writing craft | Cathy C. Hall Writes

When friends read my column in Modern Senior Living Magazine, they will invariably say the same thing. First, it’s “You’re making that up.” And second, they’ll say, “It’s a good thing you’ve still got your parents/husband/kids around.”

And I always say the same thing. First, “I wish I could say I made that up.” And second, “Yeah, those folks come in pretty handy in the column-fodder department.”

Now, I know the old writing adage, “write what you know.” But I think it should really be “write who you know.” Trust me. If you want to come up with a column idea, week after week or month after month, you’d do well to hook up with a big, somewhat colorful family. Of course, it works out great if it’s your own family.

Because family might get a tad annoyed when you write about them, but at the end of the day, they keep coming back, providing more columns.

(A special thank you to my mom who has NO idea that the May column (page 8) sort of spotlights her colorful behavior. And let’s keep it that way, okay?)

Whilst catching up with emails and such, I came across an issue of Writing World that I hadn’t quite perused yet. I think that’s where I happened upon this delightful link to Kathy Carmichael’s Story Pitch Generator.

(Is it just me, or am I talking a bit fancy? That’s what happens when I read proper writing like I findest in Writing World.)

Anyway, yes, it’s a simple generator. But here’s what I love, love, love about this funny, little tool. It forces you to whittle away till you get to the essence of your novel. If you can’t fill in the blanks quickly and easily, then you don’t know yet what your novel’s about. And how can you pitch something you haven’t got a handle on yet?

It’s enough to make you want to pitch your manuscript out the window! Instead, take a deep breath and think about the simple questions. Really thinkest.

Bet you’ll find that pitch, after all. (Better go get your manuscript out of the bushes while you’re at it.)