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Grist for the Muse #15 -- December 2004	mich-@wilson.us
	Dec 04, 2004 09:47 PST

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Grist for the Muse #15 – December 2004
The monthly creative writing resource that gets you writing and keeps you
writing.

The greatest dreams are always unrealistic.
—Will Smith in Parade
Here we are again in the midst of another holiday season, and I’m running a
little late as usual, but alas, there is some great stuff in this month’s
edition, including the 2nd Annual Grist for the Muse Holiday Buying Guide.
These aren’t sponsored products by any stretch of the imagination, just
things that I think writers would find useful and fun. So enjoy this month’s
edition and I’ll see you in the New Year!
--Michael

FLASH WRITING IS IN PRINT AND ON SALE!

Get your own signed copy online by ordering it www.flashwriting.com
<http://www.flashwriting.com/> It costs $13.95 ($1.00 off the cover price)
plus $3.50 shipping and handling (and for Ohio orders, add $.91 sales tax).
You can also order it at Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com, or Virtual
Bookworm (the publisher). If you are going to be at one of the fiction
writing workshops or attending one of my classes and want to avoid paying
shipping costs, just send a note to mich-@wilson.us
<mailto:mich-@wilson.us> and I’ll send you a PayPal invoice for $14.86,
and bring the copy to event that you will be attending.
FLASHWRITING.COM IS UP AND ACCESSIBLE
Although the site is still under construction, I do have it up and it does
have some basic content. I’m also going to use the site to collect old Grist
for the Muse issues and content. As well as an extensive library of
writing-related links mentioned in the newsletter, my books, and recommended
by others. Flashwriting.com will be the premier portal for flash fiction and
non-fiction and all other things that flash.

Sign up for the Write(Now) Newsletter

Nita Sweeney’s wonderful monthly newsletter lists events of interest to
writers in the Central Ohio area, including book signings, writing classes,
writer’s groups, writer’s conferences, poetry readings, and more. To
subscribe click on this link: http://www.nitasweeney.com/id4.html

Writing Exercises

1. Everyone has had the holiday from hell. Write about yours. Write
about the holiday where you got food poisoning, the house was burglarized on
Christmas Eve, everyone in the house had the flu, etc. You get the idea.
2. Write about the best gift you have ever received. Then write about
the worst.
3. Write about what you hate about the holidays. Make a list. If you
want, make a list about what you love about the holidays.

Quick Topics

* Headache
* Cross
* Dice
* Spinach
* A sunny place
* Sock
* Eat cheap
* Metal
* Whatever
* Extroverted

Story Starters

* You can’t see it…
* What to ask…
* What do I tell her?
* I’m trying to put my…
* How many times have you been fired?
* Has your boyfriend skipped town?

HOLIDAY BUYING GUIDE

Welcome to the 2nd annual edition of the Grist for the Muse Holiday Buying
Guide. The guide that answers the question: What the hell do I buy for the
writers in my life?
Here are a few fresh ideas:
Book Hug ($14 at www.levenger.com <http://www.levenger.com/> ) This is a
simple piece of curved steel props up your books (paperbacks or hardbacks up
to 1 ½ inches thick) so you can read hands-free. This is very handy for
people who like to read while eating lunch at their desk, or while doing
other things.
A personalized, signed copy of Flash Writing: How to Write, Revise and
Publish Stories Less Than 1,000 Words Long, (ISBN: 1589396375, 184 pages,
Paperback, $14.95.) published by Virtual Bookworm by going to
www.flashwriting.com <http://www.flashwriting.com/> and clicking the
convenient Buy It Now button. It costs $13.95 ($1.00 off the cover price)
plus $3.50 shipping and handling (and for Ohio orders, add $.91 sales tax).
I’ll write anything you want me to on the title page of the book, I’ll even
create some bad poetry for you if requested.
Super Scrabble – My Grandma Carpenter would be thrilled to get this for
Christmas if she was still alive! I only managed to beat her once at
Scrabble in my entire life, and that victory was tainted by a “can I take my
last move back” after I saw a far better move on the board, and of course,
not wanting to say “no” to her beloved grandson, she agreed, only to get
scorched by a 57 point Triple Word Score play and lost the game by 6 points.
She wasn’t happy about it…
Anyway, I digress, with nearly double the number of squares, including the
new Quadruple Word and Letter Score squares, Super Scrabble is a whole new
game yet is still played with the same rules as regular Scrabble. This game
is played with 200 tiles (with an entirely new distribution of the letters)
which allows for new unique words not possible when playing Scrabble
“classic.” A great update of the classic game!
Colorful Stuff to Look at for the Desk – Writers spend a lot of time staring
off into space, searching for the perfect word, inspiration, or the perfect
excuse for not writing. So give them something colorful to stare at during
these pensive moments. Objects such as Lava Lamps, a Newton’s Cradle, Ooze
Tubes, Sand Pictures, Perpetual Motion Machines, etc. are always good gifts
for writers seeking inspiration. These can be bought at nearly any retail
outlet and Spencer’s Gifts in particular seems to always have lots of unique
desktop eye candy for the daydreaming writer. You can also buy these online,
just type “desktop novelties” in a Google search and you’ll have your pick
of sites to shop at.
Gift Cards – And if you are the type of person who procrastinates or who
hates to shop, go ahead and get your favorite writer a gift card from
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Half Price Books, or any other book store. They are
always appreciated.

