[stylist] 2013 Spring "Slate & Style"

[Robert Leslie Newman]

SlateNFB_whozidt

              &

            Style

 

Publication of the National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division

 

Spring 2013

Vol. 31, No. 2

 

Editor: Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter

E-mail:  <mailto:bpollpeter at hotmail.com> bpollpeter at hotmail.com

President: Robert Leslie Newman

Email: newmanrl at cox.net

Slate & Style is a quarterly publication of the National Federation of the
Blind Writers' Division. Submission guidelines are printed at the end of
this publication. The editor and division president have the right to cut
and revise submissions. The division president has final authority regarding
publication for any submission.

 

Slate & Style is a magazine showcasing literary writing as well as articles
providing information and helpful advice about various writing formats.
While a publication of the National Federation of the Blind, submissions
don't have to be specific to blindness or the NFB.

Special thanks to Victor Hemphill and Ross Pollpeter for distributing our
Braille and print copies.




Slate & Style

 

Spring 2013

 

 

TABLE of Contents

 

>From the Keyboard of the President, by Robert Lesley
Newman........................ 1

 

Downsizing? Bah, HUMBUG!, by Jacqueline
Williams.......................................... 7

 

Three Great Reads: Introducing the 200 Word Review, by Chris
Kuell............. 11

 

Seven Steps to use in the development of a writing project, by Lynda
McKinney
Lambert.....................................................................
............................................................ 14

 

Pin the Sale on this Donkey, by Janet
Parmerter-DiNola..................................... 18

 

Editor's Note: Finding the Color in Your World, by Bridgit
Kuenning-Pollpeter.. 24

 

Slate & Style submission
guidelines..................................................................
.. 26

 

NFB Writers' Division Critique
Service................................................................. 29

 

NFB WRITERS' DIVISION
MEMBERSHIP......................................................... 30

 




>From the Keyboard of the President

By Robert Leslie Newman

 

*Editor's note: Co-edited with Chris Kuell.

 

Welcome to our spring 2013 issue of Slate & Style. I always view this issue
is a very important platform for me. Being the first of four publications,
we can entertain readers with poetry, short fiction, essays and articles on
writing. As president, I can layout any special news, projects and
directives for the year.

 

My first piece of good news being: I'm happy to report that our senior
editor, Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter, is back on the job fulltime. She soon
will announce the appointment of an assistant editor.

 

Other topics within this article include:

.        NFB Writers events planned for the 2013 annual convention.

.        A breakdown of submissions to our 2013 writing contest.

.        A report on the division's newest fundraiser, our critique service.

.        NFB Writers' upcoming changes in its website along with
establishing a Facebook presence.

.        The status of our membership.

.        My short contribution discussing good writing, entitled "Thinking
About Thinking." 

 

National Convention:

 

Convention 2013 will be another trip to the hot and steamy semi-tropical
city of Orlando, Florida. For NFB Writers', we are holding two important
events. We will offer a writing workshop for teens, and we will hold our
annual business meeting. The agenda is as follows:

 

Tuesday, July 2, 2013: 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., Writing Workshop, room not yet
assigned.

 

Youth Track teens will be provided important resources for writers, and a
workshop covering writing skills.

 

Wednesday, July 3, 2013: 1:30 to 4:30 pm., NFB Writers' business meeting,
room not assigned yet.

 

We will update members on division business, announce the 2013 writing
contest winners, learn about self-publishing, hold elections for the
Writers' board, and plan for the future. 

 

I hope to visit with each of you in Orlando. Please seek me out.

 

Here is information about convention and how to reserve a room:

.        Date: Monday, July 1 through Saturday, 6, 2013.

.        Location: Rosen Centre Hotel, 9840 International Drive, Orlando,
Florida 32819.

.        Phone: (800) 204-7234.

 

Make your room reservation as soon as possible with the Rosen Centre staff
only.

 

For more information about national convention including agenda details,
visit: https://nfb.org/national-convention.

 

NFB Writers' youth and adult writing contest:

 

Did you know the Writers' Division's writing contest is 24 years old? Since
its conception, the number of submissions has increased. We can trace the
increase to three major factors.

 

1.   Opening up the contest to non-members.

2.   Opening the contest to youth.

3.   Offering email submissions, PayPal payments and online access to
contest information.

 

The 2013 contest has seen more entries than last year. Before I share
submission numbers, I will share that the writing contest has yet to pay for
itself. Because they are not yet financially self-sustaining, the division
is reaching into our budget, helping to cover prizes. Boosting our
fundraising efforts will help to maintain the contest, and this will be a
focus in the coming year.

 

Adult entries:

.        2013, 92

.        2012, 91

.        2011, 59

.        2010, 35

.        2009, 54

 

This year's submissions were submitted by 31 authors, with some authors
submitting into more than one category. The breakdown by category looks like
this:

.        Fiction, 14, 9 authors

.        Poetry, 58, 20 authors

.        Memoir, 17, 12authors

.        Children's lit by adults, 3, 2 authors

 

The history of our youth contest has had more ups and downs. The Totals for
youth entries are as follows:

.        2013, 42

.        2012, 21

.        2011, 30

.        2010, 22

.        2009, 33.

 

Before I provide a brief breakdown of the youth categories, I want to remind
you of the dual purpose of this portion of the writing contest. The youth
portion was added to not only stimulate creative writing among youth, but
most importantly, to promote Braille literacy. All youth entrants must
submit a hard-copy Braille format that has either been written with a slate
and stylus or Perkins Brailler. No copies that have been embossed using a
QWERTY keyboard are accepted. Thirty-two authors submitted, some submitting
both poetry and fiction.

 

2013 youth totals:

.        High School: poetry 5, 4 authors; fiction 4, 4 authors 

.        Middle School: poetry 8, 7 authors; fiction 3, 3 authors

.        Elementary School: poetry 11, 8 authors; fiction 10, 8 authors

 

Stay tune to find out who our 2013 winners are. We will present them during
our business meeting in Orlando, and that day an announcement will be posted
on our website.

