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Sunoasis X 2006 V3 Issue 11
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David Eide
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Dec 10, 2006 18:54 PST
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S U N O A S I S X 2 0 0 6
Volume 3 Issue 11
November/December 2006
"The tongue ever turns to the aching tooth."
- Proverb
_____________________T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S
1) [Editor Notes- A Short Meditation on Voice]
2) [Resources - How to get your own writing voice]
3) [Job Leads - Markets: Association publications]
4) [C/Oasis - Stories, poetry and book reviews]
5) [Community - Writer Conferences]
http://www.sunoasis.com/sunoasisblog.html
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______E D I T O R N O T E S - A Short Meditation on Voice
"Write as though you are talking with a friend, on a clean
beach with a good bottle of champagne between you." An old
professor of journalism told me that years ago. The next
time I was at the ocean I remembered what he had told me.
And I noticed something I will never forget. As I talked
with the woman I was with I could not help but notice
the spaces in the words I spoke were filled with the sound
of ocean waves breaking, the trill of seabirds, children
laughing while running after a Frisbee, a dog bark, the
eternal reddish horizon in my line of sight, a smoldering
sun going down, cool wind, the smell of a fresh fire on
the beach, the look in the woman's eyes.
I like to believe that the voice of the writer is more than
a string of words used in a conversation.
It is all that the writer truly is.
* * * * *
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writer's_voice
The writer's voice is something curled up like a panther
ready to leap up and out of its disguised environment. For
the literary person the voice is leaping out in response to
an act of imagination. For the journalist the voice leaps
out in response to a collection of facts. The art of
journalism is to fuse the voice and the facts without
losing sight of the facts.
http://tinyurl.com/u92ey
One of the best explanations of the writing voice is by
Louis Menand writing an introduction to The Best American
Essays of 2004. "Composition is a labor-intensive business.
And what makes it especially so is that the rate of
production is beyond the writer's control. The words don't
just appear on a conveyor belt, and you package them up.
You have to wait, and what you are waiting for is something
inside you to come up with the words. That something, for
writers, is the voice."
He makes the point that writing and speech are different and
that writing is a hard-working fabrication that involves
more than just a person talking. I disagree with him when he
says that "just talking" is a banal exercise for the writer.
Spontaneous speech begs for the professional skills of the
writer and the two, working even in contradictory ways,
produce fascinating results.
It is a revelation to read something you write into
a tape recorder, put the cassette into a tape player, and
listen over great speakers while driving through
the financial center of a large city at noontime.
Or, better yet, go outside and declaim to the trees some
supernatural relation to the universe, some spontaneous riff
on nature and history and then transcribe that tape. It is
a revelation.
If I record a spontaneous flow of words directed at trees or
stars, then transcribe them I certainly have something
different than if I self-consciously sat down and wrote out
my impressions of a tree or star. But then, the spontaneous
flow is not enough. I know better. I know the traditions of
writing that exist and it is not enough to leave it like
that. So, the transcribed words become a foundation for some
other attempt to communicate and is finished off in a
satisfying way.
When I wrote about solar power I would go outside, rant
about the subject, whether it was wind power or ocean
thermal energy conversion. I would then put the tape away,
transcribe it a day or two later and use it as a basic text
to formulate the article.
Some lessons:
1- Write through the oral narrative until the piece
has legs.
2-Sharpen it, smooth it, straighten it out and submit it.
An amazing metanoia occurs for a writer when she
notices her writing voice changes over time as new,
pungent spices of knowledge and experience are added to
herself.
She becomes aware that the placement and use of words is
like Blake's grain of sand; it has the ability to reveal a
world carried in the words she chooses to use and arrange.
Obviously, this doesn't happen overnight. It takes years of
writing. It is the acid test of whether a writer writes or
gives up the adventure because the quest for his or her own
voice is too much.
The one excellent thing that happens when a writer finds his
true voice is that, from that time on, he can use the
voices of many others. Voice I would say is a corollary to
the development of self. It begins to appear when the writer
understands his influences and, pained in the discovery,
begins the arduous task of finding his real self. When he
finds and secures that, viola! All other selves become
useful, enriching, or a source of conflict.
