WORK IN PROGRESS
The last meeting of the Rams saw six dedicated writers come together to share what they are working on. Luke, Annette, Charity, Margaret F. and Carolynn all joined me Wednesday to prove we are all still writing!
Margaret wrote an article on “Babes In The Wood” that she wants to submit for newspaper publication in January, which is the anniversary of when the bodies were found in Stanley Park. She called the article “A Closer Look At The File”, and it starts with the haunting questions of why the children were never identified and why the case was never solved. We had some discussion on word length for newspaper articles and ways to edit. We all hope the article will see print as those murdered children deserve to be remembered.
Luke read the next scene from his “Heart Of The Earth” where Goren has pulled the girl out of the water. When she comes to, she has no memory of who she is or what happened to her. Their interaction is rancorous and he goes to leave, but then she forlornly asks him to show her the way to the nearest town. Goren’s protective spirit is being tested.
Charity read from “Trixie Trouble” where she is standing before Marley with his gun pointed at her. He wants her tried for his son’s murder, and the Preacher wants her trial to be a precedent for law and order. He reveals a badge he wears as a Texas Ranger. Marley shoots at her, but she escapes by jumping down from the crumbling ridge. The poor heroine is disaster incorporated and no one is helping her.
Annette said she wouldn’t be reading. Her life has been busy with personal matters. Maybe she is collecting more fodder for her novel about Maxine?
Carolynn said she had writers’ block. She had started on a Young Adult fantasy novel that included the power of magic contained in books as a commodity that people want to control. She wasn’t sure yet exactly where the plot was going. Charity suggested using an outline. And I suggested using a “snake in a drawer”, something totally unexpected to move the action along. We are all looking forward to hearing what happens.
I had finished with my most recent edit of “Honey Signed The Waiver” and said that Wendy Francis, another Ram unable to attend Meetings anymore, had agreed to proof read the manuscript for me. Many thanks to Wendy. I also read the cover letter I am working on for when I submit to a publisher. My cover letter included a comprehensive writer’s bio and credits. Charity said I should mention also that the stories are heartwarming and I will do that.
The next Meeting of The Rams will be Wednesday, December 6th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. This will be our last Meeting before Christmas so may The Muse inspire you now!
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Friday, November 17, 2017
Thursday, November 2, 2017
THE REVIEW
TRICK OR TREATERS
Luke, Charity and Annette joined me here last night and since I’d only had four Halloween trick or treaters the night before, there was lots of leftover candy out on the table to feed The Muse.
To start, I asked Luke and Charity how they made out at the Surrey International Writers’ Conference. Luke said in a casual discussion before supper on the Friday night, he was invited by Donald Maas to submit his manuscript for “The Heart Of The Earth”. That happened unexpectedly and Luke was so pleased.
Charity went to the Conference as a volunteer and did a lot of networking with possible mentors. She learned she should be treating her writing as a business and should set a realistic timeline. She analyzed her present time commitments and realized she spends about five hours a week writing. When her youngest starts kindergarten next year, she hopes to double the amount of time she can devote to writing.
Luke chimed in that he makes sure he writes a bare minimum of 200 words per day, even if it’s not until he climbs into bed at night, just before he goes to sleep. This all reminds me that I need to make a plan to devote time to writing as well. If I’m working on something new and have a deadline, I can usually produce what I want. My problem is going back and re-writing something, or prepping a manuscript for submission, or doing cover letters or synopses. I find those to be such tedious tasks and tend to avoid them. What do you do to keep yourself focused and on track?
Luke read first, and we see Goren at the raging river as a body stuck in a tangle of branches floats towards him. He tries pulling the unconscious woman out but she’s too entangled. He is pulled underwater and is close to drowning, but grabs onto her hand and they’re carried downstream. They go over the waterfall and eventually reach the bank. Lots of tension and excitement in this scene.
Charity read more about Trixie. She huddles by the fire in the ruined cabin and then lances the wound on her leg. She dresses and collects her gold coins and then fires three shots with her father’s gun to bring the Preacher to her. She needs his help to get out of the canyon, even though she knows he wants to turn her over to the posse. He helps her climb out of the canyon and then looking for shelter she heads to a cave she sees has a campfire inside. As she enters, Fat Marley points a gun at her. She just seems to go from one bad situation to the next.
