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Sunday, March 17, 2024

My Thoughts on Writing - Answers to Good Questions

The following questions were posted over on Coming Down The Mountain, by Karen Jones Gowen. I thought I would answer them here.

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Are you excited about the idea of people reading your work, or would you rather keep it private? 

I share my flash fiction, but not my WIP book. My flash fiction stories are very short (about 500-700 words) they make for a quick read, so sharing them is easy.

Do you have an audience in mind when you write?

Yes, for my WIP book. No, for my flash fiction pieces.

Have you always wanted to write a book? 

No. I have always been a storyteller though, so it may be a natural progression.

If you have written your book, do you feel satisfied with it or discouraged and disappointed?

My current WIP book elicits many feelings. As to my flash fiction stories I feel satisfied with them.

How many forms of writing do you like to do? For example, journaling, poetry, blogging, fiction, personal stories, or memoir? 

I like all of those, but don’t do any daily or with serious intent – other than stewing over my current WIP.

Is your voice the same regardless of the format?

No, my WIP book voice is not what I use for writing flash fiction. On rare occasion my flash writing can take on a different voice too.

If you have published a book, what do you think determines how well it sells?

As a reader of published books I think it’s the “capture” that sells a book. How quickly I am pulled into a story, and held captive, is what I think makes a book sell.

How do you feel about critical reviews? Do you shrug and move on, or do you feel devastated by them?

I think reader reviews in general can be biased by personal viewpoints.

However, having a critical first reader for my WIP book has been very helpful. I appreciated the frank honesty of my first reader and knowing she was not afraid to tell me why she was losing interest (and when and where in the story this was happening).

Stephen King, in his memoir On Writing, wrote about his wife, Tabatha, not liking something he had written and told him to get rid of it – he said it was akin to “throwing the baby out with the bathwater” but that it needed to be done no matter how much he liked what he had written.

Critical readers (those in the trenches with the writer) are hard to come by. 

Do you feel that book publishing only counts if it's done in a certain way, such as through an agent or a particular publishing company?

No, I think self-publishing nowadays is a viable option – so long as the writer is a good editor or has one.

However, having a publishing team (with copy editing, illustrators, marketing, and more) can only make the process easier on the writer, and the book more successful.

The true success, however, is in the actual writing – have I captured my reader, captivated them until the end? If not, no amount of help from a great team will rescue my baby. Again… may I stress editing; it can kill the baby if left unattended.

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In ending this post I would like to say…

I have never written a word with the soul purpose of fame or money. I write purely for me and if my writing touches a reader along the way – more the joy and happiness for me, and hopefully for them too.

My mother was my greatest first reader, sadly she is no longer with me. Fortunately she got me through the rough patches of my current WIP book – seaming it together has been easier because of her critical eye. And, let me say this, she did not spare my “feelings” as many a baby was tossed in the process. I dedicate my writing to her.



 

Until the next post…

I leave you with 2 questions:

If you write, why do you write?

If you read, what holds you to the end?

Friday, March 15, 2024

A-Z Challenge 2024 Theme Reveal - Into The Hole We Go.

 Many miles and a lifetime ago I used to write.

I would write daily - photo prompt flash fiction. Enjoyed it. Sure, it was stressful - what with giving myself 15 minutes to write to a photo prompt I could not see until I opened it, but still I enjoyed it. In fact, I wrote 151 stories back to back - then life got crazy. 

So, this brings me to the question of giving it a go, again... you know, that A-Z thingy... I have missed it.

Yes, you read that right, I have missed the stress, the pressure, the deadlines. Okay, I lie. I don't miss any of that. 

Then what brings me to why I want to do the A-Z Challenge, again, you ask. 

Well, my life is a little different now. Loads of pressures are gone, I'm semi-retired, I'm in the right headspace, and most importantly I have always enjoyed the camaraderie of this writing/blogging community. Friendly, supportive, and good for lifting one's spirit. 

With that said (no stress, hahaha) you all have your work cut out for you if you drop by to read what I write. The lifting of my spirit might require lifting of actual spirits (a little imbibing joke) to make it through my ramblings. If you do, thanks, and consider yourself hugged. If not, no worries - as Chuck used to say, "There's no bad part." And, there really isn't. So take a hug either way.

Now comes the big reveal.

I've been fond of winging it. I'm older now and value the concept of staying well out in front of the running bulls - these days, however, I opt for sitting on a balcony looking down at those running bulls, trampling whatever stumbles before them. Egads, there's a visual. 

