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Ever met a celebrity?

A friend of mine just got back from England where she met Prince Charles. 

Really. 

She and her husband were touring the gardens of Buckingham Palace and there was some show going on.  He was in the midst of  a crowd,  smack dab in front of them,  along with Camilla, where they chatted with my friends about mulching and plants and tulips and what-not. 

Although I’ve seen a few Hollywood actors on sets and in streets (their names escape me so unfortunately I can’t impress you with name-dropping here) I haven’t been stunned by anyone truly in the upper echelon of famous-ousity.   

Oh wait.  One name-drop.  Sorry.  I took my son to see Clinton before he was president so my son could shake his hand.  We were in a crowd of twenty so it was lovely indeed.  And he was personable and pleasant and of course I handed my camera to someone else to take pictures and never thought to ask for him to take a picture of the three of us . . .

But other than that, my life has been celebrity free.

What about yours?  Do you know a hairdresser’s son’s cousin who’s the brother of Lindsay Lohan?  Poor girl.  Sorry about the unfortunate choice.  I was trying to be contemporary and that’s all I could come up with at the moment. 

Writing Prompt:

1.  Write a personal narrative.  You can have dinner with anyone famous in history or the present time.  Who would you choose?  What do you ask?  What happens?  (My choice?  Dorothy Parker, Abigail Adams, everyone’s choice which is Eleanor Roosevelt and Dr. Seuss for starters . . .)

2.  Change your personal narrative into a poem.  Choose concrete images and metaphors.  Remember a poem isn’t just prose set in stanzas.

3.  Zap yourself into Hollywood.  Write a short story with you as a character.

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Mistaken Identity

The other day I took Zoie for a walk and noticed “my” red-tailed hawk flying low over our house.  Looking for lunch? 

We came inside and heard a CA-THUNK. 

“What was that?” asked my husband. 

We both looked out of the living room windows which over-look the oak trees, the open space, and our deck.  Nothing that we could see had been disturbed. 

“Probably the neighbors,” I said.  So many people around us are either retired or work at home, there is lots of noise and activity around us these days. 

It was time for Zoie to go on the downstairs deck for her good sniffs.  I joined her and glanced down at the small sliver of land we have before it drops off into a sharp hill below.   That’s where Bob perched his beloved plastic $3.99 pink flamingoes. (Sigh) Why?  Partly because he likes them, and mostly to jokingly annoy me.  It sort of matches the fuzzy dice he has hanging from the mirror in his truck.  (Sigh #2)  He USED to have them in his El Camino.  (Sigh #3)  But that’s another story . . .

It was then I noticed that one of the pink flamingoes was lying at the bottom of our hill, leaning against our fence.  Its legs were still standing firmly in the ground at the top of the hill.  Without the fence to stop it, the body of the plastic bird would be in the creek by now.  (Darn that fence . . .)

On its wings were deep gashes . . .    Holes punctured the head. 

I gazed upward and saw the hawk.  “Sorry,” I sent telepathically to him.  “Wish you would have succeeded in carrying it off.  Hope you have better luck with your lunch on your next try.”

Writing Prompts:

1. The dive-bombing hawk at the plastic pink flamingo must have been very disappointed to discover his case of mistaken identity.  When have you ever had a case of mistaken identity?  Ever think someone or something was different from reality?  Write a personal narrative about this happening. 

2.  Write a short story about a mistaken identity.  It could be a comedy, a tragedy, a mystery, a romance or even a science fiction piece. 

3.  Create a poem with that theme.  Remember a poem is not just prose set up into poetry format.  Take out all the unimportant words and replace them with images and concrete words that show and don’t tell. 

4.  Write a newspaper article about a case of mistaken identity in journalistic form. 

How do all of these types of writing differ?  Which one is the easiest for you?  The most difficult?

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Where Everyone Knows You

Every week my husband and I go to a local diner where we meet friends for dinner.  When we hear the familiar jangle of the bell as we open the door, we know we’ll be met with enthusiastic greetings. 

Nearly everyone who goes is a regular.  Sometimes we’ll all get into a group conversation – – and everyone is chiming in on a subject and it’s like one big party!  All different ages and backgrounds, coming together because of the locale and the food. 

