Fun Friday–Favorite Miniseries
“What I’ve learned is that life is too short
and movies are too long.”
~Denis Leary
Miniseries. People either love them or hate them. I grew up in the heyday of the TV-miniseries: John Jakes’s North & South, The Winds of War, The Thornbirds, Roots, Shogun, V, and many more, lost to the sands of time (mostly because a lot of them have never come out on DVD). Just as there are many different types/genres of miniseries, there are many definitions of what makes a movie a miniseries. So I developed my own parameters for this post: Longer than four hours (which just barely knocked Elizabeth Gaskell’s North & South out of the running), produced for television, and aired in more than three parts. And I excluded Jane Austen film adaptations from this list because, for me, those are in a classification of their own. So without further ado, here are my top five favorite miniseries.
5. Jekyll (2007, BBC-TV)
Starring James Nesbit and Denis Lawson. Before I had digital cable, I didn’t get BBC-America—but I could watch some of the BBC-A series on On Demand. Even though the concept of this miniseries frightened me a little (I’m a big-honkin’ chicken when it comes to thriller/suspense films), I went ahead and watched it—and I’m so glad I did. This is a present-day reimagination of the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde story, and James Nesbit is a phenomenal actor. The series is around five hours long and looks like it might have been made to see if it would work as a regular series (because the ending does leave the story hanging just a little). But when most miniseries tend toward the more soap-operatic, this horror-lite story is a great sample of how miniseries can work really well to tell a story that’s just a little too in-depth for a regular-length movie.
4. The 10th Kingdom (2000, NBC-TV/Hallmark Entertainment)
Starring John Laroquette, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Scott Cohen, Ed O’Neil, and Dianne Wiest, with special guest appearances by Ann-Margret, Camryn Manheim, Rutger Hauer, and Warwick Davis. I vaguely remember seeing a preview for this when it originally aired. I didn’t see it until a few years later, once it was already on DVD. It was supposed to be the kick-off of a new series for NBC, but even though it received quite a bit of critical acclaim, it didn’t receive good ratings, thus it remains a miniseries (though at 417 minutes, maybe it should be called a “maxi” series!). The premise is this: two blue-collar New Yorkers are swept into the magical realm of the Nine Kingdoms through a magic mirror where, to get back to New York (the “tenth kingdom”), they must help a prince-turned-Golden Retriever regain his throne before his wicked step-mother can replace him with the dog she turned into the prince. They’re helped along the way by Wolf (Scott Cohen) who steals the show, as far as I’m concerned. This miniseries is the best example of throwing characters into conflict that I’ve ever seen. Just when we think our beloved characters are finally going to reach their goal, something else happens to take them even further away from it. It does get a little long-winded in places (like the whole “Bo Peep” sequence), but otherwise is highly recommended.
3. Bleak House (2005, Masterpiece Theatre).
Starring Anna Maxwell Martin, Denis Lawson, Carey Mulligan, Gillian Anderson, Burn Gorman, Nathaniel Parker, Richard Harrington, and scores more. Based on the novel by Charles Dickens, Bleak House tells something of a convoluted tale of lawsuits, a past indiscretion and love child, and long-awaited love. Yes, you have to like British costume dramas to enjoy this one, which I know means Caleb is going to take exception to it. 😉 Oh, and did I mention that Andrew Davies did the screenplay for this miniseries? (If you’re not familiar with his name, just go back and look at all of my posts on the Jane Austen adaptations from earlier this year.) This is the film in which Anna Maxwell Martin became my #1 favorite young British actress as well. I couldn’t find a trailer for it, so here’s a video another fan put together that we’ll call “Four Proposals and a Wedding.”
And to find out how the wedding came about, you can view this clip from the film (have I ever mentioned how much I adore Denis Lawson?):
2. A.D. (1985, NBC-TV/Proctor & Gamble Productions)
Starring a vast array of some of the top actors of the day: Anthony Andrews, Colleen Dewhurst, Ava Gardner, John Houseman, Richard Kiley, James Mason, Richard Roundtree, Susan Sarandon, and many more. We recorded this when it originally aired—and I just transferred those tapes over to DVD a couple of years ago. As far as I can tell, this has never been released commercially on video or DVD, which is a shame, because it’s a wonderful, dramatic (yes, slightly soap-operatic) look at the first seventy or so years after the death of Christ. Vincenzo Labella and Anthony Burgess, both of whom worked on the #1 series on this list, created this panoramic view of life in the first-century Roman empire. But it doesn’t focus on just one aspect—the Romans or the Christians. It weaves both the political and religious histories together to give a much better understanding of what first-century Christians really faced. (The sound quality on this video is bad, so you’ll probably have to turn it up to full volume.)
