Characteristics of a Writer

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So, a student asked the following question during a Q&A discussion I did for my class:

What are the components that makeup a complete writer? (K Patterson)

I’m so glad this was one of my questions because, honestly, I’ve never thought of a writer’s characteristics.  I just wrote.  I geared my answer toward my English 101 class, but I found that I could apply these characteristics to Writer Me as well.

Answer:

I can think of 6 qualities that would make a well-rounded writer off the top of my head.  (Disclaimer:  There are most likely more than 6.)  These apply not only to students of English, but they also apply to students of other educational subjects. (Think about applying these qualities to someone who is writing an Adolescent Psychology paper on the effects of illegal drug use for children, ages of 10-15, or a religion paper comparing Christianity to Islam in the late 1900s.) These could apply to someone interested in creative fiction writing as well. So, here they are in random order.

  1.  A writer is an observer.  S/he pays attention to detail, analyzes different perspectives of a situation, wonders “why,” and asks “how.”
  2. A writer has a story to tell or a point to make.  There is a reason s/he is writing the paper, essay, blog entry, short story, poem, and/or novel.  If s/he doesn’t have something to say, s/he has more brainstorming or soul-searching to do.
  3. A well-rounded writer doesn’t monitor his/her point of view in fear of offending the reader.  This doesn’t mean that the writer is tactless, however.  There is always a “right” way of saying things, especially if the message is controversial.  The “right” way never diminishes the writer’s significance and is accompanied with lots of reasons or evidence backing up the claim (as all claims should be).  Likewise, a writer does not fabricate controversial opinions in to draw attention to oneself.
  4. A writer is self-motivated.  As you are finding out, writing is a process.  It can be tedious and frustrating.  Sometimes you’d rather chew aluminum foil than revise one more word.  It may take three days for you to find the perfect analogy for an important part of your paper/story. But… do you remember how you felt when you wrote something of which you were proud?  It might have been only a sentence but, boy, was it a good one!  Writers have to self-motivate to complete the process, to actually reach “the end.”  Lots of people give up 10 yards from the finish line.  A writer actually crosses the finish line ribbon, even if s/he is in last place.
  5. Good writers are readers.  Plain and simple.  Reading in areas of your writing genre can show you what has been done, what has yet to be done, what is good, and what is bad.  When you read inside your genre, it’s like research.  You want to be a doctor when you grow up?  Read medical journals.  You want to be a minister?  Read religious texts.  You want to be a director?  Read scripts.  Etcetera.
  6. A good writer has a strong grammatical foundation.  A writer can’t get his/her point across if the reader keeps tripping over grammatical mistakes.

I hope this is helpful.  I’ll edit this post as I think of new characteristics, compile a really comprehensive list.

Do you have any suggestions?  What other characteristics do you think a writer should possess?

Learning Curve

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Husband has been sick since last Wednesday, and yesterday, he started feeling better.  I’m a much more content person now that he is smiling and mobile.  I can do all the stuff that needs to be done at home, but it’s much more fun when we do it together.  When I got home last night, he was in the middle of cooking a batch of Caribbean Corn Chowder, looking all sumptuous with his cutting board and recipe and enameled cast iron pot.  I joined in, dissolving bouillon cubes and peeling sweet potatoes.  Our pups were running in and out of the open back door.  It was such a nice night.  We also cooked a batch of Sopa de Lima (Lime Soup), which I highly recommend.  Why so much food?  The soup goes in Ziploc bags, and we freeze them for handy meals during the week.  I love our little life.

On Writing—So, I’m discovering that I have learned so much since I’ve started writing a year and a half ago.  The writing from then to now on FirstBook is, gently put, unrecognizably the same person’s hand.  Unfortunately, that also means that as I am re-reading what I’ve written, I’m finding the plot is stable, but the delivery is poo.  I’m basically starting over.  Last week, I drastically rewrote and extended the main character’s introduction to her female counterpart and setting, developing their friendship in a truer-to-life way.  Also, I changed the scene setting and dialogue of the initial meeting between the female and male main characters.  What this means is that of the approximately 30,000 words of completion into the first draft I vainly announced in a past blog, I’m happy with 6,353 of them, give or take.