 

Critique Service:

 

We had a trial run for our critique service, the division's new fundraiser,
between September through December 2012, and it was well received.
Encouraged, we have established it as a permanent service. At present, we
have six experienced editors making up our core critiquers. Each submission
is reviewed, and a detailed report is sent including comments and
suggestions. If anyone is interested in joining our editing team for the
critique service, contact me at newmanrl at cox.net. If you are interested in
using this service, rules and guidelines for it are included in each Slate &
Style issue towards the end.

 

At present, we've collected $240 from the service. The break-down is as
follows:

.        Reviewing Book Chapters, $40

.        Reviewing Entire Book Manuscripts, $130

.        Reviewing Poetry, $30

.        Reviewing Short stories, $40

 

Online Presence:

 

NFB Writers' is now on Facebook. Come visit and join our group. To find us,
either do a search for NFB Writers' Division, or use the following:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/NFB-Writers-Division/360960880660939.

 

With the world opening up to social media, we as a division can't afford to
be left out. We thank our Division's FB Team, headed by Kerry Elizabeth
Thompson, for getting us started. Our FB presence is in the initial
development stage, and so I urge you to visit our page and provide in-put.

 

Website changes are coming for the division.

 

Firstly, I want to acknowledge and thank Peter L. Donahue for getting the
division online to begin with. We started out our web presence in a rather
small sense, with just basic content on who we were and how to contact and
join us. Since then, we have added sections offering member accomplishments,
past Slate & Style issues, reminders about monthly teleconference gatherings
and recordings of past gatherings, news release templates and writing
contest information.

 

At present, I can't speculate on how the website will look and feel after
its facelift, but I know of a few additions that will debut with the
website. We will now archive contest winners so you can enjoy all entries
past and present. A page dedicated to writing resources will provide you
with a wealth of information. This will include information about publishing
along with various writing forms.

 

We now have a new webmaster, Amanda Stephens. We are forming a small team of
content reviewers and helpers to maintain the site alongside Stephens. If
interested in joining this team, contact me at: newmanrl at cox.net. Watch for
announcements on our progress! Our division's website can be found at:
http://www.nfb-writers-division.net 

 

Membership:

 

I'm often asked how large the Writers' Division is. My response today is
that we have 77 due-paying members, and several who have yet to update their
membership status by paying dues. And so our division is like most groups,
membership is fluid, people come and go.

 

We are always seeking new members, so please contact us if you wish to join
the division, or of course, if you wish to pay your annual dues. An annual
membership is $20, and members receive Slate & Style free of charge.

 

Thinking About Thinking

 

Did you ever notice that there are different writing formulas, or ways in
which an author can convey ideas? Poetry certainly has a wide number of
different forms. From limerick's to tankas, attention to structure is
critical. Pros has them too.

 

Every story must contain a beginning, middle, and an end. Yet, most authors,
knowingly or not, create books which take on a certain style with a set
pacing and plot-line pattern. The Harry Potter books, Lee Child's Jack
Reacher novels, John Sanford's 'Prey' stories all flow along a set pattern,
or formula. 

 

The title for this piece is a reflection of both a long held, and newly
discovered, personal revelation for me. In choosing the title, "Thinking
About Thinking," I remembered the first time I heard that little voice in my
head say, "WOW, where did that thought, those feelings, come from?"

 

Initially, this thought didn't provoke a life changing reaction, but was
more of an identification process, which at that time I termed being
"self-aware." Only later did I realize that if I was a thinking, acting,
person, then I had the ability to choose to do or not do a given action. I
could change what made up my feelings, and so change how I would react. in
short, I became aware that I have a living, breathing conscience. 

 

My secondary title for this piece, "thinking authors+thinking
characters=thinking readers," arose from my decision to make a serious
effort to write for others. I learned I wanted to do more than just
entertain. I wanted to educate, to change minds. An example would be my
decade long "THOUGHT PROVOKER" (TP) series. These were flash-fiction stories
which encapsulate issues of blindness designed to provoke thought within the
reader, to help change what it means to be blind. Every four weeks I created
a new Thought Provoker, from 100 to 700 words, and hopefully told a
provocative story, ending for the reader with a mental after taste of
self-questioning. 

 

Today when I look back on those stories, I can see where I could have
enhanced the effectiveness of my characters if I would have shown more of
their thinking processes. I have come to this conclusion by recognizing what
makes up my own "like or not like" criteria in reading. That is, in the
world of my favorite Genre of fiction, give me a story where the actions of
the characters drives the tale. But, what makes me actively think as I read
is when the author shows what the characters are thinking, giving the reader
more to think about, to judge, and to learn from.

 




Downsizing? Bah, HUMBUG!

By Jacqueline Williams

 

A horde of professional organizers and down-sizers have emerged claiming our
so-called junk. Charging $55 per hour, bankruptcy may ensue.

 

What is the price of simplicity and a peace of mind? They clean out your
files, house and life, and parcel out junk and treasures to estate sales,
thrift shops, archivists, and computer specialists. Handsome profits are
accrued by the experts when our lives are organized. I say that those of us
who find comfort in our stuff must unite and rebel against these experts.

 

They say if you live in an over-stuffed, cluttered house, you are an
obsessive-compulsive hoarder, unable to concentrate, be productive or happy.
So the downsizers' basic rule of life goes like this: Get rid of everything
you have not used or worn in one year.

 

Every day for one year, I've worn a different set of togs with a unique set
of jewelry. I have at least 365 outfits with matching jewelry, so I don't
have to throw anything out. If I hear laughter, or snickering, I may toss
it, but that's unlikely since I hear out of only one ear. Likewise, I don't
see faces with my limited vision, so I don't have to worry about embarrassed
glances people may give. 

