Festival of Faith and Writing - Writing Against The Odds
It seems that every writer will eventually struggle with finding time to write. Perhaps because we're trying to squeeze our dreams and passion between the realities of going to work, feeding kids, and living life.
"Writing Against the Odds"
a workshop hosted by Leslie Leyland Fields, Tom Montgomery–Fate, and Debra Rienstra.
While we all have our difficulties, I found Leslie Leyland Fields to be the most inspiring for the busy writer. A woman who, lives with her family in Alaska and is a part of the commercial fishing industry, yet she still finds time to write some wonderfully lyrical prose. Almost as if the rhythm of the ocean flows through her words. As one might expect, her story is very interesting.
I condensed the hour long session down to five basic points:
1. Identify the obstacles in our path toward writing. Once we identify our problems we're better able to deal with them.
2. Rescue the [time] fragments. Be it sitting in a doctor's office, or in between innings at a baseball game, we can take our fragments of time and weave them together to write something memorable.
3. Make the most of the "silence." In a busy life with work and family "silence" is often a rare commodity make the most of it. Don't waste it by using that time to do household chores, etc.
4. Adapt to the changes. Each stage of life brings with it different problems. Be flexible. Move your writing time to accommodate your changing schedule.
5. Write from a full life, from within the life you've been given. Write what you live.
"Writing Against the Odds"
a workshop hosted by Leslie Leyland Fields, Tom Montgomery–Fate, and Debra Rienstra.
While we all have our difficulties, I found Leslie Leyland Fields to be the most inspiring for the busy writer. A woman who, lives with her family in Alaska and is a part of the commercial fishing industry, yet she still finds time to write some wonderfully lyrical prose. Almost as if the rhythm of the ocean flows through her words. As one might expect, her story is very interesting.
I condensed the hour long session down to five basic points:
1. Identify the obstacles in our path toward writing. Once we identify our problems we're better able to deal with them.
2. Rescue the [time] fragments. Be it sitting in a doctor's office, or in between innings at a baseball game, we can take our fragments of time and weave them together to write something memorable.
3. Make the most of the "silence." In a busy life with work and family "silence" is often a rare commodity make the most of it. Don't waste it by using that time to do household chores, etc.
4. Adapt to the changes. Each stage of life brings with it different problems. Be flexible. Move your writing time to accommodate your changing schedule.
5. Write from a full life, from within the life you've been given. Write what you live.
2 Comments:
I love #5--write from a full life. I need to embrace that. Thanks for making me think.
By Paula, at 6:50 PM
Don't waste the silence with household chores?
Hmm, will have to think about that. It is so much easier to do that now than when we had small children - and even now the grandchildren - in quiet mode.
Thanks for the great thoughts shared, Janice, and I wish you every success.
Mary H
By Mary Hawkins, at 3:29 AM
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