KJ
Cartmell won the Honorable Mention in the Outer Space Category for his story,
“TWO
ASTRONAUTS STARGAZE AND PONDER EXISTENCE,”
which he put under his “real name,”
Kevin J. Wilson.
KJ
writes under the pen name, KJ Cartmell. His second entry, “LARA’S PROPHECY
ABOUT SADIE FALLING IN LOVE,” is in the Romance category, under that name. He
lives in Livermore, California, in the United States.
BAM:
Why don’t you tell everyone your 42-word bio?
KJ:
I write about young people in early, formative relationships. I have a BA in
English from Cal State East Bay. I am still married to my high school
sweetheart. Our daughters are grown, but they still like to hear about my
stories.
(Photo
by Savanna Taing)
BAM: Where’s your
writing space?
KJ: I write in my
home office, using a computer sitting on a little glass topped desk, but I’ve
written in cafés and on planes, trains and automobiles.
BAM: Let’s start with
an icebreaker question. What are some bands and songs you like?
KJ: All the cool
people at my high school got on the U2 bandwagon in 1983, after the release of
the War album. All the popular people at my high school got on the U2
bandwagon in 1987, after the release of The Joshua Tree, their big
hit record with many singles including “With or Without You” and “I Still
Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” I (being neither cool nor popular) got on
U2’s bandwagon in 1985 after the release of The Unforgettable Fire,
which had the single “Pride (In the Name of Love)” on it. I always thought that
was my record, one that I didn’t have to share with anyone else. Bono’s
lyrics are elusive, mysterious and poetic. The music alternates between dreamy
and driving. Listening to the title track is still a spiritual experience for
me.
BAM: That’s
relatable. I got on the U2 bandwagon because my mom went on a date with the
guitar player, and it was one of her favorite stories when I was a kid. Not the
date, just that she went on it. She never forgot the experience. When U2
played, there was always an extra gleam in her smile. She never mentioned which
guitar player, unfortunately. It was probably Dave Evans, just guessing based on the time frame, but it wasn't Bono. She
didn’t like his personality. How about another icebreaker question, one as big
as Bono’s ego? Are there any mountains that have inspired your writing?
KJ: There is a
mountain near my house, but it’s small as mountains go. I have hiked in the
Sierra Nevadas, near Yosemite. Then, there is Denali (aka Mount McKinley), the
tallest mountain in North America. It dominates the landscape, three times as
wide and tall as the peaks around it. The last time I was in Anchorage, my
guide pointed out the tip of Denali, three hundred miles away, rising up over
the edge of the horizon. The photos I took during that trip do not convey its
majesty.
BAM: The picture
you shared of the mountain was extraordinary. Okay. If my Bono joke didn’t
offend you, let’s get into your writing. Who’s your reader?
KJ: I made a
conscious choice to stop writing about war and violence, and instead to write
about love - the different forms love takes at different ages and in different
contexts. Because of that, women and girls are more receptive to my work than
are men and boys. I imagine my readers being like my daughters – smart,
inquisitive, and appreciative of my honesty and straightforwardness.
BAM: I’m sure that’s
flattering to your daughters. Tell me, what got you into writing?
KJ: One of my
earliest memories – I am sitting on my grandmother’s lap in her house in San
Carlos, California. I must be about three years old. We are at the kitchen
table together. Before me is a piece of paper and in my hand is a silver hole
punch. I am punching holes in the paper, and while I do so, I am telling her a
story. I was writing the story in an indecipherable code of hole punches. I did not decide
to be a writer. Yes, I chose to learn, hone and practice the craft, but I was always a writer, a
storyteller.
BAM: Okay. Sounds
like a good grandma. It sounds like we’re getting into inspiration of your
writing. Why don’t you tell me more about what inspires you as an author?
KJ: The athlete
rises early and goes to the gym to work out. The chess master studies for hours
to prepare for the next match. The musician practices for hours to get ready
for the next concert. The photographer goes out in the dark and freezing cold
so that they are in the perfect spot to capture the sunrise, and the deer
coming to drink from the lake. Yes, there is satisfaction in the finished
product – sinking the decisive shot, winning the match against a formidable
opponent, or creating that perfect photograph. The satisfaction that comes from
the daily grind I think is even more important.
BAM: Tell me more.
KJ: My best novel
(IMHO) is called Every Time You
Speak You Break My Heart. It sat in my head,
gestating, becoming ever more elaborate, for ten years. I finally started
writing it on July 4th, 2016. It took me about two years to complete
the draft. I had a few friends beta-read it and give feedback. I’ve revised it
multiple times since then. The last revision was in 2021. Because I feel this
one is “the best,” I’ve been reluctant to self-publish it. I want to find a
partner who can bring this story to a larger audience. I peeled off three
different scenes from the book to make short stories out of, and I’ve been
peddling those stories on Submittable for the last six years. In that time,
I’ve made twenty-one agent queries for Every
Time You Speak, while continuing to churn out other novels and
short stories.
BAM: Keep the
momentum.
KJ: The daily
grind in this case isn’t just going back to the keyboard each day to write the
next scene. I revise and edit what I’ve written, plan new material, and search
for publishing opportunities. Successes - publishing credits like this one or a
recent one I had from The Bookends
Review, or the sale of one of my books on Amazon - are few
and far between. I take satisfaction in the quality of my output, especially
when a long-contemplated scene comes out just as I had envisioned it.
BAM: Yeah? Were there any questions you think I should have asked?
KJ: Where do all
of these story ideas come from? From God? The Muses? From some unique mix of
personality and upbringing? Whatever is the cause or wellspring, I feel a sense
of responsibility to continue. It is an honor to have these ideas in my head.
The characters are as real to me as my family, friends and work colleagues. I
owe it to them to get their stories out where they can be enjoyed by others.
BAM: On where they come from.
Do you have an outline process?
KJ: Yes, I use
outlines. I’m more a plotter than a pantser, but outlining is only one step in
the creative gestation process.
BAM: What do you
mean?
KJ: This is a
common experience for writers: we’re chugging along on our project, excited,
churning out pages, when suddenly a completely different idea downloads from
our subconscious. We think, Wow, this idea is
really great! But what about my WIP? When I’m faced
with that situation, I give the new idea some thought. I run it in my head like
a movie. Sometimes, it’s just a scene. Other times, it’s a whole novel. For a
week, maybe, I play this movie in my head, adding to it, refining and focusing
it. I take notes on the idea and then get back to the work in progress. I may
go back to those notes to elaborate further, or to add snippets of dialogue,
but the current project has priority, and I always return to it.
BAM: Yeah?
KJ: By the time I
finish that current project, I might have two or three new ideas in notes, plus
all the ones from previous years. I read through them and judge which one is
the most interesting, compelling, or commercially viable. For the best ones, I
write an outline.
BAM: Can you
elaborate?
KJ: For
outlining, I use spreadsheets. I love having perfectly straight lines and
columns to work with. I have a column for the chapter number and a wider column
for the notes of the scene. I’ll put #1 for the first chapter, but after that,
I’ll leave the column blank until I’m actually writing. I put downall my ideas
for how I think this story will go. I use the same process for short stories as
I do for novels. Not every outline becomes a novel, but you can’t advance to
the front of the idea queue until you have an outline.
