The Power of Intention

A couple of years ago, I attended a class taught by a Hollywood scriptwriter. He urged us to share what we were working on. As writer after writer said he or she didn't want to tell for fear of somebody stealing their idea, or perhaps for fear of criticism for themselves or their project, he became perturbed.

He said one of the best things a writer can do is share your ideas because saying something aloud makes it possible, and you never know whether or not the person you tell might just be the link to boost your project into reality.

He said the feedback you get, both positive and negative, is healthy. Maybe you're wasting time on a subject nobody but you cares about. Maybe you have the next blockbuster on your hands. By sharing with others, you chance learning something new, or gaining some insight that will improve your project or help you get it sold.

What I later realized he was sharing with us is the idea behind The Power of Intention.

According to Marcia Wieder, Americas Dream Coach, "When you set an intention and then act on it to demonstrate your commitment, amazing things occur."

Last summer, I sat down next to a gentleman at a kNIFVES luncheon at the Davenport Hotel in Spokane. More at home at the White Pine Cafe in Athol, I struggled to look relaxed. The man turned to me and introduced himself as the owner of 5X5 Productions, then asked about myself.

"I'm a screenwriter," I stammered, "a- a- budding screenwriter."

I mentally congratulated myself, "Good, Mary Jane, good. Putting it out in the universe!"

"Great!" he said, "What are you working on?"

Should I or shouldn't I? This guy has production studios in Los Angeles as well as Spokane, and world-wide distribution! He's going to think my idea is dumb!

"I'm working on a story about Turkey Pete," I said with what little enthusiasm my shaking voice could muster.

The comfortable conversation that followed was broken only when the meeting started ten minutes later. He had asked question after question and shown obvious enthusiasm for my story.

Tuning out the speaker, I contemplated our exchange and came up with the delightful realization that The Power of Intention had worked for me! Just talking about my project and the interest he showed for it gave me new energy and faith in both my story and my ability to see it through to completion.

The New Year is the perfect time to put The Power of Intention to work for you as a writer. I know I'm going to in 2011!

Four Steps for Setting an Intention

by Marcia Wieder Americas Dream Coach

By setting an intention, you make it clear to yourself and others, just what you plan to do. Set an intention to redefine what it means to be serious about your dreams.

1. Get clear about something you want and write it down.
2. Share your intention with someone in a way that will supportively hold you accountable to taking action.
3. Do something today to demonstrate your commitment to your intention.
4. Acknowledge that you did what you said you would and then, take the next step.

You can find Ms. Wieder's full article on the Power of Intention at http:healing.about.com/od/marciawieder/a/powerintention.htm

Revising a Two-Time-Loser into a Winner

The New Year finds me revising a writing project...again. Just a week ago, Nancy ended her blog on the importance of revision with a question: "What is your experience with the revision process?"

It got me to thinking how important that process has been to my writing career. I've learned to step away from my writing. I let it sit for a few days, then go back and take a look. Without exception, I make a few (and sometimes considerable) changes. And each time I do this, my writing gets leaner, stronger, and better.

The story of the screenplay I'm currently working on is a story that wouldn't have happened without countless revisions. Here's how it all happened for a little two-time-loser I wrote two years ago:

In January, 2009, I entered a short story "Heading for the Big Time," in the Idaho Magazine fiction contest. I worked hard, writing and rewriting my entry a dozen times. Finally perfected, I sent it in.

It didn't win.

Although my entry didn't win, I was later notified it had been chosen for the Publisher's Choice award. Hey, I'll take it! A come-from-behind win is OKAY with me!

A few months later, kNIFVES (Northwest Independent Film and Video Entertainment Society) announced they were holding their first Short Screenplay Contest. I decided to revise the short story I had written for Idaho Magazine into a screenplay.

This was my first screenplay, and I had a lot to learn. So I got busy putting down on paper what I had learned through workshops I attended and how-to books I read.

I wrote, and then re-wrote it time and again. I spent many hours researching, learning, and writing. Once I was pleased with it, I sent it to a writing friend for editing and comments. I took her critique seriously, and made some significant revisions based on her suggestions.

Finally! My 17-page screenplay was polished and ready to mail in the appropriately-sized envelope. That's when kNIFVES announced their decision to lengthen the contest period. For some reason, I decided to hold onto that envelope.

A couple weeks later, something clicked while I was reading yet another book on screenwriting and I realized my screenplay had amateurish flaws. I took a deep breath and went back to work, rewriting it again and again. When finished, I had over 40 revisions - some substantial, and some trivial. Finally satisfied once again, I sent it in: "Root Bound," an original screenplay by Mary Jane Honegger.

I didn't win.

Alright, I didn't win. but, I did learn about screenwriting. So, it was with confidence that I began working on a full length screenplay. (Which I am still working on.)

