How I Write #1 -- Schedule

I was stumped for a moment during a presentation I was making when someone asked me that question about writing discipline/methodology/schedule. “How do you write?” the question begins. “Do you have a daily schedule or goal? Do you outline first?” etc. I didn’t have a ready answer because my writing discipline includes many approaches. “I don’t know,” I groaned. “I just know that somehow, eventually, the book gets written.”Upon further reflection, however, I can be more specific than that. Here are some thoughts on schedule:

The best writing days begin around 8:30am. I write through lunch, and end between 2 and 4 in the afternoon. When I’m really humming along, I will leave the chair frequently and engage in a mindless task to stimulate thought. For example, yesterday I was composing and decided that a character would have a dream. Great idea. Felt right. But what would she dream? Ups-a-daisy, outside to a flower bed to pluck weeds. Five minutes and eight mosquito bites later, the dream piece took shape in my mind. During these moments, I talk things through, put words in the character's mouth, and might even laugh or cry at the ideas that surface. My brain is somehow set free to spark in a way that wasn’t happening just a-sittin’ and a- thinkin’.

The worst writing days are filled with ennui—irrational weariness, dissatisfaction, disinterest. My innate sense of inadequacy comes to the fore, manifesting in thoughts like, “Nobody cares whether I ever finish the book anyway,” and “Who would even want to read this junk?” I fret and putter, and my motto becomes “Keep moving,” a takeaway from a writing workshop brainstorm about what to do at such times. Can’t find the right beginning for the chapter? Skip to another section and write that paragraph/incident. No traction at all on composition? Dig into research. Computer coming down with a virus and moving too s-l-o-w-l-y for research? Flesh out sketches of characters getting ready to enter the story. If I keep moving and don’t give myself over to the funky mood, I can usually accomplish something of value, albeit without enthusiasm.

I admit, also, that I sometimes go to bed and pull the covers over my head, maybe just for a few minutes, maybe for an hour or two. Cocooning myself seems to restore creative energy. And on rare occasions, I have defeated the ennui by giving into it, abandoning the writing task altogether and spending time with kids and grandkids or immersing myself in household tasks. Such radical action is, for me, a statement of faith. Once I wade through a metaphorical pool of guilt up to my neck, giving in is most liberating. Serenity comes, based in a deep trust that this momentary lull will not scuttle the project. All is well.

How I Write #2 -- Organization

In regard to planning for writing, I use as many tools as “Cartier has pillboxes,” to quote either Tom Robbins or Kurt Vonnegut. Tom, I think. Outlines—spreadsheets—lists—webs—notebook to record random thoughts and phrases, ideas on sticky notes—I use them all.

My most important graphic organizer is a mile-long spreadsheet formed by taping sheets of paper together. Each row represents a chapter (or in my case, an entry, as my books are in a journal format). Each column represents a character or perhaps event, such as circle meeting. In the cells, I mark an X when a character appears or an event happens. That way, I can easily see when it’s time to bring Cousin Josephine in again or have a circle meeting. In each row, I write the page # the entry starts on—in pencil, as it’s always changing—so that I can move around quickly in the manuscript. To the right of each row is space for brief notes about the content of each entry—again in pencil, as that can also change. I love my spreadsheet, can you tell? I’ve heard of other writers working this way.

Because my present project is based in the Revised Common Lectionary, I explore commentary that expands upon the scripture lessons. Thus, for each entry/chapter, I have 3-5 pages of handwritten notes and excerpts I’ve copied and pasted from online commentary. To this material I might also attach relevant articles, cartoons, anecdotes, or worship bulletins. Those packets, I’ll call them, help me organize and plan.

A small spiral notebook in which I jotted ideas and thoughts before they were forgotten proved to be most helpful in the writing of the first two books. I outfitted such a notebook with tabs for characters and topics for Sunday by Sunday III, and for months prior to beginning III, scribbled many plot possibilities and bits of dialogue in it as they came to me. I lived in eager anticipation of utilizing them at the appropriate time in the writing process. Alas, in the midst of major redecorating of my house, I lost this wealth of time-saving, inspiring tidbits. The likely scenario is that I’ll find it the day after the book goes to press, of course. How lovely if I would find it sooner—like, say, tomorrow!

The web is one of my favorite graphic organizers for preparing to write. You know—a circle in the middle of the page, write the subject or theme or chapter title in it, and then draw lines off the circle like spider legs. At the end of each “leg” is another circle in which is written a situation or phrase that might be included in the entry. These circles, in turn, can have more legs/lines leading to more circles that provide additional information and details. This process seems to activate my right brain, and I have found that a well-ordered web pretty much writes the chapter. I’ve developed webs for the last three entries I’ve written with good results. However, I may not web again for a while. We’ll see what works next time.