TOOT YOUR HORN

When I majored in Journalism at San Diego State (a few too many years ago), my professors instilled in me and my fellow students the importance of the First Amendment. The sacred trust given to the news media to be the investigators and reporters of events, issues and trends. Journalists are the agenda setters of the country. Editors and writers decide what’s important to report. They choose what stories go on page one.

The ability of a free press to tell all sides of the story, has changed dramatically over the past few decades. The role and status of journalism, along with other forms of mass media, is rapidly changing. When I was completing assignments in J school, there was no email, Twitter or Facebook. We researched our articles without the benefit of Google and typed them on word processors. If you misspelled a name, Professor Hartung automatically gave you an F.

This is the digital age. Many people gather their news from e-readers, smartphones and other electronic devices rather than from the printed page.

“At their 39th Excellence in Journalism Awards held at the San Diego Hall of Champions, the San Diego Press Club honored some 250 individual winners…” 

As many freelance writers know, it’s a constant struggle to get your words in print. When you are fortunate enough to occupy column inches, and see your byline, you’ve won a victory. Occasionally you’re recognized for being a journalist who–word-by-word, fact-by-fact–strives to tell the story, the true story, the entire story. 

That’s why I’m taking a few lines to toot my horn, as well as to salute San Diego’s gifted journalists. At their 39th Excellence in Journalism Awards held at the San Diego Hall of Champions this week, the San Diego Press Club honored some 250 individual winners representing more than 135 categories including radio, TV, newspapers, magazines and websites. Curious about who won? Click here for a complete list of the winners.

And just in case you’re wondering — you’re reading the First Place winner for Blog for/by Journalists.

Sue Diaz’s Minefield of the Heart Selected for Silicon Valley Reads 2013

Silicon Valley Reads’ 2013 selections examine the effects of war
By Sal Pizarro

Silicon Valley Reads, the program that asks Santa Clara County residents to read and discuss the same books, has selected a pair of thought-provoking books about the unseen effects of war for 2013.

“The Long Walk” by Brian Castner and “Minefields of the Heart” by Sue Diaz will be the focus of dozens of free programs next year, starting with a Jan. 30 kickoff at the Campbell Heritage Theater featuring both authors. A list of events will be posted at http://www.siliconvalleyreads.org by the end of the year.

“We looked at several themes and considered more than 60 books, but these two books stood out,” said Diane McNutt, who’s been the Silicon Valley Reads coordinator for 10 of its 11 years. “Both are beautifully written, and their different perspectives — one from the viewpoint of an individual who served in combat and one by a family member who waited at home — complement each other and tell a powerful story of the long lasting effects of war.”

This isn’t the first time that Silicon Valley Reads — a collaboration among the Santa Clara County Office of Education, the San Jose Public Library Foundation and the Santa Clara County Library District — has tackled a heavy topic. The 2012 books examined the experience of being Muslim and American.

http://www.mercurynews.com/sal-pizarro/ci_21528015/pizarro-silicon-valley-reads-2013-selections-examine-effects

Pulling the Curtain Aside

“Can you eliminate people and things that suck the creative energy out of you?”

“Are you ready to delete phrasing that feels comfortably familiar to you? Can you live afraid of clichés?”

“Can you survive for long stretches of time with no income?”

Advice-seeking, wanna-be novelists search for the answer to becoming a novelist. A clue. A key. Some formula that will unlock the magic of publishing.

At various literary workshops, author Kaye Gibbons is often asked by attendees to provide them with the one, true answer. Hopefuls want to know about her writing process in an effort to propel their own writing aspirations.

In Don’t Try This at Home, a post from 2005, Gibbons shares her insights and offers many questions that potential writers might consider asking themselves.

Perhaps an answer is in there for us to uncover.

How To Write Killer Flashbacks in 3 Steps

How To Write Killer Flashbacks in 3 Steps.

Blue Roses

The first book in Sharon Cooper’s Reunited series.

http://sharonccooper.wordpress.com/2012/07/10/available-today-blue-roses/#comment-636

Review: The Plot Whisperer, Martha Alderson

Review: The Plot Whisperer, Martha Alderson.

AVOIDING EMPTY WORDS

Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged” may have been the last time agents and book editors were excited about reaction words that don’t characterize and move the plot forward.

Shallow words like smiling, shrugging, grinning, nodding and laughing can make many agents and editors cringe. Sadly, I employ these “empty” words as placeholders in my prose, but they fail to give insight, depth or motivation to my characters.

Rewrite consultant Jean Jenkins advises her clients to give an internal reaction, a thought to interpret the mood of the character for the reader. “Have your characters do active things that show their feelings during a scene,” suggests Jenkins. “Or, couple these words with an action so the scene doesn’t feel choreographed, like a stage direction.”

What empty words are you working to eliminate from your writing? Let me know so I can add them to my list.

Here are some examples of wonderful word pictures from books I’ve recently read:

WORRY –“Mrs. Maguire dropped the silver polish. She fished a handkerchief out of her sleeve. She blew he nose mightily on it and said, “Dear Lord, don’t let a hair of head come to harm.” — Elizabeth George, “In The Presence of the Enemy.”

