by Sandy Ferrell Do you like to write? Maybe you like to write but have no ambitions on getting published. You may just want to share your life story with your family. People who enjoy writing have various reasons for doing so. If you like to write, would you like to get helpful comments that will make your writing better? You might like to get some positive feedback. You may want to make sure your story flows. You may find grammar and punctuation a challenge and seek advice. We have a group of writers who meet monthly. We are the Kirkersville Writers Club. We support each other by giving comments that will help the author get better at their craft. Come by and join us for an evening of sharing. You may leave wanting to be a writer or receive validation you have a talent or even get the positive feedback you were looking for. We’d love to have you join us. Sandy Ferrell is the founder of the Kirkersville Writer's Club.
She loves to read; therefore, stories easily pop into her head. The stories nestled in her mind sometimes actually make their way onto paper and can then be shared. When not reading or writing, she likes to sew, cook and make crafts.
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by Rickie Kay LongfellowLast month's blog, “Updating the cars in your earlier stories” by member, Mary Hickey was a great reminder - I had a light bulb moment wondering how badly my characters’ modes of transportation needed updating. I began pulling out some of the short stories I wrote years ago and discovered I had more than cars to update. I had current events that are now long forgotten and even unknown to recent generations. In some of my stories I mentioned television programs that were current when I wrote my story but now might leave younger readers scratching their collective heads. If your story takes place within a specific time period make sure that's clear from the beginning: “It was a dark and stormy night in 1901” or indirectly, “It was a dark and stormy night after America’s bicentennial parade.” Once you establish either the exact or approximate year, you can then drop a fact here and there throughout your story to remind readers occasionally of the time period. How can I do that? Okay, let's see. Main Character, aka MC, says, "Hey, pass that hard stick of butter, would ya'? Lemme' see how many holes I can rip in my slice of bread trying to spread it." No, that’s a little crude. Let's be a bit more subtle, shall we? For instance, if your story takes place in 1956, you could have MC settling in for the evening just in time to see Elvis Presley's first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. Or MC, in talking to a neighbor, may mention a family trip to that new “theme park called Disneyland that opened last year.” Even if your reader doesn’t know the exact year Elvis appeared or Disneyland was opened, they likely know these two events happened in the 1950s. Don't forget that Google and WebCrawler are your friends when it comes to finding facts - but check at least 3 reputable sources for each fact. You don't want your main character buying a brand-new Corvette and leaving for Disneyland in 1946. Happy writing, and, oh, yes, soft butter was invented in France in 1869. So where was it in the 1950s Midwest? Not at our house in Central Ohio, I can tell you that! Ms. Rickie Kay Longfellow is an editor, writer, and member of the Kirkersville Writer’s Club. To check out some of her work please click on the following links below: Editor, Writer, Franklin County Genealogical & Historical Society: http://www.fcghs-oh.org/cpage.php?pt=18Writer Editor, Writer, Benwick Publishing, Owner; See our free book - the Limerick Cemetery:
https://dcms.lds.org/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE62791 by Mary HickeyGetting your book out for free if you know the curtain is coming down: Author Michael Davies was ill with cancer, though I didn't know it, when he sent me and other people on his mailing list his most recent book as a free PDF. He felt it was important to get the most up-to-date version he'd written out into the world before he left it. The Bible tells us that the worker is worth his wages, but that was irrelevant when he knew his life was almost over. He died in 2004, but that book was released several years later by someone else, perhaps one of his literary heirs. It's still available on Amazon and also Abe Books. The moral of this story is: If you just get it out there somehow, your writing might still die with you—or not! At least you are giving it a chance to take on a new life. Updating the cars in your earlier stories: I didn't think of this myself until maybe my third revision of one of them. Check to see if you have a "new" car in your story that was current when you wrote it, but now is considered to be at best an older classic car, or just a junker