Reading & Literature Blog
- Secrets to Great Presentations
- Father's Day Idea
- Writer's Block Blues Got You Down
- Thoughts for Mother's Day
- Dawson International Film Festival
- Berton House Retreat
- Canada Reads Choses Winning Book
- Finally, a book club I enjoy
- Overcoming Writer's Block
- New Poet Laureate Appointed
Secrets to Great Presentations
Posted by Julie Burtinshaw
I have both attended and given many author readings and presentations. Some have been excellent, while others have put me to sleep.
I remember how excited I was when my first book, Dead Reckoning, was published in the year 2000. I was thrilled when the courier delivered a copy to my door and slightly intimidated at the thought of my work suddenly becoming so public.
A month later, when my publisher told me that I would be reading exerts from my novel at one of Canada's largest writer's festivals, I couldn't believe my great fortune, that is, until I realized that I would have to stand on a stage in front of an audience of 400 and talk about my writing without fainting.
Now, seven years and five books later, I am less intimidated by the fear of speaking in public. In fact, I actually look forward to the opportunity to talk to keen readers and emerging writers about my craft. Last night, in Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory, I spent an hour reading from my latest novel as well as discussing the process of writing. I enjoyed every minute of it, and that feeling caused me to look at the differences between a good and a bad author presentation.
A Good Presentation:
So if you are asked to present one of your stories to the public, remember to stay relaxed and put yourself in the shoes of your listeners. They really are interested in what you have to say. Take a few deep breaths and bring the passion that exists in your writing to the stage.
A month later, when my publisher told me that I would be reading exerts from my novel at one of Canada's largest writer's festivals, I couldn't believe my great fortune, that is, until I realized that I would have to stand on a stage in front of an audience of 400 and talk about my writing without fainting.
Now, seven years and five books later, I am less intimidated by the fear of speaking in public. In fact, I actually look forward to the opportunity to talk to keen readers and emerging writers about my craft. Last night, in Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory, I spent an hour reading from my latest novel as well as discussing the process of writing. I enjoyed every minute of it, and that feeling caused me to look at the differences between a good and a bad author presentation.
A Good Presentation:
- is not memorized word for word
- is delivered in a natural and relaxed manner
- is taylored to the interests of the audience
- does not go on for to long
- involves some audience interaction
- is passionate and interesting
- is read directly from notes
- is delivered in a monotone voice without passion
- is too long
- does not involve the audience or take into account the interests of the audience
- does not reveal any of the personality of the speaker
So if you are asked to present one of your stories to the public, remember to stay relaxed and put yourself in the shoes of your listeners. They really are interested in what you have to say. Take a few deep breaths and bring the passion that exists in your writing to the stage.
Posted by Julie Burtinshaw
Many adult children have elderly fathers who would love nothing more than to be able to pick up a good book, but are no longer able to. There's a solution to this.
With Father's Day just around the corner, many of us are starting to think about the different gifts we can bestow upon our respected elders. Nobody will be surprised to learn that I think the best gifts in the world are the literary ones -- they can be enjoyed over and over again, or passed on to other family members, to friends or to second-hand book stores. In short, a book, in my opinion is a much more thoughtful gift than the traditional ties or socks or shaving kit.
My father passed away a few years ago, but I remember how much he enjoyed reading and how toward the end of his life, it became more and more difficult for him to be able to pick up a book and lose himself between the covers.
If your father is in a similar situation, consider giving him the gift of your time and the gift of a good book for Father's Day this year. Perhaps you could buy a book that you know he'd really love, and offer to spend a few hours a week reading out loud to him. Not only would the two of you be able to spend some really meaningful time together, but he'd be able to enjoy a good yarn in the company of his son or daughter.
If you live a great distance from your aged parent, visit your local bookstore where you will find a good supply of books-on-tape. Send him the gift of reading in the mail. I know he will appreciate, not just the story, but the thought as well.
When people are very young, they love being read to and I'm sure that they feel exactly the same way as they age. Make this Father's Day a special one for your elderly parent.
My father passed away a few years ago, but I remember how much he enjoyed reading and how toward the end of his life, it became more and more difficult for him to be able to pick up a book and lose himself between the covers.
If your father is in a similar situation, consider giving him the gift of your time and the gift of a good book for Father's Day this year. Perhaps you could buy a book that you know he'd really love, and offer to spend a few hours a week reading out loud to him. Not only would the two of you be able to spend some really meaningful time together, but he'd be able to enjoy a good yarn in the company of his son or daughter.
