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 The Writer's E-Zine

 

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Catherine's Kitchen

Catherine Manning

Trial and Error

IT TOOK YEARS of persuasion for me to come to grips with the fact that MAYBE I could cook; after all I trained as a Nurse not a Cook. During the first three months of training, which usually separates the sheep from the goats, we did a course on 'sick' food or special diets. I felt a spark of interest, but to this day have never made 'Floating Island' again. For those of you who don't know what Floating Island is, it's a loose custard with a blob of meringue on top, best described as a custard soup!

I suppose that growing up in a household where food was important and having a father who was an excellent and innovative cook, paved the way. I actually started experimenting at about age 7, I think, though not at home initially.

Our family doctor had three sons with whom we were friendly and we gave one of them a lift home from school every afternoon. Hence we would stop there to have a swim or, in my case, visit the kitchen where Nanny was always ready to make a cake. Looking back now, I don't think Nanny was always ready to make a cake, but I would go in and persuade her to make a cake. She never told me 'no'. Those were the days without Mixmasters and it was elbow grease that did the work. Also the kitchen was antiquated with woodburning stoves. I wish some of these things had been saved but unfortunately they would have been dumped as progress took over.

I graduated from there to making cakes and then desserts at home. This pleased my mother as it eased her out of the kitchen. At the same time my uncle came on holiday from England and brought a Kenwood Chef, which pleased me and started me on my 'equipment' mania, which continues today. I never really got into heavy cooking at that stage as I went off to England to do nursing. As we lived in the nurses quarters food was provided.

I learned to cook by trial and error. I've conveniently forgotten many of my errors, but two come to mind at this point, one of which still embarrasses me and in fact surfaced not long ago with one of the victims! I had reached the point in my nursing career where we were allowed to 'live out'; in other words, have our own apartments rather than having to live in the nurses' home at the hospital. I invited a friend of mine and her father who were visiting, to lunch. I had it all planned: I was going to roast a chicken, didn't think it would be too difficult! I'm not quite sure what I did with that chicken but suffice to say that it was difficult to eat without globs of fat running down the chin! My friends were very polite but when Pat came to lunch with me a few months ago, she laughed and said 'Cath, you sure have graduated from that first chicken!' I was mortified, I thought she would have forgotten that by now, thirty years later. Ouch!

However, this time around, she was happy with:

ROAST GARLIC CHICKEN

To serve 4/6

  • Chicken: 1 large, 4-5 lbs
  • Lime, salt
  • Seasoning (see April column for recipe)
  • Garlic (To taste, I would use about 8 cloves)
  • Margarine
  • Stuffing of choice.

Oven temperature: 325F

Remove giblets from chicken and save for gravy. Prick chicken all over with fork and clean inside and outside with lime and salt, rubbing well. Leave to soak for at least an hour.

Rinse and pat chicken dry inside and out. Make your garlic butter with garlic and margarine (or butter if you prefer). Use the seasoning to rub the chicken inside and out, gently lifting the skin to rub the breast and the joint of the thighs. Repeat with garlic butter making sure that you leave a layer of butter between the breast and skin. At this point the chicken can be refrigerated till next day.

Stuff the chicken with your favourite stuffing and place breast down on rack in pan with water (but not touching water) and roast slowly at 325F till back and thighs are golden, about 2 hours. Turn on back and roast for a further hour or so till done. Test thigh to check if juices run clear. If roasted on a low heat the chicken will not be overdone but will be tender and juicy and skin will be crisp, it won't be greasy.

Serve with your favourite potatoes and vegetables. I like to add something sweet like Plantain or Pumpkin Fritters.

Have a glass or two and Bon Appetit!

Cath


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E is for... The Writers' Ezine - T-Zero Xpandizine

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"E" is for...

Margaret I. Carr

E-books, eBooks, e-books, e-publishing, ezines, editing and editors and much more. The first two aren't really in common usage yet. We still are more likely to write e-books rather than ebooks or eBooks and e-publishing has barely begun to be invented. (By this time next year it may, at Internet speeds, be considered well established and drop the hyphen.)

There's more than just frequency of use involved though. Personal preferences will have an effect. I rather like the looks of eBooks although I do wonder about using it at the beginning of a sentence. The small "e" with the capital "B" seems to signify that books are the important part and the electronic presentation is just a minor factor. I prefer this to the hyphenated version which, to me, signifies temporary or experimental. I love books and the medium is less important than the content.

E-publishing

Publishing, electronic or paper, includes everything from a one-person newsletter through multiple contributor magazines to single books and collections of books. Each medium has advantages and disadvantages and the sooner we stop arguing over whether one will supplant the other or not the sooner we can focus on developing along the lines of the advantages of the medium of our choice.