1. Jesus of Nazareth (1977, ITC Entertainment)
It is because of this miniseries that the movie The Passion didn’t really do much for me. I don’t think I can sum this one up as well as the review of it published in Variety:
- Passion, beauty, and brilliant storytelling are all on display in this six-hour-plus epic from Italian director Franco Zeffirelli. Robert Powell is superb in the title role, and with the overwhelming success of this TV movie throughout the world, has perhaps become what Jesus looks like in many people’s minds. The story begins with the arrangements of the wedding between Joseph and Mary, and chronicles the nativity, the encounter with John the Baptist (a ferocious Michael York) and everything up to the crucifixion and resurrection. This film is beautifully shot on actual locations, with haunting music by Maurice Jarre and an all-star cast, including Anne Bancroft, Laurence Olivier, Ian Holm, Ernest Borgnine, Peter Ustinov, James Mason, Anthony Quinn, Rod Steiger and Christopher Plummer. Zeffirelli has created a thorough, but never dull or dogmatic, retelling of the story, and the result is a uniquely transcendental film that holds the power to inspire no matter what the viewer’s beliefs or background.
Fringe
Okay, it’s rare that I’ll blog about a TV show (except LOST) and even rarer that I’ll do it on a day other than Friday. But I just got finished watching the new JJ Abrams show Fringe on Fox.
WOW. This is going to be a fabulous show!
Many, many years ago, I used to watch a little program called The X-Files—that is until they went the whole alien/FBI-conspiracy route (and changed the day and time when it aired). After that, I watched another little ditty known as Alias, which was my first exposure to JJ Abrams as a writer/director/producer. Then, along came LOST, and I was a confirmed JJ Abrams–TV series fan. (Yes, I specified TV series because I wasn’t overly impressed by his film Cloverfield.)
So it was with some excitement last night that I sat down and watched his newest series, Fringe.
- From J.J. Abrams (Lost), Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, the team behind Star Trek, Mission: Impossible III, and Alias, comes a new series that will thrill, terrify and explore the blurring line between the possible and the impossible.
When an international flight lands at Boston’s Logan Airport with no signs of life, FBI Special Agent OLIVIA DUNHAM (Anna Torv, veteran of several Australian TV programs) is called in to investigate as part of an inter-agency task force. After her partner, Special Agent JOHN SCOTT (Mark Valley,
When Olivia’s investigation leads to multi-billion dollar corporation Massive Dynamic and its manipulative corporate executive, NINA SHARP (Blair Brown,
The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd), our unlikely trio, along with Department of Homeland Security Agent PHILLIP BROYLES (Lance Reddick, LOST, The Wire) and FBI Agents CHARLIE FRANCIS (Kirk Acevedo, Band of Brothers) and ASTRID FARNSWORTH (Jasika Nicole), will discover that what happened on Flight 627 is only a small piece of a larger, more shocking truth. (From the Fox website)Okay, so yes, it sounds weird, and it is somewhat—but in a really good way.
As a fan of both LOST and Alias, I can say that Fringe definitely has elements both of those shows share (and for my fellow Losties, some of the sound effects from the Island appear in Fringe, including the ticking/clacking sound that the room full of computer equipment in the hatch made). As someone who used to love X-Files, I love the off-the-wall, pseudo-scientific, fantasy/sci-fi nature of the cases our characters will be dealing with—so called “fringe science,” thus the name of the series.
One thing JJ Abrams’s TV series are known for is their tight writing, deep characterization, and plot-lines that have you hanging off the edge of your seat, holding on by your fingernails. This series looks like it will be no different.
What’s that? You say you missed the premiere episode? Well, Fox has you covered: they’re running it again this coming Sunday night (check your local listings).
One caveat: there is a little bit of grossness right at the beginning of the episode, so if you’re squeamish, cover your eyes and just peek through your fingers at the screen. It’s over pretty quickly, and no worse than what you’d see on CSI or ER.
Trip to the Library
I had lunch with a friend this afternoon, then afterward went to get my haircut. Since the salon is less than a block from the Green Hills Library, I decided to stop there and see what, if any, writing-craft books they had that might be helpful in preparing the Say What? series (since that seems to be the winner by a long shot!). They didn’t have anything solely on the subject of dialogue, but I couldn’t leave without picking up a few, so here’s what I picked up and a little tidbit from each:
Gotham Writers’ Workshop: WRITING FICTION The Practical Guide from New York’s Acclaimed Creative Writing School
- “In the beginning is an idea. Ideas are seeds from which the mimosa tree or watermelon, or delphinium of a story will arise. There are no rules about what constitutes a proper seed. It can be a character, a name, a situation, structure, overhead dialogue, a setting, a theme, even a vague feeling.”
