On the Road...Soon

In about three weeks I'll be packing up the Nissan and heading south. (Reminds me of the John Hiatt song - "Come on Baby Drive South" - Love that song!) My destination is the Jack Kerouac house in Orlando's College Park neighborhood. A few month's ago I was honored to be awarded the Writer-in-Residence position at the Jack Kerouac Project. I plan to be there, writing and reading and conducting workshops through early August.

Beginning on June 1, I'll be living in the house that Jack built. Well, actually, the house that On the Road built. Kerouac's home in Orlando is where he and his mother lived after the success of On the Road. Kerouac wrote The Dharma Bums in this house in a small back bedroom. Although On the Road is Kerouac's iconic masterpiece, "Bum" may be my favorite of his works.

When I was awarded the residency, one of the organizations of project and foundation that cares for the Kerouac house warned me it would be "hotter than hell" down there in the summer. I don't mind. Bring it on. I'm living in Kerouac's place! Besides, during the renovation of the home organizers figured they better put air conditioning in even though it was not part of the original home. Good thinking. Good for me.

I am currently working on a project related to a Kerouac-inspired trip I took with my two teenage boys a few years ago. So, even though it may seem a little contrived to be working on a manuscript loosely connected to Kerouac in Kerouac's house, it honestly isn't. Truly, it's a coincidence. When I applied for the residency, I never mentioned the project in the form it's now taking. But, I must say, it's kind of uniquely coincidental that this writing project and this residency came together this way. Fate?

I decided to drive to Orlando from Chicago, giving me some flexibility for travel while I'm in Florida. And from my calculations on MapQuest, I'm figuring a two day drive, stopping somewhere in Tennessee for some shut eye. Seems appropriate to take a road trip to get to Kerouac's house, right? A plane? That really wouldn't be true to the process, now would it?

I hope to keep a blog while I'm in Orlando, updating any and all who are interested in my stay there. I hope you'll join me - even if it's in cyberspace - for a very unique experience.

Maybe I'll run into Jack's ghost while I'm there. Who knows.

Best,

David

Books to Re-Read

I am reading for the fourth time in years the book Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. I love this book, it inspires me, keeps me on track with my writing, just when I most need it. I'm writing some fiction and Anne's thoughts on how plot develops - worry about the characters and the plot will come - is just a wonderful piece of advise.

But re-reading Bird by Bird made me think about other writing books that should be re-read.

Here's a great list:

1. Bird by Bird, by Anne Lamott

2. The Writing Life, by Annie Dillard

3. Writing Begins with the Breath, by Loraine Herring

4. Ernest Hemingway on Writing, edited by Larry W. Phillips

Sometimes inspiration comes from the re-do, the re-read. Go back and take another look. It's bound to kick start your work.

David

Making a Shift

I don't write a lot of fiction, but recently I pulled together a short story, of course, based on SOME fact. I'm not sure I know how to do it any other way. It was okay, but something was missing from the approach. It seemed, well, a bit lifeless. Then just a day ago while on a Southwest flight from a conference in Las Vegas, I had an idea. What if I changed the point of view? What if I changed the main character to the narrator? Because I have written so many personal essays and memoir, along with journalism, this little shift hadn't occurred to me, although in retrospect it now seems like a natural approach.

If in personal essay the narrator is YOU, then way can't the narrator be the main character in the fiction, as if YOU were that person. I know this may seem rudimentary, simplistic, junior high English comp class, but here is the bigger point...

When you are working on a story - any genre - and it just seems flat, awkward, off-balance, try making a shift in the POV. Try writing the same story from the narrator's point of view or another character's point of view. Maybe the girlfriend of the main character tells the story, maybe the mother, the father, a boss, a teacher. Sometimes this immediately brings new life to a story, a new sparkle that was missing in the older version. Have fun with it. Play around. It can give a once flat story some depth and texture.

David

Chicago's Storytellers.

In my career, I have done a number of readings, mostly portions of my memoir Accidental Lessons. But recently I have been expanding, exploring my storytelling and have been taking part in a couple of Story Club events, along with a event called Essay Fiesta later this month. (April 18th at the Book Cellar in Chicago, 7pm)

Last night I was at Uncommon Ground in the Wrigleyville neighborhood to read a story (First Date) from my new manuscript, Ghost Boxing.

But this is really beside the point.

Here is the real point...

