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WIWA NEWSLETTER
Issue No. 004 August -- September 2001
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CONTENTS
Message From the Editor
Letters to the Editor
On the Island
-- Story Telling Workshop
-- Grant Writing Workshop
-- Writers' Group
Passages
Writers: Combat Procrastination -- by Dan Poynter
Cheers
Creative Nonfiction, That's What This Is -- by Micky Coleman
Markets, Contests, Conferences
The Continuing Saga of a Dairyman's Guide to Self-Publishing, -- by Murray Anderson
Cyber Surfing
Quotes
To Contact Us
To Unsubscribe
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MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR
As sheer casual reading matter, I still find the English dictionary the most interesting book in our language.
--Albert Jay Nock, from Memoirs of a Superfluous Man, 1943
Each summer my husband and I go sailing. We stock our boat with enough food and water that we can avoid civilization for up to three weeks before we need to reprovision, and we take along enough books to last the summer. On a perfect day, we'll hoist our sails on a beam reach, tack twice, and three hours later, drop the anchor in a cove where our companions are kingfishers, eagles and seals, or sometimes bears and otters. Then it's time to settle in with a good book, well, right after we bait the crab pot.
Over the years I've made some wonderful discoveries while swinging on a hook. Steve Kluger's Last Days of Summer had me laughing and crying with 12-year-old Joey Margolis as he badgered New York Giant third baseman Charlie Banks into becoming his surrogate father and pen pal. Not a baseball fan at the time, I've followed the Mariners since. Last year I got caught up in Louis De Bernieres' epic, Corelli's Mandolin, a tragicomedy of war, romance, history and political satire. This year, a friend handed me a gift-wrapped paperback to tuck into my bag of books, and said, "When I heard about this book, I knew it was for you." She knows me well, as does my husband, who in our courting days wooed me with a special birthday gift -- The Compact Edition of the Oxford English Dictionary.
We were anchored at Winter Cover Park on Saturna Island when I slid my index finger beneath the folded ends of gift wrap, ran my nail across the back, popped up the scotch tape, then slipped off the flowery paper. Inside was a thin book, The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester. And so I began reading the fascinating tale of the making of The Oxford English Dictionary (OED), a story of dedication, obsession, murder and madness.
The idea of creating a dictionary that contained every English word ever employed, that is, to take an inventory of the language, began in 1857. Until then, dictionaries had primarily been a compilation of sesquipedalian words -- fifty cent words -- used to impress others. The project finally got off the ground when James Murray became editor 22 years later. He woefully underestimated that the dictionary would be four volumes in length and that it would take ten years to complete. It wasn't until New Year's eve 1927, however, that the OED -- 12 volumes, 414,825 words defined and 1,827,306 quotations -- was formally pronounced complete.
Procrastination may have played a part in the 22-year delay before work on the OED began in earnest, but ultimately the dedication and determination of Murray and hundreds of volunteers prevailed. Their philosophy, though not worded so succinctly, was the same that Dan Poynter expresses in his article Writers: Combat Procrastination -- "Just do it."
So I say to you, "Just do it." Read The Professor and the Madman, a wonderful example of the creative nonfiction that Mickey Coleman discusses in this issue. But mostly -- write.
Write us, too. We want to hear from you,
Candace
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Reading the WIWA Newsletter feels like hearing from an old friend. Like a proud mother, I beam as I scan the words, noting the accomplishments of names I recognize from my three glorious days at Whidbey. Keep me on your list forever and see you in March 2002. --Diana Greenwood
Great newsletter. I'm really enjoying reading it, and I was delighted to see the markets section! Murray's piece should be encouraging to a lot of people. He's done a tremendous amount of work on this project. I wouldn't be surprised to see it do very well. --Marian Blue, WIWC Instructor
Thanks for the newsletter. I have no input other than - keep it coming! It does help to get news and encouragement from Whidbey. It brings back great memories of the conference and gets that little spark of inspiration going again.
Thanks again. I really needed this! --Donna Marganella
Thank you for a fine newsletter. I appreciated your piece on Grandma Moses very much although I think her art is an acquired taste. When it first started turning up I was younger and knew everything, about art or any other topic. The more I saw of her work the more I liked and understood it. Now, at 72, I know very little but have, at this faltering age, published a book on problem gambling, and there are other want-to-be books 'in the pot.' I did publish a book with two other authors in 1965 and shudder to read from it now; it's horrible. Murray Anderson persisted, and that's what it takes. I considered self-publishing with Xlibris, but they have so many hidden charges that I decided it is just another vanity press. They do have a promising distribution system on the net, however.
I write now just for fun trying to keep up with the voices in my head that are the real authors. Not to be taken for a loony, I must add that 'it writes itself' as I wander the beach, and then I hurry home to get it on the disk.
