Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Ready to go for another week. I have two ideas for this Saturday's column and an idea for my writing in general.
CALLIOPE: What are the column ideas?
JOE: One is a lighthearted presentation of my observations in a mall on Saturday of a girl photographing a chandelier. The other is about finding your passion.
CALLIOPE: Quite a contrast. Which do you think will win out?
JOE: Hard to say. Maybe I will write both and then decide.
CALLIOPE: Sounds ambitious. How about the idea for your writing?
JOE: At Unity Church yesterday, Steve D'Annunzio gave his farewell lesson. In it he stress the quote from the bible about your heart being where your treasure lies. I don't remember the exact quote.
CALLIOPE: What did you take from it?
JOE: It is a familiar quote. I have heard it before but have not taken it to heart as my treasure. For me, it means that whatever I focus on becomes the most important part of my life.
CALLIOPE: How does that relate to your writing?
JOE: Last week I wondered about how to redevelop my passion, or perhaps develop it for the first time. My passion is whatever I make the center of my life. In reading well published authors, I realized they wrote with passion and put everything they had into what they wrote. Although I have tried to write about things I cared about, I have not written with passion.
CALLIOPE: And now?
JOE: I will write passionately. My goal is to put my whole self including thoughts, feelings, observations and sensations into what I write. Talk with you tomorrow.
(Raven- Tower of London)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good afternoon Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good afternoon Joe. I see you saved the best for last.
JOE: It's always a pleasure talking with you. I just got back from our whirlwind trip to Niagara Falls.
CALLIOPE: Thank you for the compliment. So how was it?
JOE: Very enjoyable. We drank wine and watched people in the park by the falls in the afternoon, notably families of Muslims and Amish.
CALLIOPE: Why were they notable?
JOE: I tend to think of people with different beliefs as being much different than I am. Just my preconception I guess.
CALLIOPE: So what did you discover?
JOE: When with their children, most people are the same regardless of their beliefs. It helped me see the common bonds between the world's peoples.
CALLIOPE: I guess that was worth the trip in itself. What about the concert?
JOE: Once we survived the smoke gauntlet through the casino and made it to clean air in the auditorium, we caught our breaths, literally. Then we thoroughly enjoyed The Neville Brothers and Doctor John's performances.
CALLIOPE: Did anything stand out?
JOE: I was impressed with the intensity of the performers' involvement in their music and their passion for it. Close up cameras let us see their expressions and mannerisms, which I don't recall being privy to in a concert before.
CALLIOPE: Any personal message for you?
JOE: Yes. In order to attain a high level of excitement in my writing, I need to feel it first and then portray it on paper. I will start looking for that excitement in me. Talk with you on Monday.
(St. Michael's Cave- Gibraltar)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Energetic.
CALLIOPE: What brought that on?
JOE: I'm not sure. How do you know it isn't my natural state?
CALLIOPE: Maybe it is. What's going on?
JOE: I awoke in the middle of the night thinking about where I am with my writing.
CALLIOPE: Where are you?
JOE: I have come to realize with the help of my readers that I need to do some work on my style and voice before completing Marital Property.
CALLIOPE: What did they say that brought you to that conclusion?
JOE: They observed in their own ways that my presentation tended to be bland. They graciously suggested my characters seemed flat instead of my writing. In reading popular authors, I could see the difference between expression of Danielle Steele for example and my own. I have also been reading about the craft of writing. My writing needs some work.
CALLIOPE: How do you plan to go about it?
JOE: Three ways. I will keep reading about style, reading writers with style attractive to the average reader and practice my craft with short stories for a while before returning to the manuscript of Marital Property.
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a good plan. Will you suspend your other writing in the mean time?
JOE: Not exactly. I have also started gathering teen writings to include in Commonsense Wisdom for Teens and getting that project back on track. I am going to Niagara Falls tonight for a Neville Brothers/ Dr. John concert and will be back probably tomorrow afternoon. I'll contact you then.
(Pond in the forest- Oramel, NY)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Fine. But most of today is busy with other people.
CALLIOPE: Is that bad?
