The Writer's Mailbag: Installment #309

Fine lessons on the craft of writing. Hope your extracted tooth area has healed completely. Have a great time in the remaining week.

I stopped by earlier this week but forgot to leave a comment. Thanks for answering my question. Even though you won't write in it I love the alien theme.

Someone mentioned a pen named. It reminded me of the great writer CS Lewis and his book A Grief Observed in which he wrote about the agonizing grief he experienced at his wife's death. He put it under a pen name N.W. Clerk because it was so raw and personal, and by that time he was such a renowned author, he didn't feel comfortable being that transparent. After his death his stepson had it put back in his name.

The only bummer about your missing tooth is that that the tooth fairy didn't leave you anything...or are you holding out on us on that one?

I'm confused about the autobiography. Doesn't the writer commit to being honest, transparent and vulnerable? Anything else would be labelled fiction, I thought.

Hi Bill, it is an understandment. Enjoy your life.

Hi Bill, my Bro.

I have two front teeth lost and overall more than 5 or 6 teeth lost both up and down. But, I am going on well with no stress. If I have to implant them, I am to get all of them removed and get a fresh set for my mouth as per the dentist. So, I am unable to think of it.

And, regarding the autobiography, my " A Tribute to Your Spouse" article includes some such stuff annoying my relatives who troubled my wife. A son of her elder sister read the Tribute article and shared those annoying things to my sister-in-law here. They started complaining to me for writing such things. So, I amended the article a little bit so that it doesn't directly refer to them.

Hi Bill i am sure there are many who can relate to your series of events. I enjoy reading your hubs and you tell it as it is.

Bill - As usual, some great topics here, and looks like there's been very good discussion started already, too. When it comes to grammar, I have been probably been far too willing in my lifetime to use the red pen when helping others with their works. My help sometimes becomes their bane. I've tried to work on that over the years, though. For example, I don't walk around anymore putting "-1 for spelling" or "-1 for grammar" on signs with misspellings and such like I used to do around campus when I was in college. I'm making progress.

The tooth $ is crazy. Save that ca$h and tell everyone you lost the tooth while accomplishing some heroic deed. Given your penchant for helping others, such a tale would be plausible. Given your creative talent, it also would very likely be enjoyable.

Bill, I finally found out what was happening to my Monday Mailbag and other notifications. It wasn't HP, it was Google. My gmail has several categories, and they moved HP from Updates to Promotions. Somehow it doesn't fit because most HP articles are not promotions. Those went to Maven. Oh well, at least now I know where to find you.

Sorry about that tooth. And yes, you may be replacing it with at least a cheap "flipper" so you can talk on your podcast because anything that affects the mouth affects speech, or at least it does for me. I have a bridged front tooth that the gums around it has receded, and I sometimes plug the hole in the back with some chewing gum to stop the occasional whistle when I talk.

Yes, the flooding of the market by self-published non-writers is a gripe to me because it masks many who really deserve to be read. I used to borrow books from the Kindle Owners Lending Library until I realized that I was wasting my time. Now I borrow ebooks through my local library. The library goes through Amazon for the good ones, and the authors do get royalties from the libraries use. Not sure what their deal is but I don't feel bad about reading them free. My tax dollars at work, you know.

Have a good rest of this beautiful week, my friend.

"I don’t think there is any possible way to mask that from people who know you well" - I wrote a story in highschool about a weekend party at a cottage. The story was true. It was a wild weekend, haha!! I still can;t keep a straight face about it and decades past already.

I kept the names of everyone in the story as they are still to this day. The problem is, one of my buddy's mom came across a copy of the story which I had given to my buddy. That resulted into a huge drama. After reading the story, the lady ended-up somehow thinking her son was gay (which was not true) and ... haha!! Oh man ... hilarious but ya, I learned a thing, or two right there and then about writing true stories out on paper. I still battle with such issues nowadays. I can write about a lot of things which are/have been true but the consequences ... LOL

"I can see aliens stopping by for a visit and leaving us on earth with this virus." - Why? They're nice. Stop projecting! lol jk

"sustain the interest for over 75,000 words" - Good luck with that in a world of fast-food, microwave, ten topics in five minutes on the news and so on. We're becoming more and more difficult to keep in focus for long periods of time.

