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Recognitions

Joan McNulty Pulver

Welcome to Recognitions, a column dedicated to proclaim the writing successes of Writers' Village University members!

It is January, a new year and a new beginning for many members of Writers' Village University. Quite a few members participated in the National Novel Writing Month challenge in November. Participants try to write a novel of at least 50,000 words in a month. Among the recipients of the NaNoWriMo Certificate are several members who succeeded in the challenge. They now have brand new novels to edit in this new year of 2004.

Wynelda-Ann Deaver, Wyndie to her friends at WVU, wrote 51,100 words for Witchling (or Dominion's Lament, she is leaning towards the second one), said she cried when she got the confirmation that her word count was accurate. "There is no other recognition, except for a cool little certificate and personal pride. The congrats of dear friends and my family are a great bonus as well."

Joining WVU in 1999, Wyndie belongs to Middle Earth study group and the Guest Chat team. "I could not have written the story that I have without the input of my fellow ME'ers. They have really helped to hone my writing ability, and have helped me to grow and stretch as a writer. Also, having that many comrades in this kind of battle is invaluable."

When asked what she thought about the experience, she answered, "You really learn who is supportive of your writing, God bless them. You also learn a lot about just how much writing time you do have. NEVER AGAIN! Or, at least not until next year."

Rie Sheridan wrote 50,227 words, surpassing the goal of 50,000 words for NaNoWriMo, for Sidhe Move Through the Faire. "Thank God it is over! I'm taking two days off before I start the edit." This is Rie's fourth full-length fantasy (though it will grow in rewrites) and she has several shorter pieces in publication.

"I joined WVU in 2000...I think...and I am not currently in a study group, though I am a Lifetime Member. I took F2K, the free writing course at WVU, twice and started a third time, but life got in the way. WVU has helped considerably. It was a tip from a fellow student that led to my first novel being published, and it has always been a great resource and support system."

Jeff Spock, author of Technophobe, accomplished writing 51,400 words during the NaNoWriMo challenge. "I breathed a huge and unbelievable sigh of relief when I found out I was a certified winner. It had been a long month of early mornings and late nights."

He joined WVU early in 2003 after finishing F2K. "WVU has helped me be more confident in experimenting and taking risks rather than just going with whatever seemed safest and easiest."

Sharon Walker wrote 50,275 words of her novel, A Life to Give, for the NaNoWriMo competition. "I couldn’t stop talking about what I had done. Finally I had to say, 'Enough about me'."

After joining WVU in November 2002, Sharon became a Lifetime Member not long ago. "I knew WVU was where I wanted to be and to stay for a long time. Currently I am not a member of any study group, but I do enjoy reading the posts. I’m sure one day I’ll be in one. I do not know yet what one though. I wouldn’t have been able to do NaNoWriMo without WVU. The facilitators are wonderful and WVU is an organized study site with so much material and interaction between members. Also, WVU helped me keep writing on my mind, which is really important. At the end of November 2003, I was pretty sleepy since there were times I’d be clicking away on the keyboard at 4:00 in the morning."

Sharon is a manager for a mini-storage company, which is perfect for her situation because it gives her time to write. "I’ve not discovered any dead bodies yet, but once I thought there was a lady in one and thought for sure her husband put her there. I have a very vivid imagination. One accomplishment, which I am extremely proud of, is that of teaching my grandchild to read. She turned 3 years in November and reads quite well. Now back to NaNoWriMo...would I do NaNoWriMo again? You bet!"

Sherri Arnold wrote her 50,023-word novel, Matter of Convenience, at the NaNoWriMo competition. "I felt elated when I finally passed the 50,000-word mark. I had fallen behind and it was a mad dash at the end to get it done, but when I got my work validated and the word 'winner' popped up under my name, it was worth it. It has given me new hope in my writing and my ability to get it done. I printed off my certificate and plan to frame it so it can give me encouragement every time I sit down to write."

She has been a member of WVU for about four years. "I have met many people here who have helped me along in my writing. The courses are great and I love being able to take them at my own pace and when I want to. I am not a current member of a study group, but have been a member of the Shadow Land and the Mystery Writers groups. Both were very helpful and encouraging. "Now that I have this draft written, I will be joining a group to help with the rewrite. The input these groups give is invaluable."

Angie Mansfield’s working title for her novel is Kalron .She said that when she found out she NaNoWriMo certified her, she took a deep breath, sat back in her chair, and screamed for a good five minutes. “Then I did a happy dance all the way around the room. I don't think I'm welcome at that restaurant anymore...”

After joining WVU three years ago, Angie drifted around, homeless, for a year or so before finding the now-defunct Binary Bards study group. When that group dried up, the Middle Earth group invited her to join them and has been there ever since. “In three years' time, my writing has undergone such a drastic change that I don't even recognize my older work now. My dialogue has become realistic, my descriptions have improved, and I finally got a short story published! I don't have any 'real life' writing friends to help me with critiques, so my WVU friends have been beyond valuable.”

Gary Frank, who wrote the novel City of Midnight, breathed a sigh of relief and shed a few tears upon realizing he had done something that few people have done, actually wrote over 54,643 words in a single month.

He joined WVU last October after taking F2K and won the short story contest at the end of the course. He is currently in the Shadow Land study group. "WVU made me more conscious of my writing and better capable of editing my work. As well as writing my brains out, I also play guitar and sing.”

Noa Shimoni wrote 53,216 words to her novel, Phoenix Awakens. When she found out she had been certified for passing the 50,000-word mark, "I jumped up and down, danced around the room and yelled so loudly that the neighbors wondered if I had finally lost my mind. Now seriously, after a month of writing every free minute I had, it was very gratifying to see that I indeed managed to write over 50,000 words in a month. However, I would like to point out that my novel is not finished. There are still chapters that need to be written, (I guess most novels are over 50000 words), and, of course, a lot of rewriting and revisions to be done.”

