Midnight in Paris and Other Writer Movies

Post by Kerrie

I love going to movies where the main character is a writer. On Tuesday night I went to see Midnight in Paris. The movie, written and directed by Woody Allen, is set in Paris and stars Owen Wilson as a successful Hollywood screenwriter Gil who yearns to finish his novel and get it published (a plight many of us can relate to). The problem is, his fiance Inez (played by Rachel McAdams) is abhorrently against this and wants Gil to stick to his screenwriting because that is what brings in the money.

Gil dreams of being back in Paris in the 1920's--when life was simpler and some of the best authors and artists were alive. As the clock strikes 12 each night, his dreams come true and he is transported back in time and finds himself in the company of some his art and literary heroes.

I enjoyed the film and could really relate to Owen Wilson's character. I felt his pain every time his fiance and her parents made a negative comment about his writing (and there were many). I wanted to throw something at the screen any time they appeared (but I am not a very good aim and probably would've hit the people in front of me on the head...).

The movie was billed as a romantic comedy, but I saw it more as just a light comedy that focused on Gil, his passion for writing and his quest to be true to himself. I would recommend the film to anyone who enjoys art, classic literature and films set in Paris.

Here are some of my other favorite "writer" movies:

What are your favorite writer movies?

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Last Monday Book: Spunk and Bite

Post by Jenny

I have, on my shelf of writers’ books, a slim, mustard-colored paperback. The names Strunk and White stand out in bold, red letters. It is my copy of the venerable guide entitled The Elements of Style. In it, I can find rules of usage (“do not break sentences in two”), principles of composition (“use the active voice”), commonly misused words (“disinterested”), and an approach to style (“do not overstate”). Most of the “elements” are practical and pithy--“Do not overwrite. Do not overstate. Be clear.”

But language can be so vibrant and compelling that in many cases, judicious bending of the rules makes prose more fun to write and to read. Enter this month’s book, Spunk and Bite – A writer’s guide to punchier, more engaging language & style, by Arthur Plotnik.

I liked this book. It was entertaining. It increased my writer’s vocabulary (prosopopoeia, catacosmesis, enallage, parataxis). And it gave me permission to loosen up a little. Take the case of adverbs. Writers are cautioned against using them, to the point where I feel guilty even typing the letters ‘l’ and ‘y’ in direct succession. But Mr. Plotnik points out that the occasional adverb can perk up writing, provided that it is unexpected and original—or perhaps unexpectedly original.

And fragments. Can have their place. When used sparingly.

After reading in Stephen King’s On Writing that any word culled from a thesaurus is the “wrong” word, I’ve been afraid to dip back into my Roget’s. But Mr. Plotnik suggests that a quick romp through a thesaurus inspires fresh word choices that can push writers “in new and unintended directions.”

Through chapters such as Extreme Expression, The Punchy Trope, Words with Foreign Umami, and The Feng Shui of Writing, Mr. Plotnik uses humor and plenty of examples to make a good case for bending Strunk and White’s dusty rules. Not to the breaking point, but just far enough, and just often enough, to kick things up a notch.

As for those vocabulary words:
Prosopopoeia: giving life to inanimate objects
Catacosmesis: delivering statements in descending order of importance
Enallage: using one part of speech for another
Parataxis: joining sentences, phrases, or clauses without conjunctive words

Have you learned any tricks to give your writing more bite?

Moving Forward

Guest Blogger: Dean Miller

Decades ago, before my FAA career moved me out of Oregon, I lived less than a mile from the Columbia River. A paved path wound its way along the shores of the mighty river for approximately a dozen miles. In those days long ago, I regularly ran down to the path and spent the next 45 minutes running in solitude along a river flowing with history. Typically my runs were early morning or late evening adventures. During those hours, along with the waters proximity, I enjoyed a temperately cooler environment. When fog or mist veiled the shoreline, I felt as if I was on a mystical journey.

On many of these runs, when fatigue began to make its present known, I would visualize myself in a "big race" against the greats of the time; Frank Shorter, Greta Wietz, Bill Rodgers and others. Using that "competition," I would push through the last couple miles. It was amazing that I won with such regularity.