 

My mother's gorgeous porcelain chamber pot, filled with chocolate chip
cookies, sits amidst the clutter on my kitchen table. It pleases my
uncritical grandson. Not flush enough to flush out my home, I plod on. I
have a compulsively organized friend who said she'll help me at only $5 per
hour, but that won't include being nice to me. I'm afraid I will hate her
afterward, like the friend who helped with my carport sales. She put her own
stuff out, and then salvaged it if it did not sell. However, she wouldn't
let me do the same. She disposed of everything taken from my house.

 

With several closets organizing my life, I've established a few rules of my
own.

 

Don't keep anything I haven't worn for forty years, unless it's coming back
in style, or is vintage. Throw out anything that scratches my skin or makes
me hot, except, of course, the mink coat, and the myriad of colorful
sweaters and jackets in case I take a cruise to Alaska.

 

The closet for the size ten and twelves must be maintained, or what is there
to aim for? The third closet holds this season's clothes that are size
large. The wardrobe in the carport contains off-season items.

 

I keep the closet full of the dancing life. Though I'm 83, have no balance,
and have arthritic knees, perhaps, just perhaps.

 

Donate all books, except those I can't get on tape or the books on writing
and books that were gifts. Being legally blind, I can spend the money saved
on downsizing to purchase a Kurzweil scanner.

 

Keep all the old love letters; Another may never come. Soaps, shower gels,
shampoos and creams received as gifts guarantee a sweet-smelling old lady,
if I remember to use them.

 

The boxes of photographs on my bed, the hundreds of cassettes and phonograph
records are being sorted and played one at a time. It's like money in the
bank as I spend time with old friends and memories.

 

The blankets and pillows packed neatly in plastic under the beds and sofas
will keep me warm forever. And I don't have to vacuum underneath. 

 

Expiration dates are meaningless. Nothing goes, nothing is thrown out.
Everything is okay unless it smells bad or has mold. I don't get sick; my
heritage molded by my mother who lived to age ninety-seven.

 

When I break my coffee pot, Or when a waffle iron goes sticky, or when a
duplicate utensil is thrown out by mistake, another emerges from the closet.
And you never know what the blind and old might do or cook-up by accident.
I'm prepared.

 

When a professional downsizer came for a complimentary visit, and explained
her kitchen strategy, I freaked. How obvious she never lived through a
depression or in Africa for five years.

 

While in Africa, I sifted flour to get the dudus, as we called it, out, made
my own peanut butter and with sour milk, made cottage cheese. I used rusty
canned goods. Every piece of leftover food or soap was saved. We never threw
anything out that could be used. Plastic containers were accumulated and
left on a log in the bush for the multitude who had no way to keep and store
anything. 

 

I cannot give or sell the African artifacts. The antiques, the wall-to-wall
paintings, the hundreds of Depression glass pieces-my kids want them,
although they have no space for them now, and most likely will sell them
when I am gone. 

 

Don't get me wrong. I've had carport sales, sent a dozen pickup loads to
charities, donated to libraries and museums and given precious things as
gifts. Each time, I died the death of a thousand cuts. My mother's scarves,
my cowboy boots, handcrafted glass and pottery made by friends. Each one a
piece of my past, amputated with no anesthetic to ease the pain.

 

I throw out one thing every day, five on my better days.

 

When I called The Red Cross and The Salvation army after Katrina, they gave
me a long list of items to buy new at Target. How dare they want a person
with nothing new to give only new items to people with nothing left new or
old. 

 

The most important thing I leave behind will be my writing projects.
Collected for each project, I have at least seven pieces of paper lined up
for this week in case it is a difficult one.

 

Downsizing? Bah, Humbug, is the third-place winning memoir selection in the
2013 NFB Writers' writing contest.

 

Jacqueline (Jackie) Williams was born in Georgia during the Depression and
raised in a suburb of Chicago. After graduating from Syracuse University,
she taught P.E. in Spring Valley, NY. She moved with her husband and young
sons to Uganda for a five-year stint with USAID. During this time, she
travelled extensively in East Africa and Europe. She began to write monthly
reports on the adventures and experiences of her family including climbing
the Ruwenzories, and living through the harrowing coup of Idi Amin. These
are collected in a book entitled, Lizard in the Bean Sauce, yet to be
published. 

 

On returning to the United States, Williams taught at the San Carlos Indian
reservation, continued her formal studies in education, receiving a Masters
in Special Education from Arizona State University. Post-graduate work led
to administrative certification, and employment in the Mesa Public Schools.
Having long been interested in dance, prior to retirement she transitioned
to the position of Dance Coordinator incorporating what she had learned
about African dance along with folk dance from around the world. 

 

After a series of personal tragedies, Williams returned to writing. While an
article writer for The 260 Review, she published four of her mother's poetry
books. In poetry, she found new ways of expressing joy, dealing with trauma,
and a path into a world of friendship and connection with other writers.
Writing actively helps Williams deal with problems related to her hearing
and visual difficulties.

 

Williams wrote this piece after being pressured to downsize her "stuff" from
a friend and an aide. She attended a workshop on Downsizing offered by a
professional who offered her a free consultation. They were both
traumatized.

 

Thus began her parody for herself and her belongings. The consultant, in
turn, admitted that Williams is not a hoarder, but someone with too many
irons in the fire in need of prioritizing and organizing.

 

Williams sent this to her, and She thought it hilarious. She publishes a
newsletter on her website and asked to use it. Williams said, "For ten cents
a word," thinking that the consultant would put it toward her fee. That was
the end of that.

 

Readers can await her sequel to this about her progress, the new set of
rules Williams has developed, and a description of her five new projects.

 




Three Great Reads: Introducing the 200 Word Review

By Chris Kuell

 

As a passionate reader, I'm always looking for book recommendations from
family, friends, even strangers at the bus station. More often than not,
someone will say, "I just read a great book, it was. something about a
holiday, Christmas I think, buy a guy named O'Rourke, or O'Neil, or
O'Connor, or something like that." They might give a vague brushstroke of
what the book was about, or relay a quirkiness a main character possessed,
or they might simply state that it was 'a good book', and I should simply
take their word for it. 

