Jessica Ferguson

Author, Writing Coach, Speaker

N is for Noise

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I’m blogging my way through the alphabet with many others participating in the 2014 A to Z Challenge. The A to Z Challenge is the brainchild of Arlee Bird at Tossing it Out. We post every day in April except Sundays.

Today we’re tackling the letter N and for lack of a better word, I guess I’ll choose Noise. Noise has been defined as a sound of any kind. Seems like I always have noise going on in my head. A back and forth dialogue about something or other.

In restaurants I listen to those around me, try to tune in to what they’re saying. While driving, I’m plotting stories and imagining my characters talking to each other. Way too often, I’m constructing a response to questions I know are coming. To me, thinking feels like noise. The only time my mind shuts down is when I sleep.

Silence.

Since we’re undergoing massive renovation in our house, I’ve been hearing a different kind of noise. Scraping. Buzzing. Hammering. Sawing. Boisterous female laughter. Rhythmic Spanish voices. Humming. Even an occasional whistle–from a human. Sometimes a phone.

These new sounds inspire me.

The only noise I can’t stand is when someone tries to talk while the TV is blaring. Now, that’s unpleasant Noise. I can’t understand what all the voices are saying. I feel panicky. My head wants to explode. Figure that one out!

I found a quote I like, and I think I might agree. At any rate, it stirs my imagination.

“People who make no noise are dangerous.” Jean de La Fontaine, French Poet

What’s your favorite noise?

M is for Manuscripts (and their Middle)

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I’m blogging my way through the alphabet with many others participating in the 2014 A to Z Challenge. The A to Z Challenge is the brainchild of Arlee Bird at Tossing it Out. We post every day in April except Sundays.

Our letter today is M and in my mind, that means Manuscripts. We probably all have many unfinished or first drafts tucked away in a drawer or on a hard-drive. What do we do with them? Why did we give up on them? How many times did we revise them? Are they finished, but were rejected over and over again? When do we know it’s time to discard them?

I’ve read that a lot of authors are bringing their old manuscripts out as ebooks, but honestly, I don’t have the courage to do that. My thought is, if a traditional publisher didn’t want them, then something has to be wrong with them. I know that’s not always the case for rejection but I’m not taking any chances.

All of my manuscripts need rewriting. The Middle–another M word–is what weakens my books. There’s something about the middle that’s a real challenge for me–even though I know that’s where the action is, the heart of the book. I’ve noticed once I get past chapter three or four, my characters tend to get silly. The scenes seem forced. They can’t think of anything to do or say to each other. I have to focus, outline, visualize, put myself in each character’s place for the middle of my books to be logical. When I start writing … I dread getting to the middle!

Some writers construct each scene with such precision. I understand that each scene has a beginning, a middle and end, that it’s supposed to further the story, add complications and tension. I think some of this writing stuff we just do naturally. If I work with such precision, I get lost or overwhelmed. But maybe I’m looking at this from the front-side of my manuscript, not the backside. Not after it’s written and I’m delving into the layering.

Tell me how you approach the middle of your book. Share any tips you have. Do you outline extensively and know what the middle will bring, or do you sit down and start writing and worry about the middle after the fact? Do you ask yourself any specific questions when you’re approaching your middle? Do you recognize when your middle is too easy and unemotional?
Teach me something!

L is for Liar (or Lie)

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I’m blogging my way through the alphabet with many others participating in the 2014 A to Z Challenge. The A to Z Challenge is the brainchild of Arlee Bird at Tossing it Out. We post every day in April except Sundays.

Today is L day, and I’ve chosen the word Liar. I don’t like liars. Maybe I should say … lying is a pet peeve, and I don’t trust liars. Unfortunately, we all come in contact with them. We might even have family members who lie. I always feel when I catch someone in a lie, I can never trust him or her again. I’m always suspicious of everything they tell me.

Of course, sometimes we’re a little confused about what a lie really is. There are no half-lies. A lie is a lie.  We get into the situational ethics thing, an idea that suggests the end justifies the means when dealing with a crisis; that the law can be set aside if a greater good or lesser evil is served. I really don’t think we’re going to be able to rationalize or explain ourselves when we stand before God. Isn’t that a little scary?

