Tuesdays with Story
WRITER’S MAIL for September 15, 2011
Writer’s Quote:
“When someone in my family was reading the book, she said: ‘Where did you find out all this about vampires?’ And I said: ‘I made it up. It’s not like there was a of vampire code of conduct or something, that you could call Vampire Central and say, “Would you send me that pamphlet, please?”‘ They’re not real, you know.” – Charlaine Harris
Tuesday Night at BN:
Report from 1st & 3rd, September 6, from Jennifer Hansen:
Pat Edwards said she didn’t like the main character, Paige, but didn’t say why. She also asked if she was supposed to be a sympathetic character. It was brought up to use the word “had” at the beginning of a flashback and then again at the end in order to signify a change in past/present/future. It was also mentioned that Paige seems to have no difficulty in speaking when nobody else is around, however, why the use of italics for thoughts when she’s alone? Unless it’s to convey “forbidden fruit.” Also, the internal dialogue could be stronger! Rebecca Rettenmund suggested (in response to another suggestion of more action needed) that Paige could use cleaning as a metaphor of scrubbing away the memories of her past. Besides, it would provide some much needed action. The chapter ends with Paige waiting, again. Need a (much) better page turner. Jerry Peterson thought Paige wouldn’t punch down on the gas just to ease into traffic. Especially when she’s upset. He suggested she honk the horn at other vehicles or run into the car that turns in front of her. It was also suggested that Paige might keep a sort of shrine for her mother.
All excellent suggestions! Very helpful! I look forward to incorporating them into Chapter 5, what’s left to be written, and previous chapters upon editing.
Report from 2nd & 4th, September 13, from Carol Hornung:
Friday the 13th came on a Tuesday this month, but that didn’t stop us from gathering ’round the tables Tuesday night for three readings.
Terry Hoffman started us with a revamp of Chapter One of The Tome. Carol suggested that when Rachel is going through her mother’s books, this would be a great opportunity to develop the character of the mother by telling us what kinds of books these are. Jack Freiburger suggested focusing on the description of the tome a bit more, as it is, in fact, a significant character in the story. Holly Bonnicksen-Jones pointed out that Rachel is still in a very fragile state, and familiar items would probably trigger more emotion. Cole Ruby enjoyed the easy-to-read, familiar way the story flows. Thought it was the very natural style of the way a person thinks.
Cole Ruby read from Chapter 2 of Champions. Carol felt that it was nicely creepy, but had one issue with a character having a “predatory smile” but a couple of lines later the pov character says there was no sign of anything suspicious. Holly suggested that a 20 minute bus ride really isn’t much of a hardship, and on a bus in a metro environment, a homeless-looking person probably isn’t going to stand out much. Terry really liked the action scenes, saying they were well-written and easy to follow.
Holly Bonnicksen-Jones presented a chapter from Coming Up For Air. Cole said he expected more of a payoff when Amanada was introduced. Liam Wilbur was expecting sailor-talk. Carol thought that Holly’s dialog problem had something to do with too many questions being asked and not many answers given. People in conversations tend to speak in statements, not questions. Needed more back-and-forth. Jack thought Liza wasn’t likely to swallow an ice cube. She’d probably choke on it – or she could swallow an ice chip. Steven liked the line about David steeling himself. The people at the party were amazingly shallow, and Liza needs to start realizing/feeling that as the scene progresses.
Who’s Up Next?
September 20: Kim Simmons (more of chapter 1 rewrite, City of Summer), Pat Edwards (poems), Judith McNeil (???), Aaron Boehm (screenplay/part 11, Hell Cage), Millie Mader (chapter 28, Life on Hold), and Jerry Peterson (chapters 15-16, Thou Shalt Not Murder).
September 27: Liam Wilbur (Fog-gotten), Holly Bonnicksen-Jones (Coming Up For Air), Jack Freiburger (Path to Bray’s Head). Room for three more! Contact Carol at chornung88@aol.com if you are interested!
October 4: Rebecca Rettenmund (journal entry), Greg Spry (chapter 11, Beyond Cloud Nine), John Schneller (chapter, Final Stronghold), Jennifer Hansen (chapter 4, Shadows of Yesterday), Liam Wilbur (chapter, Scott & Rory), and Jim Cue (part 2, short story).
