February 10th is Ghost Stories LIVE!

For those of you who enjoy the tradition of oral story telling and especially the telling of ghost stories, please join Russell Atwood and ghost host Pugsley the Fiendish Ghost at Blue Umbrella Books, 2 Main Street, Westfield, MA on Saturday, February 10th, at 6PM to about 7:30PM or so for the telling of classic and newly written ghost and supernatural tales.

Before Kelly and I founded WhipCity Wordsmiths, I was invited to write and read new ghost and supernatural stories at this event. My first reading was in October 2016. Kelly began writing and reading ghost stories for the event in April 2017. Melissa Volker joined the cast in February 2017 reading her eerie story A Piece f My Heart. 

Kelly, Melissa and I will be reading new stories on February 10th and Russell will be reading a classic story. Rumor is another local author will be joining us that night for the first time with a story he's working on.You never know what will happen or who will appear in this allegedly haunted little indie book shop!

As always, after the readings there will be open mic time for audience members to share their own true stories of ghosts and paranormal experiences from their own lives.

Join us for an evening of spooky stories...if you dare!!

February 2018 Meeting Date Set

The WhipCity Wordsmiths will be meeting at Blue Umbrella Books, 2 Main Street, Westfield, MA on Saturday, February 17th at 3:00PM- around 4:30/5PM.

I Need a Beta Reader!

The Hanging Man is finally finished. I need a beta reader. If you're interested contact me through facebook messenger, a text message if you have my cell number, or via email at sebuffum415@gmail.com   The Hanging Man is a ghost/supernatural/horror story, 9511 words. Thanks!

Ghost Stories LIVE! February Edtion

The next edition of Ghost Stories LIVE!- a combination of the reading of newly written and classic ghost stories by local authors and open mic opportunities for the telling of real paranormal encounters by audience members- will be held at Blue Umbrella Books, 2 Main Street, Westfield, MA on Saturday, February 10, 2018 at 6PM. Come and join ghost host Pugsley the Fiendish Ghost and his cast of local authors and esteemed guest authors for this revival of the custom of scaring one another with the oral telling of ghost stories...in a location that may or may not be haunted! We'll leave that for you to decide!!

January Meeting Notes

The January meeting of the WhipCity Wordsmiths authors/writers group was held at Blue Umbrella Books, 2 Main Street, Westfield, MA on Saturday, January 20, 2018. There were eight members present (Shawn, Susan, Kelly, Sandy, Joseph, Rhonda, Geri,and Judith F.) and three guests, Dorothy, Bella (Sandy's granddaughter), and Angela Powell who was Judith's guest and interested in joining.

Joseph had questions about converting a typed manuscript into a word document. Kelly said it was possible with the use of a scanner and will give him further advice at a future meeting. He had several pages of his manuscript that he gave to Susan who will read them over and give him feedback at the next meeting. He's interested in publishing his memoir. Joseph also writes poetry.

Rhonda has an adult book in the works, a different path for this children's author who loves to rhyme. She had a manuscript color copy of her book that has been popular in Haiti, and showed copies of her T Bear's Adventures books which she signed and gave to Angela as a gift for one of her grandchildren. Rhonda also talked abut Flitten Kitten Fairy Tails.

Shawn spoke about his adventures in self publishing and will be giving more advice on self publishing to Joseph at a future meeting. Shawn is putting together his thoughts on another book, this one about another of his cats. He was encouraged to do so since The Kitty Who Rescued Me after I Rescued Him has been popular and established a connection with a lot of cat lovers. Shawn has been busy attending pet expos, and other events and author appearances to promote his book. He spoke about the difficulty of being ones own publicist and book marketer- a challenge for any self-published author.

Geri enjoys writing essays and found she shares that passion with Angela. Geri will share an essay or two at a future meeting.

Judith, who lost her husband Giuseppe who was also a member, recently talked a bit about his writing that he left for her to work with and she will be doing this. She also spoke about publishing her book Senior Year.

