It’s always helpful to chat with other writers to compare notes about our writing experiences. That’s why I was eager to accept Clara Freeman’s invitation to write the following post for the My Writing Process blog tour.
I was asked to answer the three questions below and then pass the baton to other writers whose blogs I recommend. You’ll see a link to the next blog at the end of the post.
In Clara’s post for this blog tour, her description of her early morning writing time sent chills down my spine. You can read her post here.
And now…my answers to the blog tour questions:
What are you working on?
I have two main projects going right now. I have been writing a lot of short memoir pieces about my own life that may or may not come together as a unified whole.
This is the approach I recommend to new memoir writers – start by writing one- or two-page stories, vignettes or reflections on whatever aspects of your life story you feel compelled to write about. Pulling them together into something larger and more coherent is a later step in the process. First, you need to develop a writing practice and discover what kinds of things you have to say.
I’m also working on piecing together my mother’s personal history. As I discuss here, my mother wanted to write a memoir but never got anything down on paper. Sharing her story was one of my final promises to her.
I have a ton of letters and interviews with Mom that I’m in the process of compiling right now. As I gather up this raw material, I’m now considering weaving her story together with my own. As Mitch Albom said, “Behind all your stories is always your mother’s story, because hers is where yours begin.”
Why do you write what you do?
I write about my life for a variety of reasons. Mostly I do it because it helps me piece together the puzzle of who I am. I view myself as the hero in the story of my life, and by looking at the hero’s backstory, I do a better job at plotting the rest of the story—in other words, the next chapters of my life. Lifewriting supports this healthy and empowering approach to life.
I also like to write about my life because I’m never at a loss for material. With fiction, I find myself second-guessing a lot. Although I used to write a lot of fiction, I don’t seem to have any inspiration for it anymore. My inclination now is to draw meaning from things that really happened and find entertaining ways of communicating that to readers.
I see these stories from my life as part of my eventual legacy to my descendants as well. I have so treasured the letters I’ve inherited from my parents and their ancestors, and I’d like to leave something similar for my son and his children.
What is your writing process?
I am a big believer in what I call the “download draft.” When I first approach a writing subject, I simply download everything I can think of to say about it. I don’t worry about anything except getting the ideas down. Some writers call this a “vomit draft” and Anne Lamott famously calls it a “shitty first draft,” but I like the term “download” because it helps me envision a connection between my brain and the computer I’m typing on. And it’s not as revolting!
After I have the download draft, I usually reread it right away and make some quick revisions. That gives me what I call a “shareable draft.” I’ve made it presentable, but in my mind, it’s still just my opening gambit. At that point, I might share it with someone close to me but otherwise, it stays private.
My next step – if I’m going to take the piece any further — is to let some time pass. At least a week, but probably more like a month and, really, the longer the better! Once I’ve distanced myself from the piece, I can go in with fresh eyes and assess my work as someone who didn’t just think these very thoughts herself. It’s often funny to read my own writing with that kind of perspective. Sometimes I’ll think, “Hey! This is really good!” or I’ll rip the thing open with revisions like a samurai.
After a random, reactionary revision, I’ll get more strategic and take a few more passes looking for specific weaknesses in my writing, like sloppy organization, ineffective word choice, superfluous rambling, overly long sentences, or phrases from the Department of Redundancy Department. I’ll often give the beginning and conclusion some extra scrutiny. Eventually, I’ll think, “Good enough!”
Next Stop
It’s always helpful to hear how other writers work. Please continue following this blog tour by visiting author Mary Montanye, author of the new memoir Above Tree Line at her blog on Monday, June 9.
Your Turn
What are you working on?
Why do you write what you write?
What is your writing process like?
Please share in the comments!
The post My Writing Process: Let’s Compare Notes appeared first on An Untold Story.