 

My answer? No thanks.

 

In this issue of Slate and Style, I'll be launching my 200 Word Review
project. I'll tell you the exact title and author of the book, and then
review it in exactly 200 words. Why 200 words? We live in a fast-paced,
multi-tasking world, and I'm appealing to those who would like to know a
little about the plot/theme of a book and what I thought about it. They
don't want a detailed term paper or a comparison/contrast with 'War and
Peace'. I'm offering something between the blurb on the back of the book and
a NY Times book review. Please let me know what you think by emailing me at:
ckuell at comcast.net 

 

Tinkers by Paul Harding 

(DB7092, reading time 5 hours, 0 minutes)

 

George Crosby is dying. His body is riddled with cancer and his kidneys are
failing. His family has gathered around for his final days. As George drifts
in and out of consciousness, he remembers his childhood and channels his
father and grandfather.

 

All three of the Crosby men were Tinkers. When George's grandfather's mind
started to fade, he tinkered with lives, telling his parishioners that the
devil might not be "all that bad".

 

George had repaired clocks, fascinated by the gears and tumblers that caused
them to tick and chime, just as life ticks away each day. George's father,
Howard, however, was the true tinker, traveling the countryside of rural
Maine in his wagon, drawn by his ancient mule, selling various household
items. He repaired things, cut a man's hair, pulled a dead child from a
river, and yanked a bad tooth. 

 

Tinkers is literary fiction, and some will find it a difficult read. Harding
uses a unique stream of consciousness style, and the detailed descriptions
are evocative and steeped with symbolism. Howard's seizures, preceded by a
lightning aura, are worth reading more than once. Tinkers shows that, in the
end, we are all dying and being transformed, every day.

 

The Round House by Louise Erdrich

(DB 75641, reading time 10 hours, 41 minutes)

 

In the summer of 1988, a woman on a reservation in North Dakota is attacked.
Geraldine is traumatized and reluctant to reveal details of what happened.
Frustrated by the lack of progress on the case, Geraldine's
thirteen-year-old son Joe sets out with his friends to seek revenge,
beginning at the Round House, a sacred place of worship for the Ojibwa. 

 

Erdrich is superb at making the reader feel what it's like to be a boy on a
North Dakota reservation. Here's an excerpt about the summer powwow:

 

They had coolers - one stuffed with sandwiches, pickles, tubs of baked
beans, blocks of commodity cheese. The other was full of hot dogs and cold
fried rabbit. Soon, around the camp, Suzette and Josey's married children
started pulling up in their low-slung old cars. When the car doors opened,
the grandchildren bounced out like SuperBalls. They gathered other children
from neighboring camps and moved in a tornado of whirling hair, chasing legs
and pumping arms.

 

Life can be depressing, and yet there is happiness and hope. Joe's
grandfather, Mooshum, knows all the old ways of Indian life, and is a great
storyteller. The Round House is part mystery, part psychological thriller,
and a great read.

 

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd 

(DB 55533, reading time 10 hours, 16 minutes)

 

Set in racially divided, 1964 South Carolina, The Secret Life of Bees
details the journey of a young girl's understanding of life.

 

Lily Owens is fourteen, and believes she accidentally killed her mother when
she was four. Her cold, harsh father does nothing to dissuade this belief.

 

Rosaleen is their black servant, Lily's friend and stand-in mother. After
Rosaleen is arrested and beaten, Lily helps her escape. Together they follow
the trail of Lily's mother. They are taken in by three eccentric, black
sisters. Lily is fascinated by their secret world of bees and honey, and of
the Black Madonna who presides over the household of strong, wise women. 

 

Kidd's writing voice is powerful and compelling as displayed in the
following excerpt:

 

At night I would lie in bed and watch the show, how bees squeezed through
the cracks of my bedroom wall and flew circles around the room, making that
propeller sound, a high-pitched zzzzzz that hummed along my skin. The way
those bees flew, not even looking for a flower, just flying for the feel of
the wind, split my heart down its seam.

This is a story about women with extraordinary gifts, especially forgiveness
and coping with loss, and it's one of my favorite novels.

 




Seven Steps to use in the development of a writing project

By Lynda McKinney Lambert

 

.        Step 1: BRAINSTORM

 

Brainstorm for ideas before you begin writing. 

This is not just vaguely thinking about something, it is about taking
concrete steps towards your writing goal.

 

When you Brainstorm, you will look for an idea, a thought, word, quote, a
thing. Write down some things that are meaningful to you. This is your essay
and you want to express what is on your mind via the writing project.
You can begin with only one word that comes into your consciousness.

 

Question: How will you BRAINSTORM for your central theme?

This can be done a number of ways. It can be very complex; it can be quite
simple.

 One very good approach is to make a list very quickly. Use your intuition
and begin writing. Don't stop to think about what you are writing, just let
those fingers fly and make a list.

 

Once you complete this quick list, sit back and look over your list, reading
several times until something really pops out at you. There may be a number
of things on your list that will later become a story, poem, or essay. But
for now, you will just choose one item from your list. This selected item
will be your central theme for your work.

 

.        Step Two: SELECT your topic and Write One Paragraph.

 

To SELECT YOUR TOPIC, choose one idea from your Brainstorming List and write
one paragraph. Use that word or idea and write a very short paragraph with
it.

 

After you have written one paragraph, put it aside. On a new sheet of paper,
write another first paragraph. Develop a number of ideas as possibilities to
pursue. You will make a number of first paragraphs and each of your first
paragraphs will be on a separate piece of paper.

 

You have now created some possibilities to pursue. Select just one of those
first paragraphs to be used in your new piece of writing.

 

Some writers use a cluster chart for this step. Since cluster charts are
visual charts you map out, they may not be blind-friendly, but If you can
create a cluster chart, it will work very well for you.

