WHAT INSPIRES US TO WRITE?
Jason, Charity and Sandy Campbell, a new member, joined me Wednesday for the Ram’s Meeting. Sandy did ask what things inspired us to write? She was thinking more of colours, or odors, or other sensory stimuli. I gave the matter some thought and I know that if something in daily life bothers me, I want to turn it into humorous writing so I can laugh about it. But I am also inspired to write when I sense an injustice, or when I want to capture a picture of some moment that moved me, or when I want to tell of an event that caught my attention. Sometimes that need to write comes out in poetry, or non-fiction or fiction. It’s kind of amazing the ingredients that go into that pot I stir. So what moves you to take fingers to keyboard or pen to paper?
Jason read his next chapter about Damianos and Kwen. He tells her he can read the coin that contains the secret of where the holy city is, but she doesn’t believe him. The coin is dropped in the water, Kwen passes out, other warriors appear, Damianos is attacked. This chapter ups the tension in the story and with a twist at the end, leaves the reader wanting to know what happens next. It is well written and guaranteed to be a page turner.
I read next, two of my recently edited ‘Honey’ stories. The first story was “One Man’s Haven” about Honey preparing for a winter trip to his cabin at Green Lake and my being very happy for him by the time he actually gets out the door and leaves. The second story was “Only Ten Dollars” about a prolonged and expensive DIY project making a coffee table from a $10.00 purchase at a garage sale.
Charity read to us the background stories for some of her characters in “Salt Water Mermaid”. The first background was about Ma Mere and Jackie, the grandparents of Persephone, who is the main character. The second backstory was about the Sea Witch, who is the other grandmother of Persephone, who longs to return to the sea and take her offspring with her. The first background was told in 3rd person past tense. The second one was told in first person present tense, and was far more riveting. Charity said she thinks that for young adult fiction, editors are currently preferring books written in 1st person present tense.
Sandy didn’t read anything and says she is still mulling over how she wants to tell her stories. She has been a professional driver and travelled all over the continent, so she has many stories to draw from. We hope to hear some of them soon.
Margaret Moffatt had an article on the history of Ashcroft in the January issue of Today’s Senior Newsmagazine. That issue I found at Comfort Plus in downtown Langley when I went to purchase an exercise pulley. Margaret’s words get around, that’s for sure!
Kristi is still studying for her dental hygiene exam, but hopes to be done by the end of February. We are hoping to see her return to us in March. Christine Potter was not well and we wish her a speedy recovery. Annette was busy helping a friend and then came down with a cold herself. We haven’t heard anything from Margaret F. Hope she’s fine.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, February 3rd at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then. May your ink flow freely onto your paper or your fingers fly fleetly across your keyboard as you are inspired to record your creative thoughts!
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Friday, January 22, 2016
Saturday, January 9, 2016
THE REVIEW
‘TWAS A COLD AND FOGGY NIGHT
Yes, Wednesday night was cold and foggy, but Jason, Annette and Charity were all brave enough to venture out and come to the latest Meeting of The Rams.
Jason read his next chapter about Damianos and Kwen. Damionos taunts her mercilessly about her beliefs until she feels faint. Then he tries to comfort her. He also has feelings that she reminds him of someone. She eventually brings out a treasured item and shows it to Damianos, explaining it was something her enemies had tried to destroy, but she still had this rare coin that contained a map to her people’s ancient and sacred home. We really liked the plot twist with the coin being a map.
Annette has re-written all previous chapters in “Within The Tangles”, as she felt she was using too many unnecessary points of view from characters that were not that important to the story. The chapter she read was from the point of view of Janna, the eight year old girl who was abducted. It tells of her being picked up in the middle of the night by a man who smelled different than her father or her brother, and then finding herself locked in a strange room when she awakes in the morning. She saves food that is brought to her through the day, and then puts it in a pillowcase and climbs out a very small window to escape in her bare feet and pyjamas. This is a very strong chapter that keeps readers riveted.
