writing, for this dummy

I find it hilarious that I've been tagged to give writing tips, when I can't seem to update my blog nearly enough for anyone to think that I remember HOW to write.  I think I do, that is, remember how to write.  Jill and Kathy, the awesome women behind the DHX, have kindly tapped me (and lots of other lovely people) with the ROAR! for Powerful Words award.  Which, if you haven't checked out their amazing, enlightened site about step-parenting and communication between two households - please do.  I so admire their commitment to a relationship with each other, and hope and pray that their solid, wise work will help others along the way.  Just their example is Jill and Kathy, you rock. If  I ever have to get a divorce, and manage to get through it without applying an iron skillet to my husband's noggin, I want to be just like you. 

Okay, so writing tips - mine are not particularly original but this is what's rumbling around in my brain:

1) You have to start.  Sometimes the hardest thing is making your way to the blank page - whether it's truly paper, or the "Compose New Post" page.  I am especially awful in reading every last blog I care about, and then whoops! all my time is gone and the baby is tired of the exersaucer and I am out of time to write. Something like that may have happened all week, actually, and that's why I'm up at 12:30 a.m. writing, because I'm afraid that the pattern will happen again.  But if I force myself to stop bingeing on blogs, or TV, or whatever it is that is keeping me away from the page, and actually allow myself to start typing, something will flow.  I'm finding this is true, as well, as I'm having fun with art.  If I show up, something is going to happen.

2) Good music helps. I can listen to the same CD or album over and over for months, and it helps me get into my groove. It gives me a safe place to start, a little routine. If I feel like I have nothing new or interesting to say, the music helps to pull me along, relaxes my "drunken monkey" (as I saw that inner critic described in someone's comments somewhere recently). I don't necessarily listen to the music on a deep level, in fact, I blank out while writing and several songs will go by without me "hearing" them. Songs are short stories, anyway, and they want to help you, I know they do. 

3) Be aware to the stories happening around you.  I'm a magpie, burrowing away (in my mind, usually, but sometimes I do manage to scribble ideas down in a journal) situations and conversations that I've overheard.  Don't ask me to recount a conversation that I've just participated in, I won't remember.  I'm too absorbed in what I'm hearing and saying to REMEMBER what I just said.  But take me outside of the picture, as a listener/observer, and it's completely different.  The other day, on my antique store jaunt, I eavesdropped to my heart's content, and it reminded me how important, as writers, it is to listen. It's also terribly FUN!  It probably helped that I was all alone, without a little one to distract me from all the life around me. Listening ears - they're not just for kids, anymore!

Okay, I'm really supposed to pass this award on, and so I hereby the award the ROAR! award to Elizabeth of Peregrinatio (formerly believe), Stephanie of Creature Bug, and Rae of JourneyMama.  I've had so much fun (and learned, too) from some of the other ROAR ladies, and I'd love to hear what these three have to say about writing!    

Comments

[Bethany]

I think you should get an award simply for embracing writing as a fun activity, an eavesdropping, music-absorbing, blank-page-butt-kicking hobby! My English professors who approached the art this way, rather than as some sort of universal disease that can only be remedied with perfect grammar, are the ones who made an impact on me. And oh, the 12:30 a.m. posts aren't really so bad. In fact, they can be pretty amusing... :)

[michelle]

oh i'm so glad i read this today because they tagged me too and i'd totally forgotten about it...good...that means blogging material for tonight...

hope you're doing well...i'm trying to get back in the groove of things and reconnect more to the blogging world

[Elizabeth]

Good tips! So I'm supposed to post my own writing tips now? LOL. Thanks for the award, and the shout-out...I'll try to get those posted tonight or tomorrow. Should be fun!

[Jill]

Thank you for posting your tips! I loved reading them. I read every last blog and run out of time all the time, too.

[Stephanie]

Ah, bless you, Sam, for thinking of me. I love your writing, and so often mull a sentence or two of yours over in my head wishing that I could have crafted it myself :)

I will have to think of some writing tips...chances are it will take me a couple days since I'm usually up until midnight reading blogs too!

[Marilyn]

Great tips! And love that you awarded Stephanie, since I adore her...and her blog. :)

[beccaboo]

wow..you're right...it DOES start with getting to the new entry screen! i just wrote a really long blog entry...it had been a while. thanks for the encouragement to just write.

[Jess]

Stumbled over from Stephanie's blog and wanted to say hi! I love your writing style, and you have an adorable baby! Your tips are great--I'm getting back into writing fiction lately, and I find all 3 so true (especially #1!).