During my Daughter Am I blog tour, I have talked a lot about my writing life, I have done several interviews, I have even shown photos of my workspace, but today’s stop is by far the most candid. I worry sometimes that I’m telling too much — do people really need to know what an incredibly long journey my quest to become a writer has been? It’s an unending journey, to tell the truth. In the past eight years, I have learned how to write, but I want — need — to become the best possible writer I can be, and so I continue to learn.
I also worry that this long hiatus where I haven’t been writing will kill the urge to create, yet I know it’s in the times of not writing that my brain collates what it has learned, and so when I sit down to write I don’t have to think so much about not using adverbs, for example. I simply don’t use them. I first noticed this trait during the writing of A Spark of Heavenly Fire. I wrote the first fifty pages or so and then stopped for the summer. When I went back to writing in the fall, I felt more assured, more competent, and the writing came easy. Well, easier. Writing is never easy for me, except when it comes to stream-of-consciousness blogging. That I can do!
I always need to stretch myself as a writer, so I doubt I will ever become prolific. I also doubt I will ever do any sort of sequel that uses characters I’ve already created, unless, of course, I decide it will be a challenge. I seem to have the strange propensity for writing books I don’t know how to write, and so I always seem to be starting from scratch. I’m not the first writer to discover that writing never gets easier– it just gets harder in different ways.
I’m straying a bit from the subject, which is today’s blog stop. This is a special day for me. I am at Sheila Deeth’s blog, and she has been a staunch supporter from the moment we met online. It’s no wonder she asked such an interesting question, and it’s no wonder I let down my guard and answered.
So, please visit Sheila and me as we discuss: One Writer’s Journey.
Daughter Am I Blog Tour 2009 Schedule
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November 9, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Nice post. I can relate. I have to keep challenging myself as a writer to keep myself interested. And I often worry that I’ve shared too much. Impossible, I say. 🙂
November 9, 2009 at 10:56 pm
It is a little spooky sharing so much, though I should be used to it. After all, I’ve been talking my writing life for two years now.
November 9, 2009 at 10:47 pm
Very encouraging post, Pat, and I enjoyed your response to Sheila’s question. I can also identify with what you said about writing getting harder in different ways. The challenges are there to help us grow, to refine our skills, and to help us strive to be the best we can be. Thank you for being an example for all of us. — Donna
November 9, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Donna, it’s sort of ironic. Every time I set out to show that I am no example, I end up being one. That’s not a bad thing, though. So many of the best known authors are so prolific that it’s intimidating to new authors. I like showing that there is hope at the opposite end of the spectrum.
November 10, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Pat, it’s a fine balance to decide how much to share. We live in a world of oversharing, but I don’t get that feeling from your posts, since you’ve focused mostly on your writing journey.
November 10, 2009 at 8:33 pm
Thanks, James. I always appreciate your cool-headed insights. I’m looking forward to being on your blog on November 19. Should be fun!
November 10, 2009 at 3:06 pm
Thank you so much for your post on my blog Pat. I really enjoyed reading it, and reading the comments of the people who came by. And… drum roll… you got way more readers in a day than I’ve ever done before and finally drove my pageviews into four figures! Thank you Pat!
November 10, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Sheila, truly, it was my pleasure, and one of the highlights of my blog tour. Thank you!
Congratulations on the page views! You’ve got a good blog, and I’m sure more and more people will find it.
November 16, 2009 at 1:11 pm
It’s interesting that you “have the strange propensity for writing books I don’t know how to write.” That’s a good way to grow, I think–and to keep things fresh, a bit new, reaching out into new domains and realms.
Malcolm
November 16, 2009 at 2:48 pm
It’s a challenge, that’s for sure. I hope I’ve learned enough in this hiatus so I can finish the book.