Part of me feels like I should be writing fiction. “It’s what will sell“, my mind whispers. And, then another voice in my head says, “Besides, you can’t write nonfiction or you’ll come off as hypocritical, or stupid.”

Of course, I don’t want to write just to make money. I want to write because it’s almost an innate need — I love to write. But, that little nagging voice likes to remind me that we need money pretty badly, right now, and maybe I could help out the family by selling my work. Foolish thinking, of course, because it’s very difficult to make a living as a Writer — or, so I’m told.

The other part of me desires to write nonfiction. This is my strong-suit, I would say. It comes more naturally to me than fiction does; it’s not much of a struggle. But, of course, that little critic says I can’t write nonfiction because I’d try to write about weight loss, and I’ve not yet had (lasting) success with that, so I’d be a hypocrite. Or, because I’d try to write about spiritual matters (stuff related to the Christian faith), and my faith isn’t strong like that of the other Christian authors, out there, who are already published — again, a hypocrite. Or because, if I do write about faith, I’ll come across as not knowing what I’m talking about, and will therefore look stupid or uneducated.

I feel like, if I attempt to write nonfiction, no one will care about what I have to say. My work won’t sell, because there are better works already out there on the subject I might write about. Of course, this feeling stems from the fact that, in real life, I don’t feel listened to — I often feel that no one cares what I have to say, as they give me physical cues that they’ve stopped listening when I’m talking. So, what’s to say that I can actually write a book and find someone who’ll care to read it?

These are all silly excuses, though, right? I need to silence my inner critic and just do what I love… which is to write. And, I should take a leap of faith and write what I know, which is nonfiction. If it comes easy to me, and is where my passion lies, then I think I need to follow that, and say “screw it” to my inner critic.

You just never know, right?
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Edited to Add… After I wrote & published this post, I went blog-hopping… and I stumbled across this quote over at the “Two Writing Teachers” blog:

And by the way, everything in life is writable about
if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the
imagination to improvise. 
The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.
— Sylvia Plath

But, lately I’ve been thinking about getting back to writing regularly. I’ve got several ideas percolating in my head.

This morning, WordPress.com’s homepage led me to find a blog called “Two Writing Teachers“, and that newfound website inspired me to really get excited about going back to my writing.

I especially liked the Writing Teachers’ post about the things they’ve learned from their Summer Reading. So much of what they listed I could relate to! I loved that they encouraged keeping track of what you’ve read — I do this, and would HIGHLY recommend it to everyone! And, I could relate to their Writing bits, even though I don’t write consistently, or with any real seriousness. Writing is still only a hobby for me.

What got me started thinking about getting back to writing is actually my afternoon “boredom”. Much as I enjoy sitting around, reading, all afternoon, every day, I also find that I keep seeking out munchies because I tend to get “bored”. I keep putting that in quotations, because I’m not necessarily conscious of said boredom. I just know that I must be ’cause I tend to keep putting the book down, pacing the house, looking for snacks (even though I’m not necessarily hungry), etc.

The way I figure it, if I take up a discipline of writing for __ minutes every afternoon (or, perhaps an hour or more), I won’t be bored any more, and I will move toward my goal of being a published writer.

I still have my unfinished novel-in-progress to work on – I’m just several chapters from being finished with the first draft. It’s the book I started working on during NaNoWriMo 2006 (and yes, I realize that that was 4 years ago… so I’ve obviously let my Writing slide for far too long! I think there’s a fear buried there — but that’s another post for another day).

And, as I said earlier, I have a couple of new ideas spinning webs in my head — I need to get them out on paper… start working on them, and see if anything good comes from either.

So, stay tuned… I hope to be more diligent with coming on here, doing writing prompts, or participating in W.O.W., again, or just rambling about my progress in trying to sit down to a disciplined writing time every day.

What’s your favourite genre of writing?

My favorite genre to write in is either romance, or nonfiction about either spirituality or weight loss. But, for reading, it’s Christian Living, Romance, or Memoirs.

How often do you get writer’s block?

Considering I don’t write all the time, consistently, I get writer’s block a LOT! I’m in it more than I’m not!

How do you fix it?

I wait for inspiration to hit me.

Do you type or write by hand?

I do both — usually I’ll start out writing it by hand, and then –if it’s good– I’ll continue it by typing, ’cause typing is much faster, and much neater.

Do you save everything you write?

Mostly, yes. There’ve been a few pieces that got tossed, but for the most part, I keep it all, even if it was awful. Shows me how far I’ve come.

