Ten Rules of Writing

A list called “Ten Rules of Writing” was posted on Facebook recently. Like any writer, I thought, “My ten rules would be different.” Perhaps your list would be different still. The exercise in writing mine was fun. It gave me a chance to think about what is important to me in writing. Tomorrow, or next year, I might change my rules in part or in whole. 

1. A critique is not a character assessment. It is a suggestion for making your piece better. And, if it really is a deliberate “slam,” then, the critique is not about you. It’s about them – the critic. They are trying to balance the chink in their own armor by poking a lance through yours.
2. There are no mistakes in writing. Like in scientific research, there are only opportunities to rule-out ways that didn’t work, so you can write words that do.
3. Writing is a deliberate act. You don’t accidently write a novel. It takes time, persistence and effort.
4. Not all writers use the same writing process – one is not correct and the other wrong. Some don’t know where their story is going, or what will happen next, until they see it on the computer screen in front of them. Some make elaborate outlines and story boards.
   A young boy sat down with me at a book signing and let me know he was a writer too. He began telling me his story that described action over several days and locations. When I asked him how far he has gotten in the writing, he said, “A page and a half. Writing it is boring.” But then, he was about twelve.
5. Writing is beginning and then beginning again. When you finish typing the last word of your book, realize that it was a good start. Now, you can begin to write the book. The first version was the bones. Now, is the time to flesh-out the skeleton and draw out real characters in your novels, and memorable points in non-fiction books.
6. It takes longer than you think. Always remember, a thirty minute “fix” of a manuscript will take at least five days. Last week, I decided to cut the size of Lincoln’s Christmas Mouse in half so it would fit into an Operation Christmas Child shoe box. I had written it years ago! It shouldn’t have taken very long. Meanwhile, a week later, it was done again.
7. Protect your creative energy. Telling the plot of your story to other people before you put it on paper can destroy the urgency to write it. Tell the story to your computer. Then you can create a synopsis to share with others. In writing, that’s called your “elevator speech” – a description of the book that can be expressed to an agent or editor in the time it takes to meet them in the elevator on the first floor and finish it by the time they get off on the seventh.
8. You are a writer if you write. A vary famous author said, “You aren’t really published unless you’ve signed with a large publishing house.” That is no longer true. There are fewer and fewer book publishers. Even the “famous” guy is now advertising assistance to help indie authors self-publish.
   I told my professor of Beginning Drawing at New Mexico State University, I would love to be an artist. His response, “You’re drawing. You are an artist. You may be a good one or bad one, but you are an artist.” If you write, you’re an author – period.
9. Promote your own work. If you hire a marketing expert, they’ll ask you what you are doing to promote your work. If you have signed with a publisher, they will ask, “How are you going to promote your work?” Some, especially women, have been taught NOT to tell others about their work – that’s bragging. It is not! It is marketing!
   I talked to Richard Paul Evans last summer about the ease of writing and the difficulty of marketing. He said, “Remember, marketing is part of writing.” You have to do both if you want people to read your books.
10. Enjoy the whole process: writing, self-editing, cover creation, marketing and book signings. I’m not saying you will be great at all aspects of writing. Hopefully, you are a brilliant writer. The other elements that go into writing fall under one of my self-created motto: “What you do not naturally do, you must deliberately do.” You can learn to self-edit by reading Browne and King’s book. Develop the language of rudimentary layout so you can communicate with your cover designer. Read some good books on book marketing, Jusino’s book comes to mind. Schedule your own book signing. Remember, a signing is not about selling a lot of books. It’s about meeting people and getting your name out there. You can’t have a bad book signing. Create some business-card size promotionals with your book title, ISBN, your name and contact information on them. Pass them out to everyone who attends, those who buy your books and those who have listened to you. It’s all positive—if you believe it is. Believe in yourself if you want others to.

Those were my ten. What are yours?

Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.

Author/Psychologist

Christmas Feathers a short story in a compilation titled Christmases Past

Many other novels and non-fiction books available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Cokesbury and others

 

References: 

Browne, Renni and King, Dave (1993/2004). Self-Editing for Fiction Writers. HarperCollins, New York 

Jusino, Beth. (2014). The Author's Guide to Marketing: Make a Plan That Attracts More Readers and Sells More Books (You May Even Enjoy It). Sharper Words Press. Seattle, WA

Alzheimer’s/Caregivers Month: “Al” is Talking

“When I came in to visit Richard, he said, ‘What are you doing here?’” Sarah told me. “I was so hurt I just sat there for two hours while he rolled over and didn’t say anything else.”

