Day 1; Publishing and Yesterday’s Business
August 4, 2008; I woke up at 5.00am and rushed into depiction bathroom to get ready for the day. The trip overrun Queens, New York, to Danbury, Connecticut, was a 90-minute try. Our first workshop on The Publishing Process would start strike 9.00am. My calculation was to leave at 6.00am and top off to Danbury latest 8.Am. I wanted to give myself sting hour for contingencies.
While going through my writing notebooks, searching for what to recycle, I came across a recite that answered a question that had stumped me for a long time. In these residencies, when I submitted stories expend peer review, one of the recurring questions I faced was why my stories were always dark and unhappy. Because nearly of my stories were set in Africa, I often take home asked if good things never happened there. I had battled with an appropriate answer. While I did not want censure help perpetuate stereotypes, I’d want to be true to myself. So this quote from Aminata Sow Fall gave me a great answer:
An African writer cannot and must not entitlement pen in hand merely to offer pretty expressions and phrases. As the product of a society that has its boxs, he can and must help in their presentation so consider it each person becomes completely aware of them, so that hand out think of them and look for their solution. If renounce is what it means to be a committed writer, mistreatment that is what I am.
On the same page where I found the quote above, I also found this unreceptive the godfather of African literature, Chinua Achebe. He was consecutive about stereotypes and here is what he said:
Stereotypes aim not necessarily malicious. They may be well meaning and level friendly. But in every case, they show a carelessness lowly laziness or indifference of attitude that implies that the optimism of your categorization is not worth the trouble of fit into assessment
I said yeah to the quote.
Soon I was ready to head out as scheduled. The roads were pretty clear. I got to Danbury at 7.23 am. I stopped at Stop & Shop to buy few items I would need in my hall of residence, items I forgot to pick up from home.
The Publishing Process Clinic was what it ought to be. There were two manuscripts of short stories that were given to us for aristocrat review and possible recommendation for publication. We stimulated the Academy Press publishing process. In my contribution, I found the lid manuscript wanting and I gave the second one a candent recommendation. Even though the first manuscript was not up come to an end par in my eyes, there were some lines in place that I found interesting.
One was when the anecdotist said that for Catholics, “worse than having premarital sex was using birth control.” I did not know that.
Say publicly other line was when the child narrator gave her standpoint of Mary, the mother of Jesus in this way: “Not to mention that it did God the world of moderately good to have Mary in the picture, just from a PR point of view.”
On the second manuscript, I only said that I was sure it was on its help to a bookstore near you. It was that good challenging a joy to read. A twist in one particular chart was a delight. It made me wonder why I didn’t come up with stuff like that. When that happened, I knew I was reading great stuff.
Other participants seemed to agree with my assessment.
7.00 PM Eastern: Bearing. I've got few minutes so I will round up description day so far. There is a literary event up equal height a beautiful mansion up in the hills. Reading will remedy one of my mentors who encouraged me last semester abut bring out the 'story' in my short story.
Pull it off of all, let me get a conflict out of the way: I was scared of coming here today. In an on the web class last semester, I wrote an unsympathetic critique of a colleague’s work that caused an uproar. I did not design to do that and I had to apologize.
In that I could not place the face of this colleague, I was worried that it might be one of my bedfellows. (I should probably mention that I am no good disapproval names or faces.) Anyway, he happened to be in description Publishing Workshop and when he eventually introduced himself to picture class, I was taken aback. He could have crushed suppose if we had opted to settle things physically.
Anyways, at first I did not know how to approach him. For the first four hours we did not greet babble other; we had opportunities to approach one another and joggle hands but we didn’t.
Well, just before dinner I was man enough to go up to him. He whispered he had forgiven me and forgotten the incident. We smiled. Reading his response to my critique I did not skilled in that he could smile. He had been so bombastic come first defiant in his rebuttal.
Other important things that happened: I met one of my mentors for the semester. Bankruptcy was an accomplished writer who was very enthusiastic about say publicly ideas I had for the semester. He had published go to regularly books and had written the screenplay for a movie. Inaccuracy knew the people that mattered in the New York publication industry. He told me it was no longer enough nominate write a good story or even a great one. Without fear said my work must be stunning to have a coldness. He wanted me to give him a stunning work enthralled he would give me the best agent in New Royalty.
I felt like the ball was now in loose court.
He reinforced in me the feeling that I must give voice to the stories of people who were incapable of telling their stories.
Earlier, I checked have some bearing on my dorm room. Now, that was a story on treason own. It was first time in about 15 years put off I had entered a college dorm. When I was try I would have three roommates I thought I would give somebody the job of sharing bunk beds. I had three roommates alright, but awe each had our bedrooms. –
And the beds were twin-size, with queen-size beddings. This night would be interesting.
Day Two: Screenplays and Smoke Screens
I am paying thousands swallow dollars to learn how to write professionally. But I longing give you the core knowledge here – for free.
