Wanted: Two (2) Writing Group Members

My Far Flung Writers novel group is looking for two new members. This is a fantastic group. (If you don't believe me, you can ask P.J., or HipWriterMama, or Chris, or Kim, or Patty.)

What we write:

• Middle Grade and YA novels
  

What we submit for critique:

• approximately 5,000 words every four weeks

What we critique:

• In 3 of 4 weeks, we read and critique two 5,000 word subs. (In week 4--the week you submit--you only critique one.) This is a major time commitment, I won't lie. Two hours a week or more, depending on your speed.
  

If you're interested, drop me an e-mail or a comment and let's talk.

On Punctuation: The Semicolon

I just don't use semicolons all that much, do you? I mean I use them for lengthy lists with numerous commas, but, really, that's about it. So, I wasn't surprised to find that my punctuation mark is the colon instead. (Quiz via Bookshelves of Doom.) So, yeah. I'm a little bossy and emphatic.

Speaking of punctuation marks...here are two great pieces on the semicolon:

And Now He's Dead: Semicolon; Punctuation Mark

And the evidence for the Gawker post: Jon Henley on the Semicolon for the Guardian. (Lots of writer opinions on the semicolon as well.)

What's your punctuation mark?

Writing Emotional Response in Fiction and, well let's face it, Memoir

UPDATE: So far response shows I am the crazy one here. (Big surprise, I know.) Most of you experience head or stomach symptoms in response to extreme emotion. Indeed, you say, lurching is the appropriate term. Sweating and loss of breath have also been noted. Thanks for your comments. I'm finding this a fascinating discussion and I hope it helps anyone who writes. It's certainly helping me, though I am now questioning my own neurological makeup.

Back to the original post:

An interesting issue came up recently in one of my writing groups. (I'm a writing group two-timer. Shhh! Don't tell.) And it really has me thinking today about writing and reading emotional response.

It seems to me that in MG and YA lit (and adult memoir) that stomachs lurch in response to emotion more than they actually do in life. I'm actually having a difficult time thinking of a recent book in which a stomach did not lurch or turn. And, I've got to be honest with you all: My stomach has never--not once--lurched in response to a traumatic or an emotional situation.* Am I alone here?

In fact, I clearly remember the first time my stomach lurched. I was fourteen and on a trip to Magic Mountain. It was on a roller coaster and I thought, so this is what it means to have your stomach lurch. I finally know! Really, I was pretty excited because I'd read all about it and had no idea what it meant.

When something traumatic or truly emotional has happened to me, I always have the same physical response. A pain behind my sternum--the pain that happens before you cry for real. Then the pain moves up my throat to the back of my mouth. There it stays until I cry. After crying I feel physically numb and slow until I can act.

So here's my question to all you readers and writers out there. How do you react to tragedy or extreme emotion? Does fiction and memoir adequately reflect your response? Does your stomach lurch?
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Image from the NIH.
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*I've also never felt queasy in response to an emotional event. Fast food is another story.

An Award: Pens and Pencils

You know, the January Carnival of Children's Literature is fast approaching (deadline January 18; details here at Wizards Wireless, our host). The theme is awards and I've got nothing. I've been working my tail off with the Cybils, so haven't had time to process this year's experience (great) yet. Time to make something up!

Yesterday's delicious notebook discussion has inspired me to make up an award on the fly. And here's the deal: your candidate WILL win, 'cause this award is an award you give. That's right, I want you to present an award to your favorite writing instrument--either in a post of your own or in the comments.

I'm going to give two awards:

1) Writing instrument I use for writing anything longer than one paragraph: The Waterman Ici & la pen in blue. This is Waterman's least expensive and, most importantly, sleekest pen. It fits nicely in my hand and glides over the page. Even though the nib is "fine," it's still a fountain pen, so it has a nice thick line. I prefer the blue-black ink.

2) Writing instrument I use for brief notes and for editing typeface: The Pentel Twist-Erase .9mm lead automatic pencil.

Oh, how I love this pencil! I always have one on me and it never fails to inspire. Because its lead is .9mm, it doesn't break when I write and its squishy barrel is actually comfortable in my hand. I prefer the navy (not pictured), but will use the black and red in a pinch. Colors seem to be limited in the .9mm range. You .5mm folk have all the luck. Needless to say, I like the 2B lead. I like a dark line.

So. Which writing instruments would you award for their faithful service and why? Tell me more. I just can't get enough of the writing supplies.

Notebooks.

Last summer I had a complete and total computer meltdown. And, I found out that I was no longer able to write original text by hand. I edit on paper and take notes in a notebook (my favorite is the Moleskine lined reporter's notebook), but writing? I have to type now.

At the time of the computer collapse, I sent a question out into the sphere about how you write and got a ton of great comments about the physical act of writing. (I also put an original poem out there--Requiem for a Laptop--a poem my beloved family laughed at. Thanks a lot, you guys.)

Today I want to return to the physical act of writing and ask you all: which are your favorite notebooks and why?

Making Space for Writing (III)

This final Making Space for Writing post concerns lifestyle changes--major changes one makes to carve out more time for writing. The timing of this post is ironic considering I haven't had time to blog in three days, let alone write. But, be that as it may, writers had some interesting suggestions regarding major changes that can make a difference.

