Just Saying . . .

I Don't Think It's the Same, Toto

While converting a website to a book, I have discovered that it's not as simple as copying from one to the other.

Space is limited on websites. If you have several years of episodes to review, they won't fit on a website, unless you have built the site yourself from the ground up; that is, by using programming language. If you are using a pre-made template, as I am, no. Ah! But there is plenty of room for them in a book!

On the other hand, books demand much more verbiage than websites allow. Just stating the facts is not enough. One must elaborate -- and elaborate and elaborate. For example, if you are writing about a person, it isn't enough just to give the facts as they relate to the point you are making. You need to tell why this person has the knowledge, skills, and abilities to do what he or she is said to have done. This goes much farther than simply stating his academic credentials. It includes writing about his or her prior experiences, even their personal background information.

In short, what may be a 75-page website -- and that is extremely long for most websites today -- will need to be filled in so that it contains 200 pages or preferably more. I'm finding that this project will be far more extensive and demanding than I first had thought. I should not be surprised. Perhaps, off putting would be a better description. Do I really want to convert the site to a book? I don't have the answer to that question, yet.

To Thy Own Self Be True

Writing is not all about epic novels. Sometimes, we just feel like writing a short story, a blog, or even a few comments about what is on our minds. That's fine, just fine!

The world would have us think we are not accomplishing anything unless we have books in print. Says who? The actual person who has books in prints or the one who wishes s/he had books in print? We'll probably never know the answer to that question, except to know that a lot of hot air is floating around these days that has nothing to do with the weather.

If you can stand to read one more person's opinion, here is mine: "To thy own self be true." That is, if you just have a few words you want to post on social media, that's fine. If you have a short story begging to come out, that's fine. If you would rather join the YouTubers who ride trains, fly planes, and build tiny houses, that's fine. Just be true to yourself.

As for me, I'm glad these words came to mind this morning. I need to read them and remember them on those days when the words just won't come.

The Bane of Writers Everywhere -- Writer's Block

It happens to us all at one time or another. We turn on our computers, call up a fresh page, then can't think of a thing to write. Before we began to use computers, the block struck as soon as we rolled a sheet of paper around the platen of our typewriters. There is nothing more frustrating -- or frightening. Will we ever again be able to write?

Actually, I think writer's block is a sign that we need to get up and do something different for a change. We need new inspiration, which quite often cannot be found at the keyboard. Long years ago, I was having dinner with my family in a popular eatery when I saw three older ladies dining together across the room. One was noticeably younger than the other two. She became the inspiration for a new character.

That lady became Estelle "Stelly" Lawrence, widow of banker Charles Lawrence, mother of economist Kristen Lawrence Randolph, and the best fundraiser that humanitarian causes ever saw. She played an admirable game of golf, too! Yes, she was from an older generation, one that lived a more genteel lifestyle than we typically see today. She held her place in her white capri pants, striped tees, and Grasshoppers as she greeted friends at the Fish Shack. She made her way into my historical novel, Tales Along the Way Home.

Another source of inspiration is the trips we have taken. Personally, I love to ride on trains. I let one of my characters fly to Miami in order to catch the train to New York aboard Amtrak's Silver Star, then to Chicago aboard the Lake Shore Limited, and finally, to the West Coast aboard the California Zephyr. At one point, it seemed to me that he was eating a mighty lot. I came to realize that very little happens on trains, except for taking meals in the dining and cafe cars. And, so, I let him encounter the professor who had taught him international relations many years earlier, and I had him meet the conductor whom he would encounter again a few years later. I shared information about the transition from privatized railroads to Amtrak and about changing from the predecessor railroads' aging locomotives to new ones. I told how the railroad brought prepared meals aboard, rather than prepare them on board the trains. These days, there is a swing back to cooking aboard the trains, at least on more upscale runs.

So, when the writer's block strikes, get up, go out, and experience life. Inspiration will come, and you will have something new and exciting to write about. It works every time.

This article is dedicated to Mr. Conductor aboard Amtrak's Cardinal in September 1986, who gave me a love and appreciation of trains.

An Interesting Thing Happened on the Way to the Conclusion

Some years ago, I developed a character who was meant to be hated. I gave him a name I do not like. I gave him a brusque personality. I made him a curmudgeon. I even gave him a baritone voice with a growl and scowl to match.

He was jealous of those he perceived as having more than he had. He found something wrong with what others enjoyed as if he felt it his duty to steal their joy. To ensure that he was seen as a bully, I made him six-and-a-half feet tall with the build of a Brahman bull.

