The Dazzle is in the Details

By Sandra Orchard, author of A Fool and His Monet, Another Day Another Dali, and Over Maya Dead Body

Yes, I have as much fun twisting a phrase for a good title as I have twisting what readers think they’ve deduced as they read. The details make the difference. Accurate, illuminating, surprising details.

But how does a writer know what details to use?

Research.

Please tell me, you didn’t just groan. Research is fun! You get to learn new things, see new places, and meet interesting people. What’s not to like?

The key is to not settle for what you glean from an Internet search or a book. Talk to people. Talk to people in the various vocations depicted in your novel. And . . . talk to people of varying personalities, backgrounds, and life experiences, to better imagine how different people would react to the scenarios you plan to write.

Whenever possible, also visit the “environments” you wish to depict—whether a specific town or a factory or a farm or a ghetto or a grand palace. Gain a sense of the atmosphere and rhythm of the place. Ask lots of questions. Jot down lots of details—sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures.

Choosing which details to use and how is an art in itself, but if you don’t know the details, you’ll inevitably fall back on stereotypical descriptions that aren’t nearly as interesting.

My Serena Jones Mysteries are fun adventures, and the research for them proved to be the same. I started, as most writers do, by reading online articles about art crime. From there, I devoured biographies of the best-known art detectives and books on art and forgery. I even took an online course with the University of Glasgow on Art & Antiquities Crime, which proved to be a fabulous way to “meet” several experts in the field.

But the real adventure started after I settled on a location for the series. I wanted to attend a conference in St. Louis, so I decided to make it my heroine’s hometown and contacted the FBI headquarters there to see if I might visit. It turned out they had a straightforward approval process in place. And after I filled out the appropriate online forms, my visit was approved!

A member of the FBI Art Crime Team even called me at home prior to my visit to answer questions. Likewise, art museum staff willingly, albeit a tad nervously, answered my questions about their security. Overall, I’ve found that most professionals are happy to share their expertise with a conscientious writer. But you’ll never know unless you ask.

And sometimes research opportunities just drop into your lap, like that late night visit to the ER, that totally unwarranted traffic stop, or the wonderful new friend you make at a writer’s conference who invites you to visit her home, which happens to be in the perfect location for your next novel—in my case, Over Maya Dead Body, since even FBI agents need a vacation and what better place than Martha’s Vineyard?

In fact, I had to visit twice; just to be sure I got the details exactly right. <wink>

_______________________________________________________________________________ 

Sandra Orchard is the award-winning author of several books, including A Fool and His Monet; Another Day, Another Dali; and the Port Aster Secrets series. The winner of six Canadian writing Awards and a Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, Sandra has also received a HOLT Medallion Award of Merit, a National Readers’ Choice Award, and a Daphne du Maurier Award. She lives in Ontario, Canada. Learn more at www.sandraorchard.com. Website, Blog, Facebook,  and

Pinterest. 

Inspiration for My Novel

By Elizabeth Moore

I began my inspirational novel, The Dreaming Road, as a diary of my personal struggles in coping with my daughter Cassie’s death by suicide. After a few years, I decided to turn my diary into a novel to give to family members and friends who helped me along the way. When I shared the rough draft of my novel with several professional editors, I was told that I was “telling” rather than “showing” through scenes and dialogue much of my story. Describe the memorial flower garden you created for your daughter they told me - it’s colors, scents, the taste of honeysuckle, softness of a rose petal and the sound of birds as the garden comes to life in an early spring dawn, use all your senses. I am primarily a visual person and love to create vision boards, so I began cutting photos from magazines to help me describe the scenes in my novel.

The other issue I had, being a novice writer, was whether to first write an outline or just go with the flow, writing the words as they came to me when I described my daughter’s journey into death and the afterlife in her half of the novel. In the end, it seemed truer to the story to ask just my daughter’s character, Callie, well what happened next?