 

This kind of exploration begins by putting your one idea into a circle in
the center of the page. Then, begin working out from that central idea,
putting down a paragraph, sentence, or thought into another circle that has
been connected to your first one. When I could see visually, this is how I
did it. Now, I do it by making the list I have outlined above. It works just
the same and I can do it on the computer.

 

If creating a cluster chart, I would take each of the clusters, and write
one paragraph for each of them on a separate sheet of paper. This would give
me my assortment of possibilities from which I will begin my work.

 

.        Step Four: Adopt a Persona.

 

Think about who will be speaking in your essay. Ask yourself, who is telling
this story? Why is it this person? What will you accomplish by choosing to
write in this person's voice? Consider all your options here, and be sure
you understand exactly what you will accomplish by using this particular
persona.

 

.        Step Five: Think about the mood you want to create in the essay.
How will you capture it?

 

Question: How will you create images to capture the mood? 

It can be helpful to observe how published writers create a mood. Take a
look at material with a mood similar to what you hope to achieve. Read
carefully, and as you read, be aware of the mood in each of the works.

 

Look for ways that you can feel that mood as you read the work. This can
help you when figuring out how you will do it in your own writing. Mood can
be created by giving characters a voice, writing good descriptions of a
place or a room; by using symbols that create images for the reader, by
descriptions of weather, lighting, music, art works, smells, sounds, tactile
elements, etc.

 

.        Step Six: Write a THESIS STATEMENT into the first paragraph of your
essay.

 

This important step is often the one that fledgling writers fail to do. It's
the one step that can't be skipped. 

 

Your thesis statement is typically written in the very first paragraph in
almost all writing projects. That first paragraph will be a stepping stone
into the rest of your story. If it is not there, you have left your reader
lost at sea. 

 

Once again, It would be good to read a few works resembling the one you plan
to write. In each of them, look for that Thesis Statement. Practice the art
of recognizing a thesis statement when you begin to read. Look for a
statement that expresses one clear goal in the first paragraph of an essay.

 

Visit this site for more information on creating a thesis statement:

http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/thesis_statement.shtml

 

.        Step Seven: Write out THREE GOALS or MAIN POINTS you wish to convey
in your essay.

 

In a way, this will be your road map. Your three goal statements will give
you a clear idea of where you want to go with this writing project. This
step will keep your writing focused. If you can clearly identify your three
goals before you write, it will help get you to your destination.

 

Pennsylvania artist and writer, Lynda McKinney Lambert, has been involved in
arts and literature since she was a young child. She is the author of
Concerti: Psalms for the Pilgrimage, published by Kota' Press. Her research
projects have been published in two books authored by Terry White of Kent
State University. She has traveled extensively giving lectures and
presentations on her research during academic conferences across the US. She
served as a Pennsylvania Scholar for the Pennsylvania Humanities Council and
delivered multi-media presentations on writers and artists. 

 

As Professor of Fine Arts and Humanities at Geneva College, she created a
Germanic Culture Program, taking students to Europe every summer. She taught
art and writing courses in Austria, Germany, Italy, Czech Republic, and
England. She developed a cross-discipline course in Puerto Rico culture,
taking students to Puerto Rico every year for studies. 

 

On campus, she created and taught courses in English Literature; Writing;
Studio Arts; Humanities; and Art History during her career.

 

Lambert currently develops art exhibitions of her work, and she has
participated in over 300 exhibitions in the US, New Guinea, Europe, and
Japan. She has received more than 100 awards for her art works. Lambert was
selected by the US Department of State to represent America in the Art in
Embassies program.

 

She is currently developing a two person exhibition with another blind
artist for a show that will focus on visualization and vision by blind
artists.

 

She continues to write daily and is working on a series of essays for a
book.

 




Pin the Sale on this Donkey

By Janet Parmerter-DiNola

 

Being visually impaired since the age of nine, I've adjusted to most
situations with a grain of salt. well, maybe more accurately said, I've
adjusted with a pound of humor.

 

At first glance, I don't look disabled, according to most people. Often I
get the comment, "You look so normal." I'd like to ask what exactly does
normal look like?

 

Working in New York city as a runway model, I hid my vision loss for years.
I would say my secret was well kept evident by the fact I never fell off a
runway or walked through the mirrors. It's possible I didn't fit the
stereotypical idea of a blind person with dark glasses and a white cane. If
people had known I couldn't see, I'm sure whispers would have ran rampant.

 

Many times I laughed to myself, imagining cynical comments like, "A blind
model? Get real. that would NEVER happen," or, "Come on, who'd hire her, The
'Love Is Blind' poster people?"

 

Years later, in an effort to achieve independence, I attended a training
facility for the visually impaired in Denville, New Jersey. I received
intensive training using screenreading software as well as other technology
designed for the blind. One of the best tools I was given was what I've
nicknamed my wonderful walking wand, which is a simple folding white cane
with a red tip. These canes are widely used by the blind and visually
impaired.

 

True, it was small in size, but it represented a huge mental obstacle for
me. To begin using this cane in public, I had to jump a few self-imposed
hurdles though.

 

The first hurdle was fear. Walking alone in New York, I felt having a cane
made me an easy target and I imagined it screamed to muggers, "Here I am,
come get me."

 

The second and biggest hurdle was my vanity. It was very, very humbling for
me to use my cane in public.

 

At first, I felt somewhat embarrassed unfolding it. Often I left it in the
car, or kept it folded under my arm while walking arm-in-arm with a friend.
Each time my friend Kim saw me without it, she firmly questioned, "Janet,
where's your cane?" Over and over she asked the same question until my
embarrassment waned. Now, together with my red tipped white knight, we have
won my independence. 

 

Since January 2000, I've felt an enormous weight lifted off my shoulders. I
feel free now navigating the twists and turns of life's paths. Just a simple
tap, tap, tap gives me this independence. However, pryor to using it, since
I never wore an "I can't see" sign, people were unaware of how poor my
vision actually was.

