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

Advice on Writing

If there is one piece of advice I would shout out to novice writers, it would be this: take time off from your writing to MASTER Point of View (POV) and Viewpoint. Why? Because everything in a story is affected by Point of View and Viewpoint.

The second bit of advice I would whisper to a novice writer is this: POV and Viewpoint are two separate things despite the "experts" using the terms synomymously.

Master POV and Viewpoint means fixing 90% of the problems in manuscripts that critiquers commonly point out such as show-don't-tell; omniscient narration; flat, or two-dimentional characterization; tension; suspense; ad infinitum.

Catherine McLean

Not my fault

I typed in the correct words and the preview showed everything in order, so I told the machine to save it to the Web site. However, when I checked the text on my Web site there were underscores and spaces I never typed in. And I can't get rid of them.

I think there must be some computer smerf responsible for it. You know, like the sock smerf--the one that snatches one sock out of the washer or dryer so you have socks without mates.

Catherine

Launching My Website for Writer'sCheat Sheets

Jamie, a friend and computer whiz, assured me last June that we'd have my site up and running in just a few weeks. Somehow little glitches sabataged our efforts, particulary this blooger space, but as of today, everything seems to be working fine on my website, so I'm taking a leap of faith -- and one helluva deep breath -- to officially announce to one and all that my site is up and running. Come visit www.WritersCheatSheets.com !

Catherine

Cookies

The adage that if anything can go wrong it will, certainly applied to my accessing my blog. By comparison, setting up my Web site, www.writerscheatsheets.com, was easy. Needless to say after a month of trial and errors--and a gazillion error messages--along with some hair-pulling frustrations, the culprit turned out to be "cookies." I didn't know my computer had so many different places to hide cookies. But, thankfully, (fingers crossed on both hands), I can finally get in to this blog and post to it!

Catherine

Welcome to Writer's Cheat Sheets!

Hello--Welcome to my blog! Keep watching this space for valuable writer's tips and "cheats" to help you write well and sell more.