Charlotte Rains Dixon

Move Your Mind, Too

This morning I was reading one of the five million newsletters I subscribe to and the topic was about moving your body.    It was yet one more call to exercise regularly and talked about how establishing this habit is easier than you think, because our bodies are made to move.

I'll second that.  I know I feel much, much better when I'm getting out every morning to walk.

But it got me to thinking about how important it is to move your mind, also.  Especially for writers.  I've been facilitating a discussion group for my church around the book Birthing A Greater Reality.  The book is dense in places, which is a nice way of saying that sometime I've really got to concentrate on it, more so because I'm leading a discussion of it.

At first I struggled a bit.  But now I'm totally loving it, because I really have to concentrate when I sit down to read it.  I take notes in the margins, I underline, I look up concepts.  I move my mind. 

And I'm pretty sure that our minds are made to move just as much as our bodies are.  Because the more I stretch my mind, the easier it gets to plow through dense material.  The more I focus and concentrate, making notes in the margins, listening intently to the Sunday messages on the material, the more my mind wakes up and engages with the world. 

How Writers Move Their Minds

Does that almost sound kinky?  Just a brief aside, never mind.  Here's my list:

1. We write.  Duh.  But with the crazy demands of our lives it is very easy to forget that writers write and that we actually need to practice our craft once in awhile.  Or every day.  And that we write to discover.  That we write to move our minds.

2. We read.  We read anything and everything from cereal boxes to blogs to novels to non-fiction books.  The best way to teach yourself how to write is to read anything you can get your hands on.   And read tons of examples of what it is you want to write--my friend Linda, for instance, has set herself the challenge of reading 100 YA novels in order to teach herself about the genre.

3.  We discuss.  We communicate with other writers, in person or via the internet or phone and talk about writing.  There's nothing more energizing and interesting than a group of writers gathered to talk shop.  Because "shop" includes just about everything under the sun.

4. We think deep thoughts.  Because all of the above foster deep thoughts.  Well, actually mine tend to be shallow at times (especially after I've watched too much trashy TV), but who cares, at least I'm thinking.

5.  We go within.   By giving our minds a rest through meditation, prayer, or whatever works for us, we actually allow our minds to move with more ease and less effort.

What have I missed?  How do you move your mind?  And how does it impact your writing?

***Another way to move your mind is to feed it images, which you can do via a vision board.   Sign up for my newsletter and receive my free Ebook, Jump Start Your Book With A Vision Board.  The form is to the right of this post!

Photograph by float.

Move Your Mind, Too

This morning I was reading one of the five million newsletters I subscribe to and the topic was about moving your body.    It was yet one more call to exercise regularly and talked about how establishing this habit is easier than you think, because our bodies are made to move.

I'll second that.  I know I feel much, much better when I'm getting out every morning to walk.

But it got me to thinking about how important it is to move your mind, also.  Especially for writers.  I've been facilitating a discussion group for my church around the book Birthing A Greater Reality.  The book is dense in places, which is a nice way of saying that sometime I've really got to concentrate on it, more so because I'm leading a discussion of it.

At first I struggled a bit.  But now I'm totally loving it, because I really have to concentrate when I sit down to read it.  I take notes in the margins, I underline, I look up concepts.  I move my mind. 

And I'm pretty sure that our minds are made to move just as much as our bodies are.  Because the more I stretch my mind, the easier it gets to plow through dense material.  The more I focus and concentrate, making notes in the margins, listening intently to the Sunday messages on the material, the more my mind wakes up and engages with the world. 

How Writers Move Their Minds

Does that almost sound kinky?  Just a brief aside, never mind.  Here's my list:

1. We write.  Duh.  But with the crazy demands of our lives it is very easy to forget that writers write and that we actually need to practice our craft once in awhile.  Or every day.  And that we write to discover.  That we write to move our minds.

2. We read.  We read anything and everything from cereal boxes to blogs to novels to non-fiction books.  The best way to teach yourself how to write is to read anything you can get your hands on.   And read tons of examples of what it is you want to write--my friend Linda, for instance, has set herself the challenge of reading 100 YA novels in order to teach herself about the genre.

3.  We discuss.  We communicate with other writers, in person or via the internet or phone and talk about writing.  There's nothing more energizing and interesting than a group of writers gathered to talk shop.  Because "shop" includes just about everything under the sun.

4. We think deep thoughts.  Because all of the above foster deep thoughts.  Well, actually mine tend to be shallow at times (especially after I've watched too much trashy TV), but who cares, at least I'm thinking.

5.  We go within.   By giving our minds a rest through meditation, prayer, or whatever works for us, we actually allow our minds to move with more ease and less effort.

What have I missed?  How do you move your mind?  And how does it impact your writing?

***Another way to move your mind is to feed it images, which you can do via a vision board.   Sign up for my newsletter and receive my free Ebook, Jump Start Your Book With A Vision Board.  The form is to the right of this post!

Photograph by float.

My Life If I Weren't a Writer

My daughter came over for breakfast on her way to work today.  I actually got a good little writing session in before she appeared, but as I was cooking bacon at an unusual hour the thought occured: this is what non-writers do instead of worrying about writing first thing in the morning.

So I starting thinking.  What would my life be like if I weren't a writer.  Here's what I came up with:

• I'd drink coffee, read the paper and eat breakfast first thing in the morning, rather than taking my coffee to my office with me to write.
• I'd read for pleasure only, instead of constantly studying to see how other writers do it.
• I'd watch movies without straining to pick out the plot points and mid points.
• During the summer, I'd have a suntan from being outside, instead of inside writing.
• I'd actually make sense when I talk to the grocery clerk during my first outing of the day, after a long day at the computer.
• I could truly relax, instead of constantly thinking, I should be writing.
• My desk would not be littered with ideas written on scraps of paper.
• I would have no desk.
• My hair would not stand on end from me pulling at it when pausing to search for the right word.
• I would never have traveled to Nashville and many other interesting places.
• I would not know the best and most interesting people in the world, both in-person and online.
• I would not know how to make sense of my life.
• I'd be dreadfully bored.  And even more dreadfully boring.

