Years ago, I took a writing class where the teacher advised us not to give our stories away. By that, she meant that we should not talk too much about them before getting them written. Talking about our stories, she said, steals some of their energy. The more we talk them out, the more we lose some of the drive to actually capture them on the page. I have found this to be true and often have to hold myself back from submitting a project to my critique group too soon. I do better to keep my stories close as they develop. So I'm going to keep my answers brief.
1. What are you working on right now?
I'm polishing two picture books and drafting a YA suspense novel.
2. How does your YA suspense novel differ from other work in its genre?
As I write this, it's getting late, and if I fret over this question too long, I'm not going to get to bed, and then I'll be cranky in the morning. So in the best interest of all the individuals who I will encounter tomorrow, I'm going to skip this one.
3. Why do you write what you do?
I wrote short stories, articles, and essays for years before having the courage to tackle a book. Writing for a YA audience has always been my first love, so it was a given that I would try my hand at YA novels. And writing flash fiction has helped me to be concise - very helpful with the ever decreasing word counts desired in picture books these days.
4. How does your writing process work?
Until recently, my process consisted of snatching as many moments at the computer as I could. Those moments were hard to come by, so I never squandered them. Now that I have more time, I'm realizing that I have a real need for structure. Although I've always considered myself a pantster, with my current WIP, I've deliberately tried something new. I've done a ton of planning. I'm hoping this means the actual writing will go more quickly. I guess I'll have to wait and see.
5. Any departing words of wisdom for other writers?
As best you can, focus on your work and trust the process. The more we get involved with social media, the more distracted we can become with the successes of others. It can seem like everyone is moving ahead but you. Nothing good comes from comparing ourselves to others. We're all on our own journey. We all have to find the way that works for us.
Now this is the point where I'm supposed to nominate other writers to answer these questions, but I think this has made the rounds pretty thoroughly (and like I said, it's getting late and I really want to get to bed.) So, if you're reading this, and you'd like to share a little bit about your WIP, please consider yourself tagged. And do stop back and let me know you've posted so I can come by and read your answers.
It was so fun to read your answers and I thought the advice from the writing teacher. I think it is wonderful that you are working on a YA book and writing something for a genre you love. How exciting! Wishing you the best of luck with your projects. :)
ReplyDelete~Jess
Great interview:) Love what you said: "We're all on our own journey. We all have to find the way that works for us"
ReplyDeleteI have never thought about not talking about our projects too much because we'll lose steam. Wow! I'll have to remember that :).
ReplyDeleteLoved reading this, Ruth. I definitely get the "can't share too much" feeling. But I look forward to the day when you can share your book with the world! Keep at it. :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with your teachers. I think I instinctually knew that. I hate to verbalize what I'm thinking about writing before I get the words on the page. Here's to your great projects.
ReplyDeleteGreat wisdom for writers, Ruth. Good luck with your WIP!
ReplyDeleteI love learning about the process of others. I'm still snatching moments when I find them but find my best writing comes when I have larger amounts of time and can submerse in the setting, characters, and voice.
ReplyDeleteI need to print out your answer to number 5 and put it on my bulletin board!! So true, Ruth. I also feel the same way about not talking a lot about what I'm working on. I don't really have a reason why I've done that, but the idea of releasing some of the energy from the project makes sense.
ReplyDeleteI so agree with the advice your teacher gave you. We are, after all, story-tellers. If I talk about it, I have less of an impetus to tell *it*~~~
ReplyDeleteIn every book event I have done I was asked about WIP, and it's hard to know how to handle it without sounding overly precious. You did a masterful job with it, especially answer #2
It's wonderful to learn more about you and your writing! I think your teacher was on to something, and I try not to share too much as well. Plus, I like things to be a surprise anyway. :) As for social media, I'm with you. It can be such a colossal waste of time - sometimes, anyway. I think you are right, we all need to find the right balance for us. Even when our publisher or other writers want us to be a social media butterfly, and we are not. :)
ReplyDeleteI totally agree about story energy, Ruth, and love your advice about not comparing. So wise and true! Great post. I'm glad you had a few minutes to do it :) May the muse (and enough work time) be with you as you continue work on your PBs and YA! :)
ReplyDeleteI think everyone should practice and learn how to do flash fiction. It really helps a writer learn to make every word count.
