Writing to Publish

W2P GUEST SPEAKERS

Cara Jones

Ms. Jones is a videographer and professional story teller.

[Technical note: from 2011 onward the chat logs appear different, because our W2P guest sessions were held in an IRC-based chat room, rather than via an AOL chat room.]

10/01/12 18:55:23 Opening "Chat Log 10-01-12"

ewriters has joined #write2publish
CJ has joined #write2publish
PCarlson: Hello
CJ: Hi Paul!
PCarlson: You made it! :)
CJ: Yes! My first chat :)
PCarlson: Did you brag and invite any friends?
CJ: Sorry had a crazy few days and have not had a chance.
PCarlson: Please feel free to do so, maybe post the link on your Facebook page. The more the merrier!
PCarlson: Folks will be arriving soon, hard to say how many.
CJ: Ok
PCarlson: Some give a very formal presentation, others prefer to share . . . be a storyteller.
PCarlson: Some jump straight into a fast multithreaded Q&A session.
CJ: Ok am I meant to lead here or just answer questions?
PCarlson: We'd love it if you told about yourself, and describe your work.
PCarlson: Two are jumping over from AOL now. (From that usual chat room)
MorenoHill has joined #write2publish
MorenoHill: Greetings, everyone.
PCarlson: Hi Adam
CJ: Ok, hello friends. I am a former broadcast journalist who left the business to start a company that now produces short inspiring films for nonprofits. Feel very lucky to love the work. Nice to meet you all!
PCarlson: :)
PCarlson: Carol and Josie will be here in a minute.
PCarlson: Bunch of slowpokes! ;)
Shirley has joined #write2publish
PCarlson: Hi there Sunny
Shirley: Hello. Am I in the room, Paul?
PCarlson: This is THE place.
Shirley: Hello Cara Jones.
CJ: Hi Shirley!
Josiphine1 has joined #write2publish
PCarlson: Here's Josie
Rose1533 has joined #write2publish
Shirley: Adam, Rose, Hi
Shirley: Josie Hi
Rose1533: Hi, all.
Josiphine1: Hi everyone. :)
MorenoHill: Hello, Shirley
MorenoHill: ewriters, it's been a while.
PCarlson: Carol's here. I guess we can formally get started.
PCarlson: Everyone, we're pleased to host Cara Jones this evening.
PCarlson: We write fictional stories, and sometimes, our own memoirs.
Rose1533: Fantasy.
PCarlson: She works with a different milieu, other people's true stories.
PCarlson: Unlike the mainstream media, GOOD stories.
CJ: Thanks for the introduction Paul!
Josiphine1: Hi Cara
CJ: Hi Josiphine, sounds like you all do amazing work...in print. My medium is video...much easier I think!
PCarlson: Cara, if you like, please mention a bit of how you came into this project.
PCarlson: I recall some heart-wrenching stories you shared, from your days as a TV reporter. What set you on this new course.
CJ: Sure, I was a frustrated television news reporter. On the outside had a glamour job working in Boston.
CJ: But one too many bad experiences impacted me.
CJ: In particular an experience I had accidentally informing a girl her mother died on a car accident story.
CJ: worst day of my career, and the day i decided that after nearly 10 years in the business I couldn't do it anymore.
CJ: So i went traveling the world, found myself again...
CJ: And came back to this deep love of telling people's stories... especially those who had something to teach me about struggles overcome, life lessons learned, just awesome people i had the honor to get to know because i was the journalist.
CJ: So I came back from my travels and decided to become a yoga teacher, then realized i couldn't live in San Francisco and pay my rent. :)
CJ: So I got deep into my passion for storytelling and started www.storytellersforgood.com
CJ: i work with nonprofits here in the bay and beyond to help not just create promotional videos but tell stories that will move people.
PCarlson: Now folks, would you believe Cara that it's her very first online chat session? She's a natural! :D
CJ: :)
CJ: Last note is that I have a business side and a nonprofit side that raises funds for inspiring stories that need to be told.
CJ: that's it!
PCarlson: Saul sends his regrets, he's getting up super early for some kind of show in the morning.
CJ: And so what do you all usually discuss here?
Rose1533: We critique each others works in progress.
PCarlson: Micki is coming.
CJ: Cool, what a great support network.
PCarlson: Her memoir was recommended by MADD, because it's a grabber of a true story, about her daughter who was killed by a drunk driver.
Rose1533: I would have never been published without their help--5 different critique groups. This is the only one still going.
PCarlson: Yet, quirky and funny too.
CJ: Amazing. That's an inspiring story for sure.
Rose1533: Yes, Micki's book is great.
Micki_ has joined #write2publish
PCarlson: Here's Micki