BAM: Okay.
KJ: When I’m
drafting the novel, I go down the outline and write each scene. I highlight in
yellow the current scene I’m working on. When I finish it, I mark it green. It
gives me great satisfaction to see all those green bars as the novel gets
closer and closer to completion. Some chapters involve two or three lines of
notes. Other times, one line of notes becomes a whole chapter, or even two
chapters.
BAM: Makes sense.
What else?
KJ: This outline
is never set in stone. That’s the beauty of spreadsheets. I can insert new
ideas, add chapters, move scenes around, and everything stays neat and tidy.
With novels particularly, there are gaps to fill that I don’t know are there
until I reach them. Oh no! what do I
put here? I come up with the idea, insert a new row into the
outline and slide the idea right into the gap.
BAM: Tell me about
your current projects.
KJ: I’ve been
writing a series for this fanfiction site, fanfictalk. The latest book in the
series had a weak, underdeveloped outline. I ended up re-working the whole outline
while I was writing the novel. Only a few of the original ideas made it into
the book. The rest was new, but each new idea went into the outline before I
wrote the scene. It was as close as I come to “pantsing” my way through a book.
Travis Garner was the
42 Stories Anthology Presents: Book of 422 Runner Up Award Winner in
the Parent Chapter for TALES MY MOM, A WIDOW, WEAVED ABOUT MY DAD
Video Vlog
He also has a story under F. N. Doore-Locke in the Trapped
Chapter.
Biography
Travis Garner is a Canadian writer who has lived everywhere
from Vietnam to Germany. When he isn't writing, he enjoys rock climbing and
yoga. His stories have been published by Liars’ League NYC and Cheeze und
Krackers e-zine. Read more at travisgarner.ca.
BAM: Where are you, Travis?
Travis: Berlin, Germany
(from freepik.com)
BAM: Really? I went there in 2017 during New Year’s
Eve. My friend and I walked from Brandenburg Gate to Victoria something or other, watching
fireworks everywhere. For me, it was amazing and fun. My friend, however, was
freaking out and blaming it on PTSD. One of the best ways to celebrate New
Years, in my opinion, is in Berlin. Anyway, where is your writing space?
Travis: Usually at the desk in my bedroom
BAM: Okay. Let’s get into your writing. Who do you
write to when you picture your reader, or who is your target audience? Travis: People close to me. My friends and family. I like imaging that
the people I like enjoy something I created.
BAM: What a wonderful and kind response. The fact
that you won an award in the parent chapter is quite appropriate, then. I hope the
people you write to appreciate your work. What got you into writing?
Travis: Reading amazing stories and
wanting to create that same experience for others.
BAM: Yeah, I remember reading Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker’s
Guide to the Galaxy for the first time and thinking something similar. On that
note, what deceased or living writer do you want to meet? Travis: I already met him briefly at a conference, but I would love to
have a long conversation with Brandon Sanderson. No writer has taught me more
about the craft of writing than he has, and I think his writing-insights are
always spot on.
BAM: Conferences are great ways to meet authors. I’ve
gotten some great advice and made long-lasting friendships through those. Okay,
let’s switch gears to editing. Do you edit alone, have a friend read your work,
or do you hire a professional editor?
Travis: I usually edit the first several
drafts myself until it feels pretty polished. After that, it’s helpful to have
a friend look it over and give insights that never would have occurred to me.
BAM: You mentioned several drafts. Tell me about your
outline process.
Travis: The more I write, the more I learn about my
outlining process. And for me, outlining is about as inefficient as possible. I
start with a general shape of the story in my mind and write a basic road map,
which is basically just specific story moments that I want to hit along the
way.
BAM: Oh. What else?
Travis: I don’t do much in the way of character or
world building. I usually have a very basic idea of the world and the most
important characters, but I don’t really know who is going to be important yet.
I don’t know what aspects of the world need to be developed. I don’t even the
exact personalities the main characters need to have for the story to unfold
the way that I want it to. At this point, the characters are more or less just
stereotypes, like “strict father” or “cheerful teacher”.
BAM: Sometimes, the characters tell you about them as
you write, and they grow from there. What do you do next?
Travis: I then write a first draft. This is a chance
for me to see what direction the story wants to go. I ask a lot of questions
while writing the general first draft, such as:
·Who do the characters need
to be to meet the desired story moments?
·As the story progresses, do
those story moments still make sense?
·What scenes do I need to
create to surround the story moments for them to have the desired emotional
impact?
·Do I need to add new
characters? Or locations? Or remove characters I previously thought would be
important?
Once I have the first draft (which takes me a long time to
get through), I then have a much better idea of what the story actually is. I
can then re-work the outline, knowing better who the characters need to be to
tell the story that I want to tell.
BAM: And then?
Travis: The next draft usually goes a lot more
smoothly.
BAM: Sounds structured with flexibility. There’s got
to be points in all of that drafting where you get writer's block. How do you
overcome it? Travis: Just keep
writing. That’s the most important thing.
BAM: Yeah? Travis: If I let my writer’s block keep me from writing, then my routine
is broken; I lose momentum. And that makes it very difficult to start again.
BAM: Okay.
Travis: Writer’s block can have a lot of
causes, I think.
BAM: Agreed. What’s that mean to you?
Travis: Sometimes I’ve hit either a wall
or a hole – a problem - in the story that I don’t know how to solve. The
perfectionist in me doesn’t want to put anything down on paper until I have the
perfect solution. But if I let solving the problem keep me from writing – even
just for a day or two - then I lose all momentum. It becomes very difficult to
start back up again. Better to keep pushing through and making progress, even
if it means ignoring the problem for now. I can always come back and fix it
later.
BAM: Good to stay positive. What else?
Travis: Other times, writer’s block
manifests as me simply feeling uninspired or un-motivated to write. If I let
that keep me from writing for too long, then I soon lose interest in the story.
Sometimes you just have to show up. Even if I don’t particularly feel like
writing, making a little bit of progress, even just a couple hundred words can
often help to re-inspire me.
BAM: That’s great.
Travis: But if I let myself lose moment,
then usually, that means the writer’s block wins.
LindaAnn LoSchiavo,
Special Guest Judge of the War chapter
Biography
Native New Yorker and Elgin Award winner LindaAnn LoSchiavo
released three new books in 2024: “Apprenticed to the Night,” “Always Haunted:
Hallowe’en Poems,” and “Felones de Se: Poems about Suicide.” Her memberships
include British Fantasy Society, HWA, SFPA, and The Dramatists Guild.
BAM: Where are you located, LindaAnn?
LindaAnn: Greenwich Village, New York, NY
BAM: Specifically, where’s your writing space?
LindaAnn: home is where the Siamese cats are.
BAM: Let’s start with some icebreaker questions. Tell
me about yourself.
LindaAnn: I’m a vegetarian who dotes on fruits,
legumes, dark-skinned vegetables, and cashew nuts. Sugarless licorice from
Australia and Grether’s pastilles are my favorite sweets.
Favorite poets are Molly Peacock, Richard Wilbur, Gjertrud Schnackenberg, and Sarah
Hannah.