 

Accomplishing ordinary tasks like greeting friends created unpleasant
issues. Hearing a familiar voice, I'd happily say hello to that friend.
However, minutes later, if they passed me without speaking, I'd walk right
by them and not say a word. Friends thought I deliberately ignored them, as
if I were walking around with my nose in the air, not acknowledging their
presence. If I passed without a smile and hello, some called me stuck-up and
rude. Some even accused me of feeling superior to them while living in my
own little world. Sadly, these friends never knew my seemingly distant
attitude was because I really didn't see them. 

 

How could they know I spent every second analyzing my surroundings? How
could they know I was hiding my visual impairment out of embarrassment? How
could they understand any of this when, as a teenager, I didn't understand
it myself?

 

In an effort to mask my vision loss, I'd scrutinize forms, colors, sizes and
use contrast in order to pretend I knew what was happening around me. My
life was like a huge mental puzzle that had hundreds of pieces, with someone
adding new bits to the complex puzzle every minute. For me, everyday
happenings were enormous difficulties that I patiently learned to deal with.

 

Take for example shopping. The average person loves to shop, but I detested
it. It truly was the nightmare of my life. It was a major chore, right up
there with pairing and folding socks. Searching for correct aisles, finding
sizes, matching colors, styles, prices; oh my, just thinking about it made
me groan.

 

And even worse, I've had some unscrupulous cashiers return change for a
lesser bill than I gave them. Whether intentional or not, this problem was a
major addition to my why I hate shopping list. After dealing with this
situation one-to-many-times, I discussed it with my doctor, Eleanor Faye.
She gave a quick fix, which is to fold the bills. Immediately I decided to
give a five dollar bill a left diagonal fold, a ten a right diagonal fold, a
twenty dollar bill a horizontal fold and leave one dollar bills unfolded.

 

Last, but not least, at the top of my why I hate shopping list was coping
with difficult sales people who refuse to believe I couldn't see. Since I
didn't use a cane, which could have identified me as visually impaired, and
didn't "look" blind, often, sales persons neglected to help me find an item
or tell me its price.

 

While shopping, there were many, many occasions when I requested assistance
shopping or to have a price read to me, and I'd receive insensitive remarks
like, "Why don't you just wear your glasses?" or, "That's in aisle number-"
or, "It's right over there." Or the comment I heard most often, "The price
is right there on the ticket. Put on your glasses." I would explain that I
was visually impaired, but more often than not, I was considered to be
lying, or on one occasion, accused of being too vain to wear my glasses.

 

Now with all the above seemingly useless information, you will easily
understand the shocking main point of this pin the sale on this donkey
story.

 

While attending a New York ski show at Rockland Community College, I passed
a long rectangular table where ski pins were being sold. The cute pins were
lined up neatly in straight rows, like little tin soldiers. One pin caught
my eye, and upon closer examination, I noticed its logo was "I Love Skiing."
What made the pin so adorable was how the logo was formed with two skis
crossing through a red heart with the words I love skiing around the outside
of the graphic. Being an avid skier, I decided to buy a few pins.

 

Picking one up, I asked the salesman the cost. Sadly, I received a familiar
response as the salesman pointed to a sign with the price and walked away. I
looked around to no avail for my friend, hoping she would read me the price
and I'd be done with this guy. No chance.

 

Standing in front of his table, I was alone with only my thoughts and the
desire to walk away. Before I turned to leave, I heard my mother's voice
rush into my mind like a roaring avalanche, "Be assertive, tell them you
can't see. Don't let them do that to you."

 

I realized she was right. I needed to stand up for myself. Okay, Mom, this
one is for you.

 

Firmly planting my feet, I waited until he walked by, cleared my throat and
said in a mild voice, "I'm sorry I can't read that, I am visually impaired.
Can you please tell me the price of this ski pin?" He picked up the price
tag, laid it on the bridge of my nose then put it down and walked away to
help someone else. Stunned, I couldn't believe how brash he was. He was
absolutely the rudest sales person I'd EVER met. Quickly folding my arms in
protest, I decided I wasn't going anywhere until he came back.

 

As soon as I heard him approach me, I called out then said, "I STILL can NOT
read it even that close. The print is much too small. Can you just tell me
how much is the ski pin?"

 

He whipped around and pointed to the price on a large poster board with
bigger words then disappeared as fast as he came.

 

Shocked at his insensitivity, I was more determined than ever to stand my
ground. Abruptly I called him back and in a terse manner repeated, "I know
that sign has large print, but I still can't see it over there. Now, just
tell me how much the pin is."

 

With one swift motion, he reached behind himself, picked up the poster,
plopped it down directly in front of me right on top of all the pins and
took off to help someone else.

 

For the first time in my life, I was SPEECHLESS. As my frustration soared, I
felt my blood pressure shoot up and my cheeks burned with both embarrassment
and anger.

 

Thankfully, at that moment I was distracted by a man who appeared alongside
me. He grabbed a pin, tossed a bill on the table and briskly walked away. At
the risk of looking like a thief, I picked up the bill he threw on the
table, closely examined it, and realized it was a one dollar bill. Reaching
into my pocket, I plucked out another dollar, threw both our bills on the
table, grabbed my own pin, turned in a huff and stomped away.

 

Moments later I found the friend I'd come with. Completely irritated, I
related the entire experience.

 

When I finally took a breath and steam stopped shooting from my ears, Sylvia
asked me where I bought the pin. Turning around, I pointed to the table at
the end of the aisle.

 

For a few moments, she stared at the table in silence, dropped her head to
her chest, closed her eyes, and shook her head slowly from side to side. To
my shame and horror, she softly moaned, "Janet, all the signs say, 'WE ARE
DEAF MUTES. Can YOU PLEASE MAKE ANY DONATION TO OUR DEAF ASSOCIATION.'"

