Articles archived for March 2009

Procrastination and distraction are two of the greatest detriments for writing professionals. Often, they play hand to hand with each other, the latest distraction is simply another excuse to procrastinate. In Singleton’s latest book, Pep Talks, Warnings & Screeds George writes:

Pep Talk No. 29 – Do Yourself A Favor
Turn off your cell phone. Place it in a room far from where you write. Sit. Write.

This pep talk, while short, cuts right to the point. A writer needs to break away from distractions like cell phones and internet. Leave the laundry to soak, turn the television off.
To be a successful writer we need do one thing. Write.

The ability to write is a remarkable gift. With it we have a new world, a new state, a new sense of purpose any time we turn to the page. Breaking free of the constraints of a high-tech world can be challenging. Today there are a multitude of distractions. Things we could be doing, things we feel we ‘should’ be doing. Ultimately, being a writer is about choice.

I choose to write, right now.

I choose to write when I could be watching Army Wives on television. I choose to write when I could be having hot chocolate and marshmallows at the local cafe. I choose to write when I could be washing dishes or vacuuming the floor. I choose to let the answering machine handle my calls, ignore the postman as he passes, and trust my kids are safe in school while I write.

Right now, I choose to: Sit. Write.

Being a writer requires sacrifice. Every choice we make requires sacrificing the alternative. For everything I choose not to do right now there will be a consequence. The dishes will still need to be washed and that hot chocolate would really go down well but for this moment, I sacrifice an empty sink and a warm belly for the words on the page. We choose for a greater good, hoping that the sacrifices we make are worth the consequences and that the final result leads us towards a greater happiness.

What sacrifices have you made for your passions? What passions are you sacrificing?

Earlier this month I promised you all a chance to win a copy of George Singleton’s newest book, Pep Talks, Warnings & Screeds. You might have noticed I’ve been missing-in-action for the past couple of weeks. I had a number of posts planned to compliment the book and this contest but have not had the energy or focus to actually write them. Of course, with March nearing her end it is definitely time to get the contest happening so, without further ado, welcome to your chance to win “Pep Talks, Warnings & Screeds“!

This contest is simple. Share a pep talk, warning, or screed of your own on your website or blog for a chance to win. Don’t forget to link to this contest in your post and leave a comment here with a link to your entry.

Enter between now and March 30th. I’ll announce a winner on the 31st of March.

One of the most notable things I realized while reading “Pep Talks, Warnings & Screeds: Indispensable wisdom and cautionary advice for writers” is that its author, George Singleton, must have a great deal of ‘STUFF’ on his desk. I wonder how he manages to write between his can of WD-40* (a reminder that writing daily prevents rusting), his compass* (because “stories and novels need direction”), his grappling hook* (“to remind him that every foray into pulling stories and novels from the depths doesn’t always succeed”), and the several other trinkets he has gathered. Somehow, he does manage to write, and has turned his pen to over 100 published stories and two novels.

While I don’t think that a cluttered desk is essential, the points George makes with his “Essential Tools” are important to remember. Beyond these tools, George includes sage advice on how to approach being a writer and the rocks beneath the muddy surface of the publishing industry.

Dead Meat

Every last story should be considered dead meat. If anyone ever asks, “What’s your favorite story or novel that you’ve written?” it should be what you’re working on at the moment, for you are always getting better, and striving.

~ Pep Talk: 98 (Dead Meat) from Pep Talks, Warnings & Screeds by George Singleton

Singleton is an opinionated writer with firm ideas of what being a writer is and how writing should be done. In some respects his advice could be controversial. How would Starbucks survive the current economical downturn if writers and wanna-be writers remained at home in their shoeboxes rather than downing caramel lattes?

How many writers would remain obscure if not for their blogs? Indeed, one might wonder how George Singleton can justify his Blog Tour this month given his poor opinion of bloggers and the “bloodsucking parasites” we carry?

Despite getting my hackles firmly spiked and my own opinions leaping to the defensive, “Pep Talks, Warnings & Screeds” has its mix of great content. For authors this book is worth reading.

