Wrestling with Writing about Living People



Photo: Google Images

SPECIAL TREAT: Today's blog post is written by Sarah E. White,  fellow life story blogger, teacher, and author of Write Your Travel Memoirs: 5 steps to transform your travel experiences into compelling essays.  Whether you are an experienced or novice writer, whether you plan to write a travel memoir or not, Sarah's book is full of concise, clear, concrete how-to. She is also a member of Association of Personal Historians a wonderful resource for life story writers. Find her blog at http://www.truestorieswelltold.wordpress.com/.

Below Sarah's post I have put up a Writing Prompt for you and, of course, the CHOCOLATE INKWELL.

Sarah and I are exchanging blog posts this week so you can find my words, It's Okay to Point, on her blog. 
 
 Wrestling with Writing about Living People


- Sarah White


I started a blog to give myself a way to stay engaged with memoir during the times when I don’t have a class in session. There’s something missing in my life—I feel it like the absence of a loved one—when I’m not engaged in teaching and learning about life writing. So January 1, 2011, I launched my blog, “True Stories Well Told.”  http://www.truestorieswelltold.wordpress.com/

It’s a place for people who read and write about real life. I’ve been publishing writing by some of my memoir students, writing prompts, book reviews, workshop tips, and of course some of my own memoir essays. The blog is fulfilling its purpose—it’s satisfying that feeling of absence in my life when I’m not teaching. Choosing stories from my own memoir to post is giving me new enthusiasm for writing about my life. In many ways, blogging is addictive.


But a problem has surfaced.


I’ve found I can’t post anything I wouldn’t want my mother to read! I haven’t even told her about the blog, but already I feel her looking over my shoulder, reading what I write. And it’s inhibiting me.


So far, I’ve stayed with posting my modest little childhood memories, to avoid dealing with whether I’m ready to go public with the stories that get darker as I get older. But soon I’ll have to decide. Hide parts of myself or accept the consequences of revealing them?


Carol, what’s your advice?
Sarah, I have advice -- did you ever doubt it? I'll post it next week.




WRITING PROMPT

I wouldn't want my mother to . . .  We're all adults here, right? Still, we have ideas of what our mothers "should" do. In a recent response to an e-mail joke I had sent, my Young Advisor replied, "I'm surprised a nice little lady like you knows what that means."  Had a moment there when I didn't know whether to feel ashamed of myself or amused at her. Settled on both. So -- what restrictions do you mentally impose on your particular mother -- or mothers in general? What is a mother to do? Who is a mother to be?

CHOCOLATE INKWELL


There is still time to whip up a healthful, low-fat chocolate Valentine's Day treat if you use this recipe from http://www.hungry-girl.com/. Three ingredients. Go for four ingredients and slap some Dove heart-shaped chocolates or cinnamon candies on top. No frosting necessary. Recipe notes say this produces a velvety brownie-cake hybrid.


One 18.25 oz. box moist-style devil's food (or other) cake mix (such as Betty Crocker super moist)
1 cup fat-free plain Greek yogurt
1 cup water.


Preheat oven. Combine cake mix and yogurt in large bowl and add 1 cup water. Whisk thoroughly and transfer to a baking pan sprayed with nonstick spray. Bake until knife inserted into center comes out clean. (Refer to cake mix box for pan size and appropriate bake time.)

Find more Writing Tips, Writing Prompts, Resources, and Life Story Writing helps at http://www.angelinyourinkwell.com/.


Ordering information for the workbook I wrote especially for you can be found at Write Your Life Story in Eight Weeks Workbook.


Sometimes you can find me on Facebook.

All rights reserved, 2011. Carol Newman, There's An Angel In Your Inkwell®

Writing With Certainty - or Uncertainty




Pier Near San Diego, California

  WRITING TIP


In a recent Facebook response to a question about short story endings, Nancy Pickard, author of The Scent of Rain and Lightning, said she likes open endings, likes the shock and surprise.


On the other hand, a recent book discussion group found the endings of stories in Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri to be unpleasantly abrupt.


Of course, there is no one answer to what a story ending "should" be. Much depends on the reader as well as the writer. It's like this pier near San Diego. Although I loved the way the water sparkled all around it, I had no desire to walk out on the long pier to the sheer drop and be enveloped in the sparkle. Too much like walking toward "the light." You know, the one seen near death. I would feel much better about it if the tide were in and a boat was approaching.


