Listening

I've been very busy this week, as you know, between the conference, my new job, and Rachel's visit. While I wish I could have had the opportunity to take this week off as vacation, I'm grateful to have a job I enjoy and am good at.  As I learn the ropes, I've been thinking a lot about listening.

Speed is all well and good, as is efficiency. But the late Stephen Covey said you manage things, you lead people.  I've noticed a growing trend where that idea is forgotten, and we try to speed up past the point where we can hear anything but the wind of our own passage, much less the people around us.

Manners are there for a reason.  Do we really need to learn that the hard way?  They sprang up in a society that dueled and were a way of avoiding potentially life-threatening disagreements.  We've forgotten that, and seem to think that manners are for the old or boring.  The slow.

Today, I urge you to take a deep breath along with your morning coffee.  Make an effort to look at people when they talk to you, to let them get out what they have to say before you interrupt and ask questions.  I'm not advocating listening to that one person who needs to talk without an off button.  What I am advocating is to be present to the people around us and to give ourselves the dignity of focusing fully on the task at hand.

And remember, it's Friday.  TGIF!

Join Me at Beyond the Veil Today!

I'm blogging today at Beyond the Veil, where I get to wax poetic on historically significant characters vs. our modern 'canon.'  Join me!

Galos Salt Caves

As some of my readers are aware, I talked about the Galos Salt Caves in my recent guest post at Delilah Devlin's blog.

Why is that relevant?

Because we went tonight and I'm relaxed and zoned out.

Which, of course, explains the lack of werdz.

Tue Cent Twosday - In Defense of the Pen

Diarists know what many of us have forgotten – people have been chronicling their own stories in diaries and journals for more than a thousand years. In order to better know themselves, or to express their own truth in the face of a public reality, or just for the fun of it, people have been writing for longer than some civilizations have been around.

All that changed in the last 30 years with the advent, first, of the personal computer and then of the internet. We are seeing the first generation in the history of our planet that does not need to use the written word as it’s traditionally meant. In another generation, it will be unthinkable that some folks don’t know how to type – and it will, some predict, create a huge culture gap between those who have access to the internet and those who do not.

But that’s not my purpose today. No, today I have a humbler calling. I simply wish to defend the simple, humble, pedestrian pen. Once known to by mightier than the sword, it is now relegated to the place next to the buggy whip: a beautiful piece of craftsmanship, but obsolete.

But is it?

I argue it is not. When we write, we connect ourselves to our physical or kinesthetic truth. The study of penmanship, or graphology, can tell us quite a bit about a person and, it follows, the practice of writing can therefore tell us a lot about ourselves. We cannot get a feel for the emotion of a typist unless it is through their word choices and syntax. Yet we can know at a glance the emotional state of a writer by whether the letters are calm and even or erratic and out of control. Did the writer tear the paper with their emotion? Are there teardrops on it? Lipstick? Did the writer press hard on the paper and leave ridges on the back, or did they leave barely an impression of themselves behind?

Writing by hand can inform us of our shifting moods the way the tide can inform us of the moon’s gravitational effect on us. Subtle yet powerful, writing by hand connects us to ourselves and to our subconscious. Try writing with your non-dominant hand and you’ll see what I mean.

There is beauty in writing, even that of an untrained hand. Lovers have known this for centuries. The personal, intimate handwriting of a loved one can bring comfort in dark times, solace to the lonely. When’s the last time you sent a letter through the mail? For less than half a dollar in the U.S., only a little more if you’re sending outside it, you can bring a smile to the face of someone for whom you care. In my group of friends, we call that “Non-Bill Mail.” If you save these letters, over time they become like a scrapbook, reminding you of moments in time encapsulated in an envelope.

What would you preserve by hand if you had the time?

Next time: “In Defense of Learning to Type”

Okay. It's Monday.

So, I had this plan to write a bunch over the weekend and start my program back up with Monday.

Yeah.  Three days at conference.