Timeliness and accessibility seem to be the two main advantages of electronic publishing. My Mulberry tree has started shedding its berries. This started me musing on signs that Summer has arrived. If I wanted to write something along those lines it would be mis-timed for print publication by half a year. For electronic publication it would be just about right, at least for the Northern hemisphere. I do need to remember that world wide doesn't just mean East and West, it also means North and South and our readers south of the equator are approaching their Winter Season.

How is electronic publishing going to grow? Not, I hope, in the direction of slavishly imitating paper publishing. If electronic publishers will take the time to study and analyse the strengths and weaknesses of both approaches we may see a lasting improvement and expansion of both. Writers will benefit and when writers benefit publishers will find themselves in a stronger position.

Look for features and columns on electronic publishing in future issues of T-Zero and if you have experience that you are willing to share check out our Submission Guidelines in this issue.


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Fiction Corner

Alison Hawke

A little red pen is a dangerous thing

My articles for t-zero start out in life as a scrawl of pen in a slightly battered notebook. I do a lot of writing in my "office," the sociology section of the local Borders book store where I can scribble undisturbed. I've never seen anyone actually buy a book from that section. It's quiet, peaceful and in the middle of an excellent reference library.

When I get back home, the scrawl gets typed up into Microsoft Word 95 ®. The article gets its first rewrite at this point; that's one reason I try to write everything in longhand first.

The second rewrite comes after I've printed the text and attacked it with a red pen. After that rewrite, I either print it again, or read it out loud. I like to leave the writing alone for a day at this point, so my next attack is not coloured so much by my closeness to the words. This is my editing process.

But what is editing? Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was a French aircraft designer and writer who said "You know you have achieved perfection in design not when you have nothing more to add, but when you have nothing more to take away." I think this is an excellent description of editing. Every word must justify its position and add something to the whole. If its loss would barely be noticed, the word, or sentence, or paragraphs could probably be deleted.

When I'm working on my writing, I put on a series of several editorial hats. Line editing is what I do when I type the article up, checking each word as it goes by. I do this again when I have the printout in front of me. It can be a vicious job and has cost me a lot of good sentences and paragraphs. Copy editing is a task shared between me and my word processor. I type, it underlines every typo and misspelling, and a few words that are spelt correctly too. Headline editing is something I gladly leave to the better qualified. A headline editor writes the "teaser," the two or three sentences that persuaded you to look at the article.

You have to use some sharp tools, a couple of blunt instruments and a lot of patience to turn a piece of writing from a plain, dull lump into a faceted diamond. The two books that have helped me most in my editing are "Self Editing for Fiction Writers" by Renni Browne and Dave King, and "On Writing Well" by William Zinsser. Both are well worth a look.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have an essay to prune.

Drabble of the Month

Thank you to all who sent in drabbles about The Game. This month's winner is Alan Girling.

Twister
by Alan Girling

First spin. Right hand red. Janet crouched modestly in her tartan skirt, blonde hair falling across her face. She placed her hand. Left foot yellow, my turn. I stepped gently, hoping.
"Not so close, we'll get tangled too soon", she said.
"So?"
"I've got good balance." Right foot blue. She brought her leg around.
Left hand green. I squatted, our faces side by side.
"Okay?" I asked.
"Perfect."
Left hand blue. She reached. Face to face. She parted her hair.
Was now the time?
She closed her eyes.
Right foot red. I slipped, falling to the vinyl.
"Again?" I asked.

The theme for June is identity (due May 10th), the theme for July is incompatible (due June 10th) and the theme for August is observers (due July 10th). If you have any ideas for drabble themes, please email me.

PLEASE read the drabble submission guidelines before sending in your entry. Only one entry per person per month.

Email your drabbles to me at drabble@technologist.com.


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Healthy Horizons

Laurie Lupold

Embracing Details

The spring awakens the senses like no other season of the year. Each morning is captured by a serenade of birds. The dew-covered lawn still has its fresh-cut scent. The flowers slowly peep out from hiding. Branches of leaves sway to the melodies of the early morn. The sun slowly creeps up over the hills and trees to warm the chilled air.

As writers we can gather up so much detail by paying attention to the simple things in life, things that at times we take for granted. To some, what was described above could be written as "It was a spring morning. The birds were singing." The passion is completely gone from the context.

The squirrel scurried down the crevices of the trunk of the tall tree anxious to gather delicacies for his morning feast. Poorly written this could say, "The squirrel ran down the trunk to gather food." Again, we have taken the glamour out of the sentence.

How often is it in our lives that we treat ourselves in much the same way as the writer who leaves out the creativity? Do we see ourselves as plain and unworthy of passion? Can we develop words that describe us that are colorful with genuine meaning?