Thanks again for all your work. Hope to meet you at the library group. --Julian Taber
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ON THE ISLAND
Storytelling Workshop
WIWA is sponsoring a storytelling workshop with Master Storyteller Jill Johnson Saturday, August 4 from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Johnson will share with you ways to enrich your writing by using oral techniques and traditions of storytelling. The workshop will be held in the home of Linda Jedlicka, a WIWC fireside chat host. Registration is limited to 20 and costs $25 for WIWA members, $30 for nonmembers. A light lunch will be provided. For more information, or to register, call 360-331-6714 or email: writers@whidbey.com
Grant Writing Workshop
Wayne Ude, WIWC instructor and co-owner of Blue & Ude Writer's Services <http://www.blueudewritersservices.com/main.htm> will offer a Grant Writing Workshop this fall. The workshop is sponsored by WIWA. If you would like to be put on the contact list for more information, call 360-331-6714 or email: writers@whidbey.com
Writers' Group
The WIWA Writers' Group meets the first Wednesday of every month from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Freeland Library. Anyone interested in writing is invited to attend. It is a place to discuss writing techniques or problems you may be having with your work. Informal brainstorming and support for fellow writers are encouraged. If you feel like sharing something you have written, please bring it to the meeting and read it aloud. For more information, contact Michele Griskey at 331-6099, or smwatson@mail.whidbey.com.
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PASSAGES
Nora DeLoach, 1940 -- 2001
Mystery writer Nora DeLoach passed away June 19, 2001 shortly after being diagnosed with leukemia. Born in Orlando, Florida, she was residing in Decatur, Georgia. She is survived by her husband, three children and two grandchildren. DeLoach was a popular instructor at WIWC 2001 and had accepted an invitation to return in 2003. She will be missed by many adoring fans. Mama Cracks a Mask of Innocence, her eighth book in the popular Mama Mystery series was released in June.
Eudora Welty, 1909 -- 2001
Pulitzer Prize winning author Eudora Welty passed away July 23. Welty, along with William Faulkner, Flannery O'Connor and Robert Penn Warren, is credited with the resurgence of the Southern literary renaissance of the 1930s and 1940s. She won the 1973 Pulitzer Prize for The Optimist's Daughter, but she is perhaps best known for her short stories, including The Worn and Why I Live at the P.O. In addition, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, six "O. Henry Awards," the National Book Critics Circle Award, the American Book Award and the Gold Medal of the National Institute of Arts and Letters.
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WRITERS: COMBAT PROCRASTINATION
by Dan Poynter
Writing Nonfiction: Turning Thoughts into Books, copyright 2000, Dan Poynter
Emmett’s Law: The dread of doing a task uses up more time and energy than
doing the task itself.
The writing project was going so smoothly it was scary. Rita Emmett started at the top in approaching a literary agent, and her first choice accepted her. The book, with a working title of The Complete Procrastinator's Handbook, was a user-friendly, fun approach to helping people conquer procrastination. She sent off a rough draft of the manuscript to her agent, and it was returned with suggestions for a format, plus instructions that Rita polish it and return it as soon as possible.
Then the winds of change tornadoed Rita’s life. Family illness, death of a loved one and marriages of her children sent her life spinning, so she decided to “put the book on the back burner” while she concentrated on these more important life events.
It was not procrastination, it was a choice, a priority — and that was reasonable. But she never communicated this decision to her agent — and that was inexcusable.
Three years later, Rita’s life finally settled down. It was time to return to the book. She could not not do it. Although the contract had expired, she felt — morally and ethically — that she should give her agent the choice of working with her or not. More than that, she really wanted to work with the agent. But Rita was too embarrassed about the lapsed time, and she dreaded making that phone call. Thus began a year of procrastination — phony excuses, being too busy, anything to put that phone call as far from her mind as possible. The irony of putting off a book about procrastination was too painful to talk about. It added to her embarrassment.
The day came when the dread of making that phone call was making Rita sick. She had hit bottom and she finally decided to summon her courage and use every trick in the book — her book — to make that call. The agent courteously listened to her and graciously offered to look at her new manuscript. Rita’s procrastination had ended.
The agent found a publisher, negotiated a wonderful advance, and that's the end of that story — and the beginning of Rita’s life as an author — and as a Recovering Procrastinator.
rita@ritaemmett.com
Just do it.
"I have never met an author who was sorry he or she wrote a book. They are only sorry they did not write it sooner."
—Sam Horn, speaker and author of Tongue Fu.
(Excerpted from Successful Nonfiction by Dan Poynter.)