Annette read the next chapter about Maxine and Jarod. She’s back at the ICU, watching him sleep and talking to him about their deteriorating relationship. She remembers all the times he pushed her away when she wanted a kiss or a hug and wonders why he didn’t want her. When she smells the lunch trays she gets hungry and heads to the cafeteria where she thinks she’ll use Claire’s tips for getting the best food there. Each chapter expands on Max’s reasons for wanting to leave Jarod, and her frustration that she feels she has to stay to look after him.
I read an older, true story entitled “Forgotten Details”, about the effects of using visualization to produce desired events and solutions to problems. Unfortunately, when two people visualized results for the same problem, they weren’t looking at the same picture and one family fell apart with heart wrenching results.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, November 15th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then. In the meantime, wear a Poppy and remember our veterans how very lucky the rest of us really are.
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Luke, Charity and Annette joined me here last night and since I’d only had four Halloween trick or treaters the night before, there was lots of leftover candy out on the table to feed The Muse.
To start, I asked Luke and Charity how they made out at the Surrey International Writers’ Conference. Luke said in a casual discussion before supper on the Friday night, he was invited by Donald Maas to submit his manuscript for “The Heart Of The Earth”. That happened unexpectedly and Luke was so pleased.
Charity went to the Conference as a volunteer and did a lot of networking with possible mentors. She learned she should be treating her writing as a business and should set a realistic timeline. She analyzed her present time commitments and realized she spends about five hours a week writing. When her youngest starts kindergarten next year, she hopes to double the amount of time she can devote to writing.
Luke chimed in that he makes sure he writes a bare minimum of 200 words per day, even if it’s not until he climbs into bed at night, just before he goes to sleep. This all reminds me that I need to make a plan to devote time to writing as well. If I’m working on something new and have a deadline, I can usually produce what I want. My problem is going back and re-writing something, or prepping a manuscript for submission, or doing cover letters or synopses. I find those to be such tedious tasks and tend to avoid them. What do you do to keep yourself focused and on track?
Luke read first, and we see Goren at the raging river as a body stuck in a tangle of branches floats towards him. He tries pulling the unconscious woman out but she’s too entangled. He is pulled underwater and is close to drowning, but grabs onto her hand and they’re carried downstream. They go over the waterfall and eventually reach the bank. Lots of tension and excitement in this scene.
Charity read more about Trixie. She huddles by the fire in the ruined cabin and then lances the wound on her leg. She dresses and collects her gold coins and then fires three shots with her father’s gun to bring the Preacher to her. She needs his help to get out of the canyon, even though she knows he wants to turn her over to the posse. He helps her climb out of the canyon and then looking for shelter she heads to a cave she sees has a campfire inside. As she enters, Fat Marley points a gun at her. She just seems to go from one bad situation to the next.
Annette read the next chapter about Maxine and Jarod. She’s back at the ICU, watching him sleep and talking to him about their deteriorating relationship. She remembers all the times he pushed her away when she wanted a kiss or a hug and wonders why he didn’t want her. When she smells the lunch trays she gets hungry and heads to the cafeteria where she thinks she’ll use Claire’s tips for getting the best food there. Each chapter expands on Max’s reasons for wanting to leave Jarod, and her frustration that she feels she has to stay to look after him.
I read an older, true story entitled “Forgotten Details”, about the effects of using visualization to produce desired events and solutions to problems. Unfortunately, when two people visualized results for the same problem, they weren’t looking at the same picture and one family fell apart with heart wrenching results.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, November 15th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then. In the meantime, wear a Poppy and remember our veterans how very lucky the rest of us really are.
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Thursday, October 19, 2017
THE REVIEW
RAINY DAY WRITERS
In spite of the deluge of rain over the past few days, there were six of us here last night in honour of The Muse. Kay brought Marie Hooper and Monique to join Annette, Luke and myself.
Annette read first, Chapter 7 of her novel. After being told to leave the hospital and go home and rest, Maxine spends time cleaning up the mess Jarod had left in the apartment and feeling desolate. She can’t understand why there were dirty dishes in the kitchen but didn’t dwell on it. To assert her right to her own space, she puts her own grad picture up and moves Jarod’s pictures out of the way. In this chapter, Max was remembering how Jarod had pushed her friends away and belittled Maxine. I suggested the chapter would be stronger if some of those memories included the actual words he said to her, rather than just a generalized reference. Otherwise, we are getting a picture of how she may have been abused verbally and mentally and how depressed she is feeling.
