Big Trees Inc. Installs Large Trees For Military Base In WA

Re-Foliation Project At Joint Lewis-McChord Military Base Is A Success

SEATTLE, WA: Big Trees Inc., (http://bigtreesupply.com/), a tree nursery and tree transplant specialist company servicing the Seattle area, recently completed a re-foliation project at the Joint Lewis McChord Military Base near Tacoma, Washington.

The project was concerned with some invasive brush and brambles that had overrun a sector of what is otherwise an arboretum of beautiful and old trees located on the base. Big Trees Inc. arrived on the site and after assessment of the situation transplanted and installed 9 large trees, from 20’ Grand Firs and Maple Trees to 14’ Deador Cedars. The project and installation took 2 days, utilizing truck, forklift and tree spade operations to ensure proper placement of all trees. After initial installation a landscape company, Total Landscape Corporation, took over in overseeing that the trees thrive in their new environment and will be around for all to view for years to come.

Big Trees Inc. founder Ross Latham stated “The whole project went very well, we’re pleased with the result. When we can not only repair a problem someone is having with a landscape but make it look better than it did before, then we know we’ve done our job. They were really happy with the trees as well, and we know the trees will be well cared for. This was a pretty big job, we even had to get out our famous tree spade, but it’s all in a day’s work.”

Ross Latham is the owner of Big Trees Inc. (http://www.bigtreesupply.com), located in Snohomish, WA, in the Seattle area. The company is one of the largest tree nurseries in the Seattle area with over 120,000 trees available in over 300 varieties. They not only can deliver young trees but also mature trees in a wide range of sizes. Some types of trees available include spring flowering, deciduous, evergreen, and privacy trees. The company also does tree transplanting including up to large trees. Their blog can be seen at http://www.bigtreesupply.com/blog/

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Big Trees Inc. Rescues Old Neighborhood Lion’s Head Maple

Old Tree Rescued From Construction Project in Mt. Baker Neighborhood

SEATTLE, WA: Big Trees Inc., (http://bigtreesupply.com/) a tree nursery and tree transplant specialist company servicing the Seattle area, recently rescued an old Lion’s Head Maple tree from a construction project. The tree was rescued for the Mt. Baker neighborhood.

Construction was beginning in the Mt. Baker neighborhood which threatened a very important tree, an old Lion’s Head Maple tree. The Lion’s Head Maple is a large tree with burgundy wood and bright crinkled and thickly textured green leaves in the spring. Its leaves turn deep green in the summer, and then in the fall its display is a rich crimson that can hold for weeks. The client, rather than lose the tree, sought a tree transplant specialist. Big Trees Inc. assessed the situation, was able to retrieve the tree without damage, and will transplant the tree back once construction is completed, thus ensuring their client not lose this prominent and valuable Japanese Maple tree.

Big Trees Inc., Ross Latham, commented on the project: “It was very good to help a town to keep one of its respected trees. When they approached us with it we could at once see why they wanted to preserve it. The Lion’s Head Maple is a very significant tree and quite a majestic public display year-round, so it’s understandable that they would want a tree transplant specialist with professionals bringing years of experience to bear. The project went very well, we look forward to working with Mt. Baker again in the future if they ever have need.”

Ross Latham is the owner of Big Trees Inc. (http://www.bigtreesupply.com), located in Snohomish, WA, in the Seattle area. The company is one of the largest tree nurseries in the Seattle area with over 120,000 trees available in over 300 varieties. They not only can deliver young trees but also mature trees in a wide range of sizes. Some types of trees available include spring flowering, deciduous, evergreen, and privacy trees. The company also does tree transplanting including up to large trees. Their blog can be seen at http://www.bigtreesupply.com/blog/

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Three Steps To Overcoming Writer’s Bloc

By Susan Mary Malone

Got writer’s bloc? As folks in rural Texas say, we’re a’gin it. 

Okay, so that’s somewhat flip. But the truth is that here, we don’t allow it. Don’t believe in it.  Don’t succumb. It’s one of the few things that will get you whipped into shape from this office.

Yes, many, many folks have huge problems with writer’s bloc.  I hear about it every day.   And it does exist, as do a plethora of psychological problems and neuroses. And rest assured, that’s all this is — a neurosis.  We all know the origins of it by now: fear of failure (or success); fear of not being ‘good enough’ (or of believing your work is so much better than what’s being published); of thinking the first draft as to be absolutely perfect (any 12-steppers out there want to respond to this one?)  Or a host of other deep-seated lies of the ego.

As any artist who’s been practicing a craft will attest, the biggest hurdle to producing beautiful work is to get the ego out of the way.  That, in turn, lets true creativity and artistry bubble up from the deep unconscious, where we plug into that numinous quality of beauty, from which all art originates.  As Keats said, “Beauty is truth, truth beauty, – that is all / Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know.” So, problem solved.

Okay, there I go being flip again.  But far too much emphasis is given to avoiding writer’s bloc, and what a terrible malady it is to suffer through.  Because this is one of those instances -- for certain — where the more focus you give it, the bigger a beast it grows to be.  Especially for a monster that does not, in reality, even exist (except front and center in that dastardly ego). 