JOE: Depends on how you look at it. I won't have much if any time to continue working on writing style.
CALLIOPE: What's the upside?
JOE: Most of what I read yesterday suggested or outright demanded that a good writer needs to be a good observer of people first and then combine observations with invention and fantasy.
CALLIOPE: Is that a problem?
JOE: No, but I wish I had done a better job of observing people over the years. I have mostly focused on thoughts and motivations and to some extent feelings but have largely ignored people's physical presentation.
CALLIOPE: How do you suppose that happened?
JOE: I can think of two influences. As a child I was always in trouble for one thing or another, usually mislaying one or another of my father's tools. My tendency was to become as unobtrusive as possible. I lived defensively.
CALLIOPE: And the other?
JOE: In the monastery we had a practice of mortification of the eyes, which meant not looking at others. Even though this was only for a limited time during my life, I think it had a lasting influence. It gave me the chance to continue the anonymity I sought in childhood.
CALLIOPE: Quite a set of realizations. What do you plan to do about the situation?
JOE: Work on being more observant and being comfortable having people see me observing. I'll start working on it during my hours of people contact today. That's the rest of the upside of having a busy people day. Talk with you tomorrow.
On the Beach- Martha's Vineyard)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Feeling energized.
CALLIOPE: By what?
JOE: I followed my good friend Gerry's advice yesterday and started looking at the styles of popular writers to see what makes them successful.
CALLIOPE: Is this a new venture for you?
JOE: Not really, but I am looking in different places now.
CALLIOPE: Tell me about it.
JOE: Before, I think I had a somewhat snooty attitude about good writing, feeling that "literary" writers were somehow superior to "popular" writers.
CALLIOPE: So have you lowered yourself to consider "lesser" writers.
JOE: I have. Gerry suggested I start with Danielle Steele. I resisted. He insisted. Finally I got her book Safe Harbor from the library and started reading it yesterday.
CALLIOPE: What did you discover?
JOE: There is a reason she has sold over fifty novels. Her writing is immediately accessible to ordinary writers. She writes the way most people think, including observations of mannerisms, mixing together reflection, behaviors and speech in a way which I think mimics everyday experience. I think she meets writers where they live.
CALLIOPE: Sounds impressive. Will you continue your explorations?
JOE: I have a few other books I will explore and carefully note each author's voice and how they approach readers. An interesting challenge. Thanks Gerry.
(Sunrise- Nantucket Sound)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today.
JOE: Focused. I have been quite busy already today.
CALLIOPE: Impressive. Doing what?
JOE: I was puzzled about the sound level on the video I recorded yesterday. Then I discovered my computer sound was low. I adjusted it this morning and now it seems fine.
CALLIOPE: So you finally produced a video.
JOE: Yes. I have a little more fine tuning to do but it is close to being ready for broadcast. I decided to start with a general video on The Pastor's Inferno and now will move on to the ten reasons.
CALLIOPE: You are starting to make some progress. Has the construction noise upstairs settled down?
JOE: Finally. It is now quiet enough to record.
CALLIOPE: What else are you working on.
JOE: A good friend suggested I read Danielle Steele to see what there is about popular writing that makes people buy it.
CALLIOPE: And did you?
JOE: I plan to go to the library today to review a number of styles including Steele's. I also did some research this morning on the difference between literary and popular fiction.
CALLIOPE: What did you discover?
JOE: Popular fiction concentrates more on character, hook, situations and story while literary fiction concentrates more on emphasis, tone, theme, strategies and moves. I think my goal would be to write challenging fiction which is also accessible. My challenge, should I choose to accept it. Talk with you tomorrow.
(Westminster Abbey- London)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Quite well, thank you.
CALLIOPE: Tell me about your weekend.
JOE: The construction upstairs finally settled down, at least for Saturday. I finally got to work taping my videos. I decided to begin with a brief general video on The Pastor's Inferno and then move on to Ten Reasons to read The Pastor's Inferno and Ten Reasons Not To.
CALLIOPE: Why did you decide on the general one first?