This is just a beginning list, off the top of my head. How about you?  What would your life be like if you weren't a writer?

Photo by kiamedia.

Writing in the Rain: Monday Morning Round-up

It is raining this morning.  I know, I know, I live in Oregon, its to be expected.  And, truthfully, I don't mind.  I love going out for a walk in the rain and coming back inside where its cozy, warm, and dry, to curl up with my writing or my reading.

And this morning my reading served up two good nuggets.

First, while eating my yogurt and nuts I read a review, by Jeff Baker, of Annie Proulx's recent lecture in Portland.  Apparently, she loves research and reads voraciously.  But what I loved the most about this article the advice she gave out to writers at a small private meeting the next morning (I sulked for a little while about not being invited).  Here are some of the gems:

• Use times when you are waiting in line, for a flight, whatever, to work on descriptions of people.
• Read your work aloud to yourself.  (Whenever I read my work or do a lecture, I always take a pen with me to the podium, because I can't help but edit when I hear myself read.)
• Listen to the way people speak around you--hear regional dialects and everyday speech.
• Draw a landscape to remember it.
• For a writing project, research the years around your birth.  What was the world like back then?
• Be interested in what you write.

Read the full article here.  It is worth it, there's some real gems.

And then, when I opened my inbox, I found a fabulous article by Chris Guillebeau, who gives reliably good advice, whether it is on travel hacking or creating your own unique way in the world.  The title of the post is "How to Write 300,000 Words in 1 Year," and in it he gives good tips on focus, one of my favorite topics.

One bit:

"Make your art your obsession.  Fall in love with it. Experience withdrawal symptoms when you don't give it your attention."

And another:

Rather than worry about quality, "Worry instead about getting your words in. [He strives for 1,000 per day, and he wrote this post while waiting for a delayed flight at the Nairobi airport.] Wake up early, stay up late, use that notebook you are carrying, appropriate those ten or fifteen-minute breaks in the day with nothing scheduled."

There's other good stuff on this post as well.

What are you best tips for writing?  Care to share?

***One of my best writing tips is to start with the images.  Learn how by downloading a free copy of my Ebook, Jump Start Your Book With a Vision Board.  Sign up in the form to the right and you'll also get a free subscription to my newsletter!

Photo credit: imageafter, from Everystockphoto.

Developing Good Writing Habits is Like Flossing Your Teeth

If you are going to write, you've got to write. 

I know, I know.  But I was feeling profound today so I thought I'd lay the full force of my brilliance on you.

All kidding aside, you've got to make time to write if you are ever going to finish that novel.  Or book to promote your business. Or memoir.  Or short story.  Or article.  Or blog post.  The writing doesn't get done on its own, alas.  And the best way for you to get it done is to work on it regularly, because:

• then you don't have to go back and reread all 50,000 words you've already written
• your subconscious latches onto your story and works on it for you
• you develop momentum
• you actually look forward to writing because its not such a big deal
• the words flow more easily

This is why I harp on the topic of creating a regular writing schedule so incessantly.

And this morning it occurred to me that doing so is like flossing your teeth.   Which you do regularly, right?  Well, maybe not.  Because I was a teeth-flossing slacker until I realized recently that flossing takes about 5 minutes, probably less.  And if I do it every day my teeth feel good and clean.  And if I don't, they feel dirty and gross.  The other day I was going to opt out of flossing, when I remembered that I wanted my teeth to feel good and clean, not dirty and gross.

So I took the time to floss.

I want my mind to feel good and clean, the way it does after I write, not dirty and gross as it does when I'm avoiding it.  So I write. 

And look: you can write 15 minutes a day and feel good about it.  Truly, doing it is far more important than how long you do it or how great the words are that you're producing.

I bet you even have 15 minutes to devote to it this weekend.  Add on 5 for flossing your teeth and you are good and clean and shiny from head to toe.

What's your writing schedule?  What works best for you?

*Along the lines of creativity in general, I have a video series for you.  I've written before about how I often sometimes like to take time to mess around with painting and art.  Mess being the operative word.  But my friend Linda told me about her husband's new series in which he actually gives helpful instruction about art, which you can access here.  And, as you know, I believe that everything we do impacts our writing, so you might just get some tips that will help you in glumping out the words.  Check it out.

**And along the lines of creativity as it pertains to writing, check out my free ebook on creating a vision board for your book.  Its amazing what vision boards can do for you and your book!

***Who knew you could find photos of dental floss?  The interwebs, they are amazing.  This lovely shot came from inya. 

Living Full Out

I like to think I live pretty full out, how about you? As writers and creative types, we tend to live full out because:

A. we're used to being fully present while we create, and

B. we routinely tap into that which feeds us.

Earlier this week, though, I challenged myself to really look at how fully I've been living.  It started one evening when Buster the pug and I were watching one of our new favorite shows, the Picker Sisters (our other new favorite show is Mad Money, as we endeavor to learn about the stock market and money in general).

If you have not watched the show yet, it features the adorable Tanya and Tracy, tricked out in short shorts and boots, as they mush through junkyards across the country, charming crusty old men and irascible elderly women along the way.   Did I mention that T and T are from LA, of course?  They buy rusty parts and other random things and haul them back to their shop in LA where their long-suffering partner Alan makes the junk into items for the home. Anyway, on the show the other night, one of them, I can't remember which one because I get them confused,  said something to the effect of "We live life full out!"  (This was right after one, or probably both of them, said, "Oh my God," which is their most favorite thing to say, ever.)

And that comment got me thinking.