“That wasn’t Richard, Sarah. That was Al talking,” I reassured her. “Richard is leaving you and Alzheimer’s, aka ‘Al,’ is replacing him.” As her sister-in-law and a psychologist, my heart broke for her. She was suffering the loss of her husband day after day.

If Al, or Alice, is crowding out the person you love, you, as the caregiver, can be hurt when the impostor is rude or misunderstood. In Richard’s case, his dry sense of humor and kidding nature no longer came with a smile and a slap on the back. His expressions were flat, his joking was no longer funny and his eyes had lost their sparkle. But, he was still trying to be Richard. He just couldn’t play the “hero part” any longer. He had been reduced to a character-roll in the movie of his own life.

For the caregiver, the important thing to remember is, your loved one is not intending to hurt or embarrass you. They don’t know their lines anymore and the script changes every day. The actor’s name has even been re-written, from Richard to Al and you don’t’ know Al. Just remember—your parent or spouse doesn’t know Al either.

You have become the memory, the detail-holder for the family. Keep a day-planner and/or journal to help you remember your treasured past, your daily appointment and activities, as well as your loved one’s memories. This will help you, as caregiver, relax and take the anxiety out of holding it all in short-term memory.

 As Richard slowly faded away, Sarah would take out an album or stack of pictures from her purse. She would say, “You remember Jason and Shelly. This is their picture from ten years ago and this is the new one we took last week.” Richard would smile at the old picture of family or friends and then study the new one. He seemed to be trying to make new memories. Sarah’s reminders happened several times a day, so Richard was able to be part of a family reunion or gathering and not just in the group.

If “Al” doesn’t recognize or respond to new information or the efforts you are putting into their care, you need not interpret that as a personal failing of your own. It’s not about you or your shortcomings as a caregiver. It is about Al or Alice. Like the movie, “The Invasion of the Body Snatchers,” Alzheimer’s has come in and is slowly pushing your loved one out of their own body. As you would with a precious baby, talk to your loved one like you always have, but don’t be hurt is they don’t respond in the way they have in the past. Remember, you are talking to the remnant of the person you knew. They are still inside and love your touch, the melodic sound of your voice, and the interesting people you talk to them about.

God teaches his people with repeated lessons. "For He says, 'Order on order, order on order, Line on line, line on line, A little here, a little there.” Isaiah 28:10.  Our loved ones are not learning new precepts like in Isaiah. They are being reminded of their life so they can hold on a little longer. Be patient. This is the blessing of your life for such a time as this.

When “Al” talks to you, respond to Richard and to Al, so that Al isn’t more confused than they were. The old memories belong to Richard; the new confusion is Al’s. Let Al know that you are not disappointed in him. He is loved too. When Al speaks, listen, but don’t expect him to sound like Richard. Richard has taken a divergent path and is on the long-way-home.

Doris Gaines Rapp, Ph.D.

Copyright 2014 Doris Gaines Rapp

Author/Psychologist

Contributor- Christmases Past

Many other books and novels by this author are available on Amazon and other sites.

November - Native American Month

Old Grandfather said, “Smoke from distant fires can still sting the eyes.” (Smoke from Distant Fires – Doris Gaines Rapp 2014) Many of us would agree. Hurts from the past can brow in and choke us, making us feel badly even years after the incident.

For those of us blessed with a good memory, things that stung our heart and left us wounded in the past can come around again and pierce our armor of self-assuredness even years later. What can we do about it?

1.      Seek forgiveness from the one you offended and then go to God. It is the other person responsibility to forgive you. If they refuse, do not let that rob you of your peace of mind. You do not need their forgiveness to be forgiven.  It is your responsibility to seek forgiveness. It is the other person’s responsibility to be “forgiving.” “Forgiveness,” however, belongs to God.

2.      No longer own the embarrassment. Perhaps you were not at fault in the first place. If you weren’t, then you can shake free from the negative emotion that still tries to entangle you and hold you captive.

3.      If you have sought forgiveness, then believe that you are forgiven. Don’t pick up that bolder and try to carry it again. That burden is no longer yours.

4.      The hardest person to forgive is you. Do not re-inflict pain on yourself every time you think of the original offense. Let it go. You are free. God said you are.