Not gonna happen.

Instead, stay tuned for tomorrow when I give you another in my ongoing series on the Pen vs. the Keyboard.  Who will win?  You be the judge.

Last Day! Woot!

Conferencing

Still conferencing. Wow. Three days in a row is exhausting! Talk with you soon!

In the Trenches with the Writer Conference

It's that time, folks, the long-awaited Third Annual Conference of the Evanston Writers Workshop.  We're picking up the programs from the printer today, and making centerpieces, and putting the final touches on everything.

This afternoon, author Jody Lynn Nye will conduct her master class.  This evening, the cocktail party. Tomorrow morning, the main conference starts at 8:00 - wish us luck!  And if you're in the area, come on by and join us!  You'll be glad you did!

Join Me Today at the Torquere LiveJournal

It's my day to take over the Torquere Press LiveJournal, Torquere_Social.  I have three posts planned throughout the day about how to get the most out of writing conferences.  Please join me and comment, ask questions, whatever your mood dictates.

VACATION!!!

Well, not quite yet, but Rachel arrives today and I get to pick her up at the airport in the afternoon!!

We're going to the Evanston Writers Workshop Third Annual In the Trenches with the Writer Conference this weekend. Very exciting!

Tue Cent Twosday - A Guest Post by Moira Keith

I was asked to share my tue cents and I'm not sure that my darling host realized what she was opening her blog up to. Then I had to come up with something brilliant to share tue cents about. Did I have enough of an opinion to offer up on any one given subject? Of course! I've got many passions and it was difficult to decide which would be selected and put on a pedestal today. I managed though, after much deliberation, and will blog about tue of my favorite things—drawing and writing.

My mother and sister are quite fond of saying I took all the creativity in this branch of the family. When I was younger, I would sketch for hours. In my senior year of high school I took art for three hours. That was my escape. My chance to let my pencil move across the page and erase the small aggravations of the day. While I don't draw as often as I did in the past, having allowed writing to take its place, it is a hobby I find myself giving to some of my characters. For example, in my new book Blood and Moonlight my heroine Kiara tends to pick up a pad and pencil, it helps her think, ease stress, or even at times, helps her remain connected to parts of her life that she is no longer a part of.

I think working in some of your own passions into your writing and through your characters really helps bring them to life, make them easier to connect with. We all have things that we are passionate about. Perhaps your passion is cooking, or singing, or maybe you are a sports fanatic. My question to all you fantastic readers and writers out there is this:

To my fellow writers out there – what passions have you incorporated into your stories?

For all the lovely readers out there – are there particular passions that endear a character to you?

One lucky commenter will receive an e-book copy of my new release Blood and Moonlight!

Amazon | Smashwords

Gender Stratification and Worldbuilding, Oh My!

Join me today at one of my team blogs, LGBT Fantasy Fans and Writers. I share some thoughts about our novel Emerald Fire and accidental gender stratification. Oops! :)

I'm excited to report that Burning Bright is now available as a print book, not just an ebook! In celebration of our print release, I'm blogging at Samhain today.  Join me for "Reality and Fiction - M/M and BDSM".

Join Me for a Chat with J. M. Cartwright

Join me today at Knoontime Knitting for a chat with author and gardener J. M. Cartwright. She talks with me about her passion for green things and how it informs her writing process.

Beneath the Surface

Welcome to the Life's a Beach Blog Hop! I hope you're enjoying your time here. Today, I'm sharing something I wrote in response to a prompt about an unexpected spring. Even though it's not exactly a beach, it involves water. Check it out:



“Holy cow, Monte! What the hell?” My voice carried, bouncing off the side of Monte’s house and sounding louder than it really was. “Hey! Monte!” I yelled and waved my arms.

“Hey, Louise,” he called back and cut the power to the jackhammer. “What’s wrong?”

“Look!” I pointed.

“What the…” He laid the jackhammer on its side and walked over. “When did that pop up?”

