The Writers' Pointe

Uh Oh -- Formerly Titled "Hiatus"

2009-04-28T09:39:00.002-04:00

I was supposed to have posted the following update about a month ago. Obviously, I did not.

Rather than chalk this up to my usual tendency to be forgetful, I will point this as a demonstration of exactly how hectic (wonderfully so) life has become.

So in its original state, here is the post formerly known as HIATUS . . .

Our silence over the past month (which I suppose would now be two months) or so has been deafening, we know. Cheryl and I have both been swamped with our own projects and commitments, and finding the time to post has become exceedingly difficult.

That being said, we both plan to take an undetermined amount of time in order to dedicate ourselves to our writing. By no means are we forgetting about the blog, but believing that this season of our lives is meant for other things, we have to take a few steps back.

We may post periodically if something extremely wonderful or noteworthy happens.

--Mandy and Cheryl

Let me add that we appreciate all our readers and wish you the best in your writing journeys--wherever they may take you.

--Mandy

Writer's Block: Fact or Fiction?

2009-02-23T16:17:00.001-05:00

Writer’s Block--is a phenomenon involving temporary loss of ability to begin or continue writing. (Wikipedia)

Confession time: I like to blame quite a bit on writer’s block. And when I say “quite a bit,” what I really mean is every time I sit down at the computer and can’t seem to form a coherent thought, I growl in frustration and claim I’m suffering from “the block.” This is usually accompanied by a beleaguered sigh and a back of the hand delicately placed on the forehead (because I tend to the dramatic).

It’s actually a pretty handy excuse to be lazy when you need one because, really, who can argue with a “phenomenon” that is so intangible and hard to refute?

Am I the literary world’s equivalent of a hypochondriac, claiming every uninspired moment to be symptomatic of a deeper and incurable problem? Or am I allowing myself to believe that my mind can really shut me out so I don’t have to name the real causes of my lack of productivity . . .

Laziness.

Fear.

Apathy.

The list goes on depending on the circumstances and my mood.

I’m certainly not a scientist or a psychologist. And I can’t answer definitively whether the “phenomenon” of writer’s block is real or imagined. Perhaps it is different for everyone. But what I do know (from painful, personal experience) is that the excuse (whether real or not) can quickly become a crutch—a tool that can prevent me from actually working when there aren’t any roadblocks in my mind.

So what if writer’s block is real, and what if you have it? Or what if, you’re like most of us and are simply (a) disillusioned (b) tired or (c) not that into it anymore? Is there a sure-fire way to bring back the creative juices so you can dash off a prize-winning piece?

I’m not so sure, and I certainly don’t have the answer. If there is a cure, and someone knows the secret, I’m as eager as anyone else to hear it.

I guess for myself, the secret (which is not so great a secret, I suppose) is to continuously remind myself what I love about the craft. To move on to something else for a while if I’m bored. To seek motivation and inspiration from family and friends. And sometimes (just every once in a long while) to admit that I’m stalling, to face the ugly reasons why, and to push on anyway.

--Mandy

Motivation

2009-02-08T20:49:00.003-05:00

“Why do you write?” I recently asked the students enrolled in one of my writing classes.

They stared at me.

I stared at them, struggling against the smile that threatened.

Students shifted in their desks, heads dropped, and finally one then another began to answer as they realized there was no single right answer.

“I just like to write,” one said.

“Writing helps me deal with things in my life,” another answered.

“I feel like I have stories I want to share with others,” someone else ventured.

As my students’ answers indicate, our reasons for writing are as diverse as we are. At times, we write to communicate with others or to deal with difficult emotions. Sometimes, we write for personal understanding, catharsis, or simply because we like doing it.

Whatever your reason, whether your goal is to convey a message, express your emotions, or leave a legacy, find what motivates you . . . and write.

Audience. Whether you’re composing a poem, short story, novel, or memoir, you have a tremendous responsibility to your readers. (No pressure, right?) They want to hear what you have to say; so when you’re tempted to believe your writing has no relevance and put it on the backburner, remember, there are those waiting to hear from you. No one else can communicate in the exactly the same way you can.

