A Writer’s Life
by Kelly F. Barr
Write, write, write;
Edit, edit, edit
And repeat time after time.
Could drive you crazy if you let it.
Spend hours staring at a blank page
You’re tempted to say, “Forget it!”
But you plod on;
You toil and strain.
For the right words
You rack your brain.
When you type the final page
Satisfaction replaces all the pain.
We all know that writing is a solitary activity, and that most writers are introverts. That is why we, writers, have to push ourselves to step out of our comfort zones and connect with other writers?
“Why?” You may ask. “I’m happy in my little corner of the world.” You may say.
Well, writers are a great group of people. They enjoy talking about writing with other writers. They like to help on another along the writing journey. I have found this to be true with every writer I have ever met.
If you’re truly happy hiding away in your little corner of the world, you can connect with other writers without stepping outside that little corner by use of the internet.
Let’s face it, as writers, we sometimes get stuck, frustrated, and feel like giving up. That’s when it’s great to have at least one other writer we can connect with, either in person or on the internet.
In addition, we can learn from one another’s experiences. Brainstorming with others is a lot more fun than brainstorming alone. Critiquing one another’s work is invaluably helpful.
I have been blessed to find writers’ groups in my community that I can meet with face to face. I have also been blessed to connect with some wonderful writers through blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and an online writers’ group.
So, don’t hide alone in your corner. Reach out and see what a bright spot you will find by connecting with at least one other writer either in your community or on the worldwide web.
Are any of you part of a writers’ group? Is it a community group or an internet group?
Turtle
Home upon his back.
He’s never in a hurry.
A pleasant fellow.
I Love the Sun
Sunbeams on my head
Bring warm and cozy feelings.
Sunny days bring joy.
An elderly lady sat upon a park bench on a sunny afternoon. She was watching the children playing, when she realized someone had sat down next to her. She turned to see a tall, thin, young man dressed in tattered jeans, a black t-shirt and black leather jacket. She looked him up and down and found him also wearing black leather army boots. In one hand, he was holding a lit cigarette, in the other, a bottle of beer. His bleached blond hair was cut in a mohawk style and spiked high. He had an earring in his nose.
* * * * *
He saw the look of fear flash over her face to be quickly replaced by uncertainty. He smiled at her.
“Nice day, isn’t it?”
She smiled. “Yes, it is.”
“You from around here?”
“I live a few blocks away. I like to walk here on nice days and watch the children play. The walk does my body good and the children do my heart good.”
“You remind me of my grandmother. I sure do miss her.”
“Did something happen to her?”
“She passed away when I was ten years old. She had cancer. She used to make the best chocolate chip cookies and tell me the greatest stories, stories about her childhood and her life with grandpa when my dad was growing up.”
“Sounds like you and she loved each other very much.”
“Yeah. We sure did. I spent a lot of time with her. So, how ’bout you? You have grandkids?”
“No, I have one son who lives in the midwest. He and his wife are very career minded and don’t have any children. They’re busy. I haven’t seen them in three years.”
“That’s too bad. You seem like you’d make a good grandma.”
She smiled and stood up to go.
“Can I walk you home?”
“That would be kind of you, and it just so happens that I have some chocolate chip cookies that I baked yesterday. They may not be the same as your grandma’s, but you’re welcome to have some with a glass of milk when we get there.”
He stood and offered her his arm. She took it and they began to walk slowly.
“What’s your name?” He asked.
“Sadie Thompson. What’s yours?”
“Zach Jeffries.”
“You know Zach, I think we were supposed to meet today. We just might become good friends,”
“I’d like that.”
Today’s Top Ten Tuesday suggestion, as per The Broke and Bookish, is “Ten Reasons I Love X” and you can place whatever you like in the spot of “X”. Therefore, I am going to do “Ten Reasons I Love Janette Oke”.
There are different types of critique groups and it’s important to try several different types until you find the one you think fits you best and is most helpful to you in your writing.
I have been involved in two different critique groups and will begin my journey with another critique group this week. The two that I have been a part of seem to have the same basic rules: start by saying something positive, offer your thoughts on what works and doesn’t work in the writing or where things tend to drag, and end with something positive. Also, be specific! Saying something like, “This is nice. I like it,” is not really helpful at all to the writer.
