There is reading too.

 

There are times when writing is not really an option.

OKay, let me clarify. Writing is not something you try to do. It's something you do. You write when you are inspired, have a great idea, when you just feel like putting down all the thoughts in your head.

That being said there are times when you have no new ideas, very little inspiration, and a surprising lack of thoughts. Actually the last one can be a good thing. an empty mind is a great receptacle for new ideas.

There are some times when you frankly just don't feel like it.

That's totally okay. I love to cook but i also do takeaway a lot.

When there's nothing going on in the writing department, don't sweat it.

Do something else. This isn't writer's block. it's just a closed for renovations time.

when this happens i suggest, no this isn't homework, i suggest, you go to the library, or check out amazon, or even the books that have been gathering dust on your shelves for years.

Find something that cries out "read me" and give it a go.

You might find something great happens. You get hints, suggestions, ideas of how to be a better writer. 

using the cooking analogy, if you don't feel like cooking, surely you still would want to eat. by going out to a restaurant, you might discover some new ideas and tricks to make you a better chef.

It's the same with writing. We all can learn from each other.

so the solution to procrastination or a dry spell might just be to pick up a good book.

The Eureka Moment

 

This morning I woke up with a story idea. Well, that's normal. A writer always has some ideas rattling around the old coconut. Then one of two things happen. A part of you says, what the hell are you going to do with that? So you put it on the back burner, maybe for some day when inspiration comes to pay a visit.

But then there are the rare, wonderful times when something else happens. Something magical. You start picking up story lines, ideas, descriptions, events. Thought and images that say, "Hmm maybe you have something here."

As I brushed my teeth, a verbal hailstorm pounded at my brain. A story was writing itself in my head, imploring me to take dictation. Bam, what about this?  Crash, how about that? Smash, here's an interesting twist. Thump, here's an interesting character. No false alarm, this is the real thing. 

I stopped my morning ablutions and went to the table. This was more important than anything else. Even as I wrote everything down, more bits and pieces were backlogged in my head, faster than I could get them down. After dozens of aimless leads, the gates were opening and delivering me a scaffold. Is that a mixed metaphor? Who cares. For a writer this is the bona fide "AHA" moment. 

From here is a long road of putting the puzzle pieces together. Exploring each one, seeing where fit. There will be the rough draft. The first do-over. The first edit. And the mandatory third and fourth drafts, possibly more. The additions and deletions. And then the moment of truth, taking it to my writer's groups and listening to their suggestions. Taking the ones that fit and letting the rest go. Then the final rewrite and final edit.

From the first tooth brushing flash, up until the moment I finally deem it ready for prime time, it will be perhaps a week, or a month. It's long grind, but in the end, it will have been a blast. 

So here I am now with a myriad of sticky notes surrounding me. An empty word doc sits ready to be given a "work in progress" title. I can hardly wait to get started. 

More bulletins as events warrant.

Honing your craft

 

I'm think I am getting to be a decent writer. At least people tell me that.

Unless you are a total natural, there is really one thing that's going to help your writing. That's writing. Okay two things, reading to others you respect, getting their feedback and listening to their suggestions. Maybe that's five things. You can decide which ones you need to follow.

I wrote some short stories when I was younger, and looking back on them makes me cringe. I think I was trying too hard.

Then came an unfortunate illness which put me in hospital for a few weeks in England. When boredom began to overtake me, I started an old school, pen and paper, journal.

When I finally got back home, I picked up those notes and started to write them into a diary.

I have to admit I thought they weren't half bad.

A short while later I was talking to customer at the bar we ran, and told them about my writer's aspirations.

She invited me to come to the Parliament Street Writer's, a group which met every Monday to read and critique.

I soon became a regular and began to look forward to reading my works, and also receiving hints. Some I totally accepted, while others didn't always quite fit.

But I was now in writing mode. I began to take the little ideas I had all day and put them into story form.

The more I did, the more the ideas flowed. The more I read them to the group, I realized I did have a knack for story telling. 

The constructive criticism they gave me was invaluable. 

I was starting to love writing, and giving my own takes on the other's works.

This isn't a biography so I will fast forward many years. I am a member of a few writer's groups. In some of them we meet, mostly via zoom and offer our readings and critiques.

Others are more like a social media thing, where we post questions and problems about our writing and offer suggestions to one another.

I have since published two books, which would have been unthinkable back in those early days.

Writing is now a huge part of my life, and although I hope to get better, I am more confident that many people enjoy my stories now.

I am sure even a five-star chef had trouble making a grilled cheese at some point. 

It's all about doing what you love, and accepting constructive criticism and advice. 

It's called honing your craft. Most of us have been doing it all our lives in our chosen profession. In time, you are able to stand back and say, "Yup, I am pretty good at what I do."