Sharing some personal things about writing

2005-12-10T11:38:00.000-04:00

I am fully enjoying the release of my most recent book "IBIS STEW? Oh,No!" and the prospect of my next published story,"Racing the Rain" in Macmillan's Treasure House 1 (an anthology of Caribbean stories for children)- SEE www.caribbeanchildren.com

I wanted to share with you some of the personal things I am realising about writing:

1. Sometimes allowing yourself to be absorbed in the process of living is the best thing a writer can do - Life is both model author and muse when we look listen and pay attention. And at times it is great to allow one's self the spaces of just being (not doing); just lolling and enjoying a nothingness within which your ideas may be conceived.

2. We think its about words. Trust your feelings and allow them to flow. Thinking and worrying too much about "writing well" can cause creative constipation.That fear will translate in to work that is far less vibrant and captivating.

3. Reading - writing is about reading. The old adage "You have to read a thousand books before you can write just one" is true. What are you reading these days? And read in the genre you want to write for as well.

4. WWW - wonderful world of technology. What a great tool for writer's to do reseacrh! Get tech savvy and USE it!

5. LISTEN - to the way people talk. This will allow your characters to have voices of their own. Try writing snippets of conversations you had today word for word.Notice how different people might say the very same thing in their own style.

Joanne Gail Johnson

www.caribbeanchildren.com

Further dialogue

Anonymous said (June 2006):-

yes to everything except writing is about the words. the words make the difference. the words create the feelings. its all about the words.

JJ said (June 2006):-

Totally! I hear you! Writing in the final analysis is absolutely about the words particularly at the stage of publication when we are intending to communicate with others - of course!My comment is in the context of encouraging authors to write and express.It addresses one of the reasons some with tremendous talent, passion and ideas often don't get to it.

For some the whole thing may come as an effortless flow and package, for others not.

We can learn first to be willing to communicate with the self without fear of the words and getting ourselves to write as a habit - getting thoughts and feelings out without editorializing.

This has been a tremendous issue in our education system in T&T (maybe eleswhere too??). When I taught writing to primary school students there was a culture of fear of words! Spelling, punctuation and grammar are to be in service of the author and communication not an end in itself to be tested and corrected. Over emphasis on this can freeze brilliant writers for a lifetime. Often I would let kids talk their stories and I would take dictation. They would then rewrite them.

If you're already loving and enjoying the use of words, picking and choosing and editing yourself joyfully - great! That's the ticket, I'd say!

If you FEEL you could be a writer, FEEL stories bubbling beneath the surface but in actuality you are stuck, not getting words out the way you want and don't know why this is more likely and issue of creative fear, self-doubt, a tyrannical inner editor/ censor etc; not a matter of words. So "diss" the latter and play with the former issues as a matter of feeling one's self expression.

If this sounds like an area for further exploration for you - Suggested reading:

If You Can Talk You Can Write by Joel Saltzman

"One night, still in the throes of agonizing writer's block, I got a fortune cookie that saved my life..."

Writing As A Healing Art - The Transforming Power of Self by: Laura Cerwinkse "Something potent happens when you put pen to paper and let your hand - rather than your head - do the thinking."

The Artist's Way by: Julia Cameron

"This is a book that addresses a delicate and complex subject. For those who will use it, it is a valuable tool to get in touch with their own own creativity."Martin Scorsese, FILMMAKERJulia Cameron is a Poet, Playwright, Novelist, Filmmaker, and ComposerAward-winning writer Julia Cameron is the author of twenty-four books, fiction and nonfiction, including The Artist's Way, Walking in This World, The Vein of Gold, and The Right to Write, her bestselling works on the creative process. A novelist, playwright, songwriter and poet, she has extensive credits in theater, film and television.

.............WRITERS_ZONE_BLOG

Sharing some personal things about writing