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Volume: 16.05 • The South Carolina Writers Workshop Newsletter • June 2005

NEWS

Suspense in a mystery or thriller is a good thing, but perhaps it's not such a good thing when you're trying to make plans. Many of you have been wondering (and asking!) who the faculty members will be for our October 2005 writers conference, and at last it's time to reveal a few of the names.

Some of you will remember Bob Mayer from previous SCWW conferences, or you might have attended one of his sessions in Hilton Head, Maui or elsewhere, or bought his Novel Writer's Toolkit which was published by Writers Digest Books. Bob is the author of thirty-one books published under his own and pen names, including Robert Doherty under which he is a USA Today bestselling author. He is currently co-writing a novel with Jennifer Crusie, that is to be published in hardcover in February 2006. Prior to beginning his career as a writer, Bob graduated from West Point and served in the military as a special forces team leader. Bob will lead two Saturday conference sessions.

Mary Alice Monroe of Isle of Palms is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She has written eight novels, including Sweetgrass, The Beach House, Skyward and The Four Seasons. Her love of nature is evident in her writing. Her books have been awarded The Holt Medallion and The Maggie. Mary Alice will lead two Saturday conference sessions.

Kimberla Lawson Roby self-published her first novel, then went on to write several bestselling works of fiction. She is the author of The Best-Kept Secret, Behind Closed Doors, Too Much of a Good Thing, Casting the First Stone and three other novels. Her books have been included on The New York Times and Essence Magazine best seller lists and have garnered several awards. Kimberla will lead a Saturday conference session and will provide the Saturday night dinner address.

South Carolina native Quinn Dalton currently lives in Greensboro, North Carolina. She is the author of High Strung, a novel, and Bulletproof Girl, a short story collection. Her recently published article "The Atlantic and the Decline of the Short Story" can be accessed at http://www.mediabistro.com/articles/cache/a4183.asp. Quinn will be conducting a Friday afternoon hands-on workshop and a Saturday conference session.

gods in Alabama is the debut novel of Atlanta based writer and actor Joshilyn Jackson. In addition to writing fiction, Joshilyn has written plays which have been produced in Atlanta and Chicago and humorous essays that have been published on the web. Be sure to read Jay MacDonald's interview with Joshilyn in the April 2005 issue of Book Pages. Joshilyn will be conducting a Friday afternoon hands-on workshop and a Saturday conference session.

Paul Allen teaches poetry and song lyric writing at the College of Charleston and is contributing editor of Crazyhorse. His latest book of poems His Longing (FootHills Publishing) was released this spring and his book American Crawl (University of North Texas Press, 1997) received the Vassar Miller Poetry Prize. His poems have appeared in literary journals, including The Southern Review, Northwest Review, Southern Poetry Review, Poetry Northwest, Ontario Review, New England Review, Iowa Review, Puerto Del Sol and he has twice received the South Carolina Individual Artist Fellowship in Poetry. Paul will conduct a hands-on poetry workshop on Friday and lead a conference session on Saturday.

Terry Roueche teaches play writing at Winthrop University in Rock Hill and is the Writer-In-Residence at the BareBones Theatre Group in Charlotte, North Carolina. His plays, which include The Modern Approach, Remnants of Desire, Ugly Art, Wilson, and Take My Wife, Please, have received more than one hundred productions or staged readings and have won numerous awards. Terry will conduct a hands-on play writing workshop on Friday and a regular conference session on Saturday.

Some of us were fortunate enough to hear Helene Atwan speak at the South Carolina Book Festival in February. Helene, who is the director of Beacon Press in Boston, began her career in publishing at Alfred A. Knopf in 1976. She later worked at Viking Press, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, and Simon and Schuster.  Helene's acquisitions while at Beacon include Gayl Jones's The Healing, a National Book Award Finalist, and five volumes of poetry by Pulitzer-prize winner Mary Oliver.  She has served as the Chair of the board of PEN-New England and on the board of the National Coalition Against Censorship. Helene will lead a Saturday conference session and will participate in the Editors and Agents Panel on Sunday.