“Monte, you must’ve hit the water main or something!”

“Can’t’ve. It’s over there.” He waived an imprecise hand toward the other side of the yard. “No idea what this is.”

I edged closer. Water, brown with the stirred-up silt from Monte’s labors, swirled up from a crack in the fence’s foundation pole.

“Monte, it’s rising.”

He knelt on the other side of the fence and I could see his fingers poking around under the fence slats. “Shit.”

“What?”

He didn’t say anything right away. “It’s salty.”

I stared down at the water. “That’s impossible!” I poked a cautious finger into it and tasted. Sure enough, it was salty. “Monte, there’s no ocean around here!”

“They always did say California was going to break off.”

“That’s not funny!” I snapped. “I’m serious, here! How is there salt water in our back yard?”

His knees popped as he stood. I rose and met his serious brown eyes. “I don’t know, Louise. I really don’t. Maybe we’d better call the city?”

“What do we say? ‘Hi, there’s an ocean in the desert?’”

He shrugged. “We have to report it.” He glanced down. “Your shoes are about to get wet.”

I stepped back, amazed. “Monte, what if it doesn’t stop? It’ll flood our houses!”

“We’re on a hill, Louise. Calm down. It’ll flood downtown first.”

I had visions of a wall of water sweeping down the Las Vegas Strip and almost laughed. He smirked. I realized with a slight shock he was trying to cheer me up. “Thanks, Monte.”

He smiled, his teeth very white. “No prob. I’ll call my guy at the Water District. Let’s see what he says. Maybe it’s a pipe or something.”

“A pipe.”

He shrugged. “What do you want me to say?” He looked calculating. “You got anymore of that meatloaf?”

I laughed out loud. “You need a wife,” I said without thinking.

He looked intense suddenly and then turned to his equipment. “Yeah, that’s what my mom keeps saying,” he said over his shoulder.

For some reason, my heart was pounding and I felt hot. “I’ll go make us some lunch while you call.”

He waved at me without turning around. I walked back inside to the air-conditioned hush and got out the meatloaf. Truth was, I had made it for him. But not to flirt, I just knew he liked meatloaf. At least, that’s what he always told me. What if there was more to it?

This was silly. I hit the lights half-angrily and set about making a salad and sandwiches. I set everything up on plates, got down my tray and the pitcher for tea, and made sweet tea. I glanced outside and saw him pacing back and forth by the fence, his portable house phone glued to one ear. He didn’t look happy.

I walked out and set out the tray on the table. He saw me and walked through the gate between our properties and sat down.

“Thanks, Mal. I’ll let you know.” He hung up and met my gaze. “They’ll come tomorrow at ten,” he informed me. “He thinks I’m crazy, but he owes me for some work I did on his pool last fall.”

I looked over at the water. “What if we are crazy?”

“We’re not,” he mumbled through an enormous bite of sandwich. “It’s still rising. See the trickle? There, on my side of the fence?”

I craned my neck. Sure enough, there was a little brook forming, trundling along the fence toward our neighbors down the hill. “What if it floods?” I asked, afraid again. “You know how fast flash floods happen, Monte!”

He shrugged. “What do you want me to do? Sandbag it?”

He had a point. What could we do? I ate some more sandwich and worried.

“Louise. Stop worrying. It’s going to be fine.”

I heard a splash. Monte froze, and I could see the hairs on his neck wave a little bit. Weird. ‘Hairs rising on the back of your neck’ was actually visible.

“Crap!” he blurted, spraying bread crumbs. “Did you see that?”

Truthfully, I had been staring at his neck. “No, what?”

He glanced at me, irritated, and then focused on the bubbling water. I looked over too, wondering what could capture his attention so fully.

A black tailfin peeked up out of the water and then disappeared.

I was on my feet so fast I didn’t remember moving. “Monte…” My voice sounded breathy and weird.

He joined me a second later as another ripple disturbed the water. “Get in the house, Louise. You got your keys?”

