Sarah Aronson's Blog, page 10

Pen to paper

 

As much as I love cut and paste, scrivener, and all the other electronic toys in my writer’s toolbox, the part that always reveals that last layer…is when I put pen (or pencil) to paper.

That is where I am now.

I have a revised draft.

I printed it.

And now I’m reading…with a nice, bold pen in my hand. (I like a bold line.)

What is it about the pen to paper that changes how we read? What is it about paper that shows us what is really working…and perhaps, what isn’t quite there yet?

Does the medium make a difference?

There have been studies about this…the ones I’ve read have mixed, anecdotal results. As for me, these days, I do most of my writing–draft included–on the computer. And I think because of that, I write (a little bit) faster. And my novels have gotten longer.

That said…

I love my notecards. And I love how my brain seems to see NEW things when I switch media, when I go from the screen to the page.

That’s why I still stick with the pen and the paper, at least for one or two rounds. It wakes up my mind. It changes what I see. It gets me off the computer! Best of all, I read in a new way. And after all these months of work, if I can do that…I am in good shape.

Nanowrimo Dos and Don’ts…..

Are you in?

Yes or no, here are my dos and don’ts for writing FAST.

**Discipline is important, but don’t forget to be realistic! (Also: forgive yourself when you mess up.)

Make goals you can keep. Look forward to your writing time. Write what amuses or interests you. Don’t set goals you know you can’t achieve.

**Strive for words on paper

The point of Nanowrimo is to get a “discovery draft” on the page. That is all. Are you a perfectionist? If so, put that internal editor AWAY.

**Sometimes, a little planning can save a lot of time.

Do you work faster with a chapter to chapter synopsis? Or do you like plunging? Either way, it’s okay.

My advice? Writing is like driving a car at night. If you can see to the end of the block, excellent.

**I also like to end my writing day in the middle of a chapter. Or I leave myself notes. That way, I can dive back in the next day.

**Don’t be afraid to talk about your book.

The feedback I get from friends helps me organize and understand where I am going. Their questions make me think. My friends help me figure out what happens next!

**It’s called a discovery draft for a reason.

Your job with this draft is to get to know the characters so that later you can write the “real” book! Truth is I usually delete this draft. (But you don’t have to.)

**That MEANS YOU DON’T NEED TO WORK SO HARD THIS MONTH. And you definitely don’t have to take yourself seriously. Remember: that perfectionist side of you gets to take a nap during Nanowrimo!

So…have fun! Explore. Don’t worry about “good writing.” Don’t edit as you go. Don’t worry if it doesn’t make sense.

**THAT will come later.

The purpose of Nanowrimo is to come out with some writing to play with. When this month is over, your goal is to have written a draft of a story. Drafts are malleable and inspiring and they usually need to be re-imagined pretty radically. If it’s terrible, no worries. Great was never the goal. What Nanowrimo isn’t about is what 99% of writing a novel is: revision.

So….

**Celebrate every milestone.

I build in all kinds of rewards into my process. For example, when I hit page 100, I make a special meal. When I write THE END, I get a new notebook!

**And definitely EMBRACE THE COMMUNITY! The pep talks are great! Usually, writing is more solitary. In the month of November, it’s a group experience!

Good luck and happy writing! My Nano handle is saraha!

 

What are you doing this weekend?

I’m speaking at SCBWI Wisconsin’s annual conference. My lecture is called NO MORE SUBPAR SUBPLOTS, and it’s one of my favorite lectures. Giving this lecture has helped me understand subplot and how to do it right.

So I’m really excited!

I’m also excited because I have never been to Madison, WI, and I have heard it is AWESOME. I’m going to try and get there super early!!!

 

Yoga wisdom

 

Thank you to my yogi at Bikram Yoga in Evanston for talking about focus. (I think we were all having a hard time today.)

She talked about her own struggles with housekeeping. How it is so hard to feel like you are accomplishing anything if you go from one small task to another.

Her suggestion: Finish cleaning the counters before you start something in another room.

In other words, be present. Focus on where you are.

In other words, Sarah, no word shuffling until you’ve read through that ending.

Guest post links

It’s been a busy week!!!!

This week, I posted on Through the Tollbooth and on Uma Krishnaswami’s blog.

Here are the links!

The first, about my first, bravest teacher is on www.throughthetollboth.com

 

and

if you want to see my connectivity chart, check the second, on plot. To look forward, start by looking back.

End censorship.

 

Last week, I read about a number of books being banned or challenged by adults who it seems, had not even read the books. In a world where we let people walk around with guns, where we think there is nothing we can do to curb violence, I have to ask:

What are you so afraid of?

Ideas? Freedom? A couple of curse words?

Do you really think that a book can do harm? Are you worried your kids will be offended? And if they are?

Books ask kids to think. They ask kids to put themselves in someone else’s shoes. They let kids enter worlds that they cannot enter any other way.

The other day, I heard a gun advocate remind someone who wanted gun control, “The vast majority of gun owners are law abiding people.”

Well, let’s apply that logic to the vast majority of librarians and teachers.

It’s time to trust these people who have dedicated themselves to the welfare of kids.