As any scribe who’s been at this long knows, writing is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.  It’s all about the work.  And there’s only one way to accomplish that: butt in chair, fingers on keyboard. 

I have one prescription for my writers when suffering from this made-up malady, and it’s failsafe. Works every time.  Might not the first day, or the second.  But if you don’t give up on the process, it will work.

Step One: Carve out a time every day to write.  Yikes! That sounds like work.  Where is all the glamour of being Hemingway? (Note: he wrote every day, even if it was just a paragraph).  Tough real-life schedule?  Four AM has always been a favorite time of mine . . .

Step Two: Sit your butt in that chair every day at your appointed time. No matter what.  Unless your hair is one fire or your child is in the hospital, I don’t want to hear why you can’t.  Just do it. 

Step Three: Write.  Cat got your fingers?  That’s fine.  Sit there.  Write the yellow pages.  Write why your husband / boyfriend / sister is a first-rate crumb and doesn’t understand you. I don’t care what you write, just write. 

This is the key to the kingdom.  I have yet to find the writer plagued with horrid bloc who after doing this for three days, didn’t find himself back to work on the novel, short story, memoir, etc. (And conversely, I can always tell when someone wimps out and cheats. I have my ways.   Something about making those fingers work is kinda like the motion of the ocean for a child in a car — it puts your conscious mind (ego) into a lull and voila!  Out comes art (or a dream, if you’re in the car, which in essence is part and parcel of the same thing).  

Julia Cameron in Finding Water recommends writing morning pages every day.  A stream-of-consciousness set of pages first thing in the morning that just lets all your demons out — many of which you didn’t even know were there.  While I don’t do that, I like the idea of it.   If writer’s bloc has set in, however, do this. 

A few additional notes here as well.

Most importantly, forget caring about this first draft.  Stop it. I order you.  Doesn’t matter if it’s the worst schlock you’re ever seen, and wouldn’t even let your cat eat it.  Nothing in a first draft is permanent.  Not even that lovely line you’re so amazed came out of you (half the time even those end up on the editing-room floor as well).  First drafts don’t matter. 

Let yourself go.  Let your fingers go.  Quit thinking!  This is the creative stage, and we’re trying to get you, the you of the ego, out of the way.  Just write. If your goal is to write for forty-five minutes every morning, and you end up with one well-written line, wow!  Give yourself a big pat on the back from me. That’s the entire point in a nutshell.  Go have a nice cup of coffee and watch the sunrise.

And tomorrow, you can build upon that line . . .

 

About Susan Mary Malone

With a BS in Political Science and minors in English and Journalism, Susan Mary Malone's professional background includes working as an editor, columnist and reporter for newspapers and magazines. In business since 1993, her edited books have been featured in Publishers Weekly, and won numerous awards.

Her clients include NY Times Bestselling author Mary B. Morrison, and Essence Bestselling author Naleighna Kai. Other notable edited books include: The Things I Could Tell You (Jeremy Woodson was nominated for an NAACP Literary award); O'Brien's Desk (a Publishers Weekly Spring Pick to Watch); Ida Mae Tutweiler and the Traveling Tea Party (made into a Hallmark film), among many others.

With many published works to her credit, Editor Susan Mary Malone applies her skills at editing books to her own book writing, and those of her clients. Susan's success as an award-winning book author of both fiction and nonfiction, as well as her short stories, is highlighted in the list of her works at http://www.maloneeditorial.com/Malone.htm .

She also participates as speaker at many literary conferences, including the Harriett Austin Writer's Conference (at the University of Georgia), the Blue Ridge Writer's Conference, the SouthWest Writer's Conference, and the upcoming Golden Triangle Writer's Conference, among others.

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Susan Mary Malone To Speak At Lexicon Writers Conference

Developmental Editor Susan Mary Malone Speaking At Writers Conference In July
 
DALLAS, TX: Susan Mary Malone, (http://www.maloneeditorial.com/) developmental editor and published author, will speak at the Lexicon Writers Conference in Denton, Texas. The conference commences on July 21st and goes through the weekend at the Best Western Premier and the Hilton Garden Inn.   

The Lexicon Writers Conference was established to assist, promote and educate writers in all genres and fields, including fiction, non-fiction, screenplay writing, graphic novels and others. Published and unpublished writers are welcome, and one and all meet with established authors, literary agents, publishers, editors, and marketing experts.
 
The conference will feature a number of prominent members in the literary field. Ms. Malone will be speaking specifically on the subject of “The Arc of the Storyline.”
 
Further details regarding the conference will be released by the hosts as the day of the event approaches. Their website is http://lexi-conwritersconference.com/
 
Ms. Malone stated, “I’m very much looking forward to the conference. You meet so many new faces in the literary field, and it’s really heartwarming to see. It’s going to be a really great event.”
 
