A Bookish Holiday Greeting

Indiana Writers' Consortium wishes you happy holidays and a writing-filled 2014.

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In case you have trouble reading the titles of the books in the picture, they are:

• How Fiction Works, by Oakley Hall
• Around the World in Eighty Days, by Jules Verne
• Plot versus Character, by Jeff Gerke
• Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austin
• You Can Write a Mystery, by Gillian Roberts

•  Here Lies the Librarian, by Richard Peck
• On the Banks of Plum Creek, by Laura Ingalls Wilder
• Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott
• In the Company of Others, by Jan Karon
• Decision in Philadelphia, by Christopher Collier and James Lincoln Collier
• Amazing Grace, by Kenneth W. Osbeck
• Your God is Too Small, by J.B. Phillips
• Snoopy's Guide to the Writing Life, edited by Barnaby Conrad and Monte Shultz

All I Want for Christmas

by

Judith Lachance-Whitcomb

 

Have you seen my muse?  “What,” you may be wondering, “prompts such a question at the beginning of a blog?”   Well, I guess I’m going through a phase of writer's block.  I’m just not writing.  I’ve made up my mind that I am going to start writing again.  I’ve always been rather bull-headed, and when I make up my mind to do something, I usually get it done.

 

Thinking back to all those things I’ve heard writers do to overcome their blocks, I begin my action plan. Even though a fair amount of the advice often seems to conflict, I will pull out those ideas that work with what I know about myself. The first things are to write every day, have a designated place to write, have my writing tools ready, and be comfortable.

 

Monday:  Go to my office and close the door so my dogs won’t disrupt the flow.  Computer ready – check; notepad and pen for jotting thoughts while writing – check; cup of coffee within reach – check.  Now, write!  An hour later my screen remains blank, my note pad is virgin, and I’m playing with the dogs.  Hmmm, well, maybe tomorrow.

 

Tuesday: Repeat the set-up routine, but a wiser me is going to look around the web to see what I’m doing wrong. I find many sites that let me know about all of the famous writers who faced the same dilemma: Tolstoy, Woolf, Conrad, Hemingway and on and on. Well, bully for them. Obviously they got over it.  Then I land on something I had forgotten about – free writing.  I didn’t do that yesterday.  I’m encouraged because one article inspires me to just start writing on any topic. If it turns out to be drivel, the article assures me that something will come out of it.  Another suggests,  “If you can't think of anything to say, write ‘blah, blah, blah’ over and over.” I know I can do that. I begin. An hour and a half later, my document has one paragraph that basically carps at me for not getting to the file full of papers to be graded.  This enlightened work is followed by three pages filled with various fonts that creatively script “blah, blah, blah.”  My notepad has some interesting doodles and I’ve had way too much coffee.  Okay, Scarlett, think about it tomorrow.

 

Wednesday: Same scenario with the exception that my ulcers have begged me to swap my coffee for milk. I will write today.  Wrong…

 

Thursday:  Kathryn sends an email to remind me that I’m responsible for next week’s blog. Great, what will I write about? Well, why don’t I write about not being able to write?  After all, misery loves company.  Finishing my initial self-serving paragraph forty-five minutes later, I’m done for today. That’s enough.

 

Friday: I read what I wrote yesterday. I hate it. Delete. I’m going to take off Saturday and Sunday. This writing everyday takes a lot of energy.

 

Monday: Must get the blog done. Darn it, I remember that grades are due tomorrow. Sorry, writing, I have at least twenty hours of paper critiques to deal with today. Catch you tomorrow.

 

Tuesday: Today writing time will be devoted to the blog. I pull up my file. What? It’s blank? Oh, right, I deleted it. Now what? Right after I throw my notepad and pen to the floor and am just about to do the same with the computer, I recall a banquet I went to recently. Kate Collins, the prolific writer of the cozy flower shop mystery books, was the speaker. Her talk was a down to earth, engaging, and motivating call to writers to create the writing magic with their fingers. She told us that sometimes she has writer’s block. Her solution is to go to her office (because block or no block you want to continue to write everyday), relax and open herself up to her Muse.  I also remember a Ray Bradbury quote, “I’m not in control of my muse. My muse does all the work.” Okay, Muse, here we go!

