What Makes You a Writer?

I addressed my Creative Writing students for the first time 2 weeks ago, and said something along the lines of this: "Some of you signed up for this class because you've written all your lives - you can't imagine not having writing in your life, or maybe you've even been published. Some of you signed up because you've occasionally dabbled and you want to hone your skills. And some of you signed up out of sheer curiosity - you've written things no one else has seen, and don't consider yourself a writer. But guess what? If you signed up for this class, if you've written anything that you'd call 'creative' -- you're a WRITER."

Sadly, it's this whole "publishing thing" that leads writers to doubt that they are -- writers. Society has made us believe that unless we're published, we're not validated. That we're not really writers. Hogwash.

Allow me to illustrate: Let's pretend that next month, I will finally nab that long-sought-after agent (ha!). Well, the book that I've spent hundreds of hours creating, editing, polishing, in the past year and a half is THE book the agent will take on and try to sell to publishers, right? And if she does sell it, then bam! Does that suddenly make me more of a writer than I was a few weeks before, when I was finishing the novel (and didn't have an agent)? No! In fact, the material itself hasn't changed a bit - only the results.

I heartily reject the idea that one has to be "published" in order to be a writer. Because you can't GET published without having written something. A writer WRITES.

So, today, if you've written anything creative, give yourself permission to call yourself a writer. Be comfortable with that title. Try it on for size. Because you've earned it. And no one can take it away.

By the way, here's a great article on this topic, from the GLA blog - At What Point Can You Call Yourself a Writer?

Traci Can!!

So, I like to watch HGTV's "Carter Can" - a home improvement show - and not just because Carter Oosterhouse is the cutest handyman ever!

The reason I like watching the show is to see the incredible transformations that take place. For instance, on today's show, Carter gutted a small, awkward, out-dated kitchen. He took down walls, added walls, replaced countertops and appliances. He made a whole new kitchen!

And it dawned on me, as I watched him and his team going through all that hard work -- isn't this sort of what we, as writers, do when we take on a major book revision? We have a vision in our heads of the "after" picture, but in order to get there, we must take drastic measures - dismantle storylines, transform characters, replace dated/awkward dialogue, rip out plotlines that don't work, add fresh perspectives and a climax that does work. It's a writer's version of home improvement.

Just like Carter and his team, it takes MASSIVE hard work and mental sweat to make these revisions and see them through. But the result? Well, if we've put in the strenuous work, dedicated ourselves to the process, and allowed BIG, necessary changes to take place - the results can be stunning. The book can be improved to the point where it's nearly unrecognizable, compared to that first "shabby" draft.

So, when you're faced with a massive book revision, take heart - know that the hard work will be worth it, and that, in the end, you'll have a brand-new, sparkly, functional, renovated novel.

The POWER of Writing...

A few months ago, I blogged about the "Immortality" that writing can offer -- the idea that, when we leave this earth, we can leave something behind in our writing.

I've never experienced this so poignantly as the past couple of days. A fairly-new friend of mine passed away unexpectedly 2 days ago. Well, she was a writer. A great one. She wrote articles and had a (private) blog that she'd been gracious enough to let me see. I started reading her blog just last week. I loved it - the honesty, the rawness, the emotion. And when she passed away, I found myself drawn to it again, to get to know her better, posthumously. There's something eerily beautiful about reading her words NOW, in hindsight, knowing how quickly her days would come to an end. And knowing she had no idea.

I'm committed to reading her entire blog, entry by entry - so I can get to know her, "backward."

Also powerful were the written messages that people have been leaving on her Facebook page - heartbroken messages TO Shannon, from friends, family, students. Wow. That page has been turned into a memorial. We visit her page, knowing she's not there anymore. Knowing she'll never post another status again, and that's sobering. But, her words live on. Her blog and her articles and even her Facebook page are permanent digital fingerprints she left behind. Little gifts she left to those who are mourning right now.

THAT is the power of writing.

Appropriately Stormy...

Today, I lost a friend. She passed away after an unexpected illness, and I'm still in shock. We had raging storms when I heard the news - thunder overhead, rain pummeling down. Appropriate for the shock I was feeling. Just yesterday, I taught students in my literature class about "pathetic fallacy," when nature seems to mirror the actions going on in people's lives. Soft rain at a funeral, bright sunshine on a wedding day. And big storms on a tragic day.

What do writers do when we're stunned, upset, sad? We write.

So here I go, rattling off some thoughts about her (she's "YODA", by the way, in some of my comments sections in many of my entries - I always loved hearing her thoughts on things).

I found her through another friend - both on Facebook and through our blogs. Over the past 2 months, we exchanged emails and it felt like I'd known her for YEARS. It was one of those friendships that cuts through all the "fake faces" that we have when we meet someone new. Instantly, we were talking about all our similarities: we're both teachers, both had similar heartbreaks, and both attended the same high school, 20 years ago (but didn't know each other then!).