 

My mouth dropped open, I was mortified. The first time I attempt to be
REALLY assertive, the salesperson turns out to be MUTE. Thanks, Mom. So much
for being assertive.

 

What are the odds of a blind skier unintentionally harassing a deaf
salesman? It really could be said he did pin that sale on the donkey," and
that foolish donkey was ME.

 

More than likely he was able to read lips, and at some point he realized I
couldn't se. That would explain why he kept hoping a closer or bigger sign
would inform me he couldn't speak.

 

Honestly, he must've been just as frustrated as me. Throughout the years
I've imagined him telling his side of the ironic situation. Laughing, I can
picture him signing his side of the story, telling friends about this crazy
blind girl.

 

Pin the Sale on this Donkey won an honorable mention in the 2012 NFB
Writers' contest in the memoir category.

 

After high school, Janet Parmerter-DiNola worked as a runway, showroom and
hair model in New York City from 1969 to 1984. For the past 33 years, she
has been a travel agent and tour escort with Illinois International Travel
and ParmerTours. She strives to give her clients an educational and
entertaining vacation.

 

With a passion for skiing, people, history, geography and language, she
developed a career in in-group travel. For individuals desiring a
personalized Italian adventure, Parmerter-DiNola customizes escapes in the
village of Castel Cellesi, then organizes specialized day trips to other
cities.

 

Since 1982, she has also been a volunteer Bible teacher. Along with her
volunteer schedule and professional work, she cares for her 83-year-old
mother and her 90-year-old aunt. Her life is NEVER uneventful with all the
above along with her daughter, son-in-law, stepsons, six grandchildren,
grand bulldog, snuggly cat and her supportive though often overwhelmed
husband, Keith.

 

Life is a challenge, and to stay positive, Parmerter-DiNola tries to find a
touch of humor in each situation. She likes to prove the accuracy of the
expression Life is often funnier than fiction.

 

Generally, shopping is a fun past time, but it can be a formidable challenge
for someone visually impaired. Thus, in life or while shopping, had she
pushed aside her vanity and fear to use a white cane, she could have avoided
numerous problems like the one detailed in this essay. Still, many times
some lessons, which she had to learn the hard way, ended up with a positive
conclusion.

 

Ironically, the ENDING of this true story must be labeled my most humorous
disaster.

 




Editor's Note: Finding the Color in Your World

By Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter

 

Spring is finally in the air, and Slate & Style and NFB Writers continues to
flourish. We continue to grow and challenge our many talented members and
contributors.

 

During February, Lynda McKinney Lambert posted poetry by African-American
poets to Stylist. We were exposed to many great poets, some familiar, some
not. We appreciate Lambert's efforts to expose us to a myriad of talented
poets during February.

 

April was National Poetry month, and once again, Lynda McKinney Lambert led
the way in encouraging Stylist members to create poems. Many of us non-poets
tried our hand at the craft, and the list ended up with solid posts. Thanks
to all of those who participated.

 

We also learned about fan fiction from members who indulge in this growing
and unique genre. I posted information about fan fiction to the listserve as
well. You can learn more at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fan_fiction.

 

A writing prompt was posted to Stylist encouraging list members to attempt
fantasy. We had a decent response to the prompt. Fiction and poetry posts
entertained us as we were challenged by this prompt especially those of us
who do not typically write fantasy.

 

NFB Writers is hard at work preparing for the 2013 NFB national convention
in Florida, July first through 6th. Writers events and the annual business
meeting will be held. For more information, visit:
https://nfb.org/national-convention.

 

And now we have news about Slate & Style.

 

After this spring issue, we will no longer offer a hard-copy print format.
The division has found it too costly to continue this version, and most our
readers request electronic formats already. We will still offer hard-copy
Braille and email as well as offering past issues on the website. We hope
this change doesn't inconvenience our readers, but in order to shore up
funds and run the division as efficiently as possible, this hard-wrought
decision was made.

 

We have very exciting news as well though. Slate & Style welcomes three new
team members to our magazine staff. Chris Kuell, Katherine Watson and Robert
Kingett come aboard as assistant editors.

 

We are excited about these editions, and readers will learn more about each
team member in our summer issue to be published in late summer.

 

With our new Slate & Style staff, we are working on goals for the magazine.
As we continue to grow and develop, we will keep the readership informed.
And of course, we always encourage reader feedback. You can contact us at
bpollpeter at hotmail.com.

 

We also need your submissions. We accept short fiction, poetry,
memoir/personal essays, book reviews and articles addressing various topics
and forms of writing. The submission guidelines can be found towards the end
of this issue of Slate & Style. Please read through the guidelines
carefully. Submissions that do not follow these guidelines will not be
considered.

 

That being said, we need your support through material to be published.
Submissions are accepted from January through September, and we are in
desperate need of material.

 

And as I leave you for now, I give you the following to ponder.

 

As the pastels of spring bleed into summer's bright, bold palette, I
encourage readers to find depth and color in their own writing.

 

On Stylist, we've discussed the use of color in our writing and how this can
impact a piece. How do you describe color? What terms do you use? How
important is the introduction of color to your own work?

 

Explore how color can deepen your writing, whether it be fiction, poetry,
nonfiction-find how it can broaden the most mundane writing.

 

This may be challenging especially for those who have never known color in a
visual format. How does your experience of color differ, and how can you
wield this unique perspective to your advantage?

 

I think finding the color in life is symbolic. Think outside the box; color
doesn't have to take on a literal meaning. When we move outside our comfort
zone, step out of that box, often we find inspiration that brings depth to
our writing.

 

So I bid you farewell for now but keep writing. Enjoy spring as the world
softens and buds, and Find new growth in your writing.

 




Slate & Style Submission Guidelines

 

Slate & Style is a quarterly publication of the Writers' division of the
National Federation of the Blind (NFB Writers). It is dedicated to writing
including literary pieces along with resources and information about various
writing styles. A majority of Slate & Style's contributors are visually
impaired, but we welcome submissions from any contributor, professional or
amateur. We also accept submissions touching on any subject matter.