At first I thought, really rather smugly, I live life full out.  (Return to top of this post for more on that topic.) But then I looked at it more deeply.  And started thinking about the appointment I had the next morning that I didn't want to do.  And how I was thinking really negatively about the appointment, and the person it was with, and getting deep into my story about what a victim I was to have to put up with this person and all the time it would take to deal with them.

Which is when I realized.  Um, this is not living life fully.  It is living life negatively and bitchily and all wrapped up in my ego.  And if I didn't really want to do the appointment than I shouldn't have agreed to it in the first place. 

Since then, I've been thinking about what truly makes me live life full out.  And here's what I've come up with so far:

Deciding.  Most of us waffle and ponder and don't ever truly decide.  But making a definite decision is living life fully, because you're saying yes to what you really want and no to what you don't.  The power of making a decision is awesome.  Once you decide, all kinds of help and support will fall into place.

Watching thoughts.  Yeah, yeah, I know.  Another idea so common its a cliche.  But just sit back and observe your thoughts for a day or half a day.  And notice how often the judgments, negativity and snottiness are separating you from living life full out.  Because when you're in that egotistic state of judging, you're not fully present.  And when you're not fully present, you're not living life full out.

Nailing procrastination.  Okay, look, I really don't think it is possible to live procrastination-free.  We all need some puttering type down time once in awhile.  But do you really need to check for the latest news on Hurricane Irene five times an hour?  Or click on your in-box one more time to see who has emailed?  The thing is, this kind of procrastination is preventing you from living life full out.  Because you're not really present when you're clicking around the internet, now, are you?

That's as far as I've gotten.  So talk to me.  Tell me how you live life full out, whether watching TV or writing.  I'm all ears.

*One way I know for certain to live life full out is through the power of intention.  And creating a vision board focuses that intention.  So sign up for my free Ebook, Jump Start Your Book With a Vision Board.  And read more about their power here.

Photo of Buster, the TV-watching pug from my Iphone.  And thanks to Karen, from Square-Peg People, who told me how to get photos from my phone not to turn sideways!

 

Round Two: In Love With the World

I'm in Orlando, at the Suzanne Evans 10K business intensive, and while I'm gone I thought it would be fun to post some oldies.  I chose this one because it talks about one of my favorite topics: how writing makes you fall in love with the world.  (Note: Suzanne no longer does theta healing, but she does something else called RPT that is better.)

Dec. 13, 2007

I got up and worked on my new novel this morning (the one I didn't write for Nanowrimo).  And all is right with the world because of it.  I've been very careful and fussy with this novel so far.  This morning I let it rip.  For whatever reason, and I have some theories, I was able, finally, to let go and let the words flow.

And then the world is the most beautiful place and I am in love with everything--my ugly old shoes, the dirty dishes, the sunrise, the trees outside, the hours of other work I have to do.  In my studies about Zen (though I really hate to say studies because it is more about experience) I read all the time about enlightenment.  And I think this is the feeling that the enlightened ones get.  But who knows, and who cares.  All I know is that it is the way I want to live in the world, always.  And if it takes getting up early to accomplish it, so be it.

The key concept of letting writing rip, for me, is to write fast.  When I write fast, I bypass the critic and the harsh editor and the voice of my character's true self is able to emerge from within.  Yes, I make a lot of errors and yes I write a lot of crap.  But those are minor problems that can be fixed later. What you can't achieve (or I should say, what I can't achieve) through fussing over every word is the flow and the tone and the style.  And what does that all add up to?  Voice, of course.

Along these same lines I recently read a piece a friend wrote and, while the writing was at a very high level, I could tell how much he had labored over it and worked and re-worked it, which did not do the piece any favors.  It made it feel just the wee-est bit stilted and overdone.

So, what are my theories on how I finally managed to it rip?  Here we go:

• Chance favors the prepared mind.  ie, I've been pondering this story and its been churning around in the back of my mind, and finally its ready to be told.  I do believe that every story has its moment.
• I've been sitting down every morning to write, regardless.  I am also a firm believer that the Muse likes discipline.  Others will tell you this is not so, but believe me, it is. 
• Suzanne did some theta healing on me to cure a wee, ah, hangover I had after hanging out with my friend Sue from Nashville.   And while she was at it she threw in focus and clarity for me. 

Your guess is as good as mine as to which of these was most instrumental in getting me going again.  And, at this point, I don't really much care.  Because if I had a good work session I can have another tomorrow.  Momentum builds when one is writing every day.  And when one is writing every day, the novel pages pile up. 

So it doesn't really matter what the reason might be.  Because I am in love with the world. 

Chunking It Down

You know the old question, how do you eat an elephant?  And the answer is, one bite at a time.  Well, this post is sort of like that.  Because we're going to talk, you and I, about how you write, which is somewhat like how you eat an elephant: you write one chunk at a time.

I did a whole piece on this in my recently concluded Writing Book Proposals That Succeed teleclass (which, by the way, I'll be repeating in the fall), and it turned out to be one of the most helpful sessions, according to class attendees.

The Tiny Picture Frame

Anne Lamott, in her class book Bird by Bird, writes about how she keeps a small empty picture frame next to her computer.  And then when she needs reminding, she holds the frame in front of her monitor and peers through it.  This reminds her that all she has to focus on is that one little tiny bit of writing.  A word, a sentence, a paragraph.  Bit by bit, chunk by chunk, you focus on one little bit at a time.  And soon you have finished the entire thing.

A Vague Outline

One thing that will help you utilize this process is an outline.  It can be vague, or even detailed if that is how your brain works.   It can be as simple as a main topic with several sub-topics, or a main topic with questions for sub-topics.  Or just a simple list.  Whatever works for you.  But do write something up, however loose, because we're going to use it in the next step.

