On Writing: The Primrose Path to Prologue

SDWEG member and frequent presenter, Larry Edwards, shares his thoughts, and the thoughts of many others, about whether or not to include a prologue. Thanks for sharing, Larry.

Polishing Your Prose

The Prologue Question: To P or not to P?

Should one choose to tread the primrose path to prologue, ’tis a dalliance I wish not to rede.*

As a judge for the San Diego Book Awards, I recently read about a dozen novels, some as published books, some as unpublished manuscripts. Most of them had prologues—and in every case of a book with a prologue I lowered the author’s score.

The problem?

These so-called prologues either were not prologues, or they were unnecessary, or they could (should) have been Chapter 1, or they contained background information that could (should) have been disclosed later, in a context within the story that would have been more meaningful to the reader.

In one case, Chapter 1 opened with: Three years earlier. Huh? How can the prologue be a prologue if it occurs three years after the beginning of the story? Open with Three…

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New Website Coming

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website

The San Diego Writers/Editors Guild website is moving. The website address will remain the same–sdwritersguild.org–but the appearance of the site will change slightly. It will still display in two columns on a PC with the narrower left column containing links to other parts of the website and the main content in the wider right column. It will also be accessible on mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets.

The reason for the move is to upgrade the site from the free WordPress.com platform to the more advanced WordPress.org platform which offers a number of features we couldn’t implement on the other platform.

As new features are implemented, such as making the application form fillable online, we will announce them via posts.

Watch for the change in the upcoming week.

Looking for Help

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memoir, stream of consciousness

“Help” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by quinn.anya

The following message landed in the Guild’s email inbox this week:

I’m looking for a bit of help. I’ve recently become interested in local literature after less recently reconnecting with a childhood passion for reading. I’m looking for a specific type of novel and I’m not sure if it exists. It’s a ferociously difficult thing to ask a computer and the closest thing my questioning of local librarians has yielded is “The Holy Book of the Beard” by Duff Brenna, which is a very entertaining read, but not exactly what I’ve been looking for.

I’m looking for something, of any time period, set in San Diego that follows the sort of memoir / stream of consciousness style employed by Henry Miller, William Burroughs, Jack Kerouac, Hunter Thompson etc.

If there isn’t anything set in San Diego in that style, I’d be interested in finding more plot based work, following the styles of Hemingway, Steinbeck, Wolfe or Didion.

I’m really just looking for a piece of work set in San Diego, where you can crawl into an author’s skin and experience their day to day life. In truth, I’d like to find something written by a woman who has immigrated into San Diego from Mexico, either legally or illegally as I think this would most help broaden my understanding of our culture here.

I know we have Noir and crime dramas and police stories, but I’m looking for something a bit less coherent, a bit less connected, a bit more of the day to day musings of an individual who knows the city and sort of drifts around trying to make sense of what they’re experiencing.

Any information or leads help.

If you have recommendations for books that might meet Rylan’s request, please include them in a comment to this post.

See SDW/EG Members at Mysterious Galaxy December 11

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fiction, Janet Hafner, Local Authors, Marcia Buompensiero, Mysterious Galaxy, novel

Marcia Buompensiero will be at Mysterious Galaxy on Sunday, December 11 (12 to 3 p.m.) signing books and speaking about her latest novel, Sumerland a ghost story with ties to San Diego and haunting family mystery that nearly destroys three generations.

Janet Hafner will also be at Mysterious Galaxy for the local author event on December 11 with her children’s novel, Eye of an Eagle: A Peter Poppin Adventure.

Congratulations to both our members for being included in this even.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1752157108440788/

Use Gmail? Wonder Where the Newsletter Emails Went?

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constant contact, gmail, tips

“Gmail logo” (CC BY 2.0) by Kinologik

I noticed something when our Newsletter editor, Laura Roberts, began using MailChimp to send out notifications with the Guild’s newsletter, The Writer’s Life. I use Gmail as my primary e-mail address so this post may apply only to others who rely on Gmail.

Instead of Laura’s messages showing up in my inbox, they appeared among those on the Social tab of my Gmail account. I thought I would follow Gmail’s suggestions to “train” Gmail to put messages from Laura directly into my inbox, by dragging the messages from the Social tab to my Inbox, but that has failed.

So I did some digging. It turns out that MailChimp admits that it is possible messages sent through its email service providers will appear on one of the Gmail tabs introduced back in 2013–Social or Promotions. Here’s what they said in an October 11, 2016, knowledge base article:

Gmail delivers messages to tabbed inboxes based on complex and changing algorithms that consider subscriber engagement, content, and sender information. Messages from email service providers, like MailChimp, often have a higher chance of being delivered to the Promotions tab.

Unfortunately, MailChimp has no control over the placement of emails in Gmail, and there is no proven way to “beat” Gmail’s algorithms. Only a subscriber can move your emails from the Promotions tab to the Primary tab.

If you rely on Gmail, watch for messages from Laura Roberts on your Social or Promotions tab. And if you don’t already know how to move them from one of those tabs to your inbox, check out this article (it’s easy).

Catch Our Drift Productions Is Looking For Stories

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Anthology, Catch Our Drift Productions, opportunity

Catch Our Drift Productions is producing a compilation of short stories that aims to make a difference in the lives of readers … and writers.

39 Signs of Hope, coming in the fall of 2017, is a collection of stories from writers around the world. Whether facing personal challenges, trying to combat environmental threats or dealing with global unrest, people rely on hope to help them through difficult situations.