As writers we spend much time creating a vivid life for our characters. They must be dashing or daring; even if they are somewhat plain they are plain in a way undescribed by our own lives. Why is it we can not look into our own interiors and see the beauty within? If we cannot get beyond the exterior borders, what can we expect to reflect to those around us?

I am not merely asking these questions of my readers but also of myself. I have great difficulty coloring my life, my being with any great multitude of depicted meaning. My words are lame and offer little reason for anyone to want to know me better. The good news is, I can change that. I can carry an attitude that will make others see me as a portrait of fine art if I learn to live honestly. There is no shame in paying yourself a compliment.

I'd like to ask you all to take a few moments this month and attempt to write a self-portrait. Include in it only positive details you know to be true. Relax and let your thoughts flow as if you were writing an outline for a character in a story. When you have completed it, post it somewhere near your desk so you will notice it often. Realize you are the character you described and feel confident being that person because you are UNIQUE.

'Til next time be kind to yourself and keep embracing those healthy horizons!


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Inclinations The Writers' Ezine - T-Zero Xpandizine

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Inclinations

Priscilla Fagan

Golden Rules

"This isn't just my opinion, these are the rules, if you want to get published."

Ever had this said to you? Well, I have. Just starting out, I happened upon an on-line writing course advertised as the first on-line course for writers. The teacher was a 'published' fiction writer. How lucky I was to have found this site, he has the knowledge. Yes, I want my book published. I solemnly vow to do as you say. I did learn one thing during this eight week novel course . . . no, make that two things. First, POV, for which I am grateful, second and foremost -- there are no rules. Hear me roar. That's evident, go to the book store and see for yourself. There you will find author after author breaking the so-called "rules".

Truman Capote said, "Writing has laws of perspective, of light and shade, just as painting does, or music. If you are born knowing them, fine. If not, learn them. Then rearrange the rules to suit yourself." Ask an author for a rule for writing and he'll give you one, ask another and you'll get a different rule. Hello. There are no rules. If one rule worked for T.S. Eliot, it doesn't mean it worked for Maya Angelou.

I was told, don't write in first-person, you'll never get published because 1st person cannot carry a full novel. Rule? Broken rule: Memoirs of a Geisha, Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Sullivan's Island, Hanging Up, The Reader. . . need I go on?

Walt Whitman: "Resist much, obey little." I think it was when I began to resist much of what was being told to me, that I grew as a writer. Another rule given to me: You cannot make an animal a recurring character in your novel unless you write children's books. Rule? Broken rule: Jan Karon's Mitford series. (I mention her because I just finished her fifth book and we meet Barnabas in the very first.) To think I took the poor, well-deserving to be a character, dog out of The Harbor Master and Bartholomew's Cobble on the say so of one 'opinion'. The dog is now back in.

My rule? If it works go for it. A published author is someone whose idea worked. That does not make it a rule. Of course there are rules of grammar, punctuation, etc. But all you need do is pick up a copy of Angela's Ashes. No quotations used in dialogue (yes, I did find it difficult to read), oops another first person book. And all these broken rules from a first-time author. Boggles the mind. Oh, how naive I was.

Have you been told to show more than tell? I know I tell people this, it makes for a more interesting read, IMHO. Well, Frank McCourt didn't care. Oh and here's a side-bar for those of you (notice I say you) who think you're too old to become a writer, Frank McCourt was 65 when his first book Angela's Ashes was published. So no excuses.

The point I'm making is, learn the ropes, use what you want, what makes sense to you and what works. There are all sorts of books on the shelves of stores out there. You wonder how some get the publisher's attention. What's the secret? I'm shrugging my shoulders. Obviously, not the fact that it has to be a good story. Luck? Maybe. Determination? Yes. But let's make a good story, too.

W. Somerset Maugham had this to say about rules; "There are three rules for writing the novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are." So true. Of course that's just my opinion.

I'm going to take a hiatus from this column on 'Inclinations' first year anniversary and try to figure the secrets out. With hope and optimism in my heart, when I return I'll be able to tell you where you can purchase my first published, rule-bending, solely my own voice, novel. And, ahem, set the rules straight.

Til then, I remain,
Priscilla, the eternal optimist.


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In the Writing Jungle The Writers' Ezine - T-Zero Xpandizine

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In the Writing Jungle

Suzi Goode

Websites and Print Material of Interest to Romance Writers

There are many websites of interest for romance writers. The primary one of interest is the RWA or the Romance Writers' Association. It is an invaluable resource for writers who want to be on top of the latest news in romance writing. The RITA and the Golden Hearts awards are given out by this group of dedicated writers. If you live in the United States, Canada or selected spots in the world, you may opt to belong to an RWA chapter near you and attend meetings at least once a month for support in your romance writing.