Now if I were to write a scene with a group of people who all knew each other, how would real life be different from writing?  If I wrote exactly what happened on one of these nights, it might be a tad amusing, but frankly, I would bore you to sleep.  Why?  There wouldn’t be any tension or conflict.   Lacking suspense, there really isn’t any reason to read.  What’s the problem?  What does anyone have to lose?  What does anyone need?

Writing prompt:

Write a scene with a group of people.  It could be in a school cafeteria, a classroom, a business meeting, a family reunion, a celebration, or any place people gather together.  Next, have these people interact with each other.  Remember to get them talking and in between the dialogue intersperse a bit of the description of the place and people, their actions and reactions to each other. 

Next, add conflict with each other.   What is the problem in this scene?   Or perhaps there could be different relationship problems between separate people adding layers of tension. 

After you write the scene, read it out loud.  This helps not only to catch your errors, but to help with your pacing.  It will show you when you need more or less dialogue and more or less narration. 

What makes a story the best is the perfect blend of both.

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Of Writing Ideas and What Happens Next

As an author, the first question everyone wants to know, is where do I get my ideas?  Ideas can come from a line of dialogue over-heard at a school visit, in line at the movies, grocery store, or at the park.  My ideas stem from my loves:  chocolate, dogs, dreams, books, the beach, humor . . . Ideas are everywhere!

But then what?  If the idea hits you as unique, funny, interesting . . . then it’s a keeper.  Jot it down in a journal, your white board, notepad, IPAD, or whatever you use so you won’t forget it. 

Next comes the fun part.  Sleep on it!  Dream on it!  DAYDREAM.  Yes!  Permission to daydream! 

Teacher:  “What do you think you are doing?”

Student:  “Why Ms. Know-It-All, I’m doing my assignment.”

Teacher:  “Staring out the window is the assignment?”

Student:  “Yes!  It’s important to daydream for me to fully develop the characters and plot of my creative writing assignment.”

Your best ideas are in your subconscious, where daydreams and your sleep-dreams take place.  So pay attention when words, thoughts, and images strike you there.  Keep pen and paper next to your bed so you can write these down immediately as they happen or otherwise they will blip off into space very quickly. 

Next, brainstorm on paper.  One word leads to another word of thought.  Be as relaxed as you can be!  If you are tense this won’t work well.  Give yourself ten minutes.  Write down anything that comes to your mind.  What might happen next?  What problem could occur?  Keep your pen going!

Where do I begin?  Not necessarily at the beginning.  Just begin where your characters start talking to you.  Or if the beginning comes naturally to you, begin there.  Just start writing!

*Give your character an obsession.  What does she or he want?

*What stops her from getting it?

* How can she overcome this?

On your first draft, just write.  Don’t worry about grammar and punctuation. 

1. Brainstorming is great for ANY TIME YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.  In a novel, short story, essay or poem. 

2.  Try a dream intention. Before sleep, write down the question you need answered.  “What should happen to my character next?”  Sometimes this question needs to be rewritten each night for three or four nights before your dream will happen.  Sometimes you’ll get it on the first night!  Write your dream immediately after waking. Remember we dream in symbols.  So take time to think about what your dream could really mean to you. 

3.  Relax.   Any time we worry, we block our process.  If we just sit down away from our computer and get back to the old-fashioned pen and paper in a comfortable chair, you may be surprised how easily your “what happens next” question will be answered.

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Colonial Essay Contest! Grades 5 – 8 Contra Costa County

 Celebrate America’s History!

Are you in 5th through 8th grade? 

You’re invited to participate in an…

   Essay Contest

 Topic:  Memoirs of Paul Revere

 In celebration in 2010 of the 275th anniversary of the birth of Paul Revere, pretend you are Paul Revere writing your memoirs.  Relate various accomplishments for which you wish to be remembered in the annals of American history.

 Open to Grades 5-8

Length:  300 – 1,000 words (depending on grade level)

Essays Due :  November 30, 2009

 To:  Leslie A. Pfeifer, American History Chairman, Daughters of the American Revolution

Anne Loucks Chapter

[email protected]

Essay is to be handwritten in black ink, typed, or prepared on a computer or word processor using black type in non-script font no smaller than 12 point or larger than 14 point. 

All of the essay must be the student’s original work.  Each essay must have a title page listing the following:

Title of Essay:  “Memoirs of Paul Revere”

(A subtitle is permitted if written below the topic.)

Contestant’s full name and address.  If the school’s regulations prohibit providing the student contact information, then school contact information may be substituted. 

