[authorme] PUBLISHING NEW WRITERS NEWSLETTER,AUGUST, 2002
- From: "Bruce Cook, AuthorMe.com" <cookcomm@xxxxxxx>
- To: <authorme@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 1 Aug 2002 19:57:08 -0500
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In this issue...
THE PLIGHT OF A REFUGEE WRITER, by Rais Neza Boneza
WRITING ST. NICK'S, by Jim Colombo
SPECIAL ADVICE FOR BEGINNERS, by Sandy Tritt
Visit our Home Page. It changes daily. www.AuthorMe.com!
THE PLIGHT OF A REFUGEE WRITER
by Rais Neza Boneza rboneza@xxxxxxxx
There is nothing more difficult than writing in the troubled areas
of EAST AFRICA. Moreover, when you are 23 years old ,a refugee, a victim
of war ,have lost relatives ,parents and brothers in political problems,
tribal upheavals are greatly enhanced.
Alone surviving in middle of hatred and madness, far from your
home; a writer is vulnerable to obstacles never even imagined by those
who have the peace and tranquility of a homeland without chaos and war.
Since the inception of war in my country, the Democratic
Republic of Congo, I have been shuffled from one neighbouring country to
the next, most of which Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda are at loggerheads with
my native land.
You can imagine, then, how difficult it is for an artist, a
writer, or a journalist to freely and creatively ply his craft.
I am not being nationalistic, but I know what I am talking
about, especially when I, myself, have been affected from near or from
far by that madness, inhumanity, and cynicism of this African thirst for
war in my region: the GREAT LAKES (East Africa).
When a writer has witnessed such cruelties as the burial of a
live woman alive, rapes, massacres of babies in hospitals, he is forced
by his conscience to reveal these atrocities in writing. By this he
shares with the world his memories of brutality that will haunt his life
in perpetuity. Therefore, I am compelled to write about all the
situations I experience in my society.
As a refugee in a land which is involved in external struggles,
I personally know many people who have perished in these struggles. But
I cannot always truly write concerning what is going on and certainly I
can not always freely write about it for reasons of security. I live in
cultural and intellectual embargo, a situation where no one can publish
your work, you are used without being paid for your work. Your
manuscripts are stolen and another man?s name appears on a published
book, the contents of which are clearly your own.
Since the September 11th suicide attacks in the United States,
many leaders in the Third World, especially in Africa ,have legitimated
their dubious actions and totalitarian tendencies by suppressing their
opponents under the guise of anti-terrorist laws.
No one can write the real truth, fearing laws that suppress
freedom of speech. In my case it is more dangerous because I have that
identity ?Refugee from a hostile country.? According to the unofficial
but real, a refugee is a non-entity in society. He cannot have work, no
rights, and most of the time he is not even considered a human being.
Every now and then information surfaces about the sudden
disappearance, or even assassination of a refugee. The situation is
confused; the United Nations High Commission of Refugees (UNHCR) is
unable to protect those whose cares they are pledged to uphold. Even
minimum security for refugees is not seen. Many refugees have been
killed while under the protection of the UNHCR.
Now, imagine my own situation, no job, only writing over and
over, waiting and waiting for an opportunity that may never materialise,
sometimes without many meals, living the life of a beggar. Surely I am
poor and my situation is getting worse by the day. I live under
tensions, in a world where people do not care about the problems of
others. But I cannot keep quiet when with me and near me there is
misery, injustice, violence and daily increase of crime. All these
situations affect my very being, my emotions, my reason, and my
creativity.
I have to write. I know however, I cannot live by my pen, which
is my deepest desire. I do, though, keep on writing and wait patiently
for the day when my star will reach its ascendancy.
All that I have shared with you gives me the strength to keep on
singing my song in poetic expression. For me, writing brings me to the
summit of satisfaction that I reach by my creativity, my words.
The inks of my pen some people fear and try to repress. I have
to spread truth, ideas of peace, reconciliation, understanding,
tolerance, justice and love among people. In my poverty my only tool is
the richness of language expressed in written form.
Sharing experiences and discussing with other writers our work,
I take on a renewed vigour, more objectivity in my struggle for peace,
more hope which nibs my ultimate victory.
I assure you in my weakness, my pen is powerful. I am in pain,
troubled by the uncertainties of my daily life, but I keep up my
courage. I will not let hopelessness overcome me.
I want to see the fruit of my works; the Bible said that the
tree which is not productive would be thrown into fire. Today, I am near
a certain fire (Poverty), but I know, even if my rights as a human being
have been sidelined; the solution is not to give up because my greatest
mission in life is to continue writing.
