Thyme to Rhyme (or not) The writer as Artist

When I paint, I enter another space, just like when I write fiction, write poetry, play music. It's the reason so many writers are also artists, or musicians, or do crafts or other creative things. It,s the creative things that keep me alive and happy. Don't get me wrong, I love my regular job, but creativity is what I need, what we all need. 


I enjoy poetry, reading it, and writing bad versions of it. That's why I write about it, to encourage other people to write bad poetry too. It's the writing that counts, using the brain muscles in every way possible.


As an artist, I notice the colors of the leaves, contrasts in nature, the shape of a face and then use it in my writing. As a poet, I practice imagery, whether poetically good or not, its still good practice. As a musician, I notice harmonies, sounds in nature, all useful to translate into descriptions.


Don't let your writing take over your life to the point you can't use other art forms to make your writing richer. I have a friend, Amy, who writes fiction and nonfiction, plays the piano and cello, sings, acts and gardens. You can bet her writing is multi-dimensional.


Don't play a one note concert, let all the parts of your life enrich  your writing.  

All Ears

I'm listening. A friend stopped by my blog with sensible advise, "stop whining, start writing, listen to your own voice because that will carry your story and she's right. This is someone who has had three series going on at once and knows what she's talking about, but it is also common sense. I think, as writers, in a lonely business, its easy to fall into the trap of comparing our work to others. When you catch yourself doing that, whether it number of words, skill with imagery or larger than life characters, learn what you can from that person and then move back to your own writing and keep on keepin' on with your own goals. Remember the "button rule"-butt on chair-write.

I'm really excited about being so close to the end of my first draft and can't wait to begin rewrites because I think shaping things will really be fun.

Now on to important news. "What did you think of the new hairdo for the kid on American Idol and did you know that he's the hottest thing among 8th grade girls since Joey from N'sync (who BTW is a pretty decent ballroom dancer.

Oh Baby

Watching myself make headway with my writing feels good. But I have to get past the idea of comparing my own progress to anyone elses. When I see other people whip out manuscripts twice as long as mine, and I'm struggling with 70,000 plus words, I'm capable talking myself into an inferiority complex. Also, as I get older, I compare myself to the younger writers and come up on the short end-of-the-stick in my own mind. So, today is positive thinking day and accepting my own accomplishments without indulging in negative comparisons. I'm as young as the image in my head and look how cute that image is.

News-good, bad, ugly

The good news is that I'm making more progress than I have in months, the visuals seem to help and I'm down to the last few chapters. I'm making my word goal so far.

The bad, writing so fast means I'm churning out things that may not be that good and will take a lot of work the second time around. Lots of bad first draft things going on, but you have to give yourself permission for bad first drafts. That's what I tell myself.

The ugly, I'm not going to reach the overall 80000 words by the end of the book I don't think. However, she rationalized, when I go back to flesh out scenes, cut those pesky unneeded words, add smoother transitions and flesh out scenes with sensory details, I think the words will fall in place. The re-write should be more fun since I'll have the bones to work with, it says in fine print somewhere.

Goals

Working so far. Beat my weekly goal by close to 100 words this week. On the other side, seemed to be writing in a fog. Typos every other word, wasn't even drinking wine. But I'm on chapter 25, ready to stard 26. Great progress for me.

Scenes

I write in scenes. It's especially helpful since I write in short spurts due to time constraints if I'm writing on my lunch hour or something. I've been reading lately and some people seem to plan each scene out in detail, with external goal, internal goal, each thing that will happen in the scene. I don't seem to be able to do that. Now I know the viewpoint character since the book is first person and I know what needs to happen in very general terms, for instance, Tali needs to find out that Keith is Franks illegitimate son. But sometimes, how she gets to that point will evolve as the scene is written. I can do a one sentence scene by scene outline, but that's as far as I can go until I actually begin writing the scene because sometimes the characters decide which direction to go or not to go. I'd lose a lot of good stuff if I got too formal I think.

However, I can see the value, during rewrite, of analyzing scenes to make sure everythings there, in the most effective order with good transitions and details etc. Just how I do it.

Day Off

Today is my day off and the sun came out. I met my goal again and got to have coffee, read the paper, journal, draw and generally do what I wanted. A good start to a day. The dryer even got fixed for a reasonable amount. I might even try to get more words done today or tomorrow and beat my current record (999). It is so good to see daily progress and progress from chapter to chapter. I'm trying to be more aware of the scenes I create but not try to go back and edit until I finish the first draft. The second draft will be the fun part.

Intimidation?

I just read a chapter from a friend of mine's new book. In one chapter, from the middle of the book, she hooked me. She writes about the Greek countryside and the clash between ancient and modern civilizations, combined with area legend and magic. She adds in humor and great insight into human nature. I'm so intimidated I can't stand it. My books seem shallow by comparison, no cosmic themes etc.

Should we be intimidated by others writing? Does that spur us to greater things or paralyze us into complete inaction? Is it helpful to our own writing when we read the good stuff? I'm still trying to answer those questions.