The Faith of a Writer: Life, Craft, Art by Joyce Carol Oates
- “Write Your heart out. Never be ashamed of your subject, and of your passion for your subject. Your ‘forbidden’ passions are likely to be the fuel for your writing. . . . What advice can an older writer presume to offer a younger? Only what he or she might wish to have been told years ago. Don’t be discouraged! Don’t cast sidelong glances and compare yourself to others among your peers! (Writing is not a race. No one really ‘wins.’ The satisfaction is in the effort, and rarely in the consequent rewards, if there are any.) Again, write your heart out.“
Letters to a Fiction Writer ed. by Frederick Busch
- “Probably you are a great or a good noticer. You may well be the one in your family who paid attention to your family members more than the others did. You sometimes knew what they would say before they actually said it. When they were out of the room, their voices sounded in your inner ear. Quite possibly, you were good at imitating all of them. You were the watcher. Sometimes, you felt like a spy: you were spying on the whole of life itself. This condition has its own kind of excitement and pathos, but it very clearly carries along with its discoveries a feeling of tension, and estrangement. Without quite knowing how, you fell just a bit outside the groups of which you were a member.” (Charles Baxter)
How to Grow a Novel: The Most Common Mistakes Writers Make and How to Overcome Them by Sol Stein
- “A writer is someone who looks forward to the day’s work, even if it lasts only an hour or two before the writer has to dash to a job that supports him and his family until such happy time that the writing itself may be economically rewarding. On those days when external circumstances prevent his writing, a writer feels a hollowness, an absence, a longing. . . . True, some writers suffer while writing. I regret their pain, and am glad to report that as one masters the craft, the pain ebbs, and the pleasure of being able to control the result can bring the second-greatest pleasure of life, the creation of text that arouses the emotions of distant readers.”
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers by Renni Browne and Dave King
- “A word of warning: because writing and editing are two different skills, they require two different mind-sets. Don’t try to do both at once. The time to edit is not when you’re writing your first draft. But once that first draft is finished, you can use the principles in this book to increase—dramatically—the effectiveness of the story you’ve told and the way you’ve told it. You can drop your amateurish look and give your writing a professional edge. In other words, you can edit yourself into print.”
And then I ordered this one from Amazon yesterday:
Writing Dialogue by Tom Chiarella
- “The world is crowded with voices. While we can retreat to our silences from time to time, most of us are called on to speak and listen for the better part of every day. From the beginning of our lifes we listen, in preparation to speak. . . . So what’s hard about writing dialogue? It’s just speaking, right? Well, the truth is, writing dialogue is not all that hard.”
Autumn 2008 Series
So this morning, I’m wondering what I can blog about this week since the conference prep series is over (much to some of my readers’ great relief), but I don’t want to start another series right before I go out of town. And then I realized: I have a bunch of series I said at the beginning of the year that I was going to do and haven’t gotten around to yet. So I’ll put it up for a “vote” for y’all to decide which series should come next—beginning September 29th:
Say What?: We’ll look at how to make our characters’ communication realistic—from dialogue to facial expressions to body language. We’ll also discuss how to find the balance between dialogue and narrative, and figure out what’s up with dialogue tags.
Marketing, Branding, and Self-Promotion: In addition to Networking, learning how to build name-recognition, brand yourself by claiming a unique niche of the market, and market your own books—both prior to and after publication—are some of the most important skills all writers need to learn.
Writing to the Market: Can you write what sells without compromising the story of your heart? How can you find out what’s selling and what isn’t? What do editors really mean when they say what kinds of stories they’re looking for? I hope to include lots of feedback and advice from published authors on this subject.
Feeding the Muse: How can we keep the flame of creativity burning when we’re completely burned out by real life?
As always, I’m open to suggestions for other topics, and would love for you to submit questions you have about any of these topics so that I can be sure to cover them.
Fun Friday–Favorite War Movies
“What a cruel thing is war: to separate and destroy families and friends, and mar the purest joys and happiness God has granted us in this world; to fill our hearts with hatred instead of love for our neighbors, and to devastate the fair face of this beautiful world.”
