[McNairMail] McNAIR MAIL - No. 4.8 text only (less interesting edition)

[McNair]

The singer returns to the microphone . .
............................................................................
.

€ McNair Mail € 
.............................................................
Vol. 4/No.8 from the Ministry of Imagination


³The worst thing I can be is like everyone else.²
- - Arnold Schwarzenegger


McNair Mail No. 4.8 (yr/mon) € Here in the Bay of Saint Francis our weather
is at its hottest and sunniest, when locals deny there is ever "heat" here,
but here it is and welcome. Herein, the thoughts, news, and imaginings of C.
McNair Wilson. These musings are meant to goad, cajole and inspire the
passersby. Please ask before reprinting any of this. Company (in-house)
newsletters, church bulletins are herewith granted permission for one-time
use. Please always include attribution: ³McNair Mail² www.McNairWilson.com.
Pastors, quote me. It only makes you seem well-read. McNair Mail is FREE and
voluntary. You can subscribe/unsubscribe at www.McNairWilson.com. Sent in
HTML only. 

IN THIS EDITION:   
................................................................
€ Words on Words -- what are you writing?
€ Must See DVD -- "...to end all wars"
€ Shakespeare's Hat -- a fundraising miracle
€ Where's McNair -- time to have McNair back

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

All the write questions
WORD  PICTURES

Dateline, Asheville, NC, "The Cove" is a beautiful conference center in the
verdant hills south of town, but just a stone's throw from a quaint little
grill and tavern that welcomes the pipe smoker and the biker. I saw no
mispelled tattoos. (Wednesday night is karaoke and we were there as well!)
Meanwhile, back in the forest, gathering of more than 200 writers for the
twice-annual Christian Writers Conference. Editors, publishers, authors, and
almost and would-be authors met for nearly a week of seminars, great food
(really), "thick-skinned critiques", interviews and general encouragement.
    The ever-whimsical Jerry Jenkins--author of all twelve books in the
outrageously successful Left Behind series--is major domo of Christian
Writers Guild and hosts the conference with verve and élan. Other general
session speakers were the always fascinating Philip Yancey (What's So
Amazing About Grace, my favorite of his many good books) and the
indefatigable Gloria Gaither (lyricist of 4 billion songs.) They each spoke
two of the four evenings. I doodled and took many notes as they were both at
once inspiring, idiosyncratic and worth their weight in fountain pens. I was
tasked with filling the four morning general sessions with, as Jerry put it,
"Shake 'em up."
    "We're have a special "shaking up" this month." I was happy to comply.
    A key feature of the week was the day-long accessibility of virtually
all faculty and staff. Jerry's superlative Writers Guild was excellent at
shadowing us so they could "rescue" us from those who were in the mood to
recount their entire life story, beginning with, "I won't keep you, but..."
By and large I enjoy chatting with folks about their creative process and
current projects, but there were one of two who did go on a bit.
    One author wanted my advice on her story that she had written and
already published! Finally, I said, handing back the copy she had given to
me, "You should have this published!" Looking confused she stood silent.
    "What I just did there--give you the book--THAT'S what you must do now.
Take it to book stores, conference centers, libraries and ask them to carry
your book. Give it to them. It's a word picture (me handing you the book.)
While you're at it, go on a speaking tour telling your story and sell your
books."
    "I do that now." She seemed surprised that I had not surmised this fact
already.
    "Great. Keep it up." And before the next syllable escaped her
well-glossed lips I added, "I am a speaker and an author. I am not a
publisher or a bookstore owner. I can't help you distribute your book which
is already published. I can only encourage you to write articles related to
the subject matter in your book and accept every invitation to speak that
you possible can."
    "But - - "
    "But now I will talk to the folks behind you who have been waiting
patiently. That's really all I have to give you at this time."
    She stepped aside not totally satisfied with what I had "given" her.
    (That story is a composite of several conversations I had with "the
already-published.")
    I very quickly--on the first day--realized I needed to ask folk to "tell
me about your book in one or two sentences." Be more direct. Letting them
ramble served them poorly.
    "First let me tell you about what's happened to my manuscript so far.
    "No thanks. Tell me the objective of your book in one sentence."
    "Do you mean -- "
    "Tell me WHY you have written this book."
    "Well, my other books, not all of which have been published--"
    "Pick one." I'd say looking right into their eyes and sometimes,
depending on their level of anxiousness, I'd place my hand on their hand or
forearm to quell their frenetic gesturing.
    Most everyone their was eager to share the story of their story about
writing something. I wanted to assist them in getting clear, cutting to the
chase on the WHY of their book or article. Most would be having a fifteen
minute appointment with one to three publishers who were there and wanted
them to be ready to use that very valuable time effectively. Many were
self-published and many were, as yet, unpublished. Fine. Tell me the story
as sussinctly as you can.
    More than once a writer told of having spent several YEARS working on
one book that was not yet finished. Nor could he or she congeal it down to a
sentence or two.
    One author had attended the conference some time back and in a  fifteen
minute appointment with a publisher was told her manuscript, though well
written was waaaaaay too long. The publisher liked her writing, but... She
was, at the time, crushed. Upon re-examining her work she realized she had
actually written TWO books. She worked and worked and not only got it
published but won a prize for best first novel. She encourage her fellow
writers to listen to the feedback, "Even when it hurts."
    One of the older attendees was also one of the most energetic. She had a
book that was published and had sold thousands of copies. She clearly knew
her objective, the books singular purpose--the real heart of her book. She
was also a speaker. I encouraged her to talk to other attendees and tell her
brief and powerful story.
    "Are you writing any more books?" I asked her finally.
    "No. This," Slapping the cover of her book, "This is my story. It's all
here, what I have to say."
    "How great that you know that." We smiled.
    