Catharsis. Oftentimes, I find that writing helps me make sense of my emotions or work through difficult situations in my life. Something about seeing my concerns on the page brings understanding and helps me deal with pain and frustration. Working through muddled emotions can be a powerful motivation.

Memorial. Writing helps us chronicle the past and leave a legacy for future generations. In the Old Testament, the people of Israel were instructed to leave a pile of stones as a memorial as they were about to end their journey through the wilderness and enter the Promised Land. The stones were a reminder not only that they had passed through a given land, but also that God had been faithful to them no matter what they encountered on the journey.

Writing can serve the same purpose. As we chronicle personal and family history or the changes in our society, our writing becomes a memorial for future generations that we existed and that God was faithful to us in every circumstance of life. I want my son to know the heritage of hardworking, committed people in his family. To understand that when all else fails, God will stand with him. And yes, I will tell him the stories that have been passed down to me, but my writing will give him a concrete memorial of those who’ve come before him and encouragement that he, too, can face the challenges life throws his way.

So when writing feels like a burden and you can’t find the motivation to put pen to paper (or more accurately fingertips to keyboard), remember all the good reasons why we write. Let your writing provide catharsis, establish a concrete legacy, or communicate to your readers a message they want and need to hear.

--Cheryl

A Bump in the Road to Publication

2009-02-02T12:01:00.006-05:00

It was always my intention, when blogging and sharing with everyone, to be excruciatingly and heartbreakingly honest about my own personal journey to becoming a published novelist.

So in the interest of being truthful, I have to say . . .

Rejection stinks. It does . . . really, really badly.

Enjoy the excerpt from my latest "make you feel good" letter I received.

" . . . I believe your writing has a lot of potential, and particularly enjoyed your gift for sharp characterization and witty dialogue. (I'll admit, I laughed out loud at the marriage proposal scene in chapter one.) Unfortunately, I'm afraid that I had some trouble with plausibility elements in your plot . . ."

My first reaction upon scanning the note was: Seriously? Plausibility elements? Did she READ my manuscript? Plausibility elements . . . HA! What does that even mean anyway?

Needless to say, I was not a very happy person. I looked at my husband with an evil glare, about to begin a tirade on the nature of obtuse people and ignorant editors that couldn't see remarkable talent when it stared them in the face.

"Why don't you call Cheryl?" he asked hastily, with a bit of fear in his voice.

So I did. And I ranted. And I questioned. And I battled the sense of failure that threatened to overwhelm me.

I spent the rest of the afternoon obsessing on the phone over each minute plot twist and each character trait. I analyzed the emotions and the motivations, wondering where I crossed from amusing story to the land of the unrealistic.

And we found them--the "plausibility elements" I refused to believe existed. I won't go into the details other than to say I had wrapped up my novel with a beautiful, shiny, unbelievable fictional bow (I'll let Cheryl explain that one later). To make a long story short, the revised idea is even better than the original. I'm reenergized in my quest to publish the next great American novel (or something like it).

All is not lost. That's what I really learned last weekend. And I have a suspicion that, before long, I'll actually be thankful for this rejection.

--Mandy

Keeping an Eye on the Conference Scene

2009-01-19T15:58:00.004-05:00

Since we’ve just begun 2009 (about nineteen days or so ago . . . but who’s counting?), I am finding myself in the process of mapping out what writing conferences I’m going to be attending this year and which one’s I’ll be staying far, far away from.

Going to conferences is an excellent way for a beginning writer to establish contacts in the publishing world. Where else can you go and rub elbows with agents, editors, and award winning writers? Where else might you have the potential to compose a list of questions and have them answered by an highly respected agent, or have an influential editor read part of your work and tell you if you've mastered the steps to effective writing?

I won’t belabor the benefit of attending conferences; every writer must decide for himself whether the expense and time are worth the potential contacts and helpful hints. I can honestly say, however, that I have not regretted a single conference I have been to (for a variety of reasons).

