Walter Mosley's Advice

Within the past decade, I had the opportunity to attend a seminar offered by VONA (Voices of Our Nations Arts Foundation) that featured Walter Mosley as a guest. Two things, in particular, stand out from that gathering. I remember Mr. Mosley saying that there are two types of writers: intuitive and those who are more research oriented. (This is a rough paraphrase.) At the time, I recall Mr. Mosley placing himself firmly in the former group. The other thing that I recall is his advice to focus on one's own writing rather than reading work published by others. (Yes, there is a certain irony in taking this position.)

As I delve into writing my sixth book (fourth novel), Mr. Mosley's counsel is a great motivator. The more I write, the more selective I become about what I read and how I read it. I've been jumping around a lot in my reading and take this as a sign that it's time to concentrate on making this next contribution to my own body of work. Perhaps this perspective will also be useful to you.

Reading to an Audience

Fortunately, many brilliant people inhabit my life. Some are relatives, others are extended family, and there are all kinds of very valued friends. Allison Bliss is a brilliant person and her business, Allison Bliss Consulting, is an expression of so many of her extraordinary qualities. One of these is as a constant generator of meaningful ideas. Yesterday, she posed the following questions about a reading and signing that I did at Books Inc. in Alameda (at the invitation of my dear friend, Jerry Thompson) at the beginning of this year:

How did it feel?
Reading to an audience always feels wonderful. It's a lot like teaching in a classroom. Facing a group of people can be a very effective way of communicating with observers because it provides such a perfect opportunity for openness. Looking others in the eye stirs something within each of us. When I read to groups, I tell them that I will focus on the pages rather than looking up mechanically to make eye contact. Concentrating on the page re-inserts me into the writing zone and allows me to do my best presentation for listeners.

How did the audience respond?
They seemed very immersed in the reading; I felt that they were listening deeply. They offered interesting comments and asked compelling questions.

What feedback did you get?
The feedback that stands out was about the comforting nature of being read to. Perhaps one of the most thrilling things about getting feedback is the element of surprise. A writer could never anticipate how all readers will respond to their work. For one thing, it's good to remember that it will always be a mystery exactly how many people read one's work and what will be  their reactions. But when you do get to interact with readers, they often teach you new aspects of your own stories. Writing and reading are very interactive processes.

What did you learn?
I was reminded of how important it is to express how much I love writing when I read and discuss my work. This feels entirely natural to me. Sometimes, I assume that all writers feel that way, but I'm frequently reminded that this is a very individual experience.

How did it help you grow as a writer?
Each reading is unique and naturally augments the one that came before. Comfort increases with practice. That particular reading (at Books Inc.) made me want to do more. It reminded me of certain limitations of ebook devices. They don't adapt to getting authors' signatures; they're quite impersonal in many ways compared to physical books. What did I learn? I learned that writing and reading indeed have great potential for unifying people. I knew almost everyone who came to that particular reading and had not seen many of them for a very long time. It was a wonderful and moving reunion. What a blessing to be surrounded and embraced by so many brilliant relatives, extended family, and valued friends.
Allison Bliss

Audience−I'm Reaching Out to You!

Hello!

Welcome back to all of us.

It's been a while since I've posted to my own blog. Now, I'm back--not with a vengeance--but with determination to reach out to the audience for my writing and to connect you with my work. This lapse in blog upkeep has been very productive. As a result, Oaktown Writers Collective (OWC) was co-created with Dr. Lesa Hammond and Colette Winlock. You're invited to visit our website:

Oaktown Writers Collective

I've finished my fifth book, Listening Out Loud: A Friend to the Serious Writer and have scheduled three local workshops presenting this approach toward creative writing. Find out details on my website, tannerblue.com.

OWC held our first meetup yesterday; it was a wonderful mix of fellow writers. Dr. Hammond shared with us valuable information from her book, Achieve in 5! How to Transform Your Life in Just Five Minutes a Day. Explore the book for yourselves, but we did a freewrite about dreams and finish lines that inspired me to revive this blog. My big brother Ken was one of the participants, which made all the difference in the world. My husband's continuous support and attentiveness also nudged me toward spending this time with you, right now. Why? Because you're my audience and I want what's best for you.

Listening Out Loud: A Friend to the Serious Writer is my first nonfiction title. Here's the list of the three novels and collection of short stories that preceded it:

Tanner Blue

Painted Deserts

Members

Music for the Dream--Seven Short Stories

I'm off to do our weekly show on Blog Talk Radio. I want to stay in much closer touch with you.

Best wishes,
Valerie

Civil Peace

America has been engaged in nonmilitary civil war, coincidentally, since President Barack Obama campaigned for a first term. Blue states, red states, colliding into one great bruise. Great nation that we are, let us commit to Civil Peace. Change we can believe in.

Richard Wright

Name three books written by Richard Wright. Black Boy, Native Son, and....The Outsider. Right. Now, name 17 more. They're listed in the front matter of his novel, Savage Holiday, which is every bit as intense and brilliant as The Outsider. American Hunger, the continuation of his autobiographical work, Black Boy, is equally impressive. I found it quite eye opening to learn that a writer of Wright's stature was not connected to a much broader audience for his entire body of work for any number of reasons.

Writers and Readers: HOME by Toni Morrison

Writers and Readers: HOME by Toni Morrison

HOME by Toni Morrison

Definition 3a of home in Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary Tenth Edition reads as follows: 

A familiar or usual setting. 

Often, comfort and coziness are associated with the word. At second study, “familiar” and “usual” circumstances can readily be quite challenging, indeed. Home embodies all of the elements that avid readers of Toni Morrison would expect—brilliantly evocative syntax composed of five- and ten-dollar words; fully developed characters; and ample opportunities to choose between humanity and morality on the one hand—oppression and brutality on the other. Ms. Morrison tells the story from different points of view though the main voice is that of Frank Money. More so than her previous novels, there is an immediate sense of the story flowing directly through Ms. Morrison from The Source(s) that appear to have guided her work from the very beginning.