After several years of bumbling along with this process, I attended a writer’s workshop where the facilitator described a common structure for many novels, The Hero’s Journey. As a child I was fascinated by fairy tales of beautiful heroines in desperate circumstances and my favorite was The Wizard of Oz. I could see, looking back, that this story contained many elements of The Hero’s Journey. The tornado that transported Dorothy to Oz was the inciting event that sent her out of her ordinary reality and into the unknown. Glinda, the good witch of the north, became her mentor, gave her the ruby slippers and called her to the adventure of the yellow brick road. I took

The Hero’s Journey and superimposed all of Dorothy’s challenges on it. Then in one of those “lightbulb” moments I realized that my journey contained similar themes and took another sheet of paper describing The Hero’s Journey and added my story to it.

I finally published The Dreaming Road this January and in sorting through my files found all the photos I used to create my story and my notes on The Hero’s Journey. I’m working on a vision board now using the yellow brick road, elements of my hero’s journey and the photos to create a visual depiction of my novel. I have always envisioned The Dreaming Road as the first novel in a trilogy but I am thinking that I will start with blank white poster board, a yellow brick road, and photos of the journey ahead before I put my pencil to paper on the next one.

I went to the big island of Hawaii on spring break to swim with the dolphins this year and stayed at Banyan Tree Farm. Much to my surprise they had built a yellow brick road on the property. I do believe in synchronicities so maybe this is telling me that I’m on the right path.

_________________________________________________________________

Elizabeth Moore is an Associate Professor of Nursing at Vanderbilt University. Her nursing research articles have been published in well-known journals in the field of pediatric nursing and women’s health. Her research has focused on strengthening the bond between mother and baby immediately after birth by skin-to-skin contact. The death of her daughter inspired a personal journey to connect with her again and her first novel explores the eternal bonds between mother and child that continue even when one of them has passed on. She lives near Nashville with her three dogs, Beau, Buttons and Bramble. Visit her at www.thedreamingroad.com. Novel title – The Dreaming Road Social Media Contact – www.thedreamingroad.com

Writing Inspiration

By Annette Cole Mastron, Communications Director for Southern Writers Magazine

It’s official. Summer is here, so let the writing inspiration begin. I’m always energized by warm summer days. Ideas abound for writing projects. How about you?

Best-selling author, James Patterson says in a 2017 interview, I’m “inspired when they (stories) occur to me and I go, wow, now that’s a neat idea for a story. I don’t know how to describe the process, but I have to see the whole story in my head. Crime details and the rest fall into place later, after I’ve figured out the main twists and turns.”

I’m intrigued by Patterson’s latest endeavor, a collaboration with former President Bill Clinton. It is sure to be THE beach read of the summer. 

How did this unusual pairing of authors occur? A New York Times article advises, “The project came about late last year when Robert B. Barnett, a lawyer at Williams & Connolly who represents both Mr. Clinton and Mr. Patterson, had the idea of pairing them up on a novel, according to someone familiar with the project who did not want to speak publicly because the publishers were holding back details about the publication. Mr. Barnett, who also represents the Obamas, Hillary Clinton, George W. Bush, Laura Bush and other politicians, first approached Mr. Clinton to see if he was interested in collaborating on a novel with Mr. Patterson. President Clinton, a longtime reader of Mr. Patterson’s breathless thrillers, was game, so Mr. Barnett took the idea to Mr. Patterson. Mr. Patterson wrote an extensive outline. So far, they’ve written a few chapters into the novel, which will be edited by Sonny Mehta, chairman of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, and Michael Pietsch, chief executive of Hachette Book Group.”

How did they do the writing? In a recent Time article, “The authors, both of whom favor writing in longhand, spent a year passing handwritten drafts back and forth. The publishers have ordered a first print run of 1 million copies—more than double the already considerable amount for a typical Patterson release.” 

The new political thriller, The President is Missing, releases this week the authors are both on book tour together this month. I’m sure the conversations at these various events will provide for a lively exchange. 

Watching these two authors may provide me and others with possible inspiration for a good thriller story. You can find inspiration anywhere. Enjoy the unexpected inspiration you may find in Summer of 2018. Where have you found inspiration?