If you live a great distance from your aged parent, visit your local bookstore where you will find a good supply of books-on-tape. Send him the gift of reading in the mail. I know he will appreciate, not just the story, but the thought as well.
When people are very young, they love being read to and I'm sure that they feel exactly the same way as they age. Make this Father's Day a special one for your elderly parent.
Writer's Block Blues Got You Down
Posted by Julie Burtinshaw
Next time you're a victim of the Writer's Block Blues, put down your pen, close your computer and go play outside. There's nothing better to drive the blues away.
Writer write because they are passionate about what they have to say. When the passion dwindles and the words run out, many of us panic -- especially if there is a deadline looming -- but it doesn't have to be that way.
I believe that writer's block is a way of telling ourselves that we need a break from what we are working on. It's a little voice saying, "you need some fun, some diversity in your life, so stop mining for words that aren't there and get some fresh air."
Even if you are not a great fan of the outdoors, physical exercise is one of the best ways I know to cure the blues. Take a walk around the block, or on the river bank or into the woods. Breathe in the fresh air, listen to the birds singing, or a street musician strumming. Hop on a bike or a skateboard or take your dog for a long walk. If you don't have a dog, think of it as taking your muse for a stroll.
It doesn't matter if it's raining or snowing or bright and sunny -- dress properly and the elements will not bother you. Personally, I don't wear my mp3 player if I'm fighting the blues. I find it more effective to let my thoughts go where they will. And, don't think about that poem you were half way through, or the chapter that has disappeared into thin air, or the amazing idea you dreamed about last night and can't remember anymore. In fact, don't think about anything but how much fun you are having.
I guarantee that if you do this, the blues will lift and everything will become clear to you. This is something that I've just discovered since being away on my writer's retreat. I've allowed myself the time to take a break when I can no longer create and as soon as I do, my ideas start to flow again.
It helps that I am in the land of the midnight sun, without any responsibility. Sometimes I head out for a walk at 11:30 pm when the sun is still crossing the sky and darkness is a stranger. Still, when I get back home in July, I have promised myself that I will continue to use this strategy whenever I'm feeling frustrated about my work.
Try it yourself. You'll be surprised at the results and at the same time, you'll be ready for the beach in the summer.
I believe that writer's block is a way of telling ourselves that we need a break from what we are working on. It's a little voice saying, "you need some fun, some diversity in your life, so stop mining for words that aren't there and get some fresh air."
Even if you are not a great fan of the outdoors, physical exercise is one of the best ways I know to cure the blues. Take a walk around the block, or on the river bank or into the woods. Breathe in the fresh air, listen to the birds singing, or a street musician strumming. Hop on a bike or a skateboard or take your dog for a long walk. If you don't have a dog, think of it as taking your muse for a stroll.
It doesn't matter if it's raining or snowing or bright and sunny -- dress properly and the elements will not bother you. Personally, I don't wear my mp3 player if I'm fighting the blues. I find it more effective to let my thoughts go where they will. And, don't think about that poem you were half way through, or the chapter that has disappeared into thin air, or the amazing idea you dreamed about last night and can't remember anymore. In fact, don't think about anything but how much fun you are having.
I guarantee that if you do this, the blues will lift and everything will become clear to you. This is something that I've just discovered since being away on my writer's retreat. I've allowed myself the time to take a break when I can no longer create and as soon as I do, my ideas start to flow again.
It helps that I am in the land of the midnight sun, without any responsibility. Sometimes I head out for a walk at 11:30 pm when the sun is still crossing the sky and darkness is a stranger. Still, when I get back home in July, I have promised myself that I will continue to use this strategy whenever I'm feeling frustrated about my work.
Try it yourself. You'll be surprised at the results and at the same time, you'll be ready for the beach in the summer.
Posted by Julie Burtinshaw
On Sunday, May 13th many of us will celebrate Mother's Day with feasting, gifts and memories, while many other Moms won't have that privilege.Can we help them?
In my social issues blog, I wrote about the history and the message of peace behind Mother's Day. Now, I'd like to address all of the mothers around the world who will not have the luxury of being honored or acknowledged. While those of us who are blessed can look forward to a family day, many women, who are living in war, famine, poverty or abuse will have little choice but to continue their struggle to survive. We can help.
