Phrases New & Old

Post by NCW Member Darlene Mueller Morse

In a couple of days it will be crossover time where we go from one year into the next. In real life, such as in day-to-day conversations, we are not concerned about words, phrases, top-ten this or that lists or other written pieces that seem to proliferate unfettered about the multimedia.

I look at my cats and see that they really don’t give a hoot, or maybe a hiss, about the New Year. It’s all just another day to them. Another chance to chow down at the cat bowl, another chance to slip out the deck door when no one was looking, or another chance to sneak a treat from the chewed-open bag of Catsnackers.

Outside, the trees are deep into their winter phase, limbs bare of leaves and sap at a near standstill. Snow, some even from a week or more ago, covers all the shady spots. More than likely, this snow will carry over into 2010. Snow doesn’t care when it fell or when it melts.

I noticed that the sun sets a tiny bit later in the day than it did just a week ago. It didn’t read the paper to check out when the Solstice occurred. It has its own personal calendar.

But we people, we love our end-of –the-year traditions. Just as we seem to want a “white Christmas” because of some song once penned, we seem to want to categorize the old year and look forward to a new year with all the many possibilities.

For some odd reason, each year that passes is given a label as being some sort of “bad” year and aren’t we glad it’s over and let’s get on to this new year. Almost as another year for us to mess up.

I feel that words are so powerful when they are used to describe the past, the present and the future. Sometimes, there is even controversy as to which words best describe these three phases. What should we call the first decade of the New Millennium? I have a feeling that it will be called the “aughts.” Most of what I have read has used this term. And, as words usually do, once they have gone main stream, they stick. No getting around that fact.

To describe our new year, 2010, is pretty easy. We no longer are faced with that daunting awkwardness that befell us in 2000. Now, we most likely will all say “Twenty-ten.” We are loosened from the odd phrase of adding the “0-something” from our vocabulary. The future dates are poised to be justly called in the same form. However, there is still the feeling of science fiction when thinking or saying or, most importantly, writing about the “future.” 2039? Wow. We can’t imagine that right now. Check with us in a few decades.

I hope that those many lists of phrases to be “dumped” in the new year include this: “making it your own.” Due to the onslaught of all those shows such as “American Idol, this phrase has proliferated. It was supposed to mean something like putting one’s personal stamp on a song or dance that went mainstream. “Ownership” is another similar term. Every day in all sorts of situations, people take things and “make them their own.” This includes probably buying things but also just the act of assimilation. Anytime anyone does something, it pretty much is their own.

My wish for you writers and all the various cogent parts of writing, is that for this next year, Twenty-ten, the phrases and new words that pop up in our vocabulary will be more creative, more inventive and much more interesting than what we have seen in the last decade. Or year. Or whatever, man.

What phrase do you hope disappears forever? Is there a phrase you hope makes a comeback?

ReBooWee: 1/2 Way Through

Wow, we are halfway through the ReBooWee challenge and it is all finally starting to click. I'm already looking forward to my next book. (If you have just heard about ReBooWee, there are still 5 weeks left in the challenge and still time for you to jump on the reading bandwagon).


This past week I read Nora Ephron's book Wallflower at the Orgy. I bought this because I loved the title, I love Ephron's movies and I wanted to read one of her books.

I did not realize that she started her writing career as a journalist. This book is a collection of her magazine articles from the late 60's and early 70's.

I enjoyed 4 out of the 13 articles. This had nothing to do with the writing so much as it had to do with the topics/subjects. Most of these articles were written about popular culture and literature during that time. And since I was born in '68, I couldn't relate to a lot of it because I didn't know the person or had never read the book being written about.

The article about Helen Gurley Brown who was the editor-in-chief for Cosmopolitan magazine for 32 years, turned out to be my favorite. This profile was not only well-written, but fascinating as well. For someone like myself who writes for magazines, this piece is a good example of what components make up a good profile.