For 108 more inspirational tips, See http://parapublishing.com/getpage.cfm?file=resource/writing.html#successful
DAN POYNTER IS CRISS-CROSSING NORTH AMERICA to spread the word on eBooks, pBooks and The New Book Publishing Model. He will teach at the Whidbey Island Writers' Conference March 1 through March 3, 2002.
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CHEERS
Your good news cheers us on! Please share your successes with us.
WIWA board member, Candace Allen recently received an assignment from Log Home Living magazine. By the Book, her first feature for the magazine was published in the August issue. You can read the article online at: http://loghomeliving.com
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CREATIVE NONFICTION, THAT'S WHAT THIS IS
By Micky Coleman
I’ve never known exactly what to call the stuff I write. Mostly I scribble bits about nature and biology, pieces about the children and families I work with, a bit of memoir, political and philosophical ramblings, this and that. Now I think when I finally finish one of these things that I write, it will have a name -- creative nonfiction.
Creative nonfiction has become an official literary genre. Finally there’s a category to hold writers ranging from Annie Dillard, Barry Lopez and Diane Ackerman to Lauren Slater, Terry Tempest Williams and Scott Russell Sanders. The genre is broad enough to encompass memoir, biography, personal essays, nature and science writing, any factual writing that incorporates narrative techniques. And creative nonfiction is now a third pathway in MFA programs, equal to poetry and fiction, a sure sign of academic acceptance in the literary world.
Essayists have used description, scene and dialogue to enliven their writing for many years. But there has been considerable controversy over the use of fictional techniques in writing that’s supposed to be true to the facts. Only recently has it gained the respectability of a separate genre worthy of formal teaching programs. And some terrific books have appeared as a result.
Writing Creative Nonfiction: Instructions and Insights from the Teachers of the Associated Writing Programs, edited by Carolyn Forche and Philip Gerard; Story Press, 2001.
This is a collection of instructional essays in the art of creative nonfiction followed by a “reader” of terrific pieces by some of those instructors as well as other renowned writers in the field. The involvement of Carolyn Forche, a gifted poet as well as essayist, speaks to the lyrical content of this way of writing nonfiction. Many consider it closer to poetry than fiction.
Beyond the Writers’ Workshop: New Ways to Write Creative Nonfiction, by Carol Bly; Anchor Books, 2001.
Carol Bly, essayist and short story writer, views writing from an ethical perspective, and takes the reader beyond the usual writers’ workshop to a deeper way of thinking and writing. Bly pulls no punches in talking about our superficial culture and the failure of most writers’ workshops to address the true art of writing. She ranges from the psychology and philosophy of the writing process to the latest in neuroscience and the development of language. Reading her book is like reading her short stories and essays, or like being in one of her classes. She pursues her principles with passion and insight and urges her readers to do the same. And she includes some intriguing exercises in the back of the book. My favorite is Exercise 14: A Nearly Impossible Writing Exercise. The first part: describe someone whose taste in nature, in books, in television . . . in anything, is quite different from yours. And you have to write without exhibiting any superiority, letting “not one drop of scorn to enter into your writing.” Part 2: describe someone whose tastes in behavior, or media or literature or anything, are probably better than yours. Be sure that you’re praising, not sneering. This one lets you explore what you are like and not like and how generous you are in your view of others. Just one of the ethical lessons you learn if you go deep enough when you write. (Bly also wrote a book about fiction, The Passionate, Accurate Story; Milkweed Editions, 1990, which explores the art of writing fiction with the same integrity as her current book)
Literary Journals: What a Bargain!
Literary journals, those lovely paperback volumes of fiction, poetry and creative non-fiction that appear quarterly, are such a bargain. New writers are frequently featured as well as the most current writing by established authors. So you might read in The Georgia Review the latest poem by Mary Oliver or essay by Barry Lopez beside a short story by a newly published writer. And Glimmer Train or Rosebud, two visually beautiful publications aimed at new writers, will have an interview with Charles Baxter and a contest aimed at never-before-published new writers. These journals cost from $6 to $12. Most can be found in independent bookstores or at newsstands such as Bulldog News in the University District. Most have Web sites packed with information. Here are a few favorites:
Missouri Review: the summer issue has details on their Eleventh Annual Editors’ Prize in Fiction and Essay and the Fifth Annual Larry Levis Editors’ Prize in Poetry, offering prizes of $1500-2000 to first place winners. Details at www.missourireview.org
Glimmer Train: Beautifully illustrated and you get a bookmark with every issue. Each issue includes an interview useful to emerging writers and short stories by mostly new writers. A real opportunity, with contests throughout the year. They also publish Writers Ask, a quarterly newsletter for those who are serious about writing. “It’s packed full of useful techniques, informed perspectives, and inspired nudges from accomplished literary writers and mentors, just the kind of company a writer needs.” www.glimmertrain.com
Creative Nonfiction: Essays by established writers plus opportunities for new writers. www.creativenonfiction.org
Rosebud: This one is a bit quirky, visually inventive, aimed at writers. Lots of opportunities and ideas for new writers. www.rsbd.net
There are many more: Georgia Review, Kenyon Review, Antioch Review. And Ohio Review has published a two volume anthology to end its 30 years of publication. It’s packed with poetry and fiction by many terrific writers who got their start in journals like this one. So enjoy great literature at bargain prices and find lots of opportunities to get your writing published!
