Month: October 2012

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Following My Dream: Beginning the Book Proposal

Why do we ever do anything other than to follow our dreams? Even the ones we don’t know we have yet, the ones that are taking shape?

There was a time when my boss–the news director at the TV station where I worked–advised me, for the sake of my credibility as a budding journalist, to reconsider bringing baked goods to the newsroom for my coworkers to eat. I was young, blonde, and had a unique name rather than a trusty Anne or reliable Rachel, and therefore had to be careful, lest people start thinking of me as the newsroom Martha Stewart. These days, as a food writer, I question whether that would have been such a bad result.

I was aiming for a career in news at the time and was so dedicated to the opportunities already presented to me so early on that I did what I thought it would take to land my first on-air job. I cut and dyed my hair, bought the wardrobe fit for a reporter, and read books about interviewing and doing live on-air standups. I recorded my résumé tape in my spare time and mapped out a plan to eventually leave my big-city writing and producing job to pay my dues as a reporter in a smaller market before working my way back to Seattle.

I had so many people supporting me in my endeavors, from the news director who was my mentor of sorts, to some of the city’s veteran anchors—not to mention my soon-to-be husband, who stood behind my career goals that had already defined so much of our lives. So I think it was a surprise to a lot of people when in August 2007 I left my job and said goodbye to the world of television news. I took the proverbial leap of faith and decided to make a foray into print journalism, ultimately landing upon a communications and marketing job at a theater–something unexpectedly perfect for me at the time.

As I look back on my career in TV news and the experiences I have had since, I am awed by how each step has built upon the next to bring me where I am today, still a writer but with a different goal: writing a book. Today I am making a commitment here on Nooks & Cranberries to keep that goal going.

There’s no one warning me that baking might ruin my credibility, because baking is part of what my goal is founded upon. I have been wanting to write a book, a food memoir related to my Scandinavian heritage, and it is time to start taking the steps to make it happen. So this is when I follow my dreams. The first step: starting the book proposal. I did that nearly two weeks ago, on October 18. Rather than committing to a timeline right now, I need to dig in and determine the steps I need to take to get the proposal just right. The timeline, I expect, will come organically. Besides, I have a commitment on the pages of this blog, where you are part of my accountability network. If six months from now you haven’t heard me tell you about the progress I’m making on the proposal, then I ask you to tell me, “What’s stopping you from pursuing your dream?” Because each dream starts with one small step, a step that is incomparably easy next to the daunting process that we might see before us if we don’t break it down in our minds before starting. Why not begin right now?

Image: Collage features photos of things I’ve baked and shared at Outside Oslo. Hungry? Check it out!

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Destination Inspiration: Walla Faces Wine Tasting Room

Walla Faces Tasting Room Horizontal

It’s been a few months since our wine weekend in Walla Walla, and we’re just itching to go back. As many excellent places that Seattle has for writers, Walla Walla on the far corner of the state is brimming with them too. So far we’ve told you about Brasserie Four (perfect for brainstorming with your writing partner over a salade Niçoise), the Green Spoon (where you can enjoy fresh and healthy lunch while getting in some good people-watching), and the Colville Street Patisserie (just right for lingering with a laptop and a salty-sweet kouign amann). Now it’s time to share with you a wine tasting room that’s perfect for jumpstarting your creativity: Walla Faces.

Walla Faces is a multi-faceted brand in Walla Walla, offering wine, lodging at both its vineyard and downtown inn, as well as hosting live music, book clubs, and other events. For the purpose of this article, we’re focusing on the tasting room experience.

Food and Drink

Stop in the downtown tasting room and get ready to meet some new friends: Rick & Debbie, Caroline, Frank, and Winnie, or whoever they’re pouring that day. That’s right, these wines are named after people. And each has a label designed by Walla Walla-based artist Candice Johnson.

