November 17th, 2021

 

It was a beautiful evening for a meeting. We met at the firehouse, where the hot temperatures of summer gave way to the cool evenings of our Florida fall. Thirteen of us were there. A brief discussion about how to handle numbers in our writing opened the meeting. We moved on to the reading portion of the meeting as we had ten members wishing to present samples of our work tonight.

The Chicago Manual of Style (the writer’s bible) says numbers in a document are written in text (a, b, c, etc.) to spell out numbers under 100. Over 100, use numerals (1, 2, 3, etc.). As with any rule, it can be broken if needed. As I’ve stated, at least fifteen thousand two hundred and eleven times, all rules can be broken when writing. It doesn’t hurt anybody (at least not physically).

 

Arriving early and signing in upon arrival has its advantages. That is how I call upon the readers. First here is first to read, unless there’s a hold-over from the previous meeting. Tish was first to sign in, but she was not prepared to read this week. Cindi Buchannan was next on the list. A poet, Cindi writes from her heart. She presented three examples of her work this evening. I don’t think they were titled, but the emotion was enough to give them titles. 1. In leaving, a man walks away, ignoring the woman. She thinks, Is that all I’m worth to him? 2. A rainy day, depressing but beautiful in its own way. 3. A break-up in July, the weather replaces the heat of love’s passion. – Keep writing, Cindi. Your work shows your heart.

 

We never know what to expect when Ed Ellis reads, but tonight was an even bigger surprise. He claims to have told her, “We are going to be together for eternity, so I don’t want to do anything in this life to piss you off.” Guts Ed, guts!

 

Ernie Ovitz is a family man, and he relates a speech he once gave at a Toastmaster’s s meeting. He read from his newest book submitted for publication by Amazon, Reflections. Always the ambassador of peace, he understands, If Mama Ain’t Happy, Ain’t Nobody Happy, good luck, Ernie.

 

Admitting his latest project is the most challenging piece of writing he’s ever undertaken, Bruce Haedrich starts writing his memoir. From an early age, a pilot bemoans the old days when pilots were in control of the aircraft. He calls today’s so-called pilots “Airmen.” Bruce asks the group, “How technical can I be?” Of twelve answers, there were eleven opinions. Sort that out, Bruce.

 

Life Unbuffered was the title of Dennis Cathcart’s newsletter article. While employed, others made everyday decisions and handled complex issues. Life was buffered. Once he became self-employed, the buffer between him and the natural world was gone. Yes, he could do the things he liked without asking permission, but the parts he didn’t like fell to him. It was always a balancing act between the two. Ain’t retirement fun, Dennis?

 

A traveler, poet, and writer of novels, Peter Frickel, presented a dialog piece between a mother and daughter, with a final insertion of a visiting boyfriend in conversation with the daughter. Humor and simplicity abound in Bikini. Words flow naturally, filled with sarcasm and innuendo as the characters speak to each other. Two other short pieces were also insightful. The Changing Garden describes the tribulation of his garden in a dry spring. A few words of wisdom carry a life-changing message.

 

Poets are always welcome, and Don Westerfield is among the best we hear. Your Voyage follows a life filled with hope, sorrow, happiness, and strife. The message is clear and spot-on. The American Fighting Man left several in the audience with moist eyes as Don read of the conflicts and how soldiers died for our right to be free from Valley Forge to Afghanistan. Thank you for your service, Don.

 

An ode to a grandmother was Susan Haley’s offering as she read Cleland. Spending many hours in her Grandmother’s care, Susan recalls the tenderness and loving guidance given her. A grandmother’s love cannot be discounted. Thank you, Susan.

 

Peace of π (Pi) is the title of a mystery novel Ed Demarco is working on. A man dies mysteriously on a flight to Atlanta. In chapter 2, his daughter and her abusive drug-addicted husband prepare for her father’s funeral. Oh, how the reader might want to throttle the miserable husband. Without saying so, Ed has made the man seem despicable. Good job!

 

Our final reading was a pair of poems by Richard Cope. Walking to Jerusalem took us into the mind of a traveler through life. The Buttermilk Colt tells of a desperate man and his horse as they turn from the law.

 

It was 8:45 PM when we closed the meeting. I hope all had an enjoyable evening. I was handed two pieces of work to look over. I hope to have them finished by the next meeting. Please be patient. Until December 1^st, KEEP ON WRITING!

Two Meetings in One Blog

 

Hello again;

Here’s what happened.

I decided to take a vacation. Why a retired auto mechanic/writer needs a break is a mystery to some. With ten great-grandchildren living in the town, you might understand. But in any case, I’m back.

Here is the best I can do in reporting the activity of two meetings. If I miss something, I beg your forgiveness.

On October 20^th, I was somewhere in North Carolina, I think. I might have been in Georgia or even South Carolina. Hell, I was lost most of the time. But anyway, the writers were right here at the Firehouse, and Ernie reports they brought some good stuff.

 

Don Westerfield’s poem entitled An Old Soldier Died Today is a poignant piece that brings a tear to one’s eye with each reading.

A prankster today, I often wonder how Ed Ellis survived his early years without someone taking him out. His story The Prank takes us back to 1961 at the U.S. Naval Air Station in San Diego. It seems Ed’s buddy Jack and he were assigned there. Shortly afterward, a Crusader Jet went missing. Something about a Poker Game, the Bone Yard, and not finding the jet even into the 1990s. I don’t know the statute of limitations on misplacing a Navy Jet, but I don’t think I’d publish that story while I was still alive.