Susan Mary Malone has worked as a freelance editor since 1993, with a BS in Political
Science and minors in English and Journalism. Her client list includes NY Times
Bestsellers, Essence Bestsellers and books featured in Publishers Weekly. She is also
an award-winning author of fiction and non-fiction herself. She participates as a speaker in literary conferences such as the Harriett Austin Writer's Conference (at the University of Georgia), the Blue Ridge Writer's Conference, the SouthWest Writer's Conference, and the East Texas Writer’s Guild, among others. Her full biography and featured list of published authors can be viewed at http://www.maloneeditorial.com

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Aero & Marine Tax Pros Win Tax Exemption For New Client

Real Estate Professional Helped To Obtain Sales Tax Exemption On Plane

SACRAMENTO, CA: Aero & Marine Tax Professionals, a professional tax firm specializing in sales tax exemption for aircraft and marine vessels in California, has assisted a real estate company in the Bay area in procuring a sales tax exemption from the California Board of Equalization on the purchase of their airplane.

The real estate professional, John Adams, was very pleased with the exemption. “Because I am involved in residential rental real estate, the aircraft opened up small-town markets that I otherwise would not have been able to take advantage of. Now I can get into my plane and fly directly in rather than have to fly to a major town and work out the logistics, as a lot of the smaller towns are off the beaten track.”

“Working with Aero & Marine Tax Professionals went just great. They laid out a complete package for me to follow. I was able to do every step required. I had to answer some questions, and the State pushed back a couple times, but because of the complete documentation they had me get together I was able to answer all questions. You could say that after going through the process, I fully understand that I could not have gone through this on my own. And of course I would recommend them to others as well,” concluded Adams.

The president and founder of Aero & Marine Tax Pros, Mr. Tom Alston, stated “It was great working with John, and we were really happy with the end result. There are lots of good people out there who can benefit from learning more about the tax codes they live under before buying an aircraft or marine vessel. There are people who are paying too much for taxes, and it’s totally possible to legally avoid paying sales tax on an aircraft or vessel purchase. That’s what we’re here for.”

Aero & Marine Tax Professionals shows purchasers how to avoid sales tax, specifically how to avoid aircraft tax and vessel tax in California and to make certain the full value of their next aircraft, vehicle or vessel goes into their pocket--not the government's. They have successfully filed hundreds of tax returns with the California State Board of Equalization. Mr. Alston has also published many articles on sales and use tax. Their blog can be seen at http://aeromarinetaxpros.typepad.com.

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BigTreeSupply.com: Tree Survival For The Summer

by Ross Latham

One of the biggest worries of homeowners for their yards is “Are the trees in my yard going to survive this summer?” (We’ll talk some more in a later article about the other big worry of homeowners: winter)

You’ve just finished planting a new tree as the centerpiece to your yard. After all, early spring is the perfect time to plant for the optimum growth of your trees. And in late spring your hard work will have paid off. But now comes summer, and new needs for your trees. Surviving that first summer is especially key for trees, and is, of course, still important in years ahead.

Fortunately it’s just a matter of proper maintenance and any tree can beat the heat. It’s only a matter of understanding a few essentials and one can have healthy trees that last the year round.

First let’s cover soil. You need to take a look to see what type of soil you have and then take steps to improve it on a gradient. If the soil you have is mostly clay then aeration will help provide oxygen needed for optimum plant health. In general trees do not need as much fertilizer as do lawns, but in our generally high pH soils, nutrients, such as nitrogen, iron, zinc and manganese, can be added. You can gain a clue to the soil quality if you note the color of leaves and needles. If they look sickly or light colored, that is a clue that additional nutrients may be in order. If you’re concerned about soil health you might consider having your soil tested. Also, different soil types require different amounts of irrigation. Clay soils will typically need less water because they hold it, than say a sandy or loamy based soil.

Now, of course a big one is water. This is very evident with newly planted trees. They possess a smaller percentage of their original roots and they have to be closely monitored and watered carefully. During extended periods of drought even large established trees need to be watered. A single, large tree can transpire (to give off vapor containing waste products through the stomata of plant tissue) more than 100 gallons of water on a typical summer day.

A few pointers: don't assume you are watering a tree when you are watering your lawn. Most of the water may go to the lawn, which has many roots competing with tree roots. Thatch in the lawn acts to repel water, and different soil types make water penetration very difficult in many cases. Soaker hoses and drip systems can be useful tools for applying water to dry soil. You should water an area at least as wide as the branch spread, but well established trees often have extensive root systems that extend far beyond the tips of the branches and will benefit from water applied to the soil outside the branch spread as well. Root feeding/watering probes are useful tools for irrigating trees as long as they are not inserted into the soil deeper than 12 inches and are moved frequently.

A few cautions: As a rule of thumb, soil needs to be moist to between 12 to 18 inches of depth for most trees and shrubs. Watering too frequently can also kill trees. Always check the moisture status of the soil around your tree before watering (use a hand trowel or soil probe). If possible, avoid applying chemically softened water to trees. Frequent use of softened water may harm soil structure and injure trees.

Next let’s cover mulch. The purpose of mulch is to conserve moisture and suppress weeds around the tree. Ironically the opposite of these are its cons, as in certain mulches can bring about weed problems (if there are any weed seedlings in the mulch) or block moisture if it’s put on too heavily. I always advise homeowners to apply mulch with caution, never allow the mulch to pile up on the trunk. Keep all mulch clear of the trunk flare at the base. 90% of the time it can do what’s wanted, but you have to take care that you don’t suffocate the tree. Organic mulch is generally better, inorganic mulches tend to sink in small traces into the soil. Organic mulches decompose naturally.