Kay gave us some information about her scriptwriting of “Porcelain”. She’s been working on character development and said she had to change the background of her heroine from Asian to Irish to make her more believable in the movie industry. Apparently young Asian women are not considered to be independent, motivated, and innovative enough for the adventures of this character. Kay also said the characters have to be relatable to an international audience as well, citing European countries. I thought it sad that not all women can be considered equal heroine material just because of their ethnic background. Fortunately, though, novel writing doesn’t have that same stricture.
Luke told us he is attending the Surrey International Writers’ Conference this weekend and will be pitching his novel “The Heart Of The Earth” to an agent. He read the pitch to us, about Goren and his part of the world that had been separated from the rest, and people trying to kill him and people trying to save him and his needing to know why all this is happening. It was a strong pitch and we hope he does well convincing the agent to ask to see the novel.
Monique said she is interested mainly in writing songs, specifically the poetry for lyrics. She was just observing and taking notes last night.
Marie said her background includes both Native and Scottish and she is deeply interested in writing a book about the evolution of the Kwikwetlem First Nation and how things have progressed on their two reserves, one in Coquitlam and one in Port Coquitlam. She wants to include history (specifically about the status of native women and the residential schools and adoptions), personal stories, folklore, and the most recent developments that are now so hopeful for a better future. We hope to hear how she progresses with this.
I read a short story I recently wrote called “What Is This Place?” It’s about a retired sociologist being confused in how to define a local diner with Karaoke and a bar where all sorts of people fill the place up and sing and eat and drink and dance. Children are included. Customers clear tables or help themselves. Staff and cooks and the owner all get up to sing. Everybody knows everybody else. Of course, this was my lightly fictionalized account of what I’ve seen at a local restaurant in Langley City, which others last night recognized.
Charity was unable to attend last night but she is also going to the Surrey International Writers’ Conference. She will be a volunteer there.
As he was leaving last night, Luke mentioned that he was the only male writer with five female writers. I gave Luke some of my cards to distribute at the SIWC to other male writers he may meet. They include mention that I host The Ram’s Head Writers’ Group. So if any of you know other male writers who would like to come to meetings and give us a more gender balanced viewpoint, do invite them.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, November 1st at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Happy writing and only eat a lot of Halloween candy if it makes the words flow!
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
In spite of the deluge of rain over the past few days, there were six of us here last night in honour of The Muse. Kay brought Marie Hooper and Monique to join Annette, Luke and myself.
Annette read first, Chapter 7 of her novel. After being told to leave the hospital and go home and rest, Maxine spends time cleaning up the mess Jarod had left in the apartment and feeling desolate. She can’t understand why there were dirty dishes in the kitchen but didn’t dwell on it. To assert her right to her own space, she puts her own grad picture up and moves Jarod’s pictures out of the way. In this chapter, Max was remembering how Jarod had pushed her friends away and belittled Maxine. I suggested the chapter would be stronger if some of those memories included the actual words he said to her, rather than just a generalized reference. Otherwise, we are getting a picture of how she may have been abused verbally and mentally and how depressed she is feeling.
Kay gave us some information about her scriptwriting of “Porcelain”. She’s been working on character development and said she had to change the background of her heroine from Asian to Irish to make her more believable in the movie industry. Apparently young Asian women are not considered to be independent, motivated, and innovative enough for the adventures of this character. Kay also said the characters have to be relatable to an international audience as well, citing European countries. I thought it sad that not all women can be considered equal heroine material just because of their ethnic background. Fortunately, though, novel writing doesn’t have that same stricture.
Luke told us he is attending the Surrey International Writers’ Conference this weekend and will be pitching his novel “The Heart Of The Earth” to an agent. He read the pitch to us, about Goren and his part of the world that had been separated from the rest, and people trying to kill him and people trying to save him and his needing to know why all this is happening. It was a strong pitch and we hope he does well convincing the agent to ask to see the novel.
