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| My word count: I keep track of my progress |
My writing journey has been a slow one,
starting from a novel idea birthed when I started an evening creative writing
course at a local college. This was about five years ago, back when my
daughter, second and last child, was one years old. It has been difficult trying
to fit my writing passion amongst the other everything else that I do, a working
mum of two young children, 'like a mum' (and wish I was her mum) to a teenaged
niece, a wife, a friend and whatever short term responsibilities I have to do. Not to mention all
the emotional stuff life threw at me that knocked me sideways for months and I had to rebuild and get moving again.
I also spent months of not writing to
the point my writing style changed and I had to re-read and re-write. There
have been periods when I could not write, I would sit down at my lap ready and my mind would be completely blank. These writing sessions usually ended in tears and doubts. And
on the other end of the spectrum, I had sessions that I did not want to end because I
was consumed with ideas and felt like I was going to burst if I did not put
fingers to keys and just wrote something, anything!
Coming from a poetry background, I
continually questioned my writing style, was it too poetic? Did it have too
much description? Then I would sigh when I (again) went on about a sunrise for
almost a whole paragraph. I once read somewhere that a beginner writer finds their
voice after the first 10,000 words, my 10,000 words came and went, and I was
still looking for my voice. I have doubted myself, my abilities and wondered if
someone out there really did wanted to read my work when it was finished. More
recently, I have become frustrated and confused with story lines, character
developments, conflict decisions and chapter structuring. When sessions ended
in doubt I would go to Twitter and converse with other authors who encouraged
and motivated. And being a Christian, I prayed, mediated and reflected on
scriptures like Psalm 37:5 - "...trust him and he would help you."
Whatever
you need to do to keep you going. Do it!
When I first had the idea of writing this
blog post, my instant thought was "I'm not qualified to be giving
writing advice." I'm still a beginner myself, I'm not done yet and
there is so much more for me too learn and do! Then I realised there would be others
in the place I was five years ago, with a great idea and a passion to start
their writing journey, and probably, like me, feeling overwhelmed and unsure
where to start. So I thought why nor share my experiences and just hope it would inspire someone else.
All I can give advice on is the things
that have helped me
along my 'unfinished' writing journey.
I CREATED MY WRITING SPACE:
My writing cave is in a corner of my bedroom (that link is an old photo, it has been upgraded since) and when I go and write I would close the door and not open it until I have done something. I must admit it took me a while to create a space and I wished I had done it at the start of my journey. I have placed this high up on my list for various reasons, firstly after I created my writing space my sessions become more fulfilled. I wrote more, had more ideas, I didn’t feel like stopping and my confidence grew. Secondly, I felt I became more serious, more like a professional writer; I even changed the way I labeled myself and started calling myself a writer. I am a writer with a part time job. Why not? I do write don’t I? To be honest, I do not always voice that I’m a writer and a part of me feel I shouldn’t because I don’t have a published book. It is more to do with my mindset and with how I see myself.
I JUST WROTE:
You would hear this often, “to be a writer, you have to write.” It does not matter what or how much you write, there is something about being proactive that helps to motivate and move you along. Don't worry about your writing style, your story line, if this chapter should start with this sentence. What is the right writing theory? It doesn't matter. Too often I had become overwhelmed with structure that it ended my writing session quickly. I would compare my writing style and methods with others and feel I was doing something wrong, there is no write or wrong way! I would become concerned that I have not thought about it enough, not paid a lot of attention to details and worried that my story would not make any sense. And then the doubts would come. Just write anything! There is something beautiful about writing with freedom, just letting the words flow and allowing them to tumble out. And before you know it, you would have something, 200 words, 500 words, that you can read, re-write and expand.
I TALKED ABOUT MY DREAM:
I share my writing journey on social networking sites, I have friends who would read my stuff, not as often as I would like and right now I have restricted this because I keep changing things (for another blog post) and wanted to give then a draft that I know won't change much later on. I would network and talk to other writers on Twitter, ask questions and share my concerns. When people ask me what I do, I would mention my job but also say I am a writer. This all created accountability. The more I talked about it, the more people expected me to do, it was (and still is) the push I needed to keep on going because each time someone asked me how my writing is going, I would tell them I have done more and I am further along my journey then the last time you asked me.
I FOUND TIME TO WRITE:
This was something I really struggled with at the beginning. I did not know where to start, life just seemed too busy all the time and when I did have the time, I was not in a writing-mood. I have since realised there is no such thing as a writing-mood (another blog post?), you just have to do it. A couple of years ago I met a lovely ninety-three year old woman who told me I needed to fight for my time and I have never forgotten that! Since that conversation I have done many things to create that time, like taking advantage of my flexibility at work, on a Sunday looking at my week ahead and exploring my free time, having a dedicated writing day. Also looking at how I spend my time and reducing useless activities, such as limiting the time I spent watching things, Netflix binging and social networking sites cruising. Getting rid of distractions! Most times it worked but there was those occasions where unexpected things happened that caused me to be busy. These were the things I was unable to control. However, most things in the week I can control or work around, it just meant I needed to have more self-control and be more organized. I would often have a 'no phone' period, wake up early so I can cook a meal, leave for work extra early so I can sit in a coffee shop for an hour or two to write. I’m not perfect. What things do you need to de-clutter to create more time?