Later in life I would lap swim to avoid the pounding on my aging body. Using the same technique, I could “hear” the voice of Jim McKay as he called the races as I “competed” against Mark Spitz in the 1972 Summer Olympics. In my world, it was me, not “Spitzy,” who stood on the top of the podium at the end of each race.

Now, as I enter the marathon-like world of writing, I find myself on my own. I’ve read hundreds of books, by nearly as many authors, but I’m unable to visualize myself as any other writer. This realm is too individualistic to mimic someone else and then call the finished product my own. I can’t even fantasize about working in the same “writer’s space” with famous authors, as I would ask question after question about their style and journey. Consequently, neither of us would get anything accomplished, and I certainly don’t want to upset the likes of Stephen King, Richard Bach or J.K. Rowling.

Someday I’ll find my niche. Until then, I’ll dream about the day when a book I’ve written appears on the local bookstore shelf. But for now, I’ll keep my feet propped up on a chair, with laptop in place, and continue writing. Though I’m tapping the back space button more than any other key, inside I know I am moving forward. That is enough to make me smile.

Do you have a favorite routine or alternate setting you visit to propel your writing forward?

Dean K Miller is a new member of NCW, having joined in January 2011. As a result, he's started his first book, with support from his critique group, "Type Cast." His blog, "And Then I Smiled" can be found at: www.deankmiller.blogspot.com. He writes a monthly on-linefly fishing article for Elkhorn Fly Rod and Reel, and just debut an on-line serial titled "The River Zen" found at www.flyfishingcrazy.com. He also distributes free monthly email, tagged "Miller's Musings" which is his take on random life events. An FAA air traffic controller for 23 years, he lives in Loveland, CO with his wife and three daughters. He spends whatever free time he has left fly fishing on the Big Thompson River.

This Week in the Writing World...June 24

by Brooke Favero

This week, Rachelle Gardner answered the question: Why is Publishing So Slow? I get it. I read the words, I understand them, but I still want to rip hair out of my head. My query is still sitting with two (I would love either one of them) agents. They both list 6-8 weeks for response time. I'm in week 6. Waiting is my favorite...my brutal agonizing favorite. Thankfully the blogs inspire me.

Who inspired you this week?

Understanding Industry & Market

Quicker Release Times with E-Publishing Doesn't Mean a Faster Publishing World @ Babbles from Scott Eagan.

Do Publishers Edit Books Anymore? @ Rachelle Gardner.

Word Count in an Epub World @ BookEnds.

News You Can Use @ The Steve Laube Agency.

The Long and Short of It @ Pimp My Novel.

Obtaining Cover Blurbs @ STET!

Does Our Author Appearance Matter? @ Guide to Literary Agents.

Querying

Can You Be a Nice Agent? @ Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.

Meeting an Agent at a Conference @ BookEnds.

Why Don't Agents Find Many Authors at Conferences @ Babbles from Scott Eagan.

What's it About? Better Queries Through Movie Trailers @ The Other Side of the Story.

Friday Night at the Question Emporium! @ Janet Reid.

Selling Yourself and Selling Yourself Short @ Jennifer Represents...

Sometimes a Little Stalking Is a Good Thing @ Bent on Books.

Crafting

Workshop #3 & Workshop #4 on Beginnings @ Kidlit.com

Ask the Editor: Trusting the Reader @ Alan Rinzler.

Five Openings to Avoid @ Nathan Bransford.

Recipe for a Heroine @ Writer Unboxed.

Ask Yourself Why @ The Blood Red Pencil.

If You Can Make It There...How Setting Can Affect Your Story @ The Other Side of the Story.

Commonly Confused Words @ Rachelle Gardner.

Groan Worthy @ Pub Rants.

New Agent

Lauren is Open for Submissions @ BookEnds.

Listen to your Characters

Post by Kerrie

Last night I had the privilege of hearing three of my favorite local authors speak at Barnes and Noble. Each has a YA book nominated for a Colorado Book Award; Laura Resau, author of The Ruby Notebook, Todd Mitchell, author of The Secret to Lying and Amy Kathleen Ryan, author of Zen and Xander Undone.

They were there to talk about their writing, but we were also treated to stories about Laura's travels, Todd's crazy teenage years and Amy's ghostly roommate.