Below is a very brief list of some conferences that some may find interesting:

This is far from an exhaustive list of available conferences throughout the year; truthfully, there are so many more that I gave up looking through all of them. And let it also be known that we, at The Writers’ Pointe, are in no way endorsing any of the above sites; they were simply randomly chosen. My best advice is to go somewhere like Google, type in “writers’ conference” along with your location and see what comes up.

Whatever your decision, make sure to plan ahead. Some can be costly, and some require travel arrangements. I believe, from numerous personal experiences, you will find most to be inspiring and entertaining . . . perhaps in ways you had not even imagined.

--Mandy

How Determined Are You?

2009-01-08T15:31:00.001-05:00

At some point in my senior year of college, I knew I wanted to be a college professor. Up until that time, I had no clue about the future. When people asked me what I planned to do after graduation, my stock response was, “I don’t know, but I’ll never teach.” Then, one day, I came to a personal understanding of the old adage “never say never.” Teaching was in my future . . . and so was five years of graduate study.

I approached the two year Masters program I entered with excitement and eagerness. Doctoral work was another story altogether. Fear, anxiety, stress, worry, those were the hallmarks of the Ph.D. for me. Many days, I battled the fear of failure. What if I couldn’t handle the workload? How in the world would I recall every shred of information I needed to pass the oral and written comprehensive exams? What if I couldn’t write the dissertation? What if I wrote the dissertation only to have it rejected?

I vividly remember long days and all-nighters writing essay upon essay upon essay. My social life was non-existent, particularly in the nine months leading up to comprehensive exams as my schedule consisted of studying and short breaks for eating. The only variety came on Sunday when I took time out for church in the morning and evening. Earning the Ph.D. was my full-time, seven-day-a-week job.

So why am I telling you my sob story? Because just as determination was key in my successfully completing graduate work, it is crucial to your life as a writer as well.

I’m not at all suggesting that you should approach writing with the level of insanity I attacked the doctoral degree. I would say, though, that your dream to write won’t become reality unless you take prisoner all excuses. Force doubts about your ability from your mind. Reject mediocrity in your writing. Hone your skills. And write.

Perseverance pays off. I have a degree I’m proud of, a rewarding teaching career, and a slew of wonderful students to keep me motivated.

Maybe your payoff will be a best seller or a long, productive writing career. Or maybe it’ll simply be the satisfaction of knowing that every day you’ve lived true to your passion to share your life with others via the written word.

--Cheryl

A Successful Writer's Secret Weapon

2009-01-05T21:44:00.003-05:00

Be careful with whom you share your dreams.

A very wise friend, who just so happens to coauthor this blog with me, has told me this on several occasions. And I’d like to pay the advice forward.

I think writers have very difficult and occupation-specific struggles. We’re proud of our talents and abilities and are eager to share our goals and aspirations with others. But the world is full of people who either deliberately, or sometimes unintentionally, shred our dreams with a careless word. Some are motivated by envy to destroy another’s hope and belief in himself; others are too pessimistic to see a successful future for anyone in such a competitive market.

With that being said, every writer needs to have someone to confide in, to bounce ideas off of, and to celebrate or commiserate with. One of the most powerful tools in a writer’s arsenal is an honest, encouraging confidant—someone who can run alongside you, offering advice, praise, and the occasional painful lecture. I can’t tell you how many times Cheryl’s had to give me a swift kick in the pants, in order to reenergize me or help rein in my focus. And she’s been my biggest cheerleader, believing in me when I was ready to throw in the proverbial towel.

The fact that I’m still dedicated to this life as a struggling writer is a testament to the power of having a small handful of people who are respectful of my dream and unafraid of pushing me past what I think I can do. So my advice for today is to find the person or persons who are genuinely invested in your journey, who want your success almost as much as you do.

