With Dr Bobby Greenleaf Lovejoy headed off toward his blue lights, poetry in his soul and squeaky mouse in his hand, Bob's Write from the Start will look like a traditional blog for awhile. Complete with confessions of mistakes, inadequacies, triumphs and missteps. I intend that our emphasis here remain on the emotional ups and downs, the likes and dislikes, and the personal learning that may be helpful for new, newish and renewing writers. You may find "How to Write" books, over 10,000 of them, on Amazon.
The ones I have found most personally useful so far have been "Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within" by Natalie Goldberg and "Draft No. 4" by John McPhee. McPhee's book is aimed primarily at non-fiction writing, but I have so far found it energizing for my current short story fiction attempt as well. We'll see about that. However, I recommend it as an exhilarating read for structuring a piece of writing.
Here's where I am so far in the 'feelings' department:
- I have managed to annoy or upset or exasperate one or more valued and valuable members of a writing group. I think there are three causes:
- I don't understand the situation and yet am somehow compelled to insist on my version of it (My wife votes for this one);
- I have not learned the language that more experienced writers think is, or should be, obvious to everyone (there is plenty of other evidence for my misunderstanding writerly-obvious kinds of things);
- and I have some sort of previously constrained personality disorder. (But, as the actress said to the bishop, my intentions are so pure.)
- I have so much going on in my head, too little is getting written.
- I have written a children's picture book, and had the wonderful cooperation of, a trusted and talented illustrator, which I think is a candidate for publication. The next step is to ask facilitators of children's groups to read it to them and gauge reactions. I have received supportive knowledgeable advice from Writing Group colleagues. I did manage to get the name of one children's reading group facilitator. I said I would produce the draft book, stapled, weeks ago. I tearfully admit I only slightly along the way of getting it 'focus group' ready.
- I have noticed that different Writers Groups do different things. I am interested in putting together a survey of who does what, starting off with my local geographic area. So far, I have approached no one with this idea. And have unorganized bits and pieces of raw material.
- I have become obsessed with the idea of "Write for yourself, not for others." This is advice that has been consistently offered by experienced, quality, and highly successful people. People, I am too quick to point out, who are published. I want to write an article on this topic to clarify my own thinking around this. So far, this is more about 'want' than 'write'.
- I have decided to enter a writing contest that has a 'reading fee' attached to entering. Am I aiming too high and spending $30 for nothing? My inner cheapness and self-doubt natters in my ear.
- I have submitted a proposal for Dr Bobby to someone who in the past has responded within days or hours to my previous, admittedly far more modest, proposals. One original query and two follow-ups. I've heard nothing. Now what do I do?
- It has been about a year since I began this blog. I thought I should update the intro.
- I need to recalibrate my perspective. Recently, a well-known accomplished author said, instead of spending real money to purchase your book so some revenue flows to the author, "Some people will tell you they borrowed your book from the library and think you should say Thank You for that." At this point, for me, if I had a published book that someone borrowed from the library, I would not only say Thank You, but they would be in danger of some serious hugging.
Be all those thngs as they may, here's the advice I am going to try to follow now. It comes from Henry James: "Work on one thing at a time until finished."
Now, all I need to do is identify what that one thing is.
Oh, yes, and then actually do it.