George has a strident voice, he knows how to hook a reader, how to influence their thoughts, and he has done his time in the trenches of fiction. Much of his advice and wisdom has rich value to new writers. More experienced writers will find themselves laughing out loud (to strange glances from family) at the ring of truth in some parts of this book.

Getting to the Marrow

A butcher might argue that there’s a relationship between meat’s taste and its proximity to the bone. The closer to the marrow, the better the flavor. I don’t know how to complete this analogy for vegetarians. Maybe the center cuts of beets, carrots, and tomatoes offer more excitement for the consumer. Let’s pretend that’s the case.

In stories, the closer to the marrow a writer can get, the more enjoyment a reader will receive.

~ Pep Talk: 150 (Getting to the Marrow) from Pep Talks, Warnings & Screeds by George Singleton

“Pep Talks, Warnings & Screeds” is worth reading on any road of your writing journey. It is a valuable mulch to cultivate your future as a writer. Go forward into each new pep talk, warning, and screed with an open mind but allow your own experiences and preferences to discern which lessons you will take to heart. You’ll enjoy the ideas George expresses, and be eager to get back to your own writing.

With his hit new book, “Pep Talks, Warnings & Screeds: indispensable wisdom and cautionary advice for writers“, just off the presses, talented author George Singleton, took some time from his busy schedule to visit Writer’s Round-About. He shares with us these 21 aphorisms most of which, as he says, “deal with keeping positive.”

Writing is a challenging obsession. Writer’s cannot succeed without dedication, courage, and a driving passion. We must be remarkable people who do not always follow fashionable trends or popular beliefs. We take significant risks, make grandiose leaps and extraordinary choices.

Take a moment from your writing to read George’s insights,
then get right back to those blank pages.

1. Develop Writer Reflexes
I have noticed that young drivers are apt to step on the accelerator of their cars when the traffic light turns yellow. Older drivers have learned that sometimes the light turns red prematurely, and perhaps a younger driver is waiting across the intersection. When the light turns green, that younger driver over there takes off, et cetera. Good. The world is fine.

In writing it’s all speeding forward with no peripheral vision when one begins. It’s how things should be. One needs to feel the pain of side-impact. Later, the writer has two options: either to be so paranoid of a collision that he or she quits writing, or be so aware of an unwanted collision that he or she learns how to swerve at a moment’s notice.

2. This guy walks into the bar and says…
If you understand that your story might be difficult for the reader to understand in terms of willing suspension of disbelief, then you can easily invent another character who must undergo hearing and living the story. Instead of “I fell into this hole one night when I was walking. The hole went something like 457 feet down, and when I got there I met up with a tribe of stuttering people who called themselves the Dir-dir-dirteaters,” maybe try something like this:

I sat alone in a bar. This normal-looking guy turned away from the bartender toward me and said, “Man. I just got back from falling 457 feet down into a hole where I met a band of stuttering people called the dir-dir-dirteaters.” He raised his eyebrows as if to ask what I thought about all that.

I said, “I got enough trouble, buddy. My wife just called saying she wanted to take a pottery course at the local community college.”

3. The Taste Sensations of Story
Of all the muscles in the human body, the tongue might be the most amazing. There are taste buds sprinkled all over the place—from what I can understand—that deal with Sweet, Salty, Sour, Savory, and Bitter. Good meals might properly include all of these sensations. So might short stories and novels.

4. Choreography or Chaos?
I have watched people in cities walking their dogs. It’s as if the dog knows exactly where he or she should go next. In a way, it’s an act of beauty, kind of like ballroom dancing, or pairs ice skating. I am not so certain, though, that a short story should be like this. Wouldn’t it be more fun and daring—for reader and writer alike—to be not quite sure where the dog might pull next?

5. Essential Tool: Scented Candle
There are many candles in the candle shop. There is not one of them that smells good to everyone. There is not one of them that smells bad to everyone, either. A story might not be for one editor or reader, but it might be for another.

6. Product Placement
I have gone to New York City in the past, gotten up in the middle of the night, walked out of my hotel room, and ventured down to the local all-night convenience store. This has happened more than once. This has happened every time I’ve been to New York, as a matter of fact. I’ve said, “Hey. Do y’all have any Goody’s Powders?” The clerk has always looked at me like I was out of my mind. One man told me that the doughnuts would arrive at five o’clock. I’ve said, “BC Powders? Stanback? I’m talking headache powders.”