FEAR– “I crouched and kept my head low. I tried to swallow whatever was rising from my stomach, which tasted like lemonade, something fruity and sour.”– Tim O’Brien, “The Things They Carried”

LOVE –“She smiled at me, that sunrise of a smile that colored her whole face and seemed to enliven her whole body.” Robert B. Parker, “Mortal Stakes”

INSIGHT–”When Roark had gone, Wynand sat behind his desk, smiling. He moved his hand toward one of the plastic buttons–and stopped. He realized that he had to assume a different manner, his usual manner, that he could not speak as he had spoken in the last half-hour. Then he understood what had been strange about the interview: for the first time in his life he had spoken to a man without feeling the reluctance, the sense of pressure, the need of disguise he had always experienced when he spoke to people; there had been no strain and no need of strain; as if he had spoken to himself.” Ayn Rand, “The Fountainhead”

Curl Up For the Big Read

Every strong writer belongs to a book club, or two. Lively discussion of well-written novels, and even some not-so-well-written, trigger creativity, boost  imagination and inspire writers.

The ladies in my book club are no different. Each month, the 10 of us discuss, critique and discover new worlds through the words of a writer.

For our June meeting, we’re reading “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien.  His book is one of many listed as suggested reading as part of the National Endowment for the Arts Big Read.

The Big Read provides readers with the opportunity to read and discuss a single book within their communities. It includes innovative reading programs in selected cities and towns, comprehensive resources for discussing classic literature .

In 2004, a report by the NEA, Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America, revealed that not only is literary reading in America declining rapidly among all groups, but that the rate of decline has accelerated, especially among the young.

“A great book combines enlightenment with enchantment. It awakens our imagination and enlarges our humanity. It can even offer harrowing insights that somehow console and comfort us.” — NEA Big Read

The NEA started The Big Read as a pilot project in 2006 with ten communities featuring four books. It has expanded to include more communities and additional books. Their library is expansive, including: “Fahrenheit 451″ by Ray Bradbury, “A Farewell to Arms” by Enest Hemingway, “The Joy Luck Club” by Amy Tan and one of my favorites, “The Maltese Falcon” by Dashiell Hammett. For a complete list visit www.NEABigRead.org.

Click to learn more about “The Things They Carried.”  

A Writer’s Book of Days

May 8 – What made you laugh

Many writers and want-to-be writers struggle to pursue their writing goals. Judy Reeves knows each one of us. Perhaps not by name, but by our writer’s soul.

I was lucky enough to meet Judy during a session at the Southern California Writers Conference. In a workshop called “20 Ways to Make It Better,” she strung together dozens of hands-on tips on how to take your writing deeper, employ all the senses and embrace language. It didn’t take long to realize that she spoke from experience, from her heart. Judy knew.

I’m working my way through her book, “A Writer’s Book of Days: A Spirited Companion and Lively Muse for the Writing Life.” So far, I’ve been encouraged, challenged and understood. I’m not alone.

Today I’m pondering all the things that make me laugh–everything from my husband’s quirky smile to reruns of “I Love Lucy” have made the list. The writing prompts are the book’s backbone, but every page holds other treasures in the form of advice, inspiration and some literary tidbits.

Musicians practice. Athletes practice. Writers should too. The daily writing prompts make practicing seamless. Writing from a prompt, Judy says, is like having someone provide the music when you want to dance.

A Writer’s Book of Days is $16.95 — less on sites like Amazon.

Yoga for Your Writing Hands

A creative mind may be the most important tool for a writer, but nimble fingers run a close second. Fingers that dance across a keyboard, keeping up with the author’s thoughts as she develops characters, describes settings and fine-tunes dialogue.

But fingers, hands and wrists are just like any other part of your body. They have to be cared for, pampered and maintained. As cold winter mornings approached, I was reminded of these facts when I sat down to let the writing flow and my fingers decided they weren’t ready to join in.

Joints were stiff, and my fingers felt prickly. My brain was warmed up but my hands were not. I asked my yoga instructor, Linda, about this dilemma. She said it all about blood flow and shared a few hand exercises, to get the blood moving again in my fingers, hands and wrists. One of my favorites is placing my hand in namaste (prayer) pose, spreading my fingers wide, and then pushing the fingers away from each other. (see photo).

If your fingers are fighting back, craving a bit more circulation, check out these three yoga videos (links below) that offer great yoga exercises you can do sitting at your desk, sitting at a red light or on the couch while you’re waiting for the next great idea to appear.

Something as simple as opening and closing your hands slowly can get the joints lubricated. Don’t forget to occasionally, wrap your arms around yourself and give your self a hug. It’s a great way to stretch your back and shoulders after hovering over a keyboard.

Namaste.

Three youtube videos to get you started.

Jamie Shane (7 minutes)

Yoga for Arthritis: The Hands & Wrists–KimMcNeilYoga (7 1/2 minutes)

Bridget Briant (4-1/2 minutes)