Tuesdays with Story

Writer’s Mail
March 4, 2014

First and Third Meeting March 4, 2014 at Barnes and Noble

A small group yesterday evening, only eight of us.

Lisa McDougal read from Tebow Family Secret, Chapters 12 and 13. Cindi thought the emotional parts of the chapter were handled very well. Andy wanted to see more facial expressions by Adam and Craig when they first see Ahna. Jerry pointed out the description of Adam and Craig seeing Ahna, would more accurately be phrased that they saw a woman who looks like Izzy. Adam could say, “Excuse me, but you look like my wife, Izzy.” Jerry also felt that Adam and Craig left too “easily” considering Adam’s considerable emotional investment in looking for his wife for ten years. They had been invited to sit at the next table with Ahna and Sadie, so why would they not grab the opportunity and stay. Lisa said that she wanted to do more work on the ending of the chapter. Everyone felt that the chapter moved very well, bringing the forces together for the upcoming climax.

Andy Pfeiffer read a chapter from The Void, Chapters 11and 12. Lisa said that she was confused as to Heather’s role in the story. Also added that if some of the people asking questions of Heather were not reporters, that main character should indicate this. Andy said that Heather was also critical of the media, who got their headlines from the Void. He also indicated that Edward Schwartz is the main character behind the Void. He is trying to control the country by controlling the news that is presented by the media. Jerry mentioned that if Heather was outside of the house, not close to the front, and Bryce was inside the house, he probably would not be able to hear the interaction between Heather and reporters and that Bryce should inform the reader who the reporters are. Most of the group did not totally understand the video game terms, phrases. Andy said that the novel was aimed at a niche audience, mainly people who regularly play video games. Kashmira suggested that Andy put a synopsis of story before chapters to help rest of group better understand what was going on. Cindi said she like the battle of the virus’ even though she is not a gamer.

Cindi Dyke read from North Road. Lisa said that the story cries out to be written in the first person. The group agreed. This way the story would not seem to be from an omniscient narrator but Kath herself. Kashmira suggested having Kath moving around, doing things as she puts her thoughts into first person from the beginning of the chapter. Everyone gave her kudos on amazing metaphors. Lisa suggested that the conversation in the doctor’s office should in some way show that she had been his patient previous to this visit and that they know each other for quite some time. In the scene when the doctor walks Kath to the elevator, Jerry suggested that he reach into the elevator when the door opens, and press the button for her next destination within the hospital. He and Kashmira also suggested that the chapter end with her sister, Paula, ringing the doorbell, as this will start the confrontation that she has been avoiding and be the magnet to pull the reader into the next chapter.

Millie Mader read from Life on Hold, chapter 51. The group thought the chapter moved along very smoothly. Andy said that Mark added more interest as Scott was pretty much out of the picture at the moment. Jerry asked about the date that Scott’s letters stopped. Millie said around Easter, but didn’t know the exact date for Easter in that year. (Andy got it for her). Erin talks about the spring fragrances but Jerry and Kashmira felt she needed a flower that has a very strong scent, like lilacs. In dialogue when Scott mentions the ID bracelet that Erin had given him before he departed for England, Kashmira suggested putting in some sensory descriptions of the bracelet.

Jerry Peterson read the ending of Capitol Crimes. Everyone liked the ending. Thought the characters were excellent and all loose ends were tied. Cindi said she was glad to see that Quill’s wife “came around” and forgave him at the end. Jerry showed us the illustrated cover of the book. The “s” was left off by accident, but he didn’t want to add it to interfere with the illustration, so it will be published as Capitol Crime. It will be coming out later this spring.

Who’s Up Next?
We have a full line-up for Tuesday, March 11th!
Jack Freiburger (??), Deb Kellerman (something new), Katelin Cummins (short story), Holly Bonnicksen-Jones (Chapter, Coming Up for Air), Ruth Imhoff (??), Carol Hornung (scene, Ghost of Heffron College).

March 18
Lisa McDougal (chapter, Tebow Family Secret); Kashmira Sheth & Amit Trivedi (chapter 2, novel); Cindi Dyke (chapters, North Road); Bob Kralapp (short story, “Hole in the Wall”, Part 2); Pat Edwards (???); Judith McNeil (chapter 10, My Mother, Savior of Men)

April 1
Georgia NeSmith (chapter, memoir); Millie Mader (chapter 52, Life on Hold); Andy Pfeiffer (chapters, The Void)’Cindi Dyke (chapters, North Road); Bob Kralapp (???); Kashmira Sheth & Amit Trivedi (novel)

April 15
Lisa McDougal (chapter, Tebow Family Secret); Kashmira Sheth & Amit Trivedi (chapter 3, novel); Cindi Dyke chapters, North Road); Pat Edwards (???) John Schneller (???); Judith McNeil (chapter 11, My Mother, Savior of Men)

Newsletter Editor Needed for April
Volunteer to be our newsletter editor for April!

