writing

Time to Let Go

After months of not playing, I recently sat down at the piano. But when I tried to play, my fingers were rusty and they stumbled over the notes. Determined to get it right, I concentrated on each finger. I focused on where it should be, its every movement—but my playing only seemed to get worse. It was not fun.

Finally, I let go.

I stopped trying to over-think each movement and let my well-practiced fingers take over. And there it was. The music I remembered. The flow of notes, the tricky rhythms, the octave jumps. It all came back.

And it felt good.

Perhaps with writing it’s the same. When we get stuck and don’t know where to go next, sometimes we try to force the issue. Perhaps we’re still in editing mode from revising the last piece. Perhaps we’re simply determined to get it right the first time. Perhaps we’re worried that we’ll never write something as good as Jane Doe who just won a boatload of awards. Whatever it is, it is NOT fun.

That is when it is time to let go. Let your practiced hand and heart take over. Remember why you ever started writing in the first place. Forget about the rules you’re supposed to be following. That can be worked out later. Forget about everyone else who would tell you you’re doing it wrong. Just let go, and that is when the magic happens. The story unfolds. The characters come alive. And writing becomes fun again.

And man does it feel good.

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The Best Laid Plans . . .

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to go to France for two weeks as a tour guide. No, I am not French scholar. And Yes, it was a LOT of work to get ready.

This iconic building fascinates me. It was built for the Paris Universal Exposition of 1889. It was meant to stand for 2 years before it would be dismantled. Then they upped its life to 20 years, and finally, with the coming of the radio and its usefulness assured, they decided to keep it.

It’s hard to imagine, from our current frame of reference, that the French would ever have considered taking the Eiffel Tower apart. But back then it was something of an atrocity to many. Modern art at it’s worst, so some people thought.

Now we can look back and breathe a sigh of relief that they revised their plans. Somehow, Paris just wouldn’t be Paris without it.

Writing can be a bit like this. We lay out our plans. We set our goals. We write our books and think that’s the end.

And then the first critiques come back.

We revise our work and sigh with relief that that’s done.

And then the next batch of critiques come back. I’m sure you get the idea.

What’s important to remember though, are the breathtaking results from your efforts.

Oh wait! How’d that get in there? I meant to post these . . .

So when you’re working on that next draft. Just think of the Eiffel Tower and all the future audiences you will wow.

It will be worth it.

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Jillian Michaels’ Writing Boot Camp

Trying to reach those health resolutions I set back in January, I’ve been exercising a lot. My friend recommended Jillian Michael’s 30-day Shred workout video, and let me tell you, it is killer.

Still, it seems to be working, so I’ve started imagining Ms. Michael’s as my personal trainer to help me reach my writing goals. Here’s what I’m hearing:

• “Come on people! If you want to write for only 20 minutes a day, then you’ve got to WORK! It can replace hours at the computer, but you can’t stop. You have to TYPE! You can’t stop typing!”
• “I know it’s hard. It’s hard for me. But when you’re done and you see the results . . . it’s worth it people!”
• “Okay, this is our last speed-writing circuit. When it’s through, I want to see your hand CRAMPING!”
• “When it hurts the most, that’s when you’re accomplishing the most! Keep writing! Come on, just give me five more words . . .”
• “You’re probably thinking I’m a crazy person, it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been called that, but I get results! And when you see what you can write, and you see what you can accomplish, it will influence every other part of your life!”

I’m inspired, people! I hope you are too. 🙂

*Note: These are not real quotes but rather parodies stemming from a half-crazed mind in the throes of one of her killer workouts. 

**And a heads up for a week of fun and silliness starting March. 28th. Vicki over at Rambles and Randomness and I are planning daily prizes, easy entries and lots of fun to celebrate our 1 year mark together. And we just added an AWESOME prize. Details coming soon!

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Deep Thoughts by Janet Johnson

I know most of us are pondering our New Year’s Resolutions and setting goals right around now. I’ll get to that, perhaps on a future post.

But for today’s Welcome-Back-from-the-Holidays post I just have a simple question: 

Why is it that when Batman is caught by the bad guys, they never unmask him?

I would love to hear your theories, because I watch these episodes with my boys all the time, and this simply perplexes me.

And I’m quite certain there’s a writing lesson in there somewhere. Perhaps something about logic in our plot lines? What do you think?

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On Juggling

I’ve always been a bit of a sloppy juggler . . . rushing to catch the ball that’s about the shatter against the floor (oh yeah, the balls are glass, I’m just sure of it).  

1. My writing . . . oof! Phew, got 100 words in.  
2. My family . . . oh no! We’ve got 2 minutes to get to soccer, let’s move it people! 
3. My work . . . my deadline’s tomorrow?  
4. My husband . . . you don’t mind if we talk about my book on our date, do you?  
5. My blog . . . uh . . . I had an idea . . .  
6. My co-op preschool . . . It can’t be my week to teach already, can it? 
7. My friends . . . Wait, what are their names again?  
8. My exercise . . . I could just skip today, right? Surely the scale was wrong. Again.
9. My cleaning . . . Do I really need to vacuum today? 
10. My laundry . . . I still have one more clean shirt, right? Oh wait, that was yesterday. . .

Anyway, you get the idea. So many balls, so hard to keep them all in the air.

What are your secrets for not dropping the ball? And seriously here . . .

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What in the heck is Voice?

Five-and-a-half years ago, I had my first ever critique by an editor at my first ever writing conference. I went into the meeting with so much hope, and came out devastated.

While the editor was very nice, he basically told me that my writing stunk (my own word), and I needed to keep practicing. The only bit he liked was the part I was considering cutting, and he said it sounded like I just hadn’t found my voice yet.