“I am a success today because I had a friend who believed in me,

and I didn’t have the heart to let him down . . .”
--Abraham Lincoln

--Mandy

The Gift of Craftsmanship

2008-12-22T20:43:00.005-05:00

With Christmas fast approaching, many of us have gift giving on our minds. If you’re like me, you might be feeling just a bit overwhelmed as you search for the perfect gift for your loved ones. My four-year-old is easy. His current obsession is bowling, so my husband and I feel pretty sure anything bowling-related will be a big hit.

But others in our family-you know the ones I mean, Mr. and Ms. Never Satisfied with Anything-present a greater challenge. Clothes are always too large or too small, the wrong color, or the latest trend too trendy. Candy is out of the question because you don’t want to be held responsible for ruining someone’s perpetual attempts at dieting, and jewelry . . . well, who can afford that anyway? Will this be the year we finally wow that impossible to shop for family member? Will we finally land on that perfect gift that will leave our loved ones happy and satisfied? Probably not.

Here’s the good news. While we may never satisfy those grumpy folks on our shopping lists, as writers, we can offer the perfect gift-fine craftsmanship-to our readers year round. Craftsmanship might not be a term you readily associate with writing. Perhaps the word craft conjures images of a woodworker, carpenter, or some other manual laborer. But the reality is that we as writers are practitioners of word craft. We are in the business of carefully constructing words in a way that effectively communicates with our readership. In order to do that, we must first be masters of the tools of our trade.

What does that mean exactly? As boring and unglamorous as it is, we must know and practice the basics of good writing-punctuation, spelling, grammar, effective and accurate diction. Our job is to powerfully (and clearly) share our insights and emotions, but we can’t do that without knowing (and using well) the mechanics of effective communication.

So, yes, spelling counts. Correct and precise diction are indispensable. Punctuation matters. Sound grammar is a must.

I’ve given up on finding the perfect gift for my family members who refuse to be pleased. So, instead, I turn my focus to you, my writing friends. This Christmas, I offer you the best writing gift I can present. The Commitment to Practice Sound Craftsmanship.

May God bless you with the merriest of all Christmases.

--Cheryl

Things NOT to do when submitting a manuscript . . .

2008-12-04T14:20:00.003-05:00

1) Do not misspell the publishing house’s name. This sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised.

2) Do not misspell the editor’s name. (See above). And to take this a step further, make sure that you get the person’s title correct. Do not assume that the person is merely an “editor” when they are the “publisher.” This may result in perpetual silence from the company. Not that I have ever done this, or experienced said silence, of course.

3) Do not forget to actually attach the attachments if sending an email submission. Having to send a follow up email apologizing for your stupidity makes you look, well, stupid. Once again, not that I know this from experience.

4) Do not hesitate to remind the person of your association. If you met at a conference and the editor requested to see your work, be sure to remind him of that in the email. Editors and agents see so many aspiring writers that it’s foolish to believe they will remember you specifically.

5)Do not send in your only copy. In today’s computer-centered society, it’s difficult to imagine that anyone would only have one copy of a manuscript, but what I mean is your only hard copy. Zip your manuscript through a Xerox machine before you mail it. If I had a dime for every flash drive that self-destructed and erased my work because it could no longer stand the honor of housing my brilliance, I’d have about $.75 (I’ve never been good at math). But you get the point. Sometimes I had hard copies to save me . . . and the other times, well, we don’t talk about those.

6) Do not include ringing endorsements in your cover/query letter unless they really matter (For example . . . "Queen Elizabeth II read my story, and she REALLY liked it). If it's not that special, leave it out. While your mother may have called your novel the “next DaVinci Code,” the sad truth is that mothers have to say that kind of stuff…even when it’s untrue. And usually, it is.

7)Do not tell the editor/agent/publisher how much he/she will love your work. For obvious reasons, presumption and arrogance is off-putting to some. Hard to fathom, I know.

8) Do not stalk the editor. Once the submission has been sent, sit back and relax (easy enough to say, I know). Understand that publishing professionals are inundated daily with stuff, and it may take them some time to get to your manuscript. Sending emails every hour on the hour, or calling the office incessantly will probably only get you a restraining order in the mail, not an acceptance letter.