“Right here,” I said, patting my pocket. Another fin, black and pointy, emerged slowly. By the time the eyebrow ridge appeared, we were cowering behind my kitchen curtains.

“Where’s your phone?” Monte whispered hoarsely.

“You calling the police?”

“No, the paper!”

We had a brief wrestling match over the phone, which he won. He flipped it open and thumbed the camera button. He snapped two shots of the glossy black head as the thing climbed out of the hole. It was bipedal, covered in scales, and had dark purple eyes covered with some kind of web. It blinked vertically, opposite of a human, and stood about as tall as Monte.

We watched it walk down the hill, following the water trail.

“No one is ever going to believe this,” Monte murmured.

It was then that I realized we were holding hands. Monte didn’t seem inclined to let go, so I didn’t either. I watched the black creature disappear as the sun set over Sin City.

Thursday 13: A Writer In Her Library, Chapter Six

I have done a few posts about my favorite books in the past, Chapter One, Two, Three, Four, and Five. I’ve purged my library twice in the past, and cut too close to the bone. I’ve gotten rid of things I’ve later regretted. Now, if I keep a book and it goes into my library, I don’t get rid of it. I cherish it. I made special bookplates that can be printed on Avery labels, since buying bookplates would get way too expensive. I also started keeping an index.

The index has helped me identify which books and topics I like, as well as publishers I might like to target. I keep my list in Excel because it’s easy to sort and search, and in this way I can track my purchases and collection.

Today I share 13 more of my favorite craft books for you, along with pictures of their covers. These books inspire me and I turn to them again and again, to look at the pictures and read the patterns. Awesome!

Without further delay, then, let us wander the shelves.

1. Wildspur, by Louisa Harding, Steffprint, England, 2008.

I seriously love this catalog of patterns. Click on the picture and it will take you to Ms. Harding’s U.S. distributor, and they have a list of all the patterns – complete with pictures. I love Laidlaw and want to make it one of these days.

2. Decorative Knitting, by Kate Haxell and Luise Roberts, Trafalgar Square Publishing, North Pomfret, VA, 2005.

There are different covers for this, depending on your geographic location, but this is the version I have in my library and is the one she says on her website is for the U.S. version.

The book is filled with different decorative ideas, from patterns and laces to beading and other embellishments.  If you like to play with your knitting, this book is for you.

3. Hoverson, Joelle, Last-Minute Knitted Gifts, Stewart Tabori and Chang, New York, 2004.

I love, love, love this book. I’ve made a bunch of things out of here, and what I love about it is the philosophy. It restores control to the hands of the knitter as we think about what projects we’d like to make for our friends and family.

Seriously, check out the stuffed animals. LOFF!

Bonus: She’s got a great collection of patterns available on her Ravelry page, here.

4. Knitting Mochimochi: 20 Super-Cute Strange Designs for Knitted Amigurumi, by Anna Hrachovec; Watson-Guptill Publications; Crown Publishing Group; Division of Random House, Inc.; New York; 2010.

OMG. Srsly. OMG! Mochimochi Land is the online home of author and designer, Anna Hrachovec. Her patterns are adorable! Her book breaks down exactly how to make these little knitted designs, similar to the Japanese hobby of amigurumi, which typically are crochet.

I totally want to make the alligators in this book. I also love the moose. It’s awesome. Complete with little birdies. LOFF!

5. Christmas Stockings: 18 Holiday Treasures to Knit; Interweave Press; Loveland, CO; 2001.

This one is a lot of fun. Not only does it give patterns, but also generic stocking patterns for different yarn gauges. If you are curious about making holiday stockings, this book is for you. Lots and lots of design options and good instruction for taking the design process beyond the patterns provided.

6. 25 Bags to Knit: Beautiful Bags in Stylish Colors, by Emma King; Trafalgar Square Publishing, North Pomfret, VA; 2004.