Shameless Self Promotion

Barnes & Noble at Easton Town Center— Fiction Writer’s Group

December 9, 2004 – 7:00 p.m. To 8:00 p.m. - Mezzanine: Fiction Writers
Group. RULES OF FICTION WRITING PRACTICE.

This presentation discusses Natalie Goldberg's Rules of Writing Practice and
how they can be used for writing powerful first drafts of your fiction. A
copy of Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones will be given to one lucky
attendee.

January 13th, 2005 – 7:00 p.m. To 8:00 p.m. - Mezzanine: Fiction Writers
Group. MOTIVATION: BRINGING CHARACTERS TO LIFE IN FICTION.

Learn how to create characters with powerful motivation that launches them
into the story. Discover the techniques that create motivation and make it
powerful for your fiction. A copy of Marc McCutcheon’s Roget’s Super
Thesaurus will be given away to one lucky attendee.

The Fiction Writers Group is a facilitated writing group that meets at
Barnes & Noble at Easton Town Center on the SECOND Thursday of each month at
7:00pm and is hosted by writer and teacher Michael Wilson. This event is
free of charge!

ASK THE MUSE

Not being an extremely educated person, I often screw up on punctuation,
commas, when and when not to use them, semicolons, quotes, etc. If I need
anything badly it's a better understanding of this. What do you suggest? Is
there a class? A book? Someway I can learn to understand these things and
make them second nature?
I too am not a huge grammar-guy either, but I do use several crutches. Two
books that I highly recommend for this type of stuff are: Words Fail Me and
Woe Is I: A Grammarphobe's Guide both by Patricia O'Conner. These are the
funniest, well-written guides to what is traditionally a boring topic. It
covers most of the basics. For a great overview of the basics of writing,
nothing beats Strunk and White’s Elements of Style. It is short, full of
good examples, and is used by many authors (Stephen King swears by it).
Then I also have a Chicago Manual of Style to answer all those weird
questions about semi-colon usage and the finer points of formatting
bibliographies that the other books might not cover. I just use this as my
last resort reference.

**********************************************************************
TO SUBSCRIBE: If someone you know would like to check out Grist for the Muse
have and possibly subscribe to it, go to the web at this URL:
http://www.topica.com/lists/Grist_for_the_Muse
<http://www.topica.com/lists/Grist_for_the_Muse>
Or SUBSCRIBE via email by sending a BLANK email to:
Grist_for_the_-@topica.com
<mailto:Grist_for_the_-@topica.com>

OR – If you do not want to join Topica, send an email to
gri-@flashwriting.com with the word SUBSCRIBE in the header. Make sure
that I am added to your address book or your “safe” list.

SUGGESTIONS or COMMENTS: Please feel free to e-mail me with ideas,
suggestions, questions, or smart alecky remarks. I love to get feedback, and
I do give all comments serious consideration. Send them to
gri-@flashwriting.com

TO UNSUBSCRIBE: Please click here:
http://topica.com/help/unsub.html.bWt3aWxz
<http://65.54.172.250/cgi-bin/linkrd?_lang=EN&lah=5dee8d5aaa6a8c1d5b970b7169
a803ec&lat=1076887042&hm___action=http%3a%2f%2ftopica%2ecom%2fu%2f%3fa2jb2H%
2ebm2Kjt%2ebWt3aWxz>
Or send a BLANK email to: Grist_for_the_M-@topica.com
<mailto:Grist_for_the_M-@topica.com>

SUBMISSIONS: Do you have an event you want to promote? Do you want to see
yourself in print? Send me a short article or writing exercise ideas. I can’
t pay you anything yet, but maybe someday soon. Please send an e-mail with
date, time, place, cost and contact information to gri-@flashwriting.com
with SUBMISSION in the subject line. Editor reserves the right to revise
submissions.

