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questions are anonymous. If you know who is asking the question and wish to
leave a comment, please respect their rights to remain anonymous.
Q: SD, Why is the simple stories always the hardest to write?
A: I hope you don't mind my simple answer (Get it? Simple answer. Oh, alright. Bad joke.).
From my experience, the telling of something without embellishment that can
instantly cause a regression to every early (or first) experience that are the most meaningful to you. Take for
instance, something sweet. I’m not talking about sugar in your morning cereal
or oatmeal or on that tangy grapefruit. What I’m talking about is your first
ice cream cone, your first confectionery at a theater or an amusement park or
alike. And even, the first experience that had caused you so much anxiety that
it is engraved on your most precious memories forever! Yes, I'm talking about the first time you had
held hands with the person who had captured your heart and imagination. Let me
not forget the first time you had ever had that singular fantasy made reality,
the first kiss. Now how do you describe that monumental moment in your life?
Isn't holding someone's hand or a kiss shared are things that are at the bottom
of the list on moments of great complexities. And yet, the emotion tied to
those two simple examples would cause the greatest of poets and historians of
the written word to have piles crumpled up paper at their feet, and books of
all shapes and sizes piled up high. The only answer to your question that I can
give is to write from the heart, welcome the butterflies return to your
stomach, keep a dry towel nearby to wipe your hands, and enjoy the absurdity of
the simplicity that has caused all of us to smile like the fools that we are.
SD
Q: SD, What do you do to get yourself prepared to write?
A: Now that is an open ended question if ever I heard one. I’m
guessing you are asking about my writing process and not just having a bowl of
gummy bears sitting next to my keyboard and some coffee, tea, or an eye popping
large mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows with a large sticker on the side
that say New York Giants. (Hey! Grew up
in New Jersey and the Jets haven’t had a winner since Broadway Joe Namath.)
My writing process actually starts with my imagination. You can call it the preparation
before I prepare myself to write. I had mentioned in earlier Ask SD and
Wednesday Tea and Friday Caffeine (now
called Reality & Reason. Shameless Plug again, Yeah!) The articles about my shoebox of story line so
if I can't come up with something then I can pull out a kick starter from the
box. once I have what lives between my left and right ear primed and ready to
go, I place things around me that I can keep going without only the most
important of breaks (Daughter, Son, and
the privy-potty break). Beverage, snacks (healthy or otherwise-trying very hard to back away from the otherwise),
and a pad and pin or pencil. The good old pad and pencil is in case of another
idea that doesn't fit with what I am currently writing, but is something that I
would really like to add somewhere else in the story. Just call it one of those
bang and whistle things that come up from time to time that will cause most
readers to shake their head, laugh out loud, or grab for a tissue or handkerchief.
Hey, inspiration is inspiration and the good ones should be written down while
they are fresh. Lastly there is a cool down. Just like exercise (which we all need to do more of), there
is a warm up (preparation), the act (writing), and the cool down (light scanning over your work), your
program (if available) grammar check,
and gathering up your note for the Shoebox, trash to throw away, and cutting
off all devises (electric bill can be a
pain in the... you know). I hope this answers your question. SD
Q: SD, My husband says I don't have the (((talent)))
to become a writer and yet my family, friends, and even co-workers say I have
talent. What can I do to change my husband’s thoughts about me being a writer?
Also, I have won a few awards for my work.
A: I am not a marriage counselor so don't take my word as
if it is coming from up high. From what you have described (Question cut down to size), there is
nothing you can do to change his mind. Your husband loves you and is selfish.
He wants to spend every moment he can with you and there is nothing you can do
about it. You can place a Pulitzer on your mantel and all he will see is your
time with him being taken away. Even the President of the United States has a
date night with his wife. You might want to look into that as well. But, what I
can say without any hesitation, your marriage is your marriage and it is
between the two of you. You might want to leave the ones who have an opinion (for your benefit, of course) on the
other side of the door. There is an old saying (I exploit it in my writing at every chance). When it comes to two
people, there are always three truths. Each of their truths they see and the
actual truth that neither one wish to admit. Congratulation on your awards and
at the first opportunity where you receive one in public, don't forget to give
your husband all the credit for being the one and only person who forced you to
work harder than even you had believed was possible. Use words like
inspiration, and love of your life will do wonders. Just remember, like high
school exclusion brings unhappiness, but inclusion gives support. Talk to your
hubby about how you feel, he may not like it, but we men are simple creatures
and will even get jealous over trivial things (Whither we will admit it or not). But, to be fair to the guy. If he
didn't care and let you do whatever you want, would you still feel the same
way? We would all like to have our cake and eat it too, but would settle for
sharing it with the person we asked to share the rest of our lives with. SD.
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