Do you ever go back to an old idea long after you abandoned it?

Very rarely, but yes, I’ve done this. Just to see if some new, fresh thing comes out of it. If not, I just leave it and move on.

Do you have a  constructive critic?

Are we talking “inner” critic, or outside? ‘Cause my inner-critic is nasty! She is very harsh! LOL. But, I just recently printed out my novel-in-progress, and let a coworker read half of it, and she is a very good, very constructive critic… I’m thoroughly grateful for her input!

Did you ever write a novel?

Workin’ on it! It’s not finished, but it’s only several chapters –and a revision– away from being complete! (Thank you, NaNoWriMo 2006!)

What genre would you love to write but haven’t?

Memoir.

What’s one genre you have never written, and probably never will?

Horror.

How many writing projects are you working on right now?

LOL. You don’t even wanna know! I couldn’t tell you, even if I wanted to, though! If an idea hits, I write it down, and possibly work on it for a bit. Then I let it go for who-knows-how-long. So, there are MANY “works-in-progress” around my house, only 2 of which I could say I was truly serious about.

Do you write for a living? Do you want to?

I don’t right now, but yes, I’d definitely like to! I have visions of moving to a house in the woods, where I could have quiet days for my writing… and working in a small, indy bookstore the other half of the time.

Have you ever written something for a magazine or newspaper?

I’ve written stuff and sent it in to magazines, but haven’t really been published… oh, unless you count my book reviews! I did a short stint for Romantic Times BOOK Review Magazine, and had 3 reviews published! Yay!

Have you ever won an award for your writing?

Does National Novel Writing Month‘s award count? ‘Cause I won in 2006! I got a blog-badge, and a printed certificate, and everything! 50,911 words in 28 days! Whoohoo!

What are your five favourite words?

Hmmm. Five favorites? Do they have to be words I use in my writing? ‘Cause I’m not sure. Maybe: snuff (not used in my writing — just love the sound of that one!), awesome, cool, dear, & really. LOL.

Do you ever write based on your dreams?

No. I’ve thought about it, but never done it.

Do you favour happy endings, sad endings, or cliff-hangers?

Happy endings, of course!

Have you ever written based on an artwork you’ve seen?

No, but if I were going to, I’d write about Edward Ruscha‘s work… he’s my favorite artist, so far.

…what are the areas closest to your heart?  What aspects of your life in general do you find yourself sharing in writing?  Do you enjoy reading/writing personal essays? Who are some of your favorite essayists?

Usually, when I write, it’s about relationships. But, when I venture away from that, I usually start to write nonfiction about health & fitness, or other nonfiction about the Spiritual life. People, God, and health are closest to my heart, I guess. And, you know, it’s funny, ’cause I wouldn’t have known what to say to answer this question until I started writing! LOL.

I love to read memoirs, as they give me insight into how other people have lived. One of my favorites was GIRL MEETS GOD by Lauren Winner. She detailed how she went from growing up Jewish, to turning to Catholicism later on. She gave such detailed descriptions of both faiths –without condemning either one, or making one more right than the other– and I really learned a lot! I didn’t know much about either faith until I read her book, so it was really helpful!

I also loved Debra Reinstra’s memoir on pregnancy, GREAT WITH CHILD. Fabulous book!

And, of course, being the bookaholic that I am, I couldn’t help but love Anne Fadiman’s book of literary essays & musings, EX LIBRIS.

Donald M. Murray wrote a neat one that combined his life story with some tips on writing: MY TWICE-LIVED LIFE.

So, yes, I really enjoy reading memoirs, and sometimes essays, about other peoples’ lives. They help you to remember that you’re not going it alone in life, and that other people have gone through the same things you are going through. Your experiences are shared by many, even if your’s are unique to you, too, because of what you bring to them.

I love the idea of everybody stopping in their tracks just to read, to enter into someone else’s world for a while. Wouldn’t it be fabulous if the whole world took time every day to do that? And, wouldn’t it be even more fabulous if the the world took 20 minutes every day to write, to enter into our own worlds a little deeper, express our vision of life and ourselves on the page. Wouldn’t we all become more mindful of the beauty that surrounds us, the people that intersect with our lives, and more keely attuned to our own thoughts and dreams? Those are just some of the ways my writing experience has enriched my life.

So, how about you?  Do you make time to write everyday?  Don’t you think everybody should?   