Jeff Herman is a New York agent who focuses on adult nonfiction titles. Many of you are familiar with his book Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors and Literary Agents. Jeff will conduct a Friday hands-on workshop, a Saturday conference session and will participate in the Sunday Editors and Agents Panel.

The South Carolina Writers Workshop 2005 Conference will be held at the Landmark Resort in Myrtle Beach. It begins on Friday October the 14th and runs through Sunday the 16th. The conference is preceded by Friday afternoon hands-on workshops.

The remaining faculty members will be revealed in the next issue of The Quill. In the meantime, please visit our web site www.scwriters.com for more conference information.

Charles Reeve has been chosen to lead this chapter, replacing Linda Shaffer, effective in June. Thanks for your service, Linda, and best wishes to Charles.

Audra Kerr Brown and Jason Zwiker submitted winning short stories on the theme "Right" for the sixth annual Piccolo Fiction Open. Their stories, "Mint Juleps" and "Working Hand" were selected from over 70 submissions from across South Carolina and beyond.

David Westeren's short story placed in the 2005 CrossTIME Short Science Fiction contest and will appear this summer in their 2005 Anthology.

From Printed Matters

Kevin Coyle is the first winner of the moonShine review short-story contest. His story, "Ish Kabibble," will be published in the premier issue of moonShine review, a new literary journal out of Charlotte, NC.

Betty Beamguard's essay, "Watch Out," won 3rd place in a ByLine contest, and her story, "Up from the Grave" was published in the spring 2005 issue of Broomweed Journal.

OPPORTUNITIES

Presented by Karin Gillespie. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Cayce-West Columbia Branch of the Lexington County Library, 1500 Augusta Highway, West Columbia, SC. Workshop is free and open to the public.

Karin Gillespie is the author of novel Bet Your Bottom Dollar, recently released in paperback, and the upcoming A Dollar Short, both published by Simon and Schuster. She is also a bi-monthly columnist for the Augusta Chronicle. Karin maintains a web site and a popular publishing industry blog called Diary of a Hype Hag. She travels the Southeast with three other Southern authors, and they call themselves the Dixie Divas. She is also the founder of the Girlfriends' Cyber Circuit, a virtual tour for women novelists.

Presented by Jason Zwiker. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Cayce-West Columbia Branch of the Lexington County Library, 1500 Augusta Highway, West Columbia, SC. Workshop is free and open to the public.

Jason A. Zwiker is a freelance writer and photographer in Charleston, SC. He is a frequent contributor to Charleston Magazine, a book reviewer for the Post & Courier, and a regular writer for the Charleston City Paper. His articles have also appeared in such publications as Consumers' Digest and Pool & Billiard Magazine. While at the College of Charleston, he studied fiction writing under novelist Bret Lott. Jason's short stories have won numerous awards, including placing in the Piccolo Fiction Open, and have appeared in such publications as Eureka Literary Magazine and All Hallows: International Journal of the Ghost Story. He is an active member of the Charleston Chapter of the SCWW.

Where: Landmark Resort in Myrtle Beach
When: October 14-16, 2005

The Landmark Resort has set aside a block of interior, ocean front and ocean view rooms and suites for conference attendees. Base room rates begin at a wonderfully low $42 per night for an interior view single. Ocean front suites are available for a very reasonable base rate of $65 per night.

The conference will begin on Friday October the 14th and run through Sunday the 16th. Once again we will offer Friday workshops.

Basic conference fees will be:

• Early bird member $125
• Regular member $150
• Early bird non-member $205
• Regular non-member $230

In order to qualify for the early bird discount, registration must be completed on-line with payment via PayPal by August 31st, or your registration accompanied by a check to cover the entire registration fee must be postmarked by August 31st. In order to qualify for member rates, you must be a member in good standing at the time you register. Current members may renew at the discounted rate of $45 when paying for the renewal at the same time as paying conference registration fees. Non-member registrations include a complimentary one year SCWW membership.

Workshop fees will be $35 to attend one workshop or $60 to attend two. As in prior years, conference registration is required for all workshop attendees.

Faculty member critiques will be $40 per critique.

