Author: Sheila McIntrye Good, Author

Improve with Flash Fiction

/ Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 5 Comments

Flash Fiction seems to be all the craze right now with a story  between 1000 – 500 words. The shorter the story, the better.  I began reading the stories, paying attention. Flash fiction intrigued me. The stories were tight. I wanted to write like that.

I began combing through every self-help book and blog I could find looking for ways to improve my writing skills and tighten my writing. Practice makes perfect. So, I started experimenting by writing short stories. It paid off. My first flash fiction short story (480 words) was published recently in Every Writer’s Resource.

Writing short stories will help you improve your writing skills in a number of ways. It will help tighten your writing,  help you free think more, increase your creative thinking and you will learning more about the skill of writing.  In addition, short stories may be better for you, in the long run. That remains to be seen. Anne Allen discusses why-you-should-be-writing-short-fiction on her blog. Check it out.

Also check out some of the sites I use to practice and improve writing skills. One of the things I do on a daily basis is one word. This exercise sends one word, every day to your email. You have 60 seconds to free write. It is a great way to open your mind, let your imagination roam and if by chance you suffer from writer’s block, this will help.

Other sites like five-sentence-fiction  offer a single word as a prompt to write a five sentence story. But, probably one of my favorites is dailyfig.figment.com. This site is offers a daily writing prompt and so much more. It is a great resource for writing advice. I’m sure there are others.

The resources available are many to help all of us succeed as writers. Go for it! I’m pulling for you!

Online Legacy

/ Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 4 Comments

This newbie published her first short story. This wasn’t my first publication. In 1989, working as a transplant coordinator for the American Red Cross, I published a professional article, “How Do I Ask?” in Nursing ’89.  It was on the serious and touchy topic of  tissue and organ donation.  (You can read the full article in my pages section).

I remember flipping through the pages of the January issue looking for my article and the excitement of seeing my words and name in print for the first time. The feeling was the same this week whenEvery Writer’s Resource featured my short story, The Rusted Swing Set.

As a writer, I’ve  gotten off to a late start. I wrote that first article some twenty-three years ago and  knew nothing about submitting articles or stories. I simply had a compelling story to tell. Naive in submission guidelines and formatting of manuscripts, without any hesitation or self-doubt about my abilities, I submitted the article. Perhaps, the reason they accepted my article was timing, the topic or my professional experience as an RN, in the field. I’d like to think my voice, as a writer, also came through, giving the topic a personal touch.

Today, getting a magazine or journal to publish your work is harder. You can’t take a shot in the dark as I did in 1989. Following the guidelines, honing in on your genre and understanding what editors want and expect is part of the equation, along with hard work.

I’ve learned a lot since 1989 about submitting and formatting manuscripts, but not enough by a long shot. My work may never reach the New York Times best seller list, but all I can do is try, improve were I can, and push the send button. Here’s a few things I’ve learned in the short time I’ve been writing.

  • Check your ego at the door or when you hit the send button.
  • Understand the rights you’re giving up once your work leaves your hands. If you’re unsure, ask.
  • Research the best place to submit. Zillions of opportunities for regular updates on contests and feeds from magazines seeking submissions are available. A great place to start would be the Writer’s Resource, Top 50 Literary Magazines.
  • Educate yourself. READ, READ, READ.
    Don’t take rejections personally. Learn from them.
    Keep on writing and submitting. Practice makes perfect.

Who knows what life holds in store for us. I won’t always get things right, I’m sure, but perhaps,  I’ll live long enough to leave a legacy of published works to make my children and grandchildren proud. I hope so.

The article I wrote twenty-three years ago is still being used as a resource,incorporated into training manuals all the way to California, cited by authors, and in, at least, one legal case. Imagine my surprise.

This week my short story hit the Internet highway. Who is to say what the next twenty-three years will bring, where my stories will be or who they may touch.Writing is a journey for this newbie. My final legacy is in God’s hands, but it’s comforting to realize, after all this time, my words were not forgotten. They touched people’s lives and long after I’m gone they’ll be there for someone to read. I think my kids will be proud.

Keep writing. Our words are our legacy.

Listen To Your Own Instincts

/ Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 7 Comments

As a new writer and a firm believer  in self-help books, if I don’t know something,  I have no compunction in asking.  A natural born student, I love to learn new things. A quick read and a fast learner, I threw myself into learning any new craft.  I began reading how-to-books, subscribing to writer’s magazines, writing blogs, and  joined a couple of writer’s groups.