Once Upon a Time in Louisiana

By Bruce A. Stewart

Here’s a question for you. What does a twenty-eight-year state police veteran write about when he retires from the force? Why, romance, of course. And so, Sing Me Something Happy, my first published novel, was born.

Since my retirement, I have written five books, quickly closing in on number six. My offerings range anywhere from the aforementioned romance to mysteries featuring a small-town sheriff. Though the books couldn’t be any more different in content, one common thread connects them all. Each is set in my home state of Louisiana.

When folks think Louisiana, I’m pretty sure I know what images come to mind. Endless swamps with cypress trees too numerous to count. Venomous snakes bigger than a grown man’s arm. Flesh-ripping, human-devouring alligators on the prowl for their next unsuspecting victim. A place where you don’t even have to be naked to be afraid. Get it? The television show? Naked and Afraid? 

Anyway.

And while we do have all those things, we have so much more. You’ll find acres of flat farmland, corn and cotton fields stretching as far as the eye can see. Rolling hills covered with tall, straight pines. Shrimp boats. Cajuns and rednecks. Po boys. Jazz and boudin. And wildlife so abundant, our state has been nicknamed, Sportsman’s Paradise. Why, in Louisiana, even our ducks have dynasties.

My latest release, Hurt Road, is a romantic suspense about a Michigan teen who, by a twist of fate, must move in with his grandparents. Grandparents who just happen to live in Louisiana.

So, check out one of my books. My goal is to turn out interesting stories set in one of the most unique and colorful places on the planet. Laissez les bons temps rouler, y’all!

____________________________________________________________________

Growing up in the colorful, multicultural, state of Louisiana, Bruce A. Stewart was reared with an appreciation for diversity and a love for small town life. After high school and a couple of years of college, he began his twenty-eight-year career as a Louisiana State Police trooper, retiring as a sergeant in 2009. During that time, he witnessed the humorous, the sad, the tragic, and even the unimaginable. These life experiences give him tremendous credibility when writing about the many aspects of the human condition. Having been deployed to New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and Lake Charles after Hurricane Rita, he has seen firsthand the determination and courage of ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Bruce writes Southern Fiction with a touch of humor, romance, suspense, and inspiration. He is represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary Agency. He has two published novels, Sing Me Something Happy and Hurt Road, both with Clean Reads. Bruce’s website: www.bruceastewart.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/bruce.a.stewart.7?ref=bookmarks Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/authorbruceastewart/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorbastewart

Nine Things To Help You At A Writers Conference

By Susan Reichert,  Editor-in-Chief for Southern Writers Magazine 

Do you go to conferences? To be more specific, do you go to writer’s conferences?  If you are an aspiring writer or a published author this is a place you need to be. Why? For one thing you will meet other writers just like you and you will find they want to know the same things you do. As you meet these writers you will find friendships that last long after the conference is over. In fact, most of those friendships are going to last a lifetime.

Through these friendships you will have people you can talk to about writing–discuss techniques and share thoughts and ideas. You will also have friends you can talk to when you have just received a rejection, they are going to know exactly how you feel. And they are going to be able to listen, understand and lift you up. They will know how to give you encouragement when you need it most.

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of being on the faculty at Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference. We had 511 people I believe at the conference. We were all there to fellowship and learn. Writers of all levels attended, and the enthusiasm was pouring out into the air.

I would like to share nine suggestions that will help you get the most out of your conferences.

1.      When the names of the faculties are put on the conference website, you will want to read the background of each one.

2.      Determine which of the faculty members you want to get a one-on-one with and make a list.

3.      Visit their websites, learn all you can about what they do and decide which ones will be able to answer questions you have about meeting your goals in writing and publishing.

4.      Make a list of questions to ask each person you want to meet with. Using your time wisely and theirs is important for you.

5.      If you are going to talk to an agent or publisher, it is especially important to know what genres they work with. If you write children’s books you don’t need to talk to a publisher who takes only mysteries.