October 11: Cole Ruby (Champions), Terry Hoffman (The Tome), Jack Freiburger (Path to Bray’s Head). Room for three more. You know the drill. Contact Carol if interested.
Fifth Tuesday
2nd & 4th hosts the next Fifth Tuesday on November 29th! A location idea has been discussed and a challenge has been discussed as well, but we’ve got to firm up the plans before we let everyone in on them. Stay tuned!!!!
Writer’s Mail: Duty Roster
We need YOU! Be an editor of the Tuesdays With Story newsletter. Everyone else provides the content, all you have to do is put it together! Four weeks! You can do it! Looks great on a resume! Gives you that warm, tingly feeling. You know you want to volunteer!
Here’s our roster to date:
October – Need somebody!
November – Need somebody else!
December – Clayton Gill
January – Welcome the new year!
February – C’mon, you can manage the shortest month of the year, can’t you?
Please let Carol know the month of Writers Mail you’d like to edit. Thanks and write again!
Paraprosdokians – from Terry Hoffman
To all of our smart friends, here are some great PARAPROSDOKIANS. Here is the definition: “A figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected; frequently used in a humorous situation.”
“Where there’s a will, I want to be in it,” is a paraprosdokian.
Ok, so now enjoy!
1. Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
2. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it’s still on my list.
3. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
4. If I agreed with you, we’d both be wrong.
5. We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.
6. War does not determine who is right – only who is left.
7. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
8. Evening news is where they begin with ‘Good Evening,’ and then proceed to tell you why it isn’t.
9. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.
10. A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station..
11. I thought I wanted a career. Turns out I just wanted paychecks.
12. Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says, ‘In case of emergency, notify:’ I put ‘DOCTOR.’
13. I didn’t say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.
14. Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut,
and still think they are sexy.
15. Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman.
16. A clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory.
17. I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn’t work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.
18. You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.
19. Money can’t buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.
20. There’s a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can’t get away.
21. I used to be indecisive. Now I’m not so sure.
22. You’re never too old to learn something stupid..
23. To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.
24. Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be.
25. Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.
26. Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.
27. A diplomat is someone who tells you to go to hell in such a way that you look forward to the trip.
28. Hospitality is making your guests feel at home even when you wish they were.
29. I always take life with a grain of salt. Plus a slice of lemon, and a shot of tequila.
30. When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water.
Modern Words:
smishing
n. An attempt to fool a person into submitting personal, financial, or password data by sending a text message with a link to a scammer-controlled website. Also: SMiShing. [SMS + phishing.]
—smish v.
—smisher n.
Example Citations:
Grant said tax season can be a time of “phishing” or “smishing” where identity thieves contact consumers by e-mail or text messages, pretending to be from the IRS and telling them that they need to confirm some personal information, such as their Social Security number.
—Susan Tompor, “Guard your tax info from thieves,” Detroit Free Press, April 17, 2011
Phishing has been given a smartphone makeover for 2011 — and is now known as Smishing, or SMS phishing.
“Smishing is a growing problem for all banking segments including credit unions, regional banks and large nationwide banks,” said the RSA reports.
“Large nationwide banks have been the hardest hit by smishing as cybercriminals can distribute their SMS spam to a wider base of mobile users who are more than likely to have some form of financial account at one of these institutions.
—Matt Greenop, “Smartphones — more mobile, more vulnerable,” The New Zealand Herald, Fenrary 9, 2011
Earliest Citation:
This phenomena, which we at McAfee Avert Labs are dubbing “SMiShing” (phishing via SMS), is yet another indicator that cell phones and mobile devices are becoming increasingly used by perpetrators of malware, viruses and scams.
—David Rayhawk, “SMiShing — an emerging threat vector,” McAfee Blog Central, August 25, 2006
Notes:SMS (Short Messaging Service) is the technology that enables you to send and receive text messages.
The Last Word
“It’s none of their business that you have to learn to write. Let them think you were born that way.” – Ernest Hemingway
Tuesdays with Story 
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