Events:

Writing Seminar: 'So You Want to Publish'

I was recently the guest speaker for a reading/writing group in the Tecumseh/Adrian, Michigan area. I also spoke to several literary clubs and have others scheduled. The emphasis of the presentations is placed on "how to get the job done once you have the story line in mind." I call it: "So You Want To Publish." I got the idea for this approach after attending writing seminars. My biggest disappointment in most of them was that the guests spent more time talking about themselves and their works -- even patting themselves on the back - - than pointing out how to get the job done. They seemed to think those in the audiences knew more than they did. If that were the case, then there would be no audience. I guess my philosophy might equate to things I learned as a Marine -- know where you're going, be prepared, move into action, take nothing for granted and don't be afraid to ask for help.

My program delves into the practical side of writing, more than the imaginary stuff. and how it's use falls into place. It includes simple things that are important -- how to get started, attitude, organizing time, conducive space in which to work, steps to take, where and how to find what is needed, how to sell your idea, how to promote, and referencing and critiques. I stress to be ready to pay somebody who knows the territory for help -- professional critics or literary service people. I even took a ten-week correspondence course from Writer's Digest. to help my transition
from news to fiction writing. Among important things I also stress are considerations such as action versus passive sentences, and kept "short. I talk about costs, most of which new writers fail to consider. I've always believed in the adage : It takes money to make money. Some found it difficult to believe that by the time I wrote, reread, rewrote, reread and rewrote over and over, I went through 3,000 sheets of paper, both sides, and spent more than $900 for professional critiques, and it paid off. Everything I learned during my first novel was applied at 'no cost' to my second novel and now as I work on my third. That's the practical end of novel writing that really has to be mastered if the fictional end is to be successful. I don't think many aspiring writers realize how many times a paragraph or even a sentence might have to be changed in order to make it right. Sometimes I'd write a paragraph five times, set it down and look at it the following day and write it several more times before I was satisfied. I followed my guidelines in a recently day-long seminar I gave in the Toledo, Ohio area. Every one of those attending wanted to write novels, but knew little of how to get it done. One reminded me of myself - - reporting for a newspaper, and even though I did numerous features, I quickly realized I needed help in moving from news and feature writing to novel and fiction writing; thusly,the last aspect of my Marine Corp training --- I sought help.