"major reason why there are so few really good noveiists." - Typo on "novelists" I think.

"Don’t even get me started on grammar!" - Go on. I'm interested. Do You think we have to abide by rules (not necessarily gramatical rules but those as well) such as: "Do not start a sentence with "but", or "because"? Can I not capitalize my "Y" on "You" because someone said so? When in no other language on this planet one would capitalise their respective "I"? If You capitalize "I" then, out of pure respect for others, I have to capitalize the "Y" on "You". Can't capitalize my "I" but not your "Y". So gramar is actually wrong here.

Haha!! See what You got me into?

"I don’t even know if braces were around in the 50’s and 60’s" - I came to Canada in 1992 and when I saw wires in people's mouths I thought it was some sort of a horror movie. I kinda still think it is. People ask me if I had braces 'cause my teeth are so straight. I didn't. Thank the Gods. I don't want wires in my mouth, preferably.

About the scenes part, read the opening scene from "The Picture of Dorian Gray". Mind-blowing for me anyway. The attention to details was beyond my wildest imagination. I could not believe someone did something like that when I read it. Then again, Oscar Wilde was a genius, flying far above us mediocre humans.

Alrighty, I'm gonzo for now. Kinda like Hunter a little. I try. Cheers!

Hi Bill, hope you are well. I think having gaps in between teeth is quirky and cute though. It's cool that you challenged yourself to write a personal event that involves others. That's what makes stories interesting. I like your point about engaging readers throughout a novel consistently. It's like how some people binge watch something. Thank you for sharing!

I agreed. At over 70-years, it is not always necessary.

I'm sorry about your tooth, Bill. $5,000 is a huge amount to pay for a replacement. Thanks for another interesting installment of the Mailbag.

Bill, sorry about the tooth. Dentists always try the upsell don't they? Good questions and answers though this week. Cheers.

Great mailbag Bill.

Interesting first paragraph. Just be the way, you are. No need for the dental implants. I feel, they give recurring problems. I am scared of these dentists, really.

The question by Rinita is relatable and I like your answer.

Thank you for sharing another wonderful installment. Take care.

Great mailbag Bill, it is good you got the teeth out. Implants are expensive and not always successful. Some of the novels do not get into the thick of the plot soon enough and by that time I have lost interest in the novel. All the best with your podcast.

Enjoyed the read.

Sorry about your tooth. Hoping it was not painful. The money they want is outrageous.

My mother will be 80 in July and she is the kind of person who would move heaven and hell to keep her appearance when it comes to teeth.

We did this a couple years ago for a partial because it was in front.

So glad you are comfortable without it, it's really not worth the money.

I love a book that can keep my interest from the beginning...if it doesnt i will not be reading it.

I feel people write best from their own pictures unless they have quite a vision of imagination.

I love your theory on the book you will not write about the aliens.

Goodluck with your podcast.

Several years ago a front tooth cracked straight across and I had no idea how it happened. Perhaps grinding my teeth in my sleep or during a recent medical procedure but whatever the cause it hurt a lot. I hadn’t been in any bar fights. Being only in my 40s at the time and having dental insurance that would help pay for it, I replaced it $$$. The dentist even joked about me looking like Miss West Virginia. Rock your new look and keep the money, Bill.

I agree about the tooth decision as I made the same decision last year and never went back to the same dentist. Anyway, I wish I can ramp up quickly and often in my writing. Right now, am trying to make my writing less formal as in research. I want it to be more informal and not boring. Any ideas?

Great mailbag, Bill. I have to agree with you about the tooth, at this point in life it matters not. I’ve had my fill of Covid-19 and the last thing I would want to read right now is a novel about a deadly virus. I’m sure we’re going to see many soon and most of them will most likely add to that bad to good ratio. Have a great week.