The new Harlequin site is also an invaluable website. You can not only order books, but you can check out upcoming titles, guidelines for the various editors as well as read what published authors have to say about their writing in the romance industry.

RomanceCentral is also another website romance authors should familiarize themselves with. It is filled with information about authors, the newest releases, as well as articles on how to improve your writing.

The AAR site or All About Romance, is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon and check out what's being read, what type of rating a particular novel is receiving, and take a quiz on their Cheat Sheet. There are also specific topics to view if you are a writer of any subgenre of romance. AAR also has a discussion on the Egroups lists, formerly Onelist, which can be found at the AAR site. It is a very active list for both authors and readers alike, so be prepared for plenty of list emails.

The website for the Romantic Times Magazine is also a place a romance author must have a look at. Romantic Times also publishes a print magazine that allows readers to keep up to date with what's being published and what authors have to say about their novels.

There are several books which can help with your romance writing. They are:

  • Writing the Romance Novel written by Leigh Michaels and updated in 1999.
  • How To Write A Romance For The New Markets And Get It Published Volume One, edited by Kathryn Falk (the founder of Romantic Times Magazine), published in 1999.
  • You Can Write a Romance published by Writer's Digest Books.
  • Writing Romances: A Handbook By The Romance Wriers Of America also published by Writer's Digest Books.

If you would like to see more resources, consult a copy of the Novel And Short Story Writer's Market 2000. There's a comprehensive section on writing romance as well as markets for selling novels or short stories.

Keep writing!

Suzi


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Poetics The Writers' Ezine - T-Zero Xpandizine

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Poetics Presents

proudly introduces poet
Peter Keane

Peter is a 46-year-old New Zealander. He is married to Liz and has four children. He lives on Rata Hills Farm which he describes as "a slice of heaven."

Peter has had varied careers as a policeman, an emergency manager, a tree pruner, a bus driver and an egg collector but not necessarily in that order. This has no doubt given him inspiration for his writing.

Peter is currently editor of three newspapers. He is very keen to earn his living from writing creatively. He also writes fiction and is about halfway through writing a romance with a difference and a thriller.

These two poems, "Burnt Ochre Hills" and "Fishing with Sweet Baby James" are the first poems that he has ever written.

Writers' Village members look forward to reading more of Peter’s work.


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Recognitions

Judy Hunt

Congratulations to Ursula Roeder! She sold her first story, a contemporary romance called, Reborn to Die, to Wordbeams, an online e-book publisher. Ursula has been a Writers' Village University member since December, 1999, and co-facilitates the Romance class.

T-zero Xpandizine is proud to announce another WVU member who has gained recognition in her writing achievements. Betty Kreier-Lubinski's, Ruthann and the Demon Motorcycle, won an Honorable Mention in the Writers' Journal 1999 Short Story contest. Her story appears in the May/June, 2000 issue, available now on newstands. Betty has offered her writing tips in past T-zero issues and has been a WVU member for two years.

Last, but far from least, Suzi Goode won First Prize with her story, In Shades of Pastel, in the Spring Story writing contest sponsored by the Readers' Vine. Suzi, a T-zero columnist, has been a WVU member since November, 1999, and facilitates three WVU courses, Other Worlds in Science Fiction and Fantasy, Horror Writing and Beginnings, Middles and Ends.

Kudos to Ursula, Betty and Suzi for their impressive accomplishments, and best wishes for many more successes!

Special for Writers' Village University members: if you, or someone you know, has gained recognition in their writing achievements, please send the information to: Recognitions. Thank you.


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Sparks

Karen (Karenika) Grunberg

From Darkness it Cometh

They say that if one of your senses is diminished, the others get keener. This month we will attempt to test this theory out.

Sometimes we see best not with our eyes but with our minds. In my opinion, most writers pay attention to details. They notice miniscule items the common eye overlooks. Often, this is crucial to a story. A single, well-placed word can make the entire scenery come alive. So, writing is a lot about looking and observing. This month, however, we will do just the opposite.

Sitting in a dark room, and I mean pitch black, you quickly lose your sense of boundaries. Even if you know the dimensions of the room by heart, the blackness seems endless. It's as if there are no walls or doors, only an infinite darkness. I hope that you are not afraid of the dark – even though I am - because this month we plan to spend a considerate amount of time in it.

There are two ways you can do this exercise. Either you can pick a topic ahead of time and decide to concentrate on that, or you can let your mind go wild. I'll briefly explain both.

The 'choose a topic' one is especially useful when you're stuck. Let's say you're writing a short story but you're not sure how it should end. Or you have a character with whom you don't feel all that well acquainted. Do you have a specific sentence that you want to rephrase? As I said, anything that is stopping the potential progress of your writing is a good topic. In this case, you might want to actively decide to concentrate on that thing.