Old Grandfather was right. Old hurts can continue to stab at the heart. Only you can stop the pain by not claiming ownership of them. Millie and Silvia, in Smoke from Distant Fires, learn that things that happened in the past by kinsmen do not belong to them. Native American month is a good time to learn to leave the hurts of the past where they belong and embrace the beauty, traditions and lessons of love that remain.

Doris

Doris Gaines Rapp

Smoke from Distant Fires

Alzheimer's Disease Awareness and Caregivers Month Blog Tour

President Ronald Reagan designated November as National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month in 1983. At the time, fewer than 2 million Americans had Alzheimer’s; today, the number of people with the disease has soared to nearly 5.4 million (Alzheimer’s Association, 2014).  The Author Community of Helping Hands Press is getting involved this month, and hopes to help raise awareness for Alzheimer’s disease.
Staring Nov. 3^rd, with Anne Baxter Campbell’s blog post, mine is Tuesday the 4th and Sue Badeau’s appearance on blogtalk radio, and finishing on Nov. 25^th with Mark Venturini’s blog post, many of the authors in the Helping Hands Press Community will be sharing their personal stories.
Who are the authors, their blogs and what days?
Here is the list:
Nov.3^rd-Anne Baxter Campbell- http://pewperspective.blogspot.com/
Nov.4^th –Doris Gaines Rapp- http://dorisgainesrapp.blogspot.com/
Nov.5^th-Marcia Lee Laycock- http://marcialeelaycock.com/thespur/
Nov. 7^th –Sheila Seiler Lagrand- http://sheilalagrand.com/
Nov. 8^th –Giovanni Gelati- http://gelatisscoop.blogspot.com/
Nov. 10^th –Ruth L. Snyder- http://ruthlsnyder.com/
Nov. 10^th –Cindy Noonan- http://www.cindynoonan.com/
Nov. 11^th-Sue Badeau- http://suebadeau.webs.com/apps/blog/
Nov. 12^th-Peggy Blann Phifer- http://www.whispersinpurple.com/
Nov. 13^th-Sandy Sieber- http://pahistorybooks.blogspot.com/
Nov. 13^th- Joy Ross Davis- http://joyrossdavis.com/blog/
Nov.14^th –Karen Gass- http://www.cottonspice.net/
Nov. 17^th –Patti J. Smith- http://gridirongrannyfootballfanatic.blogspot.com/
Nov. 18^th-Tracy Krauss- http://www.tracykraussexpressionexpress.com/
Nov.19^th –Melanie M. Jeschke- http://melaniejeschke.blogspot.com/
Nov.21^st- Andrea J. Graham- http://www.christsglory.com/
Nov.22^nd-Linda Wood Rondeau- http://lindarondeau.blogspot.com/
Nov.24^th-Diane Huff Pitts- http://dianehuffpitts.com/
Nov.25^th –Mark Venturini- http://markventurinijourney.blogspot.com/    

Beggars’ Night

“It’s Beggar’s Night!” Mama said. “Hurry and get your costume on.”

In that magical time of long ago when I was a child, the evening before Halloween was Beggar’s Night. Vandals roamed the streets during the darkened hours of Halloween. Eggs were thrown, trees were tee-peed and in the country, outhouses were overturned. There have been times of mischief when the little “necessity house” at the end of the path was occupied. Beggar’s Night was for young children who only wanted fun and candy for their sacks.

Make the time spent at your door special this Halloween (or next). As an author, I started thinking about surprise treats for the tricksters. Plan ahead and have on hand, a small book you’ve written and signed to stuff in their sack. Or, prepare a sheet of stickers with your book cover on it for children young enough to just like to stick sticky things to paper? If your publisher supplies “book stubs,” reserve some for the little “spooks” dearest and nearest to you, and drop one in their bag, piggybacked by a rubber band to a candy bar. Create special buttons displaying your latest book cover. Order extra pins to pass out at your next book signing.

Don’t be a beggar as you try to get attention for your newest book. Have fun passing the cover art out in a form the children will enjoy receiving. Get creative! Wait . . . you already are!

Doris
Doris Gaines Rapp

Prayer Therapy of Jesus

Waiting for Jesus in a Can’t Wait World
Hiawassee – Child of the Meadow
Smoke from Distant Fires
Escape from the Belfry
Length of Days – The Age of Silence
Lincoln’s Christmas Mouse – Reformatted to smaller size – out soon

The Weeping Willow that Refused to Cry

I went out on the deck for a while late this afternoon and watched the golden leaves fall to the ground and gather around my feet as I sat on the glider. The wind blew two ticks higher than a gently breeze but it was invigorating and clean. Everywhere I looked the world was full of color. As I sat there, I continued to be amazed by one of the weeping willow trees in the yard. Beauty had overcome injury and loss.

