Writing Lessons

            This weekend I will attend the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc. conference, which I consider the highlight and culmination of my writing year. Almost fifteen years ago, at the invitation (insistence?) of Brandi Barnett, I joined a little writing group called The Inklings. One of our first activities as a group was to join OWFI. I recall attending my first awards banquet at that conference. Certain that the judges had never read such error-free, grammatically correct writing, I was prepared and excited to receive the awards and accolades bestowed on the contest pieces I’d submitted.

            Disappointment doesn’t adequately describe my reaction to being completely shut-out that year...or the next...or the next. Embarrassment might be more accurate. After all, I’d been teaching English for nearly twenty years at that point. I should’ve known what I was doing. But as they say, “Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you want.” So that year—and in many subsequent years—I got experience. And these are some lessons that experience taught me:

1) Connection will always trump perfection. Creative writing isn’t an academic endeavor. While I could compose one humdinger of a research paper or literary essay at the time of my first contest, I hadn’t found a way to truly connect with the reader—hadn’t found my “voice.” And while perfect grammar might connect with a reader’s brain, “voice” connects with the heart. (Okay, my inner-English teacher is screaming here. If I don’t indulge the old biddy, she’ll never shut up. Grammar can’t be completely tossed out the window. If the spelling/usage/mechanics are awful, they get in the way of a great story. The so-called “rules” can be broken, but there should be a reason for doing so, and the writer should know she is breaking them and why.)

2) Writing is VERY subjective. What truly is one judge’s (or reader’s) treasure is another’s junk. Anyone who has ever entered contests or pursued an agent or submitted pieces for publication—or read book reviews, for that matter—knows this. So if one judge finds your entry less than enthralling but you consider it Nobel Prize material, submit it again. Another judge just might agree with you.

3) Writing isn’t for sissies. If you have a fragile ego, writing probably isn’t for you. The only way you’re going to improve is to listen to “constructive” criticism from people you trust. Through the years, I’ve received many comments on contest entries. Some I took to heart and found my writing improved as a result. Some I completely disregarded. If you write solely for personal satisfaction and have no intention of ever allowing another set of eyes to see your work, that’s fine. I’m not addressing you. I’m talking to the ninety percent of writers who want someone to read what they’ve written.

4) Don’t quit. Of all the contest entries I’ve submitted over the years, I’ve received only one that was unnecessarily rude. But this nasty, egotistical judge gave me probably the best advice I ever received. She said, “You can hate me, you can disagree with me, you can say I don’t know what I’m talking

about. But the one thing you cannot do is quit.” She was right about all those things. I hated her, disagreed with her, thought she didn’t know what she was talking about. (See above lesson.) I also followed her advice. I went back to the drawing board. I read books on writing, I revised, I re-wrote. I entered that manuscript two more times in contest. It never won anything...but the comments got nicer. Three years later, that particular piece, Beyond the Farthest Star, was published by an independent publisher. In 2012 it won OWFI Best Juvenile Book. I’m not writing this to brag—okay, maybe a little—but to prove the point that while quitting can be an option, it will never get you the results you desire.
            So I’m off to the conference, of which the contest is only a small part. There will also be  friends, famous authors, agents, editors, and workshop presentations. From them, I’ll learn a lot about the ever-evolving world of writing and publishing. And if I return home with nothing but “experience,” well, that’s okay. Because when you think about it, these “writing” lessons are also pretty good life lessons.       

             

Cut Flowers




Roses and lilies...a favorite combination

      A lot of people don’t like cut flowers. My late grandmother-Big Mama-was one of them. I didn’t learn about this until after I once sent her a floral arrangement for her birthday. Of course, being the typical grandmother, she thanked me profusely and made a big fuss over them. But my mother later told me of Big Mama’s preference to see flowers outside in their natural state. 

      I agree with her to a point. I’m not a fan of those stiff, perfectly arranged, funeral-looking concoctions. But over the past few years, grabbing a couple of bunches of flowers at the supermarket and loosely “arranging” them has become a guilty pleasure of mine. And I don’t have to feel too guilty. I figure a few cents a day is a fair price to pay for an instant pick-me-up. Maybe if I could grow one of those lush cottage gardens with a profusion of color right outside my windows, I’d be more inclined to leave flowers in the ground. But since my thumb is more brown than green and my space is limited, I derive pleasure from nature’s beauty brought inside where I can view it often and up close and personal.    