Monique said she is interested mainly in writing songs, specifically the poetry for lyrics. She was just observing and taking notes last night.
Marie said her background includes both Native and Scottish and she is deeply interested in writing a book about the evolution of the Kwikwetlem First Nation and how things have progressed on their two reserves, one in Coquitlam and one in Port Coquitlam. She wants to include history (specifically about the status of native women and the residential schools and adoptions), personal stories, folklore, and the most recent developments that are now so hopeful for a better future. We hope to hear how she progresses with this.
I read a short story I recently wrote called “What Is This Place?” It’s about a retired sociologist being confused in how to define a local diner with Karaoke and a bar where all sorts of people fill the place up and sing and eat and drink and dance. Children are included. Customers clear tables or help themselves. Staff and cooks and the owner all get up to sing. Everybody knows everybody else. Of course, this was my lightly fictionalized account of what I’ve seen at a local restaurant in Langley City, which others last night recognized.
Charity was unable to attend last night but she is also going to the Surrey International Writers’ Conference. She will be a volunteer there.
As he was leaving last night, Luke mentioned that he was the only male writer with five female writers. I gave Luke some of my cards to distribute at the SIWC to other male writers he may meet. They include mention that I host The Ram’s Head Writers’ Group. So if any of you know other male writers who would like to come to meetings and give us a more gender balanced viewpoint, do invite them.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, November 1st at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Happy writing and only eat a lot of Halloween candy if it makes the words flow!
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Friday, October 6, 2017
THE REVIEW
FALL FOURSOME
Charity and Annette joined me Wednesday night in welcoming Carolynn Howard to her first Ram’s Meeting. We hope she enjoyed herself and will return.
I started by outlining the Lit Café I attended on Monday. Five authors were invited to read for 10 minutes each and I was one of them. The venue was a large yet comfortable and cozy room at the Lodge at Alexandra Neighbourhood House in Crescent Beach. The authors sat on a semi-circle of sofas at the front of the room with the audience on chairs in front of us. There were tea and coffee available, and tables to display our works and/or books for sale. I was the first to read and just as I was introduced a car alarm started to wail outside and I spent the first couple of minutes trying to project my reading voice above the competing volume from the car. Good practice for reading without a microphone, I guess. My reading did elicit laughter at all the right spots and a nice round of applause when I finished. After all the readings were completed there was a question and answer segment with the audience and then audience members who wanted to read were invited to do so. The whole experience was friendly and positive. The next Lit Café there will be in January and I have forwarded notice of same to all members.
Annette read Chapter 6 of her novel about Maxine and Jarod. He has come back from surgery and she sits with him and talks about their relationship, remembering the happy beginning and admitting some of her own failings. A policeman arrives and starts asking her questions about a motorcycle she didn’t know Jarod owned. She finds this confusing. Now the reader is wondering what this is all about, too.
Charity read more from “Trixie Trouble”. She is spending her time healing at her Pa’s hideout, but is running out of supplies. And her leg injury has become infected. Soaking in the pool, she finds more gold coins, but almost drowns in a whirlpool. Getting to shore, she watches as a landslide hits the roof of the cabin that she has just patched. The chapter ends with suspense, as we know she cannot stay there any longer.
Carolynn says she has tried writing in different forms and in different genres. She had recently entered the contest for the Surrey International Writers’ Conference and read that story to us. It is entitled “Who Are You?” and is about two individuals who met up online and are now meeting in person for a dinner date. They banter over dinner, have very little in common, but open up to considering other ways of looking at things. Carolynn incorporated some local landmarks in the story and I love all writing with an obvious Canadian setting. We wish her luck with the story.
Since I had finished reading all of “Honey Signed The Waiver”, I was looking for something else to read and pulled out a novel I had started a few years back. This one is “Nigel Wingate Is Dead” and is the one that Jason kept urging me to continue. On Wednesday, I read the Prologue and the first chapter. The story starts with a young single mother killing her disabled toddler in 1969, and then calling a male friend to stand by her and support her. Charity and Annette both said they are interested in the local history at that time and how it influenced events. I’ll have to spend some time looking at what I had previously written.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, October 18th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Charity and Annette joined me Wednesday night in welcoming Carolynn Howard to her first Ram’s Meeting. We hope she enjoyed herself and will return.
