Three’s a Charm: Advice on Writing
When Deirdre from Writing Anam Cara tagged me to list three pieces of writing advice, I thought “only three?” Of course the real trick will be taking my own advice:
1. Commitment: Be prepared to spend an inordinate amount of time fiddling with words. Carry pen and paper with you everywhere, even to the mailbox. When the muse starts dictating, stop everything and take good notes. She generally does not repeat herself.
2. Surprise: Don’t be predictable. Keep yourself surprised about what you will write next and your reader will be too. Don’t tell a story from A – Z in a straight line. Allow for twists and turns to happen when your “talking on paper” just like they do during a good conversation. (This is different than veering off completely or monopolizing the give and take of good conversation.) Don’t be afraid to hit a nerve when writing, in fact, look for one. That’s where the power is.
3. Seek out the right teachers: Find writers you resonate with. Read their work and what they have to say about writing. You’ll likely be drawn to the ones who are working from the same tradition you are or who have something in common with your own style. That’s why you’re drawn to them. They can provide insights that feel custom made for you. While I can learn from many writers, there are a few who have felt kindred and have propelled me forward. Just yesterday, after reading Billy Collins’ editorial introduction to The Best American Poetry of 2006, I said to myself, “What did I do before Billy Collins?” He speaks a language I understand and I knew when I first read one of his poems (about five years ago) that he would inspire my writing. Before Collins it was Natalie Goldberg, and Richard Brautigan was one of the first who also did that. In my quest to learn from other writers, I collect good writer’s quotes, which I consider to be condensed inoculations of good teaching. Here’s one of my favorites that I try to always keep in mind when I’m writing, said by Elmore Leonard, ”try to leave out the parts that most people skip.”
Post Notes: Please feel free to leave your own writing advice in the comment section. I would also like to tag Smiler, Claudia, Christine, and Poe to pick up this meme if they feel so inclined. The photo is one of my Asheville Potter son’s. They are the letter stamps he used for putting words on bricks he made HERE. I also want to mention that I received a meme a couple of months ago very similar to this one from Pris that originated from The Shameless Lions Writing Circle. I started to do it but then got sidetracked. I wonder if this one was seeded from that?
February 8th, 2008 9:04 am
Advice on writing from Colleen! I love your writing, and wish I could write like you. Thanks for the tips. I have jotted down the names you mentioned and will check them out also. My hobby of proofreading made the first thing I noticed about this post was the F and G are missing from the alphabet photo, sorry. Have a great weekend!
February 8th, 2008 9:08 am
Well done, Colleen. I have done this meme and come across it in many places. So many responses consist of three words only and a bit of elaboration. Perhaps we all feel one thing: the right word is everything! This is wonderful. God bless.
February 8th, 2008 9:13 am
At first I though the letters were from Josh’s keyboard. Many of them have fallen off (or melted from kiln firings). When I read your comment, Susan, I thought sure you were pointing out a typo from me. I make them a lot and sometimes catch them weeks later and wonder why no one told me. I didn’t notice that letters were missing in the photo. I downloaded it and others last night that Josh had left for me and loved this one. I wouldn’t have known they were brick stamps if I hadn’t seen the other photos that explained it.
Sandy, I would love a link to your answers. Here’s my second favorite writer’s quote that you comment reminded me of: In a poem the word should be as pleasing to the ear as the meaning is to the mind. ~ Marianne Moore.
February 8th, 2008 9:53 am
Natalie Goldberg. Love her books. Very inspirational to me. They just speak to something inside me.
1)write everyday.
2)let yourself write out of order
3)don’t fix every word until later. Go with the flow at first.
February 8th, 2008 10:18 am
I appreciate the writing advice you’ve offered here. I’ve noticed others leaving tidbits like this as well … perhaps in response to this “Roar” beginning you mention. I believe it helps to write what you know and/or want deeply to know more about. As a teacher, I enjoyed using Natalie Goldberg’s 7 Writing Rules to get “flow” going with my students … and I find myself using them even now … especially “Go for the jugular” (as in write what scares you) though that’s not as simple as it seems with an audience. It’s simpler in a journal that only I read. Thanks for sharing.
Hugs and blessings,
February 8th, 2008 10:54 am
Hi Colleen
Your writings are all wonderful, and I’m glad for your advice!