I’ve had this one for a while; I think I bought it in the year it came out. I have a friend in Alabama who LOVES handbags, and this book makes me think of her.

The patterns are simple and easy to understand, and have front AND back pictures of the designs – which is helpful for someone learning to knit. This is a great book for beginners.

7. Knitters (Magazine); Jackets for Work and Play; XRX Books; Sioux Falls, SD; 2006

I love the designs in this book, including a Chanel-style jacket. The designs have an English flavor in the tight, clean lines, and they’re good for work and other similar occasions. I’m looking forward to making some of these, and routinely bring the book to the bathtub to wander through the patterns.

 8. Weekend Afghans, by Jean Leinhauser and Rita Weiss; Sterling Publishing Company; New York; 1987

and

9. 7-Day Afghans, by Jean Leinhauser and Rita Weiss; Sterling Publishing Company; New York; 2004

Authors Leinhauser and Weiss share designs and writing processes, as well as their website.  I have made one of the afghans in the 7-Day Afghans book many times, varying the colors, as it's a simple but pretty design and perfect for baby showers and other similar gifts.  I like Weekend Afghans, even though it's older, because it gives interesting designs and colors.

10. Men in Knits: Sweaters to Knit that He Will Wear; Tara Jon Manning; Interweave Press; Loveland, CO; 2003.

The thing I like about this book is that it teaches you the philosophy of knitting. I’ve discussed the ideas in it with male friends and, later, my husband. They confirm the central philosophy in the book, which includes things like include your recipient in the design and don’t just hand him a fait accompli.

The designs live up to the reputation of Interweave Knits, known for publishing high-quality, well-written designs. I found Ms. Manning’s approach easy to follow, her designs well-conceived, and the patterns inventive. Highly recommended if you have men in your knitting universe.

11. Saturday Sweaters: Easy to Knit, Easy to Wear; Marquart, Doreen L.; Martingale & Company, Woodinville, WA; 2005

I got to meet Ms. Marquart at her shop, Needles ‘n Pins Yarn Shoppe in rural Delavan, WI. Her shop is beautiful and has many different yarns and books to look through. I selected a new book and got the yarn to make one of the sweaters, and the clerk asked me if I’d like to have the book signed. I’m grateful to her friendliness to a new-at-the-time knitter and wish her every success. Her book of Saturday Sweaters will have you knitting sweaters in no time.

She has a neat page on Ravelry, too, where she shares her designs.

12. Knitting Lingerie Style, by Joan McGowan-Michael; Stewart Tabori and Chang; New York, 2007.

Ms. McGowan-Michael is one of my favorite designers out there. She has amazing, beautiful stuff. Her website (possibly not NSFW; no outright nudity but lingerie) is a treat of scrumptious designs.

Her book on lingerie breaks down a mystifying subject and explains how garments are constructed, from simple to complex pieces. She’s even got a knitted garter belt. Lovely!

13. Unexpected Knitting, by Debbie New; Schoolhouse Press; Pittsville, WI; 2003.

This is an incredible and unusual book, truly worthy of the title “Unexpected.” I can’t even do it justice by describing it, other than to say it’s worth checking out. I mean, knitted china pattern teacups and saucers? Awesome. Well worth a look.

There’s an interesting website created by Philosopher’s Wool. It has a very nice summary of her work, and the site has a lot of personality.

Love's a Beach Blog Hop

Stay tuned for the 17th. I'll be participating in the Love's a Beach Blog Hop over on Taurus and Taurus. You could win a Nook Touch, signed books, ebooks, and other great prizes. Mark your calendar!

Tue Cent Twosday - A Guest Post with Kimberley Troutte

Speeding Down the Road to Digital Publication

a Guest Post by Kimberley Troutte

Thank you for having me here today. Noony asked me to talk about how much digital publishing has changed the publishing industry for romance writers. Boy, where to begin?