~ Robert E. Lee, letter to his wife, 1864
Let me preface this list by saying this started out as my “Favorite Historical Films” list. But when I realized that almost everything I’d written down had something to do with war, I changed the title. Let me also say, I’m not a connoisseur of “war movies.” These are all movies that I’ve enjoyed or that have touched me in some way that happen to be set during war.
Having grown up the daughter of a Vietnam veteran and the granddaughter of a WWII veteran, I have a very healthy respect for our military, and a deep fear of the consequences of war. Because of that, there are certain movies that are set during war that I love because they show that same respect and fear. These films don’t glorify violence, though there is plenty in all of them; they might actually be seen as treatises on why we should never go to war again. Unlike our news media and the political spin put on the current war (by either party), these films focus on the human element of the horrors of war, and should serve as a reminder of why God wants us to love one another above all else. That said, here are my favorite war movies.
5. Glory (1989, Tri-Star Pictures)
Starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, and Morgan Freeman. This film came out just as I was starting college (the first time) and was minoring in American History with a focus on the Civil War. It told a story that up until that time, no film had told: the involvement of African Americans in the War Between the States. A few years later, when talking about it with a friend from Georgia, he made the comment that it was the first Civil War movie in which, by the end, he was cheering for the Yankees to win. It doesn’t matter which side you come from, this is a wonderful story (based on the real-life events surrounding Robert Gould Shaw and the 54th Massachusetts regiment) that shows the reasons why people choose to go to war.
4. Memphis Belle (1990, Warner Brothers)
Starring Matthew Modine, Eric Stoltz, Harry Connick Jr., Billy Zane, Sean Astin, D.B. Sweeney, Tate Donovan, Reed Diamond, Courtney Gains, David Strathairn, and John Lithgow. This is another one of those movies that came out during my college days when I was immersed in all things historical. Even though WWII has never been an area of interest for me like the Civil War, it’s still something that captures my attention. So when this film came out starring some of the up-and-coming actors of my generation, I paid attention. Oh, and Harry Connick sings “Danny Boy” in it too.
3. Master & Commander (2003, 20th Century Fox/Miramax).
Starring Russell Crowe, Paul Bettany, James D’Arcy, and an ensemble cast of some of the best British character-actors in the business, including Billy Boyd (yes, Pippin from the Lord of the Rings films). What can I say about films that come out at just a certain time in my life? This one came out just as I was starting the research for my Regency/Napoleonic-set historical romance in which the hero is a Royal Navy captain. Unlike the Horatio Hornblower films that I was obsessed with around the same time, this one shows a more realistic view of what life was like aboard a ship in the early 19th century. And it’s got Russell Crowe at the helm partnered with Paul Bettany. Who knew those two actors would play so well off each other. And the music is divine.
2. The Patriot (2000, Columbia Pictures)
Starring Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger, Jason Isaacs, Joely Richardson, Chris Cooper, Tom Wilkinson, and Adam Baldwin. I’m a very, very bad history-minor: I know little about the Revolutionary War. I know the names of a few key battles, but I couldn’t even tell you in what year they took place nor who the important military figures were, unlike my knowledge of the war that followed less than a century later. So when this movie came out, I was very interested in it and also able to watch it without getting caught up in the historical inaccuracies which I’ve since learned the film has. Just like I watch A Christmas Story on the Friday after Thanksgiving, I always watch The Patriot on the Fourth of July.
1. Saving Private Ryan (1998, Amblin/DreamWorks/Paramount Pictures)
Starring Tom Hanks, Edward Burns, Tom Sizemore, Barry Pepper, Adam Goldbert, Vin Diesel, Giovanni Ribisi, Jeremy Davies, and Matt Damon. When this film first came out in theaters, the Veterans’ Administration reported an increased number of older veterans coming in for counseling, with panic attacks, or with PTSD-like symptoms. Steven Spielberg set out to create—and achieved—one of the most realistic war sequences ever put on film. With documentary-style shooting and the unrelenting pace of the action, when viewed in the movie theater (especially like the one where I saw it—mammoth screen), for many war veterans, it was too real. I did not have the opportunity to see this film with my father; however, many years before, we did go as a family to see another very realistic war film: Platoon. At fifteen or sixteen years old, I can remember my dad’s reaction to that film. And it was after seeing it that he finally started opening up and telling us some stories about his experiences in Vietnam. I’ve been to the Vietnam wall in DC with him a few times, along with Arlington Cemetery. I’ve also heard stories about some of the close calls he had in Vietnam—almost two years before I was born. That’s why this film gets the place of honor at the top of this list. Because never before had I seen a film that really made me understand that the only reason I’m here today is because others’ lives were sacrificed so that my father could make it home safely. I hope in some small way, like Private Ryan, I’ve lived a life worthy of their sacrifice. I know Daddy has.
