Writing

Today I made progress on writing Murder on Sprinkle Lake.  I have to say it was a lot of fun, too, because I had three critiques in front of me to look at.  I like trying to figure out the best way to write something -- it's fun to see what others think too.  I tell ya, my critique buddies are incredible.  I hope they get something from me too. I always feel like I receive so much more than I give.

Someone asked about advice for beginning writers.  I haven't been published, but I do have an opinion on the matter.  Here it is:  1) The first and second time through don't worry at all about punctuation or grammar-- just let the story spill out and see what happens.  2) Have a bunch of  different types of people critique your work . 3) look at all the feedback when fixing. 4)go to conferences and book festivals to learn from other published authors and professionals in the field. 5) read a lot in the genre you're writing in and 6) never, ever give up!

The MidSouth conference in Nashville is approaching.  I can't wait to attend! Im all registered and everything. The Regional Advisor had much patience with me -- I really messed up filling out my application. We got things straightened out and in the course of talking I learned she wrote a book (not published yet) that is set in Newburgh-- the very town I live in.  Cool. Look forward to buying her book in the future.

Our Memosa Tree

Aren't these blooms lovely?  This beautiful Memosa tree is in our back yard overlooking the pond. Memosa's attract hummingbirds and grow real well in this part of the country (southern Indiana).  They have the most unique soft looking yet spikey blooms I've ever seen.  I suspect there are people wandering out in California with hair modeled after this flower.

We stand under this tree all summer long to feed the fish, turtles, and ducks that swim by--mostly fish.  Last summer our neighbors bought some white ducks with big fluffy tail feathers.  They were pretty cute and hung out on the pond close to our house.  We'd feed them. My daughter encouraged them to come near to the house so she could sit on the step by our back door when she threw bread crumbs.   They'd come on land and in close until something spooked them; it was the funniest thing ever to see them run back to the water.   Talk about waddling!

 It's amazing how fast these trees grow!  We just planted them as small saplings a few years ago and 'poof' now they're regualr trees.  Sort of like kids I guess...

Sadly the two white ducks do not hang out on our pond anymore.  Their quack is louder than the other ducks and more nasal sounding.  I hear that quack every now and then on a different pond so they're still around.

David Beem and family

I finally figured out how to post this picture!  David, Cary, and son Max Beem met us at Borders a few weeks ago.  Nice, nice people...  Very talented cellists--both of them.  In fact, David was the principal cellist in the Evansville Philharmonic for a number of years.  You can read more about his background if you click on his picture under followers on this blog.

I came to know them because our daughter, Suzanne, has an interest in the cello and was fortunate to have David as an instructor.  The Beems have since moved to northern Indiana where Max was born and David bravely stepped into the wonderful world of writing.  He has written an adult Novel called The Abyss of Chaos and I can honestly tell you it's good because I read it myself.  I feel very fortunate to have David as a critique partner.  He critiqued half my Murder on Sprinkle Lake for me and his remarks were very helpful.  Sometimes I think people feel critiquing means criticizing.  David's not about telling me everything I do wrong. He was great about explaining what he found interesting or funny too.     After all, how can we repeat what we do right if we never hear what it is?  There is always something right...  His experience as a muscian and teacher gave him exposure to critiquing.  He feels, and I agree, that if critiquing is done poorly it can be hurtful and not very helpful.  I look up to him and am very confident he will succeed at anything he decides to tackle!

David is not the only one that critiques my work.  Of course I have my husband and other family members (when they have time) read stuff, but also the people in the SCBWI Evansville Critique Group led by Christie Atherton.  Talented writers (and one illustrator) in that group!  I love to use my imagination and express emotion through writing and am grateful to all of them for their help.  I find writing difficult, but that's part of the fun.  Nevertheless, we writers have to have thick skin.  Most people get plenty of rejections, spend a lot of time alone, and don't make very much money.  Gotta love the process to keep at it!

My Root Canal

I wanted the subject of this blog to be about my writing critique partner, David Beem, but I'm having technical difficulties--the picture I have of him and his family won't post. So I've decided to write about my recent trips to the dentist instead.

What pops into your head when you hear the word DENTIST?   The images in my mind flash about as though in a panic when I hear the word spoken.  It's hard to say what I think of first, but I do imagine gloved hands holding silver instruments, face masks, a loud drilling noise and a square light-- not the sort of light you feel like moving toward, but a light with a plastic shield full of finger prints. Those thoughts are the reason I delay going to the dentist. 

 My tooth started aching in early May.  I ignored it, but it wouldn't go away.  Advil helped.  After a week of wishing it would just take care of itself, I gave up and went to the dentist -- Advil was a good friend of mine by then and the relationship was growing stronger.  What the dentist told me was my back molar had a crack and if I didn't have a root canal, it would be like a rock hitting a windshield- the crack would spread and pretty much kill me (not literally)-- fill me with agony and then break apart.  Ahh- the joys of aging...

