2009 "Cause & Effect Sequences" deals with action and motivational sequences needed to keep the plot flowing and the story believable for the reader.

Both are hosted by Pennwriters and open to the public (there is a reduced fee for Pennwriters members). To register go to www.pennwriters.com, choose "Courses" then choose "online courses."

It was supposed to work--yeah, right

I have just spent another long day tinkering with, experimenting with, and cussing out the Edit This Forum at my Web site. It took me a while (like months) to realize that no one could reply to them and that something was amiss. I love my computer but I sure don't understand Web sites, particularly my own. So, I contact my computer guru. I get instructions, which are simple. However, they make no sense because I have to change a yes to a no to get the desired results. And since I don't trust technology, I only opened four of the forums to replies to test what happens. And what do I discover? Why that three of those four forums now have both a padlock and a people icon on them. The fourth has only the people icon. What does that mean? I have no clue. ARGH!!!!

January

January has been nothing but snow, snow, snow, ice, snow, rain, freezing rain, slushy snow, ice, sleet, show, snow, and more snow. If that isn't bad enough, the month is ending with me down with the flu. I hate being sick. Punxsutawney Phil--you had better see your shadow!

Pennwriters Workshop

I'll be giving a workshop for writers, "The Character Onion," at this year's May 15-17 Pennwriters Conference in Pittsburgh PA. More information on the conference is available at www.pennwriters.com

Fall-Winter

It's been a roller coaster fall beginning with a camper trip out of state that was quite relaxing despite returning home to snow on the ground and winter temperatures. Then, the week after we got back, my mother had a stroke. She died and was buried just days before Thanksgiving. Then there was emptying her house . . . amazing what a person collects after 84 years of life. Sadly it makes for a subdued Christmas spirit.

Yet, there was a bright spot--I received notice that my short story had passed the second round of reading at Andromeda Spaceways and was now in the queue, meaning I have 1 chance in 3 of them publishing it within the next three months.

Writing and You: Goals

Have you got a plan to become the writer you want to be? Do you need a plan of actions that will net you your writing goals?

I think every writer should have writing goals--goals for the day, the week, the month, the year and even five and 10 years down the road. Reasonable goals--obtainable goals. But most importantly goals that accommodate life's intrusions (job, family, kids, pets, emergencies, Mother Nature, and wild critters to name a few). You see, once you have a goal in mind, you can formulate a plan of actions to achieve that goal. Sure, you may fail to obtain the goal, but then you re-evaluate what you did and plan a new course of actions. Now if you think that sounds like what a protagonist does in a story, you're absolutely right.

Become goal oriented and become the hero or heroine of your own writing life. You can do it one word, one paragraph, one page, one scene, one story at a time.

Catherine
--Remember: Craft enhances talent.

Electricity

The remnants of Hurricane Ike came through my end of Western Pennsylvania and we lost power Sunday night, Sept. 14. Fifteen minutes later, a wind sheer took down a one hundred foot branch of an ancient maple tree. That branch broke the power lines behind my house. Since there are only four residence from that pole to the end of the line--you guessed it--we were among the last to get our power restored. That happened 6 days later (or 144 hours as my husband pointed out) on Saturday night. Luckily we have a camper and so "roughing it" wasn't really that bad for us, but taking a shower in the camper's tiny unit was the pits. After the power came back on, it took me three days to get household chores caught up, the camper cleaned out, and back online. But this ordeal was a reminder: we don't fully appreciate all the things electricity does to make our life easier and entertaining until we have to make do without it.

Catherine

Fair Wrap-up

Not a bad fair season, 22 entries at two different fairs netting 20 ribbons. Ten firsts, seven seconds, three thirds, and two that did not take a prize. What kind of items did I enter? Mostly sewing and flowers. I have to admit, I was a bit shocked when my "silk arrangement" of fall flowers and leaves in a ceramic gourd didn't place. However, in looking at the winning entries, mine was simply outclassed--first by an elegant, and artful, urn of lovely silk roses and then with a round container of oversized pink dogwood. At least my "miniature flower arrangement" of a 2" tall basket of real flowers took first. The most surprising win was the $10 premium that came with the first place ribbon for the "Red Hat Garment" category--my stunning royal purple culottes with brilliant red piping and buttons on the pockets. Of course, the fairs are over, but I've already started a list of what I want to sew for next year's entries.
Catherine

August and Fairs

It's August and the first of three community fairs, which I annually exhibit at, has begun--and thus I don't much think about Blogger's Block (which I still have) nor do I care because little writing is going to get done this month.