I started by outlining the Lit Café I attended on Monday. Five authors were invited to read for 10 minutes each and I was one of them. The venue was a large yet comfortable and cozy room at the Lodge at Alexandra Neighbourhood House in Crescent Beach. The authors sat on a semi-circle of sofas at the front of the room with the audience on chairs in front of us. There were tea and coffee available, and tables to display our works and/or books for sale. I was the first to read and just as I was introduced a car alarm started to wail outside and I spent the first couple of minutes trying to project my reading voice above the competing volume from the car. Good practice for reading without a microphone, I guess. My reading did elicit laughter at all the right spots and a nice round of applause when I finished. After all the readings were completed there was a question and answer segment with the audience and then audience members who wanted to read were invited to do so. The whole experience was friendly and positive. The next Lit Café there will be in January and I have forwarded notice of same to all members.
Annette read Chapter 6 of her novel about Maxine and Jarod. He has come back from surgery and she sits with him and talks about their relationship, remembering the happy beginning and admitting some of her own failings. A policeman arrives and starts asking her questions about a motorcycle she didn’t know Jarod owned. She finds this confusing. Now the reader is wondering what this is all about, too.
Charity read more from “Trixie Trouble”. She is spending her time healing at her Pa’s hideout, but is running out of supplies. And her leg injury has become infected. Soaking in the pool, she finds more gold coins, but almost drowns in a whirlpool. Getting to shore, she watches as a landslide hits the roof of the cabin that she has just patched. The chapter ends with suspense, as we know she cannot stay there any longer.
Carolynn says she has tried writing in different forms and in different genres. She had recently entered the contest for the Surrey International Writers’ Conference and read that story to us. It is entitled “Who Are You?” and is about two individuals who met up online and are now meeting in person for a dinner date. They banter over dinner, have very little in common, but open up to considering other ways of looking at things. Carolynn incorporated some local landmarks in the story and I love all writing with an obvious Canadian setting. We wish her luck with the story.
Since I had finished reading all of “Honey Signed The Waiver”, I was looking for something else to read and pulled out a novel I had started a few years back. This one is “Nigel Wingate Is Dead” and is the one that Jason kept urging me to continue. On Wednesday, I read the Prologue and the first chapter. The story starts with a young single mother killing her disabled toddler in 1969, and then calling a male friend to stand by her and support her. Charity and Annette both said they are interested in the local history at that time and how it influenced events. I’ll have to spend some time looking at what I had previously written.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, October 18th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Friday, September 22, 2017
THE REVIEW
BACK ON SCHEDULE
Wednesday was the third Wednesday of the month, so our Meeting here was back on track. Kay, Annette and Guy joined me in tune with the calendar!
I told the group I needed help deciding which story to read at the Lit Café I’ll be participating in on October 2nd. I am supposed to fill a ten minute time slot with my reading, but only have one ‘Honey’ story that is that exact length. The others are shorter, and I don’t have any two or three that could add to that amount of time together. Besides, I don’t really want to read more than one story. So I read to the group my story “Mechanically Challenged”, about the serpentine belt on a van breaking when we were on our way to Green Lake. It was ten minutes. Later on I read “Don’t Rock The Boat”, about a barbecue catching fire on a houseboat near Kelowna. It was eight minutes long. The group thought it best to read the second story as it had more drama to it and just adding a few words here and there could make it a little longer. So my decision is made and I thank those present for helping me with this. By the way, I used the stopwatch on my cell phone to time my reading all my stories out loud. Honey wanted to know who I was talking to.
Kay is currently writing her spec script and explained to us how the storyline structure is strictly timed for screen presentation. It comes in three acts, and they encompass seven different points of progression. Act 1 starts with the set-up of the main character’s world, and then moves to the inciting incident (conflict). Act 2 brings out a new direction for the character, which leads to a point of no return, and then moves into a reversal of the character’s circumstances. Act 3 proceeds to the climax and then the resolution/denouement. I will never watch a movie or T.V. drama the same way again.
At last week’s Meeting of just Annette and me, we discussed that maybe her novel’s plot would benefit if she wrote a prologue to it in the boyfriend’s point of view. So Annette did that, and it immediately gave way more depth and intrigue to the storyline. Jarod is upset about his relationship with Maxine and works out his anger at the gym, going over everything that bothers him, before leaving on a two week holiday. Now the reader will be left wondering what happened to him, and if the relationship with Maxine is salvageable.