Susan told the group that Andrew was unable to attend because he is in New Orleans but hopes to join us again next month is his schedule allows. Glen had sent a message with his regrets at being unable to attend as he was also out of town. Lynnmarie had sent a message that she was not feeling well and wouldn't make it. Melissa was also sick and unable to attend. Sandy and the group briefly discussed the current flu epidemic and how to keep ourselves safe and healthy until it subsides.

Susan then talked about her new novel (untitled) which got off to two false starts a couple of weeks ago. The first version reached 26,900 words before she grew dissatisfied with the way it was going. She restarted the novel and quickly reached around 50,000, but again found herself dissatisfied with the path the novel was taking. She trashed that, stewed about, vented on facebook, received wise advice from author friends, took a breath, relaxed...and found her muse that same afternoon. The current version (third) now stands at 61,001 and is on track.

Susan then read Pep Talk #1 You Don't Need Permission to Be A Creator from Grant Faulkner's book 52 Pep Talks for Writers (Insights and Actions to Boost Your Creative Mojo) Grant is the executive director of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). We are using this series of pep talks to motivate and encourage the group and promote discussion and mutual support.

Susan had Brandon Royal's The Little Red Writing Book with her and suggested it would be a god investment as it contains 20 powerful principles of structure, style, and readability all authors/writers should be aware of. It's a good writer's tool. She also had a copy of the Writer's Digest Novel & Short Story Writer's Market (2017) book which she left in the store. The 2018 edition is available at Barnes & Noble, to order at Blue Umbrella, or to buy on Amazon or directly from Writer's Digest. There is also a Writer's Market that is an excellent reference book for non-fiction writers and was suggested to Joseph as a resource for finding a publisher for his memoir.

Susan had brought copies of her pre-revision novels and story collections as giveaways. A year ago she revised the interior copy of all her books after a Writer's Digest judge suggested the chapters start mid-way down the page, not one quarter of the way down the page. She also made some minor grammar and technical corrections. And she gave most of her books new covers. Members were excited about the giveaway and helped themselves to books to help pass the winter.

This fourth meeting of the Wordsmiths saw more group participation from members as we have found our comfort zone with one another as fellow authors and writers. Conversation was brisk and lively and there was a wonderful flow to the meeting as everyone had something to offer. The energy and spark was there between members and hopefully everyone left the meeting feeling energized and ready to write!

Not writing related but interesting just the same, Sandy had learned that Susan has always loved camels and has a Christmas story called Bruce about a live camel being delivered for a living Nativity scene instead of a fiberglass camel. Susan also collects camel figurines, plush, and related things including a repro post Civil War era camel bell. So, Sandy gifted Susan a vintage camel saddle that she had at her house! There has got to be a story in this somewhere!!!

The meeting adjourned at 4:30PM.

Out With the Old-FREE BOOKS at WhipCity Wordsmiths meeting Jan 20th

I did text revisions and changed a lot of book covers beginning a year ago, which had left me with stock on hand for many books with the original covers and pre-tweaking to remove/correct minor flaws and update interior aesthetics...therefore, tomorrow, January 20th, from 3PM to around 5PM I will have cartons full of FREE BOOKS for Wordsmith Members and their friends. I need to clear these out and make room for new projects. Bring a bag....you can take as many as you want.

If you feel guilty about just taking books then kindly make a monetary donation in the amount of your choice to Blue Umbrella Books for their support of the Literary Arts in Westfield.

Five Stars for The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley!

Last year was the Year of the Three Star Book for me. I read a few really good books and suffered through a few "dog with fleas" publications but the vast majority gravitated towards the mean of 3.0. Don't get me wrong, three stars signifies a solid offering that I enjoyed reading but can leave me unsatiated and longing for more. The Holy Grail of this book lover is the elusive 5.0 star read.

