down the writer's path

Oh, the joys of travel

Just a quick note to let you know I'm out of town and, of course, having Internet access problems. I'm at the week-long Donald Maass Writing the Breakout Novel workshop in Orlando. I will check back in with an update later this week.

Take care.

The pleasures of reading

Once again the weekend approaches and my TBR stack looms large on the side table by the bed. If you're like me, in an act of pure and righteous denial, I will head out to the bookstore for that one book that begs to be read this weekend or that one magazine that promises a series of light, short spurts of reading. Here are three books that might tempt you out of the house and into the nearest bookstore for a cappacino, a scone, and a good read. (Click on the titles for reviews.)

The Polysyllabic Spree: A Hilarious and True Account of One Man’s Struggle With the Monthly Tide of the Books He’s Bought and the Books He’s Been Meaning to Read, by Nick Hornby, Believer Books 230 pp., $14

Nothing Remains the Same: Rereading and Remembering by Wendy Lessor, Mariner Books 256 pp., $13

Casanova Was a Book Lover: And Other Naked Truths and Provocative Curiosities about the Writing, Selling and Reading of Books by John Maxwell Hamilton, Penguin Books 351 pp., $26.95

So where DO writers get their ideas?

We are storytelling creatures, we human beings. You see the tale-telling talent evident in the smallest child. We love stories: love to hear them, love to tell them. So I’m often surprised when I hear people ask writers where they get their ideas (read stories) for they’ve probably been weaving their own for years and have plucked snatches of story parts from here and there as they’ve gone along.

As much as it’s an old saw, it’s true: ideas are a dime a dozen. Perhaps what people are really asking is where do you get your good ideas. That has more merit, I think. For ideas are present in the daily fabric of our lives. They fuel our days. Like breath, we take them in and out. Pick up any newspaper and germs of stories nest inside the headlines. Take a trip down memory lane and pull a thread from your own life to weave anew. Examine your regrets, your almosts, your wish-I’d-done-that column and pluck one and say ‘what if?’ Look into the eyes of a beloved and clothe them in a new landscape of your own choosing or use that anger and hate you have against another to fuel a new story of vengeance or redemption. Your choice; you are the creator.

But good ideas require a more thoughtful consideration. They have weight and merit; they have the ability to stand alone. They must be able to fuel your desire to tell the tale for days, months, perhaps even years. They must curl your toes and pique your interest. Good stories are not so common.

There are plenty of interesting nuggets that get the storytelling juices bubbling but many fall short after a strong beginning. They lack the required oxygen necessary for the story to catch fire and burn. You may meet up with a cool character who begs for a chance to take part in one of your stories but once you begin to undress and unpack this suitor you realize he or she really is an empty suit. He lacks substance; she is void of motivation.

The trouble with all this is that there really isn’t any one good story test that will meet the needs of all the writers who seek to take measure of their ideas. At some point a writer begins to tap into their internal barometer and their ideas assume weight and shape—enough to provide the writer with some indication that there might actually be something worth working and they begin to invest time and labor, both precious commodities. The truth is no one can truly tell you if an idea you develop will be worth your consideration.

Take Mary Shelley. Who would have thought that this 19-year old woman in the summer of 1816 would accept a story challenge, a mere parlor game, and, over the next ten months, create a story, Frankenstein, that would live in the imagination of millions for generation upon generation. Did she know, you might ask? You tell me, for when she woke up with the idea she wrote that she knew she had a story “that would make the reader dread to look around, to curdle the blood and quicken the beatings of the heart.”

Perhaps it’s time to take your pulse: Does the idea, the very thought, of your story quicken your beating heart?

The power of books: fact or fiction?

Have books lost their power?