THEN, nearly a year later, in mid-2010, I received a request from kNIFVES to produce my screenplay.

A second come-from-behind-win!

kNIFVES President WJ Lazarus wrote for and received a 2010 New Filmmaker Grant from the Idaho Film Office to produce the screenplay and next thing I knew, it was scheduled for production. Karla Peterman, Line Producer for the project, recently issued the Pre-Production Schedule. It should be completed in time to be entered in the Sandpoint Films 2nd Annual Film Festival in November 2011.

End of story? Not quite. Guess what I get to do? Rewrite my screenplay! I am expected to rewrite (and rewrite) "Root Bound" until it meets approval with the producer. But when I'm done with that - I get to just sit back and watch my little two-time-loser go into production. What fun!

Writing is not like painting where you add. It is not what you put on the canvas that the reader sees. Writing is more like a sculpture where you remove,you eliminate in order to make the work visible. Even those pages you remove somehow remain. Elie Wiesel

Mark Your Calendars!

There are many great writing-related events for you to attend and enjoy in the coming weeks, including a local writers’ conference in March and the Get Lit! festival in April. Here's a brief overview:

The first annual Inland Northwest Christian Writers Conference will be held March 19. Keynote speaker is Jim Rubart, author of ROOMS and Book of Days. For details on workshops and other information, go to http://www.inwchristianwriters.webs.com/. This is a one-day conference and is a great value for only $50 per person. Lunch can be reserved for an additional $6. Check it out!

Also, tickets are now on sale for Eastern Washington University's 13th annual Get Lit! festival which takes place April 13-17. The festival will feature over 50 events including author presentations and readings, writing workshops, panel discussions, poetry slams and writing contests. Most events are free to the public, and individual tickets are now on sale for the headlining events. Each ticket is just $15 for the general public and free for students with a current high school or college ID. Student tickets will be available at college bookstores March 28 through April 8 or at the door as space allows. Individual tickets for the Ani DiFranco concert are $35 and student discounts will not apply. To reserve your seat for any of the headlining events, contact TicketsWest at 1-800-325-SEAT or online at Tickets West. Festival passes are still available for the headlining events. By purchasing a pass, you will save $20-$25 off individual ticket costs and service fees. Passes gain admission to see Tim O’Brien (with Brian Turner), Sam Kean, Matthew Dickman and on Friday, either Sena Jeter Naslund (with Nancy Rawles) or Ani DiFranco in concert. The regular festival pass is $45. The pass that includes the Ani DiFranco concert ticket is $60. Visit the Get Lit! website for a full list of participating authors and events.

Meanwhile, below are a few of the events happening in January.

At Aunties Bookstore, George Brinkman will sign copies of his book, Origins of Christianity; Joyce Caudel presents her first novel, The Hat Pin Murders: A Red Hat Mystery; Jesse Freels will sign copies of his young-adult novel, Murder at Foxbluff Lake; Paula Croomer will present her second novel, Dove Creek; and Donald Bradshaw will present his historical novel, Memoirs of a Counterspy.

Also, Dawn Nelson will sign copies of her books, A Cowgirl Remembers When and A Cowgirl Never Forgets at the Aslin-Finch Seed Conpany in Spokane.

And, if you have a desire to read your work to an audience, don’t forget Sandpoint’s popular, monthly, Five Minutes of Fame open mic at Foster’s Crossing.

You will find the times, locations, and details of these and other events on the Events page of this blog.

Beyond this Blog: Do You Tweet?

Do you feel like you’re lagging behind in the world of technology as a writer? If so, you’re not alone. Although many writers now use an array of social networking sites to get the word out about their books, websites, articles, events, etc., many of us are still spinning our wheels to catch up and make the best use of such sites.

One of these tools is, of course, Twitter. I have a Twitter account, but my occasional tweets fall far short of using it efficiently. So for folks like me, the Editors at Bookhitch.com published the following advice for writers who want to use the site as a platform for their work.
______________

9 Twitterific Tips

How to use Twitter to gain exposure:

Let's face it. Twitter has taken over the world. From Michael Jackson's death to earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, many people find their news out from Twitter first. What's to stop them from finding their next book through Twitter? Only your ability to tweet successfully. Malle Vallik, director of digital content and social media at Harlequin Enterprises Ltd, says that "if you are a good Twitterer, people will trust you - even if you are a brand- and will trust your recommendations. And word-of-mouth is the best marketing tool". Twitter is fast and friendly and can help you reach hundred of new readers as long as you're using it correctly. Here are some simple tips for keeping a successful Twitter.

1) Retweet. "RT" or "retweeting" is taking a Twitter post from someone else and rebroadcasting it to your followers. This pushes your @username into different social graphs, which results in clicks back to your profile.

2) Use Hashtags. These are a word or phrase prefaced by a hash symbol (#), for example #ebooks. This will group your tweet with other people who have used the same hashtag and therefore create more traffic for your Twitter.