In the preface of the book, Ephron includes some great tips for journalists, including this one, that caused me to stop and think:
"The standard magazine profile these days seems to be written after the reporter spends a lot of time with the person the profile's about and only with that person. I can't imagine that. I can't imagine even going to see the person the profile's about until I've seen twenty or thirty people who knew him."

What did you read this week for ReBooWee?
What did you learn from this book that you can apply to your own writing?

Book Quotes

"There is more treasure in books than in all the pirates' loot on Treasure Island...and best of all, you can enjoy these riches every day of your life." ~Walt Disney

"Read an hour every day in your chosen field. This works out to about one book per week, 50 books per year, and will guarantee your success." Brian Tracy

"Books are companions, teachers, magicians, bankers of the treasures of the mind. Books are humanity in print." ~Barbara Tuchman

Merry Christmas

For my family and many others, today is a day of celebration, love and family as we celebrate the birth of Christ. I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a joyous day. ~Kerrie

The Future of Publishing

In a recent post by literary agent Nathan Bransford, "The Year In Publishing," Bransford addresses some hot topics over the past year. One of those is E-Publishing. With the Kindle,
Sony Digital Reader and smaller computers, people are relying and more and more on their fancy gadgets to provide them with books, newspapers and magazines.

Bransford says, "The impact of e-books on the book industry remains more theory than fact at this point as they comprise only 5-10% of sales, but they're booming, and the massive earthquake that they represent is beginning to rumble."

Will publishers be necessary any more if everything goes electronic? Unlike a decade ago where the only place to get books and magazines was in a bookstores, we can now download or view all of that from the Internet. If E-publishing continues to rumble, as Bransford says, will writers have to go to publishers or will they be able to post their own work, making publishers a thing of the past?

Bransford continues by saying, "If e-books eventually comprise 50% or 75% or 90% of sales and e-book vendors take all comers, publishers are going to have to make themselves appealing to authors rather than the other way around, while still confronting the perennial challenge of how to stay profitable."

To me these are interesting things to think about and pay attention to. What are you thoughts on E-publishing and the state of the publishing industry in general?

ReBooWee: 3 Weeks Down, 6 More to Go

Hello ReBooWee participants,

I apologize for the late ReBooWee post. The last three days were crazy, so I hope you will forgive my late post. Here is a recap of my crazy days.

• Reading
  
• Bleeding miniature dachshund from a bump on his leg
  
• 1 church orchestra performance
  
• Bleeding miniature dachshund
• Lame attempt at bandage
  
• Trip to vet-surgery scheduled for Tues.
• New and improved bandage
  
• Reading
  
• Neighbor open house
• Bleeding miniature dachshund-new and improved bandage didn't work
  
• Trip to Emergency vet
• Well-bandaged dachshund
• A few hours sleep
• 3 church orchestra performances
• Reading
• Restful dachshund
• Make family calendar
• Reschedule surgery
• Reading
• Sleeping
• Dachshund surgery
• Dachshund-free day of shopping
• Dachshund home with another bandage
• Reading
• Sleeping
• Dachshund chews bandage off
• Back to the vet
• Dachshund gets fashionable cone, now he can't reach bandage.
  

Whew. I hope this whole thing doesn't keep repeating itself.

Anyway, I was able to finally get through my book for the week and I loved it. I read Victoria Hanley's YA book, Violet Wings. Here are 8 words/phrases to describe the book:

• Fairies
• Genies
• Zaria
  
• Enchanted-land
• Evil-Fairy
• Power
  
• Friends
• Good-vs-Evil

What did you read this week? Can you describe it in 8 words or less?

Searching for Silence

Post by NCW member Pam Wolf

If you are a writer wannabe and have been struggling to get past that 'hey, I'm never going to get this #!!*# published", just take a look at the Northern Colorado Writer's website. You will find help for sure but more than that you will find an example of how one person with a good idea, persistence and energy can make a difference and change lives. And it just might make you into a writer who is having the time of her life.

