Be A Novelist Blog — Page 78 of 121 —

Gentle Spring Rain

As I write this blog post a gentle spring rain falls outside my office window. Following a few seasons of intense drought throughout the Midwest, it has created within me such a renewed gratefulness for gentle rains.

For almost two years in our area we’ve hardly seen two consecutive days of rain, let alone several days. If and when a rain came, it blew in and blew right back out. (I much prefer vertical rain to horizontal rain any day.)

With all due respect to Rogers and Hammerstein, and their wonderful song Oklahoma, the line When the wind comes right behind the rain, is not quite accurate. The wind comes in the rain, through the rain, before the rain, and then right behind the rain! Wind is just part of living in this OK state. That’s why a gentle, soaking rain is SO appreciated.

Rain is Rain

One can water the garden, the lawn, and the flowers day after day, but rain is rain is rain. Simply no substitute exists anywhere. God knew what He was doing when He designed rain.

It’s cyclical, the seasons are. Even in the worst of the horrible drought, we knew rain would eventually come again. And this spring we’ve seen rain return to the dry and thirsty land. Ponds are slowly refilling; dry creek beds are flowing once again.

Seasons for Me

I like to remind myself of that fact in my own creative life. Everything is seasonal; everything is cyclical. When I’m moving forward in the heated flush of creative writing, it’s like I’ll never again suffer a dry time. When I’m in the midst of a dry time, it’s like I’ll never see the abundance of word-production again.

A myriad of reasons create those dry times. Sometimes it’s due to outside distractions. Other times it’s due to the demands of freelancing for clients. Or a million other reasons. (My fellow novelists need no explanation, right?)

Looking out my office window at the gentle – vertical – rain this morning, I again remind myself that abundant novel-creating days are mine. Perhaps not today, but they are mine! That awareness — that knowledge — keeps me moving forward!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

In the six-month writing course that I call the Be A Novelist, Six-Month, Finish-My-Novel Challenge we talk a great deal about what might stand in the way of your novel creation! It will be like looking into a mirror as you see yourself more clearly. This course offers six full months of guidance and instruction. Guaranteed to light a fire under your novel-writing attempts and to launch you into a pattern of consistent writing! Details right here!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A Lesson in Listening for Novelists

A Talent for Listening

I only recently procured a copy of Working by Studs Terkel for my library. Going through it is like a veritable smorgasbord of stories from all across the country of ordinary people talking about what they do every day. What a goldmine for a novelist.

While I had heard of Studs Terkel (1912-2008) for many years, I had not fully appreciated his love for people, nor his talent of listening. In his teen years, his parents ran a boarding house in Chicago where Studs (real name Louis) was treated to a panorama of diverse characters, all of whom sat around telling their stories day after day. (No television to distract.)

Also located in his neighborhood was the famed Bughouse Square (nickname for Washington Square), a park where soapbox orators included artists, writers, political radicals, and hobos, all of whom lectured, recited poetry, ranted, and raved.

Forty-Five Years of Listening

Studs Terkel learned how to listen. And not only to listen but to truly hear. His radio program, The Studs Terkel Program, aired on 98.7 WFMT Chicago between 1952 and 1997.The one-hour program was broadcast each weekday during those forty-five years. His love of humanity is what kept the show on the air as he interviewed people from all walks of life.

Gary T. Johnson, president of the Chicago History Museum where the recordings of these interviews are now stored, had this to say about Studs Terkel: “He believed that everyone had the right to be heard and had something important to say. He was there to listen, to chronicle, and to make sure their stories are remembered.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studs_Terkel

Terkel also authored the book They All Sang wherein he interviewed musicians hailing from all forms of music ranging from classical opera to jazz, blues, gospel, folk, and rock. Again, it is classic Terkel knowing how to listen and how to capture the heart and the heartbeat of the individual.

A Strong Heart

Studs Terkel lived to be just a few years short of 100. He died in 2008 at the age of 96. In 2005 he had open-heart surgery and was one of the oldest persons ever to undergo such a procedure. The medical professionals were amazed at his quick recovery.

Perhaps it’s because he had such an amazing heart for people that his heart was so strong!

Striving to Emulate

In my own work as a novelist and ghostwriter, I too have had the opportunity to conduct many interviews. I’m amazed at how much I learn from listening. The more I listen to people, the more resources I have to draw upon when I am formulating characters as a novelist.

As I have read through and savored my copy of Working, I have grown in my deep appreciation of Terkel’s amazing talent for listening.

I want to be able to do the same. Perhaps not on the same level, but I aspire to emulate this amazing lover of humanity. I believe my novel writing will improve because of it.

Next on my book-buying list is They All Sang.

Droughts and Refreshing Rain

A Lesson in Listening for Novelists

Recent Posts

Archives