In cases where you have something due, but no ideas are accommodating your deadline, you might want to just let your mind go wild. Sometimes the best ideas come when we least expect. In the darkness, you could just get the best idea ever, or whatever is bothering you and therefore stopping you from writing, can come to the surface, releasing your mind.

So, pick your method. Now, go to one of the rooms in your house, preferably one that has thick curtains. This exercise is best done at night or in late afternoon so that the weather can accommodate. Try to do the exercise with as few people at home as possible. One, so no one interrupts you, two, because they might think you are a bit insane. :)

The goal is to sit in a pitch-black room for fifteen minutes. Set your alarm so you know when the time is up. During these fifteen minutes you can lie in bed and stare with your eyes open or closed, sit on a couch, or crouch on the floor. Any position that will make you comfortable is allowed. Try not to fall asleep, but if you're really tired a nap might be helpful anyhow. If so, take a nap and try to redo this exercise when you're less sleepy.

After your fifteen minutes in the dark, slowly come out to another room, where you've already prepared a piece of paper and pen, and write continuously without thinking. Attempt to pour everything on your mind onto the paper. Don't censor your style or content. Anything and everything is acceptable. Once you get it all out of your system, read over what you've written. Read it twice. If you picked a topic, see if any answers have come your way. Go over it with a pen and circle potential story ideas. Put a square around phrases that sound interesting. Underline sentences where you think your writing appears exceptional. If none of these seem to be on your sheets, you're censoring yourself. Go back in the dark for a while longer and write again. Or try the exercise another day.

Keep in mind darkness can be like an empty canvas: a good place to paint a new character or a lively setting. Create a few characters and make them act. Your brain will not be acknowledging the objects surrounding you since you won't see any of them, so draw yourself anything your creativity is willing to unleash.

As always, make sure to have fun, fun, fun!

Karenika


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Spotlight

Priscilla Fagan

Interview with Charity Tamaseb

Our Spotlight is on Charity Tahmaseb this month. I recently had the opportunity to chat with Charity, who is an active member of WVU. Her Mystery Writing Course here at the University is one of the most popular, keeping her very busy.

Charity hails from the Minneapolis/St. Paul area of Minnesota, with her husband, Bob, and son, Andrew, along with assorted dogs, cats, and fish. She grew up in the small southern Minnesota town of Mankato. Like another native Mankato writer, Maud Hart Lovelace, she knew at age five that she wanted to write. I've had the pleasure of reading one of Charity's novels in progress, a treat in itself.

T-ZERO: I know you're very involved with Sisters in Crime and you maintain the Twin Cities Chapter web page. Is mystery writing your first love?

CT: I would have to say mystery reading is my first love. Growing up, I wanted to be a girl detective, like Trixie Belden or Nancy Drew. By the time I was ten, I had moved on to Agatha Christie. Now I read more suspense fiction which reflects my writing.

T-ZERO: How and when did you get writing bug?

CT: It was bit very early on--I knew when I was five that I wanted to write. Instead of pursuing writing during college, I opted for more "practical" things, such as learning Russian and joining the Army. Only after my son was born did I decide to start writing fiction seriously.

T-ZERO: What is your background? I know you were in the Army and jumped out of airplanes. I'm sure there's a story here.

CT: You know, I never thought so, but the more I write, the more I find myself visiting this period of my life. At some point I'd like to put together a series of stories about being both a female soldier and a soldier 's wife. I wrote a lot while in the Army--intelligence summaries, maintenance operating procedures, operations orders and it translated into a civilian job when I got out. (The jumping out of airplanes part is easy--if you hesitate in the door, the jump master just boots you in the rear.)

T-ZERO: Congratulations on your first published short story for Futures Magazine. What is the title and is it a mystery?

CT: Thank you. The story is called "The House Sitter" and it's a twist--given the criminal element, I suppose you could call it a mystery. I haven't mastered the "puzzle" mystery, but hope to some day.

T-ZERO: Tell us a little about your two other stories due out this year. Where can we look for them?

CT: Both will appear in Futures. "Uncharted Territory" will be in the October issue, and "Side By Side" in December. These are what I call my "quirky romance" stories.

T-ZERO: One of your stories placed third in Future's Fire to Fly contest. How did you become involved and can you tell us something about Futures?

CT: Futures is a wonderful magazine for readers, writers, and artists. The editor is a member of Sisters in Crime and I learned of the magazine from the national newsletter even though it's published locally (here in Minneapolis). They have a special section for new writers who have never published a story and in general are very encouraging. I'm very pleased to have my stories published with them.

T-ZERO: You also placed first in the 1999 California Writer's Club short fiction contest. Can you tell us about that?

CT: That was really special for me--it was the first time I had any outside acknowledgement that I was on the right track as far as writing was concerned. The award arrived the day before I left on my research trip to London (for my novel). It was the send-off I needed--I felt like a real writer on a research trip.