Amber Miller Asks: What do you do during down-time at a writing conference?
All right, so you’ve been following this blog for nearly 3 weeks now. Or perhaps you haven’t, but you were interested in learning more about conferences in preparation for attending one. You might have even thought you heard it all up to now. How to pitch, how to plan, how to prepare, how to get over your nerves, making the most of appointments, the spiritual benefits of attending, etc.
But what about what to do when you’re not doing anything? I know, I know. You’re probably thinking there won’t be any time like that. But, trust me. As a veteran conference attendee and even one who has helped plan some, I can promise you there *will* be down time. And no, it won’t only be when you’re catching those few winks at night. It might not be much, and you might have to be paying close attention to notice it when it happens. Still, it’ll be there.
So, what do you do when it comes?
Well, some will say you should take a walk, or visit the prayer room if attending ACFW, go for a swim or take a nap. Those are all excellent options, and I’d like to add one more. Mill about and do some observation. People-watching can be an excellent and stress-free exercise, and you might even find some material for your next story!
You’ll also likely find someone else who might be just as nervous or perhaps feeling as out of place as you at that moment. Perhaps the two of you could meet, introduce yourselves and strike up a conversation. If you go into this down-time with an expectant frame of mind, God can do mighty and wondrous things to put the icing on the cake of your conference experience.
You might encounter an author who writes books you might love to read, but never knew before. You could meet another attendee who is looking for a little reassurance or even just a smile from someone who can relate. You might even bump into an editor or agent whose schedule and table had been full. This time could produce a fantastic opportunity you might not have had if you had been focusing your attention elsewhere and trying to fill every waking moment with something conference-related.
I know how easy it is to get overwhelmed and feel like you have to attend every workshop, every meeting, and be on time or early for every part. But sometimes the best parts of the conference happen outside of the “planned” aspects. That’s usually when the most memorable things happen too!
For example, a great deal of fun takes place in the lobby at all times during the conference. You’ll encounter the rest of the veteran conferees who know the value of capitalizing on down-time, and you might even meet a new friend.
Another suggestion would be to head to the bookstore and browse through the books. Check out the freebie table there as well. Some great deals can be found, or information you’ve been wanting. You could also be standing at one of the tables with a book display only to meet another reader who loves the same books. You might also find someone there who is in need of a friend or kind word. Be aware and alert for ways you can bless someone else even while you’re being blessed by others.
Most importantly, take time to digest everything and make down-time for yourself. Don’t do too much, and don’t kick yourself if you feel you didn’t get the “full” experience. Go with an open mind and an open heart, and you’re sure to come back having received the best that you could receive.
And if you find yourself wandering about during down-time, come fine me. I’ll likely be hanging out in the lobby.
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AMBER MILLER is a freelance Web designer and author whose articles and short stories have appeared in local, national, and international publications. Her writing career began as a columnist for her high school and college newspapers. Her first publication in a book appeared in the form of nine contributions (as a single!) to 101 Ways to Romance Your Marriage by Debra White Smith. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Historical Romance Writers. Some of her hobbies include traveling, music, movies, and interacting with other writers. At age three, she learned to read and hasn’t put down books since. Recently married, she lives with her husband and fellow writer, Stuart, in beautiful Colorado Springs. Her first book, Promises, Promises, is currently available from HeartSong Presents. Visit her website to learn more or to contact her: www.ambermiller.com
Erica Vetsch Helps Us Keep the Wheels Turning After Conference
With the ACFW Conference fast approaching, I find myself getting more and more excited. I can’t wait to see friends, to hear the keynote speaker, and to soak up information in the workshops.
But conferences can be a two-edged sword. Last year I had an amazing time and made memories that will be with me for a lifetime. Four non-stop days of talking, breathing, living writing; what author could ask for more?
Then I came home. For four months I floundered, overwhelmed by all I had learned and not knowing how to apply it to my writing. I was a victim of Post-Conference Funk. Here are a few steps I plan to take to ensure I don’t spin my wheels when conference is over this year.
Before conference:
1. Pray. You might think this seems like a no-brainer, but I’m spiritually ADD and need constant reminders of the simplest things. Soak your conference preparations in prayer. Ask God to accomplish His will through you at the conference and not your own. Ask Him to begin preparing you for all that comes after a conference.
2. Prepare. Do your part to be ready. Finish your manuscript. Practice your pitch, research the editors and agents, open your heart and get ready for God to fill it.
