[stylist] Telephone Meeting Notes- 11-9-2008

Tue Nov 11 16:08:14 UTC 2008

briefly, we in the teleconference also discussed the passive 
voice.  we also discussed the use of the semicolon in a sentence.
jc
Jim Canaday M.A.
Lawrence, KS

At 07:41 AM 11/11/2008, you wrote:
>I'm sorry I missed the meeting, but I'll give my take on these things
>interspersed with Robert's message:
>
>In a message dated 11/11/08 12:09:33 AM, newmanrl at cox.net writes:
> >
> >
> >
> > Do health issues or your mood effect your writing and how?
> >
>It does affect me.   When I am ill, I don't have the energy to do much
>writing.
>
>
> >  Some said they could be down and writing would raise their spirits.
> >
> >
>Sometimes.   Or sometimes I'll read over an old story and remind myself that
>yes, I can write well.
>
> > We talked about what conditions would bring about a extra focus to our
> > writing. One person said that being ticked off could really focus her
> > thoughts and writing during that state of mind made that work some of her
> > clearest and most effective.
> >
>
>For me, it's injustice.   That really kicks me into gear.
>
> > Another person shared that   a walk could help him work out a
> > tough passage or development of a character.
> >
>Lately the only thing long walks do for me is to remind me my hip hurts.   I
>do find that bringing a cane with me helps (support cane).
>
> >
> > We also got into wanting to learn to create more alive acting 
> characters. We
> > discussed steps on how to develop our skill in writing a multi-dimensional
> > character:
> >
>What does it for me is to base the character on a real person.   Though I
>note that after awhile, my fictional characters take on a life of 
>their own, and
>refuse to do what I think they ought to do.
> >
> > We talked about if any of us had studied writing.
> >
>I've taken creative writing courses, audited courses, joined   writer's
>groups, written about a million words, and am now teaching a writing course.
>
> > Most have read articles or
> > gotten feedback from friends. We all felt we could use more feedback about
> > our writing.
> >
>I could use more feedback than I get.
>
> > We discussed our Division's quarterly magazine- Of late, had it become more
> > about blindness than in past years and was that good or bad?
> >
>It's not a matter of good or bad.   It's the fact we are the NFB, and if
>we're not about blindness, what are we about?   Writing well in the 
>service of
>improving the lives of the blind seems about right.
>
> >  We discussed
> > S&S's purpose: decided it had two main purposes- First, it is about
> > blindness in the form of furthering the NFB philosophy by showcasing blind
> > writers and/or stories about blindness.
> >
>What I often note is how hard it is to get blind writers to contribute.
>
> > Second, articles about writing.
> >
>I've tried to include these in every issue that I've edited.
>
> > Also, authors didn't have to be blind, nor necessarily a Division member
> >
>That's true.   If a writer has written an article about writing that has much
>to recommend it, I'll include it.   I have at times included stories by
>writers who are not blind and have not written about blindness, but there's a
>reason for that.   If I don't have enough material, we need to put a story in
>there.   And asking a sighted writer to write about blindness 
>doesn't work.   Most
>of them don't know what they are talking about.   You should see the silly
>poetry I've gotten at times.
>
> > (though we'd like to see more Division members contributing to S&S). What
> > we'd not like to see being published would be a short story written by a
> > sighted person in which the story had nothing to do with promoting our
> > cause, as in the abilities of the blind (there are countless other mags for
> > this type of story).
> >
>Actually, not everyone who subscribes to Slate & Style feels this way.
>Often I'm told, "I like my fiction in Braille."   Not everything has to be a
>polemic.   Sometimes a story about something else can be applied to 
>the life of a
>blind person.   It's the nature of fiction.   However, at present, because of
>the contest, we have plenty of fiction written by blind persons.   It's
>refreshing.
>
> >
> > Other topics and great comments or suggestions were made that I did not
> > capture.
> >
> > The next meeting will be the third Sunday in December, the 21st.
> >
> >
>I have a holiday concert on the 21st, but it is earlier, so I should be able
>to make it.
>Lori
> >
> > Http://www.nfb-writers-division.org
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > stylist mailing list
> > stylist at nfbnet.org
> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> > stylist:
> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/loristay%40aol.com
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
>**************
>AOL Search: Your one stop for directions, recipes and all other
>Holiday needs. Search Now. (htt
>p://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x1212792382x1200798498/aol?redir=http://searchblog.aol.com/2008/11/04/happy-holidays-from
>-aol-search/?ncid=emlcntussear00000001)
>_______________________________________________
>stylist mailing list
>stylist at nfbnet.org
>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/stylist_nfbnet.org
>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for stylist:
>http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/stylist_nfbnet.org/n6yr%40sunflower.com