Write Like a Reporter

WRITING TIP

Recently we have been exploring how to go about writing about painful, embarrassing, agonizing, reprehensible, devastating or slightly unpleasant life experiences. I suggested you start with just one sentence. 

Maybe you are wondering with what sentence to start. Here is how to do it. Write like a reporter. . 

LAUNCHING PAD

Here are some examples:

Write one sentence about what happened. The doorbell rang at midnight.

Write one sentence about a person in your story. My mother-in-law's teeth were stained from drinking well water as a child.

Write one sentence about where you were. I awoke in my bed with a start to feel a hand gripping my throat.

Write one sentence about what you saw. Blood seeped through his fingers where he had his hand over his mouth. 

Write one sentence about something you smelled. Burning flesh has a smell you never forget. 

Write one sentence about how your body reacted. The urine trickled down my leg and puddled on Grandma's linoleum floor.

Well, hey, if you weren't feeling depressed before, surely you are now. These are extreme examples. Yet, they are all things that writers I know have written about. Not only did the writers survive, they say they felt better for having done the writing.

The fact is, we all suffer pain in our lives. I sincerely hope yours is not the depth of pain that these sentences would indicate. Whether your pain is extreme or mild, you can write about it. Write like a reporter. Write the facts of the situation. One sentence at a time.

For more supremely useful information about memoir or life story writing, visit There's An Angel In Your Inkwell.

See you there. Meanwhile, feel free to post your comments or "one sentences" in the Comments section.

Scroll to the bottom of this post and click on the f Facebook icon to Share the blog on Facebook.

Chocolate Inkwell 

After writing something emotionally difficult, I know I am ready for some lighthearted chocolate. This is an easy-no-bake recipe that children can help make. Nothing puts life into perspective like children and chocolate.

This recipe is from ThinkArete.

Photo courtesy of ThinkArete

No Bake S’more Cake

prep time: 15 minutes
chill time: 2-3 hours before serving 
servings: 20 

Ingredients:

• 1 box graham crackers
• 2 tubs of marshmallow creme 7 oz.  (Inexpensive generic brand is fine.)
• 1 tub of cool whip (not frozen.. let sit out 15 minutes
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1 bag of semi sweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup of heavy whipping cream
• 1 tsp. salt

Step 1
Mix your marshmallow creme with the cool whip until smooth and creamy, use a hand mixer or counter mixer to mix the marshmallow and cool whip once it’s smooth and creamy add your vanilla and mix again.

Step2
Line the bottom of a 9 x 13 casserole baking dish with some graham crackers

 Spread one-third of the marshmallow whip evenly over the graham crackers

(repeat this step, cookies and marshmallow whip)

Step 3
Over medium low heat melt chips and cream until smooth, keep stirring and once the chocolate is completely melted and the 2 ingredients are well combined turn heat off. add salt and about every 5 minutes whisk the chocolate, for about 5-20 minutes

Step 4
Add it over the top and put uncovered in the freezer for about 30 minutes.

Removed from freezer covered and put in the fridge over night until ready to serve.

For more supremely useful information about memoir or life story writing, visit There's An Angel In Your Inkwell.

See you there. Meanwhile, feel free to post your comments or "one sentences" in the Comments section.

Scroll to the bottom of this post and click on the f Facebook icon to Share the blog on Facebook.

All rights reserved 2014 There's An Angel In Your Inkwell®

What Comes After Rule One

WRITING TIP

In response to a recent email and a couple of phone calls and the conversation at a recent writers group meeting, I am writing about overcoming the fear of writing about painful life events.

After all, pain is pain. Who wants it? The first time was bad enough. Why relive it? But, still, somehow, you feel those painful parts must be included for your memoir or life story to be complete.

Last week, I wrote that Rule One is You Make the Rules.

What comes next?

That's it. That is the end of the rules.

But here is something you can try. Write like a morning glory.

Morning brings a full, vibrant bloom.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

A few hours pass and the flower begins to close.

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia

We still love the morning glory, don't we, even though it doesn't bloom all day?

Photo by Carol Newman

One bloom, another, another, and soon they make a beautiful display on a wall or fence.

You can do the same with your stories. Don't think about blooming all day. Don't think about writing the entire terrible event. Write a little today. Write a little tomorrow. It's okay to fade after writing a bit. Tomorrow you can write again.

Recently I suggested you start with just one sentence. Maybe you are still thinking that is too painful or wondering with what sentence to start. Next time I have a suggestion about that.

LAUNCHING PAD 

Meanwhile, See What Others Say about writing about painful events in their lives. Reading is often the best Launching Pad into your own writing. You may find their observations so inspiring you will be eager to start. 