I STOPPED FEELING BAD:
There have been many times where I have not done what I had wanted or needed to do. I had no self-control, had not written enough, felt that ‘if only I was more…’ earlier on in my journey I would be further along my journey. You get the picture. I’m not even going to write a lot about this because there is not point in dwelling on the past, it does nothing to the present and the only thing you can do is learn from it. So all I keep telling myself is “I would do better next time!” This could be tomorrow, usually for me it is next week.
(Updated 19.12.17)
My writing cave is in a corner of my bedroom (that link is an old photo, it has been upgraded since) and when I go and write I would close the door and not open it until I have done something. I must admit it took me a while to create a space and I wished I had done it at the start of my journey. I have placed this high up on my list for various reasons, firstly after I created my writing space my sessions become more fulfilled. I wrote more, had more ideas, I didn’t feel like stopping and my confidence grew. Secondly, I felt I became more serious, more like a professional writer; I even changed the way I labeled myself and started calling myself a writer. I am a writer with a part time job. Why not? I do write don’t I? To be honest, I do not always voice that I’m a writer and a part of me feel I shouldn’t because I don’t have a published book. It is more to do with my mindset and with how I see myself.
I JUST WROTE:
You would hear this often, “to be a writer, you have to write.” It does not matter what or how much you write, there is something about being proactive that helps to motivate and move you along. Don't worry about your writing style, your story line, if this chapter should start with this sentence. What is the right writing theory? It doesn't matter. Too often I had become overwhelmed with structure that it ended my writing session quickly. I would compare my writing style and methods with others and feel I was doing something wrong, there is no write or wrong way! I would become concerned that I have not thought about it enough, not paid a lot of attention to details and worried that my story would not make any sense. And then the doubts would come. Just write anything! There is something beautiful about writing with freedom, just letting the words flow and allowing them to tumble out. And before you know it, you would have something, 200 words, 500 words, that you can read, re-write and expand.
I TALKED ABOUT MY DREAM:
I share my writing journey on social networking sites, I have friends who would read my stuff, not as often as I would like and right now I have restricted this because I keep changing things (for another blog post) and wanted to give then a draft that I know won't change much later on. I would network and talk to other writers on Twitter, ask questions and share my concerns. When people ask me what I do, I would mention my job but also say I am a writer. This all created accountability. The more I talked about it, the more people expected me to do, it was (and still is) the push I needed to keep on going because each time someone asked me how my writing is going, I would tell them I have done more and I am further along my journey then the last time you asked me.
I FOUND TIME TO WRITE:
This was something I really struggled with at the beginning. I did not know where to start, life just seemed too busy all the time and when I did have the time, I was not in a writing-mood. I have since realised there is no such thing as a writing-mood (another blog post?), you just have to do it. A couple of years ago I met a lovely ninety-three year old woman who told me I needed to fight for my time and I have never forgotten that! Since that conversation I have done many things to create that time, like taking advantage of my flexibility at work, on a Sunday looking at my week ahead and exploring my free time, having a dedicated writing day. Also looking at how I spend my time and reducing useless activities, such as limiting the time I spent watching things, Netflix binging and social networking sites cruising. Getting rid of distractions! Most times it worked but there was those occasions where unexpected things happened that caused me to be busy. These were the things I was unable to control. However, most things in the week I can control or work around, it just meant I needed to have more self-control and be more organized. I would often have a 'no phone' period, wake up early so I can cook a meal, leave for work extra early so I can sit in a coffee shop for an hour or two to write. I’m not perfect. What things do you need to de-clutter to create more time?
I STOPPED FEELING BAD:
There have been many times where I have not done what I had wanted or needed to do. I had no self-control, had not written enough, felt that ‘if only I was more…’ earlier on in my journey I would be further along my journey. You get the picture. I’m not even going to write a lot about this because there is not point in dwelling on the past, it does nothing to the present and the only thing you can do is learn from it. So all I keep telling myself is “I would do better next time!” This could be tomorrow, usually for me it is next week.
(Updated 19.12.17)
Copyright © 2017 Sonneteer Articulates (aka Traysi Matthew, Traysi Speaks)
All rights reserved. No portion of this post may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or by otherwise without the express written permission from Sonneteer Articulates (aka Traysi Matthew, Traysi Speaks)
