Awakening the Writer Within

I'm teaching a creative writing course at Pierce College this quarter. It's called Awakening the Writer Within and tonight is the first class. (There's still room if you want to jump in). 

I love teaching this class. It's the class I always wanted to take but could never find.  We do timed writing exercises on everything from structure to character. The idea is to push the creative envelope in a safe environment. 

We read our work aloud and the students explain what's working -- versus what's not.  I found when I started writing I never could get a handle on what my strengths were because other writers were too busy telling me where I was going wrong. (It was probably easier for them that way, since my pros were held together with mistakes.) And that harsh critique sometimes kept me from trying new things and stepping outside the box. We all need a little place to fly.  

So for anyone who has their ego beaten to a pulp by that student critic, or who just wants to try something new, this class if for you.

If you can't attend the class, I'm going to try to keep the assignments posted on my website, www.spilledinkstudio.com.  Come join the fun. 

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How to Get a Cheap Critique

Students have asked me if there is a way to get good feedback on their manuscripts without paying money to a professional.

There are the standard suggestions:
• Join a writer’s group.
• Find another writer looking for feedback and swap services.

But there is another, often overlooked, resource — family and friends. OK, they aren’t an ideal group for critical feedback. They may not know much about story structure or character development, but they will be the future audience of your book or movie. Tapping their organic response to your story can be extremely valuable; it just takes a little direction from you.

The method below has worked for me with moderate success.
First: See if your friend or relative is willing to give feedback. Don't press the unwilling. 

Second: Give them each a manuscript and tell them, “I need you to write all over the thing”. (You’re trying to make this fun, rather than a chore.)

Third: Give them a list of symbols to use for commenting. These are a few I’ve used, but you could use anything. Just keep it simple.
• Draw a ☺ or ! when you like something.
• Put a ? when something doesn’t make sense or you get lost.
• Draw an X when you didn’t like something.
• Fold the corner of the page when you take a break. (This tells me I have a lull in the story. No one sets a book down in the middle of an exciting part.)

Fourth: Have a list of questions for them to answer at the end.
• What characters did you like best, and why?
• What characters did you like the least and why?
• What stood out for you?
• Were there places you wanted more information? Less information?
Pick these questions carefully and don’t give them more than five. You're still trying to keep this fun, and maybe do this again for you someday.

Fifth: Pay them. Yes, even family and friends deserve something for all their hard work. I've paid in chocolate, Starbucks gift certificates and movie tickets.

Friends and family don’t replace professional feedback, but they’re a heck of a lot cheaper, and you’ll be surprised by some of their insights.

Sheila Bender Inspires Editors

Are you writing a memoir? Having difficulties getting your personal experiences down on paper? Sheila Bender may be your answer.

Last Saturday, March 28, was the second conference of the Northwest Independent Editors Guild. I’d gotten up early, and drove miles to get there by 8 a.m. I was jacked up on Starbucks coffee and wondering if the keynote speaker’s session was really going to be an hour and half long, because, if it was, I was going to need more coffee.

It turned out I didn’t need caffeine. Sheila Bender was about to blow me away with her developmental editing techniques. She took us step by step through her process — a process that respects writers and delivers astounding results.

She read us a couple “before and after” examples from writers she’s worked with. The initial pieces weren’t bad, but the finished works were beautiful — both heartbreaking and humorous. At the end of each I nearly stood and applauded — and it wasn’t the caffeine talking. It was inspirational to see the transformation and to know that an editor can help a writer find that level of writing.

I took careful notes and will try to explain her process the best I can tomorrow. In the meantime, you may want to check out her website, www.writingitreal.com.
 

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