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MARKETS, CONTESTS, CONFERENCES
Outdoor America's Thinking Like a Mountain seeks submissions of thought-provoking essays and articles about outdoor issues. For information, see: http://www.iwla.org/OA/tlm.html
Triple Tree Publishing will introduce MOTA, an anthology of fine fiction November 2002. In conjunction with its debut, MOTA is sponsoring two short fiction contests, one for emerging writers and one open to all writers. Non-contest submissions are also requested. The submission deadline is Nov. 1, 2001. For details about the contests and submissions, see www.TripleTreePub.com.
Moondance International Film Festival invites screenwriters, film makers, playwrights, short story writers, TV writers, dramatists, lyricists and more to participate in the annual film festival and contest. The submission deadline is Oct.1, 2001. Information and entry forms are available at: www.moondancefilmfestival.com
Patricia Hilborn writes that the second annual Writers in Process (WIP) Conference will be held Sept. 28 and 29, 2001, at Tarrant County College Northeast Campus. For more information, including a registration form and contest guidelines, visit www.mytww.com, or call the TCC Continuing Education department at (817) 515-6657.
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THE CONTINUING SAGA OF A DAIRYMAN'S GUIDE TO SELF-PUBLISHING
by Murray Anderson
In the June -- July issue of the WIWA Newsletter, I provided a blow by blow account of my problems and experiences self-publishing Breederman, my novel about the struggles of a young couple who own a dairy farm in the 50s and 60s. My hope is that you can avoid some of the mistakes I have made.
Several months ago, I sent camera ready art of the text to Morris Publishing in Nebraska. I also sent a camera ready cover that a local printer helped me design. Morris Publishing sent me a note that they could not use the camera ready copy because the software was not compatible with theirs. As a result, I had to pay an additional $125. Then, I received the disappointing news that printing could not begin until the middle of July. This book publishing takes a lot of patience and persistence.
I established a toll free line 1-866-309-8588 so that customers could order books and pay with their credit cards. This proved quite an undertaking, but I finally got service that combined my private line and voice mail with the toll free line. The cost was $67 for installation and $12.50 per month, with no charges for the incoming calls. It is actually a good deal. Initially, I tried to establish a Web site, but found out this was a better deal and that people respond well to the toll free number.
The first news story about the book was published in the Capital Press, a weekly agricultural newspaper that covers the west coast. Response to the newsletter was good. Customers were excited and eager to get the book. Most of them were dairymen, former dairymen or sons and daughters who had grown up on a dairy farm. I am following up the news releases with mailers and application slips to friends, relatives, business acquaintances and more than 1,000 dairymen in Washington. I am holding off on the local news releases until the books are delivered to me. At that time, I will also contact local book stores.Meanwhile, I am trying to track down mailing lists of dairymen in the neighboring states for the next round of mailings and publicity. And so it goes.
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CYBER SURFING
Have you encountered some helpful Internet sites? Send us the address and your brief review?
A friend recently finished her first book and asked our writers' group what we knew about writing a synopsis, a narrative summary often required by literary agents from writers submitting books for consideration. Here are some Web sites that may be helpful if you're trying to write a synopsis.
http://www.absolutewrite.com/novels/writing_a_synopsis.htm
http://www.authorsofromance.com/synopsis.htm
http://www.pw.org/RPRT8.htm
http://www.fictionwriters.com/tips-synopsis.html
http://stronghold.netnation.com/~eclect/articles/synopsis.html
http://www.rosenberggroup.com/synopsis.htm
http://www.bensonink.com/4.2Synopsis.htm
http://www.fayrobinson.com/articles/synopsis.htm
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QUOTES
I love being a writer. What I can't stand is the paperwork.
-- Peter De Vries
I listen to the voices.
-- William Faulkner
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TO CONTACT US
If you would like to submit an article to us, share your good news, tell us about your favorite quotes, markets, contests and cyber sites, or contact us about the newsletter for any reason, please email the editor at: candace@whidbey.com
To contact the Whidbey Island Writers' Association, email : writers@whidbey.com
Whidbey Island Writers' Conference:
March 1 through 3, 2002
The Spirit of Writing
http://www.whidbey.com/writers
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