Maybe, maybe not. I was reminded of their power the other day when I stopped by to visit my iconography teacher’s latest class. While there I spent some time combing through the bookshelves where I found a big, heavy, whale of a book called The Crucible of Christianity, edited by Arnold Toynbee. Printed in 1969, the book, at 10 ½ by 14 inches is, well, heavy. The pages are lined with text and full of illustrations, drawings, maps and plans. As I lugged the book to the car, a group of five girls on bicycles appeared out of nowhere. The leader, an Hispanic girl of about seven or eight years old, hopped off her bike and ran over to touch the book--with the other girls following suit. She spoke quickly—in Spanish--to them as her hand move up and down the book's length. I opened the pages and they all leaned forward; they spoke among themselves. Apparently excited about the book’s sheer size and weight, they urged me to turn pages amidst their oohs and ahs. Their small fingers brushed the text and pointed to photographs of sculptures and Roman cityscapes. The young leader wanted more. She held the book, turned the pages, felt the paper. This exploration lasted for another fifteen minutes.

Finally, I had to go and she reluctantly released the book.

In this modern-day culture that is so stimulated by visual media it is tempting to think the day of the book has long gone. I know I fall prey to those dark thoughts when I think of how our culture is so defined by movies, TV, and video games. Even music must share its bed with video today. Now and then the power of the written word in its ability to capture the imagination sweeps across the landscape. You saw it with the tsunami-like wave that defined the Harry Potter phenomena. Who would have thought a major literary event in today's world would come about through children’s books? An event so strong it would propel its author into billionaire status? Whether you put J.K. Rowling’s efforts into the “literary” category or not, it is hard to ignore the books, their effect is palpable. Children are suddenly seeking books that are made up of hundreds of pages; boys—even those in the hard-to-reach 8-12 year range—are, gasp, reading them.

Yet, literary salons are pretty much a thing of the past. Think back to the last time you tried to discuss a book you had read. How long before the conversation shifted to movies? Not long, I bet. Among writers you can pretty much set your clock by the length of time they’re able keep the conversation confined to books: twenty minutes tops. Try it. It’s almost impossible for them to stay focused on books. Someone will suddenly insert something about a movie and once that happens, the book conversation is lost. I often wonder if the reverse happens among screen writers. Does their talk of movies turn into a conversation about books? Not likely. What that says about today’s writers is, perhaps, fodder for another day.

I confess I am not a movie buff. I am an antiquated, boring, confirmed bibliophile. I love books. I love their feel: the texture of the pages, the roughness of the binding, the smell arising from fanned pages. I revel in being surrounded by the many books that line my seventeen bookcases, stack upon my three desks and pile my sundry tables. But that is only the pure physicality of books, even more alluring is knowing that a mind is at work on every page. That, for me, is the most intimate aspect of any book: its ability to engage the reader in a conversation with the author. The pages of my books are filled with the resulting marginalia. More than movies, more than TV, books engage me, they stir my imagination.

Now you may point to the girls’ interest in the images to account for their prolonged contact with the book, and that may hold some truth; but I also saw how they reacted when they simply tried to hold the book in their small hands and turn the pages. The girls were engaged on so many more sensory levels than simply that of the visual. I don’t know if the experience will stay with any of the girls or if it will have any impact, but I do know those moments will remain with me for a very long time.   

Need some weekend reading? Try Narrative Magazine's latest issue.

Looks like there's plenty to read this weekend over at Narrative Magazine. Narrative is a free online literary magazine. Their latest issue has been posted and contains the following: the second installment of Rick Bass's new novel The Diezmo; an excerpt from Roy Blount Jr.'s forthcoming book on New Orleans; an excerpt from Chandler Burr's Hollywood novel-in-progress; in-depth interviews with Conroy and Geoffrey Wolff; new stories by emerging writers Pia Z. Ehrhardt, Alma García, Shann Ray, Krystn Lee Yang; a classic story by Ivan Turgenev and Readers' Narratives.

All you have to do is log in and you'll receive a free subscription--enjoy!

