How to use this Page

I know a lot of times we think of writing as something to master and to be disciplined and grow in — blah, blah, blah. It can sometimes be the case where we just forget how much writing can matter to us in other ways.

Jordan Rosenfeld, who gave me the inspiration for 2011 to be the Year of Spaciousness, recently posted her 10 Reasons Why Writing Matters. My favorites from her list:

#9: Writing helps heal and process wounds and grief, clearing them out


#5: Writing connects you with others through blogging, writing groups, live readings, and self-publishing outlets like Scribd and Smashwords


#3: Writing hones your powers of observation, giving you a fuller experience of life

From my own perspective, writing matters to me because it allows me to share and empathize emotions through my characters, gives me a way to explore and create other worlds through my creativity, and most of all provides me an outlet to connect with others who have a passion for writing and reading novels.

What are some of the reasons writing matters to you?

And for those of you who are interested, the author/instructor is holding a contest based on her 10 reasons. Entries will be put into a drawing to win a free spot in any one of her forthcoming 1-week intensives in December.

Last Friday night I was excited to attend a book launch party for one of my dear writer friends Vicky Alvear Shecter who is the author of the Cleopatra’s Moon, a fabulous YA historical fiction novel.

Here is a picture from the party at the Little Shop of Stories bookstore where Vicky is holding the infamous Drag-Queen Cleo.

The novel focuses on Cleopatra Selene, the only daughter of the renowned queen of Egypt. Being a lover of all things historical, I loved the way that Vicky revealed facts within the prose. Where I really think she shines is how she fills in the blanks of history with her own take on what happened to Cleopatra Selene after the deaths of her parents and her turbulent stay in Rome. I also loved the theme of free will in the novel since this is one of the themes in my own novel project.

Vicky has been a writer friend for several years. We originally met as part of a critique/writing workshop. I always loved when it was Vicky’s turn to read because she always put interesting historical details in her writing — I still remember a piece about the domestication of cats in ancient Egypt. Vicky has always had a penchant for ancient history. She has also written two non-fiction books, Alexander The Great Rocks the World and Cleopatra Rules!

I still remember a day when we met at a coffee shop and talked about what we wanted to happen for our writing. For me, she is an writing inspiration. It is very inspiring to see a work go from idea to revision to sale to editorial revision and then on to publication. There is a LOT of work involved as we writers already know.

To see it happen for a writer friend is even better because there is a personal connection. So Vicky if you’re reading this post just know how proud that I am of you and I can’t wait for you to share more of your writing with the world! :)

How do you celebrate your writer friend success stories? How do your writer friends support you in your accomplishments?

One of the books that is on my TBR list this summer is Blood Red Road by Moira Young.

It’s a novel set in the future after the land has been ravaged and now mostly a wasteland of dust. The main character Saba is forced to go forth into the unknown world and search for her twin brother who was kidnapped.

I recently read some thoughts from the author about her journey to writing this book as well as some of her influences. This stood out for me:

“I didn’t plan this book. When I did, mainly it didn’t go according to plan, although sometimes it did. I found that characters did what they did and said what they said and waited, sometimes impatiently, while I wrote it down. But I did have to sit there at the table, at my computer, and write. Even if every word I wrote that day turned out to be a dud. I had to sit down and write. And once I’d finished the first draft, that was just the beginning. Only then did I really start to write the book.”

This is so true. Sometimes even a plot chick like myself cannot plan some of the things that happen while writing a novel. Ironically, it’s the unplanned novels that are the most riveting — for both the reader and the writer.

You can read the rest of what the author had to say about her novel here.

Writer friends, how you found that some of your best ideas come from being open and not sticking to the original plan for your novel?

This past Saturday, I was out with some “creative types” — some of us writers — and we were talking about negative criticism and how we should NOT take it personally. We all agreed that we should get a “tough skin” and just let the comments roll off our back. Blah, blah, blah.

But then a writer friend spoke up: “Why do we always say this when it comes to negative stuff? What about the positive stuff? Should we not listen to that? Ignore it too?”

We all agreed that the positive stuff does makes us feel good. It lets us know that maybe we’re on the right track. And it’s just so much easier to absorb than the negative stuff.

Then an artist friend said: “Maybe I’m just narcissistic then because how can I not take negative comments on something that I’ve worked on for years and not take it personally? It’s from me. I created it.”

We all pondered this question. Even though everyone says that negative comments should not be taken to heart, do we really take them personally anyway? Deep down into the subconscious and internalize them?

Maybe.

Another writer friend spoke up: “It doesn’t matter. We can take everything personally if we want. But we have to remember that the comments are coming from a source that has different experiences, views, and opinions. In the end, you have to create what you want and then put it out in the world. Let it resonate with the ones who love it and let it repel with the ones who hate it.”

I like this writer’s take on it. Not everyone is going to love your work. More than likely, it’ll be a few people who hate it. And those haters may write about it or even tell you. But lovers and haters of your work can be two extremes. In the end, you just have to put your novel out into the world.

So writer friends, do you take comments about your novel or WIP personally? Or do you only focus on what you want for you work?