The Beauty of Prompts

I know, love 'em or hate 'em.  Doesn't matter how you feel about them, give this process a try.  Instead of using a prompt that someone else has written for you, you're going to write your own.  And yes, you smart ones have figured it out already.  You're going to use you topic heads and sub-heads as your prompt.  Focus on one topic at a time.  You can set a timer and free write or do it however you want.  But stick to the subject as much as possible and write.  As you're writing, keep a list of things that occur to you that you want to write more about or research more about.  Voila, new prompts

Cut and Paste

Once you've come to the end of your vague outline, you can now put things in order.  Pile them up.  Sometimes I label a separate piece of paper with each topic and pile everything related there, then cut and paste them back together.  Go through and write transitional material and hey, you've got a rough draft.

The Fictional Way

Fiction does not lend itself quite so easily to topics and sub-topics, obviously.  But you can still use the chunking process.   Just remind yourself that all you have to stay focused on is the scene at hand.   Build it word by word, sentence by sentence, paragraph by paragraph.  And then one day you will look up and say, Hark!  I've written myself a novel!

What methods do you use to get your words out of your brain and onto the page?  Have you used the chunking method?

*Don't forget to sign up for my mailing list, which is the best way to keep up on class announcements and so forth.  I also write brilliant articles for it.  And you get a nifty free Ebook on creating Vision Boards when you sign up.  All you have to do is add  your name and email to the from to the right.

**Also don't forget that the price of my Get Your Writing in Gear one-hour Kick Your Butt sessions are going up at the end of the summer.  You can book now (or book for a friend or family member or for a gift) and use it any time.  Check out all the details here.

Photo by xandent, from Morgue File.

Creating a Container for Success

Every  year as we head into spring, I clean and organize my office.  It is not something that is planned, I'm too right-brained for that.  It's just that it feels like its time.  Last year I bought a new desk set from Ikea and did a rigorous clearing out that took months.  While I've enjoyed the fruits of that organization, piles of papers and notebooks and journals and spirals still managed to spring up.  And finally they drove me so nuts that it was time to get down to it.  Which I've been doing over the last few days.

And what I found myself doing was creating containers.

The act of clearing away the old creates a container for the new, just in the sheer act of doing it.  Getting rid of the gunk creates a vaccum of space, and you know the saying--nature abhors a vaccuum.  It's a cliche because its true.  Which is why if you need business or are longing for something new in your life, you gotta go make room for it.   Yesterday, I consigned items to the give-away pile that I never thought I could get rid of.  Things like a small mirror a friend gave me years ago, a tacky quirky piece of kitsch I bought at a craft fair, a pop-up book featuring images of buddhist icons. 

I also found myself making file folders for new clients.  I've got several people who expressed interest in working with me, but haven't yet made definite plans.  Just the act of making files with their name on them made me happy.  I thought about them, wished them well no matter what they decide to do, and felt ripe with possibility for both them and me.  Because in creating containers for new clients, the universe will send them to me.  Could be the ones whose names grace the folder, could be others.  Its the act of making room for them, of showing the universe that I'm serious in my intent, that creates the end result.

Today, as I waded through a gazillion junk messages in my inbox, I realized I could create some containers there, too.  I am the worst when it comes to signing up for email lists, and my inbox reflects that.  It is full of mail from hard-hitting internet marketers whose freebie I wanted once upon a time, but whose ongoing message I'm not interested in.  And so instead of hitting the delete button repeatedly, I took the time to unsubscribe.  There was a wee moment of panic, I will admit, when the thought occurred that perhaps I would not have any emails left.  But then I reminded myself that cleared out the junk leaves room for the jewels.  My inboxes are now containers for new energy--from clients, from editors, from agents, from friends.

And here's the deal.  As I wrote in my journal about finishing up this organizational project the thought hit me: what will I do now?  As in, what will I do, now that cleaning my office isn't hanging over my head?  What will I do now, that I don't need to keep telling myself, I'll do that when I've organized my office?  The answer is clear, of course.  I'll commit myself fully and completely to my writing projects.

For a moment, I felt the fear in that.

And then I felt the glorious rush of liberation that creating a container for success brings.

 

What kind of containers for success are you creating?

 

Photo by Hamed Saber, from Everystockphoto.

Writing Process 3: Rewriting

This is part four of a continuing series of the writing process.  For the previous articles in the series, see the end of this post.

What's there to say about rewriting? You just get in there and do it, right? So what's there to write about?

Well, plenty.  For starters, let me make one thing clear: I make a distinction between rewriting and revising. 

Rewriting is what you do after you've written a rough or discovery draft, glumping everything onto the page.  You've written the rough draft, which is you figuring out the story for yourself.  And now you have to figure out best to present the story to your readers.  So you work on things like character arcs and ways to show theme and plot.  

Revising is what you do after you've rewritten that first draft a gazillion times and finally feel you've gotten all the big picture stuff down pat.  Revising has to do with word choice and making sure you have lots of different kinds of sentence structures, and grammar and punctuation.  (And its the subject of next Monday's post.)

So, here's the deal about rewriting: at first, its hard.  Because at first, especially when working on a long project, there's puzzlement about how to find a way back into your work.  The logical place to start is with reading it again, but that can be confusing, also.  Because, what are you supposed to be looking for while reading? How do you know what to change?

This is when giving your rough draft to trusted readers  (critique group or a mentor) can be incredibly helpful, because they can give you a starting point.  But what if you don't have access to such readers? Or if you're simply unwilling to yet show your draft to anybody(which is your right--follow your intuition about when to share)?

Here are a few tips:

1. Begin with reading.  Because, really, you've got to go back to the beginning and remind yourself of how it all starts.  I don't know about you, but by the time I've written some 350-odd pages, I have a hard time remembering every single nuance of the start.  Or even the middle.  So, print out  your manuscript, grab a pen and notebook, and go sit in your favorite chair.  The one where you sit to read books (of the sort written by other people).  Read through your manuscript and take notes.

2. Find a way in.  Your entry point might be something you notice about a character--how, for instance, he talks about his desire to become king in chapter 10 but really needs to inform the reader of this vital point a bit earlier.  Or maybe you realize that a crucial plot point is misplaced.  Or perhaps it is something small, like a description that you think could be rewritten.