So, dear reader, what's your story. Are you writing any of it down for your
kids, friends, relatives? Have you sent a chapter off for inclusion in one
of the magazines you read? Why not? It's really not up to you to decide if
your story is publishable. If even one other person, besides your pal
McNair, has ever hinted at or outright encouraged you to write it and get it
published, do it. It might not be accepted by the first place or even the
tenth place you send it. Madeleine L'Engle's classic, A Wrinkle in Time, was
reject by more than thirty publishers. In 1999 TIME magazine called it one
of the three best children's books of the 20th Century (along with
Charlotte's Web and The Chronicles of Narnia.)
    I got lucky. My first book was published by the seventh publish I showed
it to--having been rejected by six high-ranking friends at other houses.
    If you've never written, grab Natalie Goldberg's highly-accessible Wild
Mind and get to it with pencil and pad, fountain pen and linen paper or
laptop and however many fingers you use to fashion syllables into sentences
and form paragraphs into pages.
    My friend Jerry Jenkins wrote every word of the publishing phenom
LEFT BEHIND series with two fingers and a thumb (for the space bar.) That's
twelve books and over one million words! To date they have sold more than 60
million copies. Now that's a word picture!
    Imagine yourself published. That's the picture. Start writing, today!
That's the word.
    
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Must see DVD
...TO END ALL WARS

Not since Chariots of Fire have I been so moved by a film with a clear,
though not didactic, message of hope and forgiveness. After nearly three
years of struggling to get his film a broad theatrical release, producer
Jack Hafer finally got a video/DVD release in June. "...to end all wars" is
the true story of a group of British and Australian soldiers and officers in
a Japanese POW camp in Burma during World War II. Based on a book by a
British officer who was there (and a key character in the film) it was
filmed in Hawaii and stars Keifer Sutherland and Robert Carlyle (whom you
will recognize)--a powerful Scotsman. Along with several of England's more
remarkable screen actors they cast three of Kurosawa's top Japanese film
actors as the officers and translator in the camp. You will be further
enlightened by the interviews with the Japanese actors in the "making of"
bonus feature on the DVD. They share their thoughts on participating in a
film that shows the rarely-told story of the brutality of Japanese-run POW
camps (there were many.)
    Early on producer Hafer received grand praise for the film from Kathleen
Kennedy (who had produced many of Steven Spielberg's films.) She told Jack
that he'd have trouble getting a major studio to release it as it was brutal
though not overly graphic and carried a strong spiritual message. She told
him that Spielberg showed Schindler's List to every studio in Hollywood,
twice, and now one wanted to release it. (It went on to win best picture and
several other Oscars.) She was right about ...to end all wars, but it is in
the top fifty rented films currently and that with little publicity from its
distributor.
    This is a moving film. It does contain the POW camp harsh conditions and
course language. I actually thought it was far less violent than it might
have been. It will not soon be shown in churches due to its "R", but it
would be a great Friday night event to show it as an "open to the public"
event with discussion following for any church or college. I do not believe
it should be viewed by students below high school, but that's really a call
for parents to make.
    Make a bee line to your local video shop or, better yet, go online to
www.half.com and snag a "like new" used copy and share with friends.
    We showed it at a big theatre conference this past June and at the end
of the film there was a long moment of stunned silence and then a boisterous
and unanimous standing ovation.
    Though there are several key moments in the film that moved me to
prolonged tears, the most powerful scene, for me came near the end of the
film in one of the story's simplest moments when a truckload of Japanese
soldiers arrives at the camp...I won't give it away.
    Before seeing ...to end all wars I only thought I knew what Jesus meant
when he said, "Love your enemy."
    Let me know your reaction to ...to end all wars and any interesting
settings you show it in at church or in a friends wide-screen, family room,
home entertainment center.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

