There is a guest post today that I’m sure you will enjoy. Before we get to it though, let me give you some background. I started my writing journey late last year with no idea of how it would turn out. The goal was to write a novel, but getting to that goal has, at least for me, been as treacherous as walking through a minefield up hill in the rain and mud. Just when you think you’ve found some traction, down you go, sliding over some deadly mistakes. It’s been a process to say the least, but there are some good things that have come from it. For example, I’m learning to write the types of stories that I’ve always dreamed of doing. However, the thing I found most surprising on this little adventure was the writing community. They reached out with open arms and bid me welcome.
That is significant, so let me say it again. The writing community welcomed me. Me, someone that has absolutely no training or experience as a writer, just an unfulfilled dream floating around in his head. And I’m not the only one. I’ve met dozens of people along the way that have similar stories. Some of these folks have a natural talent for storytelling. I want to introduce you to one of those people.
Her name is Jo-Anne Teal (@JTvancouver on Twitter), and she runs a blog called Going For Coffee. You will love her Five Sentence Fiction stories, but more importantly, outside of your family you will never find a more supportive and encouraging person if you are a new writer. Her blog is a must read for those looking to prefect the craft of writing. She packs more punch into five sentences than some highly respected authors do in five pages. I’m not making this up. Seriously people, take note.
When KD kindly suggested that I might do a guest post on his blog and share my new writer process, I really believed it would take me ten minutes at the keyboard. I mean, how difficult is it to share details of something you do every day? Well, apparently not quite as easy-peasy as I thought. As I started this fourth draft, it dawned on me that the bouncing around, the stops and starts, actually reflect the approach I’ve taken to my writing and I believe it to be an approach that has served me well, so far.
For context, I’ll mention I began fiction writing just a short while ago – pretty darn late in life. When I admitted to myself that I wanted to write, I really wasn’t sure where to begin. I had kind encouragement from a dear colleague of mine @oddparticle (Kern Windwraith) who was already writing, and doing well on Twitter connecting with other writers. It was Kern who told me about writing challenges: there seemed to be one set for every day of the week. Using a prompt of either a visual or a word, these challenges provided an opportunity to try subject matter outside of my own milieu. I tried a few of them on various blogs, but the one that I’ve stuck with and that really has helped develop my writing skills is Five Sentence Fiction.
KD and I have had several discussions about the many reference materials and resources for new writers, available on the web. It is overwhelming to say the least. Every other tweet, every other blog post, gives a link to ideas/insights into character development, plotting, storylines, grammar. But, at some point, I decided I had to stop reading about writing and just start writing! So with the one essential adage of show don’t tell running through my head (thanks Chris James @GenesisFan8) and only two reference books (The Elements of Style by Strunk & White; Creating Short Fiction by Damon Knight), I started.
My second concern was how I would develop a body of work quickly enough to give me ‘writer status’? By that I mean three things. I wanted to improve my fiction writing quickly. I also needed to discover my writing style and voice. Finally, I wanted readers to get some sense of who I am as a writer, what kinds of stories are important to me. Flash fiction was the answer.
The stops and starts that I referred to previously dovetail with the nature of flash fiction and writing prompt challenges. Develop a story about thunder, write a story about fairies, think up a story based on the word ‘delirious’, all with parameters such as only using five sentences, or less than three hundred words. Snap, snap, snap. There is a lot of moving back and forth, using first person then third person narrative, writing upbeat story then melancholic, using present tense or past. I do know some writers that use the challenges in such a way as to build a coherent story from one to the next. That doesn’t work for me, I like the variety.
If the challenge is a visual prompt, not surprisingly I’ll stare at it for a few minutes to see what ideas the photo evokes. I think about how the characters I enjoy writing about would fit with the theme of the photo. If the challenge is a word, I usually look up the dictionary definition. From the definition, I think of how that word might connect with the types of stories I like to tell. Then, I just start writing. For these short works I don’t outline.