JOE: I thought it might be easier to do and I could also refer to Ten Reasons at the end.
CALLIOPE: I see. How did it go?
JOE: I'm getting there. The process is working. I was able to record a video, transfer it to a usable format and edit it without difficulty.
CALLIOPE: Any difficulties?
JOE: A few things to work on. The sound level was quite low which I can fix by moving the camera closer to where I sit or using an external microphone. I have a few annoying mannerisms I will need to limit. I also rock in my chair while talking which I found distracting and think my viewers will too.
CALLIOPE: So now what?
JOE: More takes. Any video I know of goes through a series of takes much like a movie scene until it is acceptable or even exceptional. The hardest part for me will be remaining patient rather than rushing to get something posted for the sake of having it done. I thought people got more patient as the got older. I have in some ways, but in certain areas I have the same impulsive drive I always have had.
CALLIOPE: Good that you at least recognize this.
JOE: I agree. Holding my horses remains a major challenge. Talk with you tomorrow.
(A leisurely stroll in Central Park)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I have been expecting you for a while.
JOE: I was feeling rather languorous this morning.
CALLIOPE: Still not back in gear after yesterday?
JOE: Correct. I spent most of the day in service to others. The whole morning was at the police training telling my mental health story as a parent and listening to others' stories.
CALLIOPE: And the afternoon?
JOE: I had planned to relax which I did for about fifteen minutes. Then my daughter asked me to go with her to look at a car.
CALLIOPE: Which you did?
JOE: Of course. What kind of father do you take me for?
CALLIOPE: And the evening?
JOE: I went to the first Jackson Square concert of the summer in Batavia for a Frank Sinatra tribute. It was a chance to relax and interact socially with others.
CALLIOPE: So you spent your whole day with others instead of by yourself?
JOE: I hadn't thought of it that way, but yes I did.
CALLIOPE: And today?
JOE: I found a book on the Craft and Business of Writing, a Writer's Digest book, and might spend some time reading it.
CALLIOPE: What about the recordings?
JOE: Ill fated. The construction continues upstairs. Either today or Monday I will get to them. Now I need to post my column on my website and get going for the day. Talk with you Monday.
(Columbus Circle- New York)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. What's on your mind today?
JOE: Antici----pation.
CALLIOPE: Sounds like an interesting story.
JOE: Perhaps. Several days ago my daughter asked me to sit on a panel today of people touched by mental illness. The audience consists of law enforcement personnel who will deal with mental illness in their work.
CALLIOPE: Are you prepared?
JOE: I didn't write anything out but I do have a general idea what I want to say. I will talk about wrestling with the idea of presenting, my background as a psychologist and some of my interactions with the police when various family members were beset by acute mental illness.
CALLIOPE: Sounds like you have a lot to say. Have you ever thought of writing about it?
JOE: I have written a couple columns and pieces for the Mental Health Association. I am afraid that going further would embarrass my family members. I guess it is up to them to tell their stories when they are ready?
CALLIOPE: Wise move. I hope it goes well today.
JOE: It's about time to leave. I will pause here and finish our conversation when I get back.
CALLIOPE: Good luck.
---
JOE: Hi. I'm back.
CALLIOPE: How did it go.
JOE: Quite well. Once I got started I managed to dispel my anxiety completely. This was the first time I ever talked without notes. I decided to trust myself and it went fine. Now to catch up on everything else. Talk with you tomorrow.
(Bridge in Central Park- New York)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Excited and full of energy.
CALLIOPE: I take it you had a productive day yesterday.
JOE: I did. One comment from Authornation, a new site I am trying out, suggested that the fonts were confusing in the current draft of my short story Child Bride. I wasn't sure what she meant and went back to read it. More than half of the story is internal reflection which I showed by using italics. It is confusing.
CALLIOPE: So what did you do about it?
JOE: I changed the voice and wrote the whole story in the first person eliminating the need for italics completely.
CALLIOPE: Interesting approach. How do you think it worked?
JOE: Too soon to tell. I have only received one comment so far suggesting the change made the story much clearer. Nice to know my efforts paid off.