Yellow lilies, instant pick-me-up on a drizzly day

These were growing on the side
 of my house. I saw them and enjoyed
them a lot more  when
 I brought them inside.

        It might not be normal, the lift I get each morning from walking into the kitchen and seeing an explosion of color. I love watching roses or lilies or tulips slowly unfold from tight, compact buds into large and impressive blooms. Perhaps I'm overthinking it, but I find a life lesson in how mature blossoms seem willing to open up and receive more light, becoming more lovely in the process. Talk about aging gracefully. Much can be learned from a bouquet of cut flowers.

The pleasure doubles when cut flowers
remind us of love and friendship.

                    

Circle of Friends: A Land More Kind than Home

            A couple of times a year, the Friends take a much deserved break and meet at a restaurant rather than cook. So while I don’t have a mouth-watering recipe to tempt you this month, I do have a delicious book to whet your literary appetite: A Land More Kind Than Home by Wiley Cash.

            I was a little anxious about how the Friends would receive this book—first, because I was the one who nominated it, and second, because it contains disturbing content. But when I read it last fall—at the recommendation of my friend Martha Bryant—I found it...let’s say somewhere between engaging and enthralling, leaning heavily toward enthralling. In his debut novel, Cash authentically captures the essence of the South without making all the characters appear to have been inbred (although, the reader may have suspicions about a few), and through the voices of three separate narrators, he tells a haunting and compelling story.  

            Be warned, this story is not for the squeamish. There are scenes of brutality and blood. And, because the plot revolves around the activities of a “charismatic,” snake-handling preacher, there are some beyond creepy scenes. For these reasons, a couple of Friends were not fans of the work. But most found it intriguing and thought-provoking. And it generated interesting discussion, something I consider a hallmark of a good book.

            Among the novel’s strengths:

1)  A clear, well-defined villain. One of the tenets of literature is that in order to be believable, characters should be neither all good nor all bad. I don’t necessarily buy into that theory. I found Carson Chambliss, the preacher in this story, to be evil incarnate and still very convincing.

2) A balanced approach in dealing with religion/Christianity. When I started reading it, my immediate reaction to A Land More Kind Than Home was “Here we go...another story about stereotypical southerners, who cling to their guns [or in this case, snakes] and their religion.” But I didn’t have to read long, before I realized Cash wasn’t following this pattern. He balances the evil of his preacher with the goodness and sacrificial love of Addie Lyle, who has spent her life helping people and trying to save the children of Chambliss’s church from his controlling, deadly grip.

3) Redemption and hope. To be worthy of my reading time, a story must offer these two elements. I don’t insist on a rosy ending—and believe me, this novel doesn’t have one—but I do want to finish a book with expectations that people can survive and persevere under trying circumstances, that people can experience a positive change of heart, and that ultimately good can triumph over evil. A Land More Kind Than Home fulfills these expectations.

4) Literary merit. In the highly unlikely event Cash should ever read this post, I hope he doesn’t say, “Huh? Where’d she come up with that?” And maybe it’s too much of my inner English teacher coming out, but I found the archetypes—among them, Chambliss, the serpent who beguiles and destroys; Christopher, the innocent, whose death ultimately saves others—skillfully woven into a modern tale of good versus evil. Along with those are mesmerizing imagery and engrossing characters.

            If there is a negative to this book, it is the pacing. At times, the story seems to drag with unnecessary details, especially when nine-year-old Jess narrates. Then again, those details are authentic to the perspective of a young boy and perhaps necessary. And the story’s strengths all but cancel out this minor flaw.    

            So, I guess you can tell I liked this book. Really liked it. I look forward to more work from this gifted southern writer. Your thoughts?

Productive Piddling

            No other season brings out the piddler in me like spring does. When summer temps soar to the high nineties, I wilt faster than impatiens in direct afternoon sunlight. Winter’s chill finds me huddled in my recliner cocooned in terry robe, flannel pajamas, and chenille throw. I do a little better in fall, when that cooling-off period re-energizes me somewhat. But it’s a subdued energy, mostly directed toward storing and protecting—“battening down the hatches”—in preparation for winter.  Spring, however...that's when my piddling rises to an art form.

             The best time for humanity to come to life is when nature is doing the same. The first day I can walk outside sans layers of protective clothing, I do my happy dance. I tour my yard, taking note of what survived the snow and freezing temperatures and what didn’t. I scan the top of a high, bare tree branch to locate the chirping cardinal who’s marking out territory for his summer home.