One of my books deals with situational ethics. My main character is forced into a situation where she lies to get a job to save her self and her nephew, and to achieve a dream she had in high school. In her mind, she’s justified. Sadly, her actions destroy someone else’s dream. It’s not your typical happy ending. The book has been rejected by Christian publishers because they don’t want a book where the heroine lies. At least that’s what they said. Okay, I guess they don’t like liars either–even if the main character grows and changes and repents.

Lies and Liars are all around us. We deal with them every day.

When I researched liars in public office, I learned that a congressional investigation several years ago uncovered almost 500 federal employees who had credentials from unaccredited schools giving bogus degrees. This included three individuals with high-level security clearance. That was several years ago … just think how that number has increased today!

I won’t name names but a university football coach admitted he lied about his academic and athletic background. He claimed to have a masters in education and he claimed the have played football for three years. Neither was true.

An athletic director from another university neglected to correct his resume. He never completed his master’s degree yet it was listed there. After exposed, he had to resign.

The president of a very important U.S. committee resigned after it was discovered she didn’t receive her bachelor’s degree or her doctorate, as claimed.

One politician in Texas was defeated for re-election because she claimed to have a bachelor’s degree when she did not.
 
A CEO of a well-known electronics store resigned because he claimed degrees in theology and psychology from a university.

Needless to say, these people would still hold their positions if they had not been found out. I’m not saying these people weren’t qualified or capable of holding down these jobs. The problem is their lies. Actually, lying is akin to theft. They stole these positions from people who actually worked hard in college to get such jobs.

I guess a good question is, why weren’t their resumes checked out? Why weren’t references called?  But I suppose that’s another story.

When we talk about lies and liars, we always revert back to something silly like, “You mean if my wife asks if she looks good in a particular dress, I’m supposed to tell the truth?” Look buddy, just say what my husband says, “I love you, to me, you look good in anything and everything.”  If he believes so do I! Lying is a serious thing and we shouldn’t be allowed to get away with it.

And if you’re a Believer, you probably agree that we won’t.

How do you feel about Lies and Liars? Is it a worthy topic or one you don’t want to deal with or know about?

 

J is for Janie

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I’m blogging my way through the alphabet with many others participating in the 2014 A to Z Challenge. For me, it really is a challenge because of all that’s going on in my life. I spent today trying to design wedding invitations while painters painted and workers cut granite. I took a short break to run to Lowe’s to pick out bathroom faucets.

We’ve been busy ever since moving back to Louisiana from Oklahoma. I thought retirement meant a lot of free time on our hands. Not so.

I miss Oklahoma. I especially miss my friend Janie who met me at the library for a writing day two or three times a month. She drove about 45 minutes one way for our writing day. We’d meet at 9:00 a.m. and at noon, we’d break for lunch. I’d usually take apple and cheese but Janie packed a real lunch of tuna or chicken salad. After lunch, we’d write for another hour or two. Here are a couple of pics I snapped of Janie while she focused on her manuscript. I guess you know if I’m snapping pics with my iPhone, I’m not focused on writing. I’m people-watching.

Janie used to live in Cameron, Louisiana but after her husband died, she moved to Oklahoma to be near sisters and was there to welcome me when hubby’s work took us there. What a treat to have a writing pal, a brainstorming buddy … someone who is fun, smart, loves to read and loves to laugh. That’s Janie, fearless Janie, I-can-do-anything-I-put-my-mind-to Janie. What an encourager! I wrote my novella at the Mustang Library in Oklahoma with Janie sitting across from me … just like in these pictures. If we were still there, I’d have another book finished. I have no doubt!

Janie and I keep in touch by email, but it’s definitely not the same as sitting across the table from each other. I can’t see her crazy expressions or hear her wild laughter. I miss that.