Now that I have started two proper short stories (both will end up at about 5000 words) and a proper full length novel (that I assume will end up at about 100,000 words ), I do write something on one of them every day. I know how both start and how they finish, but the paths they will take are not completely plotted. I can, therefore, jump around in the writing and write scenes and ideas as they come to me, not in sequential order. This probably is not the most efficient way to write and certainly wouldn’t work if I was writing complex science fiction or historical setting.
I do realize that at some point, I will have to reign myself in and put all of the components together, perhaps discarding wonderful scenes I’ve written that don’t contribute to the story’s forward movement, but that is in the future. Right now, the joy for me is having the freedom to explore various approaches and try out different paths to the same end result.
So for the most part, that is my new writer process. I’m learning as I go along. I hope it has been of interest. I really appreciate KD for giving me the opportunity to share it with you.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Folks, please forgive me, because I’m about to sound like an old Baptist preacher urging those that need some guidance in their lives to come on down and join us. Now you have another perspective on the writing process. If you’ve thought about writing, perhaps you even have a few stories in your head right now, then it’s time to do something about it. There is work involved. Early mornings and long nights are in your future. And when you do find time to sleep, don’t be surprised if your characters talk to you in your dreams.
Jo-Anne, thanks for being gracious enough to give us an insight into your writing process. #WriteOnSister
Print
Email
Thanks again KD! I realized something I missed . I didn't provide the website of Lillie McFerrin, who 'invented' and coordinates Five Sentence Fiction on her blog: http://lilliemcferrin.com/ I hope your readers will visit her site to get a better idea of what 5SF is all about!
Right you are! Lillie certainly deserves a shout-out!
Jo is FAR more supportive than ANYONE I know. Great piece and great people.
JD, your generous words mean a lot to me. I was going to write a whole lot more but you know what I'd say.
)
[...] http://kdrush.net/a-new-writers-process-guest-post-by-writer-jo-anne-teal/ [...]
Yeah, she's a gem. And a truly emerging writer. Watch as each new piece gets tighter and more engaging.
Oh David, thank you! I'm all verklempt because of your lovely words. I really appreciate you.
Jo-Anne, it's fascinating to read about your writing process. You and I talk writing at every opportunity, but I don't think we've ever got down to the nuts and bolts of process and practice. I'm so very glad you leapt into this writing life, not because I want the people I like to like the things I do, and not because I want someone in my daily life who's willing to ramble at length with me about character and story arcs and the use of the subjunctive–although both of those are pretty amazing wins for sure. No, I'm glad you leapt in because your stories are an ever-replenishing source of delight and pleasure for me. It's as simple and selfish as that.
KD, I couldn't agree with you more. Jo is one of Twitter's true treasures, and people who are lucky enough to have her in their tweeting lives are truly blessed.
Pretty amazing win for me, Kern, to have found you and made you tell me everything you knew about starting out on twitter and writing and, and, and…! Thank you for encouraging me to bring writing into my life. My life is so much richer, in so many ways, because of it.
Kern, you are a very good friend to have encouraged her to apply those amazing talents. Cheers sister!
Jo,
I'm very happy you're getting these comments above because it's true: you're one of the most supportive writers out there and, truth be told, I think we're all happy to have a chance to tell you that. David is also right: through the short fiction on your website we can watch you grow as a writer, which is altogether very agreeable. Thanks for the mention, but thanks much more for all your support, Jo.
It's taken me a few hours to respond to your comment because I'm quite overwhelmed by your lovely words. You were one of the very first writers to take a chance on following me on twitter and from you I learned that I should not just automatically follow people. I should read their tweets, read their blog – look at their interests to see if they matched mine. You showed me that I should take it seriously and let others did as well. Twitter is a support system. I also wanted to make sure that the people I was associated with on the Twitter were open…that diversity was okay for them and that any of the ideas and people and ways of life presented through my friends or myself would be accepted openly. I wanted my tweeps to know they were 'safe' when tweeting with me.
Anyways, back to you!! You were the first writer/author who was kind enough to call me a writer. I still marvel at that generousity! You've given me insights and stern pushes in the right direction when I got lost on the newbie path. YOU are the one that has been all about the support, my friend. I really couldn't have imagined starting out without you in my corner. I'll forever be appreciative of that dear friend.