--Mandy

Avoiding the Information Dump

2008-12-01T15:35:00.004-05:00

Here are two scenes, both expressing the exact same exchange, same place, same time, etc.

#1:

“Hey,” Donald Williams said to the cashier without pausing in his efforts to unload the cart’s contents onto the conveyer belt.

Why was he even here? It was a Friday night, and he was thirty years old, raised in the booming metropolis of New York City, and single. And pathetic man that he was, he was buying Doritos and goldfish food at nine o’clock. Of course, he wouldn’t be out grocery shopping alone if Aileen hadn’t left, but really, that had been months ago. One would think by now he’d be over that, ready to get back in the game so to speak. But the only game he played lately was Scrabble. On the computer. By himself.

It was nothing like when he used to play Scrabble with his younger twin sisters. Those were the times. All three would sit around the scarred oak table chortling over someone’s attempt to convince the others that “jafflequ” was indeed a word. But that had been before both Isabel had gotten married and Roxanne had run off to Archeology school. Their parents still didn’t like to talk about it. But since the divorce the fourteen years ago, they didn’t like to talk about anything.

He ran his hand through his sandy brown hair, looking up in surprise as the bagger asked, “Paper or Plastic, sir?”

#2

“Hey,” he said to the cashier without pausing in his efforts to unload the cart’s contents onto the conveyer belt. And he tried to ignore the inescapable lameness of being a single man in the grocery store on Friday night.

As he lobbed the Doritos onto belt, his mind wandered, tossing up images of happier, less lonely times to torment him. He was so lost in his reverie that he was startled by the bagger’s voice asking, “Paper or Plastic, sir?”

Succumbing to the “Information Dump” temptation is a common mistake for both new and seasoned writers, and for those who write both fiction and nonfiction. As the ones telling the story, we think the reader needs to have every single detail right off the bat in order to appreciate the literary magic we’re working. We rationalize our back story overload by convincing ourselves that the readers will toss the book aside in disgust if they don’t find out in the first paragraph that the protagonist is 6 feet tall with a learning disability.

Many publishing professionals will tell aspiring authors that there should be absolutely no trace of back story in the first chapter. Others will disagree, seeing the near impossibility of having an entire chapter free of any mention of the past. I think there is a happy medium.

As writers, we need to trust that our audience will “get it” if we’ve done the rest of our job correctly. They’ll wait patiently for several chapters, maybe even half the book, to find out what drives the characters and makes them tick. We can drop bits of information here and there without overloading the reader and confusing him with too much too soon.

So, the best way to avoid the temptation to drop an entire biography of the character into your reader’s lap is to choose your words carefully. Consider the relationship between the reader and your character to be as fragile as the interaction between two people on a blind date. Neither needs to know initially that one snores in his sleep and the other has a foot fungus that won’t go away even after exhaustive treatment. A little mystery can be nice.

Essential, even.

--Mandy

Voice: The Art of Speaking

2008-11-17T10:53:00.005-05:00

Why is it that most of us aren’t satisfied with who we are? We see ourselves as too fat, too skinny, too tall, too short. If we have long hair, we worry that it’s too long. If it’s short, we ponder whether it’s worth the price to get extensions. When we’re young, we can’t wait to be older, and somewhere around forty, we long for the footloose and fancy-free days of our youth.

Writers are no different. Many of us struggle with accepting our own voice. We want to “sound” like someone else. If we have a tendency to write long, adjective filled sentences, we decry the fact that we can’t be more like Hemingway, keeping our prose short, simple, and to the point. If our style tends more toward the straight forward, we wish we could “pretty” it up a bit.

As writers, we must learn to embrace our individual ways of speaking. While I’m enamored by the well placed turn of phrase in some of my favorite authors, the bottom line is that I am not Eudora Welty, Flannery O’Connor, or William Faulkner. I’m simply me, and I’ve been given a unique way of communicating that’s good enough.

Maybe not everyone will appreciate the way I “say” things in writing. Perhaps some will find my voice mundane, trite, or boring. That’s okay. Those people will look elsewhere for the information I’m sharing. But there are those who will find my voice refreshing and clear. That’s the audience I’m writing for.