This Mother's Day, instead of/as well as, giving your favorite Mom a really excellent book, (which I'm sure that all of you reading this will do), consider the following:
This Mother's Day, instead of/as well as, giving your favorite Mom a really excellent book, (which I'm sure that all of you reading this will do), consider the following:
- volunteer at a rape relief center
- volunteer at a women's shelter
- volunteer your time to a help line for women/children
- donate household/items, books/toys to a shelter for women and children
- sponsor a child in a third world country
- donate tools to Care.ca Tools for Development or a similar organization
- Donate your time or money to Watercan
- Baby sit for a mom who can't afford a sitter
- Volunteer your time at a soup kitchen in your town
Dawson International Film Festival
Posted by Julie Burtinshaw
Mike Clattenburg is here in Dawson City to show a selection of his film works. Writer's Retreat a great place to meet other artists.
I've been here for three days now, although it feels like much longer. Already I have done more work on my novel than I did in the past three months at home in Vancouver, where life, although good, does tend to interfere. I am on deadline and must have this edit in the end of April -- it is a massive amount of writing, but I think I will get it done.
All of you fellow writers out there can imagine what a dream it is to wake up every single day with nothing to do but write and amuse yourself when the muse decides to take a break for a few hours. If I don't want to be disturbed, I turn off skype, and if I get bored, I invite my 17 year old for a game of online chess.
The people here are very respectful of what I am doing, but they are also very warm and welcoming. It is a small place -- around 1300 people -- so it is easy to find conversation. Dawson is also a wonderfully creative place, in fact tonight I am off to the 8th Annual Dawson City International Short Film Festival. The filmmaker in attendance is none other than Mike Clattenburg -- that's right -- the guy responsible for the creating, writing and direction of The Trailer Park Boys, among other accomplishments. He's going to be screening a selection of film works including a new music video for the Tragically Hip. I hear there is a polar bear involved!
All of you fellow writers out there can imagine what a dream it is to wake up every single day with nothing to do but write and amuse yourself when the muse decides to take a break for a few hours. If I don't want to be disturbed, I turn off skype, and if I get bored, I invite my 17 year old for a game of online chess.
The people here are very respectful of what I am doing, but they are also very warm and welcoming. It is a small place -- around 1300 people -- so it is easy to find conversation. Dawson is also a wonderfully creative place, in fact tonight I am off to the 8th Annual Dawson City International Short Film Festival. The filmmaker in attendance is none other than Mike Clattenburg -- that's right -- the guy responsible for the creating, writing and direction of The Trailer Park Boys, among other accomplishments. He's going to be screening a selection of film works including a new music video for the Tragically Hip. I hear there is a polar bear involved!
Posted by Julie Burtinshaw
On April 1, 2007, I will be leaving Vancouver to spend three months at a Writer's Retreat in the North
In just under two weeks, I will be packing my gumboots and computer to head off to Dawson City, where I will immerse myself in writing, reading and new experiences. During my three-month stay, I will be living in Pierre Berton's childhood home, which, happily for me, has just been redecorated by Toronto's Designer Guys.
The show will air April 9th, so if you are interested, check your local TV guide for time and channel. By then, I should be comfortably ensconed in my temporary home away from home, and becoming quite used to northern climes.
During this time, I will write about my experiences both here and on my personal blog.
I feel very lucky to have been given this awesome opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone into the land of The Midnight Sun.
The show will air April 9th, so if you are interested, check your local TV guide for time and channel. By then, I should be comfortably ensconed in my temporary home away from home, and becoming quite used to northern climes.
During this time, I will write about my experiences both here and on my personal blog.
I feel very lucky to have been given this awesome opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone into the land of The Midnight Sun.
Canada Reads Choses Winning Book
Posted by Julie Burtinshaw
After a week of intense debate and nail-biting, the Canada Reads celebrity panel chooses "Lullabies for Little Criminals" as the book all Canadians should read.
On Friday, March 2nd, Canadians from coast-to-coast-to coast tuned into CBC, Radio One to discover which of the five nominated books wins the Canada Reads competition. For those of you who need a refresher list of the titles nominated this year, they were:
This year's winning book was Lullabies for Little Criminals and first-time author, Heather O'Neill, must be thrilled and honored with being chosen. and with the thought of Canadians everywhere rushing to bookstores and libraries to purchase of borrow her novel.
Heather O'Neill's win is an inspiration for first-time writers everywhere. I have not yet read her book, but I plan on picking up a copy next time I am at work. Then I will know if John Samson is a good judge of writing or just an excellent debater.