3. Plan. Select your workshops and sessions knowing that there is no conference police who will demand you attend every last one of them. I know conferences are expensive and you want to get the most out of the experience, but you also have to plan to pace yourself. Know that you can take a session off to regroup, catch your breath, and recharge your batteries.
While at the conference:
1. Meet people. Connect with people. Swap business cards and email addresses. This will be key later in the year.
2. Take lots of notes. You’re here to learn, so learn! Be open-minded, knowing that not every teaching tip will fit your genre, style, or preference. Try to be as clear as possible on your note-taking so you can go back later and understand what you meant when you filled in that handout.
3. Take a camera and make like Annie Liebowitz. Take photos of your friends and crit partners and workshop teachers. Snap shots of your favorite authors, or better yet, have someone use your camera to get a photo of you with your favorite authors.
After the conference:
1. Realize that a feeling of let-down is normal. Whenever we finish something we’ve been eagerly anticipating, it is normal to feel a little let-down afterwards. If you anticipate it, this let-down feeling won’t bushwhack you and leave you wondering what to do to climb out of it.
2. Remember that you will have to return to your daily routine, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Sometimes when we have a ‘mountaintop experience’ like a writer’s conference, once we return to real life, it can be easy to slip into a disgruntled dissatisfaction with our daily grind that makes us snarky and petulant. This kind of attitude stifles creativity and makes our family seriously reconsider whether they want us to ever attend another of those conferences that make us so hard to get along with afterward. Instead, be thankful that you were able to go to a conference, and be grateful for the family and routine that God has given you.
3. Realize that you can’t implement everything you learned in every session or workshop all in the first week after you get home from the conference. Remember when you get home that you will be on information overload. It is okay to put your notes away for awhile and get them out once you are rested and recovered from the conference. (Once you are caught up on the laundry and housework that piled up while you were gone, and once you’ve spent some time with your loved ones who missed you and want to spend time with you.) The notes and handouts will still be there when you’re back in your daily routine.
4. Set realistic goals and strive to meet them. If you received a request for a proposal or full manuscript, make that a priority. Tidy up that manuscript and get it sent out. Don’t miss this golden opportunity that you worked so hard for. Then, once our manuscript is on its way, get back into your word count goals and write every day. Don’t let yourself be stopped by doubts and insecurities which seem to flourish after a conference. You’ve basked in the teaching of some of the industry’s best authors, and the temptation will be to compare your work with theirs, or your WIP with the ‘ideal’ way of writing presented in the classes. The temptation will loom large to change everything about your style, voice, and storyline. But remember, not everything said in the workshops will be helpful to you. Weigh each suggestion or tip against what has worked for you in the past. Consider your motive for making changes before you go in and hack up your manuscript. If you’re trying something just because Star Author said so in her workshop, then wait and mull over that item a bit longer. Seek the advice of your critique partners, try making a small change and running it by them instead of rewriting your entire manuscript then finding out it doesn’t work for you.
5. Pace yourself and refresh your memories of the good times you had. When you are down, pull out your pictures of the conference and remember those good feelings. Get out those business cards and email addresses you collected and use them. Visit blogs, leave comments, send emails to people you met at the conference and keep those relationships you began there alive. If you don’t belong to a critique group, a conference is a great way to find those most precious creatures. The friendships you make at the conference can be some of the sweetest of your writing career; people who ‘get’ writing, who will celebrate your successes, and who will prop you up through the down times.
6. Purchase the conference recordings. Use these recorded workshops to refresh your memory. Recapture some of the excitement of the conference by listening to classes you might have missed. If you think you can’t afford to buy the entire series by yourself, consult your critique partners. Perhaps you can pool your resources and rotate the recordings amongst yourselves as the year unfolds.
I hope these tips help you as you prepare for the before, during, and aftermath of attending a conference. If you see me at the conference, flag me down.
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Erica Vetsch lives with her husband and two children in Rochester, MN. She is a home-school teacher, bookkeeper, and fan of western movies. She belongs to the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Association, the Writer’s View, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance, and the Minnesota Historical Society. Erica is a three-time Genesis Contest finalist. She has recently completed her seventh novel. She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Calvary Bible College and has been a librarian and high school history teacher. You can visit Erica at www.onthewritepath.blogspot.com
Ronie Kendig’s Spiritual Hot Spots at Conference
Six years ago, our family adopted a young, wiry Golden retriever. Daisy is a very happy dog and extremely loyal to “her girl,” (my daughter) and the rest of our family. But when Daisy is stressed, she starts gnawing on her backside. These Hot Spots get worse and worse, until she’s raw and bleeding. They itch her uncontrollably and drive her nuts. She becomes depressed, agitated, and a little frantic about what’s happening next. And I think, as writers we tend do to the same thing. For my dog, we have to apply some ointment and try to adjust things so there’s as little upheaval as possible. We writers can do the same thing, especially during conference where the uncertainty and unexpected things are at an all-time high.