The storytelling community in Chicago, and elsewhere, is really rockin'. There are over six storytelling groups (and probably more that I don't know about) in the city of Chicago, giving writers of all levels a chance to put their material out in front of an audience. If you have never done this before, try it. Make sure you work your "print" story for the "ear" and practice your stage presence. There is no need to be intimidated. There are plenty of first timers, people honing their craft, and learning to shape their stories. But there are also some brilliant performers from which to learn.

The genre - telling a story in front of an audience - is not like a traditional "reading" for an author. Oh sure, you can "read" the work - in fact, I would encourage NOT trying to do it off the cuff or by memory - but learn to bring that story alive with pauses, pace changing, vocal emphasis, whispers, yells, and living dialogue.

One of the more well-known events is The Moth, which is also a public radio show and quite popular. But Story Club, which I have been involved with lately, is wonderfully run and professionally handled. Another up and comer is This Much is True.

I encourage you, if you're a writer, take in an event, see what it's like, and then get out there. Plenty of open-mic opportunities exist. It is a superb way to get immediate feedback on your work. And, needless to say, tons of fun!

Actively reading aloud,

David

Support is What a Writer Needs

Had the chance recently to contribute to a wonderful association's newsletter: National Association of Memoir Writers. Such good people. The association supports storytellers at all levels, with all kinds of personal tales to tell.

I hope that my words can somehow help just one of the readers. We all have stories to tell, we just have to know the best ways to tell them.

My Life is Just Not That Interesting - by David W. Berner

Best,

David

Reading for Writers...Inspired!

Read a wonderful article in Huffington Post this morning. I thought it was going to be the tired "here's what you should read if you want to be a writer" kind of story. And, it was, but just a little. What was different was this story touched on the writer's own journey and how the books listed would be helpful for the ART of writing, not the SCIENCE of publishing.

Seven Books for Writers- by Deanna Fei

Sure, we all want to be recognized as writers in print, on the web, whatever the distribution mechanism may be. But, writing - true writing - is not about publishing. It's about WRITING.

The list in the Huffington piece points out great choices. Some picks are found on my own list that I present at workshops, and like the Huffington piece, I believe these choices are true to the writing life, not the publishing life. Write first, rewrite second, and publishing will come.

Here's my list. Hope it helps.

1. Writing Begins with the Breath: Embodying Your Authentic Voice

Loraine Herring, Publisher: Shambhala

2. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life

Anne Lamott, Publisher: Anchor

3. The Writing Life

Annie Dillard, Publisher: Harper Perennial

4. Telling True Stories: A Nonfiction Writer’s Guide

Mark Kramer and Wendy Call, Publisher: Plume

5. Shimmering Images: A Handy Little Guide to Writing Memoir

Lisa Dale North, Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

6. Inventing the Truth: The Art and Craft of Memoir

Russell Baker, Publisher: Mariner Books

7. Ernest Hemingway on Writing

Editor: Larry W. Phillips, Publisher: Scribner

8. The Spooky Art: Thoughts on Writing

Norman Mailer, Publisher: Random House

Want to Write? Don't Do It for the Money.

A friend on a Yahoo Group recently linked us to an author who was musing about how writer's will make money in the future. I want to know how they're going to make money NOW?

I was at a recent Chicago Writer's Association event giving a presentation about The Writing Life. It's one I've given before in some shape or form. I always talk about "knowing your values." What I mean by that is this: think about why you write; determine what it is that motivates you to put story to paper. Most will say it's not about money. Well, it better not be because you are not going to get rich. Oh sure, there will be a few breakouts who will write a bestseller and get big four-book contracts, but that is a very...very...small percentage.

When I used to work full time in the broadcasting business, I was asked about making money all the time by students and career seekers. "You make a lot, right?" they'd ask. All they had heard about were the salaries of Howard Stern and Oprah. Just like in the literary world, about 1-percent of the broadcasters are millionaires, most rough out a respectable living, some starve. At the recent BEA (Book Expo America), a presenter had a statistic: something like 3-5 percent of the books published sell more than 1000 copies; the rest less fewer. Fewer than 1000!

It's become a cliche, but you better be writing because you can't think of doing anything else that is so satisfying, rewarding, insightful.

Remember - Van Gogh was a pauper. He sold his first painting only after his death. This is not to be negative, it's about "knowing your values." If you're writing because you want to be rich, I would suggest making writing a hobby and go get your MBA. Come to think of it, these days getting your MBA may not make you rich, either. :)

David W. Berner