I don’t own a TV but when I go out to watch a film, it’s likely I’ll choose a
documentary.
BAM: Okay, I’ll try a random question on you. What’s
the best animal on earth?
LindaAnn: The best animal on earth is the Siamese cat
because they have a higher intelligence than other feline breeds, love to be
trained and please their owners.
BAM: Unique answer. Coffee or tea or something else?
LindaAnn: COFFEE!
BAM: Me, too, but only in the morning unless I want
to get lectured by my partner. She’s very health conscious. How do you relax? LindaAnn: I type the writing I have done in long-hand.
Also, I have a massive indoor garden I like to fuss with.
BAM: Who is the author you vehemently
hate, and why? LindaAnn: Sharon Olds, a shallow, boring poet who just happened to get
lucky.
BAM: On writing, do you have a writer circle? LindaAnn: I used to run a speculative poetry critique group. It was
valuable and even produced a collaborative poetry book, but I had to bow out
after 3 years.
BAM: Busy with other obligations, most likely.
LindaAnn, is there something you passionately want the human race to stop doing,
which you might be subtle about in your writing? LindaAnn: Yes. The trend is towards eliminating the middle class as well
as affordable housing. The lack of affordable housing guarantees one outcome:
an increase in homelessness. I wish I had enough money to personally ensure
there is no more homelessness – at least in my city, New York City.
BAM: True. The system is not middle-class friendly. So,
tell me, what’s the best way to write? LindaAnn: To be fired up about the topic.
BAM: You’ve worked hard on your topics. What's your
greatest achievement in writing? LindaAnn: Though I don’t feel I’ve reached it yet, having three
different publishers releasing three of my poetry books in 2024 is no small
feat.
BAM: Once achieved, it’ll be an amazing achievement. So,
tell me, what got you into writing? LindaAnn: When I was 3 years old, I hated reading Hallmark cards aloud
to my family, with their stupid rhymes and absurd sentiments, so I started my
own greeting card business with my aunt, an illustrator. Also, I had been taken
to Broadway theatres a lot, and so I had my first play onstage in NYC when I was
9 years old. Both ventures gave me a keen sense of what pleases an audience.
BAM: Was that when did you realized you liked
writing? Why? LindaAnn: At age 3 -- because our homemade greeting cards were praised
and appreciated.
BAM: I’ll bet some people still have copies of your
original cards. Tell me about your writing process. While writing, do you play
music, or watch shows/movies?
LindaAnn: NO.
BAM: All-righty. Is anyone in your family a writer?
If yes, who?
LindaAnn: NO.
BAM: On drafting, what’s the most you’ve gone
through? LindaAnn: For my stage play “Courting Mae West,” I wrote 19 drafts.
BAM: Are there any specific works of yours that you
think someone should start off with?
LindaAnn: A reader who likes Hallowe’en will enjoy my
fully illustrated book “Always Haunted: Hallowe’en Poems” [Wild-Ink Publishing,
2024] and “Messengers of the Macabre: Hallowe’en Poems” [Audience Askew, 2022]
- - and both can be found on Amazon in paperback or Kindle.
BAM: Could you tell me about how you organize writing
in your life? LindaAnn: This method works for me. I will rarely write a stand-alone
poem nor respond to an off-the-wall “writing prompt” for a contest. Instead, I stay
focused by always having a few themes in mind. Consequently, each new poem will
be a building block in my next book. Right now I am working on a collection
about true crimes and a speculative poetry collection on the werewolf.
BAM: What was the first story you ever wrote about, and was it published?
Elaborate.
LindaAnn: While in high school, I was in a creative
writing class and a staff member of the school’s literary magazine. I wrote a
lot of forgettable stories, and they made it into print. But then I became
seriously ill (at age 15) and I was hospitalized.My parents pre-signed all the medical paperwork
so they wouldn’t have to come and visit me.I had almost no visitors, which made me cry during visiting hours
because everyone else in the ward had numerous family members who stopped by
daily, bringing the patient snacks, balloons, stuffed animals, and flowers. My
stupid teenage boyfriend used the excuse he wasn’t visiting me because he “didn’t
like hospitals.”Naturally, I got rid of
him when I recuperated.
BAM: Really. What happened next?
LindaAnn: Anyway, the hospital volunteers, The Candy
Stripers, and the nurses took turns visiting me.Invariably, the nurses were Hispanic
immigrants who were living in bad neighborhoods, and they had seen it all.These conversations “wised me up” and my next
short story “No Way Out” was about drug addiction.
BAM: Oh. LindaAnn: It won my high school’s gold medal for Literary Achievement,
and I walked onstage to accept it.
BAM: Quite an achievement. LindaAnn: Years before, at age 9, I began having my one-act plays
onstage in NYC and I thought of myself as a poet and a dramatist. Now I was an
award-winning writer.
BAM: Keep it up. Thank you for your time with this
interview. As a sendoff, would you like to include a personal message to the
authors of the chapter that you read?
LindaAnn: I selected the section on WAR because I
feel this is an important topic.
Though a few authors treated the theme playfully, most of
you addressed the topic with gravity, focused on the physical dangers, the
munitions, the loss of life.
As you did in 42 words, I have also incorporated these themes into my work.
Recently, my two war sonnets "Mekong Delta" and "The Wall,
Washington, D.C." were published in the journal Vietnam War Poetry, Summer
2024 issue, on June 25, 2024; LINK: http://www.vietnamwarpoetry.com/lindaann-loschiavo.html
Social Media:
Twitter: @Mae_Westside
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/LindaAnn-LoSchiavo/author/B084WSGD5K?
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/18972725.LindaAnn_LoSchiavo
LindaAnn LoSchiavo released three new books in 2024:
“Apprenticed to the Night” (UniVerse Press, 2024);
“Always Haunted: Hallowe’en Poems” (Wild Ink Publishing, 2024);
and “Felones de Se: Poems about Suicide”(Ukiyoto Publishing, 2024).
"Always Haunted: Hallowe'en Poems" can be read for free here:
Becky Benishek won
the Runner Up Award in the Myth chapter for
THE BROTHER OF THE
MOIRAI SITS IN THE CORNER
Biography
Becky Benishek has authored several children’s books, including
“The Squeezor is Coming!” and "Dr. Guinea Pig George," and
contributes to science fiction anthologies. She’s also published articles in
academic publications. Becky has a BA in English and manages online community
spaces.
BAM: Where are you, Becky?
Becky: I hail from the United States.
BAM: Oh? I’ve been in Japan for ten years. It’s funny
how you answered that way. I had to fight to get teachers to let me say I was
from Texas, and not just the United States when I moved here. Okay, let's get more specific. Where’s your writingspace?
Becky: Home! This can mean typing at my desk, curled
up awkwardly in a chair with pen and paper, or sitting outside in the garden,
which feels like a sanctuary.
BAM: Sounds relaxing. I wonder how you stay awake to
write when you’re curled up. Let’s get to an icebreaker question. Who are some
of your favorite authors?
Becky: I love Terry Pratchett, C.S. Forester, Becky Chambers, Mary Stewart, Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle (as a writing duo), Tamora Pierce; it's terribly hard to share only a few!