It's not that because I write I know all things, but because in
writing I can reduce ignorance and promote truth, justice and peace.
?Ars Longa; Vita Brevis?, life is brief but art is everlasting.
By Rais Neza Boneza.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
WRITING ST. NICK'S
by Jim Colombo
I am fifty-six years old and have spent the last three years
writing St. Nick's Outlaws. I felt overwhelmed and at times possessed to
write this novel. It was good therapy because it opened holes in my past
and brought closure to restless spirits that have roamed my sub
conscience for years.
It is difficult for me to write a biography. If you read St.
Nick's, you will know me better than any biography I can write.
I began writing when I was nineteen. It helped me find myself
and some of life's answers. Writing is a joy like an experienced
marathon runner. There is reward to the discipline.
There is a discovery when going though the exercise of writing.
I have leaned things about myself, created characters, and chapters I
never planned in the outlines. Like Alice in Wonderland, each day I jump
into the hollow of a tree and return to the world and characters that I
have created. It is a world that I create and control It is one of the
most gratifying experiences I have had.
jpc
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SPECIAL ADVICE FOR BEGINNERS
By Sandy Tritt
So you wanna be a writer when you grow up, huh? My first word of
advice is don't. Don't become a writer. Not for money. Not for glory.
Not for any reason unless you have a passion in your gut that is so
strong that nothing can prevent you from writing. Unless you have
stories in you that you must tell, and writing them is as important to
you as eating and sleeping and breathing. And sometimes more important.
With that out of the way, I assume you have passion. So, what do
you do with this life of yours to pave your way to the writing world?
Read. Observe. Write. Live. Those are the four main ingredients to
preparing yourself to write.
Read everything you can get your hands on. Read classic
literature, read literary fiction, read commercial fiction. Read books
on the craft of writing. Read books on writers. Read dictionaries. Read
cereal boxes. Just read.
Observe. If there is one attribute a writer must have (other
than his passion to write), it is the ability to notice details. What is
it about the way she walks that captures your attention? Is it her
clothes? Her figure? Her wiggle? What words could you use to describe
the preacher's snorts between shouts? What do his eyes look like when he
says "Hell"? What keeps his hair from falling into his eyes (or onto the
floor)?
Look at your surroundings as though you're showing them to
someone who's never been to your area. Notice the sounds you would hear
if you listened. Notice the smells, the colors, the textures, everything
you normally take for granted. Think of new ways to describe old things.
Write every day. It doesn't matter if it's a dozen words or a
dozen pages, write. And don't limit your writing to your passion -- try
writing poetry, fiction, journal entries, essays. Keep a journal or
notebook with you at all times and jot your thoughts as you think them.
Live. Can you write about New York City if you've never been
there? Probably -- if you've seen enough movies and read enough
descriptions, you could write with integrity about a city you've never
seen. However, you would not be able to add any new insight. For me, a
small town girl, it was the vastness of the big city that took my breath
away. And that most of the thousands of people all scurrying to some
place would gladly pause a moment to give directions or advice.
Visit as many places as you possibly can, but also consider
actually living in as many different types of places as you can. Yes,
you can get superficial impressions of cultures during a seven-day
vacation, but to truly understand a culture, you need to experience it
more deeply. I've lived in small towns, large cities, suburbs, villages
and deep in the country. I've lived in apartments, houses, complexes,
dormitories, alone, with friends, with family. I've lived in Appalachia,
the Midwest and the Deep South. And each of these have left an imprint
(as well as an accent!).
Experience as many aspects of life as you can. Can you really
understand the pain of heartbreak if you've never been loved and left?
Can you understand the intensity of a mother's (or father's) love if
you've never experienced it? Can you understand the thrill of surviving
the bunny slope on down hill skis if you've never put your life at
stake?
This isn't to say you must become an alcoholic to understand
alcoholism (although it does help) or a bank robber to understand a
thief. What it does mean is that writers need to take more chances than
the average Joe, need to experience more of life in order to write more
knowledgeably. It also means that writers must have empathy to
understand people and situations beyond their personal experience. What
kind of job should you hold while waiting to publish? Well, many
successful writers have had successful careers in business, law,
medicine, education or any area you can think of before becoming
published. However, I think it is best if you don't get too comfortable
in another career, if you work at something you don't like and change
jobs often. This way, you will never forget your passion for writing or
your drive to publish. (Just don't go into debt. Live humbly and within
your means, because once you sign that car loan, you are obligated to
your 8-5 job). Some suggestions:
Work with people from diverse backgrounds, such as you can meet
in airports, resorts, hotels and restaurants. These give you plenty of
characters to draw on.
