Conversations with Calliope- Dialogue with My Muse

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Warm but well. We are experiencing a hot spell but still have a nice breeze most of the time.
CALLIOPE: Enjoy it while you can. Winter in the Northeast comes all too soon. What's happening on the literary front?
JOE: I am working consistently on Marital Property chapter by chapter.
CALLIOPE: Do you still like the first person narrative approach?
JOE: The more I write, the happier I am with it. I think it will improve the book quite a bit.
CALLIOPE: Any progress with marketing?
JOE: I have been concentrating more on writing this week.
CALLIOPE: What about the video?
JOE: I completed an outline and recorded a draft. I would like to refine it a bit more and polish it before I publish it on You Tube and My Space.
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a good idea. Any plans for the weekend?
JOE: Other than a concert tonight, I plan to concentrate on reading.
CALLIOPE: Does that help your writing?
JOE: I'm sure it does. I think it is important to surround myself with creative expression to encourage me. Talk with you on Monday.
(Jackson Square Concert- Batavia, NY)

Conversations with Calliope-Dialogue with My Muse

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. I was wondering what kept you.
JOE: Sorry I'm late. I ran across a series of videos portraying the effect of our cruel use of animals and discussion of how it affects our lives at Transformation of Energy blog (http://gracefulgnosis.blogspot.com.) I also found a quote from Tolstoy, "As long as we have slaughterhouses, we will have wars."
CALLIOPE: Quite profound.
JOE: I thought so. As much as we would like to think we resemble Native Americans and others who thanked animals for giving us their lives to sustain us. We prefer to hide from the slaughter and the cruelty which accompanies it.
CALLIOPE: What do you make of Tolstoy's quote?
JOE: I think any violence, even done on our part without our direct knowledge inclines us toward violence toward each other.
CALLIOPE: Quite a realization.
JOE: Yes, and I think this includes sexual and verbal violence as well as physical.
CALLIOPE: Do you think violence towards animals explains our violence toward each other?
JOE: I wouldn't go that far but I think there is a connection.
CALLIOPE: What do you plan to do about it?
JOE: Be more aware of my connection to animals through food, clothing and entertainment. I will also continue to make people aware of their effect on others and influences on how we act.
CALLIOPE: Sometimes I wonder if it's worth the effort.
JOE: I do too. But not making the effort just allows us to become more callous. Talk with you tomorrow.
(Bailey- Allegany River)

Conversations with Calliope- Dialogue with My Muse

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Quite well thank you.
CALLIOPE: How did work on the column go yesterday?
JOE: Smoothly. I started out writing the text since I did not know what the title should be.
CALLIOPE: Did the title arrive in time?
JOE: Just as I finished the column. Thanks for the inspiration. Learn to Appreciate Music as a Common Language seemed perfectly appropriate. I'm not sure if it will show up in exactly that form in the newspaper.
CALLIOPE: Why's that?
JOE: I wondered about my columns being retitled almost every submission and started working harder to find appropriate titles. I finally inquired and learned that they adjusted the title depending on how much space they had rather than for any other reason.
CALLIOPE: Quite interesting. So what's on the docket for today?
JOE: I had planned to record Are You Afraid of This Book as promotion for The Pastor's Inferno yesterday but didn't get to it. I couldn't face you this morning with nothing in hand so I recorded a draft of it this morning.
CALLIOPE: So it's not finished?
JOE: No. I plan to record several other drafts until I am happy with it. Maybe some day I'll move toward professional recording but not right now.
CALLIOPE: Why not now?
JOE: Financial considerations. But maybe in the future. Back to work. Talk with you tomorrow.

Conversations with Calliope- Dialogue with My Muse

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?
JOE: Relaxed and refreshed.
CALLIOPE: On what account?
JOE: I am planning a column on how music brings us together. Last night I had the pleasure and privilege of hearing a concert in Centennial Park of Batavia presented by the Buffalo Symphony Orchestra.
CALLIOPE: Did the concert provide you with some ideas for your column?
JOE: Sort of. It provided me with experience but not with words. I know the feeling I would like to convey in my column but not how to express them. I can't even think of a good title for the column.
CALLIOPE: Do you need some help?
JOE: Of course. Would you be so kind?
CALLIOPE: I will consider the matter and drop you some hints today if I am at all able.
JOE: You're a kind muse. Thank you. Not too long ago I read a post by a person taking his muse to task. It seemed ungrateful to me.
CALLIOPE: Me too. Muses have the job of inspiring people but not always with the inspiration they expect or want, or dare I say even feel they deserve.
JOE: I agree. It is presumptuous to expect a muse to do one's bidding.
CALLIOPE: As I see it, the point of having a muse is to stretch your imagination and offer you ideas you would not have thought of on your own. You can't expect to be thrilled by every idea which comes your way.
JOE: Again I agree. I don't have to accept every idea you send me. But if you do send it, I think it is my duty to at least consider it and wonder why. Talk with you tomorrow.
(Dusk- Allegany River)