Let them read. Let them give kids the books they need.

Again, what are you so afraid of?

 

 

Best Tweet Ever

ANNE LAMOTT ‏@ANNELAMOTT11 Sep

Don’t dream of getting published–dream of writing a beautiful book, whose existence is helpful, for its compassion, truth, humor. Trust me

 

Trust her. Trust me. Put this on your bulletin board.

Best Tweet Ever.

BELIEVE!!!!!

 

Today is release day for my third novel, Believe. It’s a completely surreal feeling. The book is done. It is out in the world, out of my hands. People can buy it. It belongs to them, not me. It is a completely satisfying, terrifying feeling, and it never really gets “old” or less intense. To celebrate, I will make a large pot of spaghetti sauce with slow roasted Roma tomatoes from the farmer’s market. I will work on the next book. I will get ready for the launch. And I will watch Breaking Bad. Honestly, in the last few days, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about Jesse Pinkman!

A friend recently shared a post with me about “the differences between published and unpublished writers.”  It was mostly disrespectful, and I don’t want to draw any more attention to it here.

But as a teacher, I feel compelled to respond to it. Especially today, when I feel so grateful, when I am so acutely aware that there are many books that could also be on the shelves, but for some reason, are not YET.

In every other field I have worked in, if you work hard, you get results. Success is a result of work and effort. There is a direct correlation.

Not so in the writing world.

Here, you can do everything right. You can study the craft. You can write every day. You can revise and re-imagine and go to conferences…you can create beautiful books that need to be discovered, that would help readers.

And still: you wait. You yearn. You hope.

We’ve talked about this: This is art. It is subjective. To succeed, you also need TONS of determination and tenacity. In most cases, years of it. But you also need other things. Like luck. And faith.

I have been lucky. (I think about this all the time!)

I was lucky to meet the great Deborah Brodie at a time when she wanted to mentor a new writer. I was lucky that instead of throwing up her hands in despair, she encouraged me to go to VCFA. I was lucky to have friends who believed in me, an employer who didn’t mind my taking off time twice a year,  and parents who would watch my kids during those residencies. I was lucky that my kids didn’t mind going to bed early and that they loved to read. (Really, if it were not for them, I never would have written a word.) I was so lucky when I met my husband, a man who still supports “this crazy process.”

I was lucky to be given just the right readers at just the right time. That includes my friends, my agent, and my editor. My students. I am lucky every day to work with amazing writers who are on their journeys. They teach me more than I could ever teach them.

Regarding the process: I never understood why or how the ideas came when they did, but I’ve never questioned it.

I say thank you every day and write. I hope every day that I am the right reader for others.

Faith has been important, too, especially for a book like Believe. In Believe, I channeled the moments in my life when I felt most skeptical. I journaled about times when I was sure that faith was a hoax. And then I thought about times when, without faith, I surely would have crumbled. In the end, it was faith in the process that helped me find the story: faith that there was a character that needed to have her voice heard, faith that what I had to say would be interesting to others–that I could do it! It was the faith that others had in me that let me write this book.

So today, if you are writing a book and could use a little inspiration, here is my message:

Keep going. Every day. Even when the words aren’t there. You have something to say!

Listen. Look. The world is an interesting place. Your point of view is too. Read. Read a lot. When you read a book that you think isn’t as great as yours, don’t be discouraged. Be determined. Learn from books. Trust that there is a reader that will love your story, too.

Study. The craft opens doors.

Find support. From a class. Or a friend. Or a loved one. Before there are agents and editors, there are readers who will tell you what shines in your manuscript. Find those honest people and be inspired.

Have balance. Writing is only part of your life. Hug your kids. Or call your kids. Connect with friends and your spouse, your loved ones. Appreciate your parents and the gifts you have received. If Facebook drives you crazy, stay off.

That is what I do. I say thank you. I pay it forward. Even when the internal struggle seems overwhelming, I have faith. It happens. BELIEVE is proof.

If you live in the Chicago area, come to my launch party! It’s on Sept 15 from 11am-1pm and will benefit Curt’s Cafe, a center for restorative justice. Area writers will read, and there will be food and a raffle! And swag!!! Bring friends!

And if you like writing tips, sign up for Monday Motivation. You can find the form on my website, www.saraharonson.com, under TIPS! xos

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quick quote of the day

 

A great book offers a unique point of view of the world.

Truth.

Don’t save it for later!

When Walter White pulled that GPS out of his pocket and Hank closed the garage door, like a lot of fans, I sat on the edge of my seat.

As a writer, I was reminded of this excellent advice (ie: the kind I sometimes need to be reminded of):

Those writers understand what it means to create tension. They could have saved this scene. They could have milked it. In fact, I almost expected it. (Almost, because in the past, these writers have not failed me.) But if they had, I would have watched.

Instead, they pushed the plot forward. They didn’t save the confrontational scene we knew would happen last season when Hank picked up Leaves of Grass. Those writers jumped off the proverbial cliff and in the process opened up even more plot possibilities.

Reminder of the Day: Are YOU saving a scene for later? Are you trying to maintain suspense by holding back a revelation, confrontation, or scene?

What would happen if you didn’t?????