Darrell Case's Blog - Posts Tagged "writer"
I' m a country writer
I' m a country writer
After I’ve made that statement you might be inclined to think all I write about are country themes. I am in fact a novelist writing thrillers, mysteries are my major genres. https://www.darrellcase.com/ Creating characters out of nothing but my imagination. Yet farming is in my background and in my blood. I grew up on the farm with milk cows, chickens (actually hens) and pigs. In the spring, my father would plant corn or soybeans in the fields north and south of the house. Some of my favorite memories were accompanying him to the feed mill to have corn ground into feed for the hogs. We fed the cows ears of corn. My grandparents on both sides were farmers. I spent my younger years roaming the woods fishing and learning to love nature. Building forts and cabins out of discarded 10-gallon milk cans and pieces of tin. Later I learned the hard things like digging a post hole in August in clay soil. Chasing the cows out of the corn with stocks so high you went by the sound of their movement. Putting up hay when the bales weighted almost as much as I did. At least it seemed that way. Riding the school bus with a driver named Jolly. Remembering the last day of school one year when one of the boys rode his white horse. I had always dreamed of having a white horse or any horse for that matter. The closest I came was riding one of the cows out of the lot after the milking. It was not the same. I didn’t care for it and neither did she. Today my wife and I live on land my parents purchased in 1948. 40 acres for $1,000.00 nothing in modern day prices, but a hefty amount in those times. My office is located 200 feet from the house. Several years before Lowe’s install a full glass door overlooking the stream and woods South through the large windows is a young forest and to the west a path leading to the catfish pond. The writing studio is equipped with a heater, and an eclectic fireplace. A small refrigerator, microwave and of course a computer. Many mornings deer graze at the edge of the woods. At times squirrels eat from the bird feeders . In the summer hummingbirds, fly into the office through the open window. I interrupt my writing to open the door if they can't find their way out. The wind chimes, the sound of the birds are only distraction . Visitors are few unless you count the animals. Or my dog Abby, who lies at my feet as I write. So there you have it. I hope this explains the way I call myself a country writer.
After I’ve made that statement you might be inclined to think all I write about are country themes. I am in fact a novelist writing thrillers, mysteries are my major genres. https://www.darrellcase.com/ Creating characters out of nothing but my imagination. Yet farming is in my background and in my blood. I grew up on the farm with milk cows, chickens (actually hens) and pigs. In the spring, my father would plant corn or soybeans in the fields north and south of the house. Some of my favorite memories were accompanying him to the feed mill to have corn ground into feed for the hogs. We fed the cows ears of corn. My grandparents on both sides were farmers. I spent my younger years roaming the woods fishing and learning to love nature. Building forts and cabins out of discarded 10-gallon milk cans and pieces of tin. Later I learned the hard things like digging a post hole in August in clay soil. Chasing the cows out of the corn with stocks so high you went by the sound of their movement. Putting up hay when the bales weighted almost as much as I did. At least it seemed that way. Riding the school bus with a driver named Jolly. Remembering the last day of school one year when one of the boys rode his white horse. I had always dreamed of having a white horse or any horse for that matter. The closest I came was riding one of the cows out of the lot after the milking. It was not the same. I didn’t care for it and neither did she. Today my wife and I live on land my parents purchased in 1948. 40 acres for $1,000.00 nothing in modern day prices, but a hefty amount in those times. My office is located 200 feet from the house. Several years before Lowe’s install a full glass door overlooking the stream and woods South through the large windows is a young forest and to the west a path leading to the catfish pond. The writing studio is equipped with a heater, and an eclectic fireplace. A small refrigerator, microwave and of course a computer. Many mornings deer graze at the edge of the woods. At times squirrels eat from the bird feeders . In the summer hummingbirds, fly into the office through the open window. I interrupt my writing to open the door if they can't find their way out. The wind chimes, the sound of the birds are only distraction . Visitors are few unless you count the animals. Or my dog Abby, who lies at my feet as I write. So there you have it. I hope this explains the way I call myself a country writer.
An Editor should be an author’s best friend
In reading of Ernest Hemingway, Thomas Wolfe, and F. Scott Fitzgerald, I found one common denominator. Their editor Maxwell Perkins. Perkins was an extraordinary individual. From 1914 until his death in 1947, Maxwell Perkins was employed as an editor for Charles Scribner’s and Sons. With his expertise, he guided his authors to greatness.
Perkins talent for cutting, shaping encouraging and suggesting passages in novels made him a friend to his authors. While editors employed at other firms saw their position as an occupation, Perkins built a legacy. Through his guidance, many of the novels have stood the test of time. Among these are Look Homeward Angel, The Great Gatsby, The Sun also Rises, The Yearling and others.
For Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings his suggestion of The Yearling led to her winning the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1938. His insight was remarkable. Laboring long hours after his workday at Scribner’s Maxwell Perkins and Thomas Wolfe produced Of Time and the River. This novel made Wolfe a national celebrity and a legend in his own time. Perkins spent countless hours working with his authors to produce some of the greatest books in history.
Yet for all his commitment, Perkins faded into the background. By his own admission, Maxwell Perkins felt editors should be anonymous. The ones to be pushed to the forefront to receive honor were Maxwell Perkins writers and the books they authored.
So many times, we as authors view an editor as our enemy. Those who desire to cut out the art we have labored so hard to create. However, an editor’s task is very difficult. They walk a delicate line between satisfying the author and the readers. They must shape our books making them exciting and palatable without losing the book’s music. Each novel has a tune of its own. A good editor recognizes and brings out the rhythm making a book sing without losing the voice of the author. Therefore, if you have a good editor be sure to thank him or her today. Together in partnership, the author and editor bring to the public their best work of art.
Perkins talent for cutting, shaping encouraging and suggesting passages in novels made him a friend to his authors. While editors employed at other firms saw their position as an occupation, Perkins built a legacy. Through his guidance, many of the novels have stood the test of time. Among these are Look Homeward Angel, The Great Gatsby, The Sun also Rises, The Yearling and others.
For Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings his suggestion of The Yearling led to her winning the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1938. His insight was remarkable. Laboring long hours after his workday at Scribner’s Maxwell Perkins and Thomas Wolfe produced Of Time and the River. This novel made Wolfe a national celebrity and a legend in his own time. Perkins spent countless hours working with his authors to produce some of the greatest books in history.
Yet for all his commitment, Perkins faded into the background. By his own admission, Maxwell Perkins felt editors should be anonymous. The ones to be pushed to the forefront to receive honor were Maxwell Perkins writers and the books they authored.
So many times, we as authors view an editor as our enemy. Those who desire to cut out the art we have labored so hard to create. However, an editor’s task is very difficult. They walk a delicate line between satisfying the author and the readers. They must shape our books making them exciting and palatable without losing the book’s music. Each novel has a tune of its own. A good editor recognizes and brings out the rhythm making a book sing without losing the voice of the author. Therefore, if you have a good editor be sure to thank him or her today. Together in partnership, the author and editor bring to the public their best work of art.
Why I write the way, I do?
Several times over the years I’ve been ask why I write the way I do. Why as Christians do we write about the dark side of life? Why speak about evil? The simple answer is because it exists. God asks us to be the light of the world directing those in darkness to him. If I only write of peace, joy, happiness, love, and not the consequences of sin do not warn of evil. Have I preformed my job?
We as Christian writers must weave a story where we illustrate the depths of sin and the glory of God. In my novels, I endeavor to show not just the wickedness of the villain, but also The Lord’s redemptive power. There is a reason why the villain becomes evil and chooses the bad over the good. No child comes out of the womb seeking evil. A baby is a clean slate. We as adults have the responsibility if teaching children right from wrong. Showing them with our behavior, how to live a happy and productive life.
Through the centuries, literature is rampant with violent books. For example, think of Ben-Hur written by Lew Wallace or The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane. At one time The Red Badge of Courage was banned. One of the reasons, being it was too violent. Yet today both books today considered classics.
The Bible in its self speaks of the sin. David sees Bathsheba washing herself and commits adultery with her. Later he has her husband murdered. In the New Testament, the apostle Paul is holding the coats of those killing Steven. In stoning, a person’s body is broken and bloody. The greatest example of violence is the crucifixion of The Lord Jesus Christ. Whipping had ripped His back apart, nails were driven through His hands and feet. A crown of thrones pounded into the top of His head. Two thieves were suffering and dying on either side of Him. The stench of blood, body odor and death was everywhere. Yet it is by the shedding of Christ blood we are saved.
So we might ask ourselves as Christian authors how could we not write about sin. How could I, as writer ignore the evils of mankind? Yet with my words show the glory of a loving God. Sin is messy; sin is evil. However, God breaks through our wickedness to bring forth His redemption.
We as Christian writers must weave a story where we illustrate the depths of sin and the glory of God. In my novels, I endeavor to show not just the wickedness of the villain, but also The Lord’s redemptive power. There is a reason why the villain becomes evil and chooses the bad over the good. No child comes out of the womb seeking evil. A baby is a clean slate. We as adults have the responsibility if teaching children right from wrong. Showing them with our behavior, how to live a happy and productive life.