Guest registration will be $50 per guest and includes the Friday night cocktail party and other social events. Guests may not attend the conference or workshop sessions.

Saturday dinner will be available for a separate per person charge, which will be determined at a later date.

Got news from your local chapter? Got a helpful writers web site to share? Got a caution about a bogus publishing opportunity or contest? Let's network our knowledge to build a better newsletter.

Deadline for submissions is the 21st of each month. Please send submissions to quilleditor@spymac.com either in the body of an e-mail or as an attached file in MS Word (DOC), Rich Text (RTF) or plain text (TXT) format. Articles accepted for publication will appear in The Quill and archived on the web. Writers retain all rights to their works.

Submissions may also be made on floppy disk and mailed to:

Leland Beaudrot
1 Cleveland St Ste 110
Greenville SC 29601-3646

Write on!

Leland Beaudrot, Editor
The Quill

Join us as story professional Kathleen Hannon breaks down the basics of screenwriting – from the concepts that sell, to structure, even the "do's and don'ts" in presenting scripts to agents and studios. You'll have a chance to ask questions, and explore the ideas that have occurred to you.

About the Lecturer:

Story Development professional Kathleen Hannon has worked on the screenplays for such films as "U-571" and "Terminator 3." Kathleen began her career in Hollywood in the literary departments of William Morris Agency and ICM in 1991 and became a development executive for actor Dennis Quaid, at Tristar Pictures, then Vice President of Development for writer/director Andrew Bergman at his deals with Castle Rock, and Universal Studios. Kathleen built, and subsequently sold her own company, The Screenwriters' Room, and consulted online exclusively for director Jonathan Mostow and producer Hal Lieberman for their deal at Universal Studios. She is currently working for producer Hal Lieberman in his deal at Sony Pictures Entertainment. Kathleen has also recently taught screenwriting at St. Norbert College.

How To Sign Up:

Where: Pure Theatre
East Bay Street
When: June 25th & 26th, 2005
Saturday 9:00-4:00 Sunday 9:00 - 1:00
Cost: $250
Contact Shari at 920-265-7828 for information book online, or book directly at Pure Theatre.

This I Believe is an exciting national media project that invites Americans from all walks of life to write about and discuss the core beliefs that guide their daily lives. They will share these statements in weekly broadcasts on NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

This invites you to make a very great contribution: nothing less than a statement of your personal beliefs, of the values which rule your thought and action. Your essay should be about three minutes in length when read loud, written in a style as you yourself speak, and total no more than 500 words.

We would like you to tell not only what you believe, but how you reached your beliefs, and if they have grown, what made them grow. This necessarily must be highly personal. That is what we anticipate and want.

It may help you in formulating your credo if we tell you also what we do not want. We do not want a sermon, religious or lay; we do not want editorializing or sectarianism or 'finger-pointing.' We do not even want your views on the American way of life, or democracy or free enterprise. These are important but for another occasion. We want to know what you live by. And we want it terms of 'I,' not the editorial 'We.'

But we do ask you to confine yourself to affirmatives: This means refraining from saying what you do not believe. Your beliefs may well have grown in clarity to you by a process of elimination and rejection, but for our part, we must avoid negative statements lest we become a medium for the criticism of beliefs, which is the very opposite of our purpose.

We are sure the statement we ask from you can have wide and lasting influence. Never has the need for personal philosophies of this kind been so urgent. Your belief, simply and sincerely spoken, is sure to stimulate and help those who hear it. We are confident it will enrich them. May we have your contribution?

Kurt Vonnegut and Peter Matthiessen are the final judges of two unique fiction and non-fiction contests, respectively.

The First Place winners of both contests will receive a free stay in the Hamptons in mid-August, and will personally meet Vonnegut and Matthiessen over drinks at Mr. Vonnegut's 350 year-old "salt-box" home. The winners will be given autographed books by the authors. The winners may also choose to receive $500 instead of the Hamptons trip.

Both Second Place Winners receive their choice of autographed books and a 3-day stay at the Mountain Mews Bed and Breakfast in Asheville, NC or $250 cash.