As a mother, I can pick out my son’s voice in a crowd. I sense when his tone indicates anger, frustration, or joy. And, because I know what’s communicated in the tone, the nuances that go deeper than the words he speaks, I respond appropriately. You’ll only be able to communicate to your reader at that heart level when you’re true to the voice God has given you. Trust that you have a valuable way of communicating. Then, don’t waste your time trying to sound like the writer you admire most. Speak in your voice to the people who need to hear your words and will appreciate your unique style.

Eventually, your readers will become so sure of your voice that they, like a mother with her child, will “hear” the truth in your message that communicates at a level deeper than words.

--Cheryl

A Conundrum

2008-11-13T14:55:00.004-05:00

I hope those reading will indulge me for one post; I will try, one day in the future, not to venture much into the murkiness of my own issues. Today is not that day.

I like to think that I have all the answers; really, I really do. My friends will tell you that pretending to be an authority on something is probably my favorite pastime. But today, November 13, 2008, I am admitting that I’ve finally been stymied.

What, you may be asking yourselves, is so far outside the bounds of reality that Mandy doesn’t know the answer? I’ll grant you, it is hard to even imagine.

But here goes.

I have been given the opportunity to finally cast off the chains of employment and work for myself instead. (And really, who could envision a better boss?). I would be able to do something I’ve been talking about for years—become a stay at home mother, and a full time writer.

But, as any writer will tell you, there are no guarantees in the business. What might win the Pulitzer one day could land in an editor’s trash heap the next.

So while, at the moment, I have the promise of steady work, I can’t be certain it will be that way next month. I might be inundated with work, making millions (I wish), or I might be selling second-hand buttons door to door.

Am I crazy to even consider leaving stable employment in this economy? Am I wanting this so badly that I’m following my own desires, rather than the ultimate Plan for my life? It's a mystery to me.

So, as one writer to another, I’m looking for advice, assistance, past tales of woe or glory. And even if you’ve never had to make this decision, even if your writing is more personal than public, humor me and let me know what you would do. I’m asking a lot, I know. And I’m certainly not promising that I’m going to take anyone’s advice (because, sometimes, I like to be contrary), but I will heed it, and consider it thoughtfully.

So leave a comment if you will, and thank you for letting me break off the beaten path for a few paragraphs.

--Mandy

Graphic from everystockphoto.com

Dispelling the Writer's Myth

2008-11-10T11:37:00.002-05:00

First, let me apologize for the lack of posting lately. Unfortunately, with the advent of Fall comes a myriad of physical ailments that leaves me sipping Thera-flu from a thermos and shaking my fist at the elements.

And in this state of general malaise, I haven't written at all. Not even a grocery list. Which brings me to the Writer's Myth:

You have to write everyday to be, or call yourself, a writer.

Balderdash. (Such a fun and under-appreciated word).

In the many conferences I've attended, someone in the industry invariably hands down this commandment and then looks pointedly right at me (although perhaps the last is merely a figment of my paranoia). And I shift uncomfortably in my seat, ashamed that I can't always meet that requirement.

Does that mean I'm not a writer? The thought takes hold, refusing to relinquish its grip until I comfort myself with the knowledge that these people are crazy.

Okay, maybe not crazy, maybe just unnaturally optimistic.

In the real world, where I live, stuff happens. The baby gets sick; I get sick; and the laundry grows into a pile that threatens to overtake the house. And while at times I'd love nothing more than to sit down everyday and stare at my laptop while the literary goodness fills the screen, it is not always feasible, and not always the most responsible thing for me to do.

Should I then beat myself up? Should I give back my "writer" badge, believing that I just must not want it enough? Do I spend the time when I can write worrying about the times when I can't?

No. To all of the above.

I keep on, using the Writer's Myth to challenge, not shame me. I trust in my ability to do what I'm supposed to--eventually. I realize that there is a difference in being my own harshest critic and my own personal bully. And when I can't find the time or energy to write one day, I listen to the critic who tells me to try harder, and I silence the bully who tells me that my heart just must not be in it.