Walla Faces Interior

Location and Atmosphere

Located in an historic building, the ceiling is just as much a work of art as the colorful paintings and photography hanging on the walls. Depending on the time of day that you stop in, you can experience either a hub of activity and music, or a quiet place to stroll and view all the artful surroundings while tasting the wine selections of the day.

Writeability and Purchased Presence

One of the reasons we’ve selected Walla Faces for a Destination Inspiration feature is the variety of art forms celebrated here. From Candice Johnson’s paintings that grace the wine labels and much of the tasting room’s interior to the book club and live music hosted here, there is plenty of opportunity to get some cross-media inspiration at Walla Faces. If you’re down the street at a coffee shop and feeling stuck with a case of writer’s block, simply pack up and walk down to Walla Faces and take in the surroundings. Perhaps taking a little break and being inspired by other artists will help get you back on track.

Walla Faces Art

Price

The price for tasting is not much more than a latte at a local coffee shop.

Parking

The tasting room is located downtown, but at one of the further ends, so street parking should be easy to come by.

Writer’s Tip

It’s de rigour to bring a notebook and pen along while wine tasting so you can take notes on the wine. So bring along your writing notebook and take a little time to exercise your descriptive skills as you jot down notes on what you’re experiencing, both in the tasting and in your surroundings.

Find It

Walla Faces Wine Tasting Room & Art Gallery
216 E Main St
Walla Walla, WA 99362
Website

Walla Faces Wines

Walla Faces Tasting Room

Full disclosure: Walla Faces provided our lodging and tasting during our July visit to Walla Walla.

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Daily Writers’ Fix: October 29-November 2

How to use Daily Writers’ Fix

Monday:

Sight

Look outside your window, the one you’re sitting closest to right now. Spend ten minutes freewriting, jotting down whatever comes to mind.

Tuesday:

Smell

Who used to live here, who will live here in the future? Tell this house’s story, letting the sense of smell guide the reader. Do you smell simmering soup from happy days gone by, fresh flowers gracing the entrance and welcoming guests at a party? What about fresh, tropical air flooding through the rooms when a new owner takes possession and opens it up?

Wednesday:

Sound

Take your main character on a road trip. What’s on his or her playlist?

Thursday:

Touch

There’s no snow in sight–yet. So if you’re writing a scene that takes place outside in the winter, you have to imagine. Today describe the feelings of winter, from the sting of sleet on your exposed skin to to the feeling of a snowball sticking to your mittens. Make a list if you wish, or develop your descriptions into a scene or a poem.

Friday:

Taste

You’re eating at a restaurant on Santorini–or any other Greek island–and admiring a remarkable view. Describe what you’re eating and drinking, the climate, your surroundings, who you’re with, and what’s going through your mind.

Grab Bag:

Today, in honor of National Novel Writing Month, challenge yourself to write 1,667 words–the daily average to meet the NaNoWriMo goal–whether you’re participating or not. It can be fiction or non-fiction, a short story draft or a journal entry, or perhaps 1,667 words of freewriting. Just let the words flow.

Suggestion: If you have a writing project or assignment you’re procrastinating on, consider using today to kick it into gear.

Grab Bag Bonus:

Place your character in a new city, somewhere she’s never been before. She just arrived. What does she look forward to most, and what does she dread? How does the way she approaches a new place color her personality?

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Friday Forum: The Giver

 

I loved The Giver. Reading it in middle school furthered my fascination with science fiction and opened my eyes to themes that I continue to explore today in my own writing. Now, to my delight, Lois Lowry has done it again. Last week she released the fourth and final book of The Giver quartet, Son.

I’m anxious to reread the series before diving into the conclusion and part of me is a bit nervous. Do I really want it to end? I had grown so fond of these stories as a child that I can still remember certain bits of the first novel to a T without pulling out the book. Has there ever been a story like that for you? One that stirs memories and feelings that are over a decade old? It’s the kind of punch I strive for in my own writing and I can’t help but feel inspired and a little jealous at the same time.