Third Place Winners receive $150 and an autographed book.

The contests are sponsored by The Writers' Workshop, a literary center based in Asheville, NC. since 1985. Vonnegut and Matthiessen serve on the Advisory Board, along with John Le Carre, E.L. Doctorow, Helen Henslee and Reynolds Price. Eudora Welty and Alex Haley were past members.

Contest Guidelines:

• The deadline to enter either contest is: Postmarked by midnight, June 25, 2005.
• For the Fiction Contest: submit an original, unpublished short story.
• For the Non-Fiction Contest: submit an original, unpublished factual story or memoir.
• Any person may enter these contests, regardless of writing experience or place of residence.
• All winners will be notified by July 10.
• There is a 5,000 word limit for either contest (typed and double-spaced).
• Attach a cover sheet with your name, address, story title and phone number.
• Use 12 point font size and paper-clip your work. Enclose long, self-addressed stamped envelope with self-adhesive flap for judge's comments and winner's list.
• Do not use FedEx or certified mail.
• The entry fee is $25 per story. Multiple entries are accepted. Make check or money order payable to The Writers' Workshop, and send to:

KV Fiction Contest or PM Non-Fiction Contest
The Writers' Workshop
387 Beaucatcher Rd
Asheville NC 28805

The South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities has announced plans for four summer arts institutes benefiting state arts educators. The sessions will be held concurrently the week of June 26 - July 1, on the School's Greenville campus.

These summer studies offer participants the opportunity to develop their skills as practicing artists, while also exploring new instructional strategies. The one-week seminars are presented in partnership with the S.C. Department of Education. For additional information, contact Dean Catherine Spencer at 864-282-3783 or via e-mail

The grand-prize-winning novelist will receive 100 published copies of his or her story and $5,000 in cash. In addition, Xerox will demonstrate the power of on-demand book-publishing technology by printing a free paperback copy of every novel entered.

How To Enter

Xerox is working with Lulu.com, a Web site serving independent authors, whose on-demand publishing tools will support the contest submission process. Writers can enter the contest by visiting www.xerox.com/aspiringauthors.

Step-by-step instructions will guide contestants through the process. To be eligible for the contest, writers have to digitally submit a full manuscript no longer than 450 pages, a summary of their story and a short biography.

A panel of independent writing and publishing experts will judge the submissions using eight criteria: creativity of plot, character development, innovative use of language, distinctiveness of voice, control of tone, consistency of theme, grammar and acceptability for mainstream audience.

Entries must be received by July 1. To qualify, participants must be legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia and 18 years of age or older at the time of entry. Only one entry per person may be submitted. Winners will be announced in September. Complete contest rules and submission details are at www.xerox.com/aspiringauthors. The first 1,000 qualifying entries will be considered.

Moment Magazine will award three prizes to outstanding works of unpublished short fiction with Jewish content.

First Prize - $1000
Second Prize - $500
Third Prize - $250
Plus publication in Moment for the top three stories!

Entry Fees: $15 for each entry submitted (simultaneous submissions are accepted.) Please make checks payable to Moment Short Fiction Contest

For each entry, submit the following:

• A cover letter containing author's full name, address, contact information and the title of submission. (The author's name must not appear anywhere on the manuscript)
• A check made out to The Moment Short Fiction Contest.
• A self-addressed stamped envelope for announcement of winners.
• Please do not send submissions via email. Maximum length is 8,000 words. Send hard copies of your submission printed out in 12-point font, double-spaced.
• No previously published works, or works accepted for publication, are eligible. Work may be under consideration elsewhere, but must be withdrawn from the competition if accepted for publication.

Send entries to:
Moment-Karma Short Fiction Contest
Moment Magazine
4115 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Suite 102
Washington, DC 20016

Deadline: Submissions must be postmarked by July 15th, 2005

Manuscripts will not be returned.

Winners will be announced by October 2005.