These are a few pointers to set you in the right direction. If your trees have more trouble than this surviving the summer then contact a tree care specialist to come out and take a look at it. The problem might not be the heat, there are tree diseases out there and there could be other factors plaguing city trees. But the above should cover a majority of cases. Then you can beat the heat yourself by sitting in the shade of your tree with a cool drink in hand.

Authur bio:
Ross Latham is owner of Big Trees Inc. (http://www.bigtreesupply.com) in Snohomish, WA, one of the largest Seattle tree nurseries (see inventory at http://bigtreesupply.com/sales-inventory/), specializing in tree transplanting. Visit us at http://www.bigtreesupply.com/blog/

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Skin Care News: Can You Protect Yourself Against Eczema?

New Shielding Lotion Protects Your Skin From the Itch of Eczema

What is the underlying cause of eczema?
Eczema is a chronic skin disease characterized by dry, itchy, inflamed skin caused by an allergic immune response with in the skin. While there is no cure for the condition, understanding the causes and finding the right skin care treatment product can greatly reduce the occurrence of symptomatic outbreaks.The underlying cause of eczema is now believed to be a defective skin barrier. Your skin barrier is made up of tightly packed together skin cells surround by proteins and fats (lipids) that work to keep skin hydrated and protected. There are environmental factors and chemical irritants hidden in every day products from shampoo to laundry detergent that damage your skin's protective barrier causing it to become defective.

Could you be suffering from a damaged skin barrier?
Nearly 80 percent of eczema is due to contact with harsh chemicals and environmental irritants. If you have dry damaged skin,chances are a damaged skin barrier is to blame. When your skin's barrier becomes impaired and is no longer properly functioning, there is a resulting increase in water loss that leads to you having dry and cracked skin. Besides an increase in water loss, a damaged skin barrier also allows your skin to become more susceptible to irritants that create an increased risk for skin conditions such as eczema."As a dermatologist with many years of experience treating skin problems, I can tell you what the major causes are," says Dr. Lisa Benest, "one of them is exposure to irritants and chemicals in the everyday environment. We live in a much more toxic environment today and our skin bears the brunt. When we are exposed to harsh conditions in the environment it can have a very negative effect on our skin."

How you can repair your skin barrier now with shielding lotion?
Traditional moisturizers are designed to simply add artificial moisture to the surface layer of your skin. These moisturizers do very little to heal or protect skin and many of them even contain harsh chemical ingredients that can damage the integrity of your skin barrier leading to more skin problems for you. Realizing the need for an entirely new approach to skin care, 21st Century Formulations put together a team of leading doctors, dermatologists, and cosmetic chemists who spent six years working together in developing Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion. Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion is able to duplicate your skin's own natural functions strengthening your skin barriers ability to protect against toxins and irritants resulting in healthier softer skin. Dr. Lisa Benest explains why shielding lotions are the ideal skin care treatment “The reason shielding lotions are so effective is that they replace the protective barrier and allow the skin to heal from within. A shielding lotion bonds with the outer layer of the skin and protects it from outside irritants and chemicals, so it will prevent skin conditions from developing or it will help an existing condition to heal."

This is what just a few of Skin MD Natural's customers have to say about how Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion helped them discover the skin they have always wanted:

"I just want to thank you so much for this fantastic product. I've suffered from eczema since a baby, and at worst been in hospital covered in wet wraps and steroids. It was especially upsetting for me, when, at 20, I developed eczema on my face. I could no longer tolerate makeup and every cream I tried caused a reaction. It was with a great deal of skepticism that I bought a bottle of Skin MD Natural, but it sounded different to other things I've tried. The first thing that shocked me was the fact that it didn't cause a reaction on my face and my skin lost its usual tightness.

"My husband, who had developed severe dermatitis on both hands, was almost clear of his dermatitis after a week of using the lotion, and my steroid use has lessened considerably. I have now just ordered my third bottle from www.beautynaturals.com. You have, in short, given me my life back! I recommend this product to everyone I know, and when they see first hand my improved skin, they all want a bottle. I have promoted it on the internet on eczema discussion boards, because I know how soul destroying eczema can be, and if this just helps one person, it will be worth it." --Louise,United Kingdom

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"Since I started using this moisturizer a few weeks ago, I have seen a pretty dramatic improvement in my skin tone and my eczema symptoms. My skin is smooth, feels well moisturized and I have had far fewer problems with redness and itching. I feel like I have normal skin!" --Christine
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"I have eczema. I have had it since I can ever remember. I have tried creams, ointments, steroid creams and ointments, etc. Nothing ever seems to work very well and usually if it works better than most that also means it's thicker and harder to apply than most.

"Then about a year ago I learned about something I had never heard of before. It's a new kind of natural skin care called a shielding lotion. Skin MD Natural made promises of moisturized skin that, at the time, I didn't believe. But, I had tried everything else on my scaly, rash looking arms that I figured why not try this.