--Mandy

It's All in the Workshop

2008-10-26T20:26:00.002-04:00

As students shuffled into the room for my life and memoir writing class earlier this semester, I didn’t have to check my course calendar to know what the day’s schedule held. While the handful who’d taken my writing classes before held an air of confidence, the majority wore their uneasiness like an ill-fitting uniform. Heads hanging low, shoulders slumped in defeat, few made eye contact with me. It was the first workshop of the semester, and dread was a palpable presence in the room.

I secretly grinned to myself and reminded the students of the ground rules: be respectful of one another, offer honest and constructive criticism, don’t malign other’s work, no disclaimers or explanations from the writer of the piece being workshopped. It was time to begin, and I was sure my excitement exceeded my students’ fear. I knew what we were about to do would be crucial to the development of these budding writers.

Workshopping, or sharing your writing with peers for their critical review, is an invaluable tool for the writer. Why? Because, while writing is intensely personal, it is also a means of connecting with others. Workshopping gives us a public forum for sharing our words in a safe, non-threatening setting. When we workshop, we open our writing to differing viewpoints that can only strengthen us as writers and people.

I encourage you if you don’t already have one to find a community of writers you feel safe with and share your writing. Be open to receiving people’s constructive criticism, knowing that ultimately you have the freedom to choose which advice to accept and which to reject.

And don’t be afraid to establish some ground rules, just as I have done with the students in my writing classes. Remember, workshopping won’t work if you fear personal attacks when others review your writing. It also won’t work if the members of your writing group are too worried about hurting one another’s feelings to be honest. And one last thing, you must park your thin skin at the door. If you’re busy defending what you’ve written and taking offense over opinions you don’t like, workshopping is a waste of time.

So make up your mind today that you won’t be overly sensitive about your writing, and don’t be afraid to share with others. You’ll grow as a writer . . . and as a person.

--Cheryl

Recognizing Your Strengths (and Weaknesses) as a Writer

2008-10-23T09:47:00.003-04:00

I was a typical young girl, thriving on fairy tales that took me to faraway lands and soothed my desire to be something other than what I was: the very much ordinary daughter of a middle class family living in suburbia. The most exciting thing I could possibly hope for was for my sister to hide herself in the dryer (something she did rather frequently) and make my parents call the police to file a missing person's report.

So is it any wonder that with such a fascination with this idea of fantasy that I'd decide to write my own fantasy bestseller?

Yeah, that worked out real well for me.

What I found, when I sat down with my "How to Write a Bestselling Fantasy Novel" reference manual, was that I couldn't do it. When I realized that the only name I could come up with for my make believe land was Emerica, I had to face a humbling fact.

I. Have. No. Imagination. At all. Seriously.

I still don't. No matter how hard I try, I can't imagine my way out of a paper bag. It's my shameful little secret.

Why should you care, right?

All of us are like that as writers. We have to accept that certain things are beyond the scope of our ability to do them well. I'll never have a "Harry Potter" fantasy masterpiece on the shelves. But that's okay because along the way, I learned the specific things I do well.

I put my characters in situations that mirror real life so I don't have to give myself an ulcer trying to invent fantastical plot lines that no one will believe anyway. I use humor to entertain. I focus on the nuances of the turn of a phrase.

So when I write, I play to my strengths. And I quiet the nagging unease of not being perfect.

--Mandy

I am not a writer [Cheryl]

2008-10-14T11:38:00.002-04:00

I remember the first time I read William Faulkner’s Nobel Prize acceptance speech where he expressed his passion for writing stories about “the human heart in conflict with itself.” I found I had much in common with Faulkner. Like him, I was intrigued by human behavior and had an intense desire to understand what motivates us.

This obsession with the need to know why, to understand the inner workings of the heart that compel us to great sacrifice and great selfishness, first led me to a love for literature. So I spent many years enjoying other people’s writing and even pursuing degrees that would allow me professional credibility and a means of income for doing what I loved best, discussing the human condition as it is depicted in literature.

