NightScripts
July 2014
Jim Laughter, Editor
Anne Lamott is my new best friend. Reading her book, “Bird By Bird: Some
Instructions on Writing and Life,” is more akin to a pen-pal letter from your favorite quirky
aunt than a book she wrote to share with the masses. Her voice is calm and clear. She refers to
her struggle with alcoholism and her delight in her beloved son, Sam, with the same familiarity
and connection. Her clarity, truthfulness, and humor encourage others to express their brand of
“truth” as well.
Lamott frowns on hiding feelings, writing around feelings, instead of through them, but
only for one’s own good. Lamott prodded me to “write my pain,” that dusty volume I dared not
speak of, a time I thought I had out-lived and out-loved. And yet, write the word “pain” and up it
pops, like a bobber with an 18-pound catfish on the other end. I feel as if everything I write--even near it---it is a lie. Anne Lamott says I owe it to myself and my readers to come clean. She
promises “truth” will give us all freedom from old demons and bravery to face new ones.
Confession is good for the soul, and so forth.
So, here is my first attempt at actually writing my pain, the truth as I see it.
Wait, I have to go rearrange my sock drawer. What a gawd-awful mess that is.
Ok, I feel better. Now…
Oh, no! I’m out of toothpicks. Be right back.
Truth: I am perfectly capable of spending a whole day waiting for a duffel-bag of
profundity to fall out of the sky and hit me in the head. Does that happen?
Meanwhile, my brain tries on and quickly discards (like swimsuits at Kohl’s) a hundred “truthy”
ideas. Truth is over-rated, truth is a natural law, truth keeps us alive, imagination trumps truth,
truth is beauty, truth is stupid. I don’t know what truth is.
I am a liar. I mean, writer. I am in love with creativity. I want to stay in the world of play
where fantasy and real life mix together in a slush until you can’t tell the difference.
Truth: I am not enough. Anne Lamott says that if you are not enough when you aren’t
published, you won’t be enough published, or chosen, or lauded by others. That’s true, too. I’ve
tried it. When I win a prize or hear applause, I also hear my Dad in the background telling my
sister that she is the living image of our dear dead mother. Someone coos about one of my quilts
or stories, but I am embarrassed that I felt compelled to show it to her. When my boss tells me
my job isn’t rocket science, instead of laughing, I’m 12 years old feeling the sting of my stepmother’s hand... Instead of reveling in kudos, I feel used, like a clown. Self-approval is a
tough gig. It is one skill worth learning.
Don’t waste another minute. You are the not the absolute best you can be right now. You
know you are flawed, stained, and have done some shameful and pitiless things. And will again.
Soon. The truth of this admission will give you freedom from shame, compassion for yourself
and others, and strength to resist continuous temptations to fail yourself.
I am not advocating a free ticket to abuse yourself and others because you are evil. I
preach moment-to-moment forgiveness and rededication to your goals. Go ahead. Fall off that
wagon, dust yourself off, and climb back on. It’s a wagon and will move you forward.
The Juggling Act
When people find out I write, illustrate, run my own company, help others with editing, typesetting, and
publishing, on top of having half a dozen kids, a fantastic husband, and a day job, I get asked a lot of
questions, like: “How do you do it?” “How do you find the time?” “What’s your secret?” When I sat
down today to write for our monthly newsletter, I thought this might be a timely topic for those still
juggling the multiple hats authors wear and who might need a reminder of some things that might help.
Only the fortunate few are able to focus just on their writing and I’m not one of those just yet. So how
do I do it?
Before I get to some of the ways I cope with a workload built for two, I feel one point has to be made
first. I don’t feel like writing or running Books-A-Daisy ® is a burden. Sure, there are days like to day I
want to rip the guts out of my computer because I just can’t get a clear answer on an Adobe question,
even though deep down I like to learn. But for the most part, plotting out a book or helping someone
with their book is fun for me. Making time to read someone’s manuscript or another author’s book so I
can leave feedback to support them in their journey is something I enjoy. Just like being willing to take
on fundraisers or being asked to be VP of our writers group has been a fun challenge to fit into my
schedule. And I find that working with fellow authors and building a community of support is inspiring.
It is truly a passion and doesn’t feel like work—most of the time. Even the mundane tasks like
photographing and digitally documenting receipts doesn’t seem like work when it’s related to something
you love. Men especially look at me askance when they ask questions like the ones above. So I use the
golf or fishing metaphor and they get it. If you have to drag yourself to work on your book, maybe
writing isn’t your calling. So, that being said, back to how I do it.
