The Pyrenees---Southern France

The Pyrenees---Southern France

Sunday, October 4, 2015

The Power of Sharing

        On Saturday, I went to the St. Louis Writers Guild meeting. Several writers were sharing how to write nonfiction. They promised to share some interesting ideas... and they definitely delivered.

      Although I did a lot of zentangling (doodling) for part of the meeting, several of the authors inspired me. I was mainly there to listen to Gerry Mandel, because he's written a book on Charlie Chaplin. Unbeknownst to me, he has also written a man named Ron's "autobiography"--a man who was terminal with mesothelioma. 




      How did Gerry balance the known and the unknown (since he had never met Chaplin)? How did he handle the must-not-be-written-or-a-lawsuit-will-follow (since he was writing about family members and employers of Ron's who were still alive)?

     Gerry shared the following tidbits:


  • He wrote the "autobiography" in third person. That way, he could create composite characters and could condense some of the characters.
  • There is always one key thing (or event or relationship) that is central to a person's life. This of course will be a thread that runs through the entire piece.
  • Create some "fantasy scenes" which will allow you to get at the reality of a person. It will also be a way to get out of the rut and will ensure you change the rhythm of the story. For example, Gerry included a scene where Ron was in a bar, drinking root beer (Ron's favorite beverage) and talking to someone about religion (a major thread in Ron's life). Yes, you are writing about something that never really happened, but you're also getting at the true core of the person. 
  • If you're writing about a real people, show your manuscript to a lawyer before getting it published. Some of Gerry's best scenes in the book about Ron had to be deleted and watered-down. Apparently, Ron and his first wife had such violent fights, and if they had gone down in black and white the way they had really gone down, his ex-wife would have recognized herself and could have sued.
       I went to the meeting to get some ideas about how to proceed on my WIP (73,000 words long and some change so far) but what I got was an entirely different project idea.

      My half-sister has been bugging discussing with encouraging me to write down our mother's story. Our birth mother killed herself when she was still in her thirties. She surrendered two daughters at birth. She lost a third daughter in a court case when the little girl was seven. Two weeks after losing in court, my biological mother shot herself.

      I've resisted. Until now. Yesterday I realized that my sister and I can write a book together, and we can create some "fantasy scenes" to get at the parts of our mother that we do know about. My sister is thrilled. And we can each write from our own perspective, since we had very different families, despite beginning from the same mother.

      An added bonus:  Pat Wahler shared an idea that helped me a great deal, too. In a comment she left, Pat suggested I take a previous post and write the story for Chicken Soup for the Soul. I was so caught up in the experience, I hadn't even thought of that possibility (and usually, I'm all into taking life experiences and crafting them into Chicken Soup rejections submissions). I was wondering what in the world I would bring to critique group this week (I have several hot messes that aren't ready to share yet). Minutes after reading Pat's comment, I began a draft--a draft that I think will be ready to share on Wednesday.

     In this case, I was so fortunate to be the receiver instead of the giver. What have you "given" someone in the form of advice or help recently, or what have you received that was helpful? Grateful minds want to know. 

17 comments:

  1. Isn't it great when ideas pop! Sounds like you attended a great speaker and glad you got some strong ideas. I need a boost right now myself. I had a pretty good idea on a piece of fiction...a friend told me how she thought the story should go. I didn't see it, but in the end tried her angle. It worked!! Now if editors will only agree......

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    1. Claudia--I'll keep my fingers crossed that those editors agree...

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  2. I'll send a recipe if I get the chance, Sioux. I've been sick and dealing with a lot of stuff just lately. Thank you for asking me.

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    1. Shay--Don't worry about it. And if you ARE so inclined, you have plenty of time. I am at least 15,000 words away from finishing this version...

      I hope you're feeling better soon, and that any unpleasant "stuff" completely clears up even sooner.

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  3. Writers are not only creative, but also generous. It's great that Pat inspired you to write your story.
    My critique group is always helpful and generous with advice. Whenever I bring something in for critique it becomes a better piece of writing.

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    1. Donna--You DO belong to a great critique group. You and I are both quite fortunate.

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  4. Some good advice given to me by a former co-worker and 4th grade teacher was: If you want to persuade somebody to do something, don't TELL them, but say, "If you were smart, you would..." That gets them going. They don't want to appear not-smart.

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    1. Val--That's a way of "shoveling" that works--especially with those who really and truly are NOT smart.

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  5. What have I given" in the form of advice? "Don't come near me, I'm sick," has been the only advice I've dished out recently (I've had the flu). Advice received? A ton, and too much to mention. I keep my ears open and the filter on. :)

    Nonfiction is tough for me, not joyous writing. It always feels more like a term paper, so I tend to avoid it unless it's contracted and I know I'll be paid for my research time. Before my father-in-law died I had planned on interviewing him and ghostwriting his life story for my kids. That would have been a pleasure---he was a physician, and retired USAF colonel, and a former USAF liaison to the CIA...an interesting, funny, and very generous man---and of course because it wouldn't have been for publication it would've been 100% honest in terms of whatever he would have wanted to share. I was one summer too late. :(

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    1. Lisa--Knowing you, if you can find the time in between the series of books you're working on, and if it's something you want to do, you CAN write a book about Papa Claro... by talking to those who knew him in his former lives, by talking to your hubby.

      (I hope you're feeling 100% now.)

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  6. Hmmm...I don't know about advice, but I try to give encouragement every day. I know how much it means to me to have someone give a pat on the back so I try to give back. (And you really can't go wrong with an encouraging word. I have, on the other hand, given advice that was was dead wrong!)

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    1. Cathy--Almost always I preface my suggestions with, "It could just be me, but..." or "You might consider..." I am way off wrong too often.

      Encouragement IS important. A pat on the back, a chuckle in the right place--it keeps us going.

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  7. Sioux, I'm so glad you're going to send that story to CS. It's a beautiful and inspirational piece that I feel certain will fit what the editors are seeking.

    Meanwhile, thanks for the writing tips. I've been gathering my thoughts on a long ago NaNo story-historical fiction- on the wife of a very well known figure from history. There are so many blank spaces in her recorded life that I'm thinking about doing some rather extraordinary things with her. I keep telling myself I can do it because it's FICTION (gulp).

    Pat
    Critter Alley

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    1. Pat--I wouldn't go THAT far. CS has not liked my stuff lately.

      But onto you...Your historical fiction piece is intriguing. A NaNoWriMo that rises, like a phoenix... alive again!

      Yes, dive in. The character (the wife) will take you along on the journey.

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  8. Writers helping writers, that's what it's all about. I boogie-woogied on a street corner with a guitar player today as I was leaving Steak & Shake. That qualifies.

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  9. I appreciate Gerry's advice! And your birth mother's story sounds like a gem in the making.

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