Through the centuries, literature is rampant with violent books. For example, think of Ben-Hur written by Lew Wallace or The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane. At one time The Red Badge of Courage was banned. One of the reasons, being it was too violent. Yet today both books today considered classics.
The Bible in its self speaks of the sin. David sees Bathsheba washing herself and commits adultery with her. Later he has her husband murdered. In the New Testament, the apostle Paul is holding the coats of those killing Steven. In stoning, a person’s body is broken and bloody. The greatest example of violence is the crucifixion of The Lord Jesus Christ. Whipping had ripped His back apart, nails were driven through His hands and feet. A crown of thrones pounded into the top of His head. Two thieves were suffering and dying on either side of Him. The stench of blood, body odor and death was everywhere. Yet it is by the shedding of Christ blood we are saved.
So we might ask ourselves as Christian authors how could we not write about sin. How could I, as writer ignore the evils of mankind? Yet with my words show the glory of a loving God. Sin is messy; sin is evil. However, God breaks through our wickedness to bring forth His redemption.
The music of the words
I love writing fiction. To create an unseen world to have characters who didn’t exist before come into being. To live and breathe and speak first to me, then to others. To have them set down in my office and tell me their story.
I’m aware I will fill the first drift of the short story or novel with errors. The characters may be more like cardboard people with no depth and no personality. Their speech jumbled, slow or incoherent. They may have been in my mind for a few months or years. As I write, their narrative becomes clearer. Each one tells their side of the story. Each one giving an account of themselves and explaining why they preform the way they do.
It then becomes my task to write their story. To bring them together until the story or novel makes sense. To make them real, first to myself, then to my readers. This could take two, three or more rewrites.
As the story comes together, I hear a ping in the distance, then another and still another until it forms a tune. In the rewrite, the melody becomes stronger and clearer until it is a full-grown song.
This may take a year, two years or more. Then the novel sings, and there is no other song like it. Of the books I have written, each one has a distinct melody. If I have performed my work correctly, the one who reads my work will hear the song of the words.
I’m aware I will fill the first drift of the short story or novel with errors. The characters may be more like cardboard people with no depth and no personality. Their speech jumbled, slow or incoherent. They may have been in my mind for a few months or years. As I write, their narrative becomes clearer. Each one tells their side of the story. Each one giving an account of themselves and explaining why they preform the way they do.
It then becomes my task to write their story. To bring them together until the story or novel makes sense. To make them real, first to myself, then to my readers. This could take two, three or more rewrites.
As the story comes together, I hear a ping in the distance, then another and still another until it forms a tune. In the rewrite, the melody becomes stronger and clearer until it is a full-grown song.
This may take a year, two years or more. Then the novel sings, and there is no other song like it. Of the books I have written, each one has a distinct melody. If I have performed my work correctly, the one who reads my work will hear the song of the words.
You want to be a writer? Why?
For several years, I taught a course on pastoring at a local prison. The first question I ask the class of eager students was why. Why would you want to be a pastor? Why would you want to be on call 24/7? To give up time with your family or other activities? Some believe erroneously a pastor only preaches on Sunday; therefore, the rest of the week is leisure time.
Nothing could be farther from the truth. A pastor studies prays resolves conflicts and is involved in every aspect of the church. If a member of the church is in an accident or becomes ill enough to go to the hospital at 2 or 3 AM. If they are scheduled for surgery at 6 in the morning, they expect their pastor to be there. Consequently, pastoring is a calling, not an occupation.
Likewise, the same is true with being a Christian author or writer. According to Bowker, there are 2,700 books published each day or approximately 1,000,000 annually. An author has a one in a million chance of their book raising above the crowd. With many books on the market and more being added daily, it very difficult to make your voice heard. So why in the world would you want to write a book? Why spend hours, days, months and sometimes years writing a novel? There has to be something beyond the joy of seeing your name in print or your book on store shelves.
Why would you want to be a writer? Because it is the most wonderful profession on earth. You, my friend, get to generate people who live in an unseen world. You share their joys, their sorrows. You see them grow and develop into individuals who speak love, hate work play, get married, and have children. From a little spark in your mind, they come into being. Even the minor characters have something important to say. They move the story froward. The main characters must change by the end of the book. The reason the villain is the villain is significant in the book. Why is he or she like they are? Did something happen in their childhood that shaped them? Later in life?
