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)

Reverence

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deena bouknight
latest - October 24, 2011

As a challenge, describe your church on Sunday morning - conveying the reverence you feel when you enter its doors. I want to be there when I'm reading about it. Send to me: dknight865@aol.com

"Writers are Made, Not Born"

Not sure where this quote came from, but it's so true. Even though a writer can be gifted with a God-given talent, it is one of those skills that must be continually fine-tuned. I tell my students that even though I've been writing essentially my whole life, from myriad of journals, short stories, and diaries I kept as a child to the thousands of articles I've written for publications and books, I still must hone my craft. I must have a teachable spirit and not take it personally when there are mistakes that need to be edited or rewrites that I must undertake. In order for any of us to improve as writers, we need to be writing a wide variety of things. If students only do key word outlines and rewrite paragraphs that have already been written, they will not be able to tackle various other assignments and situations that come along. Try writing an opinion to an editorial, a detailed letter, an elaborate tale, a journalistic style article, a blog, a short fictional story, entries in a journal, a Bible study, and a speech. There are endless ways to stretch and flex the writing mind. My hope is that as an aging woman, I will continue to feel that my writing can always be improved upon. Write on!

Out Loud

At my first job as a magazine editor, this wise, seasoned, senior editor came in and said, "Before you ever turn any articles into me, I want you to read them out loud to yourself." That was the best piece of advice I ever gleaned during college or have received during my 30-year career. That sage woman just passed this year; she was still editing copy in her 80s and still offering advice to young writers. I not only continue to heed her instruction, but share it with others as it has proven invaluable. It is such a simple task: Read Out Loud. Yet, by doing this we "hear" the mistakes we make in our writing. This doesn't happen when we read silently to ourselves. We "hear" when we are not transitioning from one sentence to another or one paragraph to another; when we repeat words too often; when we fail to creatively open sentences; when our sentences have no flow; or when we travel down unintended roads. Read out loud in private - or, better yet, read out loud to family members and friends willing to help you "hear" issues that need to be addressed.

At a recent summer writing camp for a group of inner-city children that I tutor during the school year, we practiced the art of reading out loud. They marveled at the words they had carefully strung together, and they took pride in reading their final versions out loud for all others present to hear. I tell my students at home and elsewhere, like my first editor did, that they are not to turn anything into me until they read it out loud. Hearing your written words means you will hone your written words.

A 17-year-old girl I have the privilege of mentoring, Johnetta Jenkins, spoke these words out loud at the close of this school year:

"I'm a woman in God's creation.
I'm a woman who has built a reputation.
Because I know God has the world in His hands,
I know He has a master plan.
I'm a strong woman who has fought for victory,
And I want to thank everyone who believes in me."
(Excerpt from "I'm a Woman" - June, 2011)

Mix It Up

Unfortunately, we all fall into a trap of just doing whatever is easiest - especially when it comes to writing. The easiest path, however, is not always the most interesting. Yesterday, I had some students interview one another answering the who, what, when, where, how, and why of journalistic style writing. Their assignment is to write an interesting profile story - beginning the piece with the most intriguing aspect of their subject's life and then filling in with the person's history, likes, dislikes, goals, etc. So tempting it is to begin each sentence with Jane Doe was born in ... Jane Doe enjoys ... Jane Doe detests ... YAWN! This type of writing quickly loses the reading audience. Remember to be a good "host" as a writer so your "guests" will enjoy what they are reading. Mix it up. Yes. Challenge yourself to start each sentence with a different technique. Try an adverb opener: Interestingly, Jane Doe was born on the same day as ... Throw in a prepositional opener: Upon completion of her junior year, Jane Doe ... Try a word that ends with an "ing" or "ed": Jumping in wholeheartedly, Jane Doe tackled ... Try a clausal opener: "Because her father was in the military, Jane Doe ..." Words to avoid at the beginning of sentences are AND, BUT, THEN, and SO - unless absolutely necessary. Take a look at your stories, articles, essays. If you are using the same words over and over again to start your sentences, go back and look for ways to mix it up.

"... whatever was to my profit, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ." Philippians 3:7

I recently edited a newly published book, called Junk, written by Mitch Smith, of Columbia. It's available on http://www.lulu.com/. Here's a synopsis:
JUNK brings truth, humor, and reality to the idea that in order to get the most out of life and achieve success tomorrow, we must begin removing the junk in our lives today. From two real life personal stories, woven into research and a personal perspective, Mitch D. Smith enables you to see how eliminating junk in our lives brings clarity, freedom, and happiness. Out-of-control spending is absolutely killing American families who are trying to keep up with the neighbor next door. "We’re spending money we don’t have on stuff we don’t need to impress people we don’t even know or like! It’s ridiculous! In Junk, Mitch Smith cuts a path through the clutter and shows us how to clean up—and throw out—the junk that’s holding us back." —Dave Ramsey, host of The Dave Ramsey Show and best-selling author of The Total Money Makeover