To my great delight, my 2018 reading season has opened to the upside with a magnificent 5 STAR story ... The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley by Hannah Tinti. I highly recommend this emotionally seductive and addictive tale about the life of career criminal Samuel Hawley and his relationship with his teenage daughter Loo as she matures from child to young adult in the north shore town of Olympus, MA and comes to terms with the criminal past of her father and the life and death of her mother. I experienced a few episodes of leaky eyes!

My full review can be found on Goodreads.

 

January Meeting Reminder

Just a reminder that the WhipCity Wordsmiths will be meeting at Blue Umbrella Books at 3PM on Saturday, January 20th. Bring a favorite brief piece of you own writing to share. We'll do a writing prompt and have another PepTalk and share some more of our thoughts on writing, and talk about our projects if anyone s working on something. I have something going on that begins at noon that day, but will be at the meeting, although I might be a few minutes late.

My Muse 2

     My muse sits on the patio, elbows on the glass-topped table, shoulders hunched, a shock of dark hair streaked with golden sunlight fallen across his brow as he idly pushes the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle around, occasionally making an attempt to unite two pieces.  When he has bent and peered underneath the table for the hundredth time, craning his neck to look up at the underside of the table and the pieces thereon I step out into the shadow beneath the eaves and ask, “What are you looking at?”

     He straightens up in his seat, fastens those piercing eyes upon me and replies, “Sometimes you have to look at things from both sides in order to understand the thing in its entirety.”

     For someone who appears to live like a bohemian, so casually, he sometimes spouts raw wisdom that can cut you to the quick.  His intelligence comes in slashes like the flashing blades of too sharp knives and leaves me feeling wounded with inadequacy for not having had these insights on my own.  “I see,” I say.

     His grin is quick and infectious.  “Don’t lie to me,” he says, “Just tell me how lucky you are to have me around.”

     I capitulate too easily. “I am incredibly fortunate to have you here tormenting me with your brilliance as you do.”

     He picks up a piece of the jigsaw, holds it up as though it is a glass of wine he is studying.  I frown slightly for the piece does seem opaque as though it has captured some of the light and locked it away deep within itself.  “Here is the heart of the matter,” he says, winking before he locks the piece in place.  “Now go inside and write like the wind.”

     “Will you be breathing down my neck?”

     “With every period, every semi-colon, every exclamation point.  I really do adore exclamation points, you know. They’re so cheeky.”

     “British today, are we?”  He usually prefers French, sometimes Latin, occasionally Irish as he can be so full of blarney at times.

     “Smashing!”

     “Cars or pumpkins?” I inquire, turning away.  In my peripheral vision he shimmers.

     “Why not success?”

     “Why not!”

     “That’s it, love!” he calls.

Reflections on the Art of Writing

Reflections on the Art of Writing by Susan Buffum

“Writing should be a labor of love, not an agony of labor.”

“I have no clue where this is going, but that is the joy of writing- going on an adventure, not knowing where the twists and turns will be. It is a journey through the funhouse that is my imagination.”

Holding my Minion-shaped USB in my hand this thought strikes me: “This is my minion, Stuart. When I plug him into my computer’s USB port and the titles of the files he contains appear on the screen I feel like how Howard Carter must have felt at his first glimpse into Tutankhamen’s tomb. ‘What do you see?’ he was asked. ‘Wonderful things!” was his reply. Yes, indeed, wonderful things.

“New characters were whispering in the wings and have now stepped out upon the stage in the theatre of my imagination. And we, the characters and me as their appointed scribe, are currently writing tonight.”

“I am either a writer or I have some high functioning form of insanity.”

“I never know what I’m actually writing until it’s finished.”

On writing fiction: “The best thing about writing fiction is tht you construct a world, populate it with characters from your own imagination, and then manipulate them within that environment that you have created, also from your own imagination, and anything can happen in that world. Anything at all.”

“It’s a powerful and profound experience to be the one in control of an entire world and its inhabitants.”

“It is humbling and amazing to be able to draw a reader into that world that you have created in your novel and to influence their emotions just by the use of words written ust so on the page.”

“I suppose writing is like staging a playhouse production- building sets, telling a story, directing a diverse cast of characters, and making at all come alive in the theatre of the reader’s imagination.”