Science and Technology is a favorite of our Bruce Haedrich. This week he presented an Essay about The Shocking Naked Truth. Attending a lecture based on the title and a picture of a scantily clad female outside the lecture hall, the audience was introduced to a series of truths about Electric Vehicles and the costs incurred in using them. The dollars and cents needed to put them to work are considerable but the embedded expenses are not easily seen. Read this essay; you may be surprised.

Ideas, thoughts, and beginnings often linger in a writer’s mind. Peter Frickel has an active brain. It’s not unusual for him to allow thoughts to spill out as he speaks with us. Phrases, sentences, and even a single word can evoke ideas for stories. Peter used some examples from his repertoire.  “He approached her. How the hell did he know?” Mermaids swimming in the Seine… how many more things can guide a writer. Almost everything has a story attached.

Stories of the Lakota Sioux flow from the pen of Jim Kelly. Shadow Hawk is becoming a warrior. He passes the test of manhood in the Black Hills of the Dakota’s. Where will his future lie? Is he on a path of war and destruction? Will he foster peace with the white man?

I didn’t hear the poem from Susan Haley. But, if it follows Susan’s previous work, I’m sure it was outstanding. Soaring Epitaph is a title worthy of Susan.

Poets are remarkable. I don’t know how they do it. Time after time, Richard Cope delivers work that ranges from humorous to heartbreaking. Each tells a tale, often from his childhood. Imagine a Tennessee farm on which Old Red, a long-eared mule, resides. Acquiring a Taste for Oysters might not be for everyone. Now, who would think a poem about Grave Robbers would spark interest? Richard accomplishes the near-impossible every meeting.

I’m sorry I missed out on these delightful offerings. Maybe I’ll get to see them in print one day.

 

 

November 3^rd, 2021

Being back in the saddle for this meeting felt good. I’d taken a hiatus from writing for two weeks. That was a needed break.

We opened the meeting with a discussion on Using an Editor. What do you expect from an editor? What is the editor’s job, really? Do editors rewrite your story? Think about it.

 Dialog: How do you use dialog? What are the advantages of using it in your work? How can you make dialog work for you? Does it help you tell your story?

The intent of our discussions is to inform and make writers think. Sometimes the best learning comes from our minds as we mull over an issue and hear suggestions.

 

The reading and critique portion of the meeting fell to Tish McAuley. Reading a piece entitled, The Gift, she explained how as a youngster, she had no knowledge of her gift as an empath. She knew that somehow she instinctively knew things about other people. She thought everybody did. Her gift was becoming a curse. Now, after research and conversations with other empaths, she realizes how she allowed herself to be controlled by narcissistic people. Understanding how she had premonitions of events and why she could spot Cops almost instantly has given her an insight into what she is. Her memoir is progressing along with her plans to bring help to others who suffer her plight.

Tonight a first-time attendee was on hand. Welcome to Cyndi Buchanan. A poet, Cyndi, brought several verses to us tonight. Not all her work is titled. That doesn’t make it less impressive. Most of her work is based on relationships as they invite the poet in her to come out. Maybe we’ll see a collection of her work someday.

A sampling of Peter Frickel’s work included Truth, it’s always with you, carried on the wing of an angle. A Creaking Door waits for the slightest breeze while an author listens as an empty Room talks to him. It may be inanimate but has personality. At the Beach, one must watch and listen as the wind and water interact with everything.

Richard Cope fell in with our poet’s corner this evening. He-Man and the Bathing Beauties was inspired by a photograph. The adoring eyes of his female companions fall on the bare-chested he-man. In Solstice, the night sky promises a new beginning, not the day’s end. A poem of love tells of the pleasure-pain of infatuation in The Torch. I know this is wrong, but I didn’t get the spelling for Eu Ale Vue (phonic spelling), Richard says, is best read in a Honky Tonk.

Tonight, the adventures in the Dakota’s by James Kelly told us of Woman Who Walks Alone. The beautiful maiden waits for Shadow Hawk well past her usual time of betrothal. At last, she is rewarded as she rewards him with her love.

A Drop of Water surprises Bruce Haedrich by talking to him. Actually, it’s only a single molecule of water talking as it explains how, where, and when it got here. How many are left? Are there a lot of the little creatures around? Where are they hiding? Being a grandparent and great-grandparent, I wish these things were presented with such an interesting story to the little ones. Thank you, Bruce, for the education.

That pretty much wraps up the blog for now. I hope to see you next time and hope you can join us at the meeting on November 17th. We'll be at the Firehouse. Until then - KEEP ON WRITING.

 

November 1st, 2021

 Hello all,

I'm back from a sorely needed vacation. My thanks to Ernie and Ed for taking over my duties while I frolicked in the northern climes. 

I did not write a word while I was gone. Yeah, stupid, I know. But I needed a break. We all do once in a while. In the week before leaving two of my books were posted on Amazon. 

Disciple of Darkness was a semi-finalist in the2021 Royal Palm Literary Award Competition with FWA. It's a dark story with characters possessing few redeeming traits. Unfortunately, I've met a few people like this in my life. I wonder if they see their way to changing their ways as they approach the end of their lives.

The Shattered Mirror is my first book in the detective genre. Set in a fictional town in Georgia, it follows a small city detective through the steps of solving a murder. Elements of police work are not portrayed as heroic or overly dangerous. But, our character meets interesting people, a love interest, and his interaction with others makes for a compelling story closer to real life than television or movie dramas.

 I look forward to seeing all of you Wednesday night at the Fire House.

Oh... BTW, as I traveled through Georgia, I may have visited the little city in The Shattered Mirror. Their back country road signs are so poorly marked, I didn't know where I was over half the time.