"The texture was as light as water (and as thin as it too). It wasn't oily, greasy or filmy and you know what? It works!! And it works good!" --Crystal

Join the millions throwing away their old creams and lotions for Skin MD Natural.
Skin MD Natural is the only lotion that can truly heal damaged skin and protect healthy skin and they are so sure of these results they even offer a risk free money back guarantee!

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Structure And The Novel - The Opening Act

By Susan Mary Malone

We’ve talked about how the opening of a novel—both the beginning line, and the first chapter—works to hook your reader. So now you have a sensational start, and you’re speeding into your story, full steam ahead. So far, so great!

While thinking in terms of novel development playing out in three acts, now let’s discuss the opening act of your drama.

Usually this is the easiest for writers to effect. Creativity is soaring (or you wouldn’t be sitting there writing in the first place), your characters are vivid in your mind, and you know where they’re going (at least for now!). Hopefully you’re banging out paragraph after scene after chapter, and smiling once you’re done.

But what, exactly, does this opening act need to convey? How do you fashion this so that the middle section (which trips up virtually everybody) flows smoothly and keeps moving your tale along? Because how a book author sets up this first act will dictate the story’s movement, and whether one hits those dreaded sagging middles or breezes right through.

First off, we have The Entrance. This is “real life” for the character, as it is now. Although we’ve opened the book with some event, we need to know through it or immediately after what regular life is like for our hero, before the cataclysm hits (whether this cataclysm is physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual, or hopefully, many of the above!). As any book editor knows, this is where we weave in some character background, and the people and conflicts with which he begins. In Lonesome Dove, we literally meet our heroes doing what they’ve been doing since their glory days ended: Gus drinking whiskey and Call working and both finding what excitement they can by stealing horses and cattle in Mexico. Inertia has waylaid our guys, and it appears that their heydays are well past them.

Then in our book development, we have some sort of Call to Adventure, whether this is internal or external (or again, hopefully both!). This “Call” is what propels our hero out of his comfort zone, and is and will forever be the “Story Question.” You have already established right off the bat what the Story Question is to begin the first scene of the book, and now, with the combined understanding of what Hero’s life was like before, as well as his conflicts, we get the bigger picture. This is your main point of the story. Throughout the entirety of the book, each scene has to have a piece of this main Story Question. With our cowboys, this Call to Adventure is a literal one: Enter Jack Spoon with a crazy notion of the land of milk and honey, which is Montana, and a scheme to make big bucks via a cattle drive to establish a ranch there.

But of course, as in any good story, our hero doesn’t want to take the bait! He Refuses the Call. Your character will give a laundry list of excuses as to why he can’t accept the job. This brings up the polarity, the duality, of the character, and raises the question of whether the hero can actually master this test. You want to leave doubt in the reader’s mind at this point. Is he up to the task? Our guys here are split; Cap’n Call is right ready to load up. Gus, on the other hand, always the voice of reason, is quite content to stay. As Call says to him, “All you want to do is sit on the porch and drink whiskey.” This brings up an interesting conundrum to our theory, as Gus and Call are opposite sides of the same coin, the duality playing through as they interact. And Gus senses that Call’s vision will not end well.

Just about the time we’re thinking our intrepid hero is way out of his league, we have the build up to our first major plot point. In other words, Hero gets some help! At this point, he meets the mentor. Here some wise voice comes in–the wise old woman archetype, etc., although we can also learn from fools, and it can even be the intuition. This speaks clearly, with no ego in the way. It gets Hero’s own ego out of the way so that God’s voice (or however you perceive a higher power) can speak to him. In other words, we have given him an offer he cannot refuse. In our model, our cowboys are a bit long in the tooth for such an adventure, no matter how adept they were in their Rangering days. But Call has the fever. And when he nudges Gus with promises of a still-wild country, with no bankers or lawyers, Gus can’t help but load up for the drive north. Wouldn’t you?

Which leads into our first major plot point: The hero Crosses the Threshold to a new world. He’s committed to the journey—whatever that journey may be. Our Western heroes here head north toward Paradise, and into the unknown.

This is the end of Act I. It fashions the transition from one world to another. In myth and metaphor, the character would go through an actual gate, often with a guardian in front of it, and have to pass some test to do so. The hero is stepping into the brink of the unknown, and some have to be kicked through it! As Gus, Call, the hands, and the cattle begin driving northward, they cross the Red River—their threshold to the new world. But it’s not without great cost—they lose one of the hands, setting the tone for the rest of the trip. As Gus says (in the film version) once this is done, “I-god, Woodrow, but this is a bad start.”

Once you successfully navigate through Act 1, you’re left with a dizzying amount of possible conflicts and trials, which will play into our poor hero’s Achilles’ Heel, and keep your momentum going well through Act II. As with our Lonesome Dove travelers, crossing that river allows the real story to begin, and our plot to thicken. Hopefully you, at this point as the writer (or with help from your writing coach), have set up your story so that readers have a sense of where we’re going and how we’re going to get there; whether this will go well, badly, or all of the above.

And in the end, everything weaves back to this beginning. Call’s final words in the film version, after all that he’s lost, to a reporter’s question about their famous drive, is “Helluva vision.” And we know exactly what he meant.