Three comments in particular really spoke to my way of life which is based on the academic calendar:

• Laura G. says, "I wish I knew the answer to this, cuz I sure don't get much writing done when classes are in session! Right now my head is too full of Anna Karenina to make space for anything of my own (which would, of course, pale by comparison)." Boy, can I relate to this comment. And, Laura really made me think. In the future, I think, semesters will be for editing, breaks for first drafts.
• TadMack says something similar about the teaching life: "When I was working full time, I only wrote in the summer. After I published my first book, I scheduled myself an hour before I did any grading in the afternoon - that didn't really work, as after school I was usually on a school "roll," and swapping things didn't work either - because prepwork is never ending, and it would be the next morning before I had time to write. So, I wrote on the weekends, and scheduled "writer's weekends" for myself."
• Amy S. agrees, writing, "I was a much more consistent writer over the summer. And my mind was open and reflective enough that I "noticed" stories, details, dialogue, etc."

Sam Riddleburger recommends becoming a stay-at-home dad. Oops! Too late for me, but this strategy may work for you if you have young kids. (Actually, now that I think about it...becoming a stay-at-home parent when kids are already in school might work even better!)

Kim and Michele, as I mentioned in an earlier post, recommend getting up at 4 in the morning. This counts as a major lifestyle change for me. And, it's one I've tried. Unfortunately, I'll hit the snooze until 6 unless I have a flight scheduled. No matter what.

Do you have any other major lifestyle changes to suggest?

Previous Making Space for Writing posts:

Writerly Tricks
What to Avoid
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Don't miss Bruce Black's post on this topic at Wordswimmer. He quotes from "Author Talk, a collection of brief conversations with fifteen children's book writers, compiled and edited by Leonard Marcus." The quotes all have to do with making mental space for writing. Bruce's commentary on each quote is as fascinating at the quotes themselves are. Go! Go read it now.

Making Space for Writing (II)

When discussing making mental space for writing, many writers had excellent advice about what NOT to do. Or, rather, what to avoid doing so you can write instead.

Number one on the list: cleaning.

Adrienne says, for example, "I decided second that I would write BEFORE I did any of my housework every day, so I was using good energy for writing and I'm-really-tired-and-want-to-lie-down energy for the dishes."

Liz in Ink agrees, saying, "If your house has to be tidy and your laundry clean and your to-do list complete, forget about it. It'll never happen."

Elaine says, "Skip the housework. Dust happens!"

Gail has ditched the hobbies: "I don't sew much anymore. I don't bake or do as much serious cooking as I used to do. I've accepted I'll never be a gardener. Right now for the first time in decades I'm not doing any volunteer work."

Nick has this to say: "I leave really short blog posts." By the way, Nick (author of The Cat Kin) has a really great blog with really great (not-so-short) posts. If you haven't read it, head on over now.

Original Making Space for Writing post.
Making Space for Writing (I): Writerly Tricks

Next up--Making Space for Writing (III): Lifestyle changes

Making Space for Writing (I)

Last week I posed a question about making space for writing. I wasn't asking about creating an office or clearing off a desk, but rather about clearing your mind during a day of work, and kids, and other responsibilities. Making that all-important mental space.

I received so many helpful and generous replies to this query, that I thought I'd break up the suggestions into a few posts.

Today's topic concerns writerly tricks. You know, the things and actions that switch your mindset from the treadmill to a writing space. Maybe a fluffy pen will do it for you? Or is it Yoga? I think it's up to the writer, but here are the suggestions I received:

• Sara Lewis Holmes suggests "Make the act of writing a rebellion against all the other Must-Dos in your life." Run away and play hooky.


• Sara also recommends a separate notebook for each writing project and "mentally conjure up your favorite reading spot as a kid (or as an adult)."


• Adrienne likes "pink pens and the notebooks" too!
  


• And, Tricia works with notebooks so she can steal away time when on campus


• Tricia also starts with a poetic form or writing prompt to shock herself into the zone
  


• Barbara Kerley wrote in and said, "A tiny routine is good to start your writing time. For me, I make a cup of tea, head upstairs, and sit down at my desk."


• Christine M. tries to "get enough stuff off of my to do list"


• P.J. Hoover says she uses a "digital voice recorder to capture quick ideas I have throughout the day"


• Becky Levine suggests sitting down for an hour at the same time every day. (Gail Gauthier agrees!)


• Colleen Cook plans on treating writing like doctor's appointments and scheduling dates she can't miss.


• Liz Garton Scanlon uses the exerise tip: set a "very, very, very modest goal -- 10 or 15 minutes a day -- because once you've started, you'll almost always exceed it."


• Tanita finds weekend writing works great with the academic calendar


• Kelly Fineman has to leave the house or have a clutter-free space


• Cloudscome says "What I do is get up early, sit with my coffee and prayers/meditation, and let my mind wander."


• Michele and Kim find getting up early to write is the trick

Tomorrow we'll discuss "things to avoid" and on Friday "lifestyle changes" that make a difference.

A question for the writers

I have a question for you writer folk as we head into the weekend. If you've successfully navigated the submissions process, please provide your two cents. Here's the deal:



I submitted a query to my number-one-top agent. After a few months I got a request for a partial (50 pages). I was excited and sent it off as an exclusive as requested. This was during the second week of June. It's now mid September, so a week ago I sent a status inquiry to the agent's assistant by e-mail. Still nothing.

I'm assuming they're not interested, but I agreed to an exclusive so can't submit elsewhere. I've done a lot of work recently on the manuscript and am ready to submit again. What should I do? How long should I wait? Should I inquire again? I've read and reread the submission instructions and I don't think I've done anything wrong. Help!!!