T-ZERO: With your experience and expertise in mystery writing, what advice would you give for someone just starting in this genre?

CT: Take a look at your bookshelf and see what sorts of mysteries you like to read. Don't try to write something because it's "hot"--that changes too fast. Write the mystery you've always wanted to read.

T-ZERO: I understand you're a technical writer for a pacemaker company in St. Paul. How does this--or does it--help with your writing fiction?

CT: Technical writing helps and hinders. I know after a morning of detailed design documents, I can edit my own work with a sharp eye. I also know that even something as dry as a software manual can take many drafts to perfect--fiction is no different in that respect. However, when I work on my fiction, I have to remember to do things like vary my sentence structure.

T-ZERO: Now for a bit of fun the James Lipton way. This always gives us a little insight into our authors. Here are your 9 questions:

  1. What is your favorite word?
    Right now it's my son's version of devilish: "Mommy, I not debilish."

  2. What is your least favorite word?
    Anything "business-speak" (core competencies, paradigm, etc.)

  3. What turns you on?
    New notebooks, new pens, new books, chocolate, and hot cups of tea/coffee.

  4. What turns you off?
    Non-dairy creamer, stale chocolate, computer crashes.

  5. What sound or noise do you love?
    A quiet house early in the morning with just the hum of my laptop.

  6. What sound or noise do you hate?
    Television as background noise.

  7. What profession would you be in if not this?
    Not writing? Hard to say. Maybe something to do with travel, or perhaps I'd open my own detective agency.

  8. What profession would you hate to be in?
    Anything to do with sales. I dread the marketing aspects of writing.

  9. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive?
    Reminds me of a joke. A writer dies and is met by St. Peter at the Pearly Gates. St. Peter says, "You have your choice, you may go to either heaven or hell." The writer says, "Well, show me both." So St. Peter takes the writer to hell. Locked in a dark, dank room, writers toil over manuscripts while fire nips at their heels and demons whip them. Then they go to heaven. Locked in a dark, dank room, writers toil over manuscripts while fire nips at their heels and angels whip them. The writer says, "I don't get it. What's the difference?"
    "In heaven," St. Peter says, "you get published."


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STARS

suz

It's time once again to show off the talent our F2K: Fiction Writing for the New Millennium students display each session. STARS columns have featured specific lessons from our November F99 and January F2K sessions and, most recently, a Retrospective of several pieces collected from our July and September F99 sessions. This time we watched the boards for that one piece that just plain caught our fancy. With so many talented students, choosing one proved to be tougher than we thought! With the author's permission, we're sharing our final choice with you.

Enjoy!

suz - F2K Coordinator

Remembering Charlie

By Patti Ross

F2K - March Session - Steve Martini Room

It is one of those cold rainy mornings that make you want to roll over and bury your head under the pillow…only I've done that twice now, and I really need to get this day started. I climb out of bed and make my way downstairs with both yorkies following close behind. They are looking at me, like another hour of sleep would've done them some good too. I chuckle as I watch them stretch and yawn... then shake themselves awake. Long black and gold hair puffs out around them making them look like little lions…they always make me smile.

The paper is open on the kitchen bar and I notice that my husband has circled something in the want ads. He's left a note beside it, "Remember Charlie?" I shake my head and sigh... Yes, I remember Charlie. How could I ever forget that little four-year old face? I remember that little face - how he looked that first day I saw him, as I make my morning tea.

Charlie... my first day as his Special Needs Aide in Head Start... the smell of paste and crayons, fruit roll ups and Kool-Aid, the sun shining through the window and the little paper cups of marigolds growing there. Sigh. Yet, those are not the memories that come to mind when I think of Charlie.

I scan the newspaper and try to put Charlie out of my mind…the emotions are still pretty raw, even though it has been two years. Jim has circled a Head Start position. Special Needs Aid needed for a 4 year old with emotional needs. Experience working with state agencies a plus. I chuckle sarcastically. State agencies, huh, that means there is a history of abuse and they are looking for someone who is skilled in documentation, to get this kid removed from the home. Yes, it does sound like Charlie. Taking another sip of tea, and pushing back in my chair, I let the memories wash over me while staring out at the falling rain.

Charlie was underweight and small for his age. He had green eyes that were too big for his face and were hidden by thin blond hair that reached almost to his nose. His hands were lost inside the cuffs of his shirt, which spilled out of the waistband of his pants. The piece of rope that was used to hold up his pants didn't help much since the pants were about 6 inches too long, covered his shoes and the act of walking pulled them off. He was dirty. The kind of dirt that builds over time…the deep ground in kind that takes a long soak and a lot of scrubbing to remove. Amber color wax oozed from his ears and his nose ran thickly to his mouth. It was obvious from the odor around him that he had wet the bed the night before and no one bothered to clean him up. When I knelt in front of him, smiled and asked him his name, he stared at me with empty eyes and walked blankly away. I realized I had my work cut out for me.