3) Update frequently... If followers are continually checking your page and nothing has been updated in a week, you're going to lose those followers.

4) ... and make timely and appropriate tweets. But tweeting what you eat for every meal is not likely to be appropriate or interesting either. If something big happens, don't wait to tweet about it. Twitter is one of the most useful tools for instant news and you should use it to your advantage.

5) Be strategically self-promoting. No one wants to read a Twitter that constantly toots its own horn. Enter conversations tied to your book's topic and be engaged enough so that when you bring up your work, it doesn't sound like a shameless sales pitch. Otherwise your followers will feel like you're just using them.

6) Have a personality associated with the brand. If you're an author, be yourself and let your humanity shine through. The personal interaction allows customers to feel loyalty to a brand.

7) Jazz up your Twitter. Links are a great way to do this. You can link to your website, to articles that you're interested in, even to pictures of friends and family.

8) Be careful what you Tweet. Because Twitter is so instant, it's easy to fire off a complaint. But unlike a verbal complaint, a Tweet doesn't go away as easily. Before you Tweet make sure your statement reflects you as a professional and not you being irritated and wanting to vent.

9) Have fun. Invent new and exciting ways to engage your Twitter community. Have contests, polls, jokes, raffles, giveaways, whatever you can think of to entertain and inform your followers.

These tips and tricks can help you navigate your way to a successful Twitter following.

(This excerpt reprinted with permission, Bookhitch.com, June 2010 Newsletter.)

Back to Work: A New Year of Writing...and Rewriting

After a wonderful holiday with family, I’m ready to get my thoughts in gear and go back to work on my writing…or…um…rewriting. Over the past year and a half I’ve occupied much of my time with book marketing, article writing and other related projects (such as this blog), setting aside work on a book revision I have in the works.

Whether you write fiction or narrative nonfiction, revision is a vital part of the craft of writing, even though it can carry a writer on a pendulum swing of emotion between the wish to have a finished product to the pleasure of knowing revision will make the story better.

Early in my efforts to educate myself as a writer, the first book I read dedicated to the subject was Revision: A Creative Approach to Writing and Rewriting Fiction by David Michael Kaplan. I learned a lot from Kaplan, most importantly the realization of the critical need for deep revision, moving far beyond a check for punctuation, typos and spelling. Kaplan states:

Revision is the key process of writing.

That’s where stories are made.

That revelation of how crucial deep revision is for my writing reminded me of when, many years ago, I first learned to develop my own photographs. I learned that by manipulating exposure times and using burning and dodging techniques, I could significantly improve upon that first photographic impression. It was a thrilling discovery. And likewise, with intensive revision, by manipulating the various elements of my manuscript, I can significantly improve upon those early drafts.

Another important book on revision that has proven helpful is Manuscript Makeover: Revision Techniques No Fiction Writer can Afford to Ignore by editor Elizabeth Lyon. Lyon covers all aspects of the art of revision in depth, addressing the need to revise from the "inside-out" and from the "outside-in," the first referring to self-knowledge (plumbing the depths of your life experiences to improve your writing) and the second referring to ground level techniques common to all methods: add, delete, rearrange, enhance, transform. Lyon writes:

Whether your story needs a lot or a little work, the fact is

that revising fiction requres skills apart from writing.

Even though I write narrative nonfiction rather than fiction, with the help of these books and other resources, I have come to enjoy (yes, enjoy) the revision process. I love the hard thinking as I pull together the bits and pieces of those ideas that come to me as I reread the manuscript, as I lie awake in the middle of the night, as I drive to the grocery store or watch and old movie. I like shifting the structure, sometimes spreading the chapters across the floor in front of me, in my challenge to keep the reader interested. I enjoy the research and the organization. It feels good to improve a transition between scenes and to make sure I have ended every paragraph as strong as I can. I like the careful shaping and fine tuning of the words and phrases in my hope that the story will help someone, entertain someone, inspire someone, or possibly inform someone of something they didn’t know before.

If you’re looking to learn more about the revision process, there are many resources. In addition to those mentioned above, most how-to books on writing include at least a chapter or so about revision. In addition to books, the Internet has a variety of articles on university and writing-related websites for writers on the topic of revision.

Here are a few:

http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/revision.html

http://www.indiana.edu/~reading/ieo/digests/d100.html

http://www.csuohio.edu/academic/writingcenter/revision.html

http://www.writeexpress.com/revise-writing.html

Writers should take to heart the words of the best-selling author of Jurassic Park and many other popular books, the late Michael Crichton, who offered this on the subject of revision:

Books aren't written - they're rewritten.

Including your own. It is one of the hardest

things to accept, especially after the seventh

rewrite hasn't quite done it.