Joining WVU in September 2001 after completing F2K, she became a member of the Middle Earth study group. “Ah, well, there are so many ways I have benefited from WVU. First, there is the study group – wonderful people, all very supportive and good friends who give great, honest feedback. I'm sure my writing wouldn't have evolved and grown without their help. Giving feedback has also taught me to look at my own work with a critical eye to find my own mistakes.”

Noa has also taken several classes and now facilitates two. "I think that I've learned so many things while taking the classes that I find it hard to count them all. But what comes to mind right now is the way the classes I took helped me in my approach to writing in finding my own voice and the things that work for me as a writer on one hand, as well as in learning techniques such as working with an outline, freewriting, and editing my work. Facilitating the classes also gives me a lot of satisfaction. First from seeing how others learn and benefit from the classes, but because I also learn from each person that I encounter. I see different approaches and different ways to look at the same lesson and that always amazes me, but also enriches the way I look at the things I write.”

Marlicia Fernandez said that the novel, Heir Search, which she started in NaNoWriMo, is only about one-third of the way finished even though she wrote 82,841 words. "The plot is firmly in my head and I continue to move toward its completion." She was ecstatic and relieved to find she had indeed written 50,000+ words in a month. "I didn't think I could do it. It made me realize what I was capable of and motivated me continue to write in the future."

Marlicia joined WVU in July 2001 and is one of the original members of the Middle Earth study group. She is also a member of the Fantasy and Science Fiction Writers study group. "WVU has taught me to believe in my writing and myself, helped me to hone my skills and allowed me to learn and practice new ones. It has done all this in a friendly and supportive environment that is like a second home to me. I have had a few small publishing successes, both with poetry and prose, and am currently writing a short op-ed type column for a small but up and coming e-zine. I hope to get other pieces out and published while I finish and polish my works in progress."

Kat Yares wrote a 53,835 word novella, XIII, in 19 days and became certified at NaNoWriMo on the 20th day. "I was tired, elated and brain dead. Since then, I've printed it out and otherwise ignored it. I plan to wait at least a month before I read through it and begin to edit."

She took F2K twice before signing up as a member of WVU and recommends it to everyone. "I've been a member of WVU for approximately 2 1/2 years. I was once the group leader for both Shadow Land and Fade Inn study groups. At this time I'm not an active member of any group. Being a member of WVU has forced me to push myself harder than I might have before. The classes I have taken (even those I never finished) have made me look at my writing in new ways and have provided a foundation for me to learn more.

Living in the backwoods of the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, there are no 'face to face' writing groups for miles around Kat. "WVU has given me contact with many writers, and their critiques of my work have been very helpful. Through WVU I have made many lasting friendships that have extended to my real world far beyond my online experiences."

Niki Leigh managed to write 54,059 words during the NaNoWriMo challenge. Her novel, Widow's Walk, is a prequel to her first novel. "I am a third of the way through my novel, but I am thrilled to have that much written. There will be many additions, subtractions and revisions, but a majority of the plot is on paper. The remainder of the story is forming and ready to be put on paper."

Niki joined WVU over the July 4th weekend in 2002. She is a participant in the Crime and Punishment study group. Taking F2K shortly after she joined WVU, Niki also recommends it to many writing friends. "WVU has helped me to grow dramatically as a writer. It has given me the opportunity to meet other aspiring writers, and to feel I'm not alone in the quest to write a novel (or two) and to strive to be published. The camaraderie is invaluable. I gave myself a lifetime membership in the winter of 2002 and it is one of the best things I've done for myself."

Her first novel, Stormy View, was proofread at the end of last year; she is now in the position to start submitting it to publishers. "Without WVU and the encouragement, I believe the notes for Stormy View would've stayed in a storage box for another 16 years. Thankfully I took the notes out for a F2K project and dove into the story for NaNoWriMo in 2002."

Sheila Allen put her heart and soul into completing the challenge of NaNoWriMo and succeeded in writing 50,057 words of her novel, The Human Strain. "Upon completion of the 50,000-word goal, I felt an overwhelming amount of personal achievement. This was my first year to participate in NaNoWriMo. Writing a novel has been a goal of mine for some time, and the NaNoWriMo event helped me realize this dream."

"Upon completion and certification of my work by the NaNoWriMo event, my next goal was to continue the work I had started." Because of this, Sheila joined WVU the first week of December 2003. She is a member of the Non-fiction Focus study group. "WVU is a very professional, well-organized program that offers me the support and encouragement I need to keep me moving in the direction of my dreams. The diversity of courses offered allows me to grow as a writer in many ways. I have gained valuable information on writing articles that are worthy of publishing. The feedback I receive from other members of WVU greatly improves not only the quality of my work, but my skills as a writer. Fiction writing is one area that I have enjoyed learning the most at WVU. The courses and student interaction is showing me how to stretch my imagination in ways I never thought possible."

Congratulations, Wyndie, Rie, Jeff, Sharon, Sherri, Angie, Gary, Noa, Marlicia, Kat, Niki, and Sheila. We wish you continued success in all your writing endeavors.

We look forward to reading about your writing accomplishments in this column. If you or someone you know received recognition for writing, please send the information to recognitions@wvu.org.  Let us know!

About the Author
Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Joan McNulty Pulver moved to Florida about 30 years ago and decided to stay. She has five children (two girls and three boys) and five grandchildren (four boys and one girl). An Administrative Secretary for the State of Florida, she plans to retire in about seven years and then start her real career, writing. Joan hopes to have at least one novel finished and published by that time. She does a little volunteer work here at WVU and enjoys this community of writers. "I have learned so much here and like helping others learn along with me."