6.      Be sure you have cards with you to give out to each person you meet. Make sure you get a card from everyone you meet.

7.      Enjoy the conference. Wonderful memories are made that stay with you.

8.      When you return home, look at your list of the people you talked to. Which ones stand out being helpful? Take the time to send them an email, thanking them for their time and their help.

9.      Follow-through with instructions you were given by the faculty you met with.

Being prepared with questions assures you that you will come away with what you needed to move you forward in your journey of writing and publishing.

10 Reasons to go to a Writer’s Conference

By Maritza M. Mejia

I shared to one class that I was excited and getting ready to attend a Writer’s Conference in Melbourne, Florida in April 22th, 2018.  A third grader asked, “Why do you need to go to a writer’s conference if you are already an author? “I know, I’m a published author, but I need to share and talk with other authors.” I gave him a simple reason.

At home, I asked to myself the same question. “Why do I need to go to a writer’s conference if I’m already an author? I try to attend to a yearly writer’s conference because I consider:

1.      Networking with other authors is uplifting.

2.      Meeting speakers and organizers is rewarding.

3.      Learning to become a better writer is pleasing.

4.      Confirming your ideas with other writers is reassuring.

5.      Making new friends is heartening.

6.      Selling a few books is consoling.

7.      Marketing your books is gratifying.

8.      Being active is inspirational

9.      Getting away from daily routine is necessary.

10.  Returning home is enriching because you are filled with ideas and good energy to keep writing.

The last conference I attended gave the knowledge and courage to translate my memoir Hazel Eyes into Spanish as Ojos Avellana. The book became a Latino Book Awards winner for BEST translation. Hard work pays off!

______________________________________________

Maritza M. Mejia is the recipient of the Crystal Apple Award 2006, VCB Poetry Winner 2015, The Latino Book Awards 2016 and Author’s Talk Book Show 2017. Five Books published and articles posted on Southern Writers Magazine and La Nota Latina.Graduated from Colegio Mayor de Cundinamarca in Commerce and Foreign Language and obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Humanities and Women’s Studies from Florida Atlantic University. Maritza writes to inspire others to be better persons. Book Published: Hazel Eyes (2010) An inspirational memoir for teenagers and adults translated into Spanish as Ojos Avellana. Bilingual Children Books: Vanilla and Chocolate/Vainilla y Chocolate (2012) and Grandma’s Treasure/El Tesoro de la Abuela (2014). Poetry Book, Poems, Thoughts and More. Social Media: Website: http://www.luzdelmes.com/

Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/Maritza-Martinez-Mejia/e/B009DKDXFW/

Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest: @luzdelmes

Have You Entered a Contest?

By Nancy Roe

The American Heritage College Dictionary defines a contest as “a competition, one in which entrants perform separately and are rated by judges.” A judge is defined as “one who makes estimates as to worth, quality, or fitness.”

Most writers think of a contest as a creative challenge under time constraints, assigned elements, and offering prizes for the winners.

In my opinion, anyone who has written a book, short story, poem, or blog post has entered a contest. Instead of trying to ‘out write’ other contestants, you’re trying to win readers. Instead of a specific panel of judges critiquing your work, you pray that people will leave a positive review. The most critical judge of your writing is YOU!

Any type of writing consists of your valuable time, effort, and marketing. Let’s face it, if you don’t tell anyone about your writing, how will anyone know you’ve written anything?

I’ve entered numerous contests over the past six years. I’ve never won anything, but I keep trying. Some might say I’m wasting my time. I say I’m challenging myself. A portfolio with a contest win doesn’t hurt your career, and it’s a fun way to experiment with your writing.

In January, I entered the NYC Midnight Short Story Challenge. There are three rounds of competition (Round 1: 8 days to write a 2,500-word short story, Round 2: 3 days to write 2,000 words, and Round 3: 24 hours to write 1,500 words). Each round is divided into heats, and each heat is assigned a genre, subject, and character.