CALLIOPE: Did you get anything else done yesterday?
JOE: I wrote my column for Saturday on walking out of a concert.
CALLIOPE: Which I can find on your website Saturday?
JOE: You're learning. It will be there.
CALLIOPE: What's up for today?
JOE: I think I'm finally ready to start recording the Ten Reasons video, barring any untoward construction noises from upstairs. Talk with you tomorrow.
(Gay Head Cliffs- Martha's Vineyard)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?
JOE: A little slow getting in gear.
CALLIOPE: How so?
JOE: Last night Carol and I attended our second concert of the Rochester International Jazz Festival, this time Gillespiana, a tribute to Dizzy Gillespie. I am still savoring the experience.
CALLIOPE: Glad you enjoyed it. You said you wanted to be more involved in activities outside yourself.
JOE: I did. I also made another discovery.
CALLIOPE: Which is?
JOE: I had suspected a relationship between various forms of creativity. I just finished my lighthouse project, taking my time to produces a polished work.
CALLIOPE: That's nice. What did you learn?
JOE: Developing patience with my painting translated into a more polished short story as well. I spent quite a bit of time yesterday revising Child Bride. I think it came out well.
CALLIOPE: Would you like my opinion?
JOE: Sure. It's posted on www.authorsden.com. Look up Child Bride or my name.
CALLIOPE: I'll do that and let you know what I think tomorrow.
JOE: I'd appreciate it. Today I plan to continue working on creativity, starting a new lighthouse painting and using what I have learned about myself and my writing to revise my other recent story, Or Not To Be. I also have a column to write. Talk with you tomorrow.
(Exploring Grossology- Strong Museum, Rochester, NY)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are how this morning?
JOE: Excited.
CALLIOPE: How so?
JOE: As you know I have been wrestling with creativity, my value, and other related anxieties.
CALLIOPE: I heard. Have you reached any conclusions?
JOE: I have decided to follow Guy Finley's advice and stop worrying about what I am missing and focus more on what I do have to offer as I am right now.
CALLIOPE: You said as much yesterday. How did you spend the rest of the day?
JOE: I finished my painting of the Block Island Lighthouse and was quite pleased with my ability to remain patient, completing it over the course of a week or so. I also spent some time yesterday looking up sites where teens posted to get a better sense of how they write and how I could write to appeal to them.
CALLIOPE: Any great discoveries?
JOE: Not yesterday. I found quite a few sites and noted them for future reference. I think they will be helpful in regaining my "teen voice."
CALLIOPE: Is that what made you excited?
JOE: No. I still had many of the questions which have been in my mind about how to obtain teen writing for my book and how to get permission to use it without alienating teens. This morning as
I reviewed some of what I had discovered, I realized that there was already a wealth of teen writing available on the Internet. All I have to do is to distill what would be useful for my book and obtain teens' permission to use their writing.
CALLIOPE: It sounds like there is still quite a bit of work to do but now it seems more possible.
JOE: Exactly. I am looking forward to the challenge and adventure. Talk with you tomorrow.
(Charlotte Beach- Rochester, NY)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Feeling better in general and more optimistic.
CALLIOPE: To what do you credit these developments?
JOE: Mostly to Guy Finley's book, The Essential Laws of Fearless Living, which I read this weekend.
CALLIOPE: What did you discover reading it?
JOE: I tend to live in my thoughts. I came to realize that I become lost in them and let them distract me.
CALLIOPE: Distract you from what?
JOE: From living in awareness of myself, my experiences and life rather than thinking and evaluating it.
CALLIOPE: How does awareness improve your state of wellbeing?
JOE: By stepping back from what consumes me and being aware of what I am thinking, I can free myself from the anxieties which were beginning to cripple me.
CALLIOPE: What anxieties have you identified?
JOE: Worry about whether my writing is good enough, whether I have anything worthwhile to say and whether I can write in a way which makes my writing accessible to others. In sum, I worry whether I am good enough.
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a waste of time.
JOE: It is. Worrying about what might be has never led me anywhere positive. I remember seeing my father worry about just about every possible tragedy. I saw how it crippled him and kept him from enjoying life.
