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    Don't Chew on the Sharp End of the Pencil
    Don't Chew on the Sharp End of the Pencil
    Don't Chew on the Sharp End of the Pencil
    Ebook108 pages1 hour

    Don't Chew on the Sharp End of the Pencil

    By Brad OH

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    About this ebook

    For writers and non-writers alike, this is a collection of stories about time management, motivation, content, and how to find the happy ending in your story and your life. For those looking to break into the industry—or anyone looking to find the writer within—this collection put together by the Edmonton Writers Group is sure to have something for you.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrad OH
    Release dateMar 4, 2013
    ISBN9781301239955
    Don't Chew on the Sharp End of the Pencil
    Author

    Brad OH

    The Edmonton Writers Group is an author collective designed to support writers at all stages in their careers. They meet twice monthly to discuss the industry, share experiences, and offer constructive criticism on works in progress. For more information on the EWG, please visit: http://edmontonwritersgroup.blogspot.ca/.

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      Book preview

      Don't Chew on the Sharp End of the Pencil - Brad OH

      Don’t Chew on the Sharp End of the Pencil

      By The Edmonton Writers Group

      Edited by Hal Friesen and Brad OH

      Copyright 2013 Edmonton Writers Group

      Smashwords Edition

      Don’t Chew on the Sharp End of the Pencil

      Stories for the Writer in All of Us

      -By the Edmonton Writers Group-

      Edited by Hal Friesen and Brad OH

      Cover Art: Nicola Martinez

      Table of Contents:

      Introduction

      Time Management: Supper Time Already and I Haven’t Written a Word!

      ‘In the Nick of Time’ –C-Anne Robertson

      ‘Three Minutes at a Time’ –Christina Friesen

      ‘Unfinished Business’ –M.L. Preest

      Content: What to Keep and What to Cut

      ‘Writer or Journalist: Telling Your Character’s Story’ –Alicia Merlyn

      ‘Writing a Novel: From A to Z vs. Z for Zorro’ –Barb O’Brien

      ‘Building Without Block’ –Howard Gibbins

      ‘The Three of Me’ –Karen Probert

      ‘Slowly and Patiently, That’s How We Roll’ –Marie Reed

      ‘Use What the Writing Spirit Gave You’ –Melodie Leclerc

      ‘Ten Lessons I Have Learned About Writing, So Far’ –Simon Mackintosh

      Motivation: What to do When Your Pencil’s Half-Chewed

      ‘Antidote to Fear’ –Aleisha Coote

      ‘Will vs. When: In Defense of the Muses’ –Brad OH Inc.

      ‘Just Write It’ –Chelsea Mckay-Hazewinkel

      The End of Rejection Rags –Hal J. Friesen

      More Than Words on a Page –Kimberley Grabas

      Coming Out of the Closet –Maura Mulcair

      Crouching Writer, Hiding Dog –Natasha Deen

      Bonus: Before We Depart the Chew Chew Train

      ‘Describing Your Surroundings Without Issuing a Weather Report’ –Stephen H. Garrity

      ‘IF’ –Laurie Hanchard

      About the Authors

      Introduction

      There are two problems with being a writer (well, actually, there are many problems, but let’s not overwhelm ourselves). The first is the process. Truly, it’s a tough thing to sit for months on end, compose people and places that don’t exist, wrap them in scenarios and actions, and from all that chaos, hone in on a story truth—and do it all while entertaining readers for two hundred pages or more. The second problem is that writing isn’t a salaried job. We’re not hired to do this.  Instead we write, submit, and hope…and sometimes, it’s the hope that dies when all we get back are rejections and form letters.

      What’s a writer to do?

      Often, we assume we’re not good writers until someone publishes us (not true, by the way. The only thing that publishing does is prove that your story has marketability). Secondly, we think that until we have that contract, we really don’t have anything to offer our fellow writers in regards to motivation, story content, and the like. Again, not true.  The people who get the contracts are the people who have learned these skills and used them to their publishing advantage.

      The moment of epiphany as a writer is when you realize you do have something to say in the form of your story and you do have tricks and tips you can pass on to your fellow writers.  Of course, the interesting and fascinating thing of being a writer is finding that individual path that suits you best. You’ll notice, as you read these stores, that some authors have opinions and processes that are in direct conflict with the others in the book. Good. Fantastic. As it should be—the strength of writing is that we must all find our unique trail.

      So, sit back, grab that coffee and cookie, and let these stories inspire you to find the writer within yourself.

      -Hal Friesen & Brad OH

      Time Management: Supper Time Already and I Haven’t Written a Word!

      Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.

      -Linguist’s garden path saying

      In the Nick of Time

      -By C-Anne Robertson-

      It would be lovely to be able to say that I sat at the computer in my South-facing attic room with the sun warming my back as the words fell neatly in place on the page. It would be nice to say that, but it would be more accurate to say I did chew on the sharp end of the pencil—as a matter of fact, I ate the whole thing. While I have been saying for years that I want to write and have in fact collected a whole file cabinet full of research and accumulated piles of unfinished articles, so far very few of the incredible ideas that magically appear in my head have managed to make it to the keyboard. Most of what I’ve written remains in an unedited state and is yet to be shared. But, I still haven’t given up.

      It is now 10:21 pm and my piece for the anthology is due tomorrow morning. So why am I playing solitaire as I chat to my sister on the phone discussing our TSH levels and bemoaning how quickly the years are passing and how much we have yet to do? I’ve known for a month that I needed to write this piece, but it always seems that there are more important things that need to be done like making caramel popcorn, vacuuming, watching BBC’s ‘Sherlock Homes’, or even worse—work. Sometimes I’m energetic in my diversions and join a friend for Bikram hot yoga, which always leaves me… ready for bed.

      Oh, I’ll get it done, I know that. I always get it done. I am a person who operates by deadlines. And someone gave me a deadline. I’d like to say that this doesn’t happen very often, but unfortunately, just barely meeting deadlines has become a way of life for me in every way. I didn’t choose this stressful lifestyle; it is a medical condition, developed from years of biting off more than I can chew. I realized the prognosis for this persistent condition was not good when it was indicated to me that you do everything like you do anything. This caused a shudder of alarm—surely there must be some cure! I have tried in vain to switch things around so that planning proceeds action, but those seemingly quiet planning moments just filled themselves up.

      In all fairness, one has to understand how someone can contract ‘deadlineosis.’ Well, let me tell you. I got it from the children. When my second child was one month old I decided, in a stroke of insanity, to start a school. By the time the fourth arrived I was already conducting quite a juggling act with Cubs, soccer, gymnastics, ballet and art lessons—that after a full day’s work entangled with 60 other lives.

      The kids’ Halloween costumes were often just pinned into place and the Christmas presents were finally under the tree at about 3 am before the grand opening at 5:30. As the family grew,

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