Rose1533: Hi, Micki.
PCarlson: Who's got a question for Cara?
Rose1533: Were your ears burning? We were talking about you.
Micki: Sorry so late--fridge broke--out shopping for a new one.
Micki: Yes, Rose they were--I got this immediate urge to rush over here. Lol
PCarlson: All those in-laws, plumb wore out the fridge!
Micki: grandkids more likely!!
PCarlson: LOL
Micki: Cara, did I read you are a journalist?
Rose1533: You're the only one to write non-fiction outside my short story about my daughter.
PCarlson: Cara, have you written much, in text form?
PCarlson: Copy for broadcast, or grant proposals, and stff?
CJ: Hi Micki I just started a blog with the huffington post but only a few posts so far.
PCarlson: (YOu can answer each Q in turn -- no hurry, :)
Rose1533: I often read the stories on HP.
CJ: I love writing but takes me much longer than splicing people's interview's together.
Micki: Really--I read Huffinton Poat--was wondering how to post there myself--I'll look for you--I may have read your post.
Rose1533: That's where so many of the main stories on AOL link to.
PCarlson: Yes
CJ: Yes its a great platform.
CJ: A bit of a mystery how they choose bloggers.
Micki: Huffington--I usually call it Huff and Puff. :)
CJ: :)
Rose1533: LOL!
CJ: I got an email from one of their editors randomly, and was surprised that they barely edit.
Micki: I finally broke down and blog and it does sell books but mostly I just post my articles and short stories--don't actually blog.
PCarlson: That's a good motivation to polish up one's grammar!
Rose1533: Yeah, I've noticed that. Some misspellings.
Micki: Cara, I wrote for 3 newspapers and none of them ever edited, unless it was to make their own error.
CJ: Works for me! Working on a post now about a trip to India and Bangladesh this fall to cover stories of the first female surfers in the region, who are learning to surf despite societal barriers.
Micki: I think it's great!!
Micki: Did you write a slice of life type one about two weeks ago--that was pretty good.
Rose1533: The one time I wrote for a paper, it was the church paper, and they edited so badly, they changed the meaning of what I intended. I was furious they hadn't contacted me first.
CJ: Broadcast stations do that too!
Rose1533: That was nearly 30 years ago. College daze.
PCarlson: They change the meanings?
Rose1533: Not anything terribly serious, but it wasn't what I wrote.
Micki: Yes, they don't realize it can change the nuance of the story--one editor changed freedom to democracy which was totally unnecessary.
PCarlson: Hmm . . . female Bangladeshi surfers. That is the very definition of exotic. (Time for a new Beach Boys tune?) ;)
Rose1533: I got the credit, but I wish I hadn't.
CJ: Beach Boys with a little Banghra.
PCarlson: Cara, what sort of feedback do you usually receive? I mean, for your video tales?
Micki: Cara, that sounds like a great story and a trip too--doesn't get better than that--just watch out for sharks--big one hang out there.
Rose1533: Do your stories ever make it to the news anymore? Your videos, I mean?
PCarlson: (I've found there's often a lot _less_ than one might expect, no matter how large the audience.)
CJ: Most of our videos are used as fundraising tools.. and then live on websites.
CJ: In phase two I hope to strike a deal with a website, or a news outlet to share our content.
Rose1533: Which causes do you represent?
PCarlson: I mean, do they generate personal comments? (In addition to contributions?)
Micki: What type of videos-the news ones that Huf-post uses?
Rose1533: Or do videos for, rather?
CJ: I work with all kinds of nonprofits...usually people trying to make the world better based on some challenge they faced in their own life.
CJ: Huffington Post content is mostly written.
Micki: I think that's wonderful!! I always wanted to do something like that until 6 kids and 10 grandkids got in the way. :)
CJ: Yes Micki, I'm single and making the most of it. :)
CJ: Would someday like to have grand kids too though!
Micki: Good for you--enjoy it while you can!
Rose1533: Any you can speak of? I have a lot of causes I try to support--environmental, Autism/Asperger's, Epilepsy, Alzheimers.
Micki: Live your own life first--you can't always get it back after kids.
CJ: Thanks Micki!
CJ: Great you support so many causes Rose.
CJ: The beauty of this work is that I get to feel I am also supporting a bunch and learn so much about such diverse projects in the world.
Rose1533: Many of those affect my family.
Micki: Cara, it's a wonderful opportunity--enjoy it!! It sounds both fun and fulfilling.
CJ: Yes...most days for sure! I also really appreciate the flexibility to travel and not have a boss!