- Lullabies For Little Criminals: by Heather O'Neill
- Natasha and Other Stories: by David Bezmozgis
- Stanley Park: by Timothy Taylor
- The Song of Kahunsha: by Anosh Irani
- Children of My Heart (Ces Enfants de ma vie): by Gabrielle Roy
This year's winning book was Lullabies for Little Criminals and first-time author, Heather O'Neill, must be thrilled and honored with being chosen. and with the thought of Canadians everywhere rushing to bookstores and libraries to purchase of borrow her novel.
Heather O'Neill's win is an inspiration for first-time writers everywhere. I have not yet read her book, but I plan on picking up a copy next time I am at work. Then I will know if John Samson is a good judge of writing or just an excellent debater.
Posted by Julie Burtinshaw
I've joined and quit three book clubs. After my last experience, I swore never to be in a book club again. But I've given it one more try and I'm glad I did.
I know I am not the only person who has joined a book club and gone to the first meeting full of anticipation, only to be horribly let down.
I've been in three book clubs. The first one I left because the members only chose spanking new books right off the press and I couldn't afford to spend $37 or more a month on a new book.
I'm a "wait until it comes out in paperback kind of gal." And yes, I did consider ordering the book from my library, but the waiting list was always three to six months long. Also, I'm not so organized that I would have put myself on the wait-list months before the new books are even in print.
The second book club I joined was made up of a group of women whose dislike for me and for the type of books I like to read, was only surpassed by my dislike of them and the type of books they liked to read. Plus, the food wasn't very good and they drank tea, coffee and juice. I think of those as morning drinks.
So, I joined a co-ed book club. The people were all really great. Unlike other clubs, they met once a week and you were expected to chose your own book and tell the group about it. They met in a pub -- it was a bit of a disaster reading wise, but lots of fun. Unfortunately, I ended spending about $20 a week on food and beer -- again, out of my budget. I got home really late and felt awful the next day. Also, nobody really wanted to talk about books after the first hour.
Now I've joined a book club I really enjoy. We meet once per month over dinner and drinks themed on the book we are reading. We have lively and interesting discussions between the set hours of seven to nine pm. The books are announced at the begining of the year and we all get to pick one long one or two short ones. We have Christmas parties and all of think we should have a meeting in Italy or somewhere warm and not on our continent -- sure it's a fantasy, but who cares?
So, if you are one of the many people who have joined and quit book clubs over the years, don't despair -- the right one is out there for you -- and if its not, check out Barbara Doyen's article, Start Your Own Book Club.
I've been in three book clubs. The first one I left because the members only chose spanking new books right off the press and I couldn't afford to spend $37 or more a month on a new book.
I'm a "wait until it comes out in paperback kind of gal." And yes, I did consider ordering the book from my library, but the waiting list was always three to six months long. Also, I'm not so organized that I would have put myself on the wait-list months before the new books are even in print.
The second book club I joined was made up of a group of women whose dislike for me and for the type of books I like to read, was only surpassed by my dislike of them and the type of books they liked to read. Plus, the food wasn't very good and they drank tea, coffee and juice. I think of those as morning drinks.
So, I joined a co-ed book club. The people were all really great. Unlike other clubs, they met once a week and you were expected to chose your own book and tell the group about it. They met in a pub -- it was a bit of a disaster reading wise, but lots of fun. Unfortunately, I ended spending about $20 a week on food and beer -- again, out of my budget. I got home really late and felt awful the next day. Also, nobody really wanted to talk about books after the first hour.
Now I've joined a book club I really enjoy. We meet once per month over dinner and drinks themed on the book we are reading. We have lively and interesting discussions between the set hours of seven to nine pm. The books are announced at the begining of the year and we all get to pick one long one or two short ones. We have Christmas parties and all of think we should have a meeting in Italy or somewhere warm and not on our continent -- sure it's a fantasy, but who cares?
So, if you are one of the many people who have joined and quit book clubs over the years, don't despair -- the right one is out there for you -- and if its not, check out Barbara Doyen's article, Start Your Own Book Club.
Posted by Julie Burtinshaw
When you sit down at your computer, or open your notebook and you just can't get the words out and onto the page, what's a writer to do?
Don't despair. There are lots of exercises designed to help writers overcome writer's block. My favourite is to sit down with pen and paper (no computer for this one), and free-write for three to five full pages. Write whatever comes to mind, write anything, just keep the pen moving. You'll be surprised when suddenly the words that have so eluded you appear on the page.