You can guess which way I lean on the open-ended position. I don't mind finishing the story in my mind, but I want a little something to look toward. Doesn't mean I'm right. Just means I am one reader, one writer.


Which way do you lean on this question? As a reader? As a writer? Think about it as you read. Think about it as you write. Let it inform your writing.


WRITING PROMPT


Would you walk out onto the pier pictured? What have you done in your life that has been a walk into something uncertain? Now write two endings. Spell out how the uncertain event was resolved. In another ending, leave part of the story for the reader to resolve.

CHOCOLATE INKWELL

Found this recipe on the Food Network when I clicked on Valentine's Day. The recipe is from Ellie Krieger of Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger. The recipe has only three ingredients, all favorites of mine; but even if you don't like one of the ingredients (we know you like chocolate so it would be either the almonds or cherries), it is a perfect Valentine's Day treat, is easy and makes only 12 candy clusters so they'll be all gone by February 15.




Cherry Almond Chocolate Clusters


 
Ingredients


1 cup toasted almonds, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup dried cherries, coarsely chopped
6 ounces dark chocolate, finely chopped


Directions


In a medium bowl, toss together the almonds and the cherries. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper.


Melt half the chocolate in the top of a double boiler over slightly simmering water, over the lowest possible heat, stirring frequently. Make sure the water is not touching the top pan. Remove the double boiler from the heat and stir in the rest of the chocolate. Remove the top pan with the chocolate in it, gently wipe the bottom of it and set it aside for a moment. Replace the simmering water in the bottom pan with warm tap water. Put the pan of melted chocolate on top of the warm water. This will keep the chocolate at the right temperature while you make the clusters.


Stir the fruit-nut mixture into the chocolate. Spoon out heaping tablespoon-sized clusters of the chocolate mixture onto the baking sheet about 1-inch apart. Put them in the refrigerator to set for 15 minutes. Store and serve at room temperature.


Look for more writing tips, writing prompts, resources, and life story writing how-to at http://www.angelinyourinkwell.com/


Sometimes I'm on Facebook

All rights reserved 2011 Carol Newman

Write Like a Dog

Coco Doing His Writing on Solana Beach, California

WRITING TIP

This is a tip we can take from writers I heard from this past week. First, congratulations to them. Suzie let me know that she finished her 127-page life story and gave it to her sons for Christmas. Bambi wrote that her life story has been published, The Uncrushable Rose, is for sale, and she has several signings planned.

Suzie came to a class about three years ago. She is a busy woman, and while she participated and seemed mildly interested, I didn't see a burning interest in writing. However, she continued writing on her own until she had finished her project. Bambi came to a presentation I did and then came to one or two meetings of a class. She was in a big rush to write her story, but she had many other things going on in her life. I wondered if she would actually write her story or just talk her story.

Last Tuesday I was very happy to hear from both of them and enjoy their sense of accomplishment.

And then there's Paul. He answered the question about what he basks in. Actually, he took me up on the "in what do you bask" variation of the question because, as he wrote, that is "so much better than ending a sentence in in." Paul wrote about basking in his long-standing friendships with very special people he has know as he lived around the world. In writing about his friends, he did a great job of also revealing himself and various phases of his life.

And what does the photo of the dog on the beach have to do with any of this? This part-standard poodle (let's call him Coco) was playing on the beach at Solana Beach when Gentleman Friend and I were there a couple of weeks ago. He ignored his people, ignored the beach patrol that stopped nearby, ignored me as I called to him. He was intent on his run on the sand and in and out of the water. He loped in big curves, into the water and out. He galloped into deeper water and then splashed along the shallows where the water just lapped the beach. Then he reversed direction and did it all over again. He knew what he wanted to do and nothing was going to distract him. When we left, he was still galloping in and out, up and down. Focused, he stuck with it.

If we all focused on our writing as he did, I think it would be a lot more fun. Tune out everything else and let your fingers lope across that keyboard, into the shallows and deeper. I think it will feel good.

So -- what's the tip? The tip is: Stick with your writing even if it seems to be taking a long time. Stick with it.  

