Sarah Aronson's Blog, page 11

Unplugged

 

When I am having trouble writing, I examine my writing to reading to watching ratio.

When I watch too much, I am less present. I am too distant. Disengaged. When I read, I think. I infer. I invite my brain to be inspired.

Last week at Lollapalooza, I saw this phenom on a grand scale. There were so many people in one place that the phones, the tweets, the FB DID NOT WORK. Along with everyone in the space, I had to be present. I had to enjoy what was in front of me. I had no way of distancing myself. (It was GREAT!!!!!)

This week, I’m doing that in my writing life. I’m turning off the internet for my writing time. I am not going to watch (except Breaking Bad) when I can read. I am going to invite inspiration and images and ideas. I’m going to be present and attentive. I’m not going to let myself be preoccupied with reviews/news/shows/etc.

Want to join me?

Quote of the Day

“Long before I wrote stories, I listened for stories. Listening for them is something more acute than listening to them. I suppose it’s an early form of participation in what goes on. Listening children know stories are there. When their elders sit and begin, children are just waiting and hoping for one to come out, like a mouse from its hole.”
― Eudora Welty,  One Writer’s Beginnings



I’ve been thinking about this ever since I read it–this idea of listening FOR the story. I think this is the big purpose of the discovery phase of writing. We write intuitively and we listen…we pay attention…for seeds of a story.

The inspiration posted above my desk:

 

(I think I can, I think I can….)

Make Way for Ducklings…Chicago style!

 

Call her misguided.

Call her resourceful.

Call her a single mother with very few choices!

This mother duck found a place to lay her eggs…outside my husband’s office…which would be fine…except the area is enclosed. There is no way out. (except via air!)

(For those who do not know, my husband is professionally all about safety.)

So of course, when we saw Mama with her nest full of eggs and no way to swim or walk to safety, we were worried. We began to ask questions. We called vets. Facilities. The state. (Wildlife is protected!)

What could we do? What would she do if she couldn’t get them out? Was it okay to give her bread? What about a wading pool?

Well, finally, we have good news! The ducklings hatched! They are fine! As you can see, there is an office full of grandmas delighted to help her out.

Now we are planning the “big escape.” Yes, there will be pictures, esp if there is a duck walk involved.

 

Epiphanies!

 

Part of my process when I start revising…or really “re-imagining,” is that I get a bunch of epiphanies. Mostly, answers to the question: What if?

and more important:

what is it you are trying to say?

It can be a little bit frustrating. (perhaps more to my friends than for myself). Themes often come to me first. Sometimes, (and maybe in this case), too many. There is A LOT I want to say when I first envision a character.

I always proceed the same way. Play. I also talk it out.  I need to look ahead and see where these ideas might take me, but not so much that I stifle the intuitive part of my brain. (I am really lucky to have friends who don’t mind.)

In general, I find that the things that come to me first don’t always go together. Sometimes, they lead me to dead ends. But the breadcrumbs are always worth following. In the end, all these epiphanies help me figure out where it is that I need to go.

 

 

Dear Writing Process,

You are supposed to be getting easier.

But you’re not. (At least not today.) Today, you are challenging me. Today, I am changing the POV of my new WIP and I am seeing things a new way.

I guess I wouldn’t have it any other way.

xos

 

 

ALA!

 

What a great first night!

(I should have taken pictures!)

And for those who were worried, I didn’t get a parking ticket!

If you are here in Chicago, find me! I’ll be signing copies of BELIEVE on Sunday at the Lerner booth from 10-11. Or look for me! I’ll be standing in lines. First a reader, then a writer!!!!

Hiding in the comfort zone

 

This is a funny week for me. ALA is coming, and I will have my very first ALA signing. (I am very excited/nervous about this.) Putting yourself in public is always a little hard for me. (I am not cool.) Last night, as my husband and I watched the Chicago Blackhawks score twice in 17 seconds, (YAY Hawks!!!) he said, “Why are you so nervous? Put yourself out there. Isn’t that what I always hear you tell your students?”

He was right. (Note to self: I need to lower my voice.)

I do say that. All the time. And I am most excited when it works. I love getting messages from writers who have stepped outside their comfort zones in a revision, when they stop hiding behind what they have written and try something new. Those notes are always filled with a lot of exclamation points!

(In general, I feel that this world needs more exclamation points.)

On the flip side, I always know when a writer (this includes myself) is clinging to the zone, because usually, there is confusion. That letter (or journal entry) usually says:

Why isn’t this working?

I am attached to this part.

I can’t do THAT.

For me, it’s part of the process. I write my story one way first…so I can write it another way later. The dilemma is: when I cling to that wrong way–that comfort zone–those words already on the page. I think all writers have chapters/moments/whole books that represent their comfort zones. They might have been fun to write. They might represent weeks or months or years of work. But at some point, most writers need to step out of that zone if they are going to find their magic.