Round 1 consisted of 4,000 writers from around the world. I’m thrilled to announce I placed 1^st in my heat which was assigned spy, a private club, 99-year-old man. I joined 624 other contestants in Round 2. My heat was assigned crime caper, advertising, and a caterer. I’ll find out the end of May whether I enter Round 3. (Keeping my fingers crossed.)

Get your creative juices flowing, have fun writing, and enter a contest! I’d love to hear your story.

______________________________________________________________________ 

Nancy Roe has self-published six books. Her latest mystery, Black Roses for Cassidy, was released in March 2018. She served as a panelist at the Killer Nashville International Writer’s Conference, speaking about self-publishing, minor characters, and dialogue. On Nancy’s website, you’ll find articles on organizing tips, recipes, craft ideas, computer tips, grammar tips, and unusual holidays. Even her dog, Shadow, writes an article—there has to be humor, and he’s a funny guy! Nancy is a Midwest farm girl at heart and currently lives in Tennessee with her husband and four-legged child.

Website: www.NancyRoeAuthor.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NancyRoeAuthor

Twitter: http://twitter.com/NancyRoeAuthor Books: www.NancyRoeOnAmazon.com

A Disaster of Your Choosing

By Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor for Southern Writers Magazine

In recent days we have witnessed several disasters. The Big Island in Hawaii seems to be exploding on a greater scale each and every day. Homes are being swallowed up by the slow moving lava flow, the air is filled with poisonous gases, and sudden explosions send large molten boulders flying through the air. In the Gulf of Mexico we have a large tropical storm headed our way. Not sure if it will remain a storm or develop into hurricane strength as it comes ashore. And in Ellicott, Maryland they are experiencing a flood of disastrous proportions. It was preceded by a 2016 flood which was of such great destruction it was dismissed as a 1-in-1,000 year event. This flood of 2018 has shown to be even greater.

Disasters, whether natural or man made, are a part of our life. As writers we have the opportunity to tell the story of the disaster, it’s hardship on the individuals and the heroism that most often comes from the most ordinary people. In doing so we must be mindful of our many choices and directions we can take. It has been said, “As a river in flood cuts an oxbow and the over-full dam over flows so problems left unsolved take their own course. No one can predict the shape the cataclysm will take.”

As writers we not only can tell the story but develop the problem, the reason for the problem as well as the shape the cataclysm will take. I recently saw a disaster movie and was taken with the talent of the writer as they developed each small disaster which was created as a byproduct of the larger one. It was one of those developments where I was beginning to feel sorry for the poor hero. It seemed he would never overcome the next challenge but of course he did.

As we witness these disasters, which seem to be on a daily basis, let’s consider the shape the cataclysm will take. The problem, the reason for the problem and the many outcomes that are possible. You can develop it as you go. All are you’re choosing.           

Minding Our Modifiers

By Judith Nembhard

Teaching Freshman English made me aware of two of the least talked-about linguistic errors. Sometimes as I graded papers, I chuckled at the unintended humor of some of the students’ dangling and misplaced modifiers. I began collecting examples of “DMods” (our department’s correction symbol for the error).           

What is a dangling modifier anyway?  Find a college handbook (if you don’t Google everything) to get a working definition. In my trusted Practical Stylist, Professor Sheridan Baker exhorts: “Don’t let your modifiers or references dangle” and gives a succinct tutorial. These are words, phrases, and clauses that “tend to slip loose from the sentence and dangle, referring to nothing or the wrong thing.”  An example: “When only a freshman, Jim’s history teacher inspired him.”  A freshman as teacher? How inspiring!             

Careless placement of modifiers often results in confused sentence meaning. Example: I saw several beautiful pheasants on a hike to Soda Springs yesterday.

Hiking pheasants are an unusual sight. Example: The Police Department will be notified of all reported prank phone calls by the telephone company. Which telephone company makes prank phone calls?            .

