By JIM LUTGENS
Publisher
Mark Domeier has written material intended for public consumption since elementary school.
He hasn't stopped since.
Domeier, an NRHEG English teacher, Star Eagle columnist and published author, shared his writing expertise and signed books during an Author Event at the New Richland Public Library Monday, Oct. 22.
"Maybe you've heard him at football games, seen him around Ellendale or read his column in the Star," said Nancy Rudau as she introduced Domeier. "He's a good addition to the NRHEG area and a good person as well."
Domeier's first foray in the writing arena started in third grade, when students were instructed to write a creative story and read it in front of the class. The next year he was published for the first time when he wrote a play. It was a big deal. He was interviewed by a television station and became known as the writer in his class.
In college, Domeier had a professor who did not easily hand out A's.
"I was bound and determined to get an A," said Domeier. "I finally did it my senior year."
By then, Domeier said, he had learned the power of revision, and it made a big difference in his writing. It was also the focus of his Oct. 22 presentation.
"The thought is, 'It doesn't have to be good the first time,'" he said. "Just write stuff down. Throw as much paint on the wall as you can and clean it up later. Sometimes it's a masterpiece. But if you don't throw that paint on the wall in the first place, there's nothing there."
How much revision is necessary? That depends, but Domeier said he needed seven revisions on his first book. He let others read it as well.
"Whenever you revise, you look at every word," he said. "Then you look at every sentence. You have to be really cruel to your writing, which is hard to do. It's difficult to take criticism."
Domeier advises letting someone you know well read your writing before it's published. He also said it's not a bad idea to have someone you don't know so well do it, because they oftentimes can provide the necessary constructive criticism you might not get from close friends.
Domeier also recommended writing about what you're familiar with.
"If you write about things you know, you have a good place to start," he said, adding, "And write something that you would enjoy reading."
He also advised aspiring writers to do it as much as possible.
"Write often," he said. "I always hear that. Anne Frank wrote every day for the two years she was in hiding," he said. "If you look at The Diary of Anne Frank, you'll see she was a real good writer at the end. At first, she was all over the place."
And Domeier said writing can have positive physical effects.
"There was an amazing study that was done," he said. "They tested blood cell counts of people who wrote three or four times a week. The white blood cell count was higher than in those who write. So, writing can help keep us healthy, too."
Domeier said it's important to be comfortable when writing.
"Some modern authors still handwrite everything or use typewriters because that's the way they've always done it," he said. "You should be comfortable with what you're using."
Music can help. Domeier likes to listen to Queen. Others prefer complete silence. The important thing is to find out what works.
"Find yourself a place to write," said Domeier. "I have my little man cave in the basement, and that works well for me."
Domeier got serious about writing his first novel in 2010, when he discovered National Novel Writing Month. He now implements it into his curriculum. It seems daunting at first, but Domeier said he's had students comment that after doing that, they never worried about writing another paper again.
There are times, Domeier admits, when he battles with writer's block, and he knows his students also experience it.
"I tell them to free write," he said. "Just write something down."
Also helpful is a computer program called Dare Machine, which provides ideas of what to write about.
And then there's revising what you've already written.
"When you're finished, you're not done," he said. "If you're satisfied with your writing, I don't think that's a good thing. But there does come a point when you have to say, 'This is good enough.'"
The trouble is, potential publishers may not agree. Domeier sent out about 90 queries to people who might be interested in publishing his first book. The only responses he got were rejection letters.
"It got to the point where I said, 'Maybe this isn't going to work,'" said Domeier.
Then he discovered Amazon, which has a program that allowed him to publish his books relatively inexpensively. He's made enough money to cover his costs and offers his help to others who may want to get published.
For example, he displayed a book of his wife's grandmothers memoirs, complete with photos.
"I'm big on family histories and stuff," he said. "I think her grandma would be very pleased. This was one of her goals. And anybody can do this. Every copy of this book maybe cost four or five bucks."
Leaving a legacy is another good reason to write.
"Why should I write?" said Domeier. "Why not? It's enjoyable, it will maybe improve your health a little bit, and you leave a legacy. Somebody can read something and say, this is who Dad was, this is who Grandpa was. You write because it's fun and you leave it behind for your family, so they can read it. I can't imagine not writing."
Domeier was asked if any of the characters in his book are based on real-life people.
"Every one of my characters are based on someone I know, and a little bit of the nerdiness of me is in there," he said.
It was pointed out by students that Grammar Freak, a character in Domeier's first book, sounded an awful lot like him.
"Grammar Freak, that's me," he admitted.
Characters in Domeier's second book were based on everyone with whom his wife works.
"Your best characters are a combination of different people," he said. "I tell people to write what they know. Well, you write about who you know too."
Writing a fourth book with the same characters is unlikely for Domeier, but you never know.
"I never thought I'd write a third book, but a student told me she needed to find out what happened to one of the characters," said Domeier. "She said I had to write another book. So, I've learned to never say never."
(Editor's note: We are not implying that Domeier has any actual superpowers outside of being a public school teacher.)