Of the two critique groups I’ve been involved with so far, I do prefer one over the other because one group has difficulty critiquing the piece you bring to share. Because you may be working on a novel and you have brought early chapters in the past and now you’ve brought middle or later chapters, and this group may or may not consist of people who read the earlier chapters, it seems to be quite difficult for them to simply critique what is before them.
I understand that it can be difficult as far as knowing how things began and why what’s happening is happening now, but I don’t find it difficult to be able to focus on the words before me and give advice on what is happening on these pages. Whatever I am reading to critique, I simply, ask myself several questions as I read: 1) Does the story flow? 2) Does the dialogue move the story forward and is the dialogue relevant to the story? 3) Are the goals of the main character clear from the action, the decisions and choices the character makes? 4) Are there any places that cause the story to lose momentum, slow down and seem to drag? 5) Are there any places that confuse the reader? 6) Are the writer’s word choices fitting for the time the story is set in or are there word choices that are too modern or too outdated? 7) Does the story capture and hold my attention and make me want to keep reading? 8) Do I care about the main character? 9) Does the plot line keep my interest and does it keep the story moving? 10) Is the story unique compared to other stories in the same genre?
There may be more questions that pop into my head as I read that I look for answers too as well, but the ten I listed in the previous paragraph are some of the most important, so if you can keep those questions in your head while reading someone’s work, it shouldn’t matter whether you are reading a piece of writing from the beginning, middle or end of the story, in order to give the writer good quality, helpful feedback.
* * * * *
Now, just a bit about the critique group I will be getting involved with this week. It is the online critique group offered through the ACFW website for ACFW members. I am really excited about this because it sounds like it may be the most helpful critique group yet. In order to become involved in the critique group, I have to take a three day orientation, where I will receive three email assignments each day of those three days to complete, in order to learn the rules and how their critique group works. It’s a very large group and it has smaller branch groups as well, from what I understand. I am really looking forward to it! I’ll let you know what I think, once I am able to receive and offer some critiquing.
What about you? Are you part of a critique group? How do you benefit from your critique group?
He watched as she sat on a park bench writing in a notebook. Her clothes told of her unique artistic tastes with the form fitting black pants, bright multicolored blouse, and green scarf. She was also wearing ankle high canvas chucks, one red and one blue denim and she had streaks of pink in her golden blonde hair.
He’d always been fascinated by the uniqueness of artists. They seemed to be more open minded than other people, and they had a vast array of interests. He always wondered what it would be like to love an artist.
She paused from her writing, looking up. Their eyes met. She smiled and returned to her writing.
He crossed the grass and sat down next to her.
“Hi, my name is David.”
I have never done this before, but I really feel like I need to do this. I want to pay tribute to two people who mean a lot to me because of their support and/or contributions to my writing life.
First of all, my husband. I just have to say how much I appreciate the way that he shows his support for my writing. How does he do this?
He never complains about my attending all of the monthly LCW (Lancaster Christian Writers) meetings that I want to attend, which is all of them, (smile). In reality, I usually end up having to miss one or two because of family things that come up that take priority. He also never complains when I find a free or inexpensive one-day writing event that I want to attend, and he doesn’t mind when I leave two, sometimes three evenings a week for two or three hours to get together with other writers for critique group or to write, brainstorm and encourage each other along our writing paths. He doesn’t complain that I spend so much time writing and participating in writing related things and yet am still not adding to the family income. He understands that it is a long process. I am blessed to have a husband who quietly supports me and I greatly appreciate him.
The second person I want to pay tribute to is a fellow writer who has become a very dear friend and is moving to the other side of the country, Laura Zimmerman. I met her at LCW but our bond of friendship began when she and I both attended a one day writing workshop in the private home of a complete stranger. We were surrounded by strangers, and I think, because we recognized each other’s faces and knew we were both part of LCW, we both felt more comfortable and we sat together for the workshop and had some time to talk a bit and start to really get to know each other.
Then when I started the weekly writing group for those of us homeschool moms who often struggle with finding time to write without interruptions in our own homes, Laura soon became a regular part of that writing group, Scribes Oasis. She has rarely missed a night of Scribes. Laura also encouraged me in my ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) membership, as I was debating renewing my membership. You see, ACFW is a national organization, and though we have a local chapter, most of the best resources of ACFW happen online, and for the first entire year, I didn’t really get involved in that online community. Again, lack of time, as family takes priority. Laura encouraged me because she was involved in a couple of the things that the online ACFW community offered. So, I renewed my membership and have jumped into getting involved with both feet, and I’m loving it!