Since 90% of my writing is nonfiction and creative nonfiction, I am always fascinated with how fiction writers can crank out a whole novel. A lot of the conversation last night revolved around characters and how to be a good listener.


Todd shared that it took him five years to write Secret to Lying. He said his problem was he kept getting in his own way. It wasn't until he realized that he had to give up the story he wanted to tell and instead listen to the story his main character James wanted to tell. Once he was able to do that, Todd found that the novel came together.

Laura said that there is a small part of her in all her main characters, but they eventually evolve into their own form. She also believes in listening to your characters. She said she has conversations with them in order to better understand who they are and what makes them tick. This provides depth to her characters that the reader can relate to.



Amy unconsciously bases her characters on real people. She said that she finds if she tries to control her characters too much she gets bored. She wants her characters to lead her as she writes.


How about you? Do you listen to your characters?

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Editing the Turnips

Post by Jenny

I finally got around to editing my turnips last week. No, I haven’t been gardening without my sunhat, nor have I genetically engineered a new variety of super-literate root vegetables (but how cool would that be?). By “editing,” I mean thinning.

My thumb is only the palest shade of green, but I know the gardening basics. First, the seeds are planted. If all goes well, they sprout. Next, they must be thinned so they have room to develop. I never really enjoy this part of the process. Unlike yank-it-all-out weeding, thinning requires thought, which invariably means I will over-think it. In fact, the whole process reminds me of editing. To understand why, replace every ‘sprout’ in the following two paragraphs with the word ‘sentence.’

When I see a plot of sprouts, I feel proud that I helped them come into being. They look so nice all together in their neat rows. But I know that, without thinning, they will never reach their full potential. So I must get down and dirty and examine each sprout. Some sprouts are obviously weak and underdeveloped—they are the easy ones to remove. Other sprouts are strong and healthy, and their only problem is overcrowding. If the sprouts to either side are fine specimens, too, but doomed by close proximity with their neighbors, how to decide which sprouts stay and which go?

I try to choose the strongest sprout, the one with the best chance of success. Sometimes, it comes down to guesswork. Other times, I have a good feeling about a particular sprout and can’t bring myself to remove it. But that doesn’t mean I won’t return a day or so later, reevaluate that particular sprout, and decide it has to go. Kill your darlings, folks, and pull out your superfluous sprouts.

What about the stuff that gets removed? Well, I’m a firm believer in recycling a good sentence, should the opportunity arise. And as for the baby turnip greens…I tossed them in a mustard vinaigrette, and they were very tasty.

Have you done any thinning out lately? In a manuscript or a garden?

Set the Hook Early

Post by Richard J. Schneider/Denver

Of the cool tips I picked up at the 2011 Northern Colorado Writers Conference, the critical one came from mystery writer Sandi Ault whose session on The First 99 Words reminded me that the opening sentences of my novel were the among the most important – to catch the eye not just of my customer/reader, but also my agent and my publisher.

I say “reminded” because I already “knew” this. More about that later.

I backed into the opening of WATER: A Vic Bengston Investigation, focusing on a bus ride, rather than setting the hook with the crime and a few other morsels. After Sandi's seminar, I retooled the mystery novel between drafts three and four.

Here are the first 110 words of draft three, pre NCWC:
“Vic Bengston felt the trickle of saline sweat snake its way from an armpit gland through a tangle of graying underarm hair and down his right side as the number fifteen bus followed its serpentine path, smoothly moving from one lane to another to gain advantage over mostly SUVs and pickups along East Colfax Avenue. From his window seat on the westbound bus, Vic could see down into the front and rear seats of his fellow travelers as they cruised toward downtown Denver chatting on cell phones, noshing on nibblies and consuming expensive designer coffees, all in air conditioned comfort, while he felt his Sunday morning shower rapidly melting away...”

What did the reader learn? Vic took a bus ride. He sweats and has gray hairs. People eat in their cars. It's Sunday, in Denver.
Ho hum.

Here are the first 107 words of draft four, post NCWC:
“No woman looked elegant with a bullet hole in the back of her head and lying face down in the South Platte River, not even Colorado’s next governor. Vic Bengston burned to see her face, but the cops kept him far away, refusing even to say who she was. That just made him want to find out all the more. He thought about circling around, stashing the newspaper's pool car, and hiking back to the craggy cottonwood snag that caught the body. But bushwhacking his way through mud, water and thistles wasn’t his idea of a fine time, especially on his first day back at the paper.”