I put my tea down, reached for the crackers and a tissue. The memory of that first meeting still caused my stomach to turn and the tears to fall. I should have walked away then. After meeting the parents I should have run. Run quickly in the opposite direction. Now, they were a pair.

Charlene was as tall as she was wide. We all guessed her weight to be about 270 to 300. She had long greasy hair that hung in her face. She often tipped her head and smiled coyly through the greasy strands…revealing the four missing teeth that her husband had, in a moment of anger or passion, or both, knocked out. Her clothes were torn and tight, and I never saw her wear socks, even in the coldest weather. I imagine it was because her feet spilled over her sneakers and there was no room for socks - nor laces to hold them closed. Yet, Charlene had beautiful hands. Her fingernails were long, beautifully shaped and painted brightly. Once I caught her pulling a pair of rubber gloves from the trash and asked her what she wanted them for. She told me that she wore them at night to help moisturize her hands. I remember how she smiled, tucking the used yellow gloves into her shiny black purse. She was so proud of her hands and nails.

Ken, didn't have nails on three of his fingers. Actually, Ken didn't have three of his fingers. I never did figure out what caused him to loose his fingers, but it had something to do with dynamite and fishing. It was really all I needed to know. I tried to stay clear of Ken. He made me feel uncomfortable. He was always standing to the side, staring at me coldly through dark eyes. His job at the local dump kept him filthy and the children would hold their noses when he walked by. In the year I worked with Charlie, I never exchanged more than a nod with his father. I could never get past Charlene's missing teeth.

I've long since finished my tea, and am pacing the kitchen. The rain outside the window has become harder and there is a chill in the air. I pull a quilt off the chair and put it around my shoulders as I stop and stare out the window. My stomach is rolling and I can feel a headache beginning behind my eyes. For a minute I close them, but all I can picture are Charlie's empty eyes.

I glance back at the table and see the circled ad, and I begin that old internal battle. I haven't been back into a classroom since my year with Charlie. It took such an emotional and mental toll on me. The endless forms, meetings with the social workers, lawyers, the trial - Charlie's face - those eyes - the way they looked at me when he was taken from his parents and put in foster care. All the memories rush over me and I reach for the antacids and the Tylenol. Why am I even considering doing this again? I try and tell myself that nothing could be as bad as that situation - but the very real fear is - that it could. I don't know if I have anything left in me to give. How often can your heart be broken…before it can no longer be fixed?

I sigh deeply. I just don't know what to do. I love children. I love working with children. I like knowing that I can make a difference. Sometimes it is just so hard. Just when you think you have seen it all - heard it all, something surprises you. I think of Charlie's cat and that Monday morning surprise. Damn... I still get chills when I think of that.

I remember the week before had been a hard one. It had taken most of the weekend to relax and unwind. I had spent a great deal of time working with Charlene trying to get her to understand 'appropriate' punishment. I tried to give her good examples of problem solving and parental feedback. I had hoped I was getting through to her, and was encouraged at her enthusiasm. But it was a long, tedious lesson - and week - and when I went home that Friday, I was totally exhausted.

I approached Monday with a good spirit. Determined to find the positive in every situation that came up. Charlene and Ken arrived early and were waiting for me in the parking lot. Charlene was so excited, talking as fast as she could and walking toward the back of the van to 'show me'. I greeted the three children and nodded to Ken... and managed to calm Charlene down enough to get her to slowly tell me what was going on.

"Problem Solving," was all she would say. I smiled. Great, I thought. Last week was not a total loss - she really did hear what I was saying. I began to get excited, too, wondering what they had all successfully done together. She flung open the back door of the van and proudly exclaimed, "There!"

Cautiously, I peered around the door, covered my nose and turned my head at what I saw. It was a dead cat. Charlene, Ken and the three kids, standing there just as proud as punch and all I saw was a dead cat. The two adults began talking at once. It was the only time I had ever seen Ken really excited. Apparently, their cat would never allow the three kids to play with it. Every time they tried, it would scratch and bite and the kids would end up in tears. According to Charlene, all three children worked together to come up with a solution to the problem. They sat on the cat until it stopped moving. Charlene said that now, they had the perfect pet. The children were able to play with it all weekend without a single scratch. "Now, ain't that problem solving, teacher?"

Yep, it sure was. My only problem was how I was going to get all that information on one little green form.

