Tuesdays with Story

Writer’s Mail
Tuesdays with Story
April 5, 2019

Where were you?

Seven writers gathered at B&N Westside Tuesday evening. If you were among the missing, here are some of the comments in the critiques you didn’t get to hear:

Chris Zoern (chapter 1, Apostate) . . .

Kashmira Sheth and Amit Trivedi (chapters 10-11, untitled novel) . . . Amit and Kashmira submitted two chapters of their untitled novel. There were concerns about using italics for the flashbacks as well as the length of flashbacks. Jack wanted more emotional reaction to the flashback, John wondered if they were all needed. Larry likes some of the descriptive language and Jerry pointed out the inconstancy in using the word “Elder” throughout the chapter. Also, Jack thought Uma’s character was rather dull.

Larry Sommers (chapter 17, Freedom’s Purchase) . . . John, Jerry, and Jack gave me a lot of practical help on farming methods—how to harvest corn, etc. Also more information on hunting practices, and a helpful suggestion from Jerry to have runaway horses be part of the story. Jack pointed out that an Albany cutter would not have been much use in the kind of snowdrifts I’m writing about. Wide, heavy runners would be better. Chris liked the feel of the deerslaying sequence and pointed out that eating potatoes in the context of potatoes as a code word for runaway slaves could lead to unfortunate confusion. Jerry wanted the Christmas scene written more fully. Thanks to Jack for the suggestion of seeking 19th-century farming information in Nesbit’s History of Wisconsin. As always, thanks to everyone for useful ideas.

John Schneller (chapter 5, Broken) . . . Good suggestions on word choices and realistic action/responses were discussed. A man-sized hole suggests a walk-through size, ‘Broken’s ribs’ suggest a fracture rather than ownership, ‘went’ is a word that wastes an opportunity to show more specific action, and ‘buddy’ is not the best title for a goon.  All good suggestions. Thanks!

Jack Freiburger (chapters 37-38, A Walk upon the Water) . . .

Jerry Peterson (chapters 18-19, Night Flight) . . . Everybody loves Aunt Millie. “You’ve got a real character there,” Jack said. He and others went on to suggest ways in which the character can be expanded. This is a male-heavy novel, so John suggested changing the boy in chapter 19 to a girl who might then develop a crush on one of the pilots.

Who’s up next

April 16

Lisa McDougal (chapter, The Tebow Family Secret)

Bob Kralapp (chapter, Capacity)

Kashmira Sheth and Amit Trivedi (chapters, untitled novel)

Jack Freiburger (chapters, A Walk upon the Water)

Jessica Smith (???)

Cindi Dyke (chapter, The Mansion Secrets)

Tracey Gemmell (chapter, Lavender Wine)

Fifth Tuesday

Yes, it’s April 30. Tracey and Scott Gemmell will host us at their home in New Glarus, well, on the mountain top just east of New Glarus. This is a potluck supper event, so plan now for the great food you intend to bring and share.

Here’s the prompt for the writing challenge: My worst critique ever. It can be real or fiction. Yes, you can make it up. Length: 500 words or less. Write your mini-masterpiece now and beat the rush. Email it to Jerry Peterson <jerrypetersonbooks@gmail.com> by Sunday evening, April 28.

UW’s Writers Institute this week

Amber Boudreau, Larry Sommers, and Tracey Gemmell are among the several hundred writers at the Writers Institute. It opened on Thursday and runs through Saturday. Friday, Tracey pitched her novel to agents and editors.

Kashmira has a new chapter book series called Nina Soni published by Peachtree Publishers. The first book in the series, Nina Soni, Former Best Friend will be out on October 1, 2019. It is targeted for 7-10 age range.

From the publisher:

The first title in a new series featuring a lovable, distractible Indian-American girl and her family and friends.
Nina tried as hard as she could, but still somehow she forgot about her school project. Fortunately, a class lesson about Alexander Fleming suggests how she might make a great discovery—and thus a great project! But with little sister Kavita’s birthday party right around the corner, and her longtime friendship with Jay on the rocks, Nina has a lot to keep track of.
Readers are sure to relate to author Kashmira Sheth’s endearing Nina Soni and her slightly scatter-brained efforts to manage her life with lists, definitions, and real-life math problems.

April’s editor

John Schneller commands the editorship for Writer’s Mail this month. Email your news to him for the next issue.

The psychology of writing

Writer Wendy McNaughton assembled a thoughtful article on the ingredients that can be a part of the daily routine of writing for the online publication Brain Pickings. You should read it. Here’s the link: https://getpocket.com/explore/item/the-psychology-of-writing-and-the-cognitive-science-of-the-perfect-daily-routine

If you don’t want to read the full article, just print off this paragraph and tape it to the wall in front of your writing station:

Despite all the fruitful strategies for optimizing creative flow, the bigger truth remains: There is no ideal rotation of the chair or perfect position of the desk clock that guarantees a Pulitzer. What counts, ultimately, is putting your backside in the chair—or, if you happen to be Ernest Hemingway or Virginia Woolf, dragging your feet to your standing desk—and clocking in the hours, psychoemotional rain or shine. Showing up day in and day out, without fail, is the surest way to achieve lasting success.