Through all of these wonderful writing groups, Laura has also encouraged me in my writing. She has offered me great advice on my writing. She has gotten excited about stories I have written or am writing. She has helped me talk through some issues that came up in my writing that I wasn’t sure how to improve or write well. Laura is a little bit ahead of me in the writing world, as this year, she obtained an agent and she has submitted three story proposals to this agent already. He has already gone over the first one and told her what she needed to do to edit the story and improve it, and she literally pulled her story apart and put it back together again, and she believes it is better than the original. It broke my heart to see her go through that, but her positive attitude through the whole thing and the happiness she shared about the finished edited product was quite an inspiration to me. Also, the fact that she is a homeschool mom who still homeschools three children and still finds time to crank out stories, and now, devotionals and articles, amazes and inspires me and makes me believe that I can obtain those things too. I just need to keep working.
So, when Laura leaves after Memorial Day weekend, I will miss her so much, but I am so thankful for today’s technology which will help us to be able to remain close friends who will still be able to encourage and help each other in our writing. Thanks Laura for your friendship and your encouragement and support in my writing. I know God has good things in store for you and your family wherever He leads you.
How about you? Who is a big support and encouragement to you in your writing journey?
Cara jogged through the park just like she did every evening. But today she had gotten a late start and shadows were falling. She tried not to rush to the end of the trail though her nerves were tense. She imagined that a threat lurked behind each bush.
Was that the sound of someone jogging behind me? Is it just another jogger or something more sinister? I didn’t encounter any other joggers along the path this evening.
There it was again. Cara sprinted looking over her shoulder. She didn’t see anything.
“Uff!”
Cara had run into someone, a male someone. He held her arms against his broad chest, which was in her direct line of sight. She lifted her head until she could see his face, meet his eyes.
“Cara, is that you?”
“Jerrod?” He worked on the same floor of the office building she worked on. She had seen him walking across the floor several times. He was the best looking guy in the company with his coal black hair, deep blue eyes, strong jawline and dimpled chin.
Great. The hottest guy in the office and I have to run into him when I’m dressed in shorts and a t-shirt, my hair in a sweaty ponytail.
“It is you. I didn’t know you were a jogger. Do you jog here often?”
“I jog here every evening but I’m usually finished by now.”
“Are you okay? You seemed a bit frightened and in a hurry when we bumped into each other.”
“I think I was just letting my imagination get away with me because of the shadows.”
“May I escort you to your car?”
“I would appreciate that,” said Cara.
“I come here to jog when I’ve had a stressful day. It helps me to unwind.”
Cara noticed that Jerrod was wearing sweat pants and a t-shirt.
“So, you live in this area?” Jerrod asked.
“Yes, I do. I usually walk from home, jog through the park and walk home again, but tonight I drove since I was running late. How about you?”
“I live about two blocks from here on Park Street. Listen, would you like to have dinner sometime?”
Cara looked at Jerrod. Was he interested in spending time with her or was he just trying to be nice because she had run into him? Did it matter? She hadn’t had a date in a long time.
“I’d love to.”
“How about this Friday night?”
They had reached Cara’s car. She unlocked the door, took out her purse and retrieved a pen and notepad. She wrote down her address and phone number and handed it to Jerrod.
“It’s a date.”
Life is full of twists and turns;
some caused by circumstances
others caused by choices we make.
Stupid choices made when we were young;
wiser choices made from experience.
Some choices will come back frequently to haunt us;
some we will never revisit.
When I said some caused by circumstances,
I was thinking of circumstances
outside of our control.
You know, things that happen because of
the decisions of others around us or
with authority over us.
Sometimes I think if I had made
a different decision when . . .
then I would be living a different life.
Would that life have been happier?
Would it have been sadder, harder, more of a struggle?
It’s a fruitless exercise,
thinking on these things.
What is, is what was meant to be.
But, sometimes, I can’t help but wonder.
written by Kelly F. Barr 5/11/2016
Kelly F Barr 