October 22, 2024

History and Its Consequences

Loleta Abi

The longer I live, the more I see those around me going to the greener pasture in the sky. At services for a dear family friend (and my brother-in-law’s sister), I began to look around at those gathered. I saw new and familiar faces. The familiar ones reminded me of long-ago nights at camps when we shared smores and laughter as well as a splash or two from one of the Hos lakes.

My older sister and brother-in-law often had my younger sister and me at the campgrounds while my parents would take trips places. I remember the closeness of the campers of those related. It was nice to share a campfire with all of them. I remember those not with us as well as those who grew up with me.

They were nicer to me than some relatives and I’m thankful for that. Anyway, the Rs (name changed for privacy) let me into their family circle and for that, I’m enriched. Aunt Sandy was not only an aunt to her own relatives but me as well. She was a wonderful woman who invited others into her life with hugs. Her daughter, Sonya, was the first one I befriended but others came along just as special.

I learned to drive beside my niece, Angel, and Tammy R. Both shared my terror and fear at that wheel, I’m sure. All these years later, I taught my son to drive at the time I was teaching my daughter. She’s a little more reluctant like I was at that age.

Tammy’s brother, Tim, I knew from camp as well. He was always fun and brought laughter to all. These are just a sampling of the Rs I knew. In those younger years, we had more imagination and adventure in us. There was no internet, and games were a mild distraction from the enjoyability of that camp.

I will always remember how they all took me in during my divorce and custody battle. I was drowning in failure and afraid of what my life had become. The terror and abuse followed me and the kids for years. There are times, it still does, in our memories. I wish that all that was easier to get rid of then the people we love. To all that loved her, bless you and hugs. Take care all and God bless.

Books I’m reading: Black Elk Talks, Never the Hero, and Stars of Fortune. On Kindle, Fated to the Alpha, I think.

Music: Jelly Roll’s “Somebody Save Me.”

Some links on the web you might like:

1. Jane Friedman: https://janefriedman.com/the-7-habits-of-highly-ineffective-writers-powerful-lessons-in-personal-sabotage/ As a long-time workshop leader, I’m in awe of how some writers are masters at putting themselves on a path of creative self-destruction. In a way, it’s a beautiful, albeit demented, thing to behold—sort of like watching Glen Powell wrangling that F-5 tornado in Twisters. As a writer myself, I watch them and think, Wow. And I thought I was good at making myself miserable and getting in my own way.

What is it that makes these master self-saboteurs so good at what they do?

The question got me thinking about Stephen R. Covey’s book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change. The book has sold over 40 million copies and is still transforming the lives of everyone from presidents to parents. After revisiting that book, it occurred to me that highly effective people and highly ineffective

I think the most destructive thing I’ve down in my writing is to not take myself seriously enough. I squandered time I could’ve used to get my stories out there.

• Smorgasbord Magazine: https://smorgasbordinvitation.wordpress.com/2024/09/13/smorgasbord-music-column-william-price-king-with-the-duets-1980s-1982-patti-austin-and-james-ingram-baby-come-to-me-chas-dave-aint-no-pleasing-you/ In this series for 2024, William will be sharing some of the iconic duets from the 1960s onwards. Collaborations between artists that were hits around the world and are still enjoyed today.

Thanks for joining me today and I hope you will enjoy this trip down memory lane with me in coming months. William

1982 – Patti Austin and James Ingram – Baby Come to Me

“Baby Come to Me,” produced by Quincy Jones and written by Rod Temperton, is from the album “Every Home Should Have One.” When it was first released as a single, it charted on the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks, peaking at #73.

I remember that song as Luke Spencer’s theme song, lol. I was a pre-teen then and obsessed with General Hospital although I didn’t know Luke and Laura’s story until long after some questionable scenes were played out.