This is a hard realization.  Stranger still, I’m surprised at my reaction to this epiphany.  I am having a really difficult time being sad about this.  I think it’s because I REALLY, TRULY love what is happening in these scenes.  The result of the last few weeks’ writing has shown the most potential than anything I’ve written before.

So I’m not as far along as I thought (hoped)…  So I may have to rethink my deadline…

What I failed to insert into my formula when I created my deadline was the learning curve.  I am LEARNING how to write a proper novel while in the midst of writing.  I have online authors whose blogs I follow because they are so generous and kind to share HOW they write.  I’ve learned and continue to learn so much from a (paid) course developed by an author that helped with my organizing my ideas, developing good plot, and understanding my creative self. My writing partner is amazing and offers encouragement and comfort.  I’m finding my voice and my style as an author.  I’m BECOMING an author.  The transformation is in process, people.  I’ve hit novelist puberty with this project.  By the time the revisions are through, I’ll bet a nickel I’ll be in novelist early-adulthood.  Any takers?

Experience Vs. Experiment

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So, I’ve had a rough week at Full-Time Job and, in an attempt to make me feel better, someone told me that this present situation will make great research for character development in future stories.  My first reaction was, “Way to link something that I am not enjoying as necessary to something that I do enjoy!”  On further analysis, I’m mildly concerned about potentially losing touch with reality.

Let me explain.  I have no problems whatsoever with cannibalizing real human characteristics to bring life to characters.  After all, every fictional character’s personality is a mix of direct and indirect encounters between other people and the author and how the author processes those encounters, deriving (among other things) personality traits, lie tells, and quirks.  My concern lies with my ability to live in my head so completely that real people become nothing but research and real problems become plot points.  I don’t know any authors, but I wonder if it is possible to be so consumed that you live life as if everything is an experiment and you are the observant, detached scientist.

I suppose being aware of my hermit-esque, mad-scientist ways will allow me to monitor the progression, but in future, I’ll make attempts to immerse myself in humanity for the experience rather than the experiment.

***

On writing:

I’ve plotted out six more scenes and I really like the depth the book is taking on.  I thought, at first, it was pretty elementary, but now it is surprising even me. I look forward to finishing the rough draft.  My favorite part of my creative writing undertakings has always been revision…and I’m getting so much closer.

I hope your ventures are taking shape as well!

Good luck!

A New Year

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Happy New Year, everyone!

Since it’s the first week in January, I thought it would be beneficial to review my goals for the year. So, in random order…*drum roll please.*

1.  Select a writing conference and attend.

2.  Practice my guitar and piano.

3.  Begin learning ukulele.

4.  Paint 3 canvases.

5.  Complete the rough draft of First Book by March 31st.

6.  Complete revisions by June 31st.

7.  Ready query letters and publisher packets by August 1st.

8.  Finish prep-work for Second Book.

9.  Blog at least once a week. (52)

Yup.  There they are.

This week, I am making job decisions that will (hopefully) afford me more time to write.  After all, that is the career goal.  It seems a big step to apply for a new position.  Actually filling out the paper work and creating a CV and cover letters and learning how express confidence without seeming self-absorbed… It’s making me get that funny feeling between my shoulder blades, and I’ve been catching myself biting my fingernails.  After I turn everything in, I’ll be fine.  Either it will happen or it won’t.  It’s getting to that point when it is no longer in my hands…

So—writing!

I downloaded a trial version of Scrivener.  I’m in love.  If I wasn’t married, I would propose such an arrangement to the software.  I moved all my files from Word to Scrivener, and discovered that I have approximately 30,000 words.  I’m ecstatic.  I think this is really going to help with the revision process.  As far as the first draft, I love that I can visually measure my progress, and I love tangible confirmation that I am getting somewhere—butters my bread.

The bad news is I was unable to write as I had hoped over the Christmas break.  Other “necessaries” were accomplished (Yay!), but I really hoped I would write a significant amount of text.  I suppose, though, that any writing done is significant with two jobs, a family, and a budding career to nurture.  Also, I was ill, which is a good excuse, but an excuse nonetheless.

At the end of the day, I’m still passionate, if a bit tired, but I’m reprioritizing aspects of my life in order to be productive and happy.  I like this purposeful forward movement.  Goals and I, we will be friends…even if I have to hog tie them and force them to concede to my will.  Mua-ha-ha.