BAM: Some talented names there. I’ve read tons of
Pratchett, too. Are you an art connoisseur? Or at least like any particular
artists and paintings?
Becky: I am deeply enchanted by Maxfield Parrish – vibrant scenes with depth and beauty you can feel. Michael Whelan – fantastical, evocative, richly hued. And Ruth Sanderson – lavish, tactile, mythical, surreal.
BAM: All of the artists you mentioned use elements of
real blended with fantasy in their works. I wonder if they inspired you at all.
On that note, when did you realize you liked
writing?
Becky: It seems to have always been a part of me; I
have no memory of learning to write stories – though I do of learning to make
letters! (My handwriting was abysmal.) I still have the stories I wrote when I
was in elementary school, along with my first poem.
It really goes beyond mere liking. It’s more like the breath
of life.
BAM: Maybe it’s genetic. Is anyone in your family a writer?
Becky: Yes, my dad (RIP), who for many years was an award-winning
music historian. Because of him, I experienced a richly interwoven tapestry of
music. Classical, rhythm’n’blues, opera, country, heavy metal, punk, musicals –
and beyond. But rhythm’n’blues was his especial favorite. Read about him here: https://beckybenishek.com/2021/10/17/remembering-my-dad-peter-grendysa/
BAM: I read the link. Thank you for sharing. Definitely
recommend others do so as well. Your dad had quite a life from the sounds of it.
What stuck out to me was the picture at the end. Very touching. Similarly, my
dad was a writer, too, and he knew more about jazz than anyone else on earth. The
final poem he wrote before his passing can be found in the Poetic Prose chapter
of the anthology. I hope you’ll give it a read when the book is released in
November. Search for Jim Michael Mullin’s story if you’re interested.
Becky: I'm so glad you have that poem; what a lovely, living memory. I look forward to reading it.
BAM: That's kind of you. Okay, let's focus on an important writer topic now. Becky, how do you handle story rejection,
and celebrate acceptance?
Becky: You definitely need a thick skin.
Believe in yourself, your dream, and your words. This is not to say you should
not accept constructive criticism – or that you shouldn’t get your work edited!
But try not to let a rejection of your story idea or manuscript take you down a
dark path. I know, it feels like a part of you yourself was rejected, not just
words on a screen. Try instead to understand how exceedingly subjective this
business is, keep dreaming, and above all, keep writing.
BAM: Yeah?
Becky: Yep! That’s what I do, anyway.
BAM: Tell me more about that.
Becky: So along with continuing to write, you can choose to self-publish or submit to agents and publishers. When your work is accepted - whether by that agent you've been hoping for, or directly by readers with sales and reviews, go ahead and feel that joy, celebrate it! You’ve earned it.
BAM: True.
Becky: But also keep a clear head. For example, if you've got a contract in front of you, read the entire thing! Make sure you retain copyright. You can even get a lawyer to look over it. Even if you don't, think ahead to the next steps. Ask questions about everything, even if you think you should already know it. You have to protect your best asset: Yourself.
BAM: Very encouraging. So, how about this, if you
could inspire thousands of writers in 42 words, what would you write?
Becky: Don’t stress over writing to a daily word
count. Just write something whenever you can. You won’t like everything you
write, and that’s okay. Writers have editors for a reason. And it gets easier.
It gets better. May good fortune find you!
Nick DiChario won the
Science Fiction Story of Excellence Award for
LOST SODA BOTTLE
FINDS LOVE WAY OUT IN SPACE
(from freepik.com)
Biography
Nick DiChario’s lucky number is 42 + 2. He’s written many stories of science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, and oddball stuff. He’s written short stories, long stories, and flash fiction. But this is his first story (and bio) of exactly 42 words.
BAM: So, Nick, where are you now?
Nick: I live in Rochester, New York, the city where I was born and raised, although I moved away for a while. I spent about ten years in St. Pete, Florida, a spectacularly gorgeous city. I loved it there, but I returned to Rochester in 2020. There’s no place like home.
BAM: Good. In a few years, I plan on moving to New York from Japan. I'll ask you more about New York later. So, where is your writing space, home, café, your desk?
Nick: Home. I need my creature comforts. My old desk, my favorite coffee, my best snacks, and so on. I’m a homebody at heart.
BAM: Mostly the same for me, too. How about an icebreaker question? Do you drink coffee,
tea, or something else?
Nick: I’m definitely a coffee person. I never tire of
trying different beans. I love it when I discover new ones. I always drink my
coffee straight-up black. I don’t like flavored brews, which are sins against
nature in my opinion. Shoutout to my hometown roasters, who have produced some
of my all-time favorite coffees.
(from Adobe Fire)
BAM: It sounds like you’re big into
community. On that note, do you have a writer circle?
Nick: I love being in the company of other creative
people. I’m in a writers’ support group and a manuscript critique group. Both
have helped me focus and write through all the ups and downs of my career.
Plus, I’ve met warm, kind, and loving people in these groups who have become
life-long friends.
BAM: That’s great how you maintained such friendships
through your writing. So, tell me, then, what got you into the craft initially?
Nick: As a boy, I used to go to the public library
and read all the science fiction and fantasy anthologies I could get my hands
on. I loved the shocking new worlds and ideas they introduced me to. It’s hard
to explain the rush I felt when a story captured my imagination and kidnapped
me from the real world. It was magic to me back then, and it made me want to be
a magician.
BAM: Never thought about writers as magicians of
words. Great way to think about the craft. You must come from a creative
family. Any of them writers, too?
Nick: Funny thing. I’m the only one in my family who
became a writer. I don’t think anyone else ever wanted to be one or even
thought about it. When I say family, I mean everyone, not just my immediate
family, but aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc., in the three
generations known to me. I like to think that an ancestor in my distant past
was a storyteller and passed it on to me. I also like to think that I’ll do the
same for some unsuspecting soul in the future. I’ve carried the torch for my
family for a long time. I hope to pass it on someday.
BAM: Hope you get to fulfill such a goal soon and
indeed pass it on. Too many people rely on machines to do everything, even
writing. So, we need more dedicated writers such as yourself in the world. With
this in mind, could you tell me about how you organize writing in your life?
Nick: This question always interests me. So few
writers I know make a living writing full-time, so organizing can be a real necessity
and a problem. Most of us must balance work, family, the day-to-day demands of living
our lives, and the complications of being human, all while trying to find time
to write. Sometimes, even when we manage to carve out a few precious moments,
we don’t have the energy, the muse fails us, or what we write isn’t any good. There
are no easy answers. Everyone is different. But those who have a passion for creative
writing will find a way. My way won’t work for anyone else. It doesn’t even
make sense to me. I don’t organize. Not really. I can’t. I’m constantly
searching for stories. I search for ideas every day, and in everything I do. If
a story idea reveals itself to me, I let it heat up inside my brain and bake there
until it’s well-cooked. Sometimes, when it’s good and ready, a fully formed story
will come out of the oven, and sometimes it won’t. I think this works for me
because I’ve never quit on it. Even if it doesn’t always work, I trust that it
will eventually. If not the next time, then the next, or the next. And if there
comes a day when the oven is empty, I guess that’s the day I’m no longer a
writer.