Green forms…Agh! I made them out in my sleep. Each time an 'incident' happened a green form was filled out and a case worker called. Thinking about them, made my head pound and my stomach roll again. I looked down and my fists were clenched and I realized I was frowning hard. Looking at the newspaper again, I wondered how I could even consider applying for this position. What was it that compelled me to do this work? I asked myself if it had been long enough…Jim's note…"Remember Charlie" Well, that is the problem, isn't it, because I do remember Charlie.

My head is in my hands and I am massaging my temples when the phone rings.

"Hello," I answer with a deep sigh.

"Hey, Patti! Whatcha doing? Have you seen the morning paper yet?" It was Tammy, the head teacher from the Head Start class in town. Her perky attitude a sharp contrast to my gray mood.

"If you mean the want ad, yeah, I saw it." I replied without too much enthusiasm.

"Oh, come on, it would be so perfect for you…" Tammy began to say.

I interrupt her saying, "Tam, I just don't know... remember Charlie?"

"Well, yeah, I remember Charlie, that is why this is so perfect for you."

"Tammy... speak English, okay, I am not following you at all."

"Okay... here it is. The kid we want you to work with is Charlie's oldest sisters..."

"Older sister?" I asked interrupting again.

"Yes, older sister. Charlie's older sister has a three year old little boy. Actually... let me think for a minute… Yes, it would be Charlie's half brother and his nephew... I think. Anyway..." Tammy chattered on and I could feel those crackers coming up. "The thing is, Patti, we figure you would be perfect, because you worked with the family before and..."


T-Zero: The Writer's Ezine
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Copyright 1998 - 2007, Writopia Inc. All Rights Reserved
Submissions Guidelines The Writers' Ezine - T-Zero Xpandizine

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Submissions Guidelines (Updated)

Until further notice, only plain text submissions in the body of the email will be considered.
NO ATTACHMENTS.

What We Pay For

Fiction: Stories should be of interest to writers in general, not just a narrow group.

Fiction should be submitted to fiction@thewritersezine.com. Payment starts at $15.00.

If considered for publication, you will be asked to return an email agreement including your name and address.

Craft Features: Queries about Craft features should be sent to nonfiction@thewritersezine.com.

Payment starts at $15.00, and, if considered, you will be sent an email agreement to fill out and return.

Poetry: Due to the large number of recent poetry submissions, a temporary hold on further poetry submissions is in place until early 2008.

Please do not email us to ask what we pay for in other categories. When we can add to our list, we will include it in these guidelines.

What We Publish

Original short fiction, poetry, and non-fiction, particularly non-fiction related to the craft of writing and interviews.

For fiction we prefer something with a plot and resolution. If we like the main character, we are more likely to accept the story. If the main character has a problem to resolve or has to make a choice, that's conflict, and we love conflict! Too many writers confuse conflict with fight scenes. Don't be one of them. Give us a protagonist who acts, makes choices no matter how hard they are to solve his or her dilemma, not a wimp who drifts along and has to be rescued.

Non-fiction should be related to the craft of writing or be good resource material for writers. Accuracy and originality are vital. No reprints. If it has already been published somewhere else, our readers will spot it and let us know.

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Length Recommendations

  • For Fiction, under 1500 words is preferred. We will consider excerpts from longer works.

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  • Non-fiction or Craft features have the most leeway in word count. In general these manuscripts should be 750 to 2,000 words. We like to take advantage of the hypertext capabilities we have available and link to charts, graphs, lists and so forth. Thumbnail versions may be included in the body of the article.

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We will automatically correct obvious typos such as “ton” for “not” and may correct simple agreement problems. For anything beyond that, time permitting, we will return the submission to you with a request for corrections.

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Fiction and Craft features published in T-Zero: The Writer's Ezine include brief third person biographical notes on the writers. For all submissions, please compose your own bio and include it to save our editors and yourself time later if/when your piece is accepted for publication. We suggest sharing a little about your background, occupation, geographical location and what inspired your story.

How and Where to Submit

We do not accept submissions via US mail. Email submissions only, to the appropriate department, in the body of the email. No attachments accepted.

Fiction should be sent to fiction@thewritersezine.com.

Craft Non-fiction should be queried first. Send query to nonfiction@thewritersezine.com.

Poetry: Due to the large number of recent poetry submissions, a temporary hold on further poetry submissions is in place until early 2008.

Include the type of submission (fiction, non-fiction) in the subject line.

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If you do not receive an acknowledgement that your submission or query was received within a week, please send a follow-up query with “Did you Receive?” in the subject line. In the body of the email, please include your name and email address, the title of the work submitted, and if different, the email address sent from. Do not resend the submission unless we request it.

Good luck!


T-Zero: The Writer's Ezine
http://TheWritersEzine.com
Copyright 1998 - 2007, Writopia Inc. All Rights Reserved

 

© Copyright 1998 - 2007, Writopia Inc. All rights reserved