Conversations with Calliope- Dialogue with My Muse

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Fine. I feel rested and energetic.
CALLIOPE: How do you plan to use this energy?
JOE: I have several activities planned involving other people. Still, I have some time for myself. My first priority is to record Are You Afraid of this Book.
CALLIOPE: Please refresh my memory.
JOE: Okay. I think some readers are fearful of The Pastor's Inferno due to its theme and content. Rather than hoping their fears will abate, I thought it might be useful to address them directly.
CALLIOPE: Weren't you working on that over the weekend?
JOE: I was. I completed the outline Sunday but didn't have time to record it yesterday. It seems the summer is busier than I thought it would be.
CALLIOPE: So you plan to do it today?
JOE: Yes. I also learned something interesting yesterday.
CALLIOPE: Which is?
JOE: Larry Shearer wrote a review of Young Man of the Cloth for Amazon. He liked the book but commented that one particular conversation did not sound true to life.
CALLIOPE: So what did you learn?
JOE: That part of the editing process in fiction could be to read passages from the point of view of the narrator or other characters being described. I will be that character for a moment and consider whether the passage describes me accurately. I'll try it today and let you know how it works. See you tomorrow.
(Bailey on the Allegany)

Converstions with Calliope-Dialogue with My Muse

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Raring to go.
CALLIOPE: Good. I take it you had a refreshing weekend.
JOE: I did. I chauffeured my clown Fuzzy to the Oatka Festival parade. While watching the parade I made two new contacts. Later we relaxed with friends in Penfield. Yesterday I found some sale books at the Leroy Library and continued reading The Poisonwood Bible and also completed my outline of the video, Are You Afraid To Read This Book.
CALLIOPE: Sounds busy as well as relaxing. What's on the agenda for today?
JOE: I have some library books out which I want to review for style today. I also have an evaluation to complete and the video to record.
CALLIOPE: That should keep you busy. Any progress with Marital Property?
JOE: No, I haven't had time to work on it. If I have time later today I will. If not, I will get back to it tomorrow.
CALLIOPE: You sound more organized today than you did last week.
JOE: I'm working on it. I feel I have a better sense of direction this week. I think it will help me get more accomplished.
CALLIOPE: I hope you're right.
JOE: I hope so too. Talk with you tomorrow.
(Morning- Leroy, NY)

Conversations with Calliope-Dialogue with My Muse

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today.
JOE: So far, so good. Carol and I had a delightful breakfast and are ready for the day's events.
CALLIOPE: Which are?
JOE: Her first gig in a parade as Fuzzy the Clown. She's a little concerned about the predicted heat but we have water planned along the way just in case.
CALLIOPE: What else?
JOE: Pat and Dick invited us to their pool later to refresh ourselves after the parade.
CALLIOPE: Any literary adventures planned today.
JOE: Not particularly. I don't think I'll have time for any formal activities. I plan to take my camera to the parade to see if I can spot any characters or incidents worthy of note for future reference. That's about it.
CALLIOPE: So, a little break from writing?
JOE: Indeed. I think it helps every once in a while to step back and look around to see what is happening. I noted several unusual characters at concerts the past two nights. Unfortunately I forgot my camera last night to record the most unusual.
CALLIOPE: What do you mean by unusual?
JOE: Very strange body types as if a person were constructed by committee using spare parts. Also combinations of clothing left over from the show, What Not to Wear.
CALLIOPE: What do you plan to do with these observations?
JOE: I would like to use them as characters in my short stories and perhaps as minor characters in my novels. Time to start observing again. Talk with you on Monday.
(Oatka Festival Parade- Leroy, NY)