It happened to me. Kerrie Flanagan's vision that she wanted to create a way to encourage and support writers of all genre's and levels on their journey to writing success has been helping almost 200 writers in the two years since she began to develop her vision.

And like they say in horse circles, she was able to get me on the bit! In order to convince a 1,000 lb animal that wants nothing more at the moment than to graze in a nice green pasture, or to kick up her heels with her friends, to accept a saddle and bridle and listen, of all things, to someone else's idea of what she needs to do today, is a struggle. Unless you realize that deep down the horse, as well as the rider (writer), want to be useful and to please, each in their own way of course.

At the beginning of November I attended the NCW retreat at
Sylvan Dale Ranch. While there I set a goal, or rather an intention, to get back to something I tried to do almost two years ago but gave up on. I had decided to start a blog. But I didn't get very far. I learned it was about more than the blog, it was about being willing to be honest about who I am. I had to quit using all the other stuff that was going on in my life as an excuse to blow it off. And I had to commit.

Sidestepping or putting on the shelf will not work anymore if I am to be honest. Reconnecting strands is what it is all about now, strands that have been forgotten or broken and leave me feeling empty.

I will say that in my often fuzzy unfocused brain I have learned how important space and quiet time is in order to write. I yearn for the times when I can find the pathway into that magic place where the thoughts begin to come clear. I write to make sense of my life so I will be able to recognize myself and know what I have to say.

While at the retreat I think we all had the chance to connect to those magic moments. As we began we read these words by well known southwestern poet, Nancy Wood.

It is our quiet time.
We do not speak because the voices are within us.
It is our quiet time.
We do not walk because the earth is all within us.
It is our quiet time.
We do not dance because the music has lifted us
to a place where the spirit is.
It is our quiet time.
We rest with all of nature.

Thank you Kerrie for those nurturing moments of quiet and the opportunity to listen to our own voices.

What do yo do to connect to those "magic moments?"

ReBooWee:Week 2 comes to a close

Post by NCW director Kerrie Flanagan

Hello Fellow Readers,

We are at the end of week 2 and getting ready to start week 3. If you are just hearing about ReBooWee (Read a Book a Week), I hope you will consider joining us for the next 6 weeks and report back in each Monday (even if you aren't always successful) Thumbs up to those who have already read 2 books in 2 weeks and are ready to read more.

I have to admit it has been a challenge, especially at this time of the year, but I am forging ahead with the hopes of starting a new reading habit. I have always been a binge reader. I will attack a book, read it in a few days and then not read another one for a few weeks. My hope is that through ReBooWee I will become more consistent with my reading and pace myself better.

My book this past week was the nonfiction book Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life, by Anne Lamont. I must confess, I still have 32 pages to go, but I will finish those by the end of the day and then start on my next book.

I chose this book because it comes up all the time in different writing circles and I figured it was time to read it. I enjoyed it, but for this book, if I wasn't under the self-imposed pressure of finishing it in a week, I would have spread it out more. I would have read a chapter at a time and let the message of each one sink in, roll around in my brain and marinate, before moving on to the next one.

One passage from the book that stood out for me was:
"I try to warn people who hope to get published that publication is not all that it is cracked up to be. But writing is. Writing has so much to give, so much to teach, so many surprises. That thing you had to force yourself to do--the actual act of writing--turns out to be the best part...The act of writing turns out to be its own reward."

So how about you? Did you come across any challenges this week? What did you read? Can you share a favorite sentence or passage from the book?

Happy Reading,
~Kerrie

p.s. This week I am going with some fiction. :-)

The More You Read, The More You Write

As we approach the end of the 2nd week of ReBooWee, I want to share this article with you by NCW member Michelle Mach who found an interesting correlation between how much she read and how much she wrote.

The More You Read, The More You Write.

Enjoy and happy reading AND writing!
~Kerrie

Northern Colorado Writers Conference

After a lot of hard work and tweaking of the website, the registration for the 5th annual Northern Colorado Writers Conference is finally up and ready to go.