Guy read a short story, “December 16th” that is a rewrite of one he had first let me read before he started coming to our Meetings. In the new version, we see his character George at a pub, looking forward to seeing the waitress Ursula. But she avoids him and he is instead served by an unlikable waitress from the bar. This scene leaves the reader wondering what he has done to deserve such treatment. Guy said he made the change based on some writing tips I had forwarded to everyone. Good to know they are helpful!
Charity’s calendar wasn’t working the same as ours, so she had other commitments Wednesday. And we hope to see Crystal and Luke again soon. And I’ll bet Margaret F. is still on the Island. I heard from her several weeks back, and she is still writing and misses us, as we do her.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, October 4th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then. Write on!
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Wednesday was the third Wednesday of the month, so our Meeting here was back on track. Kay, Annette and Guy joined me in tune with the calendar!
I told the group I needed help deciding which story to read at the Lit Café I’ll be participating in on October 2nd. I am supposed to fill a ten minute time slot with my reading, but only have one ‘Honey’ story that is that exact length. The others are shorter, and I don’t have any two or three that could add to that amount of time together. Besides, I don’t really want to read more than one story. So I read to the group my story “Mechanically Challenged”, about the serpentine belt on a van breaking when we were on our way to Green Lake. It was ten minutes. Later on I read “Don’t Rock The Boat”, about a barbecue catching fire on a houseboat near Kelowna. It was eight minutes long. The group thought it best to read the second story as it had more drama to it and just adding a few words here and there could make it a little longer. So my decision is made and I thank those present for helping me with this. By the way, I used the stopwatch on my cell phone to time my reading all my stories out loud. Honey wanted to know who I was talking to.
Kay is currently writing her spec script and explained to us how the storyline structure is strictly timed for screen presentation. It comes in three acts, and they encompass seven different points of progression. Act 1 starts with the set-up of the main character’s world, and then moves to the inciting incident (conflict). Act 2 brings out a new direction for the character, which leads to a point of no return, and then moves into a reversal of the character’s circumstances. Act 3 proceeds to the climax and then the resolution/denouement. I will never watch a movie or T.V. drama the same way again.
At last week’s Meeting of just Annette and me, we discussed that maybe her novel’s plot would benefit if she wrote a prologue to it in the boyfriend’s point of view. So Annette did that, and it immediately gave way more depth and intrigue to the storyline. Jarod is upset about his relationship with Maxine and works out his anger at the gym, going over everything that bothers him, before leaving on a two week holiday. Now the reader will be left wondering what happened to him, and if the relationship with Maxine is salvageable.
Guy read a short story, “December 16th” that is a rewrite of one he had first let me read before he started coming to our Meetings. In the new version, we see his character George at a pub, looking forward to seeing the waitress Ursula. But she avoids him and he is instead served by an unlikable waitress from the bar. This scene leaves the reader wondering what he has done to deserve such treatment. Guy said he made the change based on some writing tips I had forwarded to everyone. Good to know they are helpful!
Charity’s calendar wasn’t working the same as ours, so she had other commitments Wednesday. And we hope to see Crystal and Luke again soon. And I’ll bet Margaret F. is still on the Island. I heard from her several weeks back, and she is still writing and misses us, as we do her.
Next Meeting will be Wednesday, October 4th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Hope to see you then. Write on!
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Thursday, September 14, 2017
THE REVIEW
TEA FOR TWO
Annette and I were the only Rams in attendance last night so we held our Meeting in the kitchen over a pot of tea and a serving or two of irrelevant conversation and maybe a tidbit of gossip.
To keep us on the writing topic, Annette read from her story about Maxine and Jarod. Max returns to Jarod’s hospital room and finds he’s had a setback and is being rushed to surgery. She faints and spends some time in the ER, and then when she recovers, wanders the halls till she finds a chapel, where Claire is already seated. Claire tells her to come and meet her husband, who is dying. Max realizes that even though she wants her freedom from her relationship to Jarod, she doesn’t want him to die for her to achieve that. This chapter had me wanting to know why, exactly, Max feels her relationship with Jarod is so unbearable.