Analyze your free time, be creative with it, and multitask when you can. You probably have some time
in your day you can better utilize:
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The commute to and from work— listen to a book or make phone calls—hands free, of course.
While you clean house—
o keep a notepad out and make lists of what needs to get done later or
o make notes on your book plot or
o listen to that devotional, podcast, or TV Show you keep up with.
Even lunchtime at my day job, I consider free time that I should redeem. I use that to read books or the
Bible or take a class from my company’s online course offerings.
The bulk of your free time is in the evenings, and generally and one of the biggest time (and money)
wasters is cable TV. Even if you don’t have cable, the time spent in front of the TV is rarely going to
move you forward in your writing career. Not that I have given up on all TV, it’s just TV doesn’t own my
nights.
When I come home from the day job (which lucky for me is a Project Planning/Scheduling career) it’s
helpful to go right to my desk at home and get started on my to-do list. Bypass that TV. If I stop to
watch, that old physics saying tends to come true — A body at rest will stay at rest under the mind
numbing programming of your choice, right? Unless you use force to change it. But a body in motion
tends to stay in motion. Going from one job to another is easier—it takes less force than stopping and
restarting your work. So cutting out TV, and keeping that momentum going, is such a good way to get
things done.
Another way to get the most out of your day—to reach those goals—is to plan. Lack of planning is
almost the same as planning to fail. You hear that everywhere, but how many of us really plan?
Planning goes hand in hand with organization, though, if your plans include anything detailed. Part of my
planning? I make lists as I think of things I need to do. It sounds simple, but most people don’t do that.
I used to keep track of plans and their lists on post-it notes, but lately, I’ve switched to carrying around a
small day planner with a place for lists, separated sections, individual pouches, and a calendar for the
year. I now have tabbed sections to separate my list by projects, too! The best thing about being
organized is I feel more empowered. I can be at my day job, think of something I need to do when I get
home (because I don’t mix the two) and I add it to my list. I can forget about it the rest of the day and
focus on my day job and its list. And my little book helps me with my first tip of redeeming free time,
too. I can be in a waiting room and review my list and add or remove items from it. I can be in a grocery
store and in a moment of epiphany, solve that plot twist I’ve been agonizing over in my subconscious
and capture it in my little book. I even have pouches in the back for business receipts. Those pesky easy
to lose slips of paper now have a home. No more looking. I can even jot down my mileage on my
calendar for my future tax write off. I feel freer and there’s something especially gratifying being able to
look at a list full of completed and scratched off objectives, too.
The last thing is by no means the least of what I find helpful (eating healthily, getting enough rest, taking
days off to regenerate, and other things are just as important) but being flexible is a must. The ability to
reprioritize your goals for that day or week or month—even year!—is necessary. I know people that get
so bent out of shape that they can’t do “this” that they miss the opportunity to do “that.” And I
sometimes have to grudgingly let go of a self-imposed deadline and stop and smell the roses. Being able
to accept that this task will not get done today with the understanding that it will get done tomorrow or
eventually, frees you up to be in the moment for the task at hand. The trick is to re-prioritize a hectic
schedule with a positive attitude. That positivity is key, as flexibility’s complement is gratitude. I don’t
like documenting my expense report. Oh sure, the sales report? Awesome! But keeping the receipts,
documenting the expenses, that’s not so much fun. Being grateful that I can afford to run a business,
changes the perspective. I’m really not thrilled with the learning curve on a particular software right
now. But I’m grateful I can afford the software, know I’m smart enough to figure it out, and realize that
what I learn now only makes me that much better at helping others. I’d rather be writing, but I’m
running a business, still a mom, happy to be a wife, and have a thousand other demands for my time.
Being flexible enough to shelve my personal project to focus on someone else’s, takes a certain attitude
to do gracefully—which I don’t always do successfully, but I try.
So in a nutshell, redeeming free time, planning and organizing, and being flexible and grateful with those
plans, are three of the things I use in my daily juggling act. Sometimes I’m a better juggler than others,
but these skills are a must in maintaining my hectic schedule with a smile.
EVERY OLD JALOPIE GETS STUCK IN THE MUD EVERY NOW AND THEN. IT TAKES A BRAVE
SOUL TO STAND BEHIND A SPINNING WHEEL AND TAKE THE MUD TO DIG IT OUT. THAT’S
WHAT WRITERS ARE; BRAVE SOULS THAT FACE THE MUD , PUSH, AND DIG…….