BAM: Well said. I’m sure you could inspire others, why
don’t you tell me 42 words to motivate other writers?
Nick: Unplug your television set. Stop streaming. Give
up social media. Spend that time reading, writing, and talking to people. See
if that improves your health and your life. You’ll be amazed at how clean and bright
you’ll feel. How open. How free.
You can watch Nick read his award-winning story here and on my YouTube channel here.
Alice H. Murray, Honorable Mention Award Winner in the Parent Chapter for
A GOOD MOTHER’S GIVING AND GRIEVING HEART
As follows is a very slightly modified version of the video interview with Alice. The video interview will be posted here and on YouTube on my channel here at a later date https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu094SF0fOq2ncqHtahE2Yg
Video Version:
BAM:
Welcome to the latest edition of 42 Stories Anthology Presents. I'm your host,
BAM, and we have one of our award winners with us tonight. Let's welcome
Alice.
Alice:
Hello, I'm glad to be with you today. I always love to talk about my creative
work.
BAM:
That's great, because I have some creative questions for you.
Alice: All
right.
BAM: So
the award mentioned was, um, why don't you tell us about the story?
Alice:
Sure. Uh, just by way of background, I spent my profession as being an
attorney, um, and not just any attorney. I did baby placements for adoptions.
So I drew on my experience from that because sometimes people have a very
negative view of someone placing a child for adoption. That's, that's not
fiction. I saw it time and time again. Adoption is a passion of mine. I want
people to understand it. It's a loving choice.
BAM:
Yeah. Well, according to your bio, you've been an attorney and writer as a
passion and well you handle private, domestic, non-relative baby and infant
adoptions. That's all been in Florida, and for over 35 years. So, you're an award-winning
published writer, pens a weekly blog, and faith column, and you see stories
everywhere. It shows in the story of yours in Book of 42², that you took something real, and you made it into a
great story. Tell me about that process.
Alice:
Yeah. People ask me, where do you get your ideas? And I'm like, well, just keep
your eyes open. I was driving down the road and saw all these orange coins next
to cones in the road and a story came out of that. I mean, just keep your eyes
open and think, what does this mean?
BAM:
Yeah, Hemingway did that, too, and he would push writers to do it, as well, and
it's great to see writers doing just that, you know? Where are you located? I
think Florida.
Alice: Yes,
I am well. I say that I live in L. A., which is Lower Alabama. I'm in the
Florida area. Florida Panhandle, which is right underneath Alabama. So, I'm
nowhere near Disney World. People say Florida and think, "Oh, you go to
Disney World." I'm like, "No, that's in a different time zone." The
Florida Panhandle is in the Central Time Zone, not the Eastern. So that's where
I am. I'm in a little place called Niceville. You can joke about it, but it
really is nice. Very close to Destin, which is a very famous resort and yes,
we're in the area. We're close to Panama City Beach. So we have sharks out
there. So I avoid them.
BAM: Say
what you will about Panama City Beach, but I'll always have my memory from
taking a camping trip to St. Andrews for a weekend. I spent three days there
writing, and it was some of the best writing time I've ever had. It's beautiful
here.
Alice: It's
just beautiful. Yeah, it's called the Emerald Coast along here because the
water is so green and it has sugar white sand beaches. So I'm very blessed to
be able to live here. I know some people have to come a long way or pay a lot
to come here and it's my backyard.
BAM: One
of the top most beautiful beaches I've seen and I've been to Costa Rica and
lived in Japan and been to many islands and still that beach sticks out as
great. It's so gorgeous. But, about your writing space. Where's that?
Alice:
Well, I retired from doing my adoption work after 35 years of doing adoptions.
So I'm at home now. I work from home. I do some remote work for a publisher,
doing copyright applications and getting ISBNs and proofing books. But I have a
home office. I work at home. I'm an introvert, so that's great. And the way my
writing style is, it's wonderful to be here without distractions. So I'm at
home. You can see behind me, this is my home office slash second bedroom and
it's very quiet for right now because all the animals are asleep.
BAM: How
many animals are there?
Alice:
Well, I have a Hemingway cat. So Hemingway was famous for having the six
toed cats. And I have one. Her name's Mocha. She tries to inspire me by walking
across my laptop. I have a dog, which is a Dab. I came up with that name. It's
a cross between a dachshund and a lab. Don't ask me how that happened,
but we have a dab. Then I've been keeping my daughter's dog. He's a huge fluff
ball. He's 136-pound Great Pyrenees Australian Shepherd mix. So, plenty of
inspiration from the animals.
BAM:
Yeah, animals can be really inspiring. Oh, about inspiration, does, any music
or movies inspire you as a writer?
Alice:
Well, I don't think movies or music inspire me, but I can draw on a song. Paul
Simon's “Sound of Silence”. I like silence when I write. That inspires me
because I'm in my own little writer world and I have to focus on my thoughts.
To me, listening to music or anything while I'm writing is just, just too
distracting. So I like to be totally focused and you know, in the groove. So
it's usually very still. I'm glad my husband works and I'm in his house. It's
awfully quiet unless the dogs want out.
BAM:
That's relatable. Yeah, but, I'd like to get into your writing process.
What's something that you'd like for the human race to stop doing that might
appear in your writing?
Alice:
Well, I draw on my upbringing. My mom had many pithy sayings that she'd share
with us all the time, and of course we listen to her and roll our eyes. But now
that I'm an adult, I see the value in a lot of things she said, and especially
today, the one that sticks in my mind. my mother would say, if you can't say
anything nice, don't say anything at all. And especially in the United States
right now, everything's so divisive. You know, we've got this neck and
neck presidential race. Everybody can't agree on the color of the sky. And when
you disagree, it's usually ugly. You know, you say ugly things, you demean the
other person, they're an idiot for thinking that. If my mother were still
alive, she would just be shaking her head. And another thing she would say
is you have to learn to disagree without being disagreeable. Sure, we don't all
have to all think alike. It would be pretty boring if we all thought the same
thing in this world. I mean, it's good to have a conversation where you see how
somebody else views something. But I mean, have a conversation, not a knockdown,
drag out argument or, you know, an insult hurling contest. So my writing,
especially the faith column I do, I draw on that. you know, you're not an
island unto yourself. You live in society, and you have to be nice to others.
And. based on my faith belief, I mean, you should be loving to your neighbor,
not calling them names or destroying their property because they support a
different candidate. Or stealing the sign out of their yard. Don't do
that. Just learn to get along. Be nice. It's, so basic. But basic things
are, like they say, common sense isn't so common. Basic human courtesy, loving
each other, that's kind of out the window. But I want to encourage people
through my writing, not beat people up or break them down. If I present what I
think, if you don't agree with it,
well, that's your right. But I'm not gonna call you an idiot if you don't
agree with me. You have to have room to have discussions and hear the other
side at the end of the day. I may not change your mind, but at least I've
expressed what I think in a courteous, kind, thoughtful, well thought out,
hopefully, manner. That's what I use my writing for.
BAM: What
was your mom's phrase again?