Conversations with Calliope-Dialogue with my Muse

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?
JOE: Plotting.
CALLIOPE: Plotting what?
JOE: How to best use the limited time I have available today.
CALLIOPE: What's limiting you?
JOE: I have a massage scheduled this morning. This afternoon I will be doing a police candidate screening in Buffalo. Tonight I am attending a neighborhood concert.
CALLIOPE: I see. So what do you plan to do with the time in between?
JOE: I have two priorities today. One is to outline a video promotion for The Pastor's Inferno. The other is to continue revising Marital Property.
CALLIOPE: At least you have a focus. Will you have more time tomorrow?
JOE: No. I will probably have time to talk with you but I am delivering Carol to the Oatka Festival Parade where she will march as a clown. Then we are visiting friends with a pool to make the heat more bearable.
CALLIOPE: And Sunday?
JOE: I might have some time then and can do some reading. I am continuing with The Poisonwood Bible as an example of first person narration.
CALLIOPE: At least you're keeping busy.
JOE: I am, but sometimes I feel scattered. I think I need to be more careful about planning my time. Talk with you tomorrow.
(Sculpture- Charlotte Beach, Rochester, NY)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: Relaxed. I spent last night with friends listening to a Coupe Devilles concert and dancing at Charlotte beach in Rochester.
CALLIOPE: Sounds like fun. I'm glad you're continuing to socialize. What's doing on in your literary world?
JOE: I am continuing to work on my revision of Marital Property, changing it to a first person account. The more I do the more comfortable I am with this approach.
CALLIOPE: What do you like best about it?
JOE: The characters are coming to life and all have a chance to share their perceptions on observations. I think it makes for a much richer story.
CALLIOPE: I'm surprised you didn't think of it before.
JOE: Sometimes I need a kick in the pants to see reality. I thank my readers for their incisive comments helping me sharpen the text.
CALLIOPE: I agree that it's better not to write in a vacuum or at least let your story see the light of day for a little airing out. What do you have on the agenda for today?
JOE: More of the same- work on Marital Property and work on marketing.
CALLIOPE: Speaking of which, how is The Pastor's Inferno doing?
JOE: Not so well. I think the book scares many people with its theme.
CALLIOPE: What do you think you can do about it.
JOE: I've been wondering that myself. I have been considering promotional material directly addressing these fears. I think it's at least worth a try. Talk with you tomorrow.
(Aerial sculptures- Charlotte Beach, Rochester, NY)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?
JOE: Ready for another day. I have written in my journal and checked my email. Now I'm ready to go.
CALLIOPE: Tell me about yesterday.
JOE: I worked on Marital Property again. All of my major characters have made an appearance in the first person. I am still debating whether to use present or past tense in my narrative.
CALLIOPE: Why is that an issue?
JOE: I feared that present tense might get tiresome, especially in a novel length story. I decided to experiment with it and so far I like the results. I think I will continue with it at least for now.
CALLIOPE: What if you tire of it?
JOE: Then I will switch to past tense or a combination of past and present tense.
CALLIOPE: Do you have any models to consult.
JOE: I am reading Barbara Kingsolver's Poisonwood Bible as I mentioned. She uses strictly first person and present tense for the most part although I noticed some sections with past tense.
CALLIOPE: Which tense do you like better with her book?
JOE: I think I like present tense better, but that doesn't mean it will work for me.
CALLIOPE: True. It's fun to experiment though isn't it?
JOE: It is. I am happy to have this opportunity to try various approaches and be free to choose whichever I like best. Talk with you tomorrow.
West Chop Lighthouse- Martha's Vineyard)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you this morning?
JOE: Better than yesterday. My computer was very sluggish for some reason and it frustrated me.
CALLIOPE: Amazing how we come to depend on electronics. What was the problem?
JOE: Hard to say. I was experimenting with some new programs. Perhaps one of them gummed up the works. I deleted some programs and found it working much better this morning.
CALLIOPE: Did you get to work on your writing yesterday?
JOE: I did. Later in the afternoon I did some work on Marital Property revising it to a series of first person accounts.
CALLIOPE: Where did you get that idea?
JOE: The storyt needed more immediacy and insight into characters who were previously rather lifeless. I also remembered Barbara Kingsolver's book, the Poisonwood Bible which I think we discussed before where she tells her story from rotating points of view of several characters. I thought this might work with Marital Property.
CALLIOPE: And is it?
JOE: So far I think it is. I have revised only a few chapters but I think the characters are starting to come to life. I am still wrestling with whether to tell the story in the present or past tense. I am experimenting with present tense. So far, so good. But the jury's not in on that point.
CALLIOPE: I'm glad you are experimenting. That's what writing is all about.
JOE: I agree and am having a good time in the process.
CALLIOPE: Good. That should keep you involved.
JOE: So far it has. I'm looking forward to continuing the adventure. Talk with you tomorrow.
(Amish buggy and cart- Belfast, NY)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How was your weekend?