Booknotes redux

Not too long ago I posted a note about an article in USA Today Books that featured the article "C-SPAN’s Brian Lamb Closes the ‘Book’” about Brian Lamb’s decision to end the long-running and popular Booknotes. Since 1989 Lamb has interviewed 800 nonfiction authors. The interviews are responsible for a good many books lining my shelves, and the show offered a rare opportunity for authors, many not counted in the traditional bestseller ranks, to discuss their books in depth during a one hour interview—no commercials, mind you. Since then Booknotes has ended but the interviews are now available on C-SPAN's website. In addition, reruns of Booknotes interviews from 1989-2004, called Encore Booknotes, are being aired on weekends. A new show--minus Lamb--features nonfiction authors and guest interviewers.

Of Edgars, Ravens, and other mysterious stories and events

Well, as Lee Goldberg attests on his blog A Writer's Life, Mystery Writers of  America (MWA) has announced the annual Edgar nominations. The Edgars derive their name from Edgar Allen Poe, long considered the father of the detective story. Houstonions might enjoy knowing that our own Murder by the Book's owner Martha Farrington will be honored with a 2005 MWA Raven Award. This award is given to individuals and institutions who have made significant contributions to the mystery genre or to MWA. Murder by the Book is a great independent bookstore and the folks there do a wonderful job; they really know their mysteries. If you haven't had a chance to wander around the bookcases filled with mystery stories that range from cozies to psychological suspense, shame on you. The folks at Murder by the Book are often quoted in Publisher's Weekly, the publishing industry's number one trade magazine, because they know what's going on in their corner of the book world. All that said, they're good people, too.

You might not know that Houston is home to MWA's Southwest Chapter, a great group with monthly meetings on the third Wednesday of the month. The group will have their main annual event this year, the 2005 Hard-Boiled Heroes and Cozy Cats Conference, on June 17 and 18. They'll also be holding a short story contest sponsered by Murder by the Book. Last year's winner, Joyce Gibb, recently sold her entry to Alfred Hitchcock Magazine. The contest will be judged by Texas author and MWA/SW Vice President Michael Bracken and will feature cash awards and recognition during the awards ceremony at lunch. The short story should be between 1,000 and 5,000 words. Check their website (scroll down) for more details as it gets closer to the event.

I'm telling you now about the contest so you can have plenty of time to write and submit your entry. If you'd like to read a few short stories to get your creative juices flowing, pick up a copy of the Alfred Hitchcock Magazine or Ellery Queen Magazine. I'm sure they'll stimulate a few ideas. Or order a copy of The Best American Mystery Stories 2004 .

Take the Blogging for Books challenge and get out of your comfort zone.

You may be involved in writing the great American novel, or perhaps you're busy busting out daily articles for newspapers, journals, magazines, and newsletters and that's all well and good, but taking an occasional writing challenge or trying a new exercise can lead to new and unexpected stories and ideas. When I checked out the Writer's Edge, Georganna Hancock's blog, I found a notice about this month's Blogging for Books challenge. Why not spend some time this week composing an entry and see what happens? You'll have until 6:00 am Pacific Time on February 13th to come up with your 2,000 word entry.

Spend some additional time reading through Hancock's blog. She posts a lot of interesting information, such as the existence of the explanation of proofreader's marks found at the Designer's Toolbox, and offers plenty of solid advice on a variety of writing-related issues. Hancock is a regular reader and always offers great comments whenever she visits this blog and I appreciate her support and input.

Why blog? Is writing for blogs first draft writing?

The question of whether you, a writer, should create a blog may very well depend on what type of writer you are. When people ask me about the difference between blogs and websites, one main characteristic I name is that they are dynamic as opposed to the more static nature of websites. What I’m usually referring to is the real-time nature of blogs and their ability to allow the readers to comment and initiate a dialogue with the writer and other readers. For some writers these may be real plusses. They are writers who like to engage others in a more immediate way and who like to offer up commentary on a whole host of subjects. They are also writers who enjoy the physical act of writing because, while they may not post daily, blogs demand that their writers make frequent entries.