ABOUT THE EDITOR: Michael Wilson has been teaching creative writing classes
and facilitating writer’s groups for over 7 years and was an award-winning
Contributing Editor for The Writer’s Block at Suite101.com. He has a BA
(with Honors) in English from Ohio University, and has been a featured guest
speaker at the Thurber House, the Maumee Valley Writer’s Conference and the
Columbus Writer’s Conference. He is also the publisher and editor of Grist
for the Muse a free monthly creative writing e-newsletter. His first book:
Flash Writing: How to Write, Revise and Publish Stories Less Than 1000 Words
Long, was published in October 2004. You can get additional information
about him at www.flashwriting.com <http://www.flashwriting.com/> .

Copyright 2004 Michael L. Wilson. All rights reserved.

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<h1>Grist for the Muse
#15 – December 2004 
The
monthly creative writing resource that gets you writing and keeps you writing.<o:p></o:p></h1>

<![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p>

The greatest dreams
are always unrealistic.<o:p></o:p>

 —Will
Smith in Parade<o:p></o:p>

<div style='border:none;border-bottom:dotted windowtext 3.0pt;padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in'>

Here we are again in the midst of another
holiday season, and I’m running a little late as usual, but alas, there is some
great stuff in this month’s edition, including the 2nd Annual Grist
for the Muse Holiday Buying Guide.
These aren’t sponsored products by any stretch of the imagination, just
things that I think writers would find useful and fun. So enjoy this month’s
edition and I’ll see you in the New Year!<o:p></o:p>

--Michael<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p>

</div>

<h1>FLASH WRITING IS
IN PRINT AND ON SALE!<o:p></o:p></h1>

<div style='border:none;border-bottom:dotted windowtext 3.0pt;padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in'>

Get your own signed copy online by ordering
it <a href="http://www.flashwriting.com/">www.flashwriting.com</a> It costs
$13.95 ($1.00 off the cover price) plus $3.50 shipping and handling (and for
Ohio orders, add $.91 sales tax). You can also order it at Amazon.com, Barnes
and Noble.com, or Virtual Bookworm (the publisher). If you are going to be at
one of the fiction writing workshops or attending one of my classes and want to
avoid paying shipping costs, just send a note to <a
href="mailto:mich-@wilson.us">mich-@wilson.us</a> and I’ll send you a
PayPal invoice for $14.86, and bring the copy to event that you will be
attending.<o:p></o:p>

FLASHWRITING.COM IS UP AND ACCESSIBLE<o:p></o:p>

Although the site is still under
construction, I do have it up and it does have some basic content. I’m also
going to use the site to collect old Grist
for the Muse issues and content. As well as an extensive library of
writing-related links mentioned in the newsletter, my books, and recommended by
others. Flashwriting.com will be the premier portal for flash fiction and
non-fiction and all other things that flash.<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p>

</div>

<h3>Sign up for the Write(Now) Newsletter<o:p></o:p></h3>

<div style='border:none;border-bottom:dotted windowtext 3.0pt;padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in'>

Nita Sweeney’s
wonderful monthly newsletter lists events of interest to writers in the Central
Ohio area, including book signings, writing classes, writer’s groups, writer’s
conferences, poetry readings, and more. To subscribe click on this link: <a
href="http://www.nitasweeney.com/id4.html">http://www.nitasweeney.com/id4.html</a>
<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p>

</div>

<![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p>

<h1>Writing Exercises<o:p></o:p></h1>

<![if !supportLists]>1. <![endif]>Everyone
has had the holiday from hell. Write about yours. Write about the holiday where
you got food poisoning, the house was burglarized on Christmas Eve, everyone in
the house had the flu, etc. You get the idea. <o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>2. <![endif]>Write
about the best gift you have ever received. Then write about the worst.<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>3. <![endif]>Write
about what you hate about the holidays. Make a list. If you want, make a list
about what you love about the holidays.<o:p></o:p>

<h2>Quick Topics<o:p></o:p></h2>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>Headache<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>Cross<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>Dice<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>Spinach<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>A sunny place<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>Sock<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>Eat cheap<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>Metal<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>Whatever<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>Extroverted<o:p></o:p>