The Litchfield Review seeks original, unpublished poems, essays and short stories for its 2005 Summer Contest. The overall winner will receive $250 and other prizes of $100 may also be awarded. All prizewinners will be published in The Litchfield Review. Runners-up may also be published. All writers we publish will receive a free copy of the issue in which they appear. We are a new journal offering a forum to emerging and established writers; our only criterion for acceptance is excellence. We look for good stories beautifully told, quality poetry of substance, and creative nonfiction that lingers long in the minds of readers. Contest guidelines: Please send two copies of each submission, both labeled with name and contact information. For each 3 poems or 1 prose work, the reading fee is $10.00. Unlimited submissions for a reading fee of $13.00. Please make checks payable to The Litchfield Review. Postmark Deadline: July 31.

The Litchfield Review
7 Bonna St
Beacon Falls CT 06403

Submissions are now being sought for two new volumes:

Having a baby is one of the most exciting, challenging, and magical experiences in a woman's life. It can also be an emotional roller-coaster ride and a physical endurance test. Never more so than during pregnancy does a woman need a little extra TLC. The 50 heartwarming true stories selected for inclusion in this anthology are sure to bring comfort, joy, and encouragement to expectant moms of all ages and backgrounds, whether awaiting the arrival of their first child or their tenth. For this volume, we want positive personal stories about the memorable experiences that inspire, reassure, sustain, and delight women during those wondrous and sometimes anxious months of planning, conceiving, carrying, delivering, and welcoming home her new bundle(s) of joy. Any topic relevant to this unique time in a woman's life is acceptable, as long as the story is positive and meaningful to expectant mothers overall.

Submission Deadline: August 1, 2005

A child's diagnosis of autism usually strikes fear in the hearts of parents‚ and often turns their world upside-down and their lives inside-out. The incidence of this mysterious neurobiological disorder has risen dramatically in recent years, leaving parents in search of answers, support, and hope. For this inspirational volume, we seek personal anecdotal stories (not prescriptive articles) about the unique aspects of parenting a child with autism and related disorders (Asperger syndrome, Rett's disorder, disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder). Possible themes include, but are not limited to: impact on other members of family; creative solutions to everyday challenges; breakthroughs; effective treatments; silver linings; tender moments; helpful support; unexpected positive outcomes; blessings large and small; reasons for hope; adult children with autism. We are most interested in stories written by parents, but will also consider and likely publish some stories written by professionals and family members or friends with intimate knowledge of the child and parents in question.

Submission Deadline: October 1, 2005

Note: Deadlines are sometimes extended.

Stories must be original (not derived from another published work), true, positive, in English, and 1,000-2,000 words. Open to aspiring, unpublished, and published writers.

Payment: One $500 grand prize per book; $100 each, all other published stories. Plus copy of book. No entry or reading fees.

Guidelines: http://www.cupofcomfort.com/share.htm or email request to cupofcomfort@adamsmedia.com. Additional volumes with varying themes are planned.

A Cup of Comfort is published by Adams Media, an F+W Publications Company, and edited by Colleen Sell.

Got a story to tell? KeepItComing.net is accepting submissions for all story genres. Our ezine stories are presented in a serial format, and each issue (or chapter) needs to be no less than 750 words and no more than 3,000 words. A good issue is usually between 1,000–1,500 words.

Any story idea you send our way should reflect these aspects. It is suggested that you familiarize yourself with the ezine(s) you wish to write for.

Our stories are serial stories-think of soap operas, with no end in sight. Story ideas should be based on this with strong subplots and a variety of characters and events.

Authors submit their story idea, and if the idea is accepted, it is the author's responsibility to keep the story going, meet deadlines, and fulfill subscriptions.

To submit a story idea

1. We do not accept stories or manuscripts, only your story ideas.

2. We do not accept resumes.

3. Send us an email with the following information in the body of the email:

• Your name
• Title of Story (if you have one)
• Genre of story. Important, you MUST put a specific genre.
• Synopsis: Give a brief synopsis that explains your story idea.
• First issue: Send in the first issue of your story, complete. Please check for errors and mistakes BEFORE sending, as this may determine whether or not your story is accepted.
• Make sure the material is formatted correctly: 12 point times new roman, single spaced with a blank line between paragraphs. No indentions and no margin justification.
• If your synopsis and first issue meet our requirements, you may be asked to fill out an outline, giving us an idea of how the story will progress. DO NOT send in an outline unless asked for.