It’s going to be a good year.

All in Good Time…

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It’s morning! The second morning, to be more specific, of Christmas break 2011!  Woot! I have washed all our laundry, cleaned the house, was cut on by a doctor, cooked a fabulous dinner (if I say so myself), and even managed to see my amazing godson and his equally amazing mom.  Husband and I gave him two books and a baby guitar that plays “Love Shack” among other songs.  I got a big kick out of that.  Then, we danced to an old Della Reese Live record. Yes, on a record player.  I have a respect for most things vintage.

This morning, I wanted to write, so I started with type-chatting to you lovely people.  Next, to the Book Cave!

I had this dream.  A strange and wonderful dream.  Bitter and sweet and romantic and sacrificial and heroic and inspiring and hopeless… Anyway, I’m going to write it after my current adventure.  I’m still crazy excited about present WIP, but you know how new ideas are.  They get the adrenaline pumping.  All in good time, my friend.  All in good time…

Healthy Level of Selfish

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Past experiences created a phobia of being considered selfish by others.  The experiences were small acts that compiled and converted into a paralyzing fear, like a Mighty Morphin’ Power Ranger.  I have theories of why, some ironic and some accidental, but defining those does nothing productive.

I am now out of college, married, have been six and a half years at my job, and finally have realized that it is okay to dedicate some effort to me. My husband is a great support.  I don’t think I could have begun this journey without him. And as it gets harder, I know that I’ll be looking for him on the sidelines for the extra boost I’ll need.  This thought formed through this process: People will eventually get the guts to start being what they have dreamed of being, to start trying what they have always wanted to try, BUT they will try a lot sooner and stand a lot firmer for longer if they have someone who believes in them staring them in the face.  I also think there is honor in being a starer.  I hope Husband considers me his starer, as he is mine.

I’ve learned a few lessons in my life post-college.  Some of them being:

  • My professional life is necessary to fund my personal life; it is not my personal life.  I will perform my job with dignity, competence, and civility, but I will not alter my character to “fit in” the social aspects of the workplace.  If that is the only way to have “friends” in the workplace, I will happily consider myself ostracized.
  • I am as much of an adult as the forty-something-year-old employee in the next cubicle and am not inferior because of age.  (Southern culture doesn’t really address how to transition from being the one to say “Ma’am” and “Sir” to being the one called “Ma’am” or “Sir”.  We’re on our own with this lesson.)
  • I would rather have someone else tell me “no” than to tell myself “no” by not even attempting to do the thing in question.

And my latest lesson:

  • There is a healthy level of selfish, an ideal medium between selfish and selfless.  A lean toward either side, however, can make you a doormat or a bitch.

It’s being aware of and acting on your needs, recognizing and plotting how to achieve your wants, and basically, being better to you.  How easy is it to focus on catering to others wants than to figure out yours?  Much, much easier.

I have one stipulation.  I will not veer from my moral code to accomplish my goals, which means that I will not hurt, steal from, lie to, or otherwise negatively impact others during my pursuit.  This is non-negotiable.  On the other hand, if others are offended by me while I am morally conquering the world, ehh.

Can’t please ’em all.

Praise and Improve

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Hello! I’m super tired today from reading the new Cassandra Clare book all. Night. Long. (Sixteen word book review: lovely world, great plot, identifiable characters, hopeless with a smidge of hopeful, wretchedly equal love triangle) I hope I make sense today.  Actually, that’s a hope renewed daily.

I adjunct teach English classes occasionally at a local college. For my students, one of the most dreaded parts of the class is decompression questions given after a large assignment.  They groan and put their heads in imaginary nooses and kick the stool beneath them.  But eventually, they finish the task.  The questions aren’t difficult.  For example:

  1. What was the most difficult part/aspect of this project?
  2. What are you proudest of in this essay?  Why?
  3. If you were to write this paper again, what would you do differently?
  4. Is there anything else you’d like to say about this paper?

