Variety is the spice of life, right? I have been thinking about variety in relation to the writing process. Never having written a book before, I am finding a challenge in downloading what is in my head onto the page. Writing mostly in chronological order, based upon an outline, I am finding my creative mind constrained by this. Why not write the scenes you are anxious to get to? Nothing wrong with creating in pieces and putting them together later. Movie makers do this all the time. Maybe changing up how the information is recorded. After all, technology is amazing these days. Alexa or Siri could become a writing partner. Maybe I can make better use of that 30 minute commute.
The point is, there are lots of ways to approach the task. It is easy to let process interfere with creativity. Remember to stay true to sharing your story. Editing can and will come later. Have fun with the how and it may keep you from getting stuck.
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Writing is a real experience. I used to enjoy writing and dreaming at my dining room table in Bulloch Harbour. I could see the castle from my window and it would spark dreams of all of the history it has seen over time. Started in 1149, Bulloch Castle has seen a lot of history unfold.
These dreams inspired by book in progress, which is centered in Bulloch, past and present. I have a strong outline about the plot for both timelines and it is a joy to visit both stories. I am finding myself "squirreled" by all of the great writing advice that is out there. How you can create strong characters, not overusing descriptive terms, plot considerations... All of a sudden, writing is much more than getting words on a page. I love to read. As a writer, I really want to be able to create a world in which my readers want to live for a time. I find that all of this advice produces two conflicting responses for me. The first is self doubt. "Can I really write something others want to read?" The second is love of learning. I love to consider all the things these articles bring up and I can get quite lost in applying the advice to writing. Unfortunately, it also seems to slow down the process of actually getting the story into words. Balance is the conclusion I am coming to. Like any art, you can never produce a "perfect" piece. Editing and polishing are important, but it is also important to let the story itself shine through. Giving myself permission to write in different ways has been a revelation of sorts. It ok to just free write, everything does not need to be in sequence, as that is what cut and paste is for. Sometimes blurbs are enough and you can go back and fill in later. It is quite freeing of course. I am very thankful for word processing having overtaken the typewriter. Ultimately, the experience is making me appreciate authors even more. Happy writing, my friends! |
Liza HollandAuthorI have always loved words and reading. I was that kid that had her nose in a book to and from school. The crossing guard saw me coming and stopped traffic so I didn’t have to look up! As I grew into professional life, I did lots of writing - published articles, newsletters, ads, white papers, reports, grants, op eds, blogs, you name it. Recently, I took what would up being a sabbatical to Europe. My husband was offered a great opportunity and we spent a year in Belgium and a year in Ireland. It was magical. I did so many things I never had time for, including joining a writing group. Having time to think, I came back to Kentucky with 2, count them, 2 book ideas. I hope to share the journey of the coming to fruition with you.Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
July 2022
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