So, I will err on making this whole participating in the A-Z business less of a challenge and more of a "look Ma, I can still do it" sort of thing. Ma's gone, I don't have my cheering section, hence the spirit thing. Big long inhale. Slow long exhale. Life still goes on. Until it doesn't.

My theme will be...

THE ABYSS - LIFE ON THE EDGE.

I could tell you all about it here... but then I'd be done. What's the fun in that. So, until April I bid you all a safe remainder of March, and remember, "There's no bad part." So I've been told.

Joy and Happiness to you all,



Saturday, July 15, 2023

YAWN... good grief, is it 2023 already.

 Hello out there,

I'm still here. Well, out of sight, but still here. You get my drift.

I thought it would be neat, cool, nifty, you know, random, to post and see what happens.

Life happens, yup, it does. 

Is it happening to you? Or, are you still sleeping off the last 3 years. 

Curious minds want to know. Okay, maybe it's only me that wants to know. Either way...

 Till the next time I wake up.


Wednesday, August 21, 2019

RED WHEELBARROW - WEP August 2019 Challenge



THE CENTREPIECE.


When she bought me I wondered if it was purely because the price tag was greatly reduced.

I had been left out in the rain, in the yard of the co-op, for what seemed like weeks. It had only been a few days, over a holiday weekend, but the damage was done.

Howie, the boss’s son was at fault, but hey, he was just a kid, that’s what his mom always said coming to his defence; and the boss always shrugged as he shook his head in disappointment. 

I wasn’t the only one being forgotten, but on this day, I was the only one being scrutinized. The woman grabbed my handles and moved me back and forth. She kicked my tire, and sighed. 

“John,” she said to the man standing off to one side trying to avoid me as I was jostled from side to side, “the tire looks flat already. Do you think it has a hole?”

“Nah, it just needs air.”

Well, I was relieved to know that all that was standing between me and a new home was some air. If I could breathe I think I would have taken in a long breath and slowly exhaled. But all I could do was stand there now that she had let go of me and watch as she slowly made her way around me eyeing the visible rust. 

“The rust won’t be a problem, it’ll get rustier with what we’re doing,” she said to the fellow that still seemed weary of getting in my way. If I had feelings I think I might not have liked him very much, he seemed rather indifferent – not sure if it was toward me, or toward her. And, feelings or not, I liked her.

Once in the back of their truck I bounced about as we made our way somewhere; somewhere other than where Howie would be and that could only be good.

Their yard needed work, and I could see right away what my job would be after my tire got air – I would be hauling loads of old bricks from what was once a chimney to what looked like a garden.

The bricks chipped away at my beautiful red finish leaving even more bare metal exposed to the elements. Yes, I was left outside; now that I belonged to someone I knew that would be my fate.

Finally, the last brick was placed around the newly planted flowerbed and I was given my first long cold rinse. Ah, how I loved feeling clean. But what did I look like, I wondered, how badly had I been damaged? I had felt the dents, the scratches, and even the harsh bangs as I was put through my paces. That was my job, so who was I to complain. But I did wonder, why paint me and make me look so good only to take it all away?

The sun beat down on me and I dried up to a point where the remaining paint started to flake. Next came a rough brushing followed by suction. Not sure what was going on, but I loved all the attention. I was being cared for and I liked that feeling. 

Days passed while I was left in the blazing sun. 

Alas, a day came when I was wheeled into a shed, it was dark, and if I dare say, a little dank and musty. I really wanted to be outside – oh the irony; you see, I had gotten used to the weather and its company. 

Something tickled me, all over, it was cool, slightly sticky. I felt fresh, new, as if I was young again, right out of the factory. Wonderful feeling indeed.

A few more days passed before I was wheeled outside and placed right in the centre of the flowerbed. I was covered in a cloth, heavy rocks were added, next came dirt. I wondered what was going on – where would I be taking this load?

The cloth was trimmed, flowers were added and positioned. How strange that such care was taken with this load. I was confused.

Suddenly, I heard her exclaim, “John, it looks amazing, that wheelbarrow worked hard helping us make this garden look so beautiful. It’s the perfect centrepiece.” 


Word Count 710
NCCO


I decided to participate in this writing challenge - I got the idea from DG Hudson, a blogger I follow - she posted for the last one and I really enjoyed reading her piece The Jewel Box of Mystery.

 WRITE...EDIT...PUBLISH is the website hosting these challenges.

Thank you for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed The Centrepiece.








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Wednesday, August 22, 2018

What's on your Book List - Episode 4

For previous episodes click on their respective links:

Welcome to Episode 4 of What's on your Book List.