I never saw myself as a writer; it was enough for me to simply enjoy and seek insight from the words penned by others. But something has changed over the last few years. I find growing within my own heart a passion for the art of writing.

Always the teacher, I write as an avenue to share life lessons with others. Selfishly, I also write to purge, to vent feelings I can’t otherwise cope with or understand. I write for emotional healing and well being, to clarify what God is teaching me. And ultimately, I write because I believe, as pompous as it may sound, that God has given me something that He would have me share in this most challenging and rewarding of mediums.

So while I haven’t dreamed of writing from my earliest memories, or even identified myself as a writer, I suppose I am one.

My life--or lack thereof--as a writer [Mandy]

2008-10-14T11:37:00.008-04:00

If you ask me, I usually say I’ve been writing since I could hold a crayon. If you ask my parents, they’ll say it started long before that. Apparently, even in my toddler years, I understood the value and the lure of a finely crafted story, and while I can’t remember much of my own work back then, I’ve been told that my stuffed animals lived quite the Peyton Place-esque lives.

Unfortunately, even though I had a pretty big head start on stardom and success, I’ve found that being a writer, and growing as one, is much less glamorous than I originally planned.

Shocking, isn’t it?

To date, no one has lobbed long-stemmed roses at my car as it drives by, and I’ve yet to receive even the smallest box of chocolate in the mail. In moments of frustration, I ask myself . . .

“Didn’t they read my article on teenage abstinence? How could they and not have been completely and irrevocably changed?”

“Okay, okay, but surely that piece I did on debt reduction must have ruffled some feathers. Where’s the complaint letters?”

“What about that website I . . . no? Nobody even read that?”

Being a freelance writer is a thankless (and often, poorly paying job). So why do I do it? Because I'm a glutton for punishment? Perhaps. But even beyond that, the reality is that stream of income helps finance my other, grander writing dreams. Truthfully, it’s the only reason you’ll ever catch me writing about Network Affiliate Marketing Programs or editing tutoring policies.

But, to be philosophical, it’s all part of the journey. I’ve learned that, unfortunately, I’m not always going to get paid for writing the stuff I want to. And sometimes, my work could be posted in Times Square, and still, no one would notice. That’s the business.

But sometimes, every once in a while, the passion and the payoff converge. I guess that’s why I do it. Because even when it doesn’t work, I can’t seem to find the heart (or the talent for anything else) to change careers, and when it does . . . well, I certainly couldn't imagine wanting to do anything else.

Welcome . . .

2008-10-13T14:39:00.010-04:00

"The last thing one knows in constructing a work is what to put first."
Blaise Pascal

Introductions are always difficult. Perhaps the hardship lies in trying to cram too much information into too little space. I'm not sure.

But since introductions, while excruciatingly painful, must be made, we'd like to say welcome. However you found yourself here, we hope you enjoy your stay. We'll even hope that you walk away from this site having connected with other writers, learned some new tricks, and shared some old ones.

So with the pleasantries out of the way, allow us a moment to introduce ourselves.

Dr. Cheryl Collier holds a B.A., a M.A., and a Ph.D in English. She is also a highly regarded professor, in which capacity she has been teaching American Literature and Writing for over 14 years.

Added to this list of accomplishments, she is a published and award winning author. Cheryl is also a member of several professional organizations: NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English); Conference on Christianity and Literature; South Carolina Writers Workshop; American Christian Writers; Association of Writers and Writing Programs

And Mandy Goff. Well. She's funny. Okay, okay. That's not quite all.

And in addition to a sparkling wit (not difficult to see who's writing this post is it?), she is a published author and also holds a B.A. in English. Mandy is a freelance writer, novelist, and the arch-nemesis of the comma splice. She has received the ETS recognition of excellence award in English, and she is also a member of several writing associations. Among them are South Carolina Writers' Workshop; American Christian Writers; and Romance Writers of America.

So, with that concluded, let us say welcome again. We're glad you're here.