Another fascinating mailbag edition! Getting teeth pulled is no fun.. I had three wisdom teeth removed a few years ago, ugh. It was not a pleasant experience. I hope you are well and the weather is nice up there! Have a wonderful week!

I can relate. I had a tooth with almost no root left but it was hanging on and I really wish I had left it there. The dentist convinced me to pull it. It isn't the look of the thing. It was a molar and now my chewing is a little upset. For someone who likes her crunch salads and vegetables, that bites! Sorry for your dilemma. I certainly appreciate the advice about autobiographies. I know if I wrote my story there would be a number of people who wouldn't be happy. Big family, you know. There are a couple who would figure prominently who have passed but others that haven't. So I keep it to myself.

Blessings,

Denise

Happy Mailbag Monday!

Re: That Bites. Sorry to hear about your dental adventures. I'm on year 4+ of invisible braces to correct some alignment issues from when I had braces as a kid. Looks like I can avoid any work like you're having. Yikes! And remember that Michael Strahan has a gappy grin and, well, he's comfortable with his.

Re: Danger! Autobiography! Yeah, those unnamed/renamed folks in your autobiography will know who they are. Chances are everyone else does, too. So other than the question of "Do you have a good lawyer?", I'd ask these folks, "What do you hope to accomplish by including this person or incident in your autobiography?" Some want some passive aggressive revenge. Others want sympathy. And I have to also ask, "Why do you feel it's necessary to write an autobiography? Do you have fans who are clamoring for it? What value is it providing to your reader?" For many, this exercise is cathartic. They'd be better off doing a personal journal or getting therapy. Sorry for the rant.

Re: COVID Clutter, Conspiracy, and Fatigue. I am not looking forward to the spate of coronavirus books that are sure to hit Kindle in the months ahead. Everybody is going to have a story or advice. And we're already tired from all of this. Do I want to read even more about it? Then there will be the conspiracy theorists. Make it stop! Glad to see you're keeping your social distance from the topic. I just want to wash my hands of it. Okay, too many puns.

Anyway, take care of yourself. Dental work is just as challenging to deal with as other health issues. Have a good week!

I have more than one tooth missing, and got a bridge made. It was a lot less money than that. In the hundreds, not thousands. I have a friend that got full implants, and says if she had the choice to do it again, she would not. Food gets under the implants and then it is really hard to get out. She has to use a waterpick and try to flood it out. Implants are just vanity on overload. I live less than 20 miles from Mexico, and my daughter in law is Mexican and has a cousin living in Mexico who is a dentist. I have gone to him, because he is much cheaper, and he does a great job.

I had anyone who was involved in my little personal ramblings read the article and tell me what they thought. They objected about some things and not others. Depended on how personal and embarrassing the topic was.

Notting Hill eh? Any sign of Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant?! Don't forget the blue door! Paris is a much better idea than London - beautiful city and I'm not a city person.

Ann

Sorry to hear about your front tooth going awol, but age does have its compensations. I think that most of us of a certain age start to realize what is most important in life. It is not outward appearances, but what is inside of us that counts most. Some people seem to learn that earlier than others.

One of our dogs was undergoing needed surgery many years ago. They noticed a cracked back tooth and called me while she was still under anesthesia. They asked whether I wanted it pulled and an implant installed. Can you believe it? My answer was just pull the tooth, please.

Happy Monday Bill! Ok, I had to laugh when you talked about your front tooth being pulled...not because I have a warped sense of humor, but because I actually am going through the exact same thing! My front tooth cracked from an old root canal back in college, and they had to pull it. Thankfully my dental insurance is really good and I am able to proceed with getting the implant BUT its been put on hold now because all our oral surgeries were canceled. So, I have been walking around with a toothless grin myself. :) Maybe that is why I don't mind wearing a mask when I do venture out? LOL

Hope you have a great and productive week!