Your comments and questions are welcome. Let us know how the writing goes.

I will see you back here in a few days. 

Chocolate Inkwell

You know my friend, Judy, who supplies many of the wonderful chocolate recipes here? Yes? Well, today's recipe is from Judy -- in an indirect way. And it is a recipe in an indirect way. 

Chocolate for your Brain is a humor column that focuses on parenting, the unique struggles of raising a large family in the modern age and other absurdities of modern life. 

It is written by Judy's college roommate's daughter. (I believe I have that connection correct.) 

We all need a "recipe" for the "absurdities of modern life." And, these recipes are waistline friendly. Enjoy. 

All rights reserved 2014 There's An Angel In Your Inkwell®

You Make the Rules

WRITING TIP

In the writers group a few days ago we were talking about a recent blog post here -- .Are You Upside Down in Your Writing?

Everyone was interested in talking more about the problem of how to write about painful areas of their lives. We will be talking more about it in our meetings and in these blog posts.

Wherever we go, there are rules.

Photo by Carol Newman

So writers think there should be rules for writing, too; and, of course, there are rules.

But the first and most important rule of writing memoir or life story is this: you make the rules.

If an incident is too painful or too embarrassing or incriminating, you are not required to write about it. You decide how to shape your story.

That said, keep in mind that even fairy tales, even Walt Disney movies, even animated cartoons involve some kind of struggle, some kind of failure to be overcome.

But, you get to decide how much detail and how much space you allow for those incidents. If you want to give your mean mother-in-law only one line in your entire story, that is up to you. If you want to devote a chapter or the entire book to your addiction, that is up to you. Maybe you lost a loved one. How much detail and space do you want to give that part of your story? It is up to you. You make the rules.

Now that you are in charge -- start writing.

Uh-oh, you may soon need to revisit the information in Are You Upside Down in Your Writing?

Get comfortable with this in your mind and we will move on to getting words on paper.

CHOCOLATE INKWELL  

Today's recipe is from Trisha Yearwood, but the image is from  Pale Yellow. Trisha Yearwood's version of this popular recipe does not call for broken pretzels on top, but I like the pretzel topping. Helps identify what to expect with the first bite.

No-Bake Chocolate Pretzel Squares

Ingredients

1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) butter, melted
2 cups pretzel rods, crushed into crumbs
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup plus 1/4 cup smooth peanut butter
1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips

Directions

In a medium bowl, add the melted butter, pretzel crumbs, confectioners' sugar and 1 cup of the peanut butter and stir together until well combined. Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of an ungreased 9-by-13-by-2-inch baking dish. Combine the chocolate chips and the remaining 1/4 cup peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until the chocolate and peanut butter are melted and smooth; two intervals should be enough. Mix to blend, then spread over the peanut butter-pretzel layer. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before cutting into squares.


Can't wait for how to write about difficult life experiences to play out here on the blog? You can order a copy of  Write Your Life Story in Eight Weeks Workbook.

See you there.

All rights reserved 2014 There's An Angel In Your Inkwell®

A Love Story for Your Writing

TRICKY TIPS 

If you are a new or inexperienced writer,or if you daydreamed about your sweetheart during English class, don't worry. From time to time I will be repeating some basic tips I wrote for the Heart of America Christian Writers Network newsletter a few years ago. Basic is basic so the information still applies. My source for the information was The Chicago Manual of Style - 15th Edition. 

Here is a little story with sentences illustrating the correct use of some tricky instances where apostrophes are required. Below the example is a sentence explaining the usage. 

Yikes! Sometimes the explanation seems so complicated it is easier to just look at the example and know that's how it is done. 

Ready? Read on!

Photo by Carol Newman
Roses a gift from Gentleman Friend, my high school sweetheart
I daydreamed away many classes, but they were mainly math classes. 

Winter is loosening its grip. Maybe warmer temperatures will bring a spring brain thaw. The Tricky Tip today is about forming possessives: where and when to put an apostrophe. (Note the word its in the sentence above does not require an apostrophe.)

Spring brings new love and, perhaps, a desire to be possessive. Consider the example of sweethearts Moe and Mimi.

The ‘80s’ biggest romantic was Moe. 

The first apostrophe has nothing to do with possessives. It indicates the numeric decade. You already knew that. The second apostrophe and its placement indicate plural possessive.

Moe wrote many love letters. A love letter of Moe’s was much desired. 

The possessive form may be preceded by of where one of several is implied.

Mimi’s longing for his letters was famous. Her longing was daily. 

