Your Unmistakable Voice

Developing an authentic voice is often tough for new writers. An author's inner voice can easily be drowned out by the endless echoes we hear from publishers, performers, and those who seem more successful than we are. Even writers like F. Scott Fitzgerald, have admitted the challenge of hearing their true voice amid the noise of the literary marketplace.

Despite his success, Fitzgerald felt he'd allowed others to tell him "how to do, what to say" and that he was "only a mediocre caretaker" of his own talent. He said that the push and pull of other people's opinions "always confused [him] and made [him] want to go out and get drunk." This solution clearly had BIG drawbacks.

The challenge of heeding our artistic voice is even more difficult in today's loaded media environment. Nevertheless, developing that ability is essential because it adds power to good writing and fuels a writer's artistic growth. The most original and compelling writers are often those who develop a routine that blocks out the flood of cultural messages -- for at least part of the day. These breaks allow the writer to focus more clearly on the images and ideas they really must explore. During moments of closer listening, we give ourselves a chance to tune into the voice that is unmistakably ours, unequivocally unique. It is both a flowing current and a lifeboat.

As the Story Turns....into Poetry

Many writers draw inspiration from other authors' work -- then shape it into something truly novel. In the last year of his life, Raymond Carver stopped writing the vivid short stories for which he was best known and spent his final months writing poems that incorporated themes from Chekhov stories.

The method Carver used to do this writing was something he worked out with Tess Gallagher, his poet wife. She would get up in the morning and read a Chekhov story, then retell the story to Carver at breakfast. In the afternoon, Carver would read the story for himself and, later that evening, they'd discuss it together.

Over the course of several months, they discovered what Gallagher called "the poet in Chekhov" -- though Chekhov, too, had earned his fame as a master story writer. Carver would mark up the passages in Chekhov that appealed to his writing impulses, then start to compose around them. This elliptical process helped Carver to write poems that, in Gallagher's words, "allowed distinctions between genres to dissolve without violence or a feeling of trespass." After all this work, Carver's final book, "A New Path to the Waterfall", reads almost like a how-to manual for literary evolution. Makes me want to write a really good .... mess of words.

Live to Tell it

A great memoir doesn't just record the details of another person's life, it provides a new lens for examining worlds you may never visit. In recent years, the genre has produced books that re-shape our notions of poverty, addiction, and literary life. As Gabriel Garcia Marquez observes in his memoir, "Life isn't what one has lived, rather it is what one remembers and how one remembers it to tell to others."

Myths about the writing life are so widespread, it's hard to believe you'd ever meet a writer who isn't a drunk, a junkie, or a sex addict. In reality, it takes so much discipline to write, edit, publish, and sell sell sell your work, that most working writers have little time for dereliction. Vivir Para Contarla, by Garcia Marquez, offers an antidote to the image of the self-destructive scribe. His memoir is a picaresque blueprint for writers who dream of seeing their work in print. Like many authors, Garcia Marquez thought up his masterpieces while toiling for small, low-paying publications. The one thing he never overlooked, while knocking out stories and mooching meals, was to live with brio. He formed friendships with people from every profession. The dreams of idealistic politicians and diligent prostitutes formed part of his life story. And his life story shaped the visions of many authors who followed him. Reading his work makes you want to live, and write, like you really mean it.

When Spirits Call -- 10/31 Reading in Jim Thorpe

Maybe it's the falling leaves or the first hint of chimney smoke, but late October in the Poconos is always lovely and mysterious. Each year, during the Days of the Dead, we hold a reading in Jim Thorpe to recognize the ethereal presence and absence of those who've passed on. Join us next Sunday, 10/31/10, 2 PM, at the Strange Brew Coffee House for "When Spirits Call", a mix of poetry, song, fact, and fiction. If you bring along some object or photo, we'll add it to our community ofrenda.

Anyone who would like to read or perform, should contact Pennyl Pointe at this site or by phone -- (570) 722-1680 -- to be added to the readers list for the afternoon. Past events have been solemn, profane, beautiful and funny. Don't miss this one.

Howling Wind + Halloween + Mystery!

Howling wind + Halloween = mystery! Choosing the right point of view can amplify the power of any crime yarn. P.D. James, author of 20 books, likes to write as "a detached recorder" which allows her to move into the minds of various characters, "seeing with their eyes." This shifting viewpoint shows "how differently we can all perceive the same event." She's 90 years old now. No murderer could fool her.

One of her works served as the basis for the film "Children of Men". Although it is more of a science fiction story than a mystery, it explores the dark side of social engineering and the plight of those who've been tossed from earth's life boat. If you've only seen the film, it's worth the effort to read the story and compare both versions. Her use of the shifting perspective allows both doom sayers and optimists to come away from the story feeling satisfied.

Workshop for Writers in Jim Thorpe, PA: Writing The Anthracite Experience

Pennsyl Pointe Writers Retreat is kicking off a workshop series for writers working on stories from Pennsylvania's coal country. Coal towns once epitomized the fulfillment of American dreams. Today, tales from anthracite communities are even more relevant because they illustrate many of the conflicts still shaping America's national character.

The workshop will be held in the Albright Mansion, at 66 Broadway in Jim Thorpe, PA. The session begins at 9 AM in the Rose Room with coffee and introductions. A $95 dollar workshop fee covers instruction, reading materials, and a tasty lunch provided by the host restaurant. The last exercise will end by 5 PM. An early bird discount reduces the price to $90 for those who register by July 10th. Contact tenpagesaday@msn.com or call (570)722-1680 for more details.

The workshop will be facilitated by Colleen Davis, whose work runs the gamut from technical writing and travel pieces, to fiction and speeches. She has a BA and MS from the University of Pennsylvania and has written for clients as diverse as Vineyard Stars and the Washington Post. Her ancestors arrived in anthracite country before the civil war and she was raised in Frackville, PA.