WWC Online Writers Festival - Free This Weekend

                            Please click this link for author, book and purchase information

Every August for the past nine years, I've attended Calgary's When Words Collide Festival for Readers and Writers. I've loved the festival's energy, learned about the writing craft and book promotion, and acquired new readers and writing connections. When this year's in-person event was cancelled due to COVID-19, the organizers decided to go online. The festival happens this weekend. It's free and open to everyone.

I wasn't sure I'd get involved with the online version of WWC until I saw the first draft of the 3-day program. The organizers invited past presenters to fill vacant spaces on the proposed panels. Several topics grabbed my interest and I was given spots on these two panels:

Ten Things I Wish I’d Known  

When you started writing, what assumptions blocked your progress, lead you down dead ends, or limited your opportunities and experiences? Panelists share their initial faulty thoughts that slowed their journey into the writing world. 

After almost 30 years of writing, I wish I knew a few more things and hope to learn them from my fellow panelists. I'm familiar with all three from past WWC festivals and they've achieved success in their widely-varied directions. Our panel will take place on Zoom, Friday, August 14, 3:00 pm. All you need to do to attend is go to the WWC website and click on the event link in the program PDF. No registration or payment required. 

Me (right hand side) on a panel at last year's WWC

My second Zoom appearance will be on Saturday, 1:00 pm, Access Denied: A panel for writers on how to handle rejections and critiques, and communicate with editors/agents/publishers,

The agent on this panel will have a lot to share. I've become an expert on this subject during the past 30 years -- but I'm still standing!

When I'm not on a panel, I'll be cruising the WWC program for other panels, presentations and activities to attend. There will be up to five choices every hour from 1:00 pm Friday, August 14th, to 5:00 pm Sunday, August 16th. A number have already caught my eye:

Meet the Mesdames of Mayhem: Fresh from their award-nominated CBC Gem documentary, meet the writers with a century of combined killing time and learn how they freshen up their crime sprees for the 21st century (Sat, 2:00 pm).

Medical Errors and Tropes: A bullet in the shoulder that doesn't hit anything important? Knock-outs without actual damage? Induced comas? What is realistic and what is not? A discussion of common medical mistakes and questions in fiction (Sat, 3:00 pm).

Plus a couple of panels on editing, which I'm in the midst of doing now for my novel-in-progress. In addition, I've requested a one-on-one Zoom meeting about developing my social media strategy.  

Two fellow BWL authors will also be involved this year.  

Nancy M Bell: Blue Pencil Café
                         Pitch Sessions
                         Editors: When Can They Help and How? (Sat 12:00:00 pm)
                         The Dos and Don’ts of Successful Pitching, (Sun 3:00:00 pm)

David Poulsen: Crime Thru Time (Sat 4:00:00 pm)
                          From the Mean Streets to the Deadly Wilderness (Sun 1:00:00 pm) 

At last year's WWC festival, David and I participated in a fun panel with two other Calgary area crime writers.  For a (virtual) taste of what you'll get this weekend, you can listen to the podcast of High Crimes in Your Own Backyard.   

Partying at a previous When Words Collide festival. This year, WWC is hosting a Virtual Pool Party

 
 

 
   

  

Don't Dis the Duc by Karla Stover

      

murder on Hood Canal   murder in Tacoma, WA.       old-fashioned Gothic

In my book, Murder, When One Isn't Enough I sent my characters on a boat trip to the Skokomish Indian Reservation. It's located in what is called Hood Canal's Great Bend, more or less across the water from Tahuya and near Potlatch State Park. In front of the reservation is Annas Bay and in the bay is the Indian Hole. When the tide goes out, boaters can let their craft float over the hole and toss their anchors up on the beach. I can't find out how deep the hole is but the beach is where I went with my family to dig geoducks.

A geoduck is a type of very large clam (the shell is 6 to 8 inches and the neck can be up to 3 feet long) native to primarily Washington State and British Columbia. According to "Wikipedia", part of the name refers to genitals. Pealing the skin off the neck is like removing a condom. When we got one--and digging them isn't easy because the neck sticks out of the sand but the body is deep down--Mom ground the meat and made chowder.

A few years ago, my niece, who worked in Washington D.C. was asked by her boss to cater a typical Puget Sound dinner. When the geoduck was delivered, the chef didn't know what to do with it and she had to call her mother and have her mom tell him how and what to do with it.