Email the Tuesdays with Story yahoo group to volunteer and let us know where to send meeting notes and other submissions.

Fifth Tuesday (Reminder Summary)
When: Tuesday, April 29 at 7:00pm
Where: Mystery to Me Bookstore (1863 Monroe Street, Madison)
What: Potluck and Writing Competition

The Challenge: Coffee shop stories . . . Write a story, poem, essay or film scene in which a coffee shop is involved. The coffee shop may be the immediate scene or be nearby or be referred to in some way. You decide. Max length: 500 words. Email your story to Jerry (address below) no later than Friday April 25.

Competition Details: Pay $5 at the door to participate. Madison novelist Andrea Thalasinos will read all entries prior to the meeting and select the winner. The best piece will earn its author a critique of the first 50 pages of her/his writing project and dinner on the town with our judge. You do not need to be present to participate!

RSVP: Email Jerry and let him know you are coming and what food item you will bring. Also let him know if you will bring guests and whether or not you will participate in the competition.

Here’s list of what people are bringing for this event, so far.
Lisa- Cheese & Cracker platter
Pat- coffee and tea fixings & cups
Kashmira & Amit- Soft drinks & ice
Millie – wine
Judith – paper plates, napkins, plastic eatware and fruit
Jen – Food from Willy St. Coop
Andy – cookies
Bob – chicken salad
Kristin – Turkey roll-ups

25th Annual Writer’s Institute
This writer’s conference is coming up April 4-6 here in Madison! Spend the weekend with other writers. You’ll find opportunities for agent pitches, workshops, instructors, networking, practice pitch sessions, and critiques.

More information on the website: http://continuingstudies.wisc.edu/conferences/writers-institute/

To check out, as well, website on digital publishing strategies:
http://www.digitalpubbing.com/7-strategies-and-94-tools-to-help-indie-authors-find-readers-and-reviewers/

Great word . . .
From Word Spy Paul McFedreis:

trophy kid
Meaning: (noun) A child who grew up getting praise and trophies just for participating in activities, and now expects esteem and rewards as an adult.

Example Citations:
“Yep, we’re talking about Generation Y – loosely defined as those born between 1982 and 1999 – also known as millennials. Perhaps you know them by their other media-generated nicknames: teacup kids, for their supposed emotional fragility; boomerang kids, who always wind up back home; trophy kids – everyone’s a winner!; the Peter Pan generation, who’ll never grow up.”
– Emily Matchar, How those spoiled millennials will make the workplace better for everyone, The Washington Post, August 16, 2012

“Author Ron Alsop calls them ‘trophy kids,’ a term that reflects the trend where ‘mere participation is frequently enough for a reward,’ and being overly praised for little accomplishment.”
– Marie Engen, The Plight of Generation Y, Boomer & Echo, September 24, 2013

Earliest Citation:
“One very astute father once said to me, ‘Jim, I’ve got it. There is a huge group of trophy kids growing up today who won’t have the character and resilience to compete in the labor market.”
– Jim Fay, Make Your Kid Responsible For Their Actions (PDF), Love and Logic, October 13, 2003

Notes:
This phrase had a different meaning a dozen years ago when I posted it as trophy child and defined it as “a child used to impress other people and enhance the status of the parent or parents.” The logical (and not even remotely surprising) lesson here seems that some kids raised as trophies expect to be treated as trophies when they become adults.

Here’s a book for you . . .
California writer David Comfort’s An Insider’s Guide to Publishing. He calls his book a publishing industry exposé. “The title is a long-overdue self-helper for the million midlist, backlist, and no-list scribes still waiting for deliverance by a survival manual based not on Publishers Clearing House You-too-can-be-a millionaire-novelist! fiction, but on the sobering realities of an overpopulated, hyper-competitive, bestseller-driven profession.”

Overpopulated and hyper-competitive, that describes our field of endeavor. There are a lot of us writing and selling books.

Could Comfort’s An Insider’s Guide be worth your money to buy it and your time to read it? Don’t know, but check it out. Writers Digest Books published the book last year.