I went to a nonfiction workshop last week at the Homestead, which is a haunted resort in Midway, Utah. And since it's Three Things Thursday, want to know three things I learned?
1. From ghost tours guide Cassie Ashton: Ghosts are attached to places or objects. FACT. They are also boring. Try writing nonfiction about flickering lights and slamming doors all the time.
2. From author Dean Hughes: Hearing the truth spoken is often surprising since most people are used to hiding what they think. You'll find that good writers are always truthful. You'll also find that Louise Plummer is always surprising. If you want to see what I mean, visit her blog.
3. From author John Bytheway: Writing self-help doesn't mean you can say, "You should," "We should," "You must." It's self-help, not author-help. When possible, tell a story and let readers find their own solutions in it.
So it looks like writing nonfiction isn't that different from writing a novel after all. Unless you're writing about ghosts.
If you were a ghost, which three places or objects would you haunt?
14 comments:
I LOVE Louise and read her blog faithfully. Basically, I want to be her when I grow up. And I'd probably haunt my husband or children because that would be funny. :)
I've stayed at Homestead before, if only I had known about the ghost stories, that would have made our time there that much more fun! I like what John Bytheway said, but then again, I like pretty much everything he says :)
There's a haunted resort in Midway? I want to go!
I think haunted toilets are hilarious, so that would probably be first on my list of places to haunt. But maybe just the toilet aisle at Home Depot or something since it would be cleaner. I'm not sure what else I'd like to haunt. Maybe a beach house, since I currently want to go on vacation...
I think I would haunt Disneyland.
Jenilyn---I'll never think of Home Depot the same!
J.A.---The blue house by the main building at the Homestead used to be Fanny's house (I think), and she haunts it. Likes to throw open doors and turn on lights and stuff.
Whitney---Now I'm afraid of Disneyland. But sounds like a good place to be for all eternity.
Wait. Midway is haunted? HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS?!
Ann, the Homestead definitely is haunted. I guess it's a local secret.
I think old Victorian mansions MUST have a ghost to fully display their charm... I would reside in one of those. Plus I have always wanted to own one!
PS: interesting about self help. I like that a lot. I feel that the term "self help" can turn people off, inspiring stories on the other hand have a lot of appeal.
Sylinda, good choice. I think I'll haunt an old pioneer polygamist house in Utah. Not because I've always wanted to own one, though. I'm afraid of the ghosts.
I've never heard of this conference. Who put it on? I love the Homestead! Thanks for today's THREE.
Tabitha, it was the first year for this conference, and the High Valley Arts foundation organized it. Here's the website for future reference:
https://www.highvalleyarts.org/Solstice1.html
Can't believe I've lived by Midway my whole live and never knew the Homestead was haunted, heh! Next time you go to something like this, let me know. :D
Michelle, something like a writing conference or something like a ghost hunting? :)
Conference. :)
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