Thank you, Suzie, Bambi, and Paul for staying in touch. And congratulations.

WRITING PROMPT

Think back to when you were about ten years old. What did you like to do then that you have stuck with? When I did this, I was surprised to remember that I loved to take pictures with my little Brownie Hawkeye camera. A few weeds stuck in a Coke bottle, a snap of the shutter, and I had art. Also, I liked to cut pictures from magazines and make greeting cards. One of my favorites was made with the flowers cut from a Four Roses bourbon ad. And here I am, mumble mumble years later, taking pictures of flowers and making cards. What is still in your life from when you were a child?

CHOCOLATE INKWELL

I loved it when I was ten; I love it now. Chocolate. How perfect to have this recipe this week. And, you can prepare it for those you love because it is a healthier version of a familiar cookie. Found this recipe on the Dove candy Facebook page.

Dove Love Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup natural peanut butter
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup flour
1 1/2 cup pastry wheat flour
1/2 cup ground golden flax seed
1 package Dove heart shaped chocolate pieces


Directions:


Step 1: Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Cream softened butter and sugars together. Add eggs and vanilla, mix well.

Step 2: Add peanut butter to butter mixture and mix well.


Step 3: Add pastry wheat flour, flax and all purpose flour, salt and baking soda and slowly mix until all combined.


Step 4: Using a cookie scoop put cookie dough 2 inches a part or 12 balls to a cookie sheet. Pat the center of each ball down with the back of the scooper, sprinkle with sugar if you’d like and bake for about 11 min. at 350 degrees.


Step 5: While cookies are baking un-wrap the chocolate. When the cookies are done immediately put chocolate hearts in the middle of each cookie and gently press down. Cool on cookie sheet 5-10 min. then transfer to a cooling rack. Be careful to let the chocolate hearts harden before storing cookies other wise the chocolate will get smeared.

Find more great writing tips, prompts, life story writing answers, and resources at www.angelinyourinkwell.com.

Sometimes I am on Facebook.

All rights reserved, Copyright 2011

Writing Before Sundown




January sundown, La Jolla, California

 
WRITING TIP



Gentleman Friend and I had just spent a much-too-short week in La Jolla, just north of San Diego. The weather was so sunny and warm there, even the locals were giddy.


Thank goodness for the message from Sarah asking if this blog had become a victim of the cold weather. Between my holiday and California afterglow, I had not realized how many weeks had passed without a posting from me.


Donna sent a message that she feels like hibernating.


If you are feeling a little too comfortable with snuggling somewhere warm, beach or sofa with bankie, join me in vowing not to let the (sorry, I apologize for what's coming) sun go down on another week without producing some writing.


Here's the thing:  Gentleman Friend and I timed the sunsets. From the time the bottom rim of the sun touched the horizon until the sun totally disappeared was barely more than five minutes. Time's a movin', folks. We better make use of it.


In the next few weeks I will be updating the Write Your Life Story in Eight Weeks Workbook. Also, Becky asked when there would be a Second Edition of  The Prayerful Writer: A Daily Devotional That You Create so I will be working on that too. Because I have the attention span of a gnat, I have created several pages of yellow legal pad lists breaking these two projects into small tasks. The lists are scribbled and go in all directions, but the steps are listed and prioritized. If you have ever been in one of my classes, you know I believe in thinking as little as possible. Thinking only gets you bogged down.

Oh relax, you know I'm partly joking about not thinking. I do plenty of thinking, just as you do, just as all writers do. When I make those lists, I am thinking so hard I have to fortify frequently with chocolate. But when the day starts, I don't think; I check my list. It might say Make list, but at least I have an immediate plan of action.

You can use my method if it appeals to you; if it doesn't, let me know what method works for you in attacking a large project.


WRITING PROMPT


I bask in . . .  What do you bask in? Of course, the first thing we think of is sunshine, but there could be many other things. I think I would bask in having the kitchen counter free of stacks of mail. It's never happened so I can't be sure. Right now chocolate comes to mind so look below for a chocolate recipe. And before the sun sets at the end of this week, write about what you bask in (or in what you bask).


