Talkin' Trash

          Little known fact about me: I used to be a professional wrestler.

          This was in the 60's, way before female wrestlers were thin and tanned and gorgeous. In the old days, women wrestlers had lots of hair--true--but most of it was between their nose and their upper lip.

photo by sabreliode

           In my era, when I reigned in the ring, women "rasslers" were bulkier. They were brawnier. They were tough. Sadly, I still eat like I am bulking up for a bout, so the only "ring" I see these days is caused by the over-strained elastic in my pants...

         This week, I tried to encourage Cathy C. Hall to submit a story to Mozark Press. They're looking for fictional bad hair day stories. And my intention? Just some gentle prodding. Some writerly encouragement.

        Well, Cathy threw me against the ropes with a roar. She accused me of "talking trash" (which I never do--I am always genteel and demure) and then challenged me to a game of Donkey Kong. I immediately retreated into the corner, whimpering.

       What kind of teasing/prodding/encouraging do you do or receive that helps others/you as a writer? 

       And as for how I will answer the fierce competitive spirit of Cathy C. Hall? Perhaps we need to settle it with sticks. (And Cathy knows what I'm talkin' 'bout.) 

           By the way, if you live in the St. Louis area, next Friday (June 29), Jodi Picoult will be a speaker at the St. Louis County Library Headquarters. She, along with her daughter, has written a book. (And since Linda O'Connell has a previous engagement, she won't be in front of me in line, waiting for the doors to open.)  If there are any friends who would like to join me, let me know...
         

                                                photo by dcnerd
                        (Picoult writes wonderful novels---"Sing You Home" is one
                          of my favorites, along with my all-time favorite of hers,
                                          "Handle With Care.")

Switch It Up

photo by saralonde

        No, this is not me having a bad hair day. Actually, if this was me, it would be a good hair day. My hair is notoriously uncooperative.

        However, I have been working on a "bad hair day" story for Mozark Press. The deadline is July 15.

         When I got the information about the guidelines, I failed to read it carefully, because I was quite excited. I had the perfect story--I had a wild experience that involved a sink--so I started writing it.

        Then Alice Muschany reminded several of her blogging groupies that Mozark wants fictional stories. Ooooh.

        However, I proceeded full-speed ahead anyway, figuring the story could be told in first person.  But it just didn't feel right.

        Last night, I switched it up. No longer told in first person, this story is about Maggie (which happens to be my go-to name, since it was the name I was given at birth) and the story just came together. Or at least I think it's a new cure for insomnia halfway decent. 

       So, check out the Mozark's call for submissions. You'd be in good company if you get your story accepted. Cathy C. Hall has been published by them, along with Donna Volkenannt.

        And if you're having trouble with a story, switch the perspective. If it's longer story or a novel, you could even alternate the perspective. (Jodi Picoult uses this technique a lot.) That might be all you need to get the story flowing...



Mad About SOA

       I was reading Gerry Mandel's post about some friends he had lost. Friends in the forms of well-written television characters. It made me nostalgic...and yet strangely jazzed over what makes a writer click.

      (And Linda, Charming--the town where SOA takes place--is definitely not a place for Mr. Green Jeans.)

photo by aussie dvd store

      One of my favorite shows--these days--is Sons of Anarchy. I know when season five is debuting (way too late in the fall...but face it, unless the new season is opening TOMORROW, the wait is too long in my opinion), I'm all atwitter with the way season 4 ended (even though I was sad Clay was not killed), and I love to hear Kurt Sutter talk about his writing process.

      Here is a video of Kurt Sutter speaking candidly about what writing is like for him, and how it must be flexible because of the actors' participation, as well as how the storyline must evolve. For him, the story is a living, breathing thing.

       I can so identify with that right now. I'm working on a short story--not a memoir piece, so I'm out of my "box"--and I am amazed at how enjoyable it is. The story is unfurling and rolling out ahead of me, and I'm completely in the dark. 
  