ReplyDeleteI hear you on getting to bed, lol! I hate those nights when my fingers just keep pounding away on the keyboard, but my eyes keep looking at the clock, knowing sleep is slipping away. I love sleep.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your teacher, Ruth. It's taken me a long time to share my wip ... and I love your advice about trusting the process. Thanks so much for participating.
ReplyDeleteTalking about our stories too much steals some of their energy. Interesting theory. I guess you could counter with a kindling theory that says something to the effect that talking through your story could oxygenate it, give it life, fan the flames of creativity. Bottom line is do what works for you, right?
ReplyDeleteI like this tag and learning more about the bloggers I follow.
ReplyDeleteIt does seem like others are moving ahead, but we're all on our unique timeline.
Hi, Ruth, I enjoyed your answers. I agree about losing energy when you talk too much about a story before it's written. And I think you're wise not even to submit too early drafts to a critique group before you've finished the story. (I'll look forward to the finished product.) I agree that flash fiction hones your skills, too. I've written (and had published) some flash fiction, and I think it really helped later with scenes in longer works. Keep writing! And thanks for a good share.
ReplyDeleteYou've hit home on the 'we're on our own journey' part, Ruth. It is easy to get distracted by other writer-friends' success but we do need to trust the process, have faith in our tenacity and enjoy our pace. Best of luck with the picture books and YA novel!
ReplyDeleteWhat interesting advice that teacher gave you. I would have a hard time saying much about something before I'd written it. Because I don't plot, I don't really know what I'm going to write! I liked hearing about your journey. It's probably a good idea to structure your time.
ReplyDeleteI agree that talking to early and too much about your WIP loses some of it's energy. It's hard to not talk about it when someone asks you what it's about though, however unless it's a fan who might want to buy it, I say very little to anyone else. It's more fun to surprise people!
ReplyDeleteSomeday I hope to write a YA or MG too, Ruth but right now I'm still enjoying writing PB's too much! Maybe I'll grow up some day!
Hi Ruth, nice to meet you. I had also heard that we must not talk of our stories until they are done. But I wasn't told the reason.
ReplyDelete"Talking about our stories, she said, steals some of their energy." this sounds true. I will henceforth not talk about them, I tend to talk about them to my friends when they ask me what I am writing.
Ruth,
ReplyDeleteI'm a firm believer in keeping projects close too--I know what you mean by losing energy. And I love your social media thoughts. I know that I have to purposely back away so I'm not affected by everything that's going on around me. I absolutely feel like I'm not moving ahead sometimes!!!
I really like the advice that your writing teacher gave to you. Not talking too much about a project before getting it in written makes perfect sense.
ReplyDeleteI also liked your words of wisdom--wise indeed to focus on one's own work and trust the process.
Oh gosh Ruth. Love this. Especially the social media becoming distracting. Love the advice the writing teacher gave you. It was fun learning more about you. I'm the WORST about comparing my writing self to other writers and then feeling like I don't match up. I'll have to remember your pearls of wisdom when I find myself doing it. {hugs}
ReplyDeleteRuth, if ever there were words to live by: "Nothing good comes from comparing ourselves to others." So important. Really, I think we all need to pause for a moment, take a deep breath, say those words, then don't move until they actually sink in!
ReplyDeleteSuch good words of advice. Comparison will never get you anywhere good.
ReplyDeleteBut it's so hard to stay off social media when it's so much fun!! I'd keep my ideas close the vest if they would incubate and emerge fully formed. Sadly, nothing's been working in the past year, and I use my CPs to bounce ideas off all the time. They love the ideas and help me fix them ... but I toss them out anyway, always searching for the "perfect" high concept idea. I hope you're having better luck than I am. :-)
ReplyDeleteBest of luck on your YA suspense novel. It's nice to return to your first love.
ReplyDeleteI'm more of a pantser by nature, but am becoming more of a planner as I go along. It really helps on my longer projects!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading about you and your writing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog. :)
I agree with your answer to number five. I could easily spend all night on Twitter, but I must stay focused. Thank you for sharing your writing process. I love to hear how others go about their own work.
ReplyDeleteWhile I enjoy sharing tidbits, I too find that a new project should be kept a little close to the vest. It can make "bringing something to the crit group" kind of hairy for sure.
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