CALLIOPE: It's always easier to see what others are doing wrong.
JOE: Right. I have also come to an awareness that the things we criticize in others are usually what bog us down the most in our own lives. This process is something I will work on today and let you know of my progress tomorrow.
(Butterfly Conservatory- Niagara Falls, Ontario)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Did you just get up?
JOE: I think you know me better than that. I was up before five, read the paper, walked with Carol, served her breakfast on the porch, watered my plants, did some painting, wrote today's journal entry and now here I am.
CALLIOPE: Impressive. And I thought you were loafing.
JOE: I must admit the thought did occur to me. I thought you could survive for a day by yourself. Once I got painting, I felt more enervated and ready to do some writing, at least with you.
CALLIOPE: I'm flattered. Is that all you plan to do today?
JOE: No. My story, Child Bride was posted a few days ago in Critique Circle (www.critiquecircle.com.) I plan to read the critiques posted and take them to heart. I am trying to be more observant, especially of myself and my inner workings.
CALLIOPE: What prompted that?
JOE: To some extent, reading Eckhart Tolle's Power of New and The New Earth. Yesterday I received a copy of Guy Finley's book, The Essential Laws of Fearless Living and started reading it last night.
CALLIOPE: What have you discovered so far?
JOE: The message is similar to Tolle's but to me the writing is more accessible. His essential point is how to stop worrying about all the things you think about yourself and concentrate on just being who you are without worrying about it.
CALLIOPE: Sounds good if you can do it.
JOE: I hope to. I think my recent funk came from fear that I wasn't a good enough writer. If I'm hopeless I might as well give up writing. Finley points out that entertaining such thoughts gives them life and lets them take over who I otherwise could be.
CALLIOPE: Interesting point.
JOE: I plan to read more of his book over the weekend and will let you know what I discover on Monday.
(Riverboat- Erie Canal)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: A little more optimistic than I have been lately.
CALLIOPE: To what do we owe the honor?
JOE: I was just wondering that myself. Maybe taking a little time out to regroup has helped. I also found some marketing links in Writer's Digest, inspirational writing and a writing contest, all of which piqued my interest.
CALLIOPE: I hope they all help. How are you coming with the videos?
JOE: I have been ready to start. Unfortunately, construction hammers, saws and vacuums buzz upstairs and it has been too noisy to record my videos. I think they will have to wait until it is quieter.
CALLIOPE: There's always something, as Gilda would say. So what are your plans in the mean time?
JOE: I'm trying not to plan too much at the moment. My lighthouse painting continues to take shape. I am working on it a little at a time trying to pay close attention to detail. I am doing better in this regard than I have in the past.
CALLIOPE: Do you see any connection between your painting and writing?
JOE: Both involve creative ideas for inspiration, however in painting I usually work from a model or photo, whereas in writing inspiration comes from within. I am beginning to discover that with both pursuits, putting any old thing down on paper results in an amateur product. Although inspiration forms the start, the polished product, at least for me, results from going back and paying close attention to details which bring my writing and painting to life.
CALLIOPE: Have you discovered this while painting?
JOE: You guessed it. During the painting class I took a while ago, I struggled with concentration on detail. However, when I was finished, I had produced paintings of which I could be proud.
CALLIOPE: Do you think you can apply this to your writing as well?
JOE: I think so. I have been questioning my writing ability lately. Now I am wondering whether I am using all my inner resources to produce a polished and interesting piece. I will work on this. Talk with you tomorrow.
(Original Erie Canal Lock- Lockport, NY)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I was afraid you might be sleeping in.
JOE: No. I had an appointment with my doctor this morning to see what condition my condition is in.
CALLIOPE: And what is your condition?
JOE: Good. I have lost considerable weight and am ready to try a decrease in blood pressure medication.
CALLIOPE: Good progress. What about your mind?
JOE: We didn't assess that. I think my physical progress provides an incentive to pursue my emotional well being.
CALLIOPE: What are you doing in that regard?