* * * * *
In the era we live in all "natural voice" is conditioned by
what we read or the advertising and political nonsense we
listen to. It is not, as in the ancient world, a rhetorical
or bardic device. And, ultimately, what this does is make
the modern, "natural voice" rich and complex.
Noise presents a challenge to the modern voice. If not power
saws, helicopters; if not aircraft, then jackhammers. If not
horns, then boom boxes. All of this noise drowns out voice
and says, in effect, "we are all ground down to nothing; get
used to it." And that is not a good place for the voice of
the writer to be. So, it's important to focus on this one,
almost occult aspect of writing. Listen to conversation,
nature, speeches, plays, ballads among other things that are
coherent. A great river in the quiet of a sunny afternoon
can be the most articulate voice you'll ever hear.
Through it all a writer strives for a personable voice; one
that says to the reader, "I respect you, we are equals; let me
take you down the road a bit and show you a few things."
As a reader, the voice of a writer will pull me in as long
as I'm convinced he or she is as experienced and/or
knowledgeable as myself. When the voice fails there is
resistance and dismissal of the source as trying to pull a
fast one either on behalf of an advertiser or a politician.
More experience, more knowledge leads to deeper, richer
voice. If you write enough you realize a conversation you
had with a guy in Mazatlan years ago has somehow made its
way into your voice. So will your reading of Gilgamesh or
the comic books of youth.
* * * * *
I had an aunt who was poor and lived in shabby conditions in
a shabby American city. But when she spoke her voice created
fantastic pictures of things in my mind. Poor and shabby as
she was she had been a great reader and kept it up under tough
times and with a sense of humor. She redeemed her life with
this odd and unique talent of communicating through her voice.
It's another one of these weird lessons writers learn in the
process of growth and development.
This month's quote comes from a brilliant book on writing by
Arthur Plotnik. I recommend writers look at "The Elements of
Authorship." I always get something when I look through
it. For instance, Plotnik likens words to "writers tears."
"...writing itself might be defined as edited crying." He is
writing about, obviously, literary writers rather than
journalists or non-fiction writers.
But a journalist can look at words as something other
than "tears." Perhaps they are "hopeful pieces of my mind,"
or, "diamonds ready for market."
What alerts writers to the importance of voice is when
they get an e-mail from a reader that completely
misinterprets what the writer meant to say.
Since the beginning of Sunoasis X I've tried to be ironic on
more than one occasion and shocked by how serious people took
the comment or how mystifying it was to them. It has taught
me that there is no perfect voice and that words can possess
powerful energies the writer needs to respect.
Ideally everyone who writes should develop a personal voice.
Those in business and government have a real problem with
it. Journalists start off with the problem because they are
told to stick to the style of the publication.
But rather than let the corporation, agency or publication
dictate the voice a writer can start any piece of writing
with his or her authentic voice and then switch on the
editing persona to fit the piece to the publication, agency,
or corporation. That is far more effective than letting the
organization or publication impose a voice on a writer.
A writer without his or her own voice is an empty vessel.
Be the writer that grows, develops and struggles for your
voice; you'll be the writer who provides new inspired
models for young writers who dismiss the past with contempt
but who are disillusioned by the present.
C O D A
It's not shocking that in a highly energized, fragmented
culture you'd have a thousand different voice-types or those
who say, "this is my voice because I am...."
It is part of the democratic fiesta of voices. It is
interesting to speculate whether there is an "American
voice," that represents some deep operating principle of the
culture.
Voice is a structure, discovered through painful
confrontations with the self.
A voice can be quiet but loaded with richness.
Rare voices appear only as time reveals them. They are
difficult to pick up in the competing roar of thousands of
voices and noises.
In late 2006 we are living in the synthesis that occurred
with the breakdown of the objective voice and the ravages of
gonzo journalism. Somewhere between them is art.
