Editing Considerations – Take Three

James Stack's avatarSir Oliver of Skygate Farm's Blog

It’s been a busy two weeks, what with my being groomed and having my teeth cleaned and playing with all my buddies while James plays with his novel. That’s right, James is still editing. He tells me he will be for at least the next couple of weeks.

img_0017[Me before being groomed (edited).]

He told me editing is like my being groomed. First I get a wash (and treats) and then a blow dry (and treats) and a light brushing (many more treats) and then they start cutting. They especially do a close crop around my pads, ears and privates (special treats for those areas). Now, so you know, it isn’t only my hair they cut. They cut my nails, like a manicure/pedicure that humans get. (I’ll let you in on a little secret. No man is cured when this happens, if you get my drift.)

img_0054[Me after being groomed…

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Editing Considerations – Take Two

James Stack's avatarSir Oliver of Skygate Farm's Blog

As an Old English Sheepdog, I love to herd. I’ll try and roundup turkeys, robins, squirrels, chipmunks, porcupines and skunks. You name it. The other day I tried to make the tractor cutting our hay go towards the road. That was after I successfully got the two riding lawnmowers cutting our grass onto the driveway. I have the best time maneuvering around to get other four-legged animals and machines to do my bidding. Come visit and I’ll show you.

While watching me herd the other day, James came upon several ideas he asked me to share with you. He told me that herding was similar to his editing. There are different things to consider when changing text in his novel, like my herding and deciding in a nanosecond whether to turn right or left or back up or go forward – even to stop and think. The following are several…

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Words to Sidestep While Writing

James Stack's avatarSir Oliver of Skygate Farm's Blog

I’m back! No, I’m not Arnold. It’s me, Ollie, James’ Old English Sheepdog. The last time we met I told you about how James had been editing before we went for our walk. Well, he’s still editing. It seems that he does more editing than writing. (What is that? Is editing writing? Okay, so can I have a treat for that? Oh, goodie. I love treats.) James loves editing. It’s how he makes his writing better. It’s not that it’s bad when he writes it the first time. (What? No treat? But….) James says all writing is — he used a word I don’t think I should — “bad” until edited.

Like I was saying, James edits quite often. When we were out walking, he asked me if I would be so kind as to give you some pointers about what it is he looks for in order to correct…

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Writing, and being a writer

So….writing is at least for me the easy part. It is the part I enjoy. I have so many stories,  poems and ideas floating around my head.  Problem is the business aspects.  Oh,  editing?  Yeah I can do that. I am even able to do the publishing,  thanks to Amazon. I am not good at promoting what I have written.

I have been wary of submitting what I write.  Part of the reason is because I am not inclined toward the rejection letters.  While I know that the rejection letters are a part of writing,  my poetry has always been a opening to my heart. My soul laid bare… So I was not willing to face the unending rejection. Which now seems like ego to me. My writing is good,  but all writing can improve. Is having pride in one’s own words not a good thing?  The other reason for my hesitant nature towards submitting is simple.  I really hate the idea of someone else having the rights to my work.  However I have seen some that claim rights to the work they publish. Not many,  and I refuse to submit to any who do.

Well I have noticed that writer’s are often a solitary lot,  I joined a few groups on social media.  I was hoping to interact and gain tips on how to promote what I write.  Maybe a few to make the words better. You know,  be social with others who are into the same thing… And I found the darndest thing.  Most of the social media groups for writers?  Well it is everyone promoting their own books.  No sharing,  no discussion. So I have been going on,  because the writing itself is really not a choice.  I will be writing until I am no longer able…. Still the publishing thing… Well I do that so I can share with others a glimpse into my soul.

So I was in a bad place tonight because of yet another rejection. I posted it on social media.  I really was hearing the same thing I always hear when I fail to accomplish something.  My mother. So I  posted for a change. I had a friend,  also a writer(Kim Bailey Deal) suggest that I needed beta readers… Ok that was a new concept.  She also introduced me to a group of writers who actually discuss writing. I hope that this will lead me to improving my craft,  and maybe to some good new friends.

 

 

Three Important Things No Writer Should be Without

Dear Mama

Dear Mama,

I love you. All that I have ever wanted was to feel like you were proud of me.  I tried to be who you wanted.  I found that didn’t work. Then I tried being myself.  I found that I was happier,  but you still were not proud of me.  Mama I am fourty one,  and I have succeeded.  I am published.  I am usually a happy soul.  Yet when I fall,  and I do occasionally fall.  It is your voice in my ear,  telling me you expected it all along.  When I get rejected for my poetry, (as rejections are normal for the writer to recieve) that everyone else would tell me I wrote so well?  I hear you telling me that you didn’t want to hear it because of how depressing it was.