CJ: That does mean I don't sleep a lot sometimes though as it all comes in waves.
Rose1533: You spoke of accidentally telling a young girl her mom was dead. Something like that happened here.
Micki: I finally got a decent pay for an animal story to an e-zine mag and he gives the money to my favorite animal charity--I mean what are the chances of that. lol?
CJ: Wow Micki!
CJ: And what happened Rose?
Rose1533: The crash of Delta 191 at D/FW. The plane bounced off a local highway first, crushing a car and killing the driver.
CJ: Ugh
Micki: I love charities but for pete's sake, I don't get paid much if anything for online e-zines and then the one time . . .lol
Rose1533: News showed the car, and the license plate was clearly visible. That's how the woman found out her son was dead. Ghastly.
CJ: Oh that is horrible horrible they are not supposed to ever do that!
Micki: Media needs to be more careful of things like that--they tend to get carried away with the story, rather than the people.
Rose1533: That was back in 1985. Someone forgot to blot it out, I guess.
Micki: Cara, in your work you won't run into so much of that--hopefully.
CJ: Sad thing is that stuff still happens.
Micki: Yeah, and I guess it always will.
Rose1533: I guess it does, but I haven't heard of it.
CJ: Until enough people turn away.
CJ: A question for you all...why do you think people watch that kind of news? Even though everyone talks about how sad it is....stats show people still watch.
Micki: Rose in New york a few times the reporters have made remarks thinking they were off mike and got caught with their foot in their mouths--and fired.
CJ: I make no judgments...am just curious about your thoughts.
Rose1533: I don't know, but I did. And I drive by that spot pretty often, too.
CJ: understandable!
Rose1533: Live about 10 miles from D/FW.
PCarlson: I remember being in a spectacular wreck, in Denver. The TV crew arrived before the ambulance.
Micki: Cara, with so much killing, terrorism, etc. in the world today I think people become apathetic to it and don't consider it real--that happened with news reels back in the Vietnam war.
PCarlson: I though the guy was going to stick the camera in my face, it was a bloody mess, but thank God he did not.
Rose1533: Incidentally, we had three small earthquakes in the area. I felt the two on Saturday night. Not the one last night. It was much weaker.
CJ: In my mind there is news that needs to be told even when not good...then there is what i call junk news.
PCarlson: Indeed
Rose1533: Yeah. A lot of good came from that plane crash.
CJ: its like junk food...its cheap, fast and tastes good...but not good to eat everyday.
Micki: Geesh Rose-no one hurt? That and tsunamis are my biggest fears.
CJ: My ideal news would share the hard stuff that needs to be told for everyone's safety and awareness... but focus more on solutions.
Rose1533: Doppler Radar at all major airports and a world-famed plane fire training at the edge of D/FW airport property.
PCarlson: See there Carol, that is a story that came out GOOD, in the end.
Micki: Cara, have you noticed Huffington Post is starting to run the odd stories and Hollywood type stories--getting to be like the Enquirer--I liked it better when they were more straight news and commentary.
CJ: Yes I have seen some of that...
Rose1533: Yes. When ever I see smoke coming from that direction, I know they're training. they get fire fighters from all over the world.
CJ: Again Micki its always hard to tell whether they are influencing audience or audience influences them. Either way, I'd rather see it on Entertainment Tonight than Huff Po for sure.
Rose1533: I like it when something good comes from a sad story.
CJ: Me too Rose...and I saw a lot of that covering news...the worst bringing out the best in people.
Micki: Well said--they have to please their audience but read some of the comments--I've noticed a lot of them are critical of the junk news which has been a tad wild lately.
PCarlson: It's strange, we often get worried warnings, and yet social violence is mostly going down. Despite horror movies and nasty video games and stuff.
Rose1533: The Amber Alert is nation-wide now. The girl it was named for is from here.
Micki: Paul, maybe because terrorism is going up, maybe??
Rose1533: I wonder the effect of those violent video games.
CJ: Fear is a powerful emotion that our news does a good job stirring up.
Micki: Rose I so agree with you on that--and now my one grandson is joining the Marines when he's too immature to fight a terrorist war. He's played those games since childhood and real war is not a game.
Micki: CJ yes they play up on that big time--especially with catastrophic earth events.