I loved her writing style - she was quick, witty, and brilliant. As I got to know her personality, I saw the great depth of her spirit. She'd been through a lot in her life, but was a fighter. She fought until the end, I'm sure. Her spirit was strong and endured through great hardships.

Today, in this blog entry, I honor her. Her life, her spirit, those she left behind (children and a husband), and the all-too-brief friendship I was honored to have with her.

Rest in Peace, Shannon. I wasn't finished with our friendship yet. You will be MISSED.

Where Were You Last Night?

This is the exercise I'm going to give my Creative Writing students today, ask them to write a brief scene, using that question as their first sentence: Where were you last night?

They could use it in a piece of dialogue, an inner thought of a character, any way they choose. They could write in first person, third person, even second. The main character could be anyone, in any given situation.

That idea came from the brilliant "What If" book that I use each class period (details over on the left-hand menu). Exercises like this are a wonderful way for writers to keep up the creativity level, even during busy, non-writing times...

Can't wait to hear what the students come up with. It's surprising, how different their stories always are from each other, even given the exact same prompt...

Great Link

Lots of work going on this week. *exhausted*

Popping in to pass this along - a really interesting blog entry: 5 Things Television Teaches Writers

Book I'm Reading...

"House in Riverton" by Kate Morton

I always tell my Creative Writing students how closely reading and writing are connected. How it's vital for writers to read GOOD material - both to study the craft, and to recognize what good writing looks like.

Anyway, just thought I'd pass along this title, one I'm reading now. I'm about 30 pages in, and I really like it. It's from an Australian author, and the synopsis sounds intriguing (from Borders.com):

"...set in England between the two World Wars - the story of an aristocratic family, a mysterious death, and a vanishing way of life is told in flashback by a woman who witnessed it all and kept secrets for more than 50 years."

And, I'm happy to report that the writing quality - the descriptions, the sentence structure, the suspenseful vibe - is very high. I only wish I had time to sit down and read it in a couple of afternoons! For now, I'll have to settle for a few pages at night, before bed...

I'd love to know what YOU're reading now, what's currently inspiring you, as both a reader and a writer. Drop me a book title in the comments, if you want...

It's OKAY to be alone!

As writers, we lead a solitary existence - at the least, during those hours we're composing and creating. But, at the most, during other, non-writing hours, too. I think writing gives us a gift that most people don't have: the gift of being COMFORTABLE, being alone.

Married or single, I think it's crucial that everyone is comfortable being alone. For a few minutes, a few hours - yes, even a full day or two. Not that we should hide away from the world, or push friendships away. No, those are crucial, too.

But we should never get to the point that being alone makes us nervous, or afraid. Especially, as writers. Because writing is alone-ness personified. Our thoughts, our fingers tapping on a keyboard, our words showing up on the page. By ourselves, alone.

My friend, Becky, shared this video, and I LOVE IT. It's poetry in motion, and says so much more eloquently what I've just tried to say here. Being alone can be a beautiful thing. And empowering. I think you, as a writer, will love this too. How to Be Alone

Nothing Like Youth to Inspire...

Yesterday, after I'd spent an hour both trying to inspire and trying to bore (lol, all the necessary policies/syllabi) my Creative Writing students, one of them came up to me after class. He wore a huge smile and said, "I'm SO excited about this class!! I write poetry, and I'm part of a writing group online, and I write a blog...I can't wait to write in this class!" Then he rolled up his sleeve 2 inches and showed me the tattoo on his arm, this cool little writing quill he'd just gotten, as part of his writing group. Now, that's dedication! lol

I dare you to find me students in 1301 or 1302 classes who have half his passion for writing. THIS is why I love teaching Creative Writing! I've had an exhausting summer, full of disappointment and false starts (agents), and I'm drained. But seeing this student - and the others, who actually paid attention when I talked! - recharged my battery a little bit.

And maybe I can carry that energy through this grueling semester, somehow (more re-writes ahead of me, btw - that's a good thing, but I'm tiiiiired! lol).

Here's hoping that each one of you has someone in his/her life who's INSPIRING, who still has a gleam in the eye about writing, a go-get-'em energy about the art and craft of creativity.

Checking in...

I wanted to explain the shameful lack of posts, of late. I can sum it up in one word: SCHOOL.

Last week was filled with mandatory faculty meetings that left me a bit brain-dead. Not to mention the tedium involved with trying to prepare for online classes.

So, my creative side got squashed. Hopefully, though, with a new batch of Creative Writing students coming in (classes start this week), I'll have something valuable, or at least interesting, to blog about!

In the meantime, I wish all of you rich and productive writing days ahead!! :-)