Agreed. Chris is another one of those people that you just want to hang out with in a bar or bookstore and talk about writing. I would be in a much darker place without his humor, friendship and encouragement.
Thank you KD and Jo-Anne for rekindling that writing spark for me! I've had to shuffle my life around and writing was dropped. I didn't realize just how much I missed it until I read this post.
Which isn't surprising because Jo-Anne is such an inspiration herself!
Angie, Miss Creativity, I knew you wouldn't forget writing! You are too good at it, you have too many stories waiting in that creative brain of yours. Your artwork and creative coaching of course had to come to the forefront as it is your new career; but I know, that you will always yearn to tell stories, to reach out with your words – heck you incorporate words into your art, don't you! You love the written language that much!
Thank you for always being there, always supporting, and being an inspiration on grabbing ahold of that dream. Many hugs!
BIG Hugs and Kisses for you and your kind words
Yes she is. It's great to hear that you found the spark again. Write on sister!
That. was AMAZING. Perfectly describes me! If anyone needs writing encouragement, please don't hesitate to stop on by the #writemotivation hash tag on twitter. Visit my blog, or any number of others (you can find on the originator's site: http://www.kthanna.com/2012/07/writemotivation-ro… We encourage all!
Jamie, nice to meet you! I didn't know of your group until today, though it looks like Michael Haynes connects with you and Michael ( @mohio73 ) is a wonderfully inventive and supportive writer and tweep!
I am so glad that you have found a way to support other writers and I look forward to reading your blog and checking out your tweets! Thanks so much for taking the time to read this post. I know there is so much great stuff on KD's blog – hope you've had a chance to read his fiction and the other inspiring guest posts too.
Yeah, Michael is a great guy. Our work has been featured on the same online magazine a couple of times. Hope to see you around the twitterverse, and if anyone needs encouragement, by all means, stop by the #writemotivation hash tag!
So happy to see a Jo-Anne post this morning! And what an interesting piece it is. I love how you found a process that works for you as part of your 'weight training.' I'm with the rest of the gang, it has been a true pleasure to make your acquaintance on Twitter, you're a rare gem and I look forward to continuing to read your creations!
Laura, thank you so much and I too am so glad to have connected on Twitter. Your writing is always balanced, serious, well researched and thought out; but when I saw that profile photo of you I knew that your writing also comes from a sense of adventure and a serious attention to fun! Thank you for your kind comments – I look forward to reading more of YOUR writing!!
Loved reading about your experiences with writing, (just read your 'About Me' page on your blog too). Five Sentence Fiction is what grabbed my attention and over these last few days I have begun re-editing my WIP, the things I've learned through flash fiction (which I've only been doing for six months) are amazing!
I've learned so much through Twitter and Blog links
I love reading your writing, you inspire me to do better! Thanks for being you!
Lisa, you and I are on this path together
) Thank you for your lovely comment and for taking the time to read this post. Hope you had an opportunity to read KD's wonderful short fiction – he's a great writer! Flash fiction may be seen as a bit of an underdog on the 'fiction front' but I agree with you, it is a great learning tool as well as a writing form that can have great impact. I also agree that our friends on Twitter and in the blogosphere have some really helpful information to share. I've learned a lot too that way. P.S. Lisa – thank you for being you too! Hugs!
I am just glad this aspiring writer met both of you: as a random imaginative at best of time, you have given me hope that there will be light… Well, I subscribe to the way you describe Jo-Anne, knowing the starting point, and the end, but not the path in the middle, isn't it how Stevie wrote The Stand? I am just lucky to have the great KD and my very beautiful Muse on the way. Thank you.
You are such a dear, Honoré, and I still smile and deeply blush when you call me your Muse.
I think we all met at a perfect time too, I am very lucky indeed to know the great KD and the renaissance man who has named himself Honoré. Both of you are integral to my writing journey and I appreciate the support we all give each other
) P.S. The poem is coming along quite well!
Julien, thanks for your kind words my friend. You are a class act, and I consider myself lucky to have met you.