I’ve learned that there are fast pain relievers that sell in the South that don’t sell elsewhere. My analysis: Their loss.

7. Shed Your Metaphorical Skin
You can tell when a snake is about to shed its skin. Its eyes get glazed over. It looks meaner than usual. And it will be meaner than usual. Once it sheds, though, it’ll return to being the loveable viper we all know and appreciate.

If you write long enough, there will come a time when nothing seems to be going as you wish. Maybe it’s a time to shed your metaphorical skin, and begin anew. I don’t mean trade in writing fiction for poetry, for God’s sake. I mean try writing from a different point of view than that which you’re comfortable.

8. Surgeons and Mechanics
The good surgeon knows where to cut, but the good mechanic knows his or her bearings.

9. Riding the Rapids
Kayakers know that if they tip over, it’s best to roll back upright immediately. Kayakers don’t know that hitting one’s head over and over on submerged and invisible rocks makes for a better story in the long run.

10. Playing it Straight
You’re playing a video poker machine. The cards come out A, K, Q, J of spades, and the 10 of hearts. You have a straight. You’ve won the hand. Should you throw away that 10 of hearts and hope for a 10 of spades? What would a royal flush pay off? If you’re playing Deuces Wild, maybe there’ll be a two that shows up. That’ll pay off more than a regular straight, also.

Man. What to do, what to do?

You have a story that seems complete with a well-written, nice, normal, convenient, non-controversial, close-ended happy ending. It’ll get published in a journal that has a readership of 250. The editor says that it’s “an international magazine of fiction and poetry” because someone in Denmark subscribes.

Give me a break. If you teach at a small, small college that revels in its “professors” getting published so they can put an item in the alumni magazine, then send it to the little-bitty magazine. Be safe. Die, and have nothing worthwhile on your tombstone.

11. Scatter your Ashes
Once upon a time I had a pet snake. It lived in a terrarium, on a stand, by the back door. I named the snake Tennessee because it was long, and because my better half was brought up in Tennessee and I always said she was meaner than a snake to me. That’s the way I am. Ha! Anyway, one night I was letting out the dogs, they ran skittering helter-skelter and bumped into Tennessee’s cage. I’m not sure what he was doing—I’d just fed him—but a rock tumbled, and somehow he got his head squished. Tennessee died. Tennessee bled and rolled over and died.

I wasn’t happy with the dogs, understand.

As it ended up I burned Tennessee’s smush-headed body in the fire pit I have out back. I coiled him up in a ceramic ashtray, and set him atop some wood and New Yorker magazines I had. Later, I scattered his ashes in my garden. Whenever I ate tomatoes, or sweet potatoes, or jalapenos, or squash, or cantaloupe I thought about Tennessee the Snake.

In writing, it might be good to scatter all of your experiences into some kind of metaphorical garden. Let those ashes settle, and fertilize what you want to emerge later.

12. One Beautiful Flower
Even the smallest, skinniest, shortest magnolia tree puts out at least one good fragrant bloom a year.

13. Of Feeding the Homeless
My garden puts out way more tomatoes than I can ever eat. I don’t even like tomatoes, at least not every day. For a time I took the extras to a soup kitchen where the preacher and her comrades, I found out, spoke to the homeless people nonstop about how Jesus could save them, et cetera. Then it came to me that Jesus didn’t provide any tomatoes for these people. Why was Jesus getting all the glory and recognition for what people like I was doing? I didn’t understand.

There will be times when you publish stories in magazines, and that magazine will receive awards and accolades. You won’t. Other writers in your same issue will get selected for New Stories from the South, and Best American Short Stories, et cetera. It’s important to understand that it’s not a game, not a competition, not a spectator sport. It’s important—in this analogy—to leave Jesus on the sidelines, and concentrate on feeding hungry people.

14. Taking the Bank Shot
You’re playing pool. You’re playing eight-ball. There are two shots to make. One is a straight-in shot, to the corner pocket, from about three feet. The other’s a bank shot.

If you make the bank shot, the other balls are spread out in a way to easily knock them in and win the game. If you make the easy shot, you’ll have to work harder.