I'm a avid reader. Or, more to the point I'm an avid listener of audiobooks.

Note: In this post I am listing the book title first, in caps, followed by the author's name and whether it's fiction (F), or non-fiction (NF).

I do not write reviews - too many other places are doing that so feel free to google any of these titles for more info on them. 

Also, if I don't enjoy a book, I move on to the next one on my book shelf - I haven't the time to waste on poorly written, or boring books. 

What you see here are books I've read and thoroughly enjoyed.

Here is the list of books I've listened to (and/or read) from June 17 - August 21.

THE STORY OF ARTHUR TRULUV, Elizabeth Berg (F)

DAVID AND GOLIATH, Malcolm Gladwell (NF)
Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants

MY NAME IS LUCY BARTON, Elizabeth Strout (F)

THE STRANGER BESIDE ME, Ann Rule (NF)
Ted Bundy: The Shocking Inside Story

THE SMART ONE, Jennifer Close (F)

THE ROOSTER BAR, John Grisham (F)

THE TWELVE DOGS OF CHRISTMAS, David Rosenfelt (F)
Andy Carpenter Series

OUTFOXED, David Rosenfelt (F)
Andy Carpenter Series

THE HAPPINESS EQUATION, Neil Pasricha (NF)  *yes, listened to it again!
Want Nothing + Do Anything = Have Everything

FIRE AND FURY, Michael Wolff (NF)
Inside the Trump White House

THE UNDOING PROJECT, Michael Lewis (NF)
A Friendship That Changed Our Minds

THE BOY ON THE PORCH, Sharon Creech (F)

COLLARED, David Rosenfelt (F)
Andy Carpenter Series

WRONGFUL DEATH, Lynda La Plante (F)
Anna Travis Series

TWO GRAVES, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (F)
Pendergast Series

NOTORIOUS, Allison Brennan (F)
Max Revere Series

SILENCED, Allison Brennan (F)
Lucy Kincaid Series

THE CABINET OF CURIOSITIES, Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (F)

SILENT SCREAM, Lynda La Plante (F)
Anna Travis Series

BLOOD LINE, Lynda La Plante (F)
Anna Travis Series

BLIND FURY, Lynda La Plante (F)
Anna Travis Series

BACKLASH, Lynda La Plante (F)
Anna Travis Series

THE WINTER PEOPLE, Jennifer McMahon (F)

NIGHT SCHOOL, Lee Child (F)
Jack Reacher Series

MAKE ME, Lee Child (F)
Jack Reacher Series

SNATCHED, Karin Slaughter (F)
Will Trent Series

GRAIN BRAIN, David Perlmutter, MD (NF) *listened again!
The Surprising Truth About Wheat, Cars, and Sugar - Your Brains Silent Killers

CRIMINAL, Karin Slaughter (F)
Will Trent Series

BUSTED, Karin Slaughter (F)
Will Trent Series

THE WITCHES' TREE, M. C. Beaton (F)
Agatha Raisin Mystery

THE OUTSIDER, Stephen King (F)

PLEASE DON'T TELL, Elizabeth Adler (F)

THE VISITORS, Catherine Burns (F)

WHEAT BELLY, William Davis, MD (NF) *listen again to this awesome book!
Lose the Wheat, Lost the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health

THE BROKEN ROAD, Richard Paul Evans (F)
The Broken Road Series

LAST TO KNOW, Elizabeth Adler (F)


There you have it, my reading (aka listening) list from June 17 to August 21.

You'll see I do revisit books, particularly those pertaining to LCHF (low carb high fat). It's an area of interest and one I feel needs more exposure. 
Visit GUT INSTINCT - my LCHF blog, for my complete reading list.


How's your list looking?


Thursday, June 14, 2018

What's on your Book List - Episode 3

For previous episodes click on their respective links:

Welcome to Episode 3 of What's on your Book List.


I'm a avid reader. Or, more to the point I'm an avid listener of audiobooks.

Note: In this post I am listing the book title first, in caps, followed by the author's name and whether it's fiction (F), or non-fiction (NF).

I do not write reviews - too many other places are doing that so feel free to google any of these titles for more info on them. 

Also, if I don't enjoy a book, I move on to the next one on my book shelf - I haven't the time to waste on poorly written, or boring books. 

What you see here are books I've read and thoroughly enjoyed.

Here is the list of books I've listened to (and/or read) from May 1 - June 14.