CJ: I worry about those like your grandson too.
Rose1533: No, it's not. Good luck, Micki. Mark, of course, has been there, done that in the USAF, but our nephew is in the Navy. In Japan.
PCarlson: Micki, you recall our friend Jeff's futuristic stories. Nasty cold hi-tech terrorists. And, Jeff says, the only cure is to improve human nature itself.
Rose1533: Yeah. I remember.
Micki: Me too CJ--boy's playing a man's game with no ral ideaof whatit's like until it's too late.
PCarlson: Meanwhile, hope the cops and intel guys do a really good job.
PCarlson: Micki, remember my son Joshua is in the Marines.
Micki: I remember Paul and I think that is happening but not equally so we get nicer and softer while the terrorists stay fanatical and crazed.
PCarlson: They do reject a lot of applicants, if they are not physically and/or intellectually fit.
Rose1533: Got two nephews who are 6 weeks apart in age. Mark's brother's son is the one in the Navy. My sister's son just earned his PhD.
PCarlson: No slackers in Carol's family! :)
Rose1533: LOL!
Micki: Paul--that is my prayer for him every day and he is color blind, so maybe he won't make it.
Rose1533: The brilliance is on my sister's side, though. She's and her husband are both Electrical Engineers.
Micki: Paul how does he like it? He hasn't been in that long has he?
PCarlson: Not sure about that detail, but there are full medical tests. Plus, they made him a pincushion with every known type of vaccine and shots.
PCarlson: By now, over 2 years. He looks forward to becoming a full Corporal, so the others won't bug him so much.
Micki: I hope he stays in this country.
PCarlson: We shall see.
CJ: Sounds like a great kid!
PCarlson: He is.
Micki: Another one to add to my prayer list.
Rose1533: Cara, sometimes the stories are about people we connect with or places we connect with.
PCarlson: Cara, any current story you'd like to share with us? That you're working on now?
Micki: Cj do you do news stories or mostly analysis and commentary?
CJ: Just finished a favorite about two kids from Oakland who plant vegetable gardens in backyards of low income families.
CJ: They grew up on fast food and one has a heart wrenching story about his parents being deported and growing up alone.
Rose1533: Whenever there's a wounded soldier overseas, they get flown to Ramstein, then bussed up to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. Military dead go through the mortuary at Dover AFB. We were stationed BOTH places.
CJ: Love when people turn their life's pain into their life's mission.
Micki: That sounds great--I read something like that on someone's blog I think--can't remember where I saw it.
Rose1533: Emily, our daughter, was born at Dover.
CJ: Others are Save the Bay (working to save Redwood City from development), and a summer camp that teaches kids computer skills.
Micki: I love that so many young children are trying to make the world a better place with fund raising and all manner of things--we could learn from them.
PCarlson: Fresh veggies in Oakland, this is very good to hear.
Rose1533: And the post office for the military in the Ramstein area is IN the hospital on the Landstuhl Army Post.
PCarlson: Sounds a bit like my own little back yard.
Micki: Great human interest story, Cara--good luck with it.
CJ: Thats a good backyard to have! They've inspired me to grown some things in my city back porch.
CJ: Thanks Micki.
PCarlson: I'm going to have a big fresh hot pepper for dinner. With dinner, I should say.
Rose1533: Our church has a vegetable garden. I'm not sure where the veggies go. Food pantry, perhaps.
CJ: Yum!
Micki: It's 11 PM my time and I'm looking at 170 work-related e-mails so I'd better say goodnight.
PCarlson: You can grow a lot, even on a balcony. Herbs, salad greens, etc.
Micki: Even tomatoes.
PCarlson: The hour has flown by, and then some!
CJ: Yes, thank you all!
PCarlson: Tomatoes will grow upside down, from the bottom of a hung-up bag of dirt.
Micki: Cara, I'm so glad I got to meet you. I'll be watching for you on Huffingpost!!
Rose1533: We do a 'Bag It' night to provided uniforms for under-privileged kids in the FWISD.
CJ: Great Rose and thanks Micki!
PCarlson: Thanks very much, Cara.
Rose1533: I will, too.
Micki: And enjoy your surfing trip/job, but please be careful!!
CJ: Thank you Paul!
CJ: Will do Micki!
PCarlson: I'll fix up the chat session log to send around, and eventually post it to our web site.
Micki: night guys stay well.
Rose1533: Are you on Facebook?
Rose1533: Night, Micki.
CJ: I am Cara Jones in San Francisco. You'll see a picture of me from Burning Man. :)

10/01/12 20:15:45 Closing "Chat Log 10-01-12"

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