This is the first big hurdle and I know there is still a lot of work ahead of me, but I am excited. There is always a rush for me once I open the registration. It makes the whole thing finally seem real. Plus it reminds me that it is getting close and all the things still left to do race around in my head vying for my attention.

I hope you will consider joining me and the other writers for an informative, fun and inspiring two days.

Character Sketch

Post by NCW member Carolyn Yalin

I’ve been thinking about another project. This time, I’m going to do things differently, I’m going to outline (or Mindmap) and do a character sketch.

I’ve taken a some great writing classes from Chris Ransick and Amy Kathleen Ryan, and I’ve read some fabulous books that have helped me to compile my own Character Sketch I thought I’d share with you all. Hope it helps you, as I am sure it will help me!

Character Sketch

Driver’s License Stats
Sex:
Age:
Height:
Weight:

Photo and Video Details
Hair Colour:
Body Type:
Mouth:
Clothing:
Shoes:
Common Gesture:
Good Habit:
Bad Habit:

History
Birthplace:
Hometown:
Parents:
Parents’ Jobs:
Siblings:
Best Friend:
Rival:
Boy/Girlfriend:

Expand some of the above.

1. Does your character get along with her/his family?
2. How did the best friend become the best friend? What do they share in common? Where did they meet? Why do they like each other?
3. How did the rival become the rival?
4. How did boy/girlfriend become a partner?

Digging Deeper

1. What is your character’s favourite song/book/food/hobby/person?
2. What feature(s) would your character like to change about him/herself?
3. What is your character’s greatest flaw? What is their greatest attribute?
4. Does your character have a secret? What would happen if it was revealed?
5. Describe your character’s best day?
6. What is your character most scared of?
7. What is your character’s most embarrassing moment?
8. When was the last time your character felt pure happiness?
9. If your character was granted one wish, what would it be?
10. List twenty words/phrases that describe your character.
11. What motivates your character?
12. What or who does your character fear?
13. What does your character need to achieve by the end of the story?
14. What does your character want to achieve by the end of the story?
15. What external factors stop your character from getting what s/he want?

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Carolyn is writing her first novel, On the Heels of a Rainstorm. Visit her blog: http://carolynyalin.wordpress.com

"Ever since I can remember, I’ve wanted to write. One day I decided to just do it (thanks, Nike). My short stories have been published in Mountain Scribe Anthology 2004 and 2006, Cacophony 2005, and Our Canada. I have also contributed as an editor for The Illustrated Principles of Pool and Billiards and the Front Range Review." ~Carolyn

ReBooWee: End of first week

Hi fellow ReBooWee participants. It is the end of week one and I am anxious to hear how it went for you.

I have to admit, without the pressure of ReBooWee and the accountability to all of you, I would not have made the time to read. I would have spent the time watching t.v. or surfing the Internet.

I am so glad I spent the time reading instead. I finished an inspiring book called, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, a true story about a young African boy who couldn't afford a secondary (Jr. High/High school) education, but read books on electricity and through perseverance and hard work built a windmill out of scrap parts that eventually changed his life and that of his village.

There was a quote in the book that not only applied to William Kamkwamb's story, but to our first week of ReBooWee, "If you want to make it, all you have to do is try."

I tried and I did it! Now I am already looking forward to finishing another book this week.

Were you able to finish a book? If so what did you read? Can you share one sentence about the book?

If you didn't get to finish a book, it's not too late to get involved. This is a brand new week, so jump on board and see what happens.

Happy Reading!
Kerrie

Book Review: 2010 Guide To Literary Agents

Post by NCW Director Kerrie Flanagan

2010 2010 Guide to Literary Agents
Edited by Chuck Sambuchino
362 page, soft cover book
Published By Writers Digest Books
$29.99

My Rating: 5 pencils

As a full-time editor for Writers Digest books and frequent conference presenter, Chuck Sambuchino has his finger on the pulse of the publishing industry, especially when it comes to literary agents. Each year, Sambuchino updates, revises and includes new articles in the Guide to Literary Agents, which makes each edition feel like a brand new book.