             And I piddle.

            In fact, piddling is why this post is overdue. It’s hard to sit at a computer when rites of spring are begging to be observed. Rites such as decking out the kitchen in its spring “wardrobe,”  taking my bike out for a quick spin to warm up muscles that have lain as dormant as sleeping plants, strolling the “seasonal” aisle of the grocery store to inspect the Easter candy and gimcrack.  And two sunshiny days in a row insist I go outside and dig...something...anything. It’s too early to plant, but that doesn’t mean I can’t dig.

            A while back, I posted my definition of piddling, defended it as a time-honored tradition, and explained what distinguishes it from CWT (Complete Waste of Time). As evidence that my time hasn’t been wasted, I’m providing proof of my productive piddling. But the most valuable outcome of my piddling—my improved attitude—can’t be shown in a picture. You’ll  have to take my word for that.

              The results of this past week's piddling:

 

            

 The kitchen went from its winter wardrobe...

 

 

 

 

             to its summer one. 

 

 

 Actually, I did do some planting. Got the jump on springtime by trying my hand at a little hot house gardening. We'll see how that turns out.









This is what it's supposed to look like. I'll keep you posted.

                                          Bushes were trimmed and flower beds cleaned,

and most importantly...

Easter baskets got filled and readied for delivery!

(Nothing says Happy Easter like Dusty Cropduster.)

 

          What about you? Has spring brought out your inner piddler?

Practice Savory Seasoning; Always Use a Condiment

             A little over a year ago, my decision to lose weight segued into a focus on healthy eating. Not the Euell Gibbons back-to-nature healthy that insists Grape Nuts cereal tastes like “wild hickory nuts,” but  healthy as in lean meats, vegetables, and fruits, supplemented by reasonable amounts of whatever the heck I like to eat.

            The challenge for me was to find the tastiest way to prepare those meats, fruits, and vegetables so that I wouldn’t want to gorge on all the other not-so-healthy things. Spices, herbs, and condiments helped me meet that challenge.

            Let me admit right up front, I’m no expert in this field. Not by a long shot. Unlike my friend Cheryl, I can’t taste a spoonful of creamy carrot soup, smack my lips, ponder a minute, and say, “I think I detect some nutmeg with a dash of mace.” So here are my tips for those who, like me, are novices in the practice of savory seasoning.

I keep my chart taped inside
the door of my spice cabinet
for quick reference.

         Get a chart...or an app. A few years ago, I found a spice chart in a Woman’s Day magazine which I refer to a lot. Although an experienced cook might find it rather basic, it serves my needs. It tells me which herbs and spices go well with what foods. On the reverse side, it gives some special blends, a couple of which I keep on hand and use often. I looked for a similar chart as a give-away for this post, but couldn’t find one. So, instead, I’ll tell you there’s a free app called Spices (has a pic of a red chili) that’s very good.

 

         Pay attention. Start developing a curiosity about what’s flavoring the food you eat. Take the time to determine what it is you’re tasting...rosemary, basil, bay leaf? Train yourself to know the flavors of various herbs and spices. And if you can’t identify them yourself, ask if possible. You’ll be surprised at how quickly you can start identifying the distinct flavors.

         Organize your spices. Whether you have a rack or an entire cabinet for spices, organize it  (alphabetically) so that you can grab the one you want quickly and so that you’ll know what you have on hand. Keep it updated. Yeah, I know spices are expensive and you hate to throw them out, but that jar of anise you’ve had ever since you got married probably no longer packs much of a punch.

         Grow an herb garden. I talked about this in an earlier post. I don’t have a place to grow herbs year-round, but in the summer I love having small pots of rosemary, sage, basil, chives, and thyme growing on my patio. Nothing fancy, but with just a step out the door, I can have fresh herbs to cook with all summer. (I know they can be harvested and frozen, but I’ve yet to attempt that.) And the scent! Even if I’m not cooking, I love to grind a few leaves between my thumb and finger and inhale deeply.