CHOCOLATE INKWELL


Let's think ahead to Valentine's Day. Wouldn't it be nice to have a millionaire in your life on Valentine's Day? Voila! Done. Here is a recipe for Millionaires. It's from my favorite cookbook, Southern Living, Our Best Recipes, Vol. Three, 1987.


Millionaires


1 (14-ounce) package caramels
3 to 4 tablespoons milk
2 cups pecan pieces
butter or margarine
1/4 (4-ounce) bar paraffin
1 (12-ounce) package semisweet chocolate morsels


Melt caramels in milk over low heat; add pecans. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto buttered waxed paper. Chill. Melt paraffin and chocolate morsels in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Dip candy into chocolate, and return to waxed paper. Chill. Yield: 3 1/2 dozen.

Find more writing tips, prompts, resources, questions and answers at http://www.angelinyourinkwell.com/.

Sometimes I am even on Facebook.

All rights reserved ,copyright 2011

Quick Fix for Blah Writing and Chocolate Crackle-Top Minis

ETC.


Tallgrass, a novel by Sandra Dallas, was lent to me by Stella. The novel's narrator is a thirteen-year-old girl in a small town in Colorado where the government opens a Japanese internment camp during World War II. That would cause enough turmoil in a small town, but then a young girl is murdered. This book gives a balanced portrayal of prejudice and fear through the eyes of compelling characters and vivid details of the 1940s. Notice how the small everyday details of how everyday life was lived bring the story to life. Useful whether you are writing life story, general nonfiction or fiction.




WRITING TIP


Quick fix for blah writing. Go to Hutchinson Dictionary of Difficult Words  I love this place. Here is how they explain it. “Do you aim to become a member of the literati, or do you wish to be a savant? Do you want to avoid being verbigerative and be succinct instead? Search the Hutchinson Dictionary of Difficult Words' A-Z index of over 13,900 difficult words to increase your vocabulary or just find out what those words really mean!”



2010 Johnson County Master Gardeners Tour



While we don't want our writing to be as overblown as this lady's "hairdo,"  we can add richness, depth, and texture to our writing by expanding our vocabulary. You may not even use the word itself. Explore the subtlety of meaning. Use those shades in your own writing.

Find more resources such as this at www.angelinyourinkwell.com/resources.

WRITING PROMPT

Write about the worst hairdo or haircut you ever had. Years ago I moved to a new city. Soon I needed a hair cut. When I emerged from the salon, my bangs were about one inch in length -- if that long. Or they seemed that way to me. Guess I was too young to realize hair grows. I cried for an hour and couldn't stand to look at myself in the mirror for weeks. Write for ten minutes about hair, what it means, how you relate to it, what you have done in the name of beauty. Let the writing rest for a few days. Revise and rewrite. Add it to your life story book or -- shape it into an essay or story and send it out for publication.


CHOCOLATE INKWELL


This recipe is lifted directly from Peggy Trowbridge Filippone's recipes on About.com.  I'm not crazy about peanut butter, but the photo that was in Peggy's newsletter looked super yummy. She writes, "The peanut butter topping crackles to reveal dark chocolate base in these delicious mini-muffins. They begin with a boxed cake mix, so they are simple to make.  These little morsels are not overly sweet as you might expect. If you want that extra sugar kick, dust the mini-muffins with powdered sugar just before serving."  © 2010 Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, licensed to About.com, Inc. Thanks, Peggy.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Crackle-top Minis


Bottom Layer:


1 package (about 18.4 ounces) devil's food cake mix
1/2 cup (1 stick or 8 Tablespoons) butter, melted but cool
1 Tablespoon water
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips


Top Layer:


1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted
6 ounces (3/4 of a large block) cream cheese, at room temperature
1 egg
Powdered sugar for dusting, optional


Preparation:


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line mini-muffin tins with papers.
In a large bowl, combine cake mix, butter, water, and eggs. Mix just until combined. Batter will be thick. Fold in chocolate chips.
In a small bowl, cream peanut butter, confectioners' sugar, and cream cheese until smooth. Add egg and mix just until incorporated.
Fill each mini-muffin paper with about 1 Tablespoon of the chocolate mix. Top with about 1 teaspoon of the peanut butter mix.


Bake for about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool on racks. Just before serving, dust mini-cups with powdered sugar.
Yield: about 60 mini-muffins


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