“So many writers have compelling stories,” says Sheila Cameron, co-founder of Catch Our Drift Productions. “By sharing those stories, contributing writers will offer comfort to readers seeking a greater sense of hope or purpose in their lives.”

39 Signs of Hope will be published under a hybrid publishing model, wherein the publisher and selected authors will share in both the cost of production and the opportunity to sell books. “Many writers don’t have the experience or means to publish their stories,” says Mark Cameron, also a co-founder. “Similarly, small-scale publishers have limited resources for working with multiple authors and reaching readers. This new model is a win-win plan to fill a gap between independent authors and publishers, who are both working with small budgets.”

Each selected author will make a financial contribution toward production costs in exchange for having their work professionally edited and designed. They will also receive 20 trade paperback copies with an option to buy additional books at a wholesale price. Catch Our Drift Productions will contribute 39% of the profit from e-book and print-on-demand sales from 39 Signs of Hope to a registered charity that is voted on by contributing authors.

Catch Our Drift Productions is accepting submissions (1,000 to 2,000 words) until January 31, 2017. There is no fee to submit a story. For more information, visit http://www.catchourdrift.ca/39-signs-of-hope.

Sheila Cameron
Catch Our Drift Productions Inc.
Gibsons, BC, Canada

Phone: 604-740-2179
E-mail: info@catchourdrift.ca
Web: http://www.catchourdrift.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatchOurDrift

One Book, One San Diego Event Dec 1 with Lysley Tenorio

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Lysley Tenorio, one book one san diego, reading

In celebration of One Book, One San Diego’s 10^th anniversary, award-winning author Lysley Tenorio will speak at 6 p.m., on Thursday, December 1. The free event will be held at the Chula Vista Public Library’s Civic Center Branch, 365 F Street. To reserve a seat, visit www.kpbs.org/monstress.

Tenorio is one of seven authors of adult literature who have returned this fall to commemorate 10 successful years of One Book, One San Diego, the region’s community-wide reading program. It was launched in 2007 by KPBS and the San Diego Public Library. Tenorio’s debut book, Monstress, was One Book, One San Diego’s selection in 2014. Monstress is a collection of quirky short stories set among the Filipino-American communities in California and the Philippines. At the library event, Francine Maigue will act as VIP interviewer. Maigue is listed as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the World by the Filipina Women’s Network.

The author’s stories have appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies, including The Atlantic, The Best New American Voices and Pushcart Prize. A Whiting Writer’s Award winner and former Stegner Fellow at Stanford University, Tenorio has received a variety of fellowships, including the National Endowment for the Arts. Born in the Philippines, he spent his childhood in San Diego, and is now an associate professor at Saint Mary’s College in California.

Francine Maigue was born in the Philippines and raised in Chula Vista. She received her Master’s Degree from Harvard University and serves as Special Advisor to the Philippine Consuls. She was recently named the Face of Pinay Power by the Filipina Women’s Network. Her weekly column, Francine and Friends, appears in the Filipino Press.

Tenorio’s talk will be followed by a book signing and reception. Copies of his book will be for sale. Complimentary refreshments, provided by the Friends of the Chula Vista Library, will be served.

Upcoming Guild Events

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Diane Hinds, holiday party, Mark Reichenthal

“Calendar” (CC BY-NC 2.0) by Farid Iqbal

December 12, 2016: Holiday Party (note this is the 2nd Monday, not the 4th!)

IN THE NEW YEAR…

February 2017: Diana Hinds on launching your book, PR, and top tips for social media.

March 27, 2017: Mark Reichenthal, attorney for literary matters, to discuss contracts between authors and agents, publishers and others.

Local Writers’ Conferences

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SDSU Writers' Conference, The Southern California Writers’ Conference, writing conferences

“Conference” (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) by Brian Dys Sahagun

From the November issue of The Writer’s Life.

• The 33rd annual SDSU Writers’ Conference is scheduled for Jan. 20-22, 2017 at the San Diego Marriott in Mission Valley. For more information, see http://www.ces.sdsu.edu/wc.
• The Southern California Writers’ Conference is scheduled for Feb. 17-20, 2017 (Presidents’ Day weekend) at the Crowne Plaza San Diego. For more information, see http://writersconference.com/sd/.

Tip of the Hat to…

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Amy Zajac, Gered Beeby, Larry Carleton, Muriel Sandy, Phil Pryde, Sam Warren, Sandra Yeaman, tip of the hat, Tom Leech

“A Tip of the Hat.jpg” (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) by c-lemon

From the November issue of The Writer’s Life.

• Phil Pryde, whose book, the fifth edition of San Diego: An Introduction to the Region, was selected to be the table prize for the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy’s recent dinner and fundraiser, attended by about 300 guests.
• SDW/EG members Gered Beeby, Lawrence Carleton, Tom Leech, Muriel Sandy, Sandra Yeaman and Amy Zajac all have works featured in the 2016 Oasis Journal, published by Imago Press. Published pieces include short stories (A Christmas Surprise by Amy Zajac and BJ by Lawrence Carleton), poems (“Tackling Life’s Early Dilemmas” by Tom Leech), essays (The Elements of Trust by Gered Beeby), and memoirs (Kindness Is Universal by Muriel Sandy, and Boys Will Be Boys by Sandra Yeaman).
• Sam Warren, whose book, A Hot Time in the Cold War, was translated into Russian.