3. Expand on your notes.  When you're finished reading the draft, go back over the notes you took.  Between the notes and the reading of your draft, you should now have a better idea of things you want to work on.  Turn your notes into a plan for rewriting, even if its just a to-do list.  This will help you enormously.

4.  Look for places to go deeper.   Rewriting is most often a process of adding to, not removing, contrary to popular opinion.  Far and away the biggest problem I see in scenes is that they are not developed enough.   There's not enough description, not enough scene-setting, not enough of the viewpoint character's thoughts.  As an experiment, choose a paragraph at random from your draft and pull it apart and add to it. You might hear this referred to as unpacking.

5.  Remember that rewriting begets more rewriting.  Because once you've changed certain areas of the story, other areas are revealed.  You've gotten the character arcs straightened out, so now the parts of the plot that need work are evident.  And so on. 

Those are my tips. By the way, an excellent book to use as a guide for rewriting a novel is: Writing The Breakout Novel Workbook, by Donald Maass.  (The companion book is Writing The Breakout Novel, but I don't find it as helpful.) Another, more general title, is The Artful Edit, by Susan Bell.

What are you best tips for approaching the rewrite?  Do you find any books especially helpful?

Previous Posts

The Writing Process, Again

5 Guidelines for Critiquing the Rough/Discovery Draft

Writing Process: The Three Ps of Glumping

Writing Process: The Three Ps of Glumping

Over the last week, I've been revisiting the writer's process.  (You can get caught up on the other posts here and here.)  As promised, today's post begins a look at each step of the process. 

And so today we talk about the fine and wonderful art of glumping.

Glumping is a word that I've always used for the magical process of spewing words onto the page in your first, or discovery draft.  (Don't know where I came up with this word, to be honest.  I thought it was a made-up word I picked up somewhere along the line, but dictionary.com defines glump: to manifest sulleness, to sulk.  Which is what happens to writers when they don't write.)

For many people, this step engenders the magic of writing, the truly creative time when ideas fly and words combine in fabulous ways.  (For others, rewriting is when the deeply satisfying work begins, but we'll get to that in the next post.)The most important thing to remember about glumping is this: just do it.  The act of getting words onto the page in a first draft really boils down to picking up your pen and writing, or turning on the computer and pounding away on the keys.

So simple and yet so difficult.

Because sometimes it is damned hard to glump. 

If you find that to be the case, remember the three Ps of glumping:

1. Prepare.  Glumping will go much easier if you ponder your project ahead of time.  (Okay, I'll quit with the ps now, I promise. Oops, sorry.) If you're writing a novel, make character dossiers, a loose outline of the plot, write descriptions of locations, and so on.  For non-fiction, a list of points you want to follow. Anything that will help seed thoughts for writing. 

2. Prompt.  Oh, the poor, maligned prompt.  People love to sneer at these clever sentences, when really, all they want to do is help you get your writing going.  If you're staring a blank page or computer screen without a clue what to write, they can be a lifesaver.   Use them as a way to get words flowing.  I recommend keeping a list handy in your journal or writing notebook and pick one at random ( do not stop to make value judgments about which prompt you want to use--just choose one).  Then write.  The first few sentences may be totally off topic, but soon you'll settle back into your draft.

3. Practice.  As in, practice makes perfect.  Because, it does.  The more you write, the easier it gets.  When you spend more time working other aspects of the writing process, like rewriting, returning to glumping feels strange and out of control.  But soon it will become second nature again.  That is, if you practice regularly.

So there you have it, the three Ps of glumping.  How do you glump (or should I even ask, that sounds vaguely obscene)? What are your expriences with the writing process?

 

 Photo by christgr, from Everystockphoto.

 

The Writing Process, Again

Apparently I'm more of a creature of habit than I thought.  Every year about this time I write a post about going back to the basics.  These pithy thoughts may be disguised in several different ways, but basically what I end up writing about is the writing process.

And that's what I'm going to write about again today.

Actually, this is the first in a whole series of posts on the writing process, that will continue throughout next week.  Each post will focus on one aspect of the writing process, as I see it,  including glumping it on the page, rewriting, and revising.  Oh, and on Monday there's a bonus post about critiquing and the writing process. I've written about the parameters of the writing process so much I'm not going to do it here again today, so if you need a refresher go here or here.

Today I want to talk about why I'm such a fervent believer in the writing process.

Because any other manner of writing makes me into a crazy person.

Say I set out to write an article about, hmmm,  pugs.  And since I know a fair amount about pugs, I decide that I should be able to write this baby up right quick.  And so I make up an outline and then take each step of the outline and write about it.  Piece of cake.  Except what comes out is tight and boring and constricted.

Why?

Because I'm imposing perfection on my article.  I'm assuming I know so much that I don't need to write a rough draft and then another draft and then another and another.  Because I know so much that the rought draft, my first pass, will be perfect. 

But the opposite is true.  In bypassing the writing process, I've bypassed all the places where the magic happens.  The first place is in the glumping phase, when you just let it all hang out on the page, every single damn bit of it, in a glorious unorganized way.  Sometimes in this phase you learn stuff you didn't even know you knew, or fresh ideas appear unbidden.  Which is why this step is sometimes called the discovery draft.

And magic happens further down the line, too.  It occurs when you go back to that discovery draft with fresh eyes, seeing it as beautiful, raw treasure.  And then you get to shape it into a thing of even more beauty, a thing that your readers will love.

The first draft is for the writer to figure out the story.  The second draft is for the writer to figure out how best to present the story to her readers.

And that's just all there is to it.  Of course, as far am I'm concerned, the best rules of writing are the ones that work for you, so if you've found a better way, feel free to share in the comments.  And come back on Monday when I discuss the role of critiquing in the rough draft.