In looking back over the years, I realized I've been a fair exhibitor in the Home Show buildings of eight different fairs since I was ten years old. I also recall that I exhibited my first sewing project as a 4-Her. In 2010 I'll have shown 25 consecutive years at my local fair. Why do I keep making projects and exhibiting them? Because, obviously, making clothing and home decorations saves money. Okay, mostly because winning is wonderful and I like doing things that get value for the buck. It also means I must seek creative ways to showcase my sewing projects and keep abreast of the new trends in arts and crafts--and home decor. After all, how many different ways can you sew a cobbler's apron so it look fresh and new every year? Or how can you decorate a wreath to make it stand out among the rest without looking gaudy?

Having blue ribbons (and even a grand championship rosette in the baking division) are a nice touch, too, since I'm the 4-H leader of an all baking/cooking 4-H club. I also combine my love of flowers and gardening and have exhibited produce and flower arrangements. Yesterday, my golden Cosmos won a blue ribbon. Dispite so many years of fair-exhibiting, this was the first year I've ever exhibited them. And they were exceptionaly profuse bloomers this year, which enabled me to submit six nearly identical blooms for judging (uniformity is a criteria for judging). Speaking of those Cosmos, I've included a photo I took of ones that are growing outside my kitchen and from which the winning blooms came.

Catherine

Lyon - photo

I remembered I had a photo of Lyon perched on the porch railing so I'm posting it. See my previous blog entry for details about Lyon.

Lyon

I took my "blogger's block" problem to my local Pennwriters group and it was suggested that I blog about my cat. His name is Lyon. Yes, it's spelled correctly because: he lies on my lap, lies on my computer station, lies on my office window sill, lies at the foot of my bed (in the corner--he has excellent bed manners, never disturbs my sleep). Lyon is a 20 lb. big boy and neutered. The best way to describe his color is to say: take a jar of marmalade and add Half & Half to it. Stir until it's a creamy-pale orange. I also have to admit that I am not a cat person. (I'm a horse and dog person.) However, within 12 hours of coming home with my daughter as a kitten, Lyon made it emphatically clear that I was the only human he wanted. My daughter picked him out of the litter along with his sister, Lady, to be her 4-H pet project cat. Well, Lyon had other ideas and 4-H wasn't one of them. Lastly, Lyon does not mew. He maaa's, like a goat with laryngitis.

Is there such a thing as blogger-block?

I've heard of writer's block and so far (knock on wood), I have not run into it. However, I have to admit, I'm currently suffering "blogger-block." You see, I have no clue what to write about for my June blog entry. I'm told I need to blog at least monthly, which I have been doing. Okay, so May was kinda a no-blog month. Not because of blogger-block but because of preparations for attending the annual Pennwriters Conference and fulfilling the last of my duties as Area 1 Representative. I also had to organize notes for a workshop (on the Developed Short Story) that I was giving at the conference. Any suggestions you can give to break this blogger-block (or if you have a question I can answer about writing on my blog) would be appreciated. Contact me at WritersCheatSheets@certainty.net . Catherine

Home Truths About Writing Fiction

There is no right way or wrong way to put a story together--there is only your way. However, to become a producing writer, one that can turn out a novel a year or a short story monthly, requires discovering and understanding how your mind works to create a story. It also helps to develop your own personal "project bible" to ensure you have a story to tell or to keep a story from dead-ending. What is a project bible? It's the "paper work" (either hard copy or computerized files) that organizes the storytelling components to be sure what's necessary is included in a story. Project bibles can be done before or after a story is completed. When done before, it eliminates going off on tangents or getting sidetracked and keeps a writer focused. When done after the writing, it reveals holes in the story (or the plot) or it reveals the need to foreshadow crucial items that didn't seem important until the end of the story. It can also help catch errors--like a blue eyed heroine in chapter 1 ends up with brown eyes in chapter 10 and green eyes in chapter 20.
Catherine

Nominated for Pennwritrs' Meritorious Service Award

Yesterday, I stared blank-minded at the bold print of my name on the 2008 Pennwriters' Meritorious Service Award Candidates list that arrived in the mail. The Meritorious Service Award Committe, which consists of the four most recent Meritorious Service winners, selects the nominees for this, the highest accolade Pennwriters gives. Members then vote for one of the four nominees. I have been a Pennwriter since 1995, having volunteered in many capacities (as contest chair, running the silent auction, being a Penn Pal, being "the pitch guru," and an agent/editor timekeeper). In May, I will have completed my fourth consecutive year as Area 1 Representative. I may not receive the majority vote, but, hey--I can truly say--what an honor it is just to be nominated!

If you're curious about Pennwriters, check out their Web site: www.pennwriters.org

Catherine McLean