THE LAST ORIGINAL WIFE - Dorothea Benton Frank (F)

STARGIRL (Book 1) - Jerry Spinelli (F)

LOW PRESSURE - Sandra Brown (F)

BETWEEN THE WORLD AND ME - Ta-Nehisi Coates (Autobiography)

THE ACCOMPLISED GUEST (Stories) - Ann Beattie (F)

BROTOPIA - Emily Chang  (NF)
Breaking Up the Boys' Club of Silicon Valley

THE SUBTLE ART OF NOT GIVING A FUCK - Mark Manson  (NF)
A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life

THE SIXTH EXTINCTION - Elizabeth Kolbert (NF)
An Unnatural History

THE NORTH WATER - Ian McGuire  ((F)

THE NEW JIM CROW - Michelle Alexander  (NF)

FAHRENHEIT 451 - Ray Bradbury  (F)

THE WIFE BETWEEN US - Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen  (F)

THE CHILD FINDER - Rene Denfeld  (F)

ZERO TO ONE - Peter Thiel  (NF)
Notes on Startups, or How to Build a Future

THE HAPPINESS EQUATION - Neil Pasricha  (NF)
Want Nothing + Do Everything = Have Everything

There you have it - my reading list covering May 1 - June 14.
Some books, like ZERO TO ONE, made my "Must Buy" list. Others, Like BROTOPIA got a second listen.

Read them, enjoy them, then move on to the next good read.

How's your list looking? 

Share titles in the comments if you feel like it. I'm always open to reading a book that comes with a strong recommendation.



Thursday, May 03, 2018

What's On Your Book List - Episode 2

If you missed Episode 1 click on the link to go there. Great authors and books await.
This link will give you more info on the audiobook app I use, called Overdrive.


I am a huge reader - or more accurately - a huge listener of audiobooks.

I listen to between 4 and 6 books a week. That's right - A WEEK!

So, without further ado - here are the titles of the books I have listened to during the last two weeks (April 16-30):

These are my recommended reads - for story info/reviews visit Goodreads.

EMMA FLINT - Little Deaths

Inspired by a true story. A great audiobook, the narration was very enjoyable. As a single parent I found myself getting very frustrated with the main characters, a useless mother and her pathetic husband. That said, I was curious enough to want to find out what happened to the two children in this story. Overall, I did enjoy this book. And, whether I like it or not, parents, like those portrayed in the novel, definitely do exist.

LAUREN WOLK - Beyond the Bright Sea

There was something about the cover and title that made me read "more" and I'm glad I did. This was a very interesting read. Written as a fiction, but full of historical non-fiction facts. I ended up learning something about the leper colonies in the USA. Quite interesting.

JEFFREY KLUGER - The Narcissist Next Door: Understanding the Monster in Your Family, in Your Office, in Your Bed - in Your World (Non-Fiction)

This is a book everyone should read - not only to recognize what's going on in other people's mind, but to take a hard look at our own personality - it's never too late to take stock.

JERRY SPINELLI - The Warden's Daughter

Believable characters, interesting plot - from start to finish this was a great audiobook. Lots of wonderful personalities woven in the story.

LAURA DAVE - Hello, Sunshine

Suspenseful and entertaining, compelling and funny. I was taken with the storyline and characters. Try living an authentic life at a time when one has little public privacy. Yup, that's why I'm not on Facebook!

DOROTHEA BENTON FRANK - Same Beach, Next Year

This was such a delightful read - loved the two couples, loved the heart and soul you could feel in the written word. As these characters bonded you could really feel their emotions.

J M BARRIE - Peter Pan (for the umpteenth time - love his storytelling skills)

This is research reading - I've read Peter Pan more times than I can count. If you've never read it (on what planet do you live) then get with it!

NEIL GAIMAN - Trigger Warning

This is a collection of short fiction stories - read by the author. Some I really liked, others I confess I did fast forward. I'm a fan of Neil Gaiman so I wanted to give his short stories a perusal - overall worth picking up.

NANCY MACLEAN - Democracy in Chains (Non-Fiction)
THE DEEP HISTORY OF THE RADICAL RIGHT'S STEALTH PLAN FOR AMERICA

A great read - in fact - a MUST READ for anyone with a mind of their own. I listened to it twice - yeah, it was so necessary. I needed to fully grasp the influence US politics have on all of us. (I'm Canadian.)

PEARL S. BUCK - The Good Earth

A book many have read - quite frankly I think I read it long ago, but I so thoroughly enjoyed it this time.

Please note - I am providing recommendations only, not reviews. My intention is to share books I've enjoyed. As for reviews there are lots of sites which do just that. Goodreads offers book reviews and information about the books - check out your local library as well.