Thank you!
Margie
February 8th, 2008 10:55 am
Gosh, thanks for the tag. I will have to ponder for quite some time to come up with something. You’ve covered some of the best! 🙂 Hmmmmmmmmm….. I’ll let you know when I post….
February 8th, 2008 11:04 am
Great writing advice. I love reading these memes – they’re good reminders for me. I’m glad you did this.
February 8th, 2008 12:21 pm
This is excellent advice Colleen. And I am so honored that you would tag me for this, I’ll be sure to think really hard before I answer, so stop by soon!! And thank you.
February 8th, 2008 1:56 pm
i’ll be keeping all these in mind. i especially need to remember the first one.
i had an entire song written in my head while driving, and by the time i sat down to write it out, it was gone. arrggh!!!
February 8th, 2008 2:33 pm
Awesome advice!! You are right on — although I’ve never done the paper and pencil thing at all times. I do so much better when I let things stew and let my brain wander and then sit down to write. It comes out in ways that surprise me.
February 8th, 2008 5:46 pm
Your advice is terrific, but writing advice from me? I’ll take it on as a challenge, but really I’m so entirely self-taught that I’m not sure I know how I do something that feels as natural as breathing to me. Which is why I don’t seriously consider myself a writer. But sure. I’ll take you up on it. Will let you know when it’s up.
February 8th, 2008 6:14 pm
Like Susan, it was the photo that drew me in. I wondered why “you” would have laid them out in three lines of very different length … and then I saw that F and G were missing.
February 8th, 2008 7:15 pm
write when the spirit hits you regardless of your other plans- pure spontaneity
February 8th, 2008 9:20 pm
Great writing advice. My advice? I write through the entire story before stopping to edit. Then I work with critique partners to polish the story. I also read many books for inspiration and continued learning.
February 8th, 2008 11:11 pm
Thanks for the good advice!
February 9th, 2008 3:47 am
When I was writing plays, Colleen…(I very much emjoyed doing that because it is all dialogue…) Many times I would feel like I had no idea where something came from….It was as if something was guiding my hand—like Automatic Writing—It was really quite extrordinary….I never stopped those things because I felt it was coming from some mysterious place that wanted to have a voice. And if it was consistant with the character, well…it was not only fine with me, it was very exciting. I’m not sure there is any advice in what I just said, except, to let it all out—whatever it is—You can always “edit” it later….!
February 9th, 2008 9:05 am
Thanks Colleen, for visiting my blog, too.
To comment on something else you said here, I always carry a pad and pen with me everywhere, too. You never know when inspiration will strike. Often, I’ll be scribbling notes at traffic lights or my daughter’s softball games. Sometimes a dream will awake me at night so I keep paper and pen by my bed, too.
February 9th, 2008 9:42 am
The play of words and made up characters that much writing involves does remind me of child’s play. (Especially if it’s FOR a PLAY, Naomi).
February 9th, 2008 12:33 pm
Don’t be afraid to hit a nerve when writing, in fact, look for one. That’s where the power is.
On my Through the Storms to the Horizon blog, I am writing a story in which I do hit on a lot of nerves, prejudice, domestic violence, etc…
It is always hard for me…
All of this is great advice glad michelle sent me over
February 9th, 2008 10:19 pm
So much of what you say is true for artists and photographers!
My addition might be: be true to yourself…make sure what you write resonates with YOU!
February 10th, 2008 1:27 am
Thanks Colleen for tagging me! I’ll post my advice in the coming days. We’re in the midst of moving – the packing phase. We just bought a grand old home (1903) with a large veranda and a huge unfinished attic that I hope to turn into my writer’s studio in the next couple of years. It’s been a very busy, very exciting time in our little corner of the world.
February 11th, 2008 1:39 pm
My favorite and what got me started was “Apply the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair- 15 minutes, every day.” The first few times (and quite a few thereafter) the rule was so hard to follow, but without fail, it works…eventually!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Nancy
March 29th, 2008 11:11 pm
I love what you said about not being afraid to hit a nerve. You’re right, we can’t be scared if we want to be good.
I have a very simple piece of advice. Start a blog. I haven’t written so much as I have since I started my blog. I am on a writing frenzy now. I’m not just talking about blog posts. But posting has taught me to PRODUCE. My muscles are warmed up.