Any writer looking to find a literary agent should have a copy of the 2010 Guide to Literary Agents. It is more than just a market guide with the contact information for agents.

When searching for an agent, Sambuchino follows the creed of the boy scouts; be prepared. “Searching for a literary agent can be overwhelming, whether you’ve just finished your first book or you have several publishing credits on your resume...But before you go directly to the listings of agencies in this book, take time to familiarize yourself with the way agents work and how you should approach them. By doing so, you will be more prepared for your search and ultimately save yourself effort and unnecessary grief.”

The 2010 Guide to Literary Agents provides authors everything they need to be prepared

The book is divided into six sections:
• Getting Started
• Contacting Agents
• Sealing the Deal
• Perspectives
• Markets
• Resources

The first four include informative articles by Sambuchino and other writing professionals with topics like, how to research an agent, how to write a good query and synopsis, negotiating your book contract and marketing your book.

One article is full of quotes from agents about what they don’t want to see in chapter one of a book. Agent Stephany Evans said, “I’m turned off when a writer feels the need to fill in all the backstory before starting the story; a story that opens on the protagonist’s mental reflection of their situation is (usually) a red flag.”

“Give them exactly what they ask for,” said agent Paul Lamb. “I know that agents seem like a disgruntled bunch with a classic Napoleon complexes, but I assure you that we are diehard fans of writing who want to contribute to the world of books.”

Most writers understand that acquiring an agent is an important and in some cases necessary step to getting their book published. In the 2010 Guide to Literary Agents, Sambuchino provides the tools needed so writers can all find the right agent.

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Disclosure: I was sent a review copy of this book by F&W Media

The Lost Symbol: One Writer's Thoughts

Post by NCW member Laura Lee Carter

Just finished Dan Brown’s new book, The Lost Symbol and I cannot say that I loved it. Of course I wasn’t crazy about the The Da Vinci Code either. His writing is mediocre at best, but I do enjoy learning some philosophy, science and history along the way.

There are a number of interesting ideas discussed in The Lost Symbol but the one I enjoy exploring the most is at the very end of the book. Katherine, a scientist involved in research into the Noetic sciences, appears to be a composite of many of the leading figures in this real-life area of study.

Here’s their own description of what the Noetic Sciences are:

“The word “noetic” comes from the Greek word nous, for which there is no exact equivalent in English. It refers to “inner knowing” or a kind of intuitive consciousness—direct and immediate access to knowledge beyond what is available to our normal senses and power of reason. As defined by psychologist-philosopher William James in 1902, noetic refers to “states of insight into depths of truth unplumbed by the discursive intellect. They are illuminations, revelations, full of significance and importance, all inarticulate though they remain; and as a rule they carry with them a curious sense of authority…”

Noetic sciences use scientific methods to explore the “inner cosmos” of the mind (consciousness, soul, spirit) and how it relates to the “outer cosmos” of the physical world. In other words, they study how people come to know things or affect things through experiences or capacities (intuitions, synchronicities, psi, “after-death” communication, energy healing, etc.) that have no apparent rational explanation, and what this says about the nature of human consciousness.”

Near the very end of the book, Katherine starts talking about how powerful thoughts can be in impacting our world, the astounding power of focused conviction and intention. Do our minds have the power to change physical matter, and literally manifest all that we desire?

Katherine says yes, but well-directed thought is a learned skill, one which some of us have far greater natural ability with than others. To manifest an intention requires laser-like focus, full sensory visualization, and a profound belief in what you are attempting to create.

This, in the end, is what this book is about. We humans need to finally acknowledge our own power of intention, the power of our minds to manifest a better world, and then use that focused energy to change our present reality.

Laura Lee Carter aka the Midlife Crisis Queen!
Life Change Coach, Author, Motivational Speaker