Writing Again
I’ve been away from writing for too long. Oh, I’ve been writing and thinking and reading. But not writing for hours at a time. A daughter in town, friends from Scotland, school visits, a book launch, and ongoing renovations have fragmented my time into moments and bits of work.
(The launch went well, despite a spring snow storm. The tattoos didn’t arrive in time, but there were spiders for a scavenger hunt, and prizes.)
Today I’m settling back into writing, in the hours before and after the counter installation and plumbing disaster. And I feel good. It’s such a pleasure to write, to settle into a story for a little while and play.
I’ve been thinking about what writers do to play, and I think this is it – we write. We might do other things too, but the joy comes in writing.
Maureen
Objects with Character
At one of my school events, a teacher said he’d noticed I animate inanimate objects in all my books, and he wanted to know if I’d done that as a child. I’d never been asked this question (which makes it a really good one), and couldn’t answer. But I’ve been thinking about it, and noticing – indeed, I did it as a child, and I still do it, all the time.
I saw a photo of tall strange flowers and they looked like birds to me, ready to take off. The animals in pictures seem capable of speech, and I’m sure toys play at night, when no one is looking. Mirrors, gates, rocks on the sidewalk – they could all be alive, in my world. Anything with character could be… well, a character.
Now that I think about it, I realize this is, perhaps, a little strange for an adult. But perhaps not so strange for a fantasy writer.
Maureen
Favorite Session Yet
I just had my favorite school session ever. I’ve had really fun sessions with kids, but this was special. First of all, it was over two hours with the same kids, which is a luxury. The kids were selected because their teachers thought they had an interest in writing, and by the responses of the kids, I’d say they chose well. And there were 26, a small enough group that everyone who wanted to could speak up.
Junior high was when I decided I’d never be a teacher, because the kids were so awful, but today I understand why some teachers like teaching those ages – the kids were awesome. Well, it was a middle school – grades 5 to 8. Fun, great energy.
We came up with ideas for wild What If stories, created monsters and gave them voices. We talked about what books they like best and why, and I collected their favorite titles (I’m making lists).
I was asked those all-important questions: what do you like best (those writing days when I just write and write and write), what I like the least (the days writing doesn’t happen, and admin work), and what education you need to become a writer (no magic piece of paper – the quality of the writing is the measure.)
Now I’m too jazzed up to write, which is a good thing, as the drywall guy is coming to patch holes.
Maureen
Renovation Woes
We’re renovating again. We’re back to chaos, distractions, dirt everywhere, and pizza in the living room because the kitchen is deep in electrical equipment and drywall dust.
Last week, the hole in the floor in our back entry was repaired. This week – electrical – old lights out, pot lights in, odd repairs because we’re in an old house. Holes in the ceiling, in the walls, and a bare light bulb dangling over the kitchen table. It’s a nice look.
New lino in the back entry on Monday. And every day workers are here, there’s dirt everywhere. That should really be nice as the snow piles melt into lakes to wade through.
But it’s exciting, too, and I’m hoping some of that will filter into my writing. When I can write, around the drilling and hammering and discussions of why we can’t put the light where we want it because of the odd construction of the house.
Maureen
A Break from Writing
I decided to set aside writing for a little while – to let my current manuscript sit, while other people read it, and to not start on a new project. I have a long list of other things I need to take care of, and this seemed a good time to focus on them.
Except it’s not working. I feel unsettled without writing, by days filled with important tasks completed, but without that quiet time immersed in a story.
I think I’ll have to pull out my notes on the new project, and start to play, at least a little bit every day. Perhaps then I’ll be more effective getting all those other tasks done.
Maureen