Do you have a special pal that cheers you on when you’ve been rejected way too many times? Someone who’ll read over your work, and tell you honestly if it is good, if a scene works, if there are plot holes? Janie wrote a little mystery short story that I had the pleasure of critiquing for her. She targeted Women’s World Magazine. We were so excited when they offered her a contract. A Safe Bet came out in March. I felt like Janie’s success was my success too.

Tell me about your writer friends. Anyone special?

I is for Inconvenience

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Definition of inconvenience (n)

  • in·con·ven·ience
  • [ ìnkən véenyənss ]

lack of convenience: the quality or fact of being inconvenient or causing discomfort, difficulty, or annoyance
annoyance: something that causes difficulties or annoyance
cause difficulty to somebody: to cause somebody difficulties, especially relatively minor or unnecessary ones, or ones involving unwanted extra effort, work, or trouble

As some of you know, hubby recently retired after working 47+ years for the same company. We’ve looked forward to renovating our home, getting wood floors, ceramic tile in the bathrooms and kitchen, new appliances and kitchen cabinets and tearing out a totally useless wet bar to make bookshelves. Wet bar to the right.

We’ve been under construction (demolition) since March 6th. What an INCONVENIENCE. I almost feel as if this
is self-inflicted pain. I know once everything is completed, we’ll be thrilled, but until then … I’m not able to put my mind in writing mode. Or maybe I should say rewriting mode since that’s what I’d hoped to do during this time. We have two more bedrooms to move stuff out of, but there’s no place to put their contents until we get some floors down. Our garage is full.

Here are a few pics so you’ll understand what I’m going through and if anyone has questions about how and what they should do to “prepare” for such a renovation, just ask. I have a few answers. Hubby is standing in what used to be our kitchen, playing with his iPhone. Twitter keeps him sane. To the right is the bathroom. Very INCONVENIENT when they decide to tear up both bathrooms at the same time! The other night we took a shower is our smaller bathroom by flashlight. Wow, new experience!

Renovation is a lot like tearing a novel apart and putting it back together again–correctly–or maybe the new way you see it in your mind. What do you think?

To the right is in my office. The path leads to my desk. We stored most of our books and breakables here because renovation is NOT happening in this room. I can only take so much … INCONVENIENCE!

Do you have any tales of inconvenience? Do you think you could write while this is going on? Have you renovated before? Maybe I could learn a few things from you. Share!

I’m blogging my way through the alphabet with more than a thousand others who are doing the same. Please support the bloggers of the #AtoZchallenge by visiting, sharing or commenting.  It’s fun! Certainly more fun than this INCONVENIENCE!

H is for Hand-marking a Hard copy

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For those who don’t know, I’m blogging my way through the alphabet with more than a thousand others who are doing the same. Please support the bloggers of the #AtoZchallenge by visiting, sharing or commenting.  It’s fun! 
                                         
Today, we’re blogging an H word and I’ve chosen Hand-marking a Hard copy. That’s when I go through the pages of my manuscript and mark it up, edit, flesh it out. I critique myself. I wish I didn’t need a Hard copy because sometimes I’m away from home (like this past week) with no way to print out an article or short story for revising, and I find myself in a pickle–especially if I’m on deadline. I wonder if needing a Hard-copy to Hand-mark is a bad habit I acquired years ago. Or if it’s common practice.
 
I’m curious to know what you all do. Do you edit on your laptop. I can do that to a point, but I prefer a print copy so I can move away from my work area to a clear, comfortable place to read, proof, absorb. If I need to cut pages and paragraphs, I just slash through it and write myself a little note. If I need to fill in with description or introspection, it’s easy to do. Here’s a picture of a book I’m working on. I put it in a three ring binder then give it a read-thru, making changes until I feel I can get back to the computer to do final edits. 
Is there an easier way?  If so, share with me so I can quit killing trees!
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G is for …

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The A to Z Challenge is moving along at a pretty snappy pace. That’s another way to say April is flying. I can’t believe we’re four months into 2014.

