Tuesdays with Story

Writer’s Mail for Tuesday July 1st, 2014

It had flaws, but what does that matter when it comes to matters of the heart? We love what we love. Reason does not enter into it. In many ways, unwise love is the truest love. Anyone can love a thing because. That’s as easy as putting a penny in your pocket. But to love something despite. To know the flaws and love them too. That is rare and pure and perfect.
― Patrick Rothfuss, The Wise Man’s Fear

Amber starts off the night and reads from chapter Eight of her new urban fantasy novel. Jerry wants the character to feel the unevenness if the ground. Amit wonders about using a different word than guardian for the trees the beginning of the chapter. Andy B. and Jerry wanted a better description of the sound that the main character hears before she goes over the balcony. Andy P. thought the main character jumped from the building at one point and suggests revising.

Millie reads from Chapter fifty-five of Life on Hold. Andy P. wonders why the main character wouldn’t smack someone who was molesting her. Jerry says it was the times. Bob wondered about the structure of the events. Kashmira agrees with Bob and thinks the time delay takes away from the immediacy and urgency of the events.

Andy P. shares a couple of chapters from The Void. Jerry wonders why one character shows up in the first place. Kristin had a question about setting and was looking for something to tell her where she was. Kashmira wanted some more interaction with the environment the characters were in. Andy B. thought they could cut down on the description of the characters getting into the void. For Kashmira that was where the story slowed down for her.

Amit reads from Chapter Four of his and Kashmira’s as yet untitled novel they are writing together. Jerry ask for a bit of synopsis, but they haven’t had a chance to write one yet. Andy B. points to one line in particular for explaining so much backstory. Jerry wanted to know what kind of snake bit one character’s daughter. Kristin points out a couple of spelling errors. Jerry questions how one character could balance a grown man against two kids—baby goats. Andy B. got a little confused by the different points of view. Jerry suggests eliminating some speech tags.

Bob reads from part five of Hole in the Wall. Andy P. suggested some more actions to break up the dialogue a bit because he’s not getting a good sense of who they are. Kristin thought there were some good gestures he could add as well. Andy B. liked the tension that got built by the characters interaction with one another, but he was sad it didn’t go anywhere. Jerry notes that the handle of the gun should be called the grip. At the end of the scene, Kashmira wants to see how the characters feel about the events of the evening.

Jerry reads from Rubbed Out, his new novella. Andy P. wondered if one of the character’s names had changed. Amber asks about the dragon tattoo on the girl who comes in for a job. Judith suggests the ocelot. Jerry breaks the news that he wrote an additional character into chapter one and reads it to the group.

Who’s Up Next:

July 8: Jack, Liam, Jen, Deb, Roxanne, and Andy M.

July 15: Lisa McDougal (chapter, Tebow Family Secret), Andy Brown (chapter 4, Man Before the Fall), Amber Boudreau (chapters, Stone), Pat Edwards (???), John Schneller (chapter 3, Final Stronghold), and Judith McNeil (chapter 14, My Mother, Savior of Men).

Editors:

Ruth Imhoff is the July editor.
Katelin Cummins takes on the job in August.

Camp NaNoWriMo kicks off July 1st:

A spin off from the popular National Novel Writing Month in November, Camp NaNoWriMo is a writing adventure based in an online community. Choose your own word count goal for the month, work on any type of writing project, join an online cabin and get pep talks in your mailbox for support.

2nd and 4th members Katelin Cummins and Ruth Imhoff are participating. Email Katelin (katelin.cummins@gmail.com) if you want to join their online cabin!

Find out more at campnanowrimo.org.

5th Tuesday!!

The next Fifth Tuesday will be July 29!
Rebecca Rettenmund will host at 509 Pine Street, Madison. Bring a lawn or folding chair for yourself if you have one.

This is a potluck, so please bring some food to share!

The Challenge
What if your character could tell you what he or she thinks about your writing? Maybe she doesn’t like how you portrayed her, or he hates what you’re doing to his life in the story. Your character’s rant or diatribe is your 250 word challenge piece.

Bring a print out of your own story to share at the gathering for fun. Email your masterpiece to Katelin by July 30 so it can be included in the next newsletter. That means you have up until the Fifth Tuesday to complete it!

Congratulations to Reading Rainbow for their successful Kickstarter!
Recently, Reading Rainbow launched a Kickstarter so they could expand their presence and reach more children including bringing Reading Rainbow into classrooms. Their Kickstarter finally ended with a total of $5,408,916 in donations!