For those people who remember the TV show Dirty Jobs, Mike Rowe dug one (what the Chinese call Elephant Trunk Clams) but broke the shell--a no-no and sign of a novice. He took it to Shelton and had a restaurant chef cook it for him. Another place they showed up was in Betty McDonald's book and movie, The Egg and I. According to her biography, she was on the set when the movie was made and I don't why she let them be called gee-o-ducks when she knew the proper pronunciation is gooey ducks.

In my fiction reading, I love learning things. Author Mary Stewart did that really well--taught things, that is. I like to do the same--introduce readers to the Pacific Northwest.

Geoducks can live to be over one hundred. I like them and think they're special So did Evergreen Community College in Olympia, Washington when they became the school's mascot.

"Life's too short..."

Download Charlie's story at BWL

            Our world is made up of words. We write them, speak them, hear them, read them. We use them to describe our world, express our feelings, share experiences and expand our imaginations. How we put words together gives people some indication of our intelligence or our education; our current state of mind; our intentions.

            But because our world is made up of so many different ethnic groups and nationalities, words are distinct and certainly subject to interpretation. Whether you write or read or watch television programs, you might come across a word or phrase which is unfamiliar. A simple example: what do you call the rather long, cushioned piece of furniture in your living room? A sofa; a couch; a divan? And to add another dimension to our confusion, in what century are we talking? Is it a settee? What about that cast iron cooking pan? Did you grow up calling it a frying pan or a skillet? Have you ever known it as a spider?

            I work only in the English language. I took French in high school and Spanish in college but am fluent in neither. I spent a week in Paris one summer and after perhaps half that time, I began to understand some of the signs and words I came across but I could never begin to understand the spoken language as it is rapid and lyrical and far beyond my high school experience. I envy people who know more than one language. I enjoy reading books set in different countries because although they are written in English, there are words unique to the country of origin. Words like a lift (elevator), a boot (trunk of a car), a jumper (sweater) are so fun to read.

            What are some of your favorite words? Are they part of your culture or unique to the part of the country or world where you live? Do they have to do with your ancestors? Is it a word your grandparent always said? Are they favorites because of their definition, their spelling or their sound?

            We put words together to form sentences, thoughts or messages to impart information. From our earliest introduction to language, we learn to use words to express ourselves and to ask and answer questions about our world. We write answers to test questions and conduct serious social debates.

I want you to think about very short groups of words put together to form what we call sayings or idioms. You can find these everywhere from bumper stickers to jingles and commercial trademarks. Many of the more famous sayings can be found in Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations. From childhood we began attributing sayings such as “Honesty is the Best policy” to Abraham Lincoln or the famous “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country” to President John Kennedy. Wonderful people like Maya Angelou, Gandhi and Mother Theresa have left us a treasure trove of inspirational sayings. Even though you might not recognize its author, quite often you know and understand the saying.

Many words and sayings are used so much they become clichés. While there is nothing wrong with clichés (it’s raining cats and dogs), it is much more fun to use words that are fresh and unique.

One of my favorites is “Not all who wander are lost” which originated with J.R.R. Tolkien in The Fellowship of the Ring. Another is on the back of a tee-shirt. In a vertical row it has the days of the week – “Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday,” then across the bottom – “See, there is no Someday.” Think about it. Does it speak to you as it did me?

The same questions can be asked about sayings as we asked about words. Where did the saying come from; does it have multiple meanings depending on your ethnicity? Is there deeper meaning than what you might first read into the words?

Years ago I began using a saying on my website which I like to attribute to my new insight into my world at a time when things didn’t make sense. At that time, I wasn’t always in a good frame of mind. Two years after ending a forty year marriage, I was diagnosed with cancer and began another arduous journey. Some days I had a very hard time living this mantra, and yet most days they were the most important words I could say to myself:

“Life is too short to go through it in a bad mood.”

Think about idioms. Write down some of your favorites. Is there a pattern in what you relate to? What would your expression be based on something from your life or something you are working toward in the future? Are your sayings funny or are they related to growing and reaching new levels? Maybe they are about how to live life or something about feelings, emotions and believing.

Above my door where I read it every time I leave the house is another of my favorites:

“It’s never too late to live happily ever after.”

