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!

A to Z Challenge Reflections

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As you can see, I took a few days to recuperate from the A to Z Challenge. While participating, I let a lot of things slide. I think I’ve proved to myself that I’m one of those people who have trouble walking and chewing gum at the same time. Maybe not that bad, but I tend to over-focus at times–especially when it comes to A to Z.

I lived and breathed A to Z this year. Probably because I shared so much of myself and my family. I didn’t intend to focus on my quirky memoirs but once I chose that first word–Ancestor–that was it. I was hooked. I began to get bored with my own postings when repetition crept in. If you were bored too, I apologize.

My first post was written the night before posting; the second one was too. After that I wrote each the morning of. I put myself through the proverbial wringer, forcing myself to think and write fast. Why? Because I tend to do the opposite: slow-mo. I take too much time to think and plan.

I’ve always envied newspaper reporters from the old movies. They get a story, rush to the newsroom and crank it out. I loved how they two-finger-typed it then yanked it out of the old fashioned Underwood without even ripping the paper. So… that was in my head. Write the story (the blog post) fast.

The A to Z Challenge is an excellent opportunity to grow our followers, but it’s much more than that. We have an opportunity to learn, and train ourselves in a number of areas: writing fast, research, networking, socializing and making friends, meeting deadlines, self-discovery, self-discipline … and learning from others.

For me, the real challenge is hopping around visiting the blogs of others. I got behind and never fully caught up. My apologies to all my A to Z friends.

I treasure the A to Z Challenge. I’m already looking forward to next year! Much love and laughter forever to Arlee Bird for such a brilliant April party.  

Can you tell me what you learned or discovered about yourself during this 2013 A to Z Challenge? Why did you sign up to participate? Share!

A is for Ancestor

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This is the first day of the A to Z Challenge. I want to thank Arlee Bird, the founder. What an amazing, fun group and activity he has created. I feel super-special to be able to participate again this year. If you don’t know Lee, visit him at Tossing it Out and say hello. He’s as special as his A to Z Challenge.

I’ve chosen Ancestor as my A-word.

 

Many of you know I’ve been dealing with some family issues since my mother broke her hip. She’s moved into a nursing home (for lack of a better word) and I’ve been clearing out her home. Sometimes I just sit and look at pictures I didn’t know she had and read notes and letters to her from family, and people I don’t know. Every note sings her praises. I believe those notes because Mom was a nurse. A perfectionist. Someone who went far beyond the call of duty. Being a caregiver is who she was/is deep down in her heart and soul.

Not me. I’m not like that at all. I don’t think my grandmother (mom’s mom–the one on the right) was either. And that makes me wonder about my ancestors. What exactly do we get from our ancestors? I wonder what traits, talents, mannerisms of the people you see here (my maternal grandparents and gr-grandparents), are so inherent in me that, no way can I disown them.

Is there a writer somewhere in my lineage that I haven’t found yet? I’m searching. I would love to find a connection to an author—s/he doesn’t even have to be famous!

Where do you think our talent comes from? Ancestors, God, or do we create it through our passion for … writing, art … jewelry design? A combination of the three? Do you think our environment plays a part too? Our birth order?

I appreciate the complexity of genetics but oh, how I wish it were simpler.

Take a look at these interesting quotes. I love them, don’t you? Especially the first two!

 
It is indeed a desirable thing to be well descended but the glory belongs to our ancestors. ~Plutarch

No man can cause more grief than that one clinging blindly to the vices of his ancestors.
~William Faulkner
Every man is a quotation from all his ancestors. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Your thoughts? I absolutely love comments!