Bittersweet Holidays

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The Power of Craft

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SIGNIFICANCE AND REALISM

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Write What You Know

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SUCCESS: BEN FRANKLIN STYLE!

I've just uploaded a new feature article on SUCCESS: BEN FRANKLIN STYLE!

If you'd like to read it, click HERE.

Blessings,

Vicki

VICKI HINZE
www.vickihinze.com
Kill Zone, 7/09
FORGET ME NOT, 3/10




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EFFECTIVE NARRATIVE

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2009 August Newsletter

The August 2009 monthly newsletter has been posted. To read it online, click HERE.


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Creating Character: Details, The Stuff of Life

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The Overworked Writer

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CONFLICT

What follows is a handout from a workshop on CONFLICT (©2008, Vicki Hinze) from this past weekend at the Emerald Coast Writers Conference.

It’s lengthy so I’m linking to it. It’s in pdf format, so it shouldn’t be a problem for anyone, but if it is, then contact me, and I’ll get it to you in a format that works for you.

If you click on the photo above (on the www.vickihinze.com website blog), the entire article should open in your browser.

If you click on Conflict in the My Kitchen Table widget (see right), you’ll get the article:

Or you can download it. The link for that is Conflict.pdf.

Blessings,

Vicki

WORKSHOP
EMERALD COAST WRITERS

WRITING DURING THE DARK TIMES

Photo credit: beliefnet.com

WARNING: THIS IS A NO-EDIT ZONE...

Writing is never easy. Oh, sometimes we get into the flow or the zone and the work flows, but usually that comes after intense planning and effort and only post intense focus.

A friend asked me about a week ago how long it had taken me to put together a proposal for a new series I’m very excited about writing. My response surprised her: “About a week and twenty years of experience.”

It did take roughly a week to put the proposal into format. But I’d been thinking about elements of this series for months. And it took all the experience and expertise I’ve scooped together in the last two decades to know what those elements were and what would work with what. It is also that experience that taught me what wouldn’t work and to avoid--and that information is equally important.

That was last week.

If I were being asked that question this week, my answer likely would be very different. It’s been one of those dark times around here.

I do all my annual medical checks around this time and I got some worrisome news. For two weeks, my mantra was, “Okay, take this cup from me if you will. If not, give me the strength to drink from it with dignity.” That was the best I could manage. I don’t know if it was enough.

What I do know is that in more extensive testing, we discovered there’d been a reporting error and those problems were not mine. My results were fine. Some would say, “Oh how horrible. To go through all that for two weeks unnecessarily.”

I say, if it weren’t necessary, then it wouldn’t have happened. I did a lot of thinking and assessing during that time, as one would expect, and I took a more intense look at priorities and interests and desires.

My relief was enormous, of course. I’m not ready to leave this world yet. But I can’t say that this dark time wasn’t valuable. It was extremely valuable to me.

Then a dear friend’s house burned. Fortunately, she wasn’t in it. Unfortunately, her two dogs were and she was by them like I was by my Alex. She’s grieving and grateful to have been spared. And of course, badly shaken.

I hadn’t yet gotten my feet back under me when I learned that a lifelong friend had passed away unexpectedly. This hit hard. Really hard. We’ve been friends forever, and I was her maid of honor at her wedding. She was beautiful inside and out and always had a kind word for anyone, a hug for anyone in need of one. Less than a month ago, her oldest son, who was born within months of my oldest son, passed away. I swear, I’m reeling. I don’t know whether to be devastated or thankful that she was spared a long battle with grief. And my heart aches for her poor mother and father--kind and gentle souls both--who have lost their only daughter and their grandson.

These things aside, there have been a few other significant challenges happening to those in my circle. One lost her sister, and has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Hospice is with another friend’s mother and they’ve called her to come home. And on it goes.

There are dark times. We all endure them. They’re never convenient or easy or merciful. They always exact a high toll and payment in full. And during them, we find writing challenging and we give ourselves hell for it. We shouldn’t. Writing is a creative art, after all, but we have to produce to eat, and so we’re not permitted to wallow in those dark emotions.

I think that’s a blessing. If we did wallow in the dark times, we’d be there far too often and we’d be not doing a lot of constructive things while we wallowed.

That doesn’t mean we don’t feel. It doesn’t mean we don’t acknowledge the dark times. They command our acknowledgement. Demand it, I should say. It’d be so easy to just go cover my head and hide out until the dark time passes. So easy.

But so wrong. Thinking of my friend, and the way she lived her life. We had a two-hour life, death and the universe phone conversation less than a month ago. During it, we laughed a little, cried a little, talked about those we love who are no longer with us, and about kids and grans. And we talked about dreams and hopes and wishes we held dear as kids. Do you know, she got her dreams. She was content and happy and fulfilled.