Our July Speaker
Cheryl Stinchcomb is an author, training program developer, and speaker. She is the author of Pinterest
for Profits, How to Master Pinterest Marketing in 15 Days and Presentation Skills that Rock. In 2013
she launched, Profit Pinning, an online course that teaches entrepreneurs how to master Pinterest
Marketing in a 25-day video challenge.
Cheryl has 20+ years of experience writing and developing training materials for prominent companies
such as:
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The Walt Disney Company
Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC)
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers
7-Eleven, Inc.
Pizza Hut International
Outback Steakhouse
Council for Hotel & Restaurant Trainers
Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Los Cabos Mexican Grill & Cantina
Waterfront Grill
Cheryl’s biggest passion is inspiring women to be confident in their personal abilities and to live their life
to its fullest. Her motto is…Think Big and Live Happy. You can find Cheryl on her online TV show;
CherylWEBtv.com.
You won’t want to miss our July 15th meeting. See you there….
Our June 2014 Speaker
June’s meeting was different from any other Tulsa NightWriters meeting. Our speaker,
jazz promoter John Taylor, entertained us with his wry sense of humor, then challenged
us with his marketing and promoting expertise.
What does jazz have to do with writing? Absolutely nothing. However, John administers
one of the largest jazz promotion sites in the country and is expanding his promotions to
include books and local authors. He is opening a portion of his site to promote Tulsa
NightWriters and our craft. What could be jazzier than that?
What’s this going to cost, you ask? Again, absolutely nothing. How many people will it
reach? Thousands every day! Can you be included --- YES….. If you want to be included
in this world-wide promotion tool, you need to email John at lovetulsajazz.com.
The average pencil is seven inches long, with just a half-inch eraser in case you thought optimism was dead.
Robert Brault, American Writer
"Rich in culture and the arts, the city of Tulsa nurtures
artists of all kinds--including writers. SHADES OF
TULSA reflects a wealth of topics inspired by the city in
short stories, memoirs, and a few poems.
"The professional and aspiring writers in Tulsa
NightWriters give readers their view of the life and people
of Tulsa. Many of the stories in this collection are written
by nationally known writers who live in or near Tulsa and
want to celebrate their home.
Written by members of our group, the proceeds from the
sale of this book go to support the Tulsa NightWriters.
Click on this cover to order your Kindle edition. $2.99
PEGGY FIELDING
The Tulsa NightWriters were saddened at the passing of our matriarch
Peggy Fielding on May 20, 2014. She was a prolific author that helped
many of us learn our craft. Our August 2014 monthly meeting will be
dedicated as a memorial to Peggy. But don’t despair, this won’t be a
funeral. Her wishes were to have a night of life celebration, so come
prepared to share your fondest memories of Peggy.
You may click here to visit her author page at AWOC.COM and on her
picture to see her books on Amazon.
Dena Garson’s seventh book with Ellora's Cave, Loss of Control, will
be released on July 10th as part of their Blush line. It's already
available for presale on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
(Book Cover attached)
Ghostly Persuasion was a finalist in the Paranormal category of the
2014 Reader's Crown Award hosted by RomCon
(http://romcon1.businesscatalyst.com/2014-readers-crown-finalists). It
received a 9.0 rating (out of 10)!
Ghostly Persuasion is also a finalist in the Paranormal category of the
2014 Passionate Plume contest hosted by the Passionate Ink chapter
of RWA. Winners will be announced at the RWA National
Conference mid July (www.passionateink.org/contests).
Mystic's Touch was reviewed in the June issue of RT Book Reviews.
It received a 4 star rating! You can now see the review on the RT
website though:
Deanna
writing as Dena Garson
http://denagarson.com
http://denagarson.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @DenaGarson
FB: https://www.facebook.com/dena.garson.7
The Corpse Who Walked in the Door
Former society wife Grace Cassidy is learning to live on the minimum
wage she earns as a B&B inn-sitter. Things are going well until the
identical twin of her boss-from-hell unleashes family secrets, her 19year-old son’s girlfriend becomes pregnant, and her cat Trouble finds
a dead body in a bathtub.