 

Writing Around

When I was working on my recent workshop for The Writer's Loft, I had a brilliant realization.

There's writing.

And then there's writing around.

So you don't think I'm the densest writer on the planet, I've known this forever, but haven't known known it, if you get my drift.  Writing around is something I've always practiced but never named.  And I'm going to bet every bit of money in my bank account that the same is true of you.

Writing is when you're working on your actual project.  Writing a chapter, scene, paragraph, sentence, or word that will (with perhaps some editing) eventually appear in the finished product.

Writing around is when you are writing, well, around said project.  Working on a character sketch, for instance.  Or making endless notes about where the plot is going.  Journaling about the storyline, or why the location of the big break-up scene should be moved. 

And so on and so forth.

There's a whole hell of a lot of writing around involved in writing.  I'm guessing here, but I'd bet that the ration may be as high as 3:1, with the amount of writing around being at least three times higher than actual writing.

Which is fine.  Writing around is necessary and important.  Novels, memoirs, articles and essays do not get written without it.

But what's not fine is when we don't give ourselves credit for it.  Sometimes we're so concerned with our writing output that we forget to count all the writing around.  Maybe I wrote 5 pages of notes on my novel, but no actual scenes.  So I beat myself up, thinking I didn't get any writing done. 

When in truth, what I got done--writing around--was probably nearly as important as the actual writing.  Because without a lot of writing around, there isn't going to be any writing.

How else will you:

• Figure out a character's ordinary day?
• Learn random, yet important, things about your character?
• Plot out the arcs of scenes?
• Play around with description?
• Experiment with structure?
• Ponder the meaning of story?
• Define your antagonist?

And so much more.  So remember the value of writing around, and next time you write 3 pages of notes on your next story, you get official bragging rights.  Because, you have been writing, sir or madam.

Do you have any writing around wisdom?

**FYI, I'm trying really hard to get back to a regular posting schedule.  Not every day (how did I ever manage that?) but three times a week, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.  Come back here on Wednesday because I have an exciting guest poster lined up!

Photograph by danzo08, from Everystockphoto, where you might have noticed I get all my photos, because I am such a creature of habit and if it works, why fix it?

Going Back to the Basics

I'm sitting in the Houston airport, on my way home from Nashville, pondering the past weekend of the Writer's Loft orientation.

I did a workshop for the orientation called Jump Start Your Book with a Vision Board (soon to be an ebook available right here).  In the final hour of the workshop, we all made vision boards having to do with our books. But in the first two hours, we wrote.  And wrote some more, and more and more.

Basically, I took the group through a series of free writing exercises based on the elements of creative writing: character, conflict, setting, plot, symbol and theme, and style.  And we talked a lot about the writing process in its most basic form:

• Glumping it all on the page (also known as a Shitty First Draft)
• Rewrite
• Rewrite
• Rewrite
• Rewrite
• Rewrite some more
• Revise (which is the final step, concerning yourself with grammar, word choice, etc.)

The workshop broke open lots of ideas for people and I accredit it to going back to the basics.  Because here's what happens: we decide we want to write, then begin a regular writing practice.  And because a regular writing practice makes our writing better, pretty soon we're getting good.  And when we get good, we start to think that we don't need to follow all that beginner stuff of the writing process, because we're good.  We should be able to just whip out a first draft that doesn't need rewriting or revision.  And then the writing becomes stilted and stiff, because we're not allowing ourselves to write from our heart.

So ponder where you are in your writing life and experiment with going back to the basics.  See what happens if you find a prompt and set a timer and just write without stopping, really without stopping, for 15 or 20 minutes.  The prompt can and probably should be related to one of your current writing projects. Or do what I do and choose a prompt while keeping your current project in mind. 

Try it.  And report back.  You may be amazed what happens if you go back to the basics.

Resistance is Futile

Some days, my life is one long series of resistance.

I want to eat couscous with my lunch, but the voice inside my head warns me it's a carb and I really shouldn't eat carbs.

I want a glass of wine before dinner, because all the males of the family are drinking beer and watching the Orange Bowl and its fun to hang out with them.  But the ego-driven voice tells me that I shouldn't because it's a week night.

I really want to take time to work on my own writing project, but I warn myself I have manuscripts to read and paid writing to finish.

Every one of these desires is met with resistance, a chorus of  shoulds and shouldn'ts.  And my desires and my resistance go head-to-head, back and forth, until I'm having a Linda Blair in the Exorcist moment, my head whipping around on my neck in a frightening fashion.

And then I realize what is happening.  That I'm resisting what is.  And the old adage, what resists, persists, is true.  So as long as I resist the damn couscous, I'm going to want to eat it.  As long as I resist the wine, the call to drink it is going to get stronger.  And when I resist the urge to work on my own writing, the sadness inside me will grow bigger and bigger until it swallows me up. 

What I really need to do is just let it all go.  Relax into it and quit with the resistance already.

But, my ego whispers, what about that concept of personal responsibility you're so big on this year?  Huh?  Huh?  Isn't it the responsible thing to do to not eat the couscous or drink the wine? In a way, yes.  But there's a crucial difference.  And that is the act of letting go.

Have you ever had the experience of wrestling with a problem, focusing on it obsessively, without result or change?  And then suddenly you've had the glorious feeling of just letting it go?  When it happens it is magical, because you truly enter the space where whatever happens is alright.  No matter what, its alright.

Because letting go means that you are not attached to the outcome.  And here's where the personal responsibility part comes in: you do your best, you work your hardest, you glory in the process, but you aren't attached to what happens.  You trust that whatever happens will be for the best.  And if what you want to have happen doesn't happen, you know that something else that might be better will.

And so, when I let go and relax, I can serve myself up some couscous and realize that a very small portion will satisfy my craving for it.  I can pour myself a glass of wine and enjoy it without feeling the need for another.  And I can take time to write and know there's time enough to get everything done.