One great place to start is at the top with RWA (the Romance Writers of America). Every summer RWA has a big conference to discuss the industry, network, eat good food…you know, regular stuff. When I went this time I was struck by how different this conference was from the first one I attended in 2006. All because of a little invention called an ebook.

A mere six years ago, there was a sense that a book not published by the traditional NY Big Six Publishers was somehow inferior. Self-published books were rarely considered by editors. Most writers needed an agent to get to the big houses and finding an agent to represent a new writer was tough. Being a budding romance writer, I dreamed of one day achieving that lofty pinnacle--publication at a big New York house. I thought it was my only road to success.

And it was a rough road full of bumps, sinkholes and heavily manned gates.

In those days (gosh, I feel like I'm talking about the Dark Ages) the journey started when a writer completed a manuscript and sent letters (by snail mail mostly) to agents and editors to try to sell the story. The wait time to hear from one of these professionals was painfully long as the writer trucked pages back and forth and paid a small fortune to the Post Office. If a writer was lucky enough to score a good agent who then sold the work, the wait was a year or two before the book hit the shelves. A year or two.

That was only six years ago--before Kindle, Nook, Facebook, Twitter, and email submissions. We've come a long way, baby.

At the 2012 RWA conference, all the buzz was about authors who found success by publishing through small digital-first publishers or on their own. (Fifty Shades of Gray, anyone?) The publishers heard these success stories too and, well, they freaked out a little. Imagine the big New York watching a corner of the publishing market slip through their fingers. Not only that, many already established authors were self-publishing their own works and making , gasp, more money.

New York houses are now in a rush to catch up to the Digital Age by opening Digital lines. Editors are looking for authors to fill new spots for various genres and story lengths. Some agents troll through ebook lists looking for clients to represent. Publishers look for hot-selling indie books to publish.

Wow, what a difference six years can make.

What about those long waiting periods? Well, a writer can self-publish her own book in a matter of days. Days, not years. Publishing houses have had to reduce publishing times in order to compete with Amazon and to woo authors who don't want to wait years. In Anaheim, Kensington said that they can publish an ebook in about six months. I heard another house say 10-12 weeks! The rush to ebook publication is on.

What does this mean to writers?

Opportunity. Faster publication. Getting books into readers hands that have previously languished on a writer's harddrive. Possibilities.

I'll tell you what it means to me personally.

I used to suffer from stress dreams. Sometimes in my nightmares, I’d drive an out-of-control car at top speeds straight downhill. My kids screamed in the back seat while I stomped the useless brakes and tried to steer away from the ocean looming at the bottom of the road. I had that stupid dream five or six times and understood what it meant. My desire to be published was butting heads with gatekeepers who were tough about letting a genre-mixer storyteller like me through the gates. My goal to be published was as out of my control as that darn car was. What could I do?

One day Carrie Underwood sang "Jesus, Take the Wheel." And I realized that I shouldn’t spend so much time trying to steer that car. Instead, I needed to let go of the things I couldn't control and focus on what was important.

Writing is one of those important things. I stopped worrying about how I was going to get published and focused on writing the best books I can. Learning, growing, digging deeper, I let my passion and love fill the pages. I found pure bliss. My stories were infinitely better.

And now there are more roads to publication. My car is zipping along and whether I'll park at a small press, Amazon, or a big house, who knows? I have more control. One way or another, my beloved stories will be read thanks to all those indie-authors who were brave enough to pave the way and to the awesome readers who buy books.

No more nightmares, only sweet dreams and well-paved roads from now on.

Biography

Kimberley Troutte has been a substitute teacher, caterer, financial analyst for a major defense contractor, aerobics instructor, real-estate broker, freelance writer, homework corrector and caregiver to all the creatures the kids/hubby/dog drag in. She lives with her husband, two sons, one dog and four snakes in Southern California.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Join Me at Torquere Press Today for Silk and Linen

Join me today at Romance for the Rest of Us, the blog of Torquere Press.  My post, Silk and Linen, shares some of my favorite haircare secrets.  I hope you enjoy!

