Sense of Place

The first time I ever learned that term, "sense of place," was while reading "Walden," by Henry David Thoreau, in college. For those who haven't read it, it is a senses story that takes place in the mid 1800s in some woods near a pond in Cambridge, Mass. The point of the first-person account is that we need to be fully aware and appreciative of our surroundings at all possible times. There is beauty, tragedy, and godliness everywhere. The busyness of life sometimes prevents me from focusing; but, when I do, and I search for the senses words to describe a "sense of place," there is joy in that. Sometimes, in order to become awestruck afresh with all that we see, hear, touch, taste, and smell, we have to take ourselves to new environments. I recently thrilled at a new "sense of place" when I had an opportunity to visit Haiti. Although I've traveled out of the country, the extremeness of this place prompted me to want to write, and write, and write. Although far from the genius of Thoreau, I've written a sense of this place. I encourage you to try capture your own experiences in your own words.

Slowly, the Haitian driver maneuvers over extremely bumpy, rocky roads - and then accelerates at bursts of breakneck speeds down few paved roads. Our conspicuously white faces witness bizarre sights from the van's windows: men peeing publicly, severely malnourished dogs mating, children hanging upside down against a crumbling wall, a boy rolling a tire down a dried-up riverbed with a Sprite bottle attached to a stick, children pointing and smiling, roadside tables displayed with mangoes, feminine protection, sunglasses. Ankle deep, smoldering garage. Rubble spilled into the alleyways from earthquake-compromised buildings. Deafening honking and screeching brakes due to no traffic laws. Women walking erect with loads as large as a basket of live chickens balanced carefully atop their heads. An irrigation system capturing water from high atop a mountain and rushing it past bony horses and naked bathing woman. Voodoo chants and drumbeats leading dancers winding through street vendors.

A country of contradictions. Vibrant bougainvillea draped over razor-wire walls. Landscapes of garbage set against a backdrop of picturesque mountains. Enamoured with Jesus while working to appease Voodoo deities. Emerging from densely packed tent cities neatly dressed. Children in uniforms to attend schools in a dilapidated building. Tap-Taps painted with images of Jesus alongside likenesses of American movie stars or women in seductive poses. No sanitation, yet brightly-colored water delivery trucks that blast friendly, catchy tunes. Police with shotguns at entrances to convenient stores and fast-food restaurants. 

Resonating over the Valley of Hope countryside on a Sunday morning is the rhythmic beat of the hands of men and boys making contact with crude percussion instruments. Feet tap, bodies sway, arms are lifted high, voices yell praises in Creole. "Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!"

In the still darkness of an early morning, I grip the van's seat to avoid bruises from the extreme dips and mounds of the "roads."  Putrid smells of decomposing waste penetrate the van's interior. Oppressive poverty, earthquake damage, desperation - mile after mile. Barely lit with the dawn's light, a women walks through the garbage; nostrils filled with the pungent smell, she picks her way over the rocky bumps and around the debris.  But her head is tilted back. Her hands are lifted toward heaven. Beauty, thankfulness, and praise rise from within her - audibly expressed in the grayness of that place.

New Books to Check Out

There are two new worthwhile books that I would like to draw your attention to. Self publishing is becoming such a viable avenue that even the publishing companies are taking notice and starting up self-publishing divisions. In this tough economy, especially, it brings important books to the marketplace that might not have made it otherwise. The downfall is that not as many consumers learn about these great books. Here are two that I recommend.

One is a book that has helped me personally since I reviewed it several years ago when I met the author, now a friend, at a writing conference in Hilton Head. Her daughter was killed in a car accident on the same road going to the same school that my son attended when we lived in Asheville, N.C. Author Ginny Callaway, whose husband is Grammy Award winning bluegrass musician David Holt, wrote about the importance of being a comfort and support to someone who is grieving. I used this knowledge when another friend's only child died from SIDS. I would not have known how to be there for my devastated friend had I not been exposed to Ginny's book. A Friend in Grief: Simple Ways to Help gives you the words and actions to reach out and support someone with confidence and compassion. http://www.afriendingrief.com/


Secondly, as a home schooling mom, I have been unable to find quality physical fitness and nutrition books that are written from a God-centered perspective. This summer I became acquainted with the author of a brand new book/curriculum called Faithful Workouts for Youth. Not only is it a good read, but it covers what's necessary for our spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being. It's written for kids, but beneficial for adults as well. Here's a blurb on Faithful Workouts:

There is so much emphasis on academics, but are we focusing enough on spiritual growth and development, physical fitness, and nutrition? Students can earn PE credits by enjoying the Faithful Workouts for Youth and learning how a relationship with God, exercising, and eating right makes us healthy in all aspects of our lives. http://www.faithfulworkouts.com/

What I Learned at WORLD

In October, I had the privilege of being selected as one of 10 mid-career writers from around the country to attend a writing intensive at the headquarters of WORLD magazine in Asheville, NC. It was, undoubtedly, one of the highlights of my career as a writer. It was both exhilarating and humbling; intensely educational and frustrating. For at least eight hours each day, we evaluated writing (ours and others), deeply discussed world and theological issues, and underwent a thorough refresher course in writing and journalism. In the evenings, I wrote until midnight to complete assignments that were "due" the next morning. As a writer, I feel like my skills were challenged, stretched, and fine-tuned. Writing is a continuous art - one that never reaches perfection. To be in an environment where I could focus on elevating my craft with no "life" interruptions for a solid week was thrilling!
What I learned was invaluable. Here are a few items I will share. The editors of WORLD refer to writing mistakes as "broken windows."

#1 Avoid split infinitives. In the modern language, splitting usually involves a single adverb coming between the verb and its marker. Very frequently, this is an emphatic adverb, for example:
I need you all to really pull your weight.
Instead, it should read: I need you to pull your weight.
#2 Use a colon when you have a strong quote or information that you want to spotlight.
#3 Choose adjectives wisely.
#4 As a fellow WORLD writer conveyed: "Don't tell me it's hot. Show me the steaming pavement melting the crayon."
#5 Make every word count. Every word, sentence, paragraph needs to entice readers to read to the end.
#6 If possible, know the audience you are trying to reach and write to that audience.
#7 Tell a story; don't just make a list of facts. Every story typically has a protagonist, antagonist, a mission, and a barrier.
#8 If you're doing an interview, don't be afraid to ask a dumb question in order to get the information you need or to engage the interviewer in the subject.
#9 Avoid quotations that simply repeat something that has already been written. Make the quotations count: notable, clear, specific, a way to advance the story.
#10 EVERYONE needs to edit their work and EVERYONE needs to be edited. Always turn in the very best work.
I learned much, much more - especially that I need to write, write, write. Hope this encourages you to continue writing as well.

"Happy is the heart of him who writes; he is young every day." (unknown)