Seasoned writers can be guilty of faulty modifiers. In my collection is a Washington Post article by an acclaimed writer whom I admire immensely. Here is a sentence from the article. “But before entering high school my father died (I had already lost my mother several years before).”  Such a calamitous situation! Newspapers provide abundant examples. Here’s one from a 1986 “Personalities” column in a major newspaper. .”Democratic Party Activist Pamela Harriman, who has been in Barbados avoiding the Washington winter with her husband is frequently on the phone to Washington organizing her annual fundraiser.” And this example is amazing. “Hospital report: The condition of Apollo astronaut James Irwin, whose heart stopped while jogging last week, was upgraded to fair and stable.” Just inserting “he was” after the word “while” solves the problem.           

How do you avoid this linguistic mishap?

1.     Make sure your modifier has a word in the sentence that it actually modifies and  place them next to each other.

Example: “On the basis of Webber’s testimony, a pale young man with sinkhole cheeks

 named Gary Dobson, spent six years in jail until he was released last week. Place the modifier after “young man.”

2.     Be sure to put the subject in each sentence and clause.

Example (about the death of a local pastor): “While talking with two ladies, the

 ladder slipped, causing him to fall about 15 feet into a stairwell.” Insert “he was” after “While.”

3.     Revise carefully, keeping an eye out for the problem when you do.

Now and again, I find one of these modifiers sneaking into my writing. I try to catch it before the rest of the world does. I don’t enjoy providing untended humor for my readers.

___________________________________________________________________ 

Judith Nembhard has spent all her professional life in education, in the classroom and in administration. She reads a lot of poetry and loves to teach it but doesn’t write it. She writes Christian fiction that explores her vision of the intersection of faith and daily living, especially in an academic setting. She is originally from Jamaica, and her stories reflect the lush island landscape, a setting conducive to romance. Teaching and writing are her greatest love, and reading is her most passionate hobby. She has two adult sons and lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The Magic Mirror

by Gary Fearon, Southern Writers Magazine

When Romper Room (1953-1994) was on the air, each region did its own version of this kiddie show using a local TV host. Mine had "Miss Jean." I remember little about the show itself beyond its signature segment that always began with these words:

Romper, Bomper, Stomper, Boo
Tell me, tell me, tell me, do
Magic Mirror, tell me today
Have all my friends had fun at play?

After this incantation, each regional host would look at the camera and recite the first names of a handful of children in her viewing audience ("I see Jimmy, and I see Cindy..."). Presumably these were the kids whose parents had written in on their behalf. Maybe she supplemented with random names for good measure. Even at my young age I considered that possibility, though it was still a mild thrill when she happened to speak my name, and for that moment it did feel a bit magical.

Spreading similar joy to the other end of the age spectrum, weatherman Willard Scott took it a step further on The Today Show when he would congratulate someone on their 90th or 100th birthday and show their photo (brought to you by Smucker's). No doubt these nonagenarians and centenarians got much the same thrill as Romper Room's pre-schoolers did at the mention of their name, age and city.

These simple factoids delivered from stranger to stranger are often our own starting point when we're creating characters for our story. We typically begin with the standard details like their name; we have a general sense of their age, and we place them in some setting. But, like Miss Jean or Mr Scott, we don't know much of anything about them until we fill in some essential details.

At this point, writers will often work up a fact sheet, chronicling such details as the characters' hair color, eye color, height, weight, race, education, where they were born, etc. Some authors go so far as to include mannerisms, pet phrases, quirks, whether the character has an accent, and so on. These tactics are helpful and come in especially handy if there are multiple characters to keep track of.

That said, a fact sheet provides merely a sketch of the character. That's when many authors dig deeper to flesh out their character by exploring his/her motivations, belief system, hopes, and fears. What childhood incident left an emotional scar? What achievements give them strength? What have been the turning points in their life? Answering questions like these brings our stick figure character to life by giving him a soul.

Remember to include irony and conflict in your character's psyche; that is, who they want to be versus what is holding them back. Often they are their own biggest hurdle. As author/philosopher Albert Camus said, "Man is the only creature who refuses to be what he is."

A writer who has clearly tuned into their protagonist rarely regrets having invested the time to do so. The result is an authentic and well-defined character qualified to mirror the magic of your story.


.