Changing times

Yes, it's that time of year again. Here in the Mitten State, we've gone back to Eastern Standard Time. The colorful leaves which were dancing in abundance with an occasional autumnal breeze only a week or two have dropped from the trees, taking up residence on the lawns and streets.

The holiday season is fast approaching.

Meanwhile, here's an update about writing, projects, events (yes, one more time!) and music.

Here we go.

Writing

During a meeting with the writer's group at the local library in October, I was a little surprised at two of the scenes that were shared. Here's the usual format.

If someone has a question about anything related to writing, we usually cover this at the beginning. There are a couple of us who have had novels and short stories published and we can often share information or give advice on these matters. Once that part is covered, we get into the reading segments. Each person has the opportunity to share a scene or some poems they've been working up. The timer is set for seven minutes. When that sounds, the reader has to stop. That's when the others have the opportunity to provide feedback. With a diverse group, the reactions usually cover a lot of different perspectives.

I encourage the group to practice reading the scene aloud, so they know it will fit within the timeframe. Some do. Some don't.

Last month we had a full house, with 16 people attending. That's a good sized gathering. We also had several newcomers joining us for the first time.

It was midway through the session when one man started reading a scene that described an active shooting at a middle school. He explained that this is how he planned to begin his dystopian tale. When the timer went off, he wanted to keep going. I cut him off. Before I could give feedback, several of the others jumped in. The comments covered a number of the various aspects of his story. I stated that it wasn't a good way to begin and that it wasn't something I'd continue reading. Others offered suggestions about reworking this, perhaps without the graphic violence and using it later in the story as a flashback. He took detailed notes.

I recognized that several of the people around the table were uncomfortable with the material. When the discussion wound down, I moved on to the next writer.

Half an hour later, a young woman in the group read a dark scene that was very vivid, filled with pain and blood and violence. The feedback was subdued. I noticed more than a couple of participants looked distressed. A short time later, the session ended.

But those troubling scenes stayed with me.

There have been a few times over the last three years where a writer shared something that was inappropriate. But most of the time, the material doesn't bother anyone. As the moderator for the group, it falls to me to draw the line. I checked with the library's program manager, to see if they had any regulations or something I could refer to. Surprisingly, they didn't have anything specific in place. So we did a little brainstorming.

While the library wants to encourage everyone to participate in the programs offered, I planned to make certain that we weren't sharing stories that could be a trigger for someone who had a traumatic experience. The library staff agreed that this was the last thing any of us wanted. So it seemed like the opportune moment to create something. Rather than make it complicated, we wanted a guideline most people are familiar with. We opted to use the same format as the motion picture industry. Anything above PG-13 is inappropriate. Writers must keep in mind that intense violence and/or erotic scenes are outside of the scope of the group.

In order to give the regular attendees fair warning, an email was sent the week after the meeting. Additionally, I will make a statement to this effect before each group session. This was also added to the sign up sheet, so it's right there in black and white.

The library and I want to encourage others to share their work and gain the benefits of the feedback from other creative people. But we have to be savvy about what is appropriate. If you're involved in a writer's group, I'd be interested in learning whatever criteria you may have.

Events

One. More. Time.

My last event for 2025 (this will be number 29) takes place on Sunday, November 23. I'll be at the Portage (MI) Parks & Recreation Center for the show. At last year's market, more than 50 vendors participated with a wide variety of goods. It's a great way to get a jump on your holiday shopping.

Of course, books make excellent gifts and they are so easy to wrap.

Early this month, I was invited to speak at another writer's group about events. The conversation ranged from the different preparations anyone would need, the equipment, the planning and even the importance of having multiple sales pitches ready if you have different books on your table.

One writer present asked about methods to find potential venues. We talked about different websites and social media listings. Then I recalled a quote that's been attributed to Pablo Picasso.

"Good artists borrow. Great artists steal."

Everyone looked confused when I said that. I explained that they could find an author who travels to different events like I do and look at their website or social media posts. They would still need to do further research as to the specifics for each event, but it would give them some direction.

One person asked if they could just visit my website. I explained that it's my practice to wipe out events after they're done. No sense living in the past.

Works In Progress

In theory, with the festival season winding down, I should have more time to write.

In theory.

The reality is that the demands at school have taken up the slack. While teaching four classes this semester, I somehow managed to have assignments from all of them coming due simultaneously! What was I thinking. To make this even more ironic, one of the courses I teach has a chapter devoted to time management. Apparently I need to reread that one.

I have managed to revisit what will be the fourth Jefferson Chene mystery. Two new scenes came to mind and were added to the mix of the first draft. These are more like snippets. I used these to reintroduce some old favorite characters and weave them into the new investigation. In addition to Chene's case, I'm still looking at the Young Adult novella that got started a few months ago. Working on two projects simultaneously isn't uncommon for many writers. But then an idea struck me for a short story that was just too good to ignore. So of course, that had to be dealt with. I have no clue where that one will lead or even where I might submit that when it's done.

But that's a tomorrow problem.

Music

One of my favorite performers from the Detroit area is Bob Seger. A singer and songwriter, Seger has entertained crowds for more than six decades, selling over 75 Million records worldwide. Recognized by both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriter's Hall of Fame. His deep voice carried the roots of his rock and roll anthems, connecting with everyone.

Here's my top five favorites from Bob Seger.

Shakedown: https://youtu.be/B8hL12fVHbA?si=kbkd-SWDu1Y2snq-

Get Out of Denver: https://youtu.be/hcEAfZX6SJw?si=uy2xBKbwsZYksz_z

Betty Lou's Getting Out Tonight: https://youtu.be/MsS3Q4PXIIM?si=pbH97NkglJAmkZaq

Old Time Rock & Roll: https://youtu.be/PQswfILThsY?si=rxGoE15IenNsjXNu

Rock & Roll Never Forgets: https://youtu.be/cO3bufB547A?si=l-alXLWA5Ex6_bJq