But the more classes I teach, the more I realize that students in my small, southern town hate, I mean HATE, to check themselves.  They would rather be buried in wet cement than say, “I am proud that I was able to use the word ‘superfluous’ correctly in the third paragraph of my paper.”  That is bragging on oneself, and that is the job of other people standing next to you in a conversation.  It’s as if there is some sort of psychological dilemma when someone looks within and finds something he/she likes, let alone something he/she doesn’t like.

I get it.  I fight this curse daily.  I grew up in a Southern/Japanese hodgepodge culture.  Mix those two together and, basically, I (as an individual) don’t exist.

BUT… Then there are the students that used the assignment for its purpose:  to grow from the writing experience. Those students look at their work as if it were a stranger’s and discover legitimate strengths and weaknesses–things to praise and improve.

Honest self-evaluation can be used for more aspects of life other than writing, but for our purposes…writing it is.

Teaching self-evaluation skills is soooo much easier than practicing them.  It’s really hard to congratulate yourself because of something that came out of your head. It’s something you can take pride in as sole proprietor.  Likewise, the mistakes are yours alone.  We are humans.  We make mistakes.  Sorry if I pooped on someone’s dinner plate with that bit of information, but truth is truth.  Also, we are not perfect.  (There goes dessert.)  So, can’t we deduce that there is always room for improvement?  We, as self-evaluators, label the need and then…well, we work on that area in current and/or future projects.  Bettering our writing. Bettering ourselves.

Point:  Self-evaluations are a vehicle for being honest with yourself, a vehicle which I have found useful in my writing (and my life).  I’m learning that an objective, unbiased eye—from sentence structures to mood and beyond—produces better results for me.

Hint:  It’s more effective if I do not blow smoke up my ass (My first draft is perfect. Revisions are for amateurs.) and if I do not rip myself a new one. (I can’t send this out.  It’s 90,000 words of horse poo. The respectable authors in my genre should start an annual tar and feathering ceremony to punish other authors who try to camouflage horse poo as literature, and I should be the first on their list.)

Your peer revision partner(s), writer’s group member(s), and/or your mom will, hopefully, help you if you lean too far to one side or another on a given day.

Just something I was thinking about…

The Discovery of Goals

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I have never made New Year’s resolutions.  No really, it’s true.  I’ve made wishes—

“Please, let my acne be unnoticeable this year.”

“I hope I can still fit into these jeans by New Year’s resolution time next year.”

“It would be great if I was doing something I loved…whatever that is.”

–but never actual resolutions.

So if you read the “About” information, you noticed that I’ve been working on First Book for about a year and a half.  I set no other goal for myself than, “Finish First Book.”  This was daunting.  I’ve heard of people who spend their entire LIVES finishing one book, and I want to write another one because my first will most likely be poo, but I only have ONE lifetime!  What’s a girl to do?!  *Commence panic attack*

I couldn’t find a paper bag to breathe in, but luckily, I found these two articles by authors Maggie Stiefvater  and Holly Lisle  which introduce a goal formula.  I hate math but I love formulas.  They’re like plans and I love, I mean LOVE, a plan.  After reading the articles, I scolded me for not caring enough about myself to expect great things from my life, comforted me for being proactive now, and began thinking about MY goals, my plan.

Here is the formula I created from these two articles:

Accomplishable by only you + describable (not vague) + positive + expiration date = GOOD GOAL

(Disclaimer: There are other aspects from the articles that I needed to consider not included in my formula, so I hope you’ll read these articles.  Above is bare bone.)

I thought a neat way to start this blog would be to share with you my goals that I have so far.  I’ll do a follow-up blog in December of 2012 to see how it went.  I already feel more accomplished for the coming up year because I know some things I WANT to accomplish instead of entering the year just hoping something interesting happens.  I feel the intimidating resolution of finishing First Book is within my grasp just because of perspective.

2012 Goals (In random order)

1.  Select a writing conference and attend.

2.  Practice my guitar and piano.

3.  Begin learning ukulele.

4.  Paint 3 canvases.

5.  Complete the rough draft of First Book by March 31st.

6.  Complete revisions by June 30st.

7.  Ready query letters and publisher packets by August 1st.

8.  Finish prep work for Second Book.

9.  Blog at least once a week.

I’m super pumped about trying this which, consequently, makes all aspects of my life (even the broken ones) much more bearable.

So, how about you?  Are you ready for 2012?