On Writing Blocks

Join me at the Writer's Retreat for my thoughts on being blocked when you're writing.

Mini-Vacation Today

Since we're still on vacation, I figured I'd share with you the view of my desk at home.  Complete with Boria, acting like it's his boudoir.

Cats.  

Sigh.

Boria

On the Road Again... la la la

We're heading over to Ohio to visit family. I figured today would be a good day to highlight one of the hidden gems of Toledo, The Toledo Museum of Art.

A couple things set this museum apart and make it worth a visit. First, they decided they couldn't bring the most expensive pieces to Toledo. Instead, they created exhibits with artists related to the masters' works. If they can't bring in the most important Monet, they'll bring a smaller one in and then highlight artists who influenced them and who they, in turn, influenced.

Their website is another admirable creation. They highlight art each week in blog posts, reviewing the pieces in their collection and the traveling exhibitions.

I suggest checking out the website, at the least, and if you can, visit the museum. It is well worth a visit.

Why M/M Fascinates Us

Have you been curious why "male/male" or M/M romance is such a fascinating read?  Join me today at Samhain Publishing for the discussion.

The Secret to Enthusiasm

Okay. Let's be blunt. Enthusiasm isn't always lauded. In fact, many times folks want to put it down, as thought an adult being enthusiastic is indecent, or that the enthusiastic person will use up all the available energy and there won't be any left for others.

Here, then, is the secret to enthusiasm, so that it will spread like a virus and then we'll all have it.

What makes you passionate?

What gets you ranting?

When you have the time, what do you like to do? Not the socially-acceptable answer, but the real truth?

What common themes occur in the answer to the previous question?

The more that you understand these things, the more enthusiastic you become about them.  Don't be afraid to follow your passion.  No matter what people say, being enthusiastic is the secret to happiness.

Unusual Travelogue

Curious about salt caves? Come with me today where I'm blogging at Delilah Devlin's blog about the Galos Salt Caves.

Erotica Readers and Writers Association

I figured I'd share a link today, because a little later on I have news!  So stay tuned.

In the meantime, check out the Erotica Readers and Writers Association!  Pretty cool, no?  I like how classy their front page is, as well as the subject.  There's a time and place for more gritty sexy stuff, but I also appreciate artful erotica.

Tue Cent Twosday - The Pen vs. the Keyboard

In my writing group, I often hear complaints when I suggest we try a written exercise as opposed to one with a laptop or other computer device. I have said it before and I’ll likely say it again: writing by hand is important and valuable to anyone working with their own creativity, be they writers or other artists. In fact, I would argue that writing by hand is useful for everyone, and not just creatives. That does not mean that writing with a keyboard isn’t valuable in its own way too, but that one shouldn’t avoid handwriting altogether.

Here are the five most common complaints and suggestions on how to address them:

“I never write by hand.”

I’m surprised by how many people say this to me. What’s even more surprising is how many of them aren’t Gen Y folks. The stereotype is that Gen Y folks only type, and that Gen X and Boomers are more “old school.” I haven’t seen this stereotype borne out.

My response to it is simple: give it a try. Even if you only use it for writing exercises, think of them like you do the gym or music drills. The more you do it, the easier it gets.

“I write too slow, and forget all the things I want to say.”

This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Our minds become fragmented by technology. I watch people try to have a conversation during writing group, or even just write. Smart phones buzz and people immediately look at them, even mid-sentence, to see what they say. Like coffee-fueled five-year-olds, we have lost the ability to carry one thought in our minds for longer than a few moments before we are distracted, like the dog in the movie “Up.” This isn’t healthy, nor is it good for our intelligence.

Writing by hand slows us down so that we can catch up with ourselves. Typing on a computer means that we are staring at a clock, are prone to distraction from Facebook, email, and other programs, and that we can go at the speed of hyper instead of the speed of the hand. There is a reality within us that we can only hear when we slow down enough to listen.

