Grunting at the Willamette Writers Conference

Before words, there was just a series of grunting.

C. C. Humphreys

This year's Sunday lunchtime guest speaker at the Willamette Writers Conference was C. C. Humphreys, actor and author of historical fiction and young adult books. He spoke about not just words, but words. Words that can move, incite, comfort. Words sharper than swords, softer than velvet. He mentioned that he was disappointed at how he read the lines when he played Hamlet,

years ago, at the part when Polonius asks the prince what he is reading, and he replies, "Words. Words. Words." Like, what do you expect I'm reading? But he feels he should have delivered the lines differently, like 1.) I'm reading words. 2.) Words, which are so amazing they evoke scenes in our heads. 3.)Words that may not have completely described an allusive feeling.

I thought of it today when I turned onto the gravel road leading up to my house and had to stop for a great blue heron in the middle of the road.

But that is not how I should write it.

Perhaps it would be:

A Great Blue Heron, his long neck stretched high, and the enormous gray wings spread, blocked the gravel road, forcing me to crunch to a stop. Until then I'd been anxious to get home, but now I smiled and watched as he flapped enough air under his wings to lift, gliding down the bank to the shady creek bubbling twenty feet below.

So, I can see C. C. Humphrey's point. Words...conveying meanings. Words...conveying a picture. Words...which fail to completely capture the joy.

Pacific Northwest Writer's Association 2010

This year I attended the PNWA Writer's Conference as a guest of Pam Stanek who was a finalist in the Adult Short Topic category of their annual writing contest. All of the finalists, and their guests, met outside the banquet hall for the awards dinner. We were escorted in first, before all the other conference attendees and seated at tables in the front. The banquet was great, as was the British C. C. Humphreys, the guest speaker. If you ever get a chance to experience him as a guest speaker, I advise you to do so. He is great entertainment.

Pam Stanek is in my critique group. Although she has written a fabulous book, she entered a short memoir into the contest. It is a powerful story. When she read it to our critique group she had us all in tears by the end.

"You're going to win," I insisted.

"Oh don't be ridiculous. I'm not going to win," she scoffed.

Below, please see her picture as the third place winner in her category. There were over 1,200 entries in this year's PNWA contest. Being third is an outstanding feat. Right now, as I write this, she is locked in a small room with a gaggle of agents, pitching her book. And they are paying attention to her because now she is an award winning writer. The evening with the agents is only available to the first, second and third place winners.

Congratulations to the award winning Pam Stanek. I hope to see your book in print soon.