Mama,  I have published five volumes of poetry,  three children’s books,  and a novella.  You know that family have hardly even acted like it mattered?  I am doing what I told you I wanted to do at nine.  I am a writer. So I may never be a  novelist,  children’s books still need written. I have never asked for much.  Just a hey,  that is awesome.  Or even… Uh sharing it on social media that you have a daughter who is printed.  So I put space between us.  I admit that I was tired of feeling like you just didn’t care. I deserve to be someone who is cared about. I’m sorry that I was never the daughter you wanted,  but Mama,  I have always just been me.

Love always,

Your daughter.

Addressing F.E.A.R.

Dr. Angela Kowitz Orobko's avatarHearts That Care

ako-blog-oct31_fearGood things come to those who believe. Better things come to those who wait, and the best things come to those who never give up and NEVER give into their fears. ~ Dr. Angi

Spiders, snakes and bats, oh my!
What do you fear most and why?

What truly scares you the most in your life? What is that “creature” hiding in your inner closet (your heart) that is preventing you from moving to the next level of success in your life? Most of us fear intangible things, like being on stage, doing something new, getting your heart broken, having your feelings hurt, and failure. Dr. Wayne Dyer referred to fear as an acronym for False Evidence Appearing Real (from his book Inspiration: Your Ultimate Calling, p. 239). Intangibles are not going to kill us; therefore, fear in this case does not prevent death. It prevents life!

The best thing we can do…

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Therapy

Not everyone is healed by medicine,  not everyone is healed by therapy.  Don’t get me wrong,  it can do a great deal.  Still it is alot like an addiction,  being mentally ill. Unless you are ready to heal,  all therapy will do is give you someone else to depend on. Someone else to expect judgement from.  This is often more detrimental to self esteem than helpful.  I have been seeing a therapist since I was nine years old.  For me it was just something that I had to do.  I have had some good ones,  ones who could make me see them as human.  I’ve had a few who abused my trust.  To tell the truth,  I have done more towards healing when I was not seeing one.  I used to dissociate.  For the ignorant among my readers,  the term Dissociate is technical jargon for saying that I was multiple personalities.  Twenty years ago I was a true mess.  Nearly twelve personalities that we knew of.  I was never sure where I would wake up,  and how much time would have passed.  One of my personalities was cutting. As stated,  I was not in a good place.  When I was in control,  I was having nightly nightmares. I was terrified of being put in a hospital. Mostly because I figured I  would not be let free. I am extremely claustrophobic. When I was little,  I was molested. I finally got the courage and told him that if he came near me again I would scream.  Well I guess he believed me… But he did decide to put one last scare to keep me from talking.  He locked me in the trunk of his car and told me I would die there.  I am not sure how long I was in there.  But I was there long enough to scare me.  I was nine.  It took me four years to gain enough courage to speak.  He said that I would never be believed.  Damn him for being right.  I was told that I was insane.  I showed all the symptoms of a abused child.  So much so that I was put in therapy.  I was put on medicine… But I speak up… And I am insane.  Fine.  I am fourty one.  I am finally one,  not many.  And I am insane.  He raped me at five.  He raped me until I was strong enough to say no. Then he raped my mind for the majority of my life. And if I had been believed he wouldn’t have been able to rape the girls after me.  He wouldn’t have been free. He is in jail,  but I check on occasion.  I am fourty one and I am scared of a small man who ruined my life.  I am not sure I will ever not be. Ask my family… I am a depressing poet who has always been crazy.  Oh wait,  many of them (not all)  will not even Acknowledge that I write. I embarass them. After all,  I was telling the truth.  I don’t lie,  because thanks to the dissociation,  I often have a hard time remembering things.  So why lie if I will only be caught. I am not crazy.  I need no therapist to hear me.  I am whole.  I have good coping mechanisms. And I will not hide who I have become for anyone!

Speak your own truth.  No matter what anyone else thinks of it.

Breaking the Legacy of Silence # 20 A Handful of Quietness | Kim Bailey Deal

Well written and thought provoking.

Kim D. Bailey's avatarKim D. Bailey

http://five2onemagazine.com/breaking-legacy-silence-20-handful-quietness-kim-bailey-deal/

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Don’t believe everything you think.

Dr. Angela Kowitz Orobko's avatarHearts That Care

JUNE22_dont_believe_everything_you_think

My thoughts are usually positive, but occasionally I do entertain doubt, which could lead to dismay. This only becomes an issue if I start BELIEVING my doubts. The best thing for me to remember to do is NOT to believe everything I think. So, I have made this reminder, DON’T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK, into an art journal page (a work in progress) and a coloring sheet to share with you. Please feel free to download, print, and color today’s image as a way to absorb this bit of wisdom into your life: Don’t believe everything you think.

All rights reserved. ©2016 by A. K. Orobko

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