Work physically. Manual work doesn't occupy your mind. I do some of my
best creative thinking while washing dishes by hand and mopping floors.
Work where you have free time to write, such as night desk
clerk, night guard at a business, bowling alley clerk (on the slow
shift), car lot attendant, and so on.
I am fond of saying that there are two aspects to writing -- the
craft and the art. The craft is that which can be learned -- grammar,
using active voice, the basics of dialogue and so forth.
The art is the God-given talent that a writer is either blessed
with or isn't. It is the ability to "see" the details in a setting and
relay that in interesting, unique words to make the reader feel the
location. It is the ability to understand human nature and empathize
with even the most dastardly villain. If you have that talent, and if
you have that passion to write no matter what the odds, you are a
writer. And nobody can take that away from you.
(c) copyright 1999 by Sandy Tritt. All rights reserved, except for those
listed here. May be reproduced for educational purposes (such as for
writer's workshops), as long as this copyright notice and the url:
http://tritt.wirefire.com are distributed with the pages. For use in
conferences or other uses not mentioned here, please contact Sandy Tritt
at tritt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx for permission and additional resources at no
or limited charge.
Keep writing!
Sandy Tritt
tritt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sandy's website:
http://tritt.wirefire.com
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Writing Therapy
Cost: $25.00
Instructor Name: Lynette Rees [Dip. Couns]
Instructor Email: peaceful_writer@xxxxxxxxx
Url: http://class.universalclass.com/writingtherapy
What is Writing Therapy?
Writing Therapy is a way of connecting with your emotions via pen and
paper, or the keyboard. I devised this course after studying the
research of James W Pennebaker, Head of Psychology, University of Texas.
Pennebaker's research shows that writing helps to lift the mood of
depressed people. He also found that students who wrote about how they
were feeling coped better with their exams.
Class Format
I have devised 9 lessons in all - taking you from what writing therapy
is to covering the basic emotions we feel such as anger, grief, love,
fear etc. I've also added a lesson on dreams and how to interpret yours,
and a bonus lesson on creative writing. Each lesson has an appropriate
assignment to match the lesson's content.
Write your way to emotional health!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
AUTHORME WRITING SURVEYS, by Bruce Cook
AuthorMe.com has launched a new service in reader feedback - an opinion
survey. Using this service, an author can arrange for readers to comment
on opening, language, plot, conclusion, credibility, unity, detail,
balance, and strong and weak points of their work.
When you post an AuthorMe writer survey for your manuscript, we place a
link to the survey above the text. We then provide a private, password
protected link enabling you see view survey results - a summary as well
as individual responses (including email addresses of respondents who
are willing to share that information.) Due to high costs of this
service, AuthorMe is compelled to ask that authors listing surveys make
a payment of $10 to $15 dollars. To qualify for the lower price, you are
asked to complete at least five surveys for other authors.
To explore our survey service, please go to...
http://www.authorme.com/surveymanuscripts.htm
Comment on the Survey Service
I remain thoroughly pleased about the feedback/kudos I received from a
cross section of your readers who read "Spring Fever."
Surprised ?Spring Fever? had that effect on those outside of my circle
of friends who tend to like everything I write, though they do give me
honest feedback, etc. Your survey gave me more insight of how others
outside my circle of friends perceive my work and in what areas I
need improvement, all of which will help me to continue to polish my
writing. The survey: AN INVALUABLE SERVICE and USEFUL TOOL FOR ANY
WRITER!
Corey Metz
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ASK SANDY TRITT TO WRITE A CRITIQUE OF YOUR MANUSCRIPT!
SPECIAL THIS MONTH... First ten pages free, and, for a limited time,
all additional pages at 50% off the regular rate of $2.75 per page
(regular price, $3.50 per page). Just mention Publishing New Writers
Newsletter (July, 2002).
Critiques by Sandy Tritt...
Unlike most editors, I consider my role to be a mentor or a coach.
Instead of just telling you what is wrong, I explain how to correct the
problem, and I work with you to teach you how to write effective prose.
More than 50% of my business is repeat business, and I relish
establishing long-term relationships with other writers.
Treat you with respect and compassion. All criticism will be of the
"constructive" sort. My purpose is to improve your writing, not to
destroy your confidence.