So tell me, what are your thoughts on the release of Son? Have you read The Giver series? Is there a series from your childhood that you wish would release one more book? Do tell. 🙂

 

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Writer’s Kitchen: Homemade Chai

Homemade Chai

We love nothing more than curling up with a blanket and a book and a hot cup of chai tea on autumn days. It’s a good thing that reading is essential work for writers! I made a batch of homemade chai concentrate last week and had it waiting for Sarah when she arrived home from a trip to California to visit family. I highly suggest that you whip up a batch for your own kitchen. The concentrate takes a matter of minutes to prepare, and elevates an ordinary cup of black tea to something creamy, sweet, and spicy–just right for a blustery autumn day.

Homemade Chai

Homemade Chai Concentrate
Adapted from The Naptime Chef

1 (14 ounce) can fat-free sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon demerara or raw sugar
1 teaspoon ground cardamom
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Combine all ingredients together in a jar, stirring well so the spices are fully incorporated. Store the concentrate in the refrigerator. Whenever you’re in the mood for a nice, warm cup of tea, simply brew a strong cup of black tea and add 2 teaspoons of concentrate, stirring well. Give it a taste and adjust the quantity as needed. Cheers!

Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

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Destination Inspiration: Colville Street Patisserie

Colville Coffee

When it comes to doing some serious writing, sometimes a coffee shop is the best place. They’re usually friendly to writers who want to linger for hours, and it’s the norm to see people with a latte and a laptop. What makes a coffee shop go from good to great in our opinion, however, is the quality of the pastries. For that, Walla Walla’s Colville Street Patisserie is perfect. It is, after all, not just a place for coffee, but a true pastry shop.

Colville Interior

Food

We can thank a local winemaker and his wife for telling us about this great place. They raved about the kouign amann (pronounced queen ah-mahn), the salty-sweet, flaky-sticky Breton cake that’s reminiscent of a croissant with its flaky layers, but much more decadent. Other treats worth trying include the apricot danish and the potato, pea, and curry turnover. Any of these would go well with an espresso or cappuccino. Also check out the range of gelato flavors while you’re there, as well as the case of fine desserts perfect for a special event.

Location and Atmosphere

Situated in Downtown Walla Walla, just a block off of Main Street, Colville Street Patisserie is easy to get to, yet boasts a slightly slower pace than a location on the main drag would give it. Though the stream of customers is steady, it’s perfectly acceptable to hunker down at a table with your laptop for a morning writing session.

Colville Pastry

Writeability and Purchased Presence

Colville Street Patisserie offers exactly what you’d expect from a coffee shop, but with the benefit of excellent pastries. There’s ample seating, and the steady energy of people streaming in and out is perfect for writers looking for a little people-watching and character inspiration. As we mentioned above, it’s a great place to linger. As always, however, be mindful of the Nooks & Cranberries code of conduct: Be considerate to crowds struggling to find a place to sit, and support the local business and order an additional beverage or pastry if you’re going to linger a while (we call this “Purchased Presence”).

Price

Come in with a $10 bill and you’ll likely have plenty of money for a coffee, pastry, and a tip. In that regard, the pricing is typical for coffee shops, only you get a remarkable pastry, and not just a dry, bland, and lusterless one found at many other venues.

Parking

Street parking is easy to come by, or if you’re already downtown it’s within walking distance from virtually anywhere.

Writer’s Tip

Get to know the people working here, and strike up a conversation with the writer sitting next to you. Writing is often a solitary pursuit, and social hubs like this are great ways to get some social interaction. You never know when you’ll meet a new friend or come up with a great new storyline or article!

Find It

40 South Colville Street
Walla Walla, WA 99362
Website

 

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Daily Writers’ Fix: October 22-26

How to use Daily Writers’ Fix

Monday:

Sight

Perched high above a city street, what does this bird observe below?