A noun followed by a gerund (a verb functioning as a noun, i.e. longing) may take the possessive form in contexts where, if a pronoun were used, it would be in the possessive case (her). 

  

When Moe met Mimi, he fell so hard he thought the sun’s and earth’s gravities changed. 

Both the sun and the earth each possesses its own gravity, each is made possessive.

Their favorite meeting place was at Randy and Rita’s dock.

When referring to a single item that two subjects share, a single possessive serves.

Finally, they went into business together by forming a sweethearts’ group. They named it Sweethearts Group, Inc. and both lived happily forever. 

When a plural noun is used as an adjective, use an apostrophe. Dispense with the apostrophe only in proper names or where there is clearly no possessive meaning, and you will live happily too. .

More resources and tips can be found at http://www.angelinyourinkwell.com/index.php

All rights reserved 2014 There's An Angel In Your Inkwell®

Are You Upside Down in Your Writing?

WRITING TIP

A recent phone call and an email reminded me of a problem most writers encounter at some time. It puzzles me, but I have a couple of theories. (Of course I have theories. I am nothing if not full of opinions.)

Here is the problem: The writer begins writing her life story for her family and friends. The writer has in mind a few stories she wants to write.  She produces those stories; all is going well. The writing is fun and easy. Then something changes. She quits writing about her life or quits writing altogether.

My theory -- the writer encounters lone tree experience. Writing is mainly a solitary process. Every day the writer must decide to sit down, alone, and write the next story. As the writer examines her life, she encounters the next experience -- my second theory.

Parts of this process are going to be a rocky and uphill path. Even writing light stories for family produces self-examination and reflection. Sometimes that results in mental or emotional discomfort. The writer doesn't know what to do with these thoughts and emotions so -- she quits writing. Upside down in her writing.

How to get yourself right-side up in your writing?

Respect your creativity. Every day that you sit down to write, you are creating something brand new that only you can create.

Respect your life experience. If the memories feel uncomfortable, push yourself up that rocky trail a few steps a day. It is okay to write only one sentence. That counts. Write one more sentence the next day. And the next until you feel strong enough to write entire pages.

Respect your own sensibilities. You don't have to allow everything you write to be read. Simply writing the experience may be enough to get you back to writing. I have written  two stories from my life that I know I will never show anyone (not even Gentleman Friend). However, after writing them, I felt stronger and more able to move on with more writing.

Respect the writing process.Writing takes time and energy. You notice the photo above is not a picture of a "walk in the park".

Respect the result. If you stick with it, I promise you will feel your life affirmed.And, as you look back at the significance of what you have completed, you will feel you had fun. (If you don't feel good at the end, call me.)


LAUNCHING PAD

If you are stalled in your writing, look back at the last thing you wrote or at any of your stories. Re-type, or re-write in your handwriting, the last page of that piece. I mean simply copy it. (Don't worry about editing. You are in creative mode here.) And then go on and write a new sentence. And another new sentence. A new paragraph. That paragraph could continue the story or it could jump ten years ahead or back in the story. Doesn't matter, just get back on the path and get your writing right-side up.

CHOCOLATE INKWELL

Crispy Peanut Butter Balls

These yummy, easy-to-make treats (and the photo) are from Mom on Timeout. They have a special ingredient that makes them extra appealing to me -- Rice Krispies. I like peanut butter okay -- not absolutely crazy about it -- but I think the crunch in these will be just right.

Ingredients

• 2 cups crunch peanut butter
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 3 1/2 - 4 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups crispy rice cereal
• 16 oz chocolate candy coating (CandiQuik)
• 1 tsp shortening
• 1/4 cup roughly chopped salted peanuts (optional)

Instructions

1. Combine peanut butter and butter together in a large mixing bowl and mix until well combined.
2. Stir in vanilla extract.
3. Gradually add in the powdered sugar, half a cup at a time until mixture is nice and smooth and you can easily form balls.
4. Stir in crispy rice cereal.
5. Shape into 1 inch balls and refrigerate for 30 minutes on a waxed paper lined baking sheet.
6. Melt candy coating and and 1 teaspoon of shortening together in a microwave safe bowl following melting directions on package.
7. Dip the peanut butter balls into the chocolate using a toothpick.
8. Transfer to wax paper and sprinkle chopped peanuts on top immediately.
9. Let candy stand until the chocolate is firm.
10. Store in an airtight container.

If you feel your writing energy flagging, visit  http://www.angelinyourinkwell.com/index.php to find more tips and resources. 

And if you need more of a buddy to hold your hand, get the Write Your Life Story Workbook.

All photos except the recipe photo are by Carol Newman.

All rights reserved 2014 There's An Angel In Your Inkwell®