By Sally Crawford
4. Keep sending out
Shameless boast coming up. This week I revised 3 poems, rewrote the introduction to a short story, began work on a sonnet and thought about a reading for my writers’ group. I have had no more time than usual. I have simply created good conditions for work, ‘arvonized’ if you like; furnished the house of the muse.
It hasn’t been all work either. I’ve been having to practise compression. Instead of giving myself all day to finish something, I give myself 10 minutes, OK, 15 minutes, you get the point.
When I formally started to write (it seems a long, long time ago, but it was actually only 1996), I sent work out fairly regularly. Positive feedback – publication – was thrilling. Then life changed and for a few years I wrote without sending out. There is nothing wrong with writing just for yourself: it’s a communication with self if you like. But what if it isn’t enough? In that case your writing must communicate with others (and, a point worth mentioning here, without your being there to explain things).
Sending out, getting work ready for sending out to a publication or competition, can be regarded as progress in itself, whether or not the result is publication or placement. You are developing an ear for listening to your own writing, for giving it the natural shape it wants rather than the shape you want or the shape you first thought of. I used to find this extremely difficult: this was partly because I used to think ‘if I take that out what am I going to put in its place?’ Practice will give you plenty to put in its place. You’ll become more and more competent at making changes that involve complete rewrites or inserting new ideas that arrive after you write your early drafts.
Five top tips –
1. Keep more than one writing iron in the fire: 5 poems, 2 plays, 3 short stories, not one (or how about all 10?).
2. Extend your writing boundaries: try different workshops, different genres.
3. Join (or start) a regular writing group (what a deadline setter).
4. Find a writing buddy (perhaps someone from your writing group) with whom you can meet regularly to share your latest work.
5. Read ‘Where the Arrowheads Meet’ by Tim Liardet. This ‘Arvon Spark’ focuses on poetry but the same applies to any piece of writing.
And, finally, a bonus, two sets of top tips from US writers: Jane Kennedy Sutton and C.M. Mayo.
8 responses so far ↓
dirtywhitecandy // May 31, 2009 at 10:28 am
Great thread, Sally. Especially your point about keeping more than one project on the go. This doesn’t have to be confined to those of us whose writing projects are relatively short, such as poems or short stories. Even in the thick of a novel, I keep several other ‘possible novels’ ticking away in the background – gathering notes and ideas and inspirational sources. Slowly some of these become plots, then drafts. So when I need a break from the main novel but I don’t want to waste my creative time, I can tinker with an embryo one that will one day evolve into a fully fledged novel of its own.
Sally Crawford // June 1, 2009 at 10:49 am
I’m impressed. It is so good to hear from someone who has already been through that process and knows how important it is to work out how to constructively take a break from the main novel.
(And this all makes me feel better about my ‘embryonic’ (prev. known as abandoned) novels!)
Bookrambler // June 7, 2009 at 8:55 am
Yes – I agree that it’s always good to have more than one project on the go so that you are constantly coming up with fresh copy and fresh ideas – however, I find that I can use this as a way of avoiding work on the ‘big’ novel. As you say, it’s easy to write blog posts, short reviews and journo articles. The hard part is the self-generated creativity and the work that, unless you send it off, no one will see. Self-discipline is key – write down your plans, tell others, find a way to subvert your own excuses for not writing – I think that’s the key.
Bookrambler // June 7, 2009 at 8:57 am
One more thing – definitely find a writing buddy – someone you trust not to judge or quibble but give honest feedback and who will ‘nudge’ you to get on with the writing process.
Sally Crawford // June 8, 2009 at 11:47 am
It’s so true that other pieces of writing can divert you from the big one.
How can we make our big projects as achievable as the comparatively short ones?
Sally Crawford // June 8, 2009 at 11:50 am
On writing a novel, Stephen King says get your head down and get the first draft written down no matter what.
THEN start the process of workshopping it; sharing it with your writing buddy; getting the opinion of others.
Jane Kennedy Sutton // June 14, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Good suggestions. I am going to try working on more than one project at a time. I pretty much have a one-track mind so I’m not sure how it will go. Thanks for the mention.
Sally Crawford // June 15, 2009 at 4:10 pm
I’m starting to get used to the idea that self and work interact. ‘It’ tells ‘me’ when ‘it’s’ ready for the next stage – and we negotiate.
)
(But see also comments above re sneaky displacement activities.)