 

Slate & Style accepts short fiction, short creative nonfiction, poetry,
articles discussing and providing tips for various writing styles including
literary, technical, editing, public relations and academic, literary
criticism and resource information.

 

Subject matter is not limited though it will be up to the editor's
discretion to publish.

 

Slate & Style accepts material from adults and children. We prefer email
submissions. Please no hand-written or Braille submissions.

 

An annual subscription costs $15. The costs for an individual issue is $5.
Members of the Writer's Division receive issues free of charge. An annual
membership costs $10. Visit our website to pay via PayPal at:
<http://www.nfb-writers-division.net/> http://www.nfb-writers-division.net,
or contact us at newmanrl at cox.net for other payment options.

 

We accept submissions from January first through September first. Please
give Slate & Style six weeks to hear back from us. All submissions are
considered for publication but not all pieces will be published. We may keep
submissions to be used for later publication. The editor may respond with
comments and suggestions, giving contributors an opportunity to resubmit.
Please be patient and wait the full six weeks before contacting us about a
submission.

 

Submissions are welcome at all times, however, Please read through the
guidelines carefully. Submissions that don't follow these guidelines will
not be considered for Slate & Style. 

 

Submission guidelines are as follows:

 

.        Length requirements are: articles, 1500 words or less, fiction and
memoir/personal essay, 4000 words or less, poetry, 39 lines or less.

 

.        Please send nonfiction, both articles and essays, and short fiction
submissions one selection at a time. You can submit up to three poems at a
time. Include bio and contact information for each submission sent.

 

.        Include a title page along with your submission with author name,
title of piece and contact info-phone, email and address. Please include
this as an attachment and not in the body of an email.

 

.        Please include a brief bio of yourself-no more than 150 words. Do
not send an entire history, just include key items you feel are important
for readers to know. 

 

.        Book reviews should have a more academic approach. Don't just state
you liked it or not, and don't simply summarize a book. We are seeking
literary criticism. Address tone, format, style, character and plot
development and the over-all writing. The length for book reviews is 700
words. Bios do not need to accompany book reviews.

 

.        All email submissions must be attachments and sent to
bpollpeter at hotmail.com. Do not paste entries into the body of an email.
Entries simply pasted into an email will not be considered.

 

.        In the subject line of your email, write: Slate & Style submission,
name, title and genre. EX: Slate & Style, Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter, title
of submission, genre.

 

.        Use Microsoft Word or create an RTF document for all submissions.
No other formats are accepted, and therefore will not be considered. Please
do not send hand-written or Braille submissions.

 

.        Proofread and check your grammar and formatting before submitting.
Submissions with too many errors will either be returned with corrections to
be made if you wish to resubmit, or it will not be considered at all.

 

.        Slate & Style will consider all submissions for publication.
However, please be careful with graphic sexual and violent content as well
as language and anti-religious, anti-gender, anti-racial and anti-homosexual
orientation content. Characterization and plot often require this type of
material, but it must serve a purpose. Gratuitous material with no purpose
or meant only for derogatory reasons, will not be considered, however,
material will be published according to the discretion of the editor.

 

Please direct questions and comments to Bridgit KuenningPollpeter at
<mailto:bpollpeter at hotmail.com> bpollpeter at hotmail.com,.

 

 




NFB Writers' Division Critique Service

 

Have you just written your masterpiece? Finished that article you've been
working on? Completed a compelling memoir? Would you like a seasoned writer
to give you an evaluation of your material? 

 

The NFB Writers' Division has established a critique service. For $10, you
will receive a written evaluation for any of the following: 

.        Short story, max 3000 words

.        First chapter, or first 20 pages, of a novel

.        up to 3 poems, 36 lines or less per poem

.        Children's story, max 3000 words

.        First chapter of a Memoir, or first 20 pages

.        Nonfiction article, 20 pages max

 

The critique will contain feedback on the following:

.        Format

.        Mechanics

.        Overall quality

 

If interested, submit work as an email attachment using MS Word. Double
space and email to: 

 

Robert Leslie Newman, president, NFB Writers' Division

newmanrl at cox.net

 

Material may be submitted at any time. Critiques will be Emailed back within
30 days from receipt of reviewer. We have a small pool of editors available,
so submissions may need to sit before an editor is free to review.

 

The $10 fee can be paid via check or online. For checks, make out to: NFB
Writers' Division, and send to:

Robert Leslie Newman

504 S 57th St.

Omaha, NE 68106

 

For PayPal, visit the Writers' Division website at:
www.nfb-writers-division.net.

 




NFB WRITERS' DIVISION MEMBERSHIP

 

If you'd like to join NFB-Writers' Division, please choose one of the
following payment methods:

 

.        Access our PayPal button from the Writers' Division's Website
http://www.nfb-writers-division.net.

 

.        Fill out and send in a print copy membership form, listed below.

 

Dues help finance division activities, including the publication of Slate &
Style, and our division's annual writing contest. 

 

 

NFB WRITERS' DIVISION MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION

 

NAME:


 

ADDRESS:


 

CITY:                                                STATE:
ZIP CODE:                   

 

PHONE NUMBER (Include area code):


 

EMAIL:


 

Which format do you prefer for Slate & Style:

 

          BRAILLE                       PRINT
EMAIL

 

Total enclosed:                                         Dues
Donation

 

Send $10 membership fee in a check or money order, made out to: 

 

NFB Writers' Division

504 S. 57th St.

Omaha, NE 68106

 

Do not send cash. Do not make your check out to an individual. Thank you.

 

 

 

Robert Leslie Newman

Personal Website-

Adjustment To Blindness And Visual impairment

http//www.thoughtprovoker.info

NFB Writers' Division, president

http://www.nfb-writers-division.net 

Chair of the NFB Communications Committee   

 

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