Alice:
Well, she said, if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. And
then she also said, learn to disagree without being disagreeable. So there were
two. Both are great things. Now stop and think before you say that. Is it
helpful? Will it hurt somebody? If it will, then don't say it. Or say it in a
way that won't do that.
BAM: My
mom's expression, which has helped me in life since she's been gone a while, I
still hear it sometimes, like I could hear it in her voice. She said it so
much, and that's the thing with parents, is that they repeat themselves, and
then when they're gone, you can remember their voice because of that stuff they
repeat.
Alice:
Exactly. So they need to keep doing it.
BAM:
She'd say, "This too shall pass." And, what I see is that we have all
these problems and that I think that one day, and I really believe this, one
day people will sit together and have an educated conversation instead of
arguing. They'll eventually get there. And so I just keep hearing my mom going,
"This too shall pass." And I go, I know we're going to have an
educated conversation and problems are going to be resolved one day.
Alice: You
know, I think people will reach it. It needs time. I think they get tired of
all the hatred and anger and violence and everything. And there's got to be a
better way. And then they'll talk. It's like anything.
BAM: So,
let's, uh, let's get into something, well, not so heavy. Are you a part of any
writer workshops?
Alice: Yes.
If you are a writer, it's kind of a lonely profession because you sit there and
write in front of your computer. I'm assuming people aren't using typewriters
anymore, but, you know, you're there by yourself. You're writing for a reader,
so you need to get input from other people, and that's why writers' groups are
so important, and the people that are in these groups understand you. They
understand the thought process, the issues you have, how people see your
writing. I had a friend who went on vacation. She writes children's books, and
she went to see relatives and they're like, aren't you a little old to be doing
that? A children's book. "Anybody can write that." And all her writer
friends were saying, "That's why you have us because we understand there's
a way you do it." You know, you can't just throw words down on paper. Your
writer friends get you and they help you. So I'm a part of a group. It's an
international group. It's called Word Weavers and they have chapters all over
the place. I'm the president of the Destin, Florida chapter, and we meet
monthly. And so we have time to, you know, network and encourage each
other. And then everyone has a piece that they bring for us to critique. And
you learn. So when we read the pieces out loud, which is another valuable tip
for writers, read what you're writing out loud so you can hear it. So we have
someone else read the piece, and then we go around and have two or three
minutes of critique.
BAM: And
then what?
Alice: I
stress constructive criticism. Everything is said very politely. You know, it's
like, "I think I know what you're getting at, but this isn't very
clear," or "This word doesn't sound quite right to me," or
"You've used this word three times in this paragraph." Or, "You
might want to switch something around." And it's so valuable. I mean, when
you start out, it's kind of difficult because that's your creative baby and you
think it's the best work, you know, that you can do. And you learn. People in your
group have your back. They want to encourage and support you. They're just
wanting the best for you. So one of the best criticisms I ever got, I knew the
meeting was coming up and so I hurriedly wrote something just to have
something. And when I took it, one of my best friends said to me after it was
read, she goes, "You know, Alice, this really isn't your best work."
Which I knew deep down, because I did it hurriedly. But for someone to actually
say that to me. So it's great, because you can't rely on a spouse or child or
friend that doesn't write to tell you what you need to know. Writers know what
needs to be improved. Because I'll ask my spouse to read something, and he'll
say, "Oh, that's good." Good is a four-letter word for writer. We
don't want to hear good. We want to hear, "Oh, that just
grabbed my emotions," or "You really made me think of this."
That's the kind of thing that you want. And you have to have writers to do
that. You know, there's a Bible verse that says, "Iron sharpens
iron." Well, writers sharpen writers. You know, you go to the people that
know what you go through, and you get the benefit of what somebody else sees,
or thinks you're writing. Not just what you think it is saying in your head. So
I encourage anybody that's writing, you need to have some kind of writers’
group that you can do regularly to get that support and that feedback. That is
just so crucial. That's the best thing I ever did. I would not be where I am
today without my writers’ group. And they also offer opportunities. You know, I
wrote for adoption.com, as a staff writer, for three years, and I found out
about that opportunity to submit articles through a friend in my group. I mean,
she didn't do adoption. She didn't know anything about it, but she thought of
me. And she sent me an email and said, "Hey, this sounds like it's right
up your alley." So yeah, writers' groups are just, they're just essential
for writers.
BAM:
Yeah. I was thinking about this guy who once was reading a story of mine and he
said, "Uh, you use 'it' a lot." And, not only did I remember that
advice. But I went through my story to see what words I use a lot. And then I
ended up making a whole paper about words writers use too much. 'Cause I read
everyone's stuff from that group. And I just took a note like "that,"
"they," "it," and words similarily overused. And then I
made this whole format thing and I gave it out to every member of the group and
it was because of that guy saying I used "it" a lot. I said,
"Here's what everyone uses a lot." So now the whole group has this
checklist even ten years later of like words overused, and that's all inspired
from somebody saying, "You use it" too much. Yeah, groups are
great.
Alice:
Yeah, one of the recent meetings that we went around and I said, "I want
you to tell me one or two words that you overuse." And it was interesting
to see. Some of it depended on what kind of things that they wrote. But it was
like, my favorite word is apparently. Apparently that's
my favorite word. So the adverbs are, you know, you're supposed to really, you
show, not tell. So, you know, show me. So, yes, you need the feedback and
people point things out to you. It's like, "Gosh, I never thought of that."
Or "That's such a good point."
BAM: On a
similar note, let's talk about something that every writer struggles with,
which is procrastination. What is your strategy of overcoming it?
Alice:
Well, the best thing to deal with procrastination is to have a deadline. So
when I write articles, I write regularly for a regional publication here. I
know what the deadline is, or if I have a devotion that's going to be published
the next month, I know what the deadline is. So you have to have deadlines. And
if it's something you want to write on your own then you have to set yourself a
deadline. I mean, it's not just, "Oh, I'll sit at my computer and do
it." You have to be disciplined about your writing. I keep a spreadsheet
of what I've submitted, what the deadlines are. You know, I never had anything
to do with spreadsheets until I started writing and I see the value of it. So
procrastination, if you know, something's coming up, it's like, you can't wait
'til the last minute and you shouldn't because one of the keys to writing is
get away from it, write it, just get it down on paper, just so your ideas are
there and then walk away from it and come back and then edit it. There's a
famous saying, Ernest Hemingway said, "Write drunk and edit sober."
So I was like, go with that emotional and creative flow and get it down on
paper, but then go, you know, walk away and then come back and then with a
critical eye, go back and do it. So you got to give yourself enough time, you
can't just wait till the last minute. So understanding the process is good,
having, setting deadlines if you don't have one. Or observing the deadlines you
have, taking into account, well, okay, if it's due on the first, but I'm going
to need to have at least a couple days to write it and let it sit for a day and
then come back and then read it over again before I send it out. So you've just
got to be very disciplined and organized in order to deal with your
writing.
BAM:
Anyone who ever says writing isn't a job should talk to you about what you just
said. Tell them that, and then they'll understand that it is a job.
Alice:
Yeah, and sometimes it just pays off in the long run.
BAM:
Speaking of payoffs, first of all, how do you handle rejection?