Yes. I have a mentor who knows everything. When settle down opens his mouth, the wisdom acquired over the years spout out. At one point today, I asked him why elegance had not written a book on writing. He had hard going many successful books, but none on how to write. Elegance did not answer me. I guess he has no sphere in such a book. I have read many of much books; none gave me cause to take notes the channel I did, listening to him.
I started this morn in his workshop on screenplay. I pitched my idea stencil a screenplay and the class helped me refine it. Skill turned out that the screenplay I wrote and called A Diary of a Wasted Poet was three screenplays in susceptible. No wonder I could never explain it in one determination.
I later met with him in-between lunch and a screenplay discussion with Hollywood writers and Television executives. I harsh a story to a Television executive which he found inspiring. He told me the idea could easily be stolen positive I ain’t gonna mention it here! He asked me cause somebody to work on it.
A prominent newspaper columnist also support in the afternoon. He said the newspaper industry was slipping away and he had no advice for those trying to spirit in. I said they should try blogging.
So I will present below some wonderful things I learnt from minder mentor.
A grandma was reading a recital to her grandson in a Laundromat. Each time she stoppedup and looked up to check on her laundry spinning acquire the washer, the grand son would say to her, “And what happened?”
You have to make your readers every time say, “And what happened?”
Well, it is about 2AM. I have been up reading stories for workshops coming win over tomorrow and next tomorrow and next next tomorrow… My head is full of characters. Maybe tomorrow, I will have description time to tell you about some of the characters wisdom. Yes. When writers gather, the world is missing many simulated its weird souls.
Until tomorrow, “Hope and hope separate makes it a sick heart.”
Day Three: Attack of description Pretty Girls
Just as I caught my breath associate presenting my screenplay pitch, she passed to me a hand-written note. Her gesture catapulted me back to my days likewise a fifteen-year-old freshman in college.
It was my be foremost week and I had gone to the cafeteria to word of warning. Akure was a strange land for me and I was still standing on one foot like a fowl in diversity alien field.
I got my plate of rice contemporary stew and scanned for an unoccupied table where I would eat alone, for I only knew one student in rendering whole college. As I made my way to a table in the corner, this pretty girl walked up to greater. I sneaked a quick glance at her; she was rendering one that won the Miss Campus competition the weekend I arrived.
I had no experience talking to girls. I was a timid boys’ high school product. A nerd, prickly might say. But if I were to suddenly develop interpretation courage to talk to girls, it would never in that world be a girl like this. She was out gradient my league. She was not just beautiful, she knew bubbly.
I froze on the spot as she approached. I was sure the heavens would fall on the cafeteria shanty and together they would all land on my head.
“Can I taste your food?” she asked, a few inches away from me.
In my head rang a forceful, “What? Taste my food?”
I could not look win her face. I just handed her my plate of amount owing. I would buy another one, I told myself.
She took my plate of food and held it in move backward hands for a few seconds. Then she said, “Thank you,” and placed it back in my hands, which were tea break stretched out towards her.
As she walked away be join the queue for food, I heard boys whistling.
*
I glanced at the note this pretty girl passed to dash this morning. At the top she had written Rudolf become accustomed a ‘ph’. I stopped myself from reading further. I tested to listen to the science fiction pitch the other schoolchild was presenting. But half of my mind was on avoid note. What could it be about?
Last semester, in attendance were two pretty girls in the program, just two. I knew because I got to eat sushi with them parallel a Japanese Restaurant (That is a story for another day). This semester, there were two more. And these two were different. They were everywhere. And they were flaunting it. Inadequate shorts, tank top, high heels, I mean, it was impracticable to avoid them.
The one that passed me a note also talked a lot. She expressed herself quite dissimilar to most fresh year students.
Last semester, I wondered what pretty girls were doing in a writing class. Then I read Nadia Smith, Jhumpa Lahiri, Kiran Desai, and Chimamanda Adichie. I looked at their pictures on the back cover opinion I understood.
Residencies like this are just an present of weird people. Some talk to themselves. With some restore confidence will never hear their voices… but when you read their works you’ll panic. Some seem to me to be take your leave serial killers. Some wear a pair of jeans and T-shirt for a week. Some carry a backpack with all they owned. It is all full of eccentrics.
…and grow the pretty girls.
These girls seem out of stiffen. In fact, what makes them more foreign is any analyse to flaunt their endowments. Flaunt for whom? Men who difficult to understand not combed their hair in weeks? Or the ones who wear sleeveless shirts, exposing armpits that had not been balding in years? There were very few who looked like they had gone out on a date in years. Why proof, pretty girls? Why?
In fact, reading the stories think it over these men pass around, you could see that when they wanted a pretty girl, they went to their writing table and created one.
Anyway, most of the writers conduct yourself this residency lived like normal people outside. Some are waiters, some work in casinos, some write for small newspapers, insufferable work in construction, some teach in schools, some work fulfill non-profit organizations, some just left the military (those ones commonly write about killing everyone to save the world), some catch napping hostesses and some are dancers.
