Finding Your Voice

Finding your voice in writing can be a difficult thing at best. I recently wrote a first draft, which turned into fifteen drafts, that I am conflicted over in regards to voice. While I feel the story doesn’t need changes, members of my children’s critique group didn’t like the voice I chose to use. It’s the story of an eight year old boys worst Thanksgiving told by him, but from his adult perspective. It suits the story. However, those that didn’t like my “voice” felt that it would be better suited for a magazine. There were others who loved it and thought that areas needed to be tightened up. 

I don’t want this to turn into an ego-fest. However, when I mentioned this to my friend John, he said “critique is best given and taken in when one has no ego attachment to what is being shared.”

Those are the wisest words I have heard in quite some time.

I am open to constructive criticism and appreciate it. It makes me a better and more determined writer. Yet, the voice thing bugs me. Does all picturebooks geared to the seven to ten year old HAVE to come from their voice? Why can’t it come from an older voice looking back?

All writers have a story to tell. We are always looking for ways to make those words that pour forth from us on a daily basis unique. Why? So that we can achieve our Holy Grail–the publishing contract.

I don’t know what it will be, but I am letting it sit for a month or so. This one particular story that it. It needs a break and I need a break from it. I feel so strongly about it and have never said that about anything else I have written. It is eloquent–those words I borrow from my critique group–something I have never thought to attach to anything I have done.

So, today, I am contemplating my voice and how I vocalize my writing. It’s time to head to the library and do some research. Tomorrow, I will give myself a birthday treat and head to the bookstore to read and drink coffee until my hearts content. Maybe I will be able to rationalize my voice conflicts with the works of others.

Gotta love a stuffy head

I have been sick with a horrible cold. Still am. My brain is in a fog and I haven’t been writing. So, I thought I would drop a note to let everyone know where I have been and I have deserted my blog…just taking a few days off.

Hopefully, will be able to focus more this weekend.

L.

A Matter of Perspective

“Planning to write is not writing. Outlining…researching…talking to people about what you’re doing, none of that is writing. Writing is writing.” E.L. Doctorow

I read this quote today and have been thinking about it ever since and I need to hold this truth to be self-evident. 

Planning to write is not writing. I am writing, but not as much as I would like to be writing. I have making more plans and doing even more research, than I have been writing.

This quote brings everything into perspective.

The more you write, the better your writing becomes. I believe this to be true, as does every writer I have ever met. It’s time to get back to basics, the basics of writing. I am going to write and then I will write some more. When I am done writing, I will start all over and do it again.

Inspiration Oddities

There are days that I sit here worrying about my next bout of inspiration. I have an active imagination. Always have, always will. I have been working on a few things that I need to tie up and finish, but have been stuck on winding the projects down. It’s not the way I have been planning things. I really want to get them finished, so I can send them out and see what kind of feedback I receive.

That being said, last night while cooking dinner I received inspiration from tofu. That’s right, you heard it here, tofu. I was cooking stir fry while my son and husband were at jujitsu and as I sliced my tofu to start the process of marination, the idea hit me faster than the sting of the onions I was cooking in my wok!

I desecrated my grocery list, the school lunch calendar and two paper towels. It was an amazing feeling to have such pure creativity flowing out of me. I don’t know if it came because of the tears brought on by the onions or if it was the burst of confidence I needed.

To be quite honest, I haven’t been feeling that confident lately. This just gave me the push I needed. How much of a push? I wrote nearly 1,500 words in 20 minutes. Since I write children’s books and this is a picture book, I am nearly complete. I have to end it (which I am working on now) and edit. My husband was in love with it in rough form last night–which says a lot. He is a picky reader.

Who would have thought that a blob of tasteless soy curd could make my imagination and creativity flame into a full roaring fire? Not me, but never again will I ignore looking at the ordinary to find the extraordinary.

Critique Groups

Most of the writers that I converse with online are members of a critique group, a writing circle, etcetera. I have yet to find one of those groups in my area. We have a local writers club and I thought it would be more conducive to finding others in my “niche”, but I am still here and haven’t met anyone yet.

I have been perusing the boards at the SCBWI and haven’t found anything as of yet. But it’s still early and there is a wealth of information to dig through. I really need to email a few people and find out what there take is regarding the online groups. It’s easier in ways, because they don’t have to see the look your face and you don’t have to see theirs.  This is great if someone turns out to be highly emotional, not so great if they need the person to person communication. It’s also not personal against you when you are being critiqued. It’s all about the work and you can’t take it personally.

Did I mention that my procrastination seems to have kicked in full time and that I frustrated as all get out? It’s a bad, bad thing for me right now. I have so much I am trying to get done. Yet, that could be what is wrong. I have too much on my plate and my writing shall suffer because of it. /sigh

In other news, I have been tinkering with a new book idea and I am just trying to see if it’s something I want to come to fruition. Is it something that I am going to be passionate about? I don’t know yet. I am not even going to mention what type of book it is yet, since the idea is so new and fresh. It’s not that I am being stingy and trying to withhold, I just don’t want to commit myself publicly and then say “yeah, that’s not gonna happen.”

So, as I look it over, today’s blog is all about rambling. It’s a myriad of choices and I haven’t even touched the tip of the iceberg. I think that one day I will just write down all of my thoughts as they come to me and post them. However, I might wind up horrified at my apparent ADD when it comes to said thoughts.

Happy Writing everyone, may your word count satisfy you and your muse speak to you at convenient times.