Mark your manuscript, correcting grammatical and spelling errors
And suggesting alternative wording where appropriate, line-by-line.
Highlight areas that are especially well-written, so you will know where
your strengths are.
Where appropriate, offer suggestions for plot development,
Character development or other areas that could be strengthened.
Return a two-to-four page written analysis of your work. This will
include evaluation of: plot, setting, characterization, dialogue,
special effects (flash forwards, flashbacks, etc.), voice, point of view
and any other areas particular to your work.
If appropriate, recommend reading or resources to strengthen your
Areas of weakness.
Answer any questions you may have via email.
Provide my telephone number for a personal follow-up, if you
desire.
For Sandy's success stories, see
http://tritt.wirefire.com/Manuscript_Critique.html
Write Sandy at tritt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
WRITERLY WEBSITES
http://www.ochiltreebooks.com
This is Dianne Ochiltree's site for children, parents, teachers
and writers for young readers. Dianne is an author of books for young
readers (birth to teenage) and she is also a children's book reviewer.
She's been writing professionally for over 25 years---about 18 years in
public relations/advertising/marketing and the last 7 years as a
children's writer. Dianne has two books published to date, with
Scholastic and with Simon & Schuster.
http://tritt.wirefire.com
The Inspiration for Writers website offers help and
encouragement to writers of all levels. Tips and Techniques give
practical advice about frequent writing blunders. The Writer's Prayer,
inspirational quotes, and essays about the writing life add insight and
inspiration. The Fiction Showcase offers short stories for the reader's
enjoyment. And, for those serious about improving their writing skills,
manuscript critiques and coaching services are available. Visit
http://tritt.wirefire.com today!
Lynette's creative Writing Website
http://pages.ivillage.com/silverlady0/lynettescreativewriting/index.html
Kathy Hartwell wrote the AuthorMe statement. To contact her for
critiquing services or other advice, check her website at...
http://kreativekritique.tripod.com/kreativekritique.html
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
More on e-books...
Read our latest e-book...
FRAGMENTS by Diane Oatley at www.AuthorMe.com/poetry.htm
Poetry in honor of the human body - feminine awareness and meanings.
Sample view at www.AuthorMe.com/FragmentsSample.PDF
Purchase your copy now! Just $5.
http://cookcomm.theshoppe.com/fragments.html
BEST guide to low-cost self-publication at...
www.AuthorMe.com/e-book.htm Publish your work as an e-book or a
small
print run (Publish on Demand)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
READ... TWO-BIT DANCING
Life's an onion. Not a new concept?Usually, what we reveal to others
about ourselves adds flavor, distinction?making us appear just a bit
more exciting. Assume for a moment, that someone is peeling your life
apart, onion layer by onion layer. Are you still adding flavor?
Distinction? Is at the heart of the onion really a heart? Is it, then,
the onion crying ? or the one who?s peeling??
Angela Louie, mother of a teenager and a disabled child, is entering a
fine hotel while fidgeting with the business card of an escort service ?
lapse of common sense? Hanson Lee Ascano is a computer genius working
for a prestigious firm ? he also dances in an exotic night club a few
nights each week. Tom Lawson is taking on what should be a routine
investigation to reunite a parent with his children ? instead, it rouses
monsters. For more info, visit... http://www.twobitdancing.com/
About the Author
Evelyn Schneider was born and raised in Germany. She has written "almost
anything from plant-care tags to television sitcoms." She lives in San
Diego, California.
She says, Two-bit Dancing was inspired by a television talkshow, and
laughs. Then, serious: "The true inspiration came many years ago while
visiting a police fair. I was a teenager then and should have been
impressed by the latest crime-fighting technology. But what remained in
my soul where the images of cubicles upon cubicles filled with
photographs of children -- not victims of some far-away war but sons and
daughters of modern families: burnt, starved, locked away.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Publishing New Writers, August, 2002 (no. 308)
Editor Bruce L. Cook, P.O. Box 451, Dundee, IL 60118 USA. Fax (847)
428-8974.
Submissions and comments to cookcomm@xxxxxxxx Links are welcome. To
subscribe, go to
www.AuthorMe.com/member.html
To review our archive of past newsletters, go to
www.AuthorMe.com/newslist.htm.
Go Back in Time...
Check out our new all-immersion Life of Jesus (Part 1) from David C.
Cook III. Visit www.galleyproof.com/religon.html
AuthorMe.com is dedicated to the memory of David C. Cook III
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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