My three most important writing habits:
1. Going forth - alone. When it's time to crank out a long writing project or when I'm writing late at night, there's no place like home. Then I need to sit at my computer and do what I have to do. But when I'm searching for inspiration, beginning a project, or needing to look over a draft of my work with a fresh spirit, I've got to get out of the house. I like coffee shops or libraries in parts of town in which I'm not likely to see anyone I know. There is a certain bench beside the Chattahoochee River that's got my name on it. I've been known to ride over to Athens or to the monastery in Conyers just to sit and write. It is important for me to be alone and out-of-doors part of every day if I'm going to write.
2. Always keeping three things in my car. I used to write random thoughts, ideas , and bits of stories down on yellow legal pads or scraps of paper in my pocketbook or in the backs of books. But then I wouldn't be able to put my hands on them when I wanted or needed them. Now I have one composition book that I take everywhere with me and write everything down in as I think of it. This book might include a title for my next class assignment, the beginnings of an essay, a list of people I want to have over for dinner, or even ideas for Christmas presents. I write everything that's on my mind down in this one book only. And I make sure that I put this composition book in my car every time I leave the house, along with a book I am reading. I also make sure there is at least one pen in my pocketbook. With these three items, I am always "good to go." There is no wasted time in my day. If I have to sit in my car waiting for my son to get out of class or am stuck in a doctor's office lobby, I can always read or write.
3. Reading my work out loud to myself. If you want to discern if your writing flows or makes sense, read it out loud, as if you were delivering a monologue. If it doesn't sound good, it's not.
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Kathleen, your three writing habits are similar to mine, and I bet they bear some similarity to the lists of most other serious writers, as well. Reading it out loud is the absolute best way to tell if you've written what you think you have. Unfortunately for me, my mind tends to "autocorrect" for me as I read, so I end up reading what I intended to write rather than what I actually got down on paper. This free program helps with that problem. You can copy and paste up to nine pages at a time into the program, and then have the selection read back to you.
ReplyDeleteCool! Thank you so much! I will try it.
ReplyDeleteHello Kathleen and Ray. What a great program, Ray! I wish they had it for Mac. However, I think I remember something about Macs having a built-in speech read; I'll check on it. Technology has become one of my writing tools, and I always struggle with how much time I want to spend on it. It's a grace and a curse.
ReplyDeleteKathleen, I read aloud to myself as well. If it doesn't flow correctly, it's time to edit and revise. As readers, I think we can recognize an exquisite turn of phrase of word, and we need to hear the notes of it hang in the air before we are satisfied and move on.
ReplyDeleteKathleen,
ReplyDeleteI agree with the reading out loud. I often have my students do it. I agree with Ray that often they and I compensate for our errors. Ray, that sounds like a great program.
toni
Kathleen, I love the notebook idea. I have pieces of writing everywhere - legal tablets, the backs of papers I had in my car, etc. I just grab whatever is nearby and write on it. The other night I was trying to organize it all, put it in folders, etc. I'm going to try the notebook and see if it works! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI like your description of going places to write, and it reminds me that I did that often in my early twenties. I might have to pick that habit back up!
ReplyDelete