4. Please be patient, we may not always be able to respond right away!

Payment for Writers

Authors receive 70% of subscription sales, after PayPal's fees are deducted, for their story. All authors are paid through PayPal unless other arrangements are made.

Rights and Copyrights

Authors hold their own copyrights.

Only unique, original, and non-published works will be accepted. Keep It Coming holds first rights to publish stories.

FEATURES

From The Novel Writer's Toolkit: A Guide To Writing Great Fiction And Getting Published

NARRATIVE STRUCTURE AND PLOT

If you'd like a blueprint for a novel then I give you the narrative structure. There are 5 elements to narrative structure:

1. An inciting incident (hook)
This is a dynamic event and should be seen by the reader. It upsets the balance of forces and the rest of the novel is an attempt by your protagonist to restore the balance.
A good way to twist the inciting incident is to have what appears to be a good thing turn out to be the worst thing that could possibly happen. We've all heard stories of someone winning the lottery and it ruining his life.
I have an entire section devoted to how to begin your novel.

2. Series of progressive complications (ever rising risks, escalating conflict)
I heard an interesting story one time that goes as follows:
Keep the reader along for the ride. They want to turn the pages and find out what happens next.
Suspense is a very integral part of practically any story. This can range from the hero saving the world to wondering what is going to happen to a main character.
Suspense in a thriller can come from a clock ticking. Or in a mystery from the classic 'who-done-it.' One thing that many mysteries I see are lacking is suspense-- if it is a one-time murder, how are you going to generate suspense? Sometimes it's from how the good guy catches the bad guy. But if you have just a body, and there's no threat that the killer will kill again; or that the hero is in danger; or some pay-off, then there's little suspense.
Many writers believe suspense comes from having a surprise near the end of the novel. The problem with that is that the reader doesn't know the surprise is coming, so therefore there is no suspense. Even if you have a 'surprise' you still must escalate conflict to keep the suspense level up until the reader gets to the surprise.

3. Crisis (a choice)
The protagonist is forced to make a choice whether or not she wants to attempt to restore the balance that was disrupted by the inciting incident. It should not be obvious to the reader how this is going to be resolved. You raise suspense by keeping the reader guessing. The crisis is usually the darkest moment for the protagonist.

4. Climax (make choice)
The choice is made and balance is either restored, or a new balance is worked out.
Make sure your protagonist is involved in the climax. The climactic scene is your protagonist and antagonist resolving the problem introduced at the beginning of the book.

5. Resolution (wrap up plot and subplots)
Don't leave any loose ends dangling. The reader cares about all the characters and all the events. Tie it all up.
The above are very simple and self-explanatory. There are certainly novels that do not follow the narrative structure. I present it here as a guideline for those who wish to use it. Certain types of genre fit into this structure much more clearly than others. Use the narrative structure to break down the novel you dissected earlier.
You can also use it when approaching the question of story. Your idea might be the hook, or it might be the crisis, or it might be the decision that is made. The question is, can you lay out a complete story that has a resolution?
Write scenes not incidents. Many beginning novelists rush through their story. Slow down and tell a story, don't just relay information to the reader. Try to write a scene in 'real time' from beginning to end, rather than jumping around or using the fast forward button.

Writing, as I see it, can be a way of giving to others. We can do it by writing informational articles, personal essays, humor and escapism in the form of all kinds of fiction. Not to write would be awful for those of us who feel dedicated and at times, compulsive about putting words on a page. It would be like taking away that first cup of coffee in the morning, or snatching away our best friend forever. Writing is a necessary evil, but one none of us wants to live without.

I have been a slave to that necessary evil for many years ... most of my life, actually. It is as much a part of me as the color of my eyes, sans contact lens! I've enjoyed some limited success, but I'm one of those people who writes because I HAVE to, rather than one who writes to pay for her kid's daily infusion of Captain Crunch. My successes have been wonderful ego boosters, but even better than that, my stories, columns and books seem to have touched people's lives, which always astounds me.