I think it’d be great for everyone to stop what they’re doing for 20 minutes a day, and just read, or write, or be still… this world could really use that. And, I love the feeling you get when you know you’re part of something big like that. It’s like on Rememberance Day here in Canada… on November 11th, at 11 a.m., everyone takes 1 minute to be silent, and remember the war veterans who fought for our freedom. We used to do it at school, and still -to this day- the newscasters will remind people at 11 a.m. that we’re to take a minute to be silent.

But, what’s one minute? Twenty (20) minutes would be amazing!

How about you?  Are you detail oriented in your writing?  What are some of the details you most notice in the world around you?  What details do you focus on in your writing – place, character, emotional?  What are the kinds of detailed descriptions you most like to read about?

I don’t add a lot of detail, or description, to my stories, and I know that’s where they lack. I’ve bought books on how to be more descriptive… and then I’ve not read them.

My problem? I never slow down enough, in life, to notice many of the details around me.

Sure, I always notice when the seasons change… I love watching the trees get their leaves in the springtime, and listening for the return of the bird songs. I love the arrival of weather warm enough, in the summertime, to put on my shorts and not have to wear a jacket to go outside. I love watching the leaves on the trees turn color in the Fall, and once again donning my jeans and sweatshirts.

But, I rarely –if ever– take notice of the “little things”, so I don’t have them to put into my stories.

The really funny thing is, I don’t like reading stories that are super-saturated with detail and description, either. I like my stories to move quickly, and not get bogged down in telling me every little thing. So, perhaps that’s why I don’t do description well, either.

How about you?   Is there a book you’d love to read that hasn’t been written?  What do you love reading about, and how could you write about it?  What fascinates you that could become the subject for your next story, essay, poem, or blog post?

I love reading stories of people’s success in weight loss. I love reading books that show people improving their lives in some way — self-help, I guess you’d file these under. I love learning how to better my life. So, I like to try writing these types of books, too. I’ve started writing (but have not finished) many, many books in the self-help genre. I just feel inadequate to write them when I’ve never been successful at putting what I’ve learned into practice. My life’s a mess, so who am I to write a book telling others how to fix their’s?

I also love stories that involve reunions. I love a good romance tale that has the two main characters overcoming any odds to be together, and then living happily ever after. It’s sooooo not realistic, but that’s why it makes for a good story — a fictional tale… because then you can ‘escape’ reality for a time, and live in a dream world. That’s the whole point of reading, if you ask me!

So, during NaNoWriMo 2006, I wrote most of my novel-in-progress, which is an inspirational romance where the two main characters have to overcome setbacks in order to be together.

And, yes, I’m thoroughly in agreement that, if you write what you love, it infuses your writing with a sense of passion, and you write better. It’s easy to get the words down on paper. The flow of the story works well. Why write something that you don’t love, when it’s going to be a ‘chore’???

How about you?  What’s your writing state of mind these days?  How do you access that “mysterious faculty” where insight and imagination are nurtured?   How do your instincts about your writing ability help you?  What’s your experience of being in “the writing zone”?

My “writer’s state of mind” is very much like Becca mentioned in her post, today. It’s a place where I kind of slip into a sort of “unconsciousness” — where the real world around me fades into the background, and I tune in to my subconscious to gather the ideas and thoughts that are tickling me.

I think this is a big part of why I love stream-of-consciousness writing. I love to sit and just write whatever comes to mind, as it’s a sort of way to connect with that “intuitive sense”… to naturally bring to mind whatever it is that is nagging at me; whatever needs to get out. And, I don’t have to force it… it just flows right onto the page.

Of course, it’s not always this easy. And, like Becca also said, I don’t always have the time to write when I feel that “urge”. But, I write when I can. Or, I’ll make a quick note with just a hint of what I think I’m feeling urged to write about, and then I can go into more detail later, when I do have time.

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Just a side note: If I don’t “show up” for a W.O.W. post anytime in the next little while, it’s because I have a job, finally, and I don’t always have the time –or the energy– any more to do the meme. Hopefully, once I get used to this new way of living, I will be able to get back into weekly participation, but for now it will be here-and-there …whenever I feel up to writing.

How about you? Do you have a writing practice?  What’s it like?  How has it helped you become a better writer?  If you’re thinking about starting a writing practice, how do you envision it?  What would work for you?

I’ve never thought of my regular journaling as “writing practice” until reading this week’s post. I just write when I feel the need to do so. I journal often about my weight-loss journey, and I’ve been doing this for several years. Whenever I come across something that prompts me to think about some aspect of my health, I write. Whenever I get a new story idea, I write. Whenever I am upset over something, I write. Whenever I’m excited, and want to remember something, I write. I write almost every day, in some form or other (blogging being my current weapon of choice… ;P)

So, I guess you could call that “practice”. Like today’s post said, the more you do it, the better you get. So I would think that I’m improving, even if I can’t see it yet.

