How I Write
This is the end of the How I write series sponsored by Ansha Kotyk. Check out the list of other writers here. This is your last chance to gain from their wisdom as they reflect on how they write in an open post. Thank you to Ansha and Kristine for inviting me to take part in this series. I have grown as both a writer and teacher from this opportunity to pause and think about what it is that I do when I write. I have learned much from all the writers. Don't worry I will be coming back to posts when I get to those points in my novel.
This summer I have made the transition from dreamer to writer. How do I know? For starters, I am still writing. Usually at the end of the summer I put away my writing and pour all my energy into teaching. The writing dreams go in the box under the bed, not to see the light of day until the next summer. And summer is never long enough to write that novel (or finish the rest of my ambitious to-do list). School started two weeks ago here, and I am still writing. I am going to see this first novel through. I can sense the end of the first draft even if I'm not there yet. I have ideas for my next novel, too. I am much more comfortable with the fact that my first novel sucks. But I'm learning with every word I write.
During a ten mile bike ride last Sunday I even figured out what this first novel is all about. Not too bad for being almost 3/4 of the way through it. It's enough to energize me through the rest of the first draft and give me a clearer idea of what to look for in revising. More than anything else, I've learned that I can do this.
Two writers have been especially generous dishing out encouragement on their blogs. I thank Laurie Halse Anderson for sponsoring WFMAD this month. For those of you not following her, that's write fifteen minutes a day. I can do that--even when school has started, even when leading a youth group on a week long mission trip. I've missed only one day this month. That's BIG for me. Even if I haven't been following her inspired prompts this month, I will be back. Check it out. Maggie Steifvator must be lurking in my head because she writes just what I need to hear when I need to hear it. Check out what she has to say about seven steps to starting a novel. It applies just as well to getting through this first draft.
I am still writing. What about you?