Contestant’s telephone number (with area code) and e-mail address, if available.

Name of contestant’s school with grade level.

Name of sponsoring DAR chapter

Number of words in essay

Essay must have a bibliography listing all references utilized.  Internet resources, if used, should be cited in similar format to that used for printed resources.  Add the electronic address used to access the document as supplementary information.  Any essay with information copied directly from sources without using quotes will be disqualified.  

**To be eligible for this contest, students must live and go to school (or be homeschooled)  in Contra Costa County.  Questions?  Contact Leslie at the above e-mail address.  You may also email her your essay before November 30, 2009.  Good luck!

 

 

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Metafiction for Children

Metafiction is fiction about fiction, or a device that draws attention to the book.  I remember laughing out loud while reading William Goldman’s The Princess Bride when the author cleverly tells the reader that this is a story in many unique ways.  ( I’m not going to tell you how he does this.  Go read the book!)

For some examples in children’s literature, see the entertaining video posted here.  

Then you try your hand at a bit of metafiction!  Draw the reader into your story or poem by making fun of the convention. 

http://mediacommons.futureofthebook.org/imr/2010/09/03/metafiction-children-users-guide

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Of Rats and Bling and shiny things

We’ve been awakened in the wee hours of the morning by the scritchings in our walls that tells us we’re not the only ones living under this roof.   As I have fed birds in our front yard for years, I’ve kept the bird seed in the garage with no problem until last week.

Yes.  Bird seed scattered everywhere.  My husband, Mr. Duct Tape, used his usual solution.  I warned him the silver stuff over cardboard would hardly stop the huge rodents we had wandering through our walls and garage.  But at the moment, neither of us had time or supplies for anything more.

Sure enough, the next day we had another clean-up.  

“We need to get a metal garbage can,” I said.  Years ago we used to keep the dog food out there in a plastic can, but the rats ate a huge hole right through it. 

“No,” said my husband, refusing to give in to either me or the rats.  I still am not sure which.  “We don’t have room for yet another garbage can out here.”  

Garbage.

Paper and glass recycling.

Aluminum. 

I saw his point, but I wasn’t thrilled about moving the bird seed into the living room either.   And no way would I give up my beloved hobby.  We were at a stand still and the rats were winning.

Later in the day, I had to visit the jewelry store  with a broken clasp on one of my cheap thrift store finds.  An older silver-haired gent with a voice that surely came from a radio or t.v. station, stood leaning over the counter. 

“What I love about buying jewelry for her, is these fancy boxes,” he said, the necklace in front of him glittering so much I needed my sunglasses.

Wow.  I could hardly take my eyes off of him.   Silver hair. Tan. Fit in his tennis outfit. Gorgeous.  Seventy? Perhaps older, but he would have been a hunk when he was younger.  Who was he buying the beautiful diamond necklace for?  I could picture her.  She’d be a younger woman, also very slim and tan. 

“Hey, I gotta move my car, ” he said.  “I don’t want to have any scratches on it from car doors opening.  I’ll be right back.”  He ran out the door.

“Wow,” I said to the women behind the counter and the other woman customer.  “He must not be married.” 

Everyone in the shop laughed. 

“I mean, let’s get real.  He buys jewelry for her all the time?”

“Yes, he does,” said the jewelery sales woman.  “And you’re right. They’re not married.”

I sighed.  “Gee, I wish I could just get my husband to buy the garbage can I want.”

The hoots calmed down in the store by the time the gent came back in the store to take his jewels to his lady-friend.  He told me he’d call my husband to give him some advice, but I declined his offer, smiling. 

I didn’t want any bling.  This guy had an expensive sports car.  You just know it.  Mr. $. 

I’m happy if I get a shiny garbage can.  

And today I’m thrilled.  Why?

Neither of us got much sleep last night.  The rats were at it again.    More garage-cleaning this morning. 

I looked at my husband and raised an eyebrow.

“I’ll get it,” said my husband. 

Can’t wait to tell the ladies at the jewelry store.

Writing Prompts:

1.  People watch.  Imagine the story behind the story of various people you see on the street.  Who are they?  What are their back stories?  Who are their mates?  Do they have children?

2.  Use a person that you see during your wanderings as a focus for a story, poem or personal narrative/essay. 

3.  Take a paper and pen to a coffee shop or other public place.  Glance up  now and then without staring.  That way people won’t know you are writing about them.   Describe a person, animal or object you see physically.  Then imagine their emotional life.  Next, throw them into a story.  What is their problem?  Their goal?  Who is their antagonist?