<h2>Story Starters<o:p></o:p></h2>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>You can’t see it…<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>What to ask…<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>What do I tell her?<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>I’m trying to put my…<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>How many times have you been fired?<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportLists]>·
<![endif]>Has your boyfriend skipped town?<o:p></o:p>

<h1>HOLIDAY BUYING
GUIDE<o:p></o:p></h1>

Welcome
to the 2nd annual edition of the Grist for the Muse Holiday Buying
Guide. The guide that answers the question: What the hell do I buy for the
writers in my life?<o:p></o:p>

Here
are a few fresh ideas:<o:p></o:p>

Book Hug ($14 at
<a href="http://www.levenger.com/">www.levenger.com</a>) This is a simple piece
of curved steel props up your books (paperbacks or hardbacks up to 1 ½ inches
thick) so you can read hands-free. This is very handy for people who like to
read while eating lunch at their desk, or while doing other things.<o:p></o:p>

A
personalized, signed copy of Flash Writing: How to Write, Revise and Publish
Stories Less Than 1,000 Words Long, (ISBN:
1589396375, 184 pages, Paperback, $14.95.) published by Virtual Bookworm by
going to <a href="http://www.flashwriting.com/">www.flashwriting.com</a> and
clicking the convenient Buy It Now button. It costs $13.95 ($1.00 off the cover
price) plus $3.50 shipping and handling (and for Ohio orders, add $.91 sales
tax). I’ll write anything you want me to on the title page of the book, I’ll
even create some bad poetry for you if requested.<o:p></o:p>

Super
Scrabble – My Grandma Carpenter would be
thrilled to get this for Christmas if she was still alive! I only managed to
beat her once at Scrabble in my entire life, and that victory was tainted by
a “can I take my last move back” after I saw a far better move on the board,
and of course, not wanting to say “no” to her beloved grandson, she agreed,
only to get scorched by a 57 point Triple Word Score play and lost the game by
6 points. She wasn’t happy about it…<o:p></o:p>

Anyway,
I digress, with nearly double the number of squares, including the new
Quadruple Word and Letter Score squares, Super Scrabble is a whole new game yet is
still played with the same rules as regular Scrabble. This game is played with 200
tiles (with an entirely new distribution of the letters) which allows for new
unique words not possible when playing Scrabble “classic.” A great update of the classic game!<o:p></o:p>

Colorful
Stuff to Look at for the Desk – Writers spend a
lot of time staring off into space, searching for the perfect word,
inspiration, or the perfect excuse for not writing. So give them something
colorful to stare at during these pensive moments. Objects such as Lava Lamps, a Newton’s Cradle, Ooze Tubes,
Sand Pictures, Perpetual Motion Machines, etc. are always good gifts for
writers seeking inspiration. These can be bought at nearly any retail outlet
and Spencer’s Gifts in particular seems to always have lots of unique desktop
eye candy for the daydreaming writer. You can also buy these online, just type
“desktop novelties” in a Google search and you’ll have your pick of sites to
shop at.<o:p></o:p>

Gift
Cards – And if you are the type of person
who procrastinates or who hates to shop, go ahead and get your favorite writer
a gift card from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Half Price Books, or any other
book store. They are always
appreciated. <o:p></o:p>

<h1>Shameless
Self Promotion<o:p></o:p></h1>

<h2>Barnes
& Noble at Easton Town Center— Fiction Writer’s Group<o:p></o:p></h2>

<pre>December 9, 2004 – 7:00 p.m. To 8:00 p.m. - Mezzanine: Fiction Writers Group. RULES OF FICTION WRITING PRACTICE. <o:p></o:p></pre><pre> <o:p></o:p></pre><pre>This presentation discusses Natalie Goldberg's Rules of Writing Practice and how they can be used for writing powerful first drafts of your fiction. A copy of Natalie Goldberg’s Writing Down the Bones will be given to one lucky attendee. <o:p></o:p></pre>

 <o:p></o:p>

January 13th, 2005 – 7:00 p.m. To 8:00
p.m. - Mezzanine: Fiction Writers Group. MOTIVATION: BRINGING CHARACTERS TO
LIFE IN FICTION. <o:p></o:p>