JOE: Continuing to work on recharging my batteries.
CALLIOPE: How?
JOE: Concentrating on reading good literature and looking for inspiration to improve my own creative expression.
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a good plan. Any progress on the publicity videos?
JOE: I finally have mastered the technology involved. I can now record, edit, convert and post videos to YouTube. This should also include MySpace although I have not tried it yet.
CALLIOPE: Good, what about the planning for Ten Reasons for and against reading The Pastor's Inferno?
JOE: I finished the outline a few days ago. Sorry I forgot to mention it. In my practice video yesterday, I recorded the introduction to Ten Reasons. I think it should go smoothly. I will continue working on it. Talk with you tomorrow.
(Erie Canal Lock- Lockport, NY)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Still pondering my lying fallow.
CALLIOPE: What are you pondering specifically?
JOE: I tried to shut off my logical brain for a while, but it doesn't seem to want to cooperate.
CALLIOPE: What is it doing?
JOE: Bringing up thoughts of whether I should continue my writing efforts or just enjoy retirement or do something else.
CALLIOPE: Sounds rather drastic. Where do you think those thoughts originate?
JOE: Probably from realizing that publicity and marketing are much more complicated than I thought even though I have been learning all I can.
CALLIOPE: Speaking of which, how are the videos coming?
JOE: I guess that's part of the frustration. I have struggled with the technology to the point of frustration. Finally I have all the pieces in place and have developed an outline for the first video, Ten Reasons To Read The Pastor's Inferno and Ten Reasons Not To.
CALLIOPE: So what's the problem?
JOE: I felt my energy drained by the effort. I'm ready to go technically but flagging in my motivation.
CALLIOPE: You mentioned recharging. Did you do anything in this regard?
JOE: Yesterday I resumed work on a painting of the Block Island Lighthouse I promised to have finished by the beginning of July. I also attended a picnic for cancer survivors last night and got out of myself as well as having some help putting my good fortune in perspective.
CALLIOPE: Those sound like positive steps. Now what?
JOE: More painting today. I think I will also try a test video with the technology I have recently discovered to consider the quality of the video. I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.
(Charlotte Lighthouse- Rochester, NY)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Pensive.
CALLIOPE: I think maybe you better explain that one.
JOE: Okay. Yesterday my trusted reviewer Jerry sent me his reactions to my current draft of Marital Property.
CALLIOPE: And?
JOE: He liked the story but thought the characters were too stereotyped and did not come to life.
CALLIOPE: Did his comments surprise you?
JOE: No. I felt the same thing as I was writing the story. I tried to make some revisions but I am afraid they fell short.
CALLIOPE: How do you think this happened?
JOE: I talked with Gerry about it and concluded that I have been living a fairly isolated existence lately with most of my time spent before a computer screen. I think I have become too insular and introverted. My creative juices have been drying up.
CALLIOPE: Not a good state for a writer. What do you plan to do about it?
JOE: I think I need to take a break from writing and work on restoring my creative energy maybe through art, photography and spending more time socially. I see myself as a cotton field which has been over cultivated and exhausted. It needs time to recover.
CALLIOPE: That seems to fly in the face of conventional writer wisdom to keep writing no matter what.
JOE: I realize that but I have not always been conventional. In fact, I think I am at my best when I allow myself to be unconventional. We'll talk some more about this tomorrow.
(Fishing boat- Dunkirk harbor)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. Ready for another week?
JOE: I guess so.
CALLIOPE: You don't sound too enthused.
JOE: I feel like an alligator sleeping on the shore, too lazy to move.
CALLIOPE: What a way to start the week. Do you have anything planned?
JOE: I do. Over the weekend, I spent my free time reading which I enjoyed. However I didn't start working on the videos.
CALLIOPE: So what's your excuse?
JOE: None other than inertia. But I did set them as my main goal for this week. I received a new cable for my video camera and will try it out today. If I still can't get me camera to connect to my computer, I will proceed using my webcam although I am not thrilled by the quality. But at least it would be a start.
CALLIOPE: I agree. You seem to have trouble becoming motivated in general lately.