Alice:
Well, when I did adoption work, pregnant women would come to me and say,
"I'm thinking about an adoptive placement, but you know, my family may not
like this or my girlfriends don't like that idea." And I'm like, "You
can never please everybody. You can't do it." What you have to do is
please yourself. Kind of a bad word, but please yourself. Be able to look at
yourself in the mirror, you know, months or years down the road, "I did
the best thing for you." You have to be accountable to yourself. So, you
know, not everybody's gonna like what you write, but that's okay, you know. I
don't particularly care for science fiction, so I don't really read science
fiction books. That doesn't mean that some people that write science fiction
aren't great writers, or it's not worth reading. It's just, that's not my cup
of tea. So you have to understand, I'm writing this, but that's not going to
appeal to everybody. You write for the reader, and you have to identify who
your reader is, and your reader isn't everybody. So, that's number one. Not
everybody's going to like your work, whether it's a reader, or an editor, or a
publisher, rejection is just part of it, and you just have to learn to deal
with it. If you don't, you're going to have a hard time. You know, you
have to accept the fact that rejection is part of the deal. The other thing,
and it makes sense, acceptance is even sweeter once you've tried several times
or several people haven't liked it and then you finally hit that sweet spot and
find who your readers are or who is going to publish it. But rejection,
sometimes rejection is just timing. They say one door closes and another opens.
I had an article one time that I had written for the local paper because it
involved somebody in the local area. And I thought it was a great story. It was
about foster parents who had been fostering infants for like 35 years. So
if you can imagine willingly taking babies and getting up at 2 a. m. on a
consistent basis, never outgrowing that. Oh my gosh. This, this is just a
marvelous story. People would love to hear about this. Well, they rejected it
and I was like, well, it's such a good story. This needs to get out there. So,
you know, I went on about my way, finally had an opportunity to submit it to a
regional magazine. And I sent it off to them. And guess what? They wanted to
publish it, and they paid me for it. I wasn't going to be paid for the
submission to the first paper. So I was paid for it. And then I come to find
out that it was the featured article. It was on the cover. They had a picture
of a little infant wrapped in a little baby blanket. And that was the cover
story. I'm like, that just blew my mind. See, if I hadn't had that rejection, I
wouldn't have made it to where I actually had a wider audience to listen to
this and to be able to read this wonderful, wonderful story. So you sometimes
have to put it in perspective. It's like, well, this is a story that needs to
be told, but maybe this isn't the way, you know, the venue or place that needs
to tell it. Maybe it needs to be somebody else. So you kind of temper it. Yes.
You know, nobody likes to be told no. But, you know, there may be other
opportunities that are better out there, and I've seen that happen over and
over again, so, you can, of course you're sad, but, you know, you take it in
stride and move on. It's part of being a writer. And it may just lead to a
better opportunity down the road.
Bam:
What's that story called again? I want to read it. (article here:
https://indd.adobe.com/view/448500da-7805-4934-828c-a7a56c4cbe96)
Alice: Uh,
the story, I can't remember the name of it. I can email it to you. But it was
about a foster couple here in my local area, and they would take newborns in,
foster for a while, and then they'd go back to their parents or be adopted, and
then they'd get another infant. They did this for like 30 something years, and
it was just heartwarming. And they're still in touch with most of the children
that they had fostered. And it was just feel good. So you hear all these ugly
stories in the news. It's like, here's something positive, you know? So, it was
wonderful. It was published in Go! Magazine, which is a regional
magazine here in the Florida Panhandle.
BAM:
Okay, then I could find it. But, with that, you mentioned acceptance. How do
you celebrate acceptance?
Alice: Yay!
Well, I recently had that experience. It's been maybe three weeks now so I'm
busily working on the manuscript for that. That was also a long time coming. A
couple things I want to say about acceptance. I think the tendency for writers,
or at least for me and the people I've talked to, a lot of times you get the
acceptance and it's like "Yay," and then two minutes later you're
like, "Oh my gosh, this is the deadline. What am I going to do?" And
you just zoom on to the next thing. And I told a friend of mine, and she said,
"This is the best advice," she had gotten a book contract. And I told
her, I said, "You're excited about this. And I know you're worried about
the timeframe, but take the time to celebrate what you have accomplished,
because this is a big deal." You know, take some time to savor the
achievement before you rush off into what's the next step. You worked hard for
this. So you deserve to savor the acceptance. So when I got that acceptance, I
think I had a glass of wine or something like that. I don't go crazy,
maybe a nice dessert, a glass of bubbly, something like that, you know, and
take the time. And it's a gift to be able to get your book published. So I want
to thank the people that have helped me to do that. So of course my writers
group, who have supported me, who have given me constructive criticism on
things I have written. I celebrated with them. And I mean, when they said, when
they said, "Oh, that's great." I knew that they meant it. You may
tell somebody else that, but these people have seen me working on this project
for literally years, and it's finally come to fruition where I'm actually going
to have this book published. So "Yay." The other thing is, I wouldn't
be where I am today if it hadn't been for other people. I need to put it in
perspective, understand that other people have helped you get there, especially
my parents. I mean, they stressed education to me. They're in heaven now, but I
mean, if they were here, I would thank them profusely because I recognize it.
They molded me into the person I am today. They wanted me to become educated.
They encouraged my writing talents. So I appreciate everything that they did.
And then I believed my talents are God given. So I'm like, "Thank God for
this opportunity to write and get my ideas out there and have people
actually read them and agree with them." And, you know, it's not about how
many people you reach or if you reach the New York Times bestseller list. For
maybe some people, that's it. But that's not for me. I want to make a
difference for someone. I wrote a devotion and I submitted it and the person
that I submitted it to emailed me back and said, "You don't know how much
this meant to me." She said, "My grandfather is getting ready to pass.
And some of the things you said, I thought it was just for me." And she
said, "You just don't know how much it just helped me through such a
difficult time." And I'm like, you know, if nobody else reads this, that's
fine, because it made a difference to somebody else. And that's, that's what it
is. It's not fame and fortune. And if you're a writer, you know, unless you're
John Grisham, you're not a millionaire. So that's not what I'm after. But if
people read it and it makes an impact in some way on them, maybe makes them
think a little bit differently or help them through a difficult time, then I
feel like I'm a successful writer.
BAM: I
can really relate. This happened when I started getting into academic writing
because I'm getting a doctoral degree in applied linguistics. And, my first
published article was about pronunciation because it's my passion in academia.
Um, because when I moved to Japan, I was walking through an airport carrying
200 pounds of luggage. And I was so thirsty. I said to someone at a kiosk,
"Can I have some water from your sink?" And he says,
"Wakaranai," which means "I don't understand." And I
said, "water, come on water." And I showed him a container and
he's like, "Oh, waah tah." He had no idea what "water"
meant because he's used Katakana English pronunciation. And I had a lot of
problems like that as I lived here. It became a passion of mine to help people
with pronunciation issues, who needed help. So I wrote a paper about that, how
I helped someone with their pronunciation through six weeks. I did computerized
assisted learning, gave pronunciation tips, and tools online. After the paper
was published, someone emailed me that the paper really changed them. They're
Japanese and they saw that they could fix their pronunciation problems and they
were thanking me. This was meaningful. And I never experienced that as a
fiction writer. Well, I haven't yet, but, I'm sure I'll get there like you, but
it happened with that and exactly what you said is so true. It's very
meaningful. Just that one person helping them.
