Wiley Wednesday: Revisions, Revisions, Revisions

Writer Zen Garden Posted on by

It has never been my way to set specific goals for myself. Exceptions include trying to arrive at work on time every morning and exercising daily. More recently, I set a goal to type seven thousand new words every week. They could include anything creative, even a blog post, as long as the endeavor was fresh. This went on quite swimmingly for a solid, rewarding month.

Then, rewrites were needed. In no time at all, I found trimming did more to enhance my storytelling than most new additions. This echoes what Josip Novakovich describes in his “Fiction Writer’s Workshop” chapter on revising. While some authors must add to polish their story, I’m proving to be what Novakovich calls a “taker-outer”. I’m still amazed by how much a clumsy scene improved by being cut down from over 1,100 words to less than half that.

With that thought in mind, I’m compelled to share something I recently learned about the legendary H. P. Lovecraft. While he created an astonishing and enduring mythos, and his iconic Cthulhu is more popular today than ever, his writings aren’t particularly known for their quality. In his defense, I offer one plausible explanation: all the while this relatively unknown man brought his night terrors to life on the pages of pulp fiction magazines, Lovecraft earned his payment by word count. Simply put, the more verbose contributions earned him larger paychecks!

While I have yet to seek payment for anything I’ve written, I continue to learn at every turn. One thing I know is that advice from friends helps tremendously. And while it’s difficult sometimes to remove anything from a manuscript, I feel better knowing that for everything removed, my tale is that much better. Granted, some scraps are also saved in case I find a use for them later. Either way, writing even excised material still teaches something useful. Now let’s see what needs trimmed next…

Are you going to Conference?

Writer Zen Garden Posted on by

Fifteen months ago, I would not have understood that question. Now, I find myself being asked on a fairly regular basis. Even more notable, I find myself questioning my standard, shy, negative response.

What is holding me back? I’ve encountered many fabulously inspiring individuals in the cyber-world. How can meeting folks in the flesh seem so much scarier than posting the stories in my head for all the world to see?

One very immediate shortcoming is my failure to educate myself on what writers’ events would most benefit me. While I’ll spend hours researching for the sake of authenticity in my fiction, my palms sweat and my eyes blur when I try to explore the business end of writing.

Several wonderful people are easing me through these doubts and fears. Thanks goes out specifically to Dilo Keith for sharing the information she’s gathering on publishers. Dilo’s tips on my stories are invaluable, too. I’m certainly blessed to be part of this gang on the Writer’s Retreat Blog. A Catherine Noon invited me originally and every person on here goes out of his or her way to uplift and encourage. To find support from Mel Keegan on The GLBT Bookshelf has been like a dream come true.

Today, another chance, friendly contact makes me think that it’s time I attend the RWA National Conference. Upon winning the exciting e-book, “Stellar Heat”, I received the PDF file from the author, herself! Learning that I live on the way of her expected route to Nashville, Scarlett Jameson actually offered me a ride! What a kind gesture, and one that just might inspire me to take that leap.

I’ll keep you posted. Just this afternoon, I faxed my application to join the Romance Writers of America. I figure that’s another baby step.

As for the RWA Conference, any reader likely knows that the unfortunate populace of Tennessee and other Southern US states is battling natural disaster. Our best wishes go out to them that flood waters recede soon and damage can be managed. While A Catherine Noon astutely pointed out that the RWA board is not in an enviable position, we have every faith they’ll have a plan in place by the end of July.

So, are you going to Conference?

Orienteering Versus Alleycats

Writer Zen Garden Posted on by

Walking through my local arboretum after a long absence, I noticed a square post on the wooded path that wasn’t there the last time. An emblem showed as a shiny square, lower right half a bright orange triangle and the upper left pristine white. Below that I read the unfamiliar word “orienteering” and what appeared to be a company name.

That odd noun stuck with me, reinforced by an eerie sign on another side of the post saying, “obedient”. I immediately thought of the stereotypical salarymen of Japan and the so-called team building activities in corporate America. Then I came across the orienteering expression a mere day or so later during a rare night of watching television. Nathan Fillion’s character on “Castle” referred to his daughter’s trip as an orienteering expedition.

Upon hearing that, I followed through on my intent to look up the term. To my great surprise, orienteering is a whole class of widely varied competitive exercises. From what I read, the phrase was first used in the 1880’s to describe Swedish military training in land navigation. Civilian happenings occur around the world for every age group. Navigation is accomplished on foot, skis, mountain bikes, in cars, and even canoes. Certain participants are required to navigate by night using headlamps while a few beginner or child-oriented events involve string to follow around a short course as the competitors note objects found along the way like some sort of treasure hunt.

Considering how these proceedings don’t sound particularly interesting to watch, it’s easy to see why these games have thus far failed to gain inclusion in the Olympics. However, the International Olympic Committee is patron to the World Games, at which a relay form of orienteering is included. I find myself thinking of the movie “Dodgeball” and the fictitious “Obscure Sports Quarterly” magazine since the World Games include such non-Olympic matches as netball and casting (as in fly fishing technique). I don’t disparage contestants of these or orienteering but I think I’ll stick to exercising in my home without the need of a compass.

Meanwhile, I discovered something even more interesting when Alleycat races turned up under my search. The designation alone appealing, the concept really captured my imagination upon learning that informal races were originally organized in big cities by bicycle messengers starting in the eighties. Those couriers always struck me as insane risk takers. Depending upon the organizers, races may be designed more for enjoyment, and sometimes award prizes for the last competitor to finish. This honor might be known as DFL (Dead Fu*&@#! Last). You gotta love that.

Yet despite the general emphasis on participation as opposed to competition, there might alternately be grueling courses meant to eliminate all but the swiftest and most daring. I’m surprised there hasn’t been a movie made about this. Or has there? Anyway, a number of actual messengers want to retain this culture as uniquely their own rather than see it lent to people who have never worked in the field. I can’t say I blame them. A philosophy that conceived of sticking Tarot cards in the rear bike spokes to differentiate the racers deserves to be owned purely by the daredevils who created the sport.

On that note, can anyone tell me why the heck an orienteering course would be called “Obedient”? That still irks my inner rebel.