3. Kill Zone Blog: https://killzoneblog.com/2024/09/confessions-of-a-book-reviewer-2.html A reviewer for a major print magazine complained to me about a novel he was reading, when it dawned on me – this was news writers could use. If we know what’s wrong, we can fix it before the reviewer writes about it, for all the (mystery) world to read.
This reviewer is not some crank who looks for excuses to rip writers. If he has to give a book a bad review, he agonizes over that decision.
But here are some writing wrongs that upset this reviewer.

(1) Padded Middles. This is my reviewer’s number one problem – novels that slow down in the middle. “The padding doesn’t advance the narrative,” the reviewer said. “It’s pages and pages of the thoughts and feelings of people who aren’t very interesting. They offer no valuable insights. Sometimes, I wonder if editors make writers add this unnecessary information because big books are so popular. Most books I’ve read recently are 20 to 30 pages too long. Often, there’s a good book buried in that excess fat.”

I honestly don’t like to do bad reviews either and will just skip the book. Although, admittedly, I’m still on the first stories I started this year due to the move and other circumstances.

4.. Chris the Story Reading Ape: https://thestoryreadingapeblog.com/2024/09/19/the-midpoint-secrets-of-story-structure-pt-7-of-12-by-k-m-weiland/ Halfway through the Second Act, something marvelous happens. There you are, minding your own business, toiling in the seemingly endless desert of the Second Act, when everything changes all over again. Legendary director Sam Peckinpah talked about how he always looked for a “centerpiece” on which to “hang” his story. That centerpiece is your Second Plot Point, the Midpoint, which divides your Second Act.

The Midpoint is what keeps your Second Act from dragging. It caps the reactions in the book’s first half and sets up the chain of actions that will lead the characters into the Third Act. Like all major structural turning points, the Midpoint directly influences the plot. It changes the paradigm of the story, requiring a definitive and story-altering response from the characters. This time, however, the protagonist’s response is no longer just a reaction. This is where the protagonist begins to take charge of the story by moving proactively against the antagonistic force and zeroing in on the final plot goal.

This is the point where I like to think of drawing a line. Does the villain cross? Of course. The Hero has to be pushed back, has to fall to their knees, feel the futility of what he’s fighting and why.

5. Teagan Books: https://teagansbooks.com/2024/09/18/forgotten-women-inventors-lets-have-coffee/ “Real Steampunkery Tech: True Contraptions of the Steam and Diesel Eras” is now in Amazon’s publication process. It will be available very soon.  Meanwhile, I wanted to share another of the forgotten women inventors who captured my imagination.  If you like your “cup of Joe,” you will appreciate the woman who invented the coffee filter.

What a wonderful and useful invention! And her company’s still in business—amazing!

6. Fiction Favorites: https://johnwhowell.com/2024/09/19/thursday-a-little-personal-twiggy-and-tempeste-and-the-sofa/

Just so adorable!

7. Esther Chilton: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2024/09/20/guest-writer-spot-154/ Welcome to my regular guest writer slot. This week it’s the turn of another Swannicker (name for a writer who has attended Swanwick Writing Summer School) to take the spotlight. Graham Clift has a natural ability to draw us in and to entertain us with his non-fiction writing. I’m currently reading Graham’s first memoir, North Facing – Late Flowering: A Yorkshire Lad’s Quest to Find What He Needs to Grow Up, which is available from Amazon. Here is an extract. I think Graham brilliantly capture’s a teenager’s uncertainty when it comes to dealing with the opposite sex:

The most important thing we can do for one another is to be a community. Get our work out there to readers who might enjoy it.

8. Writer Unboxed:  https://writerunboxed.com/2024/09/19/flog-a-pro-would-you-turn-the-first-page-of-this-bestseller-31/ Would you pay good money to read the rest of the chapter? With 50 chapters in a book that costs $15, each chapter would be “worth” 30 cents.

So, before you read the excerpt, take 30 cents from your pocket or purse. When you’re done, decide what to do with those three dimes or the quarter and a nickel. It’s not much, but think of paying 30 cents for the rest of the chapter every time you sample a book’s first page. In a sense, time is money for a literary agent working her way through a raft of submissions, and she is spending that resource whenever she turns a page.

I definitely would. Enjoyable and the tone sucks you in.