Alice: Put
a face on the reader. You're writing for real people, so that, you know, that
just drove that home to me. You're not just writing to, you know, see your name
in print. You're writing to talk to people through the words you put on the
paper.
BAM:
Yeah, exactly. That said, you've mentioned organizing a few times. Why don't
you talk more about that?
Alice:
Well, my mother, here's another pithy saying of my mother--failing to plan is
planning to fail. So I'm a big organizer. One thing I do is try and organize my
day to facilitate my writing. Now it doesn't always work, but I am the most
creative in the morning. That's when I do my best writing. So, 7 a. m., my
husband leaves. I may still be in my pajamas, but I'm typing away. I'm not a
night owl. So I try and organize things. If I have to make an appointment,
"Can I do it in the afternoon?" If I have to run an errand, "Can
I do it in the afternoon after I've had my writing time?" Because it's
hard for me to do it later in the day. So that's one thing is timing. You also
have to prioritize. You know, if your writing is important, you make time for
it. It's your favorite TV show, you're going to make time for it. So you just
have to make time for your writing. Um, so just do it. So, you also have to
prioritize in the time schedule that I've mentioned before, I may feel like,
"Oh, I'd love to write this, you know, great idea that I just came up
with." But if my deadline's approaching on an article, I have to be
disciplined. and do that first. So you have to, or part of organizing is
prioritizing. So I have a list and you know, that's, that's what I do. You
know, it's like this is coming up first. I've got to take care of that, even
though I really like to just sit there and talk about something else. The other
thing is being prepared. For me, I don't just sit down at the computer and
thoughts just flow into my brain. A lot of times for story ideas, things will
come to me, you know, weird times, you're walking the dog, I think your mind's
just on its own. Like, I was doing an author selling event this week, and I was
sitting at the table with my books in between customers, and I came up with two
great ideas of things to write about. Or in the shower, or you think about it
when you're sleeping. I keep, I call it my content closet, and I will put
ideas for stories or, you see a quote, boy, you could write about that. So I
keep what I call a content closet, and I'll put lists of things, ideas, story
ideas that I have. You know, good quotes that could fit into something, but you
got to be prepared for that. So keep your phone handy or a notepad by the bed
to be organized in order to do that. It's funny because I'm not the only one
that's like that. My first published book was an annotated Agatha Christie
story called The Secret of Chimneys. And I, I love Agatha Christie
and I read an autobiography about her. And one of the things that she said,
people say, "How do you come up with these amazing storylines?" And
she goes, "I go and wash my dishes." You can't force it. It's
going to come to you, but sometimes you just need to let that happen naturally.
If you force it, it's probably not going to be a good idea. You might be able
to, but I mean, you got to be prepared for that. I'm going to have an idea at a
weird time. I've been known to like call myself when I'm in the car and leave
myself a voicemail message. "Hey, write about . . ." or here's this
quote I just heard on the radio. And you know, then I'm prepared to go forward
with that at the proper time. Then look. Look around you. Like I said, you'd be
amazed at the things. I was driving home one day and I looked to the side of
the road and there's some boxes that were not like garbage boxes, but just some
boxes of things. It wasn't by the side of the road. It was in the middle. And
I'm like, "I wonder what happened. How did that get there? Did somebody
intentionally leave it or did it just fall off a truck?" And, you know,
I'm just going through all these scenarios. So when I say I see stories
everywhere, I literally do. You know, you look around and it's like, wow. If
you think about things, sometimes we just glance around and don't notice. Take
the time to look at things. It's amazing what I can see. I mean, I walk my dog
every morning and I can still go out and say, "Hey, I've never seen that
before." Or something strikes me. I've seen it before, but not in the way
I'm seeing it that day. So you just have to be aware of your surroundings and
really think about what you're seeing. I mean, take the time to actually see
it. So those are my organization tips, hopefully. And then of course there's
the spreadsheet, which is always helpful.
BAM:
Yeah, it's good to have a spreadsheet. You mentioned timing and prioritizing,
but I think you were also talking about something that's a kind of mental floss
where you prepare yourself mentally.
Alice: And
I think that's great too. It's a great way to prepare your brain
beforehand.
BAM:
Yeah. You have to have mental stability. That's why there's like millions of
notes on my phone.
Alice: Oh,
yeah. I still need to write that. Yeah, that's not a problem for me. I know
some writers have like writer's block. What am I going to write about? Or, you
know, I don't have a lack of subject matter. Now, sometimes it stumps me how to
get started. I think that's the hardest part is getting started writing. But
once I get that first paragraph done, it's off to the races for me, because
that sets the tone.
BAM:
Well, I think I'm going to call mine dissertation block, meaning I can't do
anything except write that. It's going to be my excuse for the next year or so,
so I'm not writing. Why don't you tell your readers where they can find you on
social media?
Alice:
Well, you can find me on social media. I'm all over the place. I write a weekly
blog. It comes out every Thursday morning. It's called "Alice in Wondering
Land." I take current topics or things I've seen in the news that
interests me and I kind of dig into it and get some deeper information with a
humorous voice. And I'm like, "Really?" Or I'll make kind of
sarcastic comments about things. And I have one writer friend, she goes,
"I get all my news from you." I mean, cause it's facts, you know,
things that are coming up. Like last week I wrote about selling ammunition for
guns out of vending machines in various places in the country and I'm like,
"So we went into that." So, I can be found on my blog. I have a
weekly faith column. It's called "Feet to Faith." It's on Patheos.
Um, Feet to Faith, just Google that on Patheos. I'm on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/alicemurraywriter/).
Alice Hale Murray is my personal. And Alice H. Murray Writer is my professional
writer page. When I say humor is my voice, I mean, I follow through. I talk
about being disciplined every day. I post what I call a funny. And it's
usually, and I do it on Canva. I'll come up with a picture and a joke. And I've
gotten three jokes published in Reader's Digest from doing that. And I keep a
spreadsheet with the jokes so I don't repeat them. So humor for that. I'm on
Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com/pstyre/). I
have a writer, author, Alice H. Murray (https://authoralicehmurray.wixsite.com/website),
website. But if you go to my writer page, there are links to where you can find
me. And if you want to see what books I'm in, I'm in a lot of compilation books
like Guideposts and Chicken Soup and things like that. It's not entirely my
book, but I have writing pieces in it. So the author page for Alice H. Murray
on Amazon, and you can see the books that I'm in.
BAM:
Okay. Well, I just followed you on Facebook. I'll check out your other social media.
Thank you for coming.
Alice:
Thank you for that opportunity.
BAM: It
was great how you were able to do all that with 42 words in your story, and I'm
so impressive. I'm grateful to all the writers who were able to do it. And uh,
they cleared it through the strict judges and readers who would reject 21
stories when we had 21 submissions. I was surprised we made it to 1, 764
stories accepted with that kind of rejection rate, so thank you very much for
sharing your words.
Alice:
Well, I appreciate your time and I'm looking forward to seeing the book.
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