Hot Spots exist at conference, too. Take a peek:
Editor appointments. Agent appointments. Continuing education classes. Your pitch line—what was it? Quick! It should be on the tip of your tongue. Oh, no! What’s that? You lost your purse? Where did you put that business card with the name and email of the editor who vowed you a multi-million dollar contract? Your friend thought you were meeting them for lunch, not your other friend? YIKES!
Sigh.
Are you itching? Feel that burning? Let’s take a deep breath and remember that there are several Spiritual Salves you can apply to these moments. First, your quiet time. It’s absolutely vital to your own sanity (and perhaps that of others) that you take a few solitary moments to share your heart with Father. Don’t worry about who you might “miss” if you don’t rush out the door. If it’s something God wants you to experience, He’ll honor the time you spend with Him and provide another opportunity.
Another warm balm on these itching areas is the prayer room. Wow! Has God ever used that beautiful location to minister to my wounded soul. Feeling like a wound-up pup agitated over things not happening the way I thought they should, I’ve sought the shelter there. And God met me there. As the Word says in 2 Chronicles 16:9 . . . the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. Can you imagine? He’s *searching* for us!! Let yourself be found, and feel the Balm of Gilead on your wounds.
Friends. I cannot express the depth of ministry I have received from my friends. Last year when I arrived at conference, a deep oppression had bound me into ambivalence and despair. My friends prayed, but all I could think was, “it’s useless. It won’t work. It never does.” God used a divine encounter with my very dear friend to show me His love, to release me. So, I strongly encourage you—if you see someone trembling, if you see their countenance shaken, stop them and show some of the unmerited love God has showered on you!
Worship has profound effect on my day. I am so delighted to see ACFW begin each session with centering our hearts, minds, and lives on Christ. It might be tough if you’re sitting right next to your dream agent, but let yourself get lost in God’s presence, and I promise that you’ll find peace in the midst of the storm trying to drown you.
How’re those wounds doing? I hope you’re scratching a bit less by now. But let’s explore a few more before you dart down the hall after that agent/editor the way my Golden chases squirrels.
We all have to eat at one point or another, and I think these faculty-hosted tables have the potential to be a salve—maybe you’re sitting next to someone who’s trembling over sharing their story. Squeeze their hand, mention your own frazzled nerves. Finding a common ground, realizing we’re not alone on this journey, whispering a quick prayer, off-loads a great deal of stress and may infuse courage once lost.
Laughter is one of the best medicines, the Bible says. We’re human, so we’re going to mess something up at conference (if you don’t, let me know—I might have to treat you!!)—use the opportunity to learn but then let it slide off your back. My dear friend and “big brother” told me not to take myself so seriously, and that was a beautiful piece of advice. Just remember, that if you’re there to honor God, to bring glory to Him, He will cover you with His grace and mercy. You are not going to screw up His will for you.
So, how’re we doing? Healing? Feeling a little less itchy? Just remember—keep your eyes on Him who is searching to strengthen you!! Enjoy conference, be a minister and get ministered to—that’s what it’s all about. Take a cue from my Golden and go roll in the lush green grass of writerdom, thrilling in the warmth of the gentle salve and ointments of God’s love during conference!
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Ronie Kendig has a BS in Psychology and is a wife, mother of four, and avid writer. She has found her voice in writing fast-paced fiction. Ronie’s espionage thriller Dead Reckoning is contracted by Abingdon Press and slated for a March 2010 release. Also, Ronie co-authored a true story about her husband, Brian, which appears in Allison Bottke’s God Answers Prayers: Military Edition (Harvest House). An active member of ACFW, Ronie serves as the Book of the Year coordinator and as List Hostess for the main e-loop. She also volunteers on the ACFW conference committee for the national conference, as assistant to the conference appointment coordinator, and judges in the Genesis contest.
Conference Prep–Home Work
While it’s vital to get our one-sheets and synopses finished and our pitches ready for the conference, there’s a lot of other preparation that needs to be done before attending a writing conference.
