Monday, June 16, 2014

to be a writer

by Anna Maria Hansen


On June 23rd, Third Story Writers Guild were visited by New York Times bestselling author Michael Perry. In addition to a public presentation, Perry took time to share insights into his personal writing journey.

There was a lot that resonated during his discussion. As writers, we've heard a lot of the theories before. Write what you know. Find a place you're comfortable with. Look for inspiration. Et cetera. The list goes on into infinity and then just a couple feet beyond.

This was a chance for us to talk to someone who was where we're headed. Michael Perry makes his living off his writing, churning out enough words to support a family and keep the necessary amount of sanity at the same time.

His writing? Everything from full-length novels, to a freelance writing guide, to magazine articles, to truck advertisements. He calls it, “Feeding a habit.” For him, writing is what he want to do most, and he is willing to do what it takes to make that his life.

He writes every day (we've all heard that one; how many of us take it to heart is the question). Not a set word or page count. Just sits down every day in whatever spare minute pops up and writes. Whatever. Anything that he can write, he does.

That gave me an idea. If I can write anything, work on anything that involves writing – yes, I can do that. I love words, reading them, picking them apart, translating, and elaborating them. I can do that every day. It's a skill; sharpen it. Leave it sitting around waiting for the muse, and it will be dull when inspiration strikes.

That was another part of Michael Perry's writing structure that stuck with me and made a lot of sense to my rural Wisconsin life. He likens writing to be a dairy farmer. “You can't wait to be inspired to milk the cows.” And the same goes for writing. If you want to make a living at it, you have to write.

Perry treats writing like a job. One he loves, albeit, but a job none-the-less. Writing pays his bills, fills hours of his day and at the same time, fills a strong desire to fill blank pages with black text. And he operates with the same dedication and commitment that many of us work our jobs. Because if we don't, we loose them. And that attitude toward writing – if you want to make it your living – is what's going to make it possible.

Perry was born a farm boy, went to school to become a nurse, worked as an EMT and then dropped it all to fulfill a passion he hadn't realized had existed... writing. All the experiences he had up until that point and all that came after it fuel his writing and keep it alive.

The key thing I took away from talking to him: If you want to be a writer, be one.

Just do it.

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

The right place at the right time...

By Karen Dums

Call it Divine Intervention.
Call it fate.
Call it perfect alignment of your stars.
Call it pure chance or coincidence.
Sometimes it's all a matter of being in the right place at the right time.

So a guy walks into a bar... Scratch that.

So a guy and his wife walk into a bistro. Their second choice for dinner out. They order drinks and a pizza. The owner, who knows the guy is a poet, says he'll give him the pizza for free if he stands up and recites one of his poems. This guy has a great voice, both in his writing and in his presentation. Free pizza? Why not. He stands and recites "The Catchall", one of his many poems about fishing.

Two guys are sitting at the bar. Two guys who happen to publish a little paper downstate. A little paper that also has an online presence. When they hear the poem they are impressed (as well they should have been) and ask the guy for some information. Request his poetry. A chance for publication. Boggles the mind, doesn't it?

Did the owner know the two men were in the publishing biz when he asked the guy to recite his poem?

Doesn't really matter, does it? All the pieces were perfectly in place for an opportunity. An opportunity Scott Schmidt, who happens to be "the guy", and who happens to be an active member of Third Story Writer's Guild, took. He took it, he ran with it. Where will it lead? We don't know, but it was an open door. Scott took a chance and stepped through it.

What if he and his wife had gone to the other restaurant they were considering?

What if CCC owner Greg Broome hadn't asked him to recite a poem?

What if he'd been too shy to do it?

[See above]

What if we have opportunity staring us in the face and either don't recognize it, or won't take note of it because of fear or some other "holding us back" emotion?

Not all of us write with an eye to publication. We're content to hide our light under the proverbial bushel. And that's more than okay. But those who want it. Truly want it, must set aside fear, shyness, anything that holds them back and go for it. When opportunity knocks they must open the door and walk  bold through.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained may be a cliche', but it's a true one.

Way to go Scott. Good luck with this. May it bring you great success.

I for one would love to say "I knew him when..."