Posted by Kathleen Pooler/@kathypooler
“There’s nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open vein.” ~Red Smith
My Writing Process Tour
I am honored to be a part of this blog tour challenge. I accepted an invitation to take part in the #mywritingprocess tour, an exercise in which writers share insights into their writing process. I continue to be a work-in-progress as I get ready to publish my first book, a memoir. But, I believe strongly, we can all learn from one another, no matter where we are in our writing lives.
I have enjoyed writing since I was about eight years old when I wrote plays for my maternal grandmother, Nan and all her little Italian lady friends. I can still see them gathered in the living room sipping coffee and chattering on in Italian. I never understood a word but I can still feel their fascination and loving attention as they hushed each other when I stood at the archway to announce the play would begin.
I wish to thank Clara Freeman for inviting me to participate in this tour. Clara is also a retired registered nurse and we met on our mutual friend, Pat MacKinzie‘s blog several years ago. I have enjoyed Clara’s genuine presence and wisdom. Clara’s mission in life is to be of service in helping others, particularly women. Her biggest successes come from helping women find themselves. In her own words, “Success comes when the work you do helps other people recognize who they are. It is when you see your work make a difference in another person, who in finding themselves, will sow seeds by using their gifts to help another.” Clara’s brand is the authentic woman and women empowerment. Please check out her inspirational blogs at The Authentic Woman Networks-Helping Women Find Their Voices and clara54.wordpress.com. Clara is the author of The Authentic Woman eBook.
What am I working on?
As mentioned, I will be launching my first book, a memoir, Ever Faithful to His Lead: My Journey Away From Emotional Abuse in July, 2014. It is not the story I started writing five years ago. In 1999, I took my first writing course, Starting Out in Writing through Writer’s Digest. The stories that spilled out were related to being the mother of an alcoholic son. But as I continued writing, I began to realize I could not tell that story until I told my own story. In 2012 when I submitted my manuscript to a developmental editor, she responded, “you have two memoirs here.” After a year of going back and forth and putting my manuscript aside, I finally picked it up again and began digging deeper into the story of getting into and out of two emotionally abusive marriages. Exposing my vulnerabilities and flaws was painful, but I knew it was the only way to get on the other side of the pain. The story that needed to be told revealed itself to me. It is a story of hope, resilience and courage in finding freedom from abuse. I believe strongly that a memoir has to be bigger than you. It has to resonate with readers. Writing this memoir helped me to heal and now I have a mission to reach out to other women who are struggling to find freedom from abuse in any form. The abuse I write about is emotional, and although I did not suffer bruises or broken bones, it was still harmful to me and my two children.
But the story doesn’t end there. I have started a sequel about how my faith guided me through the simultaneous battles of a cancer diagnosis and a young adult son’s downward spiral into substance abuse. The working title is Hope Matters: A Memoir of Faith. Both of these memoirs are about the power of hope in facing life’s challenges.
Why do I write what I do?
The quick answer: “Because I cannot NOT write.” For me, writing is a passion, an itch I can’t scratch. I see the world around me as a story and want to capture it in words. I have written in a journal since I was eleven years old when I received a pink journal with a lock and key. I marvel at the transition from keeping my deepest thoughts and feelings under lock to exposing myself to the world with all my flaws and missteps. And yet there is something very liberating about acknowledging one’s truth and sharing it with others. The journals have become the seeds for both my memoirs.
Although I admire fiction writers and enjoy reading fiction, I find there is more than enough fodder for real-life stories to keep me busy for a long time. Memoir writers have to use fiction techniques to shape the events in their lives into a story that reads like a novel. On the other hand, fiction is often based upon real life events and people. At this point, I do not see myself writing fiction. There are too many stories I am yearning to tell about my family and my own life experiences.
I have found that, if I show up and do the writing, the story that begs to be told comes forth. I have learned to listen.
Perhaps the single most important element in why I write what I do is to share hope one story at a time.
How does my writing process work?
I write every day, whether it’s a blog post, a guest post, a story I share on social media, a letter, a journal entry. I do not have a specific routine and, like everyone else, have to navigate around household/family/church obligations. I’ve been retired from a busy nursing career for three years and tend to follow a schedule of writing four out of seven days from 1-5pm. Sometimes I write on weekends and sometimes I write in the evenings or wee hours. One thing I have discovered, if I do not write during the day, I tend to stay up late and write. The ideas swirling in my head won’t let me sleep! And yes, there have been times I have arisen in the middle of the night to tend to those voices in my head that demand to be written.
Sometimes the best thing I can do for my writing is to walk away from the computer and go for a walk to clear my head. Some of my most creative ideas occur when I am away from my office. I do keep a small notepad with me but if I need to, I’ll write on any available space—a used envelope, a napkin—for those fleeting “aha” moments.
Next up on the #mywritingprocess tour are three bloggers who have graciously agreed to take part. I hope you’ll check out their blogs. Next week they will present their own personal takes on the #mywritingprocess tour:
Janet and I met online several years ago. I have enjoyed Janet’s witty humor, depth of experience and generous sharing of ideas and coverage of interesting topics. Her weekly blog, A So It Goes, is a delightful collection of musings about life and includes topics such as mid-life changes, transitions, connections, and travel,cultural differences and Kazakhstan (where she served as a Peace Corps volunteer from 2004 to 2006). Janet’s memoir, At Home on the Kazakh Steppe is due for publication in June, 2014. Please be sure to stop by her blog and leave a comment. Janet loves a good conversation and she will make you feel very welcome.
Linda describes herself as “a writer, editor, adoptee and somewhat fanatical grandmother.” Linda was one of the first people I met when I started writing my memoir five years ago and has served as a role model for me ever since. I have enjoyed Linda’s inspirational stories of adoption, gardening, grandparenting, retirement–everyday stories that resonate. She blogs weekly at A Slice of Life Writing so be sure to check out her lovely website. She is the author of the inspirational memoir, Two Hearts: An Adoptee’s Journey From Grief to Gratitude. Photography is one of her passions and she often posts pictures of her beautiful homegrown flowers and vegetables, as well as of her darling grandchildren. I have no doubt you will enjoy your visit.
Sarah is a writer and a ghost writer. She blogs weekly at Write By Grace about “walking in His grace daily.” Sarah and I met in Joe Bunting’s Story Cartel Course in 2013 and Sarah was one of my valued beta readers for my memoir. I enjoy Sarah’s stories of how faith works in her life. She also discusses health-related issues that are all important reminders about taking good care of oneself. I find her website to be very soothing and nourishing. Sarah is working with an elderly couple in ghostwriting their memoir. Please check her out at Write By Grace. You will feel refreshed.
Thank you all for stopping.
How about you? What is your writing process?
Next Week:
Monday, 06/02/14: “The 3 P’s of Publishing a Memoir.”
Thursday, 06/05/14: “Author Attitude: What Is It and Why Do I Need It? A WOW Women on Writing Book Tour and Giveaway with Nina Amir”
The 30-day Pubslush Crowdfunding Campaign for my memoir, Ever Faithful to His Lead: My Journey Away From Emotional Abuse,now in its third week, is 82% closer to its goal! The campaign ends at midnight on June 11.
Only twelve more days to go.
By making a contribution you will help spread the messages of hope, resilience and courage to those seeking freedom from abuse. Here’s the link to the campaign:
http://pubslush.com/books/id/2076.
If you are unable to make a contribution, I’d love it if you would share this link with others.
Share the hope.
Thank you!