The most important thing I’m doing is praying. I don’t always spend a lot of time in prayer about myself or my plans. I know that sounds weird, but praying is not one of my spiritual gifts. When I pray, it’s usually about other people who are going through stuff that seems much more important than anything going on in my life (such as my family in the path of the hurricane). But yesterday morning at church, after hearing a sermon on how Jesus changes and redeems our lives, I started praying for two very specific things: that God would open my heart and mind to what He wants to teach/show me in the next few weeks, and that I will be spiritually and mentally prepared for the opportunities that await me in Minneapolis.
I’m also looking after my physical health. I went to the grocery store and loaded up on healthy meats and fruits and veggies, then came home and made up a meal plan for the week. Not only will this ensure that I’m on plan for Weight Watchers, it also makes sure that I’m getting the appropriate nutrition every day (five servings of fruits/veggies, three servings of dairy, 42 to 64 ounces of water a day, etc.). Even though they make me slightly queasy for an hour or two afterward, I’m also taking a multivitamin every day. I do have the advantage right now that I’m not around a lot of other people, so I’m not getting exposed to the germs that people (especially people with kids just now back in school) are carrying around. Last year at conference, I couldn’t walk, stand, or sit for long periods of time because of a flare-up and swelling of the scar-tissue in my lower back from the surgery I had in 2003, which was compressing my sciatic nerve. By losing nearly forty pounds from this time last year and by going to the gym regularly, I’ve strengthened my back so that it won’t give my any (or at the worst minimal) problems this year.
For some time now, I’ve been thinking about what to pack. I’m definitely a preplanner when it comes to traveling. For weeks ahead of a long trip like this one, I make list after list of what I’m going to take to wear each day, doing my best to make sure I’m not over-packing. On a trip like this, though, where half of it is vacation and half of it is business, it’s a little harder to figure out how to get more than one wear out of each article of clothing, but I’m doing my best. I also have to think about all of the peripheral items I need to take with me—prescriptions, laptop (and various and sundry cords and plug-ins), bag for carrying everything around the conference, notepad, pens, schedule, my daily planner, business cards, MP3 player (I have to have music at night to sleep) and batteries, and so on. I’m less stressed when everything is planned and laid-out well in advance. And last year, this worked greatly to my advantage. I had a 6:15 a.m. flight on the Saturday morning before conference (to spend a few days with my parents beforehand). I had considered just staying up all night to make sure I didn’t oversleep my 4:30 a.m. cab. But around nine o’clock Friday night, after checking, double-checking, and rechecking my bags, I was getting sleepy; so I set everything beside the front door and laid out what I’d be wearing the next day and went to bed. I’d set my alarm clock (which has two alarms on it) for 4:00 a.m. At 4:30 a.m., I woke up when I heard a strange noise and realized it was my cell phone vibrating/ringing. It was the cab driver, who was sitting in my driveway waiting for me. I’d slept through both alarms for nearly 30 minutes before the alarm clock shut itself off! I was out the door in seven minutes and at the airport by 4:50 a.m. If I hadn’t gotten everything done ahead of time, I wouldn’t have been able to pull that off and would have had the added stress of worrying that I was leaving something important behind. This year, my flight is at 8:15 a.m., so my cab will be scheduled for a 6:15 a.m. pickup. I’ll be setting every single clock in my house that has an alarm (four of them) as well as the alarm-clock feature on my cell phone for 5:30 a.m. But I have a feeling I’ll be so stressed about the possibility of oversleeping again that I’ll have trouble sleeping that night.
While doing all this preplanning, I’m also preparing my house. Because I live alone, if I don’t clean the house before I go, it won’t be clean when I get home. And there’s nothing quite so depressing as coming home from a long trip to a house that’s cluttered and disorganized. So every day for the next twelve days, I’ll be setting aside a little time to work on organizing/cleaning. And this is where preplanning my meals comes in handy too, because it means that when I get to the day or two before I leave, I won’t have a bunch of stuff in the fridge to have to get rid of to keep it from spoiling. I’m also getting all of my laundry washed, ironed, and put away, even though I’m not making use of ninety-five percent of my wardrobe right now. But again, if it’s still all sitting there in the laundry basket when I come home, it’ll add to the stress that comes naturally after the climactic experience of a conference. Having a clean, organized house (and workspace, especially) enables me to have a fresh start when I come home, enables me to be able to sit down and spend time processing everything that happens at conference and go through notes and handouts that I wouldn’t be able to do if I’m having to worry about laundry or clutter.
This week, we’ll learn more about the spiritual aspect of attending a writing conference, as well as how to keep the motivation going afterward. But today, let’s talk about the little details. What are you doing right now to get ready for conference?
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