What did the reader learn? The murder victim is a woman, a high profile Colorado political figure, shot in the head, thrown into the river. Vic is a driven journalist who has just returned to the newspaper business (from where?). He's already at odds with the police and probably is a risk taker.

A lot more intriguing.

Thank you Sandi and the NCWC.

I should have “remembered” this, because I've done it in the past. One of my readers, who reviews my current fiction drafts, still remembers the opening line to a 15,000 word novel fragment I wrote in 1985.

Former award-winning journalist, governor's energy spokesman, and communications consultant, Richard J. Schneider now writes fiction full time. He lives in Denver. Email: richardjschneider@comcast.net.

This Week in the Writing World...June 17

by Brooke Favero

I loved Scott Eagan's post Just Keep Swimming this week. He says a good writer should have a manuscript in each of the following categories:

• A story outlined
• A story in the initial draft phase
• A story in the critique phase
• A story in the submission phase
• ...and hopefully a story in the marketing phase

I've got WIPs in 3 of the 5 categories. Maybe by the end of the year I can bump my WIP number to 4. How about you?

Understanding Industry and Market

Publishing Time @ Pimp My Novel.

Do Cheap Backlist eBooks Poach Frontlist Sales? @ Pub Rants.

The Myth of the Unearned Advance @ The Steve Laube Agency.

The Pubbed Writer's 7 Deadly Sins @ Writer Unboxed.

Querying

World Enough and Time @ Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.

Developing the Hook in a Query Letter @ Guide to Literary Agents.

Email Etiquette @ BookEnds.

Rejection and Recovery @ Nathan Bransford.

5 Signs that Say You Must be Querying @ Grab a Pen.

The Gift of Insecurity @ Rachelle Gardner.

Ask Daphne! About First Pages @ KT Literary.

Crafting

The 3 C's of Writing The First Page of Your Novel @ STET!

Beginning Workshop #1 @ Kidlit.

Cues from the Coach: Avoid Writer Intrusion @ The Blood-Red Pencil.

Real Life Diagnostics: Opening Thrill of a Thriller @ The Other Side of the Story.

Writer's Block? @ Janet Reid.

Contests

9th Dear Lucky Agent Contest: Women's/Upmarket Fiction @ Guide to Literary Agents.

New Agent

New Agent Alert: Meredith Barnes of Lowenstein Associates @ Guide to Literary Agents.

In Memoriam of Mad Lib's Creator

Post by Kerrie Flanagan

Last week, Leonard Stern, the co-creator of Mad Libs died at age 88. In honor of him and those beloved Mad Libs we all loved as kids, I need your help with this week's post. In the comment box, copy and past the list below, then give me the words that can be used to fill in the blanks.

Next week I will share with you the Mad Lib story that goes with this post so you can see how it reads with your words. Then, based on the answers you give me, I will pick my favorite and that person will win 2 Mad Libs.

ADJECTIVE
FOOD
PLURAL NOUN
ADJECTIVE
SAME FOOD
VERB
ADJECTIVE
VERB
EXCLAMATION
VERB
VERB PAST TENSE

For other Mad Libs type fun, visit Wacky Web Tales.


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The Numbers Game

Post by Jenny

With the recent completion of his advanced sixth-grade math class, my older son reached an important milestone—he has now officially exceeded the level of mathematics I can do without straining, sweating, and muttering under my breath like a deranged woman. I received A’s in all the math classes required of anthropology majors (you can stop laughing now) but please tell me I’m not the only middle-schooler’s mother who had to look up ‘hypotenuse’ this year.

My husband has a much better facility with math than I do, so we have fallen into a natural division of homework duties. He handles more of the numbers, and I help with more of the wordy stuff. I’ve always been more comfortable with words, and I suspect many writers would agree. That’s not to say that writers have no use for numbers, but ours are fairly specialized, including word counts, print runs, agent commissions, and how many hairs will remain on our heads after we finish yet another revision.