The great ice storm of about six winters past broke many of the branches of the tree that draped to the ground like a fine lady’s long skirt. Some of the limbs lay across power lines and had to be trimmed. What was left was only a trunk, like a tall totem pole, absent the carvings that tell a family’s history. My husband got out the chain saw and cut it back to four feet off the ground. He made a circular cut around the base of the tall stump and another cut across the diameter to keep it from growing.

“It’s too cold out there and more snow is moving in. I’ll finish taking it out this spring,” he said as he started upstairs to take a hot shower.

A few months later, when the crocuses reached from beneath the soil and pushed their painted petals to the surface, the weeping willow refused to cry. It started sprouting new branches from the flat surface of the stump. Now, half a dozen years later, there are fourteen or fifteen branches on the oddly shaped tree. In the first few summers, when it was full of leaves, it looked like a very large weeping willow bush. Now, the branches threaten the power lines once again, like the tree is either mocking the injury it had received, or reaching toward Heaven in a beautiful wind-blown dance of life.

Do you let injury and hardship rob you of your ability to dance? Are you stuck in your life or in your career? Have things continually not worked out as you had hoped? Do you withhold the beauty of new branches in your life when you needs pruning? Are you afraid to become a different kind of tree?

My husband is a minister so we have moved frequently. I have held many jobs that I have loved and have had to resign because we moved . . . and then we moved . . . and moved . . . and moved again. But, God has not let this tree die. He continues to send out new branches and has blessed me with stories to tell. I love my life as an author as much as my life as a psychologist or teacher.

Choose to start again every time the ice storms come. Write a new story. Paint a new picture. Build an heirloom cabinet out of the tree trunk in the yard. Give up weeping and join the dance of life.

Doris

Doris Gaines Rapp 

Prayer Therapy of Jesus

Waiting for Jesus in a Can’t Wait World

Hiawassee – Child of the Meadow

Smoke from Distant Fires

Escape from the Belfry

Length of Days – The Age of Silence

Lincoln’s Christmas Mouse

     

Reviews Are Precious Jewels

Well thought out book -   June 22, 2014     (Amazon Customer)
             

MAY OUR DAYS BE LONG AND MAY WE NEVER BE SILENT.
This author picks the subject that nags us today but looks back from the future, which contains the results of our actions today. Our grandchildren suffer a future that was initiated while we sat staring into a piece of glass that changes 60 or 120 times per second. We believe that we are seeing the truth as those dots appear and vanish before our brains can reconstruct...Read More

MAY OUR DAYS BE LONG AND MAY WE NEVER BE SILENT.
This author picks the subject that nags us today but looks back from the future, which contains the results of our actions today. Our grandchildren suffer a future that was initiated while we sat staring into a piece of glass that changes 60 or 120 times per second. We believe that we are seeing the truth as those dots appear and vanish before our brains can reconstruct the message. They are only dots that vanish as quickly as they arrive, leaving an impression that we believe to be true as we ignore the person sitting next to us.
The author asks us, “Should we act within those things that we know to be true or should we live in a lifeless gray world which is ruled by a government that treats our grandchildren as a bowl of mashed potatoes to be used for their own purposes?”
The book begins slowly as the author sets the stage for the main characters to begin the realization that they have been drugged all of their life. They soon discover that they have minds and instincts that we were born with and that they are perfectly capable of living without those controls.
The class system allows a certain group to live outside the law.
The author develops the characters as the story flows. I was happy to [see] the strengths arise as the characters met each new problem. Even the antagonist was developed further as the crises developed.
The author manages the problems that arise quickly to move the characters along to a conclusion.
I like the idea that men many years ago thought far enough ahead and wrote the rules that led us to this year. Will we be able to pass those rules to the next generation or will we be complacent, uninformed with our little glass in our hand?
Thank you Doris Rapp for a well-constructed book, and for being concerned for our grandchildren.
I stayed up late last night in order to get to the last page…..Oh, yes there is a cliffhanger.
I recommend this for for everyone, especially the young generation

 

Thank you to this anonymous reviewer on Amazon! Your words sparkle like  diamonds! To all of you precious readers, please remember to post a review for a book you enjoyed reading. It is vital to the success of the book and the author! Each review is a precious jewel, my reward for months of work.