This week, fiction writer, Karen Pruitt Fowler tackles this problem in her wonderfully helpful article:
Writing Prompts to Wake the Muse.
It's well worth reading and the thirteen writing prompts will help even to unblock even the most blocked writer.
This week, fiction writer, Karen Pruitt Fowler tackles this problem in her wonderfully helpful article:
Writing Prompts to Wake the Muse.
It's well worth reading and the thirteen writing prompts will help even to unblock even the most blocked writer.
Posted by Julie Burtinshaw
This month, 59-year-old John Steffler begins his two-year term as Canada's Poet Laureate. Steffler is the published author of seven critically acclaimed books.
In 2001, the Canadian Parliment created the position of Parlimentary Poet Laureate, whose role, according to the officail web site is to encourage and promote the importance of literature, culture and language in Canadian society... and to draw Canadians’ attention to poetry, both spoken and written, and its role in our lives.
Steffler, originally from Ontario, resides in Corner Brook, New Foundland and is an English professor at Memorial University. I liked his prize-winning poem, That Night We Were Ravenous (1998), recipient of the 1999 Atlantic Poetry Prize, but I was particularly taken with Work, a beautiful piece about a seventeen-year-old boy transitioning from childhood to adulthood. I've included this poem here for everyone's enjoyment. To see this and more of his work, go to: John Steffler, Poems.
my son, who's seventeen years old,
rides his bicycle to work in the heat and rain, and his
legs and arms are bony and muscled
old men love to send them into the smoke
and trenches, into the knowledge of how easily bodies and
courtesies come apart -- we did it by jesus we did it,
now you'll see
and for eight hours scrubs the burnt paint
off what he describes as iron grapefruit halves, assisting
in the trickling together of parts from the continent's
corners, some race of machines assembling itself in
Karnac, Ohio, or Oshawa, my son labouring obscurely at
the birth
handsome as never again, just getting his beard
comes home black with grease, proud and marvelling;
the other men, he says, don't talk about sports or politics,
they talk about Ed's wife who's having her first baby,
Ed says the baby's already dropped,
growing up in the country of my past, he'd often
had the shrines pointed out to him, the jobs from grade six
on (35 cents an hour to start), heaving crates of
rotten fruit, green bales of alfalfa, planks into the
planer, planks into the planer
the rubber gloves they give him are like artificial
hands
working the wire brush, water spills
into his steel shoes, and the men who pass say that looks
like fun
saving
lies in bed in the dark
smiling, sensing his growing invisible shape, his stories
building
Poerty lovers, read Linda Sue Grimes latest article about Eavan Boland’s poem, “It’s a Woman’s World."
Steffler, originally from Ontario, resides in Corner Brook, New Foundland and is an English professor at Memorial University. I liked his prize-winning poem, That Night We Were Ravenous (1998), recipient of the 1999 Atlantic Poetry Prize, but I was particularly taken with Work, a beautiful piece about a seventeen-year-old boy transitioning from childhood to adulthood. I've included this poem here for everyone's enjoyment. To see this and more of his work, go to: John Steffler, Poems.
my son, who's seventeen years old,
rides his bicycle to work in the heat and rain, and his
legs and arms are bony and muscled
old men love to send them into the smoke
and trenches, into the knowledge of how easily bodies and
courtesies come apart -- we did it by jesus we did it,
now you'll see
and for eight hours scrubs the burnt paint
off what he describes as iron grapefruit halves, assisting
in the trickling together of parts from the continent's
corners, some race of machines assembling itself in
Karnac, Ohio, or Oshawa, my son labouring obscurely at
the birth
handsome as never again, just getting his beard
comes home black with grease, proud and marvelling;
the other men, he says, don't talk about sports or politics,
they talk about Ed's wife who's having her first baby,
Ed says the baby's already dropped,
growing up in the country of my past, he'd often
had the shrines pointed out to him, the jobs from grade six
on (35 cents an hour to start), heaving crates of
rotten fruit, green bales of alfalfa, planks into the
planer, planks into the planer
the rubber gloves they give him are like artificial
hands
working the wire brush, water spills
into his steel shoes, and the men who pass say that looks
like fun
saving
lies in bed in the dark
smiling, sensing his growing invisible shape, his stories
building
Poerty lovers, read Linda Sue Grimes latest article about Eavan Boland’s poem, “It’s a Woman’s World."