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Muffins and Mayhem, Recipes for a Happy (if disorderly) Life
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Dear Reader,
If you have a question about writing, feel free to ask. I'm happy to reply. I can't send everyone a personal reply, but I'll answer writing questions in my column. To view past questions and answers, go to: http://tinyurl.com/WritingQ-A
After reading yesterday's column about my conversation with Bessie, who lives in assisted living, book club reader, Franisz Ginting emailed this writing question:
"Suzanne, how did you manage to remember the live conversations [quotes] with Bessie? Did you use a recorder, or did you memorize all of them instead?"--Franisz Ginting
(Suzanne replies:) After saying goodbye to Bessie, the minute I got to my car, I grabbed my notebook and wrote down notes and the handful of quotes I could remember from our conversation. There's a paper and pen in my purse, in my car, bathroom, on the nightstand next to my bed, and when I go outside to sit in the chaise and relax, I set a pad of paper and a pen beside me on the ground, just in case.
Writing isn't something I "do" when I sit down in front of my computer. Everyday I'm watching and listening, and making mental notes about things that happen, and the emotions I see on people's faces. I listen closely to what they say, but if I don't write things down immediately, I'll forget the details of the story and worse, I can't recover how I felt at that very moment. So it's not that I'm trying to actually write the story in my notes, but rather I'm jotting down sentences that will trigger past emotions.
I've even saved a phone call from a friend (yes, they gave me permission), so if I decided to write about their experience, I could go back and listen to them tell the story in their own words, and hear the excitement in their voice.
If you have a writing question, please send it to me at: Suzanne@EmailBookclub.com
Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
www.muffinsandmayhem.com
AUTHORBUZZ: SPIES AND LIES: The Paradox (Thriller) by Frederick L. Malphurs
Let me hear from you. Join in on the discussion for Spies and Lies: The Paradox. It's a story about espionage, politics, deceit, romance, ambition, smuggling, lies, and treachery. David Pearl, an outsourced former CIA employee, finds himself and his fledgling company in the middle of national security crises.
Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader click on SPIES AND LIES to read more and to email author Frederick L. Malphurs, you'll get a reply.
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