9. Jane Friedman: https://janefriedman.com/self-publishing-after-a-bestseller/ My debut psychological suspense novel, The Bookseller, sold to Harper in 2013 in a pre-empt. I’m not going to lie—it was an amazing deal. The type of deal that compelled me to ask my husband, when I called to break the news, “Are you sitting down?”

Just when I waver about my choices, it seems I’m on the right track. The idea of a bestseller with all the caviar is great but if that continues to fall through, where will it get you? Better to set out your own deals.

10. Entertaining Stories: https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/2024/09/28/stop-over-at-sallys-place-and-say-hi/ Jenny’s life is in upheaval. Her only child, Cody, is getting on with his young adult life and has a girlfriend Jenny is unsure of. Her career at the news station is in a push to get more diverse and younger at the same time.

She wants to be an investigative reporter, but it seems those have been relegated to the Stone Age. Gossip, celebrities, and local interest are the order of the day.

In desperation, she accepts an off-camera job to retain her paycheck at all. This is when she discovers that mergers and acquisitions over the decades have left the station with a long history of old news tales in the basement. Could a cold case be something she could focus on in her spare time?

She and her son glean through ancient manila envelopes to find something of interest. Cody needs to make a drive in the country to pass college geology and decided they might as well go to the location in one of the old stories. Mother and son make a day of

Craig is one of my auto-buys.

11. Chris the Story Reading Ape: Should Your Novel Have a Prologue? – by Lucy V. Hay… | Chris The Story Reading Ape’s Blog (thestoryreadingapeblog.com) Every word counts in a story and first impressions matter. Traditionally, a prologue is an introductory chapter that sets the scene, tone and genre of your novel. But should you write one? The million-dollar question! Believe it or not, using a prologue can be quite controversial in the social media age.

So, let’s put prologues under the microscope, so you can make an informed choice on whether YOU should use one … let’s go!

I happen to love prologues so that is my view, lol. I think they can add to the depth of the story and add another element that wins a reader over.

12. The Kill Zone Blog: Write Fight Scenes The Comic Book Way | Killzoneblog.com

13. Chris the Reading Ape’s Blog: An in-depth look at ai: its uses, usefulness, and misuse potential… | Chris The Story Reading Ape’s Blog (thestoryreadingapeblog.com)

Oh, dear God. Just-ew.

14. Fiction Favorites: Tuesday – Anything Possible – Finger Point Prompt – Contemplation | Fiction Favorites (johnwhowell.com) Today, I opened Our Justice randomly to page 151. I pointed to the page with my eyes closed, and the word contemplation was closest to my finger.

Contemplation by John W. Howell © 2024

“You’re quiet.”

“Yeah.”

“Is it a contemplation, or are you not feeling well?”

“A little of both, I suppose.”

“Aw. What is bothering you?”

Scavengers make the world go round.

15. TKZ Blog: What Does Your Birth Animal Say About You? | Killzoneblog.com As I sat at my desk to write this post, Poe and the gang put on such an amazing aerial display, stunning black wings captivated me for over an hour. And I thought, gee, let’s do something fun for this holiday Monday. Consider it a “get to know you better” type post.

Mine was the Otter. I was hoping for cats or horses but I guess both of those are my spirit animal, lol.

I am reading: Stars of Fortune by Nora Roberts and The 4oth Anniversary of Science Fiction/Fantasy Writers and Illustrators of the Future by collective authors and artists.

In Apex classes: We had Colin M. Alston teach on Into the SEO trenches (which deals with your websites, getting them better viewed by Google), and Daniel David Wallace who taught on How the Midpoint of Your Novel is a Knot. Good stuff.

Other: A recent download of Windows 11 deleted my audio and speakers from my PC. I’m using a mini speaker that belongs to my daughter, but it cuts off on me sometimes at the most inopportune moments. It is attached by USB. I tried to reset or restore my PC to before the update, I even went back to defaults, but the audio and speakers are now gone. Ergh.

Have a great day, take care, and God bless!