I haven’t touched that book since.

Anyway, that was the first I’d heard of “voice.” What in the heck is voice? I wondered.

According to About.com “voice is the author’s style , the quality that makes his or her writing unique, and which conveys the author’s attitude, personality, and character.”

At Kim’s Corner for Teacher Talk she says: “voice shows the writer’s personality. . . . It contains feelings and emotions so that it does not sound like an encyclopedia article.”

But see, while good definitions, none of this really helped me “find my voice.” I do think that I’ve learned a bit in the past five years, and so here are some things that I think helped me:

1. Don’t just read good books, study good writing. Ask yourself why you like it, and listen to the voice.
2. Know what point of view (POV) is and how it should be used in writing. I know that may sound obvious, but I look at my first ever book, and cringe at my all-over-the-place POV. I’ve been re-writing it with a solid POV, and it the change is astounding. (trust me!)
3. Write what you enjoy. No . . . more than just enjoy . . . write what you’re passionate about. For me, that made the difference. I wrote the book I really wanted to write on a subject I adored.
4. Work with a critique group. I can’t tell you how many times my amazing group steered my writing to keep my voice on track. “This just doesn’t sound like something the character would say,” they told me. Or “This is a POV shift.” Little things that add up. (Thanks guys!)
5. Write. Write. And write. There’s nothing quite like practice. We hear this all the time, but how can we expect to be good at something we rarely do? We can’t.

I admit, I’m no expert on voice, but hopefully this is a little helpful. And I’d love to hear your thoughts . . . How did you find your voice?

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Yesterday, my 6 year-old found a notebook and a pen and started writing. When I noticed, he showed me what he had written: A bunch of squiggly lines across the page.

“I’m writing a book,” he informed me.

I asked him to read it to me, and he launched into a story about his little sister playing with a friend. Then he stopped. “I haven’t decided what these two squiggly lines say. I still have to write the next chapter.”

After that, he started writing all the words he knew. And may I just say how giggly it makes me that he knows the word “Bob”? Right up there at the top. If you’re writing a book, ‘Bob’ is an essential word. N’est-ce pas?

This, more than anything else makes me feel like a writer (okay, maybe getting published would top it). My kids see what I do, and accept it as the way it is. Not only that, they want a piece of it. (Little do they know what they’re getting into!)

What makes you feel like a real writer?

P.S. Happy Birthday Lenny! Eleven is a lucky number. 😀

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Signs

I so wanted a picture for this blog, but alas, you’ll have to deal with my crappy artwork.

On vacation, we planned to meet up with my brother to do some rock climbing. We were supposed to connect in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Off we drive, until we see this sign.

So if you saw this sign, which direction would you go to get to Big Cottonwood Canyon? If you guessed straight, you’d be wrong.

I know, right? So we spent about an hour on a wild goose chase, dodging bikers in the middle of a race, pulling over so our kids could go to the bathroom find a bush. Not so fun.

We debated just abandoning the plan and skipping out on the rock climbing, but gritting our teeth, we finally made our way to the right place. And I have to say, it was totally worth it. The kids LOVED it. Even my 3 year old loved it, and he never got much higher than my head.

Point? You want a point? *Deep breath* Sometimes writing is like this. We do our best to follow the signs (blogs, interviews, publishing books, whatever), but still, things don’t turn out the way we think they should. But giving up? Definitely not the best option.

So when’s the last time you had to take a deep breath, and just force yourself to keep going?

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Sympathetic Listener

So my husband got home from work yesterday and told me this story:

“I was almost to my car when I felt something itching my neck. I reached up to scratch, and this BIG, FAT cockroach zoomed around my head and landed on the ground in front of me. So disgusting!”

And he shivered with the grossness of it all.

Being the loving and concerned wife that I am, I immediately began wondering how I could use his experience in a book. (Of course, I shiver with the grossness of it, too.)

Do you do this? Hear or see something yicky that happens, and start thinking books instead of sympathy?

So before I end, I have to tell you I’ll be succumbing to summer vacation. I might pop in from time to time, but I’ll be on vacation most of August. I can already feel myself going into withdrawals,  . . . but it’ll make it that much more exciting come September. See you all in a month!

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More Than a Writer

Lately it feels like writing and its appendages (i.e. blogging, reading, plotting, etc.) have taken up so much of my life. It’s so easy to let writing consume me. Doesn’t matter what I’m doing, my mind is with my book: trying to fix that wrinkle in Chapter 13 or wondering if I’ve really caught the essence of the argument between my MC and love interest, or is that first sentence a good enough hook. Well you get the idea.

Every now and then, I have to remind myself that I’m more than a writer. And that believe it or not, I have other talents. So here is my reminder list:

Five Random Talents (not connected to writing)

1. I am a pro at Diaper Ball. Seriously. Michael Jordanette. Any angle, any shot, *swoosh!* Two points, in the trash . . . er, I mean basket.
2. I can pour 6 oz. in a bottle without measuring. In my sleep, too. I know! Impressive, right?
3. I make a mean spaghetti sauce. Mean. You should taste it.
4. I can remember the price of every single item in my grocery cart. Yep. About every other shopping trip, I find a mistake, so they get a runner to check the price. Not to brag, but I’m always right. Very useful.
5. I can carry a baby, diaper bag, purse, bag full of library books, and ten bags of groceries up 3 flights of stairs, AND unlock the door without dropping anything. Isn’t taking a second trip back down and up an easier option, you ask? That’s besides the point. 🙂

So what are your random talents?

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