 

Revived, I pick up my note pad and pen, open my laptop, take a sip of coffee (sorry ulcers), lean back in my chair, relax my body, and spread open my arms above my head (Kate did that). Okay, Muse, let’s go…(ten minutes later), Hello?...(five minutes after that)…Hey, Muse! My arms go down. My fingers go to the keyboard. Apparently, my Muse doesn’t want to work on the blog.

 

That brings us back to the beginning. Have you seen my Muse? If so, please keep in mind that all I want for Christmas is … my Muse.

 

Merry Holiday Writing!



You are the Future of the Writing Community

by

Julie Demoff-Larson

 

Close your eyes and imagine what your ideal writing community would look like. What, you have never considered such a thing? I know. I get it. Most of us who write do so after the work day is over or on the weekend in solitary confinement. We etch out poems, stories, and the great American novel while huddled in some nook where no one can see the anguish and torment we put ourselves through. When we think we have something good, we send it out, then wait as we start the writing cycle all over again. It is easy to become a writing miser, hoarding pencils and journals instead of investing in a literary scene. So, why is it so hard to have both?

For me, I foresee a vibrant literary scene in Northwest Indiana. There is a small foundation already set in place by many writing groups and organizations. For example, Indiana Writers’ Consortium members host a variety of independent writing groups that workshop regularly (Highland Writers Group, Write-On Hoosiers, Magic Hour Writers) and there are more and more opportunities for reading at open-mics hosted by coffee shops and art galleries. These events are fantastic, but is this enough to call it a lit scene?

Within the urban literary scene, participants can expect to find numerous venues hosting readings, book signings, oral interpretations, and poetry slams. There are also literary journals, creative writing workshops, book sales, and thriving independent bookstores. Centered in the middle of the urban literary scene is the all-encompassing community writing center from which writers of all ages benefit. When I close my eyes, I imagine Northwest Indiana buzzing with live lit events and writers working together in the community. But what steps can we take to get to this point?

First and foremost, we must all put in time. Yes, time. It only takes a few moments to share an event on Facebook or to retweet a fellow writer’s newly published work. This is a “we are all in this together” mentality, and baby steps will eventually mature into strides. A supportive writing community is essential for IWC to successfully implement new projects in the future. Member participation in local events help foster a relationship between associates and the general public. As public involvement increases, the IWC will develop new programs that will benefit the community.

Don’t underestimate the value of what you have to offer as a writer. We all have dreams and most of us want to play a part in something important. Maybe you wish to teach others about poetry or to inspire the next generation of writers. Maybe you hope to provide a space where writers can experiment with words in front of a crowd or to start a small press. Whatever your ideas, send them to Indiana Writers’ Consortium and let’s work together to create a space for us all to thrive creatively.

Close your eyes again. Imagine your ideal writing community. Now make it happen.



Practicing What You Preach as a Writing Instructor

by

Gordon Stamper, Jr.

 

A few years ago, a fellow educator told me how she had resented her writing students.  They occupied what could have been her writing time with stacks of essays to grade.  How dare they complete their assignments!

Soon another, more carefully thought-out, realization came to her:  could she complete the writing work she assigned them, let alone achieve high marks?  The instructor felt hypocrisy in her expectations.  She had preoccupied herself with the career necessities of creating curriculum, writing prompts, and commenting on students’ essays, yet did not allocate any other time for her own writing, fiction or nonfiction.

A turning point came when she became a little selfish:  certain times of the week became her writing times, from a few “stolen” minutes to several hours.  From this came multiple creative nonfiction essays, short stories, and two novels.  And a positive byproduct of it was that she enjoyed teaching English and writing again.  By regaining her writing voice, she saw the importance and pleasures of helping her students gain theirs.

I went through a similar “crisis” over a decade ago.  Here I was, a composition and research writing teacher who had not written anything unrelated to school work in at least three years, and I felt burnt out and discouraged.  When I saw there were writers’ groups that met regularly in our region, I gave myself permission to write for them.

Of course, I was mostly writing for myself, but a veil lifted for me as I continued my pursuits.  There is hard work and joy in creation, and it is important to be a part of helping students—at least those willing to listen and work—discover that joy.   Yes, I can still get frustrated and even a bit infuriated with student writing, but my underlying resentment is gone.  I too am a fellow struggler in the writing craft.