About Susan Mary Malone

With a BS in Political Science and minors in English and Journalism, Susan Mary Malone's professional background includes working as an editor, columnist and reporter for newspapers and magazines. In business since 1993, her edited books have been featured in Publishers Weekly, and won numerous awards.

Her clients include NY Times Bestselling author Mary B. Morrison, and Essence Bestselling author Naleighna Kai. Other notable edited books include: The Things I Could Tell You (Jeremy Woodson was nominated for an NAACP Literary award); O'Brien's Desk (a Publishers Weekly Spring Pick to Watch); Ida Mae Tutweiler and the Traveling Tea Party (made into a Hallmark film), among many others.

With many published works to her credit, Editor Susan Mary Malone applies her skills at editing books to her own book writing, and those of her clients. Susan's success as an award-winning book author of both fiction and nonfiction, as well as her short stories, is highlighted in the list of her works to be found at: http://www.maloneeditorial.com/Malone.htm

She also participates as speaker at many literary conferences, including the Harriett Austin Writer's Conference (at the University of Georgia), the Blue Ridge Writer's Conference, the SouthWest Writer's Conference, and the upcoming Golden Triangle Writer's Conference, among others.

 

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Who Are These People? Knowing Your Characters

By Susan Mary Malone

I talk a lot about characterization. A whole lot. Because characters drive your story, and without a great protagonist (and hopefully, small supporting cast), your reader has no one to root for; no one with whom to catch a ride and travel the course of the novel. And without that, you have no book—no matter how compelling the story.

Every story has to be someone’s. If Earth blew up and neither you nor anyone you knew and loved were on it, would you care? Would you even know? But if a friend were stuck on a small island and the sea were rising around it, wouldn’t you panic?

The characters in your story have to be so real, so visceral, that when they’re in peril, when one dies, your reader reacts as if to a loved-one’s passing. And to accomplish that takes great skill from the writer.

You, as that book author, must know everything about anything that has ever happened to your characters. Not at the outset, of course—many authors write from discovery, getting to know their characters as they go. But in the end, know them they must. And then in revision go back and add textures, layers, nuances, in order to breathe life into the skeletons on the page. The more important someone is in the story, the more depth you must evoke.

Say you’re writing a moral-twist tale about a thirty-something woman running for Congress. She truly believes in her agenda, rather than politics for power’s sake (suspend all disbelief here—this IS fiction), and of course, is forced into a box at some point (pick a topic as to what), a la Willie Stark. How will she react? Do you, the author in charge of novel development, know how she responds to not only backing into a car in the parking lot when no one sees, but also what she does when her best friend comes to her with a shocking revelation? Does she deem it more morally right to turn in the friend (whether national security is at risk or not), or to hold to the confidence?

To know these answers, you must know our trusty heroine well. Otherwise, she’ll come across the page as contrived. Even though our story takes place with her in her thirties, what was she like as a child? A teenager? What happened on her first day of school? Did she get along with her brother? Is she a classic Leo, always bossing everyone around? Did she cry for days when her pet Springer Spaniel died? Or did she conduct the funeral for her friend’s cat?

Go back and write a short story that takes place during her childhood. Write another when she reached adolescence, and another revolving around her first sexual experience or college days. Get to know her through all stages of her life. None of these are to be included in the book—they’re for your benefit, as the author. And ultimately, your readers. Because the nuances you learn about your hero through this process will serve to bring subtle character traits to the surface as the story progresses.

Do this to a lesser degree with the supporting players. Another major problem I often see is too large of a cast of characters, the number of which precludes any from really being fully fleshed-out. Pare down your cast. Only a handful can ever really be formed into fully functioning folks with much depth. The rest need to step back a hair. You can have a lot of people with bit parts—it’s the handful of main ones I’m talking about here. Just know that it’s often more difficult to make a bit player come alive than the hero, with whom you have much more time to spend.

This brings us, as always, around to viewpoint. Giving a character a viewpoint signals to the reader that this person is hugely important. Again, each one has to have his own arc in the story, her own piece of the story question. Strictly limiting this will help you keep close tabs on each one, and how each fits into the plot.

Plot and characters cannot be divorced, and we’ll talk soon about the Story Question, and how characters propel that along.

Writers tend to give their people traits in laundry-list fashion. Again, this is GREAT—for you, as the author. But your reader is trusting you to tell her only that which is truly important to these characters in this story, and then to create and evoke it, rather than telling her about it. The reader should get a sense of the Protagonist from the get-go, but then you shade and deepen her as the story goes—in the exact same fashion that you get to know a real human. As a manuscript editor, I strongly encourage my writers to keep notebooks or lists or flashcards (whatever works for you) of each character’s physical descriptions, mannerisms, major and minor traits, etc. That way you can always flip through and remember, which imprints the information on your subconscious mind and brings it to the surface at the exact time you need it.

A lot goes into fashioning great characters. You can’t just “think ‘em up.” That may be how it begins, and indeed, these exercises help with that, but the depth, the nuances, the intangible points that make folks in books seem real bubble up from the author’s deeper self. You have to get quiet and listen to your people talk and think and move and be.