I like the idea, though, of just pushing through and “doing it anyway”, even when you don’t feel like it. That’s something I should take up/practice. As with so many other things in my life, too often, if I don’t “feel like it”, I’ll let my feelings rule, and I won’t do the thing. I’ll put it off until later when I *do* feel like it. Hence my huge tendency toward procrastination.

NaNoWriMo in 2006 was good for me, in that sense. I was “forced” to write, despite my feelings, every day, or else I wouldn’t make the goal of 50,000 words in 30 days. And, as a result of pushing through and “doing it anyway”, I wrote 50, 911 words in just 28 days! Goes to show you what some good ol’ determination will get you.

I’m not sure, though, that I’m ready to make my Writing a priority. There are still other things that are more “important” to me, right now, at this stage in my life. I have two young children, and their new involvement in sports outside the home takes up a great deal of time — not to mention the adjustment, since this is still very new to us. And, I’m just about to go back to working outside the home (hopefully), after 10 years of being a “stay at home mom”. So, I can’t know how much “free time” I will have.

Yes, I know… excuses, excuses. But, really, I don’t mind putting off my “official” writing until later, when my kids are a bit older. Right now, they are my priority. Writing is my hobby.

1. Do you write fiction or non-fiction?  Or both? I write both, depending on what I’m in the mood for. I have a novel-in-progress that is in the “inspirational romance” genre, and I have an idea for a nonfiction book on weight loss rumbling around in my head.
2. Do you keep a journal or a writing notebook? I have a “commonplace book“, which is what Writers of old used to keep. It’s a notebook where I jot down ideas that come to me, and other tidbits that might come in handy in my writing later on. It also contains my plotting notes for the books I’m working on / planning to write.
3.  If you write fiction, do you know your characters’ goals, motivations, and conflicts before you start writing or is that something else you discover only after you start writing? Do you find books on plotting useful or harmful? I do a bit of planning before I start writing, giving myself a general outline. But usually my story just takes me where it will, and I just obediently follow along. I’ve not read many how-to books on writing, yet, even though I own several, so I can’t say whether they’d help or hinder me.
4.  Are you a procrastinator or does the itch to write keep at you until you sit down and work? Heh heh… both. I procrastinate on writing when I’m TRYING to be consistent, or when I don’t feel inspired. But, if I get an idea in my head for a new story, or for how to continue with a piece already in progress, I absolutely MUST write it down / work on it! It can’t wait.
5. Do you write in short bursts of creative energy, or can you sit down and write for hours at a time? Again, my answer to this is “both”. It just depends on my mood on any given day, or on what else is going on in my life. Sometimes I only have time for a snippet, but other times I can write for long stretches of time (like in bed, before turning out the light at nighttime, or during the afternoon when the kids are at school and hubby’s at work).
6. Are you a morning or afternoon writer? Definitely afternoon…or, even evening. I am not, and never have been, a “morning person”. I can be chipper in the morning if I have to, but I can’t do anything that requires a lot of brain power. LOL. In fact, I’ve often thought that blogging and emailing first thing in the morning isn’t really a wise idea for me, as I often misspell things, or write gibberish! LOL
7. Do you write with music/the noise of children/in a cafe or other public setting, or do you need complete silence to concentrate? Usually I’d say I need complete silence to be able to concentrate. But, sometimes having music on in the background helps. I used to do all of my homework for school with the music on in the background, and my mother couldn’t fathom how I could work like that! LOL
8. Computer or longhand? (or typewriter?) I will do both, but when I was writing for NaNoWriMo in 2006, working on my novel, I had to use the computer. My hand would cramp up if I wrote for too long. It’s just faster and neater to work on the computer. I have a laptop, so that made it easier.
9. Do you know the ending before you type Chapter One?  Or do you let the story evolve as you write? Sometimes I know the ending. It depends on whether I’ve done up an Outline beforehand. But, then again, the ending often changes, too — my story takes me along for the ride, so sometimes it’s a complete surprise to me!
10. Does what’s selling in the market influence how and what you write? No, absolutely not.
11. Editing/Revision – love it or hate it? My inner critic forces me to edit as I go along, even though I know you’re supposed to just write, and not worry about editing until you’ve gotten it all out and on paper (or the screen, as the case may be). But, revision is awful. I hate that.