What to do?

I believe that you should try the bank. If it doesn’t work out, you lost and start a new game immediately.

15. Begin with Fundamentals
In the land of baseball, Gaylord Perry was known as a great pitcher who got away with throwing spitballs. Spitballs are illegal. In the world of writing, there have been a number of writers who’ve cheated in all the rules, e.g., Show, Don’t Tell. It’s important to remember that, before Gaylord Perry got to where he was, he perfected the basics. He learned the fastball and curve.

Learn the fastball and curve before trying to trick the reader with a spitball.

16. More Than One Way
There’s more than one way to get the honey-taste out of honeysuckle. There’s a best way, according to everyone. Understand that one way might be the best in Georgia, and another day the best in Virginia.

Understand that not everyone cares about honeysuckle.

Understand that you, as a writer, might be blind to putting poison ivy up to your lips.

It’s a learning experience, as they say.

17. Imitate the Dung Beetle
The poor dung beetle: Everyone makes fun of that thing, pushing poop around. It’s industrious. It’s obsessed and single-minded. It works not unlike Sisyphus, doing what it has to do. The dung beetle’s an insect worthy of every writer having tattooed on his or her bicep, if you ask me.

18. Blends and Concoctions
There’s a reason why white people have white children, black people have black children, Asian people have Asian children, and mixed-marriaged people have beautiful, interesting-looking children. There’s a reason why Neapolitan ice cream is more appealing than plain old vanilla, chocolate, or strawberry.

In fiction, it’s best to mix it up, too. Make a story two stories. Give a novel subplots.

19. Treating Heartworm
One time I told a veterinarian that my dogs wouldn’t get heartworm seeing as my dogs smoked cigarettes, and mosquitoes stayed away from smoke. Before everyone involved in animal rights’ organizations gets riled up, this is a joke.

But this is to say that any problem that occurs midway through a short story can be fixed, in theory. You can go change the point of view. You can cut out the subplot that doesn’t work and add another one. You can make the main character a minor character, and so on. There’s always a way to circumvent a major obstacle.

This is harder than it sounds. It might be time—if you understand the story to be flawed—to shelve the thing for a while and start another story.

20. Camp in the Complaints Department
The safest place for a fly to sleep?—the business end of a flyswatter. When the fly feels movement, he knows that trouble approaches. The best place to have stories fall into the writer’s lap?—standing near the Complaint or Returns booth at any retail chain. Nothing but conflict can take place and be witnessed easily.

21. Modern Convenience and Manufacturer Design
There’s no law that says you have to place eggs in the egg holder section of your refrigerator door, or the butter and cheese in that little cubby hole with the slide-down plastic window. There’s no law about keeping lettuce in the crisper drawer down below. It’s a suggestion, evidently, by the Refrigerator Manufacturers of the World.

There are no rules when it comes to writing fiction. But if you understand that there are safer, better, more convenient places to introduce plot, character faults, conflict, and the like, it might make it easier for you, and for the reader.

George Singleton, who was born in Anaheim, California now lives in Pickens Country, South Carolina. He has published over 100 stories in a variety of magazines and journals including The Atlantic Monthly, Harper’s, and Zoetrope and four collections of stories, These People Are Us, The Half-Mammals of Dixie, Why Dogs Chase Cars, and Drowning in Gruel.

Find these books by George Singleton

This month, we have the wonderful pleasure of hosting talented author, George Singleton. George’s latest book, “Pep Talks, Warnings & Screeds“, is now available and to celebrate its successful launch WOW! Women On Writing has organized a grand blog tour.

On Tuesday, March 3rd, George will share a captivating guest post. You have the opportunity to greet George and ask any questions you may have for him during his visit. I will share my review of “Pep Talks, Warnings & Screeds” and discuss some of the topics highlighted in George’s book.

March is also the perfect month to stay tuned because later this month I will be giving away a copy of George’s book, “Pep Talks, Warnings & Screeds“, to one lucky winner. Subscribe today so you won’t miss out on the contest details.

Please, join me in welcoming George Singleton! I hope you’ll enjoy your visit, George, and congratulations on your continued success.