Why are blogs so demanding? Blogs are all about developing a readership. People who blog 1) have something to say and 2) want to be heard. That means they want someone to hear what they have to say and respond immediately. They need an immediate audience. People who read blogs are the perfect audience for such a writer. They want to be part of the dialogue. They want to read and think and respond directly. Blogs allow for a far more direct engagement with the reader than writers will experience in other mediums. (Some may find it a little too direct and immediate.) That means the blogger must be passionate about—or at the very least engaged with--his or her’s subject and should have a strong desire to communicate this passion. Now you could say that about any other writer, whether they’re writing essays, stories, or novels. But bloggers are more instantaneous: they seek immediate acknowledgement of their thoughts. Instead of automatic responders, I’d say they’re immediate responders.

For example, my post today is in response to a comment made during C-SPAN’s Book TV In Depth interview with author Charles Murray. (Murray is the author of The Bell Curve and seven other books.) He had commented that part of his daily morning ritual included reading a number of blogs. A listener called in and asked if he maintained a blog and if not why not? Murray answered by saying he did not consider himself to be a “first draft writer.” That, if anything, he was a re-writer, and he thought blog writing required more of a first draft skill than he possessed.

He’s probably correct. While careful bloggers do not post their immediate “first draft” and do review their material, they are still operating on a first draft level because they do not write a draft, then go through a number of major rewrites to allow the piece to evolve, nor do they generally put the writing away for a few weeks to let it grow cold and then return to it to edit even more before posting the piece. Blogging is definitely more immediate and, you could say, more fresh. Many bloggers are responding to daily events and are posting quickly because the landscape that is their subject matter is changing even as they write. They are posting first drafts in the sense that their writing reflects their immediate response to an event, a thought, or a word that has captured their attention that day.

This post is in response to Murray ’s comment that I heard maybe fifteen to twenty minutes ago and is composed of my initial thoughts and my immediate reaction to his words, so in that respect it is clearly a first draft. Were I to develop this further, I would allow these words to sit while I thought more about the subject, and then I would return and the essay would more than likely morph into something else--but then it would not be material for my blog. It would be work that I would want to send to a journal or a magazine or maybe include in a book. The anecdote about Murray may or may not be included because my reaction would have evolved into something else I wanted to say about blogs and first draft writing or even about first draft writing itself. 

So now you know one reason why I began a blog. Down the Writer’s Path affords me a way to publish my initial thoughts on a variety of subjects pertaining to the writer’s life. Now you might ask why I would want to do that. Well, the mere fact that I know that someone will be reading what I am writing orients the way I lay down my immediate response. I’m not just chronicling my ideas and thoughts in a journal to stash away for later drafting and consumption; I’m not scribbling on pieces of paper only to lose them later. I’m organizing and thinking through my thoughts as I write this. Once posted, another reason for why I blog comes into play. I wanted to know if what I had to say about the writing life and the craft, as well as the publishing industry, would bring an audience and develop a readership. Did I have anything to say on the subject that would merit anyone to return again and again to my blog to read what I had to say?

You are the judge of that.

Whether a blog is the right medium for you or whether you should even have a blog will depend not only on what type of writer you are but also on what type of blog you want to create. Not every writer will want to do a blog such as mine. Stay tuned for further developments on these thoughts and more during the week.

Note: The interview with Charles Murray will be repeated tonight at midnight (Eastern time) on C-SPAN Book TV. On the first Sunday of every month C-SPAN airs its 3-hour interviews with accomplished writers. Next month on March 6 at noon and again at midnight will be Helen Caldicott.

Review: The Serious Kiss by Mary Hogan

I've posted my Blogcritics.org review of Meg Hogan's first teen novel, The Serious Kiss. To see my other reviews, click here. If you like reading reviews on books, music, culture and politics, you might want to check out the rest of Blogcritics.org.