 <o:p></o:p>

<pre>Learn how to create characters with powerful motivation that launches them into the story. Discover the techniques that create motivation and make it powerful for your fiction. A copy of Marc McCutcheon’s Roget’s Super Thesaurus will be given away to one lucky attendee.<o:p></o:p></pre><pre> <o:p></o:p></pre><pre>The Fiction Writers Group is a facilitated writing group that meets at Barnes & Noble at Easton Town Center on the SECOND Thursday of each month at 7:00pm and is hosted by writer and teacher Michael Wilson. This event is free of charge!<o:p></o:p></pre>

<![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p>

<h1>ASK THE MUSE<o:p></o:p></h1>

Not being an extremely educated person, I often
screw up on punctuation, commas, when and when not to use them, semicolons,
quotes, etc. If I need anything badly it's a better understanding of this. What
do you suggest? Is there a class? A book? Someway I can learn to understand
these things and make them second nature?<o:p></o:p>

I
too am not a huge grammar-guy either, but I do use several crutches. Two books that I highly recommend for
this type of stuff are: Words Fail Me and Woe Is I: A Grammarphobe's Guide
both by Patricia O'Conner. These are the funniest, well-written guides to what
is traditionally a boring topic. It covers most of the basics. For a great
overview of the basics of writing, nothing beats Strunk and White’s Elements of Style. It is short, full of
good examples, and is used by many authors (Stephen King swears by it).<o:p></o:p>

Then
I also have a Chicago Manual of Style to answer all those weird questions
about semi-colon usage and the finer points of formatting bibliographies that
the other books might not cover. I just use this as my last resort reference.<o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p>

**********************************************************************<o:p></o:p>

<pre>TO SUBSCRIBE: If someone you know would like to check out Grist for the Muse have and possibly subscribe to it, go to the web at this URL: <a
href="http://www.topica.com/lists/Grist_for_the_Muse">http://www.topica.com/lists/Grist_for_the_Muse</a><o:p></o:p></pre><pre>Or SUBSCRIBE via email by sending a BLANK email to: <a
href="mailto:Grist_for_the_-@topica.com">Grist_for_the_-@topica.com</a><o:p></o:p></pre><pre> 
OR – If you do not want to join Topica, send an email to gri-@flashwriting.com with the word SUBSCRIBE in the header. Make sure that I am added to your address book or your “safe” list. <o:p></o:p></pre><pre><![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p></pre><pre>SUGGESTIONS or COMMENTS: Please feel free to e-mail me with ideas, suggestions, questions, or smart alecky remarks. I love to get feedback, and I do give all comments serious consideration. Send them to gri-@flashwriting.com 
 
TO UNSUBSCRIBE: Please click here: <a
href="http://65.54.172.250/cgi-bin/linkrd?_lang=EN&;lah=5dee8d5aaa6a8c1d5b970b7169a803ec&lat=1076887042&hm___action=http%3a%2f%2ftopica%2ecom%2fu%2f%3fa2jb2H%2ebm2Kjt%2ebWt3aWxz"
target="_blank">http://topica.com/help/unsub.html.bWt3aWxz</a><o:p></o:p></pre>

Or send a BLANK email to: <a
href="mailto:Grist_for_the_M-@topica.com">Grist_for_the_M-@topica.com</a> 
 
SUBMISSIONS: Do you
have an event you want to promote? Do you want to see yourself in print? Send
me a short article or writing exercise ideas. I can’t pay you anything yet, but
maybe someday soon. Please send an e-mail with date, time, place, cost and
contact information to gri-@flashwriting.com with
SUBMISSION in the subject line.
Editor reserves the right to revise submissions. 
 <o:p></o:p>

ABOUT THE EDITOR: Michael
Wilson has been teaching creative writing classes and facilitating writer’s
groups for over 7 years and was an award-winning Contributing Editor for The
Writer’s Block at Suite101.com. He has a BA (with Honors) in English from Ohio
University, and has been a featured guest speaker at the Thurber House, the
Maumee Valley Writer’s Conference and the Columbus Writer’s Conference. He is
also the publisher and editor of Grist for
the Muse a free monthly creative writing e-newsletter. His first
book: Flash Writing: How to Write, Revise
and Publish Stories Less Than 1000 Words Long, was published in
October 2004. You can get additional information about him at <a
href="http://www.flashwriting.com/">www.flashwriting.com</a>. <o:p></o:p>

<![if !supportEmptyParas]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p>

Copyright
2004 Michael L. Wilson. All rights
reserved.<o:p></o:p>

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