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Of Piercings and Bumper Stickers

The other day at the gas station, the middle-aged man filling up ahead of me had earrings hanging from every available space on both  ear lobes.  When he returned the nozzle with a click, I could see silver bling glittering from his eyebrows and nose too.   His clothes were unremarkable.  Polo shirt and shorts. 

As he got into his compact car, I glanced at his bumper stickers.  LISTEN TO CATHOLIC RADIO,  followed by call letters.  Another religious sticker emblazoned the other side of his bumper. 

 Writing Prompts:

1.  How is the character you are writing about NOT a stereotype? Write a scene showing one side of your character and follow it up with something unusual or quirky. 

2.  Look for possible stereotypes within your manuscripts.  How can you change this?

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The Postcard Hall of Fame

My cousin Mary, in Wisconsin, sends me the most delightful postcards.   They are worthy of The Postcard Hall of Fame.

A few weeks ago, she attended a German Fest and the card was filled with dashing dachshunds . . . one in a hilarious costume.  Yesterday I received one from the Wisconsin State Fair.  Alice In Dairyland, with a milk mustache of course, holds a glass of milk and stands in front of serene cows in a pasture.  The sign below her?

OUTSTANDING IN HER FIELD:  63rd Alice in Dairyland:  Christine Linder.

Paula, my Fresno friend, collects quirky postcards.  You’ll have to wait a bit for this one, Paula, as it’s too cute to give up immediately.

So what do postcards have to do with writing?  Plenty!    They teach you to write tight.  You have to say what you mean in a few short words.  Have you ever read old postcards?  Delightful!  Some are so well-written you can get a wonderful sense of the time, place and character of the person writing.  Others are so general they are less helpful. 

1.  Design a postcard from a character in the project you are working on.  Write it carefully.  Who is she/he sending it to?  Why?  Where is it from?  Where is it going to?

2.  Design a postcard advertising your new book.  Publicity is important in the publishing process and learning to write this is a whole different genre.

3.  Write a “Dear John” postcard from a character breaking up with another character.  Make it funny!

4.  Write a postcard from one famous person to another famous person.

5.  Which character in literature do you love?  Send a postcard from him or her to another character in that book.

6.  Write a postcards from different time periods in history.  Make sure you are able to show time, place and character in the space the postcard allows.

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Of Cars and Characters and Carmel

This weekend we spent time in Monterey with friends.  Wandering the streets of Carmel, vintage cars of all makes, years, and varieties dotted the streets like colorful signs of years gone past.

A Packard

And from the future.

Who knows what this car is? We have no idea. But it’s sleek!
But the most fascinating part of the informal car “show” on the streets of Carmel, were some of the people who were attracted to the, um cars.  (emphasis on um) While a friend of mine stared at a lovely Rolls Royce, I noted a tall, thin blonde busy taking photos with a professional looking camera. 
“Look, Hilde!”  I poked my friend and nodded toward the woman. 
As Hilde and I watched, the perky blonde held a more captive audience than the actual car.  In four-inch spiked heels, skinny jeans and a sparkly jacket, her long, straight hair swayed with her hips as she bent this way and that, leaned in for the best pictures possible. 
“Do you think there is actually film in her camera?” I said to Hilde. 
“She certainly is performing, isn’t she?” Hilde commented. 
It was pure art.  I had to admire her theatrical abilities.  She captured the stage well. 
We moved on, and a few cars later we noticed another gal – – a copycat.  Only this model-like blonde wore a short-short colorful sundress, as she sashayed this way and that. 
On this overcast, cool day, I was bundled up in pants, sweater and a coat.  I felt sorry for the poor little thing.  But she seemed to tolerate the weather well.  Perhaps with all of her movement and energy, she hardly felt the cold.  And I’m sure she’d be warm soon enough . . .
There were plenty of stories here this day.  And characters leading us to them.
1.  Write a story about one of these blondes.  Who is she?  What happens to her?  Who does she meet?   Perhaps the blondes find conflict with each other.  Maybe they are already friends and in cohoots?
2.  Write a story about one of the cars.  What is its history?  Who owns it?  What is the owner’s story? 
3.  Plop one of your own characters into this setting.  What happens? 
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