Charity wrote a synopsis of the book she’s writing about Hornby Island and the sea witch. She said it was in response to my saying I didn’t see a plot developing in what she had read so far. The synopsis was very detailed and outlines the story of young Persephone, who moves from Vancouver to Hornby and then eventually back to Vancouver. In between there is some romance, some violence, some murder, and some fantasy with the sea witch. Should be a great story of a young girl trying to find her place in the world.
I read another “Honey” story, this time it was “The Virtue Of Vice”. It tells of my futile attempt to find someone to replace the arborite on my kitchen countertop, when it seemed the consumption of alcohol by Honey and others kept getting in the way.
I brought up the workshop proposal by editor Lynne Melcombe that I had forwarded to everyone. Those who were present were not interested in the workshop but one or two did ask what editing services she provided and how much she charged. I forwarded those questions to her and if I get a reply I will send it out to everyone.
Jason made the comment that since he doesn’t number pages or chapters or name his chapters, he has trouble remembering where he left off reading them to us. That is something to consider, especially when you want to find a specific part of a very long manuscript.
I mentioned how annoying it was that MS Word would always underline in red unusual character names. Charity then informed us that you can add words to the dictionary so that doesn’t happen. Writing this missive, I did just that and the names of Janna and Damianos and Kwen are now part of my Word dictionary on my laptop. Thank you, Charity.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, January 20th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Whatever the weather, I hope to see you then.
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Yes, Wednesday night was cold and foggy, but Jason, Annette and Charity were all brave enough to venture out and come to the latest Meeting of The Rams.
Jason read his next chapter about Damianos and Kwen. Damionos taunts her mercilessly about her beliefs until she feels faint. Then he tries to comfort her. He also has feelings that she reminds him of someone. She eventually brings out a treasured item and shows it to Damianos, explaining it was something her enemies had tried to destroy, but she still had this rare coin that contained a map to her people’s ancient and sacred home. We really liked the plot twist with the coin being a map.
Annette has re-written all previous chapters in “Within The Tangles”, as she felt she was using too many unnecessary points of view from characters that were not that important to the story. The chapter she read was from the point of view of Janna, the eight year old girl who was abducted. It tells of her being picked up in the middle of the night by a man who smelled different than her father or her brother, and then finding herself locked in a strange room when she awakes in the morning. She saves food that is brought to her through the day, and then puts it in a pillowcase and climbs out a very small window to escape in her bare feet and pyjamas. This is a very strong chapter that keeps readers riveted.
Charity wrote a synopsis of the book she’s writing about Hornby Island and the sea witch. She said it was in response to my saying I didn’t see a plot developing in what she had read so far. The synopsis was very detailed and outlines the story of young Persephone, who moves from Vancouver to Hornby and then eventually back to Vancouver. In between there is some romance, some violence, some murder, and some fantasy with the sea witch. Should be a great story of a young girl trying to find her place in the world.
I read another “Honey” story, this time it was “The Virtue Of Vice”. It tells of my futile attempt to find someone to replace the arborite on my kitchen countertop, when it seemed the consumption of alcohol by Honey and others kept getting in the way.
I brought up the workshop proposal by editor Lynne Melcombe that I had forwarded to everyone. Those who were present were not interested in the workshop but one or two did ask what editing services she provided and how much she charged. I forwarded those questions to her and if I get a reply I will send it out to everyone.
Jason made the comment that since he doesn’t number pages or chapters or name his chapters, he has trouble remembering where he left off reading them to us. That is something to consider, especially when you want to find a specific part of a very long manuscript.
I mentioned how annoying it was that MS Word would always underline in red unusual character names. Charity then informed us that you can add words to the dictionary so that doesn’t happen. Writing this missive, I did just that and the names of Janna and Damianos and Kwen are now part of my Word dictionary on my laptop. Thank you, Charity.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, January 20th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Whatever the weather, I hope to see you then.
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
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