Professional writing is a civilizing thing because noise
transformed into voice requires patience, value,
constructive principles, humor and definition.
_________________________________R E S O U R C E N O T E S
The links below are more "how-to" and will be useful
to writers:
http://hollylisle.com/fm/Articles/wc1-6.html
Ten steps to finding your writing voice
http://tinyurl.com/yzfemz
More tips to developing voice.
http://tinyurl.com/yccrt7
80-something guy writes about his struggles to find his
voice. Take heart from it
http://www.writerswrite.com/journal/sep00/castle2.htm
Mort Castle has his fingers all over the writers voice.
http://writing2.richmond.edu/writing/wweb/voice.html
Tips on putting voice into something you write. It was
written for students.
If you are a beginning writer or thinking you want to get
involved in the writing life please use the articles here:
http://www.sunoasis.com/freelanceresource.html
There are many useful tips, links, and features that can
set you on your way.
There is also a rich array of links for every type of
writing resource here:
http://www.sunoasis.com/newmanna.html
Sunoasis.com was developed with the writer and editor in
mind. Enjoy your stay!
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The answer is NO! But how many writers accept no or
penny-paying writing assignments in exchange for exposure
that won't pay the car note or buy groceries? Next class
starts November 6th.
http://www.sunoasis.com/bootcamp.html
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_________________B U S I N E S S O F W R I T I N G
http://tinyurl.com/ugc4q
An appropriate critique on the emphasis newspapers are
putting on "citizen journalists." In the end it's just a
desperate attempt to keep "citizen loyalty," to the paper.
After all, to the amateur, seeing words in print is quite
enough to tout the publication that does the deed.
http://tinyurl.com/uaw88
I think Cory Doctorow has the right idea.
http://www.content-strategy.com/
Content-strategy.com has excellent resources for web editors
and writers.
_________________B U S I N E S S O F P U B L I S H I N G
http://tinyurl.com/y2r3wn
An excellent analysis of the Dean Singleton takeover of SF
Bay Area newspapers. The article delves into the
implications of cost-cutting and consolidation in the
newspaper business.
http://tinyurl.com/ymk76x
A newspaper editor reflects on the important of newspapers
in one community.
http://tinyurl.com/yl254n
Why does the buyout of journalists bode an ill-wind? "One
cost, potentially a huge one, is the loss of the years of
knowledge and intelligence Bill Sloat and other experienced
reporters have brought to their work."
http://www.mrmagazine.com/news-views/index.html
Mr. Magazine reports that there were over 800 launches of
consumer magazines this year. He highlights fifteen of
the best.
http://www.slate.com/id/2154678/fr/rss/
"The newspaper business knew it was doomed 30 years ago."
And if you want a decent analysis of the economics of
publishing this has some good insights.
______________W R I T I N G O R G A N I Z A T I O N S
http://www.writingcenters.org/
International Writing Center Associations
http://www.christianwritersinfo.net/
Writers Information Network- Christian writers group.
http://www.urma.org/
University Research Magazine Association
http://www.taaonline.net/
Texts and Academic Authors Association
http://www.namic.com/
National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications
http://www.jazzhouse.org/
The Jazz Journalists Association
There are many more links to writing organizations here:
http://www.sunoasis.com/newmanna.html
____________________J O B L E A D S A N D M A R K E T
Technical editor/ report coordinator
Redlands, CA
Redlands archaeological firm looking for technical editor/
report coordinator.
Archaeological experience not required.
For Full Ad:
http://www.sunoasis.com/redlandsjob.html
____________________________________________________________
Publications Manager
Cambridge, MA
The Boston Research Center for the 21st Century, an
international peace institute, seeks talented and versatile
individual to head up our publishing program. The
publications manager would produce an annual report, event
reports, and a substantive semi-annual newsletter on the
Center's activities currently distributed to 7,000+ peace
scholars, activists, and academics.
Salary: commensurate with experience.