My Canadian and American relatives get their dental work done in Pakistan, and no surprise - a single implant costs around 350-650 USD here. If you ever decide to come to Pakistan, let me know - I can to help you get permission to stay at Darul Ziafat, Rabwah. Darul Ziafat is a free hotel run by the local government for foreign guests (though Pakistanis can stay there, too).

By the way, while I don't always leave a comment, I always read your hubs.

Shame about the tooth, bill, but I admire your confidence to just leave things as they are. It only leads to more complications. I have two gaps in line but not at the front so they make no difference - however, the dentist didn't even ask if I wanted anything done about it which I quite resented at the time as he obviously considered I didn't look rich enough!!

Which part of London have you chosen to make an appearance in your novel, bill?

Having read a few novels for book club recently, I'm coming to the conclusion that it's not always the subject but the style or the quality of the writing itself which carries anything. One was about a great subject but it didn't grab me, the other was a mundane scene which I thought wouldn't be interesting but it was great and so well written. Just backs up what we say about standards and quality of writing, eh?

So here's a question: What would you say comes second to quality of writing, in the importance stakes?

Enjoy your Monday, bill, and look after that gap!

Ann

My son Jackie lost a front tooth and had a tooth made. I'm sure it didn't cost that much, sounds to me your Dentist was gouging. There is gouging taking place here. You need to have a picture of you smiling. It would make no difference to us, we love you as a friend with or without a front tooth. Thanks again for all you do in helping us to be better writers.

Hey, man, I'm still waiting to see that picture posted! LOL. It doesn't feel like a Monday today, but this was an excellent mailbag.

Bill, sorry for the lost teeth, and thanks for sharing the question and answer challenge.

Bill, there's good reason to write about the things and places that you know. Even Stephen King sets almost all of his stories in the state of Maine, right? I've been struggling for several years on a story set in a time and place unknown to me. Sounds easy, right? It's that lack of knowledge that has me stumped but darn it, I really want to do this. {{Sigh}}.

I'm sorry about your tooth but honestly, you have such a kind, loving personality, who's going to care if you have a gappy smile. I sure won't.

I hope you have a great week my friend. The garden is going to pop this week. The forget-me-nots are just about done and the sweet Williams (must have been named after you) and foxglove are in the queue. I'll take photos.

First, I am sorry to hear you lost a tooth. Our childhoods are so similar and I have found that to be true several times. My family was lower-middle class as well and I didn't see a dentist until I was 16 years old. Fortunately, I didn't need braces but I had several cavaties. I also say $5,000 is rediculous. We can survive and move forward without the help of the dentist.

I enjoyed the unique questions today and your answers were excellent, as always. I agree about the percentage of good novels, but I do enjoy reading.

Have a good week, Bill. Stay safe and healthy.

Hello Bill - I am taking a moment with hubpages today. Commenting on the introduction, I would have laughed at the dentist also. Perhaps a second opinion, say from a Canadian dentist is in order. Or even a dentist practicing in Mexico.

Having a tooth pulled is no fun, but neither is the pain that necessitates it. Shoot, Bill. You don't need an implant. Just stick a Chicklet up there! Ha ha.

I wouldn't write about COVID-19 either, or any virus for that matter. If I were to bring a pandemic into a fictional tale, I think it would be something we haven't seen before. Like, human noses turning yellow when putting a buttercup under your chin to see if you like butter.

Have a great week, Bill!

Sorry about your tooth. It's always a harrowing experience. Hope you are doing well.

Thanks for responding to my question. I'll keep your own experience and caution in mind. Have a great week, Bill (as great as the current situation allows).

I am sorry about your tooth but you are right not going for an implant. I am glad you wouldn't write a novel about covid-19- it's not my cup of tea either. This mailbag like others was definitely intriguing and exhilarating. I really loved it.

Bill, $5K is crazy for an implant. I do realize that cosmetic dentistry is a fortune as my mom has had some done similar with implants and crowns and such. But still, I am with you and not willing to spend that kind of money at this point. So, I'd be willing to live with it too at this point. That said, hoping this week is a better one. Happy Monday now!!