When I stop hiding,

The light bulb goes on.

I get nervous. It is not safe. It is scary. But here is the interesting thing: I’m no longer worried about success.

I ALWAYS start a blank piece of paper.

For me, the magic place always starts with a blank page and a plan. It is ALWAYS camouflaged by a list of excuses (I’m not a good enough writer/it will never sell/it’s a dumb idea/go watch Law and Order…that will help.) It always takes that leap of faith, desire to jump from the cliff/willingness to FAIL.

I ask my students to go there, too. I ask, “What is there to lose? Just try it. You can always take your old words back.”

I ask them (and me) to step away from what we thought was “doable” and toward what we wished/yearned for/dreamed we could do. They are always surprised when it works. I no longer am.

So today, to get pumped for my big week of fun and books and friends and Chicago, I have a blank page staring at me. I have a storyboard. I am going to try and stay out of the comfort zone.

What I got from my MFA

 

This week, I sent a brand new manuscript draft to my agent.

Well, let’s be honest. NOT so new. What it was: a completely new version based loosely on a draft I wrote when I was in my first semester at VCFA. (In other words: a big mess of characters and setting and plot that at the time, I thought was compelling, but years later made me blush.) My soon-to-rock-the-world (former) student, Lianna McSwain, now finishing HER first semester at VCFA, wrote something that got me thinking about what I really got from my MFA.

(So Lianna, this one is for you!)

Some things are measurable.

While at VCFA, I wrote a lot. Five different rough drafts of novels. A couple of revisions. Two picture book texts. Lucky me, two of those novels, Head Case and Beyond Lucky, are now published. The third, BELIEVE, will be this September by Carolrhoda Lab. (Thank you, thank you, thank you! I have already exceeded my expectations!!!!)

So….getting an MFA definitely gave me a body of work to play with. A great head start. That was right for me. Writing all those pages helped me establish my voice. I think that was one of my original goals (although now maybe I’m just inferring). Bottom line: While at VCFA, I tried lots of things. I encourage others to do the same. Find yourcommon thread. I figured out some themes that I like to write about.

Justice. Injustice.

Media.

Disability.

The bigger gift it game me: the ability to JUST PLAY. Two years of writing for the sake of it. This is such a precious thing. In the program, I didn’t worry so much about perfecting any one book. My goal was to TRY. It wasn’t always to ACHIEVE.

(What amuses me: the one novel I thought was supposed to be “submittable” is the one novel I haven’t shown anyone. Maybe it’s time to open that one up, too?)

What also amuses me: I think I knew that I got nervous when it came to product! My biggest challenge SINCE graduating has been recreating that sense of play.

THIRD, I think I learned something about my own process. While at VCFA, I kept a writing journal. I wrote down how I felt about my writing…the rituals that worked for me…the ones that didn’t. I figured out that I have to write in the morning, or I won’t do it at all. I found out I really like talking about books with other writers. And I LOVE teaching. I need to discuss my ideas out loud before I can deal with the writing.

When I forget what works for me, I open these journals and remember!

In these pages, I see that I do best when I step away from my manuscripts in order to evaluate them. (There is a reason I have invited Carolyn Coman to discuss storyboarding not once, or twice, but three different times.)

I like challenges…writing exercises.

I learned that I like to trick myself into revising. And that I do better when I delete bad manuscripts…instead of trying to fix them on the page.

And of course, I also gained friends and readers! Amazing colleagues. (Hugs to all!)

I know people who went through the program who wrote more…wrote less…published more…are still on their way.  I’m not sure if we learned completely different things. Or if they would say exactly what I have written here.

One thing is (probably) universal:

We gave ourselves over to the craft of writing.

We learned to listen to our instincts. We did what we thought “felt” right. We kept WRITING and READING. We didn’t apologize. We didn’t say, “This is for nothing.” We didn’t make excuses. We didn’t get discouraged! What we did was become writers and readers and thinkers.

I’m glad I did it. I am grateful for the experience every day. And every day, I try to give a little back. I try to give this experience to my students–as much as I can. Because I also know I was really LUCKY. Not everyone can afford the tuition/the time/the indulgence of it. Our world needs to hear from lots of different voices–from every corner of the world–not just the voices that can get an MFA. If you can do it, GREAT. Do it! If you can’t, don’t give up. Find another way.

Play. Write your stories. Read. Think. Plan. That’s what I learned.

 

I pressed SEND!

 

It’s a little too chilly for the beach, but I have just sent in a brand new manuscript. I know, I know, the work is only beginning. But today still marks a milestone. It is ready for comments. It is out of my hands…for a little while at least.

It is time to CELEBRATE!

Flowers!

Chocolate!

Day trip with the boy!

I say this all the time, but it is worth repeating. It’s important to recognize and celebrate these milestones. The steps might be tiny, but they move forward. Also, tomorrow, I will be back at it. There is a story that has been waiting its turn.

Enjoy the day!