So far, my blogging through the alphabet has been a challenge–as it’s supposed to be. I’ve dealt with home renovation, deadlines and illness. Still dealing with some of it. But, others who are doing the same.. Please support the bloggers of the #AtoZchallenge by visiting, sharing or commenting.  It’s fun!

Today we’re using the letter G. And my word is a little touchy for writers. Everyone has opinions about authentic bad guys and how dialogue makes them real. I think real might be in the eyes (and ears) of the reader. And the author who uses an abundance of profanity is kidding himself into thinking he’s adding authenticity.

I interviewed and wrote an article on Steven James, a best selling award-winning, Christian thriller writer who is quite the storyteller. Talk about authentic characters! They’re chilling, and he doesn’t toss any profanity into their mouths. Sometimes reviews say he’s a little too graphic, but his dedicated fans argue that his graphic murder scenes are true to his stories. Violent reads with no profanity. Can you imagine?

I’m sure some of you can’t imagine. Many of my writer friends argue this point with me, but when there’s no profanity, yet readers are chilled to the bone, can’t sleep  at night or have nightmares, I believe the skill of the author is obviously noticeable.

You ‘re probably wondering when I’ll get to my G-word. Well, I won’t write it, but I hate it when authors sprinkle God’s name in vain throughout their books. As if that really adds anything to the mix. Nora Roberts curses liberally though for the life of me, I can’t understand why. It adds nothing. In fact, it yanks me out of the story because it seems so unnatural for these wonderful characters I’m reading about. The three heroes use profanity continuously, for no good reason, as does their mother. I think it makes them all sound alike.

But the main point is that when we take God’s name in vain, we’re breaking one of His commandments.

Exodus 20:7 states:

“Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” – King James Version (KJV)
If that isn’t clear enough, then see what The Message says:

 No using the name of God, your God, in curses or silly banter; God won’t put up with the irreverent use of his name.

 
Authors who take God’s name liberally are treading on dangerous ground, every time their books are read. Their words of profanity, God’s name taken in vain, are being repeated over and over again, slamming into the minds and hearts of readers everywhere. Is that causing someone to stumble?
 
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want any sins trailing behind me.
Thoughts? 

F is for Fact

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Thanks everyone who said a prayer and sent good wishes for my mom during her illness. At 90, and living in a nursing home, she’s pretty vulnerable. When I left yesterday, she was on the mend but it’s heartbreaking to see her looking so frail. Every now and then, that Arkansas spirit pushed its way through and she’d spit out some zingers to me and my brother that made us laugh. She likes to tell everyone she’s a tough old bird, but obviously,  she’s not as tough as she used to be, and that’s a FACT!

Fact is my F-word, and I should have written about it last night, but after driving five hours in horrific rain, I was just too tired to think. So, during the wee hours of this morning, I examined F-words which led me to Fact in Fiction. We’ve all heard that Truth is Stranger than Fiction. There are Facts we could put in our fiction that editors would cut because they didn’t ring true, they’d be just too strange to be believable to a reader, or they might come across too coincidental.

Back in the “old” days when romances first came on the scene, there were many strange, fun things that appeared in books that I loved. I remember one book in particular that made me laugh until I cried. I can’t remember the title, The Grass is Always Greener I think, but the author was Billie Green and the romance line was Loveswept  The heroine wanted nothing more than to win the most beautiful yard award and she worked hard getting her grass green and her flowers blooming. Her new neighbor didn’t give a hoot and his yard looked like a c-word. You know the one.  She harassed him so much about his yard that the night before the judging he bought tons of green spray paint and sprayed his yard green. It looked hideous, but the way it played out was hilarious. It’s probably been 25 or 30 years (maybe longer) since I’ve read that book, but I can’t help but smile when I think of it. I don’t know that that could really happen. Would or could anyone in his right mind purchase that much spray paint, much less walk a yard and spray it green? I’ve used spray paint. The fingers get tired of pushing the nozzle and one can doesn’t go very far. But …

When I think of Fact in Fiction, I always revert back to this particular book for some reason. To my knowledge, no one in his right mind would attempt spraying his yard green. It doesn’t sound logical or true, yet, in the book it rang true because we saw how the heroine pushed the hero to his breaking point. He wanted to retaliate and did. If the author had shown the hero winning the most beautiful yard award with sprayed on green, everything she had written would have been for nothing. Her funny little romance would have been destroyed.