        What will happen next? What is the character feeling right now? What sights and smells bring him back home and comfort him?

          My curious mind wants to know...

      

   

         Yes, every day for me is a bad hair day. This photo was taken in France, several years ago. After this picture was circulated around Pau and around the Pyrenees, I am now banned from the country continent. Sigh.

         But hey, ladies, you can turn your embarrassing coiffures into credit--publishing credits, that is. Mozark Press is interested in your stories about your unruly hair. Or your stories about a dye job gone bad.

        Donna Volkenannt has had a story or two (perhaps more) published by Mozark. She frequently sings their praises. Mozark's books are high quality and chocked full of wonderful tales.

      Write quickly and send it soon. The deadline is July 15.

Dark Thoughts and Devious Schemes and Dogs, Oh My!

         What do you get when you take four women with only an ounce of deviousness between them, a trip to the Dollar Store gone soooo wrong, and you add Linda O'Connell's birthday to the mix? You get last night's WWWP writing critique night.

       Because Linda's birthday fell on one of our meeting nights, and because Lynn has a steeljaw trap of a memory, we all conspired to surprise her. 

       Unfortunately, when Lynn went to the Dollar Store to find something to decorate the birthday cheesecake with, she was arrested for overly "handling" the merchandise. (Relax--we pooled our resources together and bailed her out in time.)

         And as is always the case, we learned a great deal as we worked on honing our writing skills...

• Tammy learned of a high-calorie liquid diet she might consider trying sometime (when it comes back into style). She found out about it from Beth who is a maniac when it comes to exercise and physical fitness, to the point she even has her own personal trainer...
• Getting outside of your writing box and working in a different genre is sometimes scary, but it can also be quite rewarding. I'm working on a story about Big Foot for a High Hill Press collection. (3,000 word limit, deadline is August 15, can be fiction or nonfiction...and no, you cannot write a funny story about your big hairy feet. I already pitched that idea...my size 11's cannot be the star of the story. Sasquatch needs to be the highlight of the tale.)  My story did not put anyone to sleep (although we were hopped up on Lynn's cheesecake) so that's a good sign.
• Laughter is good for the soul. The experts say it's more powerful than some medicines and if that's the case, the five us will never be plagued by a serious disease. Our twice-monthly "therapy" sessions will keep us healthy...I'm sure of it.

       This week I got notice that two of my dog stories have made it through the initial round of judges for the Publishing Syndicate's NYMB. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that these two memoirs don't come slinking back home with their "tales" between their legs...I'm hoping they make it through all the rounds with the judges.

         One of these stories being considered tells about the time I stole a dog. Yes, well-behaved, always-serious me. Aren't you intrigued? You'll have to buy the book to find out what happens...  

         There are several deadlines for future Not Your Mother's Book collections coming up this summer--but dozens more that are still looking for submissions and don't even have a deadline yet.  Check them out--it could be another (or another several) publishing credits under your belt...  

I'm Topless...and My Son's in a Speedo

     My story "Half Right" has made it over the first hurdle at Publishing Syndicate. It takes place during a trip I took to France with my teenaged son...and the tale involves me going topless and my son having to wear a speedo. Doesn't that make you want to gouge your mind's eye out run out and buy a copy, once it's available?

    Of course, it might not make it through the final rounds. And that's okay, because this post is to encourage more submissions.  There are several calls for submissions, and the deadlines are coming up soon.

• On Being a Woman--July 1
• On Dogs--July 1
• On Holidays--July 1
• On Travel--August 1
• On Being a Stupid Kid--August 1
• On Family--October 1
• On Being a Mom--October 1

       Most of the bloggers I follow are women, so I know you have countless stories to share. Most of the people I like are dog people (or cat people--there's an anthology for them, too). Everybody has had whacky or screwed-up or warm holiday memories. Everybody did stupid things when they were a kid. Now's your chance to make some money and gain some notoriety over your antics, to counteract the trouble you got into decades ago. Look at the titles. Think "edgy." Look at the guidelines, and submit...