Barb Baldwin

http://www.authorsden.com/barbarajbaldwin

http://www.bookswelove.com/romance-authors/baldwin-barbara/

            

Did you say READ? But WHY? by J. S. Marlo

J. S. Marlo's BWL Books

I love reading. During those precious hours when I'm alone with a good book, I lose myself into the story and escape reality. It's a wonderful feeling to step into a make-believe world, and it's sad when it ends, but

some of these stories stay with you for the rest of your life.

Reading isn't just a passion I enjoy by myself, it's also a passion I share with my children and granddaughter. I read to my children when they were little, and now I read to my five-year old granddaughter. I make funny voices and it's delightful to see the expressions on her face as the story progresses. She's even started reading to me, and I can see she's enjoying the story at a new level.

We've all heard that reading was good, but what are the real benefits of reading? Well, as it turns out, they are plenty.

- Stimulate brain: reading is a good workout for your brain, it jogs your memory and helps make you smarter.

- Expand vocabulary: books teach new words, broadening your spoken and written vocabulary.

- Increase empathy: reading fiction helps readers understand what other’s are thinking by reading people’s emotions.

- Improve concentration: when you're reading, you're concentrating on one thing, so you're training your body to avoid distraction.

- Reduce stress: when you lose yourself in a story, you distance yourself from the stress of everyday life.

- Help sleep: when your mind is racing and busy worrying about a variety of things, reading for ten minutes can help push whatever is keeping you awake out of your mind.

And my favorite reason:

- It entertains! You're never alone when you're with a book.

So, what should you read? Anything you can get your hands on. There's no accounting for taste. What someone loves to read is as personal as what someone loves to eat.

But BEWARE: reading is contagious. Make sure you transmit the passion to your kids.

Happy Reading & Stay safe. Many hugs!
JS

 

J. S. Marlo's Website

Clearly Working by Eileen O'Finlan

Click here for purchase information

Click here to visit Eileen O'Finlan's website

My friend and fellow author, Jane Willan, has been renting office space at a place called Clearly Coworking to get away from all distractions so she could finish her lastest cozy mystery. Clearly Coworking offers multiple shared desk space as well as private offices and conference rooms. Mostly rented by people who would otherwise work from home, but who want to get away from distractions, it's a perfect space for professionals who need an office away from home. As it turns out, it's also a great place for writers to find a place of their own.

Jane became so enamored of the place that she got me a day pass, so I spent one Friday with her. It's only a few minutes from my house so I loved the convenience of it. When she told me the address, I also realized that it was formerly a funeral home so, of course I had to ask if it was haunted. Apparently, not. Oh well.

Interior of Clearly Coworking in Worcester, Massachusetts

We had the place mostly to ourselves as Covid has returned most of the renters to their homes. In fact, so many have pulled out that the owner has had to sell. It closed for good as Clearly Coworking on July 31st. Because it was closing, the owner generously allowed Jane to invite me to come write with her every day of the final week of July for free. It was fantastic! We spent the first part of the day writing, then around 2:00 we'd email what we'd written to each other. After reading, we'd go into one of the small conference rooms and critique each other's work. Lunch was another fun part of the day as we spent it chatting about various aspects of writing, marketing, and publishing. We also helped each other work out unruly plot lines or come up with that one missing piece that would make the story work.

I was there just long enough to fall in love with the place as well as the concept. With a full-time job, renting office space is neither affordable nor sensible for me since I wouldn't get much time to use it. However, I did come to find out a couple of very important facts:

 

1.) I could easily spend eight hours a day, every day writing and be quite happy. I am more convinced than ever that writing is my calling and that working towards becoming a full-time writer is my main goal.

2.) Having another writer as critique partner and brainstorming mate is immensely helpful.

I had already sensed both of those things to be true, but this experience cemented them for me.

Now that Clearly Coworking has closed, what will we do? Well, Jane has found another place in downtown Worcester called Idealab. She's already secured her spot. As for me, I decided to make my den/guest room into a home office/writing room. It took nearly two full days to get it set up to my liking, but now that it's done, I am enjoying the heck out of it. I used to write where ever I found a spot to set up my laptop. Now that I have a dedicated space, I've got that "room of one's own" feel and I am loving it.

As for mutual critiquing and brainstorming, Jane and I continuing to email our work to each other and meet on Zoom. Once the pandemic is finally a memory, we'll get together in person often for the same purposes. Best of all, we'll be able to reschedule the half vacation - half writing retreat trip to Vermont we were planning for this summer. Only the end of COVID-19 will dictate when that will happen, but when it does, I'll be sure to chronicle it in this blog.