Soon you are in a world of your own making. The thread that began on the first page must run to the last. The beginning must have a hook which keeps the reader turning pages until they finish the book. Just like a good meal, it must satisfy the reader with the story and its conclusion. The book must leave a good taste in their mouth and have them eager to pick up another book by the same author.
So, you want to be a writer? Get ready for a very rocky road. One filled with heartaches sorrows and disappointments. Get ready for rejections and possibly ridicule. Get ready for hard work with little or no reward.
Get ready for excitement, which grows daily. Get ready to lose yourself in a world of your own making. Get ready to meet characters who will change your life forever. Get ready for the greatest calling in the world.
So, you want to be a writer? Good for you.
Nothing could be farther from the truth. A pastor studies prays resolves conflicts and is involved in every aspect of the church. If a member of the church is in an accident or becomes ill enough to go to the hospital at 2 or 3 AM. If they are scheduled for surgery at 6 in the morning, they expect their pastor to be there. Consequently, pastoring is a calling, not an occupation.
Likewise, the same is true with being a Christian author or writer. According to Bowker, there are 2,700 books published each day or approximately 1,000,000 annually. An author has a one in a million chance of their book raising above the crowd. With many books on the market and more being added daily, it very difficult to make your voice heard. So why in the world would you want to write a book? Why spend hours, days, months and sometimes years writing a novel? There has to be something beyond the joy of seeing your name in print or your book on store shelves.
Why would you want to be a writer? Because it is the most wonderful profession on earth. You, my friend, get to generate people who live in an unseen world. You share their joys, their sorrows. You see them grow and develop into individuals who speak love, hate work play, get married, and have children. From a little spark in your mind, they come into being. Even the minor characters have something important to say. They move the story froward. The main characters must change by the end of the book. The reason the villain is the villain is significant in the book. Why is he or she like they are? Did something happen in their childhood that shaped them? Later in life?
Soon you are in a world of your own making. The thread that began on the first page must run to the last. The beginning must have a hook which keeps the reader turning pages until they finish the book. Just like a good meal, it must satisfy the reader with the story and its conclusion. The book must leave a good taste in their mouth and have them eager to pick up another book by the same author.
So, you want to be a writer? Get ready for a very rocky road. One filled with heartaches sorrows and disappointments. Get ready for rejections and possibly ridicule. Get ready for hard work with little or no reward.
Get ready for excitement, which grows daily. Get ready to lose yourself in a world of your own making. Get ready to meet characters who will change your life forever. Get ready for the greatest calling in the world.
So, you want to be a writer? Good for you.
Facing Christmas alone
My wife loved Christmas. The day after Thanksgiving, I would bring the artificial tree in from the garage. Then climb the ladder to the attic over the office and bring down the decorations. Together we set up the tree and deck it with ornaments and lights. A job my wife took seriously. Sometime she made cookies and hot chocolate. We searched the containers for Christmas videos and DVDs. Later, she would spend hours wrapping the gifts for others. Her wrapping clean and precise. Each one with a label. Soon the house would shine with the glory of Christmas.
That night we would enjoy pizza as we watch some Christmas show we played every year. What a blessing it was to relax in her arms as the movie progressed. On Christmas morning she picked from the tree just the right order of gifts, then presented them to me. She watched in anticipation as I opened what she lovingly selected. Christmas was always a wonder for her. But the greatest blessing I received was having her as my wife. And the greatest gift I received on Christmas morning or any time throughout the year was to have her as my companion.
This year I will face Christmas alone. On July 20th at 1:55 PM. my wife when home to be with The Lord. After 42 years of being together to say I miss her would be an understatement. The touch of her hand, her kiss of greeting her each morning, the house is empty without her. So this year and every year until The Lord calls me home, I will face Christmas alone. Yet I’m not alone, for the memory of her is in every smile and every Christmas carol.
That night we would enjoy pizza as we watch some Christmas show we played every year. What a blessing it was to relax in her arms as the movie progressed. On Christmas morning she picked from the tree just the right order of gifts, then presented them to me. She watched in anticipation as I opened what she lovingly selected. Christmas was always a wonder for her. But the greatest blessing I received was having her as my wife. And the greatest gift I received on Christmas morning or any time throughout the year was to have her as my companion.
This year I will face Christmas alone. On July 20th at 1:55 PM. my wife when home to be with The Lord. After 42 years of being together to say I miss her would be an understatement. The touch of her hand, her kiss of greeting her each morning, the house is empty without her. So this year and every year until The Lord calls me home, I will face Christmas alone. Yet I’m not alone, for the memory of her is in every smile and every Christmas carol.