But thanks to the web and social media, there’s a whole new bunch of numbers cropping up. Fans, friends, followers, likes, comments, tweets, visitors, page loads…we can now quantify our personal and professional popularity in ways that would have made the mean girls in my high school absolutely giddy. (Remember when ‘follower’ had a more negative connotation, such as Jim Jones or a stranger in the parking lot? These days, “Hey, that guy is following me” doesn’t sound nearly as sinister.)

I understand the purpose and usefulness of many of these statistics. As writers, we want to network, build platforms, and connect with others. We want to be able to show anyone who might be interested in working with us in a professional capacity that we’ve been getting ourselves out there, that we know how to play this new numbers game. And building a personalized following that provides support and feedback and connects us with people all over the world can be really fun.

But I do think we also run the risk of letting the numbers game drive us to distraction. (If you’ve ever spent time fretting over a lost follower, you know what I mean.) The more information we have coming at us, the more time and energy it takes to filter. And I don’t know about you, but I don’t have an infinite supply of either. So when I start to get caught up in the numbers, I ask myself if they are a help or a hindrance. If it’s the latter, I do my best to disengage. Thinking of algebra helps.

Do you find it useful to keep track of your stats?

This Week in the Writing World...June 10

by Brooke Favero

This week's firestorm: The Wall Street Journal's article on YA being too dark. People went crazy. People spoke out. What do you think? Is the current YA market too dark?

Understanding Industry and Market

Market Update @ Pimp My Novel.

Good Day Sunshine for Writers @ Alan Rinzler.

On Editors @ Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.

How To Promote Yourself and Your Book @ Guide to Literary Agents.

Querying

Please Don't Serial Query @ Kidlit.

Write Your Quer FIRST for a Better Book @ Writer Unboxed.

Workshop Wednesday @ BookEnds.

Write a Break In Novel @ Rachelle Gardner.

5 Articles on Knowing When to Submit @ Guide to Literary Agents.

Chasing Trends @ KT Literary.

Crafting

How to Craft a Mystery in a Novel @ Nathan Bransford.

B is for (t0) be Verbs @ The Blood-Red Pencil.

Deadlines--Start Working With Them Before You Are Published @ Babbles from Scott Eagan.

It's a Start: The First Line @ The Other Side of the Story.

Red Herrings: Scapegoating Characters @ Mystery Writing is Murder.

Three Reasons for Writers to Research Right @ STET!

Writing Respite

Post By Kerrie Flanagan
Last week I reveled in a much needed vacation. My immediate family, along with my extended family (18 of total), enjoyed a Caribbean cruise. I kayaked in the ocean in Grand Cayman, I ziplined through the jungle in Roatan, I snorkeled by the Great Barrier Reef and I drove an ATV in Cozumel. Hanging out with my family and having someone else cook for me all week, was also a big plus.


To get the most out of my time off and fully recharge my writing batteries, I had to turn off my writing brain for the week. The first day or two are always a challenge, but then it gets easier. Occasionally an idea would knock on my door. Rather than ignore it, I would acknowledge it and tell it to come back next week. This allowed me the time and space needed to completely relax or immerse myself in our mini-adventures.

I am back now, a little sunburned, probably a few pounds heavier (but so worth it) and adjusting to having to cook for my family again. The ideas I sent away last week are slowly coming back, but because I took time for myself, I am in a better place to receive them and am excited to get back to my writing.

In my opinion, it is imperative that we occasionally take a complete break from our writing and focus on ourselves, our family, gardening, reading, knitting, biking... anything to allow our creative brain some time to recharge. We will be rewarded with clearer ideas, flowing sentences and renewed energy.

What have you done for yourself lately?

My Writer's Report Card

Post by Jenny

Schools everywhere are sending kids off to summer break with a pat on the back and a report card in hand. I was a very grade-oriented student and wanted to get A’s whenever possible. Usually, I did. But it has been years since anyone gave me a report card, and I can’t help but wonder what kinds of grades I’d be pulling in these days. In keeping with the evaluative end-of-the-school-year spirit, I did a report card for myself.

I’ve broken up my writer’s life into the following courses:

English 101: A – My grammar, spelling, and composition are pretty good…at least by today’s standards.

Creative Writing: B- – I didn’t accomplish all of what I hoped to, but does anyone? (That’s a rhetorical question, so if you did, congratulations! But feel free to keep it smugly to yourself.)