Willie Stark, so the story goes, was based on the Louisiana political figure Huey Long. I never knew that man. But I do know ol’ Willie. And I’d be willing to bet he took off under Penn Warren’s hand in a way that the real politician never could have. Now, that’s great characterization.

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STRUCTURE AND THE NOVEL- The First 50 Pages

by Susan Mary Malone

We talked before about a novel's opening line, and how important getting it just right is.

So, now let's say you've written that bang up first line, and now let's focus on the rest of the book's beginning-the first fifty pages.

Isn't that just the hardest part? I hear from so many writers struggling with where to start, how much to convey up front, and how active page one needs to be, etc., etc. And the answers vary-a lot. Depending upon in what genre you're writing, for one thing. A Thriller must begin very differently from a Western or Category Romance or even a Cozy Mystery. But as far as novel development is concerned, the inherent factors remain the same.

The best way to begin a novel is just to begin it. In other words, quit obsessing and write. If you're serious about the process, no one will ever see the first draft anyway. And even if you're of the sort who specifically outlines from alpha to omega, much will change once you get to that initial "The End." At which point, you'll always go into revisions by rewriting the beginning. Often, many times.

All right, so the original creation process is finished, and you're into revisions - the actual book editing. What do you want to accomplish with your opening? HOW you do this, again, will vary by genre. But WHAT you want to get done in the beginning crosses them all.

By far the biggest glitch I see is that the novel really begins about fifty pages in. Writers, especially before finding their sea legs (no matter how long they've been at it-learning to write is not a matter of time so much as it is of willingness, dedication, and application), ramble along for a good way before finding the track of their stories. Even seasoned writers do this, especially those who write from "discovery"-not knowing exactly how to get where they're going until it opens before them. The difference is, professionals then go back to cut and begin again, and aren't afraid of killing their own words to do so. Your editing arm will learn to point out where the pacing lags, or how much ancillary material needs slicing because much of that was necessary for you, the writer, to know, but not for the reader. Remember: Your reader is trusting you to convey to him ONLY those things that pertain to these specific characters in this specific story. The rest is just background material for you, the book author (and is merely noise for the reader).

The next problem I see has to do with the book's hook. Now, entire volumes have been published regarding this subject, so I'm not going to delve into it deeply. In fact, I really believe too much has been made of it, in that now writers are so sensitive to setting hooks that their books' beginnings are often contrived. Settle down here. Yeah, your book needs a good hook, which is no more than a reason for me to keep reading. And yeah, I need a sense of where the book is heading and who the main folks are from the get go. But I don't need a crash course in the characters' histories, or an intricate foreknowledge of what's to come. That produces the opposite effect of what you seek - turning off your reader with so much detail that he spits out your lure and swims back into the bookstore's sea.

A hook can be nothing more than a quirky character about whom I want to know more (unless, of course, this is a Suspense Thriller!). Or a bizarre event that tweaks my interest. And yeah, it needs to come in early enough to catch my curiosity so I keep going. Rule of Thumb in Murder Mysteries is that the killing should occur on page one. If you can't hook 'em with some sort of unique slaying, you need to pick another genre in which to write. In all categories of Romance, my heart should stir in Chapter One. In Mainstream, I should find a character compelling enough to cause me to want more. And in Literary, the writing needs to take my breath - at least for moments, on page one.

My very favorite opening to any book goes thusly:
"In our family, there was no clear line between religion and fly fishing. We lived at the junction of the great trout rivers in western Montana, and our father was a Presbyterian minister and a fly fisherman who tied his own flies and taught others. He told us about Christ's disciples being fishermen, and we were left to assume, as my brother and I did, that all first-class fishermen on the Sea of Galilee were fly fishermen and that John, the favorite, was a dry-fly fisherman."

I would have followed that author to the ends of the Earth. And did.

Here as well is where you establish the Protagonist - the person with whom your reader is to travel the course of this novel. And, you must give a sense of his/her conflicts - even if the catalyst for the conflict (be it man or beast, internal or external, supernatural or drought) isn't itself in evidence. The point of the conflict on the main character is the important thing, not the conflict itself. We have to move our hero out of his comfort zone - to begin the novel.

You must also firmly set the tone. If this is to be a Murder Mystery of some sort, someone gets killed straight out of the gate, thereby setting an ominous tone (if it's well done). If the book's a Literary one, the writing itself must effect the resonance that you seek.

On page one, we must find the Story Question, which we'll talk about in the next installment of Structure. Because that Question will weave through each and every scene of your book.

Yep, a book's beginning is tough to get right. But once you do, your reader has bought a ticket to ride your train - the first obstacle to overcome!

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Big Trees Inc And Bartlett Tree Experts To Host Nursery Tour

Nursery Tour Being Done For Association Of Professional Landscape Designers

SEATTLE, WA: Big Trees Inc., (http://bigtreesupply.com/) in association with Barlett Tree Experts is hosting a nursery tour for the Washington Chapter of the Association Of Professional Landscape Designers, at Big Trees’ main nursery in the Snohomish River Valley. The tour will take place on Thursday, the 17th of May, between 6:00 to 8:30 PM. Admission is $25 for members and $50 for non-members, which cost includes a dinner for the evening.

