Rick Wilber Elucidates Mystery Techniques

Dr. Rick Wilber, USF mass communications professor and author of several novels and numerous short stories, enlightened an audience of 28 at our new location on May 14, despite a passing, raucous thunderstorm. Rick covered topics that included building characters and being aware of the layers of meaning in text and subtext--the Iceberg principle where most meaning is hidden below the surface.

Dr. Wilber read from his forthcoming mystery novel, Rum Point, highlighting examples of choosing the important two percent of a character's description that should be included in the story. In detailing this specificity, two rules apply: 1) if it doesn't matter to the story, don't say it; and 2) it has to move either your character or your story forward.

He also mentioned that for new genre writers following the parameters of the genre are key to getting published, in addition to telling a story worth telling to someone else.

Rick kept everyone interested, laughing and questioning as he covered some of his own experiences in getting published.

Thank you to everyone who attended!

John

In 30 seconds

When you think about writing, do you smile from the inside out? Well, I do. As writers, I am sure the question gets a yes answer from you too.

However, do you have times when you think about writing and even though the idea makes you very happy, as soon as the thought enters your mind, a flood of "reasons" why you shouldn't enters too?

Think about why these reasons are coming up because in less than 30 seconds you could be allowing yourself to push away the one thing you really were put on this earth to do---write.

This happened to me this morning when I was thinking about the children's books my daughter and I want to write. I had started thinking about how the story could be arranged and BAM! within 30 seconds a flood of questions came in filling my mind, "Do you have time to really do this?", "Even if you get done, how are you going to get it published", "You will need to find an illustrator and that is going to cost money."

I started to think why bother---but then I stopped myself and said to myself, "Because I have wanted to be a writer for a very long time and every time I think about writing, it makes me really happy."

So I want to encourage my fellow writers to not listen to the 30 seconds of "reasons" not to write from stopping you from doing one of the things that makes you the most happy.

Continue writing. The other stuff will work itself out.

Your fellow writer,

Teresa Morrow