A big idea for tiny budgets
SHAKESPEARE'S HAT

My friends at California Shakespeare Theatre here in the Bay area had a
little idea about raising a few extra dollars last year. The revived the old
tradition of passing the hat and their hat was far too small to accommodate
their audiences' generosity.
    At each performance of the Summer '3 season they asked audiences to drop
a quarter in the hat on their way out. With four different plays per season
(and over 100 performances) they hoped to raise an additional ten to fifteen
thousand dollars. With fingers crossed they announced the plan night after
chilly night to audiences in their 499 seat outdoor theater. The soon had to
switch to big buckets as virtually everyone was dropping a buck or
more--every evening--into the hat. By summer's end they had collected--over
and above ticket and t-shirt monies--forty thousand additional dollars.
    A lesson to us all. "Ask and it shall be given to you." Let folks know
what you need, give them an opportunity to contribute (goods, services,
time, money) and then stand back.
    Next time someone in your community organization, non-profit arts group
or faith-based enterprise says, "We can't afford it." Tell them about
Shakespeare's hat.
    
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

On the road
WHERE'S MCNAIR

My web site's calendar has now been update and you will see that my "dance
card" is not very full in the coming months. If I have been with you in the
passed let's do it again. Maybe last time we did an Imaginuity event just
for your in-house team. How about a return engagement and share Imaginuity
with your clients and customers, or churches and ministries of ALL
denominations in your area. THe networking at these events is electric. You
can see an outline and poster for an all-day Imaginuity event on my web spot
under "The CURIOSITY Tour."
    If your college, conference of church has hosted one of my one-man
plays. lets present one of the others (there are THREE now) in a local
community or college theatre for a weekend. My current repertoire includes:

€THE FIFTH GOSPEL
What if God came and lived among us?
What if It has already happened?

€FROM UP HERE
The epic comedy of God's greatest hits

€RAISED IN CAPTIVITY-LIVE
A Memoir of a Life Long Churchaholic
(Presented in simple storytelling/stand-up comedy format
and based on my latest book of the same title.)

All three shows are appropriate for audiences of all ages, beginning at age
eight. Raised in Captivity-LIVE! was created for church audiences or those
who once attended religious services (including "Sunday School"). Each show
has minimal logistical setup and requires basic theatrical technical needs
(raised stage, wireless body mic, bright lighting.)

Call NOW our prayer counselors are standing by to accept your tax deductible
donations...or answer scheduling and logistical questions. We can always add
you on to an existing trip (see calendar on web site.) As I travel solo, it
is easy for me to get anywhere quickly. I don't tour. If you'd like to know,
"when will you be in our area" invite me and I'll be there.  Yes, you CAN
afford me.

Sunday, 19th September I am looking for a performance/speaking opportunity
in the Chicago area. I will be at a conference in a hotel near O'Hare
(through Sat. evening) and--for a church--I could do a five minute preview
in your AM services for a performance that evening. AND...the following week
I could be, anywhere. It's wide open.

Booking info: Tim Grable at Nashville Speakers Bureau 1866-333-8663

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

While they last
THE MISPELD CLASSIC

There are still a few copies of the first edition of my book RAISED IN
CAPTIVITY with the title misspelledd on the binding. It actually says
"Captivitity." (Really!) I am happy to autograph any book you purchase
directly from my web site. I donate one dollar per item (videos, too) to my
favorite house-building charity.

>>>>>>>>>>>/\<<<<<<<<<
Thanks for your patience, it has been too long since the last
McNAIR MAIL
I have already written parts of the next two.
Stand by....

>>>>>>>>>>>\/<<<<<<<<<

Register to vote. Be informed. Be involved. Be dialing you phone, NOW.


C. McNair Wilson € 110 Pacific Ave./No.155 € San Francisco 94111
(415) 995-1964
    
www.McNairWilson.com
Booking 1-866-333-8663