      Experiment. As far as condiments, we all know the old standbys: mustard, ketchup, and mayonnaise. But to enhance your flavoring pleasure, experiment. I recently discovered I LOVE hot sauce with cayenne pepper. Who knew? Now I sprinkle it on almost everything but fruit or dessert. And I might just try it on fruit one day. There’s a wonderful tea shop near our house, which also offers specialty olive oils and vinegars. I’ve developed a fondness for their balsamic vinegar, and in the summer for a tangy/ sweet combo, I sprinkle it on...don’t laugh (or gag)...ice cream. And speaking of that good ol’ standby, mayonnaise, try making your own. I’ll admit I’ve never done it myself, but it’s on my “to do” list. Once again, Cheryl, the gourmet, flavors ready-made mayonnaise with fresh herbs to give it a special kick.

Just a few of my favorite condiments. Are relishes
 considered condiments? I don't know. But I had to
recommend those little peppadew peppers. If you
 like sweet and tangy, try them!
 

             Many months ago, I vowed to be more “helpful” in my blogging. While I’ve been a little lax with that, this past month I’ve tried to ratchet it up a notch. Here’s hoping you enjoyed it because, not being a domestic diva, I’ve just about exhausted my supply of homemaking helpfulness.

             What about you? Any favorites you'd like to share?

 

 

  

 

Food And More Food

      

I haven't been completely lazy,
although Jack would beg to differ.

           I haven't any new writing to offer this week, but it's not because I've been lazy. Well, not completely lazy. I managed to do a little maintenance on my blog. And I contributed guest posts to two other blogs. Pay these sites a visit and take the time to explore. You'll find food for thought as well as food to prepare and enjoy at Oklahoma Women Bloggers and Brandi's Blog.

WOW--Woo

            “Wooing is a part of love. I love to woo. I love to be wooed. I like to say the word, ‘Woo’!” – Miss Piggy, WSJ Magazine, February, 2014.

            When I read the above quote from that guru of woo, Miss Piggy, I took a cue from a nearby middle school, which always posts a WOW--Word of the Week--on its marquis. In celebration of Valentine's Day, my WOW is woo.

            A search on Dictionary.com clarified the definition for me. The lead definition says woo is a verb (used with an object), meaning “to seek the favor, affection, or love of, especially with a view toward marriage.” The second meaning: “to seek after zealously or hopefully.”

            Most of us would agree wooing is a good, desirable thing. Agreeing on the best way to woo is another matter. Although, I have the utmost respect for Miss Piggy, I take some issue with her wooing technique. Further along in the WSJ article, she claims, “I once went all the way to the Great Swamp in New Jersey to track down Kermit...My tricks for seduction are easy; I simply hold Kermie tenderly in my arms—and don’t let go.” A fine line exists between wooing and stalking or clinging. I fear it might have been crossed here.

When it comes to
Valentine's Day wooing,
 I'm a traditionalist.
 

            The way to woo is tricky because it is so individualized. For example, on the off-chance my husband asks you, please inform him I DO NOT want a Big Hunka Love teddy bear for Valentine's. Ditto for Hoodie-Footie pajamas. I have no space to store a four-foot tall teddy bear, and I can come up with a zillion better ways to spend a hundred bucks. Every time I see an ad for those pj’s, I picture myself ripping them off while in the throes of a hot flash. When it comes to Valentine's Day wooing, I’m a traditionalist. A nice meal, flowers, a sweet card...an expensive piece of jewelry. Give me any—or all—of these, and I’m happy. But that’s just me. Perhaps, for you, “nothing says loving” like being encased like a sausage in pink polyester.

The guru of woo, Miss Piggy, with the object
of her never-ending pursuit.

            While the way to woo is fuzzy, the when is a no-brainer: always. In the aforementioned definitions, I prefer the second one because it puts no limit, no end-all goal on wooing. I question some of Miss Piggy’s techniques, but truly, I have to admire a female who has pursued the same love interest for over thirty years. Would her seeking have remained as zealous if she and Kermit had married? Can’t say for sure, but knowing Miss Piggy’s zeal for other areas of her life, I’m going with the affirmative. (And btw, Kermit, you’re a fool for never having popped the question!)

            When I listed my wooing favs above, I was joking about the expensive piece of jewelry ...sort of. I really don’t think wooing has to be expensive, although occasionally it’s nice to splurge if you can afford it. I consider my friend, Family Law attorney Shel Harrington, to be another guru of woo. Visit her blog for a beautiful Valentine's day idea. And for some other inexpensive but meaningful ways to pursue your beloved, visit her blog here.      

            Let me hear from you. What’s your favorite way to woo or be wooed? (Please keep it PG.)

 

photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/expressmonorail/6396470729/">Express Monorail</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a>