On the positive side, I'm still meeting my goal-that's the good thing. And it's the first draft, so I can make it better.

The Secret

A book was published recently. The author states the book contains the secret to happiness. But, happiness is different for everyone, so I'm not sure about a one-size-fits-all path to happiness. One person might view happiness as having monetary success, another wants fame, many of us want a published book with our name on the front. In fact, I have that. But it's a specialty textbook that will mainly be purchased by hospitals for Infection Control departments. Happiness for me, is having that mystery published, by a company that will pay me. It will be distributed in print and paper copies, to book stores. I will be able to go buy one.

Back to the secret. How many of us have searched for that magic secret? You know the one, it lets you get read and published through no great effort of your own, instant success. Never mind the hard work and learning your craft part of it. We want it now. I admit I'm impatient. I want my book published before I'm in a nursing home and too forgetful to know that I wrote a book.

But, I think practicing our craft, like any other artist, is what will get us there. Also, networking, marketing ourselves and being with other writers don't hurt once the book is done. But, making ourselves write, on a regular basis, take classes, read, see how others do what we are trying to do, that will get us there, or as close as we can get through our own actions. For the rest, we have to trust whatever higher power in whom we have faith. The secret is, there is no secret.

Stars Etc.

No writing for the weekend except in my journal. Lovely couple of days in Texas North country. The sky became a thick blanket of sparking stars like you never see in the city. A half mustang, half paint pony showed off for us in the back pasture. Swallows danced their weaving flights and the sun warmed the deck. I had a grandchildren fix. Watched an entire football team of boys, mothers, daughters and friends play tackle football with total disreguard for potential injury or grass stains and it was wonderful to see. Not too many wildflowers blooming yet but a pretty drive through the Arbuckles and Texas countryside.

Watching a committe of highly educated people try to begin a rather simple project and facinated to see how complicated it can become. I think we have to be careful with our writing that we don't make it happen by committee. I believe in feedback and critique, but at the same time, first drafts are good for getting it down and then you know your characters the best and how they might react. The author is the final decision maker. You have to follow your own instincts and not let others change the story to the detriment of the story. If you make the characters true to themselves and their own real life, then it will work.

My opinion for the day. Now to work and keeping the momentum going.

Texas

Short post. Leaving for Texas. Happy I made my goal yesterday. Will enjoy kids fix, country fix and time with my daughter. The renewing thing. My friend, Rinda was all set to pitch her book to an agent this weekend. Agent got stuck in a snow storm but Rinda now has a finished first draft-Snoopy Dances.

Publishing

Supposedly OJ's book is up for grabs again. What exactly does that say about America, the state of publishing and media in general? The fact that they are willing to publish the book and the implication that we, in turn would buy it, horrifying. If the man actually killed his wife, look what we are encouraging, and if he didn't, would he be willing to speculate on something so horrific?

Responsible journalism??? Truth in writing?

I feel as writers, we have to be truthful. I write fiction and nonfiction, but even fiction has to ring true and there are things I might draw a line at writing (I'm not talking XXX here.) I'm talking take other people into consideration and don't hurt them on purpose with what you write unless the story is so important to you that it has to be told that way. Then you have to take responsibility for what you write and the consequences.

All right. I made yesterdays goal, feel like the story is on a roll and will get off the soapbox once again. Keeping the words flowing seems to generate more words so far.

Weekend Fun

Beautiful Saturday. Rainy sunday. A weekend full of busy busy. Saturday met with the critique group and got great suggestions, had sushi, window shopped. Even managed coffee on the patio.

Sunday, had a board meeting. The politics and posturing among members of any group is always amazing. People and their egos, their self-esteem issues sometimes will make it difficult to get business done.

No real writing but writing involved stuff. More manuscripts to file for conference. One friend is branching out into family owned business from several years of secure salary, talk about change.

As long as I meet my goals before I leave for Texas, I'm OK. What if I finished 24,000 words before conference. I'd almost, finally have an almost finished manuscript. What a thought.

Mornings

It's Saturday and I should be able to sleep later but my body thinks it's time to get up. It will not be that way tomorrow when I'm forced to get up at the crack of dawn by daylight savings time.

Does anyone else think it's kind of stupid to try and fool ourselves by setting the clocks forward? My daughter used to think the sun did something funky each year that made it stay light longer all of a sudden. She was shocked when she realized we did it to ourselves on purpose, voted to get up earlier so it would seem as if it were staying light longer.

This weekend is full, everyday, at least I made my 3000 words for the week so anything I get done is gravy. Inbetween board meetings, Ink meeting, Deaconess meeting, I'll see what I can do.

Made time for a movie, "Man of the Year" and liked it, but I like almost anything Robin Williams does.

Success

Did it again. Five days of writing 600 words a day. The first time in months that I've managed too write 3000 words in a week.

I posted a picture of the neighborhood, as in Cuchara, CO, racoon that visits the deck at night. I go with writer friends every year. We write, shop, laugh, write shop. We recharge and have fun. Support each other as we try to each survive our own writing and life struggles.

Socialize with other writers who can help you realize that we are not alone,but we are a community.