All of  which have been helpful, and inspiring. I’ve learned the do’s and don’ts and basic rules of writing. It is an ongoing process; however, common themes are emerging and repeated no matter the venue. Less is more. Show, don’t  tell. Write what you know is argued on both sides of the fence.

Personally, I disagree with that philosophy. Our imaginations take us many places, doubtful we’ve been to all of them, and commas are the bane of my existence. Lately, the drum beat has been adverbs and adjectives – use them sparingly. They peg you as a new writer or weakens your work. Mark Twain once said, “Adverbs are the tool of the lazy writer.” He also said, “When you catch an adjective, kill it.”

I’m not sure I agree. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’ve read the experts. I hear them. I’m listening. I understand  punctuation is important. But, here’s the thing. You can get lost in the minutia of  do’s and don’ts, or get hung up on technicalities of writing and stop writing. You lose focus, desire, and your inspiration to write. Doubt creeps in and the many stories you had swirling around in your head are lost among the jumble of critiques, red ink and editing.

I want to write. Talk to me about plot, about  tension,  character development and structure, also. I’m learning. I’ll edit, get better. Improve and when the time comes, hire me an editor if I need to. Just let me tell my story. Get it down on paper before I lose the magic.

I may be new, but my husband saying, “Honey, you look beautiful in your new, red dress,”  has more impact  than, “Nice dress.”

So, while my writing may not be perfect, and there may more adjectives, adverbs and commas than the experts prefer, it’s a process. I’m learning. I’m listening. Sometimes it’s me I listen to. Good Thing J.K. Rowling did.

“Careful not to walk through anyone,” said Ron nervously, and they set off around the edge of the dance floor. They passed a group of gloomy nuns, a ragged man wearing chains, and the Fat Friar, a cheerful Hufflepuff ghost, who was talking to a knight with an arrow sticking out of his forehead.

Harry wasn’t surprised to see that the Bloody Baron, a gaunt, staring Slytherin ghost covered in silver bloodstains, was being given a wide berth by the other ghosts.

“Oh, no,” said Hermione, stopping abruptly. “Turn back, turn back, I don’t want to talk to Moaning Myrtle -”
“Who?” said Harry as they backtracked quickly.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – by J. K. Rowling

6530 Words in Two Days

/ Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 1 Comment

It’s amazing what you can do when you ‘re able to focus and shut out all the distractions around you. I took a mini sabbatical this weekend. Packed my little laptop up and drove to Charlotte to baby sit my daughters two cats, well that was the ruse I used. After all, she was going to be gone five whole days!

My plan was to get some serious writing done on my novel, which lately I had been unable to do. Now, don’t misunderstand. I didn’t mislead my family. My husband knew exactly what I was up to, and was completely supportive. Although, I must say he had some rather unrealistic expectations. I told him coming back with a “Complete novel ready for the publisher” was not likely. Hell, at home over the last week or so I’d been lucky to met my goal of 500 words a day. Coming back with a complete novel in two days, I just couldn’t see happening.

Life just kept interfering, but you learn to roll with the punches. Anyway, I was excited about my plan, and I wanted to tell you how it played out. Saturday through Monday was all I had available, but here’s what I accomplished during my mini sabbatical.

Once I arrived, sometime after two o’clock pm, on saturday, I didn’t leave, not even to eat. I had my food delivered. I was on a mission.

Since saturday, I have written over 6530 words on my novel and plotted out the rest of it. In fact, I’m pretty certain I know how it will end. I’d have to say, It was a very productive sabbatical.

Life happens to all of us. We want it to. We want to be engaged and involved with our loved ones and the community around us, but sometimes we need time, me time. Uninterrupted time. You may not be able to get a weekend or even a whole day away like I did, but you can ask for an hour or two.

And when you do here are my recommendations:

1: Prepare your mind for writing – Clear it. Tell yourself: your time is limited. The only thing you need to be thinking about during that time is writing.

2: Tell your family – “If you need me, here is how you let me know it’s important, otherwise I won’t answer.” For me, I tell them to put 911 after their text. I’ll know it’s important and I call immediately.

3: Have a plan for what you want to accomplish. Whether it’s a word goal, chapter goal, or to complete a project, and have a way to MEASURE IT. Hold yourself accountable.

4: Last but not least, keep writing. The world needs to hear from you.