And, then, I fell in love with him.

You see, even the most unlovable people have their lovable qualities. For my character, the lovable side came out when he was thrust unwittingly into the position of having to look after a group of people. He had to take charge. He had to make the decisions and keep the group moving in the right direction. And, then, he had to scoop up a colleague, who had been felled by a heart-stopping nightmare, and he had to keep a special eye out for her for the duration of the journey.

It has occurred to me that many of us are like my curmudgeon. We go on the defensive until we are allowed to take our place and shine. And, when we are needed and accepted by our peers, our edges soften and we discover a side of ourselves that really is quite lovable.

Perhaps, rather than being my most hated character, this man is my most realistic character. Perhaps, I need to create more of my characters from the perspective of being imperfect but with redeemable qualities. Perhaps, I only now am learning how to create characters.

P.S. His name is Frank Randolph, and he appears in Tales Along the Way Home.

To Publish or Not to Publish: That is the Question

Sometimes, publishing a book feels like giving away something that is near and dear to us. If we seek an agent and traditional publisher, we too often are left to feel that, unless we were already big-name writers, we did not stand a chance. On the other hand, if we self-publish, we must pay to be published by someone who will not help us market our book.

Many people are perfectly content to write without having any expectation of being published. Other people feel that they are, shall we say, wasting their time when they spend so many hours writing without attempting to bring in an income.

When I first attempted to publish a book, I submitted query letters and sample chapters to more than 125 agents and publishers. Three liked my manuscript but did not feel that it would sell enough copies to justify the expense of publishing it.

The next time I submitted a manuscript, it was to a print-on-demand publisher that, as it turned out, was of questionable repute. Several writers who published about the same time withdrew our books from publication rather than suffer at the hands of that publisher. To this day, I have only published e-books. No, that publisher does not help market my books.

Feeling left out, I looked about to see how other writers were marketing their books. One places her marketing efforts on teaching aspiring writers how to write and advertising her books through her teaching website. Another established a common theme for her books, purchased a motorhome, and traveled throughout the areas where her books were set in order to sell her books. A third writer developed a following through social media. All three achieved a certain degree of success, although none became a big-name writers.

As for me, I turned away from books and to creating and maintaining a moderately successful website, Remembering Jack Lord, affectionately called RJL. Actually, RJL began life as Memories of Hawaii Five-O, affectionately known as MofH50. A friend remarked, "This isn't a Five-O website; it's a Jack Lord website." I took another look, decided my friend was correct, and gave Jack his own website. Some years back, as costs of maintaining websites rose, I moved the MofH50 material into RJL and closed the MofH50 site. We receive an average of 125 visitors each day and have had visitors from 167 nations (85.64 percent of the 195 nations recognized by the United Nations).

For the most part, I have been too busy with the websites to write another book. In recent years, however, as RJL moves closer to the end of its run, I have written another book. Perhaps, I should say I am writing another book, for I keep going back and adding new ideas. So, again, the question arises: Should I try to publish this book through a print-on-demand publisher or should I keep my story and my characters to myself?

To publish or not to publish: that is the question.

The Fun Part of Writing is Research

I know a lot of writers would disagree, but for me, the fun part of writing is doing the research. I enjoy learning about new and different things that capture my interest. The hard part is conveying what I have found in my research to the actions and deeds of my characters.

Let's say he's going to take a train trip. Learning about the places he will see is interesting and fun, but then, how do I give him a life aboard the train? Most trains are not particularly friendly places, although I have known exceptions.

Riding Amtrak's Cardinal through West Virginia was a wonderful trip when I took it in 1986. People gathered in the lounge car, visited with one another, and enjoyed the National Park Service representative, who told the history of the West Virginia coal mining communities and the New River Gorge. I still enjoy remembering the Little Old Lady from Staunton, who had been to New York to visit her brother, do some shopping, have dinner at the Tavern on the Green, and attend some Broadway plays. When she reached Staunton, she was going to be met by friends, who were going to take her to lunch at the country club. I'm sure they had a wonderful time that afternoon.

Now, how can I create a similar experience for my character, who is flying to Sydney, Australia to catch the train to Adelaide? All I know at this point is that I would love to be there, with him. I've learned a fair amount about the train, but I need to learn about the people, places, and things along the way. Maybe he can make friends with a roo -- Nah! They'd wind up having a boxing match, and the train would go off without him.