I read a 150 word author’s bio I was required to submit, along with my picture, to the Lit Café where I have been invited to read. Out of thirteen who applied, I was one of the five chosen to participate. The event takes place October 2nd, at Alexandria House in Crescent Beach, at 7:00 p.m. The theme is Love/Romance/Relationships, so I will be reading one or more of my stories from “Honey Signed The Waiver”. Each author is asked to read for 10 minutes. Then there will be a panel discussion with participation from the floor. Lastly, there will be an open mic for other authors who would like to read. You are all invited to attend. I have been assured there is ample parking there both on site and on the street. When I told Honey he had to drive me, he asked if I’m buying him supper like he does for me when I go to his open mic or Karaoke nights.
Other good news I had was that my story, “Parade of Sorrow”, will be published in the anthology “The Stand” by Polar Expressions. I had a very good week.
Just so I could feel more professional, I went and ordered some new business cards for myself as an author/writer with lots of information on them about contacting me, about the Rams, about my books at Kobo, the blog for The Review. I will start promoting myself with glossy business cards! Ha! Ha!
Yesterday was Charity’s anniversary, so she was busy. Kay started a new job. And Crystal was working last night.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, September 20th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. We will be back on schedule with our Meetings the first and third Wednesdays of the month. I look forward to seeing you next week.
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Annette and I were the only Rams in attendance last night so we held our Meeting in the kitchen over a pot of tea and a serving or two of irrelevant conversation and maybe a tidbit of gossip.
To keep us on the writing topic, Annette read from her story about Maxine and Jarod. Max returns to Jarod’s hospital room and finds he’s had a setback and is being rushed to surgery. She faints and spends some time in the ER, and then when she recovers, wanders the halls till she finds a chapel, where Claire is already seated. Claire tells her to come and meet her husband, who is dying. Max realizes that even though she wants her freedom from her relationship to Jarod, she doesn’t want him to die for her to achieve that. This chapter had me wanting to know why, exactly, Max feels her relationship with Jarod is so unbearable.
I read a 150 word author’s bio I was required to submit, along with my picture, to the Lit Café where I have been invited to read. Out of thirteen who applied, I was one of the five chosen to participate. The event takes place October 2nd, at Alexandria House in Crescent Beach, at 7:00 p.m. The theme is Love/Romance/Relationships, so I will be reading one or more of my stories from “Honey Signed The Waiver”. Each author is asked to read for 10 minutes. Then there will be a panel discussion with participation from the floor. Lastly, there will be an open mic for other authors who would like to read. You are all invited to attend. I have been assured there is ample parking there both on site and on the street. When I told Honey he had to drive me, he asked if I’m buying him supper like he does for me when I go to his open mic or Karaoke nights.
Other good news I had was that my story, “Parade of Sorrow”, will be published in the anthology “The Stand” by Polar Expressions. I had a very good week.
Just so I could feel more professional, I went and ordered some new business cards for myself as an author/writer with lots of information on them about contacting me, about the Rams, about my books at Kobo, the blog for The Review. I will start promoting myself with glossy business cards! Ha! Ha!
Yesterday was Charity’s anniversary, so she was busy. Kay started a new job. And Crystal was working last night.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, September 20th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. We will be back on schedule with our Meetings the first and third Wednesdays of the month. I look forward to seeing you next week.
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Friday, August 18, 2017
THE REVIEW
COOLER HEADS PREVAIL?
Now that the weather has cooled down and the smoke from the wildfires has abated, we had a great Meeting here on Wednesday. Luke, Charity, Annette and Kay all showed up and the Meeting kept going till 9:40. Awesome!
Luke said he had written a short story that was accepted for a podcast. It is entitled “Fly-by Corn Thief”. He read it to us and it is a humorous account of a farmer reporting his stolen corn and telling the attending female officer the culprits were aliens in a UFO, because he saw crop circles in the cornfield. Congratulations to Luke on his success with this story.
Kay gave us an introduction to scriptwriting and said one should aim for playtime of between one hour, thirty minutes and two hours. Suggested length would be one hour, 45 minutes. And because so many screenplays can now be hacked, and are vulnerable the minute any interest is shown for a particular work, that it is strongly advised to copyright your script. Good to know.