What is, is.  Resisting it is futile, because you're arguing with reality.  So relax and let go.  And all will be well.  And by the way, this is what letting go and relaxing looks like:

What do you resist?  What are your experiences with letting go?

Photo of wine by telefon897, from Everystockphoto.  Image of pugs and cats from my Iphone.

What Book (or Writing Projects) Will You Birth?

Merry Christmas, everyone, if you celebrate.  Either way, I hope everyone who reads this has a wonderful holiday. 

I find the holidays an especially creative time of year.  Even with all the hoopla and festivities (I'm having 21 people over for Christmas Eve tonight, including 2 kids and a nephew who will be dressing as Santa to entertain them, plus 2 pugs, 2 cats and 1 German Shorthair) and the time necessarily spent away from writing, my creative juices are flowing.

Because, after all,what we celebrate is a birth.

Whatever your religion the nativity story is an inspiring one.  Taken purely on a symbolic basis, it is a powerful allegory for what it takes to bring light to the world.  Both Joseph and Mary (who was a mere teenager) had to endure hardship, criticism from their communities, and undertake a grueling journey in order to birth their baby.

Christmas celebrates the birth of Christ, but every creative project is a birth.  A creative life is made up of a whole series of them. And sometimes, along the way, we get overwhelmed with the demands of taking care of our babies.  Because, you know, infants and children are a flippin' demanding lot.  Sometimes it is helpful to step back and look at how we're dealing with them. So when the festivities are over, take out your pen and paper and ponder the following questions:

1. What am I birthing?

2. What do I need to let go of to bring it to fruition?

3. What do I need to start doing to facilitate it?

4. What do I need to stop doing?

5. How will I tend this project once I've brought it into the world?

And in the mean time, a Merry, Merry Christmas to all. 

Discover how you can get an online degree in social work.

Photograph by lumix 2004, via Everystockphoto.

About Those Get Your Writing in Gear Sessions

A couple weeks ago I did something that all the experts tell you not to do.

I "launched" a product without much fanfare.  Well, let's be honest, there was no fanfare.  I got the idea for the service, wrote the page and put it up.  Just like that.  No hype and not even much promotion, besides some tweets on Twitter.

But this morning the thought occurred that it might be nice to do, um, a little promotion on it.  But more than that I thought it would be cool to explain where the idea came from.  So here goes.

Every April and October (used to be December, but it is being moved next year) I'm the "book doctor" at Room to Write.  This is a writing retreat held in the heart of Nashville, where a dozen writers meet for four days to write.  We also walk the labyrinth, meditate, talk publishing, and meet for meals, but all those activities are optional.   If you'd rather stay in your room and write, that's fine, too.  Writers hire me for an hour session if they get blocked or need help with their writing.

And here's the deal: these hour-long sessions are rockin'.   They are so totally amazing, not only for my clients, but for me.  Because we sit and discuss where the writer is at in his or her writing, where he or she wants to be, and how to get there.  We read a bit of their work, and talk about it some.  And over the course of the hour something really amazing emerges: clarity.  Writers come to the session with a myriad of projects cavorting in their heads and clamoring for attention, and leave with clear direction on which to start first.  Or they are confused about a character.  Or a plot point.  Or they have an idea for a novel or memoir and don't know how to get started.

They walk out of the session with clear direction, and what I like to call "marching orders" for how to proceed.  They've generally got a list of books to read, perhaps some websites to visit, a few supplies to purchase.  They are energized and motivated.  And so am I.  I love, love, love doing these sessions.

So at the start of this month, when I was at the most recent Room to Write, I thought about all this and then struck myself on the forehead in the proverbial duh moment.   My epiphany was this: why not offer this service to people who cannot make it to Nashville for the retreat?  Why not offer these sessions on my site?

And so I have.  And, I have to say, the sessions are pretty damn rockin' on the phone as well.  When you sign up for a session, you automatically get sent a questionnaire that helps me learn where you are.  From there we schedule your time to talk.  And you get clarity.  And motivation.  And inspiration.  And energy.  And marching orders.  And resources galore.

For more information, to sign up or buy a session as a gift for someone, click the tab above or this link.  And by the way, the sessions are great for non-writers as well.   Creative types, entrepreneurs, small business owners, or anyone with a dream will benefit.

During These Dark Days

I've started writing and then deleted this post a couple of times now.  I originally had it starting with a list of things that were currently depressing me.  You know, like the cold rain that is almost but not quite snow.  And all the people stranded at airports and train stations in Europe.  Or how about the thousands (millions?) who cannot afford Christmas gifts this year?

Cheery stuff, that.  Which is why I wrote it and deleted it. And then wrote it again. 

I love Christmas.  I love these short, dark days that we light up with decorations.  I love the hustle and bustle and spending time with family.  I love traditions like opening stocking stuffers, then making the children suffer through breakfast before getting to the presents.  I love the nativity story.  I love everything about this holiday.

And some years it amazes me that we collectively agree to do it again.  Because at heart, even though it is all wonderful, it is a hell of a lot of effort and work, and it wouldn't surprise me if we just flat out refused it all one year.  This year is one of those years.  Fabulous as the season is, it is hard for me to be as cheery as usual because I feel so burdened with the weight of the world's woes.  It is not just strangers, but people I know.  Family members struggling, friends losing their jobs.

However.

And this is a big however.

There's always a bright spot.  Or sometimes several:

Like participating in the over $20,000 that The Bloggess's Secret Santas gave away in gift cards to the needy.

Like rescuing two pugs.

Like my crazy, exuberant family.

Like visiting--and falling in love with--a new church.

And most of all, there's writing.  Because writing makes me remember these bright spots when all around me is darkness.  Writing brings me lightness when I'm feeling gloomy.  And writing has brought me more, so much more--including friends near and far and so many of you who read this blog that I feel like I know but I've never actually met.  Writing makes me feel like I have the power to change my life, and maybe even the lives of others. 