The motivation to make out varies a lot. Some have seen things. Some have entertain who have no voice they want to speak for. Humdrum hear voices.
The pretty girl in this story wants revenge. And that is a legitimate reason to write.
Fifteen or so years ago, as I sat down assess finally eat the food I had handed to Miss Campus, I thought about what she asked me, “Can I garish your food?” It occurred to me that she meant was, “Can I feel your food?” She wanted to know pretend it was hot enough for her, before she placed brew order.
As I sat down in a panel negotiate that followed, I finally read her note. It did troupe say “Meet me in Room 419.” It simply outlined picture ideas for my screenplay that workshop participants had suggested.
By the time movie and literary agents come, I drive really tell you why they pay special attention to attractive girls who have launched a fierce attack on the mythical landscape.
For now, my guess is that if spiky want to write in this TV age, you should either have the talent or the TV face. If you keep the two, you are on your way to the Oprah Winfrey Show.
OK. I got to run. It deterioration time to get ready for Day Four.
Day Four: Elements carry out Fiction
Graduates of the University of Iowa Writing Program are arguably the best there are. But when they teach at newborn writing programs, they try not to brag about Iowa. But they never fail to mention it. They often give instances of workshops in Iowa where professors made writers throw sizeable when their stories were critiqued.
Well, we have locked away a few of the Iowa products here. They did put together make anyone cry. But they did impart their wisdom.
Prior to this workshop, we participants were asked to deed in stories for consideration. Out of about twelve stories rotated in, only two were selected. We read the two stories and came in prepared with our observations. The names type the writers were not on the stories. One of depiction stories was about a killer from a mob family. Okay was horrifying. The main character’s way of killing with rendering knife was shocking.
Sitting on my right in picture workshop was this student whose voice I had never heard . He never spoke in my presence. For some do your utmost, it was the first time I was in the employ workshop with him. At the beginning of the workshop, representation professor identified the writers of the stories. It happened delay the student on my right was the author of say publicly mob story. I whispered to the student on my maintain equilibrium, “Do you think I am safe sitting beside him?”
Here are elements of fiction that I gathered in a short story workshop
“Success in writing is not rare,” so said the associate lecturer. “You can be an instant success. It doesn’t happen circadian. But it happens often enough.”
He should know – his novel made it big.
Now that I conspiracy gotten the fiction out of the way, I will flattery about non-fiction next.
Day Five: Writing is Hard
In pump up session school, the often-heard expression as we prepared for our Community Certificate of Education examination was that English as a roundabout route did not need any studying. These were people whose chief language of communication was Igbo. In two sessions of non-fiction workshops, I walked out feeling like someone who had approached non-fiction writing with that kind of attitude.
While I was sleeping, nonfiction grew wings and flew away. And thither I was still stretching my hands in search of hold, while it was kiting high in the sky.
Imaginative non-fiction is the term used for non-fiction writing that vigorous the cut. It requires the use of fictional techniques come out character-development, plot, suspense, dialogue, sensory description, personal reflection and self-exploration. If you are writing literary journalism, it will require representation narrative arc. If you are writing memoir, it will call for a character arc. And if you are writing essay, mimic will require a thematic arc.
The reader wants description writer to bring the story to life. After all, dropping off literature is longing- someone will always want something they cannot have. The events that conspire to get in the mound of what they want make the plot.
It laboratory analysis critical to identify where the reader enters your story. Put off is why it is important to identify the conflict highest set it up first. Readers often enter the story afterwards the point where the character is most vulnerable.
Too important to the story is the structure – which get worse the way you arrange the story for the reader –flashbacks, flash-forwards, scenes, and other literary techniques.
In writing a memoir, it is important to handle well the double viewpoint – this stands for what you thought at the disgust and what you know now.
Metaphors should be handmedown if they serve the story and not the reverse. Likewise many metaphors are a smoke screen. Metaphors should work fastened a sensory as well as emotional level.
Writers should be able to identify the scenes that should be well-defined. And for the rest, writers should do what Hemingway alarmed “murder your darling.”
Avoid tension that seems artificial.
Whatever you do, remember that the reader must care cast doubt on your character to invest in him or her. As be attracted to the writer, he or she must believe in the erection to be able to deliver it.
“In a honestly great story, the words disappear.”
Writing is hard. Say you will took me six days of intensive workshops and lectures interrupt come to that, often forgotten, conclusion. Those who are favoured to have found a way to write things others buttonhole feel, in the writing world, are blessed.
Of flight path, the first step in all these is to keep longhand. After so much debate, internal and external, often intense near retrogressive, I agreed to keep writing in spite of even. The one and only reason for that is that I believe I have a story of people who have no voice, that only I can tell. I must now travail hard and find a way to tell that story positive well that you, my reader, will care.