For Full Ad:
http://www.sunoasis.com/bostonresearch.html
____________________________________________________________
Copywriter
Campbell, CA
Will one of your New Years resolutions be to find a
great job at a great company? Consider it done! We are
Catapult Marketing, an award-winning and fast-growing
marketing firm based in Campbell, CA. With long-term clients
reading like a Who's Who list of top Silicon Valley
companies our business has continued to strengthen, opening
up a position for a Copywriter.
For Full Ad:
http://www.sunoasis.com/catapault.html
_____________________________________________________________
Writer
Valley Forge, PA
Vanguard, one of the world's leading investment management
companies, needs a creative, disciplined writer to develop
and produce a range of investment and marketing
communications, in a variety of different media including
print and electronic channels. You should be able to tailor
your writing to various audiences, such as sophisticated
investment professionals, financial advisors, and individual
investors.
For Full Ad:
http://www.sunoasis.com/vanguard10.html
____________________________________________________________
Contract Writing/High-Tech Market Research Assignments.
(NOTE: MULTIPLE, sequential assignments available)
BCC, Inc. (www.BCCResearch.com) is seeking seasoned market
researchers/WRITERS who are capable of preparing complete,
self-contained technical/economic market research reports
discussing niches in most PHYSICAL or LIFE SCIENCE sectors
of the economy including: biotechnology, chemicals,
healthcare, technical ceramics and advanced materials,
electronics, transportation, energy, flame retardancy,
food/beverage, Internet, telecommunications,
membranes/separations, plastics, packaging, waste, water,
and air treatment, and many other industries.
BCC pays a MINIMUM of $5,000 on author's HAND-IN of
document PLUS royalties! Typical duration of each
assignment is 12 weeks (multiple assignments available).
For Full Ad
http://www.sunoasis.com/bcc.html
____________________________________________________________
GUIDELINE and CONTACT INFORMATION ABOUT:
ASSOCIATION Publications:
http://tinyurl.com/yczaey
American Educator
Pays: $750-$3,000 for assigned articles; $300-$1,000 for
unassigned articles.
http://www.kiwanis.org/magazine/writerki.asp
Kiwanis
Pays: $300 -$600
http://www.interpnet.com/download/LegacyGuidelines.pdf
Legacy Magazine
Pays: $75- $350 for articles
http://www.lionsclubs.org
The Lion
Pays: $100-$750 for articles
http://www.mpiweb.org/CMS/mpiweb/mpicontent.aspx?id=7414
The Meeting Professional
Pays: .50 cents to .75 cents/ word
http://www.prea.com/pennlines/plonline.htm
Penn Lines
Pays: $300-$600 per article
http://www.scoutingmagazine.org
Scouting
Pays: $750 - $1,000 for articles
http://www.nyas.org/publications/update.asp
Update- New York Academy of Sciences
Pays $200- $1,200 for articles
http://www.vfw.org/index.cfm?fa=news.mag&did=578
VFW Magazine
Pays: Up to $500 for articles.
For more guidelines go here:
http://www.sunoasis.com/sunoasismarkets.html
___________________________________________________________
C / O A S I S
http://www.sunoasis.com/schwartzessay.html
The Acumen for Survival and Advancement
by G. David Schwartz
A series of motifs in literature allows us to say, as a
general principle as well as an experiential possibility,
no one wants to be the younger brother. In folktales, the
narrative perspective is generally either told from the
point of view of the older brother, or else the younger
brother is telling the tale of the younger brothers' death.
_________________________________________C O M M U N I T Y
http://writing.shawguides.com/search?t=November&r=359
Guide to Writers Conferences and Workshops for November.
For More Information:
http://www.sunoasis.com/tips.html
_______________________________________E T C/ E T C/ E T C
Editor/Publisher: David Eide
E-Mail: <mailto:eide-@earthlink.net>
Sunoasis X 2006 is fully protected by copyright.
Please ask permission if you are going to use any or
all of this publication.
Reprint rights belong to the authors.
Contact them if you wish to use their material.
Unauthorized use of any material is strictly
forbidden.
Our hope is that we can help and enhance the world
of writing, publishing, and editing.
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