Blogging: B – This is an average of two grades—an A for keeping up with my own blogging projects, and a C for visiting and commenting on other blogs.

NCW: B—I didn’t attend many classes or coffees, but I helped with a few studio events and the conference.

Querying: C- – This is also an average grade. I give myself an A- for first semester and a D- for second semester. (It should be an F, but I earned extra credit by cleaning chalkboard erasers...or whatever the equivalent is for smart boards.)

Social Media: C – I feel rather the same way about it as I did about algebra: it doesn’t come naturally to me, it takes up too much time, and am I ever going to use it in the “real world?” So I do just enough to get by.

Because a writer’s life is not only about writing, I’ve graded myself on these additional subjects:

Laundry: A – No one had to leave the house in paper-towel underwear, and that’s good enough for me.

Errands: C – My lack of efficiency cost me here. (Darn you, Target!)

Exercise: B – I’m pretty consistent about it. Except when I’m not.

General mothering: A- – I never sent my boys to school with Pop-Tarts for lunch (though they wouldn’t have complained), I helped with homework, I volunteered, I went on field trips, and I did, to the best of my ability, the hundred other little things moms do on a daily basis.

Wifery (How come midwifery is a word but wifery isn’t?): I guess my husband should grade me on this, but let me get him a bowl of ice cream first.

All in all, I passed, but there’s room for improvement. How did your writer’s report card turn out?

This Week in the Writing World...June 3

by Brooke Favero

It's June, the pools have opened, schools are out (or winding down), and you can smell summer in the air. What's on your summer reading list?

Understanding Industry & Market

Book Trailers, Batman, and Short-Form Promotion @ Pimp My Novel.

Going Public @ Pub Rants.

Preparing for a Release @ Mystery Writing is Murder.

A Critical Marketing Secret: Don't Go It Alone @ Writer Unboxed.

Should You Use RT or the Retweet Button on Twitter @ Nathan Bransford.

Can a Writer Not Embrace Social Media? Sort Of. @ STET!

Querying

Are You Ready to Query? @ KT Literary.

Showing (Not Telling!) How to Pitch! @ Janet Reid.

Querying a Collaboration @ BookEnds.
What I'm Looking For @ Dystel & Goderich Literary Management.

You Have Your Elevator Pitches, Now What? @ Babbles from Scott Eagan.

How I Got My Agent: Frankie Mallis @ Guide to Literary Agents.

Crafting

What's the Story on Backstory? @ Rachelle Gardner.

Physical Cliches @ Kidlit.

Agent Jon Sternfeld On: Engaging Your Audience @ Guide to Literary Agents.

Laying it on the Lie: Commonly Misused Words @ The Other Side of the Story.

Constructing Your First Chapter @ The Blood Red Pencil.

New Agent

New Agent Alert: Jessie Cammack of JABerwocky Literary Agency @ Guide to Literary Agents.

Writer & Artist: Suzette McIntyre

Post by NCW Visual Designer: April Moore

The Northern Colorado Writers exists in order to encourage and support writers. Fortunately, we’re also able to support local artists by displaying their work on the walls of the studio. Every two months, the studio features the work of a different local artist and each time, the studio is transformed into a unique art gallery. And when the artist is also an NCW member—that’s even better!

For the months of May and June, the artwork and photography of NCW member, Suzette McIntyre will be on display. Suzette’s unique and inspiring work is the result of a multi-step process that very few (if any) other artists do. Suzette starts by taking a photograph of the subject, scans it into a program in her computer to create a painted effect, then she adds texture on top of the actual piece.


For example, on “Red Barn at Sunrise” she incorporated the actual landscape into the painting by adding pieces of grass from the location of the barn. Suzette’s background in sculpture, oil painting, and photography has enabled her to create these unique and one-of-a-kind giclee canvases that have earned her numerous awards and trophies, including a showing at the Epcot Center and the Visual Excellence award from Certified Professional Photographers.

Support a fellow NCW member and come by the studio to view Suzette’s unique and inspirational artwork. You can also contact her if you are interested in having Suzette create a special, one-of-a-kind piece for you. You can see more of Suzette’s work on her website, Photography by Suzette ( http://photographybysuzette )