We all know there are seasons in life. Cycles. And as much as we hate acknowledging death of the physical, it comes to us all. But in recalling that conversation, I’ll tell you something. My friend lived. She really did.

And so while the dark times might make writing hard, they don't make it impossible. Actually, they add rich layers to the writing that couldn’t exist without experiencing the best and worst of life.

I’m sad. Yes. Of course. And grateful I’m well. And I feel horrible for the woman to whom that report was actually issued. Bless her. I know exactly what she’s going through. I went through it for two weeks. Let me tell you, from the inside out, it seemed much, much longer.

So how much writing have I managed to get done during this dark time? Not a lot, frankly. But I’ve gathered a lot of fodder and experienced things that when I do write will explode on the page because they’ve exploded in me.

I don’t think we have to experience everything to write about it. I do think that when we experience relatable events, it adds that extra insight that not only brings authenticity to the work but empathy and compassion.

Some find writing during the dark times therapeutic. Some find it impossible. I guess I fall somewhere in between. Though it’s definitely not evident in this post, I will share that the only time I really write humor is when I’m mourning. That’s one of my most apparent writing quirks.
We all have them, right? Regardless of where you fall on that scale, be at peace with it. You--your mind, your body, your spirit--knows what you need. Respect it in this.

Today, I’m not writing. Today, I’m spending my writing time in prayer for my friend, for her son, for her family and loved ones. Today, I’m thinking of family and the others in my expanded circle who are facing challenges and the woman going through now what I went through then. Today I’m remembering, and I’m genuinely grateful that I have so many good memories to recall. And so many good friends.

And, well, I guess to put it simply, I’m spending a day steeping myself in gratitude.

I am.

And I’m grateful.

Blessings,

Vicki

Vicki Hinze


Tags:

WRITER'S TIME TRACKER

WRITER’S TIME TRACKER
WRITER'S TIME TRACKER ©2000-2007 VICKI HINZE

PROJECT TITLE: ____________________________________________


GOAL DATES: 1st DRAFT ______ 2nd DRAFT __________

FINAL DRAFT ________ SUBMISSION DEADLINE: __________

___________________________________________________________________
|Date | Time Start/Stop | Total Time Invested | Focus | Pages + or- |
-----------------------------------------------------

Above, I've listed the headings I use. I just create a table with those columns and enough rows to fill a page. (A novel typically takes me about three columned/rowed pages.)

Use the original created as a template and just copy and paste for the additional pages.



If you write for any length of time, you'll need to be able to project the time you'll need to write a book or an article. For example, you'll be offered a publishing contract, and you'll need to know what due dates to put in it. If you haven't kept track of your time investment, it's going to be difficult to determine this.

Yes, each book is different. Yes, life has a way of turning plans inside out. But if you habitually track your time investment, not only does it assist you in staying on track and focused, it also gives you great insight on estimates of how much time you need to accomplish a specific aspect of a project as well as the project itself.

A proposal averages x amount of time.
A synopsis averages x amount of time.
A novel averages x amount of time.

Averages is the key word. You always allow a little padding, but you do so realistically because you know your base time.

I use the columns shown above. (Which also reveals that I'm most productive from 5 a.m. until 10 a.m. For some reason, I write almost twice as fast during that time. I learned, too, that I spend less time editing the work I write during that time. Double productivity!

Time of year can definitely be a factor. Example. Writing goes slower when the kids are home in the summer. In mid-winter when natural light is most scarce. After 6 p.m. and before midnight. Knowing these types of things allows you to structure your writing time most efficiently--when you're most effective.

The focus makes it clear whether you're working on the synopsis, background character traits, setting or research or actual manuscript pages. You might need twice as much time to write a synopsis as you need to draft your character traits or to research a plot aspect. Knowing how you work best, honoring the muse and working with it rather than battling it makes the work more enjoyable for you both. :)

The number of pages gained or lost is relative to the daily goal. To assist in keeping me on target with my project completion dates. This also helps track where I am in the creation of the book. Then I can look at what is happening to determine the flow. Is that first major turning point happening soon enough? Too soon? That type of thing.

This tracker has worked well for me through at least a dozen books. Probably more. I'd have to go back and actually see when I started using it, but it's been at least that long.

If scheduling isn't a challenge. If you don't have to be concerned with types of things mentioned, then you probably don't need a Writer's Time Tracker. But if you're like most writers, you have so many different things to do and anything that helps you accomplish more of what you want to accomplish is welcome.

This type of simple system is effective for those in other careers, too. It works for me on scheduling other tasks as well as for writing. Give it a try. I hope it's helpful to you, too.

Blessings,

Vicki