JOE: I guess you're right. I wrote in my journal earlier this morning that I would just as soon spend the day sitting on the porch reading again today. But I don't think I will.
CALLIOPE: Where do you suppose the answer lies?
JOE: I think in just getting myself in gear. Once I am on the move mentally, I think I can keep going, the other side of inertia.
CALLIOPE: See what you can do today. Otherwise we will need to look at more drastic steps.
JOE: Yes Ma'am. I'll do my best. Talk with you tomorrow.
(Sandwash- Batavia, NY)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Hot, but otherwise fine.
CALLIOPE: Did you accomplish anything yesterday?
JOE: A swim, but not much else. I had little ambition yesterday and didn't even follow through with the few plans I had. However I did enjoy an outing last night with my grandson and favorite clown.
CALLIOPE: I guess we all deserve a little down time. How about today?
JOE: I don't have much time. I am baking bread and have coleslaw to prepare for this afternoon. I think the most I will accomplish will be to post my column on my website. Tomorrow I have little on the agenda and will get serious about planning my videos. I spent some time yesterday reading Maugham's Of Human Bondage, recommended for its description, particularly of characters.
CALLIOPE: And your conclusion?
JOE: Cindy was right. He does an excellent job. Recent literary fiction of my acquaintance is tricky and intricate but does not seem to have much of a plot. I think that is a missing element.
CALLIOPE: Why do you suppose this is?
JOE: Maybe life is seen as not having much purpose any more. I guess I'm not really sure. This phenomenon does not seem to appear in short stories I have read.
CALLIOPE: Something to consider. Anything happening with Commonsense Wisdom for Teens.
JOE: I have posted questions on several sites about the need for and process of obtaining teen permission for inclusion of their input.
CALLIOPE: Is there a consensus of opinion?
JOE: Questionnaire data seems OK to include but narrative seems to require parental input. The process remains somewhat of a mystery. But I will give it further thought. Talk with you Monday.
(Dishes drying- Batavia, NY)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Fine. I just got back from a massage and am feeling quite relaxed.
CALLIOPE: Ready to go to work now?
JOE: I am. Yesterday I caught up on most of my marketing and correspondence.
CALLIOPE: Most?
JOE: Well, I still need to send the Daily News review of The Pastor's Inferno to Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
CALLIOPE: Is that difficult?
JOE: It wasn't the last time I sent one. I hope it's not too complicated.
CALLIOPE: What's up for today?
JOE: I was just wondering that myself. I would like to review another story on Critique Circle and then post Or Not To Be for review. Then I think I will get to work planning the videos I have had on hold.
CALLIOPE: Why on hold?
JOE: I am not satisfied with the video quality of my webcam. I am waiting for a new USB cable for my Canon camera so I can use it for recording my podcasts. I expect it any day.
CALLIOPE: What's kept you from doing the planning?
JOE: Procrastination. I focused on other things while waiting for the cable. But today I'm ready to get going. Talk with you tomorrow.
(Sandwash- Batavia, NY)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?
JOE: Reflective.
CALLIOPE: On what do you reflect?
JOE: Mostly my writing. I was sailing along in a cloud of hubris imagining myself the next John Updike or Ernest Hemingway.
CALLIOPE: What dissipated your cloud?
JOE: I read the contest winners' entries against which I recently competed. I thought my story was great when it wasn't, either upon reflection of my writing group or in comparison with the other entries.
CALLIOPE: What do you conclude from that?
JOE: One conclusion is that I am not the literary equal of Mozart. Finished work does not flow from my pen, at least not at this point in my writing career and probably never will. Creating a polished piece involves hard work and concentration, while at the same time remaining in a creative mode, a delicate balancing act at least for me.
CALLIOPE: Quite a realization. Does it make you reconsider your writing career?
JOE: No, but I have a new respect for the craft of writing and what it involves. I can easily create pedestrian work, but that is not my goal. I have considered my mission to help readers understand themselves and their impact on others. But I have come to realize that no one will read what I have to say if I don't make it interesting and engaging.
CALLIOPE: So it's not just a psychological challenge?