Why else do I sit in front of a computer day after day, one that I personified because it seemed to me my new best friend needed a name? It has to be because I feel the need to share, to give back, to do whatever I can to encourage new writers to write from that deep down place, to be the best they can be.

A month or so ago, I agreed to teach a creative writing class to ten fourth grade students from an inner city school. This particular institution occupies the bottom rung of the school system hierarchy because of its minority population. I'm not a teacher by profession. I write. I spend hours and hours alone pecking on a keyboard before dragging my tired butt downstairs at end of day for a well deserved very dry vodka martini with the love of my life.

But I agreed to teach these kids because of a quote taped on the face of Miz Mac that hits me every morning as soon as I boot up. It says, "Give back what you can, where you can, as often as you can."

Two hours a week is what I agreed to do. Two hours. It is incredible to me how much of a difference can be made in such a small amount of time. I've watched these kids come out of a self-imposed shell; I have seen differences in their attitudes as the creative writing process turned their often destructive writing to one of positive, forward looking expectations. It may be the most satisfying work I have ever done.

My challenge to other writers in our group is to realize that they can all make a difference in our world without much effort. We can use the passion for what we do, for how we feel about literature, to show children the difference between good writing and bad. They will keep the craft we love alive and they will do it because we cared.

Give back what you can, where you can, as often as you can.

Cappy Hall Rearick, born and raised in Orangeburg, now lives in St. Simons Island, Georgia.

MUSINGS

"There's a rattling sound on right turns. I think one of the CV joints is going." I handed the key to the service tech, pulled my backpack from the car and headed for the customers lounge. Knowing the repair might take all afternoon, I brought along the laptop to get some work done. The first seats in the long narrow room, those nearest the TV were all taken. Fortunately, the seat furthest from the gasps and groans of the afternoon "soap" was available. I flipped open the laptop and punched the power button. Before the screen jelled into a usable grid of icons, I heard a too familiar voice.

"You used to watch that show." Thaleia, seated on the plastic cube end table beside, me pointed to the TV at the other end of the room.

"What are you doing here!?" I whispered. The plaintive squeal of a toddler for his Mommy, engrossed in the video drama, drowned out my muffled words.

"How's that?" Thaleia cupped a hand to her ear.

"What are..." I said a bit too loud as the TV chatter paused for a commercial. Seeing too many eyes turn my way, I punched a few keys. "Whew! Thank goodness."

She laughed. "This is why I hang around. You're more fun than television."

I brought up a new window and typed a message. Turning the screen slightly, I directed her attention to the text:

Must you follow me everywhere?

"You're in writer mode," she said. "I have to be here to stir your creative juices."

Again I typed,

I'm begining to think my creative juices have fermented.

She pointed at the second word. "Two n's in 'beginning.'"

Okay! I know you're not here just to do spell check. What's the story.

"Listen." She pointed up to the television. "We're about to find out."

The continuing saga returned. Without looking up I detected familiar voices and names. Though I hadn't followed the story for over two decades (not since the Salem strangler had captivated the college set). It was much like picking up later that same day. As if to bring me up to speed, Jack, having escaped the evil clutches of Tony, flees through the castle and finds fellow captives Roman and Marlena. Rather than making good their mutual escape, he spends about five minutes relating in minute detail the twists and turns that answered the simple question, "What are you doing here?"

Thaleia glanced through a copy of Cosmo she found on the table. "That's called an information dump. You want to avoid that in your writing."

Eyes fixed on my laptop, I stroked my chin and uttered, "Um-hmmm."

"If there's that much to say all at once, you probably haven't done a good job telling your story through dialogue and narrative." She proffered the magazine, turned to a photo of an over painted, under dresses model. "Think I'd look good in this?"

The Safe Auto Insurance jingle playing on the TV offered me the opportunity to mutter in response, "Sometimes 'minimum coverage' isn't the best deal."

The Quill is the newsletter of the South Carolina Writers Workshop.

Copyright 2005 by Leland Beaudrot, Editor. Contributing writers retain all rights to their work.