“The thing about writing that constantly amazes me is that the story that I think I am writing when I begin typing always morphs and shape shifts seemingly all of its own volition, leading me down roads that I ordinarily would not have traveled because they are not rutted and worn by frequent passage, but are rather more mere paths that wend into dark, shadowed, wild woodland where anything can happen- anything at all.

The thrill of getting lost is visceral and real. The relief of following that unblazed trail and discovering something within yourself, within your own psyche, and forging a story from those shapes and shadows is no small feat for an author. It is an epic feeling of discovery mixed with the euphoria of triumph, of victory. You have conquered a world!

But then follows the soul wrenching anxiety of offering that world to the fickle caprices of the reader. Hope is so delicate, so fragile, so ethereal a thing…so easily shattered, so quickly broken. I suppose all writers suffer this duality- the ecstasy and then the agony when a story they have written is made available to the real world.”

“Another thought on being a writer- writing is a creative process, an engine that constantly runs within me. It thrums alongside the flow of my blood through my veins. It cohabitates with my ordinary, mundane thought processes but follows different routes through my brain, separate tracks, if you will. I can be sitting at my desk paying bills, balancing the household budget, or standing at the kitchen counter baking a batch of brwnies or preparing dinner, or sorting laundry, answering the phone, sweeping the floor- just doing normal ever day tasks or chores- but always on that other track in my head the little engine of storytelling is chugging along.”

“As a writer, I only capture a very minute percentage of the stories running  through my head on a daily basis. When I sit down to write, I can only write one story at a time although there are many more stories pushing and clamoring to be told. It can be discouraging and defeating to lose so much because I am unable to write everything down. However, it would be even more devastating not to put down the stories that I do catch, like butterflies in a net, because to allow them all to flutter free to vanish into the void of lost memories would be like driving a stake through my own heart. It would be like killing myself, the stories and I are so closely intertwined.”

“My muse is the one that constantly stokes the firebox that powers the little engine of creativity along the track in my mind where inspiration flashes full steam ahead.! That is how writing is with me.”

Looking For Ideas for Author/Literary Local Events

I'll be attending an Artworks Westfield Board of Directors Brainstorming Retreat and would like your input an ideas on the types of events you'd like to see in Westfield in 2018. There is already an Articulture2018 planned for the end of April that will host artists and authors like the past two years. WhipCity Wordsmiths had a presence at PumpkinFest this past fall when we joined with ArtWorks for an Art&Lit event in the Old Town Hall during PumpkinFest- a truly terrific event that was more than well attended!

What would you like to see this year or in 2019? Let me know and I will pass ideas along so we can continue to make things happen in Westfield. The retreat is the day of our next meeting, so I will be there for several hours before joining everyone at Blue Umbrella Books on January 20th.

Oh That Ending!

How does an author think about the ending of a book?

My inquiry stems from my very first experience with New York Times and USA Today bestselling author J.T. Ellison and her most recent release Lie To Me. 

The first three hundred seventy-five plus pages were amazingly addictive, the story robust and complexly layered with the past and present circumstances surrounding the disappearance of writer Sutton Monclair. Of course her husband Ethan Montclair is the initial and prime suspect but the police officer handling the case senses something is amiss. I could not wait to get back to the story each time life interfered with my reading time.

For me, this amazing story was hollowed out by a very soft ending. As I raced to the end and dashed into the final scenes, my gut sighed, "That's it?" Disappointment. Anticlimactic. Bummed out.

The twist embedded within the twist was very clever and transformed the story from a tale about a broken marriage to one of conspiratorial vengeance and mistaken identity but the articulation and exploration of the ending twist was ... shallow and so unfulfilling. The author blew it! Or was it the editor?

You can read by full review on Goodreads.

What was shaping up be a wonderfully absorbing 5 star read to close out 2017 ended up being a 3 star disappointment.

I am curious how the conclusion of a story fits into the creative process. Thoughts?