Deep revision can take your work to a higher level. It provides a learning opportunity that adds to your knowledge base about the craft of writing. And after it is complete, you will be pleased that your story has become more cohesive and compelling. And so will your reader.

What is your experience with the revision process?

TGIF: Fun Stuff to Melt the Winter Blahs

For every person who feels a little blue now that the holidays are over, there are others of us who relish that delicious freedom from overfilled calendars and overstuffed social obligations. At last, some nice long stretches of time in which to write! Still, the transition from "making merry" to "bleak midwinter" can be jarring. If the January page of your fresh 2011 calendar is looking a little too bare, here are a few ideas to fill it up:

THIS WEEKEND:
The Friends of the Library used book sale will be held tomorrow (January 8) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the East Bonner County Library. Along with a fine selection of fiction, nonfiction, travel, romance, videos, CDs, audiobooks, etc., there will also be a "Bag o' Books" sale--a special room where you can fill up a brown paper shopping bag for just 3 bucks! The library is located at Cedar and Division streets in Sandpoint.

COMING SOON:
Therese Marszalek of Deer Park, Washington, author of several books including the recent release From the Wilderness to the Miraculous, will be the featured speaker at the January 12 meeting of the Coeur d'Alene chapter of the Idaho Writers League, 9 a.m.-noon at the Jewett House, 1501 E. Lakeshore Drive, Coeur d'Alene.

On Saturday, January 15, the Sandpoint chapter of the Idaho Writers League will hold a "Story of the Year" contest at 9:00 a.m. at the East Bonner County Library (Cedar and Division in Sandpoint). Anyone can participate by reading their story, poem, essay, memoir, etc., aloud--or, just come and listen! The organizers say there are no real rules and the stories will be judged on entertainment value. For information check with the Sandpoint chapter of Idaho Writers League, sandpoint@idahowritersleague.com.

Another opportunity to read (or sing) your work aloud happens on Wednesday, January 19 at the Five Minutes of Fame open mic event, 6:30 p.m. at Cafe Bodega at Foster's Crossing, 504 Oak in Sandpoint. Show up, sign up, and perform to an appreciative audience! 208-263-5911.

Be sure to click on the "Events" tab to see more book signings, author appearances, and other events coming up in the area.

The Inescapable New Years Resolution Post

It's a new year, a new day, a fresh start, a blank page--insert your favorite New Years resolution cliche here. Whether or not we make formal New Years resolutions, it's hard to escape the fact that a new year inspires a writer to both take stock of what's gone before and make plans for what lies ahead.

Resolutions. Ugh. I've been making the same resolutions for so long, I can recite them in my sleep--eat better, exercise more, remember to floss, change the oil, and send birthday cards. This year I'm thinking about skipping all that resolution stuff. After all, didn't somebody say that insanity is doing the same things over and over and expecting different results.

But somehow, I just can’t let go of certain resolutions, especially writing-related ones-- goals to write higher quality pieces and more of them, seek publication in new markets, or try my hand at new projects. How about you? Have you set any writing goals for 2011? If not, may I suggest a few, to get the wheels turning?

Write a certain number of words/pages/minutes per day/week/month. Maybe Famous Author claims that the key to success is to churn out a thousand words every day before breakfast. Well, good for him. Maybe you can only write on Saturday mornings, or only on your lunch break, or only when the moon is full. Whatever your personal constraints are, plan your writing according to what works for you, not for some other writer who’s decided that a thousand words before breakfast holds some kind of magic. The point is to have a writing plan that works for you, and then get cracking.

Send out a certain number queries or proposals per month. If your goal is publication (and it’s okay if it’s not—a truth that we writers tend to forget), then vow to put your work out there regularly. You can’t control whether Dream Publisher, Inc. will accept your work, but you can control whether you sent out two queries in April and two more queries in May.

Try a new genre. Normally a novelist? Try a poem. Master of the memoir? Try futuristic fiction. The worst that could happen is you remember why you avoid futuristic fiction like the plague. The best? A whole new creative path opens up before you.

Improve your craft. Writing encompasses myriad skills to improve on. Pick one. Make 2011 the year that you expand your vocabulary, or perfect your comedic timing, or draw richer characters. Choose a favorite author and really study how he or she uses language or pacing or humor. Try to emulate it. And speaking of favorite authors . . .

Read! For many writers, reading is like breathing. But a surprising number claim they don’t have time to read. Respect your reading time, and make sure others do, too. If you have to, block out time on your calendar with, for example, “appt.. w/EBW.” Then honor that “appointment” with E. B. White as much as if he were there in the flesh, and watch the quality of your work steadily improve under his influence.

Participate in a writing or critique group. Don’t go it alone. Writing groups can inspire each other, learn from each other, and make strides toward all of the above.

Sometimes cliches become cliches because they're true! It IS a new year and a new day. So turn the page, turn a corner, turn up the volume . . . it’s time to write!