The urge to write goes way back to my girlhood after WWII. We did not have radio or television, so our free time was spent reading, which allowed us to escape from the harsh reality of our lives that included being hungry and cold.
During the ensuing years I married, immigrated to America, had two children and got divorced. I enrolled in a government training class-typing, at which I gloriously failed. As of this date, I still can’t type more than 25 words a minute.
Years later, after acquiring a new husband and two more children, I divorced again. A distinct pattern began to establish itself. I would write in the evenings and on weekends, first on a portable typewriter, then a Smith Corona electric typewriter. From there, I graduated to a word processor and finally to my first computer, writing the stories in DOS. Then Windows appeared! Hallelujah! In retrospect, writing made me want to learn about computers. This pursuit of knowledge was strictly borne out of self-defense as previous to this event I bought boxes of whiteout and scotch tape to erase errors and move paragraphs and sentences around.
I hold degrees in Linguistics and Language, and I was a certified Florida Supreme Court mediator. My writing skills focused on learning by attending writing classes, writer’s conferences and workshops. I started out writing short stories and now have written 30. Many of the stories were published in small literary magazines and the ones I submitted to writing contest managed to win awards.
My story protagonists are strong, intelligent women who and accept the responsibilities of their mistakes work out their problems with logic. They love men, but they do not settle for second best and are not afraid of being alone, nor do they need a man to make them happy.
From short stories I graduated to novels. I am about a third of the way through a new novel based on the “HAFT PAYKAR, a medieval Persian romance,” you probably know it as “The Seven Beauties.” I am re-writing the 12th century epic from the point of view of a woman.
Finally, to new writers, read as much as you can and never stop writing.
Click on the title and you can read a synopsis and view a larger picture
Norlain rescues the infant Agella. The clan harboring the child is compelled into diaspora. Years later, she is found and escapes prior to the forced marriage to the king’s son. Norlain aiding in the escape is killed.
Agella is plagued by nightmares. At the spring solstice the Gods allow Agella to split into two people each with a divergent life until the winter’s solstice. Both women meet, struggle and Mearah, the synthesized form emerges.
Fearing a breakdown, Kathryn Baker-Acts herself. The Psychiatrist hypnotizes her to discover the origin of the voices, learns of the alternative realm and realizes the battle between Mearah and Syba trans-morphed into his world. He must help Kathryn.
A series of tales explains each tarot cards’ history, the acquisition, their unique meaning and how the card, “The Oracle” is the key to the “Path of Wisdom,” and why the gypsies were given the cards.
A mid-thirty woman discovers she is a regulator and is charged to take people who eluded justice for a preview of the purgatory that awaits the prisoner unless they confess to the crime they committed.
A Widow meets God in heaven who tells her she must choose one of her three prior husbands to spend eternity with. She disagrees and starts a revolution in Heaven.
Moonpie, a feline, conducts a meeting to discuss The Covenant of Domestication. Drac, head of the river rats learns a tomcat is courting Moonpie, his secret love. Drac challenges and kills the tomcat. Mother Nature consoles Moonpie, tranquility returns.
Chosen from the files of prize—winning south Florida writers, this diverse and fascinating collection of short stories and novel chapters will entertain you and lodge in your memory.
Mystery, passion, hate, intrigue, love, murder, laughter and startling surprises, worldly and otherwise are subjects of the short story anthology from two award winning authors.
Short Story about the County Fair in Ithkar and the woman who created a new perfume.
Co-Author deleted my name from the story which ended a successful writing partnership.
She apologized. The story was nominated for a Nebula and she re-submitted the story in both our names. We won honorable mention.
Both Novels are also available in a Screen Play format.
May 1, 2019
As a writer I should be familiar with the concept of writing in general, however, a “Blog” is a whole new animal, speaking metaphorically, of course. I figure the best way for me to start a blog, is to delve right in and no holds barred.
I noticed through the years, whenever people learn that I write, questions invariable bubble up and they usually fall into the following categories.
1. I know that I have a book in me, and I should write it, but I don’t know how to start.
2. My grammar just isn’t that good.
3. I don’t have enough time, I’m just too busy.
4. I don’t have a computer, or I’m not that good at computers.
Ok, let’s begin.
Number one is a valid point and my response, just start writing. It does not matter how you start your story, or if it makes any sense. Once the story is on paper, tablet or computer, it’s alive and will bring you back and suddenly you discover you are writing. Especially after you done about a dozen pages or so. Now you can go back and do some editing to make sense and order of what you have written.
Number two piggy backs on to number one. Grammar, or more accurately, syntax, the bane of my writing existence. I won’t even list the definition of syntax, because it is mind-blowing. My sincerest advise, look for someone in your acquaintance circle who could help you. A person who has a good grasp of English can fix the writing. Stay away from English teacher, as a rule they are married to perfect grammar and this will be detrimental to your writing because in an effort to correct the same, they will delete and rewrite the very thing that makes your writing special.
Number three, my favorite. The lack of time in your busy schedule will force you to be concise in your writing. Always have a notebook with you, this way when you are waiting, write.
Number four, I started out writing on a portable, manual typewriter. A K-Mart special for $28. This dates me greatly. I would write on the backside of discharged paper. The point I’m trying to make in today’s world, libraries have computer you can use, phones can store large data and so do tablets. Your choice, but don’t let this stop you from writing.
Lastly, in the future, I might have an occasional guest or so to write the conversation/blog.
So, off you go because the world needs writers and poets since we are the conscience.
June 26, 2019
Three overused and inadequate little words; "IT. HAD. WAS." Let’s start with the word IT which could refer to just about anything but is totally lacking in painting an enticing picture. I suggest using that word as seldom as possible, along with everywhere, everyone, everything. Again, no image on which to focus. Adverbs, the “LY’s,” should be used sparingly as well.
A good part of the time authors writes in the present tense. The word "HAD" will be necessary in many cases, but I’ve found this word to be overused often and by professionals as well. Once you are in the past tense with the first “had” written, the reader most likely knows the action is a flashback or has already happened. After writing your piece, article, story, check for “had’s” to give you a visual of when this past tense verb was and wasn’t necessary.
And now on to the most used, most useless word of all, "WAS." Was is a verb and verbs should convey movement in the strongest terms possible. Was shows absolutely nothing. The old saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” puts you, the author, in the position of making the most of those words by using the clearest, most picturesque verbs available. Count all the times you used WAS and try to rewrite that sentence creating a more compelling and vivid action.
As you write, let these three little words be a trigger that leads to better, more colorful, more active copy. Also, sometimes nothing but the word WAS will do the trick so use it. Just not nearly as much.
As always, use your thesaurus constantly. let your work sit overnight, read the manuscript aloud, and search for necessary revisions not consciously visible on your original draft.
Keep writing!
Janet LeClair
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Taylors, SC 29687
info@monikaconroy.com
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