Jackie King’s seventh book with Ellora's Cave, Loss of Control, will release on July
10th as part of their Blush line. It's already available for presale on Amazon and
Barnes & Noble. Also available locally at THE BOOK PLACE, 101st and Elm, in
Broken Arrow.
Also, Jackie’s book Ghostly Persuasion was a finalist in the Paranormal category of
the 2014 Reader's Crown Award hosted by RomCon It received a 9.0 rating (out of
10)! It is also a finalist in the Paranormal category of the 2014
Passionate Plume contest hosted by the Passionate Ink chapter of
RWA. Winners will be announced at the RWA National Conference
mid July (www.passionateink.org/contests).
Carol Johnson’s short story, “The Trouble
with Starlings,” has been accepted by the
Red Earth Review and will appear in the
journal’s summer issue.
Mike Koch’s essay Momo: the Missouri Monster
was accepted for publication with the Southeastern
Missouri State University Press. It will publish in
an upcoming issue of Big Muddy: A Journal of the
Mississippi Valley.
Sally Jadlow took home several prizes from the Kansas Authors Club, District #2
contest: 2nd place for her Inspirational piece, 2nd place in the Novel category,
and 1st place in the Memoir category.
Sally Jadlow
See my books here
Blogs:GodsLittleMiracleBook.wordpress.com
and FamilyFavoritesfromtheHeartland.wordpress.com
Sara Hoklotubbe is honored to announce that she has been
invited to speak at the Library of Congress National Book
Festival in Washington, D.C., on Saturday, August 30, 2014.
Her presentation will be at 11:50 a.m. and her book-signing
will be 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. The release date of her third
mystery, SINKING SUSPICIONS, (University of Arizona Press)
has been moved up to September 4, so books will be available
for the festival.
As of this publishing, July 6, 2014, Jim Laughter’s Galactic Axia Sci/Fi
adventure series has been on the kindle top 100 best-seller list for 116
consecutive days. The 5th book in the series, The Wounded Warrior,
should release around July 15th. Jim fully expects it to shoot to the top
of the list along with Escape to Destiny, The Horicon Experience,
Space Trader, and First Contact. Visit Jim at www.jimlaughter.com
Vickie McDonough's novella, Buckskin Bride, from A
Pioneer Christmas Collection, is a finalist in the
Inspirational Readers' Choice Awards, novella category.
Winners will be announced next month at the RWA
conference.
Announcements
There is a local author program at TCCL (Tulsa Library) for authors wishing to donate a copy of
their book for public reading. But you can't just drop the book off. It may not make it to the
correct lady. Send your published work to:
Tulsa City-County Library
Attn: Sue Anderson
Collection Development Manager
1339 N. Lansing
Tulsa, OK 74106
We have other events coming up later in the year that we’ll
include in the next couple of newsletters. If you have an event,
i.e. book signing, speaking engagement, etc., please send it to
jimlaughter@att.net for inclusion in the newsletter.
Woodland Hills Mall Author Fair: Invitation to Participate
Submitted by: Donna Jones
When: Saturday, August 23, 2014
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Woodland Hills Mall, Tulsa, Center Court
What: the opportunity to sell your books and meet the public
GENERAL INFORMATION:
*Cost is $35.00 per author
*Mall fee is $300.00 for the event and we will also give away a $100.00 gift card to a lucky book
buyer.
*Your check will not be cashed until the first week of August.
*Each author is responsible for his/her own sales.
*More information will follow after the participating authors are determined.
*Please do not forward this invitation, as we may have the fourteen participants from this email
alone.
IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE:
* Send a check to Donna Jones for $35.00
*Mail to 21938 So. Hickory Lane/Tahlequah, Oklahoma 74464
*With your check mail me the attached General Release and Indemnity/ Fill out the middle
section under ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
*Please mail the check and form to me so I will receive by July 12, 2014. If I have not received
them by that date I will assume you do not want to participate. Participants are signed up by the
date of receipt of the check and form, so slots may be filled prior to 7-12-14.
* email any questions
*If you know you will not be able to participate on Aug. 23 it would be helpful if you told me you
have a prior commitment. Thank you
Download View
Every month our authors receive reviews for their published books. The following are just a few
submitted this month. Also, if you read a book by a Tulsa NightWriter, be sure to write a review
for it on Amazon. We should all support each other’s efforts to perfect and sell our craft
Fantastic!, June 18, 2014
By Sarah L. - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Promises You Keep (Kindle Edition)
Wonderful read! Riveting plot, lively characters, exceptional ending, and a beautiful message make this
book well worth the read. I would recommend it to anyone and everyone.
