Category: Writing

On Editing (#2)

~ plainswriter ~ Leave a comment

2 months ago I wrote about my experiences as a guest fiction editor for a newer journal, Driftwood Press. At the end of that post, I referred to other kinds of editing I’ve done, adding that I would write at a later date about some of those experiences. Today, I thought I’d share about a wonderful editorial experience I had two summers ago.

One of my pastors, Austin Fischer, approached me about offering a critique of his manuscript. Even though it was already accepted for publication, he wanted someone to read it from a literary angle, to read it at the sentence level. Having the summer open in front of me, and interested in his project, I said yes.

For a few weeks I spent time in the world of his book, Young, Restless, and No Longer Reformed: Black Holes, Love, and a Journey In and Out of Calvinism. The first pass involved reading the book from beginning to end, leaving aside my Pilot G2 .07 black pen. As I read, I was absorbed in his story. It sure makes editing more meaningful when you’re genuinely interested in the writer’s work.

The second pass I read with my standard pen in hand, looking for ways in which the language might be improved, stylistic glitches might be remedied. Where might sentences be combined? Where might sentence patterns be varied? Where might there be crisper verbs, sharper nouns? How could I help Austin’s message be more clear?

I gave Austin my marked-up copy one Sunday after church, and we made plans to meet later that week after he read through my line edits. I recall a sunny morning where we sat outside at Starbucks. I was drinking black coffee. I shared some further observations about the book, and there was the pleasure as he offered me words of affirmation in what I provided. I knew my work was not only appreciated and valued; my suggestions moved something already good toward the great.

And in those ways, I felt less like a line editor and more like a writing coach. I believed in his book from my first read, and even after “marking it up,” I had a more profound admiration of what he was sharing in his story. I’ve told him that I’m ready for the next book, whenever he’s ready to write it.

Note: if you’re interested in what editing services I can provide, please feel free to send an email to plainswriter.nlh@gmail.com or contact me via the Contact menu tab.

Music Appreciation #3: Joe Satriani

~ plainswriter ~ Leave a comment

Guitarist extraordinaire Joe Satriani just released his newest album, Shockwave Supernova, and since the album arrived at my house on Friday, July 24, it has been receiving substantial airplay. My son and daughter are already well familiar with several songs, my son singing along with the melodies.

The other night my son and I were playing a game of Dominion (one of our favorites), and at one point he stopped in the middle of his turn and said, “Dad, aren’t you forgetting something?” At first I thought I had violated one of the game’s rules. “What?” I asked. “Joe Satriani,” he answered. (Meaning, play the new album already, Dad.) That was a special moment for me as a dad and as a long-time Joe Satriani fan.

My history with Joe Satriani’s music goes back decades to my sophomore year of high school, when in that glorious Minnesota autumn I purchased The Extremist. The album quickly became my go-to for background music when doing homework since there were no vocals to distract me. It was also the album my band and I learned to play. Or to put it more accurately, the album that turned our guitar player, Matt, into a serious guitar player.

I’ve seen Joe Satriani live three times, the first time when he was touring in support of his self-titled album (in Spring 1996). I saw him a second time on the G3 tour in 1997 with Steve Vai and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. The last time I saw him was on the Engines of Creation tour in Spring 2000. It was during that third show when he played one of my favorite songs: “Love Thing.” This was also a time when I was pursuing a girl who would eventually become my wife, and this song became one we wanted played at our wedding dance two years later.

His music has served as the backdrop to the grading and the teaching prep I’ve done over 12 years teaching college English courses. His music has served as the backdrop for my countless hours of writing. His music has been the backdrop to countless drives, from the short jaunts to the multi-state excursions. His music has been some of the earliest music both of my children heard, and it has become some of their favorite music.

With each successive listen of Shockwave Supernova, I gain a deeper appreciation for the man whose music has been part of my life’s soundtrack for so many years.

On Returning to Twitter

~ plainswriter ~ Leave a comment

Almost three months ago (to the day), I deleted my two personal Twitter accounts, and I offered my rationale here. Yet, here I am, with a new Twitter account @plainswriter. What gives?

I don’t think my attitude has shifted much from what I shared in that post, but I realize the benefits of using Twitter, and for me as a writer, one reason for using Twitter is a way to promote my writing (whether posts on my website here or publications in magazines, journals, and/or books). I feel uncomfortable with the word “promotion,” but I also know that a writer wants (and needs) readers if the writer wishes to communicate to someone besides him or herself. I hope to broaden my audience over time. (There, I wrote it. Whew.)

My second reason for using Twitter (in terms of composing tweets) is as a way to encourage other writers and what they’re doing. A friend of mind said a good rule of thumb is for every post/tweet about your own work, you should post/tweet about three other people’s work. I’ll admit that’s a mindset that counters my disposition, but I plan to give it a try.

My third reason for using Twitter is to follow more closely my writing friends as well as the publications that I enjoy/admire. (Thanks for the “lists,” feature!) I will follow my other interests, too. Here’s my official description on Twitter: “Writer. Reader. Runner. Musician. Professor. Editor. Husband. Father. Christ-Follower.”

Fourth, I’m looking at Tweets as more of a challenge. Offer substance (yes, substance) in those 140 characters. I welcome a fun writing challenge, whether I impose restrictions/constraints on myself or the form/context dictates them.

Lastly, I’ve made a number of principles/guidelines for myself.

1. I’m not going to obsess about the number of followers.

2. I’m going to be selective about what I tweet, and to that end, keep in mind number 3.

3. I’m going to reflect before I tweet: what is my message? Why I am choosing to share this?

4. If I’m angry or upset, I will not use Twitter as my default mechanism for dealing with it.

5. I want, as much as possible, to encourage my fellow writers, the publications I appreciate, and others whom I follow (i.e., offering words of substance).

There might be others I add to the list, but this is a good starting point for me @plainswriter.