JOE: No. It's also a literary one as well. I don't know why I never realized this before. Sometimes it takes me a while to discover insights which seem obvious once I unearth them.
CALLIOPE: Well said. Now what?
JOE: I will continue writing but try to avoid distractions from my craft or at least use them as challenges and try to convert them into something creative. I'll start working on it today. Talk with you tomorrow.
(Alcatraz)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?
JOE: Much better thanks.
CALLIOPE: Do what do we owe this resurgence?
JOE: I left for the Liftbridge Writers Group meeting last night plagued by self doubt about my writing and also wondering why my efforts were not appreciated more.
CALLIOPE: Did the meeting change your somber mood?
JOE: Indeed. What I thought made for a good story contained some glaring errors and an obvious (to everyone but me) inconsistency in the age of my protagonist which thoroughly distracted everyone including me once it came to my attention.
CALLIOPE: How did you end up submitting such a flawed piece?
JOE: I just finished pondering that matter. In my excitement about developing a story idea so quickly during the 24 hour contest, I became carried away and ignored some of the basics. When I write, I like to let a story percolate a while before I reconsider it for necessary revisions. I did not allow myself enough time for this to happen and submitted it in its raw state. No one to blame but me.
CALLIOPE: So you learned something from the experience?
JOE: I did. Next time I will build in some percolation time to let the story settle before a final review.
CALLIOPE: And you learned all this last night?
JOE: Yes and No. Our new member, Cindy, pointed out how our unconscious mind can sense what we can't articulate at the moment. I think this happened to me last night and I didn't realize what I had learned until I started writing my journal this morning. Thanks, Cindy.
CALLIOPE: So where is this story now?
JOE: Posted on Author's Den if you are interested. Look for The Child Bride under short stories at www.authorsden.com. Talk with you tomorrow.
(In Muir Woods, California)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Okay.
CALLIOPE: You sound a little glum. What's bothering you?
JOE: I told you a while ago about the short story contest I entered. I thought I wrote a very good story.
CALLIOPE: And?
JOE: It won no prizes, not even an honorable mention.
CALLIOPE: So?
JOE: Now I am beginning to doubt my writing. I have noticed more difficulty lately being creative.
CALLIOPE: Have you thought about seeking some other reactions to your writing?
JOE: I have. Two people I respect are currently reading Marital Property and will no doubt return honest appraisals. I will also post Child Bride and Or Not To Be in two on-line communities for feedback. I am also meeting with Lift Bridge Writers Group and will share one of my stories, probably Child Bride.
CALLIOPE: Do you think the religious criticism overtones of Child Bride had any influence on the contest judges?
JOE: I wish I knew, but they don't offer any feedback. I do plan to read the winners and see how they differ from my writing.
CALLIOPE: Good idea. It's always good to consider the source in assessing opinions.
JOE: You're right. Maybe I'm selling myself short. I will defer judgment. Talk with you tomorrow.

(California Shoreline)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How was your weekend.
JOE: I enjoyed it. On Saturday I worked on my story and on Sunday I relaxed and read.
CALLIOPE: Tell me about the story.
JOE: Okay. I told you I was working on it, but not furiously. I transferred what I had written to the computer and reviewed what I had written.
CALLIOPE: How do you usually write a story?
JOE: I usually start with a theme and begin writing. As I progress I develop the characters, plot and ending.
CALLIOPE: Did this one work that way?
JOE: For the most part. I took a walk after transcribing what I had written. When I returned, I had in my head quite a few ideas about ways to strengthen my presentation. I also had the ending in mind.
CALLIOPE: Did you finish it?
JOE: Not yet. I plan to today or tomorrow so I will have it ready for the Liftbridge Writers Group tomorrow night.
CALLIOPE: When can I see it?
JOE: I will post it on Critique Circle and Author's Den probably on Wednesday and let you know when it is ready for your viewing.
CALLIOPE: I can't wait.
JOE: I'm excited about it too. This is the first short story I have written in some time. Talk with you tomorrow.
(Cable Car- San Francisco)