if it's in bad shape. If so, you might need to substitute for something more modern. And whatever car is featured in your story, look it up online to make sure it comes in the color you're saying it is, too. Most of us wouldn't notice, but it only takes one gearhead reader to spot an error like that. C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Charles Williams were members of a writers' group that met at a pub called the Eagle and Child. Other people came and went also. They called the pub the "Bird and Baby". Now the building is being made into a hotel, but they're preserving a pub area in it with a plaque commemorating the writers' group. That's when we'll know we've arrived, when someone puts up a plaque for us at the Methodist Church! Of course, we've all heard of Lewis and Tolkien, but Charles Williams? I had never heard of him until I read about that group, but he did publish some novels. I looked up the description for one of them, and it didn't interest me at all, but oh well. Maybe being part of that group encouraged him at least to finish them, even if he never became as famous as the other two. Editing to get rid of weasel words should include excess adverbs. I do it by searching not for just ly, but ly followed by a space. Then I don't get words and names that have an ly in the middle of them. It will still flag words like family and only, though. Other weasel words to minimize: quite, likely, perhaps, probably, now, also, had, finally, maybe, might, was, were, usual, even, generally, mostly, somehow, often, just, most, seem. Yes, many of those are adverbs that the ly-space thing will pick up also. Happy writing, everyone, and also Happy New Year!
by Doris Cáceres-SchumickIf you browse through every page of this website, you’ll find much information. One of the pages, for instance, states “The Kirkersville Writers’ Club helps starving writers improve their writing skills, share stories, support one another in pursuit of publication, and enjoy the company of writers”. And in my experience at the KWC meetings all members desire to get published. Therefore, in this end-of-the year blog I am presenting to you, in alphabetical order, those KWC members who have been published in 2023. YOU ROCK!!! Please click on each title below the author's name to access his/her published work. Doris Cáceres-SchumickKen DrentenSandy FerrellMary HickeyCheryl KrouseRickie LongfellowDarlene SchultzKathy WolfeA very special thank you to all those who contributed to this website’s blog page! Enjoy, keep writing, and Merry Christmas! Special note: I've re-opened up all the previous blog posts' reply/comments form should you want another opportunity to provide author feedback; otherwise, you may comment below.
by Darlene SchultzA tradition that I have recently become aware of is writing a Thanksgiving prayer. Since I have no experience writing this type of prayer, I immediately began to do some research. After an extensive search, I discovered a blog post by Lori Grace Hill entitled Holidays and Seasons with some helpful tips. So, if you would like to write your own Thanksgiving prayer this year, she has three easy steps to guide you. 1. Give thanks for immediate blessings such as:
2. Give thanks for ongoing blessings such as:
3. Ask for continued blessings such as:
After reading Lori’s tips and giving it some thought, I was motivated to write my own Thanksgiving prayer. Here it is: Dear God, There are not enough words in any language to praise you for all you have blessed me with this Thanksgiving. I give praises to you for my family and friends and for all you have generously provided. Thank you, dear God for meeting all my needs. Thank you for my health and for being able to live in a free country. I thank you for your continued guidance and protection in my life. Thank you for giving me more than I have ever needed or could even think to ask for. Praises to you, dear God for all eternity. Amen. So, whatever you choose, whether it be a written prayer or a day-to-day journal of your blessings, just remember to give thanks. We have been truly blessed and taking a moment to reflect and recognize those blessings is what Thanksgiving is all about.
by Kathy Wolfe October is my favorite sweater month. It’s the month to take in the beauty of the trees. Or just enjoy the comfort of the shorter days. Many get wrapped up in the activities of the back–to–school crowd. Still, others choose hiking, or biking to fulfill their October days. But all of us must not forget our writing chores amid these football/grilling days! Since October’s beauty only comes around once a year, I thought I’d share some fall quotes I found. Hope they will boost your writing mood for fall! Then, I’ll end with one of my own October poems. Please enjoy the following 10 quotes.
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