My root canal was done at a place in Evansville that specializes in that sort of thing.  The professionals reassured me there would be no pain.  They were honest about that.  My whole head felt numb when they were finished injecting me with Novocaine--"time for a school picture!"  Just kidding. ( When my face is sagging and I'm drooling that's usually when a photographer shows up. If you saw my school pictures, you'd believe me.)  What I found out was, although there was no pain, my mouth had to be held open with special instruments.  It was stretched as wide as it could be and then the Dr. asked me periodically if I could open my mouth wider. That was insane!  But, being the good patient that I am, I tried.

  Before he started, I was handed safety glasses. That was a little unsettling. 

Can you just imagine what they saw when they looked at me sitting in that chair?  I'm pretty sure it was scary. 

The assistant told me to raise my arm if I needed them to stop for any reason at all.  I wondered how fast they could get that mouth brace of me, but I figured there was no need to worry because people have root canals all the time and I've never heard anything outrageous about the procedure.  However,  I did raise my hand after awhile because I had this little problem of feeling like I was going to suffocate, I only gagged.  The Dentist said, "Oh that's just your saliva collecting in the back of your throat.  Just ignore it."  Could I argue? No.  He began to drill and my leg started shaking --totally out of control.  There was nothing I could do about it because it's a side effect of a medication I'm on.  I saw the assistant look from my mouth to my leg several times.  I knew it was annoying her.  What could I say?  Finally she said very nicely, "Would you please stop shaking your leg, it makes it shake up here where we're working.  Me with my mouth open as wide as an African Hippo yawning, just blinked at her.  I thought okay.  Maybe I can control my leg.  I put a lot of concentration on it and found I was somewhat successful.  It was tough to get over the feeling of drowning in my own spit and calming my leg all at the same time. 

 I'm not sure how much time went by, but this was not a five minute procedure, I assure you.  Have to give them credit, though, they are doing their best to make people as comfortable as possible-- there was a television on the ceiling.  I have no idea what was on... And, they were right, there was no pain.

Cool Microscope!

My husband, Bruce, is holding a microscope in his hand. Isn't that cool!?  If only I had that tool when I was in my seventh grade science class.  Half the battle I had then, was managing that beast of a microscope we had to use to zoom in on something teeny weeny.  I had as much luck finding things as I did in astronomy looking at the stars! Anyway, as Bruce checks the coating on the small, gold lid for anomalies we can't see with the naked eye, the close up image shows on his computer screen--like an ultrasound. I just had to take a picture. 

Indiana SCBWI 2010 Conference

This was not my first writers conference, however, it was my first one in Indiana.  I am so happy I went because not only did I meet new people and learn a few things, but I met my Kenosha  friend, Diana, in Hammond where the conference was held.  I can't even begin to tell you how good it was to see her again!  It was like we picked up where we left off ten years ago.  She and her daughter, Tea, stayed with us (my daughter, Janine came with me) at the Fairfield Inn.  I gladly missed the conference stuff on Friday night so I could visit with them. Diana was my daughter, Janine's, first violin teacher.  She saw something in her that sparkled and Janine, little as she was, could feel that.  They had a connection, Diana was able to introduce Janine to the world of music.  I will be forever grateful!!!!  Diana runs a music festival now.  Check out her website http://www.lucitoscane.org/.

Saturday was my time to focus on the conference.  I am on the Indiana SCBWI list serve -- it was so nice to finally put some names and faces together!  There were many things I enjoyed about the conference, but I have to say listening to Lisa Graff talk about her revision work was most interesting to me.  She wrote her book fourteen times from start to finish and saved every copy!  Lisa read from the different writing stages of that book so we could see how her manuscript changed over time.  Lisa Graff is Associate Editor for Farrar Straus Giroux and author of  Umbrella Summer .  Check her website out at http://www.lisagraff.com/ . 

The picture is of Trisha Batey, conference coordinator (with the classy glasses) and Lisa Graff.  The people that attended the Focus On The Novel conference are able to submit their manuscripts to Associate Editor, Beth Potter, at Farrar Straus Giroux Books for Young Readers.  However, Lisa does not recommend anyone submitting anything until their manuscript is completely finished.  That means there isn't any more fixing to do.  There is a problem with writers submitting too early.  One thing all three speakers agreed on was "You can't know the true beginning of your story until you know the end."  Stephen Roxenburgh founder of namelos http://www.namelos.com/ and award winning Author Helen Frost were also guest speakers and very interesting to listen to.

Janine and I headed home on Sunday May 16th, happy with our weekend. We needed a potty break in Kentland, IN so I pulled off the road to a McDonald's.  The first thing that caught my eye in the parking lot was this carriage.  I thought What would the Amish be doing at McDonald's? The vehicle was without a horse so I decided right away it couldn't be the Amish, they're not that high-tech.  First things first-- to the bathroom I went.  When I came out, I asked the man sitting at a table near this vehicle if I could take a picture of it.  He said, "Sure!"  He smiled and added proudly, "I made that from a lawnmower."

                                                                         His name is James N. Miller from Kentland, IN.

I don't have any pictures of Janine and Tea!  Diana will be sharing some soon so I'll post more in the near future!

Matthew and Emily

 This is Matthew and his girlfriend Emily!