JOE: Very nice. There is something relaxing about water no matter where it it. I awoke early on Saturday morning sharing the Allegany River with only a circling eagle. It was one of the high points of the weekend.
CALLIOPE: Did you enjoy being with people for a change?
JOE: I did. Many of them I knew only marginally. But our hosts were good friends of many years.
CALLIOPE: Now that you are back to work, what plans do you have for today?
JOE: I plan to review the information I gathered from the Writers Digest book, The Craft and business of Writing. It is one of the most informative and practical books I have encountered in some time. It gave me useful information about voice as well as editing, both of which are current concerns of mine.
CALLIOPE: Any other plans for today?
JOE: I would like to continue working on a revision of Marital Property. I don't think I told you I decided to write it as a series of first person accounts, somewhat in the style of Barbara Kingsolver's Poisonwood Bible.
CALLIOPE: Have you started on it?
JOE: I did last week and completed a few chapters. I was pleased with the result.
CALLIOPE: How do you think this change will affect the book?
JOE: It feels more immediate to me and hopefully will bring more life to the characters than evident in my limited omniscient approach.
CALLIOPE: I will be interested to see what develops.
JOE: So will I. Perhaps I will post the first chapter on one of my websites for anyone interested. Time to get going. Talk with you tomorrow.
(Sunrise on the Fourth of July- Allegany River)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope. How are you this morning?
CALLIOPE: Hey, that's my line. But now that you ask, I'm in fine fettle, whatever that is.
JOE: Glad to hear it. I have quite a few things I would like to do this morning and am not sure where to start.
CALLIOPE: What are the front runners?
JOE: I need to post my column to the Daily News and my subscribed readers before anything else happens.
CALLIOPE: Was this your experimental column?
JOE: Yes. I wrote it as a short story based on my recent mall experience. I am anxious to see how it is received.
CALLIOPE: Let me know what happens. What's next?
JOE: I have several other projects on tap. I have been thinking about publicity for The Pastor's Inferno. It seems to me that it might scare people in light of its topic. I have been considering a short video for You Tube with the title, Are You Afraid of This Book?
CALLIOPE: Sounds like an interesting approach. What would you say?
JOE: I don't have anything prepared. It's an idea which occurred to me yesterday.
CALLIOPE: Good luck with it. What else is going on?
JOE: I am heading for the Allegheny River tomorrow for a little camping and good company.
CALLIOPE: A little socialization for a change.
JOE: Yes. I have been a bit into myself lately. I am looking forward to some time with people and possibly some painting while I am out in nature.
CALLIOPE: Enjoy it.
JOE: I will. Talk with you either Saturday or Monday depending on when I get back.
(Camping on the Allegheny River)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How was your writers' meeting last night?
JOE: Very good. We had a new member, Carol, who is gifted in my opinion and who is also an insightful, respectful contributor.
CALLIOPE: Always a nice addition. Did you receive good feedback on your story?
JOE: Good in the sense of helpful, yes. I worked on the story carefully but still made mistakes others noticed instantly. Some observations touched on personal writing style but were still worth considering.
CALLIOPE: So now what?
JOE: I will make revisions and post it as my Saturday column. This will be a new direction for me. If it goes over well, I will probably start posting stories on a more frequent basis.
CALLIOPE: What advantages do you see this providing?
JOE: Sometimes I don't notice what is happening around me and struggle for a column topic. If I can rely on my imagination I don't think I well ever run out of ideas.
CALLIOPE: But this story was about noticing details of ordinary life.
JOE: It was. I have come to realize that an interesting article or story comes from the intersection of observation, imagination, creativity and invention.
CALLIOPE: Quite a crossroads.
JOE: I'll say. That's what I have been busy considering lately, especially how to juggle all these elements and bring them together to produce writing people will want to read.
CALLIOPE: You seem to be up to the challenge.
JOE: Sometimes it seems daunting, but I'll do my best. Talk with you tomorrow.
(Breakwall- Dunkirk Harbor)

Conversations with Calliope

JOE: Good morning Calliope.
CALLIOPE: Good morning Joe. How are you today?
JOE: I'm ready to go for the day.
CALLIOPE: What's on your agenda?
JOE: My first priority is to complete reports from police candidate screenings I did yesterday, one of my few remaining psychological duties.
CALLIOPE: Then what?
JOE: I have a column to write for Saturday and also a writers' meeting tonight in Brockport.
CALLIOPE: Have you decided on anything to read tonight?
JOE: I did just this morning. I had planned on reading a story I have been revising, but decided to do something different.
CALLIOPE: Are you going to tell me?
JOE: Hold your horses. I'm getting to it. I was reading last night about personal essays and realized many of my columns were of that genre. I decided to write one about the chandelier in the mall and also take the column for review tonight at my writers' group.
CALLIOPE: You have never submitted a column to the group?
JOE: No. I have almost always taken a book chapter for review. Lately I am working on writing style and I think this might be a good chance for input on my recent efforts.
CALLIOPE: Sounds like a good plan.
JOE: I think so. I'll let you know you know how it goes tomorrow when we speak.
(Moorish Castle- Gibraltar)

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)