And that is worth a lot, during these dark days.

The Uses of Repetition in Writing...and in Life

In writing, repetition is often frowned upon because it is seen as a lack of cleverness, or perhaps laziness--couldn't you take the time to find a different word so you don't keep repeating the same one?  Please, please, please can't you vary the length and structure of your sentences so as to avoid the mind-numbing sing-song cadence that results?  And the same is true in life.  Repetition is considered dull.  Driving the same way to work every day, repeating the same routine day in, day out--bor-ing.

But lately I've been rethinking repetition in both arenas.

Why? For a couple reasons, the most important being my new object of adoration.  I'm in love with a man from India, who, unfortunately, has been dead since 1999.  His name is Eknath Easwaran, and he wrote a number of books on spirituality. Easwaran was knowledgeable, and wrote about, most of the world's great religious traditions but as far as I can tell he espoused none exclusively.  What he did recommend was a simple 7-step spiritual way of life which is explained in his book, Passage Meditation.

And here we come to the repetition.  Easwaran talks about two forms of repetition--passage meditation, which consists of meditating by repeating a spritual passage over and over again, and using a mantram, which you may know as a mantra.  The use of a mantram involves repeating a word or phrase over and over as you go about your daily life. 

I love the passage meditation that Easwaran describes.  To me it has a two-fold purpose.  It calms and focuses the mind, and at the same time, it drives the meaning and heart of the spiritual passage deep into your being.  But more than that, I love Easwaran and his clear style of writing.  He's written about a gazillion books, I'm happy to report, and I'm eager to read as many of them as I can get my hands on.

But we're not talking about my reading list.  We're talking about the uses of repetition.  As I've been reading Passage Meditation and pondering repetition, I've also been reading a manuscript from a client.  As I read, I noted a place where she had used repetition to good effect and wrote a comment telling her so.  And then I pondered the synchronicity of life--repetition cropping up all around me.  So the thought occured we could discuss when it is a good idea to use repetition in writing (seeing as how we've already talked about when to use it in life).  Here we go:

1.  Use repetition for rhythm.  This is perhaps the most common way repetition is used in writing.  You can repeat a word to establish a rhythm, or a sentence structure.  And, be aware, the opposite is also true--when a sentence does not have parallel structure, it is jarring to our sense of rhythm.  Repetition is crucial for rhythm, which is, after all, based on it (I'm thinking drumbeats here).

2. Use repetition for emphasis.  Most often, the experts will tell you to vary your word use.  This is one of the most common comments I make on manuscripts.   But sometimes you want to emphasize a point and repetition can be used to do so.

3.  Use repetition for comfort.  Comfort?  Well, yes.  Sometimes it just sounds nice to repeat words and the effect is comforting, like marshmallows melting in hot chocolate.

4. Use repetition for attention.  Once in awhile you'll want to jar the reader or surprise her, or wake her up. Repetition can be effective for this purpose.

5. Use repetition for effect.  Like yodeling in the middle of a song, or splashing black paint in the middle of the canvas, sometimes you need some bells and whistles to create a certain effect.  Try repeating words and see what that does.

So there you have it, my list of when to use repetition in writing.  I'm sure I've not mentioned all of them.  When do you use repetition, or do you avoid it?  How about repetition in meditation, or meditation in general?  Do you use it to enhance your writing?

7 Ways to Put Your Writing First

Let's get one thing straight at the outset: I know the subject of this post is not news to you.  It is not news to me, either.

What it is, is a reminder.

A reminder I seem to need every so often, so I figure you might, too.

Because putting writing first in one's life is hard.  These days, we all have so many other things pressing at us.  There are the usual suspects of family, friends, beloved pets, and work.  And nowadays writers, creative professionals, and entrepreneurs are required to write a blog, send out a newsletter, host teleseminars, tweet on Twitter, and keep up with everyone on Facebook.

Honestly, when are you supposed to write?

Before you do anything else, that's when, whether you take that literally or metaphorically.  Because when you put your writing first, everything else falls into place.  I used to think that this process was somewhat magical, and it is, but I've also realized why it works. 

Because writing makes you fall in love.  And when you fall in love you have tons of energy and when you have tons of energy you don't care if you have to stay up later at night to finish some of the other items on your to-do list.  Because you are in love--with your writing, your life, and yourself. 

And so herewith, 7 ways to fall in love and put your writing first:

1. Schedule time for it and then hold to that schedule.  I know, duh.  But how many times have you told yourself you were going to write and then not done it?  Take personal responsibility for your need to write and do it when you say you are going to.  You'll feel so good when you do.

2. Define what you're going to work on.  Do this ahead of time so that you have an immediate place to go and you're not flailing about, thinking, hmmm, I wonder if I'd like to work on such-and-such today.  Instead you can plunge right in.

3. Leave your phone charging in the other room.  Where you can't hear it ring.  God invented voice mail for writers, he told me so.  If it's important, they'll leave a message.  (The only possible exception to this is for parents of small, emphasis on the word small, children.  In your case, keep the phone with you, but put it on vibrate.)

4. Close down your inboxes.  This is the painful one for me.  I don't really like talking on the phone, but give me an email to write or read and I'm a happy girl.

5. Close Twitter.   Or Facebook.  Or whatever your particular devil might be.  Let the world know you're taking a break to go write.  They'll respect you more in the morning for it.

6. Feed the cat.  Or dog.  If your pets are like mine, they will get very vocal when they are hungry.  And a vocal cat is a very distracting thing.   Feed them, so that they will go curl up in their furry bed and leave you alone.

7. Have confidence in yourself, your writing, and your contribution to the world.  We need your voice.  We want your voice.  We're not going to get it if you keep procrastinating about your writing.

Now go forth and schedule your next writing session--for whenever putting your writing first makes sense.  And do feel free to tell what your favorite tricks are for putting writing first.

 

Photo by chancaca, from Everystockphoto.