“My hand cramps.”

This is a reasonable complaint. Like any other physical activity, stretch often and build up your strength. Maybe only write for fifteen minutes the first time, then work your way up to a longer session.

“I can’t read my own writing, so why bother?”

It’s like when we were taught to write way back when we were kids. Just practice. You’ll get better with time and attention.

“It’s more efficient to type.”

The objective isn’t to be efficient, it’s to see what we have to say. Efficiency is not the most important goal for a writer; clarity is.

Give it a try. You might be surprised what you learn.

Next time:  "In Defense of the Pen"

Monday Blues

It's the first Monday in August.  Five months left in the year.  Here are some questions to get you thinking:

1.  What did you miss doing this summer?  List all the things you can think of.

2.  What do you want to make sure you fit in this holiday season?  Again, list all the things you can think of.

3.  What do you want to be able to say, in January, that you did during 2012?

Write a paragraph or more for each of these.  Then move on to the next step.

1.  Take your list and pick one summer thing, and schedule it for this week.  Then tuck the rest of your list and tuck it in the back of your calendar to put in next year's day planner.  Or, if you use an electronic calendar, then put the list on May 1, 2013, and call it "For Planning This Summer."

2.  Take your list and pick 5 things you can afford.  Now, schedule each of these things somewhere between November 1 and December 31.  Put the rest of the list at the end of your calendar or make a calendar entry for August 1, 2013.

3.  Take your list of things you want to do this year and write three pages in your journal.  Ask yourself which of the things you've listed you most want to accomplish and what is standing in your way of doing so.

4.  Now, schedule time in the next week to get started.  Even 30 minutes spent pursuing your goal means you'll be that much closer to accomplishing it.

5.  Schedule another 30 minutes for next week.

6.  Now, go do it.

And above all, Happy Monday!

Sunday Box Talk - The Journal As Tool

One of the best ways to get better at understanding our own boxes and their effect on us is through journaling.  I don't mean the stereotypical daily page-by-page, blow-by-blow accounts, but more like letters to ourselves.  In fact, writing a dialog with ourselves is tremendously useful.

How does it work?

As we write, sometimes we have other responses in our heads to thoughts we write down.  For example, we might write, "I want to go to France."  A response might be, "Yeah, right, like I have money for that."  Another response might be, "Well, I could set up a savings account for it."  And then, "Well, I'd better set up an appointment at the bank to talk about options for savings."  If we label that first thought A, and then label each response, we can begin to follow a conversation:

A:  I want to go to France.

B:  Yeah, right, like I have money for that."

A:  Well, I could set up a savings account for it."

C:  I'd better set up an appointment at the bank.

"C" is the advisor that helps us get in touch with our deeper wisdom.  It might be D or E.  But if we dig deeply enough, we can find the inner strength to navigate many tough problems.

What do you think about journaling?  Do you use one?

The Noonhour - A Children's Folktale

Welcome to The Noonhour, a Podcast featuring essays, children's stories, and other items I find interesting.  It's an experiment that I'm enjoying, so sit back, relax, and listen to

The Noonhour

TGIF!

We survived to Friday!  What a relief, eh? I'm ready for the weekend.  So ready, in fact, I forgot I wanted to do a post today.  So, instead of babbling about nothing, YOU tell ME - what are your weekend plans?

BLARG! THURSDAY!

How did it get to be Thursday, AUGUST 2nd??

Announcing... A Noonorial!

I'm having so much fun with learning to use different multi-media presentation tools that I came up with a tutorial that I'm calling a Noonorial.  (Don't laugh, this stuff is infectious and fun.  I mean, imagine what you could share with others, what cool screen tips you could share, just by playing around?  Don't believe me?  Check it out:  Screenr.)

Today is Writer Wednesday and I'm at the Writer's Retreat Blog with the debut episode of the Noonorial - How to Get a Permalink in Blogger.  Stop on by!