Do you try to make your fiction realistic? Do you believe there are satisfying ways to make unbelievable things true? Make them read like FACT. Do you remember a book or story where the author pushed the envelope? Share.

I am blogging my way through the alphabet with others who are doing the same..
Please support the bloggers of the #AtoZchallenge by visiting, sharing or commenting.  It’s fun!

E is for Emergency

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Well, here I am in Longview, TX because of an Emergency with my mom. This time yesterday I was trying to think of a D-word, never giving my E-word a second thought.

I don’t like the word Emergency. It’s never a good thing whether it’s with a loved one or a manuscript. Right? E-mer-gen-cy. It doesn’t roll off my tongue; it sort of shuffles, stumbles, feeling awkward. Such an unpleasant word.

My mom is in a nursing home and was hit with a bladder infection, a stomach virus and bronchitis. That’s enough to knock anyone for a loop, much less a little old woman who

just turned 90. So when my brother called this morning to tell me Mom wanted to go to the hospital, that she wanted her kids there and for him to find her Last Will and Testament, I hopped in the car and headed to Texas. She’s never been prone to that kind of drama! Well, maybe she has. The pic at the right was taken a few months ago. I told her my daughter and some of her friends were coming to visit her so she practiced posing.

Anyway, by the time I got to the nursing home today (a 4 1/2 hour drive), she was somewhat better, no need for a hospital–just her two kids. She perked up a little and tried to entertain us with her wit but I could tell it was an act.

So, Emergency is the word for the weekend–as much as I hate to use it. I’d certainly prefer Eccentric which sounds fascinating to me. Or Easy money which always sounds tempting but really, just a fantasy. Even Elephant sounds more delightful.

Emergency – I don’t wish my E-word on any of you. May all your friends and loved ones have a good and safe weekend, and I pray you have no Emergencies.

I’ll see you Monday with a much better word! Promise!

I am blogging my way through the alphabet with others who are doing the same..
Please support the bloggers of the #AtoZchallenge by visiting, sharing or commenting.  It’s fun!

D is for Difficult!

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D is difficult for me. I’ve thought of several words–Distractions, Death, Details, Determination, Dreams, Destination. The trouble is that I can’t think of much to write about any of those words. Maybe a little about all of them?

Daily – Do you write every day? I’d like to write a couple of hours daily or maybe four hours two or three days a week. When I start writing and it goes well, I can stay with it for several hours.

Distractions – Yes, I’m easily distracted. If I’m at the library, I can start watching people if I’m not careful. I can also be distracted by book titles if I’m sitting near the stacks. At home, in my cluttered office, I can be distracted by anything and everything: husband, TV, books on my shelves, the smell of food or a growling stomach.

Death – Don’t you think that losing sight of a goal or a dream is a little like death?

Details – I find it amazing that sometimes I’m a detail person. Usually that’s when I’m doing something for someone else, like on assignment, helping with a conference or designing a Save the Date card for daughter. I’m extremely detail oriented–sometimes. Unfortunately, my fiction is lacking. I tend to avoid that extra layering of detail that makes my story flesh and bones, gives my writing something special, a fullness or sophistication. Details make characters real.

Determination – All writers need determination. If we don’t have it, we’re whooped before we really get started.

Dreams – I know some of you turn your dreams into fiction. My dreams are usually hilarious or creepy. Sometimes my husband will wake me up because I’m laughing like a crazy woman. I’ve never gotten a story idea from my dreams.

Destination – I like the way that word rolls off my tongue. De-sti-na-tion. If you could choose one or the other, would you walk into the future or into the past?

So much for my D-words. Today, I’m sorely lacking.

I am blogging my way through the alphabet with others who are doing the same..
Please support the bloggers of the #AtoZchallenge by visiting, sharing or commenting.  It’s fun!