A PAGE TURNER, June 5, 2014
By The Moonman - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Promises You Keep (Paperback)
Karen Marie Graham’s book “The Promises You Keep” is a page turner as advertised. When I had the
opportunity to visit with her at a recent book signing, she told me “The Promise You Keep” had an
ending I would not see coming. So, prepared to accept the challenge I dove in with a determination to see
if the book backed the claim. The deeper I read, the faster I turned the pages. Graham delivers as Sydney
Mackenzie the protagonist doesn't stumble into, but is drawn into the life of one of her students. As the
story unfolds, we are allowed to question along with Sydney just what is going on in this person’s mind.
Sydney is fighting inner demons of her own and with the help of a new friend and colleague she searches
for answers along a parallel path. Thanks, Karen Graham! As you plotted, I did not see the ending I
expected and found that so refreshing. I look forward to your next novel.
By Pam Wetterman - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Promises You Keep (Kindle Edition)
This new author is extremely gifted. Her use of description allows the reader to step into the story, see the
wonderfully inviting log cabins, the crisp white snow, and watch the love story unfold. The writings
delivered from her mysterious missing student demonstrate Graham's ability to use words in a literary
presentation. The homework assignments touch the reader with understanding, awareness, and wonder.
Her romance offers an insightful journey in the lives of two damaged people. Their growth and healing is
slowly ignited by their growing friendship. The characters, take their journey hand in hand. With a dash
of mystery and plenty of depth the author gives the reader a romance, spiced with a mystery, insight into
depression, and brings us to the end of their story, pleased to have walked this journey with Sidney, the
protagonist. Do not miss this novel. It is a wonderful read. I look forward to many more great works from
Graham.
Great Murder Mystery, June 11, 2014
By Amazon Customer - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Apostle Murders (Kindle Edition)
Good murder mystery tale, well told with a good ending. Well told from both the perpetrator and
FBI/police sides. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Sad story, good read!, June 2, 2014
By Neda L. Moyer - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This review is from: From Victim to Hero: The Untold Story of Steven Stayner (Kindle
Edition)
I enjoyed this story very much, although it broke my heart. It told the story of Steven Stayner
without embellishing on the abuse he must have endured.
Imaginative!, June 15, 2014
By J.Z. O'Brien - See all my reviews
This review is from: Polar City Red (Kindle Edition)
The version of the future that Jim Laughter puts before the reader in Polar City Red illustrates
the havoc a change in Earth’s atmosphere can have on our way of live. To tell the story of where
and how humans will be living in 2075 takes a powerful imagination —and Mr. Laughter has
one.
Galactic Axia...., March 16, 2014
By Kindle Customer "Mike Spencer" (Franklin, NC) - See all my reviews
This review is from: First Contact (Galactic Axia Adventure Book 4) (Kindle Edition)
A really good example of a good series (4 books) and well thought out plot lines without
unnecessary epithets, exaggerated sexuality, or burglaries. A very good sci-fi series especially
for younger readers.
If you receive a good review of your book, be sure to submit it for inclusion in the newsletter.
Send it to jimlaughter@att.net or jim@jimlaughter.com.
Lottie Wilds, President
Karen Graham, V-Pres.
Bill Wetterman, Treasurer
Pan Wetterman, Hospitality
Jim Laughter, Editor
TNW Officers for 2014
President
Lottie Wilds
lottiewilds@yahoo.com
Vice President Karen Marie Graham
karenmariegraham@gmail.com
Treasurer
Bill Wetterman
bwetterman@cox.net
Hospitality
Pam Wetterman
pwetterman@cox.net
NightScripts Editor Jim Laughter
jimlaughter@att.net
Schedule of 2014 Meetings
July 15 Cheryl Stinchcomb: Inspiring Women
August 19 – Peggy Fielding Life Celebration
September 16 –Pending
October 21 – Margaret Daley
Christian Romantic Suspense Author
2015 Officer Nominations
November 18 – Pending (officer elections)
December 16 – Christmas Party
The 2015 Officer elections will be on us
soon. It’s time to start thinking about
how you can serve.
Do you have an idea to strengthen the Tulsa NightWriters? Send any ideas,
suggestions, speaker recommendation, etc. by email to the officer of your choice.
Click on this banner to visit the Tulsa NightWriters website.