Big Trees Inc. houses its major nursery on 30 acres in the Snohomish River Valley, hosting over 300 varieties of trees. The company owner, Mr. Ross Latham, will tour members of the Washington Chapter of the Association Of Professional Landscape Designers (APLDWA) through the nursery to see the variety of trees and learn about the unique services of the company. Mr. Latham will discuss the landscaping techniques, for use in any conceivable tree transplant site, which his company has mastered over the past 20 years of work in their practice. Also included in the tour will be information on Bartlett Tree Experts, which Big Trees Inc. uses to ensure its transplanted trees are given the scientifically correct treatment and care to optimally thrive in their new environments.

Ross Latham, co-owner and founder of Big Trees Inc., stated “We consider it important to know the latest methods and practices for successful tree transplant and tree care, and we consider that other experts in the landscaping field should also have this data so they can make informed decisions when they landscape a yard or recommend a landscape. We’re happy to bring our 20 years of experience to the Seattle community.”

Logistics and other data regarding the upcoming tour can be found here: http://www.apldwa.org/events-and-news

Ross Latham is the co-owner of Big Trees Inc. (http://www.bigtreesupply.com), located in Snohomish, WA, in the Seattle area. The company is one of the largest tree nurseries in the Seattle area with over 120,000 trees available in over 300 varieties. They not only can deliver young trees but also mature trees in a wide range of sizes. Some types of trees available include spring flowering, deciduous, evergreen, and privacy trees. The company also does tree transplanting including up to large trees. Their blog can be seen at http://www.bigtreesupply.com/blog/

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Tree Transplant Underway For Local Washington Park Arboretum

Big Trees Inc Overseeing Large Transplant Project On Behalf Of Arboretum Foundation

SEATTLE, WA: Big Trees Inc., (http://bigtreesupply.com/) is currently implementing a large tree transplant project of the Washington Park Arboretum, a large park managed jointly between the City of Seattle and University of Washington. The project is being undertaken on behalf of the The Arboretum Foundation, who are redesigning part of the park and enhancing portions of the planting areas.

The Washington Park Arboretum is a jointly operated area, where the City Of Seattle owns the actual land and the University of Washington owns all of the trees and plant collections. The Arboretum Foundation commissioned the project to enhance the beauty of the Arboretum, including the addition of a new section of the park with an Australian themed garden with plants and trees. They asked Big Trees Inc. to transplant 25 trees to the park and oversee their planting. This includes the moving of 3 large Birch trees and the use of an 90 ton operation crane for moving the large trees.

Ross Latham, owner of Big Trees Inc., stated: “We’re happy to take on such a large project. This isn’t the first time we’ve worked with the University of Washington, they turned to someone they knew they could trust. All of our efforts will go to ensuring these new trees will grow up strong in their new home, and we’ll be very happy to see the enhancement of this beautiful park arboretum.”

Ross Latham is the owner of Big Trees Inc. (http://www.bigtreesupply.com), located in Snohomish, WA, in the Seattle area. The company is one of the largest tree nurseries in the Seattle area with over 120,000 trees available in over 300 varieties. They not only can deliver young trees but also mature trees in a wide range of sizes. Some types of trees available include spring flowering, deciduous, evergreen, and privacy trees. The company also does tree transplanting including up to large trees. Their blog can be seen at http://www.bigtreesupply.com/blog/

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Developmental Editor Advises On Successful Writing Resolutions

Author And Editor Susan Mary Malone Speaks To New And Old Authors Alike On Writing

DALLAS, TX: Susan Mary Malone (http://www.maloneeditorial.com/), a professional developmental editor who has helped 45 of her author clients get published via traditional publishers, has recently issued a list of successful resolutions for use by new writers as well as those practiced and published. Ms. Malone urges writers to apply these resolutions throughout their careers.

Malone states: “Like dieting resolutions, scaling back a hair will help you successfully meet them. So, let’s put our writing resolutions on a diet, so that we can put our power behind making our dreams come true, and focus on the crux of the issue.

“Number One: Slow Down. Everyone wants to be published yesterday...

“Number Two: Take a Publishing-News Fast. Let’s face it—the news from publishing is mostly depressing...

“Number Three: Let your Creativity Soar! Write, write, write, and write...

“Number Four: Damn the Naysayers. And those are legion!...

“Number Five: Remember that Writing Well is a Journey. This is not a sprint, it’s a marathon...”

Malone then goes on to enumerate the specific pitfalls to watch for and detail the way to successfully achieve each of them. The full text of the essay can be found here: http://www.maloneeditorial.com/blog/?p=152

Susan Mary Malone has worked as a freelance editor since 1993, with a BS in Political Science and minors in English and Journalism. Her client list includes NY Times Bestsellers, Essence Bestsellers and books featured in Publishers Weekly. She is also an award-winning author of fiction and non-fiction herself. She participates as a speaker in literary conferences such as the Harriett Austin Writer's Conference (at the University of Georgia), the Blue Ridge Writer's Conference, the SouthWest Writer's Conference, and the East Texas Writer’s Guild, among others. Her full biography and featured list of published authors can be viewed at http://www.maloneeditorial.com

 

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