Use this prompt as an exercise to open up your imagination, using it to envision a place and what’s happening there in detail–without actually seeing it.

Tuesday:

Smell

Autumn is full of opportunities to explore the five senses–from the feel of wet, fallen leaves in your hands to the taste of pumpkin pie. Today write about the smell of fall in the air and see where it takes you. For example, does it differ where you live now than where you grew up? If so, does that suggest a story, scene, or personal essay?

Wednesday:

Sound

Get up close to your surroundings–literally for a non-fiction piece or with your imagination if you’re writing fiction. It’s obvious you’ll see things differently, but does this change they way things sound? Do you hear things you otherwise might have missed?

Thursday:

Touch

Sometimes just the sight of something suggests the way it feels. Take a look at this apartment building, for example. There’s no doubt that its facade would feel damp and cold against your hand. Your assignment today: Take one of your visual descriptions and see if you can add a new dimension to it using the sense of touch.

Friday:

Taste

Candy! You’ve been working hard working on your writing skills and projects, so today we want you to have fun. Using candy as a starting place, spend 10 minutes just having fun with words. Don’t take yourself too seriously–allow yourself to write nonsense, if you wish. Who knows, this exercise might get the words flowing so freely you’ll be inspired to write all day!

Grab Bag:

Do you keep a journal? Sitting down with paper–perhaps in the form of a nicely-bound book–and a pen can be a great way to unwind, relax, and clear one’s head. Today give yourself time to reflect and write a journal entry. It’s for your eyes only, so don’t get caught up in writing well. Just write.

If you don’t know where to start, use one of these prompts:

  • Your most vivid memories from this past summer
  • An amazing meal you ate recently, and who you shared it with
  • What you’re hoping the upcoming holiday season will be like (and what you can do to make it happen)
  • Your childhood career aspirations and how they resemble or differ from what you do now
  • What you like or dislike about your neighborhood
  • Your favorite place in the world
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Back to basics with Children’s books

I love stories. As a new mom and a writer, I couldn’t wait to introduce my little boy to books. Now my heart swells with joy as I see how he has graduated from chewing on the covers to giggling as he turns the pages and points to the pictures. As I read to him I’m taken back to my childhood with the sweetness of some favorite stories. A mouse hiding a strawberry, a little bear waiting for a goodnight kiss, a curious monkey, a little bunny saying goodnight to the moon, or a boy who becomes king of the wild things.

These stories are simple, sweet and have more in common than just pulling our nostalgic heart strings. I couldn’t help but make some comparisons to see how I might add something to my own writing.

However you feel about children’s books, as a writer they stand as a great reminder that it can be a good thing to scale back to the basics of your story. Here are some tips on plot and structure based on children’s books.

What makes a children’s book a children’s book is the simple concepts, limited characters and usually one main message…oh, and of course lots of pictures!

Several characters, multiple settings, emotional story arcs, messages and themes, layers upon layers of plot and sub plots. Adult reading can sometimes get cumbersome. Here’s a few steps to take it back to the basics:

1. Pick one purpose and stick to it. Kiddos at this age (0 – 3) don’t have the capacity or attention span to follow multiple story lines.

2. Limit your characters. There’s a reason there are only 3 bears. Too many main characters = too hard to follow!

3. Bright, simple colors and lots of pictures! Don’t weigh your story down with text.

4. Everything is black and white. The real world may have grey areas, but not for kids.

5. Bad guys never win.

So here’s what it boils down to, simple plot, simple characters, simple writing. While this may not apply to your current novel (which I assume will have many complex characters and twisty, turny, curvy plots and sub plots), it’s a great way to start the bones of your next story. Before developing your next plot, try outlining it in children’s book form, meaning, giving it a beginning, middle and end and have no more than three characters and one message to start. Once you have the skeleton laid out, you can put meat on his bones with more gown up text. But remember, we all start as babies, maybe it could help to let our stories start the same way!