Charity read the next chapter about Trixie. After having passed out from her injuries and exhaustion, Trixie awakes in what she calls the broken arm gully, a hiding hole her father had found. It has a cabin he had built, with supplies of food, ammunition, and bandages. After bathing in the pool, she finds a gold coin she knows her father probably dropped and it gives her hope of survival. As she cleans herself, and dresses her wounds, she remembers how her Ma had been a bad influence in their lives and was probably the cause of her father getting caught and hung. She breaks down and cries, finally allowing her grief to overcome her. There was lots of background info in this chapter revealing the stress she had experienced with her parents.
Annette said after comments I made at the last meeting, she rewrote the chapter about Maxine in the cafeteria at the hospital. Now as Max is wondering if Jarod would be there for her, an older woman asks if she needs someone to talk to. Claire sits down at the same table and proceeds to tell her how to have the cafeteria provide fresh food to specific requests. She tells Max she and her husband, together for forty years, had to learn to communicate with each other, and give voice to their expectations. Claire tells her that her husband is going home, but then reveals he is dying. Max thinks the woman is crazy. This chapter grabbed attention and works much better than the previous version.
I read a short piece called “Not Done Yet”, about an 83 year old woman looking for another man after the sudden and quite recent death of her partner. In between bouts of grief she is on the lookout for her next romantic interest.
Chrystal said she was called into work on Wednesday at the last minute. Lorelie had planned to attend, but had unexpected visitors. Margaret F. had emailed me earlier from the Island and said she hopes to be able to attend in the fall. It would be good to see all three of them.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, September 6th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Enjoy the rest of your summer. Keep writing. And I look forward to seeing you September 6th!
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
Now that the weather has cooled down and the smoke from the wildfires has abated, we had a great Meeting here on Wednesday. Luke, Charity, Annette and Kay all showed up and the Meeting kept going till 9:40. Awesome!
Luke said he had written a short story that was accepted for a podcast. It is entitled “Fly-by Corn Thief”. He read it to us and it is a humorous account of a farmer reporting his stolen corn and telling the attending female officer the culprits were aliens in a UFO, because he saw crop circles in the cornfield. Congratulations to Luke on his success with this story.
Kay gave us an introduction to scriptwriting and said one should aim for playtime of between one hour, thirty minutes and two hours. Suggested length would be one hour, 45 minutes. And because so many screenplays can now be hacked, and are vulnerable the minute any interest is shown for a particular work, that it is strongly advised to copyright your script. Good to know.
Charity read the next chapter about Trixie. After having passed out from her injuries and exhaustion, Trixie awakes in what she calls the broken arm gully, a hiding hole her father had found. It has a cabin he had built, with supplies of food, ammunition, and bandages. After bathing in the pool, she finds a gold coin she knows her father probably dropped and it gives her hope of survival. As she cleans herself, and dresses her wounds, she remembers how her Ma had been a bad influence in their lives and was probably the cause of her father getting caught and hung. She breaks down and cries, finally allowing her grief to overcome her. There was lots of background info in this chapter revealing the stress she had experienced with her parents.
Annette said after comments I made at the last meeting, she rewrote the chapter about Maxine in the cafeteria at the hospital. Now as Max is wondering if Jarod would be there for her, an older woman asks if she needs someone to talk to. Claire sits down at the same table and proceeds to tell her how to have the cafeteria provide fresh food to specific requests. She tells Max she and her husband, together for forty years, had to learn to communicate with each other, and give voice to their expectations. Claire tells her that her husband is going home, but then reveals he is dying. Max thinks the woman is crazy. This chapter grabbed attention and works much better than the previous version.
I read a short piece called “Not Done Yet”, about an 83 year old woman looking for another man after the sudden and quite recent death of her partner. In between bouts of grief she is on the lookout for her next romantic interest.
Chrystal said she was called into work on Wednesday at the last minute. Lorelie had planned to attend, but had unexpected visitors. Margaret F. had emailed me earlier from the Island and said she hopes to be able to attend in the fall. It would be good to see all three of them.
